Thanks for the lovely reviews! :) I hope you enjoy this chapter too!

20 December 1995

"Professor! Professor McGonagall!"

The desperate calls were followed by a series of loud rapid knocks. Minerva, who usually slept lightly, woke up immediately. The knocking got louder and louder, and the shouting continued; the owner of the voice being Neville Longbottom.

As quickly as she could, she sat up and felt blindly for her wand and her glasses. Then, stuffing her feet into her slippers, she grabbed her dressing gown and hurried to the door.

"Mr Longbottom whatever is amiss?" she said.

Longbottom stumbled back, as though surprised to see she had arrived so quickly. "H—Harry had a dream or something," he stammered. "I don't know exactly but please come."

Minerva nodded quickly and closed her door. "Lead the way, Longbottom," she said, already ushering him to move forwards, and putting on her dressing gown over her light green nightdress.

Relief flooding over the boy's features, Longbottom nodded several times then turned half-walking half-running in the direction of the Gryffindor Common room — Minerva hot at his heels.

They arrived less than five minutes later, Longbottom motioning at her to follow him up the steps to the boys' dormitory. "Over here, Professor," he said.

Minerva looked at where he was pointing to see Weasley and Thomas crouched over a body she assumed to be Potter's. "What is it, Potter? Where does it hurt?" she said, moving Weasley and Thomas aside so that she could get a closer look at her student.

An unusual expression crossed Potter's features — relief, stubbornness, a bit of both... Minerva could not quite make it out though she was sure that as she approached he appeared to look a little more guarded.

He sat up, brushing his sweaty hair away from his eyes. "It's Ron's dad," he said. "He's been attacked by a snake and it's serious, I saw it happen."

Minerva's eyebrows contracted at this information; the bit about Arthur Weasley was strange enough, but the next part of what Potter had said was even stranger. "What do you mean, you saw it happen?" she asked sharply.

Potter shook his head. "I don't know, I was asleep and then I was there..."

"You mean you dreamed this?" Minerva asked, trying to get a grasp of the situation.

Potter fired up instantly. "No! I was having a dream at first about something completely different, something stupid... and then this interrupted it. It was real, I didn't imagine it. Mr Weasley was asleep on the floor and he was attacked by a gigantic snake, there was a load of blood, he collapsed, someone's got to find out where he is."

Minerva was silent for a moment as she digested this information. If she remembered correctly, Arthur Weasley was meant to be on duty this evening. Attacked, she thought, by a snake...

"I'm not lying, and I'm not mad!" Potter continued, his voice rising so that he sounded angry but also slightly panicked. "I tell you, I saw it happen!"

Minerva stood up. Whether he had dreamt it or not, Potter was clearly distressed and Arthur Weasley was potentially in serious trouble. And something unsettled her about the whole business.

"I believe you, Potter," she said seriously. "Put on your dressing-gown — we're going to see the Headmaster," she added, motioning for Harry to get ready.

A few hours later and Minerva entered Albus' office, closing the door quietly behind her. Albus was standing by the window, his hands clasped together as he looked out of the glass panes. Minerva cleared her throat and he turned.

"Dolores?" he asked.

Minerva swallowed. "Taken care of," she said, "for now."

Albus nodded and came to sit down at his desk. "Thank you, Minerva," he said sincerely. "I will have to speak to her in the morning."

Minerva sank down into one of the chairs opposite his desk too. "I would give her some time, Albus. She is not best pleased with either of us," she warned him, pausing slightly before then asking, "How is Arthur?"

"He is resting," Albus replied quietly. "He has been taken to a separate room for the moment."

Minerva closed her eyes briefly. "Will he—is Molly...?" she trailed away, not able to finish her sentence. Albus, however, seemed to understand what she was getting to.

"Molly is with him," he said. "Bill is returning from Egypt, and he will be updating us later this morning."

Minerva nodded gently, then sighed and pressed her fingertips to her eyelids. "I don't think I understand half of what happened this evening," she admitted. "How could Potter have known?"

Albus did not answer, looking equally as puzzled as Minerva was feeling. There was an answer to this conundrum, Minerva thought. However, she did not like it, and she did not want to think about it.

"You are thinking that Harry might have been possessed?" Albus said quietly. Minerva looked up at him and he raised his eyebrows slightly. "Yes?"

She swallowed. "I have considered it," she admitted, "but it cannot be possession," she added. "It does not make sense. Why would You-Know-Who want Potter to see this anyway? If anything, he would have wanted this information to remain private."

Albus nodded softly. "I quite agree," he murmured, more to himself it seemed than to Minerva. "What did you tell Dolores?" he asked after a moment.

Minerva pursed her lips and studied her friend carefully. She had a feeling he was trying to distract her. Nevertheless, she decided to answer his question anyway. "I told her some part of the truth," she said, sighing and leaning back in her chair.

"You did not mention Harry's dream, I hope?" Albus asked quickly, appearing concerned.

Minerva shook her head. "I did not," she assured him. "I said a portrait informed us of the events at the Ministry, Phinneas Nigellus to be more precise."

Albus nodded. "So, you did not lie," he said gratefully.

Minerva shook her head. "No. But Mr Thomas and Mr Finnigan heard Potter disclose the information about Mr Weasley," she said. "With a bit of digging, I am sure Dolores will be able to find out the full details of tonight's events."

"Are Mr Thomas and Mr Finnigan going home for the holidays?" Albus asked.

"Fortunately, yes," Minerva sighed. "I am going to ask Eric if he can leave Hogsmeade earlier than planned. Perhaps that way Dolores will not be able to speak to the two boys before they get on the train."

Albus nodded and checked his watch. His eyebrows went up slightly and Minerva nodded.

"The morning is almost upon us," she said, speaking what she knew was on Albus' mind. "The Hogwarts Express should be arriving soon. I must speak with Eric before breakfast," she added. "I expect there will be a meeting this evening.?"

"We will speak about this affair then," Albus agreed. "But your family?"

"I will alert them that I will not be arriving this evening," she replied, standing up. "I worry about visiting them anyway," she added quietly. "After what happened with Robert and Florence..." she trailed away. "I think I will stay at the castle for most of the holiday period."

"Are you sure, Minerva?"

She nodded. "I can be of more use here," she said. "And with Dolores..."

"You do not have to," Albus cut in gently.

Minerva sighed. "I want to," she said, just as the clock chimed 6 o'clock. She made her way to the door. "When can we expect an update about Arthur?"

"In a few hours."

Minerva swallowed, then nodded. "I will be back before breakfast," she said before slipping out of the room.