Sorry about the wait, everybody. Things are ever so busy for me these
days, but I'm trying to do better. And also, I'm sorry about the great
chapter mix up of 2004. I don't know what happened. I updated as usual
and chapter nine just appeared at the front. Of course I didn't know this
until the next day, 'cause you know it can take a few hours for chapters to
appear. Thanks to all you guys who left me reviews about the screw up. I
hope it wasn't too much of a problem.
Well, I have nothing more to say, except that I don't own Harry Potter and never ever will.
Now read, enjoy, and review.
Chapter 10 Yule Ball
Mouse Harry ran down the long corridor, hardly aware of where he was heading. His little feet carried him surprisingly fast, as he moved with one side of his body pressed against the cold stonewall. Harry wasn't sure how long he had let the mouse panic carry him away when he finally decided it was high time he took control again. He forced his way through the blind terror enveloping the mouse's brain, and willed himself to stop running.
Another mouse plowed into him and he looked back to see Ron. Just behind him was Hermione and farther behind her was Mindy. 'Good.' Harry thought. 'At least we managed to stay together.' Ron managed to stop running and came to a jittery halt beside Harry. Behind him, Hermione looked as if she still wanted bolt, glancing around with very nervous mouse eyes, searching for unseen predators. Mindy sat very calmly, watching Harry.
Harry decided it was time to be a boy again, and reached deep within and pulled up an image of himself. He focused on ever detail of his body, his unruly hair, his bright green eyes, the lighting bolt scar on his four head. Being an animal, he couldn't speak and the only way to reverse the spell was with extreme concentration on who he was. It had taken him a while to get used to imagining every detail of himself in perfect clarity, but he had learned the trick of it and could change back with out much trouble.
Harry was just beginning to feel the first changes of the spell when a very large something swooped down out of nowhere and grabbed him. He lost the picture of himself and the transformation stopped immediately. The mouse panicked again and his first thought was to kick, scratch, claw, and bite his way free of whatever had gotten him. Harry forced himself to stay calm. Vibrations were coming from above and he swiveled his ears around, forcing his brain to make sense of the sounds he heard.
"...You guys been?" Harry squeaked with relief. It was Ginny. She was wearing his Invisibility Cloak and no part of her was visible except the hand that held him.
"I waited and waited. I was starting to get worried." Ginny went on. "Don't turn back now, Ron. You all can't fit under the cloak. I'll carry you back to Gryffindor tower in my pocket."
Ginny deftly scooped up the other three mice (Ron was a little larger now and looked more like a really weird rat) and stuffed them in the deep pockets of her robes. Wrapping the Invisibility Cloak around herself tightly, Ginny headed off down the hall. Harry allowed himself to slide to the bottom of Ginny's pocket, and sat very still, trying to steady his insanely fast heart rate.
Ginny didn't have to walk very far to get back to the tower. Harry and the others must have run in that direction, probably because they thought of it as the safest place in the school. Soon he heard Ginny whispering the past word and felt her stepping through the portrait whole. Several swift steps later, Ginny reached into her pocket and dug out the four mice. She placed them on rug and whispered, "Hurry and change back before some one comes."
Harry glanced around, assuring himself that the room was empty, then swiftly regained his own form. He stood wobbly and stretched. It did feel good to have only two legs again. He looked around glad to see that everyone was back to normal.
"So, what happened?" Ginny asked, eagerly. "Did you find out anything?"
"Yeah." Ron answered, dropping shakily onto the couch in front of the fireplace. "Mice are crazy scared of owls."
"I guess we should have known that could happen." Hermione said, sitting beside Ron.
"Owl? So Pansy has something to do with it?" Ginny asked.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, she does." He quickly recounted what they heard Pansy and the person in the shadows talking about.
"So, somebody else is going to be hurt, like Colin." Ginny said quietly when Harry had finished.
Harry nodded. "Seems like."
"And the owl is an animagus." Hermione said. "It definitely started off a person before turning into an owl."
Ginny frowned. "Couldn't the person have down what you did, just transfigure into an owl.
Hermione shook her head. "I didn't hear the spell being said. Besides, the owl didn't react to us. If it was a mere transfiguration, the owl would have come after at least one mouse."
Ginny nodded. "Alright. But who is it?"
Hermione shook her head. "There was no way for a mouse to tell, but I intend to find out. All animagus are supposed to be registered..."
"Yeah, but we all know that's not necessarily true." Ron frowned.
"It couldn't hurt to try and look it up." Hermione retorted.
"But what do we do now?" Ginny asked.
"We should tell Professor Dumbledore." Mindy answered. "This is...more than we can handle."
Harry shook his head. "No." He said.
Mindy blinked at Harry. "What do you mean no? Harry, there's an animagus running around this school and it plans to hurt someone else. Do I really need to say who that someone else probably is?"
Harry could understand Mindy's worry, but he didn't think they knew enough. He knew the animagus would probably be coming after him next, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time someone had tried to hurt him. He could take of himself. Mostly, though, he didn't want to involve anyone else, and telling Professor Dumbledore would be doing just that. He could risk his life but he couldn't stand to risk anyone else's. "I'll be alright." Harry said, confidently. Mindy gave Harry a very disapproving look. "Let's just try to figure out who this animagus is first." He added.
"I don't think it's a good idea not to tell Professor Dumbledore." Mindy argued. "It's a risk you don't..."
"My risk, though." Harry cut in. "I'm used to people trying to hurt me. I'll be alright."
"Mindy may be right, Harry." Hermione said quietly.
Harry shook his head no.
Hermione looked at Mindy apologetically. Mindy sighed then said, "Alright. But once we figure out who this animagus is, we ought to tell Professor Dumbledore."
"Fine." Harry agreed. "It's late and I'm going to bed."
Ron stood up and waving a quick goodnight to the girls, followed Harry up to the boys' dormitory. "I don't think it's such a good idea to keep this from Professor Dumbledore." Ron said quietly as he and Harry made their way up the stairs.
Harry frowned in the semi-darkness of the stairway. "Please don't start, Ron." Harry said, glancing over at one of his best friends. "You know I've faced worse."
"But you don't have to face anything by yourself."
Harry started to say, "I prefer it that way", but thought better of it and instead continued making his way up to the sixth year sleeping quarters.
"I know what you're trying to do." Ron went on, following one step behind Harry. "I guess you think you're protecting us. You don't want to see anybody get hurt...again."
Harry stopped walking and looked back at Ron. He had never told anyone how he really felt. How did Ron know?
Ron must have seen the surprise on Harry's face. He half smiled in the flickering light of the torches. "I am a Diviner you know."
"Oh, right." Harry said quietly.
"Not that you were ever difficult to read." Ron went on. "Hermione and I could always tell what you were thinking by just looking at your face."
"Oh." Harry said. "Then you guys understand. You'll stay back and let me handle this."
"I don't think this is something you can handle by yourself, Harry. This person is obviously a very powerful wizard and probably a Death Eater."
Harry nodded. "I figured as much."
"Then you know you shouldn't try to do this by yourself. People don't fight Death Eaters and just walk away."
"I've fought Voldemort and walked away." Harry said.
Ron flinched and said nothing.
"Let me handle it." Harry repeated.
Ron said nothing to this. Instead he pushed past Harry and up the last few steps, and went into the sixth year dorm. Harry sighed quietly, and followed the red head into the soft darkness.
~*~*~*~*
Mindy stared into the dark canopy surrounding her bed. She did not feel comfortable with not telling Professor Dumbledore what was going on. But she also didn't want to betray Harry. She knew the whole reason for her sixteen-year-old transformation was to keep Harry out of trouble. She should go tell Professor Dumbledore. In fact, not so long ago she had made up her mind to see the headmaster and tell him everything that had been happening first chance she got. Now, though, to tell on Harry just seemed wrong. Mindy closed her eyes. She didn't remember sixteen being so confusing. With a sigh, Mindy decided not to make any final decisions until the morning. Maybe a nights rest was all she needed to figure out what to do.
In the morning, however, Mindy was no closer to an answer than she had been the night before. She sat at the Gryffindor house table staring dismally at her breakfast. It was a grayish bowl of oatmeal and looked exactly the way she felt.
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked, looking at the sour expression on his girlfriend's face.
Mindy looked up. "Nothing." She answered shortly.
Harry frowned. "Are you sure?"
Mindy nodded and stood. She needed to go some place and think. She had to sort out this strong sense of loyalty she felt towards Harry and figure out how she could tell Professor Dumbledore what was happening with out violating it.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked.
"Class." Mindy answered.
"It's too early..." Harry started, but Mindy turned her back on him and started for the door. As Mindy walked away she heard Ron tell Harry, "I think she's mad at you."
"But what did I do?" Harry asked exasperated.
Mindy left the Great Hall and turned in the opposite direction of the Transfiguration classroom. Stuffing her hands into her pockets, she wandered off in no particular direction. Why was she having such a hard time with telling Professor Dumbledore what Harry was doing? She knew she thought of Harry as a friend; a very good friend. But friends wanted to keep each other safe from harm, and telling Professor Dumbledore would be doing just that—right?
After a bit, Mindy decided it was probably time she really headed for class and looked up to take stock of where she was. She was slightly surprised to find herself standing in front of the stone Griffon that guarded Professor Dumbledore's office. She looked at the stone creature, wondering if this meant she was suppose to talk to the headmaster. Mindy knew it was futile to wish for such things, but right now she wish she had a sign.
"Ms. James."
Mindy started and twirled around. Behind her stood Professor Snape. He looked at her curiously and walked forward to meet her. "Are you going to speak with Professor Dumbledore?" He asked.
Mindy was silent for a minute and then suddenly made up her mind. "No." She answered. "I was just passing by."
Professor Snape narrowed his eyes, but made no comment. Instead he asked, "What have you been up to?"
Mindy blinked. "No—Nothing. Why do you ask that?"
"You've been so quiet in my class lately." He smirked. "I was under the impression you enjoyed being a problem student."
Mindy smiled, wryly. "Only in your class, Snape."
"Of course." Professor Snape said. "And how are things with Potter?"
Mindy bit her lip, then answered. "Everything's fine."
"Really? Usually the boy is knee deep in a conspiracy by now."
Mindy laughed nervously. "Well, there's no conspiracy today. I have to go. I have class."
Professor Snape nodded. "And remember, you'll need to earn detention in my class sometime this month and make a batch of de-aging potion."
Mindy nodded her acknowledgement.
"I suggest tomorrow evening." Snape went on. "Longbottom will be out of my lab. Professor Dumbledore thinks he needs a break from working."
Mindy looked back at Snape. "How is it coming; the cure for Colin, I mean?"
"Slowly." Professor Snape answered. "We've developed something that is helping the boy. It's not exactly a true cure, but it is enough to keep Creevy from becoming worse." Snape paused. "Of course, he isn't getting any better, either."
Mindy nodded. "Do you think you'll find a cure soon?"
"Perhaps." Snape answered. "Possibly by the end of December. We may have the boy home for the holidays."
Mindy grinned. That had been the best bit of news she had heard in quite some time. "I'm glad you and Neville are working so well together."
Snape snorted. "Who said we were working well together?" He looked around as the first few students began trickling into the hall, heading for their first lessons of the day. "You'd best go, now." Professor Snape said, ignoring the strange looks they were receiving from the passing students.
Mindy nodded, and, turning her back on Professor Snape, hurried off to Transfiguration. She arrived after nearly everyone else and found herself having to take a seat in the back of the class. Harry looked back at her questioningly, as if asking where had she been. She only shrugged and pulled out her book.
Mindy was soon very glad to be sitting in the back of the room. The lesson was once again over the finer points of transfiguring one's self into an animal; a topic Mindy had become bored of sometime ago. In the back of the room it was easy to drift off without Professor Lupin readily noticing. She found herself staring at Harry through most of the period. Once, he looked back and caught her eye. He grinned and threw her quick wink. Mindy smiled and wondered how she had never noticed the way his eyes lit up when he smiled before.
