...
"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."
William Shakespeare
...


.

ENTRY 666 OUT OF THE BOOK: 'Poisions, pain and torture methods - the darkest of of darkest curses'

Nr. 666.: 'Mors ad crutiam' - 'Death via torture'

One of the most cruel and painful ways of dying known to the wizarding world.

The poison, made from the seeds of the Belladonna flower, mixed with the leaves of the Asphodel and the very rare but deadly dragonmoon-water is not often used; even by witches or wizards with experience in the Dark arts.

It's creation, however is very difficult and as dangerous as the poison itself; seeing that the steaming potion is also very likely to kill instantly. Only a handful of people have mastered the difficult task of brewing it and lived to tell the tale.

The desired effects are down right cruel.

Once in the 'Mors ad crutiam' enters the bloodsystem (only a sinlge little scratch is enough to get infected) the posion turns the victims magic against him/her and tortures the infected witch/wizard from the inside out;

The more magical power the witch/wizard posesses, the more painful it will be. The degree of pain can be compared to the crutiatus curse - only worse and over a longer period of time.

(and of course, the more magic is used, the more pain will be shot through the body; at the most unexpected of times.)

In the end it even let's the target relive their most painful memories over and over again; it therefore has the haunting techniques of a nightmare-potion.

Surviving rate: None so far. Death approximately 6 month after infection

(give or take; depending on victims inner strength. The longer one they lives, the stroner the pain gets)

Cure: None yet known to the wizarding world.

.


Hermione's eyes widened. Her father had often complained about the fact that the young witch's ears were better than they should be allowed to.

And even if she wanted to, she wasn't able to say anything. So she just stared from the equally wide eyed Arina to Professor Snape and back to her aunt.

Quickly glancing over to Harry, the young witch noticed that he had also heard the softly whispered words the potions master had whispered into his godmother's ears.

"Gold," Severus said rather harshly and his black eyes focused on the surgeon. "Can she walk?" He asked without further ado and gestured towards Arina.

Dan raised an eyebrow. "Well technically, yes but – "

"That's good enough," the potions master interrupted, helped Arina up from the bed and put his arms around her to support her still rather weak body.

"Severus, what in Merlin's name are you doing?" Professor McGonagall asked with a worried glance and looked at the younger man picked up his wand and - in a medium speed – started to drag her daughter out of the Great Hall.

"I'll take care of her, Minerva, I promise," he shouted back. "Pott – Harry, Hermione, come along."

Surprised, Hermione jumped up and she didn't know why, but she quickly squeezed Professor McGonagall's hand in a way of telling the older witch that she would look out for her aunt. In return, she received a grateful look and a thankful smile.

Harry also got up from his seat, and in wise foresight grabbed the Mablomi with one hand and Batty with the other; then the two of them sprinted after the potions master.


"What the hell was that?" Draco asked the question everyone else was probably wondering about.

Ron, Luna and Ginny just shrugged their shoulders; Arthur, Molly, Bill and Fleur looked equally confused; Xem, Alastor, Poppy, Aberforth and Augusta all sat there with their eyebrows raised and Dan as well as Minerva stared after Arina, Severus and the two-third of the golden Trio.

Rolanda on the other hand had her eyes still fixed on Minerva's engagement and wedding ring. Turning both of them several times, she tried to slip them over her pinkie.

"Holy Morgana, how thin are your fingers, Min?" she asked astonished as the rings got stuck half way through.

Minerva shook her head and tried to believe that Severus would keep his promise to take care of her daughter. Then she turned her head to look back at Rolanda, though she didn't really know what to say…

But Rolanda just grabbed her hand and held it up for everyone to see.

"Merlin, why do you have such long, elegant fingers and I don't…" she asked, but slipped the fingers back on their rightful place; Minerva's ring finger.

"Thank you, Rolanda."

"May I see the engagement ring, Minerva?" Abe asked to her surprise. But she nodded and gave it to him.

He inspected it for a moment; then a small smile appeared on his face. "That's my grandmother's."

Minerva nodded and looked down at the emerald ring. "I know. Albus told me when he gave me the ring. I just – "

Abe held up his hand and smiled again. "I'm glad you have it, Minerva."

Emerald eyes widened. "I have to admit I didn't expect that, to be honest."

The younger Dumbledore brother chuckled.

"Always good for a surprise," he replied. "But I meant it. Now I know that it's not rotting away in an old box or something like that. Gram would have wanted that. Though you don't happen to know anything about the where-abouts of Ana's phoenix-necklace, do you? Back then I handed it over to Albus but - "

This time it was Minerva who interrupted him. She turned her head and looked at him with kind, sparkling emerald eyes.

"Arina has it now," the emerald eyed witch answered and Aberforth closed his eyes for a moment relieved, nodding in affirmation. "Albus gave it to her the night she was born."

Again, a couple of 'ooohs' and 'aawws' were heard from the remaining people at the round table. It was Augusta who spoke up next.

"Speaking of brith… now back to business, Min," she said and the emerald-eyed witched cringed again. "When's your little girl's birthday?"

Minerva was – positively – surprised; knowing both Augusta and Ro… she hadn't expected this kind of question.

"February first," she answered smiling.

"And the year?" Alastor asked curiously.

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "1960, why?"

Alastor, Rolanda and Augusta, as well as Abe, Molly and Arthur looked at the transfiguration Mistress curiously.

"Well, that means you got pregnant during your fourth year of teaching at Hogwarts?" Rolanda's statement sounded more like a question.

'Wonderful', Minerva thought and resisted the urge to roll her eyes, 'and here they are: the nasty little private details… '

"I mean, I've been there the whole time," the flying instructor continued a little confused, "How's it possible that I didn't notice."

"I'd like to know that, too," Auggie added and glanced at Minerva with a raised eyebrow. "No matter how many concealment charms you and Poppy tried to cast on me back then, there was a limit of three charms a day. And none of them lasted more than two ours."

Minerva chuckled. She did indeed remember their rather adventurous sixth school year by heart…

"Remember that one time during the end of school exams, Auggie, when we already started calculating at what time we had to cast the bloody spells?" Minerva laughed and so did her old friend.

