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~~Sinking Into Darkness~~

An hour later, Albus was in his rooms pacing. It had taken a lot of convincing but Armando had finally agreed to leave the matter to him. Whoever had kidnapped Minerva was dangerous and it was in her best interest that he deal with this matter alone. The letter had clearly stated that intervention by anyone other than himself would result in her death. A shiver of dread made its way up Albus' spine at the thought of anything happening to his beloved. He took the letter out of his pocket and read it one more time looking for clues as to the identity of the perpetrator.

Albus~

Good things come to those who wait-isn't that what they say? I have been very patient. Ms. McGonagall is in my care and will stay that way until we meet. If for any reason this rendezvous is not a private affair, I am afraid Hogwarts will be searching for another Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher.

 How Ironic.

Please feel free to take a trip to Hogsmeade tomorrow and have lunch at The Three Broomsticks. Around noon should suffice.

Regards!

Albus believed he might know the person who had committed this crime. He had referred to him by his first name while he referred to Minerva as Ms. McGonagall. Perhaps an old student of his – and a few came to mind. But to threaten a life showed much more malevolence and anger than simply a grudge for a bad grade. The only explanation he could come to was his defeat of Grindelwald. Not all of the evil wizard's followers had been caught and he knew one day someone might come to exact revenge. And now Minerva was caught in the middle. Time until the meeting would surely go by very slowly and all he could do was wait.

Albus decided to have breakfast delivered to his room. His responsibilities were few and that allowed him more freedom to think about a plan. He hated to go into things blindly but he had very few clues to go on. He prepared a special traveling cloak like the one he used to carry with him back during the war. It had several spell repelling charms and if the right words were chanted it would make the wearer invisible. The cloak was like a wizarding suit of armor and Albus was rather proud of his invention. He also packed a small vial of Fawkes' tears in case Minerva was in need of immediate attention. The phoenix was very fond of her and after Albus suggested it, Fawkes was more than happy to comply.

Just after lunch, Albus received a summons from the Headmaster to come to his office. When he arrived, the sight that greeted him caused his blood to run cold. His future in-laws were sitting around the fire waiting for his appearance. With all that had happened, he had forgotten that they were supposed to arrive today. He had seen pictures but even without them, he would have recognized her parents anywhere.

The woman was tall and slim with some of the same aristocratic features that he loved on Minerva. She had beautiful blonde hair but her eyes were the same sparkling green, only one shade lighter. Her expression was warm and friendly and she immediately put Albus at ease. The man was tall as well but solidly built, as if he had played quidditch all his life. This is where Minerva had inherited her wild, dark hair. His eyes were a deep brown and his expression was reminiscent of the old Minerva he had known. The conversation ahead would be the most difficult in his life, if he escaped with it. 

Armando wasted no time in making introductions. It was obvious that Minerva's parents had heard about Albus, but the father, Harold, had not made up his mind about the man who was older than himself. "May I ask why we are meeting with Professor Dumbledore and not our daughter?" Harold's voice was gruff and not at all reassuring when he interrupted the Headmaster in his offer of tea.

"Harold, I am sure there is an explanation and please try to remember your manners. These are Minerva's colleagues." Athena, Minerva's mother, tried to smooth over the ill-timed remark but her gaze showed her worry as well.

"I am afraid we have some bad news." Headmaster Dippet explained the situation and Albus' role in the whole event. Neither parent made any emotional explosions but sat quietly until the story was finished.

"Do you mind if we speak with Professor Dumbledore alone for a few moments?" Armando looked at Harold and without a moment's hesitation he quietly nodded and left them alone in his office.

"Professor Dumbledore, why should we put the fate of our daughter in your hands? We know almost nothing about you but what Minerva has told us. She has not been flattering in her regard of you in previous years and suddenly you have become one of her most well respected colleagues. She has also spoken of you quite fondly on a personal level. But this is her life we are speaking of and I feel the need to say that I do not know you well enough to trust you with something so precious." Minerva's father obviously spoke from his heart and all of his views were valid. Albus could only say what was in his heart and hope it was enough.

