Why does McGonagall wince at Voldemort's name?

[Sensiblyquirky]

Disclaimer: JKR owns it all. I own nothing. Ok, i promise later chapters will have more AD/MM.

Chapter 1
1938
Minerva McGonagall was making her usual Prefect rounds when she was hit by a spell in the back. When she woke up Tom Riddle, a Slytherian Prefect, was standing over her.
“Ah, I see my Goddess is awake.”
“I’m not your Goddess, Riddle,” Minerva snapped. “What happened, and where are we?”
“We are in the dungeons of the castle, don’t worry nobody can find us.”
Reaching for her wand Minerva discovered it was gone. Quickly looking up at Tom she saw it in his other hand. “Give me back my wand Tom.”
“You won’t have use for it.” Then pointing his wand at her he said, “Crucio!”
A pain like she had never felt before ripped through her body, and all she could do was scream. When it ended she opened her eyes to find Riddle straddling her, and as she attempted to struggle he slapped her across the face.
“You will be mine, Minerva. I’ve wanted you for quite some time, but you have always been interested in Professor Dumbledore. What would you want with a man thrice your age? He can’t save you now.”
“Tom-,”
“Lord Voldemort, that is what you will call me when we are down here.”
“I refuse to call you by some ridiculous name you fashioned for yourself. Now get off me. If you do anything to me I will run straight to Dumbledore. He doesn’t trust you already, and he will surely get you kicked out of Hogwarts.”
“Ha! Dumbledore can’t touch me, besides you won’t tell him,” replied Tom as he began to unbutton his pants.
“Like hell I won’t.”
“You won’t because if you do worse things will happen to your sister than I’m going to do to you. In fact I think I’ll make sure you watch your sister suffer, and then I’ll kill her in front of your very eyes.”
“P-Peri?”
“Yes, I know all about your sister and if you tell anybody about what happens down here she will meet a sticky end.”
Minerva struggled, but he hit her again and tied her hands together to keep her from hitting him.
“Call me Lord Voldemort. I want to hear you say it.”
“Go to hell!”
“Somebody’s got to teach you a lesson, McGonagall.” Before she could do anything she felt his first thrust.
“NO!” she screamed. He wasn’t supposed to do this; nobody was supposed to do this. He had taken her virginity, and it hurt. Every thrust hurt so much, and he would bite her to draw blood.
“Stop Tom, Stop!”
“Where’s your precious Dumbledore now? I’m not going to stop, Minerva. Get used to it. This won’t be the last time I take you.”
Minerva got back to her dorm room three hours later, blood all over her where he had raped her twice, and beaten her. He had used “Crucio” three more times before she called him Lord Voldemort. That was when he stopped. Minerva collapsed onto her bed and sobbed into her pillow. He had been right nobody had heard her scream. She wanted to run to Dumbledore, but Peri. God Peri had been through so much already with the death of their parents, and she couldn’t let her little sister be hurt like that. Tom was evil, and she knew just knew he would hurt her sister.
Sometimes Minerva wished Tom would go ahead and kill her. He hadn’t lied when he said he would take her again. His torture of her had been going on for months now, and with each passing day Minerva was becoming more and more withdrawn. Finally Professor Dumbledore asked her to stay after class one day.
“Minerva, I’ve noticed that you have distanced yourself between you and your classmates. Is something wrong?”
Unable to meet his eyes she whispered to the floor that nothing was wrong.
“Minerva, are you sure there isn’t anything you’d like to tell me?”
Looking up to meet his gaze she said, “No, sir. Nothing at all.”
“Very well then. Off you go.”
Later that day Professor Dumbledore, as the Deputy Headmaster, had a meeting with Headmaster Dippet.
“Armando, I need some advice.”
“I’m listening, Albus.”
“Well it is about one my students. She has become increasingly withdrawn over the past months, and I know that something is wrong but she won’t confide in me. She is afraid, Armando, I can tell. I think someone is hurting her.”
“Now, Albus don’t go jumping to conclusions. Maybe she just had a fight with her friends, you now how girls are at this age. Just give it time. Do you have any evidence that someone is hurting her?”
“No,” Albus whispered to the floor, “just a feeling.”
“You can’t act on a feeling, Albus.”
“I know. Thank you.”
“No problem my friend.”
As Albus Dumbledore walked back to his office he still couldn’t get Minerva McGonagall out of his mind. The look on her face, the dark circles under those beautiful green eyes, and the way she looked at the floor. That wasn’t like Minerva she always met everything head on. He decided he would watch her very closely.
Dumbledore did watch her very closely, and Tom had noticed. The beating in May was particularly bad as Tom Riddle was very unhappy.
“I swear I didn’t tell him anything, Tom.”
“VOLDEMORT!”
“Fine, I didn’t tell him anything Lord Voldemort. He asked me into his office, and I told him nothing was wrong. He asked again, and I looked him in the eye and told him nothing. Please believe me, I didn’t tell him!” Minerva screamed as Riddle was whipping her back.
“You better not have, now turn over.”
“Please, Lord Voldemort, please not again.”
“Turn over my Goddess.” Once again no one heard her scream.
It was time for summer, and for once Minerva was happy. Dumbledore had lobbed for her and her sister to be allowed to stay at Hogwarts over the summer, but Riddle was being sent back to the orphanage. When the train pulled away, and out of sight Minerva actually smiled. Something she hadn’t done in six months.
The summer went by very well as Peri and Minerva explored Hogwarts, and read almost every book in the library, including those in the restricted section. But one night Minerva woke up screaming, and she was soaking wet.
“Minnie, what’s wrong?” Peri asked half-asleep.
“Nothing, Peri, you go back to sleep. Ok?”
“Ok.”
Minerva knew she couldn’t go back to sleep. The nightmare had been so real, as if he was doing all of that over to her again. She went to the only place she knew where she would be safe: Dumbledore’s chambers.
When Dumbledore opened the door he was surprised to see Minerva standing there. She was soaking wet, and crying.
“Minerva, have you been outside?”
“No, Professor. M-May I come in?”
“Of course,” he replied stepping out of the way to allow her access.
“Why are you all wet, Minerva?”
“A nightmare, P-Professor.” Minerva started to cry harder, and Dumbledore quickly wrapped his arms around her.
“Minerva! You are soaking wet. Come with me, I have something you can change into.”
Walking into his bedroom Minerva noticed that there were instruments all over the surfaces, and his bed sheets were purple.
“Here,” he said handing her a set of stripped pajama’s, “go put these on. The bathroom is to your left.
When she emerged from the bathroom Dumbledore had to smile. The pajama’s swallowed her.
“They’re a little big, Professor.”
He chuckled, “indeed. I can shrink them for you.”
“No, I-I think I like them big.”
“Alright. Now come here and tell me about your dream.”
Minerva’s face immediately fell. “I can’t tell you Professor. I’m sorry but I can’t. Please don’t make me.” Minerva had started to cry again.
Dumbledore went over to her and gently picked her up and carried her to his bed. Sitting down on the bed he was still holding Minerva as she wept. “Alright Minerva, but I want you to know that I’m here for you if you ever need to talk.”
“I know Professor, and thank you. I guess I should go back to my dorm room…”
“You may stay here if you like Minerva. If you feel uncomfortable with me being here, you can have the bed and I’ll sleep in my sitting room.”
“No, I don’t want to kick you out of your own bed. Besides I don’t feel uncomfortable, in fact quite the opposite,” she finished in a whisper with a dull flush slowly rising up into her cheeks.
“Go to sleep, sweetheart. Just go to sleep. You are safe here. They fell asleep with Minerva still cuddled in Dumbledoe’s lap, and his arms were wrapped tightly around her small frame.
The next morning Minerva woke up warm, and happy. She wanted to just stay in his arms forever. She knew she was safe there, and it tricked her into a false sense of security. Dumbledore let her keep the pajamas, and she slept in them every night since she couldn’t sleep in his arms. When the students returned to Hogwarts Minerva got one good look at Tom Riddle, and she knew that the security she thought she had maintained was about to be shattered…

[Jestana]

Oh, wow. *rips Riddle to shreds* Yep, threaten her family and she will do anything to protect them. *sigh* Poor Min and Albus!

