First off, Thanks to all of you who reviewed the last chapter
Second, I'M SOOOOOOO SORRY FOR THIS BEING SO LATE!! I just got so caught up in school work, I wasn't able to revise and edit this as soon as I thought I would.
Hope you all like this part, and continue reading this (even if I don't update as often as I should, sorry again for that)
Part 3
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"Whoa." Was all Harry got out as he looked at a room that looked as big as the Great Hall at Hogwarts, but it was filled with crystal chandeliers with real candles (of course, because no electricity) hanging from a ceiling that was at least 12 feet high, gold framed pictures adorning the walls, great columns of marble that matched the floor, and a huge family crest hanging above a pair of carved mahogany double doors.
"Welcome to Magicus Paradisus, my home." Minerva said proudly as she saw Harry looking around in amazement.
"This is your home? It's huge!" Harry said getting up.
"Yes, well, my great-great-great-grandfather was a bit of a show off. He loved for people to know about 'the pureblood history and wealth of the McGonagall family'." Minerva said, obviously not believing that showing off when you're a pureblood and wealthy were that important. "Well now, I'll show you to your room, give you a quick tour and then, if your hungry, we'll have a little chat over some dinner. How does that sound?"
"Great, although I think I might get lost in here." He said, following her up a grand staircase.
"You'll get used to it. You got used to Hogwarts, and it's much larger than this." Minerva said, still carrying Hedwig's cage.
"So," Harry started, "Did something happen to the Weasley's or the Order?" He asked worriedly.
Minerva kept walking, but he heard her sigh, "No, Harry, everything's fine with them, it's just that Molly and Arthur really haven't been able to get that many charms around their house yet, and honestly, with all the work they do, we thought it might be better if…"
"I wasn't an extra burden." Harry finished her sentence, a tinge of bitterness to his voice.
Minerva stopped and turned around, "Harry, you would never be a burden." She said emotionally, "In fact, they don't even know that I was going to get you. No one really did."
"What about the ministry? Won't they know that I left?"
Minerva turned around and started walking again, Harry walking right next to her. "Yes, Albus sent them an owl explaining that, for your protection, he has arranged for you to stay at a more secure location and that he didn't feel it was safe to tell the ministry where you are, at least not in a letter. He's going to go there tomorrow and sort things out."
"Oh. Ok, I understand why I can't go to the Burrow, but Grimmauld Place would be safe." Harry's voice betrayed the feeling of sadness he was feeling thinking about Sirius and his house.
"You know it wasn't your fault." Minerva said quietly.
Harry nodded, knowing what she was referring to, "I know." He said quietly.
"And it wasn't Albus' either. Or Sirius'." Minerva added.
Harry didn't say anything.
"Well, here we are." She said opening one of the large doors in the hallway and walked through it.
Harry stepped in after her, "It's as big as the boy's room at Hogwarts." Harry said, still not getting used to the size of the 'house'.
"Many of the bedrooms are overly large. Some are just too large in my opinion." She said setting down Hedwig's cage and letting her out. "My room is to the right and at the end of the hallway if you need me at any time."
"Thanks, um, could you change my stuff back to their real size?"
"Oh, of course, I'm sorry." Minerva flicked her wand and the trunk returned to its normal size. "Do you want to unpack now or later?"
"I can do it later, I'd actually like to talk a bit more now. If that's alright." Harry asked uncertainly, he still was a little uncomfortable with staying with his teacher for the whole summer. At least it's McGonagall, I'd hate to be forced into staying with Snape. Harry had to refrain from shivering at that last thought.
"That's fine." Minerva said going across the room and pulling down on a large rope by the side of the fireplace. A gong rang somewhere in the house and immediately a house elf showed up.
"Oh Missus, Jinkey is so happy you are back!" The elf, who Harry realized was female, saw Harry and her eye's widened and she bowed, "Jinkey is so honored to meet you, Mr. Harry Potter."
