Title: Never say never/Don't give up
Author: AntheaMS/Kat
Summary: "Don't give up..."
Author's Notes: HP does not belong to me. This fic is done for kissofdeath on the admm boards for Christmas! :D Merry Christmas to all. -hugs-

It was dark, not very, but dark all the same. Thus, the figure walking down the road despondently was unseen for most part. She was lonely, yes, without anyone to talk to. Nothing seemed to matter now. Everyone that she knew and trusted was dead, and Minerva could not bring herself to trust anymore. Despite the events that occurred, she felt safe walking down this empty road. The empty road; so much like her life and so much unlike it… it confused her, honestly, it did.

Minerva did not know how long she walked for, but when she emerged from her thoughts, she found herself in the sunlight, with only trees surrounding her. All sources and signs of civilisation were gone, and it took Minerva a moment before she finally orientated herself and realised that this place that she was in was the 'secret' location that she and Albus used to meet in when they were students. As she looked around, the walls around her heart finally fell, and she began to cry.

She cried for the loss of her friends, she cried for Molly, who lost two sons, she cried for Andromeda, who lost her daughter and son-in-law in that battle. Most of all, she cried for Albus, who never got the chance to see Voldemort fall, her husband, who never got the chance to see Harry and Ginny start a family. She cried for the people who had died in Voldermort's manic rampage to become the most powerful wizard.

Minerva did not know how long she cried, or how many tears she shed for the people she lost. It was too much for her to bottle up for any longer, and for this once, she let the walls fall, and she became Minerva McGonagall the woman, instead of Professor McGonagall, headmistress of Hogwarts.

She only looked up again when she felt a warm presence beside her. Curious, she raised her eyes, meeting the familiar blue ones of Albus.

"Albus…" she breathed, a shaky hand reaching out to touch his cheek. "But how?"

"Don't give up, Minerva," he replied softly, "and there would be miracles."

Leaning close, he kissed her gently, before pulling away.

"I never gave up."

Finite