AN: I know it has been a good long while since I've updated. But I am trying to get back into writing and hopefully I will be able to update again. I do appreciate you all sticking with me.

Happy (early) New Year to you all!

A quick recap:

Poppy is looking for medical answers to Bellatrix her health issues. In the meantime Rolanda and Minerva have left to go on an adventure in order to help all the while airing out some of their marriage troubles.

An uncomfortable silence hung between the formidable Hogwarts witches as they traversed the dangerous grounds of Black Manor. Minerva's temper already short-fused, due to everything that had happened the past few hours, sparked their fight. "Just ask your damn question already Ro, unlike some I cannot read minds!"

"I was trying to give you space. All these years we've been married and not once you thought to tell me?" Though the words were spoken in anger, it didn't take a genius to find the profound hurt Rolanda felt by being lied to.

"It was need to know, Rolanda" was the cool reply.

"Need to know? And I as your bloody wife didn't qualify?"

"You don't understand"

"No I do not understand indeed, well spotted Rowanda Ravenclaw. Instead of the trust I thought I had earned and given to you in return I discover now that you've kept things from me. How do I know that you haven't kept another huge part of your life from me? How am I supposed to trust you even one bit? How…" Rolanda didn't get to finish as Minerva interrupted her rant "I did what I had to do to protect her!"

"Who, Bellatrix?"

"No, my daughter you daft cow!"

Rolanda stopped in her tracks. Her mind briefly blanked at the implications, then went in over drive. Daughter? Bellatrix was Minerva's daughter? What in the world! But how? When? Is that why they were here?

Minerva turned to her, with a deep sigh she collected some courage for what she knew she should have told her wife ages ago.

"No Ro, Bellatrix isn't my daughter… Hermione is."

Rolanda was shocked. Briefly she blushed ever so lightly as she hadn't realised that she had spoken her thoughts out loud. Still she was too hurt and confused to reply, not trusting her voice she gestured for Minerva to continue.

"Look it is dangerous here love, I promise I will tell you everything but right here and now it's a bad time." Obviously the fight had left Minerva as she just wanted this day to be over. She was tired. The kind of tiredness you could feel in your bones. Was it too much to ask to leave this conversation for another day? It wasn't as if they weren't deep into enemy territory. One look at Rolanda told her that she wouldn't get to leave it to another day, they would talk now.

"You will tell me it now, I don't care about where we are. You've had years to tell me!" Rolanda had enough, she was sick of not knowing and more importantly she didn't even know what they were up against at the very least she liked to know what possible dangers they could face. "I would have followed you to the end of the world. I've respected your wishes when you begged me to leave despite knowing that the war was on, in order to find the Grangers that had mysteriously disappeared. I didn't ask any questions then. I knew there was more to it, but I had hoped you would tell me by in your own time…" Rolanda paused briefly. The memory of being away for the final battle still stung. Not knowing if your loved ones were alive being far away. Her students fighting and she was not with them to protect them from the horrors. She never truly forgave herself for this. "You know. I had thought many things. I thought it was a fool's errand or at least your way to keep me safe. Instead you used me to ensure the safety of your child… Our child if you had let me know... I would have loved her as my own, despite her being conceived before I met you. Or did you think I wouldn't have fallen for you? I would have still loved you – child or not."

Apparently this was the wrong thing to say.

Angry tears rolled down Minerva's face. "It wasn't about you, you self-centred prick. Do you not think I would have loved raising her myself! I had no choice, letting anyone know was too dangerous. My daughter ha-" A twig snapping halted whatever Minerva would have said next, both witches stilled as they focused on their surroundings. Internally they both berated themselves for forgetting just where they were. A figure stepped out of the woods. Minerva growled as she recognized just who it was "Donavan."

"Fancy seeing you here Minerva and you brought me a present too, how sweet." He fired off a perificus totalis at Rolanda before they could react.

"Fuck off Donavan."

