A/N I'm so glad everyone likes this story. Also the story goes really fast from here on out, but don't worry, just when it seems like it's ending, part two will be beginning. This first part is really to set up the second part, which is where everything that seems unresolved will be resolved.
Chapter 5
They left Berne under the cover of darkness. Minerva scouted ahead as a cat, her sight and hearing better. Poppy and Helena followed quietly, and Serena soared over head, a raven unnoticed in the starless night. They crept as close as they dared to the camps of soldiers, muggle and wizard alike, but they didn't linger. They slept during the day and at small meals supplemented by herbs and berries Poppy found and the small animals Minerva caught. So far it had been easy.
"It's been to easy." Serena whispered on the third day as the sun began to rise. They had settled down in a bower to sleep until afternoon, but Serena was to nervous. The stars we're making strange signs in the sky, and they'd faired absolutely no ill up until now.
"Don't question good luck." Helena hissed as she closed her eyes and tried to get comfortable.
"It may not be good fortune Helena. Grindelwald is supposedly a seer. What if he's seen us?"
Poppy's eyes grew wide. "Why would he let us come closer?" Her voice was shaking somewhat, although she tried to disguise it.
Serena sent a sad look to Minerva who seemed to understand. "Because he wants me dead as well."
Sinistra nodded and Hooch sat up. "Maybe…maybe you should stay here Min…" Helena suggested.
"No." Minerva left them no room to argue, she turned over and closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep, trying to ignore the nervous clenching of her stomach. She didn't sleep however, at least not right away. She tossed and turned, despite her exhaustion, until she couldn't stand it anymore. She got up and crept out of their hiding spot, careful not to wake her friends.
She walked into a field and tried to breath in a breath of clear swiss air. Instead she choked on smoke coming from the black clouds over Germany. She turned into a cat and began to chase the butterflies. Finally, she tired herself out and crept back to the bower. Minerva transformed herself back into a human and curled up on the blanket. This time she fell asleep quickly.
She didn't dream, and woke up at dusk, feeling a little uneasy for having not seen Dumbledore at least once. As they ate dinner and packed Minerva looked at the tired, worried faces of her friends and decided she was better off keeping this news to herself.
They traveled for another week or so and Minerva's dreams had become sporadic at best. Worry had made her tempermental and snappish, so even Helena went out of her way to appease her. Finally they reached the black forest. They stopped for the day, and as she had secretly done every day Minerva ran out as a tabby cat and chased the bugs and rodents to burn some of the energy inside her. She dragged herself back to the cave they were sleeping in, with barely enough energy to change back. Then she fell exhausted, to sleep.
Minerva opened her eyes in Dumbledore's cell, but even in her dream she was so exhausted she could barely raise her head. "Minerva!" He sounded relieved to see her but when she could hardly reply he became worried.
Albus crawled over to and pulled her nearly lifeless body into his lap. She smiled, but her smile was weak. "I was so worried about you." She whispered. It seemed to be all she was capable of. "I thought, when I wasn't dreaming, that you had died."
He didn't respond to her questions. He frowned and tried to figure out what was wrong with her; he touched her forehead-she was cool, he felt her pulse-it was slow, she was just weak, it was as if the life was simply slipping out of her. "What's wrong with you Minerva?" Albus pushed. "Have you eaten something, drank something, are you sick?"
"Hmmm?" She was having trouble concentrating. "No…I'm just tired Albus. Just let me rest for a bit."
She shut her eyes, but opened them a moment later. "Poppy?"
"She isn't here my dear." Dumbledore told her, his voice shaking with worry.
"I heard her. She kept calling my name." A childish pout formed on her lips. "I wish she'd be quiet, I'm trying to sleep."
"Minerva you're dreaming right now, remember? You are asleep. Maybe you should try to wake up."
"Don't want to." She argued childishly. Then she snuggled down into his lap and closed her eyes.