Chapter Five
The halls of Hogwarts were quiet as they landed in the memory. Professor Dumbledore was accompanied by Professor Dippet as they walked out of the school. They were too distracted to notice the small tabby cat that was following them. As they reached the gates Dippet said to Albus "Good luck and be careful. I'd hate to have to find a new teacher at this point in term."
"Of course Armando, you know I'm only doing this because I have to."
"Yes I know. You are probably the only wizard who would manage to survive defeating" he faded off.
"Yes well of course." Albus broke the awkward silence. "I'll send you an owl before I return." He turned to apparate and just before he vanished he felt something jump onto his leg. As he reappeared far away from Hogwarts he pointed his wand at it and when he saw the cat he muttered to himself "Just a cat. Merlin I'm jumpy tonight." He glanced at the cat for a moment as if it were familiar and the moved muttering to himself again.
"You know I resent that. I'm not just a cat." came the familiar, this time pouting, voice of Minerva from behind them.
"Minerva!" he looked angry and shocked. "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked going the same colour as Harry had seen Uncle Vernon go on several occasions.
"I told you I would show after our third chess game and as you weren't there I decided to come to you. So it really is your own fault." She looked offended at his tone of voice.
"Do you have any idea what I'm here to do?" he hissed.
"Yes I do."
"Oh really?" he sounded incredulous.
"Yes. You're here to defeat Grindelwald." She said calmly, looking him in the eye.
"You're going back to Hogwarts." He was no longer shocked, just angry and the look on his face would have killed.
"No I'm not." She was completely unfazed by his appearance.
"Do you have any idea of the horrors of war? It is not going to be pretty." He said forcefully, trying not to shout and give away their location. She looked away for a moment and when she looked back at him her eyes were hard.
"You remember my parents don't you?" she softly asked.
"I met them once." he was obviously thrown by this question.
"Well I got a letter this morning from the ministry telling me that they were killed. They were in the resistance with you and I'm not going to let them die in vain." She hesitated for a minute and continued in a quiet voice "And I'm not having something happen to you if I can help it."
He looked at her in shock gazing at her like he had never seen her before. "Minerva, I" he was at a loss for words.
"Yes, well." she looked away with a tear in her eye.
He stepped closer to her and turned her face gently towards him with a finger under her chin and looked her in the eye. "And I can't let anything happen to you." They stared into each others eyes for a long moment and in the pale light of the moon their emotions for each other were laid bare for all to see.
"I'm still not going." she said eventually, breaking the moment.
"Please" he was begging her with his eyes.
"No! I'm not leaving you on your own." She was defiant, her eyes blazing and her head up high.
"I won't be own my own. I'm meeting members of the resistance."
"Well then you could use an extra hand!"
"Minerva. Please" he begged.
"No Albus. I'm coming with you." She looked into his eyes and refused to back down.
Their staring contest was only broken when a camouflaged wizard appeared out of nowhere. "Could you be any more obvious about your position?" he whispered harshly. He stared at Minerva "Who is this? I thought you were coming on your own." he asked in the same harsh tone.
"Yes well there has been a change in plans." he continued to stare at her "this is Minerva McGonagall" Albus said "she will be helping us." he added resignedly.
"She is just a child."
"She is just a good a fighter as many in the resistance and has a good head on her shoulders. She is also Edward and Lucia's daughter." The wizard's face lost some of its harsh edge.
"I'm sorry. They were good people."
She nodded in recognition of the remark and asked him "Where are we headed?"
He looked between them for a moment and shook his head. "Follow me."
The road they followed was filled with holes and the minimal light from their guide's wand was barely enough for them to avoid tripping up. They eventually walked into the camp where they were examined closely by the guards. The mood of the camp was one of exhaustion but quiet jubilation as if they knew it would be soon be over. Albus was greeted like a hero when he was spotted and Minerva was caught up in the crowd of people greeting him.
Eventually the crowd dispersed as they went back to their duties. Questions were asked about Minerva and Albus had to spend some time explaining to the other leaders about who Minerva was and what she could do. He also discretely altered her robes so they no longer had the school emblem on them as they didn't want the members to know just how young she was. Slowly the news filtered through the camp who she was and she noticed that the curious stares grew less as the night went on.
The memory blurred again and this time it was morning and Albus and several members were deep in discussion about tactics. Minerva sat in on the meeting and was mostly silent except for a few quiet comments. Nevertheless the other members looked at her with a bit more respect by the time they had decided on a plan. She grabbed Albus and pulled him aside after they had finished and asked him in a soft voice. "Do you have any means of contact with Professor Dippet?"
