Disclaimer: I do not own anything dealing with Harry Potter. I so wish that I did, but I don't.

A/N: I am so happy with all of the reviews I've received from you guys. Thanks so very much and I will try to please you guys with this chapter. I don't know if I'll be able to pull it off, but I will most certainly try my very hardest. This will, after all, be a rather difficult chapter to work with. I hope you like it. Read long and prosper.

Chapter Eighteen: It's All Coming Back To Me Now…

Minerva stared up at the high window and sighed. She had managed to arrive at Azkaban without being seen. She thanked her lucky stars that no one knew of her presence here. What she was about to do would be hard enough without having to explain anything. She looked left and right, biting her bottom lip. This was a lot more difficult than she had originally thought. She looked back up at the window.

Turning around, she began walking away. This was madness, that's what it was. How could she have thought for one second that this would work? Honestly, this was nuts! No, it was beyond nuts, it was downright ludicrous. There was no way this could work. After all, who ever heard of two people spending a few passionate hours in a prison cell? No one! That's who.

She had only gone back five feet or so when she stopped, closed her eyes, and sighed. No, she would not back out of what she had originally intended on doing. She would not back out now. Turning around, she stared at the one thing separating her from her memory; the one thing which stood between her and Albus… the tall, stone, cold wall of Azkaban. Sighing again, she looked around for any means to get up there, and she smiled when she saw a huge tree. If she could just get up to that one branch, she could follow it all the way to the window and get through there. She hoped. By the looks of that window, she was not so sure she could squeeze through them. Well, she would simply have to try. She transformed into her animagus form and climbed up the tree.

Ooooooooooo

There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed
If I just listened to it
Right outside the window

Albus was lying in his cot, feeling more alone and cold than he had in a very long time. He had no idea what he was to do. For the first time since he could remember, he felt defenseless and weak. He hated that feeling. He hadn't felt that was in decades. So he just laid there upon his cot and stared up at the ceiling, the cold feeling spreading through his body. Sighing, he rolled over and onto his side, thinking that this must have been the worst thing to ever happen to him.

There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust
And I just knew my eyes were
Drying up forever

It seemed to him that he had wasted too much time crying and not enough time working on the problem at hand. How was he to get out of Azkaban and back to Hogwarts, where he could spend what energy he had remaining in finding Lenora's killer? His eyes were all but dried up from the hours he spent crying, and he resolved then and there that he would no longer waste his time. It wasn't helping a thing, and he knew it. He would await the trial date, hope that he was released, and if he wasn't… Well, he would cross that bridge should the need arise. He prepared himself to sleep when he heard a small mew coming from above. At first, he thought he was hearing things. But when he heard it again, he looked up and saw a grey tabby cat in the window.

"Minerva?" he asked, his brow knit. He stood, but even to his full height, he couldn't reach the window. He stood on his cot and was saddened when his hands fell several inches below the edge of the window. But he didn't have to wait long before the tabby cat jumped into his hands. He let out a toothy grin. "Could that be you, my Minerva?" he asked. With another mew, the cat transformed, and in his hands he held the woman he'd wanted to see. He chuckled. "I am glad you can still transform."

"I'm surprised I fit through those bars," she chuckled as she looked back up at the window. "It was horrible climbing that tree, but I just had to see you." Albus' eyes grew frightened again.

"Minerva, you shouldn't be here," he said, looking towards his door. He looked back at her. "Someone might find out you are here."

"What's the worst they can do, Albus? Stick me in here as well? At least then I would be with you."

"Minerva, you don't know what you are saying. You are needed outside of Azkaban. I need you to find Lenora's killer. You are worth more out of prison than you are in."

"I'm not much use without my memory, Albus," she breathed. A frown was now etched upon her lips and Albus regretted that he was the one who had put it there. There was a slight pause before she continued. "Look, Albus, I want to find her murderer just as much as you do. And I think I might have a lead. But without my memory, that lead is not much use." Albus grabbed her by the arms.

"You say you think you might have a lead?" She nodded. "What is it?" She cast her eyes downward.

"I began reading one of my journal entries. It was the last one I had inputted and in it, I mention seeing Roberta Kingston in Hogsmeade." Albus frowned.

"When was this?" he asked. She bit her bottom lip.

"I am not sure," she admitted bitterly. "It was not yet dated, and it was not finished." He frowned.

"Not finished?" he asked. She shrugged.

"It seems as though something happened which caused me to stop mid-sentence." Albus sighed.

