I know it sounds a little strange but this chapter should make things a little clearer, I want Hermione to remain unaware for the time being, let me know if you like where this is going or if you have any additional ideas, I've never written anything like this before.

Chapter 3

It was a sofa that Minerva McGonagall woke up on the next morning, the angle of the sun told her it was little after six. The next thing she noticed was the bottle still clutched in her hand and even more painful was the memory of why she had started drinking, why she had tried to forget. Now, the memory swam anew, strong and painful.

"Oh God" Minerva whispered to herself over and over until she could stand it no longer. She rose to her feet and walked, somewhat stiffly and unsteadily to her bathroom to wash the smell of alcohol off herself.

But each movement caused a painful memory of some sort.

When she let her hair down and began to brush, she felt the soft fingers of another tracing through it tenderly.

When she put hand cream on she felt another's hand entwined in her own.

And when she showered, she felt the loving arms of another wrapping around her.

And for a moment, she allowed herself to relish the feeling of safety and love.

Then she stopped herself, because that love was so beautiful and terrible that if she allowed herself to succumb…

She left the bathroom every part the venerable Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and had realised one thing, she needed answers. So, she exited her rooms and made her way to the Headmaster's office where Albus was sure to be up. Upon opening his door, she found him stood beside Fawkes, gently running a finger through his feathers.

He seemed unaware of her entrance and she heard him utter a sentence that made her heart stop.

"Merlin always said that love can cut through all barriers, even time itself."

"You owe me an explanation" Minerva said, she was glad to hear that there was some strength in her voice.

Albus said nothing for the moment and then he whispered, "Yes".

"Come, sit."

"No. Just tell me Albus."

He turned towards her then and there was great sadness in his eyes. He nodded and took a few steps towards her.

"I need to know how this could happen. You weren't there Albus, you do not know how devastating the ramifications could be if this continues, she already saw a glimpse last night. What that knowledge could do to an eleven year old mind-"

She stopped when she saw a light smile play at his mouth.

"I see it is still your priority to protect her"

"I will die a thousand deaths to prevent her from even one"

"My dear you will die a thousand deaths anyway" he said with a light chuckle, "As will she" he whispered.

Silence fell between them.

"I have… a theory" Albus said quietly.

Minerva nodded.

"All that time ago, before me, before Hogwarts. In your first lifetime, you were and are Merlin's daughter" he paused, waiting for her to nod before continuing, "And when you were seventeen, you sustained an injury so severe, that not even your father's healing could save you yes?" Again she nodded, "So, it was decided, that rather than lose his daughter, Merlin would evoke the magic of the phoenix. Therefore, you would heal but consequentially, you would never die, but be reborn at the end of each life cycle"

"I know this!" Minerva stated rather hotly.

"Yes, yes you do. Forgive an old man his ramblings." Albus said heavily, "However, to do that, there was the small matter of soul separation, similar to that of a horcrux but not so because horcruxes are formed out of hate and evil, the separation of the soul through phoenix magic must be done through love, so your father evoked a love so powerful and beautiful that it could not be contained, and had to be split between two, so it was decided that you would have a counterpart to carry the part of your soul. First, it was thought that a man would be used as was usual but the phoenix magic inside you was unreceptive to a male and therefore the only other option was female, which you responded to, rather well" he said with a small smile, "And so came…"

"Hermione" Minerva whispered.

"Yes" said Albus quietly, "Hermione, came into being as a part of you, to hold the part of your soul, she was born of love and carried with her a love for you that was so beautiful and strong that you could not help but succumb to it. It was within you, a part of you. You became the immortal pair, to live through all time, surviving on a love created just for the two, a love that no one else in the world has ever or will ever experience."

Minerva nodded again.

"You lived on after your father died the pair of you and you lived through millennia after that. You were happy, happy and forever… forever in love. But when your love began to burst outwards uncontrollably similar to that of accidental magic created by magical children who have not yet learnt to control their powers…"

Minerva began to wince at his words, she knew the story, had lived it, but to here it told so abruptly was painful to say the least.

"There was no help for you; those who knew of the old magics were gone. There were texts of course but none with any answers you wanted to hear." There was great pity in his voice, "then, as you know and told me, an outburst so great occurred that, someone was killed. A child."

Minerva began to sob.

"And the guilt of that tore you apart. So you did the bravest thing you have ever done, you came to me when I was just a young man and you asked for my help. I had delved into the old magics deeper than anyone since your father, of course at that time I did not know that you were the daughter of the wizard I had studied half my life. And you told me everything and what needed to be done."

Tears flowed freely down Minerva's face as she listened, listened to the horrible truth.

"And I told you of the ritual, the ritual that would separate the soul once more and have one half of the pair live unaware of what she had lost, and the other half live a life of longing to keep the other safe. You sacrificed too much Minerva." Albus approached the crying woman and wound his arms around her.

"I had to Albus" Minerva whispered into his chest.

"I know, but don't you see?" he moved back to look into her eyes, "the ritual has been undone, your soul longs for her, to be within her again, to be immersed in your love. Fawkes has felt the reigniting of the phoenix magic Minerva."

"No, Albus. We must not! We must stop it before it's too late!" Minerva cried.

"We must wait, to see how lost she is Minerva. There is a power inside of her that is too great for an eleven year old to bear witness to, we must watch over her. Keep her safe and then, we can see if there is a chance my dear."

"A chance?" Minerva asked weakly.

"A chance that your soul may be whole again."

I know it's a complicated idea but I hope this cleared up some of your questions, please review! I love to hear what you think and with a complicated idea like this I'd love to know if I'm tackling it right.

Hope you enjoyed as always.

MM