{ Ruins }

 Ruins
AU HBP; Harry Potter, Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter)
Only two survived the battle...


“Harry?”

Harry jerked upright as he heard Minerva speak softly into his ear. He was still seated on the hard kitchen chair he had dragged next to her bed the night before. Minerva looked downward at his hand which clung to hers tightly and Harry quickly released his grip slightly embarrassed as he realised just how tightly he had been holding her hand. Minerva gave him a small grin and shook her head signifying that his action had not offended her.

“Minerva do you remember what happened? he asked as she gingerly propped herself onto her elbows.

Minerva shook her head wincing as the tautening of her stomach muscles stretched the deep wound that ran between her hips. “Not really. I can remember apparating and walking through the gates. Then I saw a cloaked figure to my left. As I turned they fired a curse at me and I felt a searing pain in my stomach.”

She faltered here and turned her attention to Harry who had placed a reprimanding hand on her shoulder as she tried to sit up.

“I’m guessing that you arrived soon after,” she said relenting and lying against the heaped pillows.

Harry nodded grimly, “You were in your animagus form and collapsed. I brought you back here.”

She gave a small chuckle that made her clutch her lower stomach. “That seems to be becoming a habit of yours,” she said grimacing.

Harry smiled and released his grip on her shoulder and instead took one of her hands in his.

“Minerva who could have done this?” he asked earnestly.

Minerva stared at him her expression unreadable. “Well Eachann is certainly capable but I don’t see how that’s possible.”

Her eyes widened alarmingly and she swung her legs over the side of the bed and staggered to her feet.

“Minerva!” Harry said grabbing her waist as she attempted to move past him, “What are you doing?” he hissed, “You’re injured!”
She wrenched his hand from her body and grabbed her wand from the table. With a quick flick the wardrobe door flew open and a pair of black pants and a white blouse travelled toward her. She plucked them from their position in mid-air and struggled into them taking particular care as she eased the waist band of the trousers over the bandages Harry had wound around her body.

“Eachann,” she said buttoning the blouse, “He’s coming to discuss the school today.”

She swayed slightly and Harry was immediately at her side supporting her.

“We’ll reschedule,” Harry said firmly taking her back to the bed and lying her down.

“We will not!” Minerva said rolling over and standing up on the other side of the bed facing him with her hands on her hips. The bed acted as a barrier between them and Harry had to give her credit for forward thinking. He stared exasperatedly at the obstinate witch in front of him but reluctantly nodded his acquiesce.

“Fine,” he said holding his hands up in the air in a gesture of defeat, “But I am going to carry you to your office - don’t complain you’re not strong enough to do it yourself,” he said raising his voice to drown out her protestations, “And if I feel that you are getting tired at any time during the meeting then I will very politely show your delightful brother toward the exit.”

Minerva glared at him for a moment before she laughed and nodded slightly, “Fine. I can deal with that.”

Harry walked around the edge of the bed that separated them and picked her up gently trying not to overly disturb the injury on her stomach. Minerva grimaced and bit her lip to stop herself from crying out. A trickle of blood burst from the new wound and she wiped it away irritably leaving a blood streak across her face. Harry rolled his eyes and manoeuvred her so his hand was free. He wiped away the offending scarlet liquid with his thumb marvelling at how perfectly it matched her lips.

Minerva didn’t move and instinctively Harry allowed his fingers to run lightly over her cheek following the rise and falls of her patrician facial structure. She closed her eyes and his fingers danced over her soft skin and Harry allowed himself a small smile as he traced the outline of her jaw. He drew his hand back and Minerva’s eyes opened and she stared upward at him through her long eyelashes. Harry felt himself inhale sharply as she pulled on his shirt and leant upwards. His eyes drifted close as for the second time he felt her lips brush his. But this time the kiss wasn’t lingering and soft; rather it was hard and demanding.

Harry felt Minerva shift her position until she could wrap her arms around his neck and pull him closer toward her. He could feel her fingernails digging into his back but found that he didn’t care. He slipped a hand down to her waist as her legs wrapped around his body whilst the other ran through her shorn hair. He walked backward until he felt the bed behind him and they fell in a tangle of limbs. Minerva gave a gasp of pain at the jolt that ran through her body but suppressed it by kissing Harry again. Her fingers made short work of his shirt and Harry found himself bare-chested.

