AN: I am so, so sorry it has taken so long to update, I have had major writers block. Anyway I hope you enjoy..
It had been a couple of weeks since Tom Riddle had fled from Hogwarts School, the Ministry were in turmoil (although very under wraps) and Hogwarts had tried to return to normal proceedings.
Minerva had been to the Ministry to report the attack and undergone two sessions of counselling, which in her opinion was a waste of time. She knew exactly what had happened, exactly how she felt and she knew, being Minerva McGonagall, she would deal with it in her own way and her own time.
Her relationship with Albus hadn't gone much further, they were both extremely busy, Albus had become more and more involved in the Ministry and she had begun to pick up some of his duties. They hadn't spoken anymore of the attack, to Minerva's relief.
Albus had been avoiding Minerva, she could always tell when he was. So when one evening (whilst doing her usual patrolling) saw a number of people 'sneaking' into one of the vacant classrooms she followed. Once there she saw ex students and professor's and a few Ministry workers, she stepped in and when no one protested she sat back in the corner of the room. After a few moments Albus himself walked into the room and to the front of the classroom.
"I'm sorry this has been a rushed meeting, I know you have places to be but this is very important." He took a moment to look around the room, his eyes fell on Minerva and for a moment he wanted to ask her how she knew but she wouldn't thank him and he wasn't that way inclined. "I'm sure you all know that a Wizard is using dark power to gain followers in Europe. He's training them to kill Muggle's. His aim is to take over the Ministry and in his mind rid the Wizarding world of the 'non-worthy'" He said the words as if they left the taste of poison in his mouth. He paused and began to pace, his hands on his hips. "The Ministry and I have been discussing how we can get some control over this. Hence why you are all here, I want you all to stand beside me, I trust you all with this, I know with your help, we will be able to defeat him. That is, if you'll join. There are obvious risks and I want this to be very clear. There will be tragedies. There will be destruction like you have never seen but I will do everything in my power to protect you.." The meeting went on for another half an hour or so, he had explained what they had coming up, their new meeting place and whom still wanted to be part of the Order. After arranging another meeting the group filtered out.
Minerva was the only one left. Standing from the corner she sat she walked to him. Her lips pursed, her teaching voice on and her stern features at their best. Albus met her gaze, his eyes calm and collective. "Ah, Minerva".
She nodded and stopped before him. "Ah, Albus.." She perched against the desk behind her. "I'm glad you saw fit to tell me about your little meeting." She looked to him, truth be told she was more hurt he hadn't informed her or asked her to be apart of it.
Albus could see she was hurt. "Minerva, I'm sorry I hadn't told you about it but I." He took a breathe. "I want to protect you this time. I don't want you to have to fight this battle. I can't ask you to join Minerva, I couldn't guarantee your safety". His eyes pleaded with her to understand.
"I'm not asking to join Albus, I'm telling you I am." Her face showed no emotion. "Do you think it is owed to me to fight back?. To protect these students, our world against that.." She couldn't find the right words. "I want to do this Albus." She stepped closer to him. "Please don't deny me the chance.".
Albus placed his hand on her shoulder and then with his fingertips brushed her jaw line. "I'm sorry I hadn't thought about your feelings more. Of course you'd want to be involved. I know you're strong Minerva and I know you wouldn't want anyone protecting you..".
Minerva placed her hand on his. "I'm grateful that you were trying to". All of her sternness had gone at his touch. She had missed it.
"Minerva.." Albus whispered to her sleeping form. He had arrived through floo powder.
Hearing Albus she woken instantly. "Albus, what is it?" she spoke wearily. Sitting up she lit the room.
"We know where he is.." His voice had turned urgent. "I've just gotten word from the Ministry, Auror's have been tracking him and have now located him. We must go now..".
Minerva got up and changed immediately. "I know he won't be alone, how many of the order members are going to be there?" Minerva spoke quickly.
"He's set up distractions all over the country. We've had to split up, there are more Death Eaters than there are Members and Auror's.". He watched as she picked up a few things. "Minerva. Are you ready?.". He didn't mean in that moment but more in the sense of if she was ready for the battle.
She nodded and with that they apparated not far from the manor Tom Riddle was hiding.
Minerva could feel her heart pounding out of her chest, the adrenalin running through her veins. Herself and Albus approached one of the Auror's. "Alastor" he greeted in hush tones.
After a few minutes of being updated on the situation they decided it was time to go forth. They had spread themselves around the perimeter of the deserted house in the middle of a corn field. The four Death Eaters had taken the four corners of the house, after a few looks of exchange the Auror's began to move. Instantly the Death Eaters had spotted their enemies, sparks of orange and blue began to come out of nowhere.
Minerva was rooted to the spot she had begun duelling with a Death eater whom had spotted her from an upstairs window, she could see out of the corner of her eye that Albus was dealing with two. With two short bursts from her wand she knew she had hit the Death Eater in the chest, standing her ground a moment more in case he regained consciousness however when nothing else happened she turned her attention on the Eater's duelling with Albus, she flicked and twisted her wrist as a orange spark hit a man in the back, she ran closer as she banished his wand and bound his arms and legs. Paralyzing him until further Aurors arrive.
