So...it's been a while. I hope this chapter is good enough for all those of you who have been waiting forever for me to update. I'll try to finish this story by the end of the summer so you don't have to remain in suspense again. It's not a very exciting chapter, but the next one should be okay when they get back to researching. Hope you enjoy! Please review!

The Family

"I rather think 'extensive' was a bit of an understatement," Tom whispered under his breath as he stepped into the McGonagall's library. He knew from the moment Minerva pushed open the thick, oak doors that all was forgiven from earlier in the day. The room was simply magnificent. It was three stories, with different levels connected by spiral staircases of marble and silver. Minerva practically flounced into the room and lifted her hands proudly.

"See? We should have more than enough material to continue working."

Tom looked around dumbfounded. He had known the McGonagall's were wealthy, but not to this extent. The marble fireplace they had flooed into moments before had been a tip-off to the extent of their means, but he had been unsure until stepping into the library.

He walked a bit further into the room and reached for the first volume of an encyclopedia. He hesitated, feeling awkwardly out of place in his surroundings.

"Go ahead, Tom. I know you're dying to explore," Minerva grinned. "You have permission to look at anything you want, and that includes the rest of the estate as well. I might even be persuaded to give you a tour after tea."

Estate. She lived on an estate. Why had no one mentioned this to him before?

Tom glanced over his shoulder at her. She looked as happy as he had seen her in a long time. He gave her a slight smile, causing her cheeks to color. He turned back and smirked to himself, glad to have gained back at least some of the upper hand. He strolled contentedly through the aisles, stopping every so often to browse through the different sections.

"Who catalogued everything?" he asked curiously. Minerva appeared at his right side.

"I did," she replied simply.

Tom stared at her incredulously. "Are you serious? There must be one hundred thousand books here!"

Minerva smirked. "Three-hundred seventy-eight thousand, six-hundred and nineteen, to be precise."

Tom slid his hand into hers. "And you always are precise," he remarked fondly. "What system did you use?"

"The same as the Ministry Archives. It was easier because a lot of the books had already been labeled. My father has been given quite a few duplicate copies by the archivist over the years."

"I must admit that I'm impressed."

"I'm shocked," she teased. "I thought it took a lot more to impress Mr. Tom Riddle."

"Well, I find that it's exceedingly easy to become impressed with a person who's made such an impression on you in the first place." He grinned and looked down at her, holding her hand firmly beneath his own.

Minerva shifted her feet and returned his gaze. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I really am grateful for the invitation to stay," he said quietly. "Professor Dumbledore was going to have Slughorn call the orphanage."

"I'm glad you could come," she began tentatively. "For...personal reasons as well as the project."

"Oh? What sort of personal reasons?"

Minerva raised her eyebrows. "The obvious ones of course, and I'm not saying any more so don't even try to play that game with me again."

"Believe me, Miss McGonagall, I wouldn't dream of it."

They stood perfectly still staring into each others eyes. Tom couldn't help but think how perfectly they fit together. The fact that they had sustained a conversation about library cataloguing for more than a few minutes was enough to attest to their suitability for one another. If only she could be trusted...if only she would understand...

The voice of someone clearing their throat brought them back to reality.

They both whirled around and Minerva let out a small squeal. "Apollo!" She ran and threw her arms around a tall, dark-haired young man in dark dress robes, who spun her around in a circle. "I didn't think you were going to be here until New Years. Mother said you had too much work to do."

"Maybe I meant to surprise you, little sister," he smiled, giving her a big kiss on the cheek.

Tom swallowed. Great. Now he was going to have competition from her older brother.

"How long are you here?"

"Just today and tomorrow, but I should be back again for Christmas."

"I'm just so glad to see you! What a wonderful surprise!"

Minerva hugged him again and slid to the floor.

He put his arm around her shoulders and glanced up at Tom. "Are you going to introduce me to your friend, or should I just assume by the way you two were looking at each other when I came in that I'm about to meet my future brother-in-law?"

This time, Minerva and Tom both blushed, and Minerva ran over to lead Tom back to her brother. "Tom, this is my brother Apollo. Apollo, this is my friend Tom Riddle. Tom and I are working on a school project together for Professor Dumbledore."

