AN: Sorry 'bout the delay. Moved out of the condo and into a nice, quiet spot for myself and my two kitties, Oliver & Lucy.

THE TIES THAT BIND

Chapter 27

SOMNUS MORTEM

"Eight months pregnant!" Hermione McGonagall grumbled as she paced back and forth in front of the great stone fireplace that took up the majority of the far wall in the living room of her and her wife's quarters at Hogwarts. On either side of the field stone fireplace were floor to ceiling windows that allowed the light of the mid April moon to stream in.

The young mother-to-be was finding it difficult to sleep these days due to the somersaults her unborn children seemed to enjoy doing at odd hours in her womb. The wee hours of the morning seemed to be their favorite time as of late. The pressure she felt in her lower back and on her bladder did little to help her mood as well. A small smile creased her plump lips as she thought about her unborn little ones. Her and her wife's children. A son and a daughter for Minerva and Hermione.

Michael Angus McGonagall and Michaela Dawn McGonagall. Names that had been decided only a few night's prior.

The names of two individuals bound for greatness. Of that she was sure...

Grinning cheekily, Hermione walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Spying a container of milk, she leaned down and pulled it out. Setting it on the counter, she opened a cabinet door in search of a glass. Suddenly a long, silk clad arm appeared behind her.

"Allow me." Came the clipped brogue of a Scottish witch who'd just awakened to find the space in bed beside her, where her wife was supposed to be, quite empty. A tall glass was lifted and placed on the counter before the young witch.

"I didn't mean to wake you." Hermione whispered as she felt strong arms wrap around her waist and gentle hands caress her swollen belly. Soft breasts were pressed into her back. A heated body so near her own. The young witch felt the stirrings of arousal down low.

"You did not. I reached out and you were not there." The older witch replied as she pushed her wife's mane aside and leaned down placing a soft kiss on the back of Hermione's neck. "I have grown quite accustomed to having you beside me. I missed you." She added as she nuzzled the young witch's unruly chestnut bed hair.

Sighing in contentment, Hermione poured her milk. She smiled as Minerva reached for another glass and set it next to the first one saying, "I think I will join you."

Grinning, the young mother poured another and handed it to her beautiful wife. Together they touched glasses with a crystal sounding tinkle and said, "Cheers!"

Hermione drained her glass in one long draft. Minerva's elegant eyebrows rose as she watched her lovely, but very pregnant wife pour herself another glass. "Alright then?" The ebony haired witch queried.

The younger woman shrugged, "Dunno. They seem to be having a Quiddich match right now." She grinned and added, "Definitely your spawn for sure!"

Minerva chuckled at her wife's comment as she placed a calming hand on Hermione's enlarged belly, "Easy little ones... Mummy needs her rest."

Hermione felt the movement in her womb ease a bit, "Well at least they listen to you!" She poured herself a third glass of milk grumbling, "First all I want is pickles, now I want milk!"

"Do you want me to fix you a plate of pickles?"

Hermione felt herself growing nauseous at the thought. Shaking her head, she answered, "I think I'm done with pickles."

....And so it came to pass that the students and faculty of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry found pickles on their plates at lunch and dinner time for some time after.


Narcissa Malfoy gazed at her husband's half sister.

Illegitimate half sister.

Abraxus Malfoy was never known for his discretion. Especially around blondes. Arianna Pendragon had been everything that would've caught the old lecher's grey eyes. She was tall, blonde and very well endowed in her "womanly charms". Now here was their daughter, Leta, sitting in Lucius' study acting as if she belonged there.

A silver blonde eyebrow climbed up her aristocratic forehead as she listened to the madness her half sister-in-law was spouting.

"The Pendragon line shall rise again! I will see to it!" Leta Pendragon hissed, her American accent sounding so out of place in Malfoy Manor. The blonde, grey eyed American sipped at the brandy Narcissa had graciously poured earlier. The Mistress of Malfoy Manor glanced up as Leta's daughter glided into the room. An ancient leather bound tome in her hands.

"Mom, I can't find the spell." The young woman looked into her mother's grey eyes. Eyes that held a bit of madness.

"I told you where to look." Leta growled at her youngest daughter. The child who was supposedly going to inherit the dark powers of both the Pendragon line and that of her father. The darkest wizard of all....

Candi Barr shrugged, "You're gonna have to show me again. I need to make sure I get it right."

Leta motioned for her daughter to come near. As the young woman moved, the older woman's keen eyes caught the gracefulness of her daughter's father in her offspring's bearing.