[Sensiblyquirky]

Chapter 2:

1939-1940

At the welcoming feast that year Professor Dumbledore was not very talkative. Usually the jovial one who always inquired after the rest of the staff's summers it was out of character that he barely spoke to anyone for the duration of the feast. The truth was he was watching Minerva. He had watched her before, but now he wasn't just admiring her beauty and intelligence he was looking for a sign. Any indication of who was hurting her, and why she couldn't tell him. Then he saw it, fear. Those beautiful green eyes held fear. Any one else would have missed it, but he knew how to read her and when he followed her eyes it led to the Slytherian table. He scanned it and Dumbledore's eyes immediately fell on Tom Riddle. He had this feeling that it was Tom, of course the fact that he didn't trust him already certainly didn't help Riddle's chances, but he was the only one that could make Minerva that afraid. He immediately felt rage at Tom's even daring to look at "his Minerva."
'Wait did I just call her mine?' he thought to himself. 'She isn't mine, and she wouldn't want someone three times her age anyway. She is just so...wonderful. Wait, she is a student! Man get a grip on yourself.' And he thought he had but then he looked at her, and she looked up in time to catch his eye. She smiled at him, and he couldn't help it he smiled back. He secretly hoped no one had seen their little exchange, but some had. The last person either would have wanted to see it.
Tom didn't wast any time, and he kept Minerva down in the bowels of Hogwarts for four hours before he let her go.
"Did you miss me this summer, my goddess? Or were you too busy with Dumbledore? I bet you loved being shut up here with him all summer, didn't you? I saw you two look at each other, just remember your little sister Minerva, remember Peri."
That night Minerva could barely walk, and as she was heading back to her room she collapsed on the floor. When she woke up she was in Dumbledore's bed, and he was asleep in a chair near by. Minerva tried to get up without him noticing, but as soon as she moved his eyes flew open.
"Minerva, oh I'm so glad you are ok. What happened, I need to know everything."
This is what Minerva was afraid of. She knew he wouldn't stop until he found out, and she didn't want to hurt him.
"Nothing Professor. I need to get to class. Thank you."
Albus Dumbledore was getting mad. "Minerva, do not lie to me. I found you passed out on one of the corridors at an ungodly hour, and you had brusies on your arms and face. Not to mention some blood. Tell me who has been hurting you." His last statement was not a question, but a demand and Minerva knew it.
"Nobody has been hurting me," she screamed. "Why can't you just leave me alone! You are only making things worse!" The hurt in her favorite Professor's eyes was unmistakable and he was so shocked by her response that she was able to run past him before he noticed she was gone.
It had been two weeks since Minerva's encounter with Dumbledore, and they had not spoken a word to each other in that time. Minerva was miserable, and unbeknownest to her so was Dumbledore.
On a Saturday afternoon while everyone else was in Hogesmeade, Minerva was sitting up in the Astronomy tower just staring off into space when the door opened behind her. Turning around she looked straight into the sky blue eyes of Professor Dumbledore. They held each other's gaze for a long time before Dumbledore turned around and made as if he was going to leave.
"Professor, wait!" called Minerva.
"Miss. McGonagall," he replied coolly.
Minerva tried to stay clam, but her emotions were running rampant, more than usual lately, the smalles thing wanted to make her cry. She tried in vain to blink back the tears, but they came down her face any way. In an effort to hide her tears she turned toward the ledge over looking the grounds. Unknowingly she spoke her thoughts out loud, "I wonder if it would hurt that much if I jumped, or if I would die immediately..."
Before she could process exactly what she had said Minerva felt herself being picked up off the ledge, and she was being held rather forcefully up against a wall. When she looked up she was staring straight into the eyes of Albus Dumbledore, and he was furious. Minerva shrunk against his gaze, and began to tremble.
"Don't you ever think such a thing again, do you hear me? You are entirely to precious to ever think about killing yourself. If you have problems you come to me. I won't push for answers, but under no circumstances are you to even think about killing yourself again."
When Minerva looked up she was surprised to see an entirely different emotion in her Professor's eyes. Anger had been replaced with a deep rooted sadness, that this wonderful young woman would even think of ending her life and the thought scared him. Albus Dumbledore couldn't live in a world that forced this spectacular creature to leave it. Minerva didn't know what made her do what she did next, but she threw her arms around his neck. If they hadn't been so close together it might have resulted in their falling to the ground, instead Dumbledore embraced her back. They stood like that for a long time: holding each other, and Albus was holding Minerva up as well; her feet dangling a couple of inches off the ground.
"Promise me, Minerva please," he pleaded.
"I promise, and I'm sorry."
"Sweetheart, how would you like to become an animagus?"
"Are you serious?" Minerva practically yelled at him.
Chuckling he responded that he was indeed very serious. Minerva couldn't believe her luck.
The next evening Minerva was excited as she headed for her first meeing with Dumbledore. She had always wanted to try this transformation, since Transfigurations was her favorite subject, and she thought that most evenings she would be with him and therefore safe from Tom. Minerva also had to smile at the memory of Dumbledore's use of the term "Sweetheart." She loved it when he used endearments rather than her name, for a brief spell she could pretend she was his and he, in return, was hers.
Minerva still had her "meetings" with Tom, but for some reason they weren't happening as much as last year. She was very grateful that he was too busy, but she only wondered with what. The whole school was about to find out soon...

[Jestana]

Dun, dun, dun! The plot thickens! Of course. *grin*

[Lady Lavendar]

I wonder what Tom is up too. This stpry is so sad!

[griseldalafey]

Such a sad story. :'(What's Tom up to? Nothing good, I can guess that much.

[Sensiblyquirky]

Yes, I know it is sad and I’m sorry I’m putting Minerva and Albus through all this but alas…Chapter 3