By the end of the lesson, Mindy was sure she hadn't absorbed two words Professor Lupin had said. She had no idea what chapters he went over, or what the night's homework would be. When the bell rung, she hurriedly collected her things and caught up with Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
"Did any of you catch tonight's assignment?" She asked.
"Um...I'm sure I wrote it down." Ron said, reaching into the pocket of his robes and pulling out a wad of crumpled parchment.
Hermione frowned at the disorder and asked, "What happened to the homework journal I gave you for Christmas?"
"Oh. It...er...ran out of pages." Ron answered, obviously lying.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "It was enchanted so that it wouldn't run out of pages."
"Oh. Then Fred and George must have taken it."
Hermione shook her head, then reached into her bag and pulled out a clean sheet of parchment. "Here it is, Mindy." She said, scribbling the assignment down with a self –inking quill. "I'm surprised you didn't hear the homework." She said, handing Mindy the parchment as they stepped out of the class. "Weren't you listening?"
"Oh. No." Mindy answered, suddenly embarrassed. "I had other things on my mind."
"Like what?" Harry asked with a grin.
Mindy was in the middle formulating a proper response for that when Professor Lupin called Harry back.
"A moment please, Mr. Potter." Professor Lupin said, standing in the doorway of the class.
"Alright." Harry nodded. "I'll catch up." He added looking back at his friends.
Ron nodded and started off into the crowded hallway. Mindy looked back at Harry as he stepped into the class behind Professor Lupin, then hurried after Ron and Hermione. The three stepped out into the cold morning air. The weather had finally changed and the snow that had been threatening to come for so long came last night. About two feet of snow covered the ground, forcing Ron, Hermione, and Mindy to more or less trudge out to Hagrid's hut.
Harry arrived just as Hagrid came out to meet his class and lead them around to where they would tend to the baby dragon.
Ron looked at Harry questioningly. "What did Professor Lupin want?"
"I have an Occulmency lesson tomorrow night." Harry answered, a worried expression on his face. "I haven't been practicing lately."
"You haven't been practicing at all." Hermione frowned.
Harry shrugged. "You know we've been busy. That's not the point anyway. Professor Dumbledore is going to find out what we've been up to."
Mindy looked at Harry, an immense feeling of relief flooding through her. Harry was absolutely right. Professor Dumbledore would get inside Harry's head and see everything he's been doing. She doesn't have to worry about telling. Harry would have to do it whether he wants to or not. "Why don't you tell him before hand." Mindy suggested. "At least then, it won't seem as if you were trying to hide it from him."
Harry nodded, looking none to happy. "Maybe I will."
Mindy smiled and turned her attentions to Hagrid as he demonstrated the proper way to clean a dragon. Not even the prospect of taking care of a dragon could bring her spirits down now.
~*~*~*~*
Mindy was having an absolutely rotten day. She watched the contents of her cauldron bubble, trying to determine why her potion was an acid green instead of the rose pink color it was suppose to be. November had past into December and Harry still hadn't told Professor Dumbledore about the animagus. His Occulmency lesson had been canceled because of a ridiculous prank Peeves had pulled. The poltergeist had decided it would be fun to break into Dumbledore's office and turn all the portraits of the headmasters backwards, then steal several of Professor Dumbledore's items and scatter them across the school. It had been several weeks now and Fawk's stand, Professor Dumbledore's pensive, and his desk chair still hadn't been located.
That morning Professor Dumbledore had called Mindy to his office. The headmaster hadn't heard from her in a while and wanted to know if anything of any importance was going on with Harry. Mindy found herself doing the one thing she thought she'd never do—lying to Professor Dumbledore, which put her in a sour mood. She hadn't paid any attention at all in Defense Against the Dark Arts. And when Professor Trewlawny questioned her about it, she made a nasty remark about the women not being a real teacher in the first place. This earned her, her first ever detention outside of Potions. No one had been able to say two words to her all day without her snapping back, and now she was having a perfectly horrible time in potions.
It might have been easier for her if she had just told the truth. The only thing that had kept her from breaking down and telling Professor Dumbledore everything was the lack of anything abnormal happening. Nothing remotely exciting had occurred in the past few weeks and right now the biggest talk of the school was the holiday break, less than a week away.
"I think you've added too much mandrake root."
Mindy looked around to see Draco Malfoy leaning over her cauldron. "Excuse me?"
"That's why it's that color." Draco answered.
Mindy looked down at her potion. "Oh." She said, thoughtfully.
"A little toad's wart will even it out." Draco suggested.
Mindy looked inside her ingredients box and pulled out an empty bottle labeled toad's wart. "It seems I'm out." She said, holding up the glass container.
"Use some of mine." Draco handed her a small green vile. As she took it from him, he brushed the tips of his fingers against hers.
Mindy blushed slightly and immediately pulled away. She looked across the room at Harry, who was completely ignoring his potion. He stood silently, fuming as much as the bubbling liquid inside his cauldron. After the fight, Professor Snape decided it would be best to split up Mindy and Harry (as if the two of them sitting together was the cause of it). Draco had immediately moved next to Mindy and was being entirely to civil for comfort. Mindy knew the boy was only doing it to annoy Harry, and tried her best to ignore him.
Mindy dumped half of Draco's powdered toad's warts into her cauldron and watch the green swirl into a pinkish mauve color. Satisfied that her potion was at least partly right, she handed the vile back to Draco, being sure not make any eye contact.
"Time's up." Professor Snape announced. "Bottle your potions and put them on my desk."
Mindy found an empty bottle and filled it with the liquid. She frowned at the stuff in her bottle. She really hadn't been paying close attention to what she was doing and her work reflected it. Shrugging at the slightly discolored potion, she walked to the front of the room and placed it on Snape's desk.
Harry stepped up besides her, quickly depositing his potion, and hissed, "What was Malfoy saying to you?"
Mindy rolled her eyes. She was already having a not so great day. Last thing she needed was Harry playing the over protective, jealous boyfriend. "Nothing." She snapped and headed back to her desk. She could practically feel Harry scowling at her.
"Boyfriend troubles." Draco asked with smirk, as she returned to her seat.
"Don't." Mindy whispered quietly.
"Don't what?" Draco asked, coolly.
"Talk to me."
"But I thought we were friends." Draco said, a note of mock hurt in his voice. "I cleaned up for you and everything."
Mindy looked around and found her cauldron spotless and all of her ingredients neatly put away. "You shouldn't have done that." She frowned.
"Isn't that what friends do?" He asked, leaning slightly towards her.
Mindy leaned back, putting as much distance between herself and Draco as possible. She turned around, and began stuffing her books into her bag. "I wasn't aware that we were friends." She said, avoiding Draco's gray eyes.
"You used my toad's wart."
"I wish I hadn't."
"I'm not evil, you know."
Mindy looked around at Draco. "I never said you were."
Draco looked at her seriously. "You didn't have to say it."
Mindy bit her bottom lip. Maybe she was wrong about Draco. She had been treating him like the lowest scum to ever inhabit Earth. But he was a rotten boy. The way he treated Harry that first day back had been proof enough. Lately, though, he seemed...different. "I'm sorry, Draco. I didn't mean to..."
Draco shrugged away her apology. "It's fine." He said, looking back towards the front of the class as Professor Snape collected the last vile of potion. Snape frowned distastefully at the mud brown mixture, then dismissed the class.
Harry walked over immediately. Draco gave him an icy glare, then smiled warmly at Mindy. "I'll talk to later, Mindy." He said, scooping up his bag and walking away.
Harry glared at the back of Draco's head as if he could use his thoughts to smash it in if he concentrated hard enough. "What ever he's up to," Harry said, still staring at the spot Draco had been in, "It's not any good."
Mindy nodded, but she wasn't so sure anymore.
The last few days of class past fairly quickly. With the holiday break so close at hand, the Professor's seemed disinclined to give much outside work. So close to the break most students were not in the least bit thinking of classes, anyway. Mindy spent most of her time trying to decide what to get Harry for Christmas. Hermione was equally agonizing over gift selections. She wanted to get the boys something they might actually use.
"You don't suppose they'd want another homework diary?" Hermione asked, looking up from the catalogs they were pouring over.
Mindy shook her head. "I doubt it." It was only a few days from Christmas. She and Hermione had procrastinated way too long. Mindy glanced around the Gryffindor common room, checking to see that Harry and Ron were still deeply involved in their chess game. The common room was far emptier than usual. The students too young to go to the Yule Ball had left days ago. A few girls were down, showing off their dress robes, talking loudly about the Ball.
Mindy looked at Hermione, still searching through the catalog. "Who're you going with to the Yule Ball?"
Hermione looked up and, blushing slightly, said, "Ron. He asked me days ago."
"You didn't tell me." Mindy grinned.
Hermione shrugged, then looking apologetically, said, "I'm sorry you can't be there, Mindy. The Yule Ball can be a lot of fun."
"I'll be fine here with Harry." Mindy said.
Hermione nodded. "I know. I'll sneak you back some sweets."
Mindy smiled. "Thanks." She glanced back at Harry and Ron. One of Ron's pawns had just knocked the head off of one of Harry's. Harry groaned loudly at his beheaded chess piece. "Maybe we should put these up." Mindy suggested, waving a hand at the catalogs. "It doesn't look like that game will last much longer."
Hermione nodded and shoved the magazines into her bag. "I need to go to library anyway. The documents I requested should have come by now. Do you want to come with me?"
Mindy nodded, bored of sitting around the common room. "What documents did you request?"
"The public records on Trixe-Bella Greats, and I asked for the records of the registered animagus too."
Mindy nodded. She waved good-bye to Harry and she and Hermione made their way to the library. The library was completely empty; the only person there was the old librarian, nosing about the shelves. Hermione asked her for the records and she was handed a huge stack of books and scrolls.
"That's quite a bit of information to go through." Mindy said, eyeing the pile in Hermione arms.
Hermione walked to the farthest corner of library and dropped the stack on a table "Maybe I should have been more specific." Hermione said, taking a seat. "It shouldn't take too long look through most of it."
Mindy nodded and sat opposite Hermione. She grabbed one of the scrolls and began looking for any reference of Greats. After about an hour of reading and finding nothing terribly exciting, Mindy became incredibly bored. Pushing aside the scrolls, she pulled out one of the catalogs and began flipping through it.
Hermione glanced up. "Tired already."
Mindy shrugged. "I think I might've found something Harry might like." She said, ignoring the look Hermione was giving her. "I need to put in the order for it or it won't get here by Christmas."
Hermione nodded. "I have a few things to order myself."
"Would you like to come up to the owlery, then come back and finish this."
Hermione shook her head. "You go ahead. I'll catch up."
"Are you sure?"
Hermione nodded and went back to the scroll she had been reading.
Mindy pushed away from the table and, grabbing her bag and catalog, left the library. She headed down the long empty halls toward the owlery. She opened the catalog looking at the item she had picked out for Harry. She had ordered Ron's and Hermione's gifts long ago, but had really put off choosing a present for Harry. Nothing seemed quite right. She hoped he'd like what she had finally settled on.
Mindy navigated through the halls, mostly from memory, keeping her head buried in the catalog. She didn't look up until she ran flat into someone. "Sorry." Mindy said, adjusting her glasses and looking up to see who she had nearly walked over. "Oh. It's you."
Draco Malfoy stood in front of her. He smiled coolly at her. "You should watch where you're going. You never know who might run into."
"Apparently." Mindy said, and tried to step around him, but Draco moved to block her.
"Ordering presents?" Draco asked, snatching the catalog from her hands.
Mindy scowled at him. "Maybe."
"I don't like it when people buy me underwear." Draco said. "Incase you were leaning that way."
