Disclaimer: I own nothing that you already know to be J.K. Rowlings. Nor do I own the song, "Bring On The Rain," I can't remember who sings it, but.... it's a female, if that helps anything?
A/N: Sorry it took so long but I wasn't quite sure how to write this one and I also have school now, as some of you may already know. Hope you like this chapter. Thanks to all my reviewers, especially Rainqueenoflaby. OOHH! And I finally get to use the song that I named this fic after. I hope you guys really enjoy that one! hehehe.
Minerva made her way slowly to the dining room. She would have liked to use the excuse that she had no idea where she was going and instead stay in her room. But the pictures of past Riddle mansion owners were more than happy to point her in the right direction. So, within five minutes of very slow walking, Minerva found herself standing a mere two feet from the huge, iron double doors that led to the dining room. She looked all the way to the top, then rested her gaze right in front of her. The handles were carved into snakes, the one on the left going down and the one on the right going up. 'Just like Tom,' she thought.
Taking in a deep breath and drawing up as much of the legendary Gryffindor courage as she could muster, she pulled open both doors. The sight that greeted her eyes shocked her. There was a grand table that could easily hold twenty people, perhaps more. There was food enough to feed an entire wizard army, though only two place settings were there on the left end of the table. All around, there were tapestries of silver and green. And just behind the seat at the left end of the table, a blazing fire roared and crackled. Above the fireplace was a grand portrait of Voldemort in his younger years, that ever present sneer plastered on his face. On either side of the fireplace were large glass windows. Walking over to the one on the left side, Minerva could see the reat stretch of land that was Riddle land.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" Voldemort whispered in her right ear. This caused Minerva to nearly jump out of her skin.
"Merlin's beard, you frightened me, Tom," she hissed, placing a hand to her chest. Voldemort cringed yet again at the use of his birth name.
"Must you use that horrible muggle name, Minerva?" he grumbled. Minverva turned and faced him, as stern and as cold as ever.
"That is your given name, so that is what I shall call you," she spat. Voldemort twitched a bit, then smiled.
"As you wish, my dear," he said, taking her elbow in an attepmt to lead her to her seat. She pulled her arm back, glaring at him. She then proceeded to help herself into her seat. Voldemort smiled and sat himself in his seat at the head of the table, just to her left.
"Listen, Tom," another cringe, "I have no wish to stay here any longer. I can't possibly be of any use to you, so let me go!" Voldemort sneered.
"Oh, Minerva, you are so much more important than you know," he said. "I've loved you ever since our seventh year. If you'd only give me a chance-" He moved his hand over hers, which had been resting on the table. She looked at it and quickly moved it away.
"Never," Minerva breathed. "Not after all that you've done... To the Order, to Lily and James Potter, to Harry... To me..." Tears threatened to fall once again, but she swallowed them down once more.
"Minerva," Voldemort said firmly, yet still softly. "I don't think you are in any position to refuse me."
"Why is that?" Minerva glared, her eyes cold.
"Because as we speak, I have an opperative at Hogwarts, ready and waiting for my signal. Once I give it to him, your precious Albus can be killed while he sleeps."
"What?" breathed Minerva. Her heart fell into the pit of her stomach. "That can't be possible. Albus would have detected their presence. H-How can there possibly be someone in Hogwarts?"
"Well, this person isn't exactly in Hogwarts at the moment," Voldemort sneered. "But I do have y ways. You'll find that I can be very, very persuasive."
"NO!" shouted Minerva, jumping up from her seat and knocking over her chair. "I don't believe you!" But before she could go any further, Voldemort produced a large screen. It took only a moment for Minerva's eyes to focus on the figure of Albus, talking to someone via the fireplace. Though, she couldn't see who it was.
"He's talking to the man I've hired to assassinate him, in case you should not agree with my terms." Minerva leaned against the table for support, closed her eyes, and sighed.
"What must I do?" she asked. The question tore at her heart with each word. Voldemort sneered, stood, walked over so that he was behind her, twirled her around, pulled her close into him, and whispered into her ear,
"Marry me, Minerva," he said. For a few seconds, Minerva forgot how to breath. She pulled back, looked at him, and nearly fainted.
"Marry you?" she hissed. "Why you sneaky, son-of-a-"
"Uh, uh, uh, my dear," Voldemort said, wagging his finger from side to side. He nodded his head to the screen. "What woud dear old Albus think if he knew you could have saved him but didn't because you didn't want to stay imprisoned? Not even to save true love." Minerva couldn't take it anymore. She pulled away from Voldemort and ran for her room.
When she got there, she threw herself onto her bed, too exhausted to sleep, let alone cry some more. She just stared at the ceiling, thinking of two men, both so different.
Another day has almost come and gone
Can't imagine what else could go wrong
Sometimes I'd like to hide away
Somewhere and lock the door.
A single battle lost, but not the war
But tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain
Minerva eventually got up and walked to her window. Sitting on the sill, she stared longingly into the distance, her knees to her chest. She hugged them tightly. Oh, she would give anything to only warn Albus of her prediciment. But, surely, he must know something about the spy. Right? She just couldn't see how it could possibly get any worse than it had. But wait- just as she thought of this, rain began to fall. She could just die!
It's almost like the hard times circle round
A couple drops, and they all start coming down.
Yes, I may feel defeated
And I may hang my head
I may be barely breathing
But I'm not dead
Cuz tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain.
Minerva just stared sadly at the rain. Was this it? Was she doomed to just give up and never tell Albus how she felt? Oh, she would give all her witch powers to turn back time. Even just twenty-four hours. She could tell Albus how she felt.
But even with these thoughts weighing heavily on her mind, she was deteremined not to let it get her down. She was going to find some way of escaping. She just needed a way.
No I'm not gonna let it get me down
I'm not gonna cry
No I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight
'Be strong, Minerva,' she told herself. 'Just be strong.'
Cuz tomorrow's another day
And I am not afraid
So bring on the rain.
Stumbling back to bed, she rested her head against her pillow and fell into a deep, troubled sleep.
A/N2: Sorry that chapter was much longer than the others, but I felt I had a lot that needed to be covered. Well, I hope you enjoyed. I am exhausted, so I am going to bed as well. I only stayed up to write this chapter for you guys and tomorrow I have school. Yawns tiredly and stretches. Back cracks Peace out!