"Well, what did you write in it?" Minerva told him all that she knew. He, too, was flabbergasted when he heard that Roberta had been in Hogsmeade when she was supposed to be in America with Lenora. Lenora. He bit back a small moan of agony when he remembered what had happened to her. He looked down at Minerva, and it was clear by the look upon her face that she, too, was disappointed by this unfinished journal entry. He pulled her into a warm embrace.

"It is okay, Minerva," he said. "We'll figure this out. I promise." She relaxed into his embrace. She enjoyed the moments when he was holding her. She hesitated when she remembered why she had gone to Azkaban in the first place. She pulled back enough so she could look into his eyes.

"Albus, there is something else which I must tell you," she said. He looked down. It was clear to see that there was something within her eyes which was troubling her terribly. There was also something there which he could not quite pinpoint. Was it hope? Was it fear? Perhaps it was a bit of both.

"What is it, Tabby?" he asked, cupping her cheek with his hand. She bit her bottom lip as she once again cast her eyes downward.

"It is kind of awkward for me to say," she said honestly.

"Just tell me, Tabby," he said. When she hesitated, he lifted her chin so she was looking in her eyes. "Are you afraid I might be offended?" She nodded. "Even a little angry?" Once again, she nodded. He smiled. "Do not think so, Minerva. Just ask me and I shall not be angry or offended." She looked him straight in the eyes.

"I don't think you should make promises you cannot keep," she said, still a little nervous.

"Minerva, do not hedge around the situation," he said. He voice was soft, yet stern. She sighed.

"I want my memory back, Albus," she said. "And there is only one way we know of." She watched Albus' face as realization dawned on him. This was the first time in a long time he had been stunned into silence.

"Oh, Minerva…" He choked on the rest of his words.

"Look, Albus, I will fully understand if you do not wish to risk it," she said. "I'm sure the thought of it, either inside or outside of prison, is disgusting to you, but…" He stopped her.

"No, Minerva, do not think that," he said, caressing her cheek. "I could never be disgusted by you. I would love nothing more than to be with you. I would never think of you as anything close to disgusting." He sighed. "It's just that…I don't know if this is the proper place."

"Albus," frowned Minerva, tears welling up again in her eyes. Why did she have to be so bloody emotional? "I realize this may not be the ideal place for what I am suggesting, but I fear that we may not get another chance. Please, Albus," she pleaded. It pained him to see her so distressed. He sighed and pulled her into another hug.

"I'm sorry, Tabby," he breathed. "I didn't mean to stress you even more than you already are. I can see this wasn't easy for you. I don't know anyone who could handle this whole situation as well with half your class and sophistication." He rubbed her back in a soothing manner.

I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made

"Please, Albus," she pleaded. "Don't make me return to Hogwarts now. I need you, and I need my memory back as well. A lot is at stake here, Albus. My entire life is at stake." She pulled back and looked at him and whispered, "Albus, please give me my life back." Albus could feel his heart breaking as he heard her plea. He leaned in until his lips were barely an inch apart.

"Alright, Minerva," he whispered. His breath was warm and sweet against her lips, and she shivered slightly. "I will do my best."

"That's all I ask," was Minerva's mumbled reply before he kissed her. The kiss was a passionate one. Though it might be cliché, it would be safe to say that this kiss stole her breath away. She couldn't breathe. Every moment of the kiss was pure bliss; moments in heaven.

But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me
When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe but
It's all coming back to me

Albus picked her up and set her upon the cot. This was crazy, he knew. He could feel it deep down. But right, now, he did not care that it was crazy. All that he was aware of was Minerva and the fact that she was here, with him, and no one else. Normally, he would have never allowed her to be here with him. Something as precious as what they were about to do shouldn't be wasted in a prison cell in Azkaban. But these were not normal circumstances, and she needed him now more than ever. She needed him to be there for her, and by Jove he would be.

As he laid her down, he looked at her face, giving her one last chance to back out of it. He didn't want her to be disappointed should she not get her memory back. As if sensing what he was trying to convey, she silently nodded and closed her eyes. He smiled and released a breath he hadn't remembered holding. Slowly lowering himself, he captured her lips once again.

Just as he did so, a flash of a memory came to her. It was instantaneous, but it said so much. She had been eight, and she was at a family gathering. There had been drinking, dancing, and feasting, and she had been having such a great time. Albus broke the kiss and she gasped.

"Memory?" he asked hopefully. She nodded before she pulled him down for another kiss. This was promising. Very promising, indeed. If this kept up, she might have her memory back in no time. He caressed her hair within his hands and enjoyed the silky feel of it within his fingers.

