A/N: Here we are again…action is coming into play. And I try to get several different levels of the plot into the chapters…geee, hope, I make it. Anyway, read, enjoy and please, review.

Chapter 23 – Because the Night

The night was cold, and she was definitely getting too old for this sort of thing, Melina McGonagall mused. How her father or her aunt did it, was beyond her. They had been cowering in this cold and windy yard near the Ministry of Magic for what seemed like hours, waiting for Moody and Charlie Weasley to return. The two men had gone to do some scouting, to see if the secret passage they were going to use was indeed safe.

Even after working as an Auror for so many years, Melina hadn't known this tunnel existed. She shrugged. Sometimes, she felt honestly ignorant. Behind her, Bill and the twins were breathing on their hands to keep them warm. Meli herself rubbed them together to drive the numbness away.

Only her aunt and her father seemed to be completely unfazed by the cold, the wind or the dirt. They were cowering side by side in a corner, their eyes closed. Only their clasped hands gave any indication that they weren't as calm as they appeared to be. Watching her aunt, Melina had to smile. Though greatly progressing in her efforts to become an owl, the woman still strongly resembled a cat. A cat in concentration, preparing to pounce on her prey.

An odd feeling overcame the younger McGonagall. There was something not quite right about her aunt. Though always a very focused woman, Minerva now seemed to prepare for a crusade. Somehow, Melina couldn't shake the feeling that the other witch had come to this place tonight, with a lot more in mind than just breaking into the Department of Mysteries.

Melina shrugged mentally; she just hoped that Minerva knew exactly what she was doing. Casting another warming spell around herself, she settled down trying to mimic the outward calm of the other woman.

Some time later, Minerva's quiet voice broke into the windy silence. "Charlie is coming back."

Indeed, within a few seconds Charlie Weasley's head appeared in the yard. "The coast is clear. Follow me!" With a silent sigh at her protesting limbs, Melina rose from her cowering position.

Constantly checking for any unwanted on-lookers and with their wands drawn, the group swiftly made its way to a small stair that seemingly led down to an old Souterrain apartment. Inside was a thick layer of dust as well as a rich assortment of cobwebs covered the broken furniture. The air was very still.

Behind Melina, Minerva muttered somewhat scandalized: "Honestly Alastor. Couldn't you have found a better place than this horribly filthy room!" Uray only chuckled quietly.

At the back of the room, Alastor Moody stood, ushering them closer. "Hurry. We can't wait forever."

With an uttered "Alohomora!" he opened a previously invisible door. They all went into the passage behind it. "Lumos!"

With their wands shedding some light, they could make out the narrow channel ahead of them.

Uray, being the tallest of them, quietly said: "Well, here we are. I just hope the ceiling won't be any lower."

"Afraid for your oh so noble head?" Minerva teased.

"Very funny."

Moody tapped impatiently with his remaining foot. "When you are done with your lovely coffee chat, would you kindly inform us?"

Properly chastised, Minerva and Uranos answered: "Sorry, Alastor."

"Right, you are. Always playing games. Don't you two ever grow up?" Moody muttered under his breath.

Thus, they started down the passage. Behind them, the Weasley boys exchanged amused yet surprised glances. Who'd have ever thought that 'No Nonsense' McGonagall could be that cool? There seemed to be lot more to their former Head of House than met the eye.

On and on they went. After a while Fred asked: "Where exactly in the Ministry will we come out?"

"One floor under the Department of Mysteries. After that, we have to get lucky, so we can slip up unnoticed."

"How are we going to do that?"

"Your father is waiting for us near the outlet of this tunnel and warding off any unwanted bystanders." Scratching his head while moving on quickly, Moody muttered: "We need to inform him when exactly we are coming. The timing is crucial, so we won't attract any attention. Minerva?"

The woman nodded and put the silver whistle to her lips. Maybe it was the earthy condition of the walls, or maybe it was the fact that they were under ground, but the hooting sound of the whistle seemed even more hollow.

The group waited for the queen of the owls to appear. When she did, she was accompanied by a much larger group of birds than usual. In fact, the group was so large that the flapping of their wings caused a cold draught.

The queen settled on Minerva's arm and a silent conversation took place. The rest of the humans hold their breath in awe. But Melina couldn't shake the feeling that her aunt was proposing something the owl didn't agree with. At least, her shrieks sounded somewhat angry. Or was it desperate?

