A/N: Just a little drabble! I seem to be in a very McGonagall mood at the moment…


Title: hidden

Summary: Minerva can't believe Albus wants to hide the Philosopher's stone in Hogwarts.

WC: 427

Genre: Friendship

Characters: Minerva M., Albus D.


"Is that the-" Minerva asked as Albus drew out a stone from his pocket.

"The philosopher's stone?" he completed. "Quite."

Minerva took in a breath. It was a small ruby thing, with a sort of resin-like quality to it. If you didn't know what it was, you would hardly think it was anything extra-ordinary. And yet the amount of power in this small stone was phenomenal.

"And you sent Hagrid to get it?" she asked disbelievingly.

"Indeed."

"While he was with the young Harry Potter?"

"I do wish you would stop with the reprimanding tone, Minerva," he said with a light chuckle, "The stone is perfectly fine now, isn't it?"

"But all of the things that could have happened to it, Albus!"

"Which didn't happen. Don't worry, everything is fine now."

He slipped the stone back into his pocket and made his way towards the door of his office, strolling casually. Minerva trusted her Headmaster through and through, but sometimes his behaviour still astounded her. How could he act so carefree?

"Well, are you coming to help me hide it?" he asked her, as he stood near the door.

Minerva walked briskly up to him. "Also, I can't believe you think hiding it at Hogwarts would be better than Gringotts. Gringotts."

Dumbledore smiled slowly, and his eyes began to twinkle. Oh, how she hated that twinkle sometimes. "Hogwarts is the safest place on Earth."

"Albus," Minerva said through clenched teeth, "As much as I would like to believe it, it is definitely not the case!"

He opened the door and they both made their way down the steps. Out of habit, Minerva hushed her voice so that the conversation would remain private. But it was still the middle of August and there were no students to eavesdrop. The only ones who would hear their secret were the portraits.

"Don't be a spoil sport, Minerva," Albus continued, "Even Severus has agreed to help."

"That does not particularly reassure me," she retorted.

"Even Quirinus agreed."

"I've told you I don't trust him," Minerva said.

"Oh, Minerva." Albus laughed. "Come on, I know you won't just leave the stone unprotected."

Minerva frowned and briskened her pace. "You're just lucky I trust you so much."

"I guess I am." Albus chuckled.

Truthfully, Minerva knew exactly what she was going to do to protect the stone. And while all these protective measures seemed more like a fun obstacle course that any First Year could manage to go through, she knew it had to be done.

All that for one little ruby stone.


FOR HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

House: Ravenclaw

Task/number: Alchemy: Task #1: include the Philosopher's Stone as a significant object in the fic.