A/N: Another update! Please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Tears were falling from Albus' eyes so rapidly, surging into his field of vision, it was a wonder he could see to cast spells at all. But he and Gellert were fighting to the death this time. There was no other way for Albus to break free, and Gellert knew his enchantments could never erase his atrocities twice.
"Albus, please, just let yourself forget! We could be happy down here, you were happy down here!" Three spells one of which Albus failed to block, zipped out during this plea. ALbus could feel an aching in his left shoulder, and tried to ignore it, "You would leave all of this for her?" Albus managed to get a gash on Gellert's flawless face.
"She has power, Gellert, but unlike you sh would never abuse it. Minerva respects all forms of life." Albus began casting destructive charms at the ceiling as well, chunks were falling, and yet they were fighting beside the scene in the McGonagall mansion.
"If you leave this paradise, you will never be allowed to return," Gellert screamed, desperate, "I will be forced to throw what remains of you in the tower!" He looked up and Albus realized: He was in Nurmengard.
"So you treat me as a prisoner, Gellert? Are you that desperate to see me?" His left side was aflame with agony, another spell hit his left foot.
"My victory was meant to be shared with you, Albus, we had always talked…" Albus had managed to bind Gellert's right leg, and the rope was squeezing boa constrictor like. This bought Albus time to blast a gaping hole in the ceiling. He conjured a rope ladder casting jinxes as he ascended.
"No, Gellert, you talked, I argued. It is never acceptable to take life. It is not our privilege to kill beings. We do not have the mental capacity to fully understand the implications of it. Gellert was free of the rope and moving toward the ladder. Just as Albus was within reach of the top, Grindelwald set it on fire. Albus quickly pulled himself up, but could hardly bear the pain in his left shoulder now. Below, Albus could see his opponent climbing stairs he had transfigured from debris. But it was too late, Albus knew where he was now: the basement of Nuremgard, Gellert's prison for his worst enemies. This palace had been carved from the rock at the very foundation of the tower.
"And so you beded the Scottish whore for her morals? I didn't realize you would fall so easily to a harpy's tricks." Albus was frantically trying to destroy the door to the cell they occupied. But Gellert was now up the stairs. And ready to fight again. Below, Albus could still glimpse the collapsed form of his wife, lying in an alarming pool of blood.
"I love her, Gellert. She is the most beautiful, kind, courageous, powerful witch I have ever met. Albus sent Gellert flying against a well and heart at least three ribs crack.
"It's true, she is very powerful , and a pureblood. It's a pity she won't live to bear the powerful pureblood child she carries." He wheezed. This had exactly the desired effect. Albus' eyes widened.
"You can't lie to me, Grindelwald," Albus choked out. He finally managed to inflict damage on the cell door.
"Exactly. You must know I'm not lying. That child is the only reason I didn't kill her outright." This time, his spell made it as far as Albus' right knee. "Once I was told it was your child, I knew I had to keep the bitch alive, if only for the sake of the fetus."
Albus had broken through the door. With one last massive effort, he brought aprison of debris down around Gellert. The knowledge of a child gave him new strength. Doors flew open before him and he soon reached a Ministry of Magic guard. After sending them for Grindelwald, he dashed to an apparation point outside the tower.
*!*!*!*
The scene to which he arrived was gruesome. Minerva was still bleeding from when she had hit her head falling from the stairs. Apollo and Juno were barely standing, fighting back to back. Deirdre and Neptune were guarding Minerva, and the Healers were casting spells from behind an overturned oak table. There were six dark wizards left. Albus leveled the rest within moments of his arrival. The reaction was chaos. No one seemed to register shock at his appearance. The Healers went into action. Neptune was sent to call St. Mungo's, Deirdre scrambled to fetch their potion chest, Poppy mended Minerva's cut, and after a hasty diagnostic, Healer Doughan began casting counter-curses on Juno and Apollo.
"I knew, if you were alive, you would rescue us," Apollo croaked, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"Poppy, is Minerva pregnant?" Albus did not waste time, he had to know the truth.
"What?" Healer Doughan cast a quick spell at Minerva, before turning back to his work. Poppy bit her lip, waiting for the result. There was little chance of a baby surviving all Minerva had been through. Minerva's stomach was emitting a soft white glow.
"Healer Doughan!" She cried in shock.
"Holy Prospero, she is!" He stopped for a brief moment, on to furiously return to casting spells. Deirdre reappeared with a case of potions.
"Give Minerva all of that yellow one," Poppy ordered. Albus held her mouth open as Deirdre poured in a liquid that smelled oddly of daisies. Minerva soon sputtered back to consciousness.
"Albus!" It would have been a scream if she had had the energy to back it. It came out as a frantic whisper. Albus pulled her up to wrap her arms around his neck. He flet warm tears on his neck.
"Shhh…Darling, I am here. I will keep you safe."
"Aye, you had better." Apollo coughed.
Minerva turned to see her mother and father and began crying in earnest. Healer Doughan and poppy were frantically casting spells and administering potions.
"Minerva, I don't know if I can save them," Healer Doughan apologized, "Your mother's major organs are shutting down. And your father has internal bleeding we can't stop. I've never seen dark sells such as these. They are slipping away quickly; I don't think St. Mungo's will make it in time."
Neptune rushed in, "They will be here in five minutes!" He saw the depressed looks in the room.
"Eh, lad, you've done the best you could," whispered Juno. "At least we die at home, together."
"Exactly, my bonnie." Apollo grinned painfully, "And we know our family is safe. Albus, you protect our daughter and grandchild. Minerva, look after him, you won't find a better man. Raise our grandchild to be a proud McGonagall."
"Neptune, marry that girl." Juno jerked her head toward Dierdre, "Dierdre keep him out of trouble."
"But, your grandchildren! You'll never get to see them," Albus pleaded, his eyes streaming as well. Minerva gasped, and, had Albus not been holding her, nearly fainted.
"Well, You'll have to raise them properly, Albus, Minerva…" Neptune winked, "I'm getting a bit old to put up with infants."
"Tell them we died fighting, won't you?" Juno smiled.
Neptune was in a quiet shock, staring and standing. Minerva was in a near hysteria, "No! Ma! Da! Don't leave me!"
"Minerva Persephone Dumbledore, don't make this harder. Your father and I are at peace. You are safe, and, in time, you will be happy again. This display is not becoming of a proud Scottish witch." Instantly, Minerva composed herself.
"Yes, mother," She whimpered.
Quiet goodbyes were said, and just as the St. Mungo's team arrived, Apollo and Juno McGonagall left this world surrounded by their family.
*!*!*!*
On the other side of the globe, in the mountains of Tibet, a twelve-year-old girl sobbed in the middle of her afternoon meditation.
A/N: Let me know what you think!