Neville, however, looked at his grandmother with a newly found admiration.

"Oh I do, especially when Professor – "

"Don't let her change the topic, Augusta," Alastor interrupted.

Once again, Minerva felt all eyes on her. Ronald, Ginny, Luna, Neville and Draco also wanted to know more about the story.

"It was a lucky coincidence," Minerva answered and shrugged.

The utterly confused glances the witch received from the people around her meant that had to elaborate a little further. But before she got the chance to do so, Poppy decided to help out.

"There's a gene running in the female line of the old Pendragon Family that provides the women with a natural concealment charm."

"Well, most of the time," the emerald eyed witch added, smirking a little, "I was told that sometimes it also happens to skip a generation or two."

Everyone looked quite impressed. Augusta, however started cursing quietly.

"Do you realize how bloody unfair that is, Min?"

Xemerius laughed out loud, got up from his chair and sat down next to the transfiguration mistress on the empty spot on the bed. And Minerva herself couldn't help but smirk at her old friend either.

The emerald-eyed witch had always dreaded telling her friends about her secret. She wasn't really sure why, but mostly because of the fact that she had withhold the truth for so long. Minerva was sure that none of them would have spilled a word about Arina had they been told, but the danger of being captured and tortured until there was no other choice but giving information was a risk not worth taking.

With a shudder, Minerva remembered the time she had been brought to the old estate… the cold, brown eyes that had stared at her with pleasure and delight… the way he waved his wand and sent one crutiatus after another at her…

"Are you alright?" Dan's concerned voice and his carefully placed hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present.

She quickly shook her head and tried to get rid of the pictures that had – despite her best efforts – burned themselves into her mind.

Minerva simply nodded, though she knew that her son-in-law didn't believe her.

"Pendragon… Wait, that means that you also played the blonde, long-legged and blue-eyed witch who visited Arina during the tri-wizard-tournament... the one who wore big, round sunglasses all the time?" Rolanda asked once again. Like the others she was oblivious to the concerned expression on Dan's face and the look he gave the emerald-eyed witch.

Minerva smiled. She'd never admit it, but she actually liked to show her side of the proud mother she had always been hiding.

"Esmeralda Pendragon, right?" Rolanda continued with a raised eyebrow. "Argh. You're the only one I know whose middle name is Esmeralda! I should have known."

"The mind sees what it wants to see, Ro," Minerva answered smiling.

"And when I first saw the Ilvermorny students, I even told you that Arina looks exactly like a younger version of Minerva," Rolanda told Augusta with a very exasperated gesture; but the smile on her face betrayed her real mood. "And she outright denied it!"

"She never denied it, Ro," Xem came to Minerva's defense and she looked at her old friend gratefully. She didn't know what she would have done without him. "She merely said… wait, let me quote it: 'Oh really, Rolanda? Well, the mind sees what it wants to see, I guess.'"

"Why doesn't it surprise me that she said something like this?" Moody asked and Rolanda, Augusta and the other remaining adults laughed along with the younger people.

However, Minerva also observed that Draco was moving back and forth on his chair and looking at her with curious eyes.

"Is there something you'd like to ask Mr. Malf – Draco?" the emerald eyed witch asked the blond haired slytherin kindly.

Obviously surprised that she had noticed him, the young man bit his lip. "Well, it's just… You said this gene is passed on to members of the old Pendragon line…"

"That is correct."

Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville looked at the Slytherin expectantly. "Well, this means you're a direct descendant of Morgan Le Fay, doesn't it?"

Now it was Minerva's turn to bite her lip. She should have known that Draco was an expert in old and powerful pure-blood families…

"Morgan Le Fey?" Ronald asked confused and astonished at the same time.

"Yes, she was formerly known under the name Morgana Pendragon; King Arthur's half sister on the motherly side... if one is to believe the rumours," Draco explained.

"I didn't know you know so much about the Arthurian-legend," Ginny said impressed.

The young Malfoy shrugged. "Pure-blood lesson one-o-one."

"But doesn't it also say that she was one of the darkest and most powerful witches of the time?" Neville asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Only at the beginning I think," Luna answered in her dreamy voice. "But then she fell in love and changed."

The emerald eyed witch nodded. "True. She was a little dark and twisty at first, but never really dangerous."

"So you really are a descendant of one of the oldest pure-blood lines known to the wizarding world?" Draco asked astonished.

Minerva shrugged. "Yes."

Not only Draco was impressed by that, every one else at the Round Table stared at the transfiguration mistress with new found admiration and respect.

"Who did she marry?" Fleur asked curiously. "Morgan, I mean."

To Minerva's surprise it was Luna who answered again. "Why, Godric Gryffindor, of course."

Rolanda laughed out loud. "That, I believe without a doubt."

"Do you think the sorting hat called Arina 'Princess of Gryffindor House' only for fun?" Xemerius laughed at seeing their impressed looks.

.

Luckily, Minerva was spared yet another interrogation period, because two rather old looking owls came flying through one of the broken windows of the great hall.

The first, addressed to 'Chief of Surgery, Dr. Aidan Gold' was dropped on Dan's lap, the second fell on Minerva herself.

Confused, the both opened the letters. Minerva's eyes darkened with each line she read:

Dear Minerva,

We have urgent news about the where-abouts of Cornelius Fudge. Your presence is therefore requested at St. Mungos Hospital.

Please come as soon as you can,

All the best,

Dorothy Holloway

Looking up, Minerva saw that Dan also frowned.

"Dorothy also wrote to you?" The witch asked concerned.

The young surgeon nodded and stood up. "Yes, but I fear these two owls have taken quite a lot of time to come here. We have to leave immediately, Minerva."

Minerva nodded and was about the take the hand her son-in-law had offered her, when Poppy's rather furious voice was heard. "Minerva, you'll stay here. Whatever this is about, I'm sure they can manage without you and – "

"I'm afraid they can't," Dan said and laid an supporting arm around the transfiguration mistress. "This is about a rather delicate political situation. But I can assure you, Poppy, that I'll look out for her."

