I hope this isn't too far-fetched? Thought it would be an interesting avenue to explore. Anyway, hope you like the chapter :) Would love to know what you think as well!


27 May 1995

Minerva rubbed her eyes again and winced. This did not go unnoticed by Albus who stopped talking.

"Are you all right, my dear?" he repeated for the second time that evening, frowning and looking concerned.

"I'm fine, Albus," Minerva said, waving off his concern. Despite her reassurances, however, she frowned and closed her eyes briefly. "Although, perhaps Severus was right after all," she murmured, referring to the fact that earlier that evening Severus had suggested Alastor patrol the grounds instead of Minerva. He had commented that her tiredness and headache might prevent her from noticing anything out of the ordinary, or reacting fast enough.

Though Minerva was a highly experienced witch who had been placed in some dangerous positions when she had worked at the Ministry, she had to admit that tonight she was not feeling at all well enough to do very much. Indeed she felt tired, her muscles were weak and sore, and every so often she would feel a bit dizzy.

"Perhaps so," Albus said quietly, frowning as well at his Deputy who was looking much paler than usual. Whatever it was that she was experiencing, it had come out of nowhere. This morning she had been fine. Even a few hours ago nobody would have suspected anything was wrong. The same could not be said about her now, however. Since she had come to discuss a few matters with him, Minerva had steadily grown worse. She appeared tired, sore, and distracted - often losing her train of thought which was very unusual.

Finally, she breathed out slowly and opened her eyes. "Most likely I am coming down with the flu," she said. "After 38 years of teaching here, and with flu flying around the school every year like wildfire, I was bound to get it at some point."

Albus tipped his head as though to say that that was a fair point. Though he still appeared puzzled. Perhaps because it was so unusual for Minerva to be this ill, and even more so for her to admit and outwardly show that she was feeling unwell. Usually, if anybody remarked that she appeared sick, they would be met by a very dark look and a snap retort. It was not the case this time.

"I think," she began, putting a hand to her forehead, "I think we are going to have to leave our conversation for tomorrow, I'm afraid," she finished, looking apologetically at Albus. "I know we have yet to discuss exam arrangements but, if I'm being entirely truthful, I don't know if my head can cope with another late night. I have sorted out most of the clashes but..." she trailed away as her head gave another painful throb.

"Leave what you have done so far with me, my dear, and I will sort out the rest," Albus assured her kindly, though still appearing concerned.

"I'm sorry," she said, apologising again. "I don't mind doing—"

"The only thing I would like you to do, my dear, is to try and get some rest," Albus cut in gently.

Minerva sighed and gripped the arms of her chair tightly as she pushed herself up. "Thank you," she said, sincerely.

He nodded. "Goodnight, Minerva."

"Goodnight," Minerva replied before leaving the office. As she emerged from behind the gargoyle she bumped straight into Severus who at first appeared annoyed that she had walked into him. However, when Minerva moved back and was forced to press a hand against the wall to support herself, his annoyance quickly morphed into mild concern.

"Are you quite well, Minerva?" he asked her, noticing how out of character she was.

Minerva nodded weakly. In reality, however, it was taking most of her strength not to collapse right there and then. "Perfectly well," she managed to say.

Snape didn't seem convinced. If Minerva could have seen herself, she would not have been convinced either. Nevertheless, their relationship was not a close one; thus, both respected each others' privacy, especially when it came to such personal matters.

"Is the Headmaster in?" he asked her instead.

Minerva nodded. "The password is Cockroach Cluster," she added. "It was changed yesterday."

Severus nodded in thanks and then slipped past the gargoyle. Minerva meanwhile took a deep breath as she tried to muster enough strength to get to her quarters. The walls were moving now and her energy was rapidly draining. It took most of her energy just to reach her office, and even more so to change into her nightdress and get into bed.


Unusually, Minerva had woken up the next day feeling refreshed and completely well. All symptoms she had been experiencing the previous evening had mysteriously vanished. Her headache, tiredness, muscle weakness, and general distractedness had gone.

What she had also woken up to, however, was the news that Barty Crouch had appeared on the school grounds, attacked Victor Krum, and then disappeared without a trace. Now, after a full day of teaching, she was back in Albus' office. It seemed recently she spent most of her time there discussing the Tournament, Harry, Voldemort, Sirius, and the possible Death Eater who had infiltrated their school.

"How are you feeling, my dear?" asked Albus as soon as she walked in.

"Oh, fine," she said distractedly, coming to take a seat opposite him. She then cleared her throat. "Albus, I know what it is the Minister and the Prophet are saying but—"

"You believe the situation to be far graver than they are making out," Albus finished quietly. "What happened at the World Cup, then the Triwizard Tournament and Barty," he sighed and didn't finish. He seemed tired, worried, but also very much alert. Minerva could tell that Albus possibly had thousands of theories as to why what was happening was happening. "There is someone here, my dear, that is not on our side," he added finally.

Minerva swallowed. She felt as though they had gone back several years when Voldemort had first risen to power. Talking of sides, of spies, of people with bad intentions... It was an awful situation that both Minerva and Albus had experienced together before, and had found it to take an immense toll. And yet, here they were talking about it once again. Always involved.

