A/N: Well, it is time to get deeper into the whole animagus thingy. And to have a little peek into Minerva's past. Therefore, I'll give you….

Chapter 16 – Memories from the Corner of my Mind

Turning to his remaining companion, Baldur Nipps smiled. "You are right. Though we will do only a small part tonight. Lets start with the choosing. I believe in there lies the key to success. Maybe you are looking for the wrong animal."

"But the eagle is obvious."

"Might be, but just because it is obvious doesn't mean that it has to be. Let us replay your first session. What happened?"

"Well, I went into the trance and as soon as I got in, a striped tabby cat ran up to me. Albus said he never saw the choosing happen so fast. I was in trance for mere seconds."

"Therefore you never got around to look more closely, am I correct?"

"Yes, but the cat agreed with me. It was the right choice."

"As I said, that might be. However, it is also possible that there is one more animal in store for you. You do know about the legend that some people are able to claim more than one animagus form for emergency measures?"

"Yes I know, but I thought it was only a legend. For all we know, only Rowena Ravenclaw succeeded in this quest."

"Yes, but that doesn't make it impossible for others." He received Minerva's doubtful look with ease. Taking her hand, Baldur said: "Minerva, I have seen the manor, I have heard the stories about you, about your family and I have heard the story of your mother's reaction to your animagus form."

Ah yes, Minerva remembered that too. Her oldest brother, Dionysus, had been angry that she wouldn't become an eagle, just like the rest of the family. Her mother, on the other hand, seemed to receive the shock of her life. There had been more to it, Minerva was sure, but couldn't remember it. It was like a word on the tip of your tongue, but not coming out.

"Minerva?" Baldur's voice pulled her out of her reverie. 

"Uhm, yes…?"

"Tell me, what do you really remember from that trance? Anything besides the cat? It is important, Minerva, concentrate hard, please."

McGonagall closed her eyes to replay the scene in her head. She saw her tabby running up to her and pressing against her legs, purring in contentment. She bowed down to pet it. The tabby jumped into her arms and the agreement was sealed. All around her the other animals were growing into an indiscernible mass. From afar she could hear Albus' voice calling her back. She was about to leave, when a movement caught her attention. There was a swish of feathers close by. It was as if it was calling to her, but Albus' voice broke the moment. "I have never seen a faster choice, my dear. So a cat you are going to be." Minerva nodded happily and quickly forgot about the feathers.

"There was a swish of feathers at the end. I don't know where it came from. I never saw which bird it was."

"Could you make out any colors?"

"Brown and gray, but that could go for many birds."

"You are right. But let us stop here for tonight, Minerva. You are tired and when we conduct another choosing session tomorrow, you'll need all strength you can muster. It won't be easy."

"I know, Baldur. Thank you, for your help."

He rose to leave. As he kissed her hand, that charming twinkle appeared in his eyes again. "It is my pleasure, Minerva. I do enjoy my time with you."

Minerva blushed. It felt good to hear something like that.

"But now, I must be off. I'll see you tomorrow night. Wish me luck for an easy sneaking."

She smiled. "Good luck."

With a swish of his baby blue robes he was gone.

Five minutes later, Minerva was still smiling. Baldur was a charming man and a nice one too. A little odd, maybe, but then again, she had proven her liking for that type of man a long time ago. She liked Baldur, she just wasn't sure how much. She missed Albus, but what if he was lost to her forever? She loved him so much and would do so forever, but what if she had to live without him? She didn't know, and she realized that entertaining those thoughts would not help her at the moment. Therefore, she laid down on the bed and fell asleep immediately.

Although completely exhausted, she was soon caught in a very vivid dream. Her dream brought her back to a time long ago. It was Christmas break in her last year at Hogwarts and she had just announced that she was going through the animagus training. After various exclamations of surprise and pride the inevitable question came. "So, how is your eagle going to look, Min?"

"I am not going to be an eagle. I will be a cat."

Silence.

Then Dionysus asked incredulously: "A cat? A cat? Not an eagle?"

17-year-old Minerva McGonagall furrowed her eyebrows in misunderstanding. "No, not an eagle. A cat."

