A/N: Oops, forgot the Authors Note hahaha good one me!
SO…I apologise, once again, at the lateness of the chapter. I'd make excused (and they'd be good ones – for example my grandmother came over from England today…) but that's a bit lame, so I'll just wear it!
So, for once I'm not sure I can think of anything to say here. The chapter is the last one before we start getting into the nitty gritty of the story and hopefully we can move along quite nicely. Don't forget to keep an eye on my website: www . sites . google . com / site / empoweredbeingsfanfiction /
I try to keep it up to date with my progress and stuff, so check it out if you haven't!

Once again, my wonderful thanks to Spin. Without her, I would be failing in a see of badder grammer then you have ever scene! Loves Ya lol :D

-0-

It was a few hours later that Minerva found herself lost in her own thoughts as she unconsciously traced the lines on the well-worn table in the Weasley's kitchen. She didn't hear Molly come in and boil the kettle, and she even missed seeing the Weasley matriarch tell Harry, Hermione and her youngest children to go and amuse themselves for a while.

"Minerva, are you, did you want to stay?" Molly asked quietly, leaving a steaming cup of tea in front of her former professor. Minerva shifted uncomfortably, as if waking from a dream and smiled up at Molly, who was watching her with a soft expression.

"I, I have yet to talk to Harry, but yes, I would like to if that is agreeable?" she said hesitantly. She knew full well that Molly didn't really have the room, but these were trying times, and besides wanting to make sure Harry was alright, secretly she'd much rather stay here than return to Hogwarts and confront Albus.

"Or course dear." Molly said, pulling a chair around the table to Minerva's side. "Now. We have talked about many things over the years Minerva and I know how private you are, but after this summer and being invited into your home, I'd like to consider myself your friend. Friends help each other out in times of need and right now, you seem to have a great need. Can you tell me what is bothering you?"

Minerva stared blankly up at Molly, who was giving away nothing and sighed, realising that the woman was right. They had met again as adults when Bill was awarded the Quidditch Captaincy all those years ago, and from then Molly had been summoned to Hogwarts more frequently, especially since the twins had started. A quiet friendship had developed without Minerva even realising and she nodded, conceding Molly's point.

"Aye, you are indeed my friend, my dear, but it is nothing, just something I have to work out in my head."

"Bah!" Molly said sipping her tea. "You've known me since I started at Hogwarts, you must know by now that nothing you say to me in confidence will ever pass my lips."

Minerva sighed, knowing she had lost this particular battle. Like it or not, she could not be the great Minerva McGonagall all the time. Harry knew that, Hermione and Ron too. Nevertheless, they were still so young, and Harry was her son. She couldn't offload all her problems onto him, especially those concerning Albus. Minerva stood suddenly, startling Molly, and began to pace the small kitchen back and forth. Molly sat quietly, trying not to draw attention to herself as she waited for her former teacher – and now more recently her friend – to begin speaking.

"It's Albus." Minerva started, pulling at her hair a little. She had become used to wearing it down over the holidays, letting Harry see her more human side, and Albus, her more playful. "He, We -" She stopped and pinched the bridge of her nose, not knowing how to begin.

Molly decided that she would have to take charge. It felt strange bossing the great woman around but it appeared she was in desperate need of it, so she stood, took Minerva by the shoulders, and pushed her into a chair, handing her the cup of tea she had previously abandoned and stared at her hard.

"Minerva, how about we start at the beginning?" Molly said gently, but firmly. "I know you and Albus are together. A blind person could see it, especially at Harry's birthday party. But what has happened since then?" Minerva shifted uncomfortably, knowing that if Molly could see her necklace, she would probably have commented on it by now.

"Some of it I cannot tell you." Minerva said finally and Molly nodded, knowing full well what it was like in such worrying times. "But we found something that will aid us in the upcoming war, something special. Molly gasped.

"War? You don't mean-"

"I'm afraid so. It was something we always knew would happen, Molly. He Who Must Not Be Named has unfinished business and will return. However, that is not what I was saying; Harry found it first with Ron and Hermione, and then they took us along as well. It was marvellous." she said wistfully, remembering the times they had enjoyed over the holidays, before that fateful conversation with Merlin. "Albus and I were examining it, before I was sent away, leaving Albus alone. When he came back, he was distant and cold. We returned to the house together, but then he just left." Minerva didn't realise she had tears running down her face until Molly squeezed her hand gently. "I hadn't seen him until yesterday, when I returned to Hogwarts to prepare for the Tournament. He was equally distant then, avoiding me like avoiding me like dragon pox, as though I had done something wrong." In an uncharacteristic move on Minerva's part, she gripped Molly's hand and looked her younger friend in the eye. "Am I that offensive that he suddenly finds me repulsive?"