Dumbledore sighed and pressed his wand against his temple and took out a silvery string Minerva knew to be a memory. He dropped it into the pensive in front of him. Harry's face appeared in the liquid, then disappeared just as quickly. "I cannot seem to think of who it could be," he said finally.

"The spy?"

Albus nodded. "I have asked Severus to keep an eye on Igor," he added. "But I am of the strong opinion that Igor is not involved."

"Maybe it is someone outside of the castle," Minerva proposed. "We have had so many visitors from the Ministry since the start of the Tournament. Anybody could have put Potter's name in the Goblet and found Barty."

"That is always a possibility," Albus acknowledged, though he did not seem convinced. He took a memory out and placed it into the pensive. A moment later and Minerva was looking at a copy of herself in the liquid before it disappeared. She looked up curiously at Dumbledore who had his fingertips pressed together as he observed his swirling memories.

"What was that about?" she asked.

He looked up. "I have been thinking about last night," he said. "You were meant to be patrolling the grounds yesterday evening but—"

"I felt ill so I could not," Minerva finished.

Albus nodded. "We did not have any other Ministry visitors at the castle yesterday evening. With the exception of Barty Crouch. Though from what Harry and Victor have told me, Barty would not have been in any fit state to do anything."

Minerva nodded.

"What troubles me is that yesterday evening appeared to be organised in a way that neither of us would have been able to reach Harry, Victor, or Crouch on time," he continued.

"So, it was planned," Minerva said slowly. "Severus' store cupboard being broken into..."

"You feeling unwell," added Dumbledore.

"And Alastor's rounds," Minerva finished, thinking of the usual route the Professor took when patrolling the grounds. "Whoever it was must have known where we were all going to be."

"I believe so," Albus said.

Minerva didn't say anything for a moment as she let this information sink in. "It seems a bit risky," she said finally. "Planning when someone is going to feel ill," she added, causing Albus to glance up at her. "I do understand what you are implying, Albus," she added. "That perhaps it was not chance that meant I was unable to patrol the grounds yesterday evening. But I do not understand how that could have happened."

Albus nodded. "I am just as puzzled as you are, my dear," he said quietly. He then looked pensively at his fingers for a moment before finally shaking his head lightly as though he had only just remembered something. "You have completely recovered, my dear?" he asked. "I was concerned."

"You needn't have been," Minerva reassured him, though the idea that someone had possibly poisoned her or put a spell on her was making her feel incredibly uneasy for two reasons. The first being that it must have been someone incredibly close to her and the second was because she had not noticed. "I am perfectly well, Albus."

"Hm," he said thoughtfully, standing up.

Minerva swallowed and turned to look at him as he got up and began to pace. "I don't understand the link between these events, Albus," she said truthfully. "It feels—"

"Unstructured," Albus cut in gently.

"Well, perhaps, yes, in a way," she conceded. "Or..."

"Very well planned," Albus finished.

Minerva nodded. "And something bigger is yet to come," she added. "Albus, I think we would be fools not to link this with You-Know-Who. Severus told me Barty was raving about him before he disappeared. Then, the attacks, the Dark Mark—"

"Disappearances."

"And Potter," she added, nodding. "If someone placed his name in the Goblet with ill intent, that person, whoever it is, is being extremely patient."

Albus stopped pacing to look at her and raised an eyebrow interestedly. "How do you mean?"

"Well, Potter has successfully passed two trials," she said. "And although I have never been more relieved knowing that he is still safe," she continued, "I don't understand why nothing more has happened to him."

Dumbledore nodded, clearly he had been thinking along the same lines as she had. "Indeed," he said slowly. "Minerva, we must proceed with extreme caution. Harry must be under close supervision for the remainder of the year. I worry..." he shook his head and cleared his throat. "I have asked Alastor to keep an eye on the boy," he said.

Minerva nodded.

"Meanwhile, the Ministry has informed me that they are concerned it was Sirius who attacked Barty yesterday evening," he continued.

Minerva let out an irritated sigh. "I have even more troubling news to add to that," she said tiredly. "I received an owl from Rosmerta this morning. According to her, she saw a shadow through the curtains of the cottage while on her morning walk. She was concerned someone had broken in and is squatting."

"I agree, that is not helpful," Albus said.

"What's more is that she has also spotted a snowy white owl drop a letter through the letterbox," Minerva added, giving Albus a knowing look.

He sighed as he sat back down. "Harry," he said simply.

Minerva nodded. "If the Ministry believe Sirius attacked Barty, it seems likely that they will search Hogsmeade again," she said. "If they speak to any residents—"

"—It is possible they may search the house," Albus finished.

"How is Grimmauld Place looking?" Minerva asked.

"There are still numerous spells to take down."

Minerva nodded slowly before looking up and catching Albus' eye. "I think moving Sirius to a safer location should be the priority," she said seriously, getting up from her chair. "Regardless if he wants to or not," she added. "Having Sirius along with a giant bird hiding while Aurors search the village does not seem to be an ideal situation. Would you like me to ask my niece if there have been any developments regarding their inquiry?"

"That would be very helpful, my dear," Albus said gratefully.

Minerva gave a slight nod, before leaving the office.