A/N: Ok guys, I'm real sorry about the end of the last chapter. Here's the next angsty chapter (don't say I didn't warn you!). Indigold10 got scared, so I had to update to appease her ;)

Chapter Fourteen

Minerva pulled away from Albus with a terrified gasp, Tom Riddle's voice still ringing in her mind.

"Minerva? What's the matter?" Albus asked, his voice and face full of concern.

Her eyes wildly darted around the room. "I…nothing. It's nothing, I'm sorry." Confident that they were indeed alone, she looked back into the sapphire eyes she loved so much and smiled. "Where were we?"

Albus was not entirely convinced but had no intention of stopping their embrace. He resumed their kiss eagerly, reveling in the reality that he could be with Minerva at last. Every dream and fantasy that always seemed so impossible had somehow come true.

Minerva's responses were much more restrained than before, but no less enthusiastic. She loved him more than she ever imagined possible. Every touch, caress, affectionate word and smile from Albus caused her heart to expand within her chest, and nothing Tom Riddle could ever do would diminish that. Nothing he had ever done made her less in love with Dumbledore. It was simply a pity it had taken so long to realize it.

After they eventually finished their tea, Albus made a floo-call to St. Mungo's to check on Lady McGonagall. The Healers weren't finished with their work yet, so there was nothing new to report. The medi-witch who was speaking to Albus in the fire told him that they would not know anything until the morning. Minerva knew there was no use worrying until they heard anything, so she acquiesced to Albus' offer to take her to dinner.

She went down to the guest room she was staying in and changed into something nicer to wear out. Albus was so kind to gather all of her belongings. As she sifted through everything in the bag, she was struck with a very odd feeling. She wouldn't be going back to her flat. And really, it was hers. Her parents had given them the money they needed to cover the lease. She had made it into a comfortable and beautiful place to live. She had been kept prisoner there for years. It was her home in so many ways. Minerva sat on the bed and gazed out the window to the sun setting behind the lake. Without even realizing it, she was smiling. Hogwarts was her home. Hogwarts was the one place she always felt safe and loved and worth something more than what was simply expected to be. And, of course, Hogwarts was where Albus was.

Albus was waiting outside her room to escort her downstairs. She looked very pretty in cream summer dress she put on. It was embroidered with a very subtle silver pattern. "You look absolutely exquisite, my dear." He gave her a soft kiss on her hand as she thanked him.

The next thing she knew, Albus had whisked them off to Edinburgh for a very romantic dinner. The Wizarding district of that city, while not as extensive as Diagon Ally, was a very charming destination and much quieter than anything in London. After a lovely meal, they wandered the Royal Botanical Gardens in the heart of the city. Minerva got mildly chilly and Albus, the perfect gentleman, gave her his cloak and put his arm around her as they walked. She chastised herself for not thinking ahead and bringing something for herself, but, as Albus reminded her, she was not aware that they would be in the presence of muggles where they could not perform a mere warming charm, so it was not surprising that she was unprepared.

At the end of the night, Albus walked Minerva back to her room. They shared a soft kiss and bid one another sweet dreams. Minerva changed into her nightgown and pulled the pins out of her hair, letting the ebony locks tumble over her shoulders. As she got into bed, she could not help but smile. It had been quite an interesting day, what with speaking to her mother about more personal things than they had ever discussed before and her perfect first date with Albus. Tom Riddle was almost completely gone from her mind. Perhaps she had just imagined his voice in her head. It had been a very stressful few days for her. Maybe all the worry had caused that small psychotic break. A good night's sleep was all she needed, Minerva assured herself. She drifted into a deep slumber, dreaming Albus and all the joy that their future would hold.

First thing the next morning, Albus and Minerva both went to St. Mungo's to visit Nairna. They went straight into her room before speaking to any of the hospital staff. Lady McGonagall was sitting up in bed with a very curious expression on her face.

"Mother?" Minerva asked tentatively, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm quite well, thank you for asking. And how are you?" Nairna replied politely.

