It's been a long wait, I know. I apologize for the delay, and I hope that no one's completely given up on the story. It's not abandonned, I promise. This is just a short chapter to keep you going, I hope you like it. Please forgive me, and review! :)

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to spin84, who was my motivation for this update. Thank you! (If you haven't checked out spin's What The House Elves Saw, I suggest you do so! It's a great and unique fic for all the ADMM fans out there. :P)

Giant Problems

The third week of January dawned cold and bright, snow thick on the ground and the sky an endless blue. Paths were forged through the snow by the stamping feet of students and lead from Hagrid's hut and the Greenhouses to the front doors. The Giant Squid broke through the ice of the Black Lake and waved a tentacle lazily in the air. Excited first-years engaged in a furious snowball fight in the grounds, but the teachers were preoccupied with less frivolous things.

'Knight to E4,' Pomona said, wincing slightly as Filius grinned.

'Queen to E4,' Filius commanded, much more confident, rubbing his hands together as his white queen smashed Pomona's black knight to rubble with her throne. Slughorn and Connor McKinley cheered. Pomona sighed.

'Don't you all have marking to do?' Pomona snapped as Minerva swept in, her arms full of books. The older witch paused as she passed, peering down at the chess board for a moment.

'Castle to D3,' she said, nodding to Pomona's black chess piece. Filius narrowed his eyes at Minerva, ignoring his rook, who was shouting in fear at being cornered.

'Minerva,' he said, as Pomona clapped her hands in glee, 'could you please refrain from helping Pomona when I'm about to win?'

Minerva smiled slightly as she set her books on the table. 'I apologize, Filius,' she said. 'I hate to see the black pieces lose.'

Connor looked up, confused. 'Why's that?'

'Minerva's accustomed to seeing them win,' came a voice from the door. 'She would be, seeing as they are her pieces.' Dumbledore smiled as he entered the room, eyes sparkling in Minerva's direction as he came to stand near her. He rested his hand on the small of her back. 'Do you have a moment, Minerva?'

'Of course,' Minerva answered, her face growing solemn. She followed him out the door and into the hall. 'What's going on?'

'There are two things,' Dumbledore told her as he started down the corridor, 'the first of which is that I received a letter from Hagrid.' Minerva frowned in concern as she fell into step beside him, but Dumbledore cut her off before she could speak. 'He's fine, not to worry. The situation with the giants is growing worse, I'm afraid. I simply wanted to let you know that I may be leaving for a short while – in the future, nothing you need to worry about soon.'

Minerva frowned. 'I see,' she said, her robes swishing about the floor as they walked. 'May I take that to mean that Hagrid's leave of absence is indefinite?'

'Yes,' Dumbledore answered. 'His presence is hugely helpful, or so I've heard.'

Minerva nodded. She and Dumbledore had reached an unspoken settlement to agree to disagree. She did not approve of his interference with the giants, while Dumbledore maintained that he had to help. 'Well, if that is all,' Minerva began, but Dumbledore shook his head.

'The other thing,' he reminded her with a smile, 'is of a lighter nature. I wonder if I might persuade you to come to my rooms after dinner?' He smiled at her, quirking an eyebrow that left no room for doubt that he had matters other than school business on his mind.

'I daresay you'll find you can,' Minerva answered, offering him a quick smile. They reached the empty Transfiguration classroom. Minerva unlocked the door with a quick tap from her wand.

'Excellent,' Albus answered. 'Shall we say nine o'clock?'

'That suits me fine,' replied Minerva. 'Until then, Headmaster.'

With a mischievous smile, Dumbledore stepped into the classroom, lightly tugging Minerva with him. He shut the door with his heel and slid his arms around Minerva's waist. 'Oh, I don't know,' he smiled, 'I feel I can prolong our parting, hmm?'

'Albus, really,' Minerva said, pushing lightly against his chest. But Dumbledore kissed her quickly, stepping to the side of the door and locking it with a vague wave of his hand. He kissed her until Minerva broke the embrace.

'Don't be ridiculous,' she said, looking flustered, which Albus found quite endearing. 'Do you have any idea how old we are? We're not teenagers, Albus.' Dumbledore laughed as he stepped closer.

