TIMES OF TRIAL
Disclaimer: None of the characters, places, objects etc. that you recognise belong to me. They are mot likely the property of one JK Rowling.
Summery: This story is and will probably always be centred on Minerva McGonagall and the other professors at Hogwarts. It is set in Harry's fifth year and the dream-team will likely appear however. The rating may be subject to change but all reviews are welcome.
A/N: The next instalment is here! ( and much more mushy – be warned) Thanks for al the reviews and for those of you who have been pestering the next and last for the moment chapter of Hidden Truths should be up in the near future *smile*
As ever thanks to my beta Gem for all her work. I also want to say thank you to my friend Charlotte who helped me out of a rut with the last chapter *big hugs*
Anyway hope you enjoy and the more you respond the quicker I'll write (maybe)
L xxx
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Xiomara Hooch pushed opened the door an inch at a time trying to ensure that it didn't squeak. She crept forward and closed it again so that only a sliver of light fell into the darkness from the other room. As she manoeuvred her way past the four-poster bed, resplendent in red and gold hangings of course she marvelled at the sight before her, she was certain that up until a few days ago she had never seen Minerva McGonagall asleep and certainly never in the middle of the day. Her friend was one of those irritating people who always seemed to be up and working two hours before anyone else even considered rising and was still at it when they all hit the sack that evening. She kept to the right of the room and managed to find her way to the bay window where long heavy drapes managed to block the vast majority of the winter sunlight that was reflected off the newly fallen snow that covered the ground bellow. A few minutes before she had heard the echo of the bell, signalling the end of classes for the day and as she drew the curtains apart she could see the students begin the first of that years 'snow-wars'. There was only one game that they played with anything approximating the house rivalry that Quidditch managed to engender and this was it. She smiled and noted that Filius had already taught them all how to charm there snow balls into their respective house colours, as a vast array of blues, greens, yellows and reds blurred into something of a rainbow mid-flight. Turning back around to the now bright room, she watched as Min began to stir. The other woman crinkled up her nose and curled up in a ball in an amusingly feline way.
"Sleeping beauty finally wakes." She said perching on the side of the bed.
"Only to be told to go back to sleep quarter of an hour later." Came the reply.
"Now now. You were awake for at least half an hour earlier before I even mentioned the word rest." She countered helping her to sit up and rearranging the pillows behind her back. She received a rather derisive snort but Min said nothing. "Well in a any case, you have a visitor."
"If it's Poppy you can tell her…"
"Calm down would you? We both know that she only has your best interests at heart." Again she only received a snort in reply. The rather precarious relations between the medi-witch and her patient had taken a pretty definite blow the previous morning when Poppy had arrived to find her sitting up in bed surrounded by text books and bits of parchment 'looking over next years teaching plans'. Needless to say she hadn't been impressed and had gone to the extent of banishing every book from her chambers they had had to find an empty classroom to store them in when they realised just how many she owned and as it had been Xi who was on 'guard duty' at the time she had gotten the brunt of the tongue lashing. "Well anyway, our distinguished Headmaster is waiting for an audience." The look on the other woman's face was a classic as she subconsciously pulled the bed covers up to her chin. The situation was even more amusing considering that the oriental style neck line of her cream silk pyjamas was anything but revealing and she was pretty certain that they had been a gift from Dumbledore himself when he last visited china.
"But … He can't…Look at me!"
"Since when did the ever practical MG care what she looked like?"
"It's just…well I hardly look very professional do I?" She finished with her eyes down cast looking at her hands resting in her lap. Mara had to agree that she didn't look very like the Professor that the students and most of the staff would recognise with her hair loose and flowing around her shoulders and without the glasses perched on the end of her nose. Reaching out she placed a hand under her chin and forced the other woman to look her in the eye.
"Min. Five days ago you almost died and gave all of us, especially Albus, the fright of our lives. I don't think that he's going to care that you don't have that ridiculous bun in. Anyway, he's here to see his friend and not his deputy." This had the desired effect, as the other woman seemed to become more of herself and pulled away a little.
"It's not ridiculous it's practical." She was told in no uncertain terms. She just smiled a little as the other woman gathered up the plentiful black silk strands and, with surprising speed, braided the long length. "Well the least you could do is get me an elastic. Top right hand drawer of the bureaux." Standing she went over to the dressing table and opened the drawer that she had been instructed to. Unsurprisingly, considering its owner, the contents were all neatly lined and grouped up in little boxes however the choice when it came to colour was somewhat limited.
"Black, black or black?" She asked.
"Black is practical. Don't say it!" She continued before she could crack a joke about 'practical'. "And shut the drawer."
"Yes Ma'am." She muttered with a smile before turning back around.
"I heard that."
"You know you would have missed your calling if you had been anything but a teacher. You're way to good at spoiling peoples fun."
"For some incomprehensible reason I'm going to take that as a compliment."
