Summary: Minerva McGonagall is scared, stressed, and exhausted when she returns from St. Mungo's. It's up to Albus Dumbledore to help her recover. The most ADMM I've ever written in my life (but not enough to make you non-ADMMers puke…hopefully)! Contains no slash.

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters, places, and other magical objects belong to J.K. Rowling. It's not mine, sorry.

Hey guys, I'm back!

A lot of readers have requested that I write a story with more ADMM. As you may recall, The Easter Holiday had some good ADMM in it, but it concentrated more on Severus Snape. So for all you folks that wanted more of the headmaster and the Transfigurations teacher, here you go!

Sorry chapter 1 is kinda short; it took me forever to write! I was trying to finish up The Easter Holiday while I was writing this, and I was also starting Before the Order (please check it out!), so all my thoughts were in a big messy pile in my brain! Now all the information in my cranium is finally put in neat little filing cabinets and is a little easier for me to access (there's probably 23,457 some odd filing cabinets), so it will hopefully be easier to deliver a good story to you readers.

Hope you all enjoy this, and I would really appreciate reviews!

saiyanwizardgurl

Chapter 1: I'm Here

Minerva McGonagall stroked the right side of the portrait of a sphinx that hung in her private quarters. The picture shuddered and stretched into a smooth oak door. Twisting the handle, she opened the door and stepped into a large bedroom, decorated in a deep red with gold.

The Transfigurations teacher smiled. This room was a very special place for her. Hogwarts was filled with various secret passageways and hidden rooms that were created by the founders, but her husband, Albus Dumbledore, had added this room to the castle forty years ago just for them. Due to uprisings caused by Dark wizards, the two had decided to keep their marriage a secret. The Transfigurations teacher had therefore remained as Minerva McGonagall, but that did not make their love for each other any less. Those that did know about their marriage agreed that they were made for each other.

McGonagall heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. He must still be in the shower, she thought. The Transfigurations teacher shut the door quietly behind herself and walked over to the bed. She took off her dressing gown and hung it over a chair. The witch slipped under the covers but remained in a sitting position, wrapping her arms around her knees. It was nice to be back after having to stay in a stark white room at St. Mungo's.

McGonagall sighed. The wizarding world now had to face another war. She hated wars. So many lives were at risk. So many lives were lost. The first war had been devastating enough. Marlene McKinnon. Benjy Fenwick. Caradoc Dearborn. Dorcas Meadowes. The Bones. The Longbottoms. The Prewetts. The Potters. All tragically lost, many at an early age. This war was barely in full swing, and lives had already been lost. Cedric Diggory. Bertha Jorkins. Broderick Bode. Sirius Black…

The Transfigurations teacher was so engrossed in her thoughts, she did not even notice that she was crying. She tried to wipe away her tears when she realized her cheeks were stained with them, but that only caused them to flow more rapidly. It was not long before she was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Minerva, what's wrong?"

Dumbledore, dressed in midnight blue pajamas, had put his hand on McGonagall's shoulder and was looking at his wife with concerned eyes.

"I…I…I don't know. I just st-started crying. I – "

"Shhhh, it's all right, love. You don't have to say any more. I'm here."

The headmaster enveloped the shaking witch in a strong embrace, whispering words of comfort into her ear. The Transfigurations teacher clung to her husband tightly, afraid to let go.

"I'm so sorry, Albus," she said, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her nightgown. "I guess it's just this war, and I worry about the students' safety, and your safety, and I'm…I'm just – "

"You're what, love?" asked Dumbledore softly.

"Oh, Albus, I'm not strong enough!" she cried, burying her face in his shoulder again. "I can't deal with this war; it's too much for me! I feel so weak, and I only get in the way – "

"Stop right there, Minerva," said the headmaster sternly. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders and brought her up slowly. "Don't you ever say that you are weak! You and I both know that that's far from the case."

"But I couldn't even stop Dolores from attacking Hagrid," whimpered McGonagall.

"Minerva, they outnumbered you; they played dirty against an innocent person. That's the only reason they were able to hurt you. You are the strongest woman I've ever met," said Dumbledore, pulling her back into his arms. "And about you getting in the way," he whispered in her ear, "you've never gotten in the way. In fact, you are all that keeps me sane sometimes. I could not survive without you. I could not have defeated Grindelwald without you, and I cannot hope to help defeat Voldemort without you by my side. I was so worried when I heard what she had done to you; I don't know what I would do if something else happened to you."

"I'll always be here, Albus," she whispered.

"I'm glad," he said as he began to rub her back.

They both sat in comfortable silence on the bed, savoring each other's company. The headmaster glanced down at his wife and saw that her eyes were beginning to droop. "You must be tired."

The Transfigurations teacher closed her eyes. "A little."

Dumbledore and McGonagall slid completely under the blankets. "Rest now, love. I won't leave you." Dumbledore gently kissed the top of her forehead.

"Oh, Albus, I missed you so much," said the Transfigurations teacher, a few more tears streaming down her face.

The headmaster gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. "I missed you too, love. Don't cry, Minerva."

"I'm sorry, Albus," she whispered, snuggling into his beard. "I'm just so tired. Thank you, though; for being here."

"There's no need for thanks, my love; I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be than with you."

McGonagall smiled. "What would I do without you?"

"I could ask myself the same question," said Dumbledore, stroking her hair.

"Good night, Albus, and thank you, for being the wonderful man that you are."

"Sleep well, Minerva," he said, kissing her forehead again. "Merlin knows we could both do with some rest." The witch and wizard cuddled closer to each other before they were both whisked off to dreamland.

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