He reached upwards and ran his hands underneath Minerva’s blouse. She shuddered as he traced the edge of the scar that crossed the length of her torso and drew back sharply.

“I’m sorry you must find me hideous,” she said leaning back and looking at him apologetically.

Harry shook his head and reached upwards and undid the front of her blouse. “On the contrary.”

He pulled her back down and traced the outline of her bra before a quick flick of his fingers had it undone and discarded next to his shirt and her blouse. She smiled as she kissed him and Harry rolled her over so he was on top and looked down at her.

“Are you sure you want this?” he said seriously.
She leant upwards and kissed his neck before she bit the skin gently. Harry drew away and once again claimed her lips. His skin was tingling with arousal that only got more intense when he felt her toying with the waistband of his jeans.

“Please I need you,” she whispered in his ear. Her Scottish accent became more pronounced as she guided his hand over her body.

Harry pulled backward and tugged her black trousers until they too join the growing pile of clothing next to the bed. He ran a hand along the inside of her thigh and heard a soft moan in response. She pulled him toward her and Harry looked into her eyes which were full of an expression he had never seen before. Pure and unadulterated lust.  Harry returned his attention to her legs when there was a loud crash at the window. Startled they both leapt apart and Minerva grabbed the sheet and held it against herself while Harry rose to his feet to investigate the source of the noise. He slipped outside and found an unconscious owl on the ground. Cursing under his breath he reached for the scroll wrapped around the owl’s leg and gently unfurled it.

My dear sister, the scroll read, do not think that you can escape me again. Eachann.


Harry walked back inside in a daze reading and re-reading the scroll. He looked up to find Minerva sitting up against a pile of heaped pillows with the sheet drawn up against her as if suddenly embarrassed by her near-nakedness.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered folding her arms across her chest.

Harry sat alongside her on the bed and reached out and caressed her cheek. She drew away sharply and he quickly dropped his hand to his side.

“You should look at this,” Harry said holding out the small piece of parchment.

Minerva adjusted the sheet so it wouldn’t fall and took the proffered scroll. Her eyes raced over the page and she paled dramatically.

“It’s begun,” she said softly. She buried her face in her hands for a moment before rising to her feet dragging the sheet with her. Harry watched silently as she gathered her hurriedly discarded clothing and made her way painfully to the bathroom. He heard the sound of the shower and let out a deep sigh as he lay down and stretched full length on the bed Minerva had just vacated. His gaze drifted the scroll Minerva had discarded and he picked it up once again. For something so seemingly innocuous it held so much hidden menace it was uncanny. One could almost feel the hatred emanating from the neat, masculine script.

He heard the sound of a door closing and glanced up to see Minerva once again fully dressed. Harry felt a lurching sensation as he looked at how her mouth had hardened and her brow furrowed. She looked once again like his stern Transfiguration teacher. He gave a slight grin; with one exception. Her singed hair wasn’t long enough to be pulled up and her formerly long locks brushed the bottom of her ears.

“Minerva,” Harry started. She looked at him and Harry saw that she had reinforced her emotional barriers and was once again an impenetrable mask. “Minerva,” he said again, “Just then…do you care for me or was it purely the sex you were after?”

She leant heavily against a kitchen chair, her hand making its way to her stomach and resting upon his lightly. Harry could only assume that the pain had returned in full force. He swung his legs over the bed and leant forward with his hands loosely clasped together.

“I won’t lie to you Minerva,” he continued, “I think I’ve fallen for you.”

Minerva seemed to falter for a second before she regained her customary upright posture. “I need to meet with Eachann,” she said flatly.
Harry looked at her for a moment and realised she wasn’t going to respond to his profound statement. He looked into her eyes and saw a flicker of emotion. Was it regret?

“Let me get dressed,” he said looking away from her and retrieving his shirt from the ground.

