Disclaimer: I own nothing dealing with Harry Potter.

A/N: Wow, I love the fact that you all love this story. It means a lot to me. I love you all! Please continue to read, please! Oh yeah, I'm on Spring Break now, so perhaps, if I don't get too busy, I can update more often. Maybe!

Lenora: First of all… WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN I BROKE YOUR PUZZLE BOX? HOW RUDE! clears throat Anyway, you're welcome about Tobias!

Bigkihap: I'm sorry! sobs with you

Quill of Minerva: Yes, well, I always thought the best stories are the ones which the main characters go through a lot!

Mollisk: Yes, poor, poor Min!

Girl from Iceland: I'm sorry to have made your room float with tears. But you must remember that I am the one writing it, so how big a lake do you think I was forced to swim in my own batch of tears?

TartanLioness: Yes, this is a huge dilemma for Albus. And… shakes violently I'm sorry, but you don't need to threaten me with Voldemort, Grindlewald, and the rest of their lackeys! I'm sorry, please don't keel me! I loff you:-D

Emutet: I'm sorry. Yes, I know they did nothing to me, and I'm sorry if you don't like how mean I'm being. LOL! You won't be the only sad duck in the room, I can tell you that one.

Always Reading: Yes, it is more casual than most. But you have to remember that Minerva is generally a proud person. I wanted to make her cry without overdoing it! That's all. Thanks for reviewing.

Chapter Fourteen: Finding A Replacement…

The rest of the summer holidays went by rather quickly for both Minerva and Albus. In fact, it went way too fast for comfort, so that by the time the students arrived, they felt as if they had been cheated out of an entire summer. Crystal and Severus had spent the rest of their summer at their home while T'ari spent another week with both Albus and Minerva, then left in order to give them the rest of their summer to be together. Everything happened so fast, and they regretted that the short amount of time they had left had to be taken away for several hours at a time by students.

But Minerva didn't really mind. She just wanted to make sure that her last year of teaching would be a great one, even if she was dying. And as she watched each of the first years being sorted into their respective houses, the strings on her heart gave one huge jerk, giving her that horrible, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Albus, too, was feeling those terrible beats of his heart as he watched Minerva perform her very last sorting ceremony. He knew how much she loved teaching, and how much teaching was a part of her. It was not just a job she did, but it was also a part of her. She loved each student for the individuals that they were, and he smiled sadly at the thought of their child. He sighed, his heart heavy with the thought of how he or she would never know his or her mother. It just didn't seem fair to him that a child would grow up without two loving parents, a mother especially.

He then thought back to young Harry Potter, and of the night when he and Minerva took the infant form of Harry from Godric's Hollow to the Dursley's. The look in Minerva's eyes was one of pain, for she felt an extreme closeness to the baby. This was mainly because of James and Lily and of their work in the Order, so of course it was only natural that Minerva felt a spiritual connection to the baby boy.

And now, a cruel injustice was being done, to all those involved. While a life would come to be, another would be taken shortly afterward, leaving behind many people who loved her. It was the first time in years in which Albus felt completely out of control of the events at hand and he didn't like it.

The sorting ceremony ended and Albus stood to make his yearly speech.

"Good evening to all of you here," he began. "I look forward to another year here at Hogwarts and hope those of you in your first year find that this marks the beginning of many happy adventures. In addition to those notes I gave to you before the sorting ceremony, I must press upon you a grave situation which is to happen. But first, I have some good news." He held out his hand to Minerva, who blushed slightly and, taking the offered hand, stood. Albus placed his arm around her shoulders. "I am proud to announce that over the summer holidays, Professor McGonagall, your Transfigurations professor, and I were married." There was an eruption of applause from the students.

"I knew it!" was the cry heard from many of the older students.

"Go Professors!" was screamed by a few others; still more students whistled loudly and howled, causing Minerva to blush even more. It was a few minutes later when Albus managed to calm them all down again.

