Thanks Kokotheevilone for reviewing! By the way, when you reach it, the italics are thoughts.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

The rest of break went smoothly and Annabelle moved back into Gryffindor Tower the night before term was due to start up again, much to Minerva's dismay. She had hoped that her cub would come stay in her quarters, but Annabelle obviously wasn't ready for that and she didn't need anyone putting extra pressure on her.

Now, it had been practically five months and things were on a steady routine that Minerva feared would only be thrown off course once the summer had come. Annabelle joined Minerva for tea twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For the most part, they kept a professional distance, but Minerva took advantage of every moment they had in private. She hated the weeks that Annabelle didn't have time to stop by between classes and chat for a spare moment.

Minerva had already served the Wytes, but they were still awaiting the actual trial. Fudge seemed resistant to push her case through, but agreed to at least serve the Wytes if Albus' name was completely taken off of her paperwork. She would be solely Minerva's once the case went through and Minerva couldn't wait to be able to call her 'Miss McGonagall' in class. She couldn't help the grin that stole its way onto her features just thinking about her daughter.

Glancing at her grandmother clock, she realized that Annabelle was running late for tea. She probably got caught up in the library. This was the first Quidditch match she had missed, but she was beginning to grow anxious with exams quickly approaching. Minerva decided she'd go check on her daughter and began to make her way downstairs to the fourth floor.

At the bottom of the stairs, Minerva was met with a sight that shook her entire being. Miss Granger and Miss Clearwater, a Ravenclaw Prefect, were frozen, obviously petrified. Casting a patronous, she sent immediate word to Albus and Poppy before running over to the pair. The first thing that caught her eye was a pocket-sized mirror lying on the ground between them.

Minerva was about to levitate the pair when she caught sight of a familiar head of hair. Grinning despite the poor situation, Minerva decided to walk over to her daughter who was adamantly staring through the Library windows. "Annabelle, you're running late. That's unlike you." Minerva quirked an eyebrow. It was also strange for her not to respond when she was spoken to. Minerva moved to brush her hair off her shoulder, but found her hand stuck on solid golden locks.

I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad.

Minerva felt frozen as well and didn't even notice as her tears began to overflow. "I'm sorry, kitten." Why had this happened? What Petrified her without seeming to change her expression. She seemed happy. She seemed alive if you could ignore how cold she felt and that she wasn't breathing. Minerva didn't hear Poppy come up behind her either. She didn't know anyone was there until a hand grasped her wrist, along with a sigh of relief.

Please stop crying. It's not your fault, Minerva. It was the eyes. I saw something move in the window, and so I looked closer.

Minnie turned around and came face to face with the petite mediwitch and let herself crumple. "Poppy, what are we going to do? I can't lose her." Her tears were a continual stream accompanied by the occasional sobbing hiccup.

Poppy knew that Minerva was hurting right now, but she also knew that Potter and Weasley needed to be informed of their Petrified friend. "Minnie, I understand that you're scared and upset and probably angry too, but the Quidditch game needs stopped. Potter and Weasley need to be informed of what's going on."

Minerva knew she was right, but she didn't think she could pull herself away from Annabelle. Crying, she turned around and enveloped her daughter in a bone-crushing hug.

Oww, be careful. I can still feel, you know, even if you can't hear me.

Minerva placed a kiss on the girl's forehead and turned back to Poppy. "You will take care of her, Poppy. I will go down to the Quidditch Pitch and get the boys and Miss Weasley if I can find her, but I will be back. Merlin, you don't want to know what I will do to you if something further happens to her." With that, an enraged Minerva stormed away. The only thing keeping her standing was that rage, and she was going to keep it that way until she could let herself fully unravel.

