A/N: Cliffhangers are really mean, so here's the next chapter for you all. And thanks to everyone who has reviewed. If you haven't, you should. Or not. No pressure. Anyway, this chapter solves a problem and creates another. So...sorry about that. Enjoy!

Chapter Twelve

"Minerva, wait," Albus said, releasing her from his grasp and pulling away.

She blinked, trying to return to reality. "Why?"

"We cannot do this. You are in a vulnerable state. I should not have taken advantage of you. I'm very sorry."

"You did not take advantage of me, Albus. I kissed you," she pointed out.

Albus sat down on the sofa in the small sitting area of his office, his face in his hands. What had he done? He shouldn't have responded to her kiss, even if she did initiate it. She had been through so much. She surely did not know what she was doing. She didn't love him, she loved Tom. She needed time. Albus should have been stronger, for her sake. He would end up hurting them both. He took a deep breath and chose his words very carefully. "Minerva, you've just been through a very trying time. I understand that you might need…physical comfort. But please don't put me in this position. It isn't fair to you and…I can't do it."

Minerva sat beside him, but allowing a safe distance between them. He seemed so upset. She didn't quite know why. He had certainly responded to her kiss with fervor. He obviously could kiss her, but why wouldn't he? She could tell that he loved her. Maybe she was wrong? Did he still only see her as his student and therefore off limits? "I don't understand, Albus. You've always been honest with me before, and now you're being a little cryptic. Please explain," she said, wanting to reach out and take his hand, but refraining.

He slowly turned to face her. Her expression warmed his heart, though it shouldn't have. She had such concern in her eyes. Concern for him. She was quietly waiting for him to speak. He couldn't disappoint her, but he wasn't quite ready to profess his love for her. That certainly would not be fair to either of them, nor was it appropriate at the current time. Again, Albus weighed his words very carefully before speaking. "I do not presume to know exactly what you are thinking or feeling in this moment, but I do think that I am not the one you want to be with. You are still in love with Tom Riddle. Not the Tom Riddle that hurt you so deeply, both physically and emotionally, but the Tom Riddle that you went to school with, the Tom Riddle you trusted. I do want to comfort you and take care of you, Minerva, but we cannot pretend that you feel anything for me beyond friendship. This kiss was a mistake, and I'm very sorry."

Now she did take his hand, smiling. "I'm not sorry, Albus. You are a dear, sweet, silly wizard. Haven't you been listening to what I've been saying? Any affection I had for Tom Riddle, either the man he is, was or pretended to be, was a complete lie. I was with him for almost ten years, and yet the person I was most excited to see and spend time with and share my life with was not Tom Riddle. It was you. It has always been you since the day we met. I've had a crush on you since I was about twelve years old. I didn't even realize it had grown beyond that. But Tom did. I think that's why he was so adamant on keeping me away from you. He knew what it took me until this very morning to figure out. And this kiss proved it. You make me feel things with a simple touch that Tom couldn't ever elicit from me. Don't you see the way I look at you? Don't you understand, Albus? And do not deny your feelings because you think you are protecting me. I know how you look at me. I know how you just kissed me. Those things do not lie. And neither do I. I have never been more honest than I am right now."

Albus listened to her with wide eyes. His mind was in complete disbelief. Could she really mean what he thought? That perhaps her feelings matched even a fraction of his? He didn't doubt her sincerity, but he was still so unsure. But this time it was Albus who acted without thinking of the consequences. He leaned toward her and, very softly, kissed her sweet mouth. Minerva smiled under his lips and responded eagerly. She threw her arms around him and tangled her fingers in his long auburn hair. He took her in his arms. She had never felt so safe and at home. She had never been so happy in her entire life. Minerva McGonagall had never been truly loved before this moment, and she knew it.

A loud CRACK ripped through the air, startling Albus and Minerva into pulling apart. A small house-elf stood in the middle of the room, trembling and crying. Minerva immediately stood up and went to her.

"Asta! What's the matter?"

The elf sobbed uncontrollably, and Minerva bent down and took the little creature in her arms. As she comforted her, Minerva turned to Albus and explained, "She's one of my parents' elves. I can't imagine why she's come to me." She returned her attention to the elf. "Asta, I cannot help you if you do not tell me what the matter is. Please try to calm down."

The little elf sniffed and took a few deep breaths before she was finally able to speak. "Bad things has happened, Miss Minerva. Very bad things. I is only one who knows. Please believe me, Miss Minerva."

"Of course, Asta! But what's happened? Are my parents alright?"

