The Other Side

Chapter 3 - Reaction

     Breathless, they dashed through the still-empty hall, their robes tossed on haphazardly in their haste. They had been running so fast that Ron had to yank on Harry's robes just to get him to stop when they reached the stone gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office.

     "Anyone know the password?" Hermione asked breathlessly, looking at the two boys for information. Harry and Ron shrugged. Neither had thought of this small detail.

     "Boys," Hermione sighed hopelessly and muttered, "Sugar Quills." The gargoyle disappeared; the familiar staircase now faced the trio. The boys gaped at Hermione.

     "Come on! We can't sit here all day," she said, exasperation in her voice as she pushed past them and began to climb the flight of stairs. Harry followed mutely, dragging Ron up.

     The door was already open when the three reached Dumbledore's office. Cozy as always, they scurried in to where the Headmaster was standing by the window.

     "Professor Dumbledore? I...I had a really strange dream, except that it wasn´t really a dream at all," Harry said, wringing his hands. Dumbledore turned around.

     "A dream that wasn´t a dream? Please, sit down and explain. Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, you are more than welcome to remain here if you wish," Dumbledore said seriously. They seated themselves and accepted a lemon drop before Harry began to speak. He spoke of the dreams he had been having since the week before school started and how they had gradually worsened until last night, where he had met with Professor McGonagall.

     When he got to the point where he was to pass along her messages to Dumbledore, Harry paused for a moment.  Her `transformation´ had been nothing short of frightening, but he wasn´t sure whether it was right to speak of it in front of his friends; he wasn´t sure how they would react if they found out he had neglected to tell them something earlier.

      "Harry?" Ron whispered. 

     Harry took a deep breath and went on.  "She said that her lesson plans for the year were in the bottom right-hand drawer of her desk, behind some books.  She congratulated Professor Lupin for getting the Defense Against the Dark Arts position again, and...and she said she was sorry for everything..."  he trailed off into silence.

      "Ah, so that's where her lesson plans are.  The entire year," Dumbledore said, eyes dancing in amusement.  The good mood did not last.  Dumbledore turned to Ron and Hermione, saying, "Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, do you mind going into the Great Hall and asking Professor Snape to come up to my office immediately?  You may go and eat your breakfasts afterwards," Dumbledore said.  Hermione nodded stiffly, grabbing Ron´s wrist and dragging him out after her.  Harry had to suppress a laugh as they descended the stairs.

     "Mr. Potter?  Is there anything you would like to add to your account?"

      Harry looked up at Dumbledore and wondered how he knew, only to boggle at his own stupidity a half moment later.  Of course he knows!  He´s Dumbledore! he said inwardly, but outwardly, he nodded slightly to the Headmaster.  "She...was asking me to kill her if I ever saw her again, but I refused over and over, and then suddenly, she changed.  She started to threaten me and wasn´t at all like the normal Professor McGonagall," Harry added, uncomfortable with the words he had said about his former Head of House.  Dumbledore considered quietly for a moment before the door was flung open and an irate Snape came stomping into the room.

      "Ahh, Severus!  It´s a pleasure to see you...will you please sit?  Harry has some interesting news to share," Dumbledore said, a twinkle in his eye.  Snape eyed Harry with distaste before selecting the chair farthest away from the boy.  Harry recounted his dream a third time, surprised at how much easier it was to speak now.  He noticed Snape flinch when he described some of the tortures McGonagall had been through, but it was clear he was familiar with that had happened.  Curious and startled by Snape´s odd reaction, Harry hastily rushed through the rest of the story as fast as he could, not taking a breath until the end.

     "Don´t kill yourself telling us about your fascinating dream, Potter.  On the other hand, be my guest," Snape sneered.  Dumbledore shot Snape a warning look.

     "Thank you, Harry.  Do you have any questions?" Dumbledore said to Harry. 

     Harry thought for a moment, recalling something strange about the entire situation.  "Professor McGonagall said that Voldemort wanted to `use´ her or something.  But why her?" Harry asked quietly.  Dumbledore sighed.

     "I will start by saying that this question is something I normally would not answer.  In truth, it is Professor McGonagall's right to explain if she chose to do so, and I know she probably wouldn´t explain it to you, or anyone else who asked her, and so I will not right now.  Rest assured that I will tell you when the time is right, however," Dumbledore said seriously, glancing at Harry.  He nodded, not entirely sure he wanted to hear the truth anymore.

     "Professor, can I go back to class?" Harry asked.  Dumbledore, with the twinkle in his eyes back once again, nodded.  Harry left quickly, seeking refuge from the rapidly worsening glares from Snape.  Dumbledore sighed inwardly before looking at Snape, who had since relaxed a bit more.

     "Severus, I need you to tell me what you´ve seen of her.  I trust Minerva´s judgment, but Harry´s news worries me about her well-being," Dumbledore said grimly as he faced Snape after Harry had departed.

     "Something is wrong about her, about this entire situation.  I´m not sure what it is, but Voldemort has taken an interest in her far beyond `just information´.  I can´t confirm what Potter said about his true intents, but they aren´t just trying to extract information.  Some of the others tell me that they´ve been taking liberties with her and that usually doesn´t happen, since it isn´t customary for Death Eaters to do so, since even Death Eaters find such behavior distasteful normally..." Snape trailed off uncomfortably.

     Dumbledore´s eyes turned hard and his fist was clenched tightly as he took a few moments to recompose himself before he trusted himself to say anything.  "I...I see.  That will be all for now, Severus.  I´m sorry for calling you from your breakfast," he murmured, turning to his Pensieve in the corner.  Snape nodded and left silently, his robes billowing down the stairs.

     The Pensieve was blank for a moment before the colors blurred together to form a still picture within.

     "Minerva, why did you ever run off with him?" Dumbledore whispered sorrowfully, staring at an image of a young couple: a dark-haired witch with piercing gray eyes and a raven-haired wizard with gleaming ruby eyes.

A/N: Gee, can you figure out who those two are?  I´m going back to Minerva in the next part, which promises to be entirely too angsty and very conversational, I believe.  I´ve even started writing it already!  Aren´t you proud of me?  As usual, please review...I´ll even give you cookies or something!