Chapter 4

The next memory took place not long after the last one as the view outside the window was exactly the same. They were in a small unused classroom and they saw the four girls in the centre of the room. They saw Minerva cry whilst Poppy held her. "We can't even talk anymore," she whispered in between sobs.

"Oh I'm sorry Min I know what that will do to you"

She cried softly for five minutes and slowly she stopped. A look of excitement replaced the sadness on her face. "Well they can't stop me if I'm a cat" the other three looked at each other "what do you mean a cat" Rolanda voiced.

"Well" Minerva blushed "that's what my animagus form is and I've succeeded in getting whiskers and changing my hands and forearm"

"Oh Min that's brilliant" squeaked Pomona Sprout, the other member of their little group.

"But I might lose it if I have to wait" the other three exchanged horrified looks and Poppy said "But Min you can't do it on your own"

"Yes I can. I mean I've got all the books, I know my form and I know the meditations. I know what to expect and if something goes wrong, well, could you help me by supervising? Please Poppy? You know the untransfigureation spell and your training to be a mediwitch. Please Poppy?" she repeated. Poppy looked stared at her for a minute and smiled weakly. "Of course Min. At least it will give you something to focus on." Rolanda and Pomona looked between the two and exchanged a helpless look "We'll help as well."

They started discussing arrangements and Ron whistled softly. "Wow. She's doing that for him. Wow" he repeated. "It is kind of amazing isn't it" said Harry. The three of them stood in silence for a minute, contemplating the depth of feeling between the two, before the room shifted around them.

They were in the same room and the girls were arguing. "You can't do that, it's not exactly the world's best thought out plan."

"Come on Min you could plan it better."

"Well what do you suggest I do?"

"Well why don't you transform and wait outside his rooms in a quiet corner then when he comes along you can follow him in and show him."

"I'm not sure, I mean I've never been in his rooms before and what if he's already in?"

"Well you wait and you can always go tomorrow after diner then you'll be sure to catch him. What's the rush anyway?"

"Well I'm worried about him."

"Why Min? He's a fully grown wizard; he can take care of himself."

"Well the muggle war is starting to spill over and he seems to be one of the few wizards who are taking any notice and doing something about it. You can see he's getting tired and pale." She almost shouted.

"Yeah she's right he has looked a bit down in class." conceded Rolanda after they had exchanged a surprised look.

"Well all right then." Minerva frowned as if something had just occurred to her. "Min what are you worrying about now?"

"What if Professor Dippet put charms on his rooms to see if anybody else is there?"

"Min why would he do that?" Poppy asked somewhat exasperated. "Well he said he would keep an eye on us both and what if he did"

"Whoa calm down. I think you're being a bit paranoid I mean the professors are allowed guests so he wouldn't do that." Minerva still looked worried so Poppy tried a different approach. "He knows what form your animagus was going to take?" At Minerva's nod she continued "well then you go up to him in your cat form, make yourself known and then get him to follow you."

"I suppose" she hesitated. She looked at the others for a minute and made up her mind. "Okay then." She vanished. Ron looked puzzled and said "Where'd she go?" Harry laughed and said "She's sitting down on the carpet."

"What do you mean? Oh!" he said as comprehension dawned on him.

"She managed it. Wow!" said Hermione "that was quick. I mean," she said as she looked out of the window, "only a few months have past."

"Well" said Harry "I suppose she had motivation." They quickly followed the small tabby cat as she moved out of the room and through the school. They soon found themselves standing outside what were obviously Professor Dumbledore's rooms. They made it just in time as he came around the corner followed by Professor Dippet. The two of them went in and they could see the small tabby cat hesitate for a second then dashing in. There was a brief moment when the memory went blurry around them and when it settled they saw the two professors settled in puffy chairs and Minerva hidden out of sight behind a short table near the door.

They watched as Albus offered him tea and they started a conversation. "Minerva was right" reflected Ron "he really isn't looking all that great." The other two just nodded and paid attention to the conversation but it was too quiet for them to hear but, seeing Albus wasn't really paying attention Dippet changed the subject and spoke a bit more loudly. "Are you sure you are alright Albus? You are exhausted. Surely you there is someone else to help you with this group you are setting up?"

