Now you know why she fears his name….
She assumed it was another day gone because Lord Voldemort had returned. He was smiling even though Minerva couldn't see she knew and she was right since he soon burst in to a cold high pitched laugh. "Your lover is on his way hot on the trial to his destruction."
"Why?"
"Why, What?"
"Why, my lord? It seems your master meant nothing to you."
"True he was just another pawn in my plan for power and immortality. Though revenge is so sweet, it is more or less because your lover is one of the few I fear." He laughed and kissed her. "Ah, my pet, I will miss this when you are dead."
She would have looked away in disgust if she could. She was infected and in pain. Broken and starving, there was just no strength left. He laughed coldly. "Time is precious; I better make good use of it." He said with a horrid grin.
He picked up and serpent shaped dagger and smiled before he put it down. He picked up a quill with an extremely sharp edge. He smiled at her and walked around to her back. She didn't know what was going on until she felt the quill cut her skin. She cried out and he laughed as he continued to carve into her skin. Minerva wished she knew what he was doing exactly, but she would never know unless she had a mirror to see behind her. After a long hour of his carving he went to a cauldron in front of her and picked up the black dust within it.
Smiling her returned to behind her and threw the dust at her back. She screamed in pain as the dust settled into the wound. It was like having a paper cut and then having salt rubbed into it, only ten times more painful. "I always wanted to try that." He said with a laugh.
Minerva started to cry again as he came around. It pleased him to see her so miserable. "We have little time left together and I have been itching to practice my torture techniques. Unfortunately there is little left I can do to you without damaging your precious cargo. So I suppose she will have to do." He went over to the bed and had his way with her until she stopped struggling or making any attempts to be strong. "Pity they don't last long." He said laughing hard. "Oh well, watching them squirm is almost as good." Then he pulled out his wand. "Crucio!" he bellowed and Poppy screamed and twitched as the pain burned through her. He didn't let her go either. Minerva watched as Poppy took the pain for half an hour before finally she just stopped and he put away his wand.
"She's unconscious." He sighed sadly. "Oh well I have no more use for her. She can die now for all I care." He turned up the steps and left. As soon as the door shut Minerva burst into tears again. Where was Albus? He should have been here by now. Finally in despair she allowed herself some sleep.
She woke several hours later and the house was quiet. Even when Lord Voldemort didn't see them she would often hear his servant rummaging about upstairs or even in the shadows of the room. But now it was silent and felt almost deserted. That's when she heard the door open and someone creep down the stairs. Her vision was impaired and blurry so she didn't recognize the wizard, then he gasped in horror when he saw her and Poppy. "Albus! Get down here!" He yelled up the stairs. It was Aberforth and they were saved.
She heard Albus come running down the stairs making a racket of noise as he did so. She saw him freeze in front of her. "Go find some clothes." He said and Aberforth nodded and ran back up the stairs. She tried to talk but no sound came out. "Oh, Minerva…" he whispered and he ran up to her. He kissed her passionately and then saw the crank behind her on the wall. He turned it and lowered her to the ground. He flicked his wand and the metal cuffs on her wrists broke apart.
He caught her and held her close as he rocked her back in forth. She began to cry trying to tell him, but couldn't and he stopped. She was barely able to look over and saw Lord Voldemort standing by the stairs and Aberforths feet were just visible on the steps. He laughed coldly and Albus stood. Just as he raised his wand he curled over in pain and clenched his stomach. "Interesting how dragons poison doesn't affect her, but will kill you." Laughed Lord Voldemort and Albus fell to his knees.
He coughed and sputtered blood. "NO!" she finally cried out.
"Your lips are poison, my pet." Taunted Lord Voldemort.
Then somewhere from the dark someone called out "Artimus!" and Minerva woke. Her startling awaking from that cruel and so real dream awoke Poppy as well. But Minerva only saw her attempt to say. Unfortunately she could not say anything nor could she move much.
She hung there in silence. Then like in her dream it was an eerie unearthly silence for the house. She whimpered as she heard someone open the door and quietly sneak down the stairs. Everything from the gasp to Albus running up to her came true. He had not kissed her yet, but that was about to change. He looked her in the eyes and she looked in his. Aberforth returned with black robes. "All I could find." He said.
"That's fine, please dress Poppy. By her looks she needs to go to St Mungos now."
"I agree. What about Minerva?"
"She I dazed but still with us, mostly. I will take her to Autumn."
"Alright."
Albus flicked his wand and the chains let go her and he caught her. She felt him put the soft robes on her gently. "Albus…" she said.
"Shhhh, it's over. Please don't speak."
"But…"
"No." and he kissed her with a passion like her dream. She started to cry and he looked at her worried.
A flash of red light and Aberforth was flying across the room. Albus put her down and turned swiftly to face Lord Voldemort. He laughed and Albus drew his wand. "Swift death, friend." Said Voldemort.
"I am no friend of…" and he fell to his knee in sudden pain trying to recover he scrambled to get up, but it only got worse. He spat out blood and coughed hoarsely. Minerva was able to drag herself to the wall as she sobbed unable to help him.
"Such the serpent she is… her lips are poison." And Minerva cried harder.
She heard a shuffle beside her and she saw Voldemorts Servant. She realized she had moved into the darkness. Voldemort was still concentrating on Albus when it hit her. His servant was Artimus.