Mindy rolled her eyes. "Who says I'm getting you anything at all." She grabbed the catalog and started around him again.
This time Draco let her past, but he fell into step beside her. "Who are you going to the Yule Ball with?" He asked casually.
"I'm not going." Mindy answered.
"Because Potter isn't going."
Mindy looked at him. "You know isn't allowed."
"Everybody does." Draco answered. "Serves him right. Though, I don't think his punishment was severe enough. What he did was assault."
"I thought was he rather easy on you, considering what you were saying to him." Mindy said.
"None of it was a lie. Potter's a show-offing crybaby. Always trying to save the day and then acting all miserable when he gets somebody killed instead. He's a big fat, stupid, git."
"He's my boyfriend." Mindy said, turning on Draco.
"Doesn't change the fact that he's a stupid git. And a liar."
"He's not a liar." Mindy yelled. "If you're thinking about your father..."
"I don't want to talk about that." Draco said quickly, cutting her off. "I'm just saying you could do better."
"And who is better than Harry." Mindy huffed.
Draco smiled again. The anger that had been lining his face seemed to evaporate away, but the smile never really touched his eyes. "Just about anybody is better than Potter." From the way he said it, she knew he meant himself in particular.
Mindy turned on her heels and started away again. Draco followed her, matching his stride to hers. "You should go to the Yule Ball." He said.
"With who?" Mindy asked, realizing her mistake even as the words fell out of her mouth.
She could see Draco grinning at her out the corner of her eye. But instead of giving the answer she had expected to hear, he said. "Nobody."
Mindy stopped. "What?"
"Why not? You don't need a date. Everybody would certainly understand why you were alone." He smiled at her. "You know you want to go."
Mindy didn't say anything. She looked away. At first, she really hadn't cared about missing the ball. She hadn't really wanted to go anyway. But with it being so close, it was the only topic of most of the girls' discussions. After listening to the excited whispers for days now, she had to admit she was a little curious. Sure she had been to the last ball, but then she was a chaperon. She wondered what it would be like from a student's perspective.
Draco waved a hand nonchalantly. "Just think about it." He said, and left her with her thoughts.
~*~*~*~*
Mindy woke up very early Christmas morning to the sound of Parvati squealing. Mindy sat up quickly fearing something terrible was happening. She tore back the draperies around her bed and peaked out. She quickly spotted Parvati and Lavender sitting in front of their beds going through their gifts. Parvati jumped up and twirled around in the middle of the room, holding up pink robes.
"I knew it. I knew mummy would get them for me. I've been giving her big hints forever."
"They're lovely." Lavender said, opening a large, poorly wrapped, box. She pulled out a beautiful, blue china pot, with large white and purple lilies growing inside.
"Flowers?" Parvati asked. "They seem pretty...ordinary."
"They're from Neville." Lavender answered with a smile. "They're my favorite and I think they're lovely."
Parvati shrugged and went back to her gifts.
Sighing loudly, Mindy started to pull the draperies back around when Hermione called her name.
"Aren't you going to open your gifts?" She asked, pulling on her house robe.
Mindy looked at the foot of her bed and spotted the small pile of brightly wrapped gifts. "Yeah. I suppose so." She crawled out of bed and picked up her first gift. There was no name on it, only a card that read "Merry Christmas". But she recognized the handwriting as Professor Snape's. She hurriedly opened the package, wondering what Snape would give her. She wasn't at all surprised to find a box full of potion ingredients. She looked at a few of vials and saw that they were the ingredients she needed for the de-aging potion. He must have guessed she'd be running low.
The next gift too didn't have a name on it, but again she recognized the handwriting. Written on the card, in Professor Dumbledore's favorite emerald green ink, was "Merry Christmas and try to enjoy this second chance". Mindy opened the package and found a beautiful quill and ink set. All of the quills were exotic colors and looked terribly expensive. There wasn't a bottle of plain black ink in the set, but there were several shades of blue and turquoise, a few varieties of violets and reds, and a bottle of ink that shifted color periodically. Mindy grinned at the inks and quills. It was something she would never buy as Professor Minerva McGonagal, preferring plain as oppose to the outrageous. But the set seemed to suit her sixteen-year-old self. Setting the gift aside, she picked up the next present. This one was from Hermione. She smiled as she pulled out a book on history of magic of Austria.
"Thanks, Hermione." She said, holding up the book.
Hermione smiled. "I thought it might remind of your home." She said. "I hope you like."
"My home?" Mindy said, glancing down at the book. She was supposed to be from Austria. "It does. And I love it."
Hermione grinned. "I love your gift too." She said, holding up the book Mindy had bought her ("A Handbook to Transfiguration"). "I guess we were thinking along the same lines." She looked back at her gifts and then asked, "Did Ron give you candy?"
"Let's see." Mindy picked up Ron's present and opened it. It was tin filled with Chocolate Frogs. Mindy nodded showing Hermione the large tin of chocolates.
Hermione laughed. "He gave me Bettie Berts Every Flavor Beans."
"Trade you a few beans for a couple of frogs." Mindy said.
Hermione nodded and handed her the tin of candy. Mindy took a handful of beans and gave Hermione two of her chocolate frogs. Mindy tossed a few of the beans into her mouth, hoping she didn't have any of the less than tasty flavors, and picked up her last gift. It was a small box wrapped in blue and sliver paper. A simple tag announced it was from Harry. Mindy removed the paper carefully and opened the package to find a small, round, white china jewelry box. It was delicately carved all over with roses and the lid was traced with gold.
"Oh, it's gorgeous." Hermione exclaimed, who had been watching Mindy open her final gift with great interest.
This got the other girls attention and they turned to see the present.
"Is that from Harry?" Parvati asked, walking over to take a closer look.
Mindy nodded and opened the jewelry box. She was very relieved it wasn't one of the annoying ones that were enchanted to play music whenever the lid was up. "Oh." She said, peaking into the box. She reached in and pulled out a small teardrop stone, clasped to a silver chain. The stone was a clear, pale blue that seemed to shimmer between gray and lavender depending on how the light struck it.
"That's nice." One of the other girls said, watching the blue change color in the morning light.
Mindy nodded. She hadn't expected anything this nice. She suddenly felt guilty. Harry really cared about her and she was just leading him on.
"Is something wrong?" Hermione asked.
Mindy looked at Hermione, pushing down the sudden surge of guilt. "No." She answered, forcing a smile. "I just hope Harry didn't spend too much."
Hermione grinned. "I'm sure he didn't. Let's go see if Harry and Ron is up yet."
Mindy nodded and put the necklace back in the jewelry box. Placing it aside with her other gifts, she and Hermione hurriedly go dress. They went down to the common room and quickly spotted the boys sitting at one of the small tables. They were playing chess with what looked like a brand- new chess set.
Harry spotted them first and waved them over. Ron directed one of his chessmen to smash in one of Harry's and then looked around. "Thanks, Hermione." He said grinning widely. "This is great." He said, waving at the chess set.
Hermione smiled. "I thought you might like it. Your old one was starting to look a little...worn."
"Thanks for your gift, Hermione." Harry said. "I didn't know there was a second volume of 'Quiditch Through Ages'."
"It's pretty new." Hermione answered. "Supposedly the first volume left out a lot." Hermione found a chair and pulled it up to the table to watch the game immensely pleased that her gives were well received.
Mindy found a chair, too, and set next to Harry.
"Your move, Harry." Ron said, then looked at Mindy. "Thanks for the candy. Do you know we gave each other nearly the thing."
Mindy nodded. "I thought about that when I opened your gift."
"Maybe we can trade Chocolate Frog cards later."
"Sure." Mindy said.
Ron watched Harry make a disastrous move, then quickly countered it, resulting in another one of Harry's pawns being smashed to bits.
Mindy laughed at the destruction and said, "I don't think you'll ever be any good."
"I'm getting better." Harry said, defiantly.
"I loved your gift." She said, quietly.
Harry looked at her, smiling nervously "You liked it?"
"Of course. It's the best gift I've gotten in...in a while."
Harry grinned brightly. Then reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a golden snitch. "This is great, too."
"Can I see that?" Hermione asked. Harry handed it to her and she pressed a small button on top. A clasped opened to reveal a watch face. "A pocket watch that looks like a snitch." Hermione said. "This is nice."
Mindy smiled. "You like it, Harry?"
Harry grinned. "Yeah."
The four of them spent most of the day together. Harry lost two games of chess to Ron, before they went down to breakfast. They then pulled on their heavy cloaks and went outside. Harry and Ron dragged Mindy into a snowball fight (though Hermione somehow managed to avoid getting involved in it) with several students from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
After half an hour, Mindy managed to detach herself from the fight and went inside. She was cold and rather damp, but she couldn't remember the last time she had had so much fun. Mindy headed straight for the library, assuming Hermione would be there. She spotted the other girl easily, as once again, Hermione was the only person in the library. Mindy swept towards Hermione's table, ignoring the disapproving look the librarian was giving her for dripping water and snow on the clean floors.
Hermione looked up from the pile of documents she was going through as Mindy approached. She wrinkled her nose at Mindy's slightly damp appearance. "You're wet." She said.
"Really?" Mindy asked, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "I thought you might be in here. I came to see if you wanted any help."
"You can look if want, but I'm starting to think there isn't anything to find."
"What do you mean?" Mindy asked, taking a seat in front of Hermione.
Hermione sighed. "Either Trixe-Bella Greats is the most boring person on the face of the earth, or she didn't exist before she started working at the Ministry."
Mindy frowned. "What makes you say that?"
"There's nothing about her life before the Ministry." Hermione explained. "No mention of any family, or past jobs, or even what school she graduated from."
"That doesn't make sense." Mindy said. "There's always some mention of Ministry workers past in the files."
"I know." Hermione nodded "And there's something about Greats name that doesn't sit right with me."
"What?" Mindy asked.
Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. It'll come to me though."
"Any luck in finding a registered owl animagus?"
Hermione shook her head no again. "There was no owl listed. But I guess I half expected that anyway." She pushed the documents in front of her away. "I don't think I'm going to find anything in these. I was going to turn them in, unless you want to go through them."
Mindy shook her head. "I doubt I find anymore than you. I think the lack of information on Greats is important, somehow. We just need to go over everything we know. I'm sure we'll come up with a solution."
Hermione nodded. "But not now." She said, turning around to look at the clock above the library door. "I have to start getting ready for tonight. It takes me forever to get this straightened." She added, lifting a lock of her very frizzy hair.
"Let's go, then. I need to dry off anyway."
Hermione returned the scrolls and the two of them made their way back to the tower. Mindy changed into drier clothes and helped Hermione get ready for the night. As she helped Hermione dress, she realized just how much she really wanted to go to the Yule Ball. She watched the other girls get dress just a little bit envious, then shook her head. She told herself she was a grown woman and shouldn't be upset because she wasn't go to some silly dance. But no matter how she rationalized it, she couldn't make herself feel okay about missing the ball. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second, then turned back to Hermione. "You look beautiful." She said.
Hermione was dressed in creamy white robes that seem to float around her when she moved. Her hair was pulled up in complicated curls; a large sparkling clasp held it all in place. She really was gorgeous. "Thanks." Hermione said. "What do you think Ron will say?"
"I think he will be speechless." Mindy answered.
Hermione grinned. "That would be a first."
The two went down to the common room to wait on Ron. It wasn't long before he and Harry appeared. Ron looked surprisingly handsome (and a little self-conscious) in simple black dress robes with burgundy trim. He grinned crookedly as he approached them.
"You look really nice tonight." Hermione said.
Ron opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He closed his mouth, ears turning ferociously red, and then tried again. "You're...er...very...pretty." He said, his whole face turning a color to match the trim of his robes.
Hermione grinned, blushing slightly, then took Ron by the arm. "Let's go. We don't want to be late."