"Not really. Hardly anyone realises that the war is spilling into the wizarding world."

"Well Albus just remember that you have responsibilities to the students at Hogwarts as well."

"Don't you think that this war will affect them as well?"

"Yes it might get to that stage eventually but the Ministry will protect us as is their job."

"Really?"

"Why are you so disenchanted with the Ministry?"

"They are ignoring all the signs and by the time they finally do anything it will most likely be too late."

"Hmm" Dippet sat in silence sipping his tea and when he spoke again he changed the subject slightly "And is that the only reason you are spending so much time outside Hogwarts." Albus sighed and put his cup on the table between them. "You know me to well." He said in a weary voice.

"Albus what's really bothering you? I hope you still aren't mad at me" Dippet asked in a gentle voice also putting his teacup down.

"No, I realise that you were right. I guess that's why I'm staying away so much, trying to run away from my problems. I just can't help it."

"Surely it isn't that hard to put her out of your mind, I mean it's not like you haven't got half of the wizarding world after you. Witches that are older and wiser."

"You said it yourself Armando. That dance was more than just a dance and it is almost impossible to put her out of my mind." He sipped his tea looking thoughtful and added "I think that's part of the problem. She's not just any witch throwing herself at me, in fact she hasn't been throwing herself at me at all; she was just herself and treated me like I was a normal person."

"Are you sure that isn't what is drawing her to you?"

"No! She has a brilliant mind, she is one of the few people who can keep up with me when I talk about my theories and she is the only person to have beaten me at chess recently. And after she got over her shyness,"

"Minerva shy? That's a first" burst in Dippet.

"Yes well" he smiled "she was apparently nervous about working with me but after a few lessons I showed her I was only human and that she didn't have to act differently around me. It was getting so different from all my other relationships. Of any kind" he hastily added at the look of horror forming on Dippet's face. He continued "We could talk about transfiguration and academics until we were blue in the face and whenever I revealed one of my quirks she didn't look at me strange like you did or just pretend to find it amusing like so many people do." He stopped "She brings me down to earth and I just I don't know how to describe my feelings for her. What a field day the Prophet would have if they learned the vaunted Albus Dumbledore didn't know how to describe something." He hung his head and sat in silence. Dippet awkwardly patted him on the back and said "Don't worry Albus the thing is you aren't doing anything about it and there's plenty more fish in the sea to help you get over it."

"Don't you think I've tried!" Albus shouted. He immediately calmed down "I'm sorry Armando but" he paused, "I went out on a date with one of my 'followers' and all I could think about was her" he buried his head in his hands and when he looked up again he had a defeated look on his face. "I don't know what to do about it"

"Try another few dates and see if you can manage to put this behind you. If you still can't, well from what I saw at the Christmas dance it wasn't one sided." He carried on at the perplexed look an Albus's face. "Then you wait a few years till she's slightly older and then you can see what happens."

"But that's the whole point Armando. I'm too old for her. Even if she did feel something for me other that a school girl crush then she deserves someone her own age who can keep up with her."

"I thought you knew Miss McGonagall better than that Albus. She is one of the most mature people I've met and you are one of the childish so I don't think the age difference would matter much. I'm sorry I can't help you more Albus but you need to make up your mind about what sort of feelings you have for her before you can sort your problems out."

"What do you mean?"

"On one hand you seem to be saying that you're just flattered by the attention of a school girl crush and the idea that she can keep up with your intellect and on the other you seem to be in love with her like you have never loved anyone else. You either need to make up your mind or stop fooling yourself about how you feel. Wait a minute," he added at the look on Albus's face. "I didn't say I approved or that you should do anything about it, I just said sort out your own feelings and whatever decision you come to you can take the appropriate action at the proper time. And whatever you do, don't dismiss McGonagall's feelings as just a school girl crush." They sat in silence for another minute and Hermione took advantage of the silence to take a look at Minerva. She seemed to be in shock although they couldn't really tell as she was still in cat form. They were distracted from her by Albus talking in a quiet voice and they had to move closer to him to here. "You are right again Armando." He buried his head in his hands again and they could barely make out his next sentence. "I've fallen in love with her. What kind of teacher am I, falling in love with one of my pupils? I guess I was trying to avoid the harsh reality and running away from my feelings"

"Well that obviously isn't working is it?" observed Dippet wryly.

