Chapter 3

Great big snowflakes were falling all around them when they landed. This time however Professor Dumbledore was no where in sight, there was just four girls travelling towards the bookshop in Hogsmeade. Ron looked around suspiciously. "I thought these were supposed to be Dumbledore's memories?"

"Those girls look familiar." Hermione looked thoughtful. "I think this is Professor McGonagall's memory."

"But why would one of her memories be in with Professor Dumbledore's?"

"Well he left the pensieve here for Harry and us to learn something and since it seems that it involved Professor McGonagall surely he would have let her have some input in what memories we get to see."

"Yes that would make sense." Harry spoke up. "He used different peoples memories when he was teaching me about Voldemort's past so why would this be any different?"

"Yeah well, let's just see what happens." Ron said sceptically and walked closer to hear the girls' conversation.

"I know I don't have to get him a Christmas present but he has been so good to me it's a sort of thank you."

"Good to you. Yup Minnie's got it bad." Said the girl they knew to be Madam Hooch.

"I do not Ro."

"Don't deny it Minnie. Oh look there he is coming out of the book shop. Go on talk to him."

"No he's probably busy and stop calling me Minnie."

"Yeah right Min. On you go." and she was shoved towards him. "Hi sir."

"Ah doing a last minute Christmas shopping?"

"Yes Albus." The group giggled at this and she shot them a glare.

"All set for the Yule ball?"

"Not really. We're all going to Gladrags to get our dress robes."

"They won't know what's hit them with you four in at one time." She laughed at this. "Ah well, I'll leave you to your shopping. Don't get too wet and remember our chess game tonight."

"How could I forget, you won the last match."

"I'm sure that will make you all the more eager to win."

"Of course, I'll see you tonight." When they separated and Professor Dumbledore was out of hearing range the other girls turned on her and said as one "Ooooooooooooh"

"You'll see him tonight will you?" said one of the girls "Shut up Poppy it's just chess."

"Yeah right Min, 'just chess'" and they dissolved into giggles. "Never mind, I've got shopping to do" and she marched off into the bookshop with the rest of them following, still giggling.

The bookshop was bright and warm when they walked into it. She headed over to the desk and started speaking to the saleswoman while the rest of the group headed over to a small hidden section. "Oh Minnie come over here. You should get him this one." She looked at the book and blushed. "Ha-ha that's not very funny." and wandered back over to the desk where she collected and paid for the book. Holding her head high she walked out of the bookshop. The group then followed asking "So what book did you get him?"

"It's a muggle mystery novel."

"Huh Min are you sure he would like it?"

"Of course, he mentioned that he liked muggle novels and he likes a good mystery."

The group exchanged looks. "Just how much attention have you been paying to him? That seems an awfully personal gift."

"Not really. He has become a friend and I notice what my friends like."

"Yeah right Minnie."

"Anyway," said Poppy changing the subject, "let's go get our dress robes."

The inside of Gladrags was crowded and covered in Christmas decorations. The girls slowly wandered around the shop looking at all the dress robes. Hermione was also looking wistfully at some of the nicer dress robes; Ron and Harry just exchanged an exasperated look and sat down in a corner. Hermione however followed the girls to the changing room where they split into two groups. They spent a while trying various robes on until Minerva tried on one that fitted perfectly. Madam Pomfrey was with her and she was gushing over the robes. "Oh Min they are gorgeous."

"They are perfect aren't they?" she replied with a dreamy look on her face. Madam Pomfrey stared at her for a minute and said "You really do like him don't you?" At Minerva's blush she laughed "You're imagining the look on his face when he sees you in that aren't you?"

"Maybe. Just a little. He's so different from everyone else, he treats me like an adult and I enjoy being around him, he's just," she trailed off with an anguished look on her face. "Oh Min you do have it bad" At that Minerva started crying and Poppy hugged her. "It's all right Min."

"How is it? I've fallen in love with my teacher who just happens to be a brilliant wizard and seventy years older than me!"

"We all know he has a soft spot for you" Minerva looked at her sceptically "He's giving you private lessons for God's sake and you just said outside that you've gotten to know him. Do you think he would let just any pupil do that?"

"That's just the problem. I'm his pupil!" Madam Pomfrey sighed. "Well why don't you wear those robes to the ball and see what reaction you get. If sparks fly then the two of you can talk about it."

"And if nothing happens?"

"Like nothing would in those robes." At the glare she received she continued in a gentler voice "well then you can ignore him and move on. I'm sure after everyone sees you at the ball you'll get plenty of offers."

