A/N: Let's start the celebration. My senior thesis is finished and goes into printing and binding. After 3 month (nearly) and 77 pages, the Maria-Theresian Reforms of 1744-1763 part on friendly terms. Yay! So, due to this event here is chapter 3.
As I said, I started writing this before OoTP. I know they said in the book that they can observe the floo network, but I had it like this before, so I just keep it. Same goes for Percy still living at the Burrow. Oh, and I don't like Percy. Didn't, even before the book was released – Am I clairvoyant? Hehe… Oh, and I love the Weasley's…Arthur&Molly start to become my second-fave ship. So I had to throw them in too….Oh, why don't you check out the "Baking and Batteries"-group on Yahoo? It's great.
Thankies to all my reviewers – be nice and keep up reviewing…I crave for your opinion. It makes me go on with this story, which is a first attempt in many ways.
Chapter 3 – Unbelievable Things
Minerva wiped away the last tear stains. After sobbing heavily for what seemed like ages, only sadness remained. Sadness…and hopelessness. What a disaster life had turned into. What had she come to? Jobless, loveless, homeless, hopeless.
She was on the verge of succumbing to a fresh wave of despair, when suddenly inside her head an alarm went off. Her cat-senses seemed to kick in, warning her about a danger coming close. Minerva quickly transformed into her cat form and ran to hide in a nearby bush.
Not a second too soon, because just then several pops of wizards apparating in could be heard. A group of aurors appeared only meters away from the bush, where the little tabby was hiding.
"Okay guys, let's swarm out and see if we can find any hints." The obvious leader commanded.
"Is it really true?" A young man with brown hair asked. "Are we really hunting Professor McGonagall?"
"Yes." His superior declared. "And we have to find her quickly. The minister has declared her capture the top priority."
"Why?" a third man enquired "What 'capital crime' could McGonagall commit?"
"She's a traitor. And…" the leader hesitated, "she tried to kill the minister yesterday." The other men stared at him wide-eyed. Their boss shifted uneasily. "She's been declared dangerous. And she's desperate. And we…we have to catch her."
The youngest member of the group, who seemed to be barely out of school, asked somewhat fearfully: "What is going to happen to her?"
An older colleague gravely answered: "Azkaban."
All members of the group swallowed nervously at the mention of the wizard's prison. Snapping out of the uneasy mood one wanted to know: "How do we find her? McGonagall is an animagus. A cat, I think. When she's transformed, it will be downright impossible to discover her. There are millions of cats in this country. And she could be anywhere."
In the nearby bush the little cat shrunk even deeper into the branches attempting to become invisible.
The leading man explained: "McGonagall was seen running in this direction. Some Muggles were said to have seen a woman fitting her description in this area. We also have a detailed description of her animagus form. It's a black and grey striped tabby cat, with square black markings around the eyes." He paused. "Now, lets start questioning in the village. Maybe somebody has seen her."
The other men nodded and disappeared with a pop.
When they were gone, Minerva transformed back and slumped down on the ground. Her heart was beating like a trip hammer. They were hunting her! As a traitor and assassin.
She had to get away from here.
Minerva swallowed hard. Her animagus form didn't protect her anymore. She had to find another one. For that she needed time…and a safe hiding place. But where was that place?
Then it struck her: the manor! Only Uray and Meli lived there at the moment. They would believe her. And they could help her. Minerva smiled and for the first time since this drama had started she felt something like hope. Yes, her family would be on her side. And maybe, just maybe, they could help her in clearing up the whole mess.
The now former Hogwarts teacher felt new energy rising at the thought of her home. She would go to Scotland. But how? Apparating was out of question. That could be traced. Riding a broomstick would take way too long. And a long journey increased the danger to be caught. The same went for using any Muggle devices. The Knight Bus? She mentally snorted. Then she could just as well apparate to Azkaban. No, there was only one option: Floo Powder. She had to find a magic household, where she could secretly use the fireplace. That meant breaking in – something McGonagall would find repelling under normal circumstances. But her situation wasn't normal – far from it. She had no choice.
With that resolved, she set off to find a wizard's house.
~~~~
Hours later, Minerva leaned heavily against a tree. She was exhausted. Not to mention her growling stomach and a desperate need for a bath. How many villages she had passed through today, she didn't know. So far, she had no luck in finding a magic family lodging.
And then there was the constant fear of exposure. She had travelled alternately as a cat or a human, always trying to be invisible. Still, there had been several close calls, when she was almost detected by ministry officials searching for her.
