Disclaimer: The wonderful J.K.Rowling
To my lovely reviewers: @Sirabella: I am honoured! Your story is so wonderful and it inspired me to continue, so thank you! @Sush: Thank you so much, I didn't believe it either, but after watching the second movie I just had to go on writing. @clara200: Thanx, that is so nice of you! @Anke: And thanx to you also! Keep on guessing, but it will all come clear soon! @Myztrice: Thank you and yours is a nice story either! @child-of-the-dawn: Yes it will be, I promise! I always loved that pairing and there are far too less stories about the two of them! @Ensis: I already thanked you, but let me say it again: Don't make me blush all the time *lol*. And I am so sorry! I couldn't put Grindelwald in here *goes hiding*, but the next chapter will be his!
Author's note: Well actually, I just wanted to give a brief glance at Minerva's past, but I got helplessly lost ;) So I had to stop after the first half of her past. The second part is going to follow in the next chapter, at least I plan it that way.. *lol* ^^^
Minerva finished her lesson like she always did: With tons of homework. The students groaned in protest, which almost made her smile. She had hated homework, when she was younger, too and for a second she thought about giving the sixth year students no homework at all, but decided against it, that wouldn't be normal. Afterwards she patiently answered Neville's question, whether it would be risky if he tried to turn Trevor into a box and McGonagall had to tell the young boy that usually it wouldn't, but with Neville's knowledge of magic and curses it might be hazardous for Trevor. When she saw Neville's disappointed face, she quickly added that they could try it in one of the transfiguration lessons. Neville thanked her and ran out smiling broadly. Only then McGonagall remembered Snape. He was already waiting for her, when she arrived in Dumbledore's office five minutes later. "Severus, what is so urgent? And what did you mean with spies in Hogwarts?" She sat down behind Dumbledore's desk, while Snape paced the room: "When I returned to Voldemort's circle of Death Eaters two years ago, the Dark Lord knew, of course, of my time as a spy for Dumbledore. It wasn't. pretty." Minerva remembered Snape spending five weeks in the hospital wing after his first reunion with Voldemort, the punishment for his betrayal had been cruel. She simply nodded and motioned him to go on. "Voldemort wouldn't trust me, so I had to give him top secret information to make him believe I was on his side again, don't worry, it was all clear with Dumbledore and the ministry. I never quiet got back into his inner circle though, but yesterday I was able to overhear a conversation between Lucius Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew. It seems that Voldemort is planning an attack. Not only on the ministry, but on Hogwarts as well." All the colour drained from McGonagall's face: "When?" Snape shrugged: "All I know is that they want to attack soon, the times have never been better: Voldemort is as powerful as ever, he has enough Death Eaters he can trust and most importantly Dumbledore is gone." Minerva leaned forward: "So you think he is responsible for Albus' disappearance?" To her surprise Snape shook his head: "No, Minerva, I don't think so. After the headmaster's "death" Voldemort was restless for a few days, he checked every source to see whether the news of his death were correct. As I've told you before, he has spies in Hogwarts, no human beings, besides me anyway, but animals, they were put under a spell, their eyes are Voldemort's eyes, he can see through their eyes what's going on in Hogwarts. That's why we had to talk here, no one can see us here, no one knows how to get up here. Voldemort was too careful, too suspicious to have abducted or killed Dumbledore himself." Minerva got up and paced behind the desk: "Are you sure about that?" Snape didn't answer at once: "Well, of course I can't be entirely sure, but I'd say to 85 percent: yes." Minerva nodded: "So we know of an imminent attack, one we should not know about, ergo are not supposed to try to prevent. Dumbledore was neither abducted by Voldemort, nor the ministry, at least I think so." Snape suddenly stopped pacing: "There's one thing I can't get out of my head, Lucius Malfoy said that it was a good thing they now had the support of the most powerful man in Britain." Minerva stopped her pacing as well: "But he didn't talk about Dumbledore? Then who could he have meant? This is all so bloody complicated!" Snape almost smiled when he heard Minerva McGonagall curse, he had never heard her using words like this before. The headmistress of Hogwarts sighed heavily: "So what do we do now? Inform the ministry?" Severus slowly shook his head: "I don't know, but something tells me not to do that, call it a hunch if you want to." Minerva almost smiled: " A hunch, Severus? But I agree, I think a little meeting with our friends might be necessary, we have many new information to share and we certainly have to think about the attack and what we can do." "I'll send off the owls." Severus offered and Minerva nodded. She waited till Snape had left the room, before collapsing into Dumbledore's old chair. This whole situation reminded her of the time when she had fought against Grindelwald, but then, fifty years ago, she had had Albus, Magnus and Aberforth at her side, today she was alone.