"What if I can't move on?"

"Then you wait a few years and convince him when you're no longer his pupil. Don't think of what might not happen; you have to think positively about the whole thing."

"I suppose" she replied with a watery smile. "Come on I'd better buy these before I get them completely tearstained." They shared a weak laugh and moved out of the changing rooms and towards the counter. Hermione charged over to the boys and demanded "What have you been doing?" they stuttered at the look on her face "Err, we were just, err, looking at the robes on offer."

"Ugh boys" Hermione made a rude sounding noise. Ron and Harry looked up in surprise. "What'd we miss?"

"Just how she feels about him" At Ron's blank look she added "She's in love with him."

"Ohh" Ron said his face going red. "Never mind that Ron" said Harry "why are we seeing this memory?"

"Yeah what's it got to do with defeating Grindelwald?"

"Well I don't know. Do I look like a seer?" At their sheepish expressions she sighed. "I know as much as both of you about all of this. We'll just have to wait and see what happens" and just as she finished they felt the familiar sensation of moving between memories.

The great hall was decked out in all four house colours and there were hundreds of small tables arranged around a large dance floor. Icicles were hanging from the ceiling, large snow covered trees ringed the room and a string group was playing in one corner of the room. Professor Dumbledore stood with a group of other teachers, eying the door anxiously. After a short moment of waiting, the four girls walked in the room and he couldn't take his eyes off of Professor McGonagall. She was looking around the room wearing closefitting, ruby-red v necked dress robes with gold embroidery along the hems of the full skirt and long sleeves. Harry and Ron gulped while Hermione smirked "It might help if you think of her as Minerva rather than Professor McGonagall." Needless to say, they didn't reply. Meanwhile the two had found each other in the jumble of people and were staring at each other until she was nudged by her friends. They whispered something to her and her cheeks became pink as she blushed. They then moved away from each other and began to circulate around the room.

As predicted Minerva was receiving lots of attention and was somewhat embarrassed by it. She was dancing with a lot of boys but didn't seem very interested in them and in between dances she was teased by her friends. Dumbledore, however, stood with a group of teachers and danced a couple of fast waltzes with some of the female staff members. Harry and Ron were growing bored as the evening wore on as they watched the two socialise with everyone but each other and Hermione frequently had to keep them occupied by reminding them that this was an opportunity not to be missed. This was growing less effective with time and the ball was almost over by the time Minerva finally had the time to get near to Albus.

Just as she approached him a slow waltz started playing and he offered her his hand, her reply being a bright smile. They started off at the edge of the dance floor but as the dance progressed they moved to the centre, more attention being paid to them as they did. For an unusual sight it was: the transfiguration teacher dancing with a sixth year pupil. They started off a respectable distance apart but were gradually growing closer, ending up so close that they could stare into each others eyes and breathe the same air as they slowly revolved around the room. The tension between them was evident and reached the point near the end of the dance where it was so thick, it was creating a tangible presence. They seemed to be giving off sparks and exist in a world of their own as nothing seemed to penetrate their little bubble, not even the incredulous stares that the nearly everyone in the hall was throwing them as they waltzed around the room. After what seemed like an eternity the dance finished and there was silence in the Great Hall. They slowly parted all the while keeping eye contact before noticing that the hall was silent about them. Her cheeks turned pink and he had a slightly horrified expression on his face as he noticed Professor Dippet moving towards him. She was immediately surrounded by her friends and was seen to give him an apologetic glance as she was swept away. Harry, Ron and Hermione all stood open-mouthed in shock. "Oh my god! I've never seen anyone dance like that before" Hermione said when she had recovered slightly. "I think it's safe to say he has feelings for her as well."

"What do you mean?" and "How do you figure that?" were the responses she got. "Well if you had been paying attention in Gladrags, you'd remember that I overheard Minerva tell Madam Pomfrey that she loved Prof, em, Albus and the way he danced with her, well, you don't dance with someone like that if you don't at least feel something for them."

"Oh right." Harry and Ron exchanged a look that said they didn't quite believe her. "Well he didn't dance with any other students did he?"

"No" Harry replied as Ron thought it over. "You know, I think she's right" Harry looked between the two of them and conceded "I suppose it does make sense." And just as he opened his mouth to ask where Dumbledore went, the world went black again.

