A/N: Second update in as many nights!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Poppy's prediction held true: by the end of the week, Minerva was able to stand, move around with help, and visit other parts of the mansion. Neptune's girlfriend Deirdre, a dear friend of Minerva's, had come to visit as well. She helped Minerva tolerate her time trapped as an invalid. But by Friday, Minerva was finally allowed to have her first meal out of bed, tea in the sitting room. She insisted on taking the long stair case all the way down by herself. But Apollo went before to catch her, and Juno was behind her for the same purpose. Safely posited in a chair, they had just begun to pour the strong Darjeeling, when a visitor interrupted. The Mcgonagall household was shocked and annoyed when Karf the house elf announced the arrival of the Minister of Magic and his notebook carrying assistant Margot Knickerby. Each occupant of the room begrudgingly stood, including, with the help of Deidre and Neptune, a shaky Minerva. Minister Xanos, being a man of much grace and polish, knelt in a deep bow on entry. His assistant made a deep, blushing curtsy, sneaking a look at Minerva on her way down.

Still bowing, he flourished, "There is no need to stand, it is I who thank and honor you for your service to the Wizarding world."

The clan was rendered awkwardly wrong footed at their resentment. But Juno, as skilled in the ways of etiquette as she was with a wand, stepped forward. She took the Minister's hand from its respectful place touching his forelock and gently raised him to his feet. She nodded to his assistant as well, "Thank you for your kind words, Minister. Please, sit." She indicated an austere emerald wingback chair by the fireplace and used her wand to pull a wooden chair up next to it. Instantly she had recognized this as the opening gambit in a potentially vicious game. She was very protective of her family at the moment and did not appreciate this intrusion. But that did not allow her to let down her mask of grace and charm.

The rest of the McGonagall clan was mute, however, so an awkward silence ensued until the Minister opened his mouth, "Thank you, Juno. It seems prudent, in the interest of returning you to your tea, to skip further niceties and proceed to the purpose of my visit. Minerva McGonagall," He turned in his seat to face the pale, worried woman, "Or as my sources tell me, Minerva Dumbledore?" At these words, everyone in the sitting room jumped to their feet, except Deirdre who caught Minerva in the middle of her faint. Healer Doughan was called in to revive her, and insisted she be carried back to her bed. All of these things were carried out with intermittent glares at the Minister and his lackey. Juno and Deirdre remained after the chaos.

"Forgive my bluntness, Minister, but what exactly do you want from us?" Deirdre brogue was much fiercer than the McGonagall lilt and her words jabbed the Minister like falsetto spears. The tiny lady may not have seemed physically impressive compared to the McGonagalls. But her work with magical creatures made her as feisty as any in the clan. Juno noted that Ms. Knickerby seemed to be taking notes.

"I apologize most heartily, Juno and Miss…"

"McCrae, Deirdre McCrae," She snapped.

"Miss McCrae, I had no intention of hurting your friend," It was the Minister who was wrong footed now. "I came to see if Minerva knew anything of Albus' whereabouts. We need a story in the Prophet to keep him alive as a hero to the people."

"Your sources must not be very thorough, Eldridge," clucked Juno, "My daughter has only recently rejoined the world of the living. She was captured and put through unspeakable tortures by the enemy while in the line of duty. It took a team of Healers a week of round the clock work to keep her with us. She only returned to consciousness two days ago and hasn't seen her husband since the day of her capture, days before his own disappearance. She will be of little use to you." Juno sighed, turning away to control the anger crackling in her eyes.

"Minerva is not a well witch, Minister," Deirdre chided, "And yet you come to interrogate her? Is this how you treat war heroes?"

"And no on e is to know of their marriage, Eldridge," Juno snapped back to lock a singeing stare on him, also casting a glare on the still-writing assistant, "Do you understand? It's hard enough for her to mourn privately. She doesn't need the prying eyes of the public."

"You have my word, Juno. Margot and I will show ourselves out. Again, I apologize for the intrusion." The minister and his assistant stood and made to exit. Xanos paused, "If I may visit her before you go? I want to give her my best wishes and assure her I will not expose her secret."

Deirdre looked ready to knock him over, but Juno sighed resignedly, "I suppose." And led the way to Minerva's room.

*!*!*!*

Sunday, all the world fell apart.

Minerva was at breakfast, her first meal out of bed since the Minister's visit. The family, including Deirdre, Poppy, and Healer Doughan were gathered in the smaller, cozier breakfast room, when a tremblingly furious Karf arrived with the massive Sunday Prophet.

Apollo took the newspaper, "Are you quite all right, Karf?" The elf merely stared at the paper. Apollo looked at the cover and let out a roar of rage. He flung it to the table so all could see.

A picture of a weak, but bravely smiling Minerva would feebly from her bed on the front cover. The headline read "Miraculous War Heroine Holds Hope for Dumbledore" by Margot Knickerby. A chorus of angry explosions erupted.

"How dare he take advantage of her!"

"What a stunt! The filthy scum!"

"Let me get my hands on that louse!"

"What did she say? Does it say Albus and I are married?"

Deirdre was skimming the article. "No, she mentions a poignant interview with Juno, and your firm belief Albus is alive. But the scum kept their promise and didn't expose your marriage." Plans were set, however, to pay the Ministry a stern visit the next day.

But that evening, as Minerva retired to bed, she heard shouts and crashing downstairs. She was up instantly with her want in hand. She stumbled down the stairs to see her parents, Neptune and Deirdre battling for their lives. A dozen bedraggled wizards wearing Grindelwald's uniform were screeching:

"Where is Albus Dumbledore?"

"Tell us, great war heroes, what have you done with our leader?"

"Where is the Dark Lord?"

"You will pay for your treachery to wizard kind!"

"Scum!"

"Where is Minerva?"

The questions were shot with accompanying spells. Her family was doing their best to repel them. She could hear her healers charging down the hall above her. But Minerva was all ready engaged in combat. Her first curse knocked out one wizard. But it left her so weak she could only send out a desperate mental plea to Albus before she was knocked off her feet.

*!*!*!*

Albus and Gellert were in the room of the world, examining a scroll in the Ancient Library of Alexandria. Suddenly, Albus felt the familiar pull at the back of his mind, but this time more urgent than any before.

"Minerva?" He called out involuntarily. Instantly, the scrolls vanished, and they were in the entry hall of the Scottish Manor Albus was thinking about. An apparition of Minerva fell to the floor before his eyes. "She needs me! I must go to her." And then he saw her attackers. In a rush of painful, crushing memory, he realized what the man standing next to him was. "Gellert… What have you done? What did you become? Why did you have to turn to this?" And tear were coursing down his scarred cheeks. He quickly took his wand from the shocked evil wizard, and began to duel for his life, his freedom, and the life of the woman he loved.

A/N: I know, I hate the cliff hangers. Do you hate them? I assume you do. I assure you, I will try to continually update.