Taking the ancient book from her daughter's small hands, she reached up and cupped Candi's chin, "You have your father's grace my beautiful girl." The older witch then focused on the book. Opening it, she read the inscription, "Death to thee reader if thine not of mine line."

Ancient words written a thousand years ago by Mordred Pendragon. Son of Arthur.

Leta gingerly leafed through the ancient parchment searching for the spell that would allow her to claim Merlin's blood as her own. Finding it, she pointed it out to her daughter, "Here it is. Learn it. You will be called upon to repeat it very soon."

Candi took the book from her mother, "Yes mother." She turned and walked out of the study once again feeling that she was way out of her league and that her mother was just plain crazy. Especially at what she'd just said about her father. She loved her dad, but David Barr was a large man, not known for his grace. Frowning, she turned back to her mother, "Mom, daddy is a lot of things, but graceful is NOT one of them."

Leta snickered, "True my love, Daddy is not, but your father was."

Candi nearly dropped the book in surprise, "What?"

"Never mind dear."

Dumbly, Candi left the study. She was at war with herself. What was that supposed to mean? Was everything her mother had taught her completely wrong? Lies?

All of her life, she'd heard the tale of how Merlin and his line had trod upon the line of Pendragon. How he'd stolen potions and spells, how he'd ruined whole families.

How the remaining family were of the blackest of hearts.

She was having doubts. Especially after having met the heir of the line of Merlin and her extended family. Minerva McGonagall was many things but definitely NOT the blackest of hearts. Quite the opposite, the older witch was honour embodied.

Intergrity should be the motto on her shield. Capable of deep compassion and love as evidenced in the relationship she had with her young wife, Hermione. A mudblood, and yet... so very powerful. The Witch of the Light. Both witches true and honour bound to the ideals of Gryffindor.

How then could McGonagall be dark? The answer was quite plain.

She wasn't.

Leta Pendragon was wrong. If she was wrong about that, then how much of what Candi had been taught was true? The young woman was confused. She loved her mother, but what Leta was planning was so wrong. What could she do? And now this about her dad. She looked back towards the study where Aunt Narcissa was speaking to her mother...

"What exactly are you planning?"

Leta Pendragon stared at her sister-in-law, her grey eyes so like Abraxus'. "I am planning to right a great wrong."

Narcissa cocked her head, "What great wrong?"

The American witch set her brandy snifter aside and stood, "The evils that Merlin visited upon my family."

Malfoy gasped, "Leta that was a thousand years ago!"

A haughty expression crossed the hardened features of the other woman, "Justice knows no time limit."

Narcissa was familiar with the Arthurian legend. After all she was a descendant of Anya Noir who had married Mordred. She was also aware that the Pendragon's had warped the tale to suit their own twisted idea of justice. Quite simply put, Uther Pendragon was responsible for the death of his wife, not Merlin. Mordred killed his mother, not Merlin.

Running a well manicured nail down the side of her own brandy snifter, Narcissa sighed, "Don't you think it's time to give this futile quest up?"

"What do you mean futile?" Leta turned and pinned her "sister" with a withering stare.

Narcissa finished her drink, stood and headed for the door, "The Pendragon's are notorious for not taking responsibility for their actions. For blaming other's for their own shortcomings. You believe the lies spun by Uther, Arthur, Mordred and your own mother."

"Lies?" Leta gasped, her grey eyes narrowing.

Narcissa stopped at the door, "Yes Leta. Lies. The Blacks knew it, so did Slytherin and so did Gryffindor. Why couldn't your family accept their shortcomings? Oh yes..." Narcissa smiled darkly, "Pride goeth before the fall?" With that she turned and opened the door forgetting for a moment one of the strongest Malfoy family mottos...

"Never turn your back on anyone."

Therefore she never saw Leta whip out her wand and hiss with venom, "Sectumsempra!"


Hermione sat at her desk working on an outline for a potion that would ease the annoying effects of late trimester pregnancies. Specifically the pressure on her bladder and the need to have to pee every fifteen minutes! She frowned as she thought of Minerva sniggering at her as she had bitched about having to get out of her warm bed every quarter hour to go to the loo. The older witch had smiled and said, "But think of what awaits your return?" The Headmistress had thrown back the blankets exposing her nude body to her young wife.

"She is such a complete tart sometimes." Hermione hissed between her teeth as she focused on the ingredients needed for such a potion.

"Petrificus Totalis!"

