Chapter Two

As soon as Malone, the last of the rear guard, crossed the threshold of the door he stopped. "Wait, something is very wrong."

Tonks and Lupin turned with Harry to look at Malone. The more experienced aurors knew better and looked everywhere but at Malone.

Shacklebolt finally broke the silence. "I don't see anything unusual."

"That's the problem - neither do I. Everything is completely normal."

While this made no sense to Harry, it seemed a matter of great concern to the others.

"It would take serious dark magic to totally block your visions." Tonks was unable to keep the worry from her voice.

"Everyone stay sharp." Moody snapped.

"In school you often lost it." said Lupin.

"Lupin, you and your kind can go - "

"- This has happened before, Malone?" asked Moody ignoring the outburst.

Harry was quite surprised at Malone's words. Professor McGonagall was a little strict, but open minded. He was beginning to dislike her nephew, who clearly had a problem with Lupin being a werewolf.

"Well yes. I only have the sight when I have my wand. But with my wand, the only time it ever gets blocked is when I am near the source of my wand's core."

Making himself visible, Loki smiled. "Then I would suggest saying hello to your wand's source." He removed his hat in greeting to the tree by the road. When he lifted the hat Harry couldn't help but notice a series of horrible burn scars around the back of his neck. "Hello, Kitten."

This time everyone turned. A familiar gray and black tabby cat carefully descended the tree. Suddenly before them stood Professor Minerva McGonagall, the human version. Looking at her, Harry couldn't quite figure out what it was about her that was different.

She no longer carried the walking stick she shared with Peeves. Certainly the summer muggle dress and heels she wore were a change from her usual green robes. No, it was her hair. Down from it's usual rigid bun, it was now more leisurely contained in a braid that reached almost to her waist. Odd that such a small change could be so dramatic. It softened her face considerably and positively made her look decades younger.

"We weren't expecting you this evening, Professor" was Moody's only slightly surprised reply. "But then I guess that would be my oversight, not yours."

"Moody. Remus. Potter." McGonagall greeted them all with a curt nod before her gaze returned to the man with the hat. "Loki." After a moment's reflection on his short silver hair her lips twitched, "You know I prefer your hair long."

"Yes, I imagine you would. But we can't have everything we want in life. Didn't anyone ever tell you that?" Loki never took his eyes off of her.

McGonagall shook her head, still keeping eye contact. "Actually, I do believe I was eight before I ever even heard the word 'no'."

"Why does that not surprise me?" asked Loki.

If Harry had been anticipating some kind of emotional reunion, he was greatly disappointed. Malone didn't even get his own mention, just the one nod for all. Malone didn't seem all that excited to see the elder McGonagall either, just uncomfortable.

"Did Dumbledore send you?" questioned Tonks finally getting the two to break eye contact.

"No, Nymphadora. Dumbledore doesn't know I am here. Contrary to popular opinion I can walk, talk, and even make decisions on my own. I thought you might be able to use another hand."

Maybe it was the insinuation, real or imagined, in Tonks' question that made McGonagall use Tonks' despised first name. It was certainly the use of the name that influenced Tonks' reply.

"Oh yes. I'm sure a Transfiguration teacher would be most useful to us. If we get attacked you can turn matches into needles and throw them." McGonagall's flash of anger turned to a flush of embarrassment as Tonks continued. "That is, if you don't manage to get stunned at the first sign of trouble."

When she finished even Tonks knew she had gone too far. Before she had a chance to take any of it back, McGonagall interrupted her.

"Well, I see you have things well in hand, so I will leave you to - "

McGonagall was interrupted by Moody's blast at Tonks. "Tonks, how many Death Eaters have you captured or killed?"

Tonks gave Moody an affronted look. "You know I was at the Ministry of Magic with you the day the Death Eaters tried to get the prophecy. Before that I did everything asked of me by the Order of the Phoenix. In the past month, I have been on several missions to bring in suspected collaborators."

"Right." growled Moody. "So adding it all together you have killed no Death Eaters and been present at the capture of under a dozen." As he continued talking Moody's rage grew. "McGonagall has single handedly killed more Death Eaters in a day, then you have met in your lifetime. She has a bloody poltergeist that has killed more Death Eaters than you have. And as for being stunned, I don't seem to recall you lasting very long at the Department of Mysteries yourself. Transfiguration teacher, my bloody arse. Minerva Themis Grin -"

Harry looked at his Transfiguration teacher and then Mad-Eye Moody in wonder, unable to follow everything the man said. Surely Moody must be exaggerating.

