Cat and Dog

He was a dog, well his werewolf self was meant to have descended from the dogs.

She was a cat and a rather fetching grey tabby at that.

It would never, ever work. Mother Nature had decreed cats and dogs should never mix eons ago.

Since taking up a teaching position at Hogwarts', Remus found himself enjoying Minerva McGonagall's company. A love of Quidditch sparked a debate over appropriate coaching strategies during games when fog clouded the pitch. The debate over conjuring sudden breezes lasted until two in the morning and a friendship had been born between the werewolf and one of the wizarding worlds' few female Quidditch coaches.

Lately Remus had been looking at Minerva and wonder what else she was passionate about besides her students, Quidditch, the poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and green tea.

He wasn't sure when this feeling began or whether it was a leftover touch of full moon madness. It was a weird feeling, even for a werewolf who thought he wrote the book on weird.

However, the way he was feeling right now over Gryffindor's leading student Hermoine Granger being seen smooching Severus Snape in the moonlight by the lake, Remus Lupin's respect and liking for Minerva McGonagall was about to fly out the window.

Thinking back on "THE KISS" as Remus had termed it. all his self control went into not throwing something at the giant squid and encourage it to lash out at Severus and Hermione who appeared enthralled by each other.

How dare Minerva ignore a blatant romance between a teacher and a student? Why was this behaviour acceptable to her? Had she propositioned the Head Boy Oliver Wood in her spare time?

This cat and dog were going to rumble.

~*~*~*~

Ch 2 - Of love, loss and Minerva

Minerva tucked her legs around her and curled up a little deeper in the plush teal velvet armchair. There were times when parts of her animagus personality carried over and the desire for a comfortable cushion was one of them.

Life was good at the moment. The Gryffindor team had won their last nine matches straight to set a new school record, most of her students looked like they would master transfiguration without too many disasters and a flock of turtle doves were nibbling on the bread crumbs in a feeder she had placed by her window sill in the castle.

Yet there was still a chord of sadness in Minerva's life. While she had many fascinating men in her life, no wizard was yet to introduce her to the magic that was lasting love. At times the litany of "it's not you, it's me" speeches, flowed across her heart like the fourth unforgivable curse.

Watching Severus and Hermione in the corridors tore her apart. Minerva saw so much of her younger self in Hermione and wanted the young witch to be happy - even if it was just for a little while. Minerva knew there was only one way this could possibly end for her colleague and her favourite student, but the final war against Voldemort had taught them all so much.

Life, even in the wizarding world could be cut short in the fluttering of an eyelash and love, no matter how unorthodox it might seem should be held onto by the strongest of grips.

Yet the teacher in Minerva realised the major risks Severus and Hermione were taking by starting this journey of the heart. For even with Voldemort fast becoming an unpleasant memory, the school and Ministry of Magic rules about relations between underage wizards and older members of the wizarding community were quite strict.

Those caught up in such an involvement risked having their wands broken and licences to practice magic revoked.

Yet time, in a strange way was on Severus and Hermione's side through the Head Girl's dalliance with a time turner in her third year. All they had to do was remain undiscovered for another two weeks and Hermione would be legally of age in the wizarding world and free to romance whomever she pleased.

"Minerva! Open your door now before I break it down! We need to talk!"

Trying to calm herself after being ripped away from her daydreaming, Minerva unfolded herself from her chair, smoothed her robes and headed for the door. The growling on the other side could only come from one person.

"Professor Lupin, whatever seems to be the matter?"

"You know all too well what is the matter and I fail to see how you can bloody well condone it right in the middle of Hogwarts."

Remus pushed Minerva to one side and barged into her chambers, leaving the head of Gryffindor to wonder if her friend and colleague was about to transform without the aid of a full moon.

"Don't coddle or coerce me Minerva - it is as disgusting as any nightmare Voldemort could dream up and given an ex Death Eater is involved I am not surprised by what I saw by the lake."

Now Minerva knew what was troubling her friend so - Hogwart's most unofficially official couple also known as the Potions Master and the Minerva Mini Me. She knew where the whole Minerva Mini Me reference had sprang up from. Harry and Ron hosted a Muggle DVD night in Gryffindor Common Room before the final battle and Ginny Weasley had christened her friend with it after watching Austin Powers.

Hermione's mentor knew the young woman wore the nickname with some pride and as a reminder of Harry and Ginny becoming the ultimate casualties of the wizarding world's darkest time. The loss of her friends had marked her as deeply and as permanently as the Dark Mark on Severus' arm.

"He was kissing her and she appeared to be enjoying it. In the Muggle world they have names for people like that. It's disgusting, not to mention obscene and they should be held to account in the highest possible manner if you ask me.

"No one was asking you Remus. For a witch as intelligent as Hermione, most wizards wouldn't last five minutes in her company. You know it and I know it. This is why Severus is good for her - he is a match her heart and brain recognise as being an equal. I don't care which world - Muggle or wizard - you inhabit but that is a rare thing and to have it taken from you by the ignorance and inflexibility of others is a far greater crime than even Voldemort could conjure up. Hermione has paid more dearly than most of us for the victory in the war. Let her be so she can heal."

Remus jaw tilted up an inch or so and grimaced. He still dreamed Minerva might one day be the match for his heart, brain and soul and her words gave him hope. All the pretty words in the world could not convince him that what was happening between Severus and Hermione was right. It had to be stopped and he had to be the one to stop it.

Just from the look on her friend's face, Minerva knew she had the fight of her life on her hands and not even magic could help her.

"I swear Minerva I'll go to the Ministry on this and there is nothing you can do to stop me."

Minerva arched an eyebrow at Remus, considering her options. The time for talking had long passed. Severus and Hermione needed to be bought some time otherwise two hearts in need of healing wouldn't have a hope in hell.

Facing the fuming professor front on, Minerva Nimue McGonagall did the only thing she could and kissed Remus Lupin on the lips.