Hermione looked up as she heard a man's voice yell out the paralyzing spell. As she awkwardly rose to her feet, the office door burst open and Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway. There was a wildly glazed look simmering in his grey eyes.

"Draco? What's going on?" The dark eyes of the young healer looking past his shoulder to see Dawn slumped on the floor, "What have you done?" She growled reaching for her wand.

"Somnus Mortem!" The blonde wizard said roughly, his wand trembling. He watched as the pregnant witch fell back into her chair. Stepping around her large desk, the young man scooped the small woman into his arms and disappeared with a flash.

A tiny shimmer slowly took solid form as Doodleberry materialized. He'd watched in horror at the unfolding events. Lady-Miss liked it better when he was invisible. Unfortunately she also liked that he kept out of things. This time it came back to bite her in her lovely arse.
Looking down the hall, he saw Little Sister lying on the floor. He scampered over to Dawn and gently tapped her head. Using his house-elf magic, he woke the young woman, "Little Sister musts wakes!"

Dawn Granger felt like hell. "Somebuddy get the number of the bus that hit me..." She moaned, feeling something poking her forehead, "Whut?" Opening her mocha eyes, she saw a tiny elf standing over her. Large, luminous golden eyes peered anxiously down at her.

"Little Sister?"

"Yeah... Gimme a minute." She grumbled counting her bones, "You wait till I see that Draco Malfoy again. Magic or not, I'm gonna cut his knobblies off!"

Doodleberry's eyes crinkled in amusement for a moment at her comment, then he said urgently, "Lady-Miss was takens by the bads blondes wizard!"

That brought full lucidity to Dawn Granger, "What? That bloody prick!" She could see the young elf wringing his claws in distress. Getting to her knees, she locked her dark eyes on his golden ones, "You can trace Hermione can't you?"

The tiny creature nodded.

Dawn frowned as she tried to remember what Ron had told her about elf magic, "Can another elf trace you?"

Again the tiny creature nodded, his eyes brightening as he realized what Dawn was getting at, "My's father can!"

Dawn nodded grimly, "Go! Find Hermione. I'll find Minerva!"

The little elf needed no more encouragement, he was gone with a pop and a flash. Dawn stood for a moment. There was no one in the clinic as the last patient had gone about an hour ago. Susan had left shortly after and her mother had been escorted back to the Manor by Rolanda. Looking around, she realized that there wasn't anyone magical to help her.

Except herself.

She walked to the fireplace in the reception area and glanced at the container of floo powder. The young woman took a deep breath and looked heavenward, "Great-grandma Sarah? If you can hear me, I really need some help!" With that said, the young woman grabbed a double handful of floo powder grimacing as it began to run between her fingers and all over the sparkling clean floor.

"'Mione's gonna kill me for spilling her powder." The young woman muttered as she stepped towards the fireplace. Closing her eyes, she threw the powder and screamed, "Headmistress's office Hogwarts!" Then took a great breath and jumped into the fireplace with a mighty banshee yell.


"Yeeeoowwww!"

Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, looked up in surprise at the horrific screech erupting from her floo, "What the bloody hell!" She was just rising from her desk, wand drawn, as a body was ejected from her fireplace.

The very familiar body of her wife's younger sister.

"Dawn? What in Merlin's name are you doing?" The older witch exclaimed as she hurried to help her new little sister up from the undignified pile she found herself in.

Dawn Granger was a mess. Soot covered her entire body and her normally close cropped hair was sticking straight up like Rolanda's. Her normally large dark eyes were clamped shut and she was trembling with fear, "Minerva!"

"I'm here dear. What is it?"

Dawn couldn't see Minerva because of the soot in her eyes. Tears began to flow down her cheeks causing a line of skin to show through the black dust on her cheeks and under each eye. Blindly she grasped for her big sister. "Draco Malfoy grabbed 'Mione! He took her!" She screamed hysterically.

Minerva stood stock still, "He what?" Her voice was deadly calm.

Dawn twisted about, her hands furiously rubbing her eyes, "He shot me with some kind of spell. It knocked me out. When I came to, Doodleberry told me that Draco had grabbed Hermione."

Minerva whirled to the portrait of Severus, "Find Albus!"

The portrait of Severus Snape nodded and quickly disappeared from his frame.

Dawn tried to calm herself, her painful eyes weren't helping, "Oh God I feel like shite!"

Minerva summoned Izer, "Get Poppy!"

"Yes Mistress."

Dawn recognized Izer's squeaky voice, "Wait!"

