A/N: Is this an update? *gasp* Yes, it is. Sorry that it took me so long, but right now I am fighting a really bad balrog called 'lack of motivation'. How about you review and raise my motivation? *grin*

Chapter 21 - Meet me in the Kitchen

The atmosphere in the Weasley's kitchen was one of a conspiracy meeting. Six Weasleys sat around the table.

"I still can't believe it. What has the world come to?" Bill muttered.

"Yeah, who would have thought that Dumbledore would change sides." George added, serious for once.

"I certainly didn't." Their father replied. "And I don't understand it. He behaves so odd."

"Dad, this is Dumbledore we are talking about. He was always a bit mad." Fred said. His brothers couldn't suppress their grins.

"Fred!" Molly scolded, but Arthur, deep in thought, didn't even acknowledge his wife's warning looks shot at their sons. Finally, he sighed. "Mad or not, would Dumbledore ever turn against Minerva McGonagall? Would he send her to Azkaban?"

His family was silent. "Probably not."

"Probably?" Molly seemed to swell with each syllable. "Certainly not! He would no more do that to her then you would do that to me, Arthur. They were a couple for years. He would never do that to her."

"But he did, Mum." Charlie reminded her. Molly sat down again and heaved a sad sigh

Arthur spoke again to nobody in particular. "Still, it is strange. Today he came to me again. He's doing that a lot lately."

"What did he want, Dad?" George asked worriedly.

"That was the strange thing." Arthur exclaimed. "First he asked after the health and well-being of the family. Just like he used to do. But then he asked after Minerva. If I had heard from her."

"That sounds awfully like a trap, Dad. Like he's grilling you for apparently innocent information and then get McGonagall and you as well." Bill inserted.

"I know, but when I said 'no', which I did of course, he seemed very sad. And when he left I heard him muttering something along the lines that he's missing her and wishes she would be with him."

The Weasley boys frowned.

"That is really odd."

"Doesn't he remember that it was his doing?"

"Now he has really gone around the bend."

"That is quite enough, boys." Their mother interrupted the exclamations of confusion. Then she turned to her husband. "What do you think it means, Arthur?"

"I don't know, dear. If he's not trying to trap me, then he doesn't know himself what is going on.  And that isn't a calming thought either. It is as if he has heavy memory losses, but they are only partial."

"Could it be possible, Dad?"

"Why not? Even with the mail being censored, Ginny wrote that Dumbledore seemed much weaker the last time he was in Hogwarts."

"But how does that fit together?"

Arthur shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."

Further discussion was interrupted by a tap against the window. The whole family jumped in horror; after all it wasn't safe to verbalize one's most private thoughts, even in their own houses. They all turned to the window. Outside, a strange owl hovered, demanding entrance.

Fred opened the window and the large burrowing owl zoomed in, settling herself on the perch that was usually reserved for Errol. Her two companions, a barn owl and a snowy owl, stayed near the window. The family exchanged nervous glances at the sight of the three strangely behaving yet impressive birds. None of them, however, was carrying a letter.

Strange owls? At night? And no letter?

Suddenly, the burrowing owl clapped her wings and out of nowhere a sapphire ring appeared on one foot. She also wore a small cloak of tartan with a crest embroidered on it which was held together by a small amber brooch.

Fred elbowed his twin and gasped. "Wow! Did you see the ring?"

George elbowed him back. "Look at that brooch. It's McGonagall's"

"Yeah, and the tartan is like hers too."

"Just like the crest on the cloak." Charlie added slowly.

"How do you know, Charlie?" Fred asked. "McGonagall never showed her family's crest."

"No, but her brother did." Seeing the curious faces, Charlie shrugged. "Long story."

Fred was about to press further, but the hooting of the owl on the perch stopped him. The whole family stared fascinated at the bird. Molly gasped and grabbed her husband's arm, as with each hoot of the owl more thin amber lines forming words appeared in the air.

The Weasley's were utterly silent after the last word had been hooted into the air, while it's deliverer, apparently quite satisfied with her performance, settled down on Errol's perch.

"Is.is this a joke?" Fred finally squeaked.

"Does that look like a joke to you? An owl hooting messages into thin air?" George replied.

"I can't believe it. Is it real?" Bill breathed.

Angry shrieks from their feathered visitors answered that question.

"Since it is real, what do you make of the message?"

"It could be a trap."

"Wrong, Fred. It is a trap. Come on, do you really think McGonagall would risk breaking into the ministry? McGonagall, Fred."

"He is right, Fred. Think of it, we all know her owl. It came often enough, when she told Mum and Dad privately about your newest exploits. This is not Mithras."