This time they found themselves in the Headmasters office with an extremely angry Professor Dippet. Professor Dumbledore wore no expression and as Harry looked around he noticed the office was completely different from when he had visited it in his own time. He had just enough time to note that he room had no shiny or whizzing instruments and seemed oddly uncluttered before Professor Dippet exploded. "My god Albus, just what did you think you were doing?"

"It was just a dance Armando."

"Just a dance! My god, I don't even dance like that with my wife. What exactly is your relationship with Miss McGonagall?" Professor Dippet was going red in the face and even the three of them who had never met him before could tell he was beyond furious.

"She is my pupil and I have got to know her these last few months with her animagi lessons."

"And just how well do you know her?"

"What exactly are you suggesting Armando?" Professor Dumbledore was starting to let his anger show. "That I'm dating a student of mine?"

"Well there are all sorts of rumours going about how close the two of you have become during your private lessons and last nights little display made it clear that there is something between the two of you."

"We have gotten to know each other, that is all."

"Really?" he said sceptically. "What was last night all about then?" There was a small tap on the door "Come in." he said sharply.

"You wanted to see me Professor Dippit?" Minerva slowly walked into the room.

"Yes Miss McGonagall. Sit down" She glanced at Professor Dumbledore as she was sitting down, looking surprised at the anger see saw in him. "I'm most disappointed in you Miss McGonagall. Last nights display was most unlike you. The governors will have to hear about this if they haven't already and I must say Albus with the rumours going around you will be lucky to keep your job."

"What rumours?" Minerva sounded surprised and disdainful.

Professor Dippet looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Don't take that tone with me Miss McGonagall. The rumours that have been circulating around the school about how close the two of you have gotten. I must admit I just dismissed them because I thought that both of you were smarter than that."

"Nothing has happened between us." She burst in and this time it was Albus that shot her a warning look that clearly said "Don't lose your temper."

"It certainly doesn't look like that from my point of view. Now the private lessons will have to stop,"

"But Professor"

"No buts Minerva, you can continue after you graduate. Don't get like that" he said as her face grew angrier "you're lucky you're not getting expelled."

"But nothing has happened."

"I don't care. You are getting to close and I can't take any chances. What I'm going to do is for the best, not just for the school but for both of your careers as well. Both of you will have no contact outside of your transfiguration class and I will be supervising that." He paused to give both of them a warning look. "If you have any problems that you need to see your head of house about you will contact me, is that understood Miss McGonagall?" At her reluctant nod he continued "Good. Now go back to your common room and it would be best if you lost some of that anger." He added as she stormed out of the office. "Armando that is hardly necessary." There was an angry undertone to Albus' voice.

"Albus you have just started teaching and no matter how good you are, getting too close to your students will get you fired. If I hear any more of you getting close to Miss McGonagall again, even just the smallest hint, you will get sacked do you understand? You must have no contact at all with her Albus. Albus?" he grew agitated when he received no answer.

"Yes of course Armando. If you'll excuse me, I have marking to do." He replied, his voice cold enough to freeze flames, and walked out of the door exuding the dangerous aura of power that Harry had only seen once before.

"Oh I've never seen that side of him before, I mean I know it existed I just never knew it was so awful" exclaimed Hermione when the regained their breath after coming out of the pensieve. "The only time I saw it was when he rescued me from Crouch Jr. God! He must have loved her if he let that show." Harry said while Ron sat on a nearby chair with a look of disbelief on his face. Suddenly his face changed. "Come on, we're going back in."

"Hang on a minute Ron, why don't we get something to eat first?"

"No, now Hermione."

"My god is something wrong with him? Quick, Hermione, check his temperature."

"That's not funny Harry."

"It's just so unusual, I mean you not wanting food."

"I want to know."

"Know what?"

"He obviously loved her and she felt the same way: even I can see that. What I want to know is why they aren't like that now? And what the hell has this got to do with him defeating Grindelwald and his greatest strength?" He hurried on when he saw Hermione start to speak "And for all the theories we can make up, the answers are right here." Harry and Hermione exchanged a look. "Well," she started, "I suppose if you're willing to forgo dinner then we might as well have a look at the next memory." Harry chuckled at this and the look of indignation on Ron's face. And so once again they found themselves falling into a memory.

A/N: A huge thanks to everyone who reviewed last time. I'm sorry about the wait for this chapter. I had a bit of a rough time and got writers block for a while so I would appreciate feedback. I'm not going to make any promises about the next chapter as I'm a bit stuck. For those that are interested, updates about the progress will be on my livejournal the address for which can be found on my profile.

Thanks again

Jenni