Back in Hogwarts
Minerva was glad to be back. Glad to have made it back before the end of term, so she could see all the students off. It was a relief to be able to look in at Albus in his office, instead of having to report her return to Umbridge. Albus was a bit depressed and it needed all of Minerva's skills at comforting to return the usual twinkle to his eyes.
It seemed that Harry had been very upset and Albus blamed himself for everything that had gone wrong these past years, especially during the last few months. Minerva cured him from that belief with a number of choice words, reminding him that he might be the greatest living wizard, but that he was human nonetheless. Using her walking stick as an extension of her forefinger, Minerva brought Albus back to earth.
'I am glad to have you back, Minerva!' Albus exclaimed. Smiling, he added: 'No one can put me in my place as well as you can, especially, when you've got a walking stick to help you.'
Her lips twitched upwards, as she set the tip of the walking stick back onto the floor. 'It is always a pleasure.' Remembering Gandalf, she asked. 'By the way, did Severus report the incident to you? The one of a wizard breaking through the wards of Hogwarts?'
At once Albus' face turned solemn. 'Yes. He also told me that the wizard escaped Azkaban four hours ago. Do you think he will come here?'
'I cannot say. But I daresay he might. Though I don't think that he means to harm anyone of us, well, maybe he'd want to get at Umbridge-'
'Who would not? However, what I really would like to know is why he came here.'
'I wanted to see the Lady of the castle.' A voice behind them said.
They whirled around and saw Gandalf, leaning on his staff, his white robes gleaming, and a twinkle in his eye. Minerva stifled a gasp and felt Albus beside her stiffen. The headmaster could by no means be pleased that this wizard had actually managed to break into his office. It was a rather unsettling thought, Minerva decided, as she watched the white wizard warily.
'That surely cannot be the case, as you did not even know of me before you first came here.' She told him matter of factly.
'Oh yes!' Gandalf replied, as if she had just told him something very novel, and went on. 'Of course, you want to know why I came the first time!'
'Exactly.' Albus replied grimly. Minerva could feel the air around him thickening, as he readied himself for a possible attack from Gandalf's side.
'Well, I was inside the rock beneath this castle for many years, waiting for the right time to emerge. When the time finally came, I followed the passageways in the stone, till I reached the little cave where you keep your boats. What happened next, you already know.' His account was mercifully brief and to the point, Minerva thought, as she examined him to see any signs that hinted of his recent encounter with Dementors. He seemed unfazed.
Minerva was glad to be back. Glad to have made it back before the end of term, so she could see all the students off. It was a relief to be able to look in at Albus in his office, instead of having to report her return to Umbridge. Albus was a bit depressed and it needed all of Minerva's skills at comforting to return the usual twinkle to his eyes.
It seemed that Harry had been very upset and Albus blamed himself for everything that had gone wrong these past years, especially during the last few months. Minerva cured him from that belief with a number of choice words, reminding him that he might be the greatest living wizard, but that he was human nonetheless. Using her walking stick as an extension of her forefinger, Minerva brought Albus back to earth.
'I am glad to have you back, Minerva!' Albus exclaimed. Smiling, he added: 'No one can put me in my place as well as you can, especially, when you've got a walking stick to help you.'
Her lips twitched upwards, as she set the tip of the walking stick back onto the floor. 'It is always a pleasure.' Remembering Gandalf, she asked. 'By the way, did Severus report the incident to you? The one of a wizard breaking through the wards of Hogwarts?'
At once Albus' face turned solemn. 'Yes. He also told me that the wizard escaped Azkaban four hours ago. Do you think he will come here?'
'I cannot say. But I daresay he might. Though I don't think that he means to harm anyone of us, well, maybe he'd want to get at Umbridge-'
'Who would not? However, what I really would like to know is why he came here.'
'I wanted to see the Lady of the castle.' A voice behind them said.
They whirled around and saw Gandalf, leaning on his staff, his white robes gleaming, and a twinkle in his eye. Minerva stifled a gasp and felt Albus beside her stiffen. The headmaster could by no means be pleased that this wizard had actually managed to break into his office. It was a rather unsettling thought, Minerva decided, as she watched the white wizard warily.
'That surely cannot be the case, as you did not even know of me before you first came here.' She told him matter of factly.
'Oh yes!' Gandalf replied, as if she had just told him something very novel, and went on. 'Of course, you want to know why I came the first time!'
'Exactly.' Albus replied grimly. Minerva could feel the air around him thickening, as he readied himself for a possible attack from Gandalf's side.
'Well, I was inside the rock beneath this castle for many years, waiting for the right time to emerge. When the time finally came, I followed the passageways in the stone, till I reached the little cave where you keep your boats. What happened next, you already know.' His account was mercifully brief and to the point, Minerva thought, as she examined him to see any signs that hinted of his recent encounter with Dementors. He seemed unfazed.