"We have an owl in the camp."
She raised an eyebrow. "Won't that give away our position?"
He smiled slightly. "No. I've spelled this one to avoid detection. It is the owl I used myself to contact the resistance."
"Oh right." she looked thoughtful.
He laughed at her and said "I'll show you the spell later."
She blushed. "How could you tell?"
"You have that look on your face that's says your thinking about something and I know you." She smiled and looked away from him as she became more embarrassed. "Could I use it I need to send two letters?"
"Two?"
"Yes both to Hogwarts."
"Oh right. Your little group."
"You don't have to sound so patronising when you say that. They happen to be very capable of kicking up a fuss which is the last thing you need at the moment if the plan is to go successfully." She gave him a slight glare and continued. "Of course you could always let them make a fuss and I'm sure Grindelwald will think you've run off with me and so be totally unprepared for you to turn up and fight him."
He once again looked speechless. However he quickly regained it and exclaimed "Minerva!" He coloured at her insinuations of the thoughts of others about their relationship.
She just looked at him. "For someone so smart you seem to be slow in the uptake of the situations you get yourself into."
"You make it sound as if this is just my fault."
She smirked at him. "Yes well it is. Now can I use the owl?"
"Of course."
"Thank you." she turned away but he called after her.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound patronising." He said going back to their original conversation. She looked back at him as he continued "but you always seem to be attached at the hip and I never know what to call you."
"We'll were almost like sisters." He snorted and she continued on her way to write the letters.
The memory blurred again and this time the pair were arguing in whispers "Albus I can patrol with anybody, you need to rest."
"No Minerva!" he said particularly fiercely. "I m not letting anything happen to you."
She didn't argue back, just looked into his eyes for a long moment. "All right then" she conceded "but you need to sleep when we finish."
"I'll be fine." He answered shortly. She stared at him with an angry look in her eye. "What?" he sounded exasperated.
"You just said that you don't want anything to happen to me and when I try to express something similar you just ignore it!" her voice was rising and she was getting more indignant by the moment. He was saved by answering by a young wizard who asked them "Are you two going to patrol or finish your lovers tiff?" They both blushed and the wizard laughed. Minerva recovered first and dragged Albus away from the camp.
They were patrolling about a mile from the camp and in the pink light of the dusk everything seemed beautiful. Minerva was looking around and Albus was just as alert when he asked "Why don't you patrol in your animagus form? You might notice something I would miss." Her face lit up as he said it. "It would give us an advantage and I want to see how your transformation is."
"Okay" she smiled widely and within a second there was a small grey tabby cat peering up at him. He was grinning from ear to ear and he said "excellent" in a delighted tone, all trace of weariness gone. The cat moved away and meowed before running into the undergrowth.
Albus followed and their patrol went by unremarkably until he saw Minerva transform out of her cat form. She was staring at a field littered with dead bodies and there was a look of horror on her face as she slowly took in the tortured landscape. He closed his eyes briefly at the sight and rushed towards her. He put his arms around her and held her tightly as she stood in shock still staring at the sight. She slowly turned around to face him as she let the sight sink in. She buried her head into his robes and asked, muffled, "This is what the muggles do each other?" His hands moved slowly up and down her back to reassure her as he answered with sadness in his voice "Yes."
"How are we any better?" she asked. He looked once again speechless this time form the sight and the question. "What do you mean?" he asked in a hoarse voice. She looked up at him and her eyes were brimming with unshed tears "So many purebloods say they are better than muggles but how is anyone magical or pureblood better if we can let this happen and claim that the slaughter of anyone including muggles isn't any of our business" she said it all in a rush and once she finished she looked lost for words. His hands stopped moving along her back to catch her chin and make her look at him instead.
"That's why we're here: to stop this if we can and do whatever needs doing. Don't write off the entire magical world just because of a small prejudiced portion of our society." He smiled gently at her and she sniffed and conceded "I suppose." He held her gently and they enjoyed the silence for a moment. She moved slowly out of his arms, rubbed the tears that had started spilling away and looked away from him. "I suppose we better get back to patrolling." He sighed and gave her shoulder a quick squeeze "Come on then." He gently steered her towards the rest of their route using his hand at the small of her back and neither of them said anything when he left it there for the rest of their patrol.