Minerva almost cursed when she stood up. Pain once again shot through her, though she didn't know whether it came from her recent injuries or the old issue…

Poppy sighed. "Your word in Merlin's ear."

Dan smirked. "Don't worry, by now I know how to deal with McGonagall women."

And with that, he held on tighter to Minerva and apparated both of them to the Hospital.


"Severus!" Arina breathed heavily as they stopped right in front of the giant spiral staircase that usually offered a way up to the headmaster's office. Well, usually. Harry knew that Hogwarts had indeed been damaged during the battle, but he realized just now how severe the situation really was. The Great Hall was barely untouched compared to this area.

"Would be so kind and explain whatever is going on in that head of yours right now?" The blue-eyed witch asked and leaned on the potions master. "And what has my father to do with all this?"

Harry exchanged a look with Hermione. She was apparently as concerned about Arina as he was. After all his godmother was still recovering from her surgery…

The potions master tore his glance way from the quite instable looking ceiling and turned his head to face the witch.

"Are you able to use magic?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Arina mirrored his actions. "I guess. Now could you please – "

"We have to get into the headmaster's office."

"Severus, the way is completely blocked with rocks. Besides, I don't think the ceiling will hold for very much longer…"

The black haired wizard nodded. "I was thinking about creating a small tunnel. But you're right. It probably won't be stable for long. So we have to act fast."

He drew his wand and was about to cast a spell, when Arina quickly put her hand around his face; forcing him to look at her.

"Severus Christopher Snape," Arina whispered in a dangerously low voice and the way her angry blue eyes looked at him left no doubt whatsoever that she was Professor McGonagall's daughter. "You will tell me what's going on right now or – "

"Why is it," a new voice from somewhere behind her interrupted, "that whenever I see the two of you together you are in a very ambiguous situation."

Arina, who was still leaning closely against the potions master with on hand on his face turned around; as did Snape, Hermione and Harry.

The boy who lived had known that he had heard that voice before and his suspicion was confirmed when he saw Narcissa Malfoy standing right in front of them.

.

Harry chuckled when he saw Arina cringe. She then moved her hand to wave at the blonde haired woman and smiled.

The boy who lived was astonishingly relieved to see Draco's mother. She had after all saved his life and without her, the war could have ended very differently.

And from the looks of it she seemed to be fine – well, apart from the most recent battle wounds all of them had. He still remembered Draco saying that she wanted to leave Lucius… and knowing him, a safe escape was not always guaranteed.

"You just have the talent to show up at the most unfortunate of times, Cissa," Arina smiled and gave the approaching woman a hug.

Harry was once more amazed by his godmother.

He had never expected her to be friends with the Lady Malfoy; but if she was just half as good a character judge as her mother was, then Arina had probably already been aware of the fact that the blonde has never been a real follower of the Dark Lord; and just did it for fear of her son's well-being.

"How are you holding up?" The potions master asked the blonde witch with a concerned glance.

Harry almost laughed when she raised an eyebrow. "I left Lucius. And you know it's been something I've wanted to do a long time ago. Therefore, I'll manage," she answered and gestured towards Arina. "The better question would be what have you done? Excuse my use of vulgar language, but you look like hell, Rina."

Arina laughed; only to clutch her chest again and wince slightly.

"She had a little heart to heart with a cursed knife," the potions master explained and Arina hit him playfully in the ribs for his little joke.

"Oh don't you talk. You got your throat sliced open by that bloody snake Nagini," was the sharp reply.

The potions master chuckled.

"I heard about that, too, Severus," Narcissa said worriedly. "How come you're so… "

"Alive?" he asked and smiked.

Narcissa and Hermione nodded; and Harry, too had already wondered how he had managed to survive.

"I got lucky that Arina stumbled over me at the boat house."

Arina glared a little at him.

"You got also lucky that I had my emergency stock of Fawkes' phoenix tears with me!"

"I know…" he sounded like it had bothered him for quite some time.

Narcissa shook her head. "What are you doing in this part of the castle anyway?"

"We could ask you the same question, Cissa," Arina smirked, put one strand of hair back behind her ear, opened what was left of her French-braid and put her long and curly ebony hair up in a high ponytale.

"I was looking for Draco. I told him to go back to the castle though I don't know whether or not he really did it."

"He's inside with the Weasley's and a couple of other people," Hermione answered the concerned mother.

Narcissa was apparently surprised. "He is?"

"I think he joined to lot to help restore Hogwarts a little," Snape added. "Don't worry. He's in good hands."

The blonde witch sighed in relieve. "That's good. Then I'll just write him a note. I don't want to ruin things for him by showing up uninvited."

She was about to turn around, when Harry and Arina simultaneously grabbed her hands.

"You should go inside, Ciss," Arina said encouragingly. "He already asked for you."

"I really don't – "

"Hogwarts is open for everyone," Harry told her and used the words Professor Dumbledore once used. "Besides, without you, I'd be dead now."

Arina nodded and laid an arm around the blonde witch. "Harry's right, you know. It takes a lot of courage to lie to the Dark Lord."

Narcissa looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "How do you know that again?"

The blue eyed witch just grinned; causing Harry and Hermione to smile. "I have my sources."

Snape rolled his eyes. "Hiding under an invisibility cloak is not a source, A."

She elbowed him in the ribs. "Oh, come on you – "

"As it is, Narcissa," Snape continued and skillfully ignored Arina, "Seeing all this damage, would you mind assisting us?"

Draco's mother turned her attention to the ton of brick, then back to Snape, Arina, Hermione and Harry.

"Why in Salazar's name do you want to get up there? That ceiling looks like it'll be collapsing any minute now…"

This time it was Arina who spoke. "Severus thinks my father is still alive and that we therefore have to go to the study up there. But so far he has lacked any kind of further information. I don't know more than you do, Cissa."

Narcissa raised an eyebrow and together with Harry and Hermione they looked at the potions master expectantly.

Snape took a few steps closer to the staircase.

"When I saw your mother's rings earlier," Snape explained with a heavy sigh, "I remembered."