Minerva wasn't quite sure what was wrong, but her mother was not completely well. "I'm fine, thank you. What did the Healers say? Have they recovered your memories?"

"The strangest thing happened to me. A handsome young man came and took my wand. He killed quite a few house-elves and an older gentleman. The young man tortured me, but I'm much better now. Does any of that make sense to you?"

Minerva stared in shock. She quietly asked Albus, "What's happened to her?"

He replied in a low voice, "I do believe the modified memory was recovered, but the effort involved in doing so seems to have harmed the rest of her mind."

"Do you know who I am?" Minerva asked her mother.

"My dear young woman, as kind as you have been, I'm afraid I have never seen you before in my life. I don't see how I should be expected to know who you are when I'm not even quite sure of who I am," Nairna replied very matter-of-factly.

A much harried Healer bustled into the room. "I'm so sorry, Miss McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, I wanted to speak to you before you saw the patient. Could you come to my office, please?"

"Miss McGonagall? Is that your name? I hope you don't mind me saying that you are a very pretty girl, but the way you furrow your brow is going to give you wrinkles. And you might want to consider getting a seamstress to fit your clothes better. That cut isn't doing you any favors."

Albus quickly escorted Minerva out of the room before she could reply. She turned to him and said angrily, "She might not know who I am, but she still knows that she's my mother." He smiled but said nothing in response. The two of them sat down at the Healer's desk.

"Miss McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, I am Jonathan Hunt. I was assigned yesterday to Lady McGonagall's case. As you may or may not know, we were able to recover the lost memories from the ordeal a few days ago. The real memory was extracted and sent to the Auror Office. The memory matches the story that the house-elf told you, as far as I know. They will be sending an Auror to speak with the two of you tomorrow. But, as I know you saw, Lady McGonagall's long-term memory was damaged in the process. The wizard who modified her memory was very powerful, and he did quite a job on her. She doesn't know who she is, nor does she remember anything except the memory we recovered. She will make new memories, however. We'll do our best to bring back as much as we can, but I think the best we can hope for is reteaching her life. That being said, it is my opinion that we admit Lady McGonagall on a more permanent basis. We can reevaluate her case in a few months and decide together when she's fit to leave."

Minerva stared at the Healer with her brow furrowed and her lips pressed in a tight line. After a moment, she spoke. "You mean to tell me that my mother will be living in a hospital for an undetermined about of time on the off chance that her memory will return?"

Her voice was sharp, and Albus could tell that she was holding an outburst of rage just beneath the surface. He took her hand in an attempt to calm her.

Healer Hunt blinked, wide-eyed and confused. "Yes, Miss McGonagall. I wish we could do something else for your mother, but…"

"Do you have any idea who that woman is? Do you really? Lady Nairna McGonagall is sitting alone in a hospital room right this second. She's a widow and she doesn't even know it!"

"I'm very sorry," the Healer said quietly.

Minerva let out a screech of frustration, stood up, and swept out of the room. Albus apologized to the Healer and thanked him for his efforts, then rushed to follow her. He caught up to her in the corridor. "Minerva?" he said softly.

"Albus, what are we going to do?" she whispered. Tears shined in her emerald eyes as she looked up at him. She buried her face in his chest. He took her in his arms, and she immediately felt better.

"I don't know that there is much we can do, Minerva. The Healers know what is best. She will have to stay her for the time being."

"She can't stay here, Albus. She just can't. I can't visit my mother in the hospital. And what will happen to the estate? And my father's funeral? I don't know what to do. She's the one who handles all of these things."

He gently kissed the top of her shiny ebony hair. "We'll figure it out together, Minerva. But I think you should speak to your mother, if you think you can. It would be best to get the big picture of her life from you, I believe."

She sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right. I'll go and speak to her. If you have work to do, you should return to Hogwarts. I'd hate for you to get behind at school while caring for me and my problems."

"Your problems are my problems, my love. But I do have some mail to catch up on. You're sure you'll be alright?"

Minerva gave a small smile. "Yes, Albus, I'm a grown woman. I'll be fine."

He gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll see you when you return. Feel free to floo straight to my office." Albus left the hospital, and Minerva went to speak to her mother.

Nairna was still sitting up in bed with the same odd expression on her face. The remnants of the strong, elegant lady were still there, but it was as though Nairna had no idea what to do with the qualities that were so imbedded within her. "You're back, Miss McGonagall. It's nice to see you again. You've relaxed your face. Your skin will thank you for it, I'm sure."

Minerva resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "I'd like to speak to you, if I may." Nairna nodded and gestured for Minerva to take the chair beside her bed. Minerva continued, "My name is Minerva Morrigan McGonagall. I am your daughter."

"Are you? And I didn't teach you to stop scowling? What a shame. But please continue, lass. Perhaps you can tell me who I am."

"Yes, I'd like to. Your name is Nairna Gwendolyn McGonagall. You are the Lady of McGonagall Estate in Aberdeen, Scotland. Your husband, Lord Rafferty McGonagall, was the man you remember being killed with all the house-elves. I'm so sorry."

Nairna frowned, not unlike Minerva did with her furrowed brow. "Did my husband and I love each other?"

"Yes, very much. He told me once that he loved you more than anything else on this earth and that you loved him as well. I often doubted it, but I know you had a very good marriage."

"Why would you doubt it?"

Minerva knew she shouldn't have said that. It was perhaps a bit much to try and explain her relationship with her mother. "You and I have never really gotten along very well. I know you love me very much, but you show it by criticizing me at every chance. But I do love you. You have taught me what it means to be a strong woman and a good witch. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

Nairna took her daughter's hand. "I'm so sorry I don't remember you or your father. And I'm sorry I didn't treat you the way a mother should."

"You treated me the way you treat everyone. You expect the best from the world, no matter what it takes. I didn't appreciate that when I was a child, but I certainly appreciate it now."

Lady McGonagall smiled. What a remarkable woman her daughter was. She seemed so familiar. The memories of her family must be locked away in her mind somewhere, Nairna surmised. "What about that man who was here earlier? Is he a friend of yours?"

"Yes, that's Albus Dumbledore. He's been my friend for many years and I've fallen in love with him recently, and he with me."

"Are you going to marry him?"

Minerva blushed. Leave it to her mother to cut right to the awkward questions. "Not anytime in the near future. We haven't been together long enough to contemplate such things."

"I see. If my marriage was as good as you say, I can only wish upon you the happiness that you say I shared with your father."

For the rest of the afternoon, Minerva answered her mother's questions the best she could. She told the entire long, drawn out tale of her relationship with Tom Riddle and the culmination of his years of tormenting the McGonagall family. Nairna did not waste any time chastising Minerva for her poor taste, as well as questioning her own actions—as unknown to her as they were—on why she didn't stop that foolishness before it got out of hand. Minerva promised Nairna that she would return the next day, but it was getting close to tea time, and Minerva wanted to see Albus.

She flooed right into his office as he had suggested. She was exhausted from a long day at St. Mungo's. Minerva was content to sit at Albus' desk while he finished up a letter to the Board of Governors. It was comforting to watch him work on something so banal when everything in her life was so uncertain.

When he had finished, they had their tea. Minerva told him about her long conversation with her mother and he shared the mind numbing tasks he had been saddled with that day. Their conversation soon grew silent, as both required the comfort of the other. They soon found themselves on the sofa, locked in a fiery embrace.

Albus did not quite want to admit how much he had grown to need Minerva in his life. After only a few short days, he couldn't imagine living without her. Everything seemed brighter and more beautiful and simply better when Minerva was around. And she was finally coming back into her own. She would have some relapses over the course of the next few months, what with her father's funeral and becoming the Lady of McGonagall Estate, but Albus was happy to be with her every step of the way.

Minerva was relieved to be back in the arms of her love. The stresses of the day were washed away with his touch. She loved him so much; she thought her heart might burst with joy.

"I will find you, Minerva. You will be mine once more, and I don't care how I do it. Anyone who stands in my way will not do so for long."

