A/N: No rambling this time – only that much: The idea with the passages came from a story out of the H2H-fanon, so it isn't entirely mine.

Thankies again to all the reviewers, I love ya all and I'm happy that I got you all a bit confused. That was my intention…hehe. Your questions made me rethink the course of the story, so let's see where this is going. Thankies again.

To Nacima: Sorry that the idea of meeting Voldemort made you stop reading….

Chapter 5 – Passages and Animals

"I can't believe it. That I didn't think of it in the first place." Minerva McGonagall exclaimed. "The cottage is perfect. Nobody will ever look there." She jumped up and headed for the door.

The younger woman held her back. "How do we get there? Don't forget, the manor is observed. And if somebody sees us going there, the place won't be so unknown anymore."

Minerva smiled. " I forgot. You probably never heard of the secret passages." At her niece's confused face, she continued, "I'll tell you on the way."

The two women left the room and went stealthily to the broad staircase, which was situated on both sides of the hall. Halfway down on the left side Minerva stopped. She put the palm of her right hand on the wall and muttered: "Revalio Portam". Immediately the wall covering disappeared, leaving the naked stone open where almost indiscernible lines marking a door frame became visible. Seconds later, the hidden door swung open revealing a dark chamber behind.

Melina's eyes were wide. She knew, of course, that the family manor being several centuries old held many secrets. But hidden doors and passages…

Her aunt motioned her to follow as she stepped into the passageway. The door closed soundlessly behind them. The younger McGonagall held her breath. It was so completely dark that she could distinguish her companion only by the sound of her breathing. "Lumos Muros" Minerva  said and immediately the torches, lining the walls, began burning. She turned. "Follow me."

The tunnel was long and narrow. Melina looked around in wonder. "Are there more of those passages? " she asked.

"Yes, several dozen. Being a heir of Godric Gryffindor never had only advantages. It always made you a target for dark wizards. Thus, our ancestors built two secret tunnels into the original house. Later, when the families grew and the house had to be enlarged, they actually built the house around the passages. There are some connecting the rooms in the house. But the ones leading away from it, are more important and therefore better protected."

"So, who knows of them?"

"My father told each of us children when we were of age. It was to remain a secret." Minerva grinned. "Seems like your father kept it. He didn't even tell you."  

"No, he didn't…Did you ever tell anybody? Dumbledore, maybe?"

The other woman shook her head. "No, never. He knows of the connections between the rooms, because we used them sometimes…"

Her niece gave her a sly look. "No details, please. I don't wanna know."

Her aunt only raised an eyebrow. "I never said anything about the tunnels out."

"This is even better than those in Hogwarts. How do you get in?"

The older McGonagall raised a mocking eyebrow, but let the comment slide. "As you saw. You need to know, where the entrances are. None of them works with a wand. You need to use the power within yourself. You open the door with "Revalio Portam" and go in. The door closes behind you and nobody will ever suspect anything, because the wall coverings will look completely untouched. You light the torches and go."

Melina shook her head. "It's unbelievable. I grew up in this house, but I never suspected anything."

"There are many things about this manor, you don't know." Minerva paused. "But somehow I think, you will find out soon."   

When they reached the cottage about an hour later, Melina looked around in wonder. She knew that nobody had used the little house for at least 30 years. Nevertheless, the place looked as if it had just been left for daily business. The furniture was polished, the coverings were like new and no dust had settled on anything.

She was about to mention it, when she realized that her companion did not recognise her surroundings. Minerva was leaning heavily against the back of a sofa, obviously trying to stay upright. Melina mentally slapped herself. Her aunt had been on her feet the whole day, she must have been exhausted. After all, she was not that young anymore…She slapped herself again for this thought. She knew that when push came to shove she would have to struggle to keep up with Minerva McGonagall. But now, her aunt seemed to have reached her exhaustion limit.

Without further ado, Melina helped her into the big bed, which stood on the far side of the one-room cabin. With the promise to return the next day, she turned to leave. Minerva, being asleep instantly, didn't even hear her leave.

***

The next evening, when Melina came back, Minerva seemed much calmer, well-rested, even relaxed. Her niece sighed inwardly. It seemed, being so far from other people was not so bad after all. She sat down heavily in the armchair by the crackling fire.

The older McGonagall eyed her carefully for a while and finally asked: "So?"

"So what?"

"The big announcement came? Peace with Voldemort? Who is now Headmaster of Hogwarts? Everybody can feel safe from now on?"

