Minerva dropped off the papers she needed to grade in her chambers before she started for the Great Hall. She turned around and jumped slightly, the sight of her husband taking her breath away.

"Albus! You scared me. I didn't know you were in here." He smiled and pulled her into a hug.

"I felt the need to talk to you about the meeting tonight." Minerva's eyes darkened some. She sat down on the couch, he on the chair facing her.

"What is all this about, Albus? The children need to rest and catch up on their studies."

"I understand, but this is of the utmost importance my dear. We need to be ready for when the deatheaters come again. I fear it will be in the very near future." Minerva winced at his comment and at the slight pain from the baby kicking her. Albus noticed and clasped her hand in his.

"I want you to be careful, Min. I mean it."

"Of course, Albus...Are you going to tell me what you meant before?"

"About what?"

"About what you said in the Great Hall this morning. About what the children need to do if something happens to you." Albus took a deep breath. He knew that he needed to tell her, but this was going to be very difficult.

"Min, you know how dangerous things are. I cannot say for sure if I will always be there to protect you and the rest of Hogwarts. The children need to know how to defend themselves in case I am not there when they need me to be."

"Albus..." He held up his hand and stopped her.

"I do not want to say another word about it until dinner. However, I do wish to speak with you about Miss Granger."

"What about her?"

"It seems she has not been sleeping well. Harry and Ron asked if I could persuade Professor Snape to conjur up a sleeping potion for her. I figured since you sit next to him at dinner, you could ask him for me."

"Of course. I will make sure she takes it tonight as well. I know how stubborn she can be."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Minerva glared at him but her gaze softened after seeing his smile.

"Alright, can we go to dinner now? The students will be waiting."

"Yes, we should go. Don't worry, Minerva, everything will work out for the best." He helped her up but did not let her go to dinner until her stole one more kiss from her and tenderly caressed her stomach. It was getting more and more difficult for Minerva to hide her pregnancy from the students. She knew she would have to talk with Poppy soon about this problem. Poppy always knew how to help her. She and Albus walked to dinner where the students were eagerly awaiting food. Minerva leaned over to Snape halfway through the meal and asked him about the potion.

"I can have it made by the time you return tonight."

"Thank you, Severus. I will come pick it up and take it to her."

She leaned back over and nodded at Albus, then looking at Hermione. She was hardly touching her food, Harry and Ron having to constantly tell her to eat something. Minerva worried for the girl, knowing all too well how she was feeling. The baby kicked again, harder this time, causing Minerva to drop her fork on to her plate in surprise. Albus looked over at her, worry filling his eyes.

"Are you alright?" Poppy looked over as well, hearing Albus' question.

Minerva nodded. "Fine." His questioning look made her add softly, "I'll tell you later." He nodded and took her hand under the table, looking over at Poppy and nodding, letting her know everything was fine. After dinner, Albus walked back to his office, waiting for the students and Minerva to arrive. Minerva came in first, her steps slow.

"My dear, you are working too hard again. I can tell by the way you're walking. I will have to have Poppy put you on bedrest again!" Minerva looked up at him and frowned.

"You will do no such thing. I'm just tired after last night." He put his arm around her and squeezed her to him gently.

"What was wrong at dinner tonight?"

"The baby just decided to remind me that he or she was hungry." Albus laughed, for the first time in many days.

"Well, I'm glad to see that our baby has my sense of humor." Minerva groaned, making Albus' eyes twinkle and his laugh to grow louder. She smacked him playfully and then took his face in her hands.

"It has been too long since your eyes have twinkled like that. I've missed it."

"And I've missed you, my dear." He drew her close and kissed her until a knock was heard at the door. They broke quickly and Minerva straightened back into "teacher mode" as Albus opened the door.

"Ah, come in children. We've been waiting for you." The four entered, all looking tired as well. They nodded at Minerva and then Harry stepped forward.

"Professor Dumbledore, will we be allowed to sit in on this meeting?"

"Yes, Harry. That is why we have asked all four of you to come. It is very important that you all listen to every detail of what is said tonight, understood?" The four nodded and then they along with Minerva and Albus were on their way to Grimmauld Place. They greeted the Order Members along with Fred and George. Sitting down at the table, Molly placed tea out for the adults and milk for the children. Albus began the meeting soon after.

"It is imperative that we make a new plan after what happened the other night. I believe that Voldemort will be striking again, very soon in fact. He is enraged that his plan did not succeed the first time and he will not waste time in trying once again."

"What can we do to help, Albus?" Arthur asked.

"Help me come up with a plan, a plan where we can put a stop to this once and for all."

