A/N: I promised a ride and well,….here we go. Let's have some fun! YAY! And Shakespeare just doesn't leave me alone with this quote, so blame it on him…

Chapter 19 – "A Plan, a Plan, my Kingdom for a Plan!"

Two days later, Melina found her father going through several boxes, apparently searching desperately for a certain item.

"Papa? What are you doing there?"

"Searching for the damn whistle that your aunt is demanding I bring her."

Melina shook her head. "Whistle? What whistle?"

Uray's upper body came out of the box and he pushed some hair that had come loose from his low braid out of his face. "Your aunt's talisman."

His daughter snickered. "A whistle? Aunt Min's talisman is a whistle? How did that come about?"

Her father also chuckled. "Minerva's been collecting them all her life. She has about 30 different Quidditch referee whistles, some dozen football whistles, then silver ones, plastic ones, wooden ones and whatnot."

"How did she come to collect those particular objects? That is odd."

"I know. She got her first from her Greek Godmother for her baptism. She kept that one like a treasure and never went anywhere without it. It was the first, and from there she just started. It's odd, but …well…who cares." He dug back into the box. "She wants me to bring it to her and so I'll do. If only I could find the bloody thing….Ah! Found it."

Triumphantly, he held the shiny silver object high. Melina came closer to take a look. "Nice."

"Yeah, it's a pretty piece." Uray looked at it closer. "Odd."

"What is odd, Papa?"

"I never noticed there was an owl relief on it."

Melina came closer curiously. "An owl? Do you think it has a meaning?"

Uranos shrugged. "Maybe. Lets bring it to Minerva and ask her."

"That is a good idea. I have a proposal to make anyway."

"A Plan, A Plan, my Kingdom for a Plan!" Uray exclaimed.

Father and daughter looked at each other for some moments and then burst out laughing. Their laughter was echoing through the mansion for quite some time.

**

Minerva sat in the chair in front of the fire trying again to master the transformation into an owl, when her concentration was shattered by loud voices coming out of the passage.

"This is completely idiotic, Melina."

"Why idiotic, Papa?"

"This can't work. Never!"

"Just because it is a bit unusual, doesn't mean it is impossible."

Minerva rolled her eyes. "What is crazy, but not impossible?"

Uray kissed his sister and slumped down on the sofa. "It is not only impossible, it is completely insane. My daughter has lost her mind."

"I have not." Melina protested indignantly, kissing her aunt on the cheek as well.

Minerva looked from one to the other in confusion. "As fascinating as this conversation is, I am afraid I can't follow you. What is the matter?"

Uray was about to rant again, but his daughter interrupted him. "I had an idea, aunt Min."

"Which is?"

"Well, two days ago you said that the information on your powers of Minerva couldn't be found in books, unless it was 'Hogwarts – A History' or some collection of prophecies."

Her aunt nodded. "And?"

"So, I was wondering where we could get a complete collection of prophecies and this morning it hit me. There is only one place."

Minerva looked at her questioningly. "And this place would be?"

"The Department of Mysteries"

Minerva's eyes widened. Uray chimed in. "I told you it was insane. My daughter thinks we can just barge into the Ministry of Magic, from which we all are banned by the way, go into the Department of Mysteries, and do some research on how we can overthrow the new headmaster of Hogwarts AND the new Minister of Magic. It is insane."

His daughter stood next to the fireplace: chin high, eyes steely, her gaze riveted on her aunt.

Minerva sat there utterly silent; her eyes wide. Finally after several minutes of stunned silence, she muttered. "This is crazy. This is idiotic. This is completely and utterly insane." She looked up with a grin. "Lets do it." 

"You…you…you can't be serious. You must be joking, Min." Uray sputtered. "Didn't you hear me? We all are banned from the Ministry. You are even on the 'Most Wanted' list. We cannot just march into the Ministry like this. You would be captured by Aurors right away, and us along with you. And then, where would we be? Your chances of saving Hogwarts would go down to nothing, if we all go to Azkaban."

Minerva looked at him calmly. "Then we'll have to make sure it doesn't happen."

"Oh yes? And pray tell me how?"

Melina grinned. "Papa, who said we just march into the Ministry? I certainly didn't. We don't march in, we'll break in."

Uray growled. "And you think that will make it better?"

By now, both Melina and Minerva were on the brink of laughter. "No, probably not better, but more successful for sure."

The man looked at them and resigned to his fate. "Okay, okay, you win. We'll break into the Ministry." He buried his face in his hands. "Oh, the things I'll do for you…and because of you."

The women laughed. "That's why we love you so much, my dear brother."

He shook his head. "Thank you so much." Getting back to business, he asked: "And how do you propose we get into the building – unseen and undetected?"

Minerva turned to her niece. "Yes, that will be a problem. Do you have any ideas about that?"

The younger witch grinned. "Of course I have. I have it all planned out."

On the sofa, Uray grumbled. "That's what I was afraid of."

"Shut up, Uray."

The siblings glared at each other, but the youngest McGonagall interrupted any possible argument. "I remembered what you told me about the conversation you overheard at the Weasley's. Arthur is still employed by the Ministry, and since he is an old friend of Dumbledore, he actually got a promotion. He can move around the Ministry without a problem. And, he is on your side." She paused. "And then of course, there is always my former boss and mentor, Alastor Moody. He would certainly help us against the Dark Lord and turnedbad Dumbledore."

