Thanks for your reviews!
Lena( ), Lady-jolly, bigkihap and Azizah( ): glad you all like it so far!
Quill of Minerva: yep, another IOW-er. Don't worry, Voldermort in this chapter!
Kidarock: glad you like the costumes, I couldn't resist!
Dory's human replica: Glad you like the plot. and costumes!
Will: you wern't dragged into reviewing! But thanks any way! ;-)
Sorry it took me so long to update but I my Mums been bagging on at me about revision! Anyway, I am going on holiday for 3 weeks, I will try to update before I go, but it looks unlikely!
A.N. This chapter is set about a week after the last chapter, and, since this is mine, Sirius didn't die.
Chapter 3
Gone
Minerva sat at her desk marking some first year esseys when Albus entered her rooms, and, looking very distracted transfigured one of her hard chairs in to a squishy sofa and sank into it, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Sensing his anxitity she left her marking and started to massage his shoulders.
"whats wrong, my dear?"
"Its Mr Potter." he answered plainly. This shocked Minerva, she sensed it wasn't anything good, and was worried about him. He was like as son to her.
"Why, whats happened?" she asked concern obvious in her voice as she went and sat on her husband lap.
"His scar has started hurting again, and hes been having more dreams, this time about Voldermort being at the school."
"so, you think Voldermorts going to" she couldn't finish the sentence. If he did turn up what would happen to her Griffindors, to her 'children', most of all, what will happen to Albus?
"Yes" he husband replied softly, pulling her closer to him "we need to plan so all the staff know what to do, just incase." he spoke eventualy as Minerva nodded
"Shall I call for an urgent staff meeting?"
"no, we will make a plan then tell the staff via floo, I don't think it should be disucssed, it could cause confusion if people start making their own plans. We need to lay down the plan the everyone will stick to it!" She nodded, it made sense.
"OK, first off, where will the students go?" Albus smiled at her, trust her to get straight to the point of protecting her children, he knew she wanted a child, but it had never happened, the students were the closest she could get to her own.
"I already thought of that, the room of requirement would be ideal." Minerva smiled at her husband
"just what I was thinking" she whispered and kissed him gently.
"the staff shall obviously will help to protect the school, and I will send Fawkes to allert the Order, who have been notified of this already. Poppy Pomfrey will remain in the hospital room, which will be protected from any Death Eaters entering it."
"Albus? What about the D.A.?" Dumbledore had forgotten about this, they would all want to fight, afterall, it was what they had been training for, the two Professors couldn't deny them that.
''Yes, my dear, I shall let them fight, but they will be the only students who can.'' he replied slowly, obvasly thinking at the same time.
"OK, sounds like a good plan, lets alert the staff" she said, getting up and moving to the fireplace followed by her husband.
The staff all agreed to the plan, the Head of Houses would escort the students to the room of requirement, except for 'Dumbledore's Army', the Order would be allerted by Fawkes and Hagrid would guard the students while Poppy Pomfrey would stay in a charmed medical wing, protected form death eaters.
''Well, my dear, what are we going to do?'' Albus sighed, sinking back into the sofa, pulling Minerva on top of him.
''Look, from what you've told me, it sounds like a battle here is enevertable, but we fought Grindalwald together before. Yes, Voldermort may be stronger, but you have a whole army behind you, the Order are all very experienced wiches and wizards also we have the most powerful wizard of all time on our side!'' Minerva replied, snuggling close to her husband.
''My dear, your right, I have an army behind me and the Order are all very skilled. But I also have the most powerful witch behind me! I didn't defeat Grindalwald by myself! Our side also has love. I love you and I won't let anything happen to you, Severus loves Rolanda Hooch, Poppy loves Alastor, then theres Molly and Arther, Ron and Hermonie, and Harry, hes doing this for his parents, they were defeated, he won't let himself be.'' Minerva smiled, she knew this determination of Harrys to defeat Voldermort. ''Harry was saved before because of love, its an emotion Voldermort can't understand, he has too much haterid in him, and has never experienced it.''
''Yes, Albus, we do have love, alot of it as well!'' she smiled kissing him deeply ''But, I may have to dissagree on the Voldermort never experiencing love!'' she shuddered as Albus looked at her questioningly. ''Tom Riddle was headboy when I was headgirl.'' Albus nodded, why was she telling him this? He already knew that ''I've never told anyone this before, but, he said he loved me, and, when I turned him down, he got angry. I...he started stalking me, he tried to get my rooms password from people, he followed me in to the libary, and...well...he started to try to...touch me'' Albus gasped ''He didn't do anything, he just, well, threatend to do stuff, untill I told him that I would kiss him once if he would leave me alone. That was a mistake, becaused when he kissed me, I could feel the love he felt for me, I could feel his passion, but, he kept true to his word and left me alone. I felt so guilty afterwards, I could tell how much he wanted to be with me, but I just rejected him. I suppose I feel that it may be connected to, his, well, evilness!'' Minerva was crying by now, she really did feel partly responsible for his want of power.
''Minerva love, him being how he is has nothing to do with you!'' he encouraged her, pulling her into a tighter hug and drying her eyes. He didn't know any of this, and was kinda angry that she hadn't told him, not because they were married but because it could meen that Minerva is a bigger target for Voldermort, more that she was at the moment, being Albus' bestfriend, well, as far as most of the world knew anyway! The couple stayed layed on the sofa untill it was time to go to dinner.
''My dear, whatever happens, you know I love you?'' Albus whispered as they left Minerva's chambers
''yes, and I love you too.'' she replied, knowing he thought an attack was very likely.
