Chapter 6 by angeldust
"Minerva would never do such a thing!" Alastor Moody growled as Albus told him of his thoughts.
"I know she never got along with muggleborns- she's my friend, how could I not. But that was just the way she was raised, she was raised to hate them! You can't change the way you were raised; Albus- she doesn't know any better."
"She killed them, Alastor! I saw it in her eyes- the guilt there, yet at the same time she was so confident and arrogant. She killed Hermione and threw her off the top of the tower to make it look like suicide, she then lost her temper and killed Snape, she couldn't hide him so she ran away!"
Alastor stared at him in disbelief
"You're lying." he growled firmly- daringAlbus to answer back.
"I know, Alastor. It's hard to believe but you have to, we need to know who our enemies are. And Minerva is now one of them." Albus whispered slightly coldly, his usual twinkle had diminished when he saw the look on Minerva's face as he broke her heart.
"How do you feel?" Alastor asked quietly, staring at Albus intently.
"How do you feel knowing that you will have to try and kill the woman you love on the battlefield?"
"I had the choice Alastor… Duty or love, my responsibility lies in the Wizard world, in Hogwarts and its students. My love lies with Minerva McGonagall- a woman destined to be the enemy of my duty. I had the choice. I could have chosen duty and be forced to let go and possibly kill the woman I love, or I could have chosen love. I could have become a traitor to the wizarding world- I would have to let go of everything I worked for but at least I would have Minerva. I choose duty- not because I don't love Minerva, because I do, but because the wizarding world needs me, as do Hogwarts and the Order." Albus could feel almost every muscle twitch as he said her name. He knew he should hate her, hate her for the pain she had caused- yet every night he still found images of that amazing smile being flashed just for him.
---Meanwhile---
The dark hoards of Voldemort's army came to a still silence as there master rose and glared across the sea of darkness. This gave Minerva her first real chance to look over at the huge army. It was made up of pure-blood witches and wizards all dressed in black. Dementors stood deathly still as they listened to their new master, Drows and Elves stood together watching with keen eyes. This was the kind of army Minerva had never dared dream about.
"My allies," Voldemort greeted them slowly with his icy snake-like voice. Minerva had to put up with that same voice for over four hours the previous night as the plans were made. "You have all fought bravely and have helped deeply in your own private quests, but now is the time for war and who better to lead you than one who knows the enemies territory like the back of her wand?" He stopped for a second and glared around athis vile audience.
"May I present to you, your new General, the woman who will lead you to victory. Minerva Astoreth McGonagall."