Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling
Author's note: I am really sorry this took so long, but my American friend is visiting me at the moment and she is keeping me busy. Well here is the fourth chapter, I hope you enjoy it! Please R&R!
Minerva strode through the halls of Hogwarts. The time had come. She stopped briefly in front of the doors that led to Dumbledore's office. Taking a deep breath she opened them. McGonagall quickly checked the persons. There were the four Weasleys and sitting with them Hermione, Ron and Harry. Snape was sitting in the far corner of the room, Mad eye moody was leaning against Albus' antique cupboard. She almost panicked, when she didn't see Magnus Dumbledore at first, but he was standing hidden in the right Corner of the room. She sighed relieved, then stepped through the room and set down at the desk. All eyes rested at her.
She looked at Molly Weasley, sitting next to her husband, who smiled at her reassuringly. Only then she began to speak:
"Welcome to all of you. I am glad you all accepted and followed my invitation. I assume the news of Albus Dumbledore's death were a great shock for all of you." Some nodded. "And Professor Dumbledore's death is the cause for you all to sit here. What I am going to say now will be a big surprise for you, but please let me finish speaking, before you ask questions." She stopped for a second, causing her listeners to bend forwards so that they wouldn't miss one word of what Minerva was going to say. "I believe, no, I know that Albus Dumbledore is not dead!" A gasp could be heard and Molly Weasley's eyes were wide with puzzlement: "Professor McGonagall, do you have any poof and if so, would you kindly let us know, because I at least have no idea what you are talking about!" Minerva smiled gently and began to tell everyone the hints she found that told her Albus was not dead. She told them about Fudge's sudden appearance, about Fawkes behaviour and about the strange things Dumbledore had told her, before his "death". "You see, " she said, "there are only small things, none of them of great importance as it seems, but it's like with a puzzle. Each of the parts seems to be unimportant, but together they create a picture." Arthur Weasley nodded in understanding. "But my dear Professor," Snape's voice could be heard, "what you're giving us here are vague statements and certainly not facts. Fawkes doesn't sing a mourning song, maybe he just doesn't want to… ." "Snape, you're talking rubbish!" Mad eye moody (knurrte), " I've never seen a closer relationship between a phoenix and his owner as between Albus and Fawkes." Snape stayed silent and Minerva was glad about that. Snape's last remark let her once again wonder whether she had done the right thing to inform him, too. "I don't want to seem stupid, but what are we going to do now? If Professor Dumbledore really was kidnapped, then we have to find out by whom and where he is now and finally we have to rescue him." Minerva nodded, Harry had his point. "That's why you're all here tonight, I need your help! I need to know what is going on. Arthur, you're working in the ministry, we need someone to try and find out more there. Fudge's recent behaviour is more than strange. I want you to keep your eyes and ears open." Arthur nodded. "Billy, I don't know, but having someone in Gringotts may be of help either, Charley the same goes for you, the minute one of the two of you hears something, that may have to do with Albus' disappearance, you have to inform me, send me an secret owl, you tow are Weasleys, you know how to do it, don't you?" She smiled good-natured at the two young men. "Severus, as for you, you decided to get Albus' spy once more two years ago. You are our only connection to you-… Voldemort. You have to find out whether he's involved." Snape nodded briefly. "Moody, we'll need aurors, no one has a better understanding of dark magic and how to fight it than you. I assume you've already informed Arabella and the others?" "Yes, the old circle knows what happened and is ready." Minerva smiled satisfied. "And last but not least, you Magnus." Everyone turned around to see the elderly man, who had stayed quiet so far. There was no doubt about it, he was a family member of the Dumbledores. His nose and the clear blue eyes were too significant. "Magnus, we'll need a connection to the muggle world. They sometimes know more than we do, they don't know what they know, but they know it. I know you and Albus never had a close relationship, but he needs you. Will you help us?" Magnus Dumbledore stayed silent for a few seconds, but then he nodded: "Whatever I can do, I will do it." Minerva sighed in relieve. "Uhm professor?" Hermione Granger looked at her uncomfortably, "What are we supposed to do?" "Well, I wanted to inform you, because you'd have found out sooner or later anyway and now I can keep you under control." Molly and Arthur Weasley grinned at the three teenager. "Again, I want to ask all of you to keep this secret. If the wrong persons find out about our plans, we won't just loose Albus, we'll maybe get into danger ourselves. Be alert and careful. I will inform you the second there are new information and we'll have regular meetings of which I'll inform you." She surveyed the room to make sure everyone got the point. "For now this is everything I have to say. I wish you a safe journey home."
The room emptied as everyone strode out. Minerva stayed back, together with Magnus Dumbledore. For a second they just looked into each others eyes, then Magnus sat down in front of the desk: "Are you sure about this Minerva?" She nodded. How long hadn't she seen him? Forty years at least. He hadn't changed much, his hair had gotten a touch of grey, but the way he wore it was still the same. Short, barely touching the ears, but still it seemed to flow. The eyes were as remarkable as Albus' were and he had the same note of authority. Minerva had never doubted that Albus' younger brother would have gotten a powerful wizard, should he have chosen to live in their world, but he hadn't. "So," Magnus had finished studying her, "how has life been for you?" "Good." Minerva didn't know what to say, she couldn't forget the last time she had seen Magnus and what had happened there. But she didn't have to think of an answer, because at that precise moment, Fawkes started to scream… .
