Disclaimer: I do not own anything dealing with Harry Potter and I don't think I will any time soon.

A/N: I just wanted to say I'm sorry if this does not turn out well format wise because I am currently doing this on my Word Pad instead of my Microsoft Word like I usually do. My Microsoft Word is acting up and I don't know why and I can't use my laptop because of the stupid cord. It broke or something. Grr... Well, on with the show, shall we?

Chapter Eleven: The Graveyard...

Minerva stood in a dark corner in the Great Hall, staring at the fiasco that was rehearsal spread before her. This was insane. Why was she being forced to partake in the phantom's opera when all she wanted to do was hide away in a dark hole somewhere, where she was safe? She gazed upon everyone in the Great Hall. Being a Saturday, the teachers were all free from their teaching and were able to focus somewhat on the production at hand. In addition to all the teachers in Hogwarts, the phantom had requested that many more extras were to be used in this play of 'Don Juan'. Minerva sighed as she looked down at her script. This was to be a play of a great Latin Lover. Why had he chosen such a piece? It made no sense. Then again, none of it made sense to Minerva. Why was she doing this again? Then she remembered.

Looking up, she looked at all those who lived at Hogwarts. The teachers and apprentices, and even the students, were counting on her to help. If they succeeded in this absurd plan, then they would all be free. Free to once again know what it was like to live in the castle without the threat of some mysterious phantom looming over their heads, threatening each waking moment and torturing her, Minerva, in her sleep. Yes, she needed to do this for them all. For, Rufus, Cornelius, Albus... Even Jane, she was willing to do this for. Among the noise and vocalizing many of the extras and other teachers were doing, Minerva could hear Frank LeNoie, the French instructor hired to help with the singing, talking to Joshua Miller, who was to play Don Juan. Minerva looked to find them in the center of the Great Hall.

"Don Juan, Messieur Miller, here is the phrase-'Thos who tangle with Don Juan!' If you please." Joshua cleared this throat.

"Those who tangle with Don Juan..." Frank cleared his throat and shook his head. He played the keys on the piano he had been using since this whole thing began.

"No, no, nearly, but no!" He pressed the keys he needed. "'Those who tan, tan, tan...'" Joshua, rather flustered, continued, though it was clear he was still doing it wrong.

"Those who tangle with Don Juan..."

"ACK!" shouted Frank, throwing his arms up in the air. Jane smiled and looked at Rose, Meg, and a few of the other teachers and apprentices.

"His way is better-." indicating Joshua, "At least he makes it sound like music!" Several people laughed while Rose sighed and frowned at her.

"Madam, would you speak that way in the presence of the composer?" Jane looked at her, deaf to the implications of this remark.

"The composer is not here. And if he were here, I would-"

"Are you so certain of that, madam?" Rose cut in. Jane just huffed and crossed her arms across her chest while watching Frank attempt to coax Joshua into saying the phrase correctly.

"So, once again, after seven... Five, six, seven!"

"Those who tangle with Don Juan..." Minerva couldn't take it any longer. She had to get out of there. She just couldn't stand one more minute in that castle. She needed some time alone. And she knew exactly where she would get the time alone she needed. Her father's graveyard. Grabbing her cloak, she slipped through the double doors and walked towards the apparation point.

Oooooooooooo

Minerva walked slowly through the huge cemetary. It was a cemetary built for veterans of war. Her father had been a prominant member in the war against Grindlewald. When he had died, oh how she had missed him terribly. He had been her only family, and she had just only begun her education at Hogwarts. She was orphaned at a very young age and after he had died, there was only her best friend, Poppy, and, of course, Tom. She walked slowly through the graveyard, talking to herself, as she did so often. This kept her from becoming lonely and sometimes stopped her from becoming scared of the silence which usually surrounded her.

"Sweet Tabby thought of everything and nothing...Her father promised her that he would send her the Angel of Magic... Her father promised her... Her father promised her..." She looked around at all the gravestones. They seemed so cold and distant. Not like her father, who had been so warm and loving and giving. She continued to walk between the columns and talk to herself... Well, she started talking to her father, really. She did that when she came to the graveyards, too.

"You were once my one companion. You were all that mattered. You were once a friend and father- Then my world was shattered..." She thought of the final war with Grindlewald. How she had hated the wizard so much. It was absolutely horrible, the things he had done. Not just to her father, but to all the innocent people who had died or suffered during the war. Minerva felt her heart become heavy. "I wish you were somehow here again. I wish you were somehow near." She quickly brushed a tear away. "Sometimes it seems if I just dream, somehow you would be here. I wish I could hear your voice again... knowing that I never would. Dreaming of you won't help me to do all that you dreamed I could!" She refused to cry. She would not cry. She did not want to show weakness when she reached her father's grave. She passed even more tombstones. So cold and distant.