"You're just in a good mood 'cause you're about to spend some quality time with the boss." She said raising her eyebrows suggestively. Thankfully the pillow that flew her way landed several feet short due to Min's somewhat lacking strength. Mara ignored the death glare she got as she picked up the offending article and returned it to the bad before handing over the hair fastener. "I'll speak to you later hun." She said and after minutely adjusting the bedcovers left her be.
When she re-entered the sitting room she found Albus Dumbledore staring into the flames of the fire that roared contentedly in the grate.
"Well, she's awake." She told him. "Don't worry if she bites off you're head though – that's fairly standard."
"Is she being a dreadful patient?" He asked concern overwhelming the usual sparkle in his piercing eyes and it struck her that as far as she was aware he hadn't seen Minerva since the afternoon of the incident.
"Not really, at least for the moment all her protests are somewhat token. She might complain about being forced to rest but she's still exhausted really." He nodded solemnly at this. "And since the rather abrupt removal of all her reading material she's been suffering from extreme with-drawl symptoms, which roughly translates to complete and utter boredom. Not that you can blame her really, stuck inside these four walls."
"Well," He began a mischievous twinkle returning that scared her for a moment. "We'll just have to see what we can do about that won't we." She did realise though that, there was no way he would ever do anything to endanger her recovery. As he left her alone she sat down on the couch facing the fireplace. For several moments she sat there trying in vain to pretend that she wasn't straining her ears to hear what was going on inside the bedroom. Although she was certainly not one of the most typical women on the staff she did have a reputation as something of a gossip. It wasn't that she wanted to nose into other people's affairs it was just that the lives of her fellow staffers just begged to be investigated. Giving up all pretences of being interested in anything else she stood and quietly made her way to the door that had been left ajar. Kneeling down she could see most of the pair inside, well pretty much everything bar their heads. The Headmaster it seemed had taken up the same position she had earlier ignoring the wing-backed chair that sat next to the bed. She smiled at this wondering what some of the students would make of their transfigurations professor now.
"Calm down, my dear." He said, she'd obviously just missed him having his head bitten off. Her grin widened further as she noticed that he had placed a soothing hand on her arm.
"I wish people would stop telling me to 'calm down'!" It seemed that she was not to be placated though but then suddenly seemed to run out of steam and let her head fall. "I'm sorry." She was somewhat taken aback by this – Minerva apologising. Again it wasn't something that you heard every day. "I just… It's so …well… frustrating."
"You never were the best at doing nothing. I'll put it down to lack of practice."
"And I'll put that down as your fault."
"My fault?" He asked the playfulness seeming to dissipate far too quickly.
"Well you are the one who creates half the work I do!" This was clearly meant as a tease by the smile that was evident even in her voice but she too grew serious. "You do realise that if I don't want to do any of it – I would be quite clear in letting you know."
"You do have a tendency of letting me know when you're not happy." Xi just shook her head at that, like Min would ever complain about her work. For a man who obviously knew quite a great deal about handling this woman he could sometimes be as blind as a dingbat. "In any case I'm hoping that this fire underneath Cornelius is going to mean that I'm able to spend much more of my time back here. But I feel we draw too close to the subject of work. Do you remember when I promised to take to Russia?"
"Vaguely it was an age ago and probably after one too may Lemon drops." His soft chuckle filled the air and it was not beyond Mara to see how it could be found addictive. "I guess we never did find the time."
"Well you certainly seem to have that in oceans at the moment so why don't we give it a go?" She could almost see the look of confusion on Min's face – it was very like the one that graced her own. "Welcome to the first ever Albus Dumbledore's Whirlwind Whistle-stop Tour of The World. Not quite the Orient or even the Siberian express but I think Madame will find that the quarters are quite comfortable."
"Is this the part where I have to remind the barmy old codger that I really am not a child anymore?" Minerva asked.
"Whatever do you mean my dear?"
"A round the world tour? Isn't that a trick to amuse one of your nieces or nephews when they were ill?"
"How do you know that I amn't going to be showing you around the worlds most notorious red-light districts?" Xi had to stifle a laugh as he asked this in a completely sincere and innocent voice.
"Sometimes Albus I wonder if you aren't less mature than some of our students." Even though her words were meant as a scolding her tone told of barely controlled mirth.
"Only some of them?" This time he sounded as if he was pouting.
"I take it back – I have no need to wonder."
"Do be quiet for a minute would you and you might actually enjoy the experience." To Xi's great amazement this received no reply, the man truly was a master. "Now if you would like to look out the window to your…" There was a pause and the sound of shuffling. She could see Dumbledore stand and turn presumably checking to see which side her left was because that's where he told her to look. Following where both their gazes were now facing she found herself looking out the window. The sky was rushing past at a rather alarming rate and it took her a minute to realise that this must just be an illusion. "This should be Edinburgh we're approaching now, ah yes here it is. Do you remember when you took me into the town during The Festival?"