"This is ridiculous. …Something must have gone wrong. …A cat? She can't become a cat….She's a McGonagall, why can't she become an eagle….An eagle is the only thing a McGonagall can turn into. It has been like that for generations…" And so it went on and on, as her seven siblings as well as various aunts, uncles and cousins expressed their disbelief and disappointment. Only Minerva's mother, Delina, remained extremely quiet. Seeing her father who had not said a word either, withdrawing was nothing to be worried about, but the sight of the normally hot-tempered Delina staring silently into space, was very unsettling. Before Minerva could even ask, her oldest brother delivered the final decision. "Minerva there must be something wrong in that whole training. You are a McGonagall, you can't become a cat. If you don't become an eagle, there is no way of you actually succeeding with the process. You'd better stop…"

At this point Minerva's own temper had reached the boiling point. "You will see just how much I will succeed," she yelled. "The cat chose me, not the other way around. I will become an animagus, whether you like it or not. I. Will. Succeed." She turned on her heel and ran out of the sitting room into her own room, threw herself onto her bed and cried her heart out.

At least, that was how it had happened in numerous dreams like this before. This time however, her mother's face kept nagging at her subconscious. What was the matter with her mother? She had looked shocked to the core. Not only shocked but desperate. As if all her hopes had been dashed. What did she expect? Slipping deeper into the scene, Minerva could suddenly see tears of despair in her mother's eyes. What was the matter? Was there something she should know?

Getting up from her bed, Minerva wandered down the hall to the master bedroom. Slipping into the anteroom, she was about to knock on the doorframe to announce her presence, when she heard the agitated voices of her parents.

"I can't believe Minerva is going to be a cat. This is horrible."

"Delina, my love, calm down. Ranting won't help you."

"Aren't you shocked too, Horus?"

"I was, when I received the owl from Dumbledore. But he also wrote that he never saw a faster choosing than this one. He said that the cat basically ran at Minerva the very first moment. It seems as if our daughter is destined to turn herself into a cat."

"But how shall she fulfill the prophecy then? Don't forget, we didn't name her Minerva for nothing. She is supposed to live up to her name. But how shall she do that as a cat?"

"Minerva is strong and powerful, my love. Just like you. She'll find a way."

His wife snorted. "Powerful like me? Horus, I am a Muggle. I have no magic ability."

He chuckled. "Except that little bit of clairvoyance, which made us name our youngest daughter Minerva instead of Rhea. Correct?" His wife nodded. "If you hadn't seen the power of Minerva in our baby, we would not have given her the name."

"Yes, but how is she supposed to use the powers of Minerva as a cat?"

"She'll find a way, even without being an owl."

The teenager in the anteroom held her breath. She didn't know what to make of this. There was a prophecy about her? She was named after the goddess Minerva because she had those powers? She was…

"Minerva."

"Minerva." Somebody shaking her awake interrupted the train of thoughts.

"What is it, Melina?" She asked groggily.

"Are you alright, Aunt Minerva? You were tossing and turning and mumbling in your sleep." Her niece asked in concern.

Becoming fully alert, Minerva gripped the other woman's arm. "Melina, I had the oddest dream. You are not going to believe this."

***

Comments:

Isabelle3: Thankies. You'll get to see what happens in three weeks. In a few chapters, I guess.

LinZE: Glad to be of service. And would you believe, I didn't even send you all chapters *hides embarrassedly*? And just you know: "I hope he knows, how to stop that thing."

Griselda La Fey: Ron is not an idiot. I simply refuse the notion. Minerva as a heir of Gryffindor wasn't my idea, but Isis Malfoy's in "The Wizards, the Animagi and the Web of Darkness". I merely adopted the concept for good.

Chicken13: Skip the next three weeks and all the fun that is going to happen until then? No chance.. Sorry, you'll have to wait and see, but I'll try to make the wait worthwhile.

Jestana: Thankies again….And: okay, okay, I'll let them kiss soon…somehow. *g*

Child-of-the-Dawn: No complaints? Phew! *wipes brow in relief* You had me worried there. lol

So, thanks again to all who read and reviewed. Thanks also to those who read…..and did not review *grumble*. Could you force yourself to use the little button down there this time?