The elf paused uncertainly, "Yes Little Sister?"

Dawn blinked furiously, her eyes beginning to clear a bit, "Doodleberry said you could track him. Is that so?"

The tiny elf looked up at Minerva, then at Dawn, "Yes Miss. This is so."

Minerva brought herself eye to eye with her elf, "Where did they go?"

The tiny creature closed his large eyes concentrating on the life force of his son. He felt a trickle of sweat run down the side of his head at his effort. "Theys be at's Malfoys Manor."

The Headmistress straightened as the sound of thunder echoed throughout her office. Casting a dark glance at her elf, she whispered, "Take care of her." With a flash she was gone.


The great oak door to the Headmistresses office burst open and Albus Dumbledore and Poppy Pomfrey entered. The elder wizard spied Dawn sitting dejectedly in a chair next to the fireplace. She was covered in soot from head to toe. There were great tracks on her face where her tears had washed the soot away. Standing next to her was Minerva's elf, Izer. The tiny creature was patting Dawn's shoulder and mumbling endearments.

"What's happened?"

Dawn looked up and blearily focused on Dumbledore, "Oh Santa! Draco Malfoy grabbed 'Mione and took her! Minerva went after him!"

Poppy moved over to the distressed young woman and waved her wand, "He did more than that, he hit you with a paralyzing curse!"

The tall young woman rose from her seat. Wobbling a bit, she said, "I'm fine."

The mediwitch snorted as she waved her wand over Dawn's eyes, "Oh sure you are! And the pain in your eyes is a figment of the imagination too." She pulled a small bottle out of her robes, "Here drink this."

"I don't have any magic! It won't work on me!" The young woman wailed.

"Don't you ever let anyone tell you that you have no magic." Dumbledore lectured, waving a bony finger at Dawn, "Now, where did Minerva go?"

"Malfoy Manor."

"Fine then..." The elder wizard raised his arms to apparate and suddenly found himself with Dawn Granger wrapped around his middle.

"I'm going too!"

With a flash and a thunderclap the elder wizard and the young woman disappeared.

Poppy rolled her eyes, "Oh no you don't!" She grumbled. She wasn't about to let that young woman go untreated. With a flash and a twinkle, the mediwitch disappeared as well.


Minerva McGonagall stood at the gates of Malfoy Manor. She could feel the wards in place to keep unwanted intruders out.

Intruders like herself.

Right now she didn't give a fig about who was unwanted. She was getting onto the grounds one way or another. Spying a large fir tree growing next to the outer wall, she smiled as she saw that it's branches reached over the walls.

With a tiny pop, she transformed into her animagus form and padded over to the tree. With claws as sharp as razors, the silver striped tabby climbed the tree and up to a branch that reached over the wall. Gingerly, she picked her way out on the branch. It sagged a bit under her weight, but not enough to even phase the determined feline. Carefully she pussyfooted her way to the end of the branch and over the wall.

With the pure feline grace the made Minerva the amazing witch that she was, she jumped from the branch transforming in the air. Landing on steady feet, she sprinted for all she was worth to the main entrance of the imposing mansion. As she reached the door, she whipped out her wand and blasted the door to smithereens.

The hell with being subtle.


The fields of Camlaan appeared much the way they did over a thousand years ago. Leta closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could smell the blood that ran so freely the day Arthur died. Hear the moans of the wounded. The grass was deep green now but it must've glistened crimson with the blood that had been spilled that day. Even now, there was the stillness of death hovering over the area.

Nodding to herself, she pulled out her wand and moved to an area that was covered with flat grey stones all interlocking together to form a floor of sorts, "This will do nicely." She whispered as she waved her wand. A great grinding groan pierced the stillness in the air as a massive black granite slab rose up from the earth.

Approximately three meters long by one meter wide it rose to be about waist high. The top most part glistening with a high polished, mirror-like finish.

The blonde witch waved her wand again and the body of Hermione McGonagall appeared on the slab. Her swollen belly quite apparent. Chestnut hair splaying out over the stone table like a halo. Her features were beautifully placid with the deep slumber that was upon her.

Somnus Mortem.

The Death Sleep.

Invented by Mordred Pendragon a thousand years ago. Designed to place a person into a coma-like sleep for an eternity.

"At least your cousin got that much right." Leta spat at her daughter as she stepped up to the slab to peer down into the face of her enemy, "Quite pretty isn't she? For a mudblood that is."

Candi nodded, "Minerva loves her."