All the years of wishing for a daughter stood Molly in good stead as she rubbed Minerva's shoulder gently. She desperately wanted to give the woman some comfort, but she knew very well what Minerva was like, and could only imagine how it would most likely be amplified when she was upset.

"No Minerva, it's not you. Men are like this, they get an idea into their head and sometimes it overwhelms them to a point where they can no longer see anything else. My Arthur does it all the time, and you have to give them a little space to figure it out, before going in there and making them talk about it." Minerva chuckled at the thought of Molly badgering Arthur until he gave up his secrets, but she just couldn't see herself doing that to Albus.

"He has so many secrets." Minerva whispered. "I entered into this relationship knowing that I could never truly have all of him, but I was happy with what he was giving me."

"He is a great man," Molly agreed, "but even great wizards are still simply men at heart Minerva."

"He wants to talk." she said, waving her hands a little at the ridiculousness of it. "As if that can suddenly wash away all the hurt he has caused." Molly clicked her tongue and patted Minerva's hand in response.

"You let him talk Min. I know he hurt you, but this could be his reasoning behind it. If it is acceptable to you, then you talk about it, learn from it, and move on. If it is not, then you talk about it, learn from it, make sure to make him feel it for a while, and then you move on." she said, making them both chuckle. "Men go mad when you start playing hard to get." she said with a wink, making Minerva's face heat up. She suddenly felt like the student and Molly merely smiled to ease her worries. "I have been married for 25 years Minerva – you don't need to blush."

Hearing that only made Minerva colour more. When had she become so old? She looked down at her hands and once again noticed how they were looking younger with every passing day, and she knew that if she looked in a mirror, she would look more like she had when she finished college than her actual age. The prospects were frightening, yet exciting. She had the chance to relive her youth again, and do things differently. This was not an opportunity to pass up.

"I, I am not inexperienced." she said awkwardly. "I, I have simply never really been in a relationship that was of a very serious nature as this one seems to be, nor have I been in any relationship for, well, rather a long time." Molly smiled and nodded, knowing that if any comment she made was deemed inappropriate then this conversation would be over, and would likely never happen again. And besides, Minerva McGonagall needed this, whether she knew it or not.

"Welcome to the sisterhood dear." Molly said kissing her cheek and taking her cup. Minerva smiled gently, feeling loved. She had always been bookish as a child, never joining any groups or clubs aside from Quidditch, her first love. She was so like Hermione in that way. She knew that if the young girl hadn't made friends with Harry and Ron she no doubt would have grown up quite similarly.

"It is good, to be included." Minerva said absently, not realising she had said it aloud. "I never once thought I would have what I have now, or be what I am." she said quietly, refusing to look at Molly. "I have a son; a son whom I love with every part of my being." She looked up at Molly. "How do you love more than one? I can't begin to understand it."

Molly leaned back in her chair and glanced at her very useful clock, with each hand appointed to her family and watching them slowly tick back to normality.

"When you fall in love, you feel as if your heart is full, and couldn't possibly hold any more love. Then you have a child and it swells, the love, exponentially, as if there's no limit, and once again you think you can't love anything else. Then you have another and it's as if your heart knows no bounds, for it just grows and grows and grows, and you almost can't believe you can feel that much love." She looked up to see Minerva watching her intently. "But you can, and you do." Minerva smiled at Molly and the woman was struck with how beautiful Minerva was. "Go and talk with him, see what he says." she said getting up to leave.

"Molly," Minerva said suddenly, gripping the woman's wrist. "Thank you." Molly shrugged it off and patted her hand.

"Of course dear. Now I must go and see where my boys are. Merlin knows what they're creating in that room of theirs. Percy will probably turn up to work with a tail if I let them keep this up. I only hope you can keep them in line up at the school, Minerva." Minerva chuckled.

"I'm sure we'll do just fine Molly. They're good boys, if a little, enthusiastic." Molly left the kitchen shaking her head at the amazing turn of events that had just occurred, leaving Minerva to collect her thoughts alone.

-0-

"Min?" came a small voice from behind her, making her jump a little.

"Piseag [Kitten]?" Minerva said when she saw Hermione. "Darling what's wrong?"

Hermione flew into her arms and hugged the woman for all she was worth, leaving Minerva quite confused.

"I'm a terrible person." she said quietly. Minerva scoffed and drew Hermione's head away from her shoulder.

"Why on earth would you say that?" Minerva asked.

