A/N: This story is sadly slow in coming because I'm rather busy at the moment. All reviews will be used as motivation for faster updates!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Otherwise, there would never have been an end.

Six months ago, Minerva could not possibly have anticipated how hard the separation would have been on her. But now, she was sitting next to the opening of her tent. It was a cold, rainy February day just a few dozen kilometers away from the castle of one of Grindelwald's followers. The Bavarian forests were as dark as any fairy tale, and just a bloody. Two weeks Minerva's squadron had been in the heat of the fighting, and all ready, three of their thirty Auror team were dead. Another two were so wounded they had to be sent to St. Mungo's. These were some of the best fighters the Ministry had to offer. And they had been sliced and cut as if they were sausage. Her heart cringed thinking of their families. Maybe Albus had been right, maybe this was a foolish idea. To rush into being married, and family, she had denied the harsh reality of the darkness pouring towards her homeland. Curled up on the bed in her tent, she wanted nothing more than to curl up with Albus and listen to the rain.

Five Months. This was all the time they had had together between their wedding and Minerva's departure. Those months were a warm golden haze compared to the dripping grey of the world outside.

The wedding had been perfect. They were married in a smaller hall in Hogwarts. A trusted gathering of the closest friends and family sent them off on their honeymoon to the Dumbledore's Estate in Godric's Hollow. It was a quiet, secure location, where they could be assured of privacy, due to spells Albus and Minerva set in place before hand. While the house looked vacant on the outside, the eager hands of the newly wedded lovers transformed the long abandoned house into the most charming of homes. And they ate up every minute in their home.

Albus had moved back to Hogwarts with the start of the term. Minerva followed him. They lived out of the professor's quarters. It was incredibly snug and intimate. Minerva had never felt so safe and warm in her life. She would go to Auror training every day, and Albus would teach. No matter what, though, at eight o'clock, precisely, a fire would start up in their sitting room to chase away the fall chill. Minerva and Albus would convene with a beverage of choice, he with something sweet such as hot chocolate, she with a more bitter herbal tea. And they would simply tell each other the details of their day. Albus would listen to Minerva with an adoring raptness that she missed more than anything at that moment. She wanted to see that look in his eyes again. She wanted to hear the reassuring rumble of his assent as she complained how they were not being trained properly.

But contact with the outside world was forbidden. If owls were seen coming in and out… well, it could be the difference between a surprise attack and a massacre.

And Minerva would have no more unnecessary blood lost. All ready, she had promised herself she would never have children. This was no kind of world for beginning a new life. She could not stop seeing the tear-stained faces of the little children these witches and wizards had left behind. Several of these children would never see their parents again. And then she remembered Albus. At the last minute, she had to be the stronger one. That night before she left, Albus had held her so tightly she thought she would snap in half. And then he began to sob. Minerva wanted to wriggle free to wipe tears from his face, to kiss him until he knew it was going to be all right. But now, she realized why Albus had been crying. He was not afraid that Minerva would die in battle. That might have been a small part of it. But Minerva realized now that he was really crying for all the suffering she was about to witness on the battlefield. No amount of training, no simulation, no psychological test could prepare one for the actual misery of killing and watching your friends die agonizing deaths.

The odd thing was, Minerva knew that she could have borne all this. She could have put on a brave face, and taken down the enemy one wand slash at a time. But this relationship with Albus had made her realize that life could be full of so much more than valor and duty. As a McGongall, it frightened her to have such thoughts in her head. Her father had hinted at such things. During their long walks down by the Thames, when he came to visit Minerva's Flat in London, he would ramble about such things. Minerva had always thought that love was for those who were too old or too weak to fight. She could never imagine caring for someone so badly that it hurt just as much as a real wound when they were removed from your life. She turned to the box under her bed.

Knowing that she would be gone for several months without any chance of communication, Albus had written Minerva a box of letters. The box was enchanted so that she could only open it at an exact time once a week. She was mere minutes away from her time this week. She held the box in her lap, until it clicked open, and a letter laid waiting for her in the bottom:

My Darling Minerva:

By this point, I shall have gone mad with your prolonged absence. Unfortunately, from what I've been told, no one shall be able to tell the difference.

Minerva sighed softly. His absurd humor was peppered throughout the letters to boost her spirits. And she begrudgingly had to admit that it worked.

I am sure that you have been in battle a few times by now. I wish I could be there with you. There is nothing quite as terrible as killing your fellow beings. But, darling, remember, no matter what, the most important thing we have is our love. We love our families, our friends, and more than anything, each other. This is why you are out there, in the bitter cold, dodging (I hope) the curses of angry men, and watching our friends fall to the ground.

I know I told you I have been in love before. But it was never like my love with you. Our love is so warm and whole. Never in my life had I wanted so much to surround every minute of my life with one person. Being with you is this wonderful way of seeing life as I never have before. Even this old coot has so much more to learn with you at my side.

I remember seeing you at the Annual Mugwump Ball at the Ministry. Nothing in the ballroom shone more brightly than your eyes that night. I did not even recognize you! And yet, I knew, from that moment, that you were to be an important part of my life.

Please, let me see you again soon, safe and sound. I cannot bear the thought of losing my bride so soon after our wedding. The war seems to be turning in our favor, and I can only hope to have you in my arms in a few short months. Besides, I wouldn't put it past the Minister to ask for my help in the field. I would use every charm in the book to end up stationed with you, my love.

Until I see your beautiful smile again, remember, I love you.

Forever yours,

Albus

Minerva was in tears by the end of the letter. She always was. The letter would be read, memorized, by this time next week. She would say the more poignant or humorous lines to herself while keeping watch. Until I see your beautiful smile again… he had said those exact words before she left. He put in them every letter. She would read them over and over each night, until she fell asleep. Remember, I love you.

A/N: Wow, this took a dive off the angst cliff, huh? Don't worry, I promise the story will be bright and chipper again soon.

Remember: Reviews=Faster Updates

:D