A/N: Thanks for the couple of reviews… That was all the encouragement I needed to publish this next chapter! I have no idea how long this will be… I'm just going to go with it for a while. I might pull in a few other characters, but I think I'm going to leave this one focused mainly on Minerva. I don't know if I want to do a "love" story weaved into this… I want it to be very dramatic, action-packed and suspenseful, but I don't want readers to think "Oh great, another Bonding." I want this to be more like Stephen King meets Mary Higgins Clark. Does that make sense? Anyway, that's the end of my long rant. I hope you all enjoy and stick with it!

PS: Sorry the italics were screwing up… I don't think my mac likes ;)

Keep the reviews coming! I love you all!

Minerva walked to the Great Hall feeling like she'd been hit by the Hogwarts' Express. She had stayed up the rest of the night, not able to go back to sleep after her disturbing dream.

Why had she thought of Donal after all these years? It had been… god, forty years ago easily since his hearing. He had been sentenced to life in Azkaban, and no one had heard anything about him since then.

But had he escaped? Had he been released? Surely not… Not after Grindelwald had used the information he provided to destroy an entire town full of families and young children…

Logically, she argued to herself, there was no reason to believe that anything had changed after forty years.

Still, she had a nagging feeling that something was… off… about the whole thing.

Minerva entered the Great Hall and sat down in her seat, immediately grabbing her mug for coffee. Adding vanilla and caramel, she breathed in the heady scent.

Rolanda Hooch sat down beside her and cast a silencing charm around them.

One thing that most people didn't understand was that Rolanda and Minerva were just about as close as friends could be. They had been in school together and played Quidditch against each other.

Though in different Houses, Minerva in Gryffindor and Rolanda in Hufflepuff, they had always been close friends and confidantes, and during their adult life, they had relied on each other during the Wars. Minerva valued their friendship more than anyone ever knew.

Rolanda turned and narrowed her gold eyes at her friend. "Spill."

"Spill what? My coffee?"

Rolanda rolled her eyes. "Don't be thick. You know that I know something's wrong. Your glamour charms don't go that deep."

Minerva laughed and placed her coffee on the table. "I don't know what to tell you."

"Long story?"

"An unreal story."

Rolanda leaned her arm on the table and propped her head up on her hand. "I'm all ears."

Minerva sighed. "I dreamed last night."

"Congratulations, you and probably a million other people."

Minerva slapped Rolanda's arm and laughed.

"Oh good, I got a laugh from you. Ok, continue."

"As I was saying… I had a dream last night about Donal Bregger."

Rolanda closed her eyes. "Donal Bregger. Donal Bregger. How do I know that name?"

"I testified against him forty years ago and sent him to Azkaban for life."

"The sleaze that stole the Transfiguration texts?"

"The same."

Rolanda narrowed her eyes. "Why are you thinking about him now?"

"I don't know."

"Well what was he doing in the dreams?"

Minerva turned away and picked up her mug. "I don't really remember…"

"Bullshit.

Minerva tightened her grip on the mug. "I don't want to remember."

Rolanda gently touched Minerva's hand. "What happened, Minerva?"

Minerva took a ragged breath and looked up at the sky above her, trying to stop the tears from forming in her eyes. "He had Esmerele."

"Had her…?"

"Bound to a bare metal cot. She had fire binding on her wrists… cuts across her body… a bag over her head… She slapped her, hit her with the Cruciatus curse. She looked so close to death"

"Oh Minerva!"

"And he said she would die… and she just said she would die for me…My baby girl…"

Minerva looked away and wiped her eyes. It wouldn't do to fall apart here in the Great Hall. "Come into the hall with me."

She quickly stood and walked out, Rolanda following behind.

Once they got into the hallway, Minerva collapsed into her friend's arms, tears falling down her face.

"He was going to kill my daughter! I could smell her blood, hear her cries… I could see her perfect green eyes… It was so real…"

Rolanda rubbed Minerva's back in calming, circular motions. "It was just a dream, darling, just a dream. Nothing more."

Minerva pulled away. "I know, but still."

"But still it's scary and disconcerting. But it was just a dream. You don't put any stock into divination, no reason to start now, yeah?"

Minerva gave a small smile. "No reason to start now."