Minerva smiled, "Jinkey, would you be a dear and bring us some snacks and drinks. How about some nice cold iced tea?" She suggested to Harry.
"That sounds nice." Harry said timidly. "It's nice to meet you Jinkey."
Jinkey smiled, "I is going to get them right away!" And she was gone.
"I didn't realize you had a house elf." Harry said, not sure why he didn't realize it from the start. Duh, Harry, the place it almost as big as Hogwarts, of course she'd have a house elf.
"Actually I have 14 house elves, but you might not want to mention it to Miss. Granger. I wouldn't want her coming and bothering me with that SPEW business."
Harry couldn't help but laugh, "Actually it's S.P.E.W."
Minerva smirked and rolled her eyes, "It's ridiculous. As intelligent as she is, sometimes being muggle born doesn't allow her to grasp how certain things are in the wizarding world."
Harry frowned, "Well I can understand how that can happen."
"I don't mean it as an insult, Harry, far from it. Hermione has a great future in front of her. She's one of the most talented witches I've had the pleasure of teaching. But starting SPEW is not going to change hundreds of years of tradition in year or two." Minerva said gently, "Now, come sit down and we'll talk. I'll answer any of your questions."
Jinkey appeared with some sandwiches, chicken, a bit of dessert, and two glasses of iced tea, which she placed on the table quickly and then disappeared.
Harry went and sat down in the chair opposite of Minerva.
"Professor…"
"Now let's stop that right now." Minerva said quickly, "While you're here during the summer you don't have to call me Professor."
"Oh, so what do I call you? Minerva?" Harry asked, feeling a little odd at calling her by her first name.
"If you're comfortable, that's fine. Just remember that while other people are around, you should still address me as Professor." Harry nodded in understanding, "Now, you wanted to know why you didn't go back to the Order's Headquarters?" Harry nodded and Minerva continued, "Well, because of Kreacher, we're not entirely sure that the house is secure any more. You see, since Sirius was the rightful heir, it was his house, and because of a charm put on it by his grandfather, no one was allowed to enter the house unless Sirius approved. However that rule did not apply to direct relatives."
Harry looked at her questioningly, and then it dawned on him, "Malfoy." He growled.
"Well, Narcissa, at least, but not Lucius or Draco."
"But Draco's a direct relative."
"But he's not really a Black. Narcissa was born a Black, Draco wasn't. Anyway, Narcissa would be able to enter the house until its owner was able to claim the house and declare Narcissa as forbidden from the house."
"So who's the owner now?"
"You are."
"Me?!" Harry asked, spitting out some sandwich.
"Yes, unfortunately, you can't officially claim it until you become of age, so you can't ban Narcissa from the house until then." Minerva said softly.
"But why would she come? I mean, there would be all the Order's members there."
"Yes, most of the time, but there are ways around the house that we may not know of, but she does because she practically grew up in that house."
"So I'm not safe there, but I'm safe here?" Minerva nodded, "So why doesn't the Order just move its headquarters to here then?"
"Absolutely not!" Minerva yelled, obviously appalled by the idea, but she immediately settled down, "I mean…I like my privacy, I know this place is big, and it's probably safer than Grimmauld Place ever was, but there are certain things that I really don't think many members of the Order are ready to know. Which brings me to something else we have to discuss."
"What things?" Harry
asked, knowing he was being nosy, but something telling him to ask anyway.
"Since you'll be staying here, you'll find out a lot about me, and some other
people as well. Now I need to make sure
that some of the things you keep secret, even from Ron and Hermione."
"What type of things?"
"Nothing illegal, Harry, don't worry. But some, private things that, although I'm
not ashamed of, are better kept secret right now."
"Wait, but won't Voldemort be able to know these things too?" Harry asked suddenly, remember that he (Voldemort)
was able to get into his (Harry's) mind now.
"Well, I'm not as good in Occlumency as some other witches and wizards are, but I'll be giving you lessons in that this summer. And besides, many of these things he already knows about."
"Okayyyy. Sooo, anything I should know about now?"
