Dark Passage

[Nerweniel]

Chapter Two



Dumbledore, however, found back his ability to speak before the young woman could get up and leave, and with a sigh, he leaned both hands on his desk.

“Miss, that’s all very tragic and I’m sorry for your loss, but you can’t expect for half a second that I’d actually take you with me. You’re what – twenty?”

“Twenty-one.”

“What’s the difference?”

Minerva laughed a little scornfully, taking another puff of her cigarette in the process.

“There is one, take that from me.”

“Even if there is, you’re terribly young and as far as I know you’re not a qualified Auror, either. You don’t know what you’re getting into, Miss.”

She chuckled.

“Please, stop Missing me, Mister - I’m not used to it. Call me Min, if you like. It’s what I usually go by.”

Albus Dumbledore felt the distinct urge to bang his head against the desk.

“Minerva,” he then said, ignoring her.

“You don’t know what you’re doing. I can’t possibly allow you -”

“You – what, you think it’s your duty to protect me?”

The young woman laughed – it wasn’t a very agreeable laugh.

“Do you have any idea – but no, you don’t, do you? I have lived on my own for two years. I’ve earned my own living – in bits and pieces, because if you think the Muggle secret service pays well, you can think again – and on top of that, I’ve been in occupied France twice during the past year… as a Muggle. I think I’ve pretty much seen it all, really.”

“You were in the secret service?”

Albus immediately knew it had been the wrong thing to say - he had allowed himself to be distracted for just a moment, and she, clever as she obviously was, would take advantage of it.

She smiled.

“You bet I was. Started working there as a part of my Auror training – undercover work, keeping an eye on the Muggles, things like that. When I quit the Auror stuff, about two years in, I stayed on. I figured it was some kind of way to make a living, and by then I’d become valuable to the Muggle war authorities, too valuable to let me starve at any rate, and I didn’t, though it was a close run sometimes. Anyway – I turned myself completely Muggle, and when they needed some women spies in France a few months ago, I volunteered, and seeing how I’m pretty much physically fit, neither stupid nor a bad looker and fluent in French, I got accepted. End of story, beginning of life, so to speak.”

The young witch shrugged as she leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs.

“Didn’t have a bad time at it, actually. Some risks involved, obviously, but then I’ve never been scared of those.”

“Gryffindor.” Dumbledore found himself guessing, and Minerva smiled appreciatively.

“Right on, Mister. Anyway, you can see that I’m not some kind of windswept virgin fresh out of her ivory tower in the Scottish highlands. I can fend for myself; I’ve done it.”

The wizard sighed. He didn’t know this strange girl with her Muggle clothes and her cigarette and her attitude, he didn’t know her at all, really, but it was hard to mistake the look in her eyes for anything but determination.

And suddenly, he’d had enough.

“Miss McGonagall, you must be out of your mind. What you say is completely impossible and what’s more, you know it. You’re wasting my time and yours…”

Minerva smiled.

“Oh, don’t you worry about me, pal – I quit work yesterday.”

“You quit work?”

His shock seemed to amuse her, because her smile grew broader, and she tapped her hand on the desk casually, spilling ashes on the expensive wood.

Dumbledore sighed as he conjured up an ashtray. She ignored the gesture.

“I did – had gotten a bit bored with it anyway, to be frank. They had the Invasion in June, after all, and even though they’re still a bit fussy and all that, they’ll win the war if they play a clever game – and if they don’t, they’re complete idiots and I don’t think I want to work for those.”

The girl shrugged.

“And before you ask, I’ve got plenty of stuff – the clothes I’m wearing, for example, and a cloak, half a bread and some butter… oh, and a landlady who’s getting more and more unpleasant with every passing day. On top of that, I even have a knut or two, maybe even more – what are you talking about, Mister Dumbledore, I’m positively a lady, well-to-do as I am!”

“If you intend to make me pity you, I won’t.”

“I don’t.”

“Strange thing is that I even believe you.”

For a moment, Minerva smiled, then leaned her arms on the desk and looked him in the eye.