"Oh, right." Ron said. He looked back at Harry, almost pleadingly.
Harry smiled and said, "Have fun."
"We will." Hermione answered, waving good-bye.
Mindy and Harry watched the two of them disappeared through the portrait whole and then headed back to the sofa in front of the fireplace. "I can't believe how nervous Ron was." Harry said, sitting down in front of the fire. "He acted as if he was going with Fleur Delacour. He and Hermione have been friends forever. I didn't think he would be so anxious."
"It's different now." Mindy said. "They may have been friends forever, but this is the first time they've been boyfriend/girlfriend. The relationship between them has changed. I'm not the least bit surprise Ron was nervous."
"I suppose." Harry said. "It still seems weird to me though."
"That's just because you can see they're perfect for each other." Mindy said, then looked over at Harry. "Fleur Delacour?"
"Long story." Harry answered.
Soon Gryffindor tower was empty of everyone save Harry and Mindy. They played a little chess with Ron's set (Mindy won once and Harry won once) and discussed possible Quiditch plays. After an hour or so, Dolby the house elf appeared. He carried a large tray of the food being served at the ball and several bottles of butter beer. Harry invited Dolby to stay and the house elf eagerly agreed. He ate a little with them, but refrained from drinking any of the butter beer. Mindy was surprised to find she like the house elf. Before, dreaded having to deal with him, and found everything he did bothersom. But now she thought he funny and a little sweet in his adoration of Harry.
It wasn't long after Dolby left, when Harry suggested they go for a walk. Mindy had been reading the book Hermione had given her Christmas. She marked her page and looked around. "Do what?" She asked.
"Go for a walk." Harry answered.
Mindy blinked at him. "Walk where?"
"I thought we could go down to the rose garden..."
"Harry, you're on punishment. You can't go to Yule Ball and if you're caught..."
"We're not going to the Yule Ball." Harry cut her off. "If we were going there, we'd be trying to get into the Great Hall, which we're not. We're just going for a walk. There's nothing wrong with that."
"That's a technicality." Mindy frowned. "One Snape would probably over look if he's the one to catch you."
"If." Harry said. "And I doubt anybody even notices. Come on, Mindy. The rose garden will probably be beautiful. I don't want you to miss the chance to see it."
Mindy looked at Harry with the intentions of saying no. But when she saw the smile on his face, and the hopeful spark in his green eyes, she found herself agreeing. "Let me get my cloak."
Harry grinned. "Alright. Once you see the garden you'll be glad you came down."
"We'll see," was all Mindy said.
She found her cloak quickly and hurried back down to the common room. Harry was waiting on her and the two of them exited through the portrait hole. They didn't pass anyone in the halls. Mindy assumed most everyone would be in the Great Hall, still enjoying the Yule Ball. As they neared the exit they passed more students, who looked at Harry and Mindy oddly, but said nothing. Soon the two of them were outside in cold night air.
Mindy stopped and gasp. The garden twinkled with fairy lights. Winding paths lined with twinkling rose bushes led off in different direction. She could hear the distant sound of water falling and knew there was a fountain somewhere in the middle of it. The rose garden was decorated almost exactly as it was last Yule Ball, but before she hadn't noticed how beautiful it was. She looked around at the softly glowing lights and sparklingly ornamental paths and wondered how she could have missed how lovely and romantic the gardens were.
"Told you would like it." Harry said. Taking Mindy by the hand, he started off down one of the paths. Mindy allowed him to lead her, while she stared around at the fairy lit gardens. "Would you like to go over there?" Harry asked, waving at a side path leading away from the main one.
"Okay." Mindy answered, again allowing Harry to lead her.
The second path ended abruptly and they found themselves in a tiny moonlit clearing. A small bench set at the back of it, surrounded by the twinkling rosebushes. Harry walked over to the bench, and brushing away some snow, sat down. Mindy sat down next Harry, and he wrapped an arm around her.
"Nice, isn't it?" Harry asked.
Mindy nodded, unconsciously leaning into Harry's embrace. "Very nice." She answered, stilling looking around at the gardens. She felt Harry's eyes on her and looked up at him. "What is it?"
"Nothing. It's just...you look really beautiful tonight." Harry answered.
Mindy frowned. Her was up in a ponytail, as usual, and she was wearing very unstylish, although very comfortable, clothes. "I don't look any different than I do any other day."
"I know." Harry answered
Mindy stared at Harry. She smiled and felt herself blushing deeply. Harry gently removed her glasses and pulled her face up to his. For a brief second Mindy thought she should pull away, but she lost the thought immediately as his lips touched her. She returned his kiss with a passion that surprised even her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, as she felt his arms go around her waist. She forgot completely that she Minerva McGonagal and her only thoughts were of Harry and that moment.
Harry pulled away for a moment and Mindy took the opportunity to remove his glasses. Holding the glasses by one stem, she wrapped her arm back around his neck, and leaned in to kiss him again. She had just felt the brush of his lips against hers again, when something red and bright more or less exploded in front of them. Mindy jumped and pulled away.
"Wha--?" Harry asked, looking around.
Mindy looked back towards the entrance of the clearing. She was fuzzy figure moving towards them. "What do you think you're doing?"
Mindy groaned. Without her glasses, she couldn't see his face clearly, but she knew Snape's voice when she heard it. "Why him?" She asked quietly
Harry returned Mindy's glasses and took his own back. Putting them on, Harry stood slowly and faced Professor Snape. "We were just going for a walk." He said calmly.
"I didn't notice you walking." Snape said, coldly.
"We were taking a break." Harry answered.
Snape narrowed his eyes. "Fifty points from Gryffindor, Potter." He then looked past Harry and stared at Mindy. "I'm surprised at you, Ms. James. You should know better."
For second a Mindy wonder why she should know better, then it struck her. She was an adult, but more importantly, she was a Professor. She shouldn't be out here with Harry. She certainly shouldn't have been doing what they were doing. She felt herself blushing furiously and looked down at the ground.
"Perhaps you haven't had enough detention this year." Snape said, nastily.
"What?" Harry frowned. "You can't give Mindy detention. I'm the one who shouldn't be here. If you want to hand out detention give it to me."
"That's very noble of you, Potter, but unless you're looking for expulsion, I suggest you shut up."
"But..." Harry started.
Mindy touched Harry on his arm and when the boy looked back at her, she shook her head. "I understand, Sir." Mindy said, looking back at Professor Snape. "When should I come in?"
"Stop by my office in the morning and I'll tell you then." He gave Harry a withering look. He then turned his gaze on Mindy, but the look wasn't so much disapproving as curious, as if he was trying to decide what was making her behave so out of character. "Go back to house rooms." He said, coldly. "And if I catch you again, Potter, you will be expelled." He added, before turning away and leaving them alone.
Harry waited for Snape to disappear completely before looking back at Mindy. "Why did you let him give you detention? You aren't in trouble. I am."
Mindy shook her. "Because I shouldn't have let you talk me into coming out here. Let's go back in before we get into anymore trouble."
Harry nodded and they left the rose garden in silence. It was just starting to snow again, when that stepped back into the castle. They were passing the Great Hall and heading for the staircase that led back to Gryffindor tower when they heard Hermione call their names.
Mindy turned around to see Hermione and Ron heading their way.
"Wait a moment." Hermione called, lifting her dress robes and hurrying to catch up with them.
"Something the matter?" Harry asked, stopping to stand on the first step of the stairway.
"No, not really." Hermione answered. "I just realized something." She stopped, frowning and asked, "What are you doing down here?"
"Long story." Mindy answered. "What is it that you just realized?"
Hermione glanced around, making sure no one else was too close. "Well, you remember what I was saying earlier about Trixe-Bella Greats' name. I think I know why it was bothering me, and I think I know who the animagus is." She said quietly.
"Who?" Harry asked.
Hermione opened her mouth to answer, but stopped as Lavender walked up. The four of them turned around to look at the girl. Lavender looked very pretty in coco colored robes, but at the moment she looked none to happy. She forced a smiled and asked, "Have any of you seen Neville."
Hermione shook her head no and looked at Ron who only shrugged.
"Sorry, Lavender." Ron said. "We haven't seen him."
Lavender nodded, then asked, "What about that Pansy girl. Last time I saw Neville she was dragging him off somewhere."
Mindy felt her stomach drop into her shoes. "Pansy?" The girl who had conspired to lead a boy to his death not so long ago. Then they had all thought she was talking about Harry, but what if she wasn't? She looked at Harry and from the look on his face, she could tell the same thought had occurred to him.
"We'll find him." Harry said, pushing past Lavender without giving her a chance to answer.
Mindy hurried after him and she knew the others were right behind her. Harry headed away from the more populated halls, and soon Mindy recognized the way he was going. He was leading them back to the spot Pansy and the animagus had met. They turned down several empty halls and soon they reached a dark corridor. None of the torches were lit and Harry pulled out his wand. He lit it with a spell and headed straight for the small window at the end.
He stopped just before he reached the window and kneeled. Mindy walked slowly to where he was. This was starting to look all too familiar. She stopped next to Harry and then quickly looked away. Neville lay on the floor, just before the window. He looked just as Colin did when they had found him.
There was a sharp intake at her side and she noticed for the first time that Lavender was beside her. The girl let out a low moan, and then fell to the floor before Neville's still body. She let out a small sob and started crying quietly. Hermione rushed to Lavender's side and wrapped her arms around the other girl.
Harry backed away and Mindy followed after him. "I think I've been an idiot." Harry said quietly, still clutching his wand. "Thinking this all about me and only me. I've been an...an arrogant idiot."
Mindy shook her head. "No, Harry, you weren't the ifiot." She swallowed hard, forcing back tears. She knew this was her fault. If she had just gone to Professor Dumbledore, this wouldn't have happened. She turned away from Neville and spotted Ron standing at the entrance of the hall reluctant to come any further.
"I'll get Madam Pomfrey." Ron announced and left without a word more.
Harry looked at Mindy and said, "Let's go find Professor Dumbledore. I know its too late now, but I think I need to talk to him."
Mindy nodded and, with one last look back at Neville and the two girls before him, left the dark hall behind.
~*~*~*~*~*
End of chapter 10. Took me forever to do, but it is DONE!!! Yay!!!!
Now here's comments to reviews:
ocpawnmaster1: Thanks, I'm glad somebody out there isn't grossed out by my pairings.
Superhpfreak: First of all, I would like to say that if I ever start writing professionally you are so hired as my editor. Believe it or not, last chapter was sort of rushed. Things have gotten pretty busy for me of late and I don't have as much time as I like to write. Next, I mentioned in one of those chapters that Professor Trewlawny had them reading tarot cards to find possible dark wizards before they appear. Ron always read disaster from the cards. Okay, the turning into mice thing is sort of like becoming an animagus, but its different. In this process they can transfigure themselves into any animal not just one. The draw back to doing it that way (instead of becoming an animagus) is that you have the animals instincts to over come. I mostly made the stuff up, though, so I don't know how it would hold up in Rowling's world. But I was more or less basing it on Viktor becoming a shark during one of the trials in book four. Unless he was studying to become an animagus (which I didn't think he was) then he had just transfigured himself. And don't worry. No matter how I lead it, Mindy and Draco will NOT get together. I hope that answered all your questions.
Crookykanks: Yay another person who likes the pairing. As you can probably tell from this chapter, Mindy (or Minerva) is starting to loose that "teacher instinct". Heck, she's starting to loose her adult view of things. A side affect of our lovely de-aging potion.
ZetsumeiX: Big Thanks. Now I feel okay about my pairing.
On-A-Rainy-Day: Thanks. I'm glad you found funny bits. I am so not good with funny, but I still try. I'm glad my effort is paying off. By the by, I love your screen name.
