I am so so sorry for the lateness of this chapter. It took me a really really really very long time to write and I'm not really sure why. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it? A few more chapters left now and then it will be time for Chamber of Secrets! Very exciting!
Thanks for all the lovely reviews! They really make my day! :)
26 December 1991
Minerva was in her room reading a book by the fire when there came a very soft knock at her door.
"It's open," she called, pulling her eyes away from the pages. "Oh, Albus," she said as her friend entered the room.
"I hope I am not disturbing you, my dear?"
"No, not at all," Minerva reassured him, folding her book and placing it on the table beside her. "What can I do for you? Another favour involving paperwork?"
"I am quite sure I don't know what you mean," he replied, however, his beard twitched slightly as he took a seat. "I thought I would come to see how you were?"
"Oh—I—I'm well," Minerva said, slightly taken aback. "Maybe a little tired," she admitted, "but I think that's to be expected with all the late nights patrolling corridors."
"Quite," agreed Albus softly, looking down at his long, slender fingers interlocked on his lap.
Minerva frowned and tilted her head slightly. "I think it should have been me be asking you that question. You look as though you have a lot on your mind, Albus."
Albus smiled sadly. "It has been an eventful term, my dear," he said quietly. "Sometimes…" he trailed off, still looking thoughtfully down at his hands. "You know, I saw Harry last night," he began unexpectedly, "in room forty."
Minerva raised her eyebrows. "The mirror…"
Albus nodded. "He wanted to see his family," he explained, looking back up.
This time, however, it was Minerva who looked away. "Well," she said, "I—I can't say I'm surprised. Wouldn't anyone who has lost someone?"
"Not as many as you would think."
Minerva nodded gently and they fell into a silence during which time Minerva's mind wandered from Lily and James to the smiling face of Finn she had seen in the mirror before, while Albus looked, quietly contemplating, in the flames as Minerva had done earlier.
It was several minutes before either one of them spoke. Minerva was the one to break the silence as something about what Albus had said struck her as odd.
"Did you say you saw Potter at night?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.
"Around midnight, I would say," Albus nodded, looking back at her.
"But—Albus," she began slowly, "we patrol the corridors every evening at night. Why Filch was standing right outside that classroom yesterday evening. How could Potter have got passed without being seen?"
"Ah, I expect his invisibility cloak might have come into some use there."
Minerva gaped at him. "What did you say?"
"I believe Harry used his rather remarkable invisibility cloak to get past our—erm—defence."
"His invisibility cloak?" Minerva looked at Albus incredulously. "An 11-year-old boy owns an invisibility cloak and is using it to creep around the school at night? Am I hearing this correctly?" she asked, sitting up straighter in her chair. "How on earth did it come into his possession?"
"I gave it to him—"
"You did what?" Minerva burst out.
"James left it in my care before he died," Albus explained calmly. "I saw it only fit that Harry should receive it once he returned to the magical community."
"That's—That's just—" she wanted to say irresponsible but decided against it. "Well, of course, you did," she said finally, taking a deep shuddering breath. "It's no wonder then that James got away with so much; owning something like that," she muttered.
Albus' beard twitched but thankfully for him, Minerva was looking in the other direction.
"I suppose it's a good thing Potter isn't up to any mischief like his father," she added a few moments later. "Although I expect that it is only a matter of time."
"We can keep an eye on him, my dear."
"Yes, of course," Minerva said, rolling her eyes and pursing her lips slightly. "We can certainly keep an eye out for someone invisible."
She gave Dumbledore a pointed side-glance but he merely shrugged.
"I trust Harry will not go looking for trouble," was all he said. "Or use it for, erm—mischief—as you put it."
Minerva snorted. "I think you must have forgotten what 11-year-olds are like, Albus," she told him. "Not go looking for trouble," she repeated, rolling her eyes and tutting. "Really."
"All will be well, my dear."
Minerva narrowed her eyes at him but before she could say anything Albus had pushed himself up from his chair.
"The elves should still be up," he said, glancing at the carriage clock on her mantelpiece. "I might go down to the kitchens for some hot chocolate. Would you care to join me?"
He extended his arm and Minerva got up and took it. They had almost left her quarters when suddenly, she remembered something. She went back to her desk and retrieved a small package from the top drawer. It was a day late but in her defence, she had been away the previous evening and the best part of that day visiting her family in Caithness. It had completely slipped her mind that she still had Albus' present securely hidden in her small living room.
"Merry Christmas, Albus," she said handing him the present.
Albus unwrapped the gift and two pairs of woolly socks slipped out of the packaging. He smiled brightly. "Thank you, my dear."
"You are very welcome," Minerva said. "I remembered you saying you didn't want books this year."
"You remembered correctly," he replied cheerfully. "I have quite enough books as it is. However, as I have said before, one can never have enough socks."
Minerva smiled and took the arm he was offering her again. "I will take care to remember that in future," she told him as they left the room and walked arm-in-arm to the kitchens for some hot chocolate and marshmallows if they were lucky.