He heard Minerva’s slow footsteps as she crossed the hut but didn’t turn around until his shirt was fully buttoned. He couldn’t help but stare at what he saw. All she was doing was standing in the doorway looking out. And yet he couldn’t tear his eyes away. He moved behind her and placed a hand on her waist. She turned slightly and looked upwards before quickly averting her gaze and shifting her torso away from him.

“Harry,” she said softly, “Can you take me to my office now?”

She didn’t look at him once whilst he lifted her from the ground and they didn’t speak as Harry carried her across the grounds and into Hogwarts. Harry’s footsteps echoed through the empty corridors. His grip on Minerva tightened slightly; he didn’t like eerie silence any more than he did impenetrable darkness. They neared the stone gargoyles which sprang to one side as they saw Minerva.

As Harry stepped onto the familiar moving staircase he couldn’t help but ask his question again.

“Minerva do you care for me?”

She sighed as they entered the office and Harry dropped her into the chair behind the impressive oak desk. Minerva looked upward at him with an unfathomable expression.

“Honestly Harry?” she said bringing a hand to her temple and tracing small circles, “I don’t know.” She sighed deeply as she leant back in the high-backed chair. “What I do know is that you shouldn’t waste your time here with me. I will not be offended if you left now.”

Minerva looked upward and into his eyes. Harry placed both of his hands on the desk and leant forward until their faces were almost touching. “I am not going anywhere,” he said firmly.

Minerva smiled softly and raised a hand to his cheek. “Always the gallant saviour.”

Harry gripped her hand in his and looked at her seriously. “Minerva I doubt you have ever needed a saviour.”

She laughed hollowly as she pulled her hands back and interlaced her fingers. “That’s debateable.”

“Isn’t this sweet? My dear sister’s got herself a toy boy.”

Minerva’s eyes flashed as she saw Eachann in the doorway with a smirk on his face.

“How did you get in here?” she demanded angrily.

“You left the door open sis,” he said striding across the room and flinging himself onto one of the armchairs.

“What do you want Eachann?” Minerva said gesturing for Harry to sit down.

Eachann pretended to think about her question before he gave her a vindictive smile. “Bella’s made me Education Minister. And I think some definite cuts can be made to the school budget.”

Minerva gave him a contemptuous glance. “You seem to forget Eachann I’m the one in charge of the school’s finances which, coincidentally, the Ministry has to power over.”

“Ahh!” Eachann said leaning forward, “But I can dissuade the benefactors from giving you money. Which I intend to do.”

“Why?” Minerva asked coldly.

Eachann sighed deeply, “I wish I could say it was for some noble cause but alas it is not. You damaged my pride sis. Pure and simple.”

Minerva fixed him with a cold stare that made the hairs on the back of Harry’s neck rise. “And I’ll do it again.”

Eachann laughed as he rose to his feet. “I doubt that sis.” He turned his attention to Harry who stepped protectively in front of Minerva. He leered at Harry and was at his side in two long strides.

“There’s a place on her neck. Lick that and she’ll moan like a Knockturn Alley whore,” he whispered into Harry’s ear before drawing back quickly. He winked at Harry whose hand had curled around his wand. Eachann looked back at Minerva and gave a harsh laugh. “Don’t tell me you didn’t gag for it sis.”

Harry had his wand out and raised in an instant. “Harry,” Minerva said sharply.

Eachann laughed again. “Bye sis,” he said opening the office door and descending down the stairs. Harry strode across the room and shut the door with a bang.

“Minerva,” he said turning back to find that she now held her head in her hands, “I will not let him hurt you.”

Minerva raised her head and Harry was surprised to see that no tears had escaped from her eyes. “I’ll kill him before I let him hurt me again Harry,” she said coldly, “Don’t doubt that for a second.”


Harry sat down in the living room of Minerva’s chambers and propped the black book of her memories against his knees in preparation to read. They had come to a mutual agreement to return to the castle residences now that Hogwarts was to reopen. After all Minerva was in a better position to run the school from her office rather than the former gamekeeper’s hut. That didn’t stop Harry from feeling a pang of regret as he looked about the interior of the small wooden structure that had become his home.

He had brought Minerva with him back to the hut to pack their respective belongings but when he had held the book out to her she had shaken her head and pushed it back toward him.

