Chess

Gandalf spent the day talking nine to the dozen with Professor Emmerings. The discussion with the scholar did not hinder him from noticing McGonagall's presence outside his rooms. She stopped by, but then went off again. Unwilling to let her go like that, he rushed to the door and called her name.

Surprised, she turned to face him. 'How did you know I was here?'

'Magic.' He said and took the chance to ask her: 'Why didn't you knock?'

'I didn't want to disturb your little chat with Professor Emmerings. I heard your voices talking.' She told him, her expression too smooth to read.

'And why should you not join us?' he replied, barely hiding his exasperation. 'Come on in, lady.'

One of her dark eyebrow rose. 'Witches are not addressed as 'ladies' nowadays.'

'More's the pity.' He grinned, helping her into a comfortable armchair. 'Would you like some tea?'

'Oh yes', she answered enthusiastically.

She had no objection to him smoking his pipe, and so they were soon seated comfortably, both with some tea and he with his pipe. The witch opposite wearing an expression that was almost dreamy, her chin resting in her hand, her elbow on the arm of her chair. He himself was relaxing thoroughly, spread all over his chair.

He couldn't resist smiling at her, the pleasant combination of a good smoke, good tea and pretty company were weaving their spell around him. Her too, for she smiled back, the black ice of her eyes shining as if a ray of sunlight had struck it, making it suddenly rather difficult for him to breathe normally. He was glad he was sitting, for his knees had gone rather weak. However, the smile passed as soon as it had come. When she had taken a swig of tea, her expression was neutral again.

Finally, he broke the silence. 'So, how did you get rid of Mrs Umbridge? I must say I'm a bit curious about that.'

There definitely was a devious spark in her eyes as she answered. 'A brilliant student at our school led her into the Forbidden Forest where a young giant and a herd of centaurs dealt with her. Of course, we couldn't leave the woman there, so Albus fetched her from the Forest a short while ago. She is rather worse for the wear.'

'You don't seem to mind.'

'I don't. Dolores Umbridge has done a lot of damage and wrought great havoc at Hogwarts. I am glad she received some punishment.' To his dismay, her features darkened considerably.

In an effort to lighten her mood somewhat, he asked. 'But surely she wasn't really in control? At least, she didn't seem to be when I encountered both her and you in the cave harbour.'

'Oh no!' She replied and told him how the school had made Umbridge's life miserable.

Gandalf chuckled, and when he heard of the fireworks some of the students had created, he questioned her so thoroughly that she offered to introduce him to the inventive students. He grinned delightedly and couldn't resist the temptation to kiss her hand when she left. She was surprised, but didn't seem to mind. Gandalf watched walk down the corridor, his lips yearning to touch her smooth, cool skin again.

'Ah-ha!' Professor Emmering's voice slyly said behind him. 'So you took a liking to Minerva McGonagall.'

Gandalf smiled at the portrait ruefully. 'Am I so obvious?'

'Rather!' Was the reply. 'Did you really think I wouldn't notice how you flirted with her?'

The word flirting was not in Gandalf's vocabulary, but he could guess exactly what Emmerings meant by it. 'I was under the impression that I was quite subtle.' He defended himself.

Emmerings snorted. 'Nonsense! If Minerva were slightly more attentive, she'd have caught on your little game long ago! So, what will your next step be?'

Gandalf shook his head at the portrait, amused. 'Contrary to what you may think, I'm no schemer. I prefer to improvise.'

Professor Emmerings didn't look very convinced as he said: 'Of course. By the way, your dinner has arrived.'

Gandalf thanked him and went inside to enjoy a sumptuous meal. Afterwards, he waited for McGonagall to pay him another visit, but in vain. A whole day elapsed before she stood at his door again, this time with a game of chess under her arm.

'Do you play chess?' She asked as a greeting.

He nodded and held the door open for her. 'I do. Please come in and have a seat.'

Hours of silence passed, both of them concentrating on the game between them. Soon Gandalf (who was smoking his pipe to help him think) had to realise that he was no match for the woman opposite him. He did play chess and was quite good at it, but Minerva McGonagall was an excellent chess player and won the game after about two hours.

With a content expression on her face, McGonagall leant back in her chair. 'It was a good game.'

Gandalf hid his smile behind a puff of pipe smoke. 'Unfortunately, I was no match for you. This must have been a very easy match for you.'

She gave that some thought. 'There are more skilled adversaries, but to win this game was by no means easy.'

'So much for my wounded pride!' He joked, eliciting an answering twinkle in her eye.

'Well, it is a relief to know that you have a weak point or two. Thinking of the way you can just walk in and out of Hogwarts or Azkaban.' She retorted tartly.

'I hope you are not too much in awe of me because of that!' He said dismissively. 'I needed years of bottling up magical energy inside me before I had enough power. In addition to that, living in the same castle as Albus Dumbledore should have made you used to powerful wizards. You aren't that bad yourself, you know. Which reminds me: I once asked if all Patronuses took on the shape of a cat. You didn't answer.'

McGonagall pursed her lips. 'I was preoccupied at the time. No, every Person has a specific Patronus suited to their inner predispositions. In my case, both my Patronus and my animagus form are cats.'

'Animagus form?'

'I can change myself into a cat and back at will. Transfigurations are my speciality.'

'Impressing!' Gandalf was sufficiently awed. 'I never learnt the art of shape shifting, though I always thought it was fascinating.'

'It is difficult but rewarding.' McGonagall told him, sitting up and putting the chess figures back into their case.

Gandalf lent her a hand and so the little task was done in no time. Briskly, she stood up, 'it is time to go for me, Mr. Gandalf,-'

'Not Mr. Gandalf', he interrupted her, 'Gandalf is my first name. If you don't mind, we could stay on first name terms from now on?'

'Yes, why not?' Minerva nodded. 'I will visit you again tomorrow evening, Gandalf, good night!'

He wished her good night and watched her slip through the door with an agility that belied the injuries she'd sustained. He looked forward to tomorrow already.