Minerva didn’t make it to breakfast one November morning, because the thought of food had made her sick. She woke up sick to her stomach, and she had no idea why. As she was heading to her first class she saw Professor Dumbledore coming her way, and when he saw her he put his hand on the wall as if to brace himself and breathed a sigh of relief.
Rushing to his aid Minerva asked, “Professor, are you ok? Do you need to go to the hospital wing?”
Professor Dumbledore just said, “Come with me.”
Once inside his office Dumbledore embraced Minerva, “Oh, thank God you are alright.”
“Professor I promised you…I didn’t…”
“No, love, I didn’t mean that. Minerva, why weren’t you at breakfast?”
Thinking she had lied to him enough, Minerva told him the truth, “My stomach has been upset lately. I don’t understand it really, it is only bad in the morning and then it is fine for the rest of the day.”
Dumbledore did a double take at that, but decided against saying anything. “There was an attack this morning. A student was found on the stairs leading to the Great Hall, he has been petrified. I was worried you might have been attacked.”
“Will he be ok?”
“He should in time, but we have to wait a few months for the mandrake draft. To be petrified means one is in a death like state, stiff as a board and unconscious, but they are not dead.”
“How did it happen? Who would do such a thing? Will they close Hogwarts?” she asked frantically.
“We don’t know yet. If the attacks persist Hogwarts will most likely be closed…” he replied with a heavy sigh. “Minerva, promise me you will be careful.”
“Don’t worry Professor, I promise. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know.”
“I don’t want you to do anything. Now, about your stomach. Um…how long has this been going on?”
“About a week. It’s weird, really.”
“Any other symptoms?”
“I’m just really emotional, but you know that” she added sheepishly.
“Minerva, forgive the intrusion, but are you, well, seeing anyone? Romantically?”
“No, why do you ask?” As soon as she said it out loud it hit her. Minerva didn’t move or make a sound for a full three minutes, and her thought process was something along the lines of: ‘No! No, it can’t be. Not with him, oh god, no. I can’t be…I can’t have his, I don’t want his…what will he do? Should I tell him? Oh, god what Professor Dumbledore must think…’
“Minerva, Minerva? Are you ok?”
“Huh? Oh yea, um, I need to get to class Professor.”
“Very well, I’ll see you this evening.”
For a moment Albus Dumbledore’s thoughts were not on the attack at Hogwarts. ‘Is she really…pregnant? I wonder who…I never would have thought Minerva well…wait!’, and it hit him like a ton of bricks, ‘that’s why she is so afraid of him. A flash of scenes past before is face: her eyes, the tears, the bruises, and the blood. Has he been…’ Dumbledore couldn’t even bring himself to say it. A rage like he had never felt before began to rise up in him, and he needed to act. Whipping out his wand nothing was safe in his office, almost every item had been transfigured, multiple times, before he stopped.
‘I have to do something, but I don’t have any proof.’ Then an idea came into his head. Luckily he didn’t have a morning class, so he took off in the direction of the Gryffindor common room. Once inside he went straight to Minerva’s bedroom, as Head girl, she had her own. It took an hour, but when he was done no one could enter her bedroom by door, or the fireplace without her permission, well he could, but he figured that was for her safety. He had placed a rather difficult protective charm on her room. He knew that she wasn’t completely safe, but when she was in her room she couldn’t be touched.
That evening, after her lesson with Dumbledore, Minerva was walking back to her room when Tom grabbed her from behind.
“I’ve missed you, my Goddess.”
“Tom, we need to talk.” As he faced darkened she quickly added, “We aren’t down in the dudgeons, so I don’t have to call you that. Anyway, I think I’m, well…pregnant.”
For once she seemed to have shocked him into silence, but not for long. “You can’t have the child. Children just get in the way. I’ll take care of that for you, in fact I might make sure to fix it so you never have another child. If I have to kill mine I wouldn’t want you to have another man’s child, especially that muggle loving fool you love so much.”
“No, just get rid of the baby, and I wouldn’t have Professor Dumbledore’s child he doesn’t like me that way.”
“Haha. To be so smart you are dense sometimes, McGonagall. He watches you, and I know he wants to do to you what I have done,” he added with an evil grin on his face.
“He would never attack me! He is a good man, but you on the other hand are evil.”
“There is no good and evil but only power, and those to weak to seek it. I’m more powerful than your Dumbledore, come let me show you.”
She tried to fight him, but to no avail. As always he did exactly as he said. There was no baby, and for that she was grateful, but she had been robbed. Robbed of what little innocence she still had, robbed of so much happiness, and robbed, she thought, of love. What man could love her when she couldn’t produce him an heir? Minerva could not have been more wrong. There was a man who loved her; loved her when it was against all rules of propriety for him to do so: she was his student, and eighty years younger than him, but he loved her anyway. He had finally admitted it to himself that night he held her as she slept. It felt so right to him. She had fit perfectly in his arms, and he thought she looked so beautiful in his oversized pajamas. He would give anything to see her come out of the bathroom dressed like that every night. That feeling was only reinforced that day in the Astronomy tower when they had held each other for what felt like ages and mere seconds all at the same time. Albus Dumbledore knew that she would leave, and that someone so young couldn’t possibly love someone so old but he had made a decision. He would wait for her, and if he was never to have her then he would never marry because if he married someone else he knew it would be a lie. His heart was firmly planted in Minerva McGonagall’s young bosom, and there it would remain.
Minerva woke up hours later on the cold floor, and Tom was no where to be seen. She was in a great deal of pain, and barely made it back to her room; once she did she collapsed on the bed and passed out.
Professor Dumbledore was not happy when he didn’t see Minerva at breakfast, concerned when she wasn’t at lunch, in a state of panic when she wasn’t in class, and nearly crippled with worry when she wasn’t at dinner. After talking with her sister, Peri, he decided to floo into Minerva’s room. No one had seen her all day, and Minerva never missed class.

[Sensiblyquirky]

Ok, the second half of chapter 3-sense it had more words than allowed....
Upon entering her rooms later that evening he saw her still passed out on the bed, and there was blood. Too much blood. He quickly picked her up, but thought with the amount of blood it might be unsafe to move her and called the nurse instead. It took the school nurse nearly two hours to see her, and when she came to his office she was looking extremely grave.
“What happened is she ok, Sara?”
“She will be, but that poor girl…” she didn’t even finish but just shook her head.
Albus Dumbledore jumped up out of his seat, “Sara I need to know everything.”
“She doesn’t want you to know.”
“She’s awake? Sara, you have to tell me.”
“She’s been sexually assaulted, Albus, multiple times. She has also been subjected to various other forms of torture. To be honest I find it hard to believe she hasn’t ended up in the hospital wing before. But here’s the thing, she refuses to tell me who did this to her. She’s protecting him, Albus, and I can’t for the life of me understand why. I do know this though, she is afraid.”
Professor Dumbledore had gone incredibly pale and very still during the nurse’s comments. When she finished it was a long time before he spoke, and when he did his voice was strained.
“How long does she need to stay in bed? Should she be moved?”
“It would be best if she was not moved. A week, Albus. She needs complete bed rest for a week. I can floo into her room, and check her three times a day but…”
“I’ll stay here at night, and any other time outside of my classes Sara.”
“I know your heart is in the right place, Albus, but think about it. You are a single male, and you want to stay in her room all night for a week? It, well-“
“I will stay with her Sara, and if anyone wants to question me then let them. I will not leave her alone,” Sara knew not to argue with Professor Dumbledore when he was mad, and so she left Minerva in his care.
The week went by fast for the student and her Professor. Minerva grew stronger every day, and by the end of the week Albus practically had to chain her to the bed to get her to stay. She claimed she was fine, and that she had missed too many classes. On her sixth day in bed Albus approached the subject of what landed her there in the first place,
“Minerva, I think it will help you if you talk about it.”
“You said you wouldn’t push.”
Trying to remain calm he replied, “Minerva this is serious. If you tell me then we can stop him, and he can never bother you again. You will be safe.”
“No.” her jaw was set and her back was straight as an arrow.
He couldn’t help it he lost it. “Minerva! He raped you, beat you, and did who knows what else. He used you, and hurt you. You could have died, and you expect me to just sit here watching you heal physically, knowing you have not healed mentally, and do nothing? When the bastard who did this to you is still out there?” He was pacing now, and Minerva’s eyes were wide in shock at the bluntness of his words.
“Do you have any idea how it feels to know that when you leave my room, or any classroom I worry that you will make it to your room safe? I want to protect you, but I can’t because I don’t know who did this to you or where or when. I know nothing, and I feel so helpless and so useless. You really expect me not to ask, not to push, and to just pretend this never happened?”
“Yes. One day I might be ready to tell you, but now I’m not and I ask you to accept that. If you are ashamed to know me then we can stop the animagus lessons, and you never have to see me again when this year is over.” Minerva secretly hoped that he would not agree to those terms at all.
He looked at her in horror. “Not see you…no we will continue the lessons, and I am not ashamed of you. I could never be ashamed of you.”
Minerva smiled. He came up to her and gently removed a stray hair from her face. “Alright Minerva, alright you win. But I want you to know I do this begrudgingly, and only because…well,” he coughed, “never mind. Go to sleep, baby.”
“Um, Professor?”
“Albus.”
“What? When we are alone I would like you to call me Albus.”
“Alright. Albus, will you hold me tonight? I know you are my teacher, and everything but…”
Before she could finish he was undoing his outer robes, and slipping his shoes off. Minerva tried to suppress a blush as she watched him transfigure his under robes into pajamas. He slid into the bed, and wrapped his arms around her protectively. When he thought she was asleep he whispered, “any time, sweetheart, I’d hold you every night if I could.” But Minerva had heard him.

