Hermoine, Ron, Harry, and now Neville gathered together in the Gryffindor common room after everyone had gone to sleep.

"I don't understand why I'm here? What do you guys want?" Neville had a confused look on his face, not knowing why he had been included in the "trio's" discussion.

"Neville, we know you've been having nightmares. And we think that they may have something to do with Hermoine's kidnapping." Neville stared at Ron a moment before understanding what Ron had just said.

"Oh! You do too?"

"What do you mean, we do too?" Harry asked.

"See, I thought the same thing. I asked Professor Dumbledore about it and he said he would take care of everything and not to worry." Harry's anger began to boil inside of him. Dumbledore always took care of everything. He never let anyone else know what was going on.

"Well, Neville, since we all think the same thing, we're going to tell you what we think is happening and then you can tell us what you think." Ron had noticed Harry's change in demeanor and decided to take over the conversation.

"Ok. That's fine with me." Hermoine sat up straighter, beginning the explanation to Neville.

"Neville, we do believe that your dreams and my kidnapping have something to do with Vol..Voldemort. Harry and I spoke with Professor Dumbledore, and I did as well with Professor McGonagall. Harry's scar has been hurting, making it seem that Voldemort is gaining more power. Also, Harry knows that he was very happy last night. Professor Dumbledore has been down in the dungeons and he could not find the room that I was in. Professor McGonagall said she had been in a room similar down in the dungeons. She said that the locking spell was very powerful but she knew the countercurse. That's all we know so far. If we find out what your dream was, then maybe it will help us solve some more of this mystery." Neville had listened carefully to everything Hermoine had said. However, he knew he had promised Dumbledore not to tell anyone else about his dreams.

"I...I can't tell you about my dream."

Ron perked up. "Neville, maybe we can help you with your dream. You said you think that it is related to Hermoine's kidnapping. Why is that?"

"Just...just because."

"Neville, we need to know. Obviously, Dumbledore doesn't know anything about what is going on, and if he does, he won't tell us anyway. If we want to do something about this, we need to help each other." Everyone was surprised at Harry's tone of voice, especially when mentioning Dumbledore. They knew how angry he had been with Dumbledore after the last year, but they thought he was getting over that. Obviously, they were wrong.

"Well...I guess it would be alright, but you can't tell anyone about it!" All three agreed and listened to the same explanation of the dream Neville had given Albus earlier. After Neville finished, all three were sure of the fact that Hermoine's kidnapping and Neville's dream, were linked to Harry's pain and Voldemort. They just didn't know how all the pieces fit together.

In another part of the castle, Albus Dumbledore was pacing. Things had been quiet today, almost too quiet for comfort. He looked at the time and knowing that all the children were in their common rooms or asleep, he decided to go to Minerva's chambers. He knocked softly and entered, finding her hovered over a pile of papers at her desk.

"Minerva?" She didn't even hear him enter. She kept grading the papers in front of her. When two hands touched her shoulders, she jumped, placing a hand over her chest. After seeing it was her husband, she calmed a little.

"Albus! You have no right to scare me like that!" He took her hands and helped her up.

"And you, my dear, have no right to cause yourself to become exhausted." He led her away from the desk.

"Albus, really, I need to finish the second years tests and...." He put a finger on her lips to silence her.

"Those tests can wait until tomorrow. You need sleep, Min. You did not have an easy night last night." Minerva reluctantly let him lead her to the couch. She sat down, grateful she had such a caring husband.

"Alright, if it will make you happy. I'll wake up early tomorrow and do them." Albus shook his head.

"Oh no, you will not. You will sleep as long as you have always, if not more, to make up for last night." Minerva cast a stern look at him, but he matched it. She gave in and leaned against him. He put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed her gently.

"Now, tell me truthfully, how are you feeling?" Minerva sighed. He was always the worried one between the two of them.

"I'm fine, Albus. Just a bit tired from last night, I guess."

"As well you should be. I still think you should've taken today off."

"I do not."

"Of course you don't Minerva. You never take a day off." She looked him in the eye.

"And why should I?" He looked back at her with the same intent stare.

"Because you need to take care of yourself...and the baby." Minerva saw the look of concern in his eyes and leaned back against him.

"I know...and don't worry, I won't do anything to endanger the baby." He kissed the side of her head.

"I know you won't. Just keep yourself rested and I'll take care of the everything else."

"Thank you Albus."

"Anything for you Minerva." He tilted her chin upward and their lips met in a sweet, gentle kiss. She rested her head in the crook of his neck and put her arms around him.

"You know what I wish?"

"What?"

"I wish we could stay like this forever." Albus smiled at her wish because it was his as well.

"As do I." They remained silent for a little longer. Albus thought she had fallen asleep but then her soft voice told him different.

"Albus?"

"Yes, Minerva?"

"Why did you send Hermoine to me today?" Albus hadn't expected to talk about this, not tonight anyway.

"She had many questions...questions I did not know how to answer."

"How did you know I would have the answers?"

"They were questions about you, my dear. I only suspected that you would know the answers to questions about yourself." Minerva sat up quickly and looked at him with an icy stare.

"Don't get smart with me, Albus Dumbledore. You thought that Hermoine would be able to get answers out of me! Answers that would benefit your curiosity!"

"Minerva, calm down. That is not why I sent her to you and you know it." Her gaze softened, knowing he was right.

"I'm sorry...it's just...I didn't know what to tell her. There are some things that she should not know."

"What things?"

"There are just some things that teachers do not share with students, Albus."

"Yes, I know. But, I thought we decided that after what happened with Harry last year, it would be better to keep the students more informed about events that take place in the school."

"I know, but...well, it doesn't matter." She got up but he caught her arm before she could get too far.

"Min, is there something you want to talk about?"

"What makes you say that?"

"I know you, Min. I know something's bothering you...it has been for awhile. I think it's time you let someone help you carry around the burden." Minerva's voice suddenly became very soft and her look was distant.

"What burden?" Albus stood up and pulled her close, making her look at him.

"You know what burden I'm talking about. That night eleven years ago, Min, something happened that hurt you. Something that you're afraid to talk about. That is the burden I want to help you with." She knew that Albus was right, that she needed to talk about what had happened. It was just so hard. She knew how hurt he would be because she had kept something like this from him. But, at that time, they weren't together so it really shouldn't have seemed important to him. She knew she was just fooling herself. Albus had always been her best friend and had always cared about her. He would have wanted to know what had happened that night. She looked into his blue eyes, and knew it was time he knew the truth.

"Albus...I want to tell you. It's just...I don't know how you're going to react." He kissed her forehead.

"I will be the most understanding husband you have ever known."

"You are the only husband I have ever had, Albus."

"Makes it even easier then, doesn't it?" She laughed at his odd sense of humor. "Go and get into bed and I will make you some tea. Then, you can tell me everything. If we're going to be talking about a serious situation, the least I can do is make sure you and the baby are comfortable." She kissed him lightly.

"Thank you. I'll be only a minute." Albus watched her walk into the room and sat down. He conjured up two cups of tea and waited for her to change. He knew that her defenses were down. He just hoped that whatever she would say would not be so bad that it would hurt their marriage. That was something he would never be able to stand.