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25 May 1992

It was almost midnight yet despite the lateness of the hour Minerva was still sitting in the staffroom completely engrossed in the book she had borrowed from Albus earlier that morning. She had almost reached the end of the fifth chapter when she was interrupted by the sound of the staffroom door opening.

"I—I'm sorry, the boy—" Quirrell stopped dead in his tracks, blanching when he spotted Minerva looking curiously up at him. "M—Minerva!" he stammered. "We—I mean—I—I didn't see you there."

The staffroom door shut with a small thud behind him and Minerva's forehead creased into a brief, puzzled frown when she realised nobody else was coming in and that Quirrell was quite alone.

"Quirinus," she began. "Is everything all right?"

"F—f—fine Minerva," Quirrell replied nervously still very white in the face. He straightened his turban with shaky hands. "I—I forgot," he stammered as he began to retreat, waving vaguely towards the door. "S—see you t—t—tomorrow."

He started to leave but dropped a small piece of paper before he reached the door. Minerva got up and retrieved it for him. She had barely seen what was written on the small scrap of parchment when Quirrell snatched it from her. She looked up, surprised, and was shocked to see two red eyes looking at her rather than Quirrell's normal brown. The red hue vanished so quickly, however, that for a moment Minerva doubted whether she had actually seen anything at all.

"T—thank you," he stammered, reverting to his usual nervous self and stuffing the paper back into his pocket. "Erm, g—g—goodnight."

The door opened then closed and Minerva was left alone again feeling terribly confused. She had barely processed what had just happened when green flames suddenly lept to life in the fireplace. Albus' voice followed.

"Minerva? Would you please come to my office at your earliest convenience?"

He sounded agitated which did not bode well. Warily, Minerva went back to pick up her book and then walked to the fireplace and collected some floo powder from a ceramic pot on the mantel.

"Headmaster's office," she said loudly and clearly. She dropped the powder by her feet and was immediately engulfed by emerald green flames. Barely a second later she came to halt in Albus' grate. "Oh!"

Minerva stopped, surprised at the scene that greeted her. Severus was sitting opposite Albus, his expression grim. Albus himself was perched on his desk, his long slender fingers supporting his chin.

"Ah—Minerva," Albus said when she approached them. "Thank you for making it here so quickly."

"What has happened?" she asked without missing a beat. There was a heavy atmosphere in the room and Minerva could sense this could only mean bad news.

"I am afraid it is quite a serious matter, my dear," Albus replied, seating himself down in his own chair. "Harry Potter was attacked this evening during his detention in the Forbidden Forest."

"Attacked—" Minerva's eyes widened.

"I can assure you that Harry is quite well," Albus cut in calmly. "He was saved by Firenze, one of the centaurs in the forest, and is now safely back in his dormitory along with Miss Granger, Mr Weasley, and Mr Longbottom. Mr Malfoy, too, is unharmed," he added.

Snape moved in his chair and Minerva glanced at him. His expression was unreadable.

"What is more concerning, however, is by whom Harry was attacked," continued Albus. Minerva returned her attention to him, and he looked at her significantly over his half-moon spectacles. "It appears that our suspicions at the start of the year were correct."

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named attacked Harry?" she breathed, her stomach dropping. "But how did he get onto the grounds? Where is he now?"

"Lord Voldemort is in a weakened state. He fled the moment the centaurs arrived," Albus reassured her. "But in terms of how he got onto the grounds, your guess is as good as mine. However, what we can be sure of is that it is highly unlikely that he could have got here without some form of help. It is important that we find out how it is being given to him."

Minerva swallowed, suddenly remembering what had happened in the staffroom. She had been distracted by Albus' news, but now it was coming back to her.

"I think I have an explanation for that," she started. Severus and Albus looked at her and Minerva proceeded to recount the events of that day.

"Because the forest is in such close proximity," she finished, "it would be easier for Quirrell and You-Know-Who to communicate, would it not?"

Albus pressed his fingers against his lips. "Perhaps," he said thoughtfully, "but it still does not answer everything."

Minerva caught Severus' eye.

"Headmaster, I believe it is time Quirrell should be removed," Severus said, breaking eye contact with Minerva and looking back towards Dumbledore. "Potter was lucky this evening, but he might not be if it happens another time."

"We will not be removing Professor Quirrell from the grounds, Severus," Albus replied.

"But-" began Minerva.

"I will not discuss the matter further," Albus interrupted, his expression calm but his voice firm. "We have still yet to understand the link Professor Quirrell has with Lord Voldemort and how they are helping one another. Without this knowledge, we cannot hope to keep the stone safe. Lord Voldemort would merely come back to break our defences."

Minerva pursed her lips. She had many reservations about Albus' idea, and, based on Severus' foul look, she was under the impression that he was not too keen on the plan either. However, she knew full well that even if she wanted to there was no point arguing with Albus. His mind was made up. No one, not even herself, would be able to change it.

"What do you suggest we do, Headmaster?" she asked finally.

Albus turned his attention to Snape.

"Severus," he started, "continue to keep a close eye on Professor Quirrell. Ideally, we do not want him left alone."

Snape nodded curtly, stood up, and then left with a swish of his cloak.

Albus then turned to Minerva. "I would like you to help Severus, my dear. Using your animagus form might be preferable so that you are not noticed."

Minerva stood up too and nodded. "Of course," she said. "What about Potter? After this evening—"

"We shall leave Harry alone for the time being," he said gently. "We can keep an eye on him of course, but we do not want to worry him by telling him any of this until we are sure. Do you understand, Minerva?"

Minerva was on the verge of retorting however when Albus gave her a piercing look she swallowed back her reply.

"I understand," she said.

"Very good."

"But I don't agree," she added.

Albus smiled slightly. "I appreciate your honesty, my dear," he said, while Minerva continued to study him. She had a niggling feeling that he was up to something and the conclusions she came up with were not good.

"I hope you trust me that I would not put Harry in harm's way?" Albus added.

Minerva watched him for a few more moments before pushing her thoughts to one side. "I trust you, Albus," she said. "But I hope you can accept keeping someone in the dark might be just as harmful."

Albus nodded.

"All right," she said. "Is that all?"

"Yes, I believe that is all," he said.

"Very well. I shall bid you goodnight then, Albus."

"Goodnight, my dear," he said.

Minerva nodded then swept out of his office. A few minutes later and she was standing outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"They went to bed about ten minutes ago, Professor," said the Fat Lady, correctly identifying why Minerva had come. "They seemed in good spirits."

"Right," Minerva said, hesitating slightly; did she still want to go in? Deciding against it she resorted to nodding at the Fat Lady. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, Professor," said the Fat Lady with a smile. "Good evening."

"Good evening," Minerva said, smiling briefly back but distractedly. Something about this evening's occurrences had distinctly unsettled her, and surprisingly the main reason was not that Voldemort had appeared in some form a few metres away from the school. What really troubled her was Albus' reaction and not only that, but the series of decisions he had made since Harry had started at school.

First, the decision to keep the stone in the school. Then, the decision not to use more powerful enchantments to protect the stone. And finally, the decision not only to keep Quirrell at the school but also to give an 11-year-old boy an invisibility cloak for Christmas and insisting that Harry's detention should be served in the Forbidden Forest despite the dangers present there.

Minerva was not pleased with how the year was going. She had a distinct feeling that Albus knew something she and Severus did not. Or rather, that he was planning something and, whatever it was, the conclusions she had come up with were not good.