```Chapter 6```

Minerva barely ate anything that morning. She just glared moodily at Grindelwald and Tom. Briellie ate a small amount of food as well and Albert just glared at Grindelwald the entire time and when he thought no one was looking he would stare with heart broken eyes at Briellie, as if thinking the same thoughts Minerva had previously had that Briellie would fall too weak and expire.

"May I please have a word with my mother?" Minerva asked as Moosy came back in and began clearing the plates.

"You were so polite Miss McGonagall I shall allow it." Grindelwald smiled as Minerva almost jumped to her feet and knocked over her chair. She didn't bother to pick it up as she went swiftly over to her mother, and helped her to her feet.

"If you try to contact any one out side of this house be warned that your parents will both die for it Minerva. Your mother learned last night the hard way." Tom sneered. Minerva glared lethally back at him before putting a protective arm around her mother and walking with her up stairs to her bedroom.

The moment the door shut behind the two Minerva's cold face dissolved like the Twin Towers into terrified tears.

"Oh Mum I'm so scared!" Minerva gasped, clinging to her tiny mother's shoulder. Briellie bit her lip and patted Minerva's back and hummed out endearments to her.

"Minnie, my dearest. Hush now. Shh, hush... you will get out of here alive Minnie." Briellie said softly, stroking her daughter's hair and leading her to the window seat where she sat and Minerva immediately curled into her as if she were a child. After a while the tears sub-sided and Briellie sat stroking her daughters hair with a thoughtful expression on her face while she stared out into space while Minerva stared up at her.

'She looks so old.' Minerva thought sadly.

"I have to get dressed Mum." Minerva said, and she walked behind a changing screen and pulled on her clothes messily while her mother stared fiercely at the ground with an almost bored expression. Minerva came around and sat next to her mother.

"What happened yesterday Mum? How could this have happened?" Minerva asked, voice cracking but no more tears coming to her thoroughly washed out eyes.

"They... they snuck in through the back door- early Minnie. Extremely early because Moosy hadn't even started breakfast or done any cleaning at all and she's usually started by five. They tied her up and put her in the pantry and waited for me to come- they told us later how they planned it out. How they watched the house and made maps and found out everything they could about you and knew when you'd be coming back and your sister- oh God. She's supposed to come in a few weeks- no. I won't think about that. It will be over by then." Briellie reassured herself more than Minerva.

"They found out just about everything Minnie. They came in and- when I woke up I had no clue so I just got the mail as always and I started going through the letters we got- and your father came down and started reading the Daily Prophet. Then I remembered I hasn't seen Moosy that morning so I went to the- the kitchen to look for her." Briellie bit her lower lip hard and began twisting her hands through one of Minerva's curl, an old nervous habit she'd had since Minerva was a child.

"And I went, and I couldn't find her in the kitchen so I thought: 'Now where could that adorable little elf have gone?' because I was in such a wonderful mood before that happened Minerva. Really I was. So I thought to myself that she might have gone into the pantry and gotten the door stuck because it's been getting stuck a lot lately... so I opened the door and-" her mother's voice reached a peak in emotion.

"There was my Moosy all tied up and crying with a gag in her mouth and-" Briellie's voice faltered. Minerva knew well enough it was hard for her mother because she loved the house elf like a child, especially after Minerva and her sister were both in school and her mother was often left home alone with her 'adorable little elf'. "And then those two were there." Briellie said softly. "That horrid man used that disarming spell and that boy used a stunner- at the same time Minnie! I didn't stand a chance. I've never been to wonderful at dueling and it's not like there was the slightest indication that something was going to happen." Briellie let a single tear fall down her cheek.

"Oh Minnie it was horrid. Then that horrible boy put a silencing charm on me before I could even start screaming! Then Grindelwald- oh Minnie he tied me up before I could fight him. I couldn't even move and- oh Minnie." She repeated, clutching her daughter's hand. "I was so scared. That boy took my wand and I couldn't stop him and I think he still has it in his pocket. Then Grindelwald shut the pantry door and he lit his wand and he..." Briellie broke off in a fresh wave of sobs. Minerva's eyes bulged.

"What did he do mum?" she asked, barely able to choke the words out or find her voice. Briellie looked at her for a moment before whispering: 'You know it Minnie. Don't make me say it.'

Briellie pulled back the neck of her shirt and whimpered as Minerva gasped and stared at the multiple dark purple marks that littered her neck. Minerva felt one gently and pulled her hand back quickly at her mother's small cry of pain.

'Oh Mum." Minerva whispered, crying softly into her mother's shoulder.

"Then," Briellie continued, with a sudden need to tell the story. "After that your da came- love he was angry. He was furious with Grindelwald. Da fired spells so well at both of those horrible people but- That boy pointed his wand at my head and your father stopped immediately. It made me so angry Minnie! He could have gotten out! He could have gone and warned you and you never would have come here or been hurt because- they have plans for you sweet. That boy wants to-"Briellie stopped and clutched Minerva close to her. "Oh my girl. My dear heart." Briellie caressed her daughter's cheek affectionately. "I love you Minnie." She said tenderly. "And I never want to see you hurt and no matter what they make me say I love you." Briellie kissed the top of her curls and poked at her nose gently.

There was a few moments of silence where Minerva was grateful for her sweet and gentle mother who brought so much comfort to any one she was around.

"He stabbed your Da in the leg because I tried to fight." Briellie said quietly, breaking the nearing tense silence. "And when you came into the house your Da and I went into a frenzy. We both love you so much Minnie and we never want to see you suffer. We were both afraid for each other but so much more frightened for you." Briellie paused and looked at her daughter with an almost fierce warmth. "Da and I are old Minnie. Do you understand what I'm trying to- Minnie we've lived so much longer and sweet, we're getting old. What I mean is- we don't care if we don't live Minnie. You're more important to us." Briellie said softly.

"No Mum. We're all going to live- we'll all be fine! Mum please, don't say that!" Minerva began to cry quietly, clinging to her mother's arm.

"I know darling, shh, come now love." Briellie said softly. Minerva would feel embarrassed to cry in front any one but her mother, and even though she was not embarrassed she brushed the tears away.

"Got to be strong. Da wants that." Minerva whispered. Briellie opened her mouth to say something but her face changed into a cold hard expression.

"Minerva go down stairs right now. My master requests your presence." Briellie said coldly. Minerva jerked up in shock for a moment before she remembered the Imperious Curse.

"I love you mom." Minerva said quietly before walking to the door.

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Peace out,

S.T.