This chapter is in Minerva's point of view as a friend of Kitty and also a third party. I think her thoughts are quite valid for this part of the book, so here we are, enjoy...

Minerva did her best to comfort her distraught friend as Kitty had lost it as Severus left in the floo. She was now in tears and bawling her eyes out on her robes. She couldn't decide whether to tell her that everything will be okay and he will come around, or to tell her the truth, he was right. After she saw everything he put her through, both recently and in the past, she just couldn't shake the feeling that he could hurt her again without hesitation. She didn't know about the knife wounds being from Severus, but the bruises were quite obvious that they occurred within the last month or sooner depending on location.

Kittiara had obviously not eaten in quite a while, or that illness that was killing her must have something to do with it. Minerva didn't know the extent quite yet, but she did know what she was told, Kittiara was dieing. Minerva couldn't imagine going through that and knowing that it was inevitable, besides the pain that is. Pain is something everyone deals with, but death, yes we all deal with it at sometime, but not at her age. She looks, what, thirties? Minerva had lead a privileged life in scotland, so she couldn't imagine going through that. I mean, yes, she had endured stunning charms to her chest, but still.

"Everything will be alright my dear..." Minerva soothed her. She stroked Kittiara's silky hair and held her close, resting her chin on Kittiara's head. Kittiara was like a daughter to her already. Minerva felt this primal need to protect her, especially from Severus for some reason. But like any parent, Minerva knew that if you tell a child they can't have something, they want to have it all the more. It was just a little reverse psychology she told herself, making note to threaten to hex Severus's balls off if he ever goes near her again.

"I... my... heart... is broken..." Kitty managed to sputter out in between sobbs. Minerva knew that kitty doesn't cry often, but she was now. She felt honored to be trusted so much by Kittiara for her to cry on her shoulder like that. It felt good to be trusted, something that doesn't come easily, especially from a woman who clearly has been through a lot.

"Shhhh..." Minerva soothed again. She could feel Kittiara's chest rise and fall rapidly as she sputtered out her gutteral cries. Oh, that was it now, she was gonna kill him. He was going to feel the full wrath of Minerva McGonagall.

As Kitty began to quiet she fell asleep sniffling. Minerva gently lay her down on her couch and looked back to find her asleep. She would be out for at least an hour, so Minerva decided to make her way up to Severus's private rooms. She was going to make him pay dearly for what he did.

Minerva rapped on his door, rather noisily at that. No one answered so she knocked again, tapping her foot repeatedly. finally tired of knocking and knowing full well he was in there, she pulled out her wand and pointed it towards the door. "Reducto" Minerva said as the door crashed upon itself into a thousand little splinters. Severus looked up from his desk with a shocked expression. His hair was whispered around his face and his jaw was slack. It quickly wore off and he reached for his wand which Minerva shouted "Expelliarmus." And it was now in her hands.

Pocketing Severus's wand, she walked towards him as he stumbled from his chair and tripped over the leg of his desk and landed with a thud onto the floor. Minerva was hot on his tail with her wand pointed towards him. she straddled him with one knee on either side of his hips with her wand pointed towards the underside of his chin. Severus looked both terrified and smug at the same time. His eyes screamed don't kill me but his smirk said something much more cheeky.

"You know, there once was a time I would have really enjoyed this." Severus mused. Minerva didn't find this very funny and pressed the tip of her wand farther into the soft spot of his neck.

"Only in your wildest dreams Severus. You broke poor Kitty's heart. You deserve so much more than what I am about to do to you." Severus's smirk got wider. His mindset clearly wasn't at the wand pointed at the underside of his chin.

"Oh, I can only imagine." Minerva grew frustrated with him quite quickly. She then noticed the smell of whisky on his breath. Damn him, why must he always drink when she had a beef with him. He seems more complacent or completely rash when he drinks. A toss of the coin.

"You've been drinking again, haven't you?" Minerva asked in a slightly condescending tone as she let her wand up a bit to cross her arms over her chest. Severus's face fell.

"Just a little." severus said in a slow tone. He seemed almost ashamed at this point.

"A little huh?" Minerva looked around and seen two empty fire whisky bottles just off the top of her head. "I would say a lot. Don't you remember what happened to Kitty after you drank like that?"

"That's exactly why I ended it with her. If it's the cure you are worried about, I am still working on it." Minerva's blood began to boil. Her wand inserted itself back in it's threatening position as she began to redden with rage.

"I am worried about Kitty, not some potion. You broke her heart so you can drink? Is that it?"

"I can't stop... the pain of remembering is too much... And when I'm with her, it hurts all the more."

"Deal with it. Everyone deals with pain, but you know what? Kittiara fell asleep crying over your abusive ass. So either be with her, or don't ever go near her again, do you understand me? And if you so much as make her sad I will hex your balls off." Minerva threatened. "Get your shit in order. If you need to drink that badly, then you need to stop all together. You have a problem Severus, take care of it." With one last press of her wand into Severus's throat, she got up and walked towards the door, throwing his wand on top of his prone self before walking over the debris in the door frame where the door had once stood.