That is all from Qwest. I hope you liked the chapter. If you did, review. If you didn't, review. If you don't care one way or the other, still review. So I will say bye for now, with a promise to update within the month (but if I don't, please don't send hit men to whack me) and remember to review. Bye ^_^
Well, I have nothing more to say, except that I don't own Harry Potter and never ever will.
Now read, enjoy, and review.
Chapter 10 Yule Ball
Mouse Harry ran down the long corridor, hardly aware of where he was heading. His little feet carried him surprisingly fast, as he moved with one side of his body pressed against the cold stonewall. Harry wasn't sure how long he had let the mouse panic carry him away when he finally decided it was high time he took control again. He forced his way through the blind terror enveloping the mouse's brain, and willed himself to stop running.
Another mouse plowed into him and he looked back to see Ron. Just behind him was Hermione and farther behind her was Mindy. 'Good.' Harry thought. 'At least we managed to stay together.' Ron managed to stop running and came to a jittery halt beside Harry. Behind him, Hermione looked as if she still wanted bolt, glancing around with very nervous mouse eyes, searching for unseen predators. Mindy sat very calmly, watching Harry.
Harry decided it was time to be a boy again, and reached deep within and pulled up an image of himself. He focused on ever detail of his body, his unruly hair, his bright green eyes, the lighting bolt scar on his four head. Being an animal, he couldn't speak and the only way to reverse the spell was with extreme concentration on who he was. It had taken him a while to get used to imagining every detail of himself in perfect clarity, but he had learned the trick of it and could change back with out much trouble.
Harry was just beginning to feel the first changes of the spell when a very large something swooped down out of nowhere and grabbed him. He lost the picture of himself and the transformation stopped immediately. The mouse panicked again and his first thought was to kick, scratch, claw, and bite his way free of whatever had gotten him. Harry forced himself to stay calm. Vibrations were coming from above and he swiveled his ears around, forcing his brain to make sense of the sounds he heard.
"...You guys been?" Harry squeaked with relief. It was Ginny. She was wearing his Invisibility Cloak and no part of her was visible except the hand that held him.
"I waited and waited. I was starting to get worried." Ginny went on. "Don't turn back now, Ron. You all can't fit under the cloak. I'll carry you back to Gryffindor tower in my pocket."
Ginny deftly scooped up the other three mice (Ron was a little larger now and looked more like a really weird rat) and stuffed them in the deep pockets of her robes. Wrapping the Invisibility Cloak around herself tightly, Ginny headed off down the hall. Harry allowed himself to slide to the bottom of Ginny's pocket, and sat very still, trying to steady his insanely fast heart rate.
Ginny didn't have to walk very far to get back to the tower. Harry and the others must have run in that direction, probably because they thought of it as the safest place in the school. Soon he heard Ginny whispering the past word and felt her stepping through the portrait whole. Several swift steps later, Ginny reached into her pocket and dug out the four mice. She placed them on rug and whispered, "Hurry and change back before some one comes."
Harry glanced around, assuring himself that the room was empty, then swiftly regained his own form. He stood wobbly and stretched. It did feel good to have only two legs again. He looked around glad to see that everyone was back to normal.
"So, what happened?" Ginny asked, eagerly. "Did you find out anything?"
"Yeah." Ron answered, dropping shakily onto the couch in front of the fireplace. "Mice are crazy scared of owls."
"I guess we should have known that could happen." Hermione said, sitting beside Ron.
"Owl? So Pansy has something to do with it?" Ginny asked.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, she does." He quickly recounted what they heard Pansy and the person in the shadows talking about.
"So, somebody else is going to be hurt, like Colin." Ginny said quietly when Harry had finished.
Harry nodded. "Seems like."
"And the owl is an animagus." Hermione said. "It definitely started off a person before turning into an owl."
Ginny frowned. "Couldn't the person have down what you did, just transfigure into an owl.
Hermione shook her head. "I didn't hear the spell being said. Besides, the owl didn't react to us. If it was a mere transfiguration, the owl would have come after at least one mouse."
Ginny nodded. "Alright. But who is it?"
Hermione shook her head. "There was no way for a mouse to tell, but I intend to find out. All animagus are supposed to be registered..."
"Yeah, but we all know that's not necessarily true." Ron frowned.
"It couldn't hurt to try and look it up." Hermione retorted.
"But what do we do now?" Ginny asked.
"We should tell Professor Dumbledore." Mindy answered. "This is...more than we can handle."
Harry shook his head. "No." He said.
Mindy blinked at Harry. "What do you mean no? Harry, there's an animagus running around this school and it plans to hurt someone else. Do I really need to say who that someone else probably is?"
Harry could understand Mindy's worry, but he didn't think they knew enough. He knew the animagus would probably be coming after him next, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time someone had tried to hurt him. He could take of himself. Mostly, though, he didn't want to involve anyone else, and telling Professor Dumbledore would be doing just that. He could risk his life but he couldn't stand to risk anyone else's. "I'll be alright." Harry said, confidently. Mindy gave Harry a very disapproving look. "Let's just try to figure out who this animagus is first." He added.
"I don't think it's a good idea not to tell Professor Dumbledore." Mindy argued. "It's a risk you don't..."
"My risk, though." Harry cut in. "I'm used to people trying to hurt me. I'll be alright."
"Mindy may be right, Harry." Hermione said quietly.
Harry shook his head no.
Hermione looked at Mindy apologetically. Mindy sighed then said, "Alright. But once we figure out who this animagus is, we ought to tell Professor Dumbledore."
"Fine." Harry agreed. "It's late and I'm going to bed."
Ron stood up and waving a quick goodnight to the girls, followed Harry up to the boys' dormitory. "I don't think it's such a good idea to keep this from Professor Dumbledore." Ron said quietly as he and Harry made their way up the stairs.
Harry frowned in the semi-darkness of the stairway. "Please don't start, Ron." Harry said, glancing over at one of his best friends. "You know I've faced worse."
"But you don't have to face anything by yourself."
Harry started to say, "I prefer it that way", but thought better of it and instead continued making his way up to the sixth year sleeping quarters.
"I know what you're trying to do." Ron went on, following one step behind Harry. "I guess you think you're protecting us. You don't want to see anybody get hurt...again."
Harry stopped walking and looked back at Ron. He had never told anyone how he really felt. How did Ron know?
Ron must have seen the surprise on Harry's face. He half smiled in the flickering light of the torches. "I am a Diviner you know."
"Oh, right." Harry said quietly.
"Not that you were ever difficult to read." Ron went on. "Hermione and I could always tell what you were thinking by just looking at your face."
"Oh." Harry said. "Then you guys understand. You'll stay back and let me handle this."
"I don't think this is something you can handle by yourself, Harry. This person is obviously a very powerful wizard and probably a Death Eater."
Harry nodded. "I figured as much."
"Then you know you shouldn't try to do this by yourself. People don't fight Death Eaters and just walk away."
"I've fought Voldemort and walked away." Harry said.
Ron flinched and said nothing.
"Let me handle it." Harry repeated.
Ron said nothing to this. Instead he pushed past Harry and up the last few steps, and went into the sixth year dorm. Harry sighed quietly, and followed the red head into the soft darkness.
~*~*~*~*
Mindy stared into the dark canopy surrounding her bed. She did not feel comfortable with not telling Professor Dumbledore what was going on. But she also didn't want to betray Harry. She knew the whole reason for her sixteen-year-old transformation was to keep Harry out of trouble. She should go tell Professor Dumbledore. In fact, not so long ago she had made up her mind to see the headmaster and tell him everything that had been happening first chance she got. Now, though, to tell on Harry just seemed wrong. Mindy closed her eyes. She didn't remember sixteen being so confusing. With a sigh, Mindy decided not to make any final decisions until the morning. Maybe a nights rest was all she needed to figure out what to do.
In the morning, however, Mindy was no closer to an answer than she had been the night before. She sat at the Gryffindor house table staring dismally at her breakfast. It was a grayish bowl of oatmeal and looked exactly the way she felt.
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked, looking at the sour expression on his girlfriend's face.
Mindy looked up. "Nothing." She answered shortly.
Harry frowned. "Are you sure?"
Mindy nodded and stood. She needed to go some place and think. She had to sort out this strong sense of loyalty she felt towards Harry and figure out how she could tell Professor Dumbledore what was happening with out violating it.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked.
"Class." Mindy answered.
"It's too early..." Harry started, but Mindy turned her back on him and started for the door. As Mindy walked away she heard Ron tell Harry, "I think she's mad at you."
"But what did I do?" Harry asked exasperated.
Mindy left the Great Hall and turned in the opposite direction of the Transfiguration classroom. Stuffing her hands into her pockets, she wandered off in no particular direction. Why was she having such a hard time with telling Professor Dumbledore what Harry was doing? She knew she thought of Harry as a friend; a very good friend. But friends wanted to keep each other safe from harm, and telling Professor Dumbledore would be doing just that—right?
After a bit, Mindy decided it was probably time she really headed for class and looked up to take stock of where she was. She was slightly surprised to find herself standing in front of the stone Griffon that guarded Professor Dumbledore's office. She looked at the stone creature, wondering if this meant she was suppose to talk to the headmaster. Mindy knew it was futile to wish for such things, but right now she wish she had a sign.
"Ms. James."
Mindy started and twirled around. Behind her stood Professor Snape. He looked at her curiously and walked forward to meet her. "Are you going to speak with Professor Dumbledore?" He asked.
Mindy was silent for a minute and then suddenly made up her mind. "No." She answered. "I was just passing by."
Professor Snape narrowed his eyes, but made no comment. Instead he asked, "What have you been up to?"
Mindy blinked. "No—Nothing. Why do you ask that?"
"You've been so quiet in my class lately." He smirked. "I was under the impression you enjoyed being a problem student."
Mindy smiled, wryly. "Only in your class, Snape."
"Of course." Professor Snape said. "And how are things with Potter?"
Mindy bit her lip, then answered. "Everything's fine."
"Really? Usually the boy is knee deep in a conspiracy by now."
Mindy laughed nervously. "Well, there's no conspiracy today. I have to go. I have class."
Professor Snape nodded. "And remember, you'll need to earn detention in my class sometime this month and make a batch of de-aging potion."
Mindy nodded her acknowledgement.
"I suggest tomorrow evening." Snape went on. "Longbottom will be out of my lab. Professor Dumbledore thinks he needs a break from working."
Mindy looked back at Snape. "How is it coming; the cure for Colin, I mean?"
"Slowly." Professor Snape answered. "We've developed something that is helping the boy. It's not exactly a true cure, but it is enough to keep Creevy from becoming worse." Snape paused. "Of course, he isn't getting any better, either."
Mindy nodded. "Do you think you'll find a cure soon?"
"Perhaps." Snape answered. "Possibly by the end of December. We may have the boy home for the holidays."
Mindy grinned. That had been the best bit of news she had heard in quite some time. "I'm glad you and Neville are working so well together."
Snape snorted. "Who said we were working well together?" He looked around as the first few students began trickling into the hall, heading for their first lessons of the day. "You'd best go, now." Professor Snape said, ignoring the strange looks they were receiving from the passing students.
Mindy nodded, and, turning her back on Professor Snape, hurried off to Transfiguration. She arrived after nearly everyone else and found herself having to take a seat in the back of the class. Harry looked back at her questioningly, as if asking where had she been. She only shrugged and pulled out her book.
Mindy was soon very glad to be sitting in the back of the room. The lesson was once again over the finer points of transfiguring one's self into an animal; a topic Mindy had become bored of sometime ago. In the back of the room it was easy to drift off without Professor Lupin readily noticing. She found herself staring at Harry through most of the period. Once, he looked back and caught her eye. He grinned and threw her quick wink. Mindy smiled and wondered how she had never noticed the way his eyes lit up when he smiled before.
