AN: Thank you for the great reviews. I'm not sure if it will be in this chapter or the next but please, please be warned that there will be sexual violence. I am a little bit of a graphic writer. If you aren't comfortable then please don not read.
Albus had an urgent meeting at the Ministry on Sunday, she had spent the entire day in her chambers. She didn't want to step foot out into the corridor and risk bumping into him, Tom.
By the time Monday had come around Minerva felt a lot better, she wasn't going to let anyone scare her, intimidate her, she was Minerva McGonagall for crying out loud!. She had a full day of lessons and Tom was in the very last one. She had done everything humanly possible to ignore him, apart from questions he asked (which she knew he already knew the answers to). At the end of the lesson, when the majority of the students had left he approached her desk.
"Professor, I would like to apologise". He simply said. He didn't want to apologise at all but at least this way she'd actually acknowledge him.
"I don't want to hear it Mr Riddle. Now, I have spoken to your head of year, I have deducted point and now I am saying this to you. I do not want to have any personal conversations with you again. You should have known better." She was stern and sharp. "You may leave". Not another word was said.
His face had turned red. How dare she embarrass him. A thought came to his mind, turning his head in her direction, with yet another one of his slimy smirks. Yes, perhaps she was playing hard to get.
Minerva finally got to see Albus, albeit in front of the school at supper. "I'm glad to see you Albus" she smiled weakly to him, his twinkling eyes dimmed slightly at her expression.
"I'm sorry I've been so busy these last couple of days. I wished more than anything that I could have spent the rest of the weekend with you" He obviously said this in a more hushed tone. "I missed you". He simply said with a warm smile and a squeeze of her hand.
She smiled and placed her other hand on top of his. It really was great to see him and she would never admit this to anyone but she felt safer with him by her side. "Albus. I need to speak with you after supper. I have after corridor duties but I can come to your office after?.".
Albus simply nodded "Yes, my dear.". Something was the matter, Minerva wasn't herself at all.
The great hall had emptied rather quickly and Minerva's duty would start shortly. Albus had been speaking (trapped) by the new herbology professor and after nodding and 'mhming' at the necessary point he finally excused himself. "Ready for the rounds my dear?." He stood beside her, placing his hand on her elbow to guide them out of the hall.
She was rather glad Albus had suggested coming with her. She didn't know exactly how to put what happened with Tom or how Albus would react. She waited until they had walked through part of the castle. "Albus, after you left me by the lake on Saturday, I headed back to my chambers, but before I could get there I was, well, cornered, I suppose". She didn't want to look at him, she didn't want him to see the distraught she felt. Instead she focused on the students walking toward their common rooms. "It was Tom Riddle" Then she looked at him.
"Tom?" Albus's face could have easily caved in on itself from the amount he was frowning. "Did he hurt you Minerva?." He stopped her, turned her slightly so they were looking face to face.
"No, not exactly. He was saying some personal things. About you and me. He had been watching us from one of the towers windows. He had said I could have anyone I wanted, I could have everything" she could feel the distaste in her mouth at watching his lips moved as he said it. "A pretty little thing like you". she felt physically sick.
Albus didn't know what to say, the cool exterior was a very good cover for what he was feeling inside. He could tell Minerva felt very uncomfortable around him.
"He tried to apologise to me this morning, I told him, like I had Saturday night, that I am a Professor, my personal life is none of his business and that if he speaks to me or acts inappropriately I will not accept it." She looked to Albus. "It just unsettled me. That's all". She didn't want to admit any weakness but she knew if she could it would be to this man only.
"Minerva, I'm sorry he's acting this way to you. I will be having a word with him and it's just not acceptable.". 'Keep your cool, Albus' he thought.
"There's no need Albus, I've spoken to him and i've deducted house points. I spoke with the head of Slytherin and well if it happens again, I'll be sure to come to you." She smiled as she placed her hand on his chest. "Just having you here makes me feel better". She slowly removed her hand.
"Come dear, the sooner we do this, the sooner you can beat me at chess" he placed his hand on the small of her back as they continued.