"Yeah right, this doesn't smell like a trap. It actually reeks like one!"

"George is right, this is certainly an attempt to frame Dad."

"I don't think so." Molly inserted quietly. She and Arthur had kept silent while their sons had their discussion. "Minerva would attempt everything to sort out her problem, even if that includes breaking the law. And she will need all the help she can get."

"Agreed, Mum. But how do we know that this is indeed from McGonagall?"

"This is the big question." Arthur said slowly,

Their argument was interrupted by a ring in the fireplace announcing a caller. The family shot around in shock and only after some fearful nudging, Arthur gingerly answered the call.

"Moody!" He exclaimed, his face brightening considerably. "Come over!"

With a burst of flames the former chief of the Aurors appeared in the Weasley's kitchen. "Hello Arthur. Molly. Boys." He greeted in his gruff voice.

"Alastor, how nice to see you. Have a seat." Molly greeted. "What brings you here?"

Moody didn't answer, but instead went to check each door and window to make sure no eavesdropper could possibly be hanging around. "Where's Percy?" He asked coldly.

"Moved in with his girlfriend last week. Convinced her that he was in love with her and not the ministry. Either Penelope Clearwater is more dense than we thought or Perce is a better actor than he let on."

"George!"

Moody ignored the exchange. "I've received an owl from Minerva asking for my help."

"Yeah, we've got one too. It's." Bill turned to point at the large cloaked bird, but the perch was empty and the amber words had vanished. "It's gone!" he exclaimed in surprise. The other Weasleys looked around in wonder as well.

Arthur recovered first. "What did your owl look like, Moody?"

The retired auror hid a grin in the scars and lines of his face. "Burrowing owl. Sapphire ring. Tartan cloak with the McGonagall crest and this odd brooch she always wears."

"Ours looked the same. What did your letter say?"

Now, Moody frowned. "Very strange. If I didn't know that Minerva sent it, I'd say it is a trap."

"YOU really think it is from her?" Bill exclaimed.

The former auror stared him down. "I do."

"Why? I mean, you and.or.uhm.your impostor hammered into our head never to trust anyone. And now you believe this?"

Moody's magical eyeball seemed to pierce through George while he took a deep breath. "The message contained information only Minerva McGonagall and I had. And since she has not been captured yet, nobody could have gotten this information as well. So yes, I am certain."

"So, you do trust this message."

"Yes."

"Very well. Are you going to follow her call then?" Molly asked.

He contemplated his answer for a while. "Yes. The question is, will you?" He eyed each Weasley in turn and received a nod from everyone.

"If this is really from McGonagall."

The scars and wrinkles in Moody's face contorted into a smile at George's remaining distrust. "Good to know that you took at least one lesson to heart. You and your brother were not exactly famous for doing so."

The twins only grinned.

"Very well. This is settled." Arthur inserted. "But how do we provide our help? We don't even know where Minerva is. How do we get into contact with her?"

"Dad is right." Charlie added. "We need a plan. After all, we cannot just march into the Ministry stating that we accompany a convicted criminal to the Department of Mysteries." 

A hoot came from the perch by the window. All occupants of the room shot around in shock.. Moody's hand went suspiciously close to the pocket where he kept his wand. The queen of the owls was back on the perch, looking importantly at the humans.

"Great." Fred breathed. "I'd really like to know how she does that trick."

With a stern hoot words appeared in the air. "I can assure you, Mr. Weasley, this is no trick."

Fred shrunk back, while the others grinned. It was funny to see how the image of Professor Minerva 'No Nonsense' McGonagall still influenced her former students.

Molly asked. "How do we inform Minerva then?"

More words were hooted into the air. "Just tell my owl. She'll get your message to me." There was a short pause during which the owl turned her attention towards Moody. "I wanted to thank you, Alastor. I am in your debt eternally. Melina will meet you in the known place tomorrow."

The man nodded. "I'll be there."

Arthur shifted his attention uneasily from the owl to Moody and back. "Just tell her, Arthur."

Mr. Weasley took a deep breath. "Uhm. Minerva. Of course, you can count on us. Just tell us what we need to do."

The owl hooted softly in acknowledgement and then vanished without a sound.

"Wow!"

~~

Notes:

Palanfanaiel: Thanks for the 'O'. I hope, this chapter deserves it as well.

LinZE: I dunno, what Mr. Lloyd would want me do, but I'd like Patty or Isabell a lot better anyway.wooot! Go camp!

Jestana: Yep, quite obviously owls. And I am pleased to please Thestral. I like AM/PP, too.

Thanks as well to Petriebird18, VoyICJ (my dear toast) and Liz O'Brien. And to all of you, who reviewed "For the Fear of Falling"