AN: Okay here it goes! There will be at least one more chapter, possibly two, I'm not sure yet. Don't worry tho, I have about 3 more story ideas after I've finished this one.
AN2: Suggested listening for the "roof scene": E. S. Posthumus - any song from the "Makara" album (except the slow ones).
Despite having the ability to move with the speed and agility of a cat, Minerva could not catch up with Hermione in time. She just rounded the last corner when she saw the portrait hiding Hermione's rooms close abruptly.
Transforming back to her human form mid-step she came to halt in front of the portrait. Her first instinct was to barge in on the young woman without warning but to her surprise the portrait didn't budge when she gave the password. She repeated it, slower this time, making sure that she said it correctly, but still the portrait remained motionless.
"Bloody hell...HERMIONE! PLEASE LET ME IN! I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!" She yelled, hoping that her friend didn't put a silencing charm around her room. She tried calling the woman a few more times, not caring if anyone heard her but she got no response whatsoever.
Minerva however, was not one to be easily deterred. She paced up and down in front of the portrait, much like an agitated lioness, thinking hard about what she should do. 'She's not going to come out of that room all day that's for sure...'
She tried going over all her options. She definitely knew she could not wait until the next day to settle the matter, her heart broke into a million pieces when she thought about Hermione crying her heart out in there. 'I could send her a patronus...'
She was tempted to go with that idea but decided against it, believing that Hermione would just dismiss her silvery cat without listening to her. For the same reason an owl was out of the question either. 'I have to talk to her personally. But HOW?'
Minerva continued pacing for some more minutes when she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. 'The window!' Turning back into her cat form she sprinted down the hallway again towards her own room. After teaching in the castle for nearly fifty years she knew the location of every room and window by heart.
Despite the protestations of all the portraits in her office, Minerva, in her cat form, was standing on one of her window stills. To her dismay there was a storm outside, although not yet as violent as some of the typical Scottish storms can be.
It wasn't raining too heavily but there was a considerable wind which made the Animagus stop for a moment to reconsider what she was about to do. She would have to cross the roof, climb down several ornaments and windows only to climb up again on others to safely reach the windows belonging to Hermione's rooms.
Plucking up all her Gryffindor courage she stood, allowing her claws to sink into the wood of the window still, testing the strength of the wind before she made the first jump. Deciding to go through with her plan, hoping that the weather would not get worse while she was outside she took a few steps backwards, ran for the edge and jumped as far as she could.
Landing on the roof with a thud, she stretched her legs in all four directions, extending her claws to get a hold of something. She felt herself sliding down a couple of feet before the claws on her left foreleg got caught in a crack.
Knowing from experience that the tiles can be very slippery when wet, she looked to her left and right, trying to find another spot to hold onto. Thankfully there were plenty of small cracks and broken tiles she could hold on to, knowing that they were sturdy enough to support her lithe frame. Slowly making her away across the roof of the Grand Staircase Tower she reached one of the protruding windows.
Climbing down the side of the window was a far easier task than crossing the roof, her claws easily sunk into the aged wooden frame of the windows. She made quick work of the seven windows leading her down and she finally reached the eaves of the tower. She swiftly trotted towards the other side of the tower using the eaves as a sort of safe passage.
'All right... this was easy enough so far...' She thought to herself encouragingly, knowing well that the riskiest part of the whole project was nearing. She would have to drop nearly ten feet to land on another protruding section of the tower and climb down another set of windows.
After arriving at the next section of roof she needed to cross, she stopped for a second to regain her footing on the slippery tiles. 'The bloody wind is getting stronger... doesn't matter, Hermione's rooms are closer than mine now...' She thought to herself.
She began to shiver, her silver coat was soaked to the skin by now. Not caring about the dismal weather she ran across the top of the roof with as much speed as she dared and finally reached the tower which held Hermione's room.
The young witch's rooms were at the top of the tower so she needed to climb all the way up. Testing her claws against the bricks, she slowly began climbing up, using the cracks and edges of bricks for support.
Finally reaching Hermione's window she sat down on the still, sinking her claws into the wood, panting to get her breathing under control. Much to her displeasure, as if the fates were trying to deter her, the wind picked up some more.