"Quiet! Please, this is getting us nowhere," Albus sternly told the group of people sitting before him. In the past two hours, nothing had been accomplished. Everyone had different plans as to how to get rid of the deatheaters once and for all. Unfortunately, those plans would never work. Minerva excused herself quietly and walked out of the room. Albus looked after her, worried that she had been so quiet in the past two hours. Molly had noticed Minerva's silence as well and stood up, saying she would be back in a few minutes. Albus sighed.

"It seems that we all have our different opinions. Why don't we take some time and think through what the best course of action will be. There is no telling when Voldemort will strike again." The others agree and listened to Albus' suggestions. Molly came back in a few moments later and said that Minerva would be in momentarily. Albus continued, relieved that everything seemed to be alright. Minerva took her seat a little while later and Albus reached under the table for her hand. It was calming to know she was next to him, supporting him in everything. The meeting adjourned with almost nothing being accomplished. They decided that Remus and Alastor would come to Hogwarts once a week to check on everything in the dungeons. The four children were to keep an eye on all the Slytherins and report to Albus every night on what they were speaking about. Albus led the children back to his office, Minerva following behind.

"I need to speak with the four of you. This is a very serious matter and I would hope that you will not take what I say lightly." Four heads nodded. "Now, you know that the information you will be telling me every night will be crucial to Voldemort's demise." Again, the four heads nodded. Albus stood and walked in front of the desk to stand in front of the four Gryffindor's.

"I want you all to understand that this could turn into the most dangerous thing any of us ever do. I do not know what will happen to me, or to anyone else in the castle for that matter. What I can promise you is that nothing will happen to the four of you as long as I am around, do you understand?"

"Headmaster, what are you saying?" Hermione asked.

"I am saying that if ever anything comes to harm you, I will be there to stop it."

"Oh. Thank you Headmaster," Hermione answered.

"Now, I want you all to come here every night after dinner to report on what the Slytherins have been saying. Also, at that time, we will be having defensive classes. I will be teaching you important maneuvers that are not taught regularly at Hogwarts. It is imperative that you know how to defend yourselves and the people in this castle. It is up to you four to take over should something happen to me."

"Something happen to you, Headmaster? You've got to be kidding!" Ron exclaimed. Albus bowed his head and then looked back up at the children. Minerva saw the sadness in his eyes.

"I am afraid, Mr. Weasley, that I am not as strong as I was once before. You four will need to be on guard in case I am not able to guard the castle."

"But Headmaster, there are so many other professors here that would be better equipped, don't you think?" Hermione asked.

Albus looked over at Minerva and sighed. "There are many things that the students of Hogwarts do not know about their professors. Unfortunately, we were all around when Voldemort first rose to power. After I am gone, I am afraid his next targets will be your other professors. Someone else will need to protect the rest of the students. And that will be for all four of you to handle. Can I trust you with this responsibility?"

Four heads bobbed up and down.

"Very well. Then I believe it is time for you all to get some much needed rest. Tomorrow is Saturday so feel free to sleep as late as you like. We will meet in here after dinner, alright?"

The four nodded again and stood to leave. Minerva stood as well. She led them back to Gryffindor Tower and then walked to her chambers slowly. She was deep in thought when someone interrupted those thoughts.

"Professor McGonagall! Professor McGonagall!" She could tell it was Hagrid's voice. She hurried towards the end of the hall where she heard Hagrid coming around the corner.

"Hagrid, what is it? Calm down!" Hagrid stood to catch his breath quickly.

"We've got a problem."

"What kind of problem?"

"There's someone coming up the path that should not be."

"For goodness sake's Hagrid, who is it?"

"Dolores Umbridge." When Hagrid saw her face pale, he reached out to take her arm in case she passed out. She steadied herself and tried to think clearly.

"Right, well, you go guard the door and do not let her in until I get Albus, alright?"

"Of course. You alright?"

"I'm fine. Go now!" He rushed away and she hurried back into Albus' office. He was sitting with his head in his hands, contemplating his next move. His head snapped up when he heard the door burst open.

"Minerva?"

"Albus...it's Umbridge. She's on the grounds!" He rushed over to her and grabbed on to her arms.

"Are you sure?"

"Hagrid said she's coming up the path. I told him not to let her in until you come down," she said, her hands shaking. She was a brave woman, but after what had happened with the stunners, she could not trust Dolores Umbridge and that was what scared her.

"You go alert the rest of the staff to the main entrance and meet me there." He kissed her quickly and rushed out the door, robes billowing behind him. She woke everyone through the fire and then she herself rushed to the main entrance. She hoped everything would go smoothly. But what she found was anything but hopeful.