Hey guys! So I finally got myself up and running again. This is a relatively short chapter, but I hope you still enjoy it. Please leave your reviews for me, because I really do like to know your opinions on my work.

She's back

All this love coming to her. She didn't know what to do with it. She wanted to say, I love you, too. I love you all. I love Albus very, very much. The feeling rose up in her like a column of wind, but when it got to her mouth, it had no voice, no words. Just a lot of air and longing.

And finally Minerva understood. Finally it all clicked into place and she found peace for the first time since that mission gone awry. She took a deep, shuddering breath and wrapped her arms around Molly. Kissing her hair softly, Minerva did the bravest thing she had done in a long time, she forgave herself, she accepted the truth. Minerva McGonagall was not infallible, she didn't always have to be strong, she depended on others just like everybody else, and she wanted to be loved above all else. And that was not a weakness, but her greatest strength.

Minerva's arms tightened around Molly and the younger woman could feel the awakening of her friend's old self. For the first time in so long she felt protected by Minerva, consoled by her, and she could draw strength instead of giving it. Her own heart beat stronger with renewed determination. Molly had survived a great deal of hardship without giving up or quitting to fight – she would not do so now.

Gently she pushed Minerva back and stepped around her towards the door, still holding Minerva's hand in hers and drawing her along to get back to the others and start organising a search for her little girl.

"We will find her – we have to – before he does even more damage," she almost absent-mindedly told Minerva … or was she convincing herself?

As they stepped outside, they noticed a sudden increase of activity among the Order. In the midst of a knot of people she saw the imposing figure of Albus Dumbledore.

"Albus." Minerva's breathy whisper reached her ears and she could swear that her friend's voice held the same deep love and trust it had held in the cell at Riddle Manor that first night they had sat huddled together before the worst tortures had happened.

oOoOoOo

When Molly came round again she was no longer chained to the wall in Lucius bedroom. She lay on the floor of a tiny room and there was another person with her. A person who sobbed almost silently and stroked Molly's back over and over again.

"Oh Molly, I'm so sorry they got you too. What have they done to you? Oh God and I made it worse …"

Minerva McGonagall? That was most definitely her voice. And apparently she thought that Molly was still unconscious. Molly hadn't the heart or the energy to contradict her. She just wanted to lay here and forget – forget what had happened, where she was, who held her captive, and she didn't want to dwell on what would happen next. Minerva's soft hands stroking through her hair helped her to forget. Her soft voice was soothing, like balm for her hurt soul.

"… I made it worse, but I won't let them hurt you. They will come looking for us … Albus will come for us. He promised me he would always protect me and love me. He always protected me, even on the day we wed and he told me to keep my maiden name so no one would come after me to get to him. It was very thoughtful of him. All his actions are so very thoughtful. He never forgets an anniversary and always finds time to spend the day with me despite his schedule. Then he holds me in his arms and whispers pleasantries into my ear. I always feel so safe in his arms, so very safe. When I'm in his arms I know that I'm loved and looked after …"

Molly's mind drifted off again despite her wish to hear more.

oOoOoOo

Minerva's thoughts seemed to run along the same lines because now she dropped Molly's hand and surged forward, towards Albus, his name tumbling from her lips again.

"Albus." It was a little louder now, but still didn't reach him. She had almost reached him when he turned to the side and called out.

"Poppy!" he roared, causing everyone to step back a little.

Now Molly and Minerva could see Severus kneeling on the floor, holding a bloody, dirty bundle in his arms. As he moved slightly a part of the bundle came undone und tumbles of dirty blonde tresses spilled out. Molly couldn't contain a gasp, even though she pressed her hands to her mouth, as much in shock as in denial she shook her head. Minerva pushed past the Weasley twins, intent on helping her former student and now friend. Her teacher persona came to her aide, for the first time of her rescue, before she could succumb to her worries and be of no help to Narcissa. Reaching Severus with his precious burden, she knelt down beside him. In so doing she noticed Draco standing … hovering anxiously by their side. His eyes were intent on his mother and Minerva saw fear and desperation in his eyes while his hands clenched and unclenched convulsively. She reached out a hand, taking his icy fingers in hers, and drew him gently to her. Softly, so that she wouldn't upset him more, she spoke to him and tried to rouse him from his stupor.

