I STILL don't own these characters can you believe it? What a travesty!

I have another story for those of you who enjoy this one, or just Minerva in general. It's called Minerva's Story, and I would love it if you could check it out and let me know what you think.

And as a big thank you to SherbertKitty for being such a loyal reviewer, there is a surprise for you inside…read now, and see what I mean!

Another Year Another Problem

5. Home Sweet Home

The old ford was now in front of the castle Harry had seen when entering the gates. It stopped, and Harry turned to look at Minerva who simply smiled and said "Home Sweet Home."

Harry couldn't help but thinking that he wouldn't mind it if this was his home, it was beautiful. Everything around him seemed so full of life, vibrant, and color filled. But all he could manage to say was "You live here all…alone?" He couldn't imagine just roaming around, no one to talk to, and nothing.

Minerva just smiled and said, "for the most part, yes, however I do have the occasional visitor to keep me from going completely mad. And there is my house elf, Sherkit, but, primarily just me."

Harry smiled, "Sherkit? Odd name, but whatever, she's your elf!"

Minerva laughed, "Albus gave her to me, and he said something about naming her SherbertKitty, but I shortened it for convenience."

Harry laughed, despite his current unhappiness for the professor, he had to admit the man was…special!

They got out of the car, and Minerva magiced all of Harry's belongings to follow her, much to the unhappiness of a certain bird that had been napping in her cage.

Just as they reached the door it was flung open and Harry saw three blurs of red as Fred and George ran out of the house with Ron chasing them. Harry watched his professor to see how she was going to react to the three of them nearly flattening them in this process, but all she did was chuckle, and murmur something that sounded like…"boys…"

This was most certainly not the same formidable professor they all knew; she seemed more peaceful, happier.

The three red blurs all did an about face, and tackled Harry, completely ignoring their Transfigurations professor.

All Harry could do was laugh and give a grunted "Oy!"

When Minerva turned round she saw Harry flattened by three grown boys, all screaming things at the same time.

"Harry, mate, bout time!" "Where the bloody hell have you been?" "We missed you mate!" "Want to see our new dung bombs?"

"Oh yes, a very interesting summer was lining up indeed for this old place, and for me as well" Minerva thought.

After Harry pried the three Weasleys off of him, he proceeded into the house, which much to his surprise was even more breathtaking than the grounds. Instead of finding the inside of a castle, cold, and stone like that of Hogwarts, he saw a comfortable home, rich in look, and feel. He felt warm inside just being in such a place.

From where he was standing in the Hall, he saw a huge mahogany staircase coming down to greet him. The walls, instead of the stone he expected were rich mahogany wood as well, with deep red accents, He noticed the pictures on the walls were all rather old looking, and had scenes of great landscapes, and architecture. To his left he saw a room painted bright orange, and deep brown, it looked like a game room, to his right, a bathroom, and a sitting room both decorated in a subtle gold. When he looked up Harry saw at least four more levels, "all," he thought, "probably just as amazing."

From around the other side of the massive staircase Harry heard the familiar voice of Mrs. Weasley yelling at someone. "What were you thinking? Were you thinking? I swear you are becoming more and more like the twins every day…. no that is NOT a compliment Ginerva!"

"Ahhh, poor Ginny!" Harry thought, glad it wasn't him who was getting it.

Harry heard the voice of Mrs. Weasley coming closer, "Now you clean that up before Har—" She had turned the corner and seen him

"Harry dear! How are you, are you alright, you look thin, have you been eating…" She seemed to have forgotten about Ginny completely in her haste to fuss over Harry.

Harry couldn't have answered her questions if he wanted to as she was now pushing him toward the kitchen; he looked back to Minerva for help, and saw her almost doubled up in laughter.

Harry sighed, and allowed himself to be bustled away by the motherly woman.

When Harry walked into the kitchen the smell of Mrs. Weasly's wonderful cooking, and the sight of a slightly distressed house-elf being spoken to by Hermione instantly greeted him.

When Hermione saw him, she forgot all about Sherkit, the house-elf, and ran to Harry throwing her arms around his neck. "I missed you so much, how was the trip, dreadful long I suppose, but better than the Dursleys I'm sure." He just nodded.

Before he knew it he was sitting at the very large kitchen table with Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione surrounded by a "light snack" consisting of cheese, crackers, sausages, grapes, oranges, apples, and some very delicious snickerdoodles.

While they were all stuffing their faces two order members came in to chat with Mrs. Weasley, and see if Harry and Minerva had arrived yet. First came Tonks, she was sporting a new lime green Mohawk, that, when given a disapproving look from Mrs. Weasley turned violet to try to make itself better. Mrs. Weasley just shook her head in surrender, and led her to the gang.

Shortly behind Tonks came Remus Lupin. He was looking tired, and warn out, yet a look of happiness washed over his face when he spotted Tonks, and then the children. The entire gang looked from Lupin to Tonks, and back to Lupin, was Tonks blushing, or did it just look like it due to the fact that her hair had just turned a deep shade of maroon?

