"I've got it! Well, at least I've got something." Harry and Hermoine quickly moved to sit beside Ron, who held an old, yellowed newspaper in his hands.
"What is it?" Hermoine was so interested, she was almost sitting in Ron's lap to read the article.
"Calm down, calm down! I'll read it to you. It says..."
It is reported that an incident occured at HogwartsSchool of Witchcraft and Wizardry last night, April 16th. It is also reported that Professor Minerva McGonagall sustained some injury after being held captive for a four hours. No more information is available at this time.
"That's it?" Harry looked over the newspaper page once more, finding nothing more about what happened.
"Well, how about we look at papers from the same time. It said April 16th. Find something from the next few days." Hermoine began the search, Ron and Harry soon following. Nothing more was reported about the incident. Hermoine's head was in her hands and Ron and Harry both looked at her, worried.
"Hermoine? Are you alright?" Harry got up and sat down next to Hermoine, putting an arm around her shoulders.
"I just....I just want to help her. I feel bad because people are always talking about her behind her back. They think she's the meanest teacher around. But, I know she's not. I know there's more to her than just a strict Transfiguration teacher. She was so nice to me last night. I just think she needs our help."
Ron sat on the other side of her. "We will Hermoine, I promise. Harry and I both promise, right Harry?"
"Right." Hermoine smiled at both of them.
"Thank you. Oh my, look at the time." They all noticed how late it had gotten, almost midnight. They said goodnight to each other and walked to their separate dormitories. In another part of the castle, that strict Transfiguration teacher looked at her husband with tears in her eyes.
"Albus....I'm tired. I don't want to talk about that now." She rolled over on her side, not wanting to face any more questions from him. Unfortunately, he was determined to find out what was bothering her.
"Minerva, you know that I cannot leave a question unanswered. Minerva? Please, just answer me." He gently rolled her back over so she was facing him. He wiped away the tears that had fallen down her cheeks.
"What is wrong Minerva? Why don't you want to tell me?"
"It doesn't matter. It never mattered. What matters is that Hermoine is alright. That's all that matters right now. That and finding out who was in this castle last night. Now, can I please go to sleep?"
"No. That is not all that matters. What matters is that you aren't telling me the entire truth." Minerva's eyes darted fire as she looked at him.
"What truth do you want to know Albus?" He stood up in anger.
"I want to know what happened that night! And I want to know why you think you can't trust me!"
"I don't think that Albus! You know that! I know I can trust you! What I want to know is why you're so adamant about knowing every little part of my life!"
"Because you're my wife....and I love you!" Silence followed. A single tear slipped out of the corner of Minerva's eye. Albus turned away. He was angry, but it still saddened him to see her cry.
"Albus, I....I'm sorry." He turned around slowly, meeting her eyes.
"So am I. I just wish you would tell me what happened. Then I could understand why you were so affected by it."
"Albus, really...." She trailed off and leaned back. Albus noticed the change of color in her face. More tears fell down her face as she placed a hand on her stomach. "Albus..."
He hurried over to her side. "What's wrong Min? What is it?"
"I need...Poppy...now." She cringed in pain and doubled over into Albus' arms. He quickly gathered her up, running as fast as his old legs would carry him to the hospital wing.
"Poppy! Poppy, wake up!" He placed Minerva on one of the empty hospital beds and grabbed her hands as an angry, tired Poppy came out of her bedroom.
"What in the name of Merlin....oh no, Min!" She rushed up to the other side of the bed and started casting diagnostic spells over Minerva. Minerva squeezed Albus' hands as another wave of pain overtook her entire body. Poppy quickly began mixing potions, all the while monitoring Minerva's condition. Albus looked at Poppy quickly.
"Will she be alright?" Poppy did not answer but went back to mixing the potions. Albus pushed a strand of hair out of Minerva's face. "It's alright Min, everything's going to be fine. Just stay calm, I'm right here."
"Albus...the baby...." The tears came in sobs as the pain increased.
"It's alright Min, here, drink this. This will help, I promise." Minerva looked at Poppy through tear-filled eyes and obeyed. The potion burned on the way down, but slowly, the pain subsided.
"Albus, let me just check and make sure the baby is alright. You wait over there." He hesitated but obeyed Poppy's wishes. He kissed Minerva's cheek and walked behind the screen, waiting for word on the baby.
Suddenly, the doors to the hospital wing burst opening, revealing Neville Longbottom.
"Professor! Professor!" Albus took Neville by the shoulders to slow him down.
"Calm down, Mr. Longbottom, what is the matter?" Neville took a few moments to regain his breath before answering.
"It happened again. You told me to come to you when I had the dream again, and I did! What does it all mean Professor?" At that very moment, Poppy emerged from behind the screen.
"She's fine Albus and so is the...Mr. Longbottom! I didn't notice you there. Is something the matter?"
"No, I just needed to find Professor Dumbledore. I looked everywhere but I found him here." Albus nodded at Poppy who turned and went back behind the screen.
"I have something to take care of Neville. Are you alright to go back to the tower and wait until tomorrow to talk? I'm afraid that this task may take awhile."
"Ok. But, will everyone be alright since I had the dream?"
"Everyone will be fine, Mr. Longbottom. I'll make sure of it. Go on now, back to bed."
"Thank you Professor. Good night."
"Good night Mr. Longbottom. " He watched as Neville made his way out of the infirmary before heading to Minerva's side. She was sleeping peacefully, with Poppy watching her every movement.
"What happened Poppy?" He sat down and took Minerva's hand in his.
"I'm not sure, Albus. I've never seen anything like it. I just gave her a pain potion which seemed to settle her stomach and keep the baby from harm. I don't know what caused it."
"Stress probably. We were having an arguement."
"No, Albus, it wasn't that. It was something more...almost like an evil of some sort." Albus' eyes turned dark.
"I was afraid of this."
"Albus, no one else knows. I swear, I didn't even tell Xiomara!"
"I know, it's not you Poppy. But, something...or someone knows about the baby. And until I find out who, neither Minerva or the baby is safe." Poppy watched sadly as Albus caressed Minerva's cheek, gently whispering in her ear. How she wished she knew what to do for them.