A/N: First of all I'd like to thank Shadow Huntress, Saramagician and the rest of people who left a review or added my story to their follows or favourites You are the reason why I keep writing fanfiction, because it's always nice to have a response on ones work (good or bad).

Secondly... well, at this point I have reached all I had thought for this story so I don't know how long it will take before I post a new update. It may be days, it may be weeks... depending on my inspiration... I'll try to concentrate on other stories meanwhile, but if you have any suggestion for this fic I am open to them.

Thanks for reading and being patient with me ^.^

I apologize in advance for the grammar and spelling mistakes you will surely find...

Chapter 4 - What nobody wanted to do

Severus

When I finally accepted that I wasn't going to get any sleep that night, I came out from my bed sheets and walked into the office. I served myself a large glass of firewhiskey and sat on the headmaster's desk. Merlin! It had been months and I wasn't able to call it my desk yet! But this is how I felt it... it would always be Dumbledore's desk and I felt like if I had stole it from him just like I had done with his office, his school and everything else around me except for Minerva's trust and loyalty... no, that would always belong to Albus.
I had a sip of my poison and then rested my back on the armchair with my eyes closed. What was I supposed to do?
When the sunlight began to come in through the large window of the headmaster's office I decided it was time to get dress and face the events of the day.
On my way down to the Main Hall I heard the words professor and punishment being whispered by students of different houses. It's well known how easily rumors are spread around in Hogwarts, that wouldn't be any different. When I reached the top of the main stairs I was joined by the Carrows, who seemed to have decide to become my shadow for the entire year ahead.
"Good morning headmaster," they said.
"Morning," I muttered with no interest in beginning any conversation with the two wizards who had made my new existence in Hogwarts, even worse.
"Are you ready for the announcement?" Alecto asked.
"Have you thought which words to begin with?", Amycus added. I had absolutely no idea of what they were talking about so I looked both of them confused.
"Which announcement?" I wondered.
"You obviously must make an official announcement of professor McGonagall's punishment if we want all the school to watch..."
"About that..." I began, "I don't think..."
"Having last time regrets, Severus?" Amycus asked implying something in her tone that I didn't like, "I don't think the Dark Lord..."
"I don't think an announcement is needed, but if you think so..." I had to correct myself. I had to put an end to that situation soon or I would end up blowing my cover...
We entered the Main Hall together and everybody sat in their place in silence. I looked for Minerva in the professors table concerned about her but she was spreading some butter on her toast as if it was a usual day.
As the Carrows sat down I stood in front of the large table facing the students.

.
Minerva
.
"Now what?" I heard Rolanda say and I raised my eyes to see what was going on. Our new Headmaster was standing in front of the students and beginning to talk.
"Yesterday," he said, "we found the person responsible for the recent attacks to professors Amycus and Alecto Carrow. She confessed and she will be punished in public today at midday in order to serve as an example for all of you..."
"I wonder who the poor girl is..." Pomona whispered next to Rolanda.
"I bet they made her confessed by torturing her..." Hooch added. I couldn't believe they hadn't heard what had happened in our common room last night and I was sorry that they were about to know...
"Students, professors," Severus kept talking, "in a few hours you will witness the punishment of your so belonged professor McGonagall..."
"Minerva!?" Rolanda exclaimed next to me. Fortunately her voice got confused among the loud whispering that started all of a sudden. "Is that true?" she asked.
"He was going to punish one of my children..." I told her and Pomona who was obviously listening.
"So you offered volunteered to be humiliated in front of the entire school?"
"Rolanda, I couldn't let them harm one of the children... not even if they had found the real responsible..."
"This is unbelievable!" Pomona yelled.
"If Dumbledore could see it..."
"Well, Rolanda, Dumbledore is not here to say or do anything so it's up to us to protect our students..." I said.
"Not by receiving their punishments..." she was obviously not understanding at all.

.
Severus

After five long hours, the midday arrived and I was standing between the Carrows for Minerva to come to the courtyard. She came accompanied by her closest friends, who stayed a few steps further as Minerva approached us.
"Professor, your wand, please." Amycus said and Minerva willingly took her wand from her right pocket and handed it to him. "Severus," he said making a gesture to the center of the yard.
"Minerva, please," I said so she would follow me. I walked her to the middle of the square courtyard that was surrounded my students and professors. I don't think all of them were aware of what they were here to see. "Please, Minerva, beg for mercy..." I whispered.
"And act like a coward... never." she said with proud. I sighted understanding there was nothing I could do to convince her.
"I am supposed to give you some instructions," I said, "so you will stand right here in the center, you're aloud to move but you will always have to return to your position... you will receive two lashes for every offence... that makes..." I was talking slowly, trying to make time...
"That makes it six," she said impatiently, "go with your masters before they get upset..."
I didn't reply, it wasn't time for an argument. I returned to the Carrows and took Minerva's wand from Amycus; I would keep it.
"She's ready," I said.
Amycus moved ahead to be in line with Minerva. She was about ten feet from him, giving us her back. Amycus raised his wand threatening and with a fast move, he put it down in a diagonal movement. The force coming out from the wooden stick clashed against Minerva's back tearing up the fabric of her tartan dress and leaving a large red mark on her white skin. I don't think she emitted any sound of complain, but even if she had, it would have been silenced by the children's and professor's cries.
"SAVAGES!" Hooch suddenly shouted coming towards us branding her wand against Amycus; but before she could pronounce any hex she was disarmed by Alecto, who used some spell to force the professor to stay still on her knees besides her.
Amycus seemed to hit harder every time. After four lashes Minerva's blood was dripping down the grass and her legs began to tremble like if they weren't able to stand her weight anymore.
The Carrow brother seemed to ignore that fact and raised his arm once more. Most of the children were covering their eyes or looking somewhere else. Even some professors weren't able to stand that spectacle any more. Pomona was crying out loud some steps behind on Filius arms and Hooch was trying to get free from Alecto's. Minerva wouldn't be able to stand it anymore. Before Amycus could put his wand down again I grabbed his wrist.
"Stop," I said.
"What's the matter now, Severus?", he wondered. Alright, I hadn't thought it very well... I couldn't risk it with the Carrows and put suspicions on me, I needed to be close to the Dark Lord in order to help Potter in his mission; but I couldn't stand there and watch an old friend being tortured doing nothing to help.
"I'll finish the punishment," I said.
"Of course," Amycus said and a smile of satisfaction was draw on his face and his sister's.