"You remembered what exactly?" Hermione and Arina asked curiously and at the same time; causing both of them to laugh.

"When your father touched that cursed ring, I managed to contain it in his hand and – "

"Severus I know that, can you please come to the point," the witch commanded and started pacing around.

Snape rolled his eyes. "Since the curse was fatal, there was no way to cure it."

A shadow flashed over the witch's face and her blue eyes shimmered with tiny tears. Harry felt for her. He knew what it was like to have no father anymore, but he would never know the feeling of loosing someone you loved for a long time. He was simply too small to remember that kind of pain when his own parents had died.

"Well, there was no way to get rid of the curse," Snape continued hesitantly, "so we decided removed his arm."

.

Arina, Narcissa, Hermione and Harry all stared at the potions master wide eyed.

"You did what?" Arina asked outraged, her blue eyes wider than Harry had ever seen them.

Severus cringed. "Well, Albus and I – "

"Hold on. Your father is Professor Dumbledore?" Naricssa turned her head in a neck-breaking speed to look at Arina.

She just rolled her eyes. "Yes."

"But –"

"Never mind that now," Arina interrupted her and turned her attention from the open-mouthed Narcissa to the potions master. "Removing a curse along with a body part is a highly dangerous action."

"Well, the curse would have killed him either way."

Hermione's head shot up. "So it worked."

"I don't know."

Arina suddenly drew her wand and pointed it at her old friend.

"Arina – "

"Don't you dare 'Arina me now, Severus!" She shouted and now Harry could even see the resemblance to Professor Dumbledore and the power that could be felt from her now. "Stop beating around the bush and tell me what the bloody hell happened. You used an unforgivable. I saw his body, I – I -"

The potions master took another deep breath and looked from Arina to Harry and back to his godmother, but it was Narcissa who answered.

"The Unforgivables… you have to really mean it or they are ineffective."

Snape nodded to everyone's surprise. "Indeed. When the Avada Kedavra hit Albus, it didn't kill him. His breathing was reduced to a minimum and a lot of his bones had been broken during the fall – even with the cushion-charm I had wordlessly cast. Luckily for me, no one checked if he was really dead or not. So after the funeral I opened his coffin and brought him back here to – "

"You did what?" Arina stared at him with big blue eyes.

"Would you rather I had him buried in the grave?" Snape shot back.

Upon seeing Arina's expression he continued satisfied. "I brought him back and treated the broken bones and other easily healed injuries. But whatever it was he had to drink that night… it left him weaker than we anticipated. I then cut of his hand – "

"You did what?" Arina repeated once again, though this time she was a little pale around the face. Harry had to admit that the image of his potions professor with a knife in his hand wasn't really pleasant at all. From the looks of it, Narcissa and Hermione thought so, too.

"I did ask your husband's advice a couple of month earlier and sedated him accordingly," Snape assured the by now slightly trembling witch. "And working under the Dark Lords regime helped the development of my medical knowledge. So your father wasn't the first whose arm I tried to re-grow. After that, I cast a spell your father had already prepared, that would transfigure him into one of the portraits that hang in the Headmaster's office. The sedative I gave him also caused that he was sleeping most of the time. And everything else... well, the mind sees what it wants to see."

.

A collective sigh followed his explanation; though Arina still didn't look really convinced. But at least her cheeks got their rosy colour back.

"So – So he's been alive the whole year and you just now decided to free him?" She asked quietly.

In Harry's opinion – and knowing Professor McGonagall – this was a little too controlled for a Scottish witch.

"Arina –"

"No, why now? Why didn't you tell us he was alive? Do you know how much it had hurt all of us? Or better, why didn't he say something out of his bloody portrait."

Snape sighed. "I do, Arina. But like I said, I only just remembered, and so did he."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "How is that possible?"

"Because," Snape continued and looked from Hermione to Arina, "Your father wanted to make sure that my cover was safe. I don't know how, but the spell he created to transfigure him into the portrait… When I spoke the words, it somehow erased both our memories. Up until now he thought that he was a real portrait."

Four pairs of eyes looked at him completely confused.

"All I should remember was speaking the killing curse in case Voldemort might have been able to break through my mind-barrier. So the old man made sure that we'd only remember the whole story when the war was over."

Narcissa nodded. "Knowing the Dark Lord, this was indeed the best way possible to hide something from him."

"But you could have died yourself! Hell, you almost did, Severus!" Arina shouted outraged. "What would have happened then?!"

Severus visibly cringed. "Despite everyone's believes, your father is only human. And even he makes mistakes."

Arina slowly nodded and stopped pacing. "So he made sure you would only remember upon seeing something unique that would trigger your memories."

Snape nodded. "Yes, your mother's wedding and engagement ring."

The blue eyed witch once again nodded and since Harry saw that she looked more tired than before, he stepped closer to her so she could lean on him, which she did but not without whispering a little 'thank you, Harry.'

"And he had hoped that Mama would wear her rings openly in the final battle so you would see them and remember and Dad would be able to join the fight," Arina concluded sighing.

"That was the plan. We assumed that by then he would have recovered from the curse and regained his strength," Snape finished and shrugged his shoulders.

Harry felt like he was hit by a ton of bricks. Of course, in the final battle it didn't matter whether or not someone knew if the two Professors were married or not. It was a fight of life and death after all. And he had noticed that Professor McGonagall did play with her rings; she had just prevented Professor Dumbledore's little plan in joining the battle because she decided to leave them invisible.

.

"So the body in the tomb is a fake?" Hermione asked carefully.

Arina blinked. She was so much like her mother that she apparently didn't want anyone to see the small tear that had escaped her eyes.

Professor Snape shook his head. "No. I also cast a charm on the tomb that a body only appeared in case someone opened it and it vanishes after the lid is closed again."

"So to sum this whole thing up," Narcissa continued. "All we have to do is get rid of all those stones, then somehow free Professor Dumbledore and get out of the office before the ceiling collapses?"

"Yes, that's it in a nutshell."

Arina still looked skeptical. "How will we get him out of the portrait?"

