So, basically, I'm sorry it took so long for the next chapter to arrive. I have plenty of excuses consisting of motherhood and family matters, but I will leave them in my home. So, without further or do, here is the long awaited chapter...


Minerva's Point of View

Minerva walked out of the abandoned classroom with a dirty feeling in the pit of her stomach which seemed to both ach and twist at the thought of what has just transpired. She took a deep breath to pitifully attempt to calm herself for her students. She stepped down the last remaining step as she reached the Great Hall. Upon walking through the doors for breakfast, she could hear Severus entering also, just steps behind her. She could almost feel his hot breath on the nape of her neck, just as she had when he scarred her womb with his seed a few moments ago. She shivered at the thought, not sure of whether to scorn him or thank him for what he had done. Perhaps both were in order; however, how he had handled her was not of an intruder, but a lover. This confused Minerva very much, and she pondered this as she reached the Head Table and sat down, filling her plate with waffles and bacon.

Severus sat beside her in his Headmaster Chair, causing Minerva to look at him scornfully. I should have hit him. she thought evilly as she took a bite of waffle as to not let her tongue get the best of her. She knew how her mouth had always seemed to get her in the worst sort of trouble. She glanced quickly at Amycus, who seemed to be looking at her with a sort of amused grin. He had his fun, but was he fully satisfied? Surely he was, seeing Minerva put in that sort of predicament was more than likely a turn on. She glanced at Severus and realized he was searching her face for any sort of emotion to let him know how she was. Minerva was puzzled by this as she took yet another bite. Merlin's beard, he was infuriating. Minerva's thoughts were rudely interrupted by a small voice from the other side of her chair.

"So Minerva, I hear that you have double Transfiguration with the 4th year Gryphendors and Slytherins." Minerva turned to face a short Fillius Flitwick that was looking up at her. Minerva nodded and feigned a smile.

"Yes, Fillius, I do. Why do you ask?" Fillius beamed back at her.

"Just thought I would make some sort of small talk." He replied with almost a sigh. He was right, it was rather quiet at the head table that particular morning.

"What do you think about those two new professors?"

"Well," Fillius seemed to be choosing his words very carefully, "They don't seem to be Ministry appointed, even though Severus says so. Perhaps he was deceived?" Minerva's eyes shot at him in a rather serious manner.

"Severus isn't stupid, if they weren't from the Ministry, he knows. Whether or not he would tell us; however, remains to be seen." Fillius nodded in agreement. "If you would excuse me Fillius, I have a class to prepare for prior to their arrival." Minerva stood slowly and walked up to her private rooms to take a shower before her class.


Severus's Point of View

Severus watched Minerva leave the Great Hall, wondering how her state of mind was, knowing he could never ask. He sighed as he finished his plate of food. The one and only woman he actually thought of a possible mate would never truly be his because of the dark lord's bidding... He suddenly felt the dark mark on his right forearm begin to burn and twist. He knew the very man he despised at this very moment was beckoning for his followers to arrive within the next few minutes. Severus walked out of the Great Hall silently and to his private office, apperating to the destination of the dark lord's will.

He soon arrived to Lucius's Manor. His vision was foggy for a few moments, as apperating will do that to a fellow. As his eyes began to focus he realized he was seated at a long table surrounded by his fellow death eaters. The walls were adorned with a pearl-like blue wallpaper with a gold trimming. The ceiling above him let drape an elegant chandelier with many floating candles and crystals adorning it's silver intricacy. Severus groaned at the overzealous furnishings of the room. Oh how Lucius liked to show off his riches. Severus knew that he only acquired through the help of the dark lord. He was not looking for him though in the dark lord's time of great need, showing his true disloyalty to him. Severus snickered to himself at the thought of Lucius having to suck back up to Voldemort.

Voldemort appeared before them, naturally, at the head of the table. He sat down with almost a snake like grace, swaying to and fro as he settled. He looked at his loyal followers with a cold glare, one that he was well known for. Severus adverted his gaze slightly below his as to not look the dark lord in the eye. The dark lord cleared his throat noisily and the chatter from the other death eaters ceased.

"As you know, our plans to reprimand and capture Mr. Potter have failed in the past, but this time should be different. Keep in mind that I do want to be the one to kill him, so if a single hair on his head is harmed before I get my hands on the boy, you too will suffer his fate." A chill went down Severus's spine at his words. "Severus, how are things at Hogwarts going along?"

"Well, my lord, everything is going according to plan; however, I do wish to discus a certain pressing matter with you if I may."

"You may Severus." Voldemort hissed, almost in an annoyed manner.

"Thank you my lord. Amycus has developed a fondness for Minerva McGonagall and I would like to point out that raping teachers or students could blow our cover. I have overheard a few professors wondering if Amycus and Alecto were actually sent from the ministry. I would like you to, if you would, remind them as to how they should behave." Voldemort seemed angry and turned to Amycus and Alecto. His face was scrunched up and his eyebrows furrowed.

