Dear Reader,

Your welcome that this update was done in a timely manner (I'm very proud of myself, especially considering the length of the chapter – it's the longest I've ever written!) The plan for this chapter and the next few changed some, so that's why this chappie is extended, with five or so different scenes. For those of you who like long chaps, here you are, although I doubt if there will be may more this length. Those of you who like moderate sized ones, many more of those are to come. But please enjoy this one.

-LunarLitLover

Preview for next time: Possibly the march of the goblins on the Ministry

Recap: Minerva and Albus are together and getting serious while Grindelwald's goblin army is prepared to attack the Ministry within the week.

Chapter 19: In Trouble

"Albus!" Minerva yelled, barging into his office in a mood. This was certainly not the first time, and Albus suspected a row. However, he knew how to effectively deal with such things.

As Minerva stormed over to him, hands set defiantly on her hips. Albus grabbed her by the waist and dramatically swung her around and tipped her low. Then, he forcefully put his lips to hers.

She did not respond to his attempt to distract her. Minerva grabbed his cheeks and pushed his face away. "Albus! Don't do that! I want to know why you weren't here this weekend! I came to see you and waited like you asked but you never showed! That's a rude way to treat me! Where were you!"

"Oh, Minerva, I'm sorry. I had business that came up at the last minute." He tried to kiss her again.

She only smiled before letting herself fall into the kiss. However, when they broke away, she said, "Oh, I see. Secret missions for the resistance."

Albus ignored her words and instead concentrated on driving his tongue into her mouth. In retaliation, Minerva drove her own tongue back into Albus's mouth hard. He pulled away and gave her a questioning look.

Still leaning over in the dip and still grinning mischievously, she said, "Well, that's what you get."

Albus brought his face in closer to Minerva's. His sparkling blue eyes were so close to Minerva's green ones, it was almost if the colors were mixing and blending. Minerva felt a feeling in her gut and her heart skipped a few beats.

Then, in response to Minerva's earlier comment, Albus said, "I wouldn't mind getting that every day for the rest of my life." And he kissed her.

The kiss, although deep, was created out of a pure, sincere emotion. And it proved to Minerva that Albus was feeling exactly what she was.

However, Albus only got a little time to explore Minerva's mouth. As soon as he wrapped his arms tighter around her, the door to his office swung open.

And in the doorway stood Tom Riddle and Horace Slughorn.

---

Tom led Minerva and down the corridor, towards the gargoyle statue that concealed Headmaster Dippet's office. Slughorn had already taken Albus there ahead of Minerva so that Professor Dippet could be warned of what conversation they would be having.

Tom, however, was taking advantage of Minerva's very embarrassing situation. He had spent the entire walk making fun of her folly.

"McGonagall, it seems my assumptions about you and your filthy professor were correct. I had a feeling you were snogging him. That's why I brought Professor Slughorn. He has also suspected it for a long time. It's nice to finally see you paying the price for what you have been doing. Tell me, how many times have you shagged him?

Minerva didn't answer.

"Oh, he won't shag you because you're a filthy mudblood? Or has he used you as his little whore because he can't get anything better?"

Minerva's anger boiled in her stomach. She reached for her wand, intending to curse Riddle with the most horrific jinx she could think of. However, Riddle had anticipated her actions and was quicker on the draw.

Before she knew it, she was pushed to the wall by an invisible force. Slowly, she was lifted off her feet by the force which was gradually tightening its grip on her neck. She grabbed at the invisible strands around her throat while gasping for air.

"How's that for humiliation, McGonagall?" Riddle grinned widely. "You've always thought yourself superior to me. You thought I was an immature child and you were better. Now you know how bloody wrong you were. You will never be able to beat me. In favor, in grades or in magical ability. Now you know how useless you are. Well, you are a mudblood after all."

Tom Riddle let her squirm and gasp for a few more moments before releasing her from the spell. Minerva collapsed to the ground, gasping vigorously for air. Riddle simply continued on his way to the Headmaster's office. After Minerva had caught her breath, she reluctantly followed him, seething.

---

Professor Dippet looked very cross when Minerva entered his office. His eyes would not meet hers, and his mouth was set in a grimace. But Minerva had known she was in great trouble, and she had expected the worst. Professor Dippet's disappointment was part of the package.

When Minerva entered the office, Riddle stayed at the door awaiting further instructions. Minerva could tell he wanted to witness the proceedings; he wanted to see her suffer as much as possible. However, Professor Dippet had another idea, and sent Tom away to "his studies." Tom's look briefly showed his resentment, but Minerva knew Professor Dippet's orders would not hinder Tom from hearing the conversation. He would most likely listen outside the door.

Once the door closed, the Headmaster finally looked directly at Minerva, although he quickly averted his eyes following the hasty glance. Looking past her face, he said, "Please sit down. We have much to discuss, Ms. McGonagall."

Although she sat down in the chair next to Albus, Minerva winced. The Headmaster always called her by her first name. He had also advocated for her several times. That was all over now.

