More Albus and Minerva :) Would love to know what you think :)
8 November 1992
"Oh-hello," Minerva said, slightly surprised. She had just rounded the corner and bumped straight into Albus who seemingly had emerged from behind a portrait. "Late night snack, I see?"
"I got peckish."
"I can see that," she said, surveying the collection of biscuits he had in a small packet in his hand.
Noticing her eyes Albus opened the plastic and extended his arm.
"Would you care for one, my dear?" he asked.
"It is eleven o'clock at night, Albus."
Albus shrugged - a silent way of his telling her it was her loss - and brought the packet back so that he could fish one out for himself. Fingers bending around a ginger newt, he extracted it from the packet and prepared to take a bite when Minerva snatched it from his hand.
"That was very rude," he said simply, helping himself to another biscuit.
Minerva shrugged and took a bite of the biscuit. "The temptation was too strong," she said, smiling only very slightly. "Also I have four more corridors to check and I need the energy."
"Ah, well all is forgiven then," he said, his eyes twinkling. "May I keep you company?"
"If you want."
Dumbledore smiled and put his hands behind his back as Minerva resumed her task of patrolling the corridors - him walking alongside her. As they reached the end of the corridor Minerva noticed for the first time, a copy of the Evening Prophet tucked beneath his arm. She pursed her lips - something which did not go unnoticed by her friend.
"I see you have read the article too," he said mildly.
Minerva tutted. "I don't believe I have read anything more foolish," she said, less than pleased. "I wish the ministry would stop coming after you for what happened last year and what happened to Mrs Norris."
"You should not let these matters upset you, my dear," Albus replied lightly. "They are quite beyond our control."
"It doesn't just upset me, Albus. It annoys me because what they are saying is cruel and more to the point it is untrue."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly.
"It isn't just me either," she continued. "Malcolm is planning on resigning over this matter, and others, I'll admit. He is not pleased with the approach of the Daily Prophet, nor the direction it is going in."
"Is that so?
Minerva nodded. She had received a letter from Helen, her sister-in-law, earlier that week which outlined Malcolm's desire to stop working for the Prophet. Apparently, it was a decision he was quite set on and had been considering for quite some time.
"I think he also wants to retire," she admitted too. "He and Helen have both put some money aside and now that their children are all grown up, I think they would like to spend more time together in their house in Caithness."
"That sounds very peaceful," Albus said.
"Quite. Although, I don't think I would be able to stand it."
Dumbledore looked at her. "No?"
"No," she said, shaking her head firmly. "Well, not yet, certainly."
"How come?" he asked.
"Are you that keen to get rid of me?" Minerva teased.
"Quite the opposite, my dear. This school is quite dependent on you," he said, causing Minerva to smile slightly as they continued to walk.
"Well, in all seriousness I enjoy teaching," she said simply. "And I really wouldn't know what to do with myself if I was at home on my own all day."
Dumbledore nodded. "I think we have very much the same reasons, my dear," he told her, offering her the biscuit packet again.
"You must really stop offering me those," Minerva reprimanded him, however, she took a biscuit all the same.
Dumbledore smiled, and they fell into a comfortable silence. As they continued to walk Minerva wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her dressing gown tightly over her shoulders. She was starting to get tired. After all, it had been a long day involving an unwanted conversation with Gilderoy about the choice of her wardrobe, marking essays, constantly reminding Creevey to leave Harry be, and worrying periodically about the Chamber of Secrets and the safety of the students. So far, no child had been harmed, however, a small voice in the back of Minerva's head told her that it was only a matter of time until one was hurt.
They rounded another corner and this time, unable to contain her tiredness, Minerva stifled a yawn behind her hand.
"I am more than happy to finish the round on my own, Minerva," Dumbledore told her gently.
She shook her head. "No, it's all right. We only have two more corridors."
"I am going that way anyway, my dear. I can finish them off myself this evening. For now, get some rest."
Minerva paused for a moment, then finally nodded and rubbed her prickling eyes. "Fine," she said before looking up and smiling gently. "Thank you."
He smiled too, then turned and continued up the corridor while Minerva went back the way they had come. She had almost reached her quarters when a dark figure on the staircase caught her attention.
"Creevey!" she began angrily until she noticed that he was being unusually still. Instantly, her stomach dropped and she rushed over to the boy who was lying on the floor; stiff as a board and with a horrified look on his face.
"No," she said, crouching over the body. She touched Creevey's cheek but instead of being met by soft skin, her fingertips met a substance she could only describe as marble. "Oh, no, no, no," she repeated, a feeling of panic building inside her chest. The Transfiguration corridor she was in was a long way away from where any other Professor would be. Even Albus would be back in his office by now.
Suddenly a crackle coming from down the corridor made the hairs on the back of Minerva's neck stand up. if she didn't call someone now there was a chance she would meet the same fate as her student. Instantly collecting herself, Minerva removed her wand from her pocket.
"Expecto Patronum."
A blue tabby cat erupted from the tip of her wand.
"Find Professor Dumbledore," she told the tabby firmly, "and tell him to come here immediately."
The cat bowed its head then streaked down the corridor to find Dumbledore. Minerva watched it go, before sinking back down and looking at the small Gryffindor. She was alone with Colin for barely a minute when Abus came striding down the corridor looking worried. She stood up to meet him and instantly he reached out for her arm with his left hand, the other holding a mug of hot chocolate — clearly, he had made a detour after she had left him; something Minerva had never been so grateful for.
"Minerva—"
"Albus, a student has been attacked," she interrupted him quickly. "Colin Creevey, I think—I think he has been petrified."
Dumbledore tensed and his eyes looked over her shoulder until they rested on the frozen figure of Colin Creevey lying motionless on the steps. He illuminated his wand and vanished the hot chocolate as he came to crouch down beside the body, Minerva at his side.
"We were just here," she told him in a hushed voice. "Albus, this can't have happened more than 10 minutes ago."
He nodded. "We must get Mr Creevey to Madame Pomfrey, Minerva."
"His attacker could still be here—"
Dumbledore shook his head. "I doubt they would have lingered," he said firmly. However, he still got up and waved his wand so that a brilliant blue Pheonix burst out from the tip.
Minerva stepped back and shielded her eyes from the electric blue Patronus and watched as Dumbledore instructed it to find the ghosts to stand guard by the portrait holes to the houses.
"What about the Heads of Houses?"
Dumbledore looked at her gravely. "I would rather keep the number of people walking in the corridors to a limit, my dear."
Minerva swallowed, understanding instantly what he meant.
"Shall we?"
He bent down and picked up Colin's shoulders while Minerva crouched down to pick up the boy's feet. Together they brought the stiffened body to the hospital wing which, thankfully, was only a short distance away.