Minerva awoke in her bed at the first sign of light. Today marked three days since her daughter's death. She couldn't get her out of her mind. Last night she had sat down with an old photo album, flipping through the aged pictures of her children when they were younger. It was amazing how much they had grown up. Minerva also found the baby book Cassandra had made of her grandchildren. Gabriella was a spitting image of her mother, while Alicia was a better mix of both Cassandra and Daniel. Little Esme looked like her mother, but acted like Landon did when he was a toddler. The eldest grandchild however, had been the only one to inherit her grandfather's blue eyes.
However, Albus' bright blue eyes had been very clouded yesterday. It wasn't the same grey that he usually got when he was sad, but a tell-tale sign that something was wrong. After almost fifty years of marriage, Minerva could read him through his eyes. However, she also usually knew the problem. She hated it when he kept information from her, which had to be what he was doing. It would be the only reason he would have acted as distant as he did yesterday.
Rolling over, she slid her hand under the covers to his side of the bed. It was empty. Most of the time he wasn't up before her, but ever since Cassandra's death he had been having trouble sleeping. Not that she had slept well, but she could at least lie down and stay still with her thoughts. Albus would either pace in his study or toss and turn next to her. Come to think of it, Minerva wasn't completely sure he had come to bed last night. Slipping on a robe, she exited the bedroom and went to his study.
"Good morning, Professor." Armando Dippet smiled down at her from above the mantel. She gave him a strained smile in return (portraits had no sense of emotion- no one in their right mind would wish any grieving woman a happy anything). To her disappointment, Albus wasn't there nor did it look like he had even begun the day.
"Professor, has Albus been in here today?" If it was one thing she could count on, it was that the portraits would never lie to her, no matter what Albus had told them.
"Yes ma'am. He spent the night in that chair I believe. Left about two hours ago," he replied, happy to help.
"Before dawn? Where did he say he was going?" Albus was an odd man, but this was slightly out of the ordinary. To her surprise the old man in the picture frame shifted uneasily in his chair and dropped his eyes. "Professor, where did he say he was going?"
"He didn't tell me anything."
"What did you overhear?" Minerva was not in the mood to play games. "Armando, what did you hear?"
"There was a Howler…it was Him." The ex-Headmaster still refused to make eye contact with the now glaring Minerva McGonagall.
"Him who?" Her heart beat faster at the thoughts running through her mind. Hopefully it was an angry Rufus Scrimgeour or an unhappy parent. Maybe even Severus Snape or Argus Filch. As long as it wasn't…
"You-Know-Who."
"What did he want?" It took everything the Professor had to keep her voice from shaking.
"I didn't hear the whole thing…" he started, but seeing the look on the Deputy Headmistress' face he quickly changed the chain of thought. "Professor Snape came in a hurry and they fought about something."
"Details, Armando," she hissed.
"Albus-is-going-to-make-a-trade-with-You-Know-Who." Minerva's eyes flashed with anger, her heart clenching with fear at the same time. How could he do this to her? Without her knowledge? No, that wasn't the correct question. Why would he do this without her?
She rushed back into their rooms and quickly changed into her school robes. Within ten minutes she was informing Filius Flitwick of the situation and why she had to leave. To her surprise, the started Charms Professor mentioned that Severus had also taken the day off. Muttering under her breath, she reached for the door.
"Minerva?" Filius stopped her in concern. She and Albus had just told the entire staff about their marriage and family. He couldn't condole the loss of her daughter, but he wanted to offer his hand in case she needed it. "Are you all right?"
Minerva answered him with all of the honesty she could. "I have no idea."
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Death Eaters prowled along the graveyard, keeping a look out for any members of the Order that Dumbledore might bring along. In the far west corner huddled two men in black cloaks with a boiling pot of some disgusting creation. Three Death Eaters approached from either side, but before any of them could spot the two intruders, there was a small display of red light.
Severus Snape kicked over Antonin Dolohov's motionless body. To his left was Gregory Goyle Sr. He quickly gathered hair and clothing from them before stuffing them into a nearby tomb. Materials in hand, he crept to where Landon and Demetrius Dumbledore were waiting with his recently brewed polyjuice potion. Just in time they finished changing when Severus' Dark Mark burned his skin, calling them to meet with the Dark Lord.
Lord Voldemort waved his most two most trusted servants towards him. Bellatrix and Severus gave deep, honest bows before their master. Short words were spoke between them as Lucius Malfoy guided two young girls with blindfolds on into cemetery. Using his wand he tied them to some humble man's grave while they shivered from the cold and fear. His two friends Dolohov and Goyle joined to help watch the two of them.
"Take of the blindfolds; I want them to see their grandfather give himself up to me." Demetri bent down and undid the cloth around his niece's eyes. They looked at him in terror and anger. His heart broke at the sight of them. The sooner his father showed up, the better. Then everything could go as planned.