He was right, just as the meal had ended a huge explosion was heard and a flash of green revieled a huge green skull with a snake protruding from its mouth. Panic hit the hall as students screamed and tried to leave the hall, but Dumbledore shut the great doors, the huge bang silenced everyone so he could give instructions.
''Everyone, sit down!'' his voice echoed round the hall ''It seems that the war against Voldermort has begun. Now, if the D.A. would follow Professor McGonagall into the chamber at the back of the hall.'' the group silently got up and followed Minerva as instructed ''Everyone else follow your house heads as I call your house to the room of requirement. Ravenclaw!'' Rolanda Hooch stood from her place next to Snape at the staff table and lead her students out followed by Hagrid to guard them. once they had all left Dumbledore anounced the next house to leave. ''Hufflepuff and Griffindor will leave with Madam Pomfrey'' the two tables rose and followed the medi witch to the room of requirement. All that was left was Slitherin. ''OK, Slitherin you may go'' Severus Snape was already leading his house out as Albus said this. Sighing Albus turned to the other teachers, ''Well, it seems the time has come, I will go and speak to the D.A. if you would kindly join us once the Order have arrived., Remus will you go and wait for them in the Entrance Hall'' with this he departed to speak to Dumbledore's Army as Lupin left to wait for the others.
Harry was welcomed by all the portraits as he entered, he remembered the last time he was in here, its wasn't good news he was given then either.
''Harry? Are you OK?'' Hermione asked
''yeah, I'm fine!'' he answered as Dumbledore entered.
''I wouldn't normaly let students take part in this war, but as you have all been working hard towards this I have made an exception. However, I have a few rules, you are not allowed to stray too far from the group and if you are injured then you are to go straight to the hospital wing, clear?'' he looked round the room to see afermitive nods. ''alright then, we will shortly be joined by the rest of the staff and a group called the Order of the Phoenix, we have been working hard to eliminate Voldermort for some time, they are all very skilled whiches and wizards you will recognise at least two of them, some of you more.'' he looked to Harry, Ron and Hermione and smiled at them ''One of them is thought to be a murderer, however, I assure you he is not and he will not harm you.'' Harry was over the moon, well, as much as he could be at a time like this, Sirius was comming! ''now, you will be fighting the death eaters, where possible you are not to kill them, just stun them then tie them up, I'm sure Harry has taught you this.'' every one looked to Harry and nodded as the Order arrived with the rest of the staff. Once Harry spotted Sirius he rushed over to him, almost knocking him to the ground as everyone gasped as they spotted the most wanted man in the wizarding world
''I won't harm any of you, I am not a murderer, I would expain, but, we don't have time now, after the battle I shall tell you all the truth.'' Sirius assured them, and the tension relaxed a bit after the group saw how much Harry trusted him.
''OK, I think the time has come, you all know what to do.'' Dumbledore looked round the room at his current and past students and best friends. Hermione was in Rons arms, Arther and Molly we kissing as were Severus and Rolanda, Poppy and Alastor. He looked at the couples and hoped they would all be together at the end of the night when he felt his wife reach up and wrapped her arms round his neck and kissed him.
''I love you.'' she whispered, tears in her eyes.
''I love you too!'' he replied ''Its going to be OK, we will see each other again!'' he answered her biggest fears, of them being parted. ''OK, follow me!'' Albus took control, and holding his wifes hand lead the army out of the chamber, ignoring the shocked faces on the students faces after seeing their Head and Depty Head kissing passionatly. But their faces quickly changed from shock to worry as they saw the dark mark floating over the Forbidden Forest behind Hagrids hut, which was now in flames and Fang was barking madly.
Almost as soon as the group entered the forest shouts of 'petrificus totalus' and 'Stupify' filled the air as the death eaters were stunned and tied to trees. Albus fought his way to the center of the forest, where he assumed Voldermort would be waiting, little did he know he was being followed by a vengeful Harry.
''Ah, Albus, I was waiting for Harry Potter to join me, but, I suppose I'll have to defeat you first, but then again, it wouldn't be any fun fighting that child, he'd be distroyed immediately. You however, present a bigger challange!'' Voldermorts evil voice hissed from the shadows. Raising his wand Albus thought of his wife and students, especially Harry. If anything, he would defeat this evil man for Lilly and James.
'coniungare' Albus fired the cunjuntivitus curse, weak, he knew, but it may hinder Voldermort, but he doged it ''Weak, Albus, WEAK!'' he wouldn't let Voldermorts taunting get to him.
'fuego' Voldermort hissed sending burning flame at Dumbledore who managed to avoid it, the spell caught a death eater.
Harry watched the duel raged for what seemd like hours, neither of them firing any serious curses, it was a duel to prove strength, rather than to kill the other straight away. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning quickly, pointing his wand at the person behind him,
'Oh, sorry Professor McGonagall!'' he spoke quietly, lowering his wand.
''its OK, whats happening over there?'' she asked, Harry could see the worry in her eyes
''They have been dueling for a while now, nothings happened to either of them but they are getting tired.'' Minerva nodded and they stood and watched for a while untill Harry asked ''What's going on between you and Professor Dumbledore?'' the question shocked her, but she decided to tell him the truth
''Albus and I have been married for 20 years.'' she answered simply, suddenly Dumbledore was hit and he slumped on the ground. Harry moved round the trees standing behind where Dumbledore was lying.
''Well, well, well, the great Albus Dumbledore has finally fallen'' Voldermort walked closer to Albus, his wand pointed at the Headmasters chest. Harry could sense his Professor behind him crying silently.
Harry took a step forward, reveiling himself.
'AVADA KEDAVRA!
OK, chapter 3 finished, again I ask for 3 reviews before I update!