Chapter 11

Later that day, Albus sat in his office, deep in thought, as he so often was recently. At first he'd been thinking of Harry, wondering how he was doing. Despite his determination to try to let Harry go, to shut off his caring, and calmly let Harry be where he was safest, Dumbledore couldn't help but have the child in his mind, and in his heart. From thoughts of Harry his mind had turned to Sirius, and the recent news of his capture and imprisonement in Azkaban.

It had been Dumbledore's evidence that had condemned Sirius Black to Azkaban. Even after Sirius's betrayal, Albus had still found it hard to speak the truth, knowing full well the consequences. Of course a crime such as Sirius's could not go unpunished, but Dumbledore loathed the demementors that were used to guard Azkaban. He felt that their cruelty was wrong, even criminals deserved some compassion. It wasn't right to torment prisoners with their presence, and it was heartbreaking to think of the young man, he remembered so well, coming to such a dark end.

Minerva's reaction to the news of Sirius's betrayal had been burning fury, intensified by her fondness for Sirius, and the fact that he'd been a Gryffindor. She couldn't imagine how any true Gryffindor could be guilty of such treachery. Albus had reacted with an ice cold anger, almost more frightning than the fire of Minerva's rage. It had since been replaced with sorrow and disappointment, as he questioned himself, asking if he could have done more, to prevent Sirius going so wrong.

So Albus sat at his desk, and remembered Sirius as a student - recalled the shaggy haired boy, who'd sat in his office so often, after one prank or another, brushing the hair from his eyes with a casual hand, his face full of adventure and mischief. Albus couldn't help but be charmed by him, Minerva too had been fond of Sirius, despite all the trouble he got into with James, and the other Marauders. Sirius had been wild haired, with even wilder eyes, untamed and full of heart. Albus hadn't seen anything bad in the boy, hadn't seen any real malice, or nastiness, in most of his escapades. Albus had thought it was the wildness of youth, and he had admired how Sirius always told the truth, looked him in the eye, and confessed to his wrongdoings. Should he have been stricter, he asked himself, punished the boy more harshly, tried to break his free spirirt ? Albus sighed, he never had been a strongly disciplinarian headmaster, one of the reasons why he was so well loved by most of his students.

He knew he could have been stricter, but it wasn't his way. Albus believed in giving young people space to grow, in making allowances. His disciplinarian side only showed on those rare occassions, when a student committed a serious act. Had he been wrong, he wondered sadly, could he have done more, seen the signs, prevented this somehow ?

It was Peter Pettigrew, out of the four boys, that Albus had worried about most, sensing something potentially unpleasant, in the rather shy boy, who never seemed to be quite a true part of the group. If Peter had betrayed James, it wouldn't have shocked Albus so much, but Sirius, the boy who seemed to have overcome his dark family history, how could it have happened ? What had caused him to turn away from everyone, and side with Voldemort? Even though Dumbledore had suspected the presence of a traitor, he had still been shocked to learn his identity.

Minerva stood outside Albus's rooms, gathering her thoughts, she had decided to talk to him about Harry. Most of the rest of the school were busy with classes, Minerva had no students to teach this period, and felt it was a good time to try to persuade Albus, to at least check if Harry was being well cared for.

As Minerva entered Albus's study, she saw him deep in thought, looking unusually grave. She knew instantly that something was wrong, and was by his side at once.

"Albus, what's wrong ?" She asked, half fearing that there might be bad news about Harry.

"It's nothing, my Dear." Albus answered, with a half smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I was just thinking about Sirius, thats all, wondering if I could have done more."

At his words, a stony silence fell, and Minerva's eyes flared with anger, as she too thought of Sirius. Minerva didn't think she'd ever be able to forgive Sirius for what he had done. Everything was his fault, loosing James and Lily, Harry being sent away, everything. During his school days Sirius had been almost like a son to her, she'd been so proud of his courage, his adventurous nature. Despite all the trouble he got into, she'd had a soft spot for him, had thought he would grow up to be a fine man, a credit to Gryffindor. Instead he had betrayed her, as he had betrayed the Potters. How could he ?

