Once they apparated to Hogwarts, Albus took her to her new chambers. He made sure no one noticed them. All the way Minerva held onto him.
They entered her chambers and Albus placed her on the couch. He swiftly walked in to the bathroom and brought the first aid kit.
"Are you hurt anywhere dear?" Minerva shook her head. He sighed and before he could speak she spoke, "How did you know Albus? How did you come at right time? I've been desperate the past day."
"I was in my office Minerva, when your house-elf- Winky I think- popped and freaked me out. Literally she popped in screaming in a high-pitched voice."
At the look on Albus' horrified face Minerva chuckled. He looked at her new happy face. "Laugh often Minerva. You look so pretty when you're happy. I have told you several times when you were a student, haven't I?"
Her face immediately reddened. This time Albus chuckled and changed the direction of the conversation. "So your elf came in and started telling. 'you come sir' 'mistress want's' ' she is in danger' and kept on telling things like this. I understood that someone is in some problem and they need me but I didn't know who. And since it said mistress, I was confused who the woman was.
"Then I calmed the elf down and asked it questions one by one. I was terrified when I got to know it was you. So I immediately called the aurors and left.
"I am glad I could help you. But now, you need to tell me all about it please. What is it with your father killing your mother, your brother and all I didn't get anything."
Minerva's smile dropped. "Albus.. ah... I do not know how to tell you. Merlin if you had not arrived or Winky didn't come to you my life would have been... destroyed. He is not my brother. He is my step-brother and the woman was my step-mother."
She sighed, "I was 9 when my father killed my mom. It seems my father wanted the name, property and money from my mother's family. My mother was a McGonagall-Yes that's one good thing-He revealed everything yesterday. I saw him kill my mother. He drowned her in the bathtub.
"I was horrified. I didn't want to tell anyone because I realised he would do the same thing to me."
By now tears were flowing from her eyes. Albus sat on the couch next to her and hugged her. She continued, "Not after a week he married that filthy woman. No one found out about the murder. It was declared she died by drowning because she was drunk. My mother hated alcohol. She was a fierce lady."
She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of him. She liked it. It hadn't changed from the time she was a student. As a teen she remembered fan-girling around him. Always passing comments like, 'looking good today professor' or 'is that a new suit' or winking at him in the corridors. She was a tomboy during her school days.
"I didn't like that woman. She was always taking my mom's jwellery or expensive robes. I was nine, I get terrible that she tried to take my mother's place. She took my jwellery also. My grandmother was the only one there to support to me. My father feared her.
"Later I came to Hogwarts. I was happy that I was out of that horrible place. When I went back home after first year I was greeted to the sight of my step-brother. He was 9 year old himself. My father had already had him and kept him hidden. Like I was a little girl but I was not dumb enough to not know that he had cheated on my mother, and when I questioned that, he hurt me with a hot iron rod."
She pointed to her shoulder. Through the lace he could see a faint silver scar that ran from her shoulder to just above her elbow.
"Aston was sent to Durmstrang. I was so happy about that because I didn't like the way he behaved. He was so naughty and so rude. Then when I reached...ah.. pube.. puberty, my step-mother...she tried to use me as a.. a sex worker.
"I felt very wrong of what she was making me do. She taught me how to seduce men. Disgusting woman. She used to bring home men and ask me to st.. strip for them, touch them.
"We were never taught about sex at school and I didn't know. I didn't know." She whispered through tears. She felt ashamed admitting it.
"Was there ah... Uhm penetration?" Albus asked her. She shook her head.
"No but she told me there would be soon an act like that. But it never went that far. That's one of the reason I suggested the headmaster to introduce sex education at Hogwarts when I became a prefect.
"I realised what she was making me do. I read it at the library one day after asking around my friends and girls my age. I threatened her about informing my grandmother, only then she stopped coming near me."
Albus was shocked to hear her. One of his student was sexually abused at home and he couldn't do anything. "Why didn't you ever tel anyone of us Minerva. I was your head of house. Or you could tel the matron. Minerva, Merlin. If I had known." He clenched his fists and exhaled a frustrated breath. "One of my pupil was being abused and I didn't know."
"I was ashamed. I didn't want anyone from know and certainly not you. I had a lot of respect for you and the thought of you knowing it... I was 12 Albus. a kid what do you think I would have thought. I just never wanted any other girl to go through that. I mde sure Headmaster Dippet introduced those topics here. Even if he blushed red and made a female teacher explain to me that young girls must not know about that."