Sirius was watching Remus while he was packing his suitcase, he had no idea how Muggles did it, even a wizard's suitcase was too small to get all the needed stuff and clothes into it, and it was bewitched so that it had much more space to be filled than normal suitcases. Sirius swung his wand through the air and trousers and pullovers flew out of the wardrobe into the old brown leather suitcase: "So what exactly are we going to do?" He asked his best friend, who was fighting with his new suitcase, that, once closed, refused to open up again: "We'll help McGonagall and in that way make sure she does nothing that could endanger year's of work." Sirius nodded: "And how are we going to ensure that?" Remus smiled: "Trust me, we'll find a way." Lupin gave up fighting the suitcase, which in the meantime continued to growl at him: "Old Dumbledore clearly underestimated McGonagall." Sirius Black shook his head: "No, I don't think so, he always knew she was clever and I think he actually wanted her to find out about everything, but I agree with you, he certainly never expected her to start her own little mission. Fortunately Harry send us the letter or the whole thing might have gone terrible wrong." Remus nodded silently. Both looked up, when a pretty white owl flew into the room, carrying a little piece of paper. Sirius took it off of her feet and read it, then looking up he said in a gloomy voice: "Forget about Hogwarts, we don't have time for that anymore, it has begun!"
"Harry, have you.." Shhh!" Harry motioned Hermione to be quiet. "Follow me." He whispered and left the Gryffindor common room. Hermione looked questioningly at Ron, who simply shrugged and followed Harry. With a deep sigh Hermione followed the two boys, who would get her expelled from Hogwarts one day. Moaning Myrth was more than exited to see her three old friends again: "No, could that be Harry Potter? You need my toilet again, don't you? You certainly wouldn't come here to see me!" She started crying. While Hermione at least said Hallo, Ron and Harry simply ignored her, they had long ago given up to talk to Myrth. The ghost sobbed once more before flushing herself down one of the toilets. "Harry, what is so damn important?!?" Harry sat down on the cold floor: "Two things, first of all, Sirius and Remus are coming to Hogwarts. I got their owl yesterday." "Really, when?" Ron was always very exited to see Sirius and Remus, he thought to have a werewolf and someone who had been in Askaban as friends was the coolest thing in the world. "I have no idea, they didn't say. The only thing they wrote was that they are coming and that I should keep my eyes and ears open and that's the strange thing, because Snape gave me a letter, too and he said I should read it at a very safe place, seems like we have spies in Hogwarts." "Spies? Harry, don't you know that something like this is important? I've read in "History of Hogwarts" that. ." "Hermione, it doesn't matter what's written there, since Dumbledore is gone nothing is the way it's supposed to. Listen you two, there's going to be a meeting tomorrow evening, you know the deal, don't talk to anyone. It's all looking pretty bad." They were silent for a minute till Hermione faced Harry: "Did you talk to McGonagall?" Harry shook his head: "I wanted to, but then I meat Snape and thought I could tell her tomorrow as well." Hermione was going to say something, when Ron cut in: "Really, Harry, it could be important, I mean every time your scar hurt something bad happened. Maybe you should tell McGonagall now." Hermione nodded: "Ron is right. ouch, again." The two friends laughed, while Harry sighed: "All right all right, you've won, I'll tell her first thing tomorrow!" "I am sure you will, because we'll make sure you'll do!" Harry smiled gratefully at his two best friends: "What would I do without you?" Ron smirked: "Not the slightest idea: getting helplessly lost maybe?" The three friends exploded with laughter, it was good to relive some of the tension they all felt building up in Hogwarts.
