A/N: I hadn't realised I'd been holding out on you. I'm so sorry.
-0-
Having sent the children off to breakfast as carefully as was possible, Minerva managed to get a message to Filius, Pomona, Severus and Aurora Sinistra just before lunch. As each of them entered the Hall for lunch, they nodded to her, a look in their eyes that told her they would meet her for their clandestine meeting at 2 pm after the bell went for the class changeover.
As the time slowly ticked around, she quickly ushered the students out of her classroom and changed into her Animagus form. She slipped under the hundreds of feet and into the classroom closed for repair on the fourth floor.
"Minerva," Filius nodded as she reformed. "Pomona sends her regrets, there is no feasible way to get from the Greenhouse to here. I will pass on the message to Rolanda too."
"Thank you, I have already spoken quickly with Poppy, though not as candidly as I shall speak here," she nodded. "But I thought as much. Aurora?" She smiled at the young Astronomy professor. "If you could pass on the information to Septima, Charity and perhaps even Sybill if you think it wise, that would be much appreciated."
They paused, Minerva's and Filius' wands pointed towards the door as it opened and closed behind Severus. His arched eyebrow told her all she needed to know about what he thought of this meeting and their reaction.
"I know it is not ideal, Severus, but it is all we have to work with."
"I understand," he muttered, sitting on the desk. "Though that does not mean I must like it."
"There are a number of issues we need to discuss and we need to do this in as short a time as possible. Firstly, I envision that in the coming days our mail and the Floo will be monitored if they are not already under scrutiny. Please keep that in mind. I would suggest that you avoid using either for anything important. If you must leave the grounds to take a message somewhere, I will grant permission while I still have Deputy powers. Likewise, interdepartmental mail will also likely be monitored and as she is officially a Professor the Elves are not bound to secrecy. To that end, we need to either devise a way of putting things in code or -" she shrugged.
"Would it not be prudent to use it as always but keep any extraneous details as spartan as possible to avoid arousing suspicion?" Filius asked.
She sighed.
"Thank you, my friend, you are right. I have," she nodded. "I have had a long day and an even longer night. You are right. But please, do not put personal information on them. Keep it as businesslike as possible." Aurora nodded. She had been known to use the interdepartmental memos as a gossip machine but she looked suitably cowed. "Most importantly, and the reason that we are here? She is using a blood quill on the students."
Aurora gasped.
"If you pay attention, you will notice changes in behaviour, changes in handwriting even. They are angry," she swallowed. "Confused and betrayed. Help them. We need to be doing everything in our power to keep them from getting detentions with her. At this point, I'm even prepared to suggest asking the older students to help them with their work, but I will leave that to your own discretion. Severus has an order of Murtlap essence coming that helps with the pain and there is a more powerful potion brewing, should we need one. I do not have to tell you that your actions should be absolutely secret. She is about to gain more power from the Ministry as Albus refuses her requests. We are in for a difficult year."
"What is the contingency," Aurora asked. "How do we usurp what she is doing?"
"We don't," Severus said quietly, pretending to be bored, but Minerva could see the frustration in his eyes. "We cannot. She is in complete control."
"We are running out of time," Minerva muttered. "But Severus is right. If we oppose her openly, she will remove us from the School. She has the full backing of the Ministry, which is doing everything in its power to suppress the truth."
"So he is back?" Aurora whispered.
"Of course he is, you -"
Minera reached out and touched Severus' hand. He looked at her balefully but nodded in surrender.
"He is," Minerva said gently. "But it is imperative we protect the students as much as possible, right now from her. He is only a problem for us to deal with when he arrives on our doorstep. The current problem is already here and she is," she sighed. "A very big problem. We must do all we can to prevent the students from coming to more harm."
The bell rang and she nodded to Severus, who muttered that he would see her later. Aurora left as well, leaving Filius staring at her carefully.
"I have a spare next so I am not in as big a hurry as you, but I would ask, while I have you in private. Whatever is going on with you and Harry Potter, resulting in this lovely new look." She blushed, but let him finish. "Is it safe?"
She stared at him, feeling her heart beating wildly.
"Nothing is safe, Filius," she said carefully. He smiled.