"You should really clean this mess up Severus." Minerva said snarkily, kicking a piece of debris before waltzing out the door. Minerva made her way back down the stairs to her private rooms on the first floor quickly as to not let Kitty wake up before she got there. She would be upset about losing her emotions in front of her as it is, let alone how she would feel if she thought she scared her off. Minerva took steps three at a time until she got to her rooms and let herself in and closing the door. She looked over at her couch and seen that Kitty was still sleeping soundly.

Minerva began to write a letter Madeye. Severus was out of control and he needed to know it and be on standby if he got out of line again. She would send for him and make Severus pay dearly. This is what the letter read:

Alastor,

I was wondering how you were doing. I'm sure you have plenty to do on this fine day, but I'm afraid so do I. Severus has been quite difficult to handle as of late, but I am still okay. I do wish to ensure that in the future if he steps too far out of line that I may send for you to help me. He is a death eater I am sure you are aware and needs to be taken care of if the time comes to it.

His new drinking problem seems to escalate issues, especially with his new affections that also happens to be a dear friend of mine. Coming isn't necessary at the moment, but I would like a reply, thank you and have a lovely day.

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Minerva folded up the letter and put her seal on it before tying it to her owl. She fed the owl a biscuit before opening the window and watching it fly off. She wondered briefly what it would be like to fly like that, no worries, no broom, just you and the wind. Being free was something everyone longed for, but not as much as Minerva. Not since she ran away from her love to be a professor at Hogwarts. He was a muggle and she saw what it did to her parents as she got older. Minerva couldn't in good conscious have children and watch them go through what she did when she was young.

Kittiara would be the closest thing she would ever have to a daughter. Minerva looked over at her to see Kitty watching her. She turned to look at Kitty and smiled with her arms folded across her chest in a relaxed manner. The glow from the window shone on her face, causing her to have almost an uncanny motherly like glow. A few hairs strayed from her bun because of the tussle that she had previously with Severus.

"How are you feeling my dear?" Minerva asked gently as she made her was over to her and crouched beside the couch with a hand on Kitty's back. Kitty smiled briefly before stopping. "What's the matter?" Minerva asked uneasily.

"It's nothing. I just... I don't know." Minerva's face fell a little.

"You can tell me dear." Kitty's face twisted as she tried to discern whether or not she should confide in Minerva, or if this was something she should just keep to herself.

"Well, it's just... I was thinking of a walk." Minerva knew full well that wasn't what she was going to say, but she let it slide. She knew deep down that Kitty would come to her eventually.

"I should come with you." Minerva stated as a matter of fact.

"No, that's alright, I need some time alone I think." Minerva nodded.

"Just so you know, I had a talk with Severus." Kitty's eyes lit up for a moment.

"What about?" Minerva shifted from one foot to another.

"Well, about proper behavior and the like. I may have gotten slightly carried away, but it's only because I care about you. You are like a daughter to me and you are also a dear friend. I won't have him hurting you like that anymore." Kitty frowned a bit.

"He didn't say anything about being sorry or wanting to be with me after all?"

"I'm afraid not... but if you do go to see him, keep in mind he didn't answer his door." Kitty gave her a strange look as if to discern what she meant, but let it go quickly. Perhaps she was satisfied to think about it in the literal sense, which also would work to Minerva's favor. By Merlin, Kitty reminded Minerva of her younger self, wanting a man she could never really have. Unlike her younger self; however, instead of choosing to stay away, Kitty just can't seem to get over him. But then again, did Minerva really get over him? She began to ponder this before noticing Kitty staring at her.

"Anything you wish to talk about?"

"Actually, no. I was just thinking about how you remind me of a younger version of myself." Kitty smiled.

"I would consider that an honor." Kitty smiled at Minerva, who in turn, smiled back. "I'll see you in an hour or so, I am just going to walk near the lake I think." Minerva frowned slightly.

"You have to get permission from Severus for that Kitty..."

"I know, it will just be strictly business." Minerva nodded. She wasn't sure if she should follow kitty in secret, or just let her be alone. It was probably best to leave her alone, but Minerva decided to follow in her cat form a few minutes after she leaves. Kitty didn't know Minerva was an animagus yet, which would prove useful for a while.

"Have a good time my dear." Minerva said cheerfully before watching Kitty wave and exit out her office door. She made a mental note to wait five minutes or so before turning to her cat form and making her way after her, just to make sure Severus doesn't try anything funny with her.

I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. There will be more of course. Also on a completely different note, I have a new laptop, so you won't have to wait quite so long in between chapters. Also, I am moving again, but this time to Virginia, because even though we make a lot of money, there are no apartments in Florida to rent. My husband's brother has a place for us and a job for my husband, so we will be alright there, we just have to buy tickets to go.

Please remember to review.

To be continued...