"This is the first time we have met and I understand your concern. I am much older than Minerva. Even older than you I fear, but I love your daughter. She is my all in this world and I would and will give my life to save her. I will bring your daughter back to you no matter the cost or risk I have fought many dark wizards in the past and my experience will guide me. If I didn't feel I was the best person for the job, I would not put Minerva's life at greater risk by going. She means too much." Albus' words seemed to ease their minds and he led them to their private quarters.

Once inside, her parents invited him to share tea. They talked about Minerva and her job as well as Albus and Minerva' budding relationship. Finally, Albus excused himself to make a few more preparations for the following day with one last promise of her safe return.

The next morning Albus did not wake until the sun had already risen. The sleeping draught had worked and he was grateful. He kept himself locked in his room so nothing could distract him. His thoughts never strayed far from Minerva and even Fawkes' comforting song did not help his frayed nerves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Minerva was first aware of her pounding head and the soreness of her body. She could feel every uneven plank of wood that she rested upon as they jabbed her unmercifully. The last thing she remembered was being pulled by a portkey into a strange place that was very cold and smelled a bit like mold. She attempted to open her eyes but the light was too much. A hissing noise escaped her lips and her hand automatically went to her pounding temples. She felt a sticky substance and knew what it was without looking. For the first time since coming around, fear entered her heart.

"I see my lovely captive is awake. I hope you are not in too much pain Ms. McGonagall, but I am afraid that I needed to disarm you before you could defend yourself." The man brought a cup over to her limp form and placed it on the cot upon which she rested. "I have some errands that require my attention and need to leave immediately."

Minerva looked at the glass but did not touch it. "Who are you and why am I here?"

For a second the man looked furious but then he calmed himself just as quickly. "I will allow this transgression to pass but in the future I will do all the talking. You are not to speak unless I ask you a question." He paused before continuing. "You are here as bait for a certain wizard that needs to be taught a lesson. My name is of no consequence at this time. All of that can wait, for the moment." He paused in his speech to point at the cup. "Hurry up and drink it. It is only a glass of water and will help clear your head. I can't leave you loose while I am away."

Minerva decided to keep any further comments to herself for the time being. She needed time to assess the situation. She noticed that the man was rather young, probably several years younger than her. She picked up the cup and sniffed it. Taking a tentative sip, she decided it was not poisoned.

"You may as well drink it all because you will need all the energy you can get." Minerva slowly rose to a sitting position and gulped the cup of water. When she was finished she pushed herself to her feet and swayed unsteadily.

The man waved his wand casting a spell that froze Minerva in place. A cage seemed to come out of nowhere and encased her. He released her from the spell and as she tried to move she realized it was nearly impossible due of the enclosure's small size. Her captor disappeared out of the only door to the room and she was left alone.

A few hours later, Minerva, who had changed into her animagus form, was tired of waiting for the mysterious young man to reappear. She was concerned that falling asleep would push him to the point of violence but her aching body sorely needed rest. Being a cat allowed her to sit rather than stand and that had been a great relief but she still needed to rest her mind. As her eyelids began to droop, her last thought was on figuring out an escape plan.

She heard the door to her room slam and knew it was too late. Her eyes caught his look of surprise and then rage as he realized what she was. She had just begun to change back when the spell hit her. An inhuman sound issued from her throat and she began to tear at her skin. As the burning heat intensified she felt her knees go weak and her vision blurred at the edges.

Minerva awoke with a start and shivered as the ice-cold water dripped down her face and soaked through her thin robes. The grinning monster was standing in front of her, a bucket in his hands. "I wouldn't want you to get too much rest. Please, do not try that trick again. Next time won't be so pleasant."

He walked over to the cot she once occupied and sat down. "I am in a rather generous mood and feel like sharing a story. Pay attention." As the man revealed his name and what he was after, Minerva was not really surprised. She had guessed that he wanted to harm Albus but she still had no idea why. His name, Theres, sounded familiar but she couldn't quite place from where.