Within ten minutes Albus Dumbledore made his grand entrance. The other Death Eaters looked on in wonder at the great wizard, so willing to put his life in the hands of their master for the lives of two useless little girls.
"Grandfather!" cried Gabbi in amazement. Alicia shushed her in a hurry, but relief could be seen in her eyes as well.
"I want them taken to Hogwarts, Tom. Unharmed and handed over to my wife without question. No one else gets hurt." Albus only spoke to Voldemort.
"You seem to forget that I'm the one with the leverage, old man. You are in no position to be making demands." With a vast wave of his hand, Voldemort knocked the two girls back against their gravestone, causing them to cry out in pain.
"Tom," warned Albus, stepping forward. Voldemort continued to ignore him and twisted his wand hand forcing them both to their knees. "Don't do this!"
Voldemort stopped suddenly at his outburst. "Can this be? The almighty Dumbledore gone soft in his years? You think I'd let them go without a show? Crucio!"
Alicia screamed in pain. Tears streamed down her face as she lay panting. Gabbi tried to comfort her but she was tied too tightly. Albus whipped out his wand only to be targeted by close to forty other wands. Slowly, he lowered his shaking hand. There was a wild look in his eyes, one that most people trembled at, but in Voldemort's case it was the sign that he had one. Albus Dumbledore was not going to put up a fight.
However, there were three other people there that were. Demetri silently stunned Lucius from behind and before anyone could notice untied the shaking girls. Alicia looked at him in pure horror, but Gabbi closed her eyes and buried her head between her knees. At the same moment Landon and Severus both, unnoticed to the rest of the Death Eaters, cast the Imperius Curse on two Death Eaters across the circle. Then they forced them to attack the person on either side of them. This small commotion drew the attention away from Albus long enough for Landon to get to him.
Demetri held both of his nieces tightly and disapparated. Landon managed to take hold of his father and do the same before Albus could curse him. Although, once they landed, Landon fell, stunned to the ground. Albus quickly turned his want to the disguised Demetri who was still holding his granddaughters. He had no idea where they were, but he was not leaving without the girls.
"Dad, wait! It's me, Demetri!" Albus never flinched.
"Dolohov, put them down," he murmured. Gabbi was crying loudly now for her grandfather.
"I'm not Dolohov and the man you stunned wasn't Goyle. In about three minutes you'll see," Demetri reasoned. He knew that his father could be a dangerous person when it came to his family; however he'd never been at this end of his wand. Never-the-less, he let go of the girls who scampered to Albus' side as best they could. Alicia was still in some pain from her brief introduction to the Cruciatus Curse. Albus crowded them behind him, wand never leaving Demetri's chest.
In a couple of seconds, Antonin Dolohov began to morph into a more familiar character. On the ground, Landon Dumbledore took Goyle's place. Though his shock was apparent, Albus still didn't lower his wand.
"What is your favorite sweet?" asked Dumbledore suspiciously, causing Demetri to grin.
"Cockroach Clusters." Albus lowered his wand and turned to his grandchildren. Demetri walked over to wake up Landon, muttering, "I still think these questions are ridiculous. When we get back to Headquarters I call a family meeting to change them."
"Did he hurt you? Are you alright?" Albus kneeled and pulled a sobbing Gabbi close to his chest. Alicia was beginning to tear up as well. It didn't take her long to find comfort in his open arms as well. "Hush, loves, you are safe now. Shhhh."
"We don't even get a thank you," complained Demetri, helping his older brother up from the ground. "Uncle Demetri, who you love the most, just rescued you and I don't even get a hug?" Laughing through their tears, Alicia and Gabbi ran to his side. After Landon received their love, he walked to where his father was standing quietly, watching closely.
"Severus told you I was going didn't he." It was more of a statement than a question.
"It doesn't matter how we knew, it's that we did and we got everyone out safe," replied Landon carefully. "We need to get back to Headquarters."
"Yes, of course." Albus still looked very subdued.
"Dad, they are with us now. No one can hurt them anymore." Still seeing no change in his father's demeanor, Landon continued with, "Cassy would never blame you; not for any of this, especially now that her babies are safe. Voldemort can't touch us now that we're together. This family is stronger than any evil he can bring upon us."
Albus watched Demetri heal the girls of any cuts and bruises they had. Alicia would need to be looked at by Madame Pomfrey, but this would do for now. His family was with him now and never again would he let Voldemort touch them.
"Thank you, Landon," he whispered. "Alicia, come with me and Gabbi you go with your Uncle. We're going home." His eldest grandchild grasped his hand and looked up with him with those deep blue eyes. Albus placed a gentle kiss to her temple before apparating to Grimmuald Place.
A/N: Coming up next, Minerva is a tad bit mad that her husband, and sons, ran off to fight Voldemort without her permission. Hehehe. You haven't seen her angry yet. I love writing her mad. :D Leave me love!