“So what about it? Shall we go for a ride, Mister Dumbledore? Miss and Mister Misfit, on tour?”

“Speak for yourself, please. You may find it funny, trying your hardest not to fit in, but I - ”

She interrupted him, a nasty habit she seemed to have picked up.

“Seriously, Dumbledore, you can’t possibly think… Listen – whatever they may say, they don’t trust you.”

“No, that’s probably why I’m in the Ministry here, working on the most important..."

She was, however, completely serious now, and not to be stopped. Articulating clearly, the young witch went on.

“You’re the son of a man who’s well known to have been a Muggle-hater – no, I don’t want to know whether that’s true or not, spare me the excuses, the lies, the truth for all I care – and I, well, I’m a half-trained Auror dropout who is generally known as talented, but unreliable. And although you probably think you’re all high and mighty and far above me, surprise surprise, you aren’t. Not in their eyes.”

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, not quite knowing what to reply. In a way, she had voiced his own doubts, even those he liked to keep hidden for himself like for everyone else.

In a way, she’d also gone too far.

When her lips folded into a small, triumphant smirk, his ability to speak returned.

“You’re the rudest girl I ever met, and you are leaving right now.”

“Make me.”

[Aurinko]

Oh, this is fabulous! Darkly noir, and wonderful. I like them both, both so different and yet still the same people, and still inevitably meant to be. ;-) I like the extra bold Minerva. She always seems to have him speechless and confused, in any form she may take. Hope you update again soon!

[Herzele]

*gg* Now I want to see Albus make her leave ...
I guess it probably won't be as easy as he thought to get rid of her ... ;D

Great update!

[Isabelle]

Wow Lies! I'm glad to see you writing again!

What can I say so far except that I am absolutely loving this! I love Minerva's sly, forward attitude. She reminds me of Ingrid Bergman in "Notorious." (One of my faves!) It's hard for me to find the exact words to describe her in this fic. It's unlike anything I've read before.

Albus, too, surprises me. There are not too many fics where he is not captivated by Minerva on their initial meeting. So that is also very unique!

The chemisty between the two of them is superb. Their conversation and interaction with each other is so icy, it's hott! (There's an oxymoron if I saw one). I am looking forward to seeing how they will work together, considering their attitudes toward each other.

I truly look forward to the next part. Thank you for posting this!

Liz

[Nerweniel]

So now my Minerva has officially been compared to my three favourite classic actresses... Bacall, Bergman and Hepburn, hooray ;D.

Also, I love 'Notorious' so, so, so, so much. I think it's my favourite Hitchcock movie ever, and also possibly my favourite Bergman movie. My MSN nickname has been Alicia Huberman for centuries .

[ellieminerva]

Really great update! I like this part of Minerva! It's so fresh and I love how she silenced him,the way she talked and called him Mister,the way she moves and behaves! She's quite a lady! Can I add Barbara Stanwyck to the list? Even if she was blonde she had quite a temper!

[Nerweniel]

Barbara Stanwyck is welcome on any list !

[revolutionaryetude]

MMM she really told him! More updates please!

[dianahawthorne]

I can't wait for the next update- this is getting better every chapter!

[zoeteproet]

And may I add Audrey Hepburn as Eliza in My Fair Lady to the list, oh all mighty Lies?
The sentence "Mister Dumbledore, I’m positively a lady, well-to-do as I am" reminded me of her so much, don't know why though.
Anyway, update soon, can't wait to see how Albus will make her leave. Mwuaha. ;D

[Herzele]

Audrey is not the real Eliza, though ... She just stole the role from Julie Andrews ...

[zoeteproet]

herzele said:

Audrey is not the real Eliza, though ... She just stole the role from Julie Andrews ...

Yeah, I know. I totally didn't like that. I'm quite a big fan of Julie Andrews, and it took me ages before I finally made myself watch My Fair Lady with Audrey Hepburn. And I must say she plays the role well.