She stood turning round in slow circles, taking note of how many Death Eaters there were, more Aurors were turning up but the Death Eaters just kept apparating in. She could see Albus had secured another but more just kept coming. She turned to look toward the cottage Tom was now residing in. She turned to her feline form and with another glance round she sprinted toward it.
She crept into the cottage, her hearing at it's peak. There were already Aurors inside battling with the Eaters. Transforming back to her human form she stayed in the shadows. Every so often she'd peered behind her, making sure she wasn't going to have a sneak attack. She could see from her position there were at least 6 rooms downstairs and she could guess there would be at least a few more than that upstairs.
Her heart was in her mouth, she turned another corner and listened intently against doors, any movement and she would be ready to fight. As she checked the rest of the downstairs she didn't find a soul. She traced her steps back to the stairs. Taking once step at a time she stepped lightly, testing the next step for any hidden spells or charms. Once she reach the top she could hear murmurs, people shuffling and moving.
Her eyes widened as a hand came across her mouth, holding in her scream. "It's me" Albus whispered into her ear. He slowly took his hand from her mouth and as she looked round he saw the fear in her face. "I'm sorry, I didn't want you to be alone..". He was scared, he wouldn't admit it but if anything happened to her and he let her go alone, he would never forgive himself.
Truth be told, Minerva was glad to see Albus. "I've heard movements in one of the end rooms, I can't tell if Tom is in there but from what I can gather I would say there are three people in there." She whispered to him.
With a nod he proceeded forward, Minerva trailing slightly behind, checking constantly for others. As they approached the door Albus could sense the use of charms, powerful ones at that. Minerva looked to him as he stepped a few feet back and with a strong wave of his wand the door bucked but didn't give way. With another swish of his arm he sent another spell to the door, this time the ripping it from the hinges.
Being startled by the first hit of the spell the Eaters were ready by the time the second spell had knocked the door away. Minerva had put up a protection shield around the both of them as the doors came away, the Death Eaters spells lost in the shield. The shield would only last a few moments more, Albus scoped the room, there was no sign of Tom.
Minerva felt a pain in her side, something wrapped around her waist as dragged her along the floor. "ALBUS!" she screamed. She was dragged into a dark room, being thrown against the back of the door, a hand around her throat, squeezing. She gasped, her wand had fallen on the floor beside her, her hands grasping at anything she could get hold of. She could feel his breath against her neck. "Oh.. Minerva.." His voice husky to her. "I'm so disappointed.." He lifted her a little higher against the door, only the tips of her toes touching the floor. He pressed his lips against hers, his tongue then trailing to her jaw line and finally to her neck where he bit down hard. Minerva screamed as best she could, the pain souring through her.
Watching her body being dragged into the room Albus tried to move but as soon as the shield wore off the Easters began to attack. With three short bursts from his wand he managed to knock them off balance. He took the opportunity to strike one, knocking against the wall, causing him to fall to the floor. Another Eater also took the opportunity to stroke Albus in the side, he stumbled grasping on to anything to keep himself upright. His vision had gone blurred, he could hear them laughing 'The great Albus Dumbledore. Look at him now..'.
Minerva laid sprawled on the floor, her lip split where he had hit her and her head grazed where he had thrown her to the floor. Her body curled slightly. "I knew it wouldn't be long until you told them.. Went running to your loverboy did we?" His voice was bitter, anger raging inside of him. He didn't give her chance to respond. His wand pointing to her a bitter smile on his face.
Albus could hear her screams from down the hall, he himself was on the wooden floor, the Death Eaters taking kindly to their fists, thinking if they managed to beat and torture the almighty Dumbledore and save him for their master, they would be highly rewarded. He was covered in blood and bruised all over, he knew for a fact that he wad a broken rib or two. He began to get up when one of them kicked him in the stomach, he fell a few inches to the left, he potted his wand a few feet away, he muttered 'accio', his wand landing in his hand, muttering the freezing spell the Death Eaters froze on the spot. Clutching at his chest he began to make the struggle to where Minerva was being held.
The crucio curse leaving her body limo on the floor. Her body had been winded, her mind strained. She lay on her stomach, her eyes closed, tears streaming down her face. He wrapped his fingers in her hair and pulled her across the floor. "We could have been something Minerva.." He let go, her head dropping to the floor.
She wanted the pain to be over, to stop. Her wand in the place where to had dropped earlier, she turned, sat on her arse, she looked to him. "No.. Tom, we wouldn't have been.." She slowly began to pull herself to the door. It didn't take her long, her fingers wrapped around the wand. She wanted him to feel the pain he had put her through but the other side of her wanted him dead, to stop him from any further harm to anyone. She pulled the wand in front of her.. The words leaving her lips..
Tom could see her moving toward the door, he knew it wash;t to escape, his eyes searched her, he didn't know what she was going to do. The wand was out before he knew it, his own back to pointing at her. He heard the beginning of the words. He muttered his own.. "Avada Kedavra..".
There spells hitting one another through the air.. Green meeting red, her hand began to shake. His power stronger than she had thought it to be. She muttered the words again..her spell becoming stronger. She didn't know what happened next but a bright light came from their wands, the room shook.. Her vision went black..