A./N.: I know it's short than the last ones. I hope I portrayed Harry's inner conflict authentically. Read & Review please.

Absolution

Minerva knelt beside Albus, sobbing heart-wrenching sobs, and pressed the folds of her long skirt onto the deepest wound in his chest. Her long legs were exposed to mid-thigh and stained with the blood of her husband. Her hair had come undone in her struggle with Tom and fell forward into her face and onto Albus' chest. She didn't brush it away for fear of releasing the pressure on his chest and blood gushing from his wounds.

Albus hand lifted suddenly. Pain rushed through his body at the movement but he bit back his yelp and gritted his teeth. Softly he brushed Minerva's tresses back, out of her face and behind her ear, leaving it slightly damp and glued together by his blood. His wife closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. For a moment Albus thought how wrong this whole situation was. She had shied away from him in the last weeks when he was whole, strong and lovingly protective but now that he lay here, bloody and close to death, repulsed with him, she craved his touch and let him caress her. But only for a moment rose this thought in him before he cupped her cheek lovingly with his hand and stroked her with his thumb.

"Don't cry for me, lioness", he whispered hoarsely and weakly, "I have lived a long…"

"Please don't say goodbye", whispered Minerva heartbroken.

The moment she had seen Albus crumple to the floor something in her broke free of the inexplicable hold Tom seemed to have over her. Her anger, frustration and all her barriers broke away and were replaced by the age-old fear of losing her husband and love of her life. Tom had finally stripped her of everything she held most dear in her heart.

"I love you, Albus", she said quietly, meaning it with all her heart and soul.

Her eyes shone with an inner light Albus had seen in her all those years ago. At first he couldn't explain what exactly had changed in her but then he saw her eyes widen and fresh tears spilling forth from them. This time though they were not tears of fear or hurt. They were tears of love and regret and sorrow over losing him. Again he raised his hand and stroked her hair.

"I love you …"

"Like hell, you bloody idiot", she yelled.

With new vigour she pressed down on his wounds with one hand and with the other hand she fished for her wand.

"You are not going to die! I won't let you. I will fight for you the same way you fought for me! Do you hear me?" she hissed.

Only her eyes betrayed her as she searched his face frantically for reassurance. Albus couldn't stop a smile from spreading over his features. Slowly he nodded once.

"Yes, I understand."

"Good", she said, letting out a breath she hadn't been aware of holding. "Now help me out and tell me that counter-spell from Severus."

Albus chuckled, finally convinced that he really had his wife back. Minerva would never stop bossing her about, not even on his deathbed.

Gently two arms were wrapped around Minerva from behind and she was lifted off the floor despite her protests and struggling. Because of her inner turmoil her body had not healed properly and she was still very frail due to not eating enough. Then she recognized her assailant. Neville's arms held her to his chest and he was muttering something incoherent. Hermione and Ginny scooted over as well. Now that Voldemort was dead all his incantations were broken. Both girls checked first on Luna, who was sitting dazedly a short distance away, and scooted then further over to Minerva still encased in Neville's arms.

With a sudden pang Minerva realised she was in the arms of a young man but she didn't mind. All her worries were focused on Albus. She turned her head around to look at her husband and saw Harry lean over him. Suddenly he lifted his wand and swiftly created a patronus.

"Expecto Patronum!" cried Harry and watched the silver stag erupt from his wand. Addressing his stag he added, "Go and find Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey. Get them here as quickly as possible."

The stag took off instantly, galloping through the wide open door of the library. Minerva followed it with her eyes as if it was the last hope she had on saving her husband. Realization hit her. It was the last hope!

Sectumsempra was Severus' spell. If anyone could heal Albus, it was him. Minerva really had to give Snape a good talking to for inventing such cruel and deadly spells. But before she did he had to save her husband.

The sound of running feet stopped Minerva's dark thoughts and she turned in time to see the rest of the staff racing towards them, Snape in the lead.

Harry's stag cantered over to his master. Minerva was momentarily amused to see Harry glare at the patronus and scolding.

"Did I say the whole staff?"

Quickly the silvery figure dissolved into thin air, leaving Harry to glare at nothing.

Snape knelt down beside Albus and started to chant his mantra of counter-spells. Poppy dropped to Albus' other side and started to cast healing charms of her own interspersed with diagnostic charms. Every now and then she would raise her wand to Summon a vial of some potion or a pot of salve. Both she and Severus were highly concentrated, neither of them looking up and sparing a sympathetic look or kind word for Minerva.

"Risanare questi ferita atroce (heal those horrible wounds)" Severus chanted over and over, casting the healing spell on every inch of marred flesh with slow circling movements.

Slowly the wounds healed, leaving fresh pink skin in its wake. Albus' healthy colour returned when Poppy forced the headmaster to swallow a blood-restoring potion. He also had to drink various antiseptic potions as well as potions against fever. While Poppy force-fed Albus, Severus was still hard at work. Surprisingly, or not so for everyone who really knew him, his face was set in a stony mask of indifference to ward off tears or a tirade about being too stupid to duck and avoid curses.

