1. Lost and Found

A/N: A reviewer wanted me to write more of Unashamed Felinity, but I couldn't think of anything to go with it. I finally came up with this. Unfortunately, Unashamed Felinity didn't quite match up, so I had to make some changes to it. My conception of Jellicle Cats is greatly influenced by a good friend of mine, Rumblepurr.

Minerva McGonagall always enjoyed Christmas shopping with her sister, Arabella Figg. Particularly since they usually shopped the Muggle way. Today, Minerva was wearing an emerald green skirt, white blouse layered over a black turtleneck and sensible black boots. The one annoyance with the whole affair was the fact that there were no pockets large enough for Minerva to put her wand. She carried an emerald green drawstring bag that was larger on the inside than on the outside. She was able to cast lightening charms on their bags. Arabella, for her part, wore a black dress with poinsettias printed on it and a red sweater over it. Between the two sisters, the day went by quickly and they relaxed over a cup of tea in Arabella's sitting room with several cats lounging nearby. "Bella, something's been bothering you all day. What is it?"

"I never could keep things from you, could I, Min?" Arabella asked with a wry chuckle.

Minerva smiled softly at her sister. "No, you couldn't, now tell me."

"I'm worried about the boy, Min," Arabella answered, any trace of a smile gone. "I haven't seen him for two days. I'm beginning to wonder if the Dursleys have done something to him."

The plump tortoiseshell tabby cat lounging near Minerva suddenly sat bolt upright. It didn't go unnoticed by Minerva, who asked quietly. "Do you know something, Jenny?"

("A Human kitten was abandoned in the Junkyard two days ago,") the cat, named Jennyanydots, replied, her eyes meeting Minerva's. ("Munkus wanted me to let you know when you came to visit.")

Minerva's eyes widened at this information. Munkus--or rather Munkustrap--was the leader of the Tribe of Jellicle cats that lived in the junkyard Minerva had run into when she was being chased by Death Eaters five years earlier. At the time, he'd been the Sentinel, but the previous leader had passed away and named Munkustrap as his successor. "You said 'abandoned'. This 'kitten' didn't wander in?"

("No, he didn't. I wasn't there, but Alonzo said a car drove up and the kitten was dragged into the Yard by a Human Tom and told to 'stay here and rot'.") Jennnyanydots' tail lashed in agitation.

Minerva's own eyes flashed at this news and she set her tea on the table beside her seat. "Excuse me, Bella, I have something to take care of."

"Bring whoever it is straight back here, Min," Arabella replied, having understood every word Jennyanydots had said.

Minerva nodded, standing up. "I fully intend to, Bella."

With those words, she left Arabella's home on Wisteria Walk, grabbing her coat on her way out the door. The trip to the Junkyard wasn't long and she entered it by the open gate. The dog in the doghouse barked a greeting, but made no move to confront Minerva. Nodding to the dog, Minerva made her way into the junkyard, wondering where to look. It wasn't long before a white Tom with black patches appeared. ("Tabby.")

"Hello, Alonzo." Minerva smiled and stroked the Tom's head. "Jenny tells me a Human kitten was abandoned here?"

Alonzo's head bobbed. ("Yes. This way.")

"Jenny said he was abandoned two days ago." Alonzo's tail flicked as he led Minerva to a large clearing in the middle of the junkyard.

Sitting on a lorry tire was a handsome silver tabby Tom with emerald green eyes flanked by a gold tabby Queen and a rust-colored Queen. ("Tabby, thank you for coming.")

"Where is this kitten, Leader?" Minerva asked after bobbing a curtsey to the silver tabby.

He gestured to the ancient half-buried car on his left. ("In there. Our Healers have done what they can for him, but it isn't much.")

"Thank you for getting word to me." Minerva's smile was brittle as she approached the car. Peering through a dirty window, she spotted the small boy curled up on the backseat, like a cat. He was clad in little more than rags, the visible skin grimy with dirt. There was something about the boy's matted, tousled hair that was familiar to her. Frowning, she turned to Munkustrap. "Have you been able to detect magic in him?"

A tuxedo Tom sitting beside a white Queen answered her question. ("Yes, he's very powerful, even for a Human.")

Minerva closed her eyes, her chest tightening with anguish. "What about the man who brought him here? What did he look like?"

("He was big,") Alonzo supplied after a moment's thought, ("and he had a mustache.")

Nodding, Minerva swallowed hard. Oh, no. She peeked in at the boy again, just as he opened fever-glazed eyes. Bright green eyes stared at her. She opened the car door and he backed away from her, obviously terrified. He made whimpering sounds when he fetched up against the other door. "Shh, laddie, shh. I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help." He cringed when she extended her hand toward him, but stayed still as she brushed his hair back from his forehead. Above his right eye, not quite hidden by the dirt, was a scar shaped like a lighting bolt. "Oh, Harry-lad, I'm so sorry."

The boy yelped in surprise when Minerva seized him and pulled him to her. "Why sorry?"

"You can talk," Minerva exclaimed, looking down at him.

He nodded, gazing up at her curiously. His voice was hoarse from disuse and dehydration. "No one wants me to, though."

"I do," she told him quietly.

