Chapter 6: Secret Keeper

Minerva McGonagall was sitting at the desk of her study and trying in vain to concentrate on the pile of uncorrected scrolls in front of her. Reading over the last sentence for the tenth time she finally tipped her quill into the red ink beside her and scribbled a note at the end of the paper, before laying it away with a disgusted grunt. One would think every pupil of Hogwarts knew how to turn a toothpick into a needle by now. How a fourth year could butch up such an easy assignment was quite beyond her.

Perhaps they are doing it intentionally in order to try my patience, she thought. At least the Transfiguration Professor hoped so, because otherwise she was seeing pitch black for some to manage to get their OWLS not to speak of their NEWTS later on.

Reaching wearily for the next scroll, she was interrupted by a ringing sound. Retracting her movement she sighed. Minerva had waited for that moment some time now but still she didn't feel ready for what was to come. She took a few deep breaths before pulling out a pendant from under her robes. It depicted a Celtic triquetra, consisting of three interlocked half-circles. It was also bathed in a warm orange light. She laid it out on her right palm before carefully closing her fingers around the piece of jewellery. It felt warm to her touch.

Closing her eyes she spoke, frowning at the silliness of her code phrase. 'Ranma, you pervert!'

'Akane, you tomboy!' was the immediate follow up. [1]

'Hello Harry! To what do I owe the honour of your call?' Minerva asked, trying to keep the trepidation out of her voice.

'As if you wouldn't know,' came the angry reply. 'You let Snape find me! Without asking! What part of secret keeper didn't you understand?'

The Transfiguration Professor winced. The whole situation didn't sit well with her at all, especially as she thought that her former pupil was right with his accusations. She recalled having had a similar discussion with the headmaster a short time ago. Minerva had argued to tell Harry about the prophecy and their intentions. Especially after the mess that resulted in Sirius Black's death the last time. He had a right to know. It was about his life after all and he wasn't a small child any more whom you had to protect for his own good. No, he had grown up. Much too early for her taste.

Minerva could still remember the day she had first laid eyes on the boy at the beginning of his first year at Hogwarts, 10 years after seeing him brought to the Dursleys. He had been anxious, with eyes wide of wonder at the magic everywhere around him. But those times were long over. He was an equal now for her and as such she hated the whole secrecy.

Though the headmaster had been adamant in not informing him. He had said that too much was at risk and that he was afraid of gaining Harry's cooperation in the light of his difficulties with the Potions Master in the past.

Minerva snorted. Albus should know better than that. Harry would never let an old grudge get in the way of Voldemort's fall, he lived for that purpose! And Severus was too much of a professional, not to speak of what was on stake for himself if the dark wizard was not defeated.

And now it was on her to clean up the whole mess. Life was not easy.

'We thought the situation wouldn't warrant the risk of a call.' Lame, Minerva, lame, she chastised herself.

'Bullshit. You just didn't want to give me the chance to say no.'

'It was a distant possibility,' she defended herself. 'But you two would make a wonderful team. He could help you.' That at least was the truth. If the two managed to cast their differences aside they'd be a force to be reckoned with, not that they weren't on their own already.

'Oh, really? And the idea just popped up in your head? It wouldn't be at all related to one tiny prophecy you neglected to mention to me again?' The sarcasm was hanging so thick in the air that you could almost cut it with a knife.

At least one thing had gone according to her plan. Minerva sighed with relieve. Well, Dumbledore had ordered her not to tell them about the prophecy. If they found out another way . . .

Aloud she asked, 'Which prophecy?'

'The one where Snape and I are going to save the world. You know, you should be more careful letting such things lie around. Everyone could break into your office and read it,' he snapped at her.

Minerva was glad that they weren't in the same room just now. If so, she would have had to seriously worry about her health. She had been careful. The Transfiguration Professor had spelled the parchment so that no one but Hermione could read it. She was after all a woman who took no unnecessary risks, especially not with such sensitive material. But there was no need to disclose that detail right now.

'Perhaps a little bit,' she finally admitted.

'A little you say? Just a little? I am an adult. I want to be informed about facts like that! And what about Snape? You didn't tell him anything either, didn't you! By Merlin's beard, the man has worked for you for how many years? You can't play with the lives of others like that!' He was in a full blown rant.

Minerva listened with an outwardly calm expression. Though inwardly she agreed with everything the younger man said. She could understand his feelings. In his stead she probably would have reacted the same. She just hoped that Albus didn't have anything in store for herself.

'I am sorry.'

'You should be. And for your information: I am not going to walk up front to Snape and start working together with him,' he groused.

She had anticipated that reaction. But she also knew that now, after the ball had started rolling, it wouldn't simply stop again. Not where Harry was concerned. He was a magnet for strange occurrences.

'Just think a little over it, will you?'

There was a pause before he answered, considerably calmed down, 'Of course I will. This is not something simply swept under the carpet.' He sighed. 'I have another question for you. Hermione told me that you sent Snape on this assignment because Voldemort suspects him to be a traitor. Is it true? Don't lie to me this time.' His voice wasn't raised any more but there was a definite threat in the last sentence, one that spoke of broken trust if not answered correctly.

Nevertheless Minerva was glad about the question. It showed that Harry actually cared for Severus, at least a little. 'Yes, it is. And it's also another reason we want you to work together. Professor Snape has left Voldemort's circle but he still has the mark. He can be hurt through it. Not killed, but seriously hurt.' She was now appealing to Harry's heart and good nature. Though it was an unfair manipulation and she loathed having to do it to Harry, it was for both men's safety. She just hoped that if everything was over the end would justify the means.

'I will take it under consideration. I have to go now. Any other things you forgot to tell me?'

'No, that's all. Keep safe, Harry. And please remember, we only want the best for you.'

'I know, that's why it hurts when you do meddle with my life. Good bye.'

With that the light around the pendant faded, leaving it in his dormant, silver colour. It was over. Relieved she put it away, her gaze falling onto the stack of scrolls. She grimaced. No, what she needed right now was a good hot cup of coffee. She had earned it.

[1] It's related to one of my favourite mangas, Ranma ½.

If you are interested in the pendants:

Pentacle (Hermione): Also Wizard's Star, Star of Bethlehem, Three King's Star, or Druid's Foot. It's a symbol of protection and used as magical charm within many ancient cultures. It's a sign for life and health and represents the five elements (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit), or the five stages of Life (birth, youth, adulthood, old age, and death).

Solar Cross (McGonagall): It is a symbol for the four quarters: the North, which represents wisdom, stability, and winter; the East, for knowledge, learning, and spring; the South for vitality, passion, strength, and summer; and the West, representing intuition, emotion, and inner knowledge.

Triquetra (Harry): Also triqueta. It is a Celtic symbol of the triple Goddess, or a symbol of the god Odin. In Wiccan and Neopagan belief, the triqueta symbolizes the triple aspected goddess (maid, mother, and crone). It is also considered to represent the triplicities of mind, body, and soul, as well as the three domains of earth- earth, sea, and sky.

Knot within Circle (Dumbledore): The Celtic knot symbolizes the "Thread of Life". The interlaced, or latticed, knotwork patterns, with their unbroken lines, symbolize the process of humankind's eternal spiritual evolution. When the cord is unravelled, it leads us on our journey.

The circle symbolizes unity and the eternal cycle of life and rebirth.

Spiral (Ron): It has symbolized the concept of growth, expansion, and cosmic energy, depending on the culture in which it is used.

Eventually: Maze (Snape): The main point about a maze is that there's a choice. All along the way there are choices. In opposite the only choice a labyrinth gives you is if you want to go in or not.