"Because I was party to slavery."

"What?" Minerva said incredulously. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"House elves. I'd never really understood before, but they're slaves and I used them." she wailed into Minerva' shoulder.

Minerva rolled her eyes and simply sat with a weeping Hermione until Ron and Harry came to look for her.

"Blimey, what happened?" Ron said with a frown.

"House elves." Minerva said simply, winking to Harry who was happy to see her eyes shining just a little clearer than before. He had no idea what Molly had said, but he had sensed the oppressing feeling of despair lift from Minerva and for that, he was grateful.

"Right, um, well Mum said we should get to bed, 'you've had a trying day' she says. Honestly, you'd think we just spent too long in the sun." Minerva pursed her lips and glared at Ron a little.

"You mind your tone Ronald." she said sternly, making him gulp. "She is a wonderful mother and you should be proud to have her." Ron looked a little uncomfortable at Minerva coming to his mother's aid.

"Um, yeah, I mean, I do, but, well." He looked at Harry who just shrugged and then sighed. "Well, she's my Mum." Minerva laughed and tugged him closer, wrapping her arm around him from where she was sitting.

"You kids are so good." she said shaking her head. "Now, who's going to tell me where I am sleeping?"

"Um, I think you're having the girls' room." Ron said contemplatively. "And I think they're having the spare room, while Bill and Charlie are camping out the back."

Minerva nodded decisively and pushed a perturbed Hermione from her knee with a smirk. The girl thought she hadn't known she was simply enjoying a cuddle now. The house elf dilemma would surely keep for another day. They all trekked up the wooden stairs, coming to a stop in front of the girls' old room.

"Hermione, I'll take you to our room." Ginny said with a bashful wave at Harry and Minerva. Not that she minded McGonagall; it was just weird to have her staying in the house with them.

"Oidhche mhath piseag [Goodnight Kitten]." Minerva said with a smile, pressing her lips to Hermione's forehead. "See you in the morning."

Hermione hugged Minerva and leaned up to kiss her cheek before following Ginny to their new room.

"Goodnight my boys." she said with a smile, hugging Ron then Harry, and pressing a kiss to each of their heads. "Cadal sàmhach [peaceful sleep]."

"G'night Min." Ron said, walking upstairs to his room and leaving Harry to say his own good night.

"Tha gaol agum ort. [I love you]" she whispered when he hugged her once more.

"Tha gaol agam ort-fhèin. [I love you too]" he said back with a smile. "I'm glad you're feeling better." he said as he left her standing in the hall. She desperately wanted to call him back, and he desperately wanted to go back, but instead Minerva silently watched him go, waving goodnight to him as he paused at the door, before slipping into her room.

-0-

She sat gently on the bed, letting the day's tension leave her body slowly. It felt strange to depend on someone other than herself; it was something she'd never had to do. Transfiguring a blanket into a nightgown, she sank into the bed and tried to sleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, however, she felt the fear that had gripped her heart and she couldn't help but groan, pounding her pillow as she rolled over and over, trying to find some semblance of peace so that she could finally get the rest she needed. Just as she was about to give up on sleep completely, her door opened and a young man stepped through the door.

"Màthair?"

"Mo mhac? [my son]" she said, sitting up suddenly. She couldn't believe she had been so caught up in her own feelings that she hadn't registered that Harry would be feeling tendrils of her own sadness. "Harry, I'm fine, go back to bed mo chiall [my darling]."

"You're not fine, and I will go to bed, but only in here." he said firmly, getting in beside her.

"Harry." she said pinching the bridge of her nose. She desperately wanted him with her so that she knew he was really alright, and that she wasn't just dreaming. However, a part of her wanted to stick to the stoicism that had been a constant in her life.

"Màthair, I need this as much as you do." he whispered. "I, it was all so confusing today, last night I mean. And I nearly, well I was stunned and when I woke up I realised that I didn't ever want to lose you." Harry turned to her, taking her hand gently. "I can't lose you Màthair, not now I've found you."

"Oh baby." she said gently, tugging him closer as she lay down. She wrapped him into her arms and they let themselves relax into each other, Minerva sighing happily as she felt the love Harry had for her wash over her like a warm blanket. It lulled her gently into a semi-conscious state where all her fears, the trepidation of meeting Albus and the dread of nearly losing Harry simply fell away. Her eyes drooped heavily and she was almost to the point of sleep when the bed dipped once more.

"Jus' me Professor." Ron said quietly. "Jus' wanted to make sure you're alright." he said settling down next to Minerva, who turned slightly to capture his hand.

