All right, so we've finally arrived at book 7. I will try my best to keep things on schedule (Wednesday updates) though I cannot promise that things will go smoothly - life has been very busy. I hope you enjoy this somewhat darker chapter. Again, thank you so much for the lovely reviews!

1 August 1997

Minerva looked nervously left and right as she knocked urgently on the wooden door. She had been there for two minutes, but somehow her loud knocking still had not managed to wake Pomona.

"Pomona, please," Minerva said through the door. She stopped knocking for a moment and strained her ears instead to see whether or not she had been successful.

To her relief, she found that she could hear the sounds of muffled footsteps from within the room. Finally, the doorknob turned and the door was pulled open.

"Minerva it's one o'clock—"

"I know it is, Pomona, but there are some matters of great urgency that we must attend to," Minerva cut in hurriedly. "Where is Grace?"

"In my room. I set up an additional bed there—"

"Lock the door and keep it so," Minerva interrupted again. She walked to the small window in Pomona's living room and peered through the curtains. No sign of anyone walking up towards the castle. "Pomona, I have just had word from Kinglsey that the Ministry has fallen. Several Death Eaters are on their way to Hogwarts now - their arrival is imminent."

Pomona hurried towards Minerva. "What are we going to do?"

"What was agreed," Minerva replied, pulling her eyes away from the forest outside. "We cannot stop He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named from taking control of the castle, Pomona. A dozen against hundreds of Death Eaters - we would not stand a chance. We would be leaving the students at the mercy of Death Eaters."

Pomona bit her lip. "Do you know who it is who is coming here? And how many?"

"I do not." Minerva shook her head. "But I have searched Albus' office with a fine-toothed comb and have removed anything that might be of use to whoever it is that will replace him. Filius has notified all muggleborn families with a warning not to board the Hogwarts Express on the first. I have hidden the Ledger too, in case they ask to use it to identify the names of current students."

"You could get in trouble if they find that out."

Minerva brushed Pomona's comment away with a wave of the hand. "No matter," she said, beginning to move towards the door. "Stay with Grace and send a message to the others that the time has come."

"What about you?"

"I am going to wait for our guests—"

"You can't!"

"Pomona, someone must. We will all be in the same place together for months still. Meeting them tonight or tomorrow will amount to the same thing. Better that than leaving them to wander about the castle unsupervised."

"Minerva, you are a target!" Pomona said, raising her voice so that it was no longer a whisper. "Your ties with Albus were no secret and now that you are acting Headmistress, whoever is coming will not want you here. I should go in place of you. Then perhaps we can get a better idea of their plans."

Minerva opened the door. "There is no time to argue, Pomona. I shall return and speak with you soon—"

"No. I am coming with you, Minerva." Minerva opened her mouth but Pomona held up her hands. "There is no time to argue," she echoed, already leaving her rooms. Minerva followed and Pomona then pressed her hand against the closed door. A deep blue light emanated from her palm and covered the door before disappearing - Pomona had always had an aptitude for strong shield charms. "Ready?"

Minerva nodded, then took a deep breath and turned to face her friend. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

"You have nothing to thank me for, dear."

Minerva paled as she came face-to-face with none other than Severus Snape. "You," she said, not able to disguise the disgust and hatred in her voice. She had been expecting a Death Eater, but not Snape, of all people.

"Minerva—"

"Professor McGonagall," Minerva corrected through clenched teeth. She felt her fingertips tingle as she itched to grab her wand and point it at the man before her. Her hand moved an inch, and instantly she felt Pomona place a warning hand on her shoulder.

"Minerva," Pomona hissed warningly into her ear.

"It would do well to heed Pomona's words," Snape said. "The Minister—"

"Your Minister—"

"The Minister has asked for a change in administration at Hogwarts," Snape said, speaking over her. "You ought to be careful, Minerva," he added. "Such words against the Minister would not be well-received by those at the Ministry. Neither will I accept them in future."

"Why are you here?"

"Move aside, old lady, and let us in," came a voice from behind Severus. "Or we will move you instead." Amycus Carrow stepped forwards, his wand up and pointed directly at Minerva.

"Now, now," Snape said. raising his hand to lower Carrow's raised wand. "I do not believe there is a need for us to argue. Professor McGonagall will move of her own free will, will you not, Minerva?"

Minerva looked between Severus and Amycus. She knew that she could not stop them and that she could not fight. However, she refused to let Death Eaters enter the castle with their wands already poised for battle.

"There are many people inside this castle, including children. I shall move aside once you lower your wands."

"Enough of this rubbish!"

A purple spell shot out from the dark and Minerva gasped involuntarily as it scratched her cheek. She pressed her hand against the cut and felt the warm flow of blood trickle between her fingers.

Alecto, whom Minerva should have guessed would also be here if Amycus was, stepped forwards into the light. "Move!" she said savagely. She took another step forwards, the tip of her wand emitting uncontrolled and dangerous sparks.

"Enough, Alecto!" Snape said sharply. "Lower your wands immediately. We are not here to fight. The Dark Lord said none should be harmed. Slight resistance was expected," he added, turning to face Minerva again. "We shall not ask again, Professor McGonagall. I can forget one incident, but I will not be so kind if you should start another."

Minerva pursed her lips. Again, she felt Pomona squeeze her shoulder and then pull her back slightly. "Come on, dear," she whispered into Minerva's ear.

Minerva moved back, stiffly.

Severus nodded curtly in their direction. "Thank you. I also deem it hospitable to show your guests where they will be staying."

Minerva fixed Snape with a cold stare. "Where will you be staying?" she said.

"Amycus will stay in Charity's rooms," he replied. "And Alecto will stay in the Defense Against the Dark Arts corridor."

"I take it you will be in Albus' office."

"I will be staying in what used to be Dumbledore's office," Severus corrected icily. "Do not try my patience, Minerva. It is not wise."

Snape allowed Amycs and Alecto to enter first, then stepped across the threshold himself. Minerva felt her heart clench tightly in her chest as she watched Severus Snape enter the castle. She thought of Albus, and how she had allowed his murderer to enter the castle with such ease.

"Minerva?"

Minerva felt Pomona's hand reach out to the cut on her cheek. Minerva shook her head. "I am fine, Pomona," she said. She clicked her fingers so that the wound glowed gold and the skin knit itself together again. "Come," she added. And together they followed the three Death Eaters inside.