A/N: Thanks to the reviews and support! I enabled anonymous reviews, too!
And I am really trying to make this different than Bonding, because I never EVER want to be accused of being a copy. Truly when I am writing this, I'm just letting my fingers do the typing, and somewhere along the way my conscious mind doesn't have a lot to do with it.
As always, a million times, thank you, Lucero :)
Xxxxxx
Donal was furious. He had worked so hard and had tracked the children down so quickly. And now? All three of them were out of his reach.
To top that off, Rolanda, the woman who was supposed to be true to him until the end of time, had lied to him.
And that just wasn't acceptable either.
He wondered about Minerva's other daughter. If nothing had been in the news, then she couldn't have died. But with the injuries he knew he had inflicted, she had to be at a hospital.
Which one?
There was a small hospital, St. Helena of the Transfiguration Healing Order in Scotland.
But then there was St. Mungo's. Without a doubt, that was the best hospital in the wizarding world: top-notch facility and masters of healing.
And it was protected like hell. But he knew that there were side entrances healers used. That would probably be the easiest point of entrance.
It really wouldn't take that much digging to find out at which one she was being treated.
Thinking fast, he grabbed a quill and parchment and scribbled a letter.
Ro,
So, you thought you could just lie to me and get away with it?
Please, don't try to cross me again. For your sake.
Make it up to me by telling me where Esmerele is. I know you know.
Don't screw this up, or it'll be the last thing you ever do.
I guarantee that.
Donal
He tied the letter to his owl and sent him off.
Sitting back down at his desk, he continued studying the maps of both England and Scotland, looking for any discontinuities between the Muggle maps and the Wizarding ones.
Sadly, everything looked the same.
Throwing the broader maps on the ground, he begin sifting through the up close maps, studying the topography, taking note of latitude and longitude, and looking for magical signatures.
There were hot spots for magic, like when a city stands out at night because of the lights.
On the map were the most obvious high signatures- schools, ministries, certain suburbs…
He looked closely at the Scotland highlands.
There was a slight increase in magic near the Orkley Islands, but it wasn't strong enough to indicate that the Manor was there. Most likely, he figured, a concentration of Centaurs lived there.
Next he moved to England, but the entire country had high levels of magic, and his efforts were proving futile.
With a yell, he threw the papers on to the floor and smashed the bottle of ink as it collided with the stone wall.
He wasn't getting anywhere, and his time was running out.
Xxxxxx
Rolanda read the letter with disbelief.
She hadn't lied to him. That had been their address.
She knew Jacques was killed- it was in the prophet. Tessa had supposedly given a statement, but she figured that was more of Donal's manipulation.
But he didn't have her.
So had she actually given that statement?
A knock at her door broke her train of thought and she quickly tossed the letter into the fire.
"Come in!" She called.
The door opened and Tessa and Minvera stood at the door. "Hi Aunt Ro!" Tessa said.
"Hi! Good to see you! How are you?"
Tessa shook her hand. "So-so. Getting better. How are you?"
"As guess as good as an old flying teacher can be."
Minerva laughed, "Which I guess is pretty good then!"
Rolanda smiled. "Where are you off to?"
"To St. Mungo's to see Esmerele. She's feeling better today."
Rolanda tried to keep her face neutral, her voice calm.
"What room is she? I want to go see her soon. I feel so lousy for not having been already but with the season starting…"
Minerva cut her off, "Don't be sorry. She's in room 654. She'd be more than happy to see you."
Tessa hugged Rolanda quickly, "I'm sorry we can't stay longer, but I wanted to see you anyway," and with a wave left. Her mother copied the gesture and followed close behind.
When the had left and their footfalls couldn't be heard, she hurried to her desk and withdrew a piece of parchment
Donal,
Room 654, St. Mungo's.
She's in the critical unit.
Password for side entrance- Draconus
Before you go, meet me at midnight. Same spot.
R.
Xxxxxxx
Minerva, Tessa, and Percival were seated around Esmerele's bed, each one taking turns relaying the story.
Esmerele cried softly and told of her captivity.
All of them laughed when Tessa couldn't produce a Patronus (Percival, not believing his sister was that thick, handed her his wand to see for himself. He then became a firm believer in his sister's thickness).
Out of the three, Percival was the only one who hadn't had a personal encounter with Donal. They were all thankful, however, that he didn't, because he never carried his wand with him, much to his mother's disapproval ("But I don't need it! Just give me a caldron, ladle, and knife and I'm fine!")
Minerva gave them the backstory. Well, not the whole story. She couldn't tell her kids that they had been lovers. Call it old fashioned, but she couldn't tell them how close she and Donal were. And not even that, it was embarrassing that he had used her so easily. It reflected worse on her than him.
And If Donal ever said anything about their affair… Well, no one would believe him anyway.
"We need to have a plan to protect the house, Mom." Tessa said.
"The Manor is thoroughly protected, I assure you."
"No, the house in Godric's Hollow. Could another safe house be made if that one was destroyed?"
Minerva thought about it. "Yes, but there wouldn't be a need. If he destroys the decoy house, then he'll come after me, thinking my magic will be depleted. And when he attempts to duel, I think he'll find a fair match in us."
Tessa laughed. "Not me. I'll cheer from the sidelines."
They all chuckled, but on a serious note her mother said, "I am going to have to teach you how to at least cast a protective spell and a few attacking spells. Did you really not study at all when you were in school? Your marks were fine!"
"Yeah, my marks were fine," Tessa said, "Because I paid this dork to do my work for me."
Minerva felt her teacher side flare up with anger, but Percival cut in, "Just like you, Tessa. Well, now an old bitch has to learn new tricks."
Tessa was about to rebuke his statement, but Esmerele added, "Don't even try to say you weren't a bitch. Don't even try."