"Let me rephrase. How much of an eye should I be keeping on the two of you?"
She stared at him a while longer and realised that she trusted Filius with her life and would gladly love his input on things. It was a lot to have to rely on only Albus or the children.
"I would love to talk to you about this, but not here. I would," she smiled. "Appreciate you keeping an eye on me, while I keep an eye on him."
He nodded.
"I would gladly do that. Rosmerta's?"
"The Hog's Head," she nodded. "Monday next week? He has detention for the rest of this week."
Filius winced.
"Of course," he patted her hand. "I look forward to it. What can I do?"
"If Ronald Weasley appears in your classroom tonight, bring him to me? Likewise, if you see Hermione skulking anywhere?"
"Of course," Filius muttered. "A detention?"
"That was my thought," she squeezed his hand. "I thank you, I must run."
"Minerva?" he called just as she reached the door.
"Yes?"
"Check in on Fred and George. I noticed their handwriting slipping recently."
She groaned to herself.
"Thank you, my friend."
She transformed into her Animagus and ran to her classroom. She ushered her class in, thankful that for once, the Third Years were relatively well-behaved this year and started teaching, her mind swirling with thoughts of things to come.
-0-
Minerva visited the Common Room just before dinner to find her three older troublemakers pale-faced.
"You have been in detention," she said gently and without accusation.
"It's not fun McG," Fred muttered, offering his hand.
She took it gently, unwrapping the bandage and wincing at how raw it looked.
"Ignore her from now on. I realise how hard that is, and that subtly has never been your strong suit, but I'm asking you both, as I always do." She cupped George's cheek. "Please be careful. I know you are going to do whatever you feel you need to do, but I would beg you to do it as quietly as possible."
He smirked and nodded. She handed them three bottles of Murtlap essence.
"Use this. In a bowl, as hot as you can stand. Submerge your hand. Leave it there until it stops bleeding."
"We need to get rid of it," Fred growled.
"I cannot think of that right now. There is too much going on. Let us concentrate on the immediate. In terms of this," she touched his hand gently. "I know a few friends in high places that will be willing to help," Minerva muttered as a group of Second-Years wandered by. "The enemy of my enemy," she said pointedly.
"We got it, McG," George nodded seriously. "Do you," he swallowed and looked around. He stopped and she waited while he seemed to have a silent conversation with his twin. "Have you seen the sunshine today? It wasn't looking so great last time I saw it."
"The -" she thought about it, smiling indulgently as she understood their code. "I have," she muttered. "It's been especially cloudy for seven days. Three more to go until it's clear again," she said pointedly looking at their hands.
"Dunno if it'll clear up before then," Fred muttered. "But after that, for sure."
"Alright boys," she whispered, touching Fred's shoulder gently. "Be careful. Keep an eye on each other. Secret and safe."
"I think you've got it wrong, McG. Chaos. Chaos is how this will work. Pure chaos. Toads are stupid, don't ya know."
"A lioness cannot help her cubs if they're caught," she warned. "Stupid beings are still dangerous."
"We've got it," George said, looking insulted.
She chuckled, then sobered as she looked down at their hands again.
"Spread the word. If anyone needs more of that, we will not be handing it out. Go to your prefects. This week," she glanced around. "Yours may not be available. Can I bring it to you?"
"'Course," Fred nodded. "We'll get it out. Although once we all realised, it's been pretty quiet."
"Good," she nodded. "If there is any need for something stronger, no matter your prior thoughts on things, it would be in one's best interest to visit the dungeons. There is an ally there that will help."
George winced but nodded.
"Like I said, McG," he sighed. "Not fun."
"I know I am often incredibly busy, boys, but if you need me? Find me or find Professor Flitwick, alright?"
"We will," George smiled. "Thanks, McG."
"Lee," she said quietly, drawing their friend's attention. She held out her hand and inspected his wounds as well.
"I got off light," he said. "Only got one day."
"Well, that is something. Take care of them, instead. If there's ever a chance to avoid all this and let them take it? Do," she chuckled as they huffed. "But do try to keep them safe, will you?"
"I'll try, Professor," he grinned. "it's a full-time job."
"Don't I know it," she grinned, winking at the twins. "That's all I need. Keep up the good work, boys."