The memory blurred again and the trio found themselves in a field watching the resistance members slowly move out in the total darkness of just before dawn. They made their way to Grindelwald's camp following the scouts who showed everyone the way to avoid all the traps and killing fields of the war. Tension was filling the air and everyone was quiet. A few select people went ahead and when the all clear was given the plan was put into action. The group split up and the trio found themselves watching Albus and Minerva make their way into the camp. They watched as Minerva distracted the guards with Albus attacking them and Minerva then joining in the fighting.
The day got lighter as the fighting went on and as the sun was finishing rising they broke through to the inner sanctum of Grindelwald. They both showed signs of fighting with their robes dirty and small scrapes on their faces. There was silence in the room with the only sound being the fighting between the two forces outside. The atmosphere in the room as the two looked at each other was almost electric and they saw Minerva shiver as she faced the man who had ordered her parents killed.
Albus never noticed her reaction as all his attention was focused on his opponent and they began to move slowly like two animals circling each other. This was no desperate fight between two enemies; it was a duel between two opponents who were each honourable in their own way. They never saw who threw the first curse as both moved so fast but they suspected it was Grindelwald as it was totally outwith Albus's nature to start a fight even if he knew he had to.
Harry looked on in awe as Albus revealed fighting talents far more impressive than Harry had seen when he had fought Voldemort in the Department of Mysteries nearly two years ago. They watched as Grindelwald started using Unforgivable curses. Albus managed to deflect the Cruciatus curses that were sent his way and reciprocated with several disarming spells. Grindelwald shielded himself behind a shield and a large wooden chair and Minerva joined in the fighting as she stunned one of the minions that was creeping behind Albus, ready to kill him.
Albus moved around quickly to get in a position where he could see what happened and keep an eye on Grindelwald at the same time. When he saw what was happening he paled slightly and Grindelwald smirked as he saw the look of fear pass over Albus's face. He took advantage of Albus brief moment of weakness and quickly aimed a Cruciatus curse at her. This all happened in a split second and the curse caught her unawares as she was turning back to their fight.
She started screaming in agony and the trio were horrified for although they had heard the screams of people being tortured throughout the last year, they still never got used to them. Their feeling of horror grew when they saw Albus abandon the fight and, with a wild look in his eyes, rushed over to Minerva's side. He got there just as she stopped screaming and he turned back round to Grindelwald who was laughing manically. Albus's only response was to start firing more spells at him. The laughter soon stopped when Albus, who was using steadily darker curses, shattered one of his wrists. Grindelwald replied by casting the Imperius curse at Minerva who was just getting to her feet again although she looked very unsteady. They saw the look of horror in Albus's face as she slowly moved towards him and her wand moved jerkily up wards till it was pointing at him. They could see her fighting the curse but it wasn't until she looked Albus in the eye and saw the love for her shining from them that she managed to win. "Stupid girl" came Grindelwald's angry shout as he started aiming curses at her. She managed to duck most of them, occasionally crying out and she gave Albus the distraction he needed to stun Grindelwald. She rushed over to him and he quickly hugged her before looking her over. "We need to get you to a healer."
"Albus I'll be alright" she said, her voice hoarse. He looked at her tears forming in his eyes "It's my fault. I should have sent you back to Hogwarts." His voice almost broke on the last words.
"And I didn't let you remember? Besides, you needed someone to watch your back." she said softly, gently wiping away the tears that had started to fall down onto his cheek. His voice was soft when he replied "You certainly did that"
He gave her a slow smile and she grinned back at him. They looked into each others eyes and Albus opened his mouth to say something. However he was interrupted by Minerva who yelled "Expelliarmus" and they saw the minion that Minerva had stunned had regained consciousness and was wakening Grindelwald. His wand went flying but it wasn't in time and Grindelwald jumped up and aimed his wand at Minerva.
They saw a fury in Albus's eyes as Grindelwald cast the killing curse at Minerva. The trio yelled themselves hoarse at Minerva to duck, forgetting in their anguish that they couldn't alter the memory and that she was alive in their time. Albus's quick thinking saved her as he pulled her into his arms and moved them both sideways so that she barely missed the green light that had been heading towards her. He continued to hold her close to him as he turned around to face Grindelwald again. The palpable aura was again surrounding him and for the first time Grindelwald looked afraid. A new madness took over in his eyes as he rushed towards them with his wand pointed towards them. The two of them never thought about it, they both raised their wand and seemingly as one cast a spell. With the two of the most powerful wizards casting it Grindelwald never stood a chance and the only sound heard after the words "Avada Kedavra" past their lips was the sound of his limp body hitting the ground.
