Disclaimer: please view chapter 1/12

to my late wife

I cannot see anymore, trust my eyes no more,
I can hardly believe, hardly understand.

We were conspired, would have died for each other,
have bowed the rain, lend each other trust.
We have tried to turn around fate.

We have shoved us through all the tides
We have frittered away, loved us desperately,
and faked the truth as well as possible.

We have danced the whole dance in a silver room,
from a golden balcony, gazing into eternity,
bewildered, drunken, and everything was allowed,
together in time lapse, midsummernight's dream.

Your upright posture, your truthful poems,
your cheerful dignity, your unshakable destiny,
you have braved fate,
and never betrayed, your concept of happiness.

It was like a piece of heaven, that you were there.
You have flooded every room with sunshine,
have turned every chagrin, into the converse,
so very noble, your gentle goodness,
your untamable pride, life is not fair.
you're missing.

I am not leaving from here, extend my time limit,
new time journey, unknown world,
keep you safe in my heart,
carry you with me 'til the curtain falls.
I will keep you in my soul 'til the end of all time.
I love you my darling.

Author's note: This is the last story I am posting here. Thank you to all my faithful readers, you were great lads, you kept me going at times when I had really lost it. Thank you a thousand times. Thank-you and goodbye. bella
Chapter 12

Minerva had taken Hermione to bed, not leaving her side for one single moment. She couldn't believe that Hermione almost had had to die because of her naivety. If she hadn't been so stupid, yes, blind... this would never have happened. Of course, if someone wanted to erase Minerva, he would kill her but if he wanted her to die a painful death, he would take away what Minerva loved most - Hermione.
She had undressed Hermione to see if she was hurt or not but she wasn't, and then had helped her into a nighty. Not a word was spoken but they looked into each other's eyes and Hermione sensed how bad Minerva felt.
"Darling... this is not your fault."
She could see Minerva biting her lower lip, trying to repress her tears that were already swimming in her eyes.
Minerva didnt answer, only continued preparing the bed for Hermione.
'It is just so wrong that Hermione is taking care of me now,' Minerva thought.
"Lie down honey."
Hermione did, sensing that Minerva didn't want to talk right now.
When she slipped under the covers she moaned in pain, not knowing what it had caused.
Minerva was there in an instant, having this desperate look on her face as she had earlier, down on the stairs.
"What? Are you in pain? What's the matter?"
But Hermione waved it away. "I am fine, Min. Just... I don't know. I am ok, really. Now come here, you need sleep as well."
Minerva joined Hermione and took a deep breath before saying
"Mione... I am sorry. I have you terribly neglected and it is all my fault that someone could do that to you. I..."
The other woman put her arms around her and silenced her with a kiss, so tender and sweet that Minerva couldn't believe how blessed she was to have a woman like this beside her. She kissed her back with an urge that suprised both and Minerva surrendered to Hermione's comforting arms, listening to her voice.
"Darling, you must'n blame yourself for what has happened. It is not your fault at all. You cannot be around me 24 hours per day and something like this can happen at any time, at any place..."
Minerva wasn't convinced at all nor did she share the sentiment of relief, she knew whoever had tried to kill Hermione would try again. She looked deeply into her lover's eyes and whispered with a desperate tone in her voice
"I love you baby, I love you so much."
The other woman smiled tenderly at her and brushed a tear off her cheek, saying
"Min, we may be able to do magic but we are only human after all,
and humans are called humans
because they forget,
because they repress their feelings,
because they euphemise and romanticise,
because they err and because they fight,
because they trust,
because they hope and love,
because they sympathise and forgive
and because they laugh and live.
because they admire and believe,
and because they sometimes need a shoulder to lean on...
We are far from perfect and that is good. I wouldn't want a perfect woman, I love you Minerva, just as you are."
and with that she pulled her close and took her into her arms.
Once more Minerva didn't know what to say. What had she done to deserve such a wonderful woman? She didnt know.
Hermione smiled and cuddled with her in her very own way of loving, soft and easy patience, very calm, very reassuring.
She didn't hear her crying but she felt Minerva's tears wetting her shoulder.
Being held by Hermione, she snuggled closer and cried for long, long hours until she fell, totally exhausted but happy, asleep in Hermione's arms.

When Albus was back the next morning only one question had priority: Who attacked Hermione?
Albus made a sincere face and it took a few seconds until Minerva realised what was wrong.
"Where's Alastair?"
Albus didn't move but swallowed heavily and Minerva feared for the worst.
"NO... don't tell me... is he dead? Has he been attacked as well?"
Albus shook his head no. "He was the attacker Minerva."
Well, how to believe that a trusted friend, a friend you have known for years, did something so utterly cruel and insane... How to get that into your head?
Minerva could, thinking of her wounded lover and she demanded to see him. Facing Moody was the only way for her to work up had happened last night and the weeks before.

Askaban was a place you don't wish to see. No living soul has made an attempt to get inside just because of curiousity, and I don't know of anybody of the arrested who had have a visitor in all these years.
Moody had one.
He smiled a false smile at Minerva when she stood in front of him. she had only one question:
"Why?"
It was the old story: It had been years that Moody had asked Minerva whether he would have a chance and she had told him no at that time. Well, little meaningless incident that turned into a madman's passion.
When he confronted Minerva with his reasons he laughed at her. Laughed at her fears and how silly she had been to trust him again.
However Minerva remained untouched.
"Why should I be ashamed of my trust into you? You were my friend. I even am proud of myself, having let you caught me in my good faith. How sick would it have been not to trust a friend when they show all signs of true friendship and love? If I had mistrusted you, imagine all the visciousness behind it everything... well, what lonely creature would I be? No, thank-you Alastair, that is not how I want to be. I'd rather die from the hand of a trusted friend that turned out to be a traitor than live my whole life in an ivory tower.
This left Moody speechless in his stubborn anger and Minerva left without granting him a second glance.

Hermione recovered swiftly from the attack - Moody had only hit her once but as it was a spell that had to be casted three times in a row, it didn't work fully... luckily.
Minerva asked Hermione to become her wife the very evening she returned from Askaban and as far as I know they live a happy life ever since.

Dedicated to those who are about to die,
and those who will be left behind.
you will not be forgotten on either side.