Remember my Last... Sequel to Fuadiddles.

[Taylor]

Rating Mature readers. (language etc)

Please read Wormwood & Arrowroot first !

Summery. Minerva has difficult decisions to make after an encounter with Fudge, her father and an old rival for her affections. The continuing story that I hope to write a section for every type of story here.

Remember My Last- chapter One.

Fudge had left them in great haste- left Albus to deal with his deputy headmistress, and her father who knew of the events which brought them to this very moment. Albus saw the faint blush burning on Minerva's cheeks. She had cast a spell, that was not taught at Hogwarts, Was not in any of the books, or even mentioned of in anything she could have found through normal channels. It was a spell that would be passed down, ether from father to son, or Mother to daughter, at the right time, but it was a forbidden spell non the less. It had been said in the heat of battle, and had worked to disarm him as he didn't know the spell itself or how to block it. Belatedly she realized it was one not to be used on an enemy. It had been done before the entire wizard panel, while it had been tampered with, Albus dare would say that the effects would be much the same in a different fashion.

They now stood before her father, who knew- everything-

Albus turned to her father and bowed to him.
"Sir, I would asked your permission to bond with your daughter Minerva, to my side-, I beg apology for any deeds of mine which may have bestow a tarnish upon her character for my actions."

"You- You want to make an "Honest woman" out of me??" she gasped, bright tears of dismay coming to her eyes.

her father turned to her.

"Minerva- it isn't your decision to make." he saw the beginnings of another temper flair up. her father didn't back down.

" Stop acting so childish, and listen !" he said irritated.

It was Albus who turned to her and said softly.

"Minerva, What I have asked of your father is the request for yo-"

"I understand exactly what you asked- and what you didn't!" she said, the tears coming over her cheeks.

"Not my decision? " she continued "Not my decision! Being - bound to him, but bonded less than a wife- for the rest of my life- Did you think how I would feel about that?" she said miserably. She hung her head and fled from the room running upstairs to her bedroom where she flung herself on her bed and began to cry.

"how could I have been so - innocent-!" she wondered to herself. The muggles had a saying "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free??"

Albus stood by the window, looking out at the setting sun. Minerva was still upstairs, he knew she was crying. He realized she was upset, and had every right to be - but there were some things she didn't know. He heard a polite cough behind him. He turned and saw her father standing there, now back from his short trip upstairs to knock on a door that wouldn't open just then.

"I , am just as puzzled as to why you asked for the bonding, but not marriage? If it is a matter of appearances for the council- why so soon you would take her as your wife after the charges he brought against her?"

"If Minerva and I were to marry, even in secret, Voldemort would find out, and it would be the end of her, or here- "

"That isn't a reason!" her father said irritated.

"It would be the best that I could give as an explanation.. beyond... I know that I am not to see the battle between the chosen one, and voldemort..."

"You - know this?" he nodded.

"As my wife, Minerva would lose the rights after my death, as a bonding, the rights continue as long as she is alive."

"Then you must tell her- make her see reason!" her father said waving his arms.

Albus shook his head sadly.
"She must come to that decision on her own..."

tbc

[Taylor]

Minerva washed her face and hands and smoothed her hair. What else would she have expected of him? She knew dinner was to be ready soon, she knew she should be down there - with him. There was a knock on the door before a young maid entered.

"Beggin your pardon Ma'am, Your father has requested a word with you in the study."

"Has he now?" The maid nodded, then withdrew. Funny fokes these McGonagalls. nice enough, but- still not all there sometimes.

Why would he expect her to bond with him? Why not a marriage between them?

she mulled over it, pacing her room. Realizing she was only delaying the meeting with her father, she went downstairs to the study.

Albus was no where to be seen. Her father looked up from his writing and regarded her.

"Sometimes, I feel as if I should turn you over my knee to spank you child..." he said with a burst of emotion.
"if you will not bond with Albus, then I have no choice but to send for the man who asked you to marry him years ago.

"I would rather die first!" she said pulling herself up to her most stern pose.

"You will at that if something isn't worked out." he said gravely. Minerva felt as if cold water had been dumped on her. She swayed.

"What- do you mean?" she asked.

"Exactly as I said. I have tried to protect you Minerva, tried to stave off the inevitable, but you have been the most stubborn child I have ever sired. Yes. With out bonding or marriage by next year, you will die"

Minerva sat down stunned.
what was she to do?

[Taylor]

It wasn't supposed to be this way- not at all- she thought, her heart breaking inside. Her head swam.

"Why?" she finaly had the courage to ask "Why would I die? How would I die?"

Her father's whole body slumped. " I am sorry my dear, I am not a liberty to discuss it with you further- I was not supposed to even tell you about it- it was your mothers wishes that you would never know- never need to know, untill you were married and if you had a daughter of your own. I can not say more."

"Father, no matter what my fate would have been , marrage, or bonding, wouldn't change it- it couldn't...

"or that it would. I could not risk that of you my child. Every parents greatest fear is that they will outlive their children. Please- accept the offer of bonding that I may rest easy...

"it isn't that easy father..." she began. Minerva began to pace in the room. "In a way, I feel as if this is all mixed up, of how it happened- none of it would ever seem proper to anyone, and perhaps, that is what I fee is so wrong about this- That if I would bond with Albus, it would not be from love, but need, and I have lived my life with out needing or wanting anyone- or anything- save for that day that he saved me from myself. What would have become of me had I stayed father? who would I be if I had said yes to that - monster you wanted to be my husband- who- stole from me... from this house. What is to become of me now??"
She sat down on the floor and put her face in her hands. None of this was going in any expected way and she felt weary of it all...


Albus strode across the grass to the dukes Manor where he knew he would find a certain young man still in residence. The maid opened the door and backed away in haste. Her loud crys of alarm brought the aged Duke to where Albus was waiting. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the maid.

"I know, of you, there has been much discussion since the return of Minerva to her fathers home. I know what was said about my son, but what I don't know, is, what you are doing here?"

Albus took a breath What ever he was going to say had to be said in the most delecate way.

"On that afternoon, years ago, when your son entered into the McGonagall estate, there was a whitness who saw him remove a gold ring that was inscribed on the inside. A womans ring- from the window sill. I have come for its return.

"Who did this ring belong to and why did they not come forward before?"

"It belonged to Professor McGonagalls mother. It wasn't untill the whitness came forward that she realized the fate of the ring. She had left that afternoon to accept employment at the school where she currently teaches."

"You enter my house and accuse my son of being a thief? Pray tell, will you demand to search his belongings?"

Albus shook his head. " I will leave that to you to discover if the ring exists, or not, and for you to make your own judgements for your son.

The Duke sighed. "Stay here" he said and with slow precise steps went to where his sons room was. It was perhaps half an hour when he returned. His face was grave. He walked to Albus and extended his hand to his to shake it.

"Thank you for your time, sir, " he said, dismissing Albus. Albus nodded then made his way to the door, his hands thrust deep in the pockets of his robe as he walked the miles to where Minerva was.

Albus knew her- knew her heart, her mind and there was only one love in his life, but they were both bound- they could not marry in public, or private. When he entered into the study he found her father with a large brandy sniffer in his hand, traces of it still in the glass.

"Minerva is a most stubborn woman, even faced with her own passing, she would not budge with her ideals. There is nothing more that I can do..."

Albus regarded him and said placidly.

"there will be..."

TBC in the --- DUM DUM DUMM--- Romance section!

If you like this, please let me know. if you think its awful, please say so.

Taylor