Disclaimer: I own nothing it all belongs to J.K. Rowling

March 15th

Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, are both missing from this evening's meal. If it were any other day this would be highly unusual but I feel I should perhaps point out that today is March 15th. It may seem like an ordinary day to you and I but to them it is the day their lives together ended.

To this day I don't actually think Albus even knows what went wrong. I know but I am sworn to secrecy. For 30 years I have remained silent waiting for Minerva to open up and tell him. Hoping she will let her wounds heal but so far I have hoped in vain.

I know this tale because I am Poppy Pomfrey, Hogwarts medi-witch and Minerva McGonagall's best friend.

It starts out like so many others. Minerva McGonagall, a young and extremely talented Gryffindor had a crush on her handsome Head of house, Albus Dumbledore. Naturally it never amounted to much and Minerva left Hogwarts to pursue a career as an auror. She mastered the art of animagi and soon became one of the best aurors the Ministry has ever seen. She helped immensely in the fight against Grindelwald but as we all know it was Albus Dumbledore who finally defeated him.

Not once during the many years of Grindelwald's tyranny did their paths cross; I suppose that was for the best. Minerva's crush faded and she moved on with her life. Men started to court the raven-haired beauty. Back then Minerva used to laugh and enjoy life to the fullest. Back then she was happy.

Albus also moved on with his life, he became Deputy Headmaster but could not escape the fame vanquishing Grindelwald brought. Witches chased him expressing their undying love for him. He was bombarded with owls and being the kind-hearted soul that he is, he answered every one of them.

A few years later Headmaster Armando Dippet contacted me and graciously offered me a position at Hogwarts and I accepted. That Christmas the Headmaster passed away, poor Albus lost a dear friend. But he was strong and immediately stepped into the roll of Headmaster. His first duty was to find a new Transfiguration Professor and Head of Gryffindor. He asked all the members of staff if they knew of anyone and I suggested Minerva McGonagall.

I was there the day Minerva elegantly stepped out of the thestral drawn carriage. I noticed how their eyes lit up when they saw each other. Albus kissed her hand, Minerva blushed and I stifled a giggle. From that day on they were inseparable. It was a whirlwind romance and I had a front row viewing.

Days turned into months turned into years and I slowly watched this story unravel. It has to be one of the greatest love affairs Hogwarts has ever seen. But also one of the greatest secrets Hogwarts has ever had to keep. Albus had many enemies so to keep Minerva safe they kept their love a secret. That didn't matter to them too much, they were happy, in love and only had eyes for each other. It brings tears to my eyes to recall those joyous times. They were not to last though. All good things must come to an end unfortunately theirs came too soon.

I remember it clearly; it was a cold and bitter January morning when Minerva stepped through the doors of the Hospital Wing. She stood nervously to one side while I healed a broken arm. Sending the boy back to charms lessons I turned to Minerva.

"Minerva dear, what can I do for you?"

She bit her bottom lip and twiddled her thumbs.

"Well…um…well…Poppy…I…I really didn't know who else to turn to."

I could see the tears forming in her eyes. I sat her down on the bed nearest to her and pulled the curtains closed.

"Minerva are you alright? What's the matter dear? If you don't tell me I can't help."

Tears fell down her cheeks, she looked up and I could see the worry in her green eyes.

"I don't know Poppy, I don't know."

I became concerned it wasn't like Minerva to cry over nothing.

"What do you mean you don't know? Do you feel sick, fever perhaps? Headache, backache or stomachache?"

"Oh Poppy I thought I was just late but it's been over a month now."

"What Minerva? You thought what was late?"

"I can't stop vomiting! I haven't been able to eat for weeks! Every smell, taste, touch makes me want to get sick!"

I suddenly realized what she was rambling on about.

"Minerva! Why didn't you come and see me sooner?"

"Oh Poppy what's the matter with me? Please tell me I have a disease of some sort. Please! I can't be…I can't be…pr…no just tell me I'm ill, give me a potion and make me better!" Minerva sobbed.

"Minerva! You know you don't have a deadly disease. It sounds to me as if…"

"Don't say it Poppy, don't you dare say it!"

I did the necessary spell and determined that Minerva was in fact pregnant. It should have been a joyous moment and if it were any other couple it probably would have been. But Minerva knew the risks she took just by being involved with Albus but to be the mother of his child…

"How can I burden a child like that? It's not fair on Albus or this unborn baby. Oh Poppy!"

It broke my heart to see her cry in such a way, I offered to tell Albus for her but she made me swear never to tell a living soul. What could I do other than be there for her? I tried for weeks to convince her to tell Albus but she was adamant. I'm not entirely sure what she had in mind, whether she was going to somehow give birth to the child and give it up for adoption without Albus noticing or maybe she was going to leave Albus and raise the baby by herself, I truly don't know but none of that matters anyway. The decision was made for her.

Minerva loved Albus more than heaven and earth but she also loved her unborn baby. She vowed to do everything in her power to protect it. I watched her gradually push Albus away, bit by bit. I know it tore her apart because I was the one she turned to in her times of need. There was little Albus could do. A new dark lord was rising and he had to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I strongly believe that Albus still had a fighting chance up until March 15th – the day Minerva miscarried. When her baby died a part of her died along with it. She changed into the Minerva we all know today, Hogwarts stern Transfiguration Professor, Head of Gryffindor and Deputy Headmistress.

I watched her push Albus away once and for all. I saw his heart shatter into a thousand pieces. He loved Minerva with all his heart, almost certainly still does, and he would have loved the baby too given the chance. But poor Minerva she was, still is in fact, heartbroken. Her baby's death hurt so much she dare not love again; she dare not let anyone get that close. Not even Albus.

"Albus darling" became "Headmaster" but "Minerva my dear" remains to this day.

Now you know the reason why every year neither Headmaster nor Deputy Headmistress attends the evening meal on March 15th.

Every once in a while I catch a glimpse of the fun loving Minerva that I previously knew. Hopefully one day she can break free and return.

Now she only venture's into the Hospital Wing when it's absolutely necessary. Too many bad memories…