"We're fine mo gille [my boy]." she said squeezing his fingers.

"I know, but thought I'd better make sure." he grunted, his only give-away was in the squeeze he returned of her hand.

"Minerva?" came a voice from the door.

"Come on Hermione you're late." Harry said, laughter colouring his voice as Hermione huffed and got in next to him.

"You could have told me." she grumbled, placated slightly as Minerva ran her hand through Hermione's hair.

"We're all here now sweetheart." she said gently, smiling when Hermione stopped her hand and took it into her own. "Goodnight mo chlann [my children]." she said tiredly, finally closing her eyes. The kids smiled happily, knowing that as she finally fell asleep their plan had worked.

-0-

The following morning saw all four of them waking up slowly. Harry was came to first and lay in Minerva's arms, marvelling once again at how lucky he was. When he was here, he didn't have to think about anything else. He could just be Harry, and Minerva loved him anyway. Ron woke up next, looking over at Harry and the girls, before hastily hopping out of bed and leaving the room, disturbing Hermione and Minerva in the process.

"Where's he going?" Hermione asked, still half asleep. Minerva glanced over at Harry, who smiled as he shrugged, making Minerva chuckle.

"It's a boy thing, my darling." she said to Hermione, who was already falling back to sleep.

"Weird." she mumbled into Minerva's shoulder. Minerva smiled and ran her hand through Harry's hair.

"You're not going to dash off too are you, my boy?" she asked with a tiny smirk on her face. Harry blushed and shook his head.

"Um, no."

"I'm sorry." she said pretending to pout a little, making him laugh.

"I like it here." he admitted quietly, frowning when Minerva's face fell.

"Well, you are staying here for another week and then going back to Hogwarts, you weren't going to go back to the Manor anyway." she huffed sadly, worried that he hadn't really enjoyed his time with her. Harry shook his head and leant it against her cheek.

"Màthair! I like it here, with you I mean. For so many years I got nothing; no love, no kindness and now here I am and you love me!" he said smiling cheekily. Minerva couldn't help but laugh, waking Hermione up in the process.

"Urgh, what time is it?" she asked over Minerva's shoulder.

"Breakfast time!" Ron said leaning around the door. "Mum said you'd better come down, because with all of us here, its first come first serve," he said happily, "and I might just be first."

"He's so ridiculous." Hermione said shaking her head. Minerva raised an eyebrow at her comment, but let it go. The girl seemed to have a lot to say about Ron lately, but she decided that she had better wait until they were alone before bringing it up. It wouldn't do to embarrass her in front of Harry.

"Alright then, up we get." Minerva said, throwing the covers off her and Harry, pretending not to notice as Hermione kept a firm grip on her side.

"I'm going in the shower." Harry said, still completely oblivious to Hermione's obvious discomfort.

"Piseag [Kitten]? What's wrong?" Minerva said, tying the knot of the dressing gown she had quickly Transfigured from a cushion.

"I, It's alright when it's dark, but, I don't know, Harry can see me in the light. I'm not pretty or anything and I don't want him to think I'm repugnant." She said shyly, pulling the covers tighter around her body. Minerva clicked her tongue and ran a soothing hand over the girl's head.

"You are beautiful Hermione. You are absolutely perfect the way you are." she said gently. "I don't want you ever to think otherwise."

"But I'm nothing." Hermione whined. "I'm smarter than anyone I know and they hate me for it. I just wish I was pretty like Lavender, or Ginny even and I-"

Minerva put a stop to Hermione's tirade, placing a finger over the girl's lips.

"You. Are. Beautiful." she declared with a smile. "And it doesn't matter if you believe me or not. Just you wait my dear – one day soon there will come a time when everyone will realise it, just as you will." she said with a wink, pulling Hermione up into her arms. "Mo álain bana-phrionnsa [my beautiful princess]." she whispered, translating it with a smile that mirrored Hermione's own.

"Now, let's get to breakfast before they eat it all. Then you and the others are off to Diagon Alley to get your school things, and I must return to Hogwarts."

"Are you really not going to tell me what is happening this year?" Hermione asked, putting on her best smile. Minerva shook her head and tweaked Hermione's nose.

"No I'm not, now get on with you."

Hermione ran from the room still giggling at Minerva even as Minerva herself laughed quietly. Nothing about her life was how she had ever imagined it being, but she couldn't help but thank whatever gods were listening for making it so. All she had to do now was hold her nerve when she met with Albus. That would be the hardest part, but the children – she smiled when she corrected herself in her head, her children – had helped immensely with her nerves and her discomfort. The rest would be up to her.