Sleep just wouldn't come to her tonight. Minerva stood up and went to look out of her window. Winter was closing in, not long and it would start snowing. The sky was clear and star-packed, Minerva had always loved the stars, they were fascinating. When their light reached your eyes, they were already gone. They promised distant galaxies, with worlds, where no Voldemort and no Grindelwald were killing innocent people, where maybe everyone lived in harmony. Minerva smiled at her own self. Inside her there was still this naïve girl that believed in peace and harmony, even though years of experience had taught her better. But Grindelwald fell and Voldemort would fall as well. Minerva sat down in her old comfortable chair and continued to look at the stars. She let her mind wander and it took her to her own past.
She had been a very intelligent student, one of the most intelligent Hogwarts had ever seen. She had always been eager to learn and study. Hermione Granger reminded her a lot of her younger self, even though she hadn't had a Harry Potter and a Ron Weasley who tore her away from her books. Minerva hadn't been unpopular, many people had liked and respected her, but she never knew what true friendship meant. Her life changed with the arrival of the new transfiguration teacher during Minerva's sixth year. With his long and wavy brown hair and the clear blue eyes the middle aged teacher had instantly been the dream of every female student in Hogwarts and his name was Albus Dumbledore. He was so very different from all the other teachers, he was friendly but strict. He knew how to encourage and motivate the students but still keep up his authority.
Minerva had been instantly drawn to him, even though she was of the opinion that having a crush on your teacher was the silliest thing in the world. She thought her friends were terribly childish, but still she couldn't stop herself from admiring Dumbledore as well. She finished Hogwarts with honourably mention and had the most famous universities in the world waiting for her. Dumbledore advised her and helped her to pick one of the universities. She was grateful for the help and together they decided that the University of Magic in Brighton would be best for her, it was in England and one of the best magical universities in the world. She left Hogwarts to study transfiguration and magical history. The time at the university had been one of the brightest in Minerva's life. She stuck to Dumbledore's last advice to her that books wouldn't be everything and enjoyed her life. She got acquainted with a lot of people without neglecting her studies. During that time she read a lot about animagi and the process of becoming one. She had been fascinated by the idea to change the form of a human being against that of an animal. But in the five years she spent in Brighton, she never got the chance to ask one of her professors whether they would help her with getting an animagus. There were only a handful in the world, but Minerva wanted to be one of them. After graduating from university Minerva was unsure what to do with her life, she had always hated bureaucracy and to work for the ministry of magic was about the worst thing she could imagine. She needed to have contact with people, see what was going on in the world. It slowly came to her that teaching might be best for her and the longer she thought about it, the surer she got. She wanted to return to Hogwarts and teach. But a letter to the headmaster, Professor Dippet, destroyed her hopes. Hogwarts didn't need any new teachers, transfiguration was still taught by Albus and magical history by Professor Binns, at that time still alive, but boring his students to death nevertheless. She had just accepted that she would need to teach at another school, Bauxbatons maybe, when she got a letter from Dumbledore, inviting her to Hogwarts. She flew to Hogwarts the next weekend, exited about seeing her old school again. It stood still as mighty and impressing as five years ago and her heart yearned to return. Dumbledore hadn't changed a bit, with his 89 years he was still considered to be young. His hair hadn't even gotten a touch of grey yet. He was handsome Minerva thought, handsome and about seventy years older. They chatted for a while about Minerva's time in university and her plans for the future. She mentioned her wish to become a teacher, but Dumbledore, who was now head of Gryffindor house and deputy headmaster, knew already. He promised the next teaching post would be hers, he would make sure of that. And then he made her a