Once again, Minerva received a flash of a memory, though this one was not so happy. She saw herself running down a hall, tears falling from her face. She remembered that day well. That had been the day when Albus had told her that her parents had been killed by Grindlewald. Her heart stopped. She knew who Grindlewald. Well, who he was. This was most definitely the best thing that she could think of. Her memory was coming back and if things continued this way, then she would have her memory back in no time.

It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now
There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light

By the time Albus had removed both his and her clothes, Minerva had had a grand total of three memories. He kissed her along her jaw line and she began to remember more things, though now they were not coming to her in images. Slowly but surely, things began to come back to her, seeping into her memory. Although they no longer came in flashes, she knew they were there. She began to remember random members of the Order, such as Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, and Kingsly Shacklebolt. She had memories of poking fun at Severus whenever they attended a Slytherin and Gryffindor Quidditch match. She may not know exactly what Slytherins or Gryffindors were, but she knew who she rooted for and who he rooted for.

She remembered some of the fun she had had with Pomona, Poppy, and Rolanda in their school years. She remembered her bi-weekly chess matches with Albus. Oh, Albus. He was her dearest and oldest friend, and she loved him. The memories of him brought her back to the present. Presently, he was kissing her neck, and she was most certainly enjoying it. Her hands were entwined in his hair and it was getting harder and harder for her to think coherently.


There were things I'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than any laws allow
Baby, Baby
If I kiss you like this
And if you whisper like that
It was lost long ago
But it's all coming back to me
If you want me like this
And if you need me like that
It was dead long ago
But it's all coming back to me
It's so hard to resist
And it's all coming back to me
I can barely recall
But it's all coming back to me now

"Albus," she whispered. He looked up at her, afraid that she had changed her mind.

"What is wrong, Tabby?" he asked. She looked at him, somewhat startled.

"Nothing," she whispered, shaking her head.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "You do not wish to turn back?" He held his breath, scared at her answer. She shook her head from left to right.

"No," she said. "Don't be silly." She rested her hand upon his cheek as he let out the breath he had been holding. "I want nothing more. Not just because of my memory which is now coming back with every second, but because I love you. Yes, I love you more than you know." Albus smiled.

"Good," he said. "I was hoping you'd say that." With that, he captured her lips once more. She tasted like mint while she was reminded of hot chocolate and something extremely lemony in taste. What was that? She smiled when she thought of sherbet lemons. Now she really did remember that.

But you were history with the slamming of the door
And I made myself so strong again somehow
And I never wasted any of my time on you since then
But if you touch me like this
And if you kiss me like that
It was so long ago
But it's all coming back to me
If you touch me like this
And if I kiss you like that
It was gone with the wind
But it's all coming back to me
It's all coming back, it's all coming back to me now
There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things we'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than all your laws allow
Baby, Baby, Baby

With each stroke, each kiss, and each soft caress, Minerva remembered more and more of her life. She remembered faces, names, good times, better times, bad times, worse times, and everything in between. She remembered things she'd said, things she'd done, places she'd been… She was getting her life back, and she was happier than she had been in a long time. Every now and then, when one of her memories did come in the form of a flashback, there would be a blinding light as soon as it started and then right when it ended. She didn't know if that light was absolutely necessary, but she decided that it did not matter. As long as she got her memory back, and as long as she, as Poppy put it, had "fun doing so", it did not matter.

Albus was happy he was the one Minerva had allowed to be with her on this occasion. He loved her, and the fact that he was the one giving her memory back to her made his heart soar. Every second in her arms was pure bliss, and he wouldn't trade this night for anything in the world. And if they were caught, Heaven forbid, he would still not trade this night for anything… even his freedom. His only regret was that they should be forced to do something as special as this in Azkaban. It seemed to Albus as though the fates had a rotten sense of humor.

When you touch me like this
And when you hold me like that
It was gone with the wind
But it's all coming back to me
When you see me like this
And when I see you like that
Then we see what we want to see
All coming back to me
The flesh and the fantasies
All coming back to me
I can barely recall
But it's all coming back to me now

The passion which fused between the two lovers threatened to set them both on fire. It was truly amazing, as it would be later speculated, that the bare, scratchy blankets upon which they were lying had not spontaneously combusted. And as they brought their passion to a close, Minerva discovered that she now had all her memories. Though, her memories were not exactly foremost on her mind. Instead, she was thinking of the wonderful man who had helped her regain her memory. She was thinking of the man who was now lying upon the cot next to her. Reveling within her newfound knowledge, or rather the memory she had now regained, she pulled out her wand to expand the size of the cot. He looked at her and smiled.

