A few minutes later Minerva was once again stood facing the entrance to the Defence Against the Dark Arts office. The corridor was suspiciously devoid of passing students, a testament to the harshness of Umbridge's regime. Nobody wanted to be caught anywhere near the Headmistress, particularly since the Niffler incident.
Don't think I'm not aware of who was responsible for that, Lee Jordan.
A swift tap of her wand took care of the lock and the smartly polished door swung silently open. Last year it had creaked noisily, part of the disguised Barty Crouch's intruder warning system. Dolores had since had the house elves oil the hinges. In fact, she'd had the house elves do just about everything. Like many traditional wizarding families, she frowned upon unnecessary use of magic for household tasks. She was also, Minerva had discovered, extremely lazy.
Too lazy to set up proper protection spells, Minerva thought. Let's hope You Know Who doesn't decide to attack us in Albus' absence. We'll all be doomed.
Minerva stepped inside, still with just a few seconds to spare. A strong, vaguely floral scent assualted her nostrils and she wrinkled her long nose in disgust. The Headmistress might have left the room but her perfume still lingered as loud and offensive as the garish plates affixed to the wall above the desk. Even during Gilderoy Lockhart's tenancy the room had never looked - or smelled - as bad as this. And he had at least had had decent taste in aftershave, even if he had used a little too much of it.
For a short while she stared intently at the fireplace wondering whose face would soon appear. Albus had not said who he would be sending for this particular mission. She imagined he would chose someone familiar with the castle. That ruled out Sturgis and Hestia, both Beauxbatons graduates, and Mundungus who was, frankly, far too unreliable to be trusted with this anyway. Sirius couldn't risk being seen. Neither could the Ministry employees: Nymphadora, Kingsley and Arthur. Minerva guessed Alastor Moody would be the chosen one. That would certainly explain why Dumbledore had given this task to her and not impatient, intolerant Severus Snape.
There was a sudden loud crackle and the fire flared up, it's flames suddenly turning a vivid shade of green. Minerva saw their brilliant hue reflected in her spectacles. As she watched the shape of a man's head rose almost eerily in the middle of the hearth.
"Is it safe?" the apparition mouthed.
Wordlessly she nodded. The fire roared even more loudly and a large dark shape emerged from it s centre. A moment later Remus Lupin was stood in front of her, smiling affably as he shook the ash from his travelling cloak.
"Minerva," he acknowledged.
She could not answer for a moment; surprise had taken control of her tongue. Patient, calm Lupin with his faded robes and sensible advice. She'd been trying to prepare herself for Moody's uncontrollable paranoia. Remus Lupin was a welcome relief. Thank you, Albus.
She allowed him to kiss her chastely on the cheek but did not waste her breath on pointless niceties.
"We don't have much time."
Remus nodded but did not seem concerned. There was a half-smile on his face - was he pleased to see her? Certainly the brightly lit office - despite it's rather dubious choice of decoration - made a pleasant change from the cold, gloomy confines of Grimmauld Place which Minerva had visited regularly during the summer months. She suspected this was why Remus had agreed to this mission. This office had once been inhabited by him during happier, more peaceful times. They hadn't known that year that those times were coming to an end. Even when he'd resigned and she'd said goodbye to him with more reluctance than she cared to admit, she'd always thought he'd be back some day.
Minerva, this is no time to reminisce.
Quickly she led him from the office and down the hallway towards the marble staircase. Dumbledore's office was only one floor above them. If Umbridge had been safely secured in the broom cupboard as planned then Remus should have plenty of time to slip upstairs, collect what he'd been sent for and return to London.
But it was not to be.
As they stepped out onto the landing the unmistakable sound of heavy, ponderous footsteps could be heard descending the staircase above them, accompanied by strained breathing that suggested a trip to the hospital wing might well be imminent.
"Downstairs!" Minerva hissed, grasping a rather bemused Remus Lupin by his sleeve and hauling him hastily down towards the entrance hall. Remus was doing his best to stifle his laughter, obviously entertained by the idea of playing cat and mouse around the castle corridors.
Damn him, she thought. Why won't he take this seriously?
"Who's there?" Dolores called loudly above them. "I demand that you show yourself!"
The banisters creaked loudly. Minerva flattened herself against the wall and sprinted quickly down the last few stairs and along a short passageway towards the entrance to the staffroom. Her outstretched hand found the doorknob and fumbled it open just as Remus caught up with her, his eyes still sparkling with amusement. Together they dashed through the door and it slammed tightly shut behind them.
