Chapter 2

Quietly, Minerva then reached for a tip of her ripped black robes and wiped her eyes with it. She sighed, uncharacteristically fumbling with the piece of fabric, before letting go of it and letting her gaze go over the Great Hall again, which was entirely destroyed like most of the rest of the castle of Hogwarts. How could things ever be the same or even worthy of comparison again? Minerva sighed again, before raising her eyes to the ceiling, that was enchanted to look like the sky above. There were numerous holes in it, visible to the ones that really focused, like Minerva. "I have lost a lot of my feathers," she admitted, before lowering her eyes again, directing them down into her lap, in which her icy cold hands were neatly folded together.

Harry never would have guessed to hear something like that from Minerva McGonagall. He never before really had pondered on how much she had actually done for him, even though most of it hadn't usually occurred to him that way. If it hadn't been for McGonagall, Ron and he most likely would have been expelled in second year or worse. She, however, had let them both get away with it, with reasonable but bearable retribution. "You are one of the best, most powerful witches that I have ever gotten to know," Harry replied.

McGonagall smiled weakly. "I maybe was powerful once, but I'm old now… and I only was powerful with Albus by my side."

"You never really got over him," Harry whispered. It wasn't a question. Minerva didn't reply. "You're not old," Harry continued, after a silence that had lasted mere minutes. "And you're an Animagus."

Minerva chuckled throatily. "Yeah, that was surely something. I, however, don't believe that I ever would have gone through with it, if it hadn't been for Albus. I never really thought about becoming one until he mentioned either. I only was a pupil here at Hogwarts when we first met. He used to be my teacher in Transfiguration, my forever favorite subject." Harry nodded. "I soon looked up to him, and I wanted to be more like him, so of course when he merely mentioned that maybe I could be good enough to become an Animagus, I got interested, and began reading up on it." She paused. "I somehow couldn't care less about its potential to backfire. I never could have guessed how slow and arduous it would all be."

Another pause fell between both Gryffindors. Minerva leaned against the wall again. "I really tried to convince him," she whispered, and Harry only barely heard it.

"Who?" He questioned.

Minerva McGonagall's green eyes connected with his. He really had Lily's eyes, which were a far more vivid and brighter shade than hers ever had been. Minerva's eyes were more teal in color. "Albus," she said, and even though his name was merely whispered, Harry thought that he recognized some of Professor McGonagall's usual impatience in it as well. He could see the former Transfiguration Professor shudder. He couldn't quite say whether the topic of Dumbledore was causing this reaction, or maybe the cool, nightly wind that raged through the castle, through the holes in the walls and ceiling, before sweeping across the bare white skin that the fabric of her robes no longer shielded from the cold well. Harry quietly charmed a quilt, before easing it over her shoulder to make her feel warmer just in case that was the reason.

"Thank you," she whispered and smiled even though only weakly. She could still see the confusion in Harry's eyes and continued, "I really tried to convince him on the night we left you with the Dursleys. I had sat there watching in Animagus most of the day and wasn't very keen on leaving you with them when Hagrid arrived with you. I didn't believe that family ever should have raised you, but Albus didn't agree. I had never seen such horrible Muggles, but of course Albus…" she didn't finish that one, but sighed, then continued, "I occasionally came by in Animagus. I often felt the need to take you to Hogwarts and raise you myself."

A surge of deep respect and affection for Minerva McGonagall coursed through him like never before. "I do recall a tabby when I was younger," Harry said, thoughtfully.

"That must have been me." Harry nodded. "Albus often told me that if I had gone through with it and taken you to Hogwarts, you possibly never would have been the man you have become today." Harry again nodded. Dumbledore had once told him the very same.

McGonagall slowly resettled and winced. "You should see Madam Pomfrey," Harry repeated, and to his surprise, his former Transfiguration teacher nodded.

"Maybe," she breathed. Harry rose and thoughtfully offered both of his hands to pull her upright with unanticipated ease. Minerva smiled. "Thank you," she whispered.