Now, it was almost night again and the November air was getting rather chilly. Minerva sighed. Hopefully, the village half a mile north, the faint lights of which she could see, would have a wizard's household. Dragging herself up, she changed into a cat and went north.
Some time later she reached the city limits and almost cheered loudly. She looked up at a sign that read: "Ottery St. Catchpole". Minerva couldn't believe her luck. She had found a good place. The Weasleys and the Diggorys lived in the area. She could even choose which fireplace she would use. The burrow was nearer and in this serenely messy house her break in would probably go undetected. But there was Percy. The Diggorys, on the other hand, were further off and their house was much neater and probably better protected. McGonagall sighed. The Weasleys were the better choice. "Well," she thought, "let's hope that Percy is not at home."
Getting into the garden was not a problem. But since several windows were still alight, she would have to wait. The tabby cat crept stealthily through the beds to the house, leaped up onto the windowsill and huddled in a corner.
Only Arthur and Molly were in the kitchen and their obvious agitation made it easy to eavesdrop.
"I can't believe it," Molly's shrill voice sounded, "Minerva a public enemy. And …and You-know-Who as headmaster at Hogwarts. What has gotten into Dumbledore?"
"Keep quiet, Molly. Great Wizards, keep quiet." Arthur frantically tried to calm his wife.
"I can't! This is just too much. I can't believe Dumbledore."
"I know, dear. I know." Arthur sat down heavily. "I can't believe it either. But…it's not safe to mention your doubts. Not even here."
"What do you mean, Arthur?" Mrs. Weasley was confused.
Her husband looked around nervously before answering. "If I wouldn't know better, I'd say there is a big conspiracy going on. Dumbledore always fought against You-know-Who, but suddenly he wants to negotiate. And tomorrow, he will give a speech announcing that they have reached a peace with You-know-Who." He paused, as if he was trying to put all the facts in a proper line. "And the only price for the peace was to make the Dark Lord headmaster of the school."
Molly frowned. "How does McGonagall fit into all this?"
Mr. Weasley jumped up and started to pace. "That is the strange thing. Just when the peace agreement is reached McGonagall is declared an outlaw. Why? She always was Dumbledore's closest friend and confidante. From what I've heard she even was his…well…his lover. And suddenly, out of the blue, he declares her a criminal."
"On what charges?"
"Treason. And since yesterday, attempted murder."
"Oh my God! What did she do?"
"I don't know. Nobody, except Dumbledore seems to know what she did. Only him, and Percy of course. That's why, Molly, that's why I want you to keep quiet about your doubts." Arthur stepped close to his wife and put his hands on her shoulder. "We cannot trust Percy." He told her earnestly. "I hate to say that about our son, but I don't know if it is safe to talk freely around him. Whatever is going on, he is in the inner circle, and therefore it is better that he doesn't know about our reservations."
Molly swallowed and almost fearful voiced the obvious question. "What do you think is going on, Arthur?"
"I don't know, Molly. I don't know. What I know is that this peace agreement has by no means erased the danger for our world. Something is going on, something odd. And everybody who gets into the way must fear the worst. Look what happened to McGonagall. She is the best example. She was in the way of whatever they are doing and now…" Mr. Weasley's voice faded and his usually jovial expression was dark.
"Oh Arthur…" his wife cried and threw herself into his arms. He held her close.
After a while he said: "Lets go to bed, dear. Tomorrow will come and we will have to face it. One way or the other. Until then, we need rest."
Mrs. Weasley nodded with a sniffle and they left the kitchen. Shortly after almost all lights in the house were extinguished.
On the windowsill outside the tabby cat seemed to release the breath she seemed to have been holding. Peace with the Dark Lord? Unbelievable. Get her out of the way? Impossible! They would not succeed. If Minerva had felt her energy rising earlier, she was now filled with determination. She would clear her name. She would find out what was going on. And she would find out what had happened to Albus – to the Albus she loved.
But first, she had to go home to prepare.
Thus, the cat that was Minerva leaped off the windowsill, transformed into a woman to perform the "Alohomora" charm, and then changed back to creep carefully through the kitchen. In front of the fireplace she changed into her human form, took a handful of Floo Powder out of the little pot hanging next to it and stepped into the fire place.
There, Minerva threw down the powder and said in a quiet, yet stern voice: "Albany House!".
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A/N2: Forgot that: The name Albany House comes from a Roger Whittaker song ***hides embarrassedly***. I love that song. ***blush***
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