Severus stuck his hand in his pocket, then held up a little piece of paper. "That's the incantation. All I need is three people to cast it and youraunt's Phoenix-necklace, A."

The blue eyed witch looked surprised, but reached into her robes and retrieved the small, but beautiful golden necklace. She was about to give it to the potions master but he shook his head. "Keep it. We're not there yet."

Narcissa drew her wand and walked further towards the stairs. "Well, then what are we waiting for?" She asked and with a flick of her wand caused the first rock to explode.

Arina and the potions master simply followed her example.

Harry and Hermione were about to do the same, when they felt the now already familiar tug in the stomach.

"Argh. Not now," Harry groaned. Arina looked around and also saw that the little Mablomi in Harry's hand was glowing again. "It's alright. I'll take it."

This said, she grabbed the little mirror just as Harry and Hermione vanished.

.

Hermione was the first to get up again. "Don't look like that, Harry. A lot of time has passed since the Mablomi last glowed. It was bound to happen."

Harry sighed. "I know. I just – I'm excited to see Professor Dumbledore again."

The young witch smiled. "I know. I am, too. But it will take some time until Rina, Professor Snape and Mrs. Malfoy will have reached the office."

"Alright," the boy-who-lived agreed and looked around. "Now where are we?"

.

People were busily running around the Plattform nine and three-quarters at Kingscross, apparently eagerly waiting for the return of their children.

Suddenly, the Hogwarts-Express came to a stop right in front of them and the doors opened. A hoard of children from various ages hopped out of the train and started searching for who ever was going to pick them up.

Then Harry and Hermione's eyes fell upon a tiny little first-year with flaming red hair and bright, emerald eyes. Harry beamed at seeing his mother again.

The little Lily, packed with her trunk and still dressed in Gryffindor robes looked around and frowned a little.

"Do you really think her parents pick her up? I though they weren't really fond of her being a witch…" Hermione asked but before Harry could answer, another voice was heard.

"Lily! Over here!"

Lily Evans turned her head and scanned the crowed. Then her eyes lit up and she smiled brightly. She quickly grabbed her trunk and sprinted towards a beautiful, blonde haired woman. She wore high, black shoes, a matching short skirt and a blue blouse that only made her bright blue eyes sparkle brighter. Her blonde hair was falling down her shoulders in soft, curly waves and a pair of big round sunglasses was stuck in it.

Without stopping, Lily threw herself in the woman's arms and the blonde laughed. She tightened her arms around the little girl and twirled her around.

"I missed you, Aunt Min."

"I missed you, too, little flower," the blonde answered and waved her wand to wordlessly shrunk the trunk. She then took Lily's hand in hers and started walking. "But we really need to hurry now."

This said, they ran through the wall and around the next hidden corner at Kings-Cross; within a second, both of them were gone.

The scene changed and Harry and Hermione saw just in time as the two of them re-appeared at yet another station.

"There she is!" Lily shouted. "Arina! Over here!"

They all turned around to see little Arina arrive in a flying carriage with wings.

Once it had stopped, she opened the door and ran towards Lily and the blonde witch. She first hugged the elder witch tightly, then turned and hugged her best friend.

"You're timing couldn't be better, A," Lily said smiling, as they walked out of the New-York Grand Central station. "The Hogwarts express was late. We already feared you'd have to wait for us."

"Really?" Arina just laughed and grabbed one of Lily's hands and one of the blonde woman's. "I actually enjoyed the Ilvermorny-carriage ride."

"That's good," the elder woman said smiling and squeezed both girl's hands. "I'll let Xem know that you liked it. But you do realize that I want to know all about your first school year once we're home. But for now, hold on tight, you two. One. Two. Three," and once again, they apparated away; taking Harry and Hermione with them.

Their final destination seemed to be a gigantic, light entrance hall. Portraits of several witches and wizards were hung up on either side of the gigantic white staircase that probably led to the next floor.

Both girls hugged the woman one last time before they sprinted up through one of the many doors of the hall.

"We'll have dinner in about an hour, girls!" she shouted after them; then shook her head and smiled.

The woman jumped a little when a pair of arms wrapped around her and drew her into a kiss.

"You look radiant, my dear," a younger Professor Dumbledore said and gestured towards the blonde's outfit.

Looking down herself, she apparently realized something; then waved her wand and the blonde hair changed into dark ebony curls, and the sparkling blue eyes turned into an amazing emerald green.

"Thank you, Albus," Professor McGonagall said, blushing a little.


"Awww, that was so sweet," Hermione squealed and Harry too, was unable to wipe the smirk from his face. "Professor McGonagall picked your mother up and then Arina."

"Yes," was all the smiling boy said; he was more than glad that his mother got to live with the Transfiguration Mistress. It was amazing, that she only changed hair and eye colour, and still... no one recognized her.

Once agin, he thought back to what Arina had said... 'the mind sees what it wants to see'.

And again, the scene went red and changed.


They landed in the Gryffindor common room. A glance through the window indicated that it was already dark outside. Apart from a couple of students, the room was empty and quiet. The only sounds came from the crackling fire in the fire-place.

Then, footsteps were heard that and a person came down from the dormitories.

"It's Professor McGonagall," Hermione said and Harry nodded.

The young witch quickly crossed the room, without paying attention to the remaining people in the room.

"Where are you going, Minerva?" a brown haired young man with silvery eyes asked and the girl turned around.

"I'm going out for a walk, Xemerius," was the icy reply.

Xem sighed and so did the two witches next to him.

"You shouldn't go out at this late an hour," the petite blonde witch with the brown eyes said.

"I can take care of myself, Poppy."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other. This wasn't the young and enthusiastic girl they had seen at the quidditch game. She had dark circles under her eyes like she hadn't slept in days and there was absolutely no spark in her emerald eyes. Her voice was colder than a girl's her age should ever sound; and Harry didn't like it at all.

"We are just concerned for you, that's all," the third witch replied. She had dark brown hair and also brown eyes. "Athena wouldn't want you to go out all by yourself."

An – if possible – even darker expression flashed over the emerald-eyed girl's face and her lips thinned. "Athena is dead, Augusta. Can't you all just bloody leave me alone?"

