Part 2: Minerva's Reaction
Albus Dumbledore flooed back to his chambers at Hogwarts, eyes red and puffy. As he stepped through the emerald flames, his first sight was his wife Minerva curled up on the sofa weeping. For the second time that day, his heart broke.
"So, its done then?" she asked, not looking up at him.
Albus walked across the room and took Minerva into his arms. "Yes." He said hoarsely.
"What was her sentence?"
"Death, by hanging."
Minerva erupted into sobs once more. Albus rubbed her back soothingly, and kissed the top of her head, crying as well. "God, Albus. How did it come to this? Where did we go wrong? Did we not love her enough? Was that it? Did we not give her enough love and attention?"
Albus pulled Minerva back to look into her eyes. "Do not blame yourself, Minerva. Whatever you do, don't blame yourself. Cassidy was always a free spirit. No one could control her. We did the best we could."
"Did we, Albus? I cannot help but look back and wonder. What would have happened if I kept a closer eye on her, if I gave her more attention? Perhaps if I was part of her life more, this would never have happened."
"Minerva please, my darling. Cassidy had a mind of her own. She had so many problems as a teenager. Drugs, alcohol, depression. She chose to live her life that way."
At those words, Minerva got out of his grasp and got up. Arms folded across her chest. "You speak as though you don't even care that your daughter is dead!"
Those words were like a blade piercing his heart. Albus got up from his seat and backed away from Minerva, tears spilling through his face. "How can you say that, Min? I had to watch my daughter; my little girl, my flesh and blood hang from the scaffold. It was I who had to come up with her sentence. I tried to save her the agony of Azkaban and the brutality of the dementor's kiss by death. But deep down I wonder. Had I really made the best choice? Would Azkaban have been better for her?"
Minerva walked over to Albus and wrapped her arms around him. "Forgive me, Albus. I just can't keep thinking about how much of a horrible mother I was." She cried.
Albus wrapped his arms around his wife and wiped away her tears. "My love, you were in no way whatsoever a horrible mother. In fact, you were the best mother in the world. I know what you're going through, Minerva. Believe me, I do. But we have to remember that this was something we had no control over. We did the best we could."
Minerva nodded. "I love you, Albus.
"I love you too, my darling" He kissed her gently. "I don't know how, but somehow, we'll get through this together. We'll take it one step at a time."