Reaching the Quidditch Pitch with a purple megaphone in her left hand, she noticed that her Gryffindors were mounting their brooms, ready to face Hufflepuff. She lifted the megaphone to her mouth, calling out, "This match has been cancelled." She ignored the shouting and boos she received from the entire stadium and the students in front of her. "All students are to make their way back to the House common rooms, where their Heads of Houses will give them further information. As quickly as you can, please!" Removing the megaphone from her lips, she beckoned Harry to her. "Potter, I think you'd better come with me…"

She began to scan the crowd for red hair and noticed the youngest Weasleys removing themselves from the crowd. Ronald immediately ran over, but Ginny stopped halfway to them. Minerva sighed and gave a small, sad smile before crooking a finger at her. She led the trio up to the infirmary and stopped short outside. "This will be a bit of a shock, but there has been another attack…a triple attack this time."

Harry and Ron rushed over to Hermione, quickly followed by Ginerva, but the youngest Weasley stopped short as her eyes caught side of a head of blonde hair. The red-head let out a wailing screech as she flung herself at the bed, "Belle! Oh, Merlin, I'm sorry." She banged her fists on the bed, ignoring Poppy Pomfrey's disapproving scolds. After a few minutes, her tears simply cascaded down her face and she no longer seemed to have the energy to fight. She curled up beside Annabelle and had a hand resting on her arm, whispering, "I'm sorry," over and over again.

Ginny. Stop it! It's not your fault. I know you'd never hurt me. Stop it, Ginny. You're scaring me. Stop it.

Minerva asked the boys about the mirror before turning back to Ginny. "Miss Weasley, I need you to calm down. Now!" Her stern, loud tone brought Ginny out of her trance-like behavior. "I will escort you back to Gryffindor Tower. I need to address the students in any case." She waited for the trio to turn their backs before she blew a kiss to her daughter and whispering, "I'll be back."

I know, Minerva, but I think our secret's out. The others can hear you too, I'm sure. If only you could hear me speaking to you! I want to tell you what happened. I want you to stop crying. Please come back quickly. I missed you when you left, but don't worry. Aunt Poppy took good care of me while you were gone. She wanted me to tell you that.

Minerva took one last glance at her Petrified daughter before stalking out of the infirmary and directing her cubs back to Gryffindor Tower. Once there, she gathered all the Gryffindors in the common room and conjured a parchment out of thin air. Lifting it up, she addressed all of her cubs and read off the list of new rules. "All students will return to their House common rooms by six o'clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities." She rolled up the parchment and swallowed her pain before continuing in a choked voice. "I need hardly add that I have rarely been so distressed. It is likely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about them to come forward."

Deciding that her duties were finished in the common room, Minerva climbed out of the portrait hole and made her way to the infirmary. She was met outside by a weary Albus who immediately wrapped her in a hug as her tears began to flow again. "I can't do this, Albus. I can't lose her." Her grief was overwhelming and she wanted to curl up and cry.

Albus just smoothed her hair down in gentle strokes as he rubbed circles on her back with the other hand. "I know, Tabby. We'll figure this out. I promise." He slowly led her into the infirmary again.

Rolanda Hooch was already sitting on the edge of Annabelle's bed, tears in her own eyes as she looked at her beautiful niece. After a moment, she caught sight of Minerva. "I came as soon as the Quidditch equipment was put away. I'm so sorry, Minnie." She wrapped her long-time friend in a hug and let her cry. "I know, Minnie. I know."

What you don't know is that I can hear you. I can see you. I can feel you, but you can't hear me. This feels pointless. You're all crying, but Aunt Pomona said that the Mandrakes will be ready soon. I don't see her in here crying her eyes out just because I'm all frozen. Annabelle was growing sarcastic as the day wore on. It was hard not being heard.

Minerva let all of the day's pent up tears fall on the shoulder of her best friend. Albus had his own worries at the moment, with Cornelius suspecting that Hagrid was the Heir of Slytherin. He didn't need to worry about her right now. He needed to worry about the school, and finding out who did this to their daughter! Minerva slowly released Rolanda and looked toward her daughter with a burning determination in her eyes again.