A/N: Hello noble readers. Here's another little thing that I wrote! I know the fandom seems to have slowed down a bit and that's okay. I don't write for reviews but I think a lot of us have grown up and now lead busy lives! I know I do. Please know I plan to continue and finish all of what I have unfinished, but I have to find the time!
I love you all dearly and can't wait to see what you think.
I think it's the best thing I've ever written.
Also. Keep an eye out, cos I'm beginning to build up a mailing list for my nearly not quite ready novels that I plan on publishing. It should be as easy as clicking the link and clicking subscribe.

As always my dears, it is Spin that makes it really sparkle (though not in a Twilight way - who does that) but in a "this is totally wicked" kind of way.

-0-

The weariness seemed to collect in her bones. Her arms were sore, her legs were sore, even her hair follicles were sore. Every part of Minerva McGonagall ached, but it was nothing compared to how much her heart hurt.

The fighting had been fierce, and seemingly without end. There was nothing she could do that was enough. Nothing she hadn't tried, that had failed. People, friends, children were dead.

Someone had conjured a warming fire in the great hall, the floors be damned; many parts of the castle were damaged beyond repair anyway. Minerva sat silently, leaning against Pomona Sprout, just as she was leaning on Minerva. Minerva didn't have to see Pomona's face to know it looked like her own. Dust and grime covered them both; the rubble and the mortar from the castle exploding around them. Minerva had seen many with tear tracks running down to their chins. She understood, yet she did not weep. The expectation that she would lead them had been thrust upon her, after Severus had taken his dive out of the window. She hadn't had time to prepare, she hadn't had time to even consider her actions just before that moment. So, she'd simply done her duty. She rallied the students that stayed, protected those that did not. Now that they had a brief respite, she had shored up as many defenses as she could think of while they had the hour they did. The enemy would attack again, after whatever had happened to cause Voldemort to call for a momentary ceasefire. They would be as ready as they could be, people were repairing defensive blocks and charms as she sat here recovering, but there was nothing more she could do at that moment. She was spent.

"Oh no," she heard Pomona whisper.

The dead and injured were being collected from around the castle and being brought back to the Great Hall. Having done what she could, those with fresher bodies would continue. So many of her students, bright and charming with incredible futures ahead of them had been snuffed out by students she had once thought equally as bright and meant for greatness. So many of those she, herself, had killed had once been under her tutelage. She was not sure how she would cope with that.

"Hold still," Poppy Pomfrey grumbled as she tried to stem the bleeding on a particularly bad cut above her eye. Minerva couldn't even feel it, but Poppy had always been attentive whenever Minerva had been ill, much to her chagrin. "Minerva, you mustn't move!" she said again, as Minerva tried to look around her healing hands.

But Pomona's desperate whisper had grabbed her attention. She looked up and all her world crumbled before her.

Kingsley had stumbled into the hall, a look of utter despair on his face as he relinquished the body he carried to the floor in front of her. Minerva could do nothing but stare as a second body was placed beside him. Her world stood still. It was as if everyone in the room had suddenly stopped what they were doing and stared.

"No," she muttered, looking at the body on the floor. "No, that's -"

She hadn't realised she'd stood up, but it was Pomona's hand on her arm that brought her back to the present. The bodies were placed lovingly together and she simply stared, unable to comprehend what she was seeing.

"No!" she said shaking her head. "No! He," she looked at Pomona. "She wasn't supposed to be here! Why? Who -"

Her voice cracked and she stopped mid-sentence. Before her were Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks - now Lupin of course. The feeling of emptiness increased tenfold, the gaping void where her insides used to be. They were dead.

"We found them near the south wall. They," Kingsley cleared his throat, having known them as well as she had. "They died together. Took a lot with them."

"This should not have happened," Minerva whispered. "I should have made him stay."