Don't think I'm not aware of who was responsible for that, Lee Jordan.
A swift tap of her wand took care of the lock and the smartly polished door swung silently open. Last year it had creaked noisily, part of the disguised Barty Crouch's intruder warning system. Dolores had since had the house elves oil the hinges. In fact, she'd had the house elves do just about everything. Like many traditional wizarding families, she frowned upon unnecessary use of magic for household tasks. She was also, Minerva had discovered, extremely lazy.
Too lazy to set up proper protection spells, Minerva thought. Let's hope You Know Who doesn't decide to attack us in Albus' absence. We'll all be doomed.
Minerva stepped inside, still with just a few seconds to spare. A strong, vaguely floral scent assualted her nostrils and she wrinkled her long nose in disgust. The Headmistress might have left the room but her perfume still lingered as loud and offensive as the garish plates affixed to the wall above the desk. Even during Gilderoy Lockhart's tenancy the room had never looked - or smelled - as bad as this. And he had at least had had decent taste in aftershave, even if he had used a little too much of it.
For a short while she stared intently at the fireplace wondering whose face would soon appear. Albus had not said who he would be sending for this particular mission. She imagined he would chose someone familiar with the castle. That ruled out Sturgis and Hestia, both Beauxbatons graduates, and Mundungus who was, frankly, far too unreliable to be trusted with this anyway. Sirius couldn't risk being seen. Neither could the Ministry employees: Nymphadora, Kingsley and Arthur. Minerva guessed Alastor Moody would be the chosen one. That would certainly explain why Dumbledore had given this task to her and not impatient, intolerant Severus Snape.
There was a sudden loud crackle and the fire flared up, it's flames suddenly turning a vivid shade of green. Minerva saw their brilliant hue reflected in her spectacles. As she watched the shape of a man's head rose almost eerily in the middle of the hearth.
"Is it safe?" the apparition mouthed.
Wordlessly she nodded. The fire roared even more loudly and a large dark shape emerged from it s centre. A moment later Remus Lupin was stood in front of her, smiling affably as he shook the ash from his travelling cloak.
"Minerva," he acknowledged.
She could not answer for a moment; surprise had taken control of her tongue. Patient, calm Lupin with his faded robes and sensible advice. She'd been trying to prepare herself for Moody's uncontrollable paranoia. Remus Lupin was a welcome relief. Thank you, Albus.
She allowed him to kiss her chastely on the cheek but did not waste her breath on pointless niceties.
"We don't have much time."
Remus nodded but did not seem concerned. There was a half-smile on his face - was he pleased to see her? Certainly the brightly lit office - despite it's rather dubious choice of decoration - made a pleasant change from the cold, gloomy confines of Grimmauld Place which Minerva had visited regularly during the summer months. She suspected this was why Remus had agreed to this mission. This office had once been inhabited by him during happier, more peaceful times. They hadn't known that year that those times were coming to an end. Even when he'd resigned and she'd said goodbye to him with more reluctance than she cared to admit, she'd always thought he'd be back some day.
Minerva, this is no time to reminisce.
Quickly she led him from the office and down the hallway towards the marble staircase. Dumbledore's office was only one floor above them. If Umbridge had been safely secured in the broom cupboard as planned then Remus should have plenty of time to slip upstairs, collect what he'd been sent for and return to London.
But it was not to be.
As they stepped out onto the landing the unmistakable sound of heavy, ponderous footsteps could be heard descending the staircase above them, accompanied by strained breathing that suggested a trip to the hospital wing might well be imminent.
"Downstairs!" Minerva hissed, grasping a rather bemused Remus Lupin by his sleeve and hauling him hastily down towards the entrance hall. Remus was doing his best to stifle his laughter, obviously entertained by the idea of playing cat and mouse around the castle corridors.
Damn him, she thought. Why won't he take this seriously?
"Who's there?" Dolores called loudly above them. "I demand that you show yourself!"
The banisters creaked loudly. Minerva flattened herself against the wall and sprinted quickly down the last few stairs and along a short passageway towards the entrance to the staffroom. Her outstretched hand found the doorknob and fumbled it open just as Remus caught up with her, his eyes still sparkling with amusement. Together they dashed through the door and it slammed tightly shut behind them.