Minerva looked down, "I need you to promise me first, Harry. I know you can be trusted, but I like to hear people actually agree to it."
"I promise."
"Thank you. Now, the
first thing, and probably the most shocking is about my husband."
"You're married? But you're not wearing
a wedding ring." Harry said confused,
thinking that a traditional woman like McGonagall would wear a wedding band.
"Not many people know I'm married, it's not that we're ashamed of it, but
because of certain…well perhaps you'd understand better if I told you that my
married name is Dumbledore."
Harry's eyes widened, "You're married to Professor Dumbledore? But I thought he was like 80 years older than you?"
"He is." Minerva confirmed, "Age doesn't really matter when love is concerned, but because of the enemies Albus has made over the years, if they knew we were married, they might try to attack me in order to get to him. In addition the Headmaster and Deputy being involved in such a way might be just what some people, such as the Malfoy's, would like in order to have him removed as headmaster, even though our personal relationship has in no way interfered with our professional relationship."
"But won't Voldemort try and attack you now?!"
"No, he won't, because he's known since almost the beginning about Albus and my relationship." Minerva sighed at the look of confusion on Harry's face, "It's quite a complicated story. Let's just say that the way Pettigrew owes his life to you, is the same way Tom Riddle owes his life to me, only several times stronger. He swore to me, before he became Lord Voldemort, that he would never let any harm come to me."
"You saved him?"
"I saved an innocent first year from being killed by the rest of the Slytherin House for being a half blood, and then prove that he could do just as well, sometimes even better, than them in their classes. I also helped a second year from being expelled for a prank that he was innocent of committing, but that his housemates were guilty of. If it wasn't for me, Lord Voldemort wouldn't exist, at least not in the way that he does now. As much as I hate to think that, he knows it as well, and so both Tom Riddle and Lord Voldemort are indebted to me, and that has proved to be, and will continue to prove invaluable to me and many others."
Harry shook his head, "This is way too much information for one night." He muttered to himself.
"Indeed it is." Came a familiar voice from the corner.
Harry looked up only to see what he thought was an empty corner for a few seconds until Albus Dumbledore appeared there without a sound.
"How did you…You've been there the whole time, haven't you?" Harry asked, a tinge of anger in his voice.
"Yes, I have been. I know that I've made some mistakes in the past, but I hope you can forgive me for them. Minerva wanted to explain a few things to you first, and thought that it would be better if she told you about us then if we did it together."
Harry looked from Albus to Minerva, "So I'm staying with both of you."
Minerva nodded.
"You're married, but almost no one knows. I own Grimmauld Place, but can't live there until I'm of legal age, and then I have to make sure Narcissa Malfoy can't get in there." Both Minerva and Albus nodded in confirmation. "Is there anything else you've been keeping from me that I should know about?" He asked, looking back at Albus.
"There are many things you should know, Harry, about your Father and his family, why you were left with your Aunt and Uncle for all those years. Perhaps a better understanding of Voldemort and some of his followers, and maybe even a better understanding of some of your friends and their families, but unfortunately, I don't think there's enough time tonight to explain everything." Albus said gently.
"We know you'd like to know everything now, Harry, but I think you need some rest now, and some time to think about what we've already told you tonight. Then tomorrow morning, after you've had time to think about everything and think up questions you'd like answered, we'll tell you more." Minerva explained before Harry could reply.
Harry nodded, "I guess I am a bit tired. But I want to talk tomorrow morning, no later."
Minerva smiled, "Good, now we'll leave you to unpack and get ready for bed. I'll check back in a little while to make sure you have everything you need for tonight."
"Uh, thanks." Harry said awkwardly as she got up and gave him a quick hug. Albus patted him on the shoulder.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning then. Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight, Professor."
"You know, if you're going to call me Minerva, you can call him Albus." Minerva whispered as Albus left the room. Harry smiled as he watched her leave with a smirk.
Well this is going to be an interesting summer. Harry thought to himself before starting to unpack his belongings.
End of Part 3