A/N: Sorry for the delay.
Longer chapter, flashbacks, sex.
Xxxxxxx
Donal stretched his arms, legs, back… His last day before the battle.
Moving to the table beside his bed, he grabbed the four wands Lucius had managed to find him in Knockturn. Shrinking two of them, he tucked him securely into his boots.
The other one he gripped tightly in his hand, the other, secured on through a disguised seam in his pants.
Lucius entered the room and handed him a ring. "Port key to the flat we have in London, in case things go bad."
"Anything else I need to know?"
"Don't underestimate that woman. She might have aged…"
"As have I…"
Lucius raised his hand. "She has aged, but she IS the most powerful witch I've ever known. You better have a damn good plan if you're going to take her out once and for all. And remember, you're on her territory. Keep your eyes open and your wand out."
Donal extended his hand and the two men shook hands.
"We'll see each other again," Lucius said.
"Whether in victory or…."
But the sentence left unfinished, because both men knew that if he failed, it meant death or a dementor's kiss, and the former choice was by far the better one.
With a terse nod, Donal exited into the freezing morn and apparated.
Xxxxxxxx
Minerva and the staff members all sat around the table in the back room of the dungeons. The steady dripping of water in some far recess of the lower floor added to the ominous feeling settling on the staff members.
Tomorrow was the day of the attack.
"Thank you all for coming. I know that this has not been the easiest semester for all of you."
Pomona's eyes filled with concern. "Nor for you, dear."
Minerva made a hand motion as if to wave off the notion but her friend pressed forward. "No, Minerva, this has taken a toll on you too. You are as much a part of this school as the entrance hall and the floating candles. You are Hogwarts for us. And we don't care what we have to do for you to keep this place safe."
The staff collectively nodded, agreeing. Their eyes were misty with their deep admiration for their esteemed Headmistress.
Minerva looked around, her eyes mirroring the concern and love she too felt for her colleagues. She closed her eyes for the briefest of moments, forcing the tears back into her eyes.
"I… I thank you. But I have come to realize that the forest is too expansive for me, Percival, Tessa, and Esmerele to guard on our own. I'm sorry to ask you all this, but…."
"You need our help." Filius said strongly.
"Yes," she breathed.
They all sat silently for a moment before her deputy looked up and said, "You're the boss. Tell us what to do."
Minerva covered her mouth with her long fingers and shook her head. "Thank you, thank you."
When she could breathe again, she turned around and summoned her papers. Spreading them on the table, the staff leaned in.
"I'm thinking that a system like the one we had during Harry Potter's first year will work."
Pomona's eyes lit up. "Devil's Snare!"
"And the keys!"
"Your chess set!"
Minerva nodded. "Yes, something like that. I'm thinking that Pomona's skills will prove most helpful because of the natural foliage in the forest. Perhaps if you could set up several places with Devil's Snare and other plants?"
The plump witch smiled. "Sure, I have a lot of right nasty things to hit 'em with!"
"Wonderful! And I'm hoping the others of you can figure something else out as well?"
They all nodded, a few of them already whispering their ideas to the closest ear.
"Fine, then today that is your task. We'll reconvene at midnight tonight and you can discuss your plans.
Xxxxxx
Kingsley struggled to keep his attention on the stack of papers in front of him. For some reason, it felt like everything piled up on his desk the day before he was finally on break.
He couldn't wait to get to Tanzania with his wife and just relax in the beautiful African sun…
But his thoughts were interrupted by three succinct knocks at his door.
Slightly annoyed, "Come in!"
He was shocked, to say the least, to see Minerva McGonagall entering his office.
"Minerva, this is…"
"Unexpected, yes I know. Listen, I know the Ministry closes in about an hour so I'll be quick. I see your workload is about as generous as mine."
Kingsley leaned back and crossed his arms. "Alright, I'm listening."
"All I ask is that you do not interrupt me, you listen to everything I say, and you do what I say without questioning it. Is that understood?"
Kingsley looked like he was going to argue but Minerva pressed on, "IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?"
"Fine."
"Good. Tomorrow, Donal will attack. The other professors and I have already taken a great deal of preventive measures to keep him from reaching the castle. He'll enter through the Forbidden Forest. We have traps set up in there in hopes of capturing him. We've cleared out a good section of woods in the middle for a dueling field if he makes it that far. That's where I'll be waiting for him.
Your part in all of this is quite simple- if the falls prey to the lures we have set up, then he is yours to take back in custody. However, if he makes it to the dueling ring, then he is mine and mine alone. I want your sworn word that if I kill him in battle, that I will not be sent to Azkaban or forced to resign from my position at Hogwarts. During the battle, you will be watching on the outskirts of the ring so that in the event I die, you can capture him. The entire zone has blocked out apparation, but I have portkeys on a few trees which I've listed here."
