Minerva McGonagall was a very punctual woman. Be late for an appointment and she would chastise you as soon as you arrived. Miss an appointment and she would arrive on your doorstep the next morning to chastise you. Come to her without an appointment and she would send you home to make one even if she wasn't busy.

Her methods made the world go around…well; it at least provided that stability Hogwarts needed. She was getting old and she wasn't afraid to admit it either. Her theory was that without punctuality she would have been dead years ago.

When Harry Potter burst through the mahogany doors of her office, she had to rethink her usual methods. It wasn't often when she was left speechless. Something like catching Lily Evans and James Potter snogging during their rounds back in the day did that sort of thing, yet seeing their son in the state he was in came awfully close.

His grey button-up was wrinkled and creased with several of the buttons done the wrong way. Purple bags hung under his eyes and his hair was five times its usual mess, which was saying a lot because Professor McGonagall didn't think that was possible.

Her motherly instincts gained from teaching prompted her to run to his side and transfigure another chair; he collapsed into it as soon as it was made available.

"Harry? Harry what's wrong?" She asked letting her stern tone slide for the moment.

Harry froze and squeezed his eyes shut. He took several extremely deep breaths and twiddled his wand to occupy his fingers. He looked up to see his old Transfiguration teacher with a look of worry on her face.

"It's not everyday you see a 32-year-old crying is it Professor?" he asked, trying to ease the tension.

The boy was indeed close to tears obviously, his eyes red-rimmed and a bit sparkly from unshed tears, but he wasn't there yet. Professor McGonagall gave him a small smile and conjured up another chair next to him so that they wouldn't have to walk up to her desk.

"Well Mr. Potter, it isn't everyday that you see "The Chosen One" crying either…now tell me, whatever is the matter boy?"

Harry sighed, contemplating the best thing to say. Several scenarios ran through his head and the pros and cons accompanied them. This method was result of being an auror for some twenty plus years. At the moment his thoughts were so jumble din his head it would take quite a while to sort them out. The most troubling thought was that his kids noticed and that Albus knew! That reappeared in his mind every time he was close to saying something.

"They're getting to me Professor, even my Fire Top noticed!"

She almost smiled at Potter's pet name for his daughter. She had only see Lily Luna use her temper in her presence once and it was quite a sight. If she recalled correctly it had been because James had taken her stuffed animal, Padfoot, who was a replica of Sirius Black's animagus. Nevertheless, the mention of Lily didn't offer any clarity on the situation.

Harry had been visiting the school more often then usual in the past few months. Perhaps he was finally going to five a reason. Harry Potter was the mast at being inconspicuous. She figured you needed that skill to infiltrate the ministry and successfully break into a Gringott's vault. He may be highly skilled and unbeatable out on the field, but nothing escaped her sight.

Seeing the Professor's confusion, Harry realized he had never actually told her what was getting to him. That was probably an important part of his visit, he concluded almost sarcastically in his head.

"I…I have been having dreams Professor."

"That's actually quite normal Potter" she replied.

"No, they are so much more real. They happen every night now and…I'm actually able to remember them after I wake up. They're…different,"

"How so?"

"They aren't normal dreams Professor…" Harry was cut off as she replied,

"Harry you aren't a student any more, feel free to call me Minerva"

"Um, okay…Minerva…these dreams, they're like a movie reel in my head that is constantly repeating over and over. They are memories of Sirius dying, of Tom Riddle coming out of the diary in the Chamber, of that night at the graveyard, of looking for horcruxes, EVERYTHING. Bad things have happened to me and this dreams are coming to the point where I'm almost scared to fall asleep…" he said choking on his words, his limbs quivering, "Every night, I see my friends die, I see Remus and Tonks, Colin, Fred…I see them all die right before my eyes."

Minerva thought through the situation as was practical. She couldn't imagine having that happen every night. Of course while the wounds had been fresh, she had the occasional nightmare, but 15 years later? And Potter was making it sound like the equivalent to the real world instead of the usual hazy, colorless, dream.

"I am very sorry Harry. However, I'm not quite sure would you would like me to do about it,"

Harry looked over, "There is only one thing I can think of at this point, Professor," he said, forgetting to use her name as she had said.

"Minerva, you know what he wants. I think now is the time to give it to him." This voice was from the portrait of Professor Dumbledore, if anyone knew what to do, it would surely be him.

"Very well then, but are you sure Albus?"

"Yes, I am quite sure"

Minerva nodded and walked over to a small closet in the office. From that closet she pulled out one of the only pensieve known to man. It made sense now. It made sense why Harry would search her office and why he never felt like he could ask for it. The pensieve would indeed fix his problems, but it was a very rare thing and Potter was very lucky that he should be the one to get it.

Minerva was secretly hoping that Albus would give it to her when the time came that she needed to retire, now she realized Harry needed it much more than she ever would. Perhaps Dumbledore even knew he would need it in advance, intuition was one of his fortes.

"Thank you so, so much, professor. You have no idea what his means" he genuinely said, not taking his eyes off the object as if it would disappear as soon as he did.

"Better do it now, Harry." She advised eyeing his enthusiasm.

"Sorry Professor, but I think I will wait until I get home, I want to be with Ginny,"

"Does she understand?"

"Not quite, professor, she will soon enough,"

"Good decision" she replied with a nod.

Harry smiled graciously at the Professor once more and quietly exited the room. In his arms, was the answer to his sorrow. In his arms was the thing that would save him.

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Yay! Second chapter is up! Please review :)