Author's note: I am really sorry this took so long, but my American friend is visiting me at the moment and she is keeping me busy. Well here is the fourth chapter, I hope you enjoy it! Please R&R!
Minerva strode through the halls of Hogwarts. The time had come. She stopped briefly in front of the doors that led to Dumbledore's office. Taking a deep breath she opened them. McGonagall quickly checked the persons. There were the four Weasleys and sitting with them Hermione, Ron and Harry. Snape was sitting in the far corner of the room, Mad eye moody was leaning against Albus' antique cupboard. She almost panicked, when she didn't see Magnus Dumbledore at first, but he was standing hidden in the right Corner of the room. She sighed relieved, then stepped through the room and set down at the desk. All eyes rested at her.
She looked at Molly Weasley, sitting next to her husband, who smiled at her reassuringly. Only then she began to speak:
"Welcome to all of you. I am glad you all accepted and followed my invitation. I assume the news of Albus Dumbledore's death were a great shock for all of you." Some nodded. "And Professor Dumbledore's death is the cause for you all to sit here. What I am going to say now will be a big surprise for you, but please let me finish speaking, before you ask questions." She stopped for a second, causing her listeners to bend forwards so that they wouldn't miss one word of what Minerva was going to say. "I believe, no, I know that Albus Dumbledore is not dead!" A gasp could be heard and Molly Weasley's eyes were wide with puzzlement: "Professor McGonagall, do you have any poof and if so, would you kindly let us know, because I at least have no idea what you are talking about!" Minerva smiled gently and began to tell everyone the hints she found that told her Albus was not dead. She told them about Fudge's sudden appearance, about Fawkes behaviour and about the strange things Dumbledore had told her, before his "death". "You see, " she said, "there are only small things, none of them of great importance as it seems, but it's like with a puzzle. Each of the parts seems to be unimportant, but together they create a picture." Arthur Weasley nodded in understanding. "But my dear Professor," Snape's voice could be heard, "what you're giving us here are vague statements and certainly not facts. Fawkes doesn't sing a mourning song, maybe he just doesn't want to… ." "Snape, you're talking rubbish!" Mad eye moody (knurrte), " I've never seen a closer relationship between a phoenix and his owner as between Albus and Fawkes." Snape stayed silent and Minerva was glad about that. Snape's last remark let her once again wonder whether she had done the right thing to inform him, too. "I don't want to seem stupid, but what are we going to do now? If Professor Dumbledore really was kidnapped, then we have to find out by whom and where he is now and finally we have to rescue him." Minerva nodded, Harry had his point. "That's why you're all here tonight, I need your help! I need to know what is going on. Arthur, you're working in the ministry, we need someone to try and find out more there. Fudge's recent behaviour is more than strange. I want you to keep your eyes and ears open." Arthur nodded. "Billy, I don't know, but having someone in Gringotts may be of help either, Charley the same goes for you, the minute one of the two of you hears something, that may have to do with Albus' disappearance, you have to inform me, send me an secret owl, you tow are Weasleys, you know how to do it, don't you?" She smiled good-natured at the two young men. "Severus, as for you, you decided to get Albus' spy once more two years ago. You are our only connection to you-… Voldemort. You have to find out whether he's involved." Snape nodded briefly. "Moody, we'll need aurors, no one has a better understanding of dark magic and how to fight it than you. I assume you've already informed Arabella and the others?" "Yes, the old circle knows what happened and is ready." Minerva smiled satisfied. "And last but not least, you Magnus." Everyone turned around to see the elderly man, who had stayed quiet so far. There was no doubt about it, he was a family member of the Dumbledores. His nose and the clear blue eyes were too significant. "Magnus, we'll need a connection to the muggle world. They sometimes know more than we do, they don't know what they know, but they know it. I know you and Albus never had a close relationship, but he needs you. Will you help us?" Magnus Dumbledore stayed silent for a few seconds, but then he nodded: "Whatever I can do, I will do it." Minerva sighed in relieve. "Uhm professor?" Hermione Granger looked at her uncomfortably, "What are we supposed to do?" "Well, I wanted to inform you, because you'd have found out sooner or later anyway and now I can keep you under control." Molly and Arthur Weasley grinned at the three teenager. "Again, I want to ask all of you to keep this secret. If the wrong persons find out about our plans, we won't just loose Albus, we'll maybe get into danger ourselves. Be alert and careful. I will inform you the second there are new information and we'll have regular meetings of which I'll inform you." She surveyed the room to make sure everyone got the point. "For now this is everything I have to say. I wish you a safe journey home."
The room emptied as everyone strode out. Minerva stayed back, together with Magnus Dumbledore. For a second they just looked into each others eyes, then Magnus sat down in front of the desk: "Are you sure about this Minerva?" She nodded. How long hadn't she seen him? Forty years at least. He hadn't changed much, his hair had gotten a touch of grey, but the way he wore it was still the same. Short, barely touching the ears, but still it seemed to flow. The eyes were as remarkable as Albus' were and he had the same note of authority. Minerva had never doubted that Albus' younger brother would have gotten a powerful wizard, should he have chosen to live in their world, but he hadn't. "So," Magnus had finished studying her, "how has life been for you?" "Good." Minerva didn't know what to say, she couldn't forget the last time she had seen Magnus and what had happened there. But she didn't have to think of an answer, because at that precise moment, Fawkes started to scream… .