proposal, one Minerva never expected. He offered to help her becoming an animagus. Minerva had been taken aback, how could he know that was one of her secret wishes? For the first time Minerva got the impression Dumbledore was be able to read people's minds. She joyously accepted the offer, ignoring his warning it would be hard and long work. They decided that Minerva would live in Hogsmeade for the time of her studies and Dumbledore would teach her in Hogwarts after his lessons ended. Minerva easily got a part time job in Hogsmeade that would earn her enough money to rent a flat and pay for food. The process of becoming an animagus was protracted and not seldom painful. She had decided she wanted to become a cat, cats being her favourite animals. They were intelligent and had a gracious way to move, their hearing was excellent (something that might proof useful when she grew older) and they were able to see in the dark without problems. She had to read one book after the next, study instructions, do the same movements and practise the same spells again and again. Every evening, when she returned home she would be sore from the exercises. The only enjoyable day in the week was the Sunday, that would be her day off and Albus Dumbledore often planned special things for the Sundays, like picnics or short trips to nice hidden places around Hogwarts. She enjoyed spending time with her former teacher and she thought to know he liked it as well. After two month of hard work Dumbledore trusted her to try changing her form for the first time. It was a disaster, in the last second before changing Minerva forgot to concentrate and got a little afraid, which was enough to get her seriously hurt. She awoke in the hospital wing of Hogwarts and was told by Madam Pomfrey that she had given Dumbledore quiet a scare. Albus spend the following week convincing her that she needn't be afraid of changing her form, if she concentrated long enough, everything would be fine. They tried again two weeks after Minerva's accident and that time it worked. Minerva smoothly changed into the form of a cat and back. She repeated doing that a couple of times, before hugging Dumbledore effusively. She felt like she could move mountains. To become a cat was an incredible feeling. To run on four legs, smoothly, without the slightest effort, had a touch of flying. Dumbledore was as happy and proud as she was, praising her all evening, making her blush more than once. They celebrated a little, before realizing that this had been it. Minerva was an animagus now, she didn't need the guidance and help of Dumbledore anymore. She had to plan her future again and finally decided to accept Bauxbaton's offer to teach transfiguration there. Saying goodbye had never been easy for Minerva and it wasn't any different now. She knew she'd miss England, Hogwarts, her family and she would miss Dumbledore and their Sundays as well. One week before leaving for France Minerva said goodbye to Hogsmeade and Dumbledore, promising to come back, once Hogwarts needed her. A simple hug and she got into the train, never once looking back. She spent a week with her family in Etherige, a small village near Oxford, before it was time for her to turn her back on Britain and say hello to France.
McGonagall got up from her chair, it was far past midnight, but she knew if she would let her mind wander further down the rode of her past she wouldn't sleep at all. The happy part of her past ended with her journey to France, after that a time of terror started, Grindelwald rose to become the darkest of all wizards, bringing sadness and fear to Europe, but in that time Minerva also got to know the true meaning of friendship. Before returning to her cold bed, she glanced at the stars once more and prayed for everything to turn out alright, as it had done fifty five years ago. **
In the meantime, not too far away from Hogwarts, two opposite forces gathered their members, preparing a battle, greater than any other battle the wizarding world had ever seen.
Author's note: Ok, I have to do some explaining, concerning the time line. In my Fanfiction the age of McGonagall is slightly different than the one in J.K.Rowling's books, because otherwise she would have been too young. Let's assume we have the year 2000 and Dumbledore is 150 years old, in my timeline McGonagall is 83 now, that makes her graduate from Hogwarts in 1934, graduate from university five years later in 1939, when she was 22 years old. Uhm, do I make sense? I hope so, if someone still has problems, just tell me, I'll explain!