He looked puzzled. "Why?"

"I want you to come with me to Mrs. Figg's house so we can talk." She eased back out of the car and Harry reluctantly slid from it, shivering in the cold air.

Without a word, Minerva shrugged off her jack and gave it to Harry. He stared at it as if it was a foreign object. Her heart twisting inside her, Minerva draped it over his thin shoulders. "Thank you, er, what's your name?"

"Minerva McGonagall," she replied, nodding to the Jellicles as she guided Harry out of the junkyard.

The boy seemed to consider the name, slipping his arms into the sleeves of Minerva's coat. "What do I call you, though?"

"Miss McGonagall will be fine," Minerva told him as they made their way up the front walk.

The door opened before they reached him. "Harry!"

"Hullo, Mrs. Figg," Harry replied, ducking his head.

He yelped in surprise again when Arabella seized him in a tight hug, dragging him inside. "Oh, I'm so glad she found you."

"Bella, I need to contact Albus." Minerva gave her sister a meaningful look, having followed Harry inside and closed the door behind her. "Poppy as well."

Arabella nodded. "Go ahead. You know where everything is."

"Thank you, Bella." Minerva patted Harry's shoulder while Arabella took the boy into the kitchen.

A question floated back to Minerva before she started up the stairs. "Do we have to look at pictures of your cats again?"

Minerva's smile faded as she climbed the stairs. Albus was not going to be very happy with her.

When Minerva came back downstairs, Albus was with her, looking very stern and every inch the powerful wizard he was. "I shall attend to the Dursleys, Minerva, you speak with Harry."

"Yes, Albus." Minerva waited until the door had closed behind him before heading to the kitchen.

"Harry!" Arabella's panicked voice hurried Minerva's steps.

She drew in a sharp breath when she finally reached the kitchen. Harry was in a crumpled heap on the floor with Arabella easing him onto his back. "What happened?"

"He's very sick, Min," Arabella exclaimed as Minerva knelt next to him. "He needs medical attention."

Minerva thought for a moment before realizing the answer had been there all along. "I forgot to contact Poppy."

"You'd be better off just taking him now, Min." Arabella stroked his cheek.

Minerva nodded and carefully scooped the boy into her arms. She was surprised at how light he was, little more than a bag of bones. "Thank you, Bella. Albus has gone to speak with the Dursleys. Please tell him where I've gone when he comes back."

"Of course." Arabella's brittle smile was reminiscent of the one Minerva had worn earlier.

Still holding Harry, Minerva apparated to Hogwarts, unwilling to take him through the Floo Network. Minerva knew she could cover ground more quickly as a cat, but she dared not Transfigure Harry in his condition. She could only take larger strides that usual to move more quickly. By the time she reached the front steps, she was breathing hard. She did not slow her pace as she made her way to the hospital wing, which was thankfully on the fourth floor. Upon reaching the hospital wing, Minerva placed Harry on one of the beds and strode up to Poppy's rooms above the hospital wing, the door of which was closed. Rapping briskly, she called, "Poppy!"

"Just a moment!" Poppy's voice called back. As Minerva waited, she heard the murmur of a male voice, followed by a laugh from Poppy. Finally, the door opened to reveal Poppy with her loose golden tawny hair mussed and the top three buttons of her blouse undone. "Hello, Minerva, what can I do for you?"

Looking past Poppy, Minerva saw Poppy's husband, Alastor Moody, seated on the couch, buttoning his shirt. Heat crept into her cheeks as she realized what she'd interrupted. "I'm sorry for interrupting you two, but you're needed in the hospital wing, Poppy."

"Is it one of the students?" Poppy asked, stepping back so Minerva could enter. Though most students went home for the winter holidays, there were always several that remained at the school.

Minerva watched as Poppy bustled around, making herself presentable. "No, but this is a special case."

"What do you mean, Min?" Alastor asked, having finished buttoning his shirt and now finger-combing his grizzled gray mane of hair.

Minerva smiled faintly at the nickname. It was a long-standing joke, from when she'd been apprenticed to him as an Auror. "Don't call me Min, Al."

"That doesn't answer my question," he countered, despite the smile that appeared at her response.

Minerva sighed. She should have known she couldn't avoid that. "It would be easier if I showed you."

"All right, then." Poppy gestured for Minerva to precede her from the room, but stopped to speak to her husband. "I don't know how long I'll be, cher coeur."

Alastor kissed his wife softly. "I'm not going anywhere, beloved of my heart."

Feeling a pang in her heart at the obvious love between the two, Minerva hurried down to the hospital wing, trusting that Poppy would follow shortly. By the time Minerva had reached the bed where she'd placed Harry, Poppy had followed her to the hospital wing. "Who's this, Minerva? He's too young to be a student."

"I told you he's not a student," Minerva replied quietly, smoothing the hair back from Harry's forehead so Poppy could see his scar.

A sharp intake of breath told Minerva that Poppy had put two and two together to come up with four. "Harry Potter."

"Yes." Minerva nodded in confirmation, blinking back tears. "I fear he is very sick."

"Let's see what I can do for him." Poppy waved her wand to perform a Diagnostic spell.