Professor Dippet's eyes were cowardly, but Albus's were not. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Albus looked straight into Minerva's eyes, trying to assure her. However, all the gesture did was unnerve her; it was in clear view of both the Headmaster and Slughorn. Minerva took the road Professor Dippet had taken and averted her eyes from Albus. She instead fixed them on the Headmaster. His eyes, though, were focused on Slughorn while Slughorn's eyes were looking at Albus. No one could look at each other.

Finally, the silence was broken and Professor Dippet addressed Slughorn. "Professor, instead of going through an entire interrogation, I would like you to place your memory of what you witnessed into my Pensieve so that I may, myself, view it."

"Of course, Headmaster," Slughorn replied, placing his wand-tip to his head and withdrawing the memory. However, he placed it to his temple once more and withdrew another memory. Minerva had no doubt the second one was of the time Minerva had hidden under Albus's desk. Slughorn then proceeded to withdraw a third memory and Minerva inwardly groaned. That one must be of their day at Hogsmeade when Slughorn winked at Minerva. But Slughorn had possessed those memories for a long time. Why was he so keen to turn them in now? Did it have anything to do with Albus's work in the resistance and their last conversation? Minerva certainly wondered.

However, Slughorn's motives were irrelevant. They were caught, and were in serious trouble, based on Professor Dippet's reaction to the memories. All Minerva could do was wonder what their fate would be.

Professor Dippet finished viewing the memories. "Well, what the bloody hell do you have to say for yourselves!"

Minerva had certainly not expected that response. Stunned, she did not reply. Not that there was any appropriate response in this situation.

Albus didn't respond either. However, unlike Minerva, he looked directly into the Headmaster's face with out fear. Professor Dippet was only able to look back at Albus for a moment before averting his eyes again.

There was about a minute or so of uncomfortable silence before Professor Dippet finally said, "Well, I see that neither of you are going to come forward with information. However, will either of you deny the authenticity of the contents in Professor Slughorn's memory?"

Albus, with his eyes looking up at the Headmaster, and Minerva, with her eyes fixed down on the floor, did not reply.

Professor Dippet, now becoming bolder, rose to his feet. "I'll take that as a no." He grimaced even more.

Albus continued to direct his full attention to the Headmaster.

"Professor Dumbledore, Miss McGonagall," Dippet continued. "You both must understand that there are severe consequences for teacher-student relationships. What are those consequences, Horace?"

Slughorn smiled before replying, "Expulsion, Sir. And often a legal consequence punishable by the Ministry. Fraternization with a student is a serious offense."

Slughorn seemed extremely pleased about that, and Minerva couldn't help but wonder why. Is he trying to get revenge on Albus because he wouldn't talk about the resistance movement? This way to do it is bollocks!

"Yes," the Headmaster said firmly. "However, you two are lucky. Both of you have been exceptional assets to the school in the last years. To ruin your chances because of one mistake would be too cruel. Miss McGonagall, you will serve detention in Professor Slughorn's room every week night until the year's end. There will also be no more private lessons with Professor Dumbledore. There will be no more Hogsmeade trips for you either. And other than in your regularly scheduled classes, you will not see Professor Dumbledore at all. These are light punishments, Miss. But be warned, if I even catch the smallest hint of anything inappropriate happening between you and Professor Dumbledore, I will not hesitate in expelling you from this school immediately. I know you have a promising future and an expulsion would completely ruin your chances of becoming an Auror. However, I will not hesitate to expel you if I see anything remotely like this again. Is that understood?"

Minerva nodded.

"Thank you," Dippet nodded as well. "You are excused to your studies, Miss McGonagall."

Minerva rose and proceeded to the door, not glancing back.

---

Minerva was alone in her dormitory, sobbing into her pillow. It felt as if her dreams and everything important to her had been lost. All of it lost in one moment. But how can that be? Minerva asked herself. My relationship with Albus is gone, but all of the dreams I've always had are mercifully intact. I still have nearly all of my life – the significant part of my life - it has not disappeared.

Yet another voice in the back of Minerva's head argued, Then why do you feel as if all of your dreams have been lost? Why do you feel this way if everything's fine and brilliant?

Because I've lost Albus. I can no longer keep my dreams intact, or safely intact if I stay with him. I must choose between him and them.

However, at that moment Minerva could not choose between her lover and her dreams. She instead chose to sob more uncontrollably into her pillow.

A few minutes later, Sam and Lilac enter the dormitory and rushed to her bedside, worried.

"Min, what is it?" Sam asked. "Did Albus do something to you! Is that what it is! Well, if he did, I swear, I'll beat the bloody shit out of him so that he and that cursed wand of his go flying into…" Sam's already-loud-voice got progressively louder as she continued to rant. However, it didn't stop her.

Minerva let her go, knowing Sam wouldn't stop until she had fully let off her steam. Fortunately, the incident was somewhat amusing to Minerva; she had stopped crying and was sitting up on the bed. Lilac, still looking concerned, sat down next to Minerva and grabbed her hand to hold it for comfort. The two girls sat on the bed, looking upward with wide eyes at Sam, until she finished her ranting.