"Mr. Malfoy – Draco, why don't you let Professor Sprout take you to the kitchen and give you a Calming Draught and a spot of tea, while Madam Pomfrey looks after your mother?"

Her voice held the same kind authority as before her ordeal and Draco's sub conscience recognized the tone. He mechanically obeyed her, going woodenly to Professor Sprout and unresistingly let her lead him away.

With a look of joyful recognition, for she too had noticed the tone, Poppy hastened forward and knelt down as well, drawing her wand instantly to cast diagnostic spells and stop the heaviest bleeding. As she wanted to stroke Narcissa's hair away from her face, Severus jerked in apprehension, drawing her closer and giving a half-strangled sob. Before Poppy could reassure him, Minerva laid her hands on his shoulders and gently stroked down his arms, silently beseeching him to relax.

"Let go of her now, Severus. She's safe now. But for Poppy to heal her, you need to let go of Narcissa and let her do it," Minerva spoke gently, in a tone of voice Albus recognized as the same tone she had used with their own children when they had been scared. And, as had their children, Severus slowly relaxed under the gentle stroking of Minerva's hands.

For a long moment Severus just stared at Minerva, wordlessly and with hollow eyes, then he hesitantly and with obvious effort lowered Narcissa to the plush carpet on which he knelt. He stared at his former professor, his colleague, and nodded once, swallowing as he did so. "I don't want to lose her," he admitted quietly, looking down at his blood-soaked cloak and starting to tremble.

"And you won't," Minerva said with conviction.

Albus was dumbstruck. Minerva acted and sounded like she had before her captivity. He hadn't seen his wife like this in what felt like ages to him. With a frown he wondered what had happened when Molly had led her away … and why it had been her again. Why had she found the right words to say when he had fought patiently and lovingly for his wife all those past months? He shook his head. It shouldn't matter. Only the fact that Minerva seemed to be herself again should matter – but he couldn't quiet shake his jealousy. Before the abduction he and Minerva had been as close as two people could possibly be – their own children had often remarked on that, saying there was no room for them between their parents – and now they couldn't be farther apart at times; now Molly was closer to Minerva than he could hope to be, now it was her who knew Minerva's secrets, her feelings, her worries and not him anymore.

He sighed – and it was audible in the silence of the entrance hall after his bellow. Minerva looked up at him and sent him a warm smile. Her eyes were alight with love, the kind of love he had missed seeing there all those past months. Molly disappeared from his thoughts instantly and his mind focused on his wife. Her smile widened and she seemed to forget the others around them for a while. Slowly she got up from the floor again and stood in front of him. There was no residual fear in her eyes this time, only trust … and hesitation.

"Oh mo chride ( = Gaelic, my heart), I hurt you so," she whispered softly, reaching out a hand and bringing it up to his face. Gently she cupped his bearded cheek, her fingers entangling in his white hair, and drew his face the few inches down to her face. She simply looked into his eyes, meeting his gaze openly, letting him see the innermost recesses of her heart and soul, the open wounds there, the crumpled ruins of her defensive barriers. She was bare before him. Minerva saw no rejection in his eyes – and by God she could understand if he repudiated her – and hope flickered in her heart, maybe not all was lost, maybe there was still hope to salvage their marriage. She dearly hoped so, but this was not the place or the time to have a heart-to-heart with her husband. She sighed and stroked Albus' cheek softly. How badly she wanted to hear 'I love you' from him … Raising herself up onto her toes, she pressed a tender but nevertheless uncertain, close-mouthed kiss to his lips. "We will talk soon, mo luaidh ( = Gaelic, my darling). Now we have to help Narcissa first. Will you take care of Severus? There should be a drop of Firewhiskey in the Salon, I'm sure Remus and Sirius will join you."

Albus was stunned into silence. Minerva took his breath away, as she had always done with her determination, her inner strength. It was back now. She was back now. Finally.