Her mind was flooded with thoughts of escape but she was unsuccessful at ignoring him completely. The more he talked, the angrier she became. She had first years with better manners, grammar and presence of mind, and his lack of maturity began to grate on her nerves.

When he finally finished speaking, she exploded. "How dare you! Albus Dumbledore is a greater man than you will ever be. He will overcome you easily and Azkaban will be your fate. You are a selfish, ignorant, pompous…"

Minerva was unable to finish speaking as she was hit with the cruciatus curse. Her body felt like it was being ripped apart and the agony was horrific. When Theres finally released her, she collapsed as much as possible in her small confines. Theres laughed as he walked out the door saying he would return when her lover, Albus, was with him.

Minerva continued to rest with her knees painfully pushed against the bars. She couldn't stand and was not strong enough physically to change back into a cat. Besides, even though Theres said he wouldn't return, she dared not bet on it. His last comment had hit her hard, Albus was not her lover in the true sense of the word and now he might never be.

As time passed, the worry about her fate was far outweighed by her worry for Albus. She could not find a way to escape, her wand was gone and she was in no shape to fight. She would be completely useless in trying to help save the love of her life.

Soon she heard Theres entering the area outside the room where she was being kept. Before long he opened the door and threw an unconscious Albus on the ground. With a vicious grin, he took the wand in his hands and snapped it in half before throwing it to the ground.

"Well Ms. McGonagall, it seems that the great Albus Dumbledore has a weakness after all. I will leave you two alone for a few moments to say goodbye. Ennervate." With a flick of his wand he was out the door and Albus was opening his eyes.

"Albus, are you okay?" He opened his eyes and the look of pure love and relief caused her stomach to flutter. He stood up and walked over to the cage.

"I believe the question should be are you okay? This cage is grotesque." His fingers trailed across her lips and she jerked in response. Horror was etched on her face at the reaction she had to his touch.

"My dear, what has he done to you?" He took in her battered form. Her beautiful lips were cracked and dark smudges circled her eyes. Lack of sleep, food and water was evident in her face and stance. But there was so much more. Her head had several dried patches of blood, she was bruised in several places and her arms were covered in scratches that had also bled. Her dress was torn and Albus was unwilling to think of what that meant just yet. He needed to keep his mind focused.

"Is there anything you can tell me about your captor? I believe I know who he is but I need to confirm my suspicions." Minerva detected both anger and sadness radiating from Albus but before she could answer his questions, Theres was back.

"How very sweet. It makes me almost regret my earlier decision…almost."

Before the words had time to process in her brain, Minerva's cage was falling through the air and darkness surrounded her. She heard a splash at the same time she felt her legs immersed in cold water up to her calves. The weak light from above allowed her eyes to quickly adjust and she could see a stone wall in front of her. Being unable to move much in her small enclosure and the feeling of the water slowly creeping up her legs caused her emotions to give way to near panic. Thoughts of her family and friends flashed through her mind but most of all she thought of Albus. With no wand to protect himself, she was afraid to even ponder the outcome of this battle. She heard the sound of stone grinding on stone and blackness unlike anything she had experienced before consumed her.

Theres felt power surging in his veins. He was about to defeat the wizard who had murdered his father. Everything was going as planned and the look of pain and horror that had crossed Albus' face when the cage had dropped was worth every dark hole he had been forced to hide in for the past few years.

"How is my father's greatest enemy?" Theres gave Albus a few seconds to respond and then continued when he didn't answer. "It has been a long time since we have seen each other and then it was under such terrible circumstances. Watching my father killed in front of me was rather horrible. I imagine that you didn't give that much consideration however."

The friction between the two was nearly palpable and Theres could feel it strengthen him. "I was not strong enough then to do much about it but I have studied and been planning your downfall since. However, until you presented a fondness for the lady, I really had no way of striking. Hogwarts is so cleverly protected and you have rarely come out to play."

Theres could feel himself losing grip with reality. This madness was his family's most commonly inherited trait. His father, Grindelwald, was brilliant and powerful but the madness had caused his downfall and Theres would not let the same thing happen to him. Once he had defeated the old wizard in front of him, he could recruit followers and finish the plan that had been put on hold by his father's defeat.

