Chapter 16 Escape by quill of Minerva
Minerva looked down at the sleeping man and came to a decision. She lent forward and placed a loving tender kiss on his cheek before reaching across for the knife. She held it in her small delicate hand and studied it carefully; in all her years she had never killed anyone. While she had been an Auror, she would simply weaken them and bring them to trial. She ran her fingers over the blade and bit her lip as she sliced through a bit of her finger.
"Albus!" she called as she hid the knife behind her back "Albus!"
There was no answer from him, which was what she wanted as she knew he was in deep sleep. She lent down again and kissed him on the lips, she whispered 'I do love you Albus Dumbledore'. She brought the hand that held the knife up above her head and drove it into his chest; she repeated the action over and over again. His eyes flew open and he looked at her with confusion, he opened his mouth to say something but didn't get chance to. Minerva watched as blood trickled out of his mouth and mixed with his white beard. The knife slipped from her blood stained hand and fell to the bed. She moved on to her knees and looked down at him, she felt for a pulse but she couldn't find one. She quickly got to her feet, she was shaking and tears flowed from her eyes and she looked at the man she loved, regardless of what he had become. She moved across the room and picked up the box that contained all the orders wands, she knew that Alastor would be able to pick the lock. She slipped on a nightgown and rushed out to the room.
She ran down the corridor and down the steps towards the make shift cell that her friend's were being held in. She reached the door and quickly unbolted the locks, her blood stained hands shaking violently as she pushed opened the doors. The door swung open revealing all the remaining members of the order wide awake, she looked around the room and should she could see the scared looks on their faces.
"Come on," she cried "we must get out of here."
"Minerva!" exclaimed Alastor who stepped forward "You're shaking, what has, the bastard done to you!"
"I stabbed him Alastor," cried Minerva who was still shaking "can you open this thing?"
"Stabbed him?" questioned Alastor
"Yes!" screamed Minerva as she tried to unlock the box herself.
"Is he dead?" asked Arthur
"I think so!" replied Minerva "Please can we go!"
"Calm down." said Alastor as he pulled the shaking woman in his arms and held tight "Severus could you unlock the box. Everyone lets get out of here quickly."
"Shouldn't someone check to see if he is really dead?" asked Tonks
"No, no, no, no!" sobbed Minerva into Alastor's worn robes.
"We need to get her out of here!" answered Alastor as he knocked her in his arms.
"I can't unlock it!" announced Severus "There might be something outside, I could use."
"Everyone ready?" asked Tonks
They all nodded and Minerva pulled away from Alastor's embrace, she rushed for the door and peered around it. They soon moved out of the room and made their way along the corridor and down another flight of stairs that lead to the front door and their freedom. Harry and Ron unbolted the front door and they poured out into the street outside.
"Let's go to the ministry!" announced Alastor.
"Wait!" cried Ron "Mum and Ginny are still in there, we haven't seen them for days."
"Where are they Minerva?" asked Alastor
"Erm....." she said as she tried to stop herself shaking, she wiped her bloodstained hands on her nightgown "I'll go and get them, I know a short cut."
"Minerva," said Alastor "Are you sure you can go back in there?"
"I'll be out with them in a few minutes." she reassured him with a small smile.
Alastor watched as she darted back inside Grimmauld place, he began to pace up and down the pavement while Severus tried to pick the lock.
"Professor Snape!" said Ron kneeling down beside him "I can have a go?"
"What makes you think you can do it?" questioned Severus
"Fred and George Weasley are my brothers." replied Ron
"Very true," answered Severus "have a go."
Back inside the house, Minerva ran along the corridor with bare feet till she reached the kitchen. She unlocked the door and pushed it open. Ginny jumped into her mother's arms as the door swung open, both Weasley women breathed a sigh of relief when they saw who it was.
"Oh Merlin Minerva," exclaimed Molly as she observed the blood on Minerva's hands and nightgown. "What has happened?"
"We didn't need that poison after all," said Minerva "I stabbed him but no time for that now, we have to get out of here."
Molly and Ginny didn't need to be told twice; they jumped to their feet and followed Minerva out of the kitchen and along the corridor. Ginny raced ahead and flung herself into her father's arms as soon as she reached the outside, Molly did the exact same moments later. Minerva stopped running, she was still sore after the brutal attack she had suffered at the hands of the man she foolishly loved. As she made her way towards the front door, she heard Ginny scream with terror and Alastor to urge her to hurry. She nearly reached the door when she heard a voice that sent chills through her exhausted body.
"Minerva!" said the voice full of rage.
Minerva tried to make it to the door and she saw Alastor race up the stairs towards her but it was to late because the front door slammed shut, locking Minerva in the house and locking the others out of the house. Minerva began to shake violently again as she heard the footsteps gaining on her.