Chapter Sixteen

The next two days passed agonizingly slow. Minerva was so eager to ask Lara if she knew any details of her petrifaction, and of course eager to have a friend again. Still, she was kept quite busy by teachers hounding about N.E.W.Ts. She was only taking 5 classes – Transfiguration, Charms, Defense against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Arithmancy – but they were enough to drive her mad. She saw Myrtle every day in Potions (she had not made the Quidditch team, "but I was this close!") and was becoming quite friendly with her, but there was still the gap of a friend in her own house.

The day that the Mandrake potion was finished, Minerva rose early to meet Professor Slughorn at the beginning of his office hours, eight A.M. At 7:59, she was slumped outside his door anticipating the morning bell. The second it began tolling, Minerva rapped sharply on his door. Slughorn opened it shortly.

"Ah yes, I had a feeling I'd be seeing you this morning, Miss McGonagall," he said with a smile. "The potion is all ready for Miss Sykes. Oh, and incidentally, Potions class will be cancelled today."

"What for, sir?" she asked curiously. This was the last thing she expected – a class cancelled when teachers were all furiously preparing for N.E.W.Ts?

"I have an errand to run, for Professor Dippet," he replied. "Something about Grindewald…I am so sick of that name, you would not believe…"

Minerva's curiosity was peaked. "Sir, if it's not too forward, may I ask what the errand is?"

Slughorn laughed jollily. "More than my job's worth, dear girl. Personally, I don't know why Dippet chose me, I'm just the Potions master, in my opinion he should've asked Professor Lambert, for Defense Against the Dark Arts, but no matter…I go where he sends me."

"Well, Grindewald is a very Dark wizard, but maybe he just trusted your judgment in the matter more, sir." Flattery was always an asset.

"That may be the case," Slughorn said, still smiling. "It's nice to know that my work is appreciated. After all, I know more about…well, um, I expect you'll want to deliver that potion to Miss Sykes now."

"Yes, sir. Thank you!" She took the potion and hurried off to the hospital wing, wondering what knowledge Professor Slughorn had that the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher lacked. Maybe Albus would know – she'd ask him later. Her mind drifted off to a lovely evening they had last night…

No! She thought. I must concentrate for Lara. She needs my help now, and I don't need to be lost in a silly daydream.

Minerva entered the hospital wing to find Madam Cliodna hovering over Lara. "Ah, I knew you'd come!" she said. "I was just getting ready to go ask Professor Slughorn myself!"

She handed the potion to the nurse. "Can I do anything to help?"

"Of course dear, just…try to hold her mouth open."

This proved more difficult than it sounded, but Minerva was able to keep her mouth barely open long enough for Madam Cliodna to pour the potion down her throat. After only a moment, color began returning to Lara's cheeks, but she didn't open her eyes yet.

"She'll probably need to sleep now," Madam Cliodna said wisely.

Minerva's eyes widened. "She's been sleeping for the past – "

"No," Lara spoke, with a slight yawn. "I'm awake, dead tired though."

Overcome with emotion, Minerva swept down to hug her friend. "I was so worried," she whispered.

Lara opened her eyes. "What happened?"

"You were petrified," Minerva explained. "We don't know by what. Can you remember anything?"

"I was walking and putting on makeup," she said, "and I thought I saw something move behind me in the mirror…I didn't look behind me though, I remember that. For some reason, I moved my mirror upward to get a better look, and I saw…something."

"No idea as to what?" Minerva asked. Lara shook her head.

"Nope. Were you that worried about me?"

Minerva let out an explosive sigh. "Lara, I've got three friends to my name. Yes, I was worried."

"Come on," Lara said shakily, "The other Gryffindor quidditch players – "

"Are resentful of my natural ability," Minerva finished. This was a lie – she hadn't really tried to become friends with any of the quidditch players as of yet.

"Your classmates – "

"Are resentful of my natural ability. I swear it's you, Myrtle, and Albus."

"Albus?"

Minerva blushed. "Professor Dumbledore."

