Chapter Two
"Do you remember Tom Riddle?" her former professor asked in a serious voice.
Whatever she had expected it was not this question and she was unsuccessful in hiding the surprise from her face. "Yes, I do professor".
And she did. After all he had been Head Boy. At first when she'd just met him she had felt pity for him. She'd known that he went to a Muggle orphanage every summer and that he hated every minute of it. There was an air of loneliness around him. She always felt cold when she was around him. A tall, thin boy with a pale face and high cheekbones. His dark hair and eyes always contrasted oddly with it.
"Very well", Albus Dumbledore's voice sounded doubtful and this irritated her even more. "May I ask... were you on good terms with Mr. Riddle?"
"Well...", Minerva stammered, her confusion growing. A change had come over the man in front of her. He no longer looked cheerful. His voice sounded focused, as if he was concentrating on something.
The truth was, she hadn't been on good terms with Tom Riddle. In fact, she had disliked him greatly. And she had always scolded herself for it. She considered herself to be a fair person, standing above trifle things as House rivalry. And Tom had never done anything to justify her dislike. He had always been polite and intelligent. An adequate Head Boy.
And yet, he made the hairs of her neck stand up. For a while she had believed it was his mouth that irked her. There was something about the thinness of his lips, which were almost as pale as his skin. The brisk way he moved them. Sometimes it was just a flash of an expression, but it caused her to shiver.
Later she had berated herself for it. As if the shape of one's mouth told anything about a person's character. But she still could not bring herself to like him.
Deciding to answer the Professor's question she chose her words carefully, "There have never been any difficulties between us, but I cannot say that we were on good terms. I did not like him".
His expression did not change, but the next question came immediately. "Why not. He was... is a smart, intelligent person, such as yourself. One would think that despite the differences between Gryffindor and Slytherin, you would make good friends".
For a second, but only for a second, she lowered her eyes under his scrutinising gaze. Then she looked fiercely back in his eyes. After all, she did not have to justify her feelings to Albus Dumbledore.
"I cannot explain why, sir, but the truth is that, as inappropriate as it might be, I do not like him. I feel that I cannot trust him".
He held her gaze and for some reason she was unable to look away from it. His blue eyes bore deep into hers and a peculiar sensation washed over her. She felt as if he was looking right through her.
After a few moments he relaxed back in his chair, a smile around the corners of his lips, the silly twinkles returning in his eyes.
"Very well then", he said. "Do not fret over your feelings, Minerva. I must confess that I have the same".
"I too do not trust him", he added.
Her eyebrows knotted in surprise. And her impatience was about to get the better of her. What could he mean? Why didn't he just cut to the point?
"What do you mean by that, sir?" she asked.
"Minerva, I have reason to believe that Tom Riddle has joined Grindelwald", Albus Dumbledore stated calmly.
Well, now she had a reason to hate him. Anger boiled up inside her. Not the usual superficial annoyance that came with her quick Scottish temper, but genuine anger. The anger that was linked to hate.
"How can you be sure?" she asked icily.
"As I have said before, I too do not trust Tom Riddle", he answered. "I have kept a close eye on him over the past years and what I have seen worries me. Tom Riddle's father may be a Muggle, but his mother comes from a very powerful Wizarding family. She is a direct descendent of Salazar Slytherin".
"Slytherin?" Minerva couldn't help but gasp in shock. Although she know that up to some point the house rivalry at Hogwarts was just a game she knew that there was a fundamental difference between Gryffindor, the house of the Lion and Slytherin, the house of the Snake.
"Tom Riddle is much alike his grandfather", Dumbledore continued, "Salazar Slytherin has sought his whole life for power and I believe that Tom is seeking it too".
"And he thinks he will find it in Grindelwald", Minerva muttered, a look of total loathing on her face.
"Precisely", Dumbledore nodded. "But there is more".
Minerva's head shot up. Finally, the man was coming to his point.
"Grindelwald is planning an attack on the Ministry of Magic..."
"How?" she spat, jumping up from her chair. "How does he plan to do that? Does he really think he can just march in there? The nerve of that man..." she halted abruptly when she heard his amused chuckle.
She felt a twinge of embarrassment because of her emotional reaction, but most of all she was angry.
Here the great Albus Dumbledore was, calmly telling her that Grindelwald, that piece of villain was planning an attack on the Ministry of Magic and he had the nerve to laugh! With great effort she pulled herself together.
"Pray, do continue", she muttered with stiff lips, straightening the skirt of her robes.
"Thank you", Dumbledore replied, amusement still evidently written over his face. "Of course Grindelwald will not attack the Ministry single-handed. He is gathering his alleys as we speak, with Tom Riddle among them. I actually believe that Riddle is a highly important tool in Grindelwald's scheme. At this moment they are in Storsjön".
"Storsjön?" Minerva repeated once again surprised.
"That's in Sweden". Dumbledore added kindly.
"I know it is", she replied, barely holding the disgruntled tone out of her voice. This patronising attitude was another thing she so disliked about him.
"The reason why I am telling you this", Dumbledore continued, "is because I want you to come with me to Sweden".
His question, or rather his statement hung between them and Minerva couldn't help but feel cynical. Why would he want her to come with him? What use could she be in this? Why had he picked her of all people?
"The Ministry is setting up an Auror camp in Storsjön", Dumbledore explained further. "The best Aurors of our community will be there, Moody, Cageman, Stickfish, Van Detta, myself and some others. I want you to be there as well".
"But I'm still an Auror-in-Training", she pointed out to him, "how can I be of use?"
"Because we need someone beside myself who is gifted in the area of Transfiguration.", Dumbledore answered. "And that makes you the most logical choice. Your NEWT-results for Transfiguration were extraordinary. Actually, you were only one point behind me".
She knew that. And it had annoyed her greatly at the time.
"Our main goal will of course be to end Grindelwald's reign", Dumbledore added solemnly.
It was then that she made her decision. She would do anything to stop Grindelwald and his violent madness. She had sworn she would and this was the perfect opportunity to fulfil that oath. A determined gleam appeared in her green eyes and she nodded briskly. "Very well Professor Dumbledore. I will accompany you to Storsjön".