He and James had been like brothers. He'd been a boy you couldn't ignore, always in one scrape or another, he'd narrowly avoided expulsion a couple of times, but he'd had an honesty and courage about him, which made his act of betrayal all the more shocking. Neither her or Albus would ever have imagined that Sirius could do something like this, and yet, somehow he had been turned to the dark, corrupted, had betrayed his closest friend - it was unforgiveable.

"I'm sorry Minerva, I shouldn't have reminded you of this." Albus said softly, as he reached up to kiss her tenderly on the cheek.

"Nonsence, that's what I'm here for, to share your troubles." Minerva said brusquely, her mouth still compressed in a thine line of anger. "And don't you go blaming yourself Albus, It was the sorting hats fault, clearly Sirius Black was sorted into the wrong house."

"I have Never, in the entire history of Hogwarts, sorted anyone wrongly." The Sorting Hat said indignantly, glaring at Minerva balefully.

"Clearly Black should have been sorted into Slytherin, like all the rest of his family, he is quite clearly not a true Gryffindor. No Gryffindor would ever have done what he did, obviously he was sorted wrongly." Minerva stated emphatically, returning the sorting hats glare.

"I am only responsible for sorting them, NOT what YOU turn them into." The Sorting Hat answered, in it's most pompous tone. "I am never wrong, unlike certain Professors." It added, in tones of utmost self satisfaction and superiority.

Albus saw Minerva draw herself up to her full height, saw the flash in her eyes that hinted at a battle to come. He was just about to intervene, and try to calm things down, when there was a knock on the door. One of the prefects poked his head round the door and said "Sir, Professor Flitwick says would you come at once please, there's a problem with his classroom, he says it's really most urgent Sir."

Albus sighed as he left his office, he could only hope that Minerva and the Sorting Hat would solve their disagreement on their own. As the moving spiral staircase carried him down the tower, he could still hear Minerva and the Sorting Hat arguing, if anything their voices seemed to be getting louder. Fortunately Professor Flitwick's problem turned out to be something quite trivial, and Albus was soon able to make his way back to his office.

As Albus entered his office he was struck dumb at the sight that met his eyes. Minerva was chasing the Sorting Hat round the room, in one hand she held Godric Gryffindor's sword, which she was swinging round her head in wild circles. Albus could have sworn he heard her give a whoop, that resembled a scottish war cry, as she passed him. The Hat was wailing about how it was an ancient and venerable hat, and had never been treated so, interspersed with screeches of terror. Many of the inhabitants of the portraits were cheering them on. Phineus Nigellus could be heard saying "Personally my money, if I had any, would be on the Hat, though how one can bet on somethng without legs is beyond me." Armando Dippet, was lecturing Minerva on how unbecoming her behaviour was, and how she ought to respect tradition more, but no one was paying him any attention. For a couple of minutes, Albus gaped at the scene in disbelief, as the circles of Minerva and the Hat seemed to get faster and faster.

Finally Albus found his voice, "Stop this at once!" He thundered, in his sternest possible tone.

Instantly there was silence, only broken by the drawling voice of Phineus Nigellus. "Oh typical, trust you to turn up and spoil the fun, this is the best entertainment we've had in years, you know."

"Please explain ..." Albus demanded, his eyes twinkling merrily, as he fought to keep a straight face.

"She started it."

"The Hat started it." Minerva and the Sorting Hat both spoke at once, then glared at each other.

Albus had to remind himself that he wasn't dealing with a pair of fighting students, as his mouth twitched, as he surpressed a smile.

"Did not !" The Sorting Hat said indignantly.

"Oh yes you did." Snapped Minerva angrily.