With that she slammed the door and ran as fast as she could. Exhausted, she came to a stop at the small little bench next to the shore of the black lake.

She stared at the water for some time and Harry only noticed just now that tears were streaming down her face.

Suddenly a dark figure appeared behind her and put a hand over the girl's mouth.

Both Harry and Hermione screamed something, though they knew very well that she couldn't hear them.

The young Minerva however reacted faster than one would think: She bit the person's hand, kicked backwards with her foot, turned around and sent a body-binding charm against her attacker.

Breathing a little, she pointed her wand directly at the man's face; but he only smiled.

"Well done, Kitty," he said and a confused look replaced the little amount of fear that was visible on her face earlier.

"Who are you?" She asked in an even colder voice and without lowering her wand. "And what do you want from me?"

"If I tell you, will you free me?"

"No." Was the simple answer.

Again, the man smiled. "Very good. Rule number one: Never free a suspect, no matter what he offers you."

The ebony-haired girl didn't say anything.

"Now, if you might grab that little piece of paper in my pocket…. There's my identification … This position here get's a little uncomfortable."

Without taking her eyes of the man, Minerva did as she was told. She opened the paper and raised her eyebrow. "You're an Auror?"

The man nodded. "Indeed I am. Can you release me now?"

"No."

Again, the black haired man smiled. "My, you're better than I thought. Rule number two: Never trust a paper unless you faked it yourself."

The young girl looked like the man was a little mad. "If you want me to write these rules down somewhere I must disappoint you. I have got neither quill nor parchment with me."

The man laughed and suddenly stood up. "Don't worry. I won't harm you. And no, you don't have to write them down. Though it wouldn't hurt to remember them."

"You could have freed yourself this whole time?"

"Well, your spell was pretty good. But I have slightly more experience with magic, I suppose," he said and extended his hand. "My name's Fleamont, by the way. Fleamont Potter. Current Head of the Auror Department of magical law enforcement."

Minerva looked a little taken aback, but after some consideration she carefully took his hand and shook it.

"Now, why don't we sit down?" Fleamont offered and gestured towards the little bench. "I'm sure you wonder why I'm here."

"You could say that, Mr. Potter," she said and sat down next to him.

"Ah, please, everytime someone says Mr. Potter I have to turn around to notice people are actually speaking to me," he laughed. "Call me Monty. Everyone does."

"Alright, Monty," Minerva replied, her voice still cold and surprisingly uncaring. "What do you want."

Monty laughed. "I want you, Kitty."

At her confused expression he continued. "I want to offer you an apprenticeship."

Cold, emerald eyes softened a bit, but the girl still looked skeptical. "You do realize I am only a sixth-year student?"

Monty nodded and his expression got a little more serious. "I know. But I have seen your OWL-results and I knew your mother. My condolences by the way."

"Thank you," the girl whispered, and for the first time that day, a little emotion was heard in her voice.

"Your mother Rose was a wonderfully talented witch and as I have heard, she has passed on that talent to you."

The girl swallowed and looked at the water of the lake. "I don't think so. I didn't even manage to keep my little sister safe so…"

Monty didn't say a word for a moment. "I have read a lot of files. I still want you to take the job."

"What job is this exactly?"

"Undercover missions."

The girls eyes widened. "You mean the – "

"Ghost-missions at the Auror special forces team. Exactly."

"I thought they were only a myth."

Monty laughed. "Well, that's how it's supposed to be."

The young girl seemed to think for a moment. "Why me? There are plenty of other students with grades as good as mine."

"Well, apart from the fact that you are an unregistrated Animagus?"

Minerva's eyes widened. "Don't worry. I'm the only one who knows. It's quite an achievement, Kitty. But apart from that, the older student's circumstances are a little different."

A spark of recognition arose in the young girls eyes and she threw a little stone into the water. "I see. You want me because I've got nothing left to lose, don't you?"

Monty cringed. Apparently she had hit the point. "Yes, it is a reason. I won't lie to you. These mission's you are going to be part of will be highly dangerous. But despite your young age, you know what it means to lose someone you love. But the most important point for me is that I know that you will put all your power in your work. Bringing other people the justice you never got and preventing them from suffering the same fate you did."

Minerva finally turned her had to look him right in the pale blue eyes. "Where's the catch?"

"I knew you'd say that, Kitty," he said and held her glance. "You must not tell anyone that you are working as a 'Ghost'. I will personally meet you here at a hidden corner of Hogwarts for your training. Apart from that, you should be able to find excuses to leave at night. But you're a prefect, so this should be easy. And last but not least, you must not even tell a member of your family."

The young girl only laughed darkly. "That isn't a problem, Monty. You know they're all dead."

Monty looked at her sadly. "Yes. I know, and once again, I'm really sorry for your loss."

Young Minerva just nodded. "Alright. Where do I sign up?"


"She was a 'ghost'," Hermione whispered with tears in her eyes. "I always thought they were only a rumour…"

"So did I, Hermoine," Harry answered and tried his best to fight the tears that were threatening to fall from his own eyes. "All I knew was that they supposedly took the most dangerous and risky missions of all. And that they hardly ever recruited new members unless – "

"Unless they were fitting in perfectly. And like Monty said, her family was dead. She didn't have anyone to lose."

Harry shuddered. "You know, I lost my parents, but I can barely remember it when they died. Remember Xemerius said her parents died when she was still at school? It must have been horrible to be all alone."

The tears fell from Hermione's eyes now. "Love all, trust a few... No wonder she protected Arina the way she did…"

"Yes, no doubt about that…" was all he said. Harry didn't even comment on the fact that he had just seen his grandfather. Sirius had once told him that his name was Fleamont Potter and that he had been working for the Auror Office. Apparently the desire for this job was lying in the family….

.

Wiping away Hermione's tears, the red waves once again changed the picture.

This time, they landed in a small, theatre-like room, whose red chairs were already occupied. At the front, a lot of children stood on the stage; apparently acting out a school play.

Then, their attention was drawn to an elderly man with a bright purple suit and matching tie; he tried to walk as fast and unnoticedly as possible to the front row, where three very familiar people were already seated.

