A/N- My English teacher would have my head if I used the grammar in this chapter in her class. It's partially Minerva's POV and something called a "flashback". (Hey, sarcasm here. Work with me people!) I'm using 'Minerva' in this chap because I don't like 'McGonagall' anymore. The next chapter is not written yet, though I have started it. I'm not quite sure how I want to handle the next installment. If you read about my grandfather, well, the simplest thing to say is that he is dead. Cancer is a tricky thing. He went in and because of back pains and in less than a month he was in a hospital bed. But you really wanted to hear that now didn't you? - on with the story! tabby

Chapter Five-

Defeater of Grindelwald Killer

She could remember his face and every line on it perfectly as if he had been standing right there with her. In her dull gray prison garments, Minerva stared at the ceiling thinking of him. She was supposed to be at his funeral, not in jail because of his murder. If she had pleaded innocent she would have been dead right now for the solitary truth that it would have been better for 'The Daily Prophet' to report an easy closed case for Dolores Umbridge. Yes that's it, "Minerva McGonagall, former Deputy Headmistress and Transfigurations Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was sentenced to death by dementor's kiss for using an unforgivable on Albus Dumbledore ultimately killing the defeater of Grindelwald.", all summed up in one sentence.

Umbridge, the awful witch opposite her, would have a hard day in hell before this hearing was over with. 'It will be wonderful to have a last battle with her.' Minerva thought sadly as if it were her last few hours to think, to live again. 'What is living without him? It's not as if my voyage is over yet. I will get out of here. I will find out what happened to my Albus. Even if it is the last thing I do.'

The driving urge to go on with out wore the woman out. She fell asleep on the hard cot in her cell. In her dreams she would see him, in her dreams she would be with him. It was late, and on the morrow she would have to be in court again, arguing her defense almost solely alone because no one else believed in her. These last few days were kept at heart, ripping her mind at the seams. Everywhere she turned it had been a brick wall, just like a sheep or some kind of animal being herded someplace they didn't know where they were going. Her diary, the one piece of something left that she had with her, she wrote for positions on her trial to lesson plans for the next year. This was her thoughts and her soul. Books that would be written about her after she died would have passages from her diary in them. But it was her past that reminded her of her future.

(1944)

"Albus, no, you cannot go. I won't let you." Minerva spoke to the auburn haired man in front of her.

"Minerva, I have to. I must defeat him. Look what he did to your family. Do you want someone else's family to be hurt like yours?"

"That hurt. No Albus, I don't but I have a family now too. You, you are my family. We're engaged remember!"

"Yes but-"

"If you are going I'll go too." She insisted.

"No Minerva. You are nineteen years old. I can't allow you to do that."

"I'll help you. I'm an animagius. I can do something with you."

"You're already helping here with Poppy. I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want to lose you." Albus said to her while he put his arms around her slender frame. She wrapped her arms around his back.

"I don't want to lose you either." They stayed like that for some time. Albus bent his head down to her's. He kissed her slowly on the lips, savoring her sweet tasted. The smell of lavender and vanilla overwhelmed him. As the silence broke, so did he.

"Alright, you can come. But I warn you Minerva, you must let me do this. I must win this battle for you, my dear, and for all the people who need us."

"Yes, I know. Are you trying to be wise again? It isn't working, you know?" He chuckled softly.

"No, but I would be happier if there was a little more love in the world." He kissed her again. "Times change, but I will marry you, I promise. Even if it is the last thing I do."

(Drifting back…)

Those words, 'even if it is the last thing I do.', they came back to her as if they had just been spoken. Sorrow was still sweet. Everything had changed now. She didn't want to let him go; to let his memory leave her mind. But yet she woke up, back in that gray prison and she knew what she had to do.

TBC- (just because everyone else is doing it)

Also- thanks to everyone who has reviewed It means a lot to me. - tapadh leibh! -tabby