By the end of the lesson, Mindy was sure she hadn't absorbed two words Professor Lupin had said. She had no idea what chapters he went over, or what the night's homework would be. When the bell rung, she hurriedly collected her things and caught up with Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
"Did any of you catch tonight's assignment?" She asked.
"Um...I'm sure I wrote it down." Ron said, reaching into the pocket of his robes and pulling out a wad of crumpled parchment.
Hermione frowned at the disorder and asked, "What happened to the homework journal I gave you for Christmas?"
"Oh. It...er...ran out of pages." Ron answered, obviously lying.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "It was enchanted so that it wouldn't run out of pages."
"Oh. Then Fred and George must have taken it."
Hermione shook her head, then reached into her bag and pulled out a clean sheet of parchment. "Here it is, Mindy." She said, scribbling the assignment down with a self –inking quill. "I'm surprised you didn't hear the homework." She said, handing Mindy the parchment as they stepped out of the class. "Weren't you listening?"
"Oh. No." Mindy answered, suddenly embarrassed. "I had other things on my mind."
"Like what?" Harry asked with a grin.
Mindy was in the middle formulating a proper response for that when Professor Lupin called Harry back.
"A moment please, Mr. Potter." Professor Lupin said, standing in the doorway of the class.
"Alright." Harry nodded. "I'll catch up." He added looking back at his friends.
Ron nodded and started off into the crowded hallway. Mindy looked back at Harry as he stepped into the class behind Professor Lupin, then hurried after Ron and Hermione. The three stepped out into the cold morning air. The weather had finally changed and the snow that had been threatening to come for so long came last night. About two feet of snow covered the ground, forcing Ron, Hermione, and Mindy to more or less trudge out to Hagrid's hut.
Harry arrived just as Hagrid came out to meet his class and lead them around to where they would tend to the baby dragon.
Ron looked at Harry questioningly. "What did Professor Lupin want?"
"I have an Occulmency lesson tomorrow night." Harry answered, a worried expression on his face. "I haven't been practicing lately."
"You haven't been practicing at all." Hermione frowned.
Harry shrugged. "You know we've been busy. That's not the point anyway. Professor Dumbledore is going to find out what we've been up to."
Mindy looked at Harry, an immense feeling of relief flooding through her. Harry was absolutely right. Professor Dumbledore would get inside Harry's head and see everything he's been doing. She doesn't have to worry about telling. Harry would have to do it whether he wants to or not. "Why don't you tell him before hand." Mindy suggested. "At least then, it won't seem as if you were trying to hide it from him."
Harry nodded, looking none to happy. "Maybe I will."
Mindy smiled and turned her attentions to Hagrid as he demonstrated the proper way to clean a dragon. Not even the prospect of taking care of a dragon could bring her spirits down now.
~*~*~*~*
Mindy was having an absolutely rotten day. She watched the contents of her cauldron bubble, trying to determine why her potion was an acid green instead of the rose pink color it was suppose to be. November had past into December and Harry still hadn't told Professor Dumbledore about the animagus. His Occulmency lesson had been canceled because of a ridiculous prank Peeves had pulled. The poltergeist had decided it would be fun to break into Dumbledore's office and turn all the portraits of the headmasters backwards, then steal several of Professor Dumbledore's items and scatter them across the school. It had been several weeks now and Fawk's stand, Professor Dumbledore's pensive, and his desk chair still hadn't been located.
That morning Professor Dumbledore had called Mindy to his office. The headmaster hadn't heard from her in a while and wanted to know if anything of any importance was going on with Harry. Mindy found herself doing the one thing she thought she'd never do—lying to Professor Dumbledore, which put her in a sour mood. She hadn't paid any attention at all in Defense Against the Dark Arts. And when Professor Trewlawny questioned her about it, she made a nasty remark about the women not being a real teacher in the first place. This earned her, her first ever detention outside of Potions. No one had been able to say two words to her all day without her snapping back, and now she was having a perfectly horrible time in potions.
It might have been easier for her if she had just told the truth. The only thing that had kept her from breaking down and telling Professor Dumbledore everything was the lack of anything abnormal happening. Nothing remotely exciting had occurred in the past few weeks and right now the biggest talk of the school was the holiday break, less than a week away.
"I think you've added too much mandrake root."
Mindy looked around to see Draco Malfoy leaning over her cauldron. "Excuse me?"
"That's why it's that color." Draco answered.
Mindy looked down at her potion. "Oh." She said, thoughtfully.
"A little toad's wart will even it out." Draco suggested.
Mindy looked inside her ingredients box and pulled out an empty bottle labeled toad's wart. "It seems I'm out." She said, holding up the glass container.
"Use some of mine." Draco handed her a small green vile. As she took it from him, he brushed the tips of his fingers against hers.
Mindy blushed slightly and immediately pulled away. She looked across the room at Harry, who was completely ignoring his potion. He stood silently, fuming as much as the bubbling liquid inside his cauldron. After the fight, Professor Snape decided it would be best to split up Mindy and Harry (as if the two of them sitting together was the cause of it). Draco had immediately moved next to Mindy and was being entirely to civil for comfort. Mindy knew the boy was only doing it to annoy Harry, and tried her best to ignore him.
Mindy dumped half of Draco's powdered toad's warts into her cauldron and watch the green swirl into a pinkish mauve color. Satisfied that her potion was at least partly right, she handed the vile back to Draco, being sure not make any eye contact.
"Time's up." Professor Snape announced. "Bottle your potions and put them on my desk."
Mindy found an empty bottle and filled it with the liquid. She frowned at the stuff in her bottle. She really hadn't been paying close attention to what she was doing and her work reflected it. Shrugging at the slightly discolored potion, she walked to the front of the room and placed it on Snape's desk.
Harry stepped up besides her, quickly depositing his potion, and hissed, "What was Malfoy saying to you?"
Mindy rolled her eyes. She was already having a not so great day. Last thing she needed was Harry playing the over protective, jealous boyfriend. "Nothing." She snapped and headed back to her desk. She could practically feel Harry scowling at her.
"Boyfriend troubles." Draco asked with smirk, as she returned to her seat.
"Don't." Mindy whispered quietly.
"Don't what?" Draco asked, coolly.
"Talk to me."
"But I thought we were friends." Draco said, a note of mock hurt in his voice. "I cleaned up for you and everything."
Mindy looked around and found her cauldron spotless and all of her ingredients neatly put away. "You shouldn't have done that." She frowned.
"Isn't that what friends do?" He asked, leaning slightly towards her.
Mindy leaned back, putting as much distance between herself and Draco as possible. She turned around, and began stuffing her books into her bag. "I wasn't aware that we were friends." She said, avoiding Draco's gray eyes.
"You used my toad's wart."
"I wish I hadn't."
"I'm not evil, you know."
Mindy looked around at Draco. "I never said you were."
Draco looked at her seriously. "You didn't have to say it."
Mindy bit her bottom lip. Maybe she was wrong about Draco. She had been treating him like the lowest scum to ever inhabit Earth. But he was a rotten boy. The way he treated Harry that first day back had been proof enough. Lately, though, he seemed...different. "I'm sorry, Draco. I didn't mean to..."
Draco shrugged away her apology. "It's fine." He said, looking back towards the front of the class as Professor Snape collected the last vile of potion. Snape frowned distastefully at the mud brown mixture, then dismissed the class.
Harry walked over immediately. Draco gave him an icy glare, then smiled warmly at Mindy. "I'll talk to later, Mindy." He said, scooping up his bag and walking away.
Harry glared at the back of Draco's head as if he could use his thoughts to smash it in if he concentrated hard enough. "What ever he's up to," Harry said, still staring at the spot Draco had been in, "It's not any good."
Mindy nodded, but she wasn't so sure anymore.
The last few days of class past fairly quickly. With the holiday break so close at hand, the Professor's seemed disinclined to give much outside work. So close to the break most students were not in the least bit thinking of classes, anyway. Mindy spent most of her time trying to decide what to get Harry for Christmas. Hermione was equally agonizing over gift selections. She wanted to get the boys something they might actually use.
"You don't suppose they'd want another homework diary?" Hermione asked, looking up from the catalogs they were pouring over.
Mindy shook her head. "I doubt it." It was only a few days from Christmas. She and Hermione had procrastinated way too long. Mindy glanced around the Gryffindor common room, checking to see that Harry and Ron were still deeply involved in their chess game. The common room was far emptier than usual. The students too young to go to the Yule Ball had left days ago. A few girls were down, showing off their dress robes, talking loudly about the Ball.
Mindy looked at Hermione, still searching through the catalog. "Who're you going with to the Yule Ball?"
Hermione looked up and, blushing slightly, said, "Ron. He asked me days ago."
"You didn't tell me." Mindy grinned.
Hermione shrugged, then looking apologetically, said, "I'm sorry you can't be there, Mindy. The Yule Ball can be a lot of fun."
"I'll be fine here with Harry." Mindy said.
Hermione nodded. "I know. I'll sneak you back some sweets."
Mindy smiled. "Thanks." She glanced back at Harry and Ron. One of Ron's pawns had just knocked the head off of one of Harry's. Harry groaned loudly at his beheaded chess piece. "Maybe we should put these up." Mindy suggested, waving a hand at the catalogs. "It doesn't look like that game will last much longer."
Hermione nodded and shoved the magazines into her bag. "I need to go to library anyway. The documents I requested should have come by now. Do you want to come with me?"
Mindy nodded, bored of sitting around the common room. "What documents did you request?"
"The public records on Trixe-Bella Greats, and I asked for the records of the registered animagus too."
Mindy nodded. She waved good-bye to Harry and she and Hermione made their way to the library. The library was completely empty; the only person there was the old librarian, nosing about the shelves. Hermione asked her for the records and she was handed a huge stack of books and scrolls.
"That's quite a bit of information to go through." Mindy said, eyeing the pile in Hermione arms.
Hermione walked to the farthest corner of library and dropped the stack on a table "Maybe I should have been more specific." Hermione said, taking a seat. "It shouldn't take too long look through most of it."
Mindy nodded and sat opposite Hermione. She grabbed one of the scrolls and began looking for any reference of Greats. After about an hour of reading and finding nothing terribly exciting, Mindy became incredibly bored. Pushing aside the scrolls, she pulled out one of the catalogs and began flipping through it.
Hermione glanced up. "Tired already."
Mindy shrugged. "I think I might've found something Harry might like." She said, ignoring the look Hermione was giving her. "I need to put in the order for it or it won't get here by Christmas."
Hermione nodded. "I have a few things to order myself."
"Would you like to come up to the owlery, then come back and finish this."
Hermione shook her head. "You go ahead. I'll catch up."
"Are you sure?"
Hermione nodded and went back to the scroll she had been reading.
Mindy pushed away from the table and, grabbing her bag and catalog, left the library. She headed down the long empty halls toward the owlery. She opened the catalog looking at the item she had picked out for Harry. She had ordered Ron's and Hermione's gifts long ago, but had really put off choosing a present for Harry. Nothing seemed quite right. She hoped he'd like what she had finally settled on.
Mindy navigated through the halls, mostly from memory, keeping her head buried in the catalog. She didn't look up until she ran flat into someone. "Sorry." Mindy said, adjusting her glasses and looking up to see who she had nearly walked over. "Oh. It's you."
Draco Malfoy stood in front of her. He smiled coolly at her. "You should watch where you're going. You never know who might run into."
"Apparently." Mindy said, and tried to step around him, but Draco moved to block her.
"Ordering presents?" Draco asked, snatching the catalog from her hands.
Mindy scowled at him. "Maybe."
"I don't like it when people buy me underwear." Draco said. "Incase you were leaning that way."
Mindy rolled her eyes. "Who says I'm getting you anything at all." She grabbed the catalog and started around him again.
This time Draco let her past, but he fell into step beside her. "Who are you going to the Yule Ball with?" He asked casually.