Albus couldn't help it, he couldn't surpress his mirth any longer, and burst out laughing, the first time he'd laughed since James and Lily died. His eyes sparkled with all the old humour, and tears ran down his face as he laughed. Watching him, Minerva thought how wonderful it was to see him laugh once again, to see the old joy back in his face.

"I fail to see what is so amusing." The Sorting Hat sniffed, it's voice full of wounded dignity. "I'm far too old to be chased in such an undignified manner."

"I quite agree." Minerva said, with a mischevious glint in her eyes, and a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"Thank you, I'm glad someone is on my side." The Sorting Hat answered, then it hesitated slightly, as though considering her words." Just a minute, what exactly are you agreeing with ?"

Albus decided to intervene rapidly, before things got out of hand again. "Minerva, my darling, shall we go down to lunch ? I'm sure you must be hungry after your exertions." He said tenderly, and taking Minerva's arm lovingly, escorted her down to lunch.

"Well Really!" The Sorting Hat snorted, to no one in particular, and retired to it's normal place, where it turned it's back on the room, and sulked.

By that evening, it was all round the school, how professor McGonagall had chased the sorting hat round Dumbledore's office. There were many different rumours, each one crazier than the previous one. As Minerva was walking through the main entrance hall, she overheard one boy telling everyone, how the sorting hat had chased her round Dumbledore's office.

"Really Wilkes, as if I would let myself be chased by a mere hat !" Minerva snorted in disgust. "I was the one doing the chasing I'll have you know, if you must spread rumours at least spread the right ones. I would have caught it too, if Dum ..." Suddenly Minerva seemed to remember who she was talking to, and snapped, "Arn't you meant to be doing your homework ? Well get along then, before I dock you points."

Later that evening, as Albus and Minerva sat together, by the glowing fire, Albus kissed her tenderly and said. "You realise of course, that I've spent the last three hours soothing it's wounded dignity, at one point it threatened never to sort anyone again, unless I fired you."

"You wouldn't dare." Minerva joked.

"Of course my dear, you realise that your behaviour today was most unbecoming for my deputy headmistres ..." Albus teased her softly.

"You're a fine one to talk." Minerva responded, glaring at him half heartedly.

Albus chuckled lightly, as he drew her into his arms and held her close. Despite their laughter, and the warmth of each other, there was still sorrow, worries and grief in both of them, as they rested in each other's embrace. Both their thoughts strayed back to recent losses, to Harry, to James and Lily. Even in each others arm's, it seemed there was no escape from the grief, and stresses, that haunted them both. Neither one spoke of their feelings though, as they rested their heads against each other, and the silence between them grew deeper and deeper.

Author's Notes

Thanks to all you wonderful people who review, it's much appreciated. Reviews are like little rays of sunshine, and since it's been raining here, please review. ;)

I really enjoyed writing the scene where Minerva chases the sorting hat, it still makes me giggle now. So I hope it amuses you all too ? I have no idea what a scottish war cry sounds like, but it just seemed to fit. :D

This chapter was really fun to write, and made me laugh as I wrote it, so I hope you all enjoy the humour in it ? Hope the stuff about Sirius was interesting too, I guess I was a little self indulgent there, but did want to show the contrast between Albus and Minerva's natures and responses.

The Return of 'Things To Come'

Do you all still enjoy this ? Or would you prefer not to have this, in case it spoils the story ?

I'm afraid things are going to get alot sadder or angstier in the next chapters, though there will still be light moments, and humour. There will also be some lovely romantic moments, maybe a little fluffy at times.

Chapter 12 Albus and Minerva have their first real fight. Minerva makes a decision.

Next Chapter (I'm very superstitious about a certain number lol) Minerva goes ahead with her choice.

Chapter 14 Consequences must be faced, Albus shows an unfamilliar side of his nature.

Chapter 15 Albus is becoming more and more worried about Minerva, as she seems increasingly fragile to him. He fears he will loose her love.