A Slip of the Tongue
Minerva McGonagall looked around the packed room. It was a busy evening in Grimmauld Place. There had been an meeting just before dinner and the members of the Order where talking softly to each other, making sure Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Harry and Hermione couldn�t hear them.
Not that they tried to eavesdrop. They where being entertained by Mundungus Fletcher, who told them a no doubt amusing story about the time he was chased by a entire army of goblins (probably three or four, she corrected dryly) She noticed Molly was looking at them with clear disapproval in her eyes.
The meeting had gone well tonight, Minerva thought, the Order was much better prepared then the previous time. Albus felt confident that they where able to beat Voldemort.
Albus�, she caught him sitting by the fire, with Lupin, Sirius and Moody. He was looking relaxed, sparkling lights dancing in his eyes. Only she knew better. True, he enjoyed being here, surrounded by people he cared for and trusted, but deeper down, she knew how troubled he was.
Over the past month they had spent many nights by the fire, talking about the events that had happened in June. He was so shocked when he learned what had happened to Harry after he�d touched the Portkey. He cares more about that boy then he realises, she mussed. It was his great strength, but it could also became his greatest weakness.
She had listen to him, trying to ease his mind and comfort him. She felt grateful for the friendship that they shared. For the fact that he trusted her, for being able to be there for him, as he was always there whenever she needed him.
Their friendship was the most important thing in her life�, suddenly her face saddened, and it was all she would ever have.
�Coffee!�, Molly announced, �gather around�. Pushing away her sad thoughts, Minerva picked up her chair and sat down next to Arthur Weasley.
�I�m glad you stayed tonight, Minerva�, he said warmly to her. She smiled back. She had always had a soft spot for this kind, good-natured man. After the meeting she had wanted to go home, but both Arthur and Molly had convinced her to stay for dinner.
While Molly was handing out cups, and being �helped� by Tonks, Mad- Eye Moody sat down on her other side. When he sat down a small, but thick, brown- leathered book felt out of his pocket.
�What�s that, Professor?� Ginny asked curiously. �It�s a photo album�, Moody answered. �Come and see�.
Ginny, Hermione, Ron and Harry came and stand behind him. Moody opened the photoalbum. Interested, Minerva watched too. �This is me at my graduation from Hogwarts�, he told. The picture showed a broad boy with black hair and an alert expression on his face.
�Who�s that?� Ron asked, pointing at a blond, smudge looking boy standing next to him. �That�s Cornelius Fudge, Moody growled, �brainless git�, he added in a low whisper.
They continued watching photo�s of weddings, meetings and other occasions. Moody turned out to be a very capable story teller and soon everyone in the room was listening closely.
When Moody turned over one of the last pages, Minerva gasped. �Oh Alastor, I didn�t know that photo still existed�. The photo showed two people, standing closely together. A man and a woman. The man had bright blue eyes and auburn hair and beard. He was very tall.
The woman next to him was almost a head shorter. She had clear, green eyes and thick raven- black hair that felt on her shoulders. Both of them were smiling.
�That�s Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall�, Moody told the four friends, �just after they had defeated Grindlewald�.
�You have fought against Grindlewald?� Hermione asked impressed. But before Minerva could come up with an answer Ron, who had been watching the photo intensely blurted out: �Wow Professor, you were bloody gorgeous!�.
For one moment there was a stunned silence, then the room exploded with laughter. Fred and George were roaring, while Bill snorted: �Ron found a way to get himself an O.W.L.�. Hermione and Ginny were almost crying, holding on to each other for support.
Ron had turned so red, it made his hair look pale. He looked around him desperately for help. Which didn�t come. To make things worse, he noticed that Professor McGonagall looked as crimson as he did.
�It looks like their holding a little blushing competition�, Remus whispered to Sirius.
The only one who wasn�t laughing was Dumbledore, but he gazed at the scene in front him with a wide smile on his face, his eyes shining with barely contempt laughter. When the laugher had finally died away, he said in his own calm way: �but of course Mr. Weasley is completely right, Minerva is an absolutely gorgeous woman!�.
�and I think Minerva has won�, Sirus grinned back.
*****
Minerva made her way to her private chambers at Hogwarts. Her face still felt hot. How dare he say that to her, in front of everyone. Stupid Weasley and his big mouth. She entered her room and caught a glance of herself in the mirror. �Stop acting like a teenager�, she scold at herself.
�They are right, you know�, the mirror called back.
�SHUT UP!� Why did she ever bought a talking mirror? Why?
She entered her bedroom and noticed how cold it was there. Looking for her wand in the pocket of her cloak, she felt her hand brush against a sheet of paper. She took it out. It was the photo of Albus and herself. She turned the photo, on the back was written:
I thought you might like to keep this.
Alastor
She smiled and conjured a beautiful photo frame. Carefully she put the photo in and placed it on her bed stand.
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