Albus had a long discussion with Godric Gryffindor about his deputy and it worried him. There was only one thing for it to go and ask the formidable scots woman herself and hope she was in a good mood. Albus chuckled to himself

"Maybe tomorrow, I need to mentally psych myself up to facing the lioness. I maybe the most powerful wizard at the moment but I would rather face the entire ministry than an angry Scot!"

Across the other side of the castle Minerva McGonagall sat at her desk looking at the list in front of her. It was a list of names for all the new muggleborns to be arriving at Hogwarts in September. This year's list was relatively short only 8 students; Mary McDonald, Sharol Falcon, Rowan Shorter….Lily Evans. Why did that name stand out so much? It was a pretty name yes but Minerva found herself being drawn to it. She shook her head in frustration, she normally visited students a little later but it wouldn't harm anyone to start earlier would it? Tomorrow. That's when she would start now she just needed a hot chocolate and some ginger newts to accompany her reading for tonight. A muggle book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett it was her favourite book of all time. She summoned the book from the shelf and curled up in her window seat to read for the night.

Sunlight streamed in through the castle windows waking Minerva up she rolled over and looked at her watch with a groan. 5:30 damn her body clock awake with sunrise as per normal. She rolled out of bed showered and got dressed a smart a line dress in a red tartan would do for today no use being in teaching robes when visiting muggles. She tucked her wand in her pocket and whipped her hair up into its usual bun. Looking in the mirror she nodded in content before striding down to the great hall for a quick breakfast.

Albus had never been a morning person. Ever. He liked his sleep and his bed too much to part with it when required to. Albus dragged himself out of bed to his kitchenette

"need coffee…it's here somewhere…bugger…forgot I ran out yesterday….ohh oh oh …I know where's that muggle drink what's it called blue cow no that's not it …red bull …yes that's the name…ahhh hah bingo!"

Albus gulped down a can of the energy drink before turning to look at the mess he had created. With a wave of his hand it went back to being spotless he glanced at the clock on the wall. 8:45 Minerva was probably up by now. She had always been a morning person. He took a deep breath and left his quarters to go in search for her. The Great Hall was empty except for a few members of staff but not the one he was looking for. He wondered towards her transfiguration classroom but again she was not there. Finally he decided to try her office and chambers.

"Good day to you Godric is our esteemed deputy head in residence currently?"

"No. I am afraid she left rather early this morning muttering something to do with muggleborns"

"But she doesn't normally start that until the second week of august we're only half way through July?! Could you allow me in to see if she's left any hint of why she has changed her normal routine?"

"Certainly sir"

Albus stepped through the portrait hole into McGonagall's office and headed towards her desk. There was a note addressed to Albus:

Albus,

I know that the visiting of muggleborns doesn't normally happen so soon but a particular students name was calling me and I had to know why. Feminine Intuition perhaps or it could be my animagus instincts. I suppose I'm curious… don't you dare say it ; curiosity killed the cat , I know but I have to follow my hunch I shall hopefully be back by dinner. I shall share with you then what I mean

Min

"That woman will be the death of me!" Albus chuckled.