A/N: Okay, some more magic is on the way, but first, some talking has to be done.
Thankies to my *sniff, sniff* only 3 reviewers of the last chapters. At least, you make me feel a little loved here. Thanks for that. So please, everybody else, do review and let me know what you think.
The charm, Minerva mentions in this chapter, has been named by me. I couldn't find out which words Sirius and Remus used in PoA, so I made up the name.
Chapter 4 – It sounds like a Conspiracy…
Melina was pacing. She was worried. No…worried wasn't the right word. She was scared. This wasn't good. Aunt Minerva convicted as a traitor, Dumbledore the one to convict her and Voldemort headmaster in Hogwarts. Those were shocking news.
The young witch shivered. What had been a shock to her, were almost fatal news to her father. Seeing big and strong Uray McGonagall in shambles was disturbing. Melina stepped up to the window and stared into the black night. The whole day he had been pacing and rambling and ranting. In between, he had broken down again and again. Then he had been sitting on a sofa, staring into space or crying. She guessed that her father's world had fallen apart today. His favorite sister declared an outlaw, betrayed by the man she loved – by the only man Uray had ever been willing to entrust his sister with – had made his universe crumble.
Melina had been forced to feed him with several drinks and a strong sleeping draught, to make him finally rest. She hoped, he would be able to compose himself again. It was an eerie feeling to take care of him and not the other way around.
Now, her old man was sleeping, but his daughter couldn't find any rest. Her mind was spinning, because of the odd events. Negotiations with Voldemort? It sounded ridiculous. It was ridiculous! What kind of plan did Dumbledore have? Was that man still Albus Dumbledore? And where the hell was aunt Minerva?
At exactly this moment a crashing sound could be heard. Melina shot around in horror, her right hand flying to her throat. There was a person dashing out of the fireplace in a huge cloud of dust and ashes, making her cough. When the dust settled offering a clear look at the visitor, Melina's eyes went wide: "Aunt Minerva?"
**
The former Transfigurations teacher shook her head to clear her mind. Too much Floo Powder and of poor quality, she decided. Or…the twins had smuggled a bit of their joke powder into the pot. Looking around, Minerva immediately recognised the room as her niece's. And just a second later she was hauled into an almost violent tight hug.
"Great Wizards, aunt Minerva, you're okay. I was so worried. My goodness, you're okay." The younger witch cried. "We were so worried. Where have you been?"
"Melina…Meli…" her aunt interrupted trying to pull of the embrace. "Meli, calm down." And then more forcefully. "Melina! Listen to me. I need your help."
That snapped the other woman out of her trance and she looked questioningly at her. Minerva sighed. "I'm on the run, Melina. The ministry is hunting me. You must help me to hide." She sighed again, this time very tiredly. "First, however, I need something to eat….And a bath." She added with a dry grin.
The two women rose and Minerva turned to the door, which led to the hallway, but was stopped by her niece. "Better stay here. The less people know about your presence, the better. Use my bathroom and I'll go and fetch you some new robes."
Half an hour later the two of them settled down in front of the relit fire. They conjured a pot of tea and a plate of sandwiches, which Minerva devoured instantly, out of thin air. Melina watched the woman, who could easily be taken as an older version of herself, from the long ebony hair, the dark eyes to the long, trim figure. Even their facial structures were similar. Only, her aunt's features were haunted.
When Minerva had finished the plate, she sat back with a cup of tea, inhaled its scent deeply and muttered: "Ah, home, sweet home."
Melina asked: "Would you tell me now, what is going on? A ministry official came here telling us that you have been convicted for treason and attempted murder."
Her aunt swallowed, put the cup down and closed her eyes. After almost a full minute of silence, she monotonously replied. "I'm not really sure, what is going on. I received a letter from Albus, calling me to the ministry. When I went there yesterday, Albus came out of Fudge's office with Voldemort telling me that I am no longer Hogwarts' headmistress, but a convicted criminal and outlaw…" McGonagall opened her eyes and looked almost pleadingly at her niece. "But Meli, I wasn't even headmistress, only a fill-in as long as Albus was absent." She paused. "It wasn't exactly a pretty scene. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, grabbed my wand hexed them with the "Stupefy"-curse and fled."
"So that was the assassination attempt?" Melina exclaimed incredulously.
Minerva shrugged. "I guess so."
"So, what happened then?"
"I ran until late in the night and woke up on some field this morning. Then some aurors appeared – Fenmore was among them – and from their conversation I knew that the ministry is hunting me. And…" The older witch paused again. "That they are ordered to specifically look for black and grey tabby cats, because it could be me. It was a good thing they didn't test the "Restitutio Animagum"-charm there, because I was sitting in a bush right next to them. Then I decided to come here and went looking for a fireplace that is connected to the floo network. Finally, I reached Ottery St. Catchpole, broke into the Weasley's house and came here."
Inspite of herself, Melina grinned. Breaking in was so unlike her no-nonsense aunt. But then, what was as it should be?
A leaden silence ensued. "So, how can I help you?" The younger McGonagall asked. "The manor isn't exactly a safe place for you. We've been told that we are not to leave the immediate vicinity of the estate and…that we are under observation."
Minerva's eyes widened in horror "They confined you to the manor?" She fell back and buried her face in her hands. "So that was what Arthur Weasley meant." At her niece's questioning look, she explained. "I heard him saying that he believes I was in the way of something and they…whoever 'they' are…want to get rid of me. Silence me..."
The younger woman picked up "And the people around you. Your conviction has not been made public. People would wonder. And we are confined to the estate to prevent Papa from publicly questioning the charges. It wasn't in the paper, because somebody could step up for you and overthrow the whole plan." She jumped up and started pacing again. "Great Wizards, aunt Minerva, that's a conspiracy. And…" Melina stopped and stared into the older woman's eyes. "And…Oh Merlin, you are a key figure in the whole thing. Probably the one to make it fail. That's why they hunt you. They need to get you out of the way."
The two witches stared at each other. "But why? And why now?"
Minerva shrugged helplessly. "I don't know why. But Arthur Weasley said that Albus would give a public speech tomorrow, announcing the peace agreement with Voldemort."
"You are joking, right? Peace with Voldemort? That's a joke."
"Apparently not."
"What the…"
"Melina! Stop it. We don't have time for ranting. I need your help. We have to do something... and we have to do it soon."
Melina swallowed. "Do you have a plan?"
"Not exactly. But I need to change my animagus form in some way, so that no one from the ministry will suspect me. That's the most important thing. And then I need to find out, what is going on and how the school fits into. And finally, I have to try to uncover this…this conspiracy. And…to figure what happened to Albus."
The younger woman felt her anger surge. Find out about Dumbledore? The man had joined the dark side, broke her heart and she still wanted to help him? She was about to voice her anger, but Minerva already went on. "However, to do all this, I need a safe hiding place. I thought the manor could be the place, but if the ministry has it under observation…I don't want you to get into any danger."
Her niece dismissed the idea with a wave. "Don't worry. We will be safe. But it would be too much for Papa. He already took the news so hard. It's better you don't stay in the house itself." Melina looked around in thought. "But where then?"
Some seconds later they stared at each other: "The cottage!"
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