[Herzele]

True, that she does ... And I'm still not sure how I feel about her playing the role in the movie ... I mean, on the one hand I would simply have loved to see Julie doing it, but on the other hand that would mean no Mary Poppins and who knows how everything would've turned out then ....

[Annie Laurie]

Hello, you fabulous writer, you. This is breespearls from Live Journal.

So, when are we going to see more of Katharine!Lauren!McGonagall and Spencer!Bogey!Dumbledore??

I'm not beyond badgering and begging, but I'd rather not resort to throwing my dignity and pride out the window. So, please help me keep my dignity and pride in tact by updating soon.

[morgainegaunt]

Hi Nerweniel,

really good story so far. I like the way you portray Minerva. Albus' reaction towards her boldness really made me grin all the time. Nice chemestry between the two.
Please update soon.

[Nerweniel]

A/N: Who finds the Notorious quote ?


Chapter Three



Neither of them stirred.

In a way, Albus had to admire the girl’s courage – her courage or, so he corrected himself, her foolhardiness. Did she even realize, he wondered, how high the stakes were for her? He could easily have her arrested, but even if he didn’t, if he sent her away – which he most certainly would! – did she have any place to go?

As if she’d read his mind, Minerva smiled.

“No, I don’t – so if you’re clever, pal, you realize that I really won’t let myself be chucked out by the elbow just like that. You can throw me out, but I’ll be back and back again and in the end you’ll beg me to come along.”

Albus had the distinct feeling that hers weren’t empty threats and felt a splitting headache coming up. This was getting to be a long, long day.

He rose to his feet

“I’m sorry, Miss,” he then started, formally.

“You must have realized the hopelessness of your self-imposed little mission as you came here. I can’t help you.”

“Self-imposed little mission?”

For the first time, Albus read anger in her green eyes – more of a little cat than I thought, then! – but it faded remarkably quickly, and when she, too, rose to her feet, her face was composed again.

Been through a lot then, have you?

“Alright, Mister, I’ll see you tomorrow, then – do take your time to think it over, I’d say. No – no need to throw me out by force just yet; we’ll have plenty of time for that tomorrow.”

She smiled and waved as she opened the door.

“Au revoir!”

“Goodbye - ” was all Albus could utter before she was gone.

He stood stunned for a few seconds, then rushed forward and opened the door again. She, Minerva, was long gone, of course, but Augustus Robinson’s ridiculously rosy face shone with badly-hidden curiosity.

“Augustus, you – wait.”

Albus turned around and then, from one of his desk drawers, took a small, but seemingly well-filled leather bag and handed it to his aide.

“Run after the girl who just left here – she can’t be far yet – and give her this. Tell her not to bother with thanks, just tell her to disappear from my life. Clear? Go!”

Augustus did not go, however. He looked properly shocked.

“Sir – this is money…”

“Strange as it may seem, Robinson,” Albus replied drily.

“I realize that. I got it from Gringotts this morning, to buy – but that doesn’t matter now. Run, you fool – see that you find her!”

Augustus, after one last, uncertain look in his boss’s direction, scampered off.

Albus watched his aide disappear, then groaned and fell back onto his chair, popping a lemon drop into his mouth in the process. It was a habit he’d picked up as a child and, silly as it might seem, he still maintained it helped him to think more clearly.

She’d take the money, he knew – she was that kind of girl – and part of him regretted it. Sure, he was glad he wouldn’t have to face her again, but he also realized that one day, she must have been quite a promising young witch – in a way she still was – and, through the circumstances, she’d thrown all that away.

It was a sad case, and he hoped she would use the money in an intelligent way.

Somehow, Albus doubted it – but then again, she really wasn’t his responsibility.

This thought cheered him up considerably, and the wizard was just beginning to return to his usual research when, after an uncharacteristically casual known on the door, Augustus blundered into the office again. The young man was panting, and his usually rather pale face was a decidedly unhealthy shade of red.

“I – found – her - ”

“Why Robinson, I am positively ecstatic. Now do try not to die right here – it’d be sort of embarrassing to me, and I can live without that.” was Albus’ dry reply.