"You are worse than a child, Albus." Professor McGonagall, dressed in a nice dark-blue muggle dress, scolded her husband, who sat down next to her on the right. Harry noticed that she wore a pair of sunglasses and had once again changed her appearance to look like the blonde, and blue-eyed woman.

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist the chocolate cake, Minerva."

"I swear, next time Harry's got a school play, Dan and I go alone if you two cannot be quiet," Arina hissed, sounding exactly like her mother.

Harry looked at the stage surprised. He hadn't thought about the child play version of Shakespeare's 'A midsummer nights dream', but as he spotted the little version of himself on the stage, a smile played around his lips.

At least now he knew who the strangely dressed man in the first row had been, who had, along with the other three cheered and applauded for him whenever he appeared.

And if he had known, the red curtain closed and the children came to the front to bow to the audience.

Arina and Professor McGonagall stood up, followed by Professor Dumbledore and Aidan.

When they reached little Harry, Arina smiled brightly at him and clapped even more. Professor McGonagall on the other hand handed little Harry a small paper that was wrapped around a gigantic chocolate bar.

Young Harry beamed at them and didn't even pay attention do the older man in the purple suit or to Dan, who also gave him some sweets.


"What did she write on the paper, Harry?" Hermione asked smiling when once again red waves started to change the picture.

Harry grabbed into his pockets and took out his wallet; then he handed the little and already worn out paper to Hermione.

"'Perfecty done, Harry. I'm so proud of you.'" Hermione read and smiling, she handed it back to her friend.

"I have taken this paper with me all the time. And for a long time, I cherished it more than anything. Now I finally know who gave it to me."


Once again the scene changed and they found themselves in the Headmaster's office.

Professor Dumbledore had just picked up his wand when he doors flew open and Professor McGonagall stormed in.

"Now, you've got two options, Albus," she said as she walked closer to him. "You either take me with you to the Gaunt House, or I simply go there on my own. The consequence will be the same."

Emerald eyes looked at the Headmaster expectantly. Then he sighed and outstretched his arm for her to take.

"Minerva, this is dangerous. I really don't want you there," he sighed.

She took his arm nonetheless. "I don't want you there all on your own either. Now can we go please? I'd like to get this over as soon as possible."

Three seconds and a sigh later, they appeared in front of the old Gaunt House, where Harry knew the next Horcuxe to be hidden.

The boy who lived also knew that it was there and then that Professor Dumbledore had touched the ring that contained the resurrection stone; along with the curse that hopefully only almost killed him. What he hadn't anticipated was that the Headmaster had taken his wife along to the place; which lead to the conclusion that the transfiguration Mistress had indeed known about the Horcruxes as well…

For a short moment, neither of the two moved. Then they slowly walked closer to the house; Professor Dumbledore still holding the emerald-eyed witch's hand.

The blue eyed wizard then simply tried to open the front door, but it didn't open.

Upon seeing his wife's raised eyebrow he simply shrugged. "It was worth a try."

Together they drew their wands and whispered all sorts of complicated spells, neither Harry nor Hermione had ever heard about. But not even a well placed 'bombarda' granted them entrance to the house.

Sighing, the transfiguration Mistress looked at the door from different angles. Then she sharply turned around to her husband; her emerald eyes sparkling a little.

"Do you have that little muggle pocket knife with you? The one Aidan once got for you?"

Professor Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at her request, but searched in his robes and in the end he handed her the desired item.

"Thank you, Albus," she said and Harry's eyes widened in shock.

She simply removed the glove of her left hand and cut deep into the rosy flesh. She blinked for a short moment; obviously trying to ignore the pain that it caused her when she touched the wooden door with her by now bloody hand.

Professor Dumbledore looked at her in shock. "Merlin's beard, Minerva! What are you doing?"

With her blood, she traced along the frame and suddenly it started glowing and the door disappeared.

She then turned around and looked at her husband. "A blood entrance, Albus. The only way in is by delivering a sort of payment that weakens everyone."

"Blood," he said matter-of-factly and waved his wand; a bandage appeared out of nothing and wrapped around her injured hand.

"Thank you," she replied and kissed him on the cheek. "Now, ready to destroy this bloody Horcrux?"

The headmaster nodded. "After you, my dear."

Carefully, they entered and let their knowing eyes wander around every single shelf, table, chair and whatever else there was.

"Minerva," the headmaster screamed after some time.

The transfiguration mistress followed him into the room and saw her husband standing over a small desk with an open drawer. "You found it?"

"I think so. Take a look; but don't touch it. There might be a curse or poison beyond our knowledge on it."

Nodding, she stepped closer to him and upon seeing the little, delicate ring that was lying under a layer of dust in the drawer, her emerald eyes widened.

"Albus… this stone… in the ring… it looks like… could it really be the?" She didn't take her eyes of the ring and stepped even closer.

Professor Dumbledore mirrored her action, but put an protective arm around her waist. "The resurrection stone, yes. I think Tom never knew what it was, though. After all, what should he use it for?"

"What should he use it for?" The transfiguration mistress asked in an unbelieving voice. "Just think about it, Albus. All the people the stone could bring back! All the people we never really had the chance to say goodbye to. All the people – "

"Minerva," the headmaster said warningly and tightened his arm around her. "I know the temptation is great. But you have to resist it. This is first and foremost a Horcrux; it's not the resurrection-stone anymore."

The emerald witch stared at the ring like in trance; then like in slow-motion outstretched her hand. "I can see them all again, Albus. My parents, Athena… and Aurora… All I need is the ring…"

"Tabby, they won't be real. They don't belong here."

The witch shook her head, and a small tear fell from her emerald eyes. "But I can see them again," she repeated and was only millimeters away from the cursed ring, "just see them again for one last time..."

"Don't!" Professor Dumbledore screamed, pushed his wife's delicate hand out of the away and grabbed the ring with his own instead; protecting her from the extraordinary powerful curse that had been placed upon it.

Professor McGonagall looked at her husband in utter shock. His whole body was shaking and when he collapsed on the floor, she immediately bent down on the floor next to him.