To my lovely reviewers: @Sirabella: I am honoured! Your story is so wonderful and it inspired me to continue, so thank you! @Sush: Thank you so much, I didn't believe it either, but after watching the second movie I just had to go on writing. @clara200: Thanx, that is so nice of you! @Anke: And thanx to you also! Keep on guessing, but it will all come clear soon! @Myztrice: Thank you and yours is a nice story either! @child-of-the-dawn: Yes it will be, I promise! I always loved that pairing and there are far too less stories about the two of them! @Ensis: I already thanked you, but let me say it again: Don't make me blush all the time *lol*. And I am so sorry! I couldn't put Grindelwald in here *goes hiding*, but the next chapter will be his!
Author's note: Well actually, I just wanted to give a brief glance at Minerva's past, but I got helplessly lost ;) So I had to stop after the first half of her past. The second part is going to follow in the next chapter, at least I plan it that way.. *lol* ^^^
Minerva finished her lesson like she always did: With tons of homework. The students groaned in protest, which almost made her smile. She had hated homework, when she was younger, too and for a second she thought about giving the sixth year students no homework at all, but decided against it, that wouldn't be normal. Afterwards she patiently answered Neville's question, whether it would be risky if he tried to turn Trevor into a box and McGonagall had to tell the young boy that usually it wouldn't, but with Neville's knowledge of magic and curses it might be hazardous for Trevor. When she saw Neville's disappointed face, she quickly added that they could try it in one of the transfiguration lessons. Neville thanked her and ran out smiling broadly. Only then McGonagall remembered Snape. He was already waiting for her, when she arrived in Dumbledore's office five minutes later. "Severus, what is so urgent? And what did you mean with spies in Hogwarts?" She sat down behind Dumbledore's desk, while Snape paced the room: "When I returned to Voldemort's circle of Death Eaters two years ago, the Dark Lord knew, of course, of my time as a spy for Dumbledore. It wasn't. pretty." Minerva remembered Snape spending five weeks in the hospital wing after his first reunion with Voldemort, the punishment for his betrayal had been cruel. She simply nodded and motioned him to go on. "Voldemort wouldn't trust me, so I had to give him top secret information to make him believe I was on his side again, don't worry, it was all clear with Dumbledore and the ministry. I never quiet got back into his inner circle though, but yesterday I was able to overhear a conversation between Lucius Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew. It seems that Voldemort is planning an attack. Not only on the ministry, but on Hogwarts as well." All the colour drained from McGonagall's face: "When?" Snape shrugged: "All I know is that they want to attack soon, the times have never been better: Voldemort is as powerful as ever, he has enough Death Eaters he can trust and most importantly Dumbledore is gone." Minerva leaned forward: "So you think he is responsible for Albus' disappearance?" To her surprise Snape shook his head: "No, Minerva, I don't think so. After the headmaster's "death" Voldemort was restless for a few days, he checked every source to see whether the news of his death were correct. As I've told you before, he has spies in Hogwarts, no human beings, besides me anyway, but animals, they were put under a spell, their eyes are Voldemort's eyes, he can see through their eyes what's going on in Hogwarts. That's why we had to talk here, no one can see us here, no one knows how to get up here. Voldemort was too careful, too suspicious to have abducted or killed Dumbledore himself." Minerva got up and paced behind the desk: "Are you sure about that?" Snape didn't answer at once: "Well, of course I can't be entirely sure, but I'd say to 85 percent: yes." Minerva nodded: "So we know of an imminent attack, one we should not know about, ergo are not supposed to try to prevent. Dumbledore was neither abducted by Voldemort, nor the ministry, at least I think so." Snape suddenly stopped pacing: "There's one thing I can't get out of my head, Lucius Malfoy said that it was a good thing they now had the support of the most powerful man in Britain." Minerva stopped her pacing as well: "But he didn't talk about Dumbledore? Then who could he have meant? This is all so bloody complicated!" Snape almost smiled when he heard Minerva McGonagall curse, he had never heard her using words like this before. The headmistress of Hogwarts sighed heavily: "So what do we do now? Inform the ministry?" Severus slowly shook his head: "I don't know, but something tells me not to do that, call it a hunch if you want to." Minerva almost smiled: " A hunch, Severus? But I agree, I think a little meeting with our friends might be necessary, we have many new information to share and we certainly have to think about the attack and what we can do." "I'll send off the owls." Severus offered and Minerva nodded. She waited till Snape had left the room, before collapsing into Dumbledore's old chair. This whole situation reminded her of the time when she had fought against Grindelwald, but then, fifty years ago, she had had Albus, Magnus and Aberforth at her side, today she was alone.