.
Minerva
.
The pain was making it hard for me to stay still... I wanted it to be finished the sooner as possible and I couldn't understand why they had stopped. I turned around to know what was going on and I saw no other but Severus taking the place of Amycus. I guess he couldn't resist the temptation of using the situation as an excuse to get back to me all the arguments we had had in the past and I had won. It only showed that all his concern towards me during the late hours had been nothing but an act. I regained my strength and stood still. Two more lashes and it would be over.

.
Severus

When I put my arm down for the second and last time I felt relieved. It was over. I wanted to walk towards Minerva and help her but Amycus rested a hand on my shoulder and said something to me I payed no attention at. Flitwick and Pomfrey were the first to reach her and to prevent her from collapsing to the ground when she fainted. Some Gryffindor students, Hooch and Sprout run to the center of the courtyard as well as I was pulled away by the Carrows.
"Let's go celebrate to my room," Alecto said, "I have a firewhisky bottle I was keeping for a good triumph."
"That's a great idea, sister. Severus, you join us?"
"I rather go back to my duties," I lied as I headed to the opposite direction. As soon as I was alone I apparated into the hospital wing and hided in Poppy's office. A moment later the doors were opened and the nurse and Filius came in carrying Minerva with a spell. She looked asleep. Rolanda and Pomona came in as well but the herbology teacher broke down into tears again and Flitwick and Hooch had to take her outside.
Madam Pomfrey left as well and I took the moment to come out and approach Minerva, who was lying upside down on one of the beds.
"Hello, headmaster," the nurse said coming back with some gauzes and a pot full of hot water.
"I'll leave now," I said, guessing she wouldn't like me around.
"You can stay, I can use some help..." she said. From all the people in the castle, Poppy was the only one who was still treating me like before... I didn't understood why but I really appreciated it. "Unless you have other duties to attend..."
"No, no... what can I do?" I said willing to help in any way.
"We must clean her wounds before I can apply anything so here you go..." she said leaving the gauzes and the water on the nearest table.
In order to make a better job I tore up Minerva's dress completely so her entire back would be discover. There was so much blood that it was impossible to see the actual wounds. I grabbed a gauze, wet it and then began to clean the blood from her skin. I was afraid of hurting her so I made soft little movements, Poppy came back carrying several vials and without saying a word instructed me to be less gentle and more effective.
"I don't want to hurt her..." I said.
"It's too late for that," she pointed, "but don't worry, she's unconscious now so she won't feel anything..."
"Will she be alright?" I wondered.
"Yes, of course," she answered as she looked for something in a cabinet, "Minerva is a strong witch and there are no bones broken..."
"What about the scars?" I asked when the wounds began to be clear at my eye.
"Yes, they'll stay there but those won't be the only ones..." after Poppy said that I realized there were marks of older wounds under her neck and at one side of her back, and there might be more on those parts of her body that were still covered, "you don't go through a war without getting any scar..." the nurse said coming back with a tray carrying various medical instruments. "It could have been worse..." she said in a tone that made me understand she was trying to comfort me.
"Excuse me?" I asked not understanding what she was implying.
"Don't worry, I'll keep it a secret if you want, but I noticed..."
"Noticed what?" I was confused.
"That your lashes were more gentle than professor Carrow's... you were trying not to harm her..." she said, and at that right moment the doors were opened and before I could turn around to see who was it, I heard her voice.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Hooch yelled, "What is he doing here?!" she demanded to her friend. I turned around with my hands covered in Minerva's blood and tried to say something but Rolanda was too upset, "you did this to her, you traitor!" she took out her wand and I couldn't reach mine but somehow a protective shield was created between us before Rolanda's spell reached me.
"Rolanda Hooch, you know I don't allow violence in the hospital wing so I ask you to leave," Poppy said branding her wand against her own friend.
"It's alright," I said, "I'll leave."

TO BE CONTINUED...