Minerva McGonagall slept well that night, despite her worries and despite being locked up in a lonely room in an unknown castle. It had been a tiring day, after all, and after casting a quick spell on the door- if she couldn't get out, they would not be able to get in as well!- she, without even bothering to change, dropped between the soft, grey blankets and lost herself in a dreamless sleep.

The moment she woke up, though, her strangely unfamiliar surroundings reminded her immediately of the situation she was in. A dangerous situation.

And as she sat up straight and oppressed a soft yawn, she also remembered what day it was. Wednesday. So tomorrow…

Yet, she determinedly nodded. Yes- tomorrow, her faith would be settled. Death- or life indeed.

But of course Alastor would take care of the gold. It was really quite childish of her to have such doubts- ridiculous. However, - she admitted, because it was the truth- Grindelwald had frightened her in a way she'd hardly thought possible. He had not really disgusted her, actually, but he had frightened her.

Minerva sighed and got out of bed. She had noticed a small bathroom attached to her room- perhaps some cold water straight in her face could help her see things rationally again.

But before she could push the door- a soft knock interrupted her. A knock on the other door- the door which lead to the corridor. She shivered, yet immediately scolded herself for her cowardice, then grabbed her wand and muttered "Finite Incantatem" before the person on the other side of the door could turn the key. As the door went open she, to her great relief indeed, looked straight into the big, grey eyes of Meia Abernethie- or Meia Malfoy, in fact.

"Good morning." the girl muttered, treating Minerva to a small smile. She was holding a large plate and explained

"I am sorry if I have woken you- but I have brought your breakfast with me."

Minerva nodded and smiled.

"You haven't woken me, Meia, thank you. You can put the plate on the table, and…"

But before she could even pose her question, Meia had already reluctantly shook her head.

"You cannot leave your room today, I am sorry, M-Minerva."

She obviously found it hard to call the other woman by her first name- natural shyness, perhaps.

"We have orders from the Master."

Orders from the Master, orders from the Master! Was that all this girl cared about? "Orders from the Master"? Could she, bloody hell, then not even think for herself?

No, of course she couldn't. Minerva knew she couldn't show too much frustration. She was, after all, nothing more than a prisoner here. Tomorrow that would perhaps change, but for now, she was a suspected prisoner and she had to be grateful her cage, though it really was a cage, was at least a golden one. Yet, she sighed as she sat down before the plate.

"I am sorry, Meia, but I don't understand. I have come here- I have given your- the Master some important information and yet I am nothing less than held captive here."

"I am sorry, Minerva, orders from the Master." Meia answered mechanically and Minerva, who felt her temper rise dangerously, gritted her teeth and smiled.

"It is alright- I understand. But what shall I do here, the whole day long?"

Meia shrugged her shoulders in a somewhat stiff way and pointed her chin towards the bookcase in the corner of the room.

"You can read, I suppose. There are a whole lot of books in that case- or you can play chess."

Minerva almost rolled her eyes at this obviously stupid offer.

"I can't play chess on my own, Meia. Can you play chess, by the way?"

Meia obviously shrunk back at this hidden hint. Her back still turned towards the door, she stepped back. "As if I am a wild animal!" Minerva thought. "My God, who has made this child so damn paranoid?" In a way- she was a wild animal, of course- Minerva grinned at that thought- but Tabby, as she secretly called her Animagus form, was not dangerous. At least- when her "owner" had her temper under control.

"No, I cannot." Meia muttered, before she hastily retreated and left a frustrated Minerva behind.

So Minerva McGonagall spent her day reading- not a disliked pastime of hers, but not exactly the kind of thing she could concentrate on, at the moment. Yet she had to admit that some of them quite interested her. It was all about Dark Magic, of course, but as an ex-AIT, that was a natural fascination of hers. Aurors needed to be acquainted with Dark Magic- to be able to fight it properly, of course. The day went quicker than she'd ever thought possible- though she still was worried about Meia. She couldn't help it- but she felt sorry for the girl as she, at noon, saw the fear in her eyes as Meia handed her a new plate.

She spent the afternoon reading some more- she'd discovered a mighty interesting book on illegal Animagus training and some obviously very restricted potions- yet, as she could even less properly concentrate, she took the decision to try to find out some more about Meia as she came to deliver her dinner.

But it was not Meia who visited Minerva that evening.

From the moment she heard the noise with which the key was inserted in the keyhole, she realized it was not Meia, and for a moment she considered locking her room. She knew that would be very rash indeed, so she left it open despite her feeling of fear.

Her fear was well founded, because the person who threw open the door was no-one less than Tom Marvolo Riddle. And he was angry. Very angry.

"Riddle?" Minerva spoke, standing up, trying to keep her arrogance up. But before she could utter one more word, the boy- man- had smacked down the plate on the table, took her by the throat and jammed her with her back against the wall.

"McGonagall," he hissed. enclosing her throat with his fingers more with every single word.

"The Master may not see through you, but I do. Have you heard me? I do!"

His face was now very close to Minerva's. The girl felt her breath run out more every second. She scratched his hands with her fingernails, tried to release herself, but she, who had always been such a powerful witch, now had to admit- Tom Riddle was physically her stronger.

And he could only nod now, as he pushed her head hard against the bare wall. A sharp fit of pain shot through her head.

"Have you heard me? Oh no- I won't kill you now, my dear. I won't even hurt you. Isn't that a great relief? But I will do so later!"

His fingers released her throat. Minerva, half unconscious, succumbed on the floor, and Tom Riddle laughed.

"Goodbye, Minerva."

Only when he'd slammed the door shut and locked it again, Minerva, tremblingly and feeling more dead than alive, dragged herself towards the bed and fell down on it.

She felt her whole body shake- she still saw his face etched on the inside of her eye. She had always considered herself brave- but now she had been so scared! So very, very scared!

She felt tears drip from her eyes on the pillow. She totally lacked the strength to wipe them away and closed her eyes.

But one thing at least was sure. She had to succeed. Everything- everything was better than giving Tom Riddle his bit of wicked fun!

Yet that night, Minerva McGonagall for the very first time in her life, cried herself to sleep. Her last thought was one which told everything, though.

"Albus…"