[Jestana]

Oh, wow. That's brilliant! I'm ready to kick Tom in the, er, you know, make it impossible for him to rape anyone again. *grin* Good job!

[TabbyForever]

oh my god, thats so sad...i'm practically crying for them....
I hate him...with all my might....i hate a character in a book!!!!he's such a bastard!!!!!(ooops i'm gonna have to ban myself!!!hehehehe)
Grrrrr...
Good job though...well written
Tabs

[griseldalafey]

So sad... I just hope Albus will find out soon what has really happened, before Riddle really goes too far. *shudder*

[Sensiblyquirky]

Part One of Chapter 4:

Albus and Minerva spent every evening together, and most weekends as well. Naturally rumors about the two began to spread, and were properly ignored by the two in question. As Minerva put it one day when she was being accosted by some over eager first years, “I refuse to dignify those ridiculous rumors with a response!”
Tom never touched Minerva again after the baby incident. In truth he had grown tired of her. Not only was he preoccupied with other more important matters, but the last couple of times she had not struggled as much and that was part of the fun, he thought. Being able to take her even when she struggled. So he left her alone.
It was one night in March, and Minerva was waiting for Professor Dumbledore in his office for their lesson. He was an hour late, and she was starting to worry. The lessons had been going well, and Minerva thought she was close to transforming. Not a naturally patient person, she hoped she could accomplish her goal within the next two weeks.
As one hour turned to two and three Minerva contemplated leaving, but decided to grab and book and wait. ‘Funny,’ she thought, ‘I feel like a wife waiting up for her husband who had to put in extra hours at work.’ She smiled. ‘Mrs. Albus Dumbledore. Minerva Catherine McGonagall Dumbledore. That sounds nice! Wait what am I saying? He is my teacher, nothing more.’ As the hour grew later Minerva slipped into a light slumber, consumed with dreams of the handsome auburn haired teacher who had held her while she slept, kept vigil at her bedside when she needed him most, and who had honestly saved her life.
It was one in the morning before Albus returned to his office, and found Minerva asleep on the couch. He had to smile despite all that had happened, because she had waited for him.
Approaching her cautiously he shook one of her shoulders to wake her up, “Minerva, wake up.”
“Huh?” she answered half-awake. She slowly opened her eyes, and when sleep gave way to wakefulness she smiled at him. “Hi. Why are you so late, and what time is it?”
“It is one in the morning,” he took a deep breath and settled in a chair across from her.
“Albus, what is it? Was another student attacked?”
He looked at her gravely, “A student was killed tonight, Minerva. She was found in one of the bathrooms. Headmaster Dippet would have had no choice but to close Hogwarts, but then Tom Riddle apprehended Hagrid. It seems he caught Hagrid with a spider of an ancient species, and claims that Hagrid’s monster is responsible for the attacks this year.”
“But you don’t believe him?”
He looked at Minerva for a long moment before answering, “No I do not. I refuse to believe that Hagrid hurt anyone, or that his pet did either. But Riddle has been given an award to the school, and Hagrid has been expelled. Wand snapped and all. I was able to talk Dippet into letting him stay on to assist the groundskeeper.” He was pacing now. “This year has been so frustrating! I can’t prove Hagrid’s innocence, so he is condemned to these grounds for virtually the remainder of his life; without a wand he cannot do much. Then you, I can’t help you either.”
The full impact of his words, and the desperation with which they were spoken finally hit Minerva. Her not telling him had hurt him, and it was still hurting him. She almost told him right then and there, but Peri immediately popped into her head. She just couldn’t. Finally she decided on something to say,
“You have helped me more than you realize, and your getting Hagrid a job here will help him. Instead of being shunned by our society he can live here, and work with all those animals he loves. If you look hard enough, Albus, you will find that you have saved both mine and Hagrid’s lives, and just because it is not how you wanted to or the fact that you cannot easily see it does not mean that you didn’t.” Usually the hot-tempered of the two Minerva put all of that on hold knowing she needed to comfort in any way she could not add to the stress.
Turning from the window, where he had positioned himself before she spoke, he said, “You are wise beyond your years Minerva. Thank you.”
“I guess I better be going back to my room.”
“Let me walk you. I don’t want you going back by yourself.”
“Alright, my knight in shining armor,” she replied jokingly.
“If you get to give me a nickname then I get to give you one,” he replied smiling.
Minerva waited a few moments then said, “And…”
“I need some time to think about it. Come let’s go.”
Once at the portrait that led into the Gryffindor common room Minerva turned to Albus and said, “Get some sleep. You look like you haven’t slept well in ages.”
“Thank you, my dear. You are truly very kind. In other words I look like hell warmed over.”
“You said it I didn’t, remember that.”
Chuckling he responded, “I will. Now go to bed, my Scottish Rose.”
“Is that my nickname? I like it. Goodnight, Albus.” And with that she disappeared through the portrait hole. As Albus walked back to his chambers he thought saying good bye to her in three months would be the hardest thing he ever had to do.

[Sensiblyquirky]

Part two of Chapter 4:

Graduation day came too early for Minerva and Albus. Minerva had successfully completed the Animagus transformation a month ago, and registered her Tabby cat self two weeks ago. However she still didn’t know what she was going to do. A war had just started in the muggle war, and with the emergence of Grindelwald Minerva was thinking of becoming an auror, but she decided to get an apartment in Diagon Alley and go from there.
The day before graduation Albus was called away on business, and he would not be back in time to see Minerva before she left. She was devastated, and had locked herself in her room for most of the day. At eight that night she decided to go for a walk, and when she passed by Dumbledore’s office the door squeaked open. Checking to make sure no one was in the corridor she entered his office hoping he was in there. Before she could cry at his absence from his office she noticed a small box and a piece of parchment lying on his desk.
Noticing the parchment was addressed to her she opened it with a flick of her wand and read:
My Scottish Rose,
I am sorry I’m not here for your big day. I’m in France with the British armed forces fighting for the allied front. Don’t worry I will not be fighting. I’ll come back in one piece. But know this I am thinking of you. Don’t be afraid to go beyond these hallowed halls, Minerva. You are an intelligent young lady, and I have no doubt you will take our world by storm. I sincerely hope you will not forget your old transfigurations teacher, for I will never forget you. I hope I may visit and owl you upon occasion.
The box is also for you, and I know you are curious as to what it holds. Upon my mother’s death she left this in my care with instructions to give it to a lady deserving its history. The piece of jewelry, you are now dying to see, has been in the Dumbledore family for centuries, but I’m afraid the story behind it will have to wait for another time. It is my wish that you have it. Consider it a graduation present.

I will see you soon,
A Knight in shining Armor

P.S. If you feel so inclined you may sleep in my chambers tonight.

When Minerva opened the box she gasped. It was a beautiful broach, and on the back the name Dumbledore was in scripted around its edges. Minerva couldn’t believe that he would give her something so precious and so old. She immediately sat down to write him a letter in return.