"So I take it that you remember everything now?" he asked. She smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Albus, I have," she replied, kissing him. She then pillowed her head upon his shoulder. He breathed, and in that small action, she could tell something was wrong. Now that she remembered him, she remembered all of his quirks and actions. Each time he breathed the way he just had, there was something upon his mind. She looked up at him and could tell that she was right. There was something in his eyes which said that something was bothering him.

"Albus, what is wrong?" she asked. He smiled.

"Always one to see right through me, aren't you, my dear?" He chuckled and then sighed when he saw that she would not let him just laugh it away. He lifted her chin so that he was looking in her eyes. "My dear, I fear that, now that you remember everything, you may feel either disgusted with what we just did or you may regret it. I don't think I could afford to lose you when I've only just found you." She wrapped her arms around him and held him close, never taking her eyes away from his own.

"I do not, for one second, regret what we have just shared. I meant what I said before. I love you with all my heart, and even though we had to spend our first time together here, in Azkaban, I would never take it back. I love you with all my heart and I always shall. Right up until the day I die. I shall never, never stop loving you." Albus chuckled as he leaned in to rub his nose with hers.

"I thought Gryffindors never said never," he teased her. This had been something she had said a long time ago, when she was a student of his. Minerva smiled as that memory, too, passed through her mind.

"Well, there is a loophole," she said. "I can say it if I mean it enough to say it twice." He leaned into her ear.

"Then I shall love you always always," he said. Minerva laid there, head on his shoulder, thinking. She was so happy to have her life back, and it seemed almost blasphemy that she should forget those who had been so dear to her heart her entire life. She had forgotten everything, and now she felt absolutely horrible for doing so. But now, she remembered everything. Then, her eyes grew wide. Her journal entry. She remembered why it remained unfinished. She sat up straight, Albus getting up as well. She looked at him.

If you forgive me all this
If I forgive you all that
We forgive and forget
And it's all coming back to me now

It's all coming back to me now

When I touch you like that

It's all coming back to me now

If you do it like this

It's all coming back to me now

And if we…

"Oh, Albus, I am so sorry," she said. He looked at her, confused.

"Sorry for what, my dear?" he asked.

"I remember something about Roberta now. I should have told you, but by the time I knew where you were, we were well into the final battle with Voldemort." She was now shaking. He reached out and held her close.

"My dear, whatever it is, I'm sure it isn't as bad as you think," he said, even though he was scared of what she was about to tell him.

"Oh but it is," she said. "You see, Roberta…" She did not finish her sentence. Outside, voices could be heard. In the distance, Minerva could hear male voices. Her animagus did allow for excellent hearing, after all.

"I tell you Fudge, I distinctly heard noises coming from Albus Dumbledore's cell." It was a voice Minerva could easily recognize as the impassive man at the front desk. There was a lot of grumbling as she looked at Albus, panic on her face. He had heard it too.

"Minerva, you must leave now," he said.

"I can't leave you," she said.

"You must," he said. She nodded and with one last kiss, she used her wand to redress herself, as Albus did the same, and transformed herself into a cat. Licking his hand, Minerva allowed Albus to lift her up to the window, though she still had to jump to reach the last inch or so. No sooner had Minerva jumped from view than the door burst open and three or four men burst into the room. They were confused when they looked around and saw that no one was there in the room with him. He simply stared at them and smiled.

"May I help you?"

Ooooooooooo

Minerva looked back. The sun was just coming up over the horizon, and she was more tired than she had been in a long time. She hated leaving Albus back there in his lonely prison cell. But what she hated even more was that she had knowledge of Roberta that he did not. She had not meant to keep it from him, but she had not had the chance to tell him. Roberta was evil, conniving, cruel… and the reason why Minerva had lost her memory at all.

A/N2: And now, I must leave you all with that terrible cliff-hanger. I would write more, but this chapter is already ten pages long. That's the longest I've ever made one of my chapters in any of my stories. Le Sigh. I cannot believe it. LOL! Well, I hope you guys liked this chapter. Don't kill me. I promise I'll explain all soon. I am also sorry I made you guys wait. I didn't mean to. But aren't you glad that today is exactly two weeks since my last update? If it wasn't, then I would not have updated at all today. Well, thanks for reading thus far. I enjoy all reviews. Flames shall be noted and quickly forgotten, used in the fires of Hell. Read long and prosper. Always Hopeful