"No." Albus sighed.

"Now you're stopped fooling yourself you will stop hiding from people especially the other teachers? They were being to think they had done something to offend you." He looked closely at him. "You will wait until she's finished Hogwarts won't you?"

"Armando I'm too old for her"

"Yes well why don't you let her decide that. As you might have noticed Miss McGonagall is quite opinionated." He sighed again. "I am prepared to relax the restrictions on the two of you in class and with regards to you being her head of house, however, any discussions the two of you have must be in the presence of some one else, preferably in the staffroom."

"You mean a chaperon." Albus said in a harsh tone of voice.

"Yes and that s the best I will do. And that is only because I'm worried about you and I want this whole thing to be over so the sooner we return to normal the better."

"Thank you Armando I didn't mean to sound ungrateful I'm just finding it hard to adjust."

"Yes well, just don't let it take up too much of your time and if I think you are spending too much time with her I will reinstate the restrictions. Now I know you've given me your word that nothing will happen but things happen when people work together a lot. Be careful."

"Of course I will Armando." They both rose from the chairs and as Dippet was leaving Albus said "thank you again." Dippet gave him a small nod and then disappeared out the door. The last thing they saw before the memory ended was the small tabby cat rushing out the door after him.

The next memory took place in Professors Dumbledore's office and by the looks of the weather outside was not long after the last memory. The door slowly opened to reveal Minerva who smiled softly and asked "May I come in?" He looked around for a moment then said "Of course." She sat down and looked as if she was thinking about her words carefully. "No offence my dear, but what are you doing here?"

"Well Professor Dippet said I could talk to you again and I'm worried about you." He chuckled. She frowned and said in an angry tone "Why are you laughing?"

"It's just," he explained after he stopped laughing "that nobody has worried about me in many years and I'm a bit beyond needing worried about."

"Hmm then why are you looking so pale and tired? Also you're fighting in the war so,"

"Wait a minute how did you find out about that?"

"I have my sources." she smirked.

"Yes I suppose the Hogwarts grapevine has been working overtime again."

She looked offended. "Stop changing the subject. Are you just going disregard my concern for your health when you obviously aren't well?" He opened and closed his mouth a few times obviously lost for words. He finally said "You shouldn't worry about me." Her expression softened and she quietly told him "I'm not the only one worrying besides," she added in an even softer voice "I can't help it." She coloured slightly as she said this and quickly changed the subject herself. "I think the trouble is you're thinking too much and you don't have any time to be yourself." She thought for a moment "That's it we'll play chess!"

"But we can't spend any time alone together."

"Then we'll play in the library together and don't think about arguing with me and don't worry about Professor Dippet either; I'm going to explain the situation to him and this time there are going to be no arguments. Understood?" she asked in a determined tone of voice "I suppose so." he said in a defeated sounding tone "but how will that affect your reputation spending your free time with me?"

"You're only just worrying about my reputation now! That's a first. You certainly didn't think about it at the dance or even since then." She looked incredulous at the idea that this was the first he had thought of it.

"I'm sorry." He looked apologetic and sincere about his words.

"Don't be. They were all a bit shocked and I've been ignoring everyone who has said anything about it and I've got a good set of friends." His face grew grave and he apologised again. "I really am sorry."

"I've just told you, don't be. Besides" she added, having returned to normal, "some things are worth it." It was his turn to blush.

This time it was Harry who interrupted the memory. He covered his eyes and asked "Why, why does he feel the need to show us their flirting?" Ron looked uncomfortable and shifted slightly "well I suppose it is showing us that nothing is holding them back and their willing to risk everything to be together."

"But they're not together!"

"Well the fact that they care enough to risk everything is proof that their in love."

"Oh Ron" Hermione sighed at him and looked lovingly at him "Oh Merlin it's contagious" exclaimed Harry at which they both blushed and Ron asked "Well how do you think I felt watching you and Ginny?"

