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8 May 1993

"100% in her mock exam while half transfigured as a cat?" Pomona said, raising her eyebrows and taking a sip of tea from her mug.

She and Minerva had been enjoying a peaceful evening in the otherwise empty staffroom, drinking tea and picking iced biscuits from a tartan tin - a gift Minerva had received from Helen that week. It had become a tradition of theirs to catch up on a Friday evening before Pomona went home for the weekend. Having been sitting down for a few hours now, both witches were warm and cosy and feeling somewhat relaxed; the petrified students were always at the back of their minds.

"She is going to do well in her finals, that girl," Pomona continued, referring to Hermione Granger. "I would not be surprised in the slightest if she got most if not all outstandings, like you."

"And you," Minerva pointed out, leaning back in her chair and folding her hands across her middle.

Pomona shrugged. "But you got 100% in everything - rumour has it," she smiled and Minerva rolled her eyes. "Horace raved about you all of the time before you came to teach here. Always went on about how much of a shame it was that you didn't accept his invitation to his club when you were at school."

"I was always busy on those days."

"Hah!" Pomona said, causing Minerva to smile slightly. "It is rare to get 100% in every subject though, especially Transfigurations. Only you and Albus have managed it, I think."

"I believe Minerva even received additional points for her perfect transformation into an animagus," said a voice from behind them. "You demonstrated considerable skill, my dear. The examiner was quite impressed."

Pomona looked at Albus, who had just entered the room, then back at Minerva and raised an eyebrow. Minerva however, tutted and rolled her eyes.

"Don't be ridiculous," she said crisply. "Biscuit, Albus?"

"If you don't take one we'll eat the lot between us," Pomona added.

Dumbledore smiled and picked one out. "Thank you, my dear," he told Minerva who had offered him the tin.

He was then about to pull up a chair when Pomona waved at him shaking her head as she drained her cup. "Take my seat," she told him, once she had set the empty mug down.

"Oh, please do not leave on my account," said Dumbledore.

"No, no, I'm not," Pomona reassured him. "Trust me when I tell you nothing would pull me away from those biscuits unless it was important - they are absolutely delightful, I can't get enough of them."

"I'll make sure to pass those compliments on to Helen," Minerva said with a smile. "You can take the rest, dear, if you want. There are only a few left."

"Don't tempt me," Pomona seriously, although she smiled and bent down to give Minerva a quick peck on the cheek and then Dumbledore a brief nod. "Have a good weekend, both of you."

"And you, Pomona," Minerva said.

The Hufflepuff smiled then bustled out of the staffroom leaving it empty apart from Minerva and Albus.

Minerva looked at her friend, the traces of good humour fading. "What has happened now?" she asked seriously.

Over the years, Minerva had picked up quite a lot of Albus' mannerisms and expressions. She would never claim to know them all - indeed sometimes if not most times he could completely baffle her with his strange statements. However, this evening she was sure that something was wrong; even if he had not shown it when Pomona had been around.

"Cornelius has arranged a meeting with me tomorrow evening," he said solemnly, "with Lucius and Hagrid as well. I believe they may be here to ask me to step down as Headmaster."

"They can't," Minerva said sharply, putting down her mug and sitting up straighter. "I doubt they would be so foolish as to force that on you, Albus," she said seriously. "The attacks on muggleborns would triple; I am certain you are the only reason they haven't so far."

"Be that is it may, my dear, the Ministry want to appear as though they are managing the situation. What statement is grander than getting rid of the current Headmaster who, so far, has been unsuccessful in that regard?"

Minerva tutted at those last words however despite her adamancy that Albus would not be forced to leave, a part of her knew that there was some truth in what she was being told. It was unusual for the Minister to come to Hogwarts. Although Cornelius was constantly asking for help from Dumbledore, he arranged for Dumbledore to meet him at the Ministry, not the other way round. This could only mean then that the business of this meeting tomorrow night was strictly Hogwarts business. And with recent events, it did not look very favourably towards Dumbledore's position.

"I will go and stay with my brother in Hogsmeade," continued Albus calmly. "And you will need to take over the role of Headmistress."

"They cannot do this, Albus-"

"Minerva, you and I both know that they can," he said, cutting her off gently. "It would be unwise not to prepare for this situation seeing as it is imminent."

"Is there not a way to stop them?" Minerva asked, "Surely you can argue?"

"I will not argue, my dear." He gave her a piercing look and Minerva held back her retort. "I will step down if they ask me to. I will stay in Hogsmeade with my brother so I will not be far."

Minerva was silent for a minute. "What will you do?" she asked finally.

"I will do some more research."

She nodded mutely. Neither of them had found a way to seal off the entrance yet. They had tried countless spells but none had seemed to work; even surrounding the bathroom with a shield charm had proved useless as the barrier dissolved almost immediately after it had been put up. The whole Chamber seemed to be protected with some sort of permanent spell none could take down, shield, or break.

"I will also need to speak with the rest of the staff tomorrow morning," Albus added.

Minerva bit her lip. "You will be reinstated as soon as we sort this out," she said firmly, however her voice shook slightly. "Cornelius has no right to do this. I would go and tell him that myself..."

"But you will not," Albus said, softly. "I will not be far, my dear. In the meantime, the mandrakes are almost ready and the academic year is almost over. A few more weeks until all students will be safely back home."

"I suppose so."

He nodded then reached out unexpectedly for her hand and patted it. "All will be well in the end, Minerva."

"How can you be so sure?"

"A little optimism harmed no one," he added, smiling slightly.

Minerva didn't answer it and sighed. "Who would have thought that after everything that happened 12 years ago we would be in the same situation again?" she said softly.

"The situation is different this time, Minerva."

"For better or for worse?" she replied. They were silent for a few seconds before finally, Minerva sighed. "I'm sorry. Please ignore me," she said. "I know it is of no use being so morbid."

"We have been through a lot, my dear. It is of no surprise that these thoughts should occur to us at times such as these," he told her. "But we are much more prepared now than we were then."

"I hope you are right, Albus," she said.

He nodded and squeezed her hands reassuringly.