They heard a scream from behind them and they both stunned the other wizard who was distraught at Grindelwald's death. This time they bound him using conjured ropes and took his wand away from him. Albus turned to her and once again he had that wild look in his eyes and he was shaking. "God Minerva! I could have lost you" he whispered in horror.
"But you didn't" she moved closer to him, stroking his cheek to reassure him. She looked concerned about the look in his eyes; he still looked in shock and his shaking was getting worse so she did the only thing she could think of that would make him better. She kissed him. It was passionate and fierce and he started to respond by putting his arms around her and pulling her closer but he soon stopped. However, it had had the desired effect as he was no longer shaking and the wild look had been replaced by sadness in his eyes. "Minerva we can't"
"Why not?" she asked, anger and sadness warring inside her.
"You almost died because of me!" he shouted as if in disbelief that she was even asking.
"Well I didn't did I? I would have fought anyway for my parents and you can't keep me locked up" she shouted back at him.
"And what happens if it happens again in the future?" the wild look was back in his eye and his voice dropped to a whisper "I couldn't bear it if anything" he trailed off.
"Well then we'll keep it quiet." Her voice had immediately softened when she saw his anguish. "I'm not asking for the whole world to know, I just don't want to deny this. I know you feel the same." She added, desperately trying to convince him.
"How do you know? I'm old enough to be your father and" he looked defeated but Minerva interrupted his arguments.
"Well as Professor Dippet said, you have the mentality of a child so I'll be the older one in the relationship."
"I do not have the mentality of a" he broke off as a new thought entered his head. "How did you know what Armando said?"
"I went to show you I had mastered the transformation when I discovered you talking with him."
He looked mildly surprised "So you eavesdropped." It was a statement rather than a question.
"I was going to tell you but I never had the chance" she sounded defensive and started to pout slightly.
"What about our chess matches or our meeting?"
"And tell you what I heard in public?" she raised an eyebrow. He had the decency to blush. "Stop trying to change the topic. I'm sorry I eavesdropped but you weren't exactly telling me anything and I was worried about you. Beside we're talking about us."
"There is no us." He looked away from her but they saw the sadness in his eyes.
"Why not? We both feel the same." She gently cupped his cheek and made him look at her.
"Because I don't want you to get hurt."
"I can handle myself Albus as you well know." Her voice had once again softened and she waited until he acknowledged her point before she continued. "So what else is it?"
"Your only 16"
"I'll be of age in a couple of months."
"You'll still be my pupil." He was starting to sound agitated that she wasn't getting his point.
"We'll wait a year then I won't be your pupil anymore"
"That's not my point; you're my pupil and you will always be someone I've taught."
"What does that matter? There'll come a point when half the wizarding world will have been your pupil and once I graduate that won't mean a thing."
"And what will others think? The age difference between us is huge and I don't want other people's ignorance and prejudice to hurt you."
"And since when has what other people thought of you mattered?" her voice was starting to rise and they could hear her anger. "You revel in your differences and don't let the prejudices of others affect your life!"
"It's not me I'm worried about!" he shouted at her. "I don't want you to get hurt" he calmed down a bit and said the last part in a quieter tone of voice.
"Albus nobody has to know. We can keep it a secret." She had calmed down as well and was now pleading.
"Humph" was his only reply.
"Don't you find me attractive?" she asked softly, changing tactics.
"What?" he looked completely dumbfounded and he saw the fear and doubts flash in her eyes. He moved closer to her and looked her in the eye. "Minerva I do find you attractive and that's part of the problem."
"Why does it have to be a problem?" she said although she was smiling slightly from his answer.
"Because I can't keep myself away from you."
"You don't have to keep yourself away from me. You said you loved me and I love you so why can't we be together?" she carried on before he could object. "I understand your objections but if we keep it a secret and wait a year then what is the problem? Merlin's sake Albus you are the one always going on about how love is the strongest form of magic and yet you are denying yourself it?"
"I just want you to experience life and not regret this." he said when she finally let him speak.
"Well how is being together going to stop me? I'm going to university and being in a relationship is not going to stop me enjoying myself. I'm not asking you to make me Mrs Dumbledore right away or start having children as soon as I leave Hogwarts. I just want us to acknowledge how we feel and after I leave school start a relationship. I know it would probably be a long distance one but I just don't want to hide how I feel or ignore it."
Albus however was silent "Mrs Dumbledore" he finally stuttered. She stared at him "Did you not hear a word I said after that?"
"Umm. I did I just" He looked sheepish "You really want to marry me?"
