A/N:

Thanks to all of you who reviewed. Here it is... chapter 4. I hope you will enjoy it!

Chapter 4:

The One Were Ginny Finds Out

***

Ginny carried Minerva down the corridors when she saw Dumbledore coming her way. 'Oh no', she thought, turning quickly.

"Miss Weasley", Albus called out, "shouldn't you be in class?"

"My cat is ill, sir", Ginny answered.

Minerva saw Albus' face tense. 'Oh no', she thought wearily, 'why do we have to walk into Albus of all people? He'll assume the worst'.

"What's wrong with your cat, Ginny?" Albus asked, looking worried at Minerva.

"There's a green spot on her paw", Ginny replied, pointing.

Albus examined the spot and said, "I'll walk you to the Hospital Wing Ginny".

Minerva noticed his eyes were twinkling again.

"I hope you can keep a secret", Albus continued to Ginny.

'NO_' Minerva thought in horror, 'Albus can't tell Ginny who I am. She told me things about Harry and¼ about Albus and me_ How will she react when she finds out who I really am?'

Ginny followed Dumbledore to the Hospital Wing. Albus looked at Poppy and nodded towards Minerva. Poppy smiled and grinned back.

 "So Ginny", Poppy started, "what's the problem?'

"I think that my cat is ill", Ginny replied, while placing Minerva on one of the beds.

"I didn't know you had a pet", Poppy said smiling.

"I have her since yesterday", Ginny answered, "she's the cleverest cat I've ever seen. She helped me on my Transfiguration essay". She sounded almost proud and stroked Minerva's head.

 "Well, well", Albus said and Minerva saw the laughter in his eyes.

"Yes", Ginny continued, "and she scratched Grabe in his face, but that was his own fault".

"Really?" Poppy asked in surprise, "were you fighting or anything?"

Ginny nodded. "I saw that Draco, Grabe and Goyle wanted to hurt her and then I took her with me to the Gryfindor Tower".

"What's here name?' Albus inquired.

"I called her Birdie", Ginny told him, watching in surprise as Albus dissolved in laughter.

Minerva meowed. 'I think it's a nice name_'. She wondered what Albus would do now.

"What is it you wanted to  tell me Professor?" Ginny asked.


"Ginny", Albus started, "this cat actually is a human being".

"That's ridicilous", Ginny exclaimed.

"I know, it sounds ridiculous", Poppy nodded and then she told what happened with the Animagal Potion.

Ginny turned pale and staggered backwards. "Professor McGonagall¼?" she asked softly.

Minerva nodded. 'she'll go berserk', she thought sadly, 'Ginny will be so angry'.

Albus looked in surprise from Ginny to Minerva. 'Why is Ginny so upset?' he wondered. He looked at Poppy who seemed as lost as he was.

Then Ginny turned around and ran out of the Hospital Wing. Minerva jumped of the bed ran after her.

"Minerva wait_" Albus said, but they both were already outside.

Minerva ran after Ginny and meowed. 'Ginny, please wait_' Ginny turned around and looked at her. Tears were trickling over her face. "You really are Professor McGonagall", she said hoarsely, "and I told you all sorts of things. About Harry and about¼ oh¼" Ginny began to sob and ran again.

Minerva was left alone in the now empty corridor and watched her leave. 'Poor girl', she thought, 'I wish I could talk to you'.

Albus stepped out of the Hospital Wing and kneeled down beside her. "What was that about, Tabby?" he asked gently. But then he realised she couldn't answer him.

***

Four days passed. Albus permitted Minerva to walk through the castle, as long as she promised to be careful. Minerva tried to 'talk' to Ginny, but everytime she saw her, Ginny ran away. Eventually Minerva stopped trying and decided to talk to her as soon as she was human again.

She spend a great deal of her time behind a curtain in her Transfiguration Classroom, watching Albus teach. She liked seeing him act around the students. 'He cares a lot about them', she thought smiling. After one class she walked to her office were Albus placed her lunch. He thought it was too dangerous for her to eat in the Great Hall.

She walked through the corridor, when all of a sudden she heard a hissing noise behind her. When she turned around she saw Mrs. Norris standing behind her.

Minerva hissed back and meowed. 'Go away and leave me alone'. Mrs. Norris advanced her, looking extremely dangerous. Minerva decided to run for it. Moving as fast as she could, she didn't even know which way she was going. Mrs. Norris followed her closely and Minerva heard her evil meowing.

Seeing an open door, she ran through it. Too late she realised it was the door towards the Great Hall. 'Oh no', she thought, 'everyone is having dinner now_'

She paused for a moment and looked behind her, but one look at the mean Mrs. Norris made her dash again. 'This is my territory'. Mrs. Norris hissed.

'I'm Professor McGonagall', Minerva meowed back, but Mrs. Norris laughed. 'Yes right, and I am Merlin', she sneered.

They had reached the Great Hall and were now running between the tables. Most of the students jumped up and started to scream. Startled, Albus rose to his feet, while Minerva jumped on the Hufflepuff Table, Mrs. Norris closely behind her.


Plates and food felt of the table and most students were cheering now. Fred and George were performing some kind of cheerleaders dance and Ginny had jumped on the table, yelling "Come on Birdie_"

Filch ran after the two cats, screaming, "Mrs. Norris come back_".

At the Staff Table Albus was looking extremely worried, while Jane, who was sitting next to him doubled up with laughter.

Minerva jumped of the Hufflepuff Table, hissing, 'Leave me alone, I'm Professor McGonagall_' Mrs. Norris was only inches away. In panic Minerva looked at the Staff Table and saw Albus. She looked in his eyes and he reached out his hands to her. With an almighty jump she leaped straight in his open arms. Albus catched her and held her closely while shooing at Mrs. Norris.

Filch reached the Staff Table and scooped up and extremely angry Mrs. Norris and carried her out of the Great Hall.

The Great Hall turned very quiet. "Continue your dinner, please", Albus said smiling. Followed by Jane and Severus he walked out the Great Hall, carrying an exhausted and heavily breathing Minerva.

Inside the small Dinner Room, he placed Minerva on a table. Jane was still laughing so hard, she needed to hold on to Severus' arm for support. Severus looked very serious indeed.

Albus looked at Minerva and said, "I really think it will be safer if you keep to your own rooms". Minerva started to meow loudly. 'You can't refuse, Severus' potion is not ready yet. I'll lock you up for another three days'.                                       

Jane stopped laughing and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Come on, Albus", she said, "she can't be locked up for another three days, all by herself".

She thought for a minute, then her face brightened. "How about staying with Hagrid?" she suggested, "He has Fang, he can keep her company".

Minerva arched her back and hissed 'Forget it, I'm not going to spend three days with that drooling animal'.

Severus looked from Albus to Minerva and said slowly, "Albus, can't she stay in your office? You have Fawkes, he must be better company then Fang".

For the first time Minerva was glad she's a cat, so no one could see how much she blushed.

Albus stared at Severus, his head spinning. 'Fawkes knows how I feel about her¼ I told him that. What if he tells her?'

"I think that's a wonderful idea", he answered eventually.

"What do you think?" Jane asked Minerva. Minerva nodded and meowed. 'I think so too'.

***

Will those three days ever pass? Will Fawkes tell Minerva what Albus feels for her? Will Severus ever stop being so serious? Will Mrs. Norris hunt Minerva again?

Read the next chapter!