She placed a piece of parchment on his desk.
Kingsley looked somewhere in between confused and relieved. "That's it?" He asked.
"That's it."
He slowly stood up and circled his desk and faced Minerva, his deep brown eyes locking into her emerald. "And you promise there is nothing you've left out?"
She held her steely gaze. "Nothing."
With that, they shook hands, a green and gold vine intertwining their hands.
"See you tomorrow, Minerva."
"Until then."
He went to tell her, "Be careful," but she was already gone.
Xxxxxxxxx
"No, no, put that there. Don't touch it! Just leave it! Come on!"
The young Defense Against the Dark Arts professor gingerly stepped away from the angry Devil's Snare, then ran back to the fifty meter safety line.
With a flick of her battered wand, Pomona enlarged the plant to the size of a small cottage.
The plant wrapped itself around the neighboring trees, taking hold to its new location.
"That shoul' do it!" She exclaimed cheerfully. "Let's go check on the others."
About twenty feet off, Percival was working on a pool of acid. The soil was slightly basic, making his work a little easier. "How ya doing there Perc?" She called.
He glanced up from his work. "Fine, I should be done in a moment."
"Good. Tell me something, how are you and Minerva related?"
Percival's face was a mask of composure, studied, learned- habit. "My mother was her grandmother's second cousin's daughter."
"I probably was better off not asking. What about the others?"
"Tessa is her grandfather's brother's wife's niece. Esmerele is her only close relation, Minerva is her aunt."
"Never knew she had a sister."
"She died a long time ago."
"Heard from the others? It's getting late ya know."
Percival looked up at the sky. Sure enough, the stars were making an appearance and the moon had started its steady climb to the middle of the sky. "I think they're finishing up, if they already haven't. Shall we head back to the castle?"
She nodded. "Come on Albert, let's go."
The small professor and Percival followed Pomona through the dense woods.
"How are you feeling about tomorrow?" she asked them.
Albert shrugged. "I've been told to stay with the students."
"Perc?"
"I trust Minerva."
"Aye, but how do you feel about Donal?"
"I feel nothing but contempt. I hope he gets what he deserves."
Xxxxxxxx
Donal appeared in a remote patch of woods about five miles off from Hogsmeade. He glanced up at the North Star and made his way towards the village.
He'd attack in the evening. Maybe then they'd be tired from waiting all day.
That was his only plan. He figured they'd have traps and such set. Those he could avoid on the spot. He didn't have a dueling plan. He didn't have a set of tricks he could use against the witch.
Blind instinct and rage. That's all he would rely on.
After walking a good hour, he made a small tent and mattress and lay down.
His mind wandered back to one of the nights he had spent with Minerva.
He walked into the dimly lit room to find Minerva sitting naked on her bed, propped up against the headboard and reading a book.
Leaning against the doorframe, he let his dark eyes wander over her perfect figure. Her long, sexy legs. Her flat, muscular stomach. Those firm breasts. Her collarbones. Her beautiful, long, elegant fingers. Her alabaster skin not yet marred by war.
"How long are you going to stand there?" She asked coyly, her accent sending a hot current straight to his cock.
"As long as I want to."
She placed her book on the small table beside her bed and stretched, giving him a wonderful view of her body. She ran her hands through her black tresses.
"How long can we keep this up?" She questioned, her emerald eyes darkening as he moved to unbutton his shirt.
"Keep what up?"
"This affair."
"Is that all it is, McGonagall?"
She scoffed and rolled over, draping her arm across her prominent hip. "Yes. That's it."
"You don't want anything more?" He asked.
"No."
He was surprised by the conviction in her voice. She was far more man than she was woman. It was clear who was in charge.
Clearer still when she stood up, stark naked, her hairless body gliding in front of his.
Her fingers worked against his buttons and his zippers. His shirt was discarded; his pants were pulled down around his ankles. She pressed the tips of her fingers against his muscular chest and pushed him down on the bed. A small flick of her wrist indicated she wanted him to move up.
He laid his head against the pillows as he felt bindings grab his wrists, attaching him securely against the headboard.
His dick was hard and throbbing, aching to be touched.
But Minerva was calculating in her movements, tracing those delicate patterns on his chest, stomach, just missing his member as she ran them down his thigh.
Catlike, she climbed on top of his body, her arms beside his chest, her legs on either side of him, her moist sex just barely touching his leaking head.
She leaned down and ran her tongue down his neck, biting hard against the pulse point. He bit back a moan as she made her way back up to his lips. When they met, she thrust her tongue inside of him. These were his favorite kisses. Wet, hot, passionate, open.