"Good. Better?"

Minerva wiped her eyes. "Yes."

"Alright. Coming back in for breakfast? You look like hell. Drink some more coffee."

Minerva slapped her friend's arm. "Shut up, you don't look like a spring rose either."

Rolanda laughed and walked in, Minerva following behind.

Minerva ate her breakfast with robotic detachment, repeating Rolanda's words in her head.

It was a dream… Nothing more.

It was a dream… Nothing more.

Xxxxxx

Minerva went through her day like always- making her rounds to the classrooms, having conferences with teachers and final year students, and doing endless paperwork.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake her thoughts about Donal Bregger.

By four o'clock, she had had enough.

She sent a quick note to Filius saying that she would be going to the Ministry of Magic for a while and would be back as soon as possible.

Minerva walked out into the crisp autumn morning towards the front gate.

She loved Hogwarts at the start of term. Everything seemed so… fresh and alive. The students weren't anxious to get home for the Holiday Break; the teachers weren't exhausted by the latest antics (that invariably came from the Weasley shop). It was nice.

Looking back at the castle, Minerva closed her eyes and conjured up a picture of the alley across from the Ministry. She felt the familiar pull and when she opened her eyes she was in the dark alley across from the phone booth.

She entered the phone booth and dialed her personal access code, and with a lurch the booth was hurled underground. It came to a stop on the fifth floor where the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shaklebolt, was working.

Minerva exited the booth and made her way down the hall. She stopped and Kingsley's door and knocked.

"Come in."

Minerva opened the door. "Minister…"

"Minerva! A pleasant surprise to see you here!" He shook her hand. "What brings you into the Ministry on this fine day?"

"It's good to see you too. And I have an inquiry about a certain person."

Kingsley nodded and leaned against his desk. He motioned for Minerva to sit in the chair across from him.

Minerva sat down. "It's about a prisoner."

"Azkaban?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"Donal Bregger."

For a brief instant, Kingsley's face fell, but by the moment Minerva had registered it, it was gone. But she had seen it.

"I don't know the name."

"Perhaps I shall remind you…"

"Not necessary, Headmistress. I assure you, nothing is amiss."

Minerva arched her eyebrow. "And if I were to inquire about Donal to some people in Azkaban who are loyal to me?"

Kingsley sighed and threw up his hands. Moving behind his desk, he opened the top drawer on the left and pulled out several pieces of parchment in a file.

"I think this is what you need, Minerva."

Minerva took the folder and opened it.

Donal Bregger

Incarcerated on September 12, 1949

Charges: Accessory to Homicide, High Treason, Crimes against the Wizarding World, Aiding and Abetting, Conspiracy, Espionage, and Obstruction of Justice.

Sentencing: Life Sentence in Azkaban with no chance of Sentence Reduction

Skills: Level Two Transfiguration Master

Registered Animagus: Red Wolf

Wand: 13 1/6 inches Maple, Holly, and American Pine. Core of Dragon Heartstring, Unicorn Hair, and Hippogriff feather. Destroyed upon incarceration.

Wizengamot Trial: May- August 1949. Pleaded Not Guilty.

Note: Minerva McGonagall- Testified for the Prosecution

Minerva looked up at Kingsley. "I know all of this."

Kingsley shook his head. "Next page, Minerva."

Minerva felt her hands began to tremble. She didn't want to turn the page. She didn't want to confirm her suspicions. She wanted everything to be fine.

Most of all, she wanted her daughter to be alive.

With a cold dread in her heart, she turned the page and began to read.

ALERT TO THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

On October 2, 2010, Donal Bregger escaped from Azkaban prison at approximately 2300 hours.

During the routine night inspection, it appears that Bregger attacked a guard. From the injuries, we believe that he sharpened a small piece of rock that had broken off from the walls and used it to stab the guard.

After the attack, we believe Bregger used the guard's wand to unlock his gates and transfigure himself into an animagus or another animal form. The Dementors were alerted when the guard's body was found approximately twenty minutes later, but Bregger was not found on site or in the surrounding waters.

We ask that the Ministry dispatch an Unspeakable Division to search for Bregger immediately.