Finally, the queen vanished again, just as suddenly as she had appeared, and so did most of the other animals. Only two remained. The humans turned a questioning glance at the remaining conversation partner. "So?"

Minerva took as deep breath, as if to steady herself before answering. "They are building up some sort of a relay system. The queen will be the last, delivering my message to Arthur." 

Again, they walked on. Finally, they reached the outlet of the passage. Though the tartan-cloaked burrowing owl took off, several owls hovered over them.

"Very well. So far so good." Moody growled quietly. "Lets not wait here, but look around to see if the other hallways are empty as well. You stay here, Minerva."

The woman nodded and one by one all of her companions eased out of the passage. Only Uray remained.

Hearing his sister heave an exhausted sigh, he turned and saw her leaning heavily against the wall. Immediately, he was concerned. "Are you alright, Min?"

She nodded.

"Can you make it?"

She nodded again. "It is something I have to do, Uray. I must!" Minerva sighed again. "I just hope you understand."

Disturbed by a swishing sound outside, Uray turned to check what it was. Relieved when he saw just one of those many owls swishing by, he answered: "Of course, I understand. That's why I'm here. And you really didn't need to… Min? Min?"

The spot where his sister had leaned was empty. No sign of Minerva.

"Min? Minerva, where are you? Min?" Uray looked around frantically. Where was his sister? Where was she? "Min?"

Charlie chose that moment to return. "Everything is alright. Not a soul in sight."

Seeing the older man's frenzy, he became nervous. "What is it? And where is Professor McGonagall?"

Uray's voice was hitching in anxiety. "She's gone. Disappeared."

"Where to?"

"If I knew Charlie-boy, I'd feel better."

"She could be anywhere."

"Maybe, maybe not." The older man sighed deeply, as realization hit. "I just hope she is not going where I think she is headed."

Charlie nodded gravely. "She had this plan all along, didn't she?"

"I believe so."

Just then, Bill rushed by. "What's keeping you? The coast won't be that clear all night."

"Professor McGonagall's gone."

Bill's eyes widened. "What do we do now?"

"Go on." Uray stated matter-of-factly. "We don't really need her in the Department of Mysteries."

"And then?"

"We worry about that when it's time. If we aren't caught by then. Or she is."

The three men made their way into the halls, meeting the other Weasleys, as well as Moody and Melina on the way.

"Where is Minerva?" Arthur asked, when they finally caught up with him.

"Run off on her own errand."

"Of all the stupid….damn that woman." Alastor growled.

"What do we do now? Snape is sneaking around."

For the first time in several minutes, Uray's face lit up. "Good. Good." They ran on further, but suddenly the older McGonagall turned to his daughter. "Meli, go intercept him. He can go and try to get her out safely, while we go into the Department of Mysteries."

Melina scrunched her nose in disgust with the task. "I don't care if you like it or not Melina. GO!"

Muttering a few choice words under her breath, the woman turned and hurried in the opposite direction. From what Arthur had said, Severus 'The Bastard' Snape was only a few junctions away. Why oh why did she always get the unpleasant tasks? Enlisting Snape to help.

After that incident with Aunt Minerva some weeks ago, Melina would have been glad never to see him again. And even that would have been too soon. It was bad enough that she couldn't suppress the thought of him…or her dreams. But to actually talk to him…

And what in the name of Merlin had possessed her aunt Minerva to pull that stunt?

So caught up was she in her musings that she barely paid attention to her surroundings. And in later times, Meli would always scold herself for her lack of vigilance. However, a sound behind her caused her to round the next corner much faster than intended and thus she never stood a chance when she came into contact with something solid.

~~~

Comments:

Palanfanaiel: I am so glad to have received 2 'O's from you. Thanks a bunch. Hmm…AD/MM to be married? Hmm…

Rogueinker: I'm glad to be of service. It's my pleasure to have made your flight more enjoyable. Baldur is quite a well-loved character of mine. We'll see, how I employ him in the future chapters.

Liz O'Brien: Hey, I took that title from Avril Lavigne-song. Actually, I try to find songs as chapter titles. But, it's probably getting even more complicated. At least, I try…heheee

Child-of-the-Dawn: I'll try. Thanks a bunch.

Jestana: Alastor/Poppy? Hmm…sounds interesting. We'll see.

Linz: Does that answer your question? And did you catch my deliberate reference to MbD? *g*

And my final request: Please, review!