"Must be quite the project," Apollo teased.

Minerva didn't pick up on his sarcasm and continued, "It is. I'm afraid it's going to take a good deal of time this break."

Apollo ignored her and turned to Tom. "You'll have to forgive my sweet sister, Tom. She knows little of the world of wit."

"Tell me about it," he replied with a smile.

"I like this guy, Min," Apollo said with a nod. "You should have brought him around a long time ago."

Minerva rolled her eyes. "Is it safe to assume that Mother's waiting tea on us?"

"She's in the sun room."

Minerva walked to the doorway and looked expectedly back at the two young men. "Well? Are you two coming or not?"

"Just give us a moment. I'd like to have a few words with your friend Tom." Minerva's eyes widened slightly and she shot Tom an apologetic look before slipping out the door. Tom took a deep breath and turned to face her brother. The older man had him by his neck against a bookshelf within two seconds.

Pain shot through Tom's spine as he slammed against the wooden frame of the bookshelf. A few volumes shook loose and fell to the floor.

"I just want to make sure you realize who you're dealing with," Apollo growled, reproach replacing his previously congenial expression. "I have no reason to doubt your intentions towards my sister now, but I swear if you do anything to hurt her..."

"I understand," Tom choked.

"She's the only sister I have, and I would never let anything happen to her..."

"Neither would I, but..."

"And don't think I won't find out what you're up to if you're up to something. I work for the International Ministry. I have ways of finding things out. So don't even think about trying anything if you aren't going to follow through."

"I would never."

Apollo loosed his grip and let the boy breathe. Tom straightened his tie and swallowed. "Thank you," he said calmly. "You must know I hold you in very high regard for your concern for your sister, and I assure you, I have no plans to hurt her anytime in the near future." He huffed. It was true - to a point.

"Good." Apollo readjusted his robes, looking rather sheepish. "I'm sorry I roughed you up a bit. But when I saw you and Minnie standing so close, I was overcome by this overwhelming feeling of..."

"Protectiveness. I completely understand. If I had a sister. I would feel the same way."

"It's just with my father missing, and everything happening in London, I've just been..."

"Worried. I have too. You have nothing to apologize for."

Normally Tom would have been furious. To be honest, he was furious. It was only a matter of controlling his intense anger to further his cause. He normally would have wrestled his assailant to the ground before he could say "wandless magic", but this man needed to be his ally. He needed her brother to like him, trust him, and possibly even recommend him. Yes, Apollo would live to see another day.

"Come on," Apollo urged, patting Tom on the back, his demeanor entirely changed. "Let's go introduce you to Mother. I suppose she's the one you'll really have to worry about. She was a champion dueler when she was younger."

Tom closed his eyes and groaned inwardly. Maybe the library didn't quite make up for all this after all.

Minerva closed the door behind Tom and her brother and took a deep breath. Hopefully he would still be talking to her when it was all over. Apollo tended to be fairly overprotective and the fact that he had found them in as compromising an embrace she had ever been seen in wasn't going to help Tom at all. And then there was Mother...

"Minerva!" a melodic voice called from the floor below. Minerva scurried down the stairs to the sun room and paused at the door. Her mother was sitting near the windows holding a cup of tea. Her graying hair was swept back in its usual style, and she wore a pair of elegant blue dress robes. Minerva smiled and ran to her side.

"Hello Mum," she greeted happily kissing her mother on the cheek. The older woman turned and set down her cup of tea.

"Minerva! I've been calling you for five minutes. Have you only just arrived?"

Minerva sat down in the seat opposite her and smiled. "It's nice to see you too."

Berenice McGonagall sighed. "I'm sorry dearest. I'm glad to have you home. I've just been so preoccupied with everything these days..." She stared gloomily out the window and took a sip of coffee.

"I know. I'm worried about him too."

Berenice nodded sadly.

"Have you heard anything from the ministry?" Minerva asked. "Has Apollo heard anything?"

"Nothing of consequence. He seems to have just – disappeared."

"I'm sure he's okay," Minerva reassured her, although her common sense dictated otherwise. "Maybe he's just been confounded or detained or..."

