"So I guess we're buying all your sweets this term," William said once the sorting was over.

Minerva sighed, "You'll have to buy them without me," she muttered miserably.

"Why?"

"I can't come. My parents wouldn't sign the form."

"Why not?" demanded William, ignoring Kim's warning looks, "They let Valerius."

Minerva suddenly became focussed upon her empty plate as she replied softly, "They hate me, William. I'm lucky they let me come to Hogwarts at all."

"Minerva," Kim said gently, putting an arm around her friend.

"They hate the fact that I got sorted into Gryffindor and spending time with Dumbledore, it just makes them angrier. They said I've betrayed my family."

"I'm sorry, Min," murmured William softly.

Minerva felt the tears pricking behind her eyes. "Its okay, forget it. I don't want to talk about my family, Gryffindor is my family. I just want to forget about them and the summer – I belong here."

Kim looked into her face concernedly and with horror in her voice suddenly asked, "They don't, you know – hurt you, do they, Min?"

Minerva didn't answer for a while and then shook her head softly. "Not really," she answered, "My father cursed me a couple of times," she bit her lip, "It hurt but it-it was nothing serious."

William and Kim exchanged horrified glances and Kim wrapped her arms around her friend tightly. Minerva was shaking slightly, attempting to hold back her tears. William looked to the staff table and caught Dumbledore's eye before nodding slightly to Minerva.

Dumbledore got to his feet and walked quickly through the Great Hall towards them. Reaching them he softly murmured, "Miss McGonagall, would you come with me, please?"

Biting back her tears she got to her feet and followed him obediently from the Great Hall to his office. He signalled for her to take a seat and she did so, all the while keeping her eyes focussed on the floor beneath her.

"Are you okay, Miss McGonagall?"

She nodded silently.

"You didn't seem okay in the Great Hall," Dumbledore pressed her gently, "Would you like to talk about it?"

She shook her dark head.

"Please," he said softly.

She didn't reply and he allowed the silence to continue between them.

Finally she took a deep breath, "I was talking about my family," she sighed.

"Your father hasn't reacted well to your placement in Gryffindor?"

She shook her head.

"Nor to your friendship with me?"

She looked up at him in surprise.

"Headmaster Dippet received a letter from your father. He requested that I avoid all contact with you outside of classes unless I wish to be removed by the Governors."

"The Governors always listen to father and Mr Malfoy."

"I don't care," he told her softly, "If you want to continue our meetings and chess games we shall."

She looked at him, her eyes filled with emotion, "I don't want you to lose your job or anything because of me."

"Don't worry about me," he answered, "I will take care of my life."

She looked at him silently for a moment and then nodded.

"It is you I am concerned for, Minerva. I hope your father's anger has not manifested itself unpleasantly towards you."

Once again she gazed at the floor and a silence fell between them.

"Minerva?" he queried gently.

"There's a curse," she whispered, "Doleo."

He stared at her for a moment and then got up from his own chair and went to her side. Tenderly he pulled the trembling girl into his arms and held her tightly.

"It causes pain," he said in a slightly less controlled voice. "Your father uses it on you?"

A tear rolled down her cheek as she answered honestly, "Occasionally. If he is very angry."

He held her whilst she cried quietly into his robes. Quickly her tears stopped, and he was not surprised. Minerva prided herself on being a strong person and he knew she would consider her tears a display of weakness.

Standing up he looked kindly at the girl still seated in front of him.

"I will speak to Headmaster Dippet," he told her softly, "I presume you will be staying here as usual for Christmas and Easter, but hopefully we can also prevent you having to return home in the summer."

She got to her feet, "Thank you, Professor," she managed in a calm, controlled voice. "I think I can hear people leaving the Great Hall so I suppose should head to the Gryffindor tower now."

He nodded but as she reached the door he called her name and she turned to look at him questioningly.

"Chess tomorrow evening?"

She smiled, "Of course."

Once again...pleeeease review...you know you want to:-)