Her teeth pulled on his bottom lip, making him arch his hips involuntarily. But the small movement made Minerva pull away.
"Oh god, Min…"
He started to protest the loss of contact when he felt her wet heat envelop his cock.
Throwing his head back he moaned gutturally as she sighed with fulfillment.
But the stillness was too much, and she began raising herself up, thrusting her hips, then plunging back down onto him.
He couldn't help himself; he started thrusting in time with her rhythm. Within only a moment, it was obvious this was going to be a quick fuck.
Minerva's arms grabbed his shoulders and released his bindings. His large hands immediately sought her hips and he forced her down even harder against him.
She gave a small scream as she felt him hit her deep inside, making her stomach clench and her walls tighten.
Her nails dug in as their speed increased. Their moans became more pronounced as the harsh slapping of their bodies filled the room.
Harder. Faster. Meaner.
Minerva bit her lip and felt the blood rise inside her mouth as his cock rammed her again and again.
Donal felt himself losing control as his thrusts seemed to take on a mind of his own. Erratic, needy…
He leaned up and captured Minerva's breast in his mouth, biting down on the erect nub, making the woman scream out.
A few more thrusts, and she felt herself growing hot and tight. Her walls began to give, and she felt her orgasm rush over her and she screamed out breathily, her head thrown back in ecstasy.
Her moans and movements threw him over, and with one last deep thrust, he came inside her.
She rolled off and he closed his eyes, already feeling his member grow lax with his release.
"Not so fast," she whispered. And he felt himself grow hard all over again when she flipped them over and opened her legs and guided his mouth down to her glistening, swollen center….
He shook his head. He and Minerva had fucked. Plain and simple. It hadn't been anything more. Their encounters were calculated, planned, and largely devoid of any emotions.
Very unlike his times with Rolanda.
"Donal," she purred, his fingers raked her taught body. Years of quidditch had been good to her, and her muscles rippled with each loving stoke.
He reached up and kissed her lips, her cheek, moving down her neck to suckle on her collarbone. Beneath him, her hips arched up, desperate for more contact.
He obliged, snaking his hand between them to gently fondle her breasts before slipping them between her wet folds, urging her clit out and making circles around her erect pearl.
"Oh, please, Donal, please, I need you," she cried, her golden eyes fluttering shut with his ministrations.
He positioned himself at her entranced and was surprised when he felt her grab him and force him inside. They both moaned at the fulfillment and they sighed, "I love you,"
With a small laugh, he kissed her again and began moving in and out, slowly, in rhythm with their lips. Her legs wrapped around him as her nails raked through his hair.
He picked up speed, making her whimper and moan for more.
Faster, and his hand continued to torture her sensitive clit.
"Ro, Rolanda look at me," he whispered.
Her eyes snapped up, taking his breath away, and as his thrusts hit her spot deep inside, the golden went away as she threw her head back and cried out with release.
He took her through her orgasm, finally finding his own release just as she calmed down.
He rolled off of her and she snuggled into his side, her arm wrapping around his chest and her leg intertwining with his.
Different women. Different indeed. But they had become friends. He had killed Rolanda Hooch. Now it was time to kill Minerva.
And as his mind drifted away into sleep, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of watching those emerald eyes grow dull with death.
Xxxxxxx
Minerva sat at the head of the table silently as she went over the traps the staff had laid. She was impressed. Her head nodded as she placed the parchment back on the table.
"Good work. I'm very pleased."
A collective sigh of relief went up around the room.
"Tomorrow morning the house elves will patrol the outskirts of the Forest. They will apparate here and alert me when they see Donal coming, and once me and my family are in place, then they will find you. Stay at least 200 meters behind the dueling ring. I've alerted Kingsley and he'll be closer waiting. You're the third line of human defense."
The staff nodded grimly.
"This is it, I suppose. Do or die."
"You will not die, Minerva!" Filius said with deep concern.
"It is a possibility I must face, as must you. Be ready to step into my place if anything goes astray. Promise me that. Do not mourn me like you did Albus. You all will be fine."
"Minerva, we'll be there. You'll beat him." Pomona said with a false bravado.
The Headmistress gave a sad smile. "One can only hope. Thank you all. I suggest you get some sleep."
No one wanted to leave the company of their colleagues.
Minerva was the first to rise out of her chair and leave, her eyes began blurring over with unshed tears. The last thing she saw was a mass of faces showing nothing but pure love and support for their Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Her heart ached because she knew it was her own fault that their lives were in danger. And she felt so guilty for asking them to help.
But she couldn't look back now. That time was done.
Now… now was her time.
Now was her battle.
Now was her revenge.
Now was her chance for victory.
Xxxxxxx
A/N: Not too many chapters left now!