A/N: Arrrgh! I was hoping to get this posted earlier today, but my comp monitor decided to commit suicide! So I had to go get a replacement. Thanks to everyone out there who's taken the time to read my story. There is a dash of lemon at the end and more next chapter I swear! : -)

Chapter 3

The next morning all the students departed for home on the Hogwart's Express. Albus hated being in the castle when it was devoid of children. It was much too quiet and lonely. He had tried to find Minerva in order to apologize for his actions, but she was too busy with her fellow aurors. No matter what he did, Albus couldn't get his mind off the kiss. It was pure bliss and though he felt that his forwardness caused Minerva to run, he couldn't bring himself to regret it. She kissed me back! He was sure she felt something akin to attraction or else she wouldn't have so actively participated. Maybe she was just caught up in the moment and when she realized she was kissing her former, old professor... Albus shook his head to clear his mind. Such thoughts would only succeed in making him insane.

He stood in the staff room at dusk staring out the window. He could see Minerva working along side her colleagues as they continued to scour the area. The ministry had sent more aurors, not only to aid in the investigation, but also to patrol the school. "You can never be too careful," the Minister of Magic had said. He came to see for himself the destruction being wrought and close on his heels, came of course, the press. Dozens of reporters and photographers were trying to gain access to the grounds, but were turned away by aurors. Albus saw them just outside the gate, waiting like vultures, for someone to feed them any little tidbits of information. He sighed as he watched Minerva lead a group off towards the Quidditch pitch. She had always been a natural leader.

"I know something is bothering you, my friend," came the headmaster's voice from behind him. "You are not usually one for heavy sighs."

"I didn't think anyone else was around to hear it." He turned and noticed for the first time the dark circles beneath Dippet's eyes and the paleness of his face. "Are you well, Armando?"

Dippet moved to sit by the fireplace. "I am getting on tolerably, I suppose, in light of recent events. I am starting to feel the effects of this curse, however."

Albus sat in the chair opposite him. "I have to admit to feeling it as well. Just walking from my chambers to the Great Hall, I had to stop three times to catch my breath."

"Miss McGonagall seems to be unaffected as of yet," Dippet remarked, throwing peculiar looks at Albus. "She is still young and full of life's vigor, so perhaps it will take longer. She's become a fine auror and an even more fine woman, I dare say."

Albus was taken aback by the headmaster's comments and glances. "I beg your pardon?"

"Oh come now, man!" Dippet laughed. "She is no longer a student and I may be happily married, but I am not dead! I've seen the looks you give her when you think no one is watching, Albus."

The professor looked away, hoping to hide the blush he knew was creeping onto his cheeks. "I have no idea what you mean, Armando."

"I think you do. You looked at her like that two years ago when she was still a student! I also seem to remember that it was the same when you were mooning over Francesca in your sixth year."

Albus shook his head, resigned to the fact that his old friend and employer seemed to know so much about him. Must go with the position, he thought. "Your sister was just a passing infatuation. I believe it only lasted until the beginning of seventh year. I'm afraid that my feelings for Minerva go much deeper." He felt better confiding in someone.

"Then my advice to you is to take her out somewhere and woo her. There is nothing standing in your way."

"We happen to be in the middle of a crisis! Besides, I'm much too old for her anyhow. What could a nineteen-year-old possibly see in someone more than seventy-five years her senior?"

The headmaster was prevented from answering by several people barging into the room. Louis was at the forefront of a group that included several different aurors, Madame Blanchard, and Minerva. "There you are, Headmaster!" he cried, slightly out of breath.

"I wasn't aware you were looking for me, Louis. What is wrong?"

The lines on the auror captain's face were becoming more prominent as the investigation went on. "Sir, we've found four more pig heads and they all had the same note attached to them. The areas where they were dug up make a kind of border around the school." He showed him an overhead map of the school with the locations marked.