"Passing bells and sculpted angels, cold and monumental, seem for you the wrong companions-You were warm and gentle." Finally, she reached her father's grave. Then, she could not hold it in any longer. She cried. The tears flowed from her eyes like water from a dam. "I've spent too many years fighting back tears. Why can't the past just die?" She knelt before her father's tombstone and touched it, trying not to loose it completely. "I know I must say goodbye. Please, give me the strength to try and live again!" She set down a few flowers she had brought along in her pocket. "No more memories, no more silent tears. No more gazing across the wasted years. Help me say goodbye." She pressed a kiss to her fingertips and placed them on the grey stone, which read, "Aires McGonagall." Minerva heaved in a shuddering sigh and exhaled slowly. She cried every time she came here. She did not know why she tried to avoid it. Just then, a gloved hand rested upon her shoulder. She turned around and gasped, bewildered. It was Tom.

"Wandering child, so lost, so helpless... yearning for my guidance." His voice was soft and enticing. Minerva stood up and stared into his eyes. She began to murmer breathlessly.

"Angel... or father? Friend? Or phantom? Who is it here, staring?" Tom became more enticing and hypnotic as he continued to talk.

"Have you forgotten your Angel?" he questioned.

"Angel... oh speak... What endless longings echo in this whisper?" Neither of them noticed Albus appear in the shadows. He stopped and watched for a moment, transfixed. He had seen Minerva slip out, but it had taken him a moment to catch up. Tom began to draw Minerva towards him.

"Too long you've wandered in winter... Far from my far-reaching gaze..." Albus took a few steps forward.

"Once again she is his... Once again she returns..."

"Wildly my mind beats against you, Tom," said Minerva in a feeble attempt to escape from being mesmerized.

"You resist, but your soul obeys..." Tom said.

"Once again she returns to the arms of her angel. Angel of demon, still he calls her, luring her back, from the grave." Angel was grwoing angry. "Angel or dark seducer? Who are you, strange angel?" Minerva continued to move closer towards Tom. When she was securly in his arms, his lips began to draw closer to hers. "I am your Angel of Magic." Albus ran to the two figures, desperate.

"Minerva! Minerva, listen to me! Whatever you may believe, this man... this thing... is not your father!" He looked at the Phantom, who looked at him. "Let her go! For God's sake, let her go!." This momentary distraction was all it took for Minerva to come out of her trance. She turned and saw Albus.

"Albus..." she breathed. She pulled out of the phantom's grasp and ran to Albus' protective embrace. Tom froze for a moment before he pulled out his wand, which looked like a bone. With a swift movement of his hand, fire spurt out of his wand and landed at Albus' feet.

"Bravo, Professor! Such sprited words!" There was another ball of fire. Albus let go of Minerva and pulled out his own wand, stepping towards him.

"More tricks, Tom?" he asked. Tom looked at him and smirked, egging him on. He stepped back as if daring Albus to continue his walk. For every step Albus took towards him, Tom took a step back.

"Let's see, sir, how far you dare go!" Another fireball! He was messing with Albus and Albus knew it. But he was not one to be intimidated. Finally, he stopped.

"More deception? More violance?" Albus pulled back his wand. He threw a fireball just above Tom's head. He could play this game, too.

"Albus, no!" called Minerva. Albus didn't listen to her. He kept walking towards Tom, now gaining on him. The fireballs continued to come at him, always landing just before him.

"That's right, that's right! Keep walking this way!" Two more fireballs. Albus was growing angrier by the minute.

"You can't win her love by making her your prisoner!"

"Albus, don't!" Minerva cried, walking up behind him. Albus looked back at her.

"Stay back!" he said. Tom continued to taunt him. He opened his arms wide in invitation.

"I'm here, I'm here! The Angel of Death! Come on, don't stop! Don't stop!" He fired three more fireballs. Albus was almost near Tom. Just when it appeared as though they would really start fighting, Minerva jumped in front of Albus.

"No Albus!" she pleaded. He stopped and looked at her, confused. "I will not see you given the Dementor's kiss for performing the Avada Kadavera." She looked at him imploringly before pulling his arm. As he allowed her to lead him away, he looked at Tom.

"This is not over yet, Phantom!" he called. Tom felt his heart beat fast as he saw Minerva leave. He barely registered what Albus had said.

"Don't go!" he shouted as he saw Minerva and Albus begin to run. He was saying that more to Minerva than to Albus. He let out a pained cry as he saw her apparate away with Albus.Then, his face flushed with anger as he grit his teeth. "Fine!" he exclaimed! "So be it! Now let it be war upon you both!" With that, he also disappeared... in a puff of smoke!

A/N2: Okay, there is the next chapter. Only two or three more chapters. Probably three... Read long and prosper. Always Hopeful