Disclaimer: "I own everything dealing with Harry Potter and Phantom of the Opera!" These are the words I most desperately wish to write. Sadly, I cannot write them, for they are false. Oh well, I can always dream, can't I?

A/N: Thank you so much to those who have reviewed to this story. I can't tell you all enough times how much it means to me to have this kind of support. Though, being mostly writers yourselves, I'm sure you appreciate the value of a review. So please don't hesitate to leave a review, even if it is only two words.

Chapter Three: Angel of Magic…

Minerva made her way briskly through the crowded corridors of Hogwarts, eager to get to the Astronomy tower. She had just finished her last class of the day, and after eating in a hurry, she silently made her exit and was now heading to the one place where she knew she could be alone. The Divination teacher never entered his classroom after classes were over, much to the dismay of his young apprentice, Sybil Trelawney, who thought that Divination was, by far, the better of all magical branches.

Minerva had managed to reach the Astronomy tower without any problems, and that was how she liked it. She didn't want to have to answer any questions as to her reasons for being up in the Astronomy tower all by herself. The less she had to explain, the better. And as she knelt down by the window, she pulled out a small bag from the pocket of her tartan robes, the ones she always wore, and pulled out the contents one by one. And as she did so, she used her wand to transform the objects into their normal size. She had brought with her three candles, organized smartly on a small candelabra, and a picture in a golden frame. The picture was of her father, Artimus McGonagall.

Artimus had been the best wand maker in all of Scotland, and people from all around would come to buy his wands. In fact, that was how Minerva had met Albus. He had come to buy a wand from him, and had met Minerva, who was working in her father's shop for the summer. He was very thrilled to find that he would have her as a student.

Minerva ceremoniously lit each of the candles for her father. It was a habit she had acquired over the years. At first, she had done it to guide his soul to Heaven, but afterward, she did it more for her own comfort than anything else. She sighed heavily as she thought of her father, looking at his picture. She had been told that the pain would lessen each day, and she found that that was true. However, that did not stop her from missing him. And despite the fact that it did not hurt as bad as when it had happened, it still hurt sometimes. After all, she had only been seven when it happened. He had died in the final battle with Grindlewald.

Then, she seemed to hear the spirit's voice calling to her.

"Bravi, bravi, bravissimi," it said. This gave her great comfort, for it let her know that she had done well.

Ooooooooooo

Minerva had not had the clean escape that she thought she had. Poppy had seen her leave from dinner, and she was rather curious as to where she went. So, she finished her dinner as well, and decided that she would go and look for her friend.

When Minerva was nowhere to be seen, she frowned. Surely, Minerva was still somewhere in the castle. Then, a thought struck. If Minerva was not in the Room of Requirement, or the dungeons, or even in the Transfigurations class, then there was only one other possible place for her to be. She had to be in the Astronomy tower. After all, that was the only place in which Poppy had not yet checked. So, she quickly made her way to the tower, in the hopes that she would find her best friend. She was in luck. When she found Minerva, she was kneeling beside the window, lighting candles for her father, as she often did.

Ooooooooooo

"There you are, Minerva," she said. "So, this is where you've been hiding yourself, huh?" She sat down next to her.

"You've found me, Poppy," Minerva smiled.

"I just came to congratulate you, Min," she said. "From what I hear, you were ten times better than Professor Umbridge ever was. And from the things they've said… Really, Min, you were perfect! I only wish I knew your secret. Who is your new tutor?" Minerva smiled almost sadly as she stared at the picture of her father, the three candles behind it. Then, she turned back to Poppy and smiled again.

"Do you remember when your mother brought me here to Hogwarts to live with you?" Poppy nodded, her brows knit in worry. "Well, every night, when I came up here, I would light a candle for my father, and I would hear a voice speak to me. I would even hear his voice when I lay in my bed, sleeping." When Poppy only offered a confused look, she decided to elaborate. "As my father lay dying in St. Mungo's from the effects of that spell, he told me that I would be visited by a spirit. It was a spirit he would send to me, to guide me… The Angel of Magic, Poppy." Poppy looked rather worriedly at her friend.

"Minerva, do you believe? Do you believe that it is the spirit of your father who is coaching you?"

"Who else, Poppy?" she asked. "Father once spoke of an angel. I used to dream he'd appear. Now, as I teach, I can sense him, and I know he's here." She suddenly became transfixed, as though she were being hypnotized by some unknown assailant. But Poppy listened to her speak, curious at what she had to say. "Here in this room, he calls me softly, somewhere inside, hiding. Somehow I know he's always with me. He, the unseen genius." It was here that Poppy felt she should interject. Placing a hand on her friend's shoulder, she sighed.