Blanchard stepped forward and cleared her throat. She was starting to look a little worse for wear. "I've been studying the poem left by Grindelwald. He makes references to several different deities. Ahriman is the Zoroastrian supreme lord of darkness and death. Nergal, Hades, and Cel are all gods of death and the underworld. They are Babylonian, Greek, and Italian, respectively. He also calls upon several goddesses who also rule over death. Merau, Kalma, Morta and Hel are Polynesian, Finnish, Roman, and Norse."

"He certainly knows his mythologies," an auror observed, blandly.

"Not everyone thinks they are just myths. There are plenty of cultures, wizard and muggle alike, who still remain loyal to the old ways," she retorted.

"Thank you, Madame. Let us retire to the Three Broomsticks and away from all this tainted magic," announced Dippet.

"Just a minute!" exclaimed Minerva. All heads turned in her direction. She had the map of Hogwarts spread out upon the table and she pointed at it with her wand. "This blue circle represents the magical boundary of the curse. We labeled each site in the order in which they were found, A, B, C, etc. If you were to draw a line from point A to point B and one from point B to point C and so on, you get this." Minerva created the lines with her wand and the group watched in amazement as it formed a star pointed downward.

"That is an inverted pentagram," said Blanchard. "It symbolizes the rule of the physical world over the spiritual one. Its meaning is changed when upright. The spirit may preside over the physical elements of earth, wind, fire, and water, but all are connected. It is a symbol of unity and protection."

"I don't think the order we found the heads in was coincidental. This has to be part of the spell or another clue perhaps," Minerva ventured.

"Good thinking, McGonagall!" praised Louis. "That's earned you a drink!"

She took the commendations in stride, smiling gratefully. Albus found himself once again unable to take his eyes off of her. She looked up and was caught in his stare. As the others filed out of the staff room, Dippet couldn't help but notice the blush that made its way onto the young woman's face after looking at Albus. Perhaps his old friend had a chance after all, he thought.

Minerva sat in a booth surrounded by her friends, but feeling very alone. Their mood had lightened since they left the school. It was getting harder to resist the curse and she fought to keep from falling asleep on her feet. She looked across the room to where Albus sat with some of the other professors. Her heart beat faster as she recalled the previous night. She couldn't deny that she enjoyed the kiss nor could she forget the delightful way his lips tasted like chocolate and lemons. The feelings he stirred in her were confusing, frightening, and wonderful all at once. She needed to focus on the task at hand. Solving the mystery of Grindelwald's poem and restoring Hogwarts needed to be her first priority. Didn't she not tell him that her studies always come first? Didn't she not tell her mother and father the same thing. They refused to believe that though. "Your first duty is always to your family." That was what her grandfather said time and time again. The old patriarch of the McGonagall clan was planning something, she knew it. She received a letter from her mother yesterday morning informing her to come home as soon as she was done at Hogwarts. Minerva's eyes wandered again toward her ex-teacher and was troubled by his apparant lack of joyfulness. She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened had she not panicked.

"Did you hear of the latest attempt on Hitler's life? Someone put a bum on his arrow plain, but it didn't go off!"

Flutterby laughed. "I think you mean someone put a bomb on his airplane, William."

"I wondered why that didn't sound quite right," said Professor Kettleburn. "Is everything alright, Albus? You seem a little distracted."

Albus heard someone speak his name and looked up from his drink. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

The two professors stared blankly at him. The headmaster decided to step in. "Perhaps you should retire to your room, Albus. It has been quite a day. I'm heading up myself. Let us walk together."

Albus nodded absently, bidding the two younger gentlemen a good night and followed Dippet up the stairs.

Dippet read over the most recent entry in his daily journal, satisfied with what he wrote. He closed the large leather bound tome and reached over snuff out the candle. A faint knocking at his door stopped his movement. He was rather surprised by who greeted him behind the door.

"Helena? Is something wrong?"

The Ministry representative stood in the darkened hallway, the only light coming from the end of her wand. She was clothed in a simple blue dressing gown. "I'm so sorry to disturb you at this time of night, Headmaster, but I couldn't wait until morning."