Sirius was watching Remus while he was packing his suitcase, he had no idea how Muggles did it, even a wizard's suitcase was too small to get all the needed stuff and clothes into it, and it was bewitched so that it had much more space to be filled than normal suitcases. Sirius swung his wand through the air and trousers and pullovers flew out of the wardrobe into the old brown leather suitcase: "So what exactly are we going to do?" He asked his best friend, who was fighting with his new suitcase, that, once closed, refused to open up again: "We'll help McGonagall and in that way make sure she does nothing that could endanger year's of work." Sirius nodded: "And how are we going to ensure that?" Remus smiled: "Trust me, we'll find a way." Lupin gave up fighting the suitcase, which in the meantime continued to growl at him: "Old Dumbledore clearly underestimated McGonagall." Sirius Black shook his head: "No, I don't think so, he always knew she was clever and I think he actually wanted her to find out about everything, but I agree with you, he certainly never expected her to start her own little mission. Fortunately Harry send us the letter or the whole thing might have gone terrible wrong." Remus nodded silently. Both looked up, when a pretty white owl flew into the room, carrying a little piece of paper. Sirius took it off of her feet and read it, then looking up he said in a gloomy voice: "Forget about Hogwarts, we don't have time for that anymore, it has begun!"
"Harry, have you.." Shhh!" Harry motioned Hermione to be quiet. "Follow me." He whispered and left the Gryffindor common room. Hermione looked questioningly at Ron, who simply shrugged and followed Harry. With a deep sigh Hermione followed the two boys, who would get her expelled from Hogwarts one day. Moaning Myrth was more than exited to see her three old friends again: "No, could that be Harry Potter? You need my toilet again, don't you? You certainly wouldn't come here to see me!" She started crying. While Hermione at least said Hallo, Ron and Harry simply ignored her, they had long ago given up to talk to Myrth. The ghost sobbed once more before flushing herself down one of the toilets. "Harry, what is so damn important?!?" Harry sat down on the cold floor: "Two things, first of all, Sirius and Remus are coming to Hogwarts. I got their owl yesterday." "Really, when?" Ron was always very exited to see Sirius and Remus, he thought to have a werewolf and someone who had been in Askaban as friends was the coolest thing in the world. "I have no idea, they didn't say. The only thing they wrote was that they are coming and that I should keep my eyes and ears open and that's the strange thing, because Snape gave me a letter, too and he said I should read it at a very safe place, seems like we have spies in Hogwarts." "Spies? Harry, don't you know that something like this is important? I've read in "History of Hogwarts" that. ." "Hermione, it doesn't matter what's written there, since Dumbledore is gone nothing is the way it's supposed to. Listen you two, there's going to be a meeting tomorrow evening, you know the deal, don't talk to anyone. It's all looking pretty bad." They were silent for a minute till Hermione faced Harry: "Did you talk to McGonagall?" Harry shook his head: "I wanted to, but then I meat Snape and thought I could tell her tomorrow as well." Hermione was going to say something, when Ron cut in: "Really, Harry, it could be important, I mean every time your scar hurt something bad happened. Maybe you should tell McGonagall now." Hermione nodded: "Ron is right. ouch, again." The two friends laughed, while Harry sighed: "All right all right, you've won, I'll tell her first thing tomorrow!" "I am sure you will, because we'll make sure you'll do!" Harry smiled gratefully at his two best friends: "What would I do without you?" Ron smirked: "Not the slightest idea: getting helplessly lost maybe?" The three friends exploded with laughter, it was good to relive some of the tension they all felt building up in Hogwarts.
