Off To War

A/N: I'm doing a series of one-shots based on my fic, 'Tabby and Prongs, Jr.' This is the second one. 'Early Morning Visit' is the first one and I suggest you read that before you read this one.

"_Why_, Min?" Arabella demanded, blinking back tears. "Why do you have to go?"

"I need to prove that I can still fight, Bella," Minerva replied quietly, her own eyes far from dry. "Not only did Sam batter me physically, but he also battered my self-confidence."

"So why go to the continent?" Arabella asked, anguished. "We've already lost Uncle Malcolm and Duncan."

"I've no intention of getting killed, Bella," Minerva informed her sister firmly. "Your niece and nephew are here. I _will_ come back for them. I give you my word."

Arabella reluctantly nodded, knowing she had no chance of changing her sister's mind. "I will wait for that day, Min."

Minerva blinked back her tears. "I think it's time I said good-bye."

Arabella nodded again and called up the stairs. "Danny! Rica!"

In short order, two children clattered down the stairs. One was a boy with messy black hair and gray eyes. The other was a girl with long, straight brown hair and deep blue eyes. "Mum!" "Ma!"

Minerva caught the two children in a tight hug as they flew at her. She closed her eyes against the tears that threatened to fall as her children clung to her. "Have you two been good for Aunt Bella and Uncle Kevin?"

Both nodded solemnly. Tears were openly streaming down Erica's face while Daniel scrubbed surreptitiously at his eyes. "O' course, Ma." "Yes, Mum."

"Good." She ruffled the boy's already-messy hair and he smiled. The girl sniffled when Minerva stroked her hair. "I need you to keep being good for them."

"Why, Ma?" Erica asked innocently.

"Are you goin' 'way?" Daniel added, his smile fading.

Minerva nodded, blinking back tears once again. "Yes, Uncle Albus needs my help."

Erica threw herself into her mother's arms, crying. "Don' go, Ma!"

Daniel stood back, his gray eyes hard, reminding Minerva of his father for a moment. "Why, Mum? Can't someone else help?"

"Danny!" Arabella exclaimed, scandalized. "Your mother has her reasons--"

Minerva, one arm holding the still-sobbing girl to her, raised her hand to stop her sister. "Come here, Daniel." Her voice was surprisingly steady and brooked no refusal. The boy stepped closer and Minerva's free arm slipped around his shoulders. "I don't want to leave you and your sister, but this is something I _need_ to do. Can you understand that?"

"Like needing to go to the loo?" he asked solemnly.

Eric stopped crying and turned to stare at her twin. Minerva and Arabella stared at him as well. His sister started giggling and buried her face in her mother's shoulder to stifle the giggles. Arabella clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her own laughter. A smile twitching at her mouth, Minerva nodded. "Yes, something like that, Daniel."

He nodded and snuggled against her. "How long will you be gone?"

She sighed. "Until this war is over for good." Both twins nodded. "Look at me, both of you." Deep blue and gray eyes looked up into her deep blue ones trustingly. "I _will_ come back to you. I give you my word. Okay?"

They nodded again. "Okay, Ma." "Yes, Mum."

"Good." Her smile was watery. "Now, give me one last hug to last us until I see you two again." It was a long time before she finally left for France to join in the fight against the combined forces of Grindelwald and Hitler.