My knight,
I hate that I cannot see you one more time before I leave Hogwarts, but I know I will see you again soon. You have done more for me than any person I know, Albus, and for that I am forever in your debt. I have already given you my new address, and I expect a visit as soon as you get back.
Thank you so much for the broach. It is beautiful, and I will wear it every day. I hope you made the right decision in giving me this precious gift, because you will never get it back! I will cherish it, Albus, not only because it is beautiful but because you gave it to me. You had better tell me the story behind it someday!
I’m awaiting your safe return,
Your Kitten

P.S. thanks for the offer of your chambers. I do believe I shall accept.

Minerva had debated for some time on whether to sign it ‘Your Kitten,’ or ‘Kitten’ considering what it implied but she wanted him to know that if he wanted her she was his.
Minerva had not been in her apartment for two days when Albus Dumbledore’s head appeared in her fireplace.
“Minerva! Are you here?” he called.
Minerva had been in the kitchen getting something to drink when he called, she came running into the room: “Albus! You’d better be coming through that fireplace this instant.”
In no time he was in her living room, and they were sitting together on the couch.
“Minerva, have you found a job yet?”
“No, I’m still looking for one. Why do you ask?”
“I need your help. All I ask is that you hear me out, and then I want you to sleep on it before you decide.” Nodding her head she urged him to continue.
“The muggle war is more horrible than the last, Minerva. Adolf Hitler, the German Furher, has begun to take over the continent. Austria, The Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and now France not to mention he is heading toward Moscow. England and Russia are virtually the last defenses, and though many of our kind refuse to acknowledge the muggle world this war will kill ours too. And Grindelwald is using this war to his advantage. We need to act Minerva, and I would like your help. I’m going to be very active in this war, and I would like you to assist me.”
“It won’t be easy, and nor will it be fun. We would travel extensively, and I cannot guarantee you a warm place to sleep or enough sleep in general. You would witness the horrors of war with your own eyes. But I can promise you that I will do everything within my power to protect you should you choose to join me.”
Neither said a word for a while until Minerva asked, “How long?”
“I don’t know. It could be over in a year, or ten. I just don’t know.”
“Yes, my answer is yes.”
“Minerva, I want you to sleep on it. I’m asking a lot of you, and I want you to really think it through.”
“That may be but my answer tomorrow will still be yes, so why waste the time?”
He mumbled “stubborn,” but she had heard him.
“I heard that Albus Dumbledore! My hearing is excellent so don’t try and deny it. Can you stay for lunch?”
“I would like that very much. Thank you.”
Over Lunch they discussed some of the details of their possible operations. “When will you need me?” Minerva asked while taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.
“This Saturday if you can.” Minerva spit the pumpkin juice everywhere, “Saturday! That’s in two days! You don’t believe in giving a girl much notice do you? Is this how you ask women out, Albus, call them up on Friday hoping they can be ready in two hours,” she teased him.
Dumbledore turned beat red, “Well, no, but I haven’t...,he coughed, I haven’t been out on a date in awhile.”
Minerva rather enjoyed seeing him flustered like this with a devilish grin she continued, “Why Albus are you that picky? What exactly are you looking for, Mr. Dumbledore.”
“Who said I’m looking. Perhaps I have already found her,” he replied on to her teasing ways.
Minerva tried to hide her disappointment, “Oh. I see, well congratulations I hope to meet her someday.”
When it was time for him to leave Albus bent down and kissed Minerva lightly on her lips, “I never said it wasn’t you, my Scottish rose.” He was gone before she could respond.

[Jestana]

Oh, yay! Some flirting and maybe more! Whee!

[griseldalafey]

Yes, I definatly liked the flirting. I think on some level, Albus knows what has happened to Minerva, and I hope she will tell him one day.

[Inappropriate Goat]

I hate tom riddle more now than I did before... That f*cking B*stard!!! Albus is so sweet. i wonder what the story is behind the broach? I need more!
MM

[Nerweniel]

Weeeheeee! This started out so very sad, but the last chapter made me smile in a very, very "ebil" way... "my Scottish rose"... aw aw aw! We want more!

Love,

Liz

[TabbyForever]

Yayyyy
After such a nasty few years, our couple are finally opening up!!!!
With a bit of flirting as well!!!! what a result!!!!
I really wanna hear the story behind the broach, please don't stop untill you've told us!!!
Well done...
Tabs

[Sensiblyquirky]

Chapter 5
Late 1942
“ALBUS!” Minerva McGonagall cried into the black of night. Minerva was stumbiling along in the dark searching for her old Professor in a forest of Poland. They had gotten separated while dueling some of Grindelwald’s supporters, and Minerva was worried. She just had to find him. For the past two years Minerva had been aiding Albus Dumbledore in his fight against Grindelwald, and the axis powers of the muggle world; and this was the first time they had ever been separated in battle, and Minerva hoped it would be the last time. While searching she thought back over the past two years. Since the night he kissed her lightly on the lips she hoped that he would make advances for a more romantic relationship, but he had not. They flirted, a lot, and exchanged little touches and glances but still nothing had come of it. Minerva convinced herself that she disgusted him. Why would he want someone who had been sullied? Yet that didn’t stop her from loving him.
“Albus! Please be ok, Albus. Please be ok,” she whispered frantically into the wind.
Suddenly an arm wrapped around her from behind, and a hand went over her mouth preventing her from screaming. As she started to struggle she heard a familiar soothing voice whisper in her ear, “My Scottish rose do not struggle against me. I have been so worried about you.”
“Oh Albus! Are you ok? And never do something like that again! I could have hurt you” she mumbled into his beard as they held each other tight.
“I am sorry I scared you. Are you ok, Minerva?”
“I’m fine, and you?”
“Fine. Now we need to keep moving. There should be a village about 10 miles from here, and we should head for that. Mind you it is occupied, so let me do the talking since my kitten doesn’t know her German,” he teased.
“Well, my knight, refuses to teach me! Some rescuer you are. Won’t even equip me with the language skills to survive the ruddy war,” she teased back.
Taking her hand in his, he began to walk in the direction he assumed the village was. The night was cold, and windy. During her duel Minerva’s hair had come undone and it was swirling around her in the wind. Albus admired her while they were walking.
“You look very beautiful, my dear, very impressive against the night wind.”
Minerva blushed, because it was moments like this one where she thought maybe he did have feelings for her.
“Oh, Albus. How can I look impressive with my hair flying everywhere? You are mad.”
“You are not the first to tell me that, but you do look impressive. The hair helps with that effect, because it makes you look like nothing could shake you or move you from your chosen course,” he replied looking thoughtful. “Of course,” he added, “you also look scary.”
Shooting him a glare she said, “I don’t know whether to blush, hit you, or refuse to talk to you.”
“I like to keep you on your toes. I would prefer the blush, could handle a punch, but would be very sad if you didn’t talk to me,” Albus answered stopping to give her a sad look hoping for sympathy.
Minerva rolled her eyes, and kept on walking leaving Albus standing behind her. “Well are you coming, Albus, or are you going to stand there all night?”
Albus Dumbledore smiled, and strode off toward her taking her hand back into his, “Oh, I’m coming.”
A little while later they reached the village, and were immediately questioned by a German solider.
“Halt! Wie heissen Sie, und warum sind Sie hier?”
“Ich heisse Percy Dunkelbar, und sie heisst Rosie. Wir brauchen eine Zimmer fur die Nacht.”
The German solider let his eyes roam over Minerva, and she instinctively took a step closer to Albus, which did not go unnoticed by the soldier.
“Sie ist sehr schon. Der Burgermeister liebt schone Madchen.”
Albus went very still, and Minerva wondered what the solider had said but she knew it was about her.
Albus replied in his calmest voice, “Sie ist meine Frau. Danke fur die information.”
Once out of hearing distance Minerva asked, “What did he say?”
“We need to watch out for the mayor he likes beautiful women, and you are my wife. I thought that might help keep the mayor away, but I want to keep you close just in case.”
Minerva just nodded. They entered the only hotel in the little village, and Albus left Minerva to go check in. While he was gone a man approached Minerva. His decorations, and the way he held himself let Minerva know he was the one man they had wanted to avoid.
“Und, wie heissen Sie, meine schone Blume.”
Minerva knew a little German so she could answer his question, “Ich heisse Rosie.”
Before she knew what was happening the Burgermeister had grabbed her around the waist, and was attempting to pull her into a secluded room around the corner.
Minerva screamed: “ALBUS!!!!!!!!”
Dumbledore came running immediately: “Halt! Sie ist meine Frau,” and with that Albus jerked Minerva from his grasp. Albus took a step toward the mayor and said in a dangerous voice, “Berühren Sie sie nicht!”
The mayor did not like that, and more soldiers started appearing around Albus and Minerva. One reached out and touched Minerva, she elbowed him in the ribs, and then kicked him in the face when he buckled. As soon as she did that the soldiers descended upon her, touching and grabbing. Albus Dumbledore did not want to use magic but he had no choice, whipping out his wand he stunned the group of soldiers and lunged for Minerva. Altering their memories so they wouldn’t remember the encounter Albus left before they woke up.
Once safely out of the village Albus constructed an invisibility shield around Minerva and himself, and transfigured a rock into a warm blanket to wrap up in. Once he was seated and had the blanket around his shoulders, he beckoned Minerva to him. She gladly sank into his lap, and let him wrap his arms around her frame.
“That brought back memories didn’t it sweetheart?”
Minerva just nodded, and he knew she was crying silent tears. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head he just held her.
“Albus, why do men do that? I mean is it just lust or what? They treat me like I’m a piece of meat, or a toy they can use and discard,” she whispered.
“Some do it just for the lust. For many it is power, power over another. I am sorry, my Scottish rose, I shouldn’t have left you alone.”
“It isn’t your fault, Albus. Besides you saved me again, you are indeed my knight in shinning armor. I’m sorry we can’t have a hotel room.”
“As long as you are safe beside of me I don’t care where we sleep.”
After a while Minerva spoke up again, “Albus, I want to tell you about my sixth and seventh years but I don’t know if now is the best time. Out in the middle of no where.”
“If you are ready, there is no time like the present but if you are not then I understand.”
“Can I tell you later?” Before he could answer she looked up into his face, and continued “I promise I’ll tell you, Albus. I just would like to do it in a different setting.”
“It’s up to you, sweetheart. Why don’t we try and get some sleep?”
“Thank you. Here let me move so you can lie down.” When he was flat on the ground Albus turned to lie on his right side, and he pulled Minerva close. Her head resting on his chest, but before they could go to sleep she leaned up and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. The combination of holding her close, and her sweet kiss kept Albus warm all night.


