AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first attempt at a story that isn't a one shot. Please tell me what you think!

DISCLAIMER: I do not, nor will I ever own Harry Potter. I am merely an admirer of the magical world that J.K.R has created. A world that she has kindly let people, like myself, play around in.

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

A grey sky threatened rain. The air was cold, sharp and somewhat sinister. Great hills obscured the horizon, the fading light of the afternoon casting shadows wherever it could. Minerva McGonagall shivered, pulling her traveling cloak closer to her thin, angular frame. Her greying black hair was pulled back in a tight bun, emphasizing the definite structure of her cheek bones. Her eyes were blue, dark and serious, unforgiving to those unaccustomed to them. Her face was an attractive one, but it had weathered many seasons, each line telling a different story. She was tall, taller than most woman her age, not that her age was a defining feature. She had lived with the energy of an active forty year old for the past twenty-five years. But this year was different.

Minerva had really never felt her age until now. She had always been far too busy to think about the aches and pains that came with time. There were always things that needed doing and Minerva was usually first to volunteer, only resting when her friends managed to attach her (literally) to her seat. But a tide of weariness had recently washed over her and it was yet to recede. She felt slow, unmotivated, like a car with its engine removed.

She walked, a suitcase in one hand, up a long path bordered by a hedge. She limped slightly as she moved, the result of an injury two years ago. Her feet dragged, not because she was tired, but because she had been avoiding making this trip for many months now. Her case had been unpacked and repacked at least five times, under the pretense of forgetting various objects that weren't actually necessary. But the only person she was trying to deceive was herself and Minerva was a stickler for honesty, even to the point where she couldn't fool her own mind.

So she walked up the path, wondering why on earth she was there and wanting to turn back every second. She came to a large gate made of ornate, rusting silver. It stretched at least four metres in the air, a coat of arms dominating most of the wrought metal. She reached a hand out, but the gate swung open before her fingers reached it. Minerva almost smiled. She had walked this path every year for almost forty-one years, the gate recognizing an old friend after all the passing time. Minerva slipped through and closed it behind her.

As she lifted her eyes to look up the hill, her breath caught in her throat. The Hogwarts Castle stood before her. It was the castle, just the castle, she had been there many times before and yet it made her feel strange, angry, sad and confused. Hogwarts had always been a good thing, a shining beacon, her home away from home. It gave her hope and a warm feeling on the inside. That had changed now. The castle seemed like an empty shell, the windows revealing only emptiness. Where there had once been warmth, there was an unyielding cold. Where there had once been light, there was now only darkness.

It was because Albus was gone. Albus Dumbledore, her mentor, hero and friend. It was his presence, that had reassured her all those times when she thought that everything was going wrong. It had been under his guidance, that she had become the formidable transfiguration mistress she was today. It was him, in short, that made Hogwarts, Hogwarts. And he was gone, killed by a man he had trusted above anyone. Killed by the very man who now took his place.

The thought of Severus Snape sitting at the place that was rightfully Albus Dumbledore's, made Minerva sick to her stomach. She wanted to crush that Snape viper, to make him feel the pain she and everyone else had felt. But she couldn't. Snape was headmaster now and she was still a teacher. She was staying. She had to stay. She had promised Molly Weasley, who had sent an owl begging for the protection of her youngest child. Molly wouldn't be the only parent who felt that way. Many others would surely know the dangers of their children being connected to Snape and through him, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Minerva shivered again. They were all in danger now days. But somebody had to step up to the plate and keep everything running as normal. She would be one of those people. She was first and foremost a teacher and it was her job, her calling, to maintain the standards at Hogwarts. She would do it for Albus.

A creak from behind her, indicated that someone else had come through the gate. She turned to see her friend and Hogwarts Quidditch Mistress, Rolanda Hooch. Rolanda had steel grey hair and bright yellow hawk eyes. She wore grey traveling robes and carried a suitcase in one hand. She dragged her broom along, lacking any of her usual vigour. It was a shock to see Rolanda. Her presence was of course expected and she usually arrived at this time of year, but Minerva was so used to her zapping through the gates and flying several loops of the castle on her broom, that seeing her walk through in this dejected fashion was quite unsettling.

"Rolanda." Minerva said.

"Minerva." Rolanda sighed, giving her friend a quick hug.

"How was your summer?" Minerva asked, awkwardly.

"Alright," Rolanda shrugged, "yours?"

"Fine." Minerva nodded.

Both woman knew this was far from the truth. They were active members of the Order of the Phoenix, an organization dedicated to fighting the rise of You-Know-Who. All summer they heard reports of families attacked and muggles murdered. They had morned the death of friends, Mad Eye Moody being a particularly hard loss. Only recently they had learnt that the ministry had fallen. The Minister for Magic had been killed and his spot filled by someone under the control of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The situation was reaching crisis levels and both Rolanda and Minerva knew it.

The two witches turned to face the castle. Minerva sighed, something that didn't go unnoticed.

"I'm surprised seeing you arrive this late." Rolanda said, "Usually you've been here for at least a week."

"I've been putting off the journey." Minerva said.

Rolanda nodded.

"Same here. There's no way I'm spending more time with Snape then I have to."

She lowered her eyes.

"I was seriously considering not coming back this year."

This admission was quite a big thing. Rolanda loved Hogwarts, it was a commonly known fact. She had, like Minerva, spent most of her working life at the school and deciding not return would have been difficult.

"I'm glad you came," Minerva said, quietly, "we need someone to take our mind off things."

Rolanda grinned.

"Yes, I guess this is one of those times when my natural jokester ability comes in handy."

Her smiled faded almost as quickly as it had come. Even someone as light-hearted as Rolanda could tell that there would be drastic changes this year. Minerva took her arm and led the way towards the castle. Both women fell into step and went silently towards the uncertainty of this new school term.