“Read it. I think you’ve earned the right,” she had said flatly before turning back to her task of summoning her clothing and shrinking it.
Harry sighed deeply and turned his attention back to the book in front of him. He skimmed past the portions he had already read and opened to a fresh page. Minerva smiled shyly back at him wearing a graduation hat at a jaunty angle.

Age 17:- Have finally graduated from Hogwarts though I will continue to reside here and return as Transfiguration Professor. Albus seemed quite annoyed when he saw my NEWT marks; I’d beaten his own scores by a significant amount.

Harry laughed softly as he turned the page but sobered as he saw the photo. Minerva sobbed quietly into her pillow and Harry’s eyes travelled immediately to the accompanying script and was surprised to find another photo next to Minerva’s neat handwriting.

Age 18:- Tom sent this to me. He’s turning into a monster and I can’t stop it. Nor can I stop loving him. Can someone explain this to me?

He grimaced as his eyes skimmed over the atrocities the photo depicted. Mounds of concrete and dirt were stacked and piled. The streets were ruptured veins that spilt sewerage. Blood from the many bodies formed puddles of scarlet liquid. But the most horrific image of all was the little girl; no more than 10-years-old who stared into the camera lens with frightened eyes. The photo was loose in the book and Harry turned it over to find words scrawled across the back in a familiar masculine hand.

Is it fate?
Misfortune?
Is that what glued them down like this?
Of course not.
Let’s not be stupid.
It had more to do with the hexes my men and I hurled at them.
Yet I ask you to believe me.
I wanted to stop. To crouch down.
I wanted to say.
“I’m sorry, child.”
But that is not allowed.
I did not crouch down. I did not speak.
Instead I watched.
When she could move I followed.
I made sure she was safe.

- Can you understand why we can’t be together Min? You could never leave a frightened child. I did. We are fire and ice Min. Never a good combination. Tom.

Harry replaced the photo quickly and turned to the next page. Minerva looked blankly into the fire holding something in her hands.

Age 19:- Tom proposed. He’s been gone for three years and he proposes now. I can’t accept for obvious reasons and will refuse to wear the ring on my finger. I shall instead wear it on a necklace. I can’t erase him completely.

Harry shook his head as he turned the page. Minerva stood proud and strong next to two men and a woman Harry didn’t know. They seemed to be at some sort of dinner for they all wore formal clothing. Minerva looked spectacular in a blood-red dress; though judging by the picture she was already in the habit of dulling her lip colour.

Age 21:- My first book was published today. The people next to me are Henry Arthur, Helen Theobald and Marcus Bullock. They are critics and are heralding my book as the ‘pinnacle of Transfiguration literature.’ I found them to be rather pretentious actually and left soon after this photo was taken.

Harry’s mouth quirked at the last sentence and he shuffled into a more comfortable position before continuing.

The next photo showed Minerva in her pyjamas pacing what looked to be the same room he currently occupied with a piece of parchment clutched in her hand. His eyes widened as he read the text.

Age 22:- Albus Dumbledore asked me to marry him! I cannot quite believe it. But he did. After dinner to be precise. He had escorted me back to the rooms as was common practice between us but instead of kissing my hand as was usual he leant forward. I drew back hurriedly but he didn’t look remotely perturbed and instead dropped to his knee and said, ‘Minerva I cannot quite pinpoint when I fell in love with you; all I know is that all I want is for you to be my wife. Please do me that honour.”

Merlin knows how long I stood there in complete shock but eventually I simple turned and opened the door to my chambers and stepped inside and slammed the door behind me. Merlin how can I face him tomorrow?

Harry looked blankly at the page for several moments before continuing. Instead of the customary photo there was a piece of heavy parchment. The loopy handwriting was immediately recognisable.