"As I recall you were reluctant to accept that you wouldn't stand out in the crowd dressed in your robes." She smiled at this as she too had been dragged out to see this particular event and had been somewhat shocked by the number of people in what even she considered strange outfits. Again his chuckle filled the room and spilled out over the threshold.
"And here comes London after which we'll be turning left towards Paris before taking in Brussels and Scandinavia…"
"Ahem." Came a quiet but authoritative cough from behind the Quidditch mistress. She had an unhealthy fear of who was there before she had even turned to look. She was right. Standing tall above her, hands planted firmly on her hips and with a scowl on her face, stood Poppy Pomfrey.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?" The other woman hissed once they had both retreated to the other side of the room.
"Would you believe me if I told you that I was just making sure that Min didn't break any of the rules?" There had been several of these set out two days ago when their friend had been allowed to move from the hospital to her quarters – the jury was still out on the question of whether this was because Poppy just couldn't take anymore or because Min was ready to leave though. "Oh but they're just so cute together though!" She pleaded.
"I know that. You know that. Hell the vast majority of the wizarding world is aware of that fact but they seem to be hell bent on not making anything of it." She said gesturing towards the door. "Can you imagine what would happen if she caught you Mara?" She didn't get a chance to respond though. "If she realised just how much the student populous, never mind the staff, talk about them? She'd withdraw back into her shell! She'd stop confiding in him and she'd stop spending time doing anything that wasn't strictly professional." She had to admit that she felt somewhat abashed after this talking-to.
"Ok, ok. But I still think that maybe if the just got a good kick up the behind they'd…" She trailed off as the other door opened and Rose Sprout poked her head around the door.
"Care to give me a hand?" She asked as she came further in and they noticed that her arms were laden with an assortment of …well different things. She dumped her load on the table.
"What on earth…?" Poppy asked again.
"Get Well Soon gifts." Rose said bluntly.
"Who from?" Xi asked as she picked up a stuffed lion that growled fiercely at her before curling up and falling fast asleep. "Remind you of anyone?" She asked and the head of Hufflepuff smothered a giggle.
"Why exactly were you asking who they were from?" Poppy asked after she too had straightened out her features.
"Well, the students seem to be arranging the placement of their gifts rather well." Rose pointed out. "The Gryffindors are sending them to her quarters here in the tower, the younger students from other houses are leaving them in her classroom and the older outside her study."
"And the staff?" Poppy asked.
"Depends who." Mara replied picking up a bundle of cards.
"Oh, yes. These were from her first year transfiguration class – apart from that creature." Rose pointed to the dozing stuffed toy. "He was prancing back and forth in from of the door out there. I saw Lee Jordan and the gruesome twosome scampering down the stairs on my way up so I would assume it's from them." She added as she joined Xi on the couch. Poppy was looking around as if only noticing for the first time that the room was filled to brimming with homemade cards, chocolates and flowers.
"They must have stolen your entire rose-garden." She said eventually looking to the herbologist.
"Pretty much." She answered matter of factly. "But at least I know they're being appreciated and most of them did ask first."
"Chocolate frog?" The Quidditch mistress offered taking one for herself.
"Mara! They're not yours!" The medi-witch protested.
"It's not as if Min's going to eat them. She'll be happy as long as we leave the Sugar Mice." The other two women cottoned-on and they all finished the sentence together. It was a long running joke amongst the group that though Minerva was quite happy at catching, playing with and killing mice when she was in cat form she balked at actually eating them. She had however developed quite a comical liking for the muggle sugar confection. They often teased her that if she had an endless supply of books, sugar mice and milk she would be forever content.
"Who sent those?" Rose asked managing to pick out the box, Mara had placed at the forefront of the rest of the candy.
"Ginny Weasly and Miss Granger I believe – along with the latest edition of Transfiguration Today."
"And I thought that was my copy, drat." Albus's voice shocked Xi a little as he entered the room and closed the door on the once again dark bedroom. "She fell asleep just before we reached St Petersburg. You were right she really can't keep her eyes open for long."
"I'm sure in another day or so she'll be fit to at least get out of bed for a while." Poppy said as she nibbled on the edge of a chocolate frog.
"Good good. I promised to loose to her at chess the next time I get the chance to drop by." He said with a smile.
"How are things going at the Ministry?" Rose asked. Mara knew that was where he had spent most of his time since the attack but hadn't heard much more than that, and what he had told Min.
"I'm not too sure. It seems as though the Minister has his head further buried in the sand than I had hoped. At the moment he seems convinced that even though the level of dark activity has gone up ten fold in the last six months and all those who were arrested here this weekend have some connection to the Death Eaters, never mind what happened at the end of the last term, that there is not enough evidence to suspect that Voldemort has risen again." She could tell that the ever-patient man's frustration at the situation was growing. She was also aware that the impression he had left Min with was entirely different from what he had just told them. Again she wondered at the talent of the man for manipulating those around him and to her own surprise was not perturbed, but reassured by this.