Ok German translations: “Halt! Wie heissen Sie, und warum sind Sie hier?”- "Stop! What's your name, and why are you here?"

“Ich heisse Percy Dunkelbar, und sie heisst Rosie. Wir brauchen eine Zimmer fur die Nacht.”- "My name is Percy Dunkelbar, und her name is Rosie. We need a room for the night."

“Sie ist sehr schon. Der Burgermeister liebt schone Madchen.”-"She is very pretty. The mayor loves beautiful women."

“Sie ist meine Frau. Danke fur die information.”-"She is my wife. Thank you for the information."

“Und, wie heissen Sie, meine schone Blume.”-"And, what is your name, my beautiful flower."

“Berühren Sie sie nicht!”-"Do not touch her!"
I apologize to all German speaking people who might read this. I didn't use a dictionary, and just used what little i remember from my german classes-which is why the sentences were simple! ;D

[Jestana]

*growls and rips Nazis to shreds*

“I don’t know whether to blush, hit you, or refuse to talk to you.”
“I like to keep you on your toes. I would prefer the blush, could handle a punch, but would be very sad if you didn’t talk to me,”

That was so cute! I love it!

[TabbyForever]

Wow, i actually understood what was being said there!!!
(Liz please don't have a heart attack and die at the statement that i actually understood germen!!!)
Another great chapter...its fab to see them getting on so well, the great banter and above all min feeling secure enough to confide in albus what happened.
Well done
Tabs

[Herzele]

The German sentences may be simple, but they all are correct ... (I'm German, by the way) ;D

And I love the story. It's great !

[Sensiblyquirky]

Chapter 6 (Part one)
Christmas 1944
It was Christmas Eve, and Minerva was waiting for Albus to finish with some ministry officials in Italy before they could leave to go home. They had just spent the past two months chasing a group of Grindelwald’s followers, and had managed to catch up with them in time to be home for Christmas.
Minerva was excited about sleeping in a bed and wrapping up in front of a fire, something she hadn’t done in close to three months, for Christmas but she was also a little sad that she wouldn’t be spending Christmas with Albus. Their relationship still had not progressed beyond friendship, but they had gotten closer in the past two years. Minerva knew the only thing Albus didn’t know about her was what Tom Riddle did to her. Well she knew he knew on some level, but he didn’t know the particulars so her Christmas present to him was going to be revealing that to him. To some she thought such a morbid topic would probably appear to be a rather strange Christmas present, but to Minerva it was the most special gift she could give him: the opportunity to know her like no one else did, it was the chance to show him what he meant to her, and it was a way of expressing her love. She only hoped that he would want to still be friends with her once he knew.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a strong pair of arms circling her from behind. “My Scottish Rose, we will not be going home for Christmas but do not fret. I have a good friend in Florence who has offered us his house for Christmas, and I wanted to surprise you. I only hope that is ok,” Albus asked hoping she had no outstanding plans for the holidays.
Turning in his arms Minerva replied, “I would love to spend Christmas with you in Italy, my knight. May we go now? I long to sit in front of a fire.”
Smiling Albus activated the portkey that would take them to Florence. When they arrived Minerva noticed that the house had not been destroyed by the bombing, in fact it looked like it was existing in a different time altogether.
“Albus, looking at this house one would doubt that a war is going on. How did it escape the bombs, and the fires,” Minerva asked staring at the house in disbelief.
“Niccolo is a very powerful wizard and he has placed strong charms on the house that have, thus far, protected it from damage. Now, he is visiting family elsewhere so we have the house to ourselves. Come let’s go inside I don’t know about you but I could use a nice hot shower.”
Once inside Minerva and Albus separated to take showers, and in half an hour they were seated together on the sofa in front of a blazing fire. They were silent for awhile just enjoying the other’s company, but Minerva figured now was as good a time as any. ‘Here goes,’ she thought.
“Albus?”
“Hmm.”
“I have my Christmas present for you, and I would like to give it to you now.”
Moving his gaze from the fire to her Albus waited eagerly for his present. Seeing that he was not going to protest getting it early Minerva took a deep breath and prayed to her patron goddess for the courage to get through this.
“My present is not something you can unwrap. My gift to you is the knowledge of what happened to me my sixth and seventh years, and I hope you understand that this is one of he greatest gifts I can give you. I will understand if you want to have nothing to do with me once you know.”
Albus was about to interrupt saying that he would definitely want to have everything to do with her even when she told him, but Minerva stopped him before he could get one word out. “Please, Albus, I ask that you not speak until I am finished.”
“One night I was making prefect rounds when someone hit me with a spell from behind, and when I woke up I was in the dudgeons of Hogwarts and he was standing over me. He would repeatedly take me to this place for the next two years. He beat me, whipped me one time, tortured me, and...,” she finished in a whisper, “raped me.”
“He raped me so much that I got pregnant. You were the one that helped me to see that my symptoms were synonymous with the early stages of pregnancy. He, he got rid of the baby, but he did something else.” Minerva was crying now, and Albus had wet spots in his beard where silent tears had trickled down his face.
“He told me that if he had to kill his child he didn’t want me to have another man’s baby, so he did something. I don’t know what it was but it hurt so much, Albus. That was when you found me passed out on my bed. It was after that. So now I can never be a “mummy,” and I can never give a man a child. I always wanted to have children, but now…now I can’t,” she wailed. Minerva took some deep breaths to calm herself before continuing: “He told me that if I ever told anyone he would hurt Peri, and I saw him watching her. He would, Albus, he was pure evil. I know he would hurt her, so I didn’t tell you or anybody. The person who did all this to me was: Tom Riddle.”
Minerva hung her head, because she was so sure Albus would see her as she saw herself: dirty, used, unattractive, and weak. Albus leaned across the sofa and brought Minerva to him. He held her tightly as she continued to cry into his shoulder, rubbing her back in soothing circles. Soon she cried herself to sleep. Once Albus realized she was asleep he carried her upstairs. For a moment he thought about putting her in her bed, and then moving to his own but he knew she would misinterpret that gesture; so he carried her into his bedroom.