Augustus clearly didn’t grasp the sarcasm and nodded, grabbing his side.

“I shan’t, Sir – but that girl – she’s an Animagus, Sir, a tabby cat, and she’s – most certainly no lady, Sir – not at all.”

His righteous indignation once more amused Albus, and the wizard smirked.

“Oh no, not at all, not in the slightest – Miss McGonagall is first, last and always not a lady. She’s twenty-two, alone in the world, penniless and willing to risk her life for our cause, but when it comes to being a lady…”

Once again, Augustus merely seemed pleased at his sudden, supposedly good understanding with his employer – and said employer heaved a sigh.

Minerva McGonagall had spoken a surprising truth when she had told him that in a way, their situations were very similar – yet he, too, just like Robinson, had immediately dismissed her as “not a lady”, “not one of ours”. He hadn’t thought about it in so many words, but that’s what it had boiled down to.

Perhaps it was just a devilish, lowly urge to annoy the very proper Mr Augustus Robinson, but Albus suddenly felt more sympathy towards his young visitor.

He shook his head, dismissed the younger wizard with a wave of his hand, and then, finally, went on with his work.

[dianahawthorne]

very interesting chapter - and I hope that you update soon!

[ellieminerva]

Oh,another update! Great! I really like their confrontation here,how Albus tries to stay calm but doesn't succeed and how Minerva doesn't surrender with those green eyes bruning from anger! But mostly I like how Albus tried to get rid of her,still didn't really want it and began to think she was not so bad when he saw Augustus so red and panting! The "no lady" was funny,too.
I haven't seen Notorious-I'm ashamed of myself-but I love guessing,so I'll try with:
“You must have realized the hopelessness of your self-imposed little mission as you came here. I can’t help you.”
That's the only quote that can be from the movie from what I remember about the plot!

[Annie Laurie]

W00T for another chapter well done!!

I LOVE Notorious and spotted the quote quickly:

Oh no, not at all, not in the slightest – Miss McGonagall is first, last and always not a lady.

If you substitute 'Miss McGonagall' for 'Miss Huberman', then you have your quote.

Looking forward to some more updates!

[morgainegaunt]

Wow, another update. ;D ;D ;D And a really good chapter, again. I liked their confrontation and Robinson was a laugh, too.

I'm looking forward to the next update (no surprise here).

[Herzele]

*lol* at Robinson ... He's great ... ;D

And hehe, just as I thought - it won't be that easy to get rid of Minerva ...

Great update!

[mmadcrazyfan]

hah, this whole time is was half-expecting min to z-snap. i do love her attidtude, and albus's reaction to her. update! =]

[Nerweniel]

Chapter Four


“You!”

Minerva McGonagall laughed, then, with a casual gesture, threw her hat down on the desk and fell down on the chair again.

“Me, and - ”

She rummaged around in her small purse and produced a matchbox and some cigarettes.

“I even brought my own weapons this time. Want one?”

Albus frowned.

“Sure. Care to tell me what exactly your game’s about?”

The young witch lit up, leaned back and inhaled deeply, then shrugged one shoulder.

“I don’t know what you mean, Mister. I told you what I wanted yesterday. I still want it.”

“I gave you - ”

“Money?”

She smiled and shook her head, taking, from her purse, a leather bag Albus was all too familiar with.

“Here it is – every Galleon, every Sickle, every Knut.”

“You didn’t - ”

Her smile disappeared.

“No, I didn’t take it and run. I’ll even – do you want more? Do you?”

Her hand came out of the purse again, well-filled with Muggle pound notes and coins of all kinds. She put them down, then, as he didn’t react, held out the roll of notes.

“Here. Can you use this?”

“I thought you said you were broke?”

He studied her face for a second – she merely stared back. He smiled, failing to mask the cynicism in his voice.

“You’re good – you’re awfully good. ‘I’ve even got a Knut or two, Mister, maybe more.’.”

Not touching the money, the wizard leaned back in his chair.

“Keep your - ”

“You’re a bastard.”