Sam, tired after finishing her passionate, one-sided, insult match, sat down on the bed and sighed. Only then did she sincerely ask, "What happened?"

Minerva sighed, too. "It's bloody bollocks. Albus and I were snogging in his office before dinner and Slughorn and that annoying Riddle boy walked in on us. We had to go to Dippet's office. I have detentions for the rest of the year, and I'm not allowed to see him any more, except in class. They're going to be watching us, and if we get caught together again, were both chucked out. There could even be legal consequences for Albus."

"He failed to mention the Ministry's consequences when he convinced you to be with him," Sam grunted.

"That's not the point, Sam, and you know it," the usually pacifist Lilac shot out. "We're here to help and comfort Minerva. This is not diss-Dumbledore-day."

Sam mumbled something unidentifiable before falling silent, her eyes on the floor.

"I really don't want to give him up," Minerva admitted honestly.

Lilac nodded, showing her understanding. However, Sam, yet again, jumped up in something similar to either a panic or a caffeine high. "So you're actually going to leave him, the one person you've ever cared about like this, just because some old guy said so!"

"Sam!" Minerva jumped off the bed as well. "Do you think I want to leave him! Do you think I want to dump the last few months, one of the happiest times of my life, down the drain! No! I don't want that! But my future depends on graduating! If I get expelled, I can never have the life I've always dreamed of! And I'd only get another month, month and a half with Albus if I did choose to risk it and stay with him! Is one month worth my whole life and his life too! Why not just wait and start off where we left off after I'm done with my 7th year! Doesn't that make a little more sense!"

"Maybe, Minerva, maybe," Sam replied quietly. "But if you leave him for this month, you'll never be with him again."

"What? Why do you say that?" Minerva asked. Lilac also looked confused.

"Dumbledore is a man of faith, Minerva. He advocates for what he believes in, no matter the consequences. He has put himself on the line for you, and has risked much more than you have in this relationship. A normal man would never have made those decisions, but Dumbledore did because it is what he believes in. If you leave him now, and don't take the risk, not only will you crush him, but you'll also prove to him that he's not important to you. Or at least not as important as you are to him. Why would anyone want to stick around for a relationship like that?"

Minerva nodded, understanding Sam's point. "Maybe I should talk to him about this at least. Maybe if I did he would understand why we should wait until the year is over."

"Wait, you two haven't even talked about this yet?" Sam asked in shock.

Minerva shook her head.

"Well, then get going!" Sam yelled as she and Lilac pushed Minerva out the door and down the stairs.

---

Minerva pulled off Albus's invisibility cloak when she reached the inside of his office and once she made sure the coast was clear.

"Don't try that tomorrow," Albus replied, only glancing up from his work. "They'll have everything magically bugged and us watched by tomorrow. I'm figuring out ways to get around that right now."

Those words of assumption hit Minerva hard. This might turn out exactly as Sam had predicted. No, Minerva told herself. I am not going to think negatively. I've got to try to do what I came to do.

However, at that moment, Albus rose from his desk and made his way over to Minerva. He put his arms around her.

She pulled back. "Albus, are we even going to talk about what just happened an hour ago!"

"Well, it will all be sorted out. I'm confident that I can dupe their every method of surveillance. I've done it often before. We will not have to worry about being caught together again."

Minerva couldn't believe what she was hearing. Albus shouldn't put his career and mine on the line for this! It's downright idiotic!

"You're right, Albus," Minerva replied. "We don't have to worry about being caught together again. But that's because we're not going to be together again."

Albus was stunned. His only response was a look of pure pain.

"Albus, we can't risk it. I care about you, I do, and that's why I can't risk your career. It's too important for this."

"Oh, don't pretend your doing this for me, Minerva. I'm whole-heartedly willing to risk my career. I can get a job elsewhere, if need-be. You're doing this for your career, Minerva. You won't take chances with that. It's your first priority and the most important thing to you. We all know that you could get a great job, even now, doing almost anything. But you have to be the best and do the most difficult thing, because it's you. Because you're Minerva McGonagall. You won't settle for less than that. And you won't risk you're pride of accomplishment for anything."

"You're right again, Albus! I'm not willing to give up my future career! I've dreamt of being an Auror since I was young, and I'm sorry if I'm not willing to give up that dream just yet! It's not worth the risk to me!"

"You're worth the risk to me, Minerva," Albus said quietly, sadness lingering in his bright blue eyes. "But I see I'm not worth it to you."

"Albus, I-"

"Are you willing to take a chance on your career for me?"

Minerva was silent for a moment before replying, "No."

"Then I guess I'm not worth the risk to you."

"I guess not."

Even as Minerva said it, she knew it was a lie. However, the damage was done. Minerva turned her back to a heart-broken Albus, and exited the room in a run, just as she had on the day of an emotional transfiguration lesson much earlier in the year. However, that day had been the first day she had opened her heart to Albus. Today was the first day she closed it to him.

Yet, just like before, Minerva broke into a run, face in her hands, tears on her face.