"That's it. That's it." Uray growled. "Next, you will tell us that we should contact Lucius Malfoy to help us."

Melina slumped down in defeat. "It doesn't really sound like a good plan, does it?"

"Not a good plan? This plan has more holes than a fish net."

"Be quiet, Uranos. There is no need for sarcasm." His sister stated sharply. "Meli's idea isn't so bad. As a matter of fact, it is worth a try." Seeing her brother frown deeply, Minerva added. "I am sure we can trust Arthur. I vouch for that. The same goes for Molly and most of their children. The only thing that would keep me from dragging them into this mess is the danger they would be in."

"What about Moody? He is very loyal to Dumbledore, after all."

"I have known Alastor for many years now, Uray. Yes, he is loyal to Albus, but more than that, Alastor fights against the Dark Lord. Albus' alliance with the Dark Lord would have reduced Alastor's loyalty to him quite a lot. And…there is something that would make him help us for sure."

"What is that?"

Minerva smiled. "Poppy. If I tell him that Hogwarts is the target of this alliance, Alastor would help us, if only to ensure the safety of the woman he loves."

Uranos' eyebrows rose. "Moody and Poppy? When did that happen?"

His sister smiled again. "It was a long time coming. They just never acted on their feelings. But after this thing with Crouch two years ago, there was no holding back. As a matter of fact, they planned to marry during the Christmas holidays."

McGonagall smiled. "That's wonderful. It's so good to know that even in these horrible times something so nice can happen."

His sister and daughter smiled too. "Yes, it is." They said in unison.

"Okay, now Arthur Weasley and Alastor are a go, but you are actually not serious about Malfoy, are you?"

The women laughed. "No, not really. Though I think that Lucius Malfoy might have been somewhat disappointed about the way this war has ended." Melina spat out the last words in disgust.

"Yes, according to Baldur, young Mr. Malfoy seems to be rather unhappy about the latest developments. It seems like he even tries to make amends with the troublesome trio. Or at least refrains from bullying them."

"But you don't think about Malfoy joining our ranks." His sister shook her head no. "What about Baldur…and Snape. Will they be with us?"

Melina bristled at the mention of Snape, but her aunt declared them both as out of the game. "It is too dangerous for both of them. If they are not to be found in the castle or at least where they are supposed to be the same night we break into the Ministry, we could just as well publish it in the Daily Prophet that they help us."

Uray nodded. "So, it is Arthur Weasley and Alastor."

His daughter chimed in. "And whoever Moody can convince."

"No, better we have only them. The fewer people that are in on the break, the better."

A silence ensued as the three McGonagall's mulled over the plan.

Finally, Uranos asked. "How do we contact them? It's not like we can just floo over and have a chat, or can send an owl asking if they would help us break into the Department of Mysteries."

His daughter sighed. "Yes, well that is the weakest link in my plan. I don't how to get into contact with them. Though, all of your ideas are at least worth a try, dad."

Again they were silent, then Minerva muttered more to herself. "We could always try the muggle telephone we still have."

"Which Muggle telephone?"

"The one your wife brought with her, to contact her family. Remember? Mama already had one, but Lona brought a newer one."

Immediately Uray brightened up. "Oh, that one. You think it still works?"

"Why not?"

"Hey, hey, I hate to interrupt, but why do you think you can use a Muggle telephone?"

Minerva grinned. "Because Arthur has one. Molly once told me about an incident during the summer before the trio's third year. Ronald obviously tried to contact Mr. Potter through a telephone. The attempt didn't go all too well, but since then they know how to use it."

Melina shook her head and sighed. "At least it is an option."

She and her father rose to return to the manor, when Uray stopped. "Oh Min, before I forget it. I finally found your whistle." He dug into the pocket of his robes and fished the silver object out. "Did you know that there is an owl carved on it?"

Minerva smiled. "Yes, I know. Thank you for bringing it over." She took the whistle and reverently pressed it to her heart.

Suddenly, Melina asked. "What does your talisman sound like, Aunt Min?"

"I don't know. I never used it."

Uray and Melina grinned. "Then try it." Uray added. "But not too loudly, mind you."

His sister grinned and put the whistle to her lips.

Instead of the expected shrill sound, only a hollow hoot came out. And then there was a tap on the window.

"What the hell?"

~~~

Are you excited? Yes? Good! Drop me a line, please.

Comments:

Palanfanaiel: Chapter 117? Uhm…well, I can certainly try expand the story to that. But then I'd need to ask, how many years you want to wait for the end? If it will ever end, then.

Bella~Chicca: Okay, you want more: You'll get it. Thanks.

Laura Kay: Aw shucks…Thank you so much.

Isabelle3: You really liked it? Yay!

LinZE: Hey, we know she doesn't need black satin gowns, or special ginger newts, or leather straps or….uhm…never mind. Hehee

Jestana: I do think that Minerva can make people stand up for her (like she does for them), but it's great to have a romantic attachment too. Thanks, and good luck with the new RR.

Thank you all, you made my heart swell and that giddy grin appear on my face. Keep it up, please and use that little button down there.