"I'm not going." Mindy answered.
"Because Potter isn't going."
Mindy looked at him. "You know isn't allowed."
"Everybody does." Draco answered. "Serves him right. Though, I don't think his punishment was severe enough. What he did was assault."
"I thought was he rather easy on you, considering what you were saying to him." Mindy said.
"None of it was a lie. Potter's a show-offing crybaby. Always trying to save the day and then acting all miserable when he gets somebody killed instead. He's a big fat, stupid, git."
"He's my boyfriend." Mindy said, turning on Draco.
"Doesn't change the fact that he's a stupid git. And a liar."
"He's not a liar." Mindy yelled. "If you're thinking about your father..."
"I don't want to talk about that." Draco said quickly, cutting her off. "I'm just saying you could do better."
"And who is better than Harry." Mindy huffed.
Draco smiled again. The anger that had been lining his face seemed to evaporate away, but the smile never really touched his eyes. "Just about anybody is better than Potter." From the way he said it, she knew he meant himself in particular.
Mindy turned on her heels and started away again. Draco followed her, matching his stride to hers. "You should go to the Yule Ball." He said.
"With who?" Mindy asked, realizing her mistake even as the words fell out of her mouth.
She could see Draco grinning at her out the corner of her eye. But instead of giving the answer she had expected to hear, he said. "Nobody."
Mindy stopped. "What?"
"Why not? You don't need a date. Everybody would certainly understand why you were alone." He smiled at her. "You know you want to go."
Mindy didn't say anything. She looked away. At first, she really hadn't cared about missing the ball. She hadn't really wanted to go anyway. But with it being so close, it was the only topic of most of the girls' discussions. After listening to the excited whispers for days now, she had to admit she was a little curious. Sure she had been to the last ball, but then she was a chaperon. She wondered what it would be like from a student's perspective.
Draco waved a hand nonchalantly. "Just think about it." He said, and left her with her thoughts.
~*~*~*~*
Mindy woke up very early Christmas morning to the sound of Parvati squealing. Mindy sat up quickly fearing something terrible was happening. She tore back the draperies around her bed and peaked out. She quickly spotted Parvati and Lavender sitting in front of their beds going through their gifts. Parvati jumped up and twirled around in the middle of the room, holding up pink robes.
"I knew it. I knew mummy would get them for me. I've been giving her big hints forever."
"They're lovely." Lavender said, opening a large, poorly wrapped, box. She pulled out a beautiful, blue china pot, with large white and purple lilies growing inside.
"Flowers?" Parvati asked. "They seem pretty...ordinary."
"They're from Neville." Lavender answered with a smile. "They're my favorite and I think they're lovely."
Parvati shrugged and went back to her gifts.
Sighing loudly, Mindy started to pull the draperies back around when Hermione called her name.
"Aren't you going to open your gifts?" She asked, pulling on her house robe.
Mindy looked at the foot of her bed and spotted the small pile of brightly wrapped gifts. "Yeah. I suppose so." She crawled out of bed and picked up her first gift. There was no name on it, only a card that read "Merry Christmas". But she recognized the handwriting as Professor Snape's. She hurriedly opened the package, wondering what Snape would give her. She wasn't at all surprised to find a box full of potion ingredients. She looked at a few of vials and saw that they were the ingredients she needed for the de-aging potion. He must have guessed she'd be running low.
The next gift too didn't have a name on it, but again she recognized the handwriting. Written on the card, in Professor Dumbledore's favorite emerald green ink, was "Merry Christmas and try to enjoy this second chance". Mindy opened the package and found a beautiful quill and ink set. All of the quills were exotic colors and looked terribly expensive. There wasn't a bottle of plain black ink in the set, but there were several shades of blue and turquoise, a few varieties of violets and reds, and a bottle of ink that shifted color periodically. Mindy grinned at the inks and quills. It was something she would never buy as Professor Minerva McGonagal, preferring plain as oppose to the outrageous. But the set seemed to suit her sixteen-year-old self. Setting the gift aside, she picked up the next present. This one was from Hermione. She smiled as she pulled out a book on history of magic of Austria.
"Thanks, Hermione." She said, holding up the book.
Hermione smiled. "I thought it might remind of your home." She said. "I hope you like."
"My home?" Mindy said, glancing down at the book. She was supposed to be from Austria. "It does. And I love it."
Hermione grinned. "I love your gift too." She said, holding up the book Mindy had bought her ("A Handbook to Transfiguration"). "I guess we were thinking along the same lines." She looked back at her gifts and then asked, "Did Ron give you candy?"
"Let's see." Mindy picked up Ron's present and opened it. It was tin filled with Chocolate Frogs. Mindy nodded showing Hermione the large tin of chocolates.
Hermione laughed. "He gave me Bettie Berts Every Flavor Beans."
"Trade you a few beans for a couple of frogs." Mindy said.
Hermione nodded and handed her the tin of candy. Mindy took a handful of beans and gave Hermione two of her chocolate frogs. Mindy tossed a few of the beans into her mouth, hoping she didn't have any of the less than tasty flavors, and picked up her last gift. It was a small box wrapped in blue and sliver paper. A simple tag announced it was from Harry. Mindy removed the paper carefully and opened the package to find a small, round, white china jewelry box. It was delicately carved all over with roses and the lid was traced with gold.
"Oh, it's gorgeous." Hermione exclaimed, who had been watching Mindy open her final gift with great interest.
This got the other girls attention and they turned to see the present.
"Is that from Harry?" Parvati asked, walking over to take a closer look.
Mindy nodded and opened the jewelry box. She was very relieved it wasn't one of the annoying ones that were enchanted to play music whenever the lid was up. "Oh." She said, peaking into the box. She reached in and pulled out a small teardrop stone, clasped to a silver chain. The stone was a clear, pale blue that seemed to shimmer between gray and lavender depending on how the light struck it.
"That's nice." One of the other girls said, watching the blue change color in the morning light.
Mindy nodded. She hadn't expected anything this nice. She suddenly felt guilty. Harry really cared about her and she was just leading him on.
"Is something wrong?" Hermione asked.
Mindy looked at Hermione, pushing down the sudden surge of guilt. "No." She answered, forcing a smile. "I just hope Harry didn't spend too much."
Hermione grinned. "I'm sure he didn't. Let's go see if Harry and Ron is up yet."
Mindy nodded and put the necklace back in the jewelry box. Placing it aside with her other gifts, she and Hermione hurriedly go dress. They went down to the common room and quickly spotted the boys sitting at one of the small tables. They were playing chess with what looked like a brand- new chess set.
Harry spotted them first and waved them over. Ron directed one of his chessmen to smash in one of Harry's and then looked around. "Thanks, Hermione." He said grinning widely. "This is great." He said, waving at the chess set.
Hermione smiled. "I thought you might like it. Your old one was starting to look a little...worn."
"Thanks for your gift, Hermione." Harry said. "I didn't know there was a second volume of 'Quiditch Through Ages'."
"It's pretty new." Hermione answered. "Supposedly the first volume left out a lot." Hermione found a chair and pulled it up to the table to watch the game immensely pleased that her gives were well received.
Mindy found a chair, too, and set next to Harry.
"Your move, Harry." Ron said, then looked at Mindy. "Thanks for the candy. Do you know we gave each other nearly the thing."
Mindy nodded. "I thought about that when I opened your gift."
"Maybe we can trade Chocolate Frog cards later."
"Sure." Mindy said.
Ron watched Harry make a disastrous move, then quickly countered it, resulting in another one of Harry's pawns being smashed to bits.
Mindy laughed at the destruction and said, "I don't think you'll ever be any good."
"I'm getting better." Harry said, defiantly.
"I loved your gift." She said, quietly.
Harry looked at her, smiling nervously "You liked it?"
"Of course. It's the best gift I've gotten in...in a while."
Harry grinned brightly. Then reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like a golden snitch. "This is great, too."
"Can I see that?" Hermione asked. Harry handed it to her and she pressed a small button on top. A clasped opened to reveal a watch face. "A pocket watch that looks like a snitch." Hermione said. "This is nice."
Mindy smiled. "You like it, Harry?"
Harry grinned. "Yeah."
The four of them spent most of the day together. Harry lost two games of chess to Ron, before they went down to breakfast. They then pulled on their heavy cloaks and went outside. Harry and Ron dragged Mindy into a snowball fight (though Hermione somehow managed to avoid getting involved in it) with several students from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
After half an hour, Mindy managed to detach herself from the fight and went inside. She was cold and rather damp, but she couldn't remember the last time she had had so much fun. Mindy headed straight for the library, assuming Hermione would be there. She spotted the other girl easily, as once again, Hermione was the only person in the library. Mindy swept towards Hermione's table, ignoring the disapproving look the librarian was giving her for dripping water and snow on the clean floors.
Hermione looked up from the pile of documents she was going through as Mindy approached. She wrinkled her nose at Mindy's slightly damp appearance. "You're wet." She said.
"Really?" Mindy asked, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "I thought you might be in here. I came to see if you wanted any help."
"You can look if want, but I'm starting to think there isn't anything to find."
"What do you mean?" Mindy asked, taking a seat in front of Hermione.
Hermione sighed. "Either Trixe-Bella Greats is the most boring person on the face of the earth, or she didn't exist before she started working at the Ministry."
Mindy frowned. "What makes you say that?"
"There's nothing about her life before the Ministry." Hermione explained. "No mention of any family, or past jobs, or even what school she graduated from."
"That doesn't make sense." Mindy said. "There's always some mention of Ministry workers past in the files."
"I know." Hermione nodded "And there's something about Greats name that doesn't sit right with me."
"What?" Mindy asked.
Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. It'll come to me though."
"Any luck in finding a registered owl animagus?"
Hermione shook her head no again. "There was no owl listed. But I guess I half expected that anyway." She pushed the documents in front of her away. "I don't think I'm going to find anything in these. I was going to turn them in, unless you want to go through them."
Mindy shook her head. "I doubt I find anymore than you. I think the lack of information on Greats is important, somehow. We just need to go over everything we know. I'm sure we'll come up with a solution."
Hermione nodded. "But not now." She said, turning around to look at the clock above the library door. "I have to start getting ready for tonight. It takes me forever to get this straightened." She added, lifting a lock of her very frizzy hair.
"Let's go, then. I need to dry off anyway."
Hermione returned the scrolls and the two of them made their way back to the tower. Mindy changed into drier clothes and helped Hermione get ready for the night. As she helped Hermione dress, she realized just how much she really wanted to go to the Yule Ball. She watched the other girls get dress just a little bit envious, then shook her head. She told herself she was a grown woman and shouldn't be upset because she wasn't go to some silly dance. But no matter how she rationalized it, she couldn't make herself feel okay about missing the ball. She squeezed her eyes shut for a second, then turned back to Hermione. "You look beautiful." She said.
Hermione was dressed in creamy white robes that seem to float around her when she moved. Her hair was pulled up in complicated curls; a large sparkling clasp held it all in place. She really was gorgeous. "Thanks." Hermione said. "What do you think Ron will say?"
"I think he will be speechless." Mindy answered.
Hermione grinned. "That would be a first."
The two went down to the common room to wait on Ron. It wasn't long before he and Harry appeared. Ron looked surprisingly handsome (and a little self-conscious) in simple black dress robes with burgundy trim. He grinned crookedly as he approached them.
"You look really nice tonight." Hermione said.
Ron opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He closed his mouth, ears turning ferociously red, and then tried again. "You're...er...very...pretty." He said, his whole face turning a color to match the trim of his robes.
Hermione grinned, blushing slightly, then took Ron by the arm. "Let's go. We don't want to be late."
"Oh, right." Ron said. He looked back at Harry, almost pleadingly.
Harry smiled and said, "Have fun."
"We will." Hermione answered, waving good-bye.
