Disclaimer I don't own the Harry Potter universe; that's JK Rowling. However, the twists and turns of this story are mine.

I normally do not write fiction for this genre, but this story has been nagging me and will not get out of my head – so enjoy.

Tapestry of Life Summary: Albus Dumbledore's story…what more is there to say? It will follow JK canon but will also be AD/MM –

Prologue – She flies through the air…

"Oye…" The lanky wizard yelped as he pointed his wand towards the vague twinkling blue orbs he had seen floating less than 3 feet away.

The wizard frantically waved his wand left and then right, eyes barely open as he peered into the blackness.

A witch in blood red robes came running along side, her hot breath creating a wispy steam in the cool air. "McInves?"

The man's voice was quiet and barely understandable as he spoke. "Saw something, deep blue eyes…" He waved his wand to the left again, "As big as life, less than three feet away."

She peered into the thick night, her gaze matching his penetrating one…and a handful of steps away from them the quiet figure ever so slowly let out a second breath. Agonizing seconds passed as they passed the tip of their wands in front of him, casting light around him and threw him…even his eyes which he now continued to focus on and keep their twinkling to a minimum. His eyes momentarily flickered to the manor, and he idly wondered where Tabby had skirted to now. Not that he could look at the moment, he thought as the witch waved her wand in front of him for the third time. He had to wait until they left before he could draw up the necessary charm to enable him to see the half mile that separated him from the manner or be caught himself. The charm, albeit fairly complex, once mastered, enhanced the castors ability to see for great distances, but one had to be careful when using it at night, for the castors eyes became self illuminating and glowed quite brightly against the night.

His internal musings were interrupted as the witch shook her head, soft auburn ringlets shaking along her shoulder. "Damn Moor lands…" She mumbled 'nox' followed by McInves, leaving the man only a handful of inches away, once again bathed in darkness. "Probably a black raven."

There was a pause as he turned to her, his face partially sheltered from view. "With blue eyes, Millie?"

The witch's face became haunted as she cast a desperate glance to her left and then a quick one over her shoulder. "These lands are cursed, Tom…I feel it in my bones." The tone of her voice dropping several octaves, "Some…g .. ..ing to .appen tonight..."

He watched them drift towards the manor in a quiet commraderie and the elder wizard breathed a feint sigh of relief. It would not due for him to be caught, nor for anyone to think he was here…watching and guarding. This had been the fourth night, he had silently kept his vigil, unbeknownst to Alastor, Eagon, Aberforth, or even Minerva.

Sighing, he quietly drummed his fingertips along his thigh to keep the numbness at bay from icy cold while softly mumbling the spell. Slowly, almost reverently a pair of twinkling blue eyes appeared amongst the mist, gazing toward the manor… searching for his friend.

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The moon was several hours past its apex, and the faint figure fought off his third yawn in the past ten minutes. Blinking rapidly he silently pulled his golden watch out, its hands whirling around in their typical frantic fashion, but still confirming the lateness of the hour – half past three. Sighing, he tucked his watch back into his robes as his eyes once again swept over the manor toward the large living area where she had been laying mere moments before…but before he could determine where she had gone off to, his back immediately stiffened as the mood across the manor changed into an electric atmosphere. The two wizards to the north began bolting back to the house, followed by several other loud shouts along the grounds and retreating footsteps. He felt his stomach clench in realization, Minerva, they've found her. His eyes quickly glanced along the windows and turrets, searching for a sign...one which did not mislead him, only caused him to step forward – deeper into the magical ward, and with every last ounce of willpower he stopped. He would not enter, Voldemort would know if someone did, and he could not risk it – even for her…

But as he watched bursts of green and red light flicker along the window panes, he found his fingers already grasping his wand…magic humming through his body, his muscles tightening in anticipation as a stray curse shattered an old stained glass window, bathing the Moorish land in an eeiry green light before the previously muffled commotion echoed across the Moors. Loud screams, curses, glass bursting finally reached his ears, enabling him to accurately determine her location. His eyes swept over the manor, her swift animagus form bolting easterly along the north western turret…as another flurry of curses were yelled, he watched the window at the end of the hall light up – his breath catching in realization, Minerva only had forty foot left before she was literally out of room…and without conscious thought, he burst through the barrier, running towards the manor, eyes fixated upon the third floor.