In any case, they sat down at the table and jumped when they realized Harry was sitting there with them. Ginny giggled, and leaned over to Hermione, whispered something, and then they both began giggling. The boys, as well as Tonks and Lupin simply gave them confused looks. "Girls…" Harry heard Ron mutter.

Harry ate in silence, laughing every now and then at something someone said, and at the stories of the twins explaining why they arrived at the burrow on broomsticks last semester. Surprisingly, Mrs. Weasley wasn't too upset about the Umbridge part of the story, just the leaving school bit.

Harry was surprised his friends hadn't ambushed him yet in asking how he was dealing with the loss of his godfather. He had a feeling however that Mrs. Weasley had forbid them to pester him about it, and for this he was glad. Perhaps instead, they were just trying to cheer him up, and that was okay with Harry. At any rate, he knew they would probably try later tonight. "Ah well," Harry thought to himself, "might as well enjoy the time between."

When he allowed his mind to reenter the conversation the first thing he heard was Fred and George saying simultaneously "And then she shat on a turtle…" And the eruption of laughter surrounded them. "What in blue blazes were they talking about?" Harry wondered. And who shat on what turtle?

After much laughter, and a few games of exploding snap, Mrs. Weasley asked for help in the kitchen getting dinner on. All of the children got up to help. Mrs. Weasley just shouted, "And not you, Harry, you take a nice rest now, and, um, Tonks, keep Harry company."

At first thought Harry was a bit upset that Tonks had been left with him like he was some bad five year old. But then he realized it wasn't Tonks watching him, he was more watching her. He almost laughed aloud at this realization when he saw Tonks shrug and pick up a magazine. She looked uncharacteristically down.

"Oy, Tonks, what's the matter?" Harry asked her.

"Oh, nothing Harry just tired." She responded without much enthusiasm at all.

He wondered why the sudden change from just two minutes before when she was her usual bubbly self to this. Then it hit him.

"Hey, Tonks, it's okay, I miss him too."

She just looked at him in surprise, and then nodded sadly. "I just don't want to make everyone else depressed, so I pretend I'm okay. Ya know? I think I'd feel worse knowing I'm making every one else miss him more too."

I know, but you can talk to me okay? I understand, hell I do it too! But we won't pretend around each other now, right?

She just nodded again, Right. And she gave him a real smile. Thanks, Harry.

Just then Lupin burst in from the kitchen covered in flour and what looked like bits of fish. "Nymph, Nymph, look…'I am the ghost of Christmas past…it was fishy.' Hahaha, get it, fishy?" They both just stared at him blankly. He sniffed, and turned back around, "Well I thought it was funny" he said to himself dejectedly, and at that they did laugh. They laughed so much Minerva came to see what was making so much noise.

After Minerva had gotten to the house with Harry she magiced his belongings into one of the third floor rooms and settled herself into a bath, got changed and had begun to read the newest book from one of her favorite muggle authors, Lemony Snicket. She had just begun to read about the boredom of the water cycle when she heard a loud noise, sort of like thunder and a pig squealing coming from the downstairs dining area. She flooed from her rooms to the dining room to see two people rolling on the floof, a man covered in flour and smelled of fish, and a few of the Weasley heads peeking out from the kitchen door.

"What in Merlin's name is going on in here she said, in her best 'I'm a professor' voice.

It worked. All heads snapped up and the rolling/laughing subsided.

Tonks was first to speak, sorry Minnie, Lupin just did something really funny.

The Weasley's followed by Lupin all popped back into the kitchen.

Harry just sat on the ground with a rather perplexed look on his face. "Was this McGonagall's sister or other relative? I mean, she looked like her, sort of, especially the eyes, but her hair was long, and loose, and a wavy brown with silver streaks in it. She had on jeans and a rather snug tank top that read Are you a good witch, or a bad witch? Everyone else must see her all the time, and what did Tonks call her, Minnie?

Min looked at Harry in pure amusement before she finally just said, "Harry, it's me, Minerva."

He felt stupid. "Sorry, I didn't um, recognize you professor. Your hair looks nice."

"She laughed, "Thank you Harry, I like to wear it down in the summer, helps me get rid of the perpetual headache I get from wearing that bun all year."

"Minnie weren't you getting him in muggle clothes?" asked a confused Tonks.

"Yes, but professor muggle clothes, not comfortable ones." Minerva explained patiently.

"Oooohhhhh I see. Wanna play exploding snap?" said the ever ADD girl with the maroon Mohawk.

Shout outs…

SherbertKitty, like it? You are the greatest!

Jen…You can stop begging now!

Minerva the 'Angel". Thanks for the dance, now I'll do one for you Author dances a lil jig

Rachel…I am geeked you like it

Minerva's Phantom…You, my friend, rock!

Liat1989…Thanks!

Emutet…Yay! Thanks bunches!

All right, well hope you enjoyed it as I have. I think this is my new favorite chapter! I'm going to walk away now, and leave this plate of cookies conveniently next to the review button….

Tabby Kat