There was nothing light, nothing of amusement in her voice as Minerva jumped up from her chair.

“You’re - ”

Reaching for the nearest object, it was a glass paperweight she sent flying towards the wizard. He caught it with one hand, then, raising his eyebrows, put it back on the desk. She looked liable to spit him in the face any second but did not make another move.

“You think I lied about this, don’t you? Well, it just happens there’s ten-something pounds there, over half of it fake, and the coins won’t exactly save a life either. Not enough for boat fare home or any other kind of fare – just enough to be able to say no if I feel like it. And you can have it if you want it.”

“I don’t.”

“Fine.”

She stuffed the bills back into her purse, then, with both hands, threw the coins in again, too. Dumbledore found himself watching her, a hint of a smile on his lips.

“Why’re you so mad?”

She looked up, her dark, thin eyebrows knit closely together.

“I’ve been mad ever since I met you.”

He smiled and made an apologetic gesture.

“Most people are.”

“One look and you made up your mind just what you wanted to think about me.”

“You claiming I got it wrong?”

The wizard could literally see honesty and indignation fight an epic battle in her eyes. Honesty won. She smiled and bowed her head.

“Touché, Mister. I don’t know if you did.”

She crossed her legs and lit up again.

“Don’t know if you didn’t, either. But I’m not a bad kid, despite your little assistant seeming to think I might bite him and he’d catch rabies. You should’ve seen his face when he gave me that money yesterday.”

Albus smirked.

“I believe I can imagine.”

Then, after a long moment, he cleared his throat and, finally, lit up the cigarette she’d offered to him.

“So, Miss, fancy coming along with me to Germany?” he asked, almost casually.

She grinned.

“Thought you’d never ask.”

Albus shrugged. She hadn’t shown surprise, but he hadn’t thought she would – her outburst of emotion were, though fierce, scarce as well.

“I thought the very same thing.” was his honest reply.

She nodded her head and chortled.

“Why did you, then?”

He grinned.

“If you want to know - you owe this one to my aide.”

She raised her eyebrows, absent-mindedly scattering her cigarette’s ashes neatly next to the ashtray. He didn’t notice.

“The assistant kid? I thought he didn’t like me much.”

“He didn’t.”

Minerva grinned.

“I see.”

“Fancy a drink?”

He didn’t know where his sudden cordiality came from, really. In a way, she still irritated him as she sat there, legs crossed, leaning back sideways in her chair with an air as if she owned the place and his own sorry life on top of it. She was pushy and stubborn and, most of all, she was not a young woman he would usually want to be associated with.

Half of him began to regret his rash decision, and when she, having accepted his offer wholeheartedly, emptied her double Firewhiskey in one go, Albus Dumbledore realized that, if nothing else, he was up for an interesting time.

[dianahawthorne]

yay! an update!! I can't wait to see what happens to them in Germany...please update soon!

[morgainegaunt]

Great update as always. I really like your Minerva. Keep writing, it's great.

[mmadcrazyfan]

still waiting for that z-snap, lol
no, really, i love minerva in this, shes fabulous

[Nerweniel]

Chapter Five



“Frankly, I think our backstory’s a joke.”

Dumbledore looked up from the map he’d been studying. Minerva was sitting on the bed, legs crossed at the ankles. A cigarette was dangling from the fingers of her left hand, and he winced.

“Do try not to burn a hole in the sheets or set the room on fire. We are trying to be inconspicuous.”

“I still think it’s crap.” was her only comment as she swung her legs off the side of the bed to face him.

“Seriously, Mister, have you even - and we’re not even in Nazi territory yet. I’d say thank God Paris fell in time, or we’d be…”

“It’s not the Nazis we want to fight. Our Muggle colleagues seem to be taking care of those just fine, we need to - ”

“Yeah,” she replied sarcastically, leaning back against the wall again.

“You can tell them that when they’re breaking your fingers one by one. They’ll patch you right up and send you off with a pat on the back.”

She took a sip from the half-empty glass on the bedside table.