He beckoned her inside and checked to see if there was anyone else in the hall before shutting the door. Who knows what kind of rumors would get started if anyone saw her entering his room in the middle of the night. Madame Blanchard sat down in the desk chair Dippet had previously occupied. "Would you like something to drink? Tea? Coffee? Wine?" offered Dippet. She politely declined.

"Armando, I've been thinking about possible solutions to this curse and it didn't hit me until an hour ago. What do you know of pagan religion?"

"Not much. They celebrate nature and the seasons, don't they?" he said.

"Yes," Helena answered, "among other things. I happen to belong to a coven back in France. In Grindelwald's poem, he says that the only way to reverse what he has done is to join together the sun and moon. We worship the God and Goddess. They are sometimes represented as the sun and moon. Therefore the answer is to join the God and Goddess."

Dippet held up a hand to stop her. "How are supposed to do that?"

"There is a ritual which we perform at the sabbats called the Great Rite. It signifies their sacred marriage. Our next sabbat is coming up tomorrow, Beltane. It is the start of summer. Renewal, birth, rebirth, and fertility are all celebrated at Beltane. You see how it fits! We must bring fertility back to the land."

The headmaster's face lit up, happy to finally hear a potential remedy to their problems. "Then contact your coven, Helena! Ask them to perform this Great Rite."

"I have contacted them, Armando, but it won't be that easy. Grindelwald also mentions the Great Rite in one of his verses. That coupled with the inverted pentagram Miss McGonagall found leads me to suspect that he altered the same ritual to appeal to his evil wishes. I believe we will have to alter the ritual ourselves to balance out his own. He used strong dark magic to penetrate the defensive shields of Hogwarts. The very stones of the school are infused with magic, from the founders and from those who dwell within it. My coven will do what they can, but I feel that the Great Rite will have to be performed by a powerful witch and wizard who boasts stong connections to Hogwarts."

He slumped down onto the edge of the bed, deep in thought. "What exactly does this Great Rite entail?"

"Normally, our high priest and priestess perform the Rite. They invoke the God and Goddess and honor their union by performing ritual coitus."

The headmaster's eyes bugged. "Ritual coitus?" he asked in disbelief.

"There is nothing shameful about sex, Armando." She could tell he was becoming uncomfortable.

"Yes, I agree, but who do you suggest performs it? I would gladly do anything to help my school, but I will certainly not break my marriage vows. My wife is a muggle."

Helena stared at the floor thinking hard. "Albus Dumbledore! He's certainly the most powerful wizard we've got next to Grindelwald and he's been teaching for many years, so there's the connection to Hogwarts! But what of a witch? I don't recall Dumbledore being attached to anyone."

A proverbial light bulb appeared above Dippet's head and he leaped off the bed in excitement. "I think I know just the one! Minerva McGonagall. She's one of the brightest witches ever to come out of Hogwarts! But how will we get them to agree to such a venture?"

"They would be wearing masks and glamours to represent the God and Goddess. They would never have to know who the other was."

Dippet shook his head. "So you're saying we should ask each of them to have sex with a complete stranger?"

She nodded emphatically. "It would probably be less awkward than if they didn't know. Ignorance is bliss."

"What if they are attracted to each other?" he asked.

"Are you trying to play matchmaker, Armando?" Helena asked, teasingly. "I still think it would be better if they don't know."

"I will ask them, Helena, leave it to me. Just let me know where they need to be and when." She made to leave the room, Dippet escorting her to the door. "Thank you. If this works, Hogwarts and I will be forever in your debt. Good night."

"Bonne nuit, Armando."

The next day at Hogwarts he announced that Madame Blanchard had found a likely counter to Grindelwald's curse, but kept the details a secret. He only told them that Blanchard's coven was coming in from France to perform a ritual. Many were skeptical, but it was the only idea they had. In the afternoon, the coven arrived and he met with their high priest and priestess. They told him the coven would use one of the spare classrooms for the ritual and gave him the necessary masks and robes. Dippet only had one more thing to do; talk to Albus and Minerva.

He decided to start with Minerva. "You wanted to speak with me, headmaster?" she asked politely upon arrival at his office.

