Chapter 18

It was the end of Defense Against the Dark Arts – Minerva's last class on Fridays. The Gryffindors and Slytherins were eyeing each other with loathing – Professor Lambert had insisted they play a trivia game as a way of earning house points. It was terribly unfair – Lambert was very partial to Slytherin house. The competition had risen to an unbearably level, and it was the last question to win the game.

"Occlumency," Lambert began, speaking agonizingly slow. "No, I'm not going to ask you what it is, you're seventh years, you should know that by now. I want you to give me the root words in the language from which they are taken and define them."

If there was one thing Minerva knew, it was useless knowledge such as this. She shot up sparks in the air. "Yes, Miss McGonagall?"

"Occulto, it's Latin, it means 'to hide, conceal, or cover.' Mens is Latin for mind."

"Correct. Gryffindor wins the game, and receives twenty house points."

Minerva smiled and received the thanks of her classmates humbly. The bell rang, and everyone scurried to gather their things. Minerva had planned to ask Professor Lambert about some extra credit, as she felt that her grade in the class might've dropped to a middle-A, but before she did so Professor Smithy came in.

"Ronald, I need to speak with you," Professor Smithy said urgently.

"Can't it wait?" asked Professor Lambert irritably. "I have an engagement."

"You've been making up these engagements for far too long, Ronald, we will speak – now."

Lambert sighed. "As you wish." The two departed to the adjoining office and shut the door.

Curious, Minerva ran over to the door and tried to listen, but the walls were so thick only bits of conversation leaked through.

"Professor Kettleburn…onto something…Mandrakes…suspicious," Smithy was saying to Lambert.

"Surely not…you know that Grindewald…Professor Slughorn assured us…Tom Riddle…savior in the end." Lambert's voice was confident.

"…can't go through…mistake…my apologies to Grindewald…" Smithy sounded bitter.

Minerva quickly left the room, afraid of the two teachers popping out of the office at any moment and discovering her. From the sound of it, that was not a conversation anyone should have overheard.

She ran to Albus's office, eager to share this new information.

"Albus!" she skidded into his office, only to find him in a conference with Lara and Travis. "Er…Professor?" she asked timidly.

His eyes twinkled. "You two may go now," he said, gesturing to Travis and Lara. "I trust we won't have to have this conversation again."

Lara caught Minerva's eye on the way out and gave a tiny smile, while pointedly taking Travis's hand. Minerva grinned.

Once the two were safely down the hall, Minerva shut the door. "Okay, I've decided that Smithy, Lambert, and Slughorn are up to something."

"What makes you say that?" Albus asked, resting his chin on his hand.

She quickly relayed what she could of the conversation she had overheard. "Do you think," Albus began, "That we may have some dark wizards here at Hogwarts?"

"I don't know about dark, but there's definitely something foul about at least Smithy and Lambert," Minerva said. "Slughorn might be playing our side, for Dippet, to find out information. Albus, you must talk to him."

"He won't tell me anything, Minerva."

"You're not trying hard enough!" Minerva slammed her hand down on the table. "I've risked detention and worse trying to get this information, now it's your turn, my brave Gryffindor! Why don't you use Occlumency?"

"For one, dearest, it's illegal."

"Oh don't give me that garbage. Since when has that stopped you before?"

"I do not know the extent of Dippet's mind," Albus began. "I have long suspected that he plays dumb to hide his true power. Either way, he is not a man I want to cross. I must become Headmaster next year, Minerva. I cannot risk that for anything – Dark events will soon come to pass, and I would trust no one else in the Headmaster position to protect these students, and defend the wizarding race."

"There's nothing in the job description of Headmaster about defending the wizarding race," Minerva pointed out.

"No, but people will be more accepting of my attempts to do so if I was Headmaster. We may have to wait until next year before we begin our investigation in earnest."

"How many people will have died by then, by Grindewald's hand?" Minerva felt the heat rise through her cheeks. "Together, you and I can bring this wizard down! We could do it without stepping on a single toe, Albus. I know you can make Dippet believe you. It's impossible not to trust you."

"Minerva, I do have enemies, as hard as that may be to believe. I'm sorry, love, but this will have to wait. Grindewald is not a large threat right now. He is still massing forces, and although I do not wish to give him to time to mass a large army, I need time to do the same. Next year will be our year Minerva. Next year, we will defeat him. Until then, we just need to keep an eye out for suspicious activity here at Hogwarts, to protect the students here. I want you to find out more about Smithy and Lambert. I can't go to Dippet with the little amount of information we have right now."

Minerva sighed. He was as intelligent as people gave him credit for. "I'm sorry for doubting you."

"You had every right to. You must think for yourself, Minerva, and not just take everything I say at face value. We must be equals, for this conquest to work."

"And this relationship," she said teasingly.

"That brings me to a question I've wanted to ask you for a long time. Minerva, would you like to go on a date with me?"

She was confused. "Albus, where could we go? You know we mustn't be seen."

He smiled. "Trust me."