Seeing Moody had managed to work himself up into such a frenzy that he failed to notice how contrite Tonks already looked, Lupin thought it best to interrupt. "Minerva, we are traveling by broomstick. I don't suppose you have brought one?"

Loki shook his head and grinned at Moody. "Repent! The end is near! Moody is actually defending Kitten." A mischievous glint appeared in the man's eye. "Or maybe someone should check his trunk."

The trunk comment finally managed to penetrate through Moody's tirade. He turned his scowl onto Loki.

After another moment of starring at Moody with an expression Harry couldn't figure out, McGonagall shot a dark look at Loki before answering Lupin. "No, I don't have one."

"Well, you would certainly be welcome to share a broom with me." supplied Mundungus suggestively.

"I think not." said McGonagall in a tone and expression with which Harry was much more familiar. "It won't be a Firebolt, but I am certain I can manage to charm together something."

McGonagall returned to her tree. After only a few minutes of work she seemed satisfied with her makeshift broom. "If you don't mind I would like to get going."

"Hot date after this?" asked Mundungus with a wink.

Minerva sniffed and motioned to the small velvet bag tied to her side. "I have a chess game planned for later this evening."

"It's two in the morning right now...a chess game." Mundungus smirked until he saw Malone's death glare. "Mmm chess game... sounds lovely at two in the morning." he backtracked.

Moody having settled down to just his normal growl told Lupin to give his invisibility cloak to Minerva.

"No, thank you." declined McGonagall. "I despise invisibility cloaks."

Harry found her tone and Moody's lack of insistence rather unusual, but neither said anything more on it.

Before putting the cloak back on, Lupin smiled towards Harry. "You know," he said quietly so just Harry could hear, "She really does. You ought to thank Dumbledore for saving yours. When it was James, she confiscated it twice and tried to burn it. The second time, Dumbledore only stopped her by promising he would keep it 'till James and his marauding friends grew up and learned to behave like civilized people." Remus smiled. "So naturally your father never got it back."

At the mention of Dumbledore, Harry was grateful to be invisible. Even after two weeks of brooding at Privat Drive, he still felt angry and betrayed by the older man.

"Dumbledore wanted to come with us today to make sure you would be safe. But he wanted to respect your feelings. Harry, I know you blame yourself for Sirius's death and I know both you and Dumbledore blame Dumbledore for his death. The thing is Harry, you are both wrong. Sirius made his own decisions and right or wrong, his life and his death were on his own terms.

Dumbledore kept things from you Harry and I know that hurt you. But I honestly can't fault the man. Whatever the result, his intentions were noble. While that may seem small comfort to you at the moment, good intentions are more than a lot of people ever offer."

Harry only had time to wonder if Lupin was referring to his lycanthropy before the conversation was ended abruptly.

"Mount your brooms." called Moody.

"Anyways, Harry if you want to talk - about Sirius, your father, Dumbledore, or anything - I want you to know I'm here for you." With this Lupin threw the cloak around himself and disappeared.

After climbing aboard his Firebolt, Harry waited for word to take off. He was looking forward to being in the air again. After a few minutes he noticed the order was not coming. Looking around he noticed all the others were looking in Professor McGonagall's direction. Puzzled he turned.

The broom's light hum while hovering with McGonagall on it reminded Harry of his old Nimbus. The problem didn't appear to be with the broom, but rather with the rider.

It was Tonks who finally spoke. "You can't ride a broom sidesaddle."

Professor McGonagall's only response was to raise one eyebrow as she glared at Tonks or perhaps more specifically through Tonks.

"We're going very high ... it's windy ... you'll fall off..." finished Tonks rather unspectacularly.

"I have impeccable balance." was the rather clipped reply. McGonagall continued to glare at Tonks as if to dare her to say more.

From the pleading looks Tonks shot first to Malone and then to Moody, Harry thought it safe to assume Tonks hadn't attended Hogwarts with its accompanying seven years of classes with different variations of that steely gaze.

Malone shook his head slightly then turned away. Moody met Tonks' gaze and sighed. "Minerva, it's best if you put the broom between your legs."

McGonagall's response came in a voice that would have made a glacier proud. "Let me assure you Alastor, you need not now or ever concern yourself with what goes between my legs."

Moody opened his mouth as if to respond, but closed it again rather quickly.

