Thanks for all the lovely comments! And thank you LouLou7 for the youtube recommendation. The french doesn't bother me (I can understand it) so I've been watching Xio Nixes videos and they're very interesting. :) Hope you enjoy this chapter!
4 June 1992
"Knock, knock."
Minerva looked up from her essays as Pomona poked her head around her office door.
"Pomona," she said, putting her quill down. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Pomona smiled and came into the room. "Firstly, I have a letter for you from Grace," she said, placing an envelope on top of the essay Minerva had been marking. "I think she's hoping to mollify you so that she gets special treatment next year."
"Ha," Minerva said, although she was smiling; she loved receiving letters from her goddaughter. "Well, she should know that I'm too mean for that to work."
Pomona snorted. "Yes, your reputation precedes you, Minerva," she said, rolling her eyes. "But we both know you're a big softie at heart."
"Am I?"
"Undoubtedly," Pomona confirmed with a chuckle. "You wouldn't have doted so much on my daughter otherwise. Or given me those lovely flowers on my birthday."
Minerva smiled.
"Actually, the main reason I came was to tell you that Severus is looking for you," Pomona continued, more seriously now. "He didn't tell me why but he seems quite tense so I would go as soon as you can."
"Oh," Minerva said, lowering her letter and frowning slightly. "Where is he?"
"In his office, I should think," Pomona replied. "I would walk with you but I promised Albert I would be home before five."
Minerva shook her head as she began to pack her things. "Don't worry about it," she said, following Pomona out of the room. They stopped just outside the door. "Say hello to the family from me?"
"Of course," Pomona said. "See you tomorrow, dear. I hope it's nothing too serious with Severus."
She smiled, kissed Minerva on the cheek, and then bustled away. Minerva locked her office door then left at a brisk walk in the opposite direction for the dungeons. She had almost reached Severus' office when Snape rounded the corner at exactly the same time and she almost walked straight into him.
"Severus—" she began, but Snape had already grabbed her arm and was pulling her into his storeroom, away from the sight of students milling about in the corridors. "What are you–"
"The Headmaster has been summoned to the Ministry, Minerva," he said without preamble, "after an urgent request from the Minister for help."
Minerva's good mood dissipated and she frowned. "When is he leaving?"
"He left five minutes ago," he said pursing his lips; clearly he was not too keen with that plan and Minerva quite agreed with him. The situation sounded fishy, even to her. "He believes it could be a diversion," Snape added.
"Well, I'll admit his absence would be convenient if one were to steal the stone…" Minerva said. "Is it safe?"
"For now," Severus said, looking at her significantly.
Minerva bit her lip as she thought. Finally, she checked her watch.
"All right," she said. "I have to supervise two more exams this afternoon. I can ask Quirinus to be the other invigilator so that we can keep an eye on him. In the meantime, stay around the third floor if you can. If anything happens, we can alert Albus. He can apparate back if he is needed."
"What if he is not back before this evening?"
"I doubt it will take that long, whatever it is he has to deal with," Minerva said, waving her hand. "But if it does, then, just to be sure, we can stay outside the third floor until he returns."
Severus nodded again and opened the storeroom door.
"Keep an eye out for Potter, Granger, and Weasley, as well," she added as an afterthought. "Hagrid told me they've been asking questions about the third floor."
"Very well," he said before slipping out of the room. Minerva watched him go as a bad feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.