Mindy and Harry watched the two of them disappeared through the portrait whole and then headed back to the sofa in front of the fireplace. "I can't believe how nervous Ron was." Harry said, sitting down in front of the fire. "He acted as if he was going with Fleur Delacour. He and Hermione have been friends forever. I didn't think he would be so anxious."
"It's different now." Mindy said. "They may have been friends forever, but this is the first time they've been boyfriend/girlfriend. The relationship between them has changed. I'm not the least bit surprise Ron was nervous."
"I suppose." Harry said. "It still seems weird to me though."
"That's just because you can see they're perfect for each other." Mindy said, then looked over at Harry. "Fleur Delacour?"
"Long story." Harry answered.
Soon Gryffindor tower was empty of everyone save Harry and Mindy. They played a little chess with Ron's set (Mindy won once and Harry won once) and discussed possible Quiditch plays. After an hour or so, Dolby the house elf appeared. He carried a large tray of the food being served at the ball and several bottles of butter beer. Harry invited Dolby to stay and the house elf eagerly agreed. He ate a little with them, but refrained from drinking any of the butter beer. Mindy was surprised to find she like the house elf. Before, dreaded having to deal with him, and found everything he did bothersom. But now she thought he funny and a little sweet in his adoration of Harry.
It wasn't long after Dolby left, when Harry suggested they go for a walk. Mindy had been reading the book Hermione had given her Christmas. She marked her page and looked around. "Do what?" She asked.
"Go for a walk." Harry answered.
Mindy blinked at him. "Walk where?"
"I thought we could go down to the rose garden..."
"Harry, you're on punishment. You can't go to Yule Ball and if you're caught..."
"We're not going to the Yule Ball." Harry cut her off. "If we were going there, we'd be trying to get into the Great Hall, which we're not. We're just going for a walk. There's nothing wrong with that."
"That's a technicality." Mindy frowned. "One Snape would probably over look if he's the one to catch you."
"If." Harry said. "And I doubt anybody even notices. Come on, Mindy. The rose garden will probably be beautiful. I don't want you to miss the chance to see it."
Mindy looked at Harry with the intentions of saying no. But when she saw the smile on his face, and the hopeful spark in his green eyes, she found herself agreeing. "Let me get my cloak."
Harry grinned. "Alright. Once you see the garden you'll be glad you came down."
"We'll see," was all Mindy said.
She found her cloak quickly and hurried back down to the common room. Harry was waiting on her and the two of them exited through the portrait hole. They didn't pass anyone in the halls. Mindy assumed most everyone would be in the Great Hall, still enjoying the Yule Ball. As they neared the exit they passed more students, who looked at Harry and Mindy oddly, but said nothing. Soon the two of them were outside in cold night air.
Mindy stopped and gasp. The garden twinkled with fairy lights. Winding paths lined with twinkling rose bushes led off in different direction. She could hear the distant sound of water falling and knew there was a fountain somewhere in the middle of it. The rose garden was decorated almost exactly as it was last Yule Ball, but before she hadn't noticed how beautiful it was. She looked around at the softly glowing lights and sparklingly ornamental paths and wondered how she could have missed how lovely and romantic the gardens were.
"Told you would like it." Harry said. Taking Mindy by the hand, he started off down one of the paths. Mindy allowed him to lead her, while she stared around at the fairy lit gardens. "Would you like to go over there?" Harry asked, waving at a side path leading away from the main one.
"Okay." Mindy answered, again allowing Harry to lead her.
The second path ended abruptly and they found themselves in a tiny moonlit clearing. A small bench set at the back of it, surrounded by the twinkling rosebushes. Harry walked over to the bench, and brushing away some snow, sat down. Mindy sat down next Harry, and he wrapped an arm around her.
"Nice, isn't it?" Harry asked.
Mindy nodded, unconsciously leaning into Harry's embrace. "Very nice." She answered, stilling looking around at the gardens. She felt Harry's eyes on her and looked up at him. "What is it?"
"Nothing. It's just...you look really beautiful tonight." Harry answered.
Mindy frowned. Her was up in a ponytail, as usual, and she was wearing very unstylish, although very comfortable, clothes. "I don't look any different than I do any other day."
"I know." Harry answered
Mindy stared at Harry. She smiled and felt herself blushing deeply. Harry gently removed her glasses and pulled her face up to his. For a brief second Mindy thought she should pull away, but she lost the thought immediately as his lips touched her. She returned his kiss with a passion that surprised even her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, as she felt his arms go around her waist. She forgot completely that she Minerva McGonagal and her only thoughts were of Harry and that moment.
Harry pulled away for a moment and Mindy took the opportunity to remove his glasses. Holding the glasses by one stem, she wrapped her arm back around his neck, and leaned in to kiss him again. She had just felt the brush of his lips against hers again, when something red and bright more or less exploded in front of them. Mindy jumped and pulled away.
"Wha--?" Harry asked, looking around.
Mindy looked back towards the entrance of the clearing. She was fuzzy figure moving towards them. "What do you think you're doing?"
Mindy groaned. Without her glasses, she couldn't see his face clearly, but she knew Snape's voice when she heard it. "Why him?" She asked quietly
Harry returned Mindy's glasses and took his own back. Putting them on, Harry stood slowly and faced Professor Snape. "We were just going for a walk." He said calmly.
"I didn't notice you walking." Snape said, coldly.
"We were taking a break." Harry answered.
Snape narrowed his eyes. "Fifty points from Gryffindor, Potter." He then looked past Harry and stared at Mindy. "I'm surprised at you, Ms. James. You should know better."
For second a Mindy wonder why she should know better, then it struck her. She was an adult, but more importantly, she was a Professor. She shouldn't be out here with Harry. She certainly shouldn't have been doing what they were doing. She felt herself blushing furiously and looked down at the ground.
"Perhaps you haven't had enough detention this year." Snape said, nastily.
"What?" Harry frowned. "You can't give Mindy detention. I'm the one who shouldn't be here. If you want to hand out detention give it to me."
"That's very noble of you, Potter, but unless you're looking for expulsion, I suggest you shut up."
"But..." Harry started.
Mindy touched Harry on his arm and when the boy looked back at her, she shook her head. "I understand, Sir." Mindy said, looking back at Professor Snape. "When should I come in?"
"Stop by my office in the morning and I'll tell you then." He gave Harry a withering look. He then turned his gaze on Mindy, but the look wasn't so much disapproving as curious, as if he was trying to decide what was making her behave so out of character. "Go back to house rooms." He said, coldly. "And if I catch you again, Potter, you will be expelled." He added, before turning away and leaving them alone.
Harry waited for Snape to disappear completely before looking back at Mindy. "Why did you let him give you detention? You aren't in trouble. I am."
Mindy shook her. "Because I shouldn't have let you talk me into coming out here. Let's go back in before we get into anymore trouble."
Harry nodded and they left the rose garden in silence. It was just starting to snow again, when that stepped back into the castle. They were passing the Great Hall and heading for the staircase that led back to Gryffindor tower when they heard Hermione call their names.
Mindy turned around to see Hermione and Ron heading their way.
"Wait a moment." Hermione called, lifting her dress robes and hurrying to catch up with them.
"Something the matter?" Harry asked, stopping to stand on the first step of the stairway.
"No, not really." Hermione answered. "I just realized something." She stopped, frowning and asked, "What are you doing down here?"
"Long story." Mindy answered. "What is it that you just realized?"
Hermione glanced around, making sure no one else was too close. "Well, you remember what I was saying earlier about Trixe-Bella Greats' name. I think I know why it was bothering me, and I think I know who the animagus is." She said quietly.
"Who?" Harry asked.
Hermione opened her mouth to answer, but stopped as Lavender walked up. The four of them turned around to look at the girl. Lavender looked very pretty in coco colored robes, but at the moment she looked none to happy. She forced a smiled and asked, "Have any of you seen Neville."
Hermione shook her head no and looked at Ron who only shrugged.
"Sorry, Lavender." Ron said. "We haven't seen him."
Lavender nodded, then asked, "What about that Pansy girl. Last time I saw Neville she was dragging him off somewhere."
Mindy felt her stomach drop into her shoes. "Pansy?" The girl who had conspired to lead a boy to his death not so long ago. Then they had all thought she was talking about Harry, but what if she wasn't? She looked at Harry and from the look on his face, she could tell the same thought had occurred to him.
"We'll find him." Harry said, pushing past Lavender without giving her a chance to answer.
Mindy hurried after him and she knew the others were right behind her. Harry headed away from the more populated halls, and soon Mindy recognized the way he was going. He was leading them back to the spot Pansy and the animagus had met. They turned down several empty halls and soon they reached a dark corridor. None of the torches were lit and Harry pulled out his wand. He lit it with a spell and headed straight for the small window at the end.
He stopped just before he reached the window and kneeled. Mindy walked slowly to where he was. This was starting to look all too familiar. She stopped next to Harry and then quickly looked away. Neville lay on the floor, just before the window. He looked just as Colin did when they had found him.
There was a sharp intake at her side and she noticed for the first time that Lavender was beside her. The girl let out a low moan, and then fell to the floor before Neville's still body. She let out a small sob and started crying quietly. Hermione rushed to Lavender's side and wrapped her arms around the other girl.
Harry backed away and Mindy followed after him. "I think I've been an idiot." Harry said quietly, still clutching his wand. "Thinking this all about me and only me. I've been an...an arrogant idiot."
Mindy shook her head. "No, Harry, you weren't the ifiot." She swallowed hard, forcing back tears. She knew this was her fault. If she had just gone to Professor Dumbledore, this wouldn't have happened. She turned away from Neville and spotted Ron standing at the entrance of the hall reluctant to come any further.
"I'll get Madam Pomfrey." Ron announced and left without a word more.
Harry looked at Mindy and said, "Let's go find Professor Dumbledore. I know its too late now, but I think I need to talk to him."
Mindy nodded and, with one last look back at Neville and the two girls before him, left the dark hall behind.
~*~*~*~*~*
End of chapter 10. Took me forever to do, but it is DONE!!! Yay!!!!
Now here's comments to reviews:
ocpawnmaster1: Thanks, I'm glad somebody out there isn't grossed out by my pairings.
Superhpfreak: First of all, I would like to say that if I ever start writing professionally you are so hired as my editor. Believe it or not, last chapter was sort of rushed. Things have gotten pretty busy for me of late and I don't have as much time as I like to write. Next, I mentioned in one of those chapters that Professor Trewlawny had them reading tarot cards to find possible dark wizards before they appear. Ron always read disaster from the cards. Okay, the turning into mice thing is sort of like becoming an animagus, but its different. In this process they can transfigure themselves into any animal not just one. The draw back to doing it that way (instead of becoming an animagus) is that you have the animals instincts to over come. I mostly made the stuff up, though, so I don't know how it would hold up in Rowling's world. But I was more or less basing it on Viktor becoming a shark during one of the trials in book four. Unless he was studying to become an animagus (which I didn't think he was) then he had just transfigured himself. And don't worry. No matter how I lead it, Mindy and Draco will NOT get together. I hope that answered all your questions.
Crookykanks: Yay another person who likes the pairing. As you can probably tell from this chapter, Mindy (or Minerva) is starting to loose that "teacher instinct". Heck, she's starting to loose her adult view of things. A side affect of our lovely de-aging potion.
ZetsumeiX: Big Thanks. Now I feel okay about my pairing.
On-A-Rainy-Day: Thanks. I'm glad you found funny bits. I am so not good with funny, but I still try. I'm glad my effort is paying off. By the by, I love your screen name.
That is all from Qwest. I hope you liked the chapter. If you did, review. If you didn't, review. If you don't care one way or the other, still review. So I will say bye for now, with a promise to update within the month (but if I don't, please don't send hit men to whack me) and remember to review. Bye ^_^