A/N Thank you Maria for taking the time to beta this.

First time this chapter has been posted to FFN, but it may still look familiar. It has been in email circulations since early February.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Desiring to be closer to her, Albus stepped over the broken potion vials littering the floor around her. Just once more he needed to touch her, one last time to press his lips against hers.

Reaching out and tenderly stroking her face, it was almost as if he could still feel that spark. He remembered it so well, it was like it was still there. It seemed almost real. If only wishing could make it so.

No, he really could still feel that spark of energy touching her. He wasn't simply remembering it.

Something wasn't right. Tonks hadn't been able to find the castle, but if Minerva was dead than the Fidelius Charm should have ended.

Minerva wasn't breathing; well at least she didn't seem to be. Albus removed his hand from her face. Taking out his wand he checked for a pulse.

Nothing.

Just wishful thinking. Just the foolish hopes of a desperate old man.

He was lowering his wand, admitting defeat when it happened - a single tiny, almost imperceptible flash of light showed from his wand.

"Alastor! We need to get Minerva to St. Mungo's now!"

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Albus resisted all attempts to persuade him from Minerva's side during the journey to St. Mungo's and while the healers did their work. The healers tried to send him out of the room. Alastor asked him to come assist in gauging the scope of the information Minerva had surely given and prevent the damage it could do. Albus granted no concessions. He knew it could be a long time before she awoke, but he wanted…he needed to be there when she did.

It was torment sitting there, watching her slumber. Her breaths were so few and so far between even with the potions the healers had administered. It had taken a while, but the healers at St. Mungo's, quite experienced in all manner of odd injuries, had figured out the unusual combination of things wrong with her.

While most of the earlier wounds had been no doubt inflicted to cause maximum pain, they had been superficial, causing minimal blood loss. It was only the last wound that had been serious, the blade that pierced her throat. Normally with such a wound it would be expected for her to have bled to death in two, three minutes at most. Mysteriously, the flow of blood from Minerva's wound had stopped before that could happen.

The healer in charge had informed him it was no miracle, but rather a very difficult to brew potion that must have been administered almost immediately that had saved Minerva's life.

The Draught of the Living Death mimics death in many ways, including the near cessation of the heart. With her heart not stopped, but beating only once every few minutes, there had not been enough blood pressure for her to bleed out completely. There had of course also been no appreciable pulse to take.

The healer had referred to the one who thought to put the potion to such a use 'ingenious'. Albus didn't care what anyone else chose to call Severus Snape, to him Albus would always owe a debt worth far more than if it had been merely his own life saved.

He knew Severus was surely the quick reacting individual who had thought to give Minerva the powerful sleeping draught. Certainly he was one of the few potion makers skilled enough to manufacture such a mixture, and as a recent initiate into Voldemort's inner circle, he was likely to have been there.

In spite of the words he had spoken to her only hours ago, Albus longed to gather her in his arms, to caress her face, to kiss her lips, to grasp her hand in his. Despite the other people in the room, only the thought that it might cause her pain to do so held him back.

Instead, he hovered beside her ear, not touching her, but whispering words to comfort and reassure her just in case she could hear him.

It was dark again before Minerva awoke. Physically, the healers had assured him it would take time, but she could recover completely from her wounds. But those were just words and words were so easily spoken. Even then, as to the possibility of brain damage, they were not so willing to commit.

As soon as she awoke, he knew everything was going to be all right. There was more than just a spark of recognition in her eyes as she looked at him.

Against the healers' orders, she struggled to speak.

"I-"

"Shh…it's all right, Minerva. It's over now. You're safe."

It was clear each word was agony to get out, but she persisted.

"-told-"

The list of things she could have told Voldemort, the plans, the secrets she may have given away were innumerable. But he just didn't care. She was alive and that was all that mattered.

"Minerva, it doesn't matter. Just rest now."

Still, she struggled to go on despite the pain.

"-you-"

This he didn't understand, but he knew it had to be desperately important. What was she referring to? They had had discussions about so many things. Voldemort? The Order? The Ministry? Snape? A traitor in their own midst? Something else? Which one could she possibly be referring to now?

"-so!"

He couldn't help but let out a small bark of laughter to go along with his tears. Yes, Minerva was certainly going to be all right. Wanting simply to be near her, to touch her, he gently traced a strand of hair on her pillow, careful to not put pressure on even that small part of her.

The healers soon had her in a restful, painless sleep. Having himself been reassured and comforted, he whispered into her ear a few more words of devotion. With a promise to return shortly, he took his leave.

Exactly what had gone on that night, he had no idea. But given that Minerva was still alive, he was more than confident that Severus Snape had also managed to survive.

If he had survived and he were able to, Severus should be waiting now in the dark forests around Hogwarts. Determined to find out exactly what had gone on and the extent of the damage to the Order, Albus made his way back to the school.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

A/N Reviews are always welcome!

In case you missed it, the significance of Minerva's 'I told you so!' was her chapter one statement that You-Know-Who wasn't just targeting Dumbledore, but anyone who stands against him.

The next chapter jumps right into Severus' rendition of the night's events.