My dearest Minerva,
You have my sincerest apologies for my behaviour last night. I shall not trouble you again. Though I want you to remember that Tom Riddle is not the same handsome boy who left Hogwarts with your heart under his arm; he is a ruthless murderer. I do not know the full extent of your relationship with Mr Riddle but I do know that you love him despite of his actions. Love is a powerful thing Minerva; I will never refute that; but even love from someone as wonderful and strong as you will not be enough to save him.
Please I beg of you to remember this.
Yours truly,
Albus Dumbledore

Harry felt himself yawn widely involuntarily and resolved to himself that the next page would be his last before he retired to bed. He heard the rustle of the pages as he turned them for the final time for that night. Minerva sat at her desk with her head in her hands with a piece of parchment in front of her. Harry peered closely and saw that she had no tears in her eyes; only bewilderment.

A Guided Tour to Suffering
To your left, perhaps your right,
Perhaps even straight ahead,
You find a small room.
In sits a mudblood.
He is scum. Hs is starving.
He is afraid.
Light like a shot
Explosive to the eyes.
It might be his time.
- First the colours
Then the humans
That’s usually how I see things.
Or at least, how I try.
- I saw him as black. Tom

Harry was confused for a moment before he looked down further and saw another small photo similar to the one of the girl. A man of about twenty lay sprawled on his back with his arms flung out as if he were crucified. I saw him as black. Harry looked away quickly and closed the book shut and replaced it to the coffee table where it lay as if mocking him with seemingly innocuousness.


Harry stood at the entrance of Minerva’s office and watched in amusement as she irritably placed a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she continued to write furiously across a long roll of parchment.

“What are you doing?” Harry asked moving inside the room and sitting opposite Minerva as she snatched up an envelope and placed the letter inside before sealing it with a tap of her wand.

“Writing advertisements for the Daily Prophet,” she answered distractedly, “I need a Professor for all subjects except Transfiguration. And Divination,” she said after a pause, "I'm not continuing that subject here."

“Minerva its six o’clock in the evening you should stop now,” Harry said reaching across and taking the loaded quill from her hand.

“If I send a fast owl they can be out in the morning,” Minerva said snatching the quill back.

Harry resigned himself to the fact he was not about to change her mind any time soon and leant back and conjured up a cup of coffee which he placed in front of her.

“Thank you,” she said distractedly taking a sip and placing it precariously on top of another pile of parchment.

“How many applicants will apply?” Harry asked conjuring pumpkin juice for himself as he eyed the coffee cup warily.

Minerva looked up at him and sighed deeply. “Hogwarts is extremely sought after so I imagine I will receive applications from all over the UK.”

Harry nodded and fell silent and resumed simply watching Minerva as she worked. He glanced down at the parchment she was writing upon and read the words upside down.

Defence the Dark Arts Professor
Attributes needed: practical defence skills; ability to work with students; a minimum Exceeds Expectations at NEWT level.

“Minerva?” he asked as an idea began to form in his mind. .

She sighed deeply and looked up exasperatedly. “Yes Harry?” she said impatiently tapping the quill against the desk.

“I’d like to apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position.”

Minerva’s eyebrows rose until they were in danger of disappearing into her hairline and her quill fell from her hands. “What on earth brought that about? I thought you had your heart set on being an Auror.”

Harry shook his head adamantly. “Not anymore. I’ve seen enough death to last me a lifetime.”

Minerva nodded but still looked slightly sceptical. “Is that the only reason?” she asked looking directly into his eyes and holding his gaze.

“You know it isn’t,” Harry answered not breaking eye contact.

Minerva flushed and looked down at the table. “We’ve been through this Harry,” she said softly.

“And I still disagree,” Harry retorted rising to his feet and leaving forward over the desk.

Minerva flew back into the chair away from him. “I’m more than willing to hire you Harry,” she said waving her wand so the letters arranged themselves into a neat pile, “But that and nothing more.”

“Minerva,” Harry said his temper rising, “I am not going to hurt you. Why don’t you believe that?” His voice had risen to a shout but Harry found he didn’t care.

“Because I’ve heard exactly the same thing more than once!” Minerva shrieked banging her fist against the table, “And every time I’ve been let down! I will not let that happen again!”

“I’m not like that,” Harry said in a softer voice.

“Tom wasn’t either for a year! He was like you are now. He helped me, he was kind. Then he changed. You want to know what he did Harry. Do you?!”