"Tsk tsk touchy aren't we? That time of the month I suppose" He continued before the witch could retort. "However I digress, imagine my surprise as I casually stroll through the woods hearing you argue like a banshee. But tell me something, how did she manage to survive?" His smooth velvet tone sneered at them.

"Go to hell Donavan. You're nothing but a lapdog of his."

"Such a shame, still no manners not even after my lessons." He spoke as if he admonished a wayward child "Quite ironic isn't it that you end up as a teacher yet you are so horrid at learning lessons. But do not worry darling, I'll make sure to truly kill her this time. After all, I cannot have some bastard of mine walk around freely now can I? "

"You'll never get your hands on her! Today we end this" With that Minerva fired off a hex lightning fast.

He deflected it with a lazy wave having expected her reaction.

"Don't get predictable love. After today you're mine again and I'll make sure that this time you won't escape and you will bare me a son"

Rolanda was screaming with fury in her head. However there was nothing she could do as she was powerless, being held in place by his spell. She felt utterly helpless as she watched the battle before her unfold.

The grounds shook from the sheer power exchanged between the fighting pair. Left and right trees had been felled as they had been used as shields. Ancient powerful oaks uprooted or blasted to pieces as if they were mere toothpicks. Blood flowed freely from Minerva's thigh, caught by a slicing hex that levelled the tree behind her. Thus far that was her only injury. He was fairing much worse. Sweat dripping down his head as it mixed with blood. The once white shirt now stained with dirt, his robes were long since in tatters. Scorch marks littered his legs and he was sure he had some nasty third degree burn marks on his back too. He had underestimated the witch before him. Had forgotten that she had been a personal friend of Dumbledore, who had undoubtedly taught her how to fight. A stupid mistake, one that he paid the price for. He hadn't done himself any favours either by threatening to kill their child. It also didn't help he fought to incapacitate her, still wanting her to bare his male heir… whereas she fought to kill.

A prone figure caught his eye. He smiled to himself, knowing how he could win this battle he raised his wand and aimed.

"Just how far are you willing to go to save our daughter love?" He taunted Minerva. Then promptly fired a crucio towards the still form of Hooch.

Minerva with cat like reflexes instinctively jumped in front of her love. Not having the time to conjure a shield she was fully hit with the foul spell.

Seconds past like hours.

There was nothing but pain as every fibre in her body hurt. Her throat raw from screaming as she was wriggling in agony on the unforgiving hard ground.

Out of nowhere a black blur flew out of the woods into the small clearing.

A harsh snap, like a twig being broken echoed through the forest.

And in the next moment everything stopped.

Hooch didn't waste a second to get up and run over to her prone wife on the ground. Tears running freely over her face as she tried to soften Minerva's pain and although she knew that nothing really helped against the cruciatus curse she still cast every healing spell she could think of.

In that moment Lycan dropped the body of Donavan, letting it fall to the stone cold ground with a resounding dud. If either of the witches had bothered to look they would have seen how Donavan's neck now stood at an odd angle. But no one paid attention to his body anymore. He was gone, just another nameless dark wizard whose existence wouldn't plague the world any longer. It was almost laughable how anti-climactic the battle ended.

Lycan turned towards them both "Listen you don't have much time. I may have been able to rescue you, but there are many more dangerous things coming. Leave now and you'll be able to get home in one piece. I will tell them you've run in another direction and hold them at bay as long as possible"

Rolanda didn't need to be told twice; she hoisted Minerva onto her back in one swift move and took off at a run, whispering her thanks over her shoulder knowing that the werewolf's hearing would pick up on it.

However before she could even leave the clearing fully a soft yet firm voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Stop, we must go on"

"You've hit your head harder than I thought if you think I am going to let you run into danger once more" Rolanda struggled to hold on to Minerva as the witch tried to pry herself loose.

"There is no choice, I have to go on!" Minerva's Scottish brogue became more pronounced as she continued to argue with her wife. With energy she didn't even know she had Minerva jumped away and ran towards the dooming castle in the distance.