Hey, all. Sorry it's been awhile. I am in the middle of finals, but it is so cold where I live they have cancelled school for two days this week and we have Martin Luther King Jr. Day off, so I have just found myself with a five day weekend! This fic idea came to me while I was sitting, having myself some Earl Grey and looking out the window listening to some Chopin. After listening, I decided to go play some Chopin on the piano and voila! Plot bunnies assaulted me! This fic is in the Marauders time period and will be in two parts. The first part will be some years before the second part, fyi.

Disclaimer: I don't own the fabulous creations of a Miss J.K. Rowling. Bummer.

It was late. Very late. The type of late when the stillness is so deafening that one feels intrusive if they walk down a deserted corridor and their footsteps sound like those of an elephant rather than a human. A rainy Saturday evening, Minerva McGonagall could not sleep. As always, she was thinking about Albus Dumbledore, current savior to the wizarding world, current Headmaster to Hogwarts, and the one man that could reduce formidable Minerva McGonagall back to her schoolgirl days with one gaze of his twinkly eyes. Deciding that it was useless to be lying in bed when she could be paroling the corridors looking for unruly students out of bed, Minerva quickly donned her customary tartan dressing gown and slippers. As she walked through the corridors silently, she couldn't help but feel very lonely. She wished she had someone to hold her close on a rainy night and whisper how much he loved her. This so called someone in her fantasies was always Albus. He had held her heart for the past twenty years. She had been placed in the noble house of Godric Gryffindor for her bravery and courage, but this famous bravery and courage failed her when it came to telling Albus her true feelings. She would rather remain his best friend than having her relationship with him ruined over her feelings.

As she rounded a corner, Minerva saw movement in the far end of the corridor. Deciding to surprise her victim she watched as the student entered into a deserted classroom quietly, carrying with her a suitcase. More curious than actually angry at whoever it was that was out of bed, Minerva silently followed, morphing into her Animageus form. As she sidled into the classroom door expertly, she quickly ascertained the identity of the student. A Gryffindor, the small first year girl with short spiky hair and honey colored eyes, Miss Robin McDermott, a Muggle-born, was placing her suitcase upon the teacher's desk. Minerva hid in the shadows and watched as the young girl pulled out her wand, which was a fabulous mahogany specimen quite like her own. With confidence that suggested a more experienced spell caster, Robin whispered a charm that sent the desks to the side of the room in silence. Minerva was greatly impressed, as the spell was at least a fifth year level in the level of size of the task. Robin turned back to the desk and opened her suitcase. Minerva couldn't see too clearly what was in it, but all at once, Robin whispered,

"Lumos,"

Minerva saw that the suitcase held two small boxes and many folders that appeared to be filled with paper. Robin opened the first box. She pulled out a tiny set of silver candlesticks complete with small candles no bigger than a teacup. Again, Minerva was astounded at the girl's level of skill as the candlesticks grew into full size with a single incantation. Robin made a flame emerge from the end of her wand and lit all of the candles, which increased the level of light in the room greatly. Minerva ducked back even more into the shadows. Robin reached into the suitcase again and opened the second box. Moving to the center of the room, Robin placed the small object on the floor. Minerva, from her viewpoint on the floor, could see what it was very clearly. In the floor, in the middle of the vast classroom, looking even smaller than it actually was, was an extremely tiny grand piano. Minerva watched even more closely as to what happened next. Robin turned around and muttered, "Silencio," Minerva, for the third time that night was impressed, as the charm would prevent any one from hearing anything. Minerva wondered why the silencing charm was needed until she saw Robin walk back to the teacher's desk, grab the candlesticks, and point her wand at the piano. All at once, like the silver candlesticks, the piano grew and grew until it was a full size grand piano. Minerva would have gasped if she was in her human form, but as it was, only managed to give a little purr. Placing the candlesticks on the piano, Robin returned once more to the teacher's desk and grabbed a folder. Minerva watched enthralled until Robin opened the folder. As she lined up the sheet music and put her wand down, Robin gave a quick glance around. She turned her eyes back to the complicated mess of notes, placed her hands upon the keys, and began to play. Minerva again would have given a gasp but only managed a purr. Robin was good. Clearly she had been very dedicated and had practiced hard. Minerva listened and listened. The works of Beethoven were just flowing all around. Now Minerva had never told anyone about her secret love of playing the piano, not even Albus, but she loved it more than anything, except, of course, Albus. There was no piano in the castle however and Minerva would never want to be caught. The insults Snape would jibe her with were reason enough for this. As Robin paused, realigned more sheet music and began again, Minerva knew the melody immediately. Moonlight Sonata, one of her most favorite pieces on the piano. The girl was clearly still learning the piece but was progressing strongly. Minerva closed her eyes and let the music wash over her until a particularly jarring sound known only to musicians when they play out of key signature filled the air along with, "CRAP" Minerva smiled, loving the little girl even more for using a somewhat American expression. Minerva knew exactly where the girl was and slowly morphing into her human form said,

"Miss McDermott, pardon my interruption, but I think you'll find that the interval you meant to play in your right hand is an arpeggio beginning on a C sharp and not a D natural, thus forming the perfect five-seven chord in the C sharp minor and not the five chord in the E major,"

Robin whirled around, her eyes flying wide open with shock as she saw Minerva striding through the shadows.

Umm, if you couldn't tell, I like music. A lot. Robin resembles my looks, although, I can assure you, I am not eleven.