[Sensiblyquirky]

Chapter 6 (Part Two)

When Minerva woke up that morning she looked up into the shining blue eyes Albus Dumbledore. She held his gaze for a minute before dropping it, but she made no move to extract herself from him.
“How long have you been awake,” she finally asked.
“About half an hour.”
“What were you doing?”
“Watching you.” Minerva flushed crimson.
“Do you hate me, Albus?” Minerva asked into his chest.
Albus lifted a hand to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, and he began stroking her cheek. He then used his hand to lift her chin so she would be looking him in the eyes.
“Sweetheart, I could never hate you. What that filthy ba-, excuse me, what he did to you was uncalled for. You are the victim, Minerva. It isn’t your fault that he did that to you, and I think you were very brave to take all of that for your sister. I know that you consider yourself to be weak, but the Minerva I know is the furthest thing from weak. She is brave, strong, beautiful, kind, caring, and very intelligent.”
“How can you say that? Look at all he did to me, and I couldn’t fight him back. I’m dirty, used, unattractive, and weak,” she said matter of factly.
“Minerva McGonagall! The school nurse told me when we found you passed out on your bed that she was surprised you hadn’t landed in the hospital wing before then. You withstood more than most people will ever be able to, physically and mentally. I’m not saying you haven’t been changed, love, but you are not a hateful person. Many people would have become bitter and resentful, and they would have replaced the love in their hearts with hate. But you, my Scottish rose, have not done that, and that illustrates the strength that runs through your veins. As to feeling dirty: I don’t see you as dirty, but I understand why you feel that you are and I don’t know how to take that away from you. Sweetheart, you have never been unattractive. You are the most beautiful person I know, inside and out.”
Minerva was crying again, but they were soft happy tears. She leaned her head on his chest and whispered, “That’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you for all that you have done. I’m sorry if I spoiled Christmas for you.”
“You have not spoiled my Christmas, but rather made it even sweeter. I’m so happy that you trust me enough to confide in me. I know that was hard, and it is the greatest gift anyone has ever given me.”
“I’ve never trusted anyone like I trust you, Albus.”
“Minerva, I…,” but Albus never finished his thought because just then Minerva looked up at him and they were so close. He leaned down and kissed her. When she didn’t pull back he almost deepened the kiss, but then he pulled back suddenly and moved off the bed toward the window.
“I’m sorry Minerva.”
“Whatever for? Did you not want to kiss me,” Minerva softly asked.
“I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you. You had just revealed how much you trusted me, and I go and blow that trust.”
Minerva got out of bed, and moved behind Albus at the window. She wrapped her arms around his middle, and laid her head upon his back. “You did not take advantage of me, Albus. Now, I need to know if you really wanted to kiss me, or if it was just out of pity.”
Still facing the window Albus answered, “I’ve wanted to kiss you since your sixth year.”
Minerva smiled, and stood up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss to the back of his neck. She whispered in his ear, “I’ve wanted you to kiss me since I was fifteen. After that kiss in my apartment I wondered if you were really just playing with me or if you could possibly feel something more than friendship for me.”
Albus finally turned around and wrapped his arms around her leaning his head against her forehead. “I love you, Minerva.”
“I love you too,” she whispered back.
“How can someone so young and wonderful love such a barmy old codger?”
Laughing she replied, “Easy. You are very lovable you know. Besides, my knight is not a barmy old codger.”
The next kiss the couple shared was much more intense than the last, and it lasted considerably longer. When they came up for air Albus had an idea.
Minerva recognized the glint in his eye, “Albus, what are you up to?”
“What makes you think I’m up to something,” he asked nuzzling her neck.
“Albus! That tickles! I know you are up to something, Professor Dumbledore, because you have that special twinkle in your eye that makes you look like a naughty schoolboy who has just gotten away with a prank. Now tell me what are you thinking?”
“Well, do you want to get married?”
“Yes.”
“To me?”
“Who else,” she replied smiling.
“Today?”
“Today? Albus are you insane?”
“Perhaps. I know that I could burst with happiness at this very moment. I know that I will love you until the day we die, and beyond. I know I want a life with you, as my wife. The sooner that happens the better, frankly. What better day than Christmas?”
“You are crazy! Will anyone be available?”
“We’ll find someone. What do you say, my love?”
“Are you sure you want to marry someone who can’t give you a child?”
“I have children already, thousands that I teach year after year. What I need more than anything is you.”
Minerva thought for a second and for the first time in her life she did something spontaneous. “YES, YES, YES!!! I’ll marry you, today.”
Albus couldn’t contain his happiness he picked Minerva up and swung her around. When she screamed for him to put her down he did, but pulled her into the type of bone-melting kiss that left Minerva weak in the knees.
It took them three hours, but they finally found someone willing to marry them. When they re-entered the house Albus was carrying Minerva over the threshold. He didn’t stop in the living room though, he headed straight for the bedroom.
Albus made love to her slowly that night. He wanted her first time with someone she loved to be perfect. He knew that she would probably be tense at first, so he took his time and was so tender and gentle. Somewhere around four in the morning they finally succumbed to sleep curled up together under the rumpled sheets.

Ok, I promise that the next chapter will have the story behind the brooch. (thank you to Jestana for alerting me to my typo:))

[Jestana]

Oh, that was SOOOOOOOO lovely! What a wonderful gift to give him. *happy sigh* And getting married on Christmas day! How wonderful! Bravo!

Technically, it's 'brooch', not 'broach'. Beautiful all the same. *grin*

[griseldalafey]

I'm so glad she told him. He certainly didn't waste any time getting married.
Wonderful chapter, I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to see what the story behind the brooch is.

[Catwoman99]

Whew! Just read all that in one sitting! Wow, this is such an intense story. An emotional rollercoaster and, naturally, I'm in the front car with both hands up! I'm so happy they got together finally and on Christmas day! I can't wait for your next update.