She stopped and looked at him. Her chest was heaving with barely restrained emotion and her eyes were filled with tears as yet unshed.

“No you don’t have to tell me,” Harry said soothingly moving around the desk and placing a hand on her shoulder. She jerked away roughly and took several steps backward. When she continued it was as if he hadn’t spoken.

“He knew what my family did to me and he knew about the dagger. You saw the jetty with all the engravings. He knew I loved to swim so he took me to the lake and held my head under the water until I passed out. Then he placed me on the jetty and waited until I woke up before doing it again. And again. And again. Every time I woke up he would ask me if I still loved him. He was a leglimens; even if I lied he could see the truth. He called it ‘curing me of disease’.” That’s what he thought love was Harry. A disease. He only stopped when he couldn’t ‘cure’ himself.”

Her voice faltered and she turned away from him and strode across to the window. The moon's rays shed light on her face and Harry could see the tear tracks that ran down her face.

“Minerva I’m so sorry,” he said crossing the room and standing behind her. “I am so, so sorry,” he repeated placing his hand gently on her shoulder to gauge her reaction.

She didn’t flinch away from his touch and her body began to wrack with sobs. Harry pulled her toward him and she buried her face in his chest. She clung to him tightly and the front of his robes became wet with her tears but he didn’t draw away until she stopped crying.

“Better?” he asked hating how ridiculous the question sounded.

Thankfully she took the comment the way it was intended and nodded slightly before pulling away from him.

“I’m going to bed,” she said wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

Harry rolled his eyes and wiped the tears away with his thumb savouring the way her cheek felt against his skin. She raised her own hand and clasped his within hers.

“Harry please,” she said softly, “Don’t do this.”

She released his hand and he allowed it to fall loosely to his side. Harry nodded slightly and Minerva gave a small smile.

“Thank you,” she whispered before turning on her heel and walking out of the room in a swirl of emerald robes.
Harry sat down heavily in her executive chair and glanced at the letters in front of him. The unfinished advertisement for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position was in the centre of the desk and Harry picked up the discarded quill and wrote two words across it.

Position taken


Harry kicked the long strands of grass that had crept onto the once pristine quidditch pitch. He hadn’t spoken to Minerva since the night before and she had been gone before he had awoken that morning. She had left no note and Harry had searched the castle and the grounds for the better part of an hour for her to no avail. His eyes caught a quick movement near the gate and they narrowed as Minerva rushed through the Hogwarts grounds, her head down.

He began to walk toward the stone steps at the entrance in the hope to cut her off before she entered but she turned off the gravel path and headed toward the lake. As she walked she stripped off her clothing so that by the time she reached the shore bank she was dressed only in her underwear. She didn’t stop walking and simply entered the water until it reached her waist where she dived beneath and swam out strongly toward the centre. Harry rolled his eyes and strode toward the sandy shore.

“Minerva!”

She turned to face him and flicked her shorn hair from her face. Harry’s breath caught in his throat as her eyes met his and he struggled to form a coherent sentence.

“Where were you?”

She treaded water easily as she answered him. “In a meeting with Eachann and Belladonna.”

Her causal answer was at odds with her harsh tones and Harry knew that the meeting hadn’t gone well.

“What happened?” he asked softly.

Her pupils narrowed and her blood red lips thinned alarmingly before she answered. “To cut a long story short my brother and his piece of meat on the side do not want me as Headmistress.”

Minerva dived beneath the water toward the bottom of the lake. Harry could see her pale silhouette and she kicked out strongly before she levelled out and resurfaced in a deeper part of the water.

“What can they do? Everyone who matters knows you’re the best for the job.” Harry said as she spat out a mouthful of water.

Minerva rolled her eyes as she brushed her hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ears. “The power of propaganda,” she said harshly, “I don’t know exactly what they’ve done but apparently when I see the Daily Prophet tomorrow I will know.”

Harry closed his eyes for a moment thinking of how much damage the Prophet had caused him in the past before opening them again. Minerva had swum closer toward the bank and was now standing thigh-deep in the water.

“What are you going to do?” Harry asked as she wrung the water out of her hair.