"You are to act like you are on Albus's side when you are there. Any punishment or inquiries on how to behave shall be left to Severus. If there is anymore disputes about this, I will severely punish you both. Amycus's and Alecto's face's fell at this. "Now, is there anything else I should be aware of Severus?"

"No my lord, everything else is going according to plan. The students don't expect a thing and the professors agreed to appoint me Headmaster of Hogwarts without much dispute." Voldemort's face lightened a bit and went back to it's normal snake-like scowl.

"Now, Severus, Amycus, and Alecto, you are excused and shall return to your duties. The rest of you, I have to discuss plans." Severus apperated back to his office and sat in his armchair as his head cleared and vision sharpened. This was going to be an interesting year. Severus's stomach began to churn with the anticipation of food. He glanced up at the grandfather clock standing near the fireplace where he was warming himself from his cold encounter. The clock chimed three in the afternoon and Severus realized that he had missed lunch by two hours.

He pondered everything from his encounter with Minerva to his encounter with the dark lord. What did he mean by plans? Were his plans not to capture Harry arriving at Hogwarts for a horcrux? And as for Minerva, would she ever speak to him again? These thoughts began to plague his mind as he opened a bottle of firewhisky.


Minerva's Point of View

Minerva gathered her things from her classroom in a haste as her final class finished, for she did not want to take her chances with Amycus again. Just because Severus was there the last time to make things a bit more pleasurable, doesn't mean that he would be there every time. Besides, was Severus really that much better? He still took her and scarred her with his seed. Minerva shuddered at the thought of fathering a murderer's baby. She calmed herself at the thought of her old womb that had never bore children, even when she had tried in her marriage before her husband had died. They deemed her unable to mother a child which was her main reason for teaching. She could be close to children and guide them, even though she could never have one of her own.

She grabbed her last book and turned for the door. She knew that her private rooms were just across the hallway, so she sprinted and closed her door behind her quickly and quietly. The books and other arrangement of things that she had gathered from her classroom she placed where they belong, rather enjoying her tidy room. She knew that she would have to face both Severus and Amycus at the dinner table in the Great Hall again in two hours or so for dinner, so she pulled out a bottle of gillywater (a type of wizarding wine). She poured herself a glass and sat in front of her fireplace mulling over the events of the day.

She found that her mind wandered unwillingly to what had happened with Amycus and Severus that morning. How Severus defended her, but then did just as Amycus had commanded. Not to mention that the request was not something that a ministry official would normally enquire of a headmaster to do to one of his fellow colleagues, let alone anyone else. She recalled Severus's apology ahead of time and afterword. They were sincere, but why did he continue with the charade? He could have walked away, couldn't he? Was he really sorry, or was it a front? She had heard it for herself after all, that Severus wanted to bed her, but was that what he had meant?

Such thoughts seemed to plague her mind these days. She sipped her gillywater and stared into the fireplace before her. She watched the flames flicker and crack. They wound themselves around each other in a way that seemed to be an old, sacred dance. The flames licked each other and wound, taking her mind back in time, wishing things could have been different between herself and Severus. If only she knew his true intensions...


Severus's Point of View

Severus, having finished the bottle of firewhisky, walked quite unsteadily down the stairs and to the first floor and stood just outside of Minerva's private rooms. He wasn't quite sure if she was really there or not, but he put an hand to the door and stood against it, wondering if he should knock or not. He wanted to try and explain everything, yet his life depended on her hating him. If only he could have the best of both worlds. He decided against talking with her and walked down to the Great Hall, knowing that dinner would be served in ten minutes or so. He sighed in an agitated manner. He couldn't let his feelings get in the way, for it would not only endanger his own life, but the students' and the other professors' lives as well.

He sat in his seat and waited for the other's to arrive. Soon, students and professors alike began to filter in the room, but Minerva wasn't there. Severus searched and waited for another ten or fifteen minutes, but she still failed to appear through the doors. Severus got up and whisked out of the Great Hall with his robes billowing behind him. A feeling of panic and worry filled him, but he did not let his featured portray his true feelings. He stopped short at the door to her private chambers. He put his ear to the door and heard nothing but a still and uneasy sense of quiet. He could feel his heart pump in his throat and he carefully opened the door. He looked around quickly, feeling his heart quicken.

He relaxed slightly as his gaze befell Minerva sleeping in her armchair beside the fireplace, glass in her hand. He quietly walked up to her and placed the glass on her end table. He carefully picked her up and placed her gently on her bed, proceeding to cover her with her blankets. He kissed her ever so gently on her forehead as to not awaken her and quietly walked out of her rooms. He whispered a few protection spells and enchantments over her door for security and peace of mind, then left for his own rooms, feeling quite tired himself.


I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you for the amazing reviews guys, please keep it up. Also, A huge thanks to my adoring an loyal fans, this story would be nothing without you and your encouragement.