The christmas holidays had approached a lot faster than Minerva had expected. She was in love with Hogwarts once more, in love with teaching and more importantly, in love with Albus Dumbledore. Their relationship had been going smoothly, albeit they didn't see each other as much as they wished but that was part and parcel of their jobs. Albus had asked Minerva to spend the christmas holidays with him, most of it at Hogwarts but a few precious days at his cottage. Nothing else had occurred between herself and Tom and that was the way she liked it.
Minerva had just finished packing and was taking her luggage out to the living quarters. She smiled brightly at the sight before her. A dozen red roses, just the same as her welcome ones. She read the note 'You'll always be mine'. She placed the note down and with a very content feeling made her way to Albus.
Tom watched as she left through the portrait. "Have a wonderful christmas.. Mi" he corrected himself "Professor". Seeing her curt nod and her 'and to you Tom' response, he laughed lightly, not a nice one at that. He hoped she liked her roses.
Minerva reached Albus and gave him a kiss. "What was that for?" he smiled down at her. Not that he was complaining at all.
"Because" she was about to say it, the words sticking in her throat. "Just because".
They had spent a wonderful Christmas together, even if it was a little disrupted by the Ministry. They were both very unhappy that the term would start in the next few days.
The next couple of months were hard and gruelling, not just for the students who had spent every waking moment studying for their exams coming up but for Minerva especially. She had spent most of her evenings given extra lessons and marking mock exams. She was in need of a break. Albus would come to her office every other day, they would spend the evening having nightcaps and chess games. He was the only thing keeping her sane.
However: "Albus!." She walked to his desk, he looked over the paper and smiled cheerily.
"Minerva my dear, how on this beautiful day, can I help you?" He knew exactly what was coming and he had to give it to himself, he really knew how to rattle her cage.
"A valentines ball?". Minerva stared at him in disbelief, then frowned. "And- you never read the paper.". She sat in front of him. "Albus, I know you're a great believer in, well everything but do we really have to go to the extremes with this?" She questioned.
"Minerva, what's a day without love?" He could have laughed at the face she pulled. "I think it'll be good for the students, let their hair down a little. They have been studying tremendously" he knew at the mention of the students she would consider it.
"Yes, I suppose you're right." She thought for a moment. "But there will be sanctions.." It was more of a request than a question.
He laughed as he watched her leave his office.
Minerva felt sick at the sight of pink hanging from everywhere!. She had helped with some of the decorations in the great hall but mainly spent it hidden in her classroom. She had agreed to be Albus' date and he would meet her there in two hours. She wasn't going to bother getting changed, as it was for the students.
"Happy Valentines day" was all she could hear. Shaking her head and smiling at the man stood in front of her, his arms wide. "My dear!." he shouted over the music playing. "Isn't it delightful?" He looked ever so happy, she couldn't dapper his mood.
"It does, it does." she watched as the student danced together, Albus was right, they did need a break. She glanced around the room, standing in one of the corner, surrounded by a bunch of Slytherin's stood Tom, his eyes fixed on hers. He pretended not to see him. She was surprised when he hand was taken a hold of and she was lead to the dance floor by Albus. "It's good job I like you Albus. Otherwise you'd be in detention for a week!." she laughed as she twirled and spanned her around. After her dance she mingled with the fellow professors, glad to see they weren't all enjoying themselves, the same as her. She watched as the caretaker had walked to Albus, her interest getting the better of her she approached them.
"Ah, Minerva" Albus lead them to stand outside the great hall so he could be heard over the music. "I've been called to assist the Ministry" he hated the look of disappointment on her face and it pained him to leave her. "I'm sorry Minerva. I want nothing more than to stay." He looked around and pulled her a little further out of sight. Kissing her lips gently. "Minerva" he took her hands on his and looked her in the eye "I love you".
Minerva wasn't impressed with his sudden departure. She had a right mind to go to the Minister and tell him to get a boot up his backside and run the Ministry as he should be. She smiled at his kiss and her eyes widened at his words. She had felt it but she had been scared of saying it. "I love you too Albus, a great deal". With another kiss and a tight cuddle. He began to leave "Please hurry back".