Less than four steps later Albus' steps faltered as a sparkling window pane burst apart at the end of the hall. No words came to him as he stood paralyzed, watching as the broken panes of glass joined the grey speckled tabby cat in a fateful plunge to the earth. His heart lurched in realization of what was about to happen, and before the greatest wizard of the time could react or raise his wand to slow her descent, a spray of greens and reds lit up the black sky – shattering glass as they missed their intended target.

His wand was out, spells deftly flying toward the 3rd floor window, his eyes watching as the tabby cats form became longer…humanistic…and as he threw a spell to minimize her impact a loud pop echoed across the land, and she, along with several panes of glass and two jets of green light winked out of existence.

Blue eyes swept over the area for verification as the tree to his left burst into flames and with a quick wave of his wand as he spun on his heel, the two other curses jerked to the right scorching the tall grass.

Where would she apparate to? His mind quickly narrowing the possibilities…Somewhere safe, familiar…Hogwarts? McGonagall Manor? Another curse flew past his ear and he chose, knowing that time was now of the essence…

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The crisp bitter air of the Highlands swept over him, causing midnight blue robes to billow behind him. "MINERVA!" He bellowed as large blue eyes swept across the rolling hills to McGonagall Manor and the light spilling forth against the night from its warmth – she was nowhere to be seen. He had chosen wrong and was about to apparate to the gates of Hogwarts when a loud, blood curdling scream shattered the stillness.

"Lumos." Wand drawn, his feet flew over the rocky limestone in search of where the scream had originated. He came over a small knoll, his heart plummeting as tear filled eyes absorbed the scene –

Twenty paces away a figure writhed in pain, moans issuing forth, dark smudges littering her emerald robes and pale skin. He issued the counter spell to the crutiatus curse and the front of her body collapsed onto the soft moss as he rushed to her side. "Minerva." He gasped as he dropped to his knees, eyes washing over her. She had not stirred after the release of the curse, her cheek lying in the moss – head turned away, her breathing extremely shallow…and then he noticed the dark color leaching out from beneath her…

His wand slipped forgotten from his fingertips as his hands reached the scant inches to her side and he pulled her body towards him, thereby exposing her face and chest to him…and the damage… She had several small lacerations across her body, one fairly large one on her shoulder, but the second curse had deeply sliced open her side. The blood was deep red…he could feel the magic that swelled around the woman beginning to ebb away…she was dying.

Tears sprang forth in his eyes as his left hand flew to the large wound upon the right side of her chest, just beneath her breast – while his right one delved into his robes, searching.

The movement jostled her awake and blinking grey eyes desperately tried to focus, "…who…"

Albus heard the tremor in his voice as he spoke, "Stay with me, Minerva."

"Al…bus…" She took a shuddering breath, "Legimancy…" She breathed fixing him with one of her legendary piercing looks, and before he could stop – he was curled up next to a fireplace with three people animatedly talking over a brandy less than five paces away.

"…and Dumbledore?"

A rich laugh echoed off the mahogany wood "Leave him to me Lucius." Riddle's fingers slid along the black leather furniture, "Besides," Cold yellow eyes fixed Lucius' blue ones. "He'll be so busy hand holding the Ministry for the next few months."

All three men laughed, including the portly man whose face remained obscured in the shadows, but the cadence and tenor were high in pitch. "Especially with the demise of Bones this Saturday."

"Yes, the Ministry will be left flailing more than…" The seen was ripped away as Minerva's eyes fluttered close, a trail of blood eschewing forth from the corner of her mouth…

Albus's fingers found the well worn glass vial tucked snuggly against his chest, the hexagon edges practically smoothed round from the years of being carried with him. His finger and thumb already twisting the silver top off as her head began to lull to the side, "Minerva…" He felt his chest bursting…they had known each other almost forty years...fingers began to shake…they had been each others best friend… "Stay…" He half whispered, half pleaded – as the last of her magic faded away. Heedless of the consequences, he peeled his hand from her gaping wound and upended the opalescent liquid onto her side.

A solitary tear slipped off his lash as he summoned the most potent memories of lively witch and the deep years of friendship before uttering, "Aeternus Eternus." His hand pressing along her side, and for a single moment he believed the ancient spell had not worked as he stared at the broken body of his long time friend, his heart shattering with every beat…and then her side began glowing, as did his hand…the last thing Albus Dumbledore saw was a flash of blue light that spread out across the Highlands before his body collapsed atop hers.