A/N: This chapter was a labour of love…well, I'm afraid more of labour than of love. Anyway, I want to dedicate this to two terrific people: First, to my dear beta and partner-in-crime, Maria. H.B., M. and don't forget: "Othello" is the word…hehe. Second, to Selene, whose is not to be deterred by unfair treatment from certain people and reposted her story 'The Hogwarts Sisters Strike Back'.

Finally, this contains a little bit for our AD/MM'ers.

Chapter 14 – My Love, My Life

The cottage was very quiet, as the sole occupant still lay in a deep sleep. Soundlessly, the secret door opened and in stepped Uranos McGonagall, balancing a laden breakfast tray. He placed it on the heavy oak table near the fireplace and went over to the corner to wake up his sister.

"Minerva? Min? Wake up."

A groan was his only answer.

"The sun is high and bright already. Time for breakfast, Min."

Minerva buried herself deeper into the pillows. "Go away!"

Uray chuckled. "No chance, my dear sister. Get up. We've got work to do."

Groaning and muttering, Minerva got up. Her brother smiled. "And I always thought you are a morning person."

Minerva grimaced. "I am, but last night there were so many things running through my mind that I didn't fall asleep until almost daybreak."

"Maybe you were thinking about what happened between you and Mr. Snape last night? You were not supplying me with any details. As a matter of fact, you only said that Meli caught you at the wrong moment." Settling down for breakfast Uray inquired. "What happened?"

His sister sat down as well. "She caught us kissing."

Uranos almost spit his tea out. "Kissing? She caught you kissing?" he gasped in shock. "Dear Merlin, Minerva! You kissed Snape?"

Minerva smiled soothingly. "Don't worry Uray. It won't happen again. Certainly not. As I told you last night, it was a spur of the moment mistake. I was crying and he comforted me and it just…happened. I have no feelings for Severus."

"None at all, dear sister?"

"At least no romantic feelings, Uray. In my opinion these kinds of feelings towards Severus are more Melina's area. I am merely the benevolent aunt supporting any possible development." Minerva's smile turned somewhat sad. "Besides, I still love Albus. That will never change."

Her older brother bristled. "How can you still love him after what he did to you?"

Her smile became tender. "Remember your last year at School and that Russian girl, Irina, I think her name was? You were in love with her for almost three years until she finally gave into you and then you were a couple for almost a year…" Uray's smile was reminiscent. "But then, you found out that she had been cheating on you all summer while you were with the family. And you found out and broke up." He nodded, his face clouding at the memory. Several decades later it still hurt. "You were so mad, but you were also very hurt. My point, however, is did you stop loving her right away?"

Uray looked at his sister in understanding. "No," he answered quietly, "No I didn't. It took me actually a very long time."

Minerva put her hand over his. "See? Uray, I've loved Albus almost my entire life. We have been a couple for almost 25 years. Happy years. Wonderful years. Years of love. I cannot erase that so easily. And I don't want to." Her eyes misted over. "I know something is wrong. That man wasn't Albus. Albus would never – ever – do that to me. Certainly not of his own free will. If he did that, then he was forced. And I intend to find out who forced him and how. I will save him…and myself in the process." She said with force.

Her brother looked at her and saw the determination crossing her face. He knew that look very well. It meant that Minerva McGonagall was in the mood to fight and that he had better not stand not in her way. He sighed in resignation. "Very well, Min. I am with you. Just tell me one thing: Why?"

Feeling that she had won the battle, Minerva smiled. "Why? Oh Uray, that is so simple. What life would I lead without Albus? None at all, Uray. This man is my love. My life."

Uray stared at her. Yes, he knew that feeling very well. That was what he had felt for his wife, Leonora. But Lona was dead and he felt that loss keenly every day. Seeing his sister suffer as well was unbearable. He would help her, whatever it would cost him. Feeling his own determination rising, he jumped up from the chair. "Very well then. Lets get to work."

"What work? Mr. Nipps is not coming until tonight." Minerva asked in confusion, finally getting the first bite of her breakfast.

"Yes, but until he arrives, we have to set up the protective barriers." Seeing the confused look on his sister's face, he added, "Melina and I couldn't sleep either, so we started to discuss whether we could actually do something more active on our part, but also something to protect you better. Your work with Baldur might take a while, and even though nobody knows that you are here, it is only a matter of time until somebody suspects something. So we put our heads together and came up with a plan."

"And how does this plan work?"