A sharp bark of laughter erupted from the cruel mouth of Leta Pendragon, "Of that I have no doubt!" She smirked, "The downfall of all those of the house of Merlin... love!" She threw her head back and cackled nastily. Candi shook her head, knowing this was wrong. Yet not being brave enough to stop her mother.

"Put the book at the head of the platform."

Candi was brought out of her thoughts by the sharp command of her mother, "Oh shit!"

Leta's grey eyes narrowed, "What?"

"I left it at the manor."

The young woman ducked as a firebolt nearly took her head off, "Stupid child! One would think you truly were David's spawn. Oaf that he is!"

Candi brought herself back to her feet, "What do you mean? Who is my father?"

Leta grinned madly, "Surely you would've guessed by now?" She saw the blank look on her daughter's lovely face. Shaking her head, she replied, "Oh well... No David Barr is not your father. He thought he was, but no.. you are not his."

Great tears formed in Candi Barr's sky blue eyes, "Who then?"

"Why, the Dark Lord of course. Voldemort."

A blood curdling scream echoed over the still fields of Camlaan in the fading light of the ending day as Candi Barr released the soul wrenching cry of a woman who just realized that her life was over.


"There you are... you fecking little gobshite!" Minerva McGonagall hissed, her emerald eyes narrowed to the thinnest of slits. She stormed into the dining room of Malfoy Manor looking like the goddess of war. Draco Malfoy was huddled in a far corner, shaking. She wasn't sure why.

Frankly she didn't care.

"Where is my wife?!" The elder witch growled moving with a speed that belied her seventy-nine years. Almost a blur, she reached out and wrapped her strong right hand around young Malfoy's throat.

"WHERE IS SHE!!!"

The young man was lifted off of the floor. His feet dangling helplessly as the furious witch held him by the throat. His pale face began to turn an interesting shade of blue as McGonagall squeezed. The nails on her right hand morphing into cat's claws. Drawing blood from the young man.

"TELL ME! YOU BLOODY TOW-HEADED SHITE!" Minerva thundered bouncing him off of the wall several times.

"Please stop....."

Minerva paused hearing the soft sound of a whispered plea. She blinked as something dripped on her cheek and then on her shoulder.

It was blood.

Looking up at the ceiling, the Headmistress gasped, her eyes widening in horror as she beheld Narcissa Malfoy crucified to the ceiling.


Albus Dumbledore blinked as he looked around to see where he'd ended up. He could feel the death grip Dawn Granger had around his waist suddenly loosen a bit.

"Where are we?" The young woman whispered gazing around. She rubbed her eyes once again.

They were in the kitchen.

Frowning, Albus stroked his long silver beard, "We appear to have ended up in the kitchen." He looked around and took in the startled house elves who'd paused in their work. With a charming smile (he hoped), he said, "Never mind us, we're just playing through." He drew his wand and reached for a nearby door, "Come Dawn."

He looked back to see the young woman grab a frying pan from out of a startled elf's claws, "Thanks."

She looked up at Dumbledore to see his eyes widen. "Whut? You have a wand. I don't."

Dumbledore shook his head, "Whatever works."

"TELL ME! YOU BLOODY TOW-HEADED SHITE!"

The young woman and the elder wizard glanced at each other. "That's Minerva!" Dawn screeched racing after Albus as he stormed through the door.


Candi Barr soundlessly paced down the entry hall to her cousin's home. Seeing the front door or rather what was left of it had placed her on alert. She couldn't believe she'd left the bloody book behind! Her keen ears picked up the sounds of a scuffle in the dining room. By all rights no one should be there. Her mother made very sure of that. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled the gruesome sight of Aunt Narcissa being tortured.

"This is just too wrong." She whispered to herself.

"TELL ME! YOU BLOODY TOW-HEADED SHITE!"

Recognizing who's voice that was, Candi quickened her pace and reached for the door to the dining room. Wand at the ready.


"Let him go!" Albus Dumbledore rumbled at his dearest friend. "Tabby? Put him down!"

Minerva heard her friend, but was too focused on the scene above her. Without a thought, she dropped Draco. The latter falling into a tangle of unconscious arms and legs.

Dumbledore looked up to see what Minerva was looking at.

Narcissa Malfoy. Or what was left of her.

"Oh Merlin!" The elder wizard exclaimed as he raised his wand.

"Don't move! Any of you!"

Minerva and Dumbledore turned to see Candi Barr standing in the doorway with her wand trained on them. The young witch, stepped into the room, "Can't you just stay out of it?"