"Killed."

"Well there is that possibility, I suppose."

Berenice stared at her coffee cup. Minerva swallowed, wondering if she should say what was really on her mind. Her mother was delicate in many ways. Her father had such an overpowering personality it was hard for anyone, especially someone at home with him all day, to handle his constant critique. He was part of the reason Minerva lived her life as "by the book" as she could.

Minerva glanced at her mother. She had been quite a beauty in her youth. She had been a brilliant professor, one of the finest duelers in the United Kingdom, and she had given it all up on an auror named Mordred McGonagall. She had been perfectly content to stay home with two children, to dote upon her husband, to live a life of solitude, and now what did she have? A past full of potential and a future full of unfulfilled dreams.

Minerva was worried about her mother. She knew she had to say something.

"Would it really be so bad?" she asked tentatively.

Berenice didn't look at her.

"Mum. He was so horrible those last few months. The things he said – he really hurt you. Maybe it's better this way. Maybe we can all get back to the way things used to be. Maybe..."

"Was your friend unable to come along? I had Dolores make up a room for him." Minerva let out a long breath. Her mother always changed the subject before saying anything against her husband. It just wasn't fair that she was continuing to suffer even after he was gone.

Minerva knew enough not to force the issue and replied, "He's here. He's just having a talk with Apollo in the library."

"Oh dear. Do you think we should send someone after him?"

Minerva smiled wistfully. "He can take care of himself."

Berenice studied her daughter's face. "You really like this boy, don't you?"

Minerva's face fell back into its normal stern expression. "He has become a good friend, I suppose, but we have strictly a working relationship."

"I see..."

"Mother!"

"Fighting already I see," Apollo noted as he walked into the room followed closely by Tom. Minerva glanced at him quickly. He didn't seem any worse for the wear. He winked at her and took a seat beside her on the couch.

"Of course not darling," Berenice replied with a laugh. "We were just teasing each other as usual." She looked up at Tom with a smile. "And this must be Tom."

"Indeed, ma'am," he answered charmingly. He reached out and grasped her hand. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Minerva has told me a great deal about you. She admires you very much."

"I don't know about that," Berenice said dryly with a glance at her daughter, "but it's a pleasure to meet you all the same. How do you like your tea, Tom?"

"Two lumps of sugar, please."

"Cream?"

"No thank you, ma'am."

The four of them settled down into amiable chatter until the grandfather clock near the doorway struck four o'clock. Minerva and Tom excused themselves to get Tom settled in before dinner, and Apollo left on a quick errand.

As soon as they were out of hearing distance, Minerva pulled Tom into an empty closet – well, it was the size of a room, but held closet-like things nonetheless.

Tom eyed her slyly. "Why Minerva, I had no idea you were..."

"Shut it, Tom. Are you okay?" she asked with concern. He studied her face and brushed a wayward piece of hair out of her eyes. Her cheeks turned pink at the familiarity of his action. She was becoming increasingly easier to manipulate; however, he was having an increasingly harder time taking pleasure in manipulating her. Perhaps his "war" against her had reached its end. Perhaps it was time to give in to Minerva McGonagall. She would be a valuable asset. She could help him do research and help protect his findings and...Well, the only real problem was Dumbledore. How close was she to the old professor? She denied any sort of relationship with the man, but if she was informing on Tom's activities then...Oh sod it. A relationship with her was never going to work...but still...

"Tom, seriously. Did he hurt you at all? He's just really overprotective sometimes and he loves me a lot and I'm really sorry..."

"Shh." Tom put a finger to her lips. "I'm fine. In fact, I rather like the bloke. He reminds me of myself."

Minerva breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, I'm so glad. I was afraid he'd scare you away."

"Tom Riddle is not easily scared away, Miss McGonagall. You ought to know that by now."

Minerva smiled at him shyly. "What made you change your mind about calling me Miss McGonagall? I rather like it."

Tom paused thoughtfully. "I guess I think it suits you."

"I must say I agree."

He leaned in and pressed a light kiss against her lips. "Now that we have that taken care of, I'd like my tour of the house, Miss McGonagall."

"I'd be delighted, Mr. Riddle."