Disclaimer: Not mine
A/N: Just a quick note that you would probably be able to figure out anyway after reading the story. This is set many years after Heartache and Healing.
Chapter One: History Repeats Itself
Minerva sat in her office, making final arrangements for the new school year. It was hard to believe another summer had past and the children would be returning the following evening. It wasn't until she yawned that she looked at the time. It was past midnight.
Extinguishing the light from her office, Minerva quickly walked to her personal quarters. From there, she walked down a hall and entered her real living space, the rooms she shared with her husband.
"You haven't been working all this time have you, my dear?" Albus asked.
"You know how it is. There's always so much to do before the students return." Minerva answered, walking over to him. She leaned over to kiss him, but gasped in surprise as he pulled her onto his lap.
They kissed deeply for what seemed like ages. When both were in need of air, they finally broke apart.
Albus stood, lifting his wife with him. How he still managed to carry her was beyond Minerva. He walked through the hall and into their bedroom, gently laying her down on the bed.
Albus laid beside her and the two resumed their kissing. Simple kissing was soon not enough, and clothes were shed.
On the eve before the students' return, their lovemaking was gentle and careful. This was the way it had been for over four decades now. An unspoken agreement had passed between the two lovers over the years. Both knew this evening marked a special anniversary that neither wished to speak of. It was the night Minerva had been able to come back to Albus.
Afterwords, all troubles seemed forgotten as Minerva lay in her husband's arms. It was so easy to forget that there was another dark lord bringing fear into their world. There had already been small attacks, mostly on muggles, though earlier in the year a muggleborn wizard's elderly father had been killed.
Not many were even aware of the growing threat in the wizarding world. Those that were did not think there was any great reason to be concerned; this dark lord would never be as bad as Grindelwald. Albus thought differently. He, knowing who this wizard had been as a student at Hogwarts, believed he would be a grave threat.
Minerva fell into a light sleep. She had been feeling so uneasy lately and was very tired. That was one of the reasons she insisted on working so late at night. She hoped by tiring herself, she would be able to sleep. It was probably just a reaction to talk of the new dark lord, Voldemort.
As she was just entering a much deeper sleep, she heard frantic knocking. Albus, who was still awake, arose and grabbed his dressing gown. She did the same and both walked into the sitting room.
When Albus answered the door, he was greeted with the image of a very flustered Poppy Pomfrey.
"Come in, dear."
"Whatever is the matter?" Minerva asked her long-time friend.
"We have a problem."
"Yes?" Albus asked.
"Voldemort killed one of the sixth year's parents."
Minerva gasped.
"Was the student injured?" Albus questioned.
Poppy nodded but would not meet his gaze. She glanced over at Minerva, wondering how she would take this news.
The mediwitch continued, "She is in your house, Minerva."
Minerva nodded slighly. She was shocked. One of her students was now an orphan and-
"Wait." Minerva said. "You indicated she was injured. How? Will she be all right?"
Poppy looked uncomfortably around the room. "Yes, she will recover. Um- you see, the thing is she was raped."
Minerva sat down in the chair she had been standing in front of. Albus went to her immediately.
"Are you okay, my love?"
She nodded shakily. "I'll be fine."
"Which girl is it?" Albus asked, turning back to Poppy.
Minerva was the one to answer. "There's only one sixth year muggleborn in my house."
"Who is it?"
"Lily Evans."
A/N: Just a couple of quick notes. Poppy said Voldemort because he is not the feared wizard we know from the books yet. Everyone will be saying his name until his true evilness becomes known. Also, this chapter is much shorter than my usual chapters. Just think of it as the introductory chapter. The subsequient ones will be much longer. Please review:)