"Well, we thought we would use the manor. You know that the manor protects the members of our family. There are protection charms around the house and the immediate grounds. You also know that certain magic can only be done by members of our family inside the house and that the house reacts defensively against strangers performing any magic."

Minerva nodded, so Uray went on. "Now, we thought that we could extend the protection charm over the whole estate, but that won't work, because of the sheer size of it. Besides, that would be a bit too obvious."

"So what do we do then?"

"Well, do you remember when Grandma lived here in the cottage?" His sister nodded again and finished his thought. "Papa and Grandma put a charm on the cottage so that it was not only physically connected to the manor through the passage, but magically also. And Grandma could draw on the power of the manor too, when she needed it."

"Yes, and we want to add a Fidelius Charm also, so that nobody would find you save the select few who are in on the secret."

"Hmmm…." Minerva nodded thoughtfully. "Do you have that spell?"

"Yes, we do. However, the problem is that Meli and I cannot perform the spell alone. You know how much power there is in the house. And neither my daughter nor I can handle that power. We need you to help us."

His sister looked at him unseeingly for a while. Then she got up from the armchair she had been occupying the whole time. "Very well then, lets go to work."

Uray took her hand and steered her towards the door to the passage. "Yes, lets go. And while we are working on the charm, you might as well tell my daughter what you told me about Mr. Snape and you and Albus. If she and Mr. Snape are to become a couple it might be better." Frowning he looked into her smiling face. "However, where you got that idea from is beyond me."

Minerva grinned. "Trust me, Uray. Just trust me."

~~~

At the same time, the troublesome Gryffindors were facing their first class with their new transfiguration teacher. The classroom filled slowly as all students, no matter which house they were from, traipsed in rather reluctantly.

Baldur Nipps eyed them all with a feeling of apprehension. 'I should have asked Minerva last night how to handle a class', he thought. But then the bell boomed, signalling the start of the lesson.

Baldur wandered a bit through the room until he felt he had the attention of all students. Then he addressed them. "Very well class, let me first assure you of one thing: I do not bite! I don't know what people have told you about the odd Mr. Nipps, but I am certainly not dangerous. Odd, yes. Dangerous, no. Second, I am aware that I am only a sorry substitute for your usual teacher. Professor McGonagall is one of the most renowned transfiguration experts of our time. I am not so bad myself in that subject, but unlike her, I have never taught. So don't expect any wonders from me. But third and most importantly, I know that she will take no messing about in her class, and since I will have to answer to her if anyone of you is not working hard, doing his or her best and progressing, I intend to keep up her standards. Therefore, we will work hard and do our best. Are we in agreement?"

The class nodded, not really sure what to make of him. Finally, he asked: "Before we start, are there any questions?"

Not surprisingly, Hermione's hand was the first one up. Baldur took the seating plan and then acknowledged her. "Yes,…ah…Ms. Granger."

"Professor Nipps…." She started, but was interrupted by him: "Mr. Nipps is just fine, Ms. Granger."

Hermione stared at him in shock at the breach of protocol. Nobody was allowed in class to refer to a teacher as anything other than 'Professor'. Gathering her wits she remembered her question. "Well Prof…Mr. Nipps, I don't mean to be rude, but are you saying that Professor McGonagall will come back soon?"

"Yes, when her 'other challenges' are over?" Harry piped in.

Nipps stared them down. "I was not informed about Professor McGonagall's other challenges. However, from what I know about the formidable Minerva McGonagall I am rather sure that she will be back 'very' soon."

They class eyed him suspiciously and he stared right back at them. Finally, he broke the tense situation and said with a voice that would brook no argument: "Now class, let's work. You won't learn to transfigure this chair here into a parrot and back if we keep staring at each other." 

***

Griselda La Fey: Well, great that you loved Ron. I know, many people don't. Imperius Curse, I don't really think so. As for Baldur, you'll need to read on and find out.

Child-of-the-Dawn: Dooon't wring Albus' neck. I still need him. And just be patient, something has happened to Fudge…*g*

LauraKay + Mascaret: Yep, they still love her and are loyal to her. Who wouldn't?

Nic(): Thanks for the reviews. As I mentioned before, Severus is a difficult character for me. What I write is just an attempt.

Linds: Did the penny hit anyone? *g* Of course, nobody would believe this resigning-bull.

GEM8: Your wait is over. Thanks for your review.

Jestana: Your comment made me thinking. But it's actually obvious that Ron would be noticing first….btw, could anybody comment on that post in the group?????

Thanks again for your reviews. Please, keep it up and use the button just below.