“I have no idea,” she answered now exiting the water and picking up her discarded clothing, “You know from past experience what damage the Prophet can do.”

Harry waved his wand and summoned all of her clothes toward him. He held out the small pile to her and she took them wordlessly.

“You’re cold,” Harry said noticing how her slight frame was shivering as the wind hit her damp skin.

“I’ll live,” she said shortly moving past him.

Harry caught her wrist and pulled her toward him. “Don’t argue,” he said firmly holding her close to him.

She glared at him as he draped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close but didn’t speak. Harry relieved her of the pile of clothing as they walked back to the castle in silence. It wasn’t until they reached the warmth of Minerva’s chambers that she spoke.

“Thank you,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear her as she pulled away from his grasp. Her eyes fell onto the discarded book on the coffee table and she gave him a piercing glance. “What did you get up to?”

“He had written how he saw colours not people,” Harry answered.

Minerva nodded slowly, “I see. Well if you have any questions I’ll be in my office.”

She walked away quickly leaving droplets of water behind her. Harry heard the door of her bedroom slam shut and sighed as he fell onto the sofa. The book glittered in the firelight and like it was an automated response Harry leant over, opened the book and began to read.

Age 23:- Tom sent me this. I wish I could figure out what it meant but I can’t. He is, if nothing else, an enigma.

Harry reached for the small black and white photograph and nearly dropped it. A pretty woman smiled back at him wearing an all-too-familiar looking locket. Slytherin’s locket to be precise. After recovering from his initial shockHarry turned the photo over and felt his stomach turn.

Number Three

The third Horcrux. The one that had been destroyed before he and Dumbledore had reached it.

Harry threw the book back onto the coffee table where it landed with a soft thump and ran toward Minerva’s bedroom. He opened the door with a bang to find Minerva clothed only in a towel standing in front of her open wardrobe.

“What are you doing?” she hissed.

He hastened the answer. “What do you know about Horcruxes?”

Minerva shrugged her shoulders. “Very little. Why?”

“Do you remember how Ron, Hermione and I disappeared for a year?” Harry said quickly moving into the room and sitting on the edge of the bed.

Minerva nodded impatiently. “And you wouldn’t tell anyone where you’d gone. Yes I remember.”

“We were looking for Horcruxes.”

“And you found them. What does this have to do with me?” Minerva said angrily conjuring a high-backed wooden chair and sitting down.

“They’re objects with a portion of one’s soul in them. It makes the person immortal so long as they aren’t destroyed.”

“I know. And this has what exactly to do with me?” she repeated.

“Your book. He sent you photos of what he used.”

Minerva paled and slumped forward. “He what?”

“The photo of the woman with the locket. That was his third Horcrux.”

Minerva covered her mouth with her hands as she looked up at him. “He showed me everything,” she said softly, “I could have done something but I…”

Tears began to run down her cheeks as Harry rushed forward and knelt in front of her. “You weren’t to know,” he said firmly holding her hands in his.

“I should have showed Albus. He would have realised what they meant but me and my stupid pride…”

Harry placed a finger against her lips and she fell silent though tears ran down her face in rivers.

“You weren’t to know,” he repeated wiping her tears away with his thumb.

She turned away from him and he placed a hand under her chin and forced her to look into his eyes.

“Do not blame yourself,” he said earnestly, “You did nothing wrong.”

She pushed his hand away from her face as she answered. “No Harry. I did nothing period.”

She rose to her feet and Harry echoed her movements. They stood still, her looking up slightly at him. Her tears had dried though her eyes still shone brightly. Harry reached up and ran a hand through her hair before pulling her toward him. He kissed her lightly and felt her tense under his touch.

He pulled back slightly and looked at her. “Minerva,” he said softly, “Don’t fight this.”

He leant forward and again and brushed his lips against hers. When she didn’t draw back he ran his tongue lightly against her lips which to his surprise she parted. He explored her mouth as he felt her arms wrap tightly around her neck; the towel fell to the floor as he lifted her from the ground and toward the bed. As he placed her down gently on the bed he drew back.

“Are you sure?”

Her response was to grip his shirt tightly and pull him toward her.