Dear Reader,
Sorry it's been so long since my last update. I've been visiting family in Alabama. Not to mention, I've been busy reading the new Harry Potter book. To all those who have finished it, I am terribly sorry for the loss of such a great wizard. (Even though I knew it would happen, I cried for an hour and a half) That wizard was one of my very favorite characters, as well as the wizard who killed him. (Although he may still be good, I don't know if I could ever forgive him.) This story, True Auror,means so much more to me now that this great wizard is gone. However, since Iwill berather busy withmarchingband,I might not get to write as oftenas I'd like to.The one thing that keeps memotivated, though,are your reviews.So please do R&R! It is the only thing that keeps me motivated to update!
-LunarLitLover
Btw: Sorry for my mistake concerning the spelling of Grindelwald's name (I spelled it Grindlewald) Please tell me in your reviews if I make any more mistakes. (I usually don't have the books on hand when I write) Thanks so much!
Recap: Grindelwald has just made an alliance with the goblin clans and Minerva and Dumbledore reconciled (on a first name basis) after the lesson when Minerva stormed out.
Chapter 5: Friends for Dinner
"Going off to visit your lover again, McGonagall? I thought he would have had enough of a mudblood like you by now, but I guess he's a stupider git than he looks," Tom Riddle sneered. It had been about two months since Minerva had endured his teasing about her and Professor Dumbledore. He'd been teasing her about other things recently, like her parents and her half-cat transformations. There wasn't much room for him to get in taunts of a love affair, too.
Minerva ignored Tom and simply walked along down the corridor to Albus' office. They'd had several lessons since the time she'd stormed out of the office. And Minerva, after admitting her fears, was making remarkable progress. She could not yet fully transform into a cat, but she could now change back and forth partially. (The "and forth" part was new; for many weeks Minerva could only sprout a tail, pointy ears and a feline face. However, she could not return back to her hum form. Many trips to the hospital wing resulted from this disastrous problem.) Minerva could now change her entire face, her tail and her feet to feline form and back. Albus was quite thrilled with this advancement. Minerva was satisfied as well.
However, Minerva was satisfied with something else even more so than her progress. She and Albus were actually becoming friends, of a sort. Due to all the extra lessons (and the end of formal titles), they were spending quite a bit of time together and becoming rather close. And Minerva actually enjoyed Albus' company. The perfect student actually enjoyed the company of the only teacher who wasn't awed by her abilities.
Maybe this atmosphere of equality is what made Albus possible to talk to, though. Minerva was now in the habit of asking Albus' advice on many matters, including homework, how to impress other professors and even on issues concerning her friends. They would also simply discuss things before and after their lessons. Albus' favorite topic was politics while Minerva preferred academic subjects. Minerva, although she would never admit it, enjoyed these conversations more than she could say. She found herself looking forward to each and every lesson for this reason.
Tonight Minerva prepared to stay and talk to Albus following her lesson, yet it was rather late when they finished and Minerva thought she should be going. "Well, I'll see you on Monday," she said.
"Wait," Albus responded. "I'm sorry our lesson ran late tonight. Look, I've even made you miss dinner! I'm so sorry, Minerva!"
Although she hadn't realized she'd missed dinner and wasn't overjoyed about it, Minerva muttered something about "fine" and "don't need dinner."
Albus looked down; he was apparently disappointed in himself for not checking the time. But then his bright blue eyes brightened some more. "Minerva, I've an idea. How'd you fancy having dinner with me?"
Minerva hesitated. "Dinner? What? Now? But how…? We can't exactly go to Hogsmeade now…"
"No, Minerva. Here, in my office. Right now. The house elves will not mind bringing us leftovers from dinner."
She looked up inquiringly as Albus cleaned the papers off his desk and transformed it into a small, circular dining table. He also transformed two of the chairs on the room into more comfortable, squashy dining chairs.
Minerva was a bit surprised and caught off guard at this suggestion, yet she regained her composure quickly. "I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?" she asked while taking the seat opposite Albus. Smiling she continued, "I hope your table manners aren't too horrible."
He smiled back and said, "My dear Minerva, it is your table manners we should be concerned about, I think. You're only seventeen; you can't possibly have been to as many formal dinners as I have."
"Oh, you've been invited to things like that, have you? I never thought you popular enough to be invited anywhere, let alone a big social event."
Albus made a face at her.
The house elves brought up the warm leftovers quickly. There was everything from pork chops to sweet potatoes to blood pudding on their small table.
The subject of conversation soon turned to the inner-house ball coming up in a few weeks.
"Do teachers actually go to enjoy themselves or are they only there to police us students?" Minerva asked out of curiosity.
"Oh, no. We are required to watch over you little buggers, but we get to have fun, too. The professors usually scramble for dates, same as the students. Incidentally, who are you going with, Minerva?" He ate his last bit of pork while waiting for her answer.
Minerva had not expected this question. "Who? Me? Go with a date? Oh, no. Oohh, no. No one has even asked me." This was the honest answer, and Minerva felt a bit embarrassed for giving it.
"You're a seventh year and you're not dating a wizard yet? And now you aren't even going to ball with one? Even as a friend?"
Minerva turned scarlet and the marker on her embarrassment scale when up at least ten notches.
Albus seemed to notice this. "I'm not trying to be cruel, Minerva. But you don't have a problem with men, do you? You don't think they have cooties or anything?"
Minerva thought this comment, although it was a joke, was a bit out of line. "No I don't! For your information I would probably go with a guy if one asked me! But I don't mind going alone either!"
"Well, what would you say if I asked you to come to me?" Albus shot this back so casually that it took a moment for Minerva to register it. Then she simply gaped at him.
Finally recovering, she asked, "Are you even allowed to ask a student?"
"It's a bit unorthodox, I'll admit, "Albus said. "But there is no rule against it, nor do I think Headmaster Dippet will mind. That is of course, only if you'd like to."
"Wouldn't some of the teachers – well, and the students – think we're …" she gulped down the last bit of pudding. "Um…having an…an affair?" Minerva whispered the last word, as though it were forbidden to say.
"I think you'd agree that having an affair and simply going to a ball together in a friendly manner are two very different things." Albus replied casually again, as if he asked one of his students to be his date every day.
Minerva first thought of the looks on her friends' faces. But then she imagined being able to dance with Albus and spend the entire evening talking with him. Minerva realized that she would enjoy going with him. Making her decision, Minerva looked at him and said, "Albus, I'd be happy to go with you."
He smiled, "It's settled, then." With a wave of his wand the dishes disappeared and his furniture returned to normal. "Well, I suppose I'll see you on Monday then, Minerva."
"Yes," Minerva replied, coming out of her trance. "See you Monday."
She walked out of office contented. Minerva rushed down the hall, more giddy than she'd felt in a long, long time.
Preview: Minerva's friends' reactions to her ball date. As well as her potion masters reaction during their next Slug Club meeting.