"Yes, please sit down." He noted how nervous she looked. "I'm afraid we are running rather short on time, Miss McGonagall, so I will get right to the point. Madame Blanchard's coven needs you to help in their ritual."

"I will do whatever they require of me, headmaster, if it will banish Grindelwald's spell," Minerva said, head held high.

Dippet ran his fingers through is gray hair. "Good, because what they need you to do is of a somewhat...delicate nature." He explained all about the Great Rite and the importance of the joining. He told her everything Madame Blanchard and her coven members had told him. Suffice it to say, she was stunned speechless.

"You," she said, struggling to find the words, "want me to perform ritual coitus with a complete stranger or quite possibly someone I already know?" He nodded. Minerva buried her face in her hands and knew that her face was beet red. "I will do it. For the sake of the school and because I don't want to see Grindelwald win."

"I knew I could count on you, my dear." He told her to be in the unused ballroom at midnight and gave her the appropriate attire. Fifteen minutes later, Dippet repeated the same conversation to Albus.

The transfiguration professor sat in quiet amusement for many minutes before uttering, "I would normally insist upon dinner before I engage in such nighttime activities, but I suppose I could forgoe that just this once."

Dippet laughed in spite of himself. "Leave to you Albus to say something completely opposite of what I expect!"

"In all honesty, Dippet, I don't mind. I studied a little of the old ways in my youth and I am well aware of their viewpoints on sex. I think it will be the key to the undoing of this curse."

"Thank you, old friend."

Albus stood just outside the door of the old ballroom at exactly ten after midnight. He was instructed to wait until he was summoned inside. He felt a little ridiculous covered head to toe in animal skins and wearing a mask made of green leaves. A silver headband bearing the symbol of the horned god adorned his brow. The glamour he'd cast changed his hair to a dark brown and his beard was made short. His eyes went from sky blue to hazel. The door opened and a young woman stepped out.

"Please come in. You need not say another word until the Rite has been completed. Do you understand?"

Albus nodded and followed her inside. Candles floated above the circle of robed people. Smoky incense floated through the air and relaxed his body instantly. The high priestess approached and opened the circle, inviting him to the center. Standing beside the high priest was a woman of moderate height and slender build. Her red hair hung in long ringlets around her face and down her back. A mask of pure white hid most of her face from view except for her lips. She too had a silver headband, it bore the symbol of the Triple Goddess. He could just make out the shape of her breasts and the darkness of her nipples from beneath the thin guazy material she wore. The priestess led him to the center and placed his hands in the woman's. The priest and priestess moved to stand behind each of them. They began the ritual.

Their words barely registered to Albus. He was so enthralled by the pair of grey eyes in front of them that he soon lost all touch with reality. It worried him that he should be so instantly attracted to this stranger, but he supposed it to be because of the incense and candlelight. He suddenly felt the tingle of magic on his skin as the priest touched the back of his head.

"You stand before us now as the earthly incarnations of the Lord and Lady. Let the sacred union begin. So mote it be!" the high priest and priestess announced.

The others echoed back. "So mote it be!"

The coven then left the ballroom leaving the would be lovers in peace. Albus was pleasantly surprised when he looked down and saw grass covering the floor. At least they wouldn't have to do it on the cold marble, he thought. He brought her right hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. Her breathing became more pronounced and she started to tremble. Spurred on by her reactions, he brought her other hand up to his lips, turned it over and kissed her wrist.

Not to be outdone by him, she took his left hand in both of hers and moved it up to her face. Albus watched in fascination as she kissed his palm and gasped when she took one of his fingers into her mouth, licking with excruiating slowness. He closed his eyes and savored the erotic sensations. Opening them a few seconds later, he was disappointed that she stopped. Though when he realized she had stopped in order to remove the thin barrier between him and her milky white skin, he forgave her for ceasing her ministrations. She layed down upon the soft green grass seemingly offering herself to him. Albus undid the clasps holding together the skins he wore and they fell to the ground in a heap. Her eyes roamed over his naked body appreciatively and he moved to join her in the grass.

A/N: I know it was cruel of me to stop just when it was getting good. I'm evil, I know!!