Meanwhile Pomona had nodded to Septima and both witches had moved simultaneously to relieve Neville of restraining Minerva. Septima wrapped a conjured blanket around Minerva and waved her wand over the older witches dress.

"Scourgify", she muttered under her breath, trying to clean Minerva's dress and robes. Soon she gave up and just Vanished the filthy robes. Then she conjured up another set of robes and exchanged them with the provisory blanket.

"Come here, boy", cooed Pomona to Neville in the meantime. Waving the other children over as well, she moved further away from the ghastly scene of a blood-covered Albus Dumbledore.

Neville still eyed Minerva thoughtfully and was obviously debating if it was safe to leave her in the care of Professor Vector. Luna, Ginny and Hermione were still too shocked from their encounter with Voldemort's curses and the rapid events following them to move to obey an order. Pomona walked slowly over and took Luna's hand in her left and Ginny's in her right.

"It's alright, girls. Soon Professor Dumbledore will be as good as new. Nothing to worry about", she reassured kindly, tucking softly at the girls' hands to gently lead them away.

Slowly and reluctantly they followed her to a group of armchairs on the side with Neville, having decided to trust Professor Vector with the welfare of his Head of House, bringing up the rear. Hermione, though, stood still in her prior spot and observed her best friend closely. Cautiously she stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms about him.

"Come. You heard Professor Sprout and there is nothing we can do right now. Professor Dumbledore is in good hands", she whispered to him, trying to break through his stupor.

"I-I-I kil-killed Voldemort", stuttered Harry, clearly shocked at what he had done. "If Dumbledore survives, it will all be ok. If Dumbledore survives, I haven't failed, I hadn't been too late. If Dumbledore survives, I will be forgiven for killing", mumbled Harry with white lips and frantic eyes.

Hermione starred at him in disbelief. He really thought he was condemned for stopping the worst and most evil Dark Wizard of the 20th century! Her mouth hung open and the clever Hermione Granger with all the answers was speechless.

With a 'clonk' emphasizing each step Moody limped over and grabbed Harry by the scruff. He bodily pushed the boy forward to a table some distant away. Sirius followed them with an unusually grave expression on his face.

"Quit that nonsense!" growled Moody. "You did what you had to do and no one blames you for it."

Sirius, remembering earlier talks about guilt and Harry's fate, followed his godson to try and calm him down.

"There is absolutely nothing to feel sorry about, Harry. You remember that we all were on guarding duty?" he asked, successfully distracting Harry from his conscience.

"Yes", the boy nodded vigorously, not believing that he would finally be told what had been the secret weapon.

"We were guarding a certain corridor in the Ministry of Magic, Department of Mysteries. There is a room in there stacked full of prophecies. One is apparently about you and Voldemort. The gist of the prophecy is that eventually you have to kill Voldemort or be killed by him. I'm rather glad that you killed him. After losing your father, I would have been devastated to lose you", he said earnestly, looking deeply into Harry's eyes to make sure he understood.

Harry gaped at Sirius for a long moment. The news about the prophecy was hard to swallow and accept. Why had no one ever told him? But no anger rose in him. Harry found that he could contemplate that fact calmly and rationally. The unbearable fury he had experienced all summer was gone. For another long moment he directed his gaze to the lifeless form of his enemy. Sirius had told him, and Dumbledore had confirmed that, only because he and Voldemort shared a connection didn't mean that Harry was deep down as rotten as Voldemort. He was finally convinced. It hadn't been him but Voldemort's feelings.

Harry nodded slowly to Sirius and Moody. He was rewarded with a pat on his back from Moody and a hug from Sirius. By the time he and Sirius broke apart, Severus and Poppy had succeeded in healing Albus. With a flick and swish Severus gently levitated Albus into the air and Poppy conjured a stretcher onto which Severus ever so gently lowered the headmaster. Harry watched the procedure with a still guilt-ridden conscience ... not because he had stopped Voldemort from finishing Dumbledore off but because he had not interfered sooner. Now that he knew of the prophecy, he felt even worse for not acting at Riddle Manor.

As the stretcher was carried past he Harry suddenly felt a hand grasping his and holding tight. Remus and Sirius, who was carrying the stretcher, stopped immediately, giving Albus the opportunity to speak. The old headmaster was still weak and his voice was hoarse but he pressed out what he had to say.

"Thank you, Harry, for saving my life and the virtue of my wife. I'm very proud of you", he whispered, causing Harry to blush and feeling utterly undeserving of the praise.

Suddenly Albus' eyes light on Minerva and he smiled up at her. He disengaged himself from Harry and raised his hand to Minerva. She could see the pain and effort it cost him to do that. Immediately she rushed forward and clasped his hand in hers. She slowly brought the hand to her cheek and nuzzled into it, kissing his palm and closing her eyes.

"I love you", she whispered softly, opening her eyes again and looking deeply into his soul.

Albus heart skipped a beat with joy. It was the first time she had said it after her captivity and meant it.