"Besides there is nothing wrong with being able to understand love." added Hermione

"Yeah but"

"Honestly Harry. Why do you have to have the conversations when we are in the memory? Wait until we are out so we don't miss any more." They looked over to the professors where Minerva was still trying to convince Albus to play chess with her on a regular basis in the library. "After dinner of course,"

"Minerva we can't and don't look at me like that!" he sounded exasperated by her conviction that he needed worrying about and looked after.

"You should know me well enough to know that I am incredibly stubborn and that I don't give up easily." She replied and the look on her face was enough to let him he was losing the battle. So he tried a different tactic. "Hmm" he looked deep in thought. "How did you know about the war?" he asked.

"I told you I have my sources. And don't change the subject" was the irritated reply. "Well not even the Hogwarts grapevine is that reliably informed about the war as it is something very few young wizards are concerned about." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Or witches." He stared at her for a moment and unbelievably she weakened "Wow!" whispered Ron "I've never seen her back down before."

"I'll show you if you play chess with me."

"Show me?" his interested and suspicions were aroused.

"Yes I'll show you how I know after our third chess game." She dared him to defy her.

"Third." It was his turn to raise an eyebrow. "Why third?"

"It's enough to set a routine and Madam Pince will be suspicious if we suddenly break from our routine and report it to Professor Dippet who will undoubtedly be curious as to why we aren't acting normally any more." He looked at her with a new respect as if he was just seeing her devious side for the first time. "Well you seem to have thought this through and cornered me." She smiled a large grin. "So you'll play with me?"

"Yes."

"Good." She stood and waltzed over to the door. "Tomorrow after dinner in the library. Don't be late." She warned as she shut the door behind her.

The memory dissolved around them and they once again found themselves in the headmaster's office that was so familiar to them. They sat in silence for a minute. Harry was the first to speak. "You know now I think about it, it makes sense why we didn't know that they were in love with each other."

"Yeah I guess it does" said Ron. He still looked vaguely frustrated "What's wrong?" asked a concerned Hermione.

"Well I get that they hid their relationship, they kind of had to for their own sakes, but I still don't understand what this had to do with winning the war."

"Honestly mate your getting as bad as 'Mione with all this curiosity." He pulled a face. "I think I am as well."

"Shush Harry" she said as she and Ron both blushed. "Besides didn't you notice in the last two memories he was becoming more active in the war effort and she was trying to take care of him?"

"Yeah I suppose"

"I mean I think that's what he's trying to get at, maybe" she got a look in her eye that she often got when an idea occurred to her "I think he's trying to say he wasn't entirely on his own. I mean," she hurried on at the blank looks on the boys faces "she backed him into a corner there and I don't think anyone else has ever managed to do that before so I would imagine she helped clear his head and help him plan."

"Yeah but would her let her?"

"We just saw that she wasn't going to let that stop her." Neither of the boys looked entirely sure and just as Harry was as about to suggest going back into the pensieve Ron's stomach rumbled. Hermione laughed "Always your stomach Ron. I'm surprised it hasn't made itself known before this" Ron blushed bright red and Harry took pity on him and said "why don't we get dinner and," he looked out the window "maybe we should continue this tomorrow. It's getting kind of late."

"Okay." The other two agreed reluctantly. As they headed out the door Harry glanced at the pensieve wondering what memories were left to explore.

The next day dawned and unsurprisingly for April it was wet and miserable. Hermione was the first up and bounded into the boys room with an excited air about her. "Hurry up!" she urged as she left the boys to get dressed. They traipsed down to the kitchens where there were only a few house elves left. After a rushed breakfast they all headed back to the headmistresses office, eager to see the remaining memories. This time, however, there was no wait to get into the office and in no time they were heading into the pensieve once again.

A/N: I'm so sorry about the wait. I've got all sorts of excuses but I'm not going to bore you with them here. I just want to say a huge thanks to the 11 who reviewed the last chapter and that I would appreciate feedback on this one and also to everyone who waited patiently. I've not got many more chapters left to write but the next chapter is the big one so I don't know how long it will take me to write.

Thanks again

Jenni