Sleep just wouldn't come to her tonight. Minerva stood up and went to look out of her window. Winter was closing in, not long and it would start snowing. The sky was clear and star-packed, Minerva had always loved the stars, they were fascinating. When their light reached your eyes, they were already gone. They promised distant galaxies, with worlds, where no Voldemort and no Grindelwald were killing innocent people, where maybe everyone lived in harmony. Minerva smiled at her own self. Inside her there was still this naïve girl that believed in peace and harmony, even though years of experience had taught her better. But Grindelwald fell and Voldemort would fall as well. Minerva sat down in her old comfortable chair and continued to look at the stars. She let her mind wander and it took her to her own past.
She had been a very intelligent student, one of the most intelligent Hogwarts had ever seen. She had always been eager to learn and study. Hermione Granger reminded her a lot of her younger self, even though she hadn't had a Harry Potter and a Ron Weasley who tore her away from her books. Minerva hadn't been unpopular, many people had liked and respected her, but she never knew what true friendship meant. Her life changed with the arrival of the new transfiguration teacher during Minerva's sixth year. With his long and wavy brown hair and the clear blue eyes the middle aged teacher had instantly been the dream of every female student in Hogwarts and his name was Albus Dumbledore. He was so very different from all the other teachers, he was friendly but strict. He knew how to encourage and motivate the students but still keep up his authority.
Minerva had been instantly drawn to him, even though she was of the opinion that having a crush on your teacher was the silliest thing in the world. She thought her friends were terribly childish, but still she couldn't stop herself from admiring Dumbledore as well. She finished Hogwarts with honourably mention and had the most famous universities in the world waiting for her. Dumbledore advised her and helped her to pick one of the universities. She was grateful for the help and together they decided that the University of Magic in Brighton would be best for her, it was in England and one of the best magical universities in the world. She left Hogwarts to study transfiguration and magical history. The time at the university had been one of the brightest in Minerva's life. She stuck to Dumbledore's last advice to her that books wouldn't be everything and enjoyed her life. She got acquainted with a lot of people without neglecting her studies. During that time she read a lot about animagi and the process of becoming one. She had been fascinated by the idea to change the form of a human being against that of an animal. But in the five years she spent in Brighton, she never got the chance to ask one of her professors whether they would help her with getting an animagus. There were only a handful in the world, but Minerva wanted to be one of them. After graduating from university Minerva was unsure what to do with her life, she had always hated bureaucracy and to work for the ministry of magic was about the worst thing she could imagine. She needed to have contact with people, see what was going on in the world. It slowly came to her that teaching might be best for her and the longer she thought about it, the surer she got. She wanted to return to Hogwarts and teach. But a letter to the headmaster, Professor Dippet, destroyed her hopes. Hogwarts didn't need any new teachers, transfiguration was still taught by Albus and magical history by Professor Binns, at that time still alive, but boring his students to death nevertheless. She had just accepted that she would need to teach at another school, Bauxbatons maybe, when she got a letter from Dumbledore, inviting her to Hogwarts. She flew to Hogwarts the next weekend, exited about seeing her old school again. It stood still as mighty and impressing as five years ago and her heart yearned to return. Dumbledore hadn't changed a bit, with his 89 years he was still considered to be young. His hair hadn't even gotten a touch of grey yet. He was handsome Minerva thought, handsome and about seventy years older. They chatted for a while about Minerva's time in university and her plans for the future. She mentioned her wish to become a teacher, but Dumbledore, who was now head of Gryffindor house and deputy headmaster, knew already. He promised the next teaching post would be hers, he would make sure of that. And then he made her a