Chapter Two

Several minutes later Albus was still merrily rambling about how amusing it all was, seemingly completely unaware that Minerva had left, whilst the occupants of the portraits which hung on the wall rolled their eyes in despair. At last the gentle coughing of Albus' old headmaster, Armando Dippet, caught Albus' attention. Glancing round his study Albus enquired, "Where did Minerva go ?"

"I rather think she went to murder Potter." Phineus Nigellus drawled from his place on the wall.

Instantly Albus paled and lept to his feet. "Oh dear !" He gasped. Next moment he was zooming towards the door, half moon glasses nearly tumbling from his nose in his haste, silver beard streaming behind him like a banner.

"Moves fast for his age doesn't he ?" Phineus drawled, as the sound of a rapidly moving wizard leaping down the stairs echoed round the room.

Minerva sat rigidly upright behind her desk, blazing emerald eyes gazing at Harry much as a dragon might eye it's hapless prey. Harry leant casually against the wall, seemingly unfazed by the fury etched in Minerva's face.

"What is this nonsence I hear about you not believing that I am a witch Potter ?" Minerva enquired ominously.

"Well I just don't think you are ... or Dumbledore either ..." Harry answered nonchalantly. "I mean if you really could do magic you would have turned me into something horrid like a toad by now ... that is what angry witches normally do you know ..."

Minerva's fists clenched and unclenched several times, and a tiny muscle at the corner of her mouth started to twitch. "Potter." She said in strangled tones, "It is strictly forbidden to punish students by turning them into things, even when they are as infuriatingly foolish as you. Your notion that I cannot do magic is utterly ridiculous. Just how do you explain the transfigurations that I perform during class ?"

"Oh they're just conjuror's tricks, obviously all done with mirrors and projectors, clearly fake. I've seen it on TV." Harry answered.

"Mirrors ! Projectors ! How dare you !" Minerva snarled, turning bright red with fury.

"You are a good actress I'll give you that." Harry said, "All that fake rage it's really well done, you should give up pretending to be a witch and do acting instead."

As Minerva spluttered indignantly, her wand hand moving dangerously towards her robes as though about to hex Harry, Albus entered the room, moving faster than he had moved in many a year.

"Min ... Min ..." Albus gasped, then gave up and leant against the desk his chest heaving as he tried to draw air into his lungs, sweat streaming down his face in rivulets. "Huff ... huff ..." Albus panted.

Minerva glared at Albus disapprovingly. "Really Dumbldore, kindly cease making that disgusting noise, you are not a herd of elephants." She snapped, "And please do not drip on my rug. It's quite bad enough removing your candy stains from it as it is."

As Albus continued to sag puffing against the desk, Minerva turned her attention to Harry once more. "Potter !" She thundered, "You will believe in magic and that is an order!"

"Oh I do believe in magic ..." Harry answered.

"Very sensible of you Potter." Minerva said, the lines of anger in her face softening slightly.

"I just don't believe in you two ..." Harry added.

The expression on Minerva's face when she heard this was murderous. Albus thought that he hadn't seen her so enraged since the time he had tried to brighten up her wardrobe by turning all her robes various bright sparkling colours. He thought the sequins had been a particularly lovely touch, but Minerva had nearly killed him when she discovered that her favourite emerald green robe was now a vivid purple, and adorned with glittering rainbow coloured sequins.

"THAT IS QUITE ENOUGH OF YOUR INSOLENCE POTTER !" Minerva roared furiously, "DETENTION ..."

"Now Minerva, my dear ..." Albus interjected having finally regained his breath, and laying a soothing hand on Minerva's arm. "I'm sure this can all be solved by a nice little chat, after all it must be confusing for Harry. If he would just care to express himself ..."

"I think he's done quite enough of that already !" Minerva snapped, then added in a muttered aside for Albus' ears only, "Really Dumbledore, if he has to not believe in someone can't it be that twerp Severus with his potions and cauldron ...this is all your fault, if you would just wear black like Severus ..."

A look of sheer horror flashed across Albus' face. "I'm sure there must be some other solution, my dear." He said rapidly.

"Then may I suggest that you hurry up and find it." Minerva threatened.

As Minerva stood glaring at the two of them, with her foot tapping impatiently on the floor, Albus tried desperately to come up with an idea. It was terribly hard to think with the constant tip tap of Minerva's boot against stone, but one glance at her smouldering expression made Albus decide against asking her to cease tapping.

"Well ..." Minerva snapped after a few minutes of silence.

"I'm thinking ..." Albus said frantically, as he wished desperately that he had some candy with him. He always found candy helped with thinking.

At last inspiration came, and Albus' eyes brightened with delight, resuming their normal sparkle. "I have the perfect idea." He announced triumphantly.

Author's Notes

Sorry for the delay in this chapter, I got sick with a nasty virus and was then away visiting family. The next chapter will be published in the next few days.

Please make the time and effort to review, even if it is only to say something like good job, as reviews are the only reward writers get, other than the pleasure of writing. It does get a little discouraging to only have a few people review, leaving me wondering if my stories are so funny or good anymore.

Many Thanks to those wonderful people who do review.