Chapter 14-

The morning sun shone through the small gap in the curtains, the bright rays of light shone down on Minerva's bare shoulder. Albus Dumbledore awoke moments later and got out of the warm bed, he didn't even glance at the sleeping woman as he passed her on his way over to the windows.

He pulled the curtains open harshly and turned to watch the reaction from the sleeping woman, the reaction he received was not the one he thought he would get. He had expected her to sit up in bed and curse at him but she didn't, in fact she just lay there, not moving. He waited a few moments longer before crossing the room and reaching her side in a few long strides.

"Minerva!" he questioned

He received no answer and he placed his hand on her bare shoulder, he squeezed it tightly but still she didn't wake. She felt slightly cooler than usual but he could make out a faint pulse. He rolled her over on to her back and pulled the covers from her bare body. He noticed that the sheets below were soaked in blood, why hadn't he noticed it before. He looked over her body to see if he could see where the blood was coming from but he couldn't see anything.

"Wake up!" he ordered as he clutched her face with his hand "Minerva, listen to me!"

He shook her again and then cradled her body up against his and rocked her from side to side; he kissed the top of head.

"You made me do it Minerva," he told her "you defied me! I didn't want this to end like this; I want you to rule by my side. I may be evil but I do love and that love is for you! Come on love, wake up!"

Minerva groaned slightly as her eyes flickered open but then closed again, she didn't have enough strength to keep her eyes open. She knew that she was being held in someone's arms and she knew who they belonged to but she didn't want to be in his arms any longer. She heard his words clearly as he spoke them but to her they were empty, she didn't want his love if it was to be like this.

"I'll go and fetch help!" he told her.

She felt him lay her back down on the bed and cover her with the black satin sheets, she heard him leave the room and she tried to slow her breathing down as it was hurting her. His words then had sounded so meaningful, he almost sounded like the old Albus but she knew that the old Albus never existed. She let sleep claim her once more.

The door to the makeshift prison flew open and Albus Dumbledore swept into the room, he scanned the room and saw Severus Snape curled up in the corner. Albus marched over and grabbed Severus's arms roughly and pulled him up on to his shaky feet, Severus was still weak from the curse battering he had received yesterday.

"Stand up!" ordered Albus who was looking at Severus with disgust.

"Please no more," pleaded Severus who sounded like a frightened child "I'll join you!"

"I have not come for you for that reason Snape," growled Albus "Minerva needs your help!"

"Minerva!" asked Alastor Moody jumping to his feet and walking towards Albus "What have you done to her?"

"You could be of some help as well!" announced Albus as he looked at Alastor with large eyes.

"I will do anything to help Minerva!" replied Alastor with clenched fists.

"I know that Moody," said Albus with a smile "but you will never touch her how I touch her."

"You're disgusting!" growled Alastor

"Well I would love to continue chatting but I have more pressing matters to attend to," said Albus looking around the room at the remaining members of the order "Moody help the pitiful excuse of a potion master along to my rooms."

Moody offered to help Severus but Severus refused his help, he straightened up his back and threw his shoulders back with determination. He strode out after Albus with Alastor bringing up the rear, the door closed behind them.

The two men rushed after Albus as he swept along the corridor and the stairs leading to the master bedroom.

"She is in there," he told them "no funny business Moody, I'll be watching you!"

Both Moody and Snape ignored what Albus had said and rushed into the room and over to where Minerva was sleeping. Severus looked over her and shook his head as he glanced at Moody.

"We can't do anything for her without our wands!" said Alastor as he turned to look at Albus

"You think I'm going to hand over your wands," replied Albus with an arched eyebrow "You tell me what to do and I'll do it!"

"We can do this quicker if we have our wands!" carried on Alastor.

"Do not play me like a FOOL Moody!" warned Albus pointing his wand at the former Auror.

"Fine," sneered Alastor as he turned his attention back to Minerva "you're have to come closer!"

Albus stepped closer and waited for the instructions from Severus while Alastor tried to reach Minerva through their secret connection. He wasn't having any luck in reaching her till she regained conciseness when Albus had managed to stop the internal bleeding he had caused the night before. Minerva opened her mind to Alastor and he was distressed to hear that she had wanted them to let her die because she couldn't do this any longer and that she was also ashamed because she had let her friends down. Alastor tried to reassure but she quickly closed her mind to him as she opened her eyes and looked around at the three men around her.

"Good to see you back with me Minerva." said Albus taking hold of her hand and squeezing it, she flinched at his touch and that surprised him "don't flinch my dear, it's all okay now."

"I'm sorry for worrying you!" she said rather timidly.

"Are you ready for a trip?" asked Albus "We are going to pay a visit to the minister this afternoon and how you like would to be headmistress of Hogwarts? Ssshhh you don't have to answer that yet, you need to retain your strength for this afternoon."

Minerva closed her eyes and called out to Alastor in her mind.

"I'm going to kill Albus Dumbledore if it's the last I do!" she told him "I will avenge the death of Remus and Hermione and all the other innocents!"