Madam Cliodna cleared her throat. "If you don't mind, I'll just check your vital signs and then you'll be free to go."

"Oh right, sorry," said Lara, holding out her wrist so the nurse could take her pulse.

After Madam Cliodna had taken her vital signs and Lara had changed into fresh robes, both girls walked back to Gryffindor tower. "Is everyone worried now that they'll get petrified?" Lara asked.

Minerva shook her head. "No, we kept it quiet. Said you were sick."

"No one else tried to visit me?" Lara sounded slightly hurt.

"Yes, but Madam Cliodna turned them away. She said that she didn't want anyone else catching what you had."

"So I guess I had better stick to that story then." Lara sighed. "I was looking forward to being a local celebrity."

Minerva laughed. "Tough luck."

"Do you know…well, I suppose you wouldn't…but maybe…"

"Lara, spit it out."

She blushed. "Do you know if Travis Wood came to visit me?"

Minerva shook her head. "I don't even know who Travis Wood is…though should I?" Minerva raised an eyebrow.

"I'm surprised you don't. He's a Gryffindor Chaser."

"Oh! Him!" Minerva remembered the tall fifth year, with shoulder length brown hair and a rousing Scottish accent. "So he's the guy."

Lara gave a shy smile. "He's gorgeous, Min."

"Well, he may have visited you. I wasn't there the entire time. Perhaps you should go ask Madam Cliodna?"

"I couldn't!" Lara blushed for the millionth time during the conversation.

"Come on, Lara. She's the nicest woman there ever is, and she'd never tell. Plus she probably still feels sorry for you for being petrified."

They had made it to the Gryffindor common room, where Minerva informed Lara of the new password, "Lacewing flies." Their conversation was cut off by the greeting of several younger girls, all inquiring to Lara's health. Minerva was a little jealous, but quickly squashed it. Lara turned back to Minerva.

"Guys, do you know Minerva? She's the one who found me passed out on the floor."

The girls nodded eagerly. "Professor Dumbledore's protégé!" one said. "You should help us in Transfiguration, like when you came in that one day!"

Minerva smiled. "Sure, whenever you need it."

"Okay guys, I need to rest and talk to Minerva about something, I'll talk to you later," Lara said, much to the dismay of her friends.

"Feel better Lara!"

"See you in class!"

They walked up to Lara's dormitory, and plopped down on her bed. "Albus, Minerva?" she said, questioningly. "Tell me what's going on between you two."

"Nothing!" She averted her eyes. "He's been giving me a lot of extra lessons, so I see why everyone's suspicious, but it's nothing more than that!"

"And he lets you call him Albus."

"Well yes, he says he sees me as an equal!"

"Min, you said it yourself – I'm one of your only friends. You can tell me anything, and I promise you it will go no further than this room."

Minerva sighed. "Okay, so you wouldn't tell anyone else later that happened to enter this room either, right?"

Lara laughed. "You sure are thorough. No, Min, I won't tell a soul."

She sighed and looked out a window. "I'm in love with him. I guess you suspected that much."

Lara nodded. "How far has it gone?"

"We're seeing each other," Minerva continued, "Headmaster Dippet is retiring next year, so Albus will be Headmaster. He wants me to be his Transfiguration professor."

"Oh Min! That's wonderful! You've got a career!" She giggled. "You'll be my teacher!"

She hadn't even realized that. "Wow…I will be, won't I? So…you don't think it's gross, or anything? Morally wrong?"

"Not really. I mean, we all know Albus is like…70? 80? But we're not Muggles – our life spans are much longer. We know how to take care of ourselves. So I'd say it's no different than a Muggle couple with an age difference of about five to ten years. It just sounds worse."

"And the fact that he's my teacher…" Minerva prompted.

Lara shrugged. "He only will be for the rest of this school year."

Minerva smiled. "I'm so glad you understand."

"Okay Min…now dish. What have you two…done…together?"

Minerva smiled. "Well…" And she dished.