Warning: This story contains major spoilers to book 6! Again, I don't own any of the characters, I just borrowed them. Have fun and don't forget to review. ;-)

Minerva was in a state of shock. She still couldn't believe that Albus was dead. Of course she had known that his missions were dangerous though he hadn't told her what he was up to. But she had always thought he would die in battle, not being murdered, wandless and in a weakened state. And by Severus, of all people. He had always believed in Snape's turn to the light side, though he had never given her his reasons.

The events of the last days had left Minerva feeling helpless and more alone than ever in her life. So far she hadn't had time to mourn over Albus' death. She still had a school to run. And then there was that hearing at the ministry. All Order members and students who had been fighting that evening were required to be present and give their statements on the events. It had been one of the hardest things Minerva had to do. Well, save the funeral. She knew that people had wondered why she hadn't shown more emotion. Especially her close friends, those who know that she had just lost her husband. But she just couldn't. All she felt these days was emptiness.

Sighing Minerva got up from the sofa in the chambers she had shared with Albus for so long and made her way to his office which was hers now. She hadn't changed the password yet. The gargoyle sprang to life, and Minerva stepped on the staircase which spiralled upwards towards the office.

When she entered, the portraits greeted her friendly. They had valued Albus and were just as shocked about his sudden death as everyone else was. But today something was different. It had been 6 days now since Albus had died but so far none of the portraits had said more than offering their condolences to Minerva's loss.

Today Armando Dippet cleared his throat when Minerva approached the desk to go through some paperwork.

"Minerva, dear?" the man in the portrait said.

The witch turned her head and looked at him with sad eyes. Armando could see that she hadn't slept very well, there were dark circles under her eyes.

"Yes, Armando?"

"I know it's a difficult time for you but… There's something I need to tell you. Something Albus told me long ago and which he wanted to be forwarded to you." Armando looked a bit nervous while all the other portraits as well as Minerva looked curious.

"What do you know about horcruxes?" he asked.

Minerva looked surprised.

"Not very much, I have to admit. Just that it's very dark magic and that it involves the splitting of one's soul by killing." Minerva had no idea what that question had to do with Albus but Armando had always been a good adviser. And if Albus had wanted her to know something, it had to be important.

"That's right. One's soul is torn apart when one kills somebody. It's difficult to explain but the essence is that you can store one part of your soul outside your body. That means if you're killed you still have that other part of your soul. Which means that you're immortal, more or less at least." Armando looked at Minerva closely to see if she had already grasped what he was heading at.

"That's very interesting, Armando but what does that have to do with Albus? Do you want to tell me that he created a horcrux and stored part of his soul?" Minerva got a bit impatient. She had enough on her plate already, not only the work but also the emotional strain, and she didn't need someone playing with her feelings or getting her hopes up.

"Well, yes. That's basically what I want to tell you." Armando grinned at her as her facial expression slowly changed. Sadness and despair were slowly replaced by something like hope and determination.

"That's more like the Minerva McGonagall we all know and love," he said with a wink. He had known that Minerva would be up to that difficult task of finding the horcrux.

Minerva had nearly glared at the portrait but then again she was too grateful that he had given her that important piece of information. She had never thought about such a possibility, dismissing Albus as being too good to use such dark magic. But on the other hand she had also always known that Albus would do anything to stay with her. For better or worse… When they had gotten married nearly half a century ago, Albus had insisted on including the Muggle wedding vow too. And now it seemed that he had taken that part to his heart too.

She was about to leave the office in order to begin her search when she remembered something. She didn't have a clue where to begin. And as she knew Albus very well, she was quite sure that he would have left another message for her.

"Armando…" she began but the man in the portrait raised his hand to silence her.

"I know, Minerva. You want to know how to find the horcrux. Albus gave me another message but it was rather cryptic. He said you should think about the day you first met. He told you about a place and there you should go looking for a rotten tooth." Armando made a rather disgusted face when he said that last part while Minerva just frowned.

"Wasn't there anything else? I mean… a rotten tooth?" Minerva asked incredulously.

"I know, I know. But that's all he said about the place. He just mentioned that you would know what to look for when you had arrived there." Armando shrugged apologetically but he was sure that Minerva would figure out what that little riddle meant.

Minerva took one last look at the former headmaster in his portrait and then rushed out of the office. She didn't really know how to begin her… quest but she had a general idea what Albus meant. So she headed back for her chambers to pack some things she would need for her journey.

Suddenly Minerva bumped into someone, barely able to regain her footing when that someone caught her arm to stabilize her.

"Are you ok, Min?" Rolanda Hooch looked at her old friend. She was worried about Minerva. The last weeks had taken their toll on her, and though Minerva never complained, Rolanda was sure that her friend was exhausted. At least she had appeared like that when Rolanda had last seen her. Now there seemed to be a new spring in Minerva's step and something new in her eyes. Something that had been missing ever since that fateful night when Albus had died. Hope. There was definitely hope in Minerva's eyes now.

Curiously Rolanda raised an eyebrow. She could practically smell that Minerva was up to something – and that it must have something to do with Albus.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just in a hurry and didn't look where I was going. You okay?" Minerva could tell that Rolanda knew something was going on. The hawk-like eyes had something mischievous about them at the moment. But right now Minerva wasn't ready to reveal her little secret. Too much had happened in the last minutes. And she didn't want to get her friend's hopes up.

"So, tell me, where are you heading?" Rolanda turned around and linked her arm with Minerva's, obviously intending to walk with her to wherever she was going.

"I'm on my way to my chambers. I have to pack some things. Listen, Rolanda. I know you want to know what's going on but I can't tell you at the moment. All I can tell you right now is that I have something to do abroad. Filius will be in charge as long as I'm gone. And I promise you'll be the first to know what happened when I get back." Minerva squeezed the other witch's hand, freed her arm from Rolanda's grip and then nearly fled, leaving the quidditch teacher behind.

When Minerva closed the door to her chambers behind her, she leaned against it and let out her breath. It had been quite a close call with Rolanda; and Minerva knew that her friend could be rather persistent when she wanted to know something. So Minerva was glad she had been able to avoid further interrogations. Time was precious at the moment, and she still hadn't figured out where Albus wanted her to go.

She clearly remembered him saying something about Germany. So far, so good. But Germany was a large country, and she could hardly search the whole country for… a rotten tooth. Another weird thing but knowing Albus it would become clear once she had figured out where to go.

TBC…