She peeked through the glass and saw Hermione lying on her bed curled up, her shoulders jerking violently with each sob. Minerva's heart broke at the sight and she was determined to make everything right. Sinking the claws of three of her feet more into the wood for support she raised one of her paws and not withdrawing her claws started knocking on the glass.
Hermione, thoroughly heartbroken was lying on her bed, clutching a pillow to her chest, crying earnestly. She had heard Minerva yelling at her portrait to let her in but she could not bear the thought of looking Minerva in the eyes. Not yet. She could hear the woman pacing up and down and was almost tempted to allow the woman in but when the pacing suddenly stopped her heart sunk deeper. 'See Hermione? She already left... you stupid fool. Merlin, and to think that you're considered to be a bright witch...' She scolded herself, gloomy thoughts of self-loathing and sorrow stabbing deeply, wounding her heart unbearably.
After about five minutes of knocking relentlessly on the window Minerva's leg was getting awfully sore from keeping it in such an unnatural position. The paws on her other legs, on the other hand, were slowly growing numb, to her relief, as the ligaments and muscles supporting her claws have been protesting for some time against such extended use.
To her great relief Crookshanks entered her owners bedroom chamber, and stopped in the middle of the room, most likely debating how to cheer up the young witch. He was quite old now, most of his coat had large greying patches and his fur wasn't as full as it used to be. Looking at the window Crookshanks immediately spotted the Animagus and curiously stepped toward the window.
Trying to hold on with all her legs she pushed her face against the glass, hoping that the uncannily smart cat would recognize her and alert Hermione.
Crookshanks, indeed understood something. He saw the face a completely drenched cat pushed against the glass, sitting in what he perceived to be a nasty wind storm. Wasting no time he jumped up on Hermione's bed and repeatedly butted his head against Hermione arm.
"Not now Crookshanks." Came the reply between sobs.
But the feline wasn't easily rebutted, he tried butting Hermione's head with his own this time.
"Crookshanks! I'm not in the mood!" The young witch growled, annoyed with her cats antics. But this only served to annoy the cat as well and he started hissing at her and meowing loudly.
Not being able to withstand the noise for much longer, Hermione sat up looking murderously at her cat. "WHAT do you want?"
The cat raised one of his paws and pointed in the direction of the window.
After owning the cat for nearly fifteen years, he could still stun her. She knew from Sirius that her cat was highly intelligent, but this was absurd. Nonetheless, she looked in the direction where he was pointing but didn't see anything.
"What is it Crookshanks? I'm not in the mood for games."
The thoroughly annoyed cat hissed again, jumped off the bed, trotted over to the window and standing on his hind legs pointed at the windowpane again.
This time Hermione stood up as well and stepping closer she spotted Minerva. The poor woman was squatting on the window still, and despair was clearly written on her cat-face.
"OH my god!" Was all the brunette witch could say and she rushed over to the window. She tried opening it but only managed an inch before the wind forcefully pushed it closed again.
Pushing against it with all her might she managed to crack it open wide enough to reach out with her hand but the rain pouring in made the glass slippery and the window slammed on her wrist. She hissed in pain through clenched teeth, and tried pushing the window open with her shoulder this time.
To Hermione's horror when she managed to open the window, the other pane, not supported any more by the lock, burst open as well, knocking Minerva off the still into the darkness.
Hermione screamed and driven by instinct she nearly jumped after the older witch. Grabbing the frame with her left hand she felt a sharp pain surging through her wrist but she didn't care. Her wand was in her hand Hermione yelled "Accio Minerva!" pointing her wand in the general direction where she saw the woman disappearing. Not a moment later a drenched grey fur-ball slammed into her chest, knocking her back on her ass.
Hermione was so relieved to have the poor Animagus in her arms that for a second she did not even dare to touch her. Minerva, with her last ounce of strength raised her head for a moment, peering miserably into worried chocolate eyes and then proceeded to pass out, her head falling back lifelessly on the young witch's stomach.
To be Continued...
I know... I'm very evil... please tell me what you think tho :)