Tom stood in the doorway. So, she loved him. she loved him. He watched as Minerva began to make her way back to the professors, from her body language it seemed she was saying her good-byes. This was his moment. Now or never.
Minerva felt the relief as she took off her over robes and placed them on the living room sofa. She was tired and didn't have the energy to do much else apart from curl up on her bed and sleep. She walked through her bedroom, getting her nightgown and changing in the bathroom, refreshing her face. She stood at the side of the bed looking at her pillow. Lifting up the single black rose she froze. Someone had been in her chambers, in her room.
He closed the door as she stared at the rose. Muttering a silencing charm and locking her door. "Happy Valentines Day Minerva..".
She slowly turned, her stomach had dropped, her mouth dry, her wand, where was her wand?. Her brain had stopped. She couldn't think. "Tom what are you doing here? Get out!. Get out right now!. She demanded.
"Now that isn't very nice of you Minerva, I have bought you a gift. I took the time to do something for you and this is how you react?" he began to walk forward "Tut, tut, tut".
She stepped back, not that she had far to go, the edge of the bed or her nightstand. Great. "Thank you for the rose Tom, it;s lovely but you can't be in here. I am requesting you leave.". She stood her ground.
"I'm afraid, I'm not going anywhere." He now stood in front of her. "I know you've been trying to avoid my Minerva. I've known from the first day in the great hall. I know you've wanted me". His eyes made their way down her body. "Why must you insist on covering yourself up? You are a very attractive lady". He ran his hand across her collarbone and down her arm.
She could feel herself begin to shake. The feeling of his hands on her, outraged her. With one swoop her hand connected with his face. He didn't move though. "I have nothing toward you Tom".
"Bitch!' he shouted and with one swipe of his own, the back of his hand connected with her cheek. He was much more powerful than she was, he sent her flying back on the bed. He smirked.
She whimpered slightly as she held her hand to her cheek. Tears stinging her inner eyelids. "What do you want Tom?." She looked up at him. The boy she saw in him had gone, he was evil, pure evil.
"To take what's mine. You are mine Minerva." He stated. He began to crawl on the bed, she began to squirm. Placing his hands on her ankles and pulling her back toward him. his legs between hers and his upper body hovering over hers. "My beautiful Minerva." He leant down and pressed his lips against hers.
She screamed, she tried to wriggle her legs, her arms had been pinned down by his hands. She kept her lips tightly closed. She didn't want him on her, not his eyes, not his hands and definitely not his lips.
He pulled back "You see Minerva, I heard a little conversation earlier.." he could feel her chest rise and fall, it made her whole body vibrate, his erection was becoming harder, he could feel her legs against his, he was going to have her. He had to. "You told dear old Albus that you loved him." he looked her in the eye. He could see the terror and it turned him on. He pressed his erection against her lower half and moaned. "Is it true?. You love him?"
The tears had gathered and were flowing down her cheeks. God please don't let this be. She tried to pull her legs closer together so he couldn't be close to her. She could feel his erection against her, she wanted to vomit. She nodded, she didn't trust her voice. After a few moments she gathered up her courage. "Yes. I do love him and when he comes back" she was silenced by his lips again. Making a sobbing sound behind her lips she closed her eyes. She could feel her hand had been secured by something to the bed, his hand had now began to run down her body, he cupped her below. "No!" she cried out "Get off me!. Don't."
He moaned as he felt her, he had wanted to do this for such a long time. Not hiding the moan he laughed at her protest. He unbuttoned his trousers and pulled his erection out. "Has he had you?" he demanded to her. "Has he fucked you?". She shook her head. He smiled "Mm, good.". He pulled her underwear aside and lowered himself into her, the moan that escaped his lips couldn't even compare to the satisfaction he was getting.
She knew what was coming, she wriggled her lower half, trying to get him off, anything, anything to stop him. "No, no!. Please!. No!. Stop!" she screamed through her tears, the pain she felt, the hurt, the agony. His thrusts kept on coming. There was nothing she could do, her pleads were on deaf ears. She closed her eyes and in that moment, wished for death.