“A real pro, aren’t you?”

Her little chuckle didn’t escape his ears, and he threw down the maps in irritation.

They’d been practically stuck in the hotel room since the previous evening – which, he kept reminding himself, was really not that long altogether – but already it’d become painfully clear that they were irrevocably incompatible.

Or, perhaps, too alike.

He shook off the thought as soon as he’d properly realized it was there. Despite what she had said on her first visit to his office – it felt like ages ago, really, but it wasn’t – he didn’t believe that, apart from a general feeling of being sick of the world, there was anything the two of them could possibly have in common.

And on top of all that, she annoyed him. He turned on his chair.

“Seriously, McGonagall, you really do believe you’ve seen and heard it all, don’t you? I can just tell you - ”

She appeared unperturbed and shrugged.

“I don’t. Just don’t believe you have, either. I’ve been here before, Dumbles. You haven’t.”

He ignored her blatant use of a nickname the birth of which he had certainly never encouraged.

“You were here as a Muggle.”

“Oh?”

Her eyebrows went up again in an expression of amusement he’d come to regard with exasperation.

“Now aren’t we glad the Prophet doesn’t exactly lurk ‘round the corners here! Someone’d have a scoop on their hands, that’s for sure.”

He felt the blood rush to his cheeks and rose from his chair.

“I warn you…”

His voice was lower than usual, holding a clear tone of warning.. She merely laughed.

“Calm down already. I just meant, Mister, that you shouldn’t talk of Muggles that way, and I’m not just talking about your, let’s face it, crappy reputation in that respect. They’re quite inventive – they must be, if you think about it – and those Nazi kids, I tell you, for all their warped ideas, they’ve got some bright crayons there. Ditto for our side of the conflict, really.”

She shook her head, blowing some smoke in his direction.

“Muggles – not to be underestimated, that’s for sure. Plus they’ve invented the cigarette. Got to count for something, that.”

She raised hers to her eyes for a second and studied it, a small smile on her lips.

“These really are pretty amazing.”

He rolled his eyes and turned away again, bowing over the parchment once more.

“You’ll have us gassed if you keep it up like this. That, or you’ll drink yourself to death.”

He could almost feel her smile.

“Better death than most, some say.”

“Wouldn’t want to try it.” was his only response.

He was trying to decide which way they would take to their final goal, and it wasn’t easy. While he had, naturally, been doing the proper geographical research back in London, Albus realized, now, that most of that research had been completely useless. The Muggle war had almost come to an end, it was true – but it certainly wasn’t over yet, and the borders still changed every day.

He checked his pocket watch.

“Still over an hour left, I’m betting you. You checked less than ten minutes ago. Plenty of time.”

With a pang of irritation, Albus realized she was right. The radio broadcast that would give them the newest reports on the progress of the war was at seven – it was just ten to six.

“An hour and ten minutes, to be precise.”

“Told you – and say, Mister…”

“Yes?”

His tone of voice was not encouraging, he knew. He didn’t care.

Neither, apparently, did she.

“So why’re you so snappish when it comes to Muggles – come to think of it why d’you have this bad rep anyway? I’ve heard the gossip, of course, but you know what they say, never believe - ”

“Could you just shut up for a second?”

She would never rest before she got the full story, he knew, and he loathed it. He also didn’t plan to give her what she wanted.

“I don’t like your manners.”

It was the way she said it that drove him over the edge. He rose to his feet.

“Well, I’m not crazy about yours, either. I didn’t ask you to come here.”

She opened her mouth to reply, but he was faster.

“I don’t mind if you don’t like my manners, I don’t like them myself, they’re pretty bad and I grieve over them long winter evenings, and I don't mind you insulting me and I don't mind you drinking your lunch out of a bottle - but don't waste your time trying to cross-examine me!”

Minerva looked up at him, unsmiling now. She, too, jumped to her feet, putting down her half-empty glass with a clear thud.

“People don’t talk to me like that!”

[StormAngel]

nice. I'm enjoying the conversations between the two of them. This is superb. =)