"Minerva, you must have been dreaming. Stories like this can't come true." She pulled Minerva to her feet, who seemed to almost come out of her reverie, but not quite completely, it seemed. Poppy made the objects smaller once again and placed them in the pouch, placing them in Minerva's pocket for her. "Minerva, you're talking in riddles, and it's not like you."

It was true. Minerva was one of the most level headed witches she knew, and now, when she was speaking in such a manner, Poppy was beginning to question such an analysis. If she hadn't known Minerva so well, she would have thought her mad. Surely though, she thought, it must be because of the stress of having to teach classes without having the ability to first prepare herself for such a heavy task. But it seemed that Minerva had heard nothing she had said, for she continued with her thoughts, as though Poppy were not there.

"He's always with me, and always will be. He's here when I'm asleep, he's here when I'm awake… Even when I dream, I cannot escape him."

"Who is this angel?" Poppy wondered to herself. Since Minerva was clearly unable to speak with her, she just wondered to herself. "Who is this Angel of Magic?" Suddenly, Minerva stopped, halfway through the corridor which led to her rooms.

"He's with me, even now," she whispered.

"Oh, Minerva, your hands are cold," Poppy observed, feeling her friend's hands. They were like ice. She was completely bewildered.

"All around me, he's here," continued Minerva.

"Minerva, your face is white, like you've just seen a ghost," said Poppy. Minerva seemed to jump out of her reverie, and looked at Poppy, almost confused for a second, then she whispered,

"It frightens me." Poppy hugged her, very worried about the state of her friend.

"Don't be frightened," she pleaded. "You are safe with me." With that, she pulled Minerva by the hand, taking her to see her mother.

From just behind one of the suits of armor, Argus Filch, the caretaker, just shook his head and rolled his eyes. His father, Adam Filch, was right. That Minerva McGonagall was an odd one. He took a swig from his bottle and turned away.

Ooooooooooo

Rose Pomfrey led Minerva to her room after a quick check-up, pushing her way desperately through the crowd of ministry officials and teachers, who wanted to give Minerva their congratulations on a job well done. With great effort, she pushed them aside and brought Minerva into her rooms and, luckily, closed the door without slamming it upon someone's fingers. When she turned around once again, Minerva was by her small table, which was in the middle of the room.

Her room was very small, in the quarters where all the other apprentices stayed. It contained only the small table, on which numerous things were placed, a bed, barely big enough for her to lay, and a small changing curtain, where she may change her clothes every morning, and every night. She didn't even have a bathroom. She had to use the same one that all other apprentices were forced to use, unless she felt like walking all the way to the bathroom one level above her. Rose Pomfrey smiled as she walked over to Minerva.

"You did very well today, my dear," she said. She picked up a single red rose, which had been on the small table. It had a black ribbon tied with a bow around the middle. "He is very pleased with you." Minerva smiled slightly as she took the rose and inhaled the scent. He was so thoughtful. Rose kissed her on her forehead and left. "You need your rest," she said. Then, she was out the door, and Minerva was, once again, left alone, with nothing but a single red rose.

Ooooooooooo

Outside her room, everyone was still celebrating. The first day in their new offices for Scrimgeour and Fudge had been a total success, therefore, they felt the need to celebrate. They were toasting to each other when Albus walked past them and headed for Minerva's door, a bunch of flowers in one hand, and a box of chocolate in the other.

"Ah, Professor Dumbledore," smiled Fudge. "It would seem we've made a true teacher in Miss McGonagall, wouldn't you agree?" Albus nodded.

"Yes, indeed you have," he smiled.

"Perhaps we should present her to you?" insisted Scrimgeour. Albus really did not like what his tone was implying, but said nothing about it. Instead, he simply said,

"If you don't mind, I'd rather make this visit alone." With that, he smiled, turned around, and walked toward the door. Fudge and Scrimgeour smirked at each other.

"It would appear he's met her before," Scrimgeour said.

Ooooooooooo

Albus knocked on the door, and then entered when Minerva called for him to come in.

"Minerva McGonagall, where is your scarf?" he asked, trying to keep up a stern façade. Minerva turned around in her chair, where she sat at her desk, and smiled.

"Sir?" she asked, smiling.

"You can't have lost it. Not after all the trouble I took in retrieving it. I was just a young lad when the scarf flew from your neck, carried by the wind, and went into the ocean. I was soaked to the bone." He chuckled, unable to keep his stern look for much longer.