"Oh hell no!"

The sound of a frying pan cracking against a human skull reverberated throughout Malfoy Manor with an almighty CLANG!!!

Dawn Granger stood over the unconscious witch and spat, "Frying pan. A woman's best friend!" She was quite the sight to see. Tall, thin soot covered, hair standing on end. Tear streaked face, runny nose and a frying pan.

Albus shot the young woman a grin as he waved his wand and gently lowered Narcissa to the dining table.


"How the bloody hell did I end up in the loo?" Poppy Pomfrey bitched as she opened the door to escape. She could hear the sounds of a fight somewhere downstairs. Then she heard a metallic clanging sound followed by silence. The portly witch picked up the pace as she descended the grand staircase in the main hall of Malfoy Manor.

Following her ears, she entered the dining room to see Albus lowering a badly wounded Narcissa Malfoy to the dining table.

As the witch's battered and bloodied body settled, Minerva slammed her fists on the table and growled into the semi-conscious Narcissa's face, "Where is Hermione?"

Swollen and bloodshot eyes opened slowly and focused on the Headmistress. In a raspy whisper, Narcissa replied, "Where it all began." She then slid into blissful unconsciousness.

Poppy moved over to the table, "I've got to get her to St. Mungo's." She saw Draco lying on the floor. She waved her wand and cast Hermione's diagnostic spell, "Diagosticus!" The floating graph appeared above Draco. Poppy's eyes widened as she recognized the magical signature of an unforgivable curse.

"He's been placed under the Imperius Curse."


"Where it all began?" Dawn muttered incredulously, "What does that mean?"

Minerva stood stock still. Staring at the bloody outline of where Narcissa had been only moments before. Poppy had whisked both Malfoys to St. Mungo's.

Dumbledore gazed at his friend, deep sadness in his eyes. He'd never seen his friend as joyously happy as she had been since Hermione had come into her life as her mate. He desperately hoped nothing untoward had happened to the lovely, brown eyed genius. She was Minerva's mate in so many ways. It was destroy the older witch if anything happened to her "kitten" or their cubs. He took a deep breath as an idea came to him.

"Tabby?"

Green eyes flicked up at him causing the older wizard to gasp at the intense pain registering within their depths.

"Can you feel her through your bonding?"

Those same intense green eyes flicked away, "I have never been able to use it the way Hermione does." There was total demoralizing defeat in her voice.

Frowning, Dumbledore stepped nearer, "You must Tabby. You must!"

"I CANNOT!" McGonagall screamed furiously at her best friend. She wrung her hands wildly.

"I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO EXPRESS MY EMOTIONS THAT WAY!"

Pacing back and forth, she exploded fiercely, "HERMIONE CAN DO IT. I CANNOT!"

Dumbledore grabbed his friend by the shoulders, "You must try!"

A great roar erupted from the Headmistress, "I CANNOT!!!!!" She fell to her knees raging her frustration, keening her fear, howling her grief.

"AAAHHHHRRRROOWWWLLLLL!!!!"

A soul wrenching wail echoed throughout Malfoy Manor. All nearby creatures great and small paused, flattening their ears at the great aching pain in the cry of the mighty McGonagall.

Dawn Granger wept great sorrowful tears, "Please Stick! You can do it. Find 'Mione!"

Izer gazed at his Mistress. A deep ache ripped at his heart. He could feel her pain, almost as if it were his own. Cautiously, he padded over to the crumpled form of his Mistress, "Please Mistress. Takes my's hand." He held out his claw.

Minerva raised tearful emerald eyes to meet the earnest golden one's of her trusted elf.

"We's finds them. You's and me's."

The Headmistress caught the tiny clawed hand into her larger one. She felt a tingling inside. A tiny niggling at her heart. In her mind's eye she saw a tiny glimmer of light. In her ears she heard the sound of laughter. Children's laughter.

Her children.

Suddenly her brain decided to kick in as well. Eyes wide, she stared at Izer for a long moment, then looked up to Dumbledore. She stood on unsteady legs and drew her wand, "I know where she is."

Dumbledore's eyebrows climbed up his forehead, "Where then?"

Minerva's deep green eyes darkened with the coming storm rising within her. Looking at her friend, she uttered one word.

"Camlaan."

A great flash of light and a thunderclap let Dumbledore know that Minerva McGonagall had apparated.

The Headmistress was headed for battle.


-to be continued.

AN: Dedicated to my sweet brown eyed Brit for all her patience and love.