'More's the pity,' he said, grinning. 'Besides, I rather think that being a wizard has its advantages, don't you?'

'Oh?' Minerva replied, eyebrows raised as she took a step back. 'Do tell.'

'My dear,' Dumbledore said with a smile. 'Magical blood provides one with all sorts of wonderful energy. Besides which, had I not been a wizard, I would likely have been departed from this life years ago.'

'Cheerful thought,' Minerva muttered after a moment's pause. 'I suppose so. In any case,' she continued briskly, 'I have work to do. You've already convinced me for tonight – isn't that enough?'

'If you insist,' Dumbledore said with a mock sigh. 'Until dinner, then, dear Minerva.' He kissed her hand gallantly and swept from the room. Minerva shut the door behind him, a small smile on her face.

Leaving the staffroom after watching a game of chess between old man Flitwick and Pomona Sprout, Connor McKinley couldn't help but feel sad.

He was an intelligent wizard, and he was accustomed to being aware of his surroundings and circumstances at all times – his chosen profession ensured that. He was not, despite popular opinion, a bad person. He knew he'd handled the situation with Minerva poorly and that it had reflected badly on himself, perhaps permanently damaging his colleagues' opinion of him. What he needed right now, to put it bluntly, was a friend. However, he wondered whether any of his fellow teachers could trust him enough to accept his friendship. Everyone acted cordially enough, but despite having worked at Hogwarts for five months already, he didn't feel as though he'd made much progress in the comradeship department. And this time he had no ulterior motives behind the intent. He was lonely.

He was kind enough to be happy for Trudy that she'd fit in, found people with whom to spend time, but the smallest amount of envy mingled with his happiness for her. Poppy Pomfrey and Minerva seemed to have accepted her as a friend, and the gentle Pomona Sprout even appeared to have taken Trudy under her wing. No one had done that for Connor, but why? Did he appear so self-sufficient that everyone assumed he could handle everything himself? Or had his actions earlier in the year been more damaging than he'd thought? Either way, he was going to be here for at least the next two years, and those twenty-four months were going to be pretty miserable unless he could improve his situation.

He walked down the hallway towards his office, thinking of perhaps getting started on the sixth-year's homework, when Professor Vector and Madam Hooch turned the corner. Connor put on the brightest, warmed smile he could as he approached them.

'Good evening, Septima, Rolanda,' he said pleasantly. They looked up, surprised.

'Evening, Professor,' Hooch greeted him after a moment, while Vector offered him a vague smile. The two witches did not pause in the corridor, but kept walking, returning to their previous conversation as though there had been no interruption.

That was it. Connor was going to do something about this, even if it took drastic action. He turned on his heel and strode to Dumbledore's office determinedly, a plan already formed in his mind. He reached the stone gargoyle and spoke the password ('pepper imps') and rode the staircase to the top. He knocked.

The door swung open. Dumbledore looked up from his desk, a mildly surprised look on his face. 'Professor McKinley. What can I do for you?' He surveyed Connor with a piercing look in his eyes, and Connor deliberately softened his expression.

'May I sit down?' he asked, taking a slight step forward.

'Of course,' Dumbledore replied, gesturing to the chair opposite, laying down his quill, and smiling ever so slightly. 'What seems to be the problem?'

'I have a request to ask of you,' Connor began, awkward but determined. 'I would like to call a staff meeting…an informal one.'

Dumbledore nodded slowly. 'May I ask what for?' he said gently, his expression guarded.

Connor hesitated. 'It's of a personal nature,' he said, shifting in his seat. 'I wish to…make amends.' He looked into the headmaster's face with difficulty. 'I realise that this is an odd request,' he added hastily, filling the silence.

Dumbledore nodded slowly. 'Would you prefer your own meeting, or would time after our biweekly staff meetings be sufficient? I believe there is one this Friday.'

'I'd be grateful for whatever time can be spared,' Connor said honestly, trying not to appear too eager.

'Very well then,' Dumbledore said. 'I will be prepared to listen to whatever you have to say this Friday.'

'Thank you, Headmaster,' Connor replied, standing. 'I appreciate it.'

'Not at all,' Dumbledore said, standing as well. 'I will see you at dinner.' Connor nodded and bade Dumbledore good-bye, not noticing the curious look on the headmaster's face.

