It was late when Albus Dumbledore woke; but he woke with Minerva McGonagall in his arms.
Their arms were wrapped tightly around each other and their bodies fitted so closely even despite the bedclothes and his dressing gown that, though he had a deep disinclination to disturb her, he could not suppress a small chuckle.
"Ah, my Minerva," he breathed, shifting his head to let hers rest more comfortably on his shoulder, "it would appear neither of us is as invulnerable as we attempt to seem. At the very worst and the very best of times, we cling to each other – and our bodies know it, even when our minds refuse it."
She snorted into what was left of his beard. His eyes flew downwards, but she was still asleep; however the parallel between the sound and her probable alert responce set off another deep chuckle, and this time her eyelids fluttered.
Even though he knew she would not be pleased he could not summon the will to loosen their embrace. And strangely her own arms did not move an inch, even when she yawned through a mouthful of beard.
"Good morning, Professor McGonagall," he said gravely.
"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore," she replied, equally formally, her voice slightly scratchy from sleep. Her head did not shift from his shoulder.
"You slept well, I trust?"
"Quite well, thank you." He felt absurdly happy at that. She moved slightly to look up at him. "I may borrow your dressing gown again – should I ever need a sleeping bag."
The chuckles hit again. "It is always at your disposal." She seemed ready to get up; he held her just a moment longer. "Minerva – I owe you a great debt. Thank you for staying with me this last night."
Her eyelids fluttered down. "If there are thanks to be said," she said slowly, "then they are to go both ways." She looked up at him again. "Being with you was a comfort for me as well."
Their faces were scant inches apart.
"Professor Dumbledore!" The frantic call echoed through the chamber. "Professor Dumbledore!"
They let go of each other, and moved together through the reappeared doorway. "Come in!" Dumbledore cried.
Professor Snape entered Dumbledore's study at a run. His eyes widened with shock as he took in the unexpected occupant – Professor McGonagall, wrapped in Dumbledore's distinctive dressing gown, her hair in a somewhat mussed plait. And Dumbledore, clad only in his nightshirt.
"Severus? What is it?" Dumbledore seemed supremely unconcerned by the situation, but McGonagall noticed how Snape's eyes travelled the room, taking in the sight of her own clothes tossed on what was now a red and gold chair. Her eyes narrowed as he shot another quick look at her, then turned his attention to Dumbledore.
"Sir. We've just got the news. There was a riot at Azkaban last night."
Her irritation with Snape was immediately forgotten. "What happened?"
He kept his eyes on Dumbledore. "A large group of wizards decided to pre-empt the Wizengamot's verdicts and deal with the Death Eaters themselves. Since the Dementors are no longer employed by the Ministry of Magic, there was really nothing there to stop them breaking into Azkaban. The guards didn't stand a chance. Actually," his lip curled, "few of them tried hard to defend it. I can only suppose they felt the mob had a point."
"Merlin!" She sank into the red and gold chair.
"We haven't received all the information yet; from what we have heard, it is certain that most of the Death Eaters were murdered. But in the excitement of the riot, some of them escaped."
All the lines the night had lifted from Albus Dumbledore's face had returned. "Whom?"
"I don't know." Snape almost spat the admission.
"I shall have to go to the Ministry of Magic immediately. Professor McGonagall, I leave the school in your capable hands."
She nodded.
"Let me go with you." Snape's voice made it a demand.
"No, Severus. If any of the Death Eaters were in Voldemort's confidence, then they will know you had a great deal to do with their defeat. You are a target, and I am not willing to risk your safety."
Snape struggled visibly with this, then nodded angrily. "But if they do not know I betrayed them – "
"Have no fear, Severus. I will not hesitate to ask you to risk your life yet again." Of his two hearers, only one realised the pain with which he spoke those words. Snape took them at their face value.
"You have no need to ask."
"Professor Snape." McGonagall cut in. "Mobs generally don't just 'happen'. Was there a particular person who put these wizards up to it?"
Dumbledore leaned forward as Snape frowned. "That is what I don't understand. What my informant tells me doesn't make any sense."
"Which is?" McGonagall prompted.
"That the person who incited the mob was Cornelius Fudge."