"I know that I said Ms. McGonagall would not be harmed but I am afraid I lied. She still has a few minutes so don't bother yourself with worrying just yet." When mere silence met his carefully prepared comments, Theres started to get angry. "It is a shame you don't seem concerned. Do you wish for all of your friends to drown slowly? Even now her cage is lowering into the icy water below."

He finally received the reaction he was looking for from his enemy. Albus' eyes narrowed and his spine stiffened. He reached for his wand and Theres laughed. "I am afraid your wand is beyond repair. An accident I assure you." Albus looked to where Theres pointed but his expression did not change when he saw his wand lying in pieces. It was the first time that Theres' instincts sliced through his confidence and it was long enough to cause fear to enter his heart.

"Theres, I do not wish to harm you. You are still a boy and a very confused one from the look of it. Come with me and I will make sure you get the help you need."

Theres lost all touch with reality when he saw pity on his opponent's face. "Do not speak to me as if I am a child. I come from a powerful family and greatness is in my veins. You are merely a murderer. I shall strike you down and the truth will be told. Prepare yourself for death." His last words were spoken as his wand slashed through the air.

Minerva felt the ground above her shake and she knew the muffled voices above must have been shouted. The water was just swallowing her collarbones but a steely calmness had taken the place of her once frayed nerves. There was nothing she could do and she had never been one to panic. She certainly wasn't going to start now.

She knew Albus would die trying to save her. But she was fearful that time was not on their side. The water started to cover her lips and Minerva made sure to keep them tightly sealed. Between not being able to move and the pressure of the water surrounding her, she was fighting down a feeling of claustrophobia.

Soon the rising tide covered her nose and she was forced to hold her breath. She realized that she could no longer feel her fingers and caught herself just before she laughed. Tears that had been threatening since she had been sucked through the port-key in her room would no longer be held back. As they streamed out of her eyes they didn't have far to go and she somehow felt cheated. She forced her thoughts to turn to Albus holding her close while they sat by the fire in his sitting room. She remembered the exact feel of his warm lips on her own as the blackness descended.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse…we surprise you with yet another cliffhanger. More answers to those nagging questions will be found in the next chapter…

Liz O'Brien: We can't promise that she won't be hurt…but at least Albus has found her and that's a start towards a happier ending.

Jestana: You're gonna have to keep that 'wicked' grin on your face for at least one more chapter…because you wouldn't want us to tell all that we know, now would you???  ^_^

Punurple: Thanks for reviewing and we're glad that you loved No Longer Safe. It was difficult to write but loads of fun. Hope you enjoyed this chapter more than the last!

Mavidian: Hang on to your seat because Albus hasn't rescued the fair damsel just yet. But there's always hope when there is another chapter on the way.

Chicken13: Thanks for the compliment. And now you at least have some answers as to who and why.

Kemenran: Another chapter….per your request. Hope you enjoyed it.

LinZe: You thought the last chapter was full of angst…how's this for a cliffhanger? Glad you're enjoying the story. And keep a look-out for chapter 12.

PrincessWitch: If you were barely able to control the anticipation for the last chapter, we are sorry for what we did to you in this cliffhanger….but brighter days are ahead in the form of the next chapter… ^_^

minni: Albus has finally located his love but how will he save her? Or is she beyond help? Ahhhh, something else to think about… chapter 12 should be up soon. No fear!

Palanfanaiel: No Gollum…NOOO!! You can't hurt Pal or Smeagol. The Hogwarts Duo needs them to review our story. Look, we've even sent you another chapter so you won't hurt them and so that we can get some answers from you. We hope the 'bang' at the end was a firecracker or a backfiring car…any such luck?  Don't keep us in suspense!! And Gollum…maybe we can find you a new precioussssssss….how about another chapter in the works?

Petriebird18: Okay, Okay..we give! (hands thrown in the air as we surrender) We made Minerva come back, but we're sure that's not what you had in mind. But have no fear, we're already at work on editing the next chapter…so keep looking for another update soon!