proposal, one Minerva never expected. He offered to help her becoming an animagus. Minerva had been taken aback, how could he know that was one of her secret wishes? For the first time Minerva got the impression Dumbledore was be able to read people's minds. She joyously accepted the offer, ignoring his warning it would be hard and long work. They decided that Minerva would live in Hogsmeade for the time of her studies and Dumbledore would teach her in Hogwarts after his lessons ended. Minerva easily got a part time job in Hogsmeade that would earn her enough money to rent a flat and pay for food. The process of becoming an animagus was protracted and not seldom painful. She had decided she wanted to become a cat, cats being her favourite animals. They were intelligent and had a gracious way to move, their hearing was excellent (something that might proof useful when she grew older) and they were able to see in the dark without problems. She had to read one book after the next, study instructions, do the same movements and practise the same spells again and again. Every evening, when she returned home she would be sore from the exercises. The only enjoyable day in the week was the Sunday, that would be her day off and Albus Dumbledore often planned special things for the Sundays, like picnics or short trips to nice hidden places around Hogwarts. She enjoyed spending time with her former teacher and she thought to know he liked it as well. After two month of hard work Dumbledore trusted her to try changing her form for the first time. It was a disaster, in the last second before changing Minerva forgot to concentrate and got a little afraid, which was enough to get her seriously hurt. She awoke in the hospital wing of Hogwarts and was told by Madam Pomfrey that she had given Dumbledore quiet a scare. Albus spend the following week convincing her that she needn't be afraid of changing her form, if she concentrated long enough, everything would be fine. They tried again two weeks after Minerva's accident and that time it worked. Minerva smoothly changed into the form of a cat and back. She repeated doing that a couple of times, before hugging Dumbledore effusively. She felt like she could move mountains. To become a cat was an incredible feeling. To run on four legs, smoothly, without the slightest effort, had a touch of flying. Dumbledore was as happy and proud as she was, praising her all evening, making her blush more than once. They celebrated a little, before realizing that this had been it. Minerva was an animagus now, she didn't need the guidance and help of Dumbledore anymore. She had to plan her future again and finally decided to accept Bauxbaton's offer to teach transfiguration there. Saying goodbye had never been easy for Minerva and it wasn't any different now. She knew she'd miss England, Hogwarts, her family and she would miss Dumbledore and their Sundays as well. One week before leaving for France Minerva said goodbye to Hogsmeade and Dumbledore, promising to come back, once Hogwarts needed her. A simple hug and she got into the train, never once looking back. She spent a week with her family in Etherige, a small village near Oxford, before it was time for her to turn her back on Britain and say hello to France.
McGonagall got up from her chair, it was far past midnight, but she knew if she would let her mind wander further down the rode of her past she wouldn't sleep at all. The happy part of her past ended with her journey to France, after that a time of terror started, Grindelwald rose to become the darkest of all wizards, bringing sadness and fear to Europe, but in that time Minerva also got to know the true meaning of friendship. Before returning to her cold bed, she glanced at the stars once more and prayed for everything to turn out alright, as it had done fifty five years ago. **
In the meantime, not too far away from Hogwarts, two opposite forces gathered their members, preparing a battle, greater than any other battle the wizarding world had ever seen.
Author's note: Ok, I have to do some explaining, concerning the time line. In my Fanfiction the age of McGonagall is slightly different than the one in J.K.Rowling's books, because otherwise she would have been too young. Let's assume we have the year 2000 and Dumbledore is 150 years old, in my timeline McGonagall is 83 now, that makes her graduate from Hogwarts in 1934, graduate from university five years later in 1939, when she was 22 years old. Uhm, do I make sense? I hope so, if someone still has problems, just tell me, I'll explain!