Stifling a giggle, Harry looked around at the others. Lupin was busy with his own internal battle. Tonks gave up her struggle and instead tried to mask her hearty laugh with a long series of coughs. Mundungus was choking and turning red trying to contain his. Loki gave a quiet but surprisingly open laugh while Malone just hovered to the side waiting for everyone to settle down.

Still laughing a bit Loki mounted his own broom next to Moody. In a light voice, he said to Moody, "She always did have your ticket that one."

"Don't know what you mean." growled Moody certainly louder than he meant as Lupin and Tonks shot inquiring looks their way.

"I mean even as a child she never was fond of you. Course thinking back, you never did give her cause to like you, quite the opposite."

"In the air." Moody called to the group, ignoring the last few comments.

As they took to the air, Harry found a comfort in the rush of the wind that had been sorely missing. Soaring through the night air further away from the Dursleys with every minute, he could feel his heart getting lighter.

He laughed a few minutes into the trip when an invisible Tonks leaned close in to confide, "All this clockwise and counter-clockwise business is making me dizzy."

Moody had never assigned Professor McGonagall a position and Harry noticed she kept falling behind the group. Even though he knew she loved Quidditch, it was very odd seeing his usually stern Transfiguration Professor riding a broom. Somehow, sidesaddle seemed appropriate for her even though it was very impractical. Her black hair was attempting to escape its braid, several strands already freed by the wind were blowing in front of her. Her muggle dress however stayed perfectly still. Harry laughed as he realized she must have used a sticking charm on it.

They traveled uneventfully for twenty minutes. Then Professor McGonagall caught up with the group to warn Moody, "We are being followed."

Everyone tensed, but kept flying.

Without turning, Moody looked with his magical eye. "I don't see anyone. How far back are they?"

"I don't know. The wind is not very strong tonight, so not very far. Less than half a mile perhaps?"

"How many?"

"At least four people, but maybe more."

"Anyone we are familiar with?" ask Moody.

McGonagall shook her head. "I don't think so."

Harry wondered how McGonagall was getting this information. She hadn't strayed that far from the group.

"Anything else you can tell about them?"

McGonagall shrugged. "One is wearing a lot of really cheap smelling cologne."

Moody let out a little laugh. "I'll be sure to tell him when I find him."

After considering his group of travelers for a minute he asked, "Nothing in front?"

McGonagall's response wasn't helpful. "The wind is coming from behind."

Moody turned to Malone. "Still can't see anything?"

Malone shook his head. By now Harry realized Malone was supposed to be some kind of a Seer. So far he was about as impressive as Trelawney. No wonder Professor McGonagall thought so little of Divination.

Moody considered the group again before announcing his decision. "Minerva, take Potter and keep moving. The rest of us will stay back and mount a surprise attack. If there are only four, the six of us should be able to make quick work of them and catch up to you. And if there are more, we will distract them as long as we can to give you more of a lead."

"Alastor - it could be a trap. They could be trying to box us in with more in front." was Shacklebolt's concerned response.

Moody nodded. "I know. That's why I'm sending Minerva with Potter. If it is a trap I have full confidence she will get him out of here."

McGonagall gave Moody such a surprised look at this vote of confidence Harry wondered that she didn't fall off her broom.

Moody faced McGonagall again. "You run into any problems - No pulling punches. No trying to take prisoners. Get Potter to safety and everything, everyone else be damned."

As Minerva shepherded Harry ahead, Moody called out, "One more thing - don't go getting yourself killed either. I firmly believe I would have an easier end at the hands of Voldemort himself than I would bringing Dumbledore the news you died again."

Flying beside Professor McGonagall, Harry couldn't help being concerned about the others. "Do you think they will be alright?"

Professor McGonagall's reply started off in her usual sharp teaching voice, but lost something by the end. "I should certainly hope so Mr. Potter. They are after all a group of fully trained wizards. I should certainly hope so."

"How did you know we were being followed?"

"I could smell them."

When Harry just looked at her puzzled, she continued. "I have spent many years living as an animagus cat. One can begin to ... develop or retain as it may be, the habits and abilities of their counterpart."

When he continued to fix her with a puzzled look she snapped at him. "As one of my more inelegant former colleagues used to say, I've 'gone feral'."

Harry started to laugh at this till he noticed a change in Professor McGonagall's face. Looking ahead again, he saw why.

In the distance, he could see what had to be two dozen cloaked forms flying towards them. The moonlight glittering ominously off of their white masks clearly indicated they were not the cavalry.