Tears were streaming down her face now. "Albus. No, no, no. This is all my fault," she whispered and quickly placed her arms around her now very pale husband. "I'm so sorry, Albus. Please, please don't give up. Please don't die. No, no, no, this is all my fault…"

This said, she apparated both of them back to Hogwarts. "Severus… Fetch Severus…" the headmaster whispered and the emerald witch kissed him on the head and apparated once more; leaving her husband on the chair at his desk.

Minutes later, the potions master stormed through the door and his eyes widened at the sight.

"Min – Min – "

"Poppy is looking after her," the potions master interrupted quickly and let his concerned eyes wander over the headmaster. "She was a total wreck when she appeared in my office. I ordered her to stay at the hospital wing; her hand didn't look good either. What the hell have you two been doing?!"

He then poured a gold-shimmering potion over the headmaster's hand and whispered a couple of complicated spells. Then he leaned back and looked at the Headmaster with a stern expression.

"That ring carried a curse of extraordinary power, to contain it is all we can hope for; I have trapped the curse in one hand for the time being —"*

"Thank you, Severus," Professor Dumbledore whispered. "I have expected a curse like this, yes…"

"Why, why did you put on that ring? It carries a curse, surely you realised that. Why even touch it?"*

Professor Dumbledore closed his eyes for a moment. "I – I was tempted. But in the end… it was simply something I had to do…. Guided by a power much stronger than temptation."

Snape looked at him questioningly, so the old wizard smiled at him weakly. "Love."


The red waves once again started to dissolve the picture. This time, they were higher and Harry grabbed Hermione's hand because he knew they were about to be thrown out of the Mablomi again.

"He took the ring to save her life!" Hermione shouted so Harry could hear her inbetween all the red.

"I know. That's why Professor McGonagall said that he died because of her..." Harry screamed back before they were thrown out of the mirror again. He had never thought about it, but deep down he had always wondered why his wise Professor had touched the ring.

And the funny thing is that the old man had never lied. He had said the he was tempted and that he couldn't resist. He had just left out a couple of information.

'The mind sees what it wants to see, indeed.' Harry thought headshaking. 'What no one saw was the act of love that made the Professor touch it in the first place…'

.

This time however, they hadn't managed to land on their feet, so Harry helped the bushy haired witch up once more and made sure that Batty was still in the pocket of his robe.

Then they looked up and froze in shock.

In front of them stood Professor Snape, who was quietly talking to Narcissa Malfoy; next to them was Arina, who had tears streaming down her face. She was securely wrapped in a pair of strong and steady arms that belonged to no other than her father. He wore a small smile on his face and his bright blue eyes were fixed on his daughter. The only difference was that his beard and hair was short now, which made him look a lot younger.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry and Hermione shouted at the same time; not believing their eyes.

Everyone looked up at the young adults; Snape smirked, Narcissa also looked delighted and Arina and her father both smiled at them brightly.

"Harry. Hermione," the old Headmaster acknowledged and opened his arms.

Without hesitation, both of them stepped into his embrace.

"I am proud of you," the old wizard whispered, "so very proud of both of you."

"So am I," Arina said and also tightened her arms around them.

"We're glad to have you back, Professor," Harry and Hermione once again said simultaneously.

The potions master and the Lady Malfoy also looked at the scene with a smile on their face.

"So it really worked!" Hermione said once they had separated again.

"Indeed it did, love," Arina smiled and tucked her aunt Ariana's phoenix-necklace back under her blue robe.

Upon seeing Severus rather stupid grin, she raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong, Severus?"

"Oh, nothing. Cissa and I just thought about the many possible ways Minerva is going to react once she found out that you left her in the dark about your last plan, Albus."

The elderly wizard visibly cringed. "I have to admit, my latest plan had indeed a lot of holes; and I just realized now that it might have been a grave mistake to leave her in the dark."

Narcissa laughed. "You are considered to be the greatest wizard of all times. I'm sure you will think of something."

Arina now also laughed. "Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none... But the only problem here is, Cissa, that my mother is also considered the most powerful witch alive. And she's got a bloody dangerous Scottish temper in addition…"

"That's what I'm afraid of, especially considering - "

Whatever the Professor wanted to say, was interrupted by something that had fallen from the ceiling.

"You can think about your wife's many ways making your life a living hell later Albus. We have to get out of here," Severus said and grabbed Narcissa's arm to lead her to the door of the Headmaster's study. "Now."


A.N. the fat lines marked with the little (*) are taken from the book. They belong to JKR, not to me!

Now for all the wonderful people who made is this far, what do you think about finding a new love for our wonderful potions master or maybe even for my lovely silvery-eyed Xemerius?

Let me know what you think :)

Hello lovielies! I thank you all so much for your lovely reviews!

Paige: I love it that you notice all the little details I so carefully plant into my story! *hugs* And I'm sorry I didn't answer you asap; but my internet is killing me these days. If you're still interested I'll send you a pm with some more details. Though I'm not going to tell you everything; that would spoil all the fun :D

guest: sorry I don't know what else to call you :) I'm very glad you like it so far and I will add a family tree once I'm finished with this story. (though at this moment I have no idea when this will be :)

But I added one on at the bottom of my profile already! You all are free to check it out :) But be careful, there are some spoilers for all the ones who so wonderfully pick up on tiny little details X)

dsky: Woohoo; high five to yet another MMAD shipper *hugs* I'm happy to hear you find my OC's interesting! I was at the beginning really worried that they'd turn out to be very mary-sue-ish...

Amiliana: so nice that you stick with me even though I don't update as often as I'd like to! xoxo

Sonja: Thank you for readig my story! And yes, I totally adore Arina and Minerva's rs, too (if I might say so myself:)

Blue: I really couldn't resist with this cliffie X) But here's the next chappie and it's an extra long one :)

...

By the way, I plan on 'resurrecting' yet another character (I am a sucker for second chances...) At this point of time, I've got two possible characters in mind. But I am open for suggestoins from you all. Anyone else you'd really like to see in this fic? :)

...

all the best, Lexi