"One day. Honestly." she rolled her eyes at his refusal to accept she was telling the truth but she was smiling. He looked down at her and asked her again "Do you really feel that way?"
"No Albus, I followed you into a war zone because I hate you." was her sarcastic response. She then giggled at the expression on his face. "Yes I love you. Merlin knows why, you're thicker than two short planks sometimes."
He pulled her into his arms once again "Really?" he asked "Yes" her voice was soft as she said it. "Good" he said and proceeded to kiss her.
Hermione sighed while Ron and Harry looked extremely uncomfortable. "Why do we need to see this?" asked Harry. Hermione looked at him "Are you honestly telling me you didn't see this coming?"
"I expected it," Ron answered "I just didn't expect to see it."
"Both of you shush!" Hermione looked slightly angry. "I've told you before: let's finish the memory before we talk about it."
"Why?" Harry muttered "All we're seeing is them snogging."
"Harry!" Hermione shouted but he was saved from answering by the surfacing of the two of them from the kiss.
"Is that all I get?" Minerva asked "Good?"
A slow smile came over his face and he chuckled softly "I love you"
She smiled again and Albus said "You know you must be one of the few people who can change my mind when it's set on something."
She smirked "Well someone has to keep you right." He just smiled back at her and they stood in wrapped in each others arms. "Come on" he said, slowly moving away from her "If we want to keep this quiet we better join the others. I'm sure we can discuss this further in a more appropriate place." The last thing the trio saw before the memory ended was the huge smile on Minerva's face.
The light shining through the windows of the Headmaster's office told them it was midday and the rumble of Ron's stomach told them it was lunch time. "Is that all the memories?" Ron asked. Hermione peered in the pensive and said "I think so." Ron's stomach rumbled again. Harry laughed while Hermione smiled softly "Come on, let's go and get something to eat."
Their lunch was a quiet affair with all three of them deep in thought. Afterwards they sat for a while and sometime later Ron was the first one to break the silence. "I guess that's what he meant about love being the greatest power of all." Harry looked a bit confused so Ron went on. "I mean the look on his face when she was hurt and he killed for her."
"They both killed him, Ron" Hermione reminded him.
"I know" he said "but the aura of power around him and the look in his eye." he trailed off. "You have got to ask how come we never saw them like that."
"Well they kept it quiet didn't they?" said Hermione who was keeping a concerned eye on Harry.
"Yeah I know but surely sometime in fifty years they slipped up."
"Well if Voldemort ever found out then he wouldn't have hesitated to use it against them." Harry spoke up for the first time.
"I know Harry but did you see how strong they were together when they admitted their feelings? And they would have done anything for each other." Hermione added.
"Exactly. If one of them had been caught then who knows what the other would have done to get them back.
"Harry!" said a shocked Hermione. "Yes they would have went to hell and back for each other but they are far too principled to do anything for the other side. Can't you see that she gave him strength to do all the things he did. He wouldn't have been half as brilliant without her."
Harry was quiet and appeared deep in thought. When he finally spoke they could barely hear him. "I know but what if I lose her?" he said softly with a tear slowly falling down his cheek. "I've lost so many people and I don't think I could cope if I lost her."
Ron and Hermione exchanged a troubled look. They both sat on either side of Harry and Hermione softly said "But you would do anything for her."
"Of course." answered Harry.
"That's his point. You would do anything for the people you love, it gives you a strength you never knew you had. Harry all you seem to understand about the power of love is how much it can hurt rather than how much stronger and happier it can make you."
The tears were freely flowing down Harry's face now and Hermione hugged him while Ron wandered off. Slowly Harry stopped crying and sat up away from Hermione. He looked around when he cleared his eyes "Where's Ron?"
"He was getting me" said a quiet voice that Harry immediately recognised.
"Ginny" he whispered and his face broke into a smile. He ran towards her and swept her into his arms and spun her around. "I'm so sorry" he whispered in her ear again and again.
"Yes well" she smiled through the tears that had started falling "don't do it again."
"Of course not love"
She laughed, a sound Harry found reassuring and heart-warming. "So they finally got it into your thick head."
"Hey! I'm not thick." He said in mock indignation.
"Yeah right." They both laughed and he kissed her gently and revelled in the feeling of love and happiness he had not felt in nearly a year. He took a step back and stared at her, a grin on his face.
He finally felt ready to fight and win.
A/N: Wow! This is the most I've ever written and I'm somewhat shocked by the size of it. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks again to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and just to let you know that its just the epilogue left to come. I'll get that done as soon as I can.
Jenni.