She shook her head and began crying again, but was still able to explain. "Bad boy, Tom Riddle, came into the house. I is not liking bad boy, Tom Riddle. I is hiding very quiet in closet, staying out of bad boy, Tom Riddle's way. I sees everything, Miss Minerva. He is first taking my Lord and Lady's wands, killing all the other house-elves with green lights. He is killing my Lord with my Lady's wand. He is hurting my Lady with his wand, asking my Lady where you is, Miss Minerva. But my Lady, she says nothing. But he keeps hurting her. She screams and screams, but I is not going to her, Miss Minerva. I is bad house-elf. I is so sorry, Miss Minerva!"

Minerva's entire body went numb. Her heart might have stopped beating, she wasn't sure. She couldn't breathe or speak or feel.

Albus came to the two of them and quietly asked, "Asta, is Lady McGonagall dead?"

"No, sir. She is alive. But she is not herself. Bad boy, Tom Riddle, leaves. My Lady wakes up and cries, saying she is killing my Lord and so upset. But she is not killing my Lord. I sees it, Miss Minerva! But my Lady is not believing me. My Lady tells me to get Ministry people, but I is coming straight here, Miss Minerva. You must help your mother, Miss Minerva. She is not knowing what is happening!"

Albus understood right away. "Tom modified her memory. We must get her to St. Mungo's before she does anything else. Thank you, Asta, for coming here first. You did a very good thing, and I'm sure your Lady will appreciate it."

The little elf nodded and turned to Minerva. "I is sorry for your loss, Miss Minerva. Can Asta do anything?"

Minerva was still in shock. She was sitting stock still, staring off into space. Albus wasn't quite sure what would be best for her, but Lady McGonagall needed their help. Minerva would never forgive herself if she failed to act in this circumstance.

He gently put an arm around her and lifted her to her feet. "Minerva, we need to take care of your mother. She needs our help, my darling."

She blinked back to reality. Albus was right. They needed to help her mother. "Right. Yes. Asta, can you take Albus and me to the house?"

The elf nodded, took them both by the hand, and apparated them to the McGonagall Estate. All three of them rushed up the path to the house. Minerva ran though the corridors, shouting for her mother. She finally found her in the drawing room, sobbing over Lord Raffety McGonagall's lifeless form. Minerva almost went into shock again upon seeing her father's body, but she had more important things to do at the moment. She took her mother's arm and led her out of the room.

Albus was in the hallway when Nairna, led by Minerva, came out. "I'll take care of Lord McGonagall, if that's alright. Stay with your mother, and I'll be back with the right people." She nodded and took her mother into one of the spare bedrooms. It would be better to be in a room with less obvious reminders of her father.

They sat on the bed together. Nairna sobbed onto Minerva's shoulder. But Minerva would not allow herself to cry. She could cry later. Right now, she needed to be strong for her mother, just as her mother had been strong for her so many times before.

"I'm so sorry, Minerva."

"Why should you be sorry, Mother?"

"I can't explain it, but it was me. I killed your father. I killed my husband. I took my wand and performed the Killing Curse. I wish I hadn't."

"Mother, you did no such thing."

Nairna didn't seem to hear her. "He killed all the house-elves, except Asta. I don't know why he kept Asta. But I got so angry. I didn't understand. I know you would rather have had it the other way, having me gone and him still here. I know I would if I were you. I wish I were dead. But I soon will be. They'll give me the Dementor's Kiss for this."

Minerva forced her mother to look her in the eyes. "They will do no such thing. Albus and I will make sure of it. And no more of this nonsense about me wishing it were you. If it were up to me, I'd have both of my parents forever. You are the only family I have now, and as much as we used to fight, I love you, Mother. I wouldn't be the woman I am without you. And while I'm not very secure in how happy I am with the woman I am, I wouldn't change myself for anything. And I wouldn't change you. You've helped me so much. Let me help you now." She was surprised with the strength in her own voice. It certainly didn't match how she was feeling inside. But Nairna seemed to understand at least part of it.

"I love you, my darling daughter. I don't always say and I know you don't think I show it, but I love you. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry…" Nairna's voice faded away, and she slumped over on the bed. Minerva checked her breathing and heartbeat. It seemed the emotional toll had caused her to faint. Minerva made her comfortable and sat beside her quietly, waiting for Albus to return.

What an odd day it had been. She wished he would come back soon. She felt so at home in his arms, like everything was going to be alright. And at this point, Minerva honestly wasn't sure if anything would be alright.

The emotions were starting to creep up on her, and she knew she couldn't allow herself to break down just yet. To solve the problem, Minerva transformed into her animagus form. The silver tabby curled up next to Lady McGonagall and waited.