According to the last assessment made my healers at Azkaban, Bregger has been identified with psychosis. His anger, however, is aimed at a certain person, though he did not disclose the name of this person to anyone in Azkaban. We do not feel that he is a threat to society; however, we believe it is urgent that he is found and taken back into custody.

Sincerely,

Gregory Blaine, Head of Azkaban Prison

Minerva felt herself grow hot with anger.

"AND YOU DIDN'T BOTHER TO TELL ME THAT THE MAN I PUT IN PRISON ESCAPED?"

She threw the file on his desk and stood up, violently pushing the chair back in anger.

"Minerva, you are not in any danger! He can't get to you at Hogwarts!"

"BUT HE CAN GET TO MY CHILDREN!"

Minerva grabbed the back of the chair, bracing herself. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think… Donal had escaped… that reality hit her like an Unforgivable Curse.

Kingsley stared at Minerva. "What did you say?"

Minerva felt the tears gather in her eyes. "My children. I have children…"

Kingsley stood up and moved around his desk to stand face to face with Minerva. "There is nothing in your file…"

"Of course there is nothing in my file! Why do you think my file is so scant to begin with? Haven't you noticed it changes every five minutes? How many wars have I lived through? I watched my mother and father die at Grindelwald's hands! I watched my husband die at Voldemort's hands! Do you think for one second I would let the world know that I had children? I know they would be the first target if someone wanted to get to me!"

Kingsley's head was spinning. "You were married? To whom?"

Minerva rolled her eyes, the tears running down her cheeks. "Albus."

"Oh, Minerva, why didn't you tell me?"

"How could I, Kingsley? My life is a mystery to everyone."

"Does anyone know?"

Minerva sighed. "Rolanda Hooch."

Kingsley gave her an odd look.

Minerva waved her hand in dismissal. "She's a life long friend. She witnessed my marriage."

"Minerva, I need to know who your children are."

Minerva's eyes went wide with fear. "No, I can't… Kingsley, I really can't…"

"Minerva- I need to send a division out to protect them."

She wracked her brain for a solution. "Take an Unbreakable Vow."

"What?"

"Please. Promise me that you won't reveal why you're protecting them or who their parents really are. Promise me, Kingsley. Promise me this won't leave this room."

Kingsley gently took Minerva's hand. He removed his wand and muttered the incantation. A green rope bound their hands together.

"Minerva, I promise I will not reveal your children's real identity, or the identity of their real parents. I promise I will not reveal that you and Albus were married."

The green fell away and Minerva released his hand.

"Who are your children, Minerva?"

Minerva took a deep breath. "Percival Brian, Tessa Rousseau, and Esmerele Brian."

Kingsley's face fell. "Esmerele Brian? The Transfiguration Master? The head of the Society's Department of Research?"

Minerva nodded. "She's mine. Why?"

Kingsley covered his face. "Minerva… I don't want to be the one to tell you…"

Minerva clutched the chair, her heart stopping, stomach lurching, blood freezing… dreading what she was about to hear. "My god, Kingsley, what happened to her? What happened to my baby?"

"She's missing, Minerva. She's been missing for four days."

"Four days…" Minerva fell to her knees, sobbing…

Kingsley ran over to help her up but Minerva pushed him roughly away.

"Details…"

"Minerva…"

"Give me the goddamn details!"

Kingsley sighed. "She didn't show up to the Order and one of her colleagues was worried and went to her house. It was ransacked and there was evidence of a struggle. Her wand was found broken on the floor."

Minerva steeled her voice. "I have to find her."

"Minerva, no. Do no not try to take him on yourself."

Minerva's eyes flared in anger, her emerald eyes turning dark with hate. "Do not tell me what I can or cannot do! That is my daughter! And I am Minerva McGonagall, the most iconic witch and head of the most fabled institution in the Wizarding World! I can do whatever the hell I want to!"

"Minerva, where are you going?"

Minerva jerked the door open. "To Scotland. I have to save my daughter."

"And what makes you so sure you can?"

She froze. "I know where she is."

"Minerva!"

But she was already walking out the door, wand out, and in a flash she apparated, arriving at the pathway of her nightmare.

Xxxxx

A/N: So there's chapter two! I hope everyone enjoyed it. Like how it's shaping up? :D Read and Review! Love and hugs!