"Because you had to be such a gentleman and fetch it for me, not even bothering to use your magic," Minerva laughed. "Oh, Albus, so it is you." She jumped up from her chair and hugged him, all that she had ever felt for him flooding through her again. She had forgotten how much she had missed, and loved, him.

Albus, too, had forgotten all that he had felt for her. He had loved her in so many ways, but had never been able to tell her, for one reason or another. Minerva let herself out of the embrace, and moved away to sit back down at the table. Albus straightened up and began to recite what they always had before.

"Sweet Tabby let her mind wonder…"

"You remember that, too?" laughed Minerva, both amused and pleased that he remembered so much from their past.

"…Sweet Tabby thought: Am I fonder of dolls?" Here, Minerva spoke with him, so that both were reciting.

"…Or of goblins or shoes..."

"Those picnics by the bay?" inquired Albus, setting the flowers down. "Or of chocolates?" he smirked, showing her the box, and then setting it down.

"Father playing the violin." Minerva's father had always enjoyed the violin.

"As we read to each other dark stories of the North," continued Albus. They had always enjoyed making up stories about Northern countries. He bent down next to her and took her hands.

"No, what I love best, Tabby said, is when I'm asleep in my bed, and the Angel of Magic speaks spells in my head," said Minerva. She continued. "Father said, 'When I'm in Heaven, child, I will send the Angel of Magic to you'. Well, father is dead, Albus, and I have been visited by the Angel of Magic."

"Oh, no doubt about it," smiled Albus. "I remember your skills well, and now, seeing you teach a class, I know you will go far. And now, we eat. Come, we'll dine out tonight." He stood and headed for the door.

"No, Albus…" Minerva began.

"You must change, and I must get my cloak. Two minutes, Tabby." And with that, he was out the door, which closed behind him.

"Albus!" Minerva called behind them. She fell silent, her eyes now filled with a few tears. She looked into a hand mirror. "Things have changed, Albus," she whispered. But, oh, how she wished they hadn't. So, she changed into her other clothes, not sure whether or not she was doing the right thing. Just as she reached for the door, the lights went down lower and she immediately sensed his presence. The phantom immediately began to scold the man who had just left.

"Insolent sir, this slave of fashion, basking in your glory. Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor, sharing in my glory!" Minerva turned around slowly, immediately feeling ashamed for almost leaving.

"Angel, I hear you speak, I listen. Stay by my side, guide me." He didn't answer, so she continued to plead with him. "Angel, my soul was weak, forgive me. Enter at last, master." This seemed to get through to the phantom.

"Flattering child, you shall know me. See why in shadow I hide. Look at your face in the mirror, I am there inside." Minerva turned and stared into her mirror, which ran from the ground to the ceiling. In it, the outline of a man became visible. He was tall, with thick, black hair, nice robes, and a handsome face. Well, what she could see of it was handsome. Half of his face, his right half, was covered with a ceramic white mask. Why he had the mask, she did not know, for she had never thought to ask. The man, or angel, whatever he might be, stood there, his hand outstretched. Minerva began to recite the words she had recited so many times before, the words which were said to him every night when he came.

"Angel of Magic, guide and guardian, grant to me your glory. Angel of Magic, hide no longer, come to me, strange angel." With each word, she was stepping closer and closer to the mirror, her hand, also, stretched out. The angel began to speak out seductively to her.

"I am your Angel. Come to me, Angel of Magic."

Outside, Albus was trying to open the door, which was locked. When he heard the voice, he pressed his ear against the door and called out to her.

"Whose is that voice, who is that in there?" When he didn't receive an answer, he pulled out his wand.

Inside, Minerva was still walking towards that haunting figure. The mirror opened up and she felt his hand capture hers. It was cold, so very cold. But she was so entranced by his face, that face which haunted her dreams that she barely even noticed. He spoke again.

"I am your Angel of Magic. Come to me Angel of Magic…" Just as he pulled her into the mirror, and had it close behind them, Albus had called out "Alohamora" and entered the room, only to find it empty.

"Minerva, angel!" he called. He was frantic. In no way could he know that she was already taken, through the mirror, but her angel. That Angel of Magic, whose name, no one really knew. That Angel of Magic, whose real name… was Tom Riddle.

A/N2: Phew! My hands and keyboard are literally smoking from writing so much and so fast. Hehe. LOL! Okay then, I certainly hope that you all enjoyed this story. Well, the chapter, anyway. I had a lot of fun writing it. Please click the button at the bottom, for I am trying to compete for as many reviews as I can with a friend of mine, and in order to beat her, I am trying to get at least ten reviews. And besides that, I really want to know what you think. But no pressure or anything… seriously, no pressure intended. And for those who want to know, my first week of school is going fine! Always Hopeful