Hope you enjoy this chapter! :)
31 October 1991
It was almost 1 o'clock in the morning but the lights in the Headmaster's office were still on. Severus had just swept out of the room en route to the Hospital Wing where Poppy was expecting him. Albus was frowning at his desk with his fingertips pressed together. Minerva herself was watching him carefully from her standing position at the back of the room.
After a busy evening getting rid of the troll, checking the protections surrounding the stone, the safety of the stone itself, and ensuring all students were safe and in bed, Minerva, Severus, and Albus had only just found the time to properly discuss the events of that evening.
"Albus," Minerva prompted when Albus still had not spoken. "Albus, really this cannot go on."
"What do you propose we do, Minerva?"
"I think we should remove the stone," she said. "At once."
"We cannot do that," he said, looking up at her at last.
"Albus, a mountain troll got inside the castle! You cannot tell me you think it got in here on its own?"
"You and I both know that it did not."
"So we can both agree that someone let it in?" she added, to which he nodded. Minerva pressed her lips together. "It would be foolish to assume that this event had no relation to the stone," she said briskly.
"Quite."
"Then-Albus, our students were in grave danger this evening! Three first-years against a mountain troll–it's a surprise they walked out of that bathroom unscathed—"
"Minerva, I will not say it again," Albus interrupted sharply. "The stone must stay in the castle."
She crossed her arms, wanting very much to argue. Sometimes he infuriated her.
"I suppose you have your reasons for doing it this way?" she asked.
"I do," he replied without elaborating.
Minerva shook her head. "Fine," she said. "But if this was a diversion, which I very much think it was, then—"
"The person responsible for letting the troll in is inside the castle," finished Dumbledore.
She nodded. "Severus said Quirinus disappeared after he announced that there was a troll. It seems unlikely that was a coincidence."
"As of yet, we cannot know for certain whom the culprit may be, my dear," Albus replied, looking at her significantly over his spectacles. "But I think it wise if we do not speak of our suspicions to anyone else."
"I agree."
Dumbledore nodded and they remained silent for a few moments.
"Your brother will be wondering where you are," he said finally. "You are staying with him for the duration of the holidays?"
"I should be," Minerva said slowly. "His first grandchild was born a few days ago and has just come back from the hospital."
"How wonderful, do send my congratulations."
Minerva nodded, although she was frowning. "Are you sure you are comfortable with me leaving tonight? I would understand if you wanted me to stay."
He shook his head. "I think we have sorted all that needed doing this evening, my dear. I believe your family has a greater need for you at present."
Minerva looked at him uncertainly.
"How are your Gryffindors?"
"Potter, Granger, and Weasley seem fine if a little shaken," she told him.
"Good," Dumbledore said.
"I have to say I am quite surprised it was those three we found together. My impression at the start of the year was that they did not get on," she continued. Albus raised his eyebrows, and she nodded. "Either way, I am glad Miss Granger has found some friends."
"And noble ones at that." Albus smiled and got up. "Enjoy your holiday, my dear. Do send my regards to the family."
Minerva buttoned up her cloak and put her hand on the doorknob before pausing. "If anything does happen, call me straight away," she told him, fixing him with one of her own stern gazes.
"Of course, my dear."
"I mean it, Albus," Minerva said as she opened the door.
"Minerva, you will be the first to know if anything happens," he assured her.
Minerva watched him for a few more seconds, then nodded and left his office. Instead of going directly to the Entrance Hall, for her own peace of mind, she made her way to the fourth floor.
When she entered the Gryffindor Common room her first impression was that everyone had gone upstairs to bed. A fire was still crackling happily in the grate illuminating a giant trail of plastic cups, plates, and food littering the room. Although she knew the house-elves were responsible for tidying, she still felt a degree of responsibility for the mess so she put her bag down and snapped her fingers. Instantly, the rubbish vanished making the Common Room look much more respectable than it previously had.
Satisfied, Minerva picked up her bag and was about to leave when she noticed that there was still in fact one student who was not in bed. She frowned and approached the sofa to find Hermione Granger sleeping quite soundly with a book balancing precariously on her knees.
Minerva shook her head slightly and gently took the book, A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, from the girl's hands and set it aside on the pillow beside her. With another click of her fingers, a small woollen blanket drifted from the armchair by the fire towards Hermione and settled to cover her small frame.
Before Minerva left the Common Room and the small first-year sleeping by the fire, she made a note to give her students less homework in the following weeks.
