Author's Note – Heyy! I newly dedicate this story to lady clark of books and I would like to specially thank her (or is it him. It's lady clark of books, so I presume it's her) for being the first (and only one) to review. Also, thanks to gynji and DA-DADA.Witch for reading the story (can you please review it as well.) Hope you enjoy!

Greetings- Belated Merry Christmas to All my Readers!

Disclaimers – The Harry Potter world is not mine. I'm just playing in it!

Author's Note to lady clark of books – Am I that bad at suspense? What gave it away? Never mind. Your theory just might work...See this chappie for more ;) Thanks a lot for your review. It was really encouraging.

Chapter 4 – The uninvited visitors

Minerva McGonagall walked down the corridors, her emerald green cloak fluttering behind her. She took a sharp turn around the edge of a narrow, desolate passage way and stood resolutely in front of a seemingly blank wall. Pulling out her wand from her robes, she tapped it gently against the cold stone of the wall and murmured something inaudible.

The blank wall instantly transformed into a large oak door flanked by two intricate carvings of wood nymphs on stone. Sighing, she muttered the password to the nymphs and walked through the opened doors into a large room, wondering, not for the first time, if such stringent security measures were even essential.

Glancing around the room, she found it in almost the same condition as she had left it eleven years ago. The wallpaper was peeling of in odd places and the room was a bit dusty, but that could be fixed with a swish of her wand.

Having returned her rightful chambers to its former glory, Minerva flopped on the oriental chintz chair in the corner of her room. Her luggage had been neatly stacked in a secluded corner of the room, no doubt by some house elf. Minerva wondered if it was Cipher, the house elf who had been assigned to her when she had been working at Hogwarts, nearly a decade ago.

Staring at the newly lit fire in the grate and the old bookcases and furniture, Minerva could not help but joyously remember her old times at Hogwarts. It had always been her second home…

Her childhood, teenage years, adulthood…

A loud and abrupt knock on the door interrupted Minerva's thoughts, causing her to sit up so suddenly that she almost cricked her neck.

'Minerva?' called a not-too-unfamiliar voice.

Minerva stood up and hastily dusted her emerald green robes, thankful that she had not bothered to remove it earlier. Walking up to the door in her usual elegant fashion, she opened it and found her self face to face with her former mentor and colleague, Horace Slughorn.

'Evening, Horace.' she said, politely inviting him into the newly refurbished room.

Horace smiled jovially at the witch and walked stoutly into the room. He pulled out his wand and conjured another chintz chair to match the one in the room and sat on it comfortably.

'Ah, yes Minerva. There was a rumour that you might return.' he said after she had taken a seat opposite him. 'See, Penelope left last year.'

'Rumour?' Minerva asked, slightly perplexed.

'Yes. You see, the staff aren't informed earlier of new arrivals.' he responded. 'I must say, it's quite a pleasure to meet you again after almost a decade.'

Minerva nodded slowly. She had been looking forward to spending the first day of her return to Hogwarts alone, but she could see no polite way of letting Horace know this without hurting his feelings. So, she decided, it was best to let him continue.

'How was your trip to America?' he asked her, rather unexpectedly.

Minerva was not entirely sure she had heard him correctly. After all, when had she ever gone to America?

'I beg your pardon?'

'How was your trip to America?' he repeated. 'Albus told us after you left that you were going to America for personal reasons.'

Minerva heaved a sigh. Trust Albus to come up with such atypical excuses.

'Great!' she said shortly, sounding thoroughly unenthusiastic. She was hoping against hope that Horace would not ask her anymore questions about her alleged trip. Seeing that she had never been to America in the first place, she had no way of answering any of his questions correctly without consequently giving away the truth.

'Did you see-' he began.

What Minerva was supposed to have seen, she never found out (for which she was very thankful) for at that moment a sharp knock at the door interrupted Horace's question.

'Excuse me.' Minerva called out to him as she walked to the door for the second time that evening, wondering which uninvited guest was about to trespass her hospitality once more.

The opened door revealed a tall witch in blood red robes with long blonde hair and black eyes. She had a slightly anxious look on her pale face as she surveyed the witch in front of her.

'Leto?'

'Ah, Minerva. A long time since we last met. I knew you'd return.' the witch on blood red robes replied warmly, shaking Minerva's hand.

'Why don't you come in?' Minerva said smiling at the Care of Magical Creatures teacher and Head of Hufflepuff House.

Leto returned the smile gratefully as she walked in. 'Yes, but I really can't stay for long.'

Minerva obligingly conjured another chintz chair, by which time Leto had already noticed the other occupant of the room.

'Horace?' she said, obviously surprised. 'I suppose you told her?'

Slughorn flushed but Minerva was intrigued.

'Told me what?' Minerva asked curiously.

Leto simply ignored her query and shot a very disgusted glare at Horace.

'You didn't tell her?' she asked in disbelief. 'Such important news, Horace, my word, I expected better from you.'

Horace merely looked ashamed. 'I was just inquiring about-'

'Well, Minerva' she said cutting off Horace smoothly. 'I suppose you have the right to know, seeing as Horace here didn't have the grace tell you-'

She shot another appalled glare at him.

'A couple of Dementors were found lurking somewhere en route the Hogwarts Express. Boris Billows saw them, he was on his broom. This was obviously a threat to the students, the Aurors were informed and the Dementors are safely out of the way now. The train however, didn't stop, it merely slowed down, so I expect this evenings schedule will be delayed by half an hour or so, that is if Albus agrees.'

Minerva nodded grimly as Leto concluded her bit of news.

There was no need to worry, the Aurors had driven them away, she already knew how to defend herself…

'Minerva?'

Minerva snapped out of her reverie and glanced at Leto.

'I presume you're still Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor?' she queried.

'Yes, Leto. I still am.'

'Well Minerva, I'm afraid I shall trespass no more on your hospitality. Good day.' she said briskly.

'Thank you for informing me, Leto.' Minerva responded, leading her to the door. 'The like to you.'

'I'm afraid I shall go as well.' Horace proclaimed, standing up. He still looked flustered and was carefully avoiding eye contact with Leto.

'Ah, yes. Good day, Horace.' Minerva said politely, trying very hard not to laugh.

Watching Leto close the door behind her as they both left, Minerva felt her brief spell of happiness vanish as quickly as it had come. She sank once more into the oriental chintz chair, the blazing fire reflecting in her startlingly green eyes, her mind swirling with thoughts and reminiscences.

A/N: I have no idea if the chapter is good or not, but I wanted a small chappie about Minerva McGonagall, so here it is. There's a major clue in the chapter, see if you can spot it (lady clark of books, this may answer your question.) Thanks for reading. Please, please, please review!

PS: Leto's full name is Leto Kettleburn. She teaches Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts and is the Head of Hufflepuff House.