He was back. Tom Riddle was in her head again. How was he doing that?

Minerva pulled away from Albus sharply. He looked at her, confused, and asked, "Is something wrong?"

"I need to use the loo for a moment. Do you mind?"

He gestured to the door and watched close it behind her. There obviously was something wrong, and he wished he knew what it was. She would tell him in her own good time. Albus had to have faith that she loved him enough to let him in.

Safe in the confines of the bathroom, Minerva crumpled silently to the floor. She put her hands over her mouth to contain the screams she felt erupting from her very soul. What had happened? Tom wasn't in the room with them, but she heard him as clearly as if he had whispered in her ear. What sort of dark magic had he used to get inside her head this time? Whatever it was, it was dangerous, not just for her, but for everyone she loved; Minerva had already seen how true that was. She closed her eyes tightly and cleared her mind just as her mother taught her for Occlumency.

After almost twenty minutes, Albus was becoming much more worried. He discreetly knocked on the door and softly called her name. When she didn't respond, he tentatively opened the door.

"Oh my dear…" he said, scooping her off the floor. Her whole body was trembling. "What's wrong, Minerva? Please tell me," he said gently.

Minerva was brought back to the present and found herself in Albus' arms once more. She held him tightly and took a deep breath, finding comfort in his heavenly scent. As much as she hated it and as much as her heart begged her not to do it, Minerva said the words she knew were right. "We cannot do this, Albus. I can't be with you."

Albus pulled back from her slightly. "Whatever do you mean?" Was it not just the day before they had professed their love to one another?

"I mean that I have to stay away from you. We can't be together." She couldn't meet his eyes. If she met his eyes, she wouldn't be able to do what she knew was right. She wouldn't be able to leave him.

"I'm afraid I cannot accept that, Minerva, until you explain why."

"He has some control over me, Albus. I don't know how, but whenever my mind is at its most relaxed, whenever I feel the safest and most secure, which is whenever I'm with you, Tom gets into my head. I see him and hear him, and I can't escape him."

"And what about that reality means that we must discontinue our relationship?" His voice was calm and even, but Minerva could tell that Albus was very upset. His solemnity revealed perhaps more than he wanted it to.

"He wants me. He wants to claim me as his own again. And we've already seen that he uses the ones I love to get to me. He already killed my father and destroyed my mother. I can't let you be next."

Albus sighed and took her into his arms once more. "Oh Minerva, my love. Without seeming arrogant, I must say that there is nothing Tom Riddle could do to put me in danger. It is you I'm worried about, not myself."

Minerva didn't know what she could say. Realistically, yes, Albus was more powerful than Riddle. But what to what lengths would Riddle go in order to reclaim her? She had already put enough people in danger. "Albus, I don't know what to do. I love you more than I ever thought possible. I never imagined that you'd ever be the man I could be with. You're you, Albus Dumbledore, and I'm just…me. I'm nothing special. Yet somehow, you do love me. And after everything I've been though, I shouldn't be able to feel love anymore. But you put your arms around me, and even though I know it would be safer for everyone if you let me go, I hope that you never do. When I'm with you, I'm home. I never truly loved until you, Albus, and I never want to let you go."

"So don't, my love. Don't let me go."

"But don't you see? No one will get hurt if I'm alone."

"Minerva, you can't protect the entire world. And I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that you would be hurting me more if you left than if anything ever happened as a result of our relationship. It wouldn't be easier or better or safer if I let you go. I've spent too many years staying away from you because I thought that was best. And look where we are. How is this better?"

"Albus, I can't…"

Her protests were cut off my Albus' lips pressed against hers. She gave into his kiss. Never before had she been so happy to lose an argument.

Far away, Lord Voldemort attempted another assault into Minerva's mind, but something was blocking his magic. It wasn't Occlumency; it was something much stronger. Dumbledore always said that love was the most powerful magic, and while the Dark Lord refused to accept the truth in that statement, love was certainly strong enough to protect Minerva from anything he could do.