She giggled and shook her head. "Alright, alright!"
Minerva smiled. "We'll start learning soon. Don't worry."
When they were finished, they just kept sitting at her bedside, holding hands with each other.
A family. A whole family.
And perhaps for the last time.
Xxxxx
Donal paced around anxiously waiting for Rolanda.
God, she better not screw up this time. His patience was running out.
Finally after what seemed like ages, he could see her figure coming down from the hill.
He rushed towards her.
"What?" he demanded.
"Why do you think I lied about Tessa? I gave you the right information!"
Donal laughed. "Don't play innocent with me. No McGonagall child could be as ignorant and stupid as she was."
Rolanda glared at him. "Well, she can be. Red hair? Blue eyes? Perfect little figure?"
Donal's face gave away the answer.
She pulled back and slapped him hard across his face, the contact echoing in the night. "You fucking idiot! You had her! And you let her go!"
Donal pulled back and smacked her back, knocking her to the ground. He leaned down and snarled, "Your information this time better be accurate. 'Cause if I don't get her tonight, I'm going to kill you next."
Xxxxx
Both Esmerele and Minerva were uneasy about Tessa's dueling abilities, to say the least.
Minerva blamed herself mostly, because really, when had she ever taken the time to ask about her daughter's school work?
They all marched out to the front lawn. Minerva was determined to teach Tessa something. But she wasn't the only one getting a lesson- Percival had failed his Defense Against the Dark Arts OWLS three times. Not that he didn't have the skills, but he just didn't care enough to try. Albus had just chuckled and shook his head.
They stood in the middle of the lawn and Minerva raised her wand and rose up a large block of wood, about six feet high and four feet thick of solid oak.
"First, what do both of you all know about defensive skills?"
Tessa raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms. Percival mumbled something that she couldn't catch.
"Really, Percival, it's very annoying to mutter under your breath. If you would please speak properly."
Percival smiled- his mom was definitely in teacher mode.
"I remember Depulso and Protego."
"Tessa?"
"Yeah what he said."
Minerva rolled her eyes. "Do you remember the wand movements?"
Both of them gave her blank stares.
She let out a frustrated sigh. "For Depulso, which is used to push something back, it is a simple movement- a quick clockwise circle, starting at twelve o'clock and ending at the same point. So, Percival, you first. Aim at the block and try to push it back."
He gave her a sheepish look. "I don't have a wand. Mine's at the Order."
Rolling her eyes again, she reached into her inner robes and grabbed her extra wand.
"Tessa, please tell me you have your wand."
She reached into her boot and withdrew her wand. Minerva remembered how distinctive Tessa's wand was- the wood was the lightest beige with delicate patterns drawn on the handle. It was so perfect; Minerva wondered if she had ever used it.
"Thank goodness. Now Percival, if you will, Depulso please. Emphasis on the middle of the word, not the first and last vowels."
"Mom, that is a thick piece of wood!"
"Yes, but it, unlike Donal, is inanimate and stationary and cannot fire back. If you would rather I will get Filius to help with the dueling."
Percival shook his head- he knew how good her deputy was.
"Alright then, shall we?"
Percival stepped forward and grasped the wand. He felt a surge of magic run up his arm.
"Don't grip it so tightly, my lord you're going to break it in half!"
Blushing, he eased his grip.
He took his stance and aimed. "Depulso!"
And much to his surprise, the wooden block went flying backwards in the air a good ten feet.
"Hey!" He said proudly. "Look at that!" He smiled broadly.
"Good. Now you Tessa."
Tessa rolled her eyes and stepped forward. Casually she took aim. "Depulso."
The wood quivered and remained in the same place.
"Really?" That was all Minerva said. But she did give her daughter the raised eyebrow.
Tessa rolled her eyes and took aim again. "Depulso."
The block leaned backwards, looked like it would tip, then righted itself."
Minerva crossed her arms.
"Depulso."
The block weakly fell over, and Minerva righted it.
"Depulso!"
The wall fell over with a thud.
Now Tessa was getting frustrated. Percival had done it on the first try. She was a McGonagall too, damn it.
"DEPULSO!" She yelled, and with a burst of light the block went flying- twenty, thirty, forty feet.
Minerva gave a smirk. "Impressive, my dear."
Tessa gave a sassy smile. "Thank you."
"Percival, the next is Protego. It's a broad arch. You must be very forceful with this one too. The amount of energy you put in it- that is how strong it will be. Since we have reserves, you can pull on them too, but be ready when the magic pulses through you."
"Why?" They asked.
"Because it will feel like a train is pulling your arm. Now, I will be trying to hit you with the disarming spell, which is?"
Blank stares.
"Oh for Merlin's sake, come on you two!"
"Uhhhhh…" was all Tessa gave.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" She cried, frustrated that her children didn't know these simple spells.
"Right, right." They tried to cover.
"Uh, god." She muttered. "Right then. Tessa you first. I will count to three and you will cast the spell."
Tessa nodded and took her stance.
"One… two… three…"
A burst of red came out of Minerva's wand, and a weak little square came out of Tessa's. Minerva's spell easily pierced the shield and Tessa's wand went flying.
"The hell Mom?"
"Stronger!"
Tessa summoned her wand and took her stance.
Nodding, they both released their spells, only this time, Tessa's wall was strong. Her wand was vibrating and her arm was starting to hurt. Dropping her hand, the shield fell.
"Much better."
Percival stepped forward. They nodded, and the spells shot out, Percival easily protecting himself against his mother.
"Good. Now you know three spells- Depulso, Expelliarmus, and Protego. Those are the basics, though I would advise both of you to read up."
Xxxxx
A/N: Chapter 9 is already written and will be published pending reviews!
As always- hope everyone enjoyed!