-April :-)

[TabbyForever]

Yay she finally told him....
I'm glad, and glad that so far so good everythings starting to come together for them!!!!!
Whoooo ooooo sontanious min!!!that is unusual!!! but very very welcome
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[Sensiblyquirky]

Chapter 7
Minerva was holding Albus tight to her in the dead of night, every minute looking down to check if he was still breathing. She was crying softly, and murmuring: “Albus, you have to live, you just have to. I can’t go on without you, my knight. Please, my love, it is over now. You killed him. We can go home, and rest. You can teach again, and I’ll…well I don’t know what I’ll do but as long as it isn’t far from you I don’t care. Please Albus, please.”
Minerva still had a hard time believing it was all over. The muggle war was coming to a close as the Soviets were on the outside of Berlin, and Albus had just defeated Grindelwald. The dueling had been horrific. It had all started that afternoon. She and Albus had split up so as to cover more ground quickly, and while she was walking she felt a pair of hands grab her from behind. She tried to fight, and succeed in elbowing him in the face but he was too quick for her. Using his wand he stunned her from behind, and took her wand. When she woke up Grindelwald was levitating her deep into a forest, and she didn’t have a clue where she was going. Trying to carefully watch her surroundings, she hoped that Albus could find them.
Grindelwald had the same wish as Minerva, but the ending of course was different. He knew all about Albus Dumbledore, and he knew that this woman was his greatest weakness. He would die for her, and Grindelwald was prepared to make that happen.
He didn’t hurt her, but just set her out as a trap. Minerva still didn’t know how Albus had found them so quickly, but she was grateful that he did. Once the dueling started she got out of harm’s way, but without her wand she couldn’t do much. The most scared she had ever been was when Albus was knocked to ground, breaking an arm in the process, and Grindelwald was headed straight toward him with wand raised. Minerva didn’t know if Albus would be able to move in time, but thankfully he had.
The two wizards were pretty evenly matched, and by the end of the duel both had sustained serious injuries. When Grindelwald saw that he was losing he decided on drastic measures, “Accio, Minerva McGonagall!” When she didn’t come Grindelwald looked confused, ‘how could she not come? She doesn’t have her wand.’ During the time it had taken him to think about why she couldn’t come Albus had pointed his wand at Grindelwald and uttered the killing curse. Albus Dumbledore did not like using it, and would have preferred that he had not but he was not about to let Grindelwald get Minerva.
Minerva came rushing out when she heard it spoken, “Oh, Albus. I know you didn’t want to use the killing curse,” she stated knowing the internal pain it would cause him later, “but I’m glad we got married, love, it saved me from not coming to him when he called.”
Lying there in the dark Minerva could remember the moment her husband collapsed onto the ground, and exactly how it felt to have her heart stop. After frantically searching for her wand she had found it, and had done all she could in the way of healing spells to help Albus. Now she lay wrapped up with him in a blanket, praying that he would survive.
As the first rays of the sun kissed the sky Albus opened his eyes. He tried to move, but his body seemed to be ignoring his mind so he just groaned. Minerva immediately woke up.
“Oh, Albus! You’re alive. How do you feel?” Minerva asked with fresh tears in her eyes.
“I’ve been better. Are you ok?”
“I’m fine. Albus we need to get you home. Do you think you can move, or are up to traveling by portkey to my apartment?”
“What about Grindelwald?”
“You killed him, love.”
Albus was silent for a while, and Minerva was about to speak when he said, “He wanted you, that’s why I used it. I couldn’t let him get you.”
“Darling, it’s ok. He was pure evil, and deserved his fate. You’ve finally freed our world from his rein. My husband is a hero,” Minerva replied trying to make him smile.
She succeeded somewhat. “Minerva, give me till mid-day, and then let’s use a portkey and go home.” Albus fell asleep again, and when it was time to leave Minerva didn’t wake him.
In no time at all they were back in her apartment. It felt weird she thought, to be home. She had been away for so long, but she couldn’t think about that now.
It took Albus a long time to heal, but he joked that he had pretended to be sick for a good couple of weeks just so he could have Minerva wait on him all the time. Minerva’s typical response to a comment along those lines was, “If memory serves me correctly Albus, which it always does, you were whining and complaining the whole time about having to stay in bed. You really were a very bad patient, and I for one do not envy your doctors.”
In truth the time allowed the couple a much-needed rest from the war, and time to just share in the other’s company.
One night while they were sitting up in bed Minerva asked Albus a question that had been plaguing her since that night, “My love, how did you find us so fast?”
“Ah, I was wondering when you would ask me that. It was your brooch.”
Minerva’s confused expression urged Albus to finally tell the story behind that piece of jewelry.
“My dear, I do believe now is the time to tell you the story behind the brooch. You see one of the very first Dumbledore’s centuries ago was a knight, and as was custom of the time knight’s would ride into towns and steal women to be their wives. Well, the woman he chose was a feisty one and she repeatedly tried to run away. He would always find her, but each time it would take longer and longer until one time it took him two months. What he did was make the brooch for his wife, and this medallion here for himself.” Holding up the medallion Minerva was surprised to see it had the same stones her brooch had, “I had wondered what that was that you wore around your neck, but had never gotten around to asking.”
“Well, now you know but the story is not over yet. The medallion and the brooch are connected, you see wherever you go this medallion glows in the direction of where you are. That is how I found you so easily. The set has been passed down to the eldest Dumbledore man upon his mother’s death to be given to the woman he loves. It’s original purpose is rarely used, and it is more a connection between husband and wife, thought I must say I was very glad for its help in finding you. It only works once the man and woman are married, and their initials are carved into the back of it.”
Minerva got up and returned with the pin looking for their initials, but she didn’t see anything. “Albus I don’t see anything, are you sure our initials are on it?”
“Walk to the fire, and hold it over the open flames. They should appear.”
Doing as instructed Minerva gasped when she saw the back, because it wasn’t just their initials but hundreds of letters were on the back.
“You should be seeing all the initials of the owners.”
Minerva left the fire, and crawled into bed with Albus but she didn’t look happy.
“My Scottish Rose, what is wrong?”
“You’ll never have a son to give this to,” she whispered still looking at the brooch.
“Minerva, I love you. We can find someone to give it to, and I’m sure I can charm it to work for him or her, a cousin or even a non-relative maybe. I gave this to you, because I love you and I wanted you to have it. It’s ok, love.”
“I love you so much, Albus.”
The day before Albus was set to go to the Ministry to give a full report on what happened he sat Minerva down for a serious talk.
“My Scottish Rose I need to say something to you. I ask that you let me finish, and then you may respond.” When Minerva nodded her head in understanding he continued, “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what happened with Grindelwald, and I’ve realized that your life is in danger simply because of who I am. I can’t let anything happen to you Minerva, and I wanted to know what you thought about keeping our marriage and our relationship a secret. Believe me I want to tell everybody that the most wonderful and beautiful woman in the world is my wife, but I want you to be safe. If you feel you cannot live with that, or that you do not love me so much as to do that I will understand.”
SLAP! Albus had been expecting various negative responses, but being slapped in the face was not one of them. “Albus Perceival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, don’t you ever doubt my love for you again!! Do you hear me? I love you, with all of my heart and if you feel it is in our best interest to keep our love a secret then I will go along with you. But you are never to doubt how strongly I feel for you ever again.”
“I’m sorry, Minerva, I didn’t mean it that way I just wanted to make sure you will be happy living in secret.”
“I know, Albus, but you made it sound like I didn’t love you as much as I do.”
Wrapping his arms around her Albus replied, “I am sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”
His response was a kiss so passionate and so desperate it left him breathless. When it was over he knew he needed her, so he could prove to her his love and she could do the same. They never even made it to the bedroom.

Ok, the knight part about stealing their wives is true. I was watching the history channel one day, yes i'm a dork and proud of it ;D, and i learned another meaning for a wedding band. This one reffered to the stealing of wives, and so to keep the wives from running away they would tether them to the house, usually with a gold ring. So, hence we have the wedding band...so said some.

[Jestana]

That was wonderful! I love the ending! You never explained why Grindelwald couldn't summon Minerva to him, though. I'm very curious about that.

Jestana