Melina jumped up. "How can you be so calm?" she screeched, "Yes, all of that crap happened. Dumbledore stood in front of the Ministry with the Dark Lord by his side, like a good friend, and said that we have peace now. Nobody has to be afraid anymore and everything will be just as it was before the war. What a crap! All I wanted to do was retch. I can't believe it. Why did we ever trust this man?"

"Because he deserved it. Because he had never disappointed us. Because we liked and loved him."

The younger shot around. "Are you defending him?" she asked incredulously, "After all he has done to you, you are defending him? Dumbledore has lost his mind. Or – which would be even worse – he changed over to the dark side."

"That might be. But since we don't know for certain, we cannot go with any assumption."

"You are giving up, then?"

"No. Never. I want to know, what is going on. I need to know, to clear my name and…" Minerva paused, "to find out, what happened to Albus." She turned and slowly started to walk around in the room. "I didn't stop loving him, you know. I loved him for way too long, to give that up in such a short time. I think that the man in that office was not Albus, at least not the Albus we know. And I am intend to find out, what happened."

"But first…" Minerva raised herself to her full height, "do I need a good camouflage. My cat form isn't helping. I need something new…"

Melina nodded. "I gave it some thought too, but didn't really came to a conclusion. You know that I never underwent the training. My only idea was that you could choose another animal."

Her aunt frowned. "Actually, I thought more along the lines of changing the looks of my cat. Even without going through the training you know that you don't choose your animal, but the animal just comes out of you. I don't know, if I could become something completely different."

"Not even an eagle?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I think we don't have an eagle on our family crest without a reason. The eagle is the animal sign of the McGonagalls. So I thought it might be possible for you to transform into one. Actually, your saying that most of the magic coming with the family estate is wandless and comes from within the person, gave me the idea…." She hesitated, but went on with even more enthusiasm. "Come on, aunt Minerva, you are a Transfigurations mistress after all. And you have more powers than you ever let on. I know you could pull it off…"

"Do you really think so?"

Meli merely raised an eyebrow and smiled.

With a sigh Minerva relented. "Okay, I give it a try. But I can't promise anything. It might not work.."

The younger witch smiled again. "What was your idea? You said that you wanted to change your cat-looks." She frowned in confusion. "How will you pull that off? If the animal chooses the wizard there is no chance to assume another appearance for that animal. How do want to accomplish that?"

Now, it was Minerva's turn to smile. "Well, there is a potion. Or at least an old recipe, your grandfather created."

Her niece grew excited. "So all I have to do is take the recipe and cook up the potion? Or I can bring it here and we brew it together?"

One look into her aunt's face stopped her excited chatting. "It's not SO easy, isn't it?"

The older McGonagall shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not." She drew in a steadying breath. "You see, this is the difficult part of my idea….The recipe is a rough draft. It was never really tested. My idea was to be the 'guinea pig', so to speak." She grinned slightly, but grew serious again instantly. "We need somebody who is really good in potions."

Melina waited for her to go on, but then realization dawned on her. "Snape? You are talking about Snape?" At her aunts confirming nod, she jumped up. "This is ridiculous, Minerva. Asking Snape is idiotic."

"But he's the best potions master we can possibly get our hands on…"

"Yes, but he's also a death eater.."

"Former, Melina. Former death eater…"

"Who came back to support Dumbledore. And with Dumbledore on side of the Dark Lord, where do you think Snape's loyalties will be? Certainly not on yours…"

"But he's the best I can think of…Besides, if we could get him to our side, we would also have somebody in Hogwarts, who could find out what is going on."

The young witch shook her head. "I don't like this. I don't like it one bit." She said forcefully.

Her older carbon copy calmly replied: "You don't have to…All you have to do is get him here, without him knowing of course, where I am…just in case he won't help us. But I think, we will convince him."

Melina shot around. "Do you really trust him?"

Minerva smiled tiredly "It doesn't matter if I do. He is the man who can help me, therefore I need to try at least."

Melina sighed in defeat. "What shall I do?"

Her aunt smiled in relief. "You need to go to Hogwarts and bring him here."

The eyes of her niece widened. "Minerva, we are confined to the manor. They want to silence us. Do you honestly think they will let me wander around in the castle or on the grounds trying to lure away the potions master for some 'undisclosed reason'? They will know that I am in contact with you and then they will follow me and catch you…"

Minerva grinned and shook her head. "No child, of course not. There is a much easier way…."

***

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