On a stormy night in July, Albus began his journey from his house in the countryside to the McGonagall manor in Scotland. He felt very apprehensive, knowing that he could very well die in a few short hours. Albus had never been afraid of Grindelwald, but he was certain that the wizard would manipulate Minerva for his own use. Albus would gladly protect any witch or wizard in danger, but he had admitted to himself a long time ago that he had a large soft spot for Minerva. He would die to protect her, no matter what. If Grindelwald threatened to kill Minerva, Albus would surrender with no questions asked.

Albus apparated to the forest on the edges of the manor. He knew that Grindelwald would no doubt have put up security about the perimeter of his land, much like the charms on Hogwarts.

Upon reaching the castle, Albus crept over a wall and began his frantic search for Grindelwald and Minerva. He had a feeling that, one way or the other, this was going to end that night.

There were shouts coming from the basement, so Albus ran silently down the stairs. When he could see what was going on but was mainly hidden, Albus stopped. His eyes widened in horror.

A man lay in the middle of the dungeon room, unmistakably dead. Not ten feet from the man stood Grindelwald, his wand trained on something on the floor. It was Minerva. She was writhing in pain, but did not make a sound.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO INTERFERE WITH MY WORK! HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME! CRUCIO!"

Despite his shock and terror, Albus noticed that something about Minerva was different. Usually spells just connected with people, but with Minerva, it appeared that she sucked it into her. She looked slightly illuminated.

Albus leapt out from behind the wall and pointed his wand at Minerva. "Finite Incantatem," he said quietly.

Grindelwald looked at him in amazement. He lowered his wand for a moment. "Dumbledore." Albus could tell that Grindelwald was fearful. He glanced between Minerva and Albus a few times. "Minerva. Kill him."

Albus felt his heart skip a beat. Whatever he had been expecting, it was not that. How did Grindelwald expect a fifteen year old girl with no wand to kill him? He did not know what Grindelwald was up to, but he knew it could be nothing good. He stared at Minerva, stared at the face and eyes that had been haunting him for four years.

Minerva looked back into his eyes. Her face held great sorrow and turmoil and Albus wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and comfort her. But first he had to survive.

Minerva did nothing. She made no move to or away from Albus or Grindelwald. Grindelwald's eyes narrowed in fury. "Minerva! Obey me! Kill him!" Minerva stayed still. "KILL HIM! IMPERIO!"

It was then that Albus knew it was all over. He could never bring himself to fight against Minerva, and he did not see how she was to ignore the Imperius Curse. To his immense surprise, however, Minerva turned away from him. "No," she said quietly.

Grindelwald stepped forward. "What?" he asked dangerously.

Minerva stepped closer to him. "No. I will not kill him. I will not allow your spell to work. I haven't for years. You cannot control me. I will not kill him."

Albus had no idea what was going on, but he could tell that Grindelwald was blinded by his rage. He had never seen any man look so out of control. Suddenly, Grindelwald lunged for Minerva. He seized her by the throat and threw her against the wall. She slid to the ground and lay completely still, a streak of blood on the wall displaying her path.

Albus felt wrath such as he had never experienced before. He pointed his wand at Grindelwald. "This ends tonight. I will not let you get away with what you have done."

Grindelwald sneered. "Empty threats, Dumbledore. In a few short minutes, the death toll for tonight will be three." He began sending curses at Albus, darting around the room. Albus deflected them easily, sending back rounds of his own. With a twirling of his cloak Albus disappeared and reappeared behind Grindelwald, shooting spells at his back. Grindelwald turned around and sent volley after volley toward Albus, narrowly missing a piece of falling rock when a spell went crooked and cracked the stone ceiling.

The two dueled fiercely for a long time, taking no notice of anything but their opponent. Neither saw Minerva stirring, and she went unnoticed as she stood on the edge of the fray.

When he jumped aside to avoid a rock, Albus made himself vulnerable for a moment. Grindelwald took advantage of this and shrieked, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Albus felt like time slowed down. He saw the streak of green light coming toward him, but he could not seem to get out of the way fast enough. He knew that this was the end. The light was but a foot away from him when Minerva threw herself in front of the oncoming spell.

Albus's eyes widened in shock as she fell to the ground, glowing slightly. Time resumed its normal speed and Albus stared helplessly while Minerva lay on the ground, screaming. After a minute Minerva lay still.

Albus looked furiously up at Grindelwald. "She was your daughter."

"She was nothing but a disappointment," he said coldly.

Before Grindelwald could do anything, Albus pointed his wand at his nemesis. "Avada Kedavra!" he shouted.

The same spell that Minerva had so recently been hit with connected with her father. There was an expression of shock in his eyes as he fell to the floor, his body disintegrating as he went. With an ear-splitting shriek, his body was reduced to dust. Grindelwald McGonagall was no more.

Albus fell to his knees beside Minerva. She had sacrificed herself for him. It had been strange, though…he had never heard anyone scream when they were hit with the Killing Curse. It worked far too quickly.

He gently turned her over. He almost passed out when he saw that she was breathing. "Oh, Merlin…." He put his hand over her heart and felt it beating. He could not believe it. The Killing Curse had not killed her. For the first time in history, it had not worked. "Minerva," he whispered weakly. He stroked her cheek. "Wake up. Please wake up."

Tears ran down Albus's face as he cried silently for the one in his arms. What a life she must have had. He would probably never know what torturous experiences she had endured, but if what he had seen was any hint, he could not believe she was still alive.

Swaying slightly, Albus stood up. With one arm under Minerva's knees and the other around her back, he carried her up the stairs and away from the dungeon. He did not have the strength to apparate yet, but he did not want to keep Minerva in that dungeon of death any longer. He found what seemed to be the most pleasant room in the entire manor and he conjured up some blankets. He settled Minerva on them and covered her tenderly. After a moment's hesitation, he kissed her cheek. He lay down beside her so he would feel it if she moved, and almost instantly fell asleep.