"Sit down, Miss McGonagall," said Dippet, as they entered his office.

She obediently took a seat in front of his desk watching him as he moved around to sit behind it.

"What will happen to Hagrid?"

"He will be expelled, but not abandoned. Professor Dumbledore has already undertaken to see he is properly cared for and has opportunities for the future."

Minerva nodded silently, her expression unchanged.

"Professor Dumbledore takes his responsibilities serious, Minerva," said Dippet more kindly, "Hagrid will be okay."

Again she nodded.

"And me?" she asked.

Dippet sighed, "What you did tonight…" His voice trailed off.

"It's time for me to leave Hogwarts, isn't it Professor?"

"I think it is, Minerva, yes."

"Why did you stand between me and Professor Dumbledore tonight?"

Dippet looked down at the papers on his desk and made no reply.

"Professor?"

"I could see you were very upset," Dippet replied finally, "And I was concerned that, in your distressed state, you might end up… well…"

"Fulfilling the prophecy," Minerva suggested.

"Yes."

"Sometimes I think I'm going to be haunted by that prophecy my whole life." Her voice was filled with frustration.

"I'm sorry, Minerva. But then, I was wrong, wasn't I? You chose to stupefy only."

She nodded. "But, Professor, if I hadn't. If I'd – you know. It would have been you. You would do that, for Dumbledore?"

"For our world," said Dippet solemnly.

She looked at him curiously.

"I have been given reason to believe," Dippet began softly, "That Professor Dumbledore may have a role to play in the eventual downfall of Grindelwald. It is one reason I am very concerned for his safety."

"I see," said Minerva. "And will his role be to set the dementors on everyone who's ever known Grindelwald? Except himself of course."

Dippet sighed, "Minerva, you can't understand the destruction, the suffering caused by Grindelwald and his followers. You can't know the impact on our world, all that pain, it must be ended."

"And you, Headmaster, can't know what the dementor's kiss is like."

"I am sorry for what you has to see, Minerva, I truly am. And you are correct, I don't know what it is like to witness the dementor's kiss."

She gave a harsh little laugh, "Witness." She shook her head dismissively, "Witness. Do you know what it's like to feel it, Headmaster? To feel it latching on to your soul and drawing it from your body? To feel everything you are, everything you have ever thought and felt and known being ripped out of you?"

"Minerva?" Dippet looked horrified. "They didn't?"

There were tears in her eyes as she met his gaze. "Yes, Professor, they did." She looked down towards his desk. "Once they'd emptied my father to a – a shell they turned on me. And I felt it, I felt…" She gave a desperate gasping sob. "When the ministry officials called them off, I felt them release their hold on my soul… but I still wonder if I got it all back – and – and I don't think I did. I still feel that emptiness, that chill, all the time. I can eat all of the chocolate in the world but it's never going to help. I think that's why they chase me in the school. They know I'm half-done and they want to finish, they want the rest of my soul… And you know, maybe, just maybe, the reason I'm going to end up killing him is because of that bit of me that's gone, that part of my soul that they stole from me."

"Minerva, I am so sorry. I think – I think we should get you to St Mungo's, I can contact healers there, see if they can help…"

"What – with a soul replenishing potion?" she demanded sarcastically.

"Minerva."

"There is no fix, Professor. We both know that. All St Mungo's could ever do is contain me. And I don't want to be contained. Please – I just need to leave Hogwarts and try to make some sort of life for myself."

Dippet nodded slowly, "Nobody is going to force you to do anything, it is your choice, but please think about it, Minerva, think seriously about it. And I hope you find some peace somehow, I really do. If there is anything I can do to assist…"

"Thank you, Sir." She stood stiffly, back to her controlled self, and walked briskly out of his office and up to Gryffindor tower. Ignoring the stares of her fellow students she summoned her possessions with a wave of her wand and turned to leave the castle for good. At the foot of the stairs she found Dumbledore waiting for her.

"Minerva," he said.

She shook her head and walked straight past him.

"Minerva," there was a plea in his voice.

She turned on the threshold of the castle and looked back at him.

"Goodbye, Professor," she said politely, but distantly, "Thank you for all you have taught me."

"Please, Minerva," he said, "Can we –"

She stalked out of the castle without looking back. Dumbledore stood watching her go, tears glistening in his blue eyes.