'Any change?'

Hagrid shook his head, wiping the sweat from his face with a massive handkerchief. 'Nah,' he answered the ministry official who had questioned him upon his return from the mountain. 'Still got the same Gurg – Magrand – leadin' everyone.'

The wizard, a broad-shouldered man named Burt, sighed as he scribbled on the parchment in front of him. 'Bloody fantastic,' he grumbled, his back cracking as he stood. 'And there was another riot last night – damn near well destroyed Villefranche, there's another half a million Galleons.' Villefranche was the closest muggle town, a mere fifteen miles from the giants' mountains.

'Seen Olympe?' Hagrid asked, splashing water on his face and drying it off with his shirt, the sleeves of which were rolled up to his elbows. Burt jerked his head east.

'Just got back from scouting herself, I think – but I'll be damned if she's got anything different from what you do. Reckon she's over with Karofsky, he always was a bugger when it came to interrogatin'.' Hagrid nodded his thanks and ducked out of the tent. He crossed the field where the ministry was set up, several tents with the Ministry of Magic official logo on them pitched and witches and wizards hurrying about. Reaching a large tent, Hagrid pulled the flap aside and went inside.

''Agrid!' said Madame Maxime when she noticed his entranced. 'When did you return?'

'Few minutes ago,' Hagrid answered, striding to her side. 'Are yeh alright? You got a bit of a bruise,' he asked. Madame Maxime's hand went to her neck, where a large purple bruise made extended down her shoulder.

'Yes, of course,' the half-giantess replied. 'It was ze rocks, zey fell down from ze mountain.' Hagrid nodded, heaving a sigh as a large horn sounded, signalling the first of the two dinner hours.

'Yeh comin' down fer dinner?' he asked. 'Reckon we've done all we can fer today.' Madame Maxime nodded and fell into step next to Hagrid as they left the tent. They headed for the mess hall, a large tent that could hold up to two-thirds of the entire group. Hagrid looked up at the dark sky as they crossed the field.

'We're gonna need yeh, Dumbledore,' he muttered to himself. 'There isn't much left we can do.'

'Just a moment, please,' Dumbledore said, standing at the head of the table. 'If you could all wait a moment.'

The biweekly staff meeting had just concluded, and as promised, Dumbledore held his teachers back, nodding to Connor, who nervously got to his feet. Dumbledore had a vague idea what this was about, but all the same, it would interesting to see where it went. Minerva shot him a look – she hadn't known this was coming.

'Thank you,' Connor began, moving to the head of the table as Dumbledore quietly moved away, offering him the floor. 'I apologize for taking up more of your time. This will only take a minute.'

Exchanging curious glances, the staff re-seated themselves. Connor straightened and cleared his throat, levelling his gaze on his co-workers.

'I've never done anything quite – quite like this. I recognize that this may be uncomfortable for everyone, but it is something that I – I must do. This is about…about everything, really. My intention isn't to dwell on the past, but to air it out – to put things right. I made a mistake, in the beginning. It concerned Professor McGonagall and – and myself, but I know that due to my actions, my behaviour affected everyone else. For that, I apologize. What concerns me more is the damage I may have done to the friendships I began to develop. I behaved inappropriately, selfishly, and immaturely, and I sense that I established a reputation for myself – not a favourable one. I want to repair what I've done, as much as possible.' He turned to Professor McGonagall. 'Minerva, I am truly sorry. My behaviour toward you was abominable, and you were justified…and correct…in everything that you said. Professor Dumbledore,' facing the headmaster, 'this was a matter that should never have troubled you. I made unfair and embarrassing accusations, and I apologize for that as well. To the rest of you…I want to try to set things right. I'm not a bad person. I didn't mean to insult or hurt anyone. I'm so – so sorry for everything that I did, and what I want to say, really, is that I hope that you can forgive me, and that we can put this all behind us and start anew. Everyone has been cordial enough – but I'd like to – I would like to make friends here, at Hogwarts. All I ask for is a chance to prove myself. That's all – all I had to say. Thank you.'

Connor bowed his head and strode from the room without looking back.

TBC

Review please, and I hope you enjoyed. You don't need to tell me that the chapter was pathetically short, I know that already. ;)