Albus chuckled, "I remember that, you were a feisty little thing from small. You made sure something you wished happened. Armaando was whining about it in the staffroom. That's why you are cat Minerva. You are feisty."
Minerva smiled and looked at him
"Everything went well at Hogwarts, I didn't like going home. It was not a home. But for the sake of my grandmother I returned. My father didn't pay any attention to what I did and I was okay with it.
"My step-brother had also grown up and started behaving weird around me. I didn't realise then but now when I look back he was actually perving me. He used to stare at me. I would often find him going through my wardrobe in my room, or he would walk into the room 'accidentally' when I am changing. I thought it was genuine, but as I said when I look back everything fits. I just tolerated. Just two months every summer."
"Then I finished my graduation. And do you remember our dance?." She looked up in to his eyes, there was anger, care and remorse. He nodded.
"Well I got bashed for that show of disgrace. I didn't understand then again. He told me yesterday. Apparently he had brought someone to sell me off and when that someone saw me dance with you, he thought I was used goods.
"We fought a lot. I took some money my Grandmother gave me and moved out, then worked as an auror. After three years I met with a small accident due to Grindelwald's riots. From then I have been stationed at a stupid desk job because I am a witch.
"Then four years back my grandmother passed away. My only strength. I loved her with all my heart. I returned to that house after four years and I find no one sad instead everyone were happy.
"I stayed a week there. My father started bringing proposals for marriage. Aston tried to seduce me during my stay, when that didn't work he cornered me in the bathroom got to the point penetrating me but I pushed him away with all might and ran out.
"No one bothered when I told them of what had happened. My father was another wonder, he said that I had tried to seduce him. I left and never returned.
"I only returned the day before yesterday again to inform them about the new job and then this happened. I know I shouldn't have returned but I just thought they might have changed a bit."
She had just trusted Albus with her secrets she had kept. She hadn't told anyone about it.
"I am sorry Albus I just went on I think I needed someone to pour all of it out."
"Minerva you need to tell someone what injustice thise horrible people have done to you. I am here always. You can tell me anything. You have trusted me with this and I will protect you as long as you allow me to.
"Now relax, you have come to Hogwarts. Nothing will happen here. It's safe. Let's forget all this. Do you want to sleep?"
"No Albus I am not tired." She pulled apart from him. She rubbed her puffy eyes. Albus felt so bad seeing her hurt.
She looked so gorgeous today. She was his favourite student. No student had succeeded in impressing him like her. Transfiguration was difficult subject and she was a natural at that. He often loved watching her skills. Armaando always used to tease him when he looked at Minerva with pride. Encouraged him to pursue a relationship with her even court her.
Student-teacher relationship was not prohibited then. He liked her but did not allow himself to grow feelings for her. He just liked her very much and found her beautiful. He often found himself staring at her in the great hall. She was always so full of enthusiasm and energy. But knowing that she had hid all the worries and problems made him sad and also proud of her.
He noticed only now. She looked gorgeous. The dress she was wearing showed a lot of things which he shouldn't be seeing. The way it clung to her body, her cleavage.
It looked like a muggle dress because in the wizarding world you won't get such a revealing dress. God she did look sexy. Ssh Al don't think like that. You would creep her out.
But I am not able to take my blody eyes of those revealed parts.
He awkwardly cleared his throat. "Ahm Minerva. You look rather dashing today."
Minerva then looked down and realised she was still in that stupid dress. She immediately covered her hands around her torso, but then noticed Albus looking at her. She smiled and removed her hands slowly and stood up.
"Really? Oh thank you Albus. You like the dress? I can buy some casual dresses this way." She twirled around and attempted at flirting. Getting to notice her.
Albus swallowed a lump. He couldn't see her everyday in these types of dresses. When she turned around he caught a look at her back.
Merlin!! Al!! No turn away.
"I think it's really beautiful Minerva, but we can't have you wearing like this daily right? We have teenage kids who can't control their hormones. It will be difficult for them."
And me especially. He added mentally.
Minerva chuckled at the look on his face. "Of course I am not going to wear this Albus. I look good but I don't like this dress. I was just playing with you, I will go change."
Albus released a breath. "Yes you do that. I'll go floo the aurors and see what should be done."
With that he went out. She walked towards the bathroom and prepared a bath and soaked herself.