"I have another piece of news. Minerva is nearly just three months pregnant. Yes, we are having a baby." Another eruption of applause was heard. A few of the first years' mouths dropped, their eyes popping out of their sockets. All of them had the same question on their minds. Was it possible to have a child at that age? But none of them dared to even ask their fellow students, for fear of someone snapping at them. These were obviously much loved professors, so they didn't want to offend anyone.

"Thank you, thank you," smiled Albus, that twinkle in his eyes. But that twinkle soon faded when he remembered what else he had to tell all the eager young students. He cleared his throat and continued in a shaky voice. "Not, there is a much sadder announcement that I need to make, and I only wish that this bit of news will help you to understand anything you may see in the future. Minerva, Professor McGonagall, is sick. I regret to say that she is dying, and has not many more months ahead of her."

There were many hushed whispers which spread throughout the Great Hall, and many of the older students, especially the females, had tears forming in their eyes. Most of the students were Gryffindors, which was understandable considering it was not only their professor and the Deputy Headmistress whom they were losing, but their head of house as well.

After a few words of encouragement, though it didn't really do much to lift anyone's spirits, he began the feast and sat down, wondering how he was ever going to get through the rest of the term with the knowledge that every day, Minerva was coming closer and closer to her final day. Now, she would be celebrating her last everything… her last Christmas, her last New Years, and her last spring, just to name a few.

Minerva had often thought of this sad fact, and it seemed to be the straw that broke the camels back. Everything seemed to be piling on top of her one by one, like a stone, and as they piled up, she could feel the weight upon her chest, making it harder for her to breath with each passing moment. And this weight grew even more intense as Albus later brought up the subject of a replacement for her, while they were lying in their bed. He was holding her tightly to him, never wanting to let her go. Minerva sighed as she turned onto her left side and stared at him.

"I know I need to find a replacement," she frowned. "I just don't know if I can bring myself to do it. Even though I know I'll have to be retiring at the end of the school year, I just hate thinking of someone taking my place. Silly, huh?" She chuckled, but Albus didn't. He looked at her solemnly, then began to trace her face.

"No one could ever take your place, darling," he said. Minerva looked into his eyes, not sure what to say. "There is only on Minerva McGonagall, and no one could ever take your place, nor could anyone come close to filling the Transfiguration professor as well as you could." Minerva smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for saying such sweet things," she said, lying her head back down on her pillow. "But I already have an idea who I want to take my place." Albus sighed and looked at her.

"Who is it, my dear?" he asked.

Ooooooooooo

Hermione Granger walked into Minerva's office the next day after all classes were done for the day, tears in her eyes. Minerva stood once the door opened and smiled when she saw the familiar face of her former pupil.

"Ah, Miss Granger, prompt as always. That is a good quality in a teacher." Minerva stood and walked around her desk and into the open arms of Hermione, who could not control her tears.

"Why didn't you write to me during the summer holidays to tell me that you were sick?" she asked almost angrily. Minerva simply smiled.

"Because I knew you were busy and did not wish to disturb your first holiday with Voldemort out of the way," Minerva answered simply.

"That's no excuse," frowned Hermione as she pulled back. She stared at Minerva sternly, almost as well as Minerva did.

"Well, Miss Granger-,"

"The name's Hermione," replied the young woman with a slight smile.

"And mine is Minerva," Minerva replied. She gestured for Hermione to sit down, which she did. "Well, Hermione, let's talk about you teaching next year…"

A/N2: Well, there you go. It is the next chapter, just like I promised. I know not much happened in this chapter, but it had to be written. But the good news is now that this one has been written, I can now continue to write with the more exciting parts of this story. Next chapter shall be Christmas, ending in sweet fluff. Then, the chapter after that shall be very dramatic, ending in… Well, you shall see when the time comes! Then, a very emotional chapter after that, and maybe, just maybe, mind you, an epilogue. If you guys want one. So that leaves us with… five chapters? That is, if I decide to do the epilogue. Well, gotta go. Peace out! Always Hopeful