"He did no such thing!" Filius squeaked. Minerva and Pomona found Filius in his office working on papers. Filius hopped down from his seat and began pacing. "Is Mr. David okay?"

Minerva nodded.

"Barely, according to Poppy he has a broken nose and a broken rib."

Filius gasped.

"And they want to take points from my house. I think not!" Filius yelled.

"You should have seen Minerva. She didn't flinch!" Pomona said. Minerva gave a small smile. "What do you think will happen?"

Before Minerva could answer, Filius's door was flung open. Rolanda came running in.

"Amycus is looking for Minerva! He is very angry and said he is bringing you to the headmaster."

Minerva remained calm while Pomona and Filius looked horrified.

"Then so be it." She stated.

"I'm going with you Minerva!" Pomona said. Minerva shook her head.

"No, I will go myself."

Filius, Rolanda, and Pomona watched Minerva walk out of the room. She headed toward the headmaster's office. She rounded a corner and came face to face with Alecto.

"Amycus!" she yelled. "I found her!"

Minerva stopped walking and just stood there. Amycus came from around another corner.

"Headmaster Snape wishes to speak with you." He sneered. Minerva looked at him and then brushed past them and continued down to the headmaster's office. The gargoyle came to life and created the stairs for her. She entered the office and found it empty. Severus wasn't in sight. She hadn't been in here since Voldemort visited. She looked up and saw Albus was awake. He gave her a smile. Minerva couldn't help but let a tear fall from her face.

"I heard what happened Minerva," he said. Minerva took a deep breath. "You are being so brave."

"I miss you Albus." She said. Albus nodded.

"I miss you too my dear. Very much so."

She smiled a bit as another tear fell.

"Do you know where Severus is?" she asked. Before Albus could answer she heard footsteps. She looked and saw Severus standing near the desk. Minerva swallowed as she faced him. "You asked for me?"

Severus looked at her and saw she was standing near Albus's portrait.

"It's come to my attention that you disobeyed a direct order." Severus said firmly.

"If it means protecting an innocent first year then yes I did. The boy has a broken nose and rib. Those who did it should be properly punished." She answered back.

"Punishment is no longer your duty. Alecto and Amycus will take care of the situation." He coldly answered. Minerva looked at Albus in the corner of her eye.

"I don't care if you're headmaster or not. I don't care that you betrayed everybody here and I certainly don't care about what you feel is right. I will not let them harm that boy," she said and turned away. She headed for the door and then turned around to say one last thing. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named may think he has total control, but what he will always fail to see is that love will always win."

And with that, she was gone. Severus looked at Albus.

"Why didn't you tell her you were dying?" Severus said almost sneering. Albus sighed.

"As you just witnessed, Minerva has a huge heart and cares though she doesn't always show it. In time, she'll understand. Maythesememoriesbreakherfall."

Severus frowned.

"I can only protect her and the others oh so much Albus. However, your secret is one I have never told."

Albus nodded a thank you.

Minerva sat in her private quarters watching the fire dance along the wood.

"Albus, what happened to your hand?" she questioned with wide eyes as he came in her door.

"Experiment, alas it failed and cost me some color in my hand. I'll be fine." He answered and sat down next to her. She frowned.

"Sometimes I wonder about you." She said. Albus chuckled.

"And same for you my dear." He said.

"Did you convince Horace to return to Hogwarts?" she asked as she waved her wand for tea to appear. He nodded.

"Yes, though it was a bit of a challenge."

Minerva nodded.

"Now him I've always wondered about." Minerva said with a smile. Albus laughed.

"Yes, he is…." He began but stopped. He couldn't find the right words to describe Horace. She smiled.

"Indescribable?" she finished. Albus nodded.

"How is it you can finish my sentences?" he pondered and looked her in the eyes. She smiled and whispered in his ear.

"Magic."

She smiled at the memory as she stroked Fawkes who made her private quarters his new home. She smiled at him. Pomona was right; he was always warm to her. Come to think of it, majority of the portraits and Fawkes always treated her kindly.

"Albus?" Minerva called. They went in further and stopped at the empty desk.

"Phineas!" Snape yelled at the portrait. He was asleep but Snape woke him up.

"What is so important that you would awaken me for!" he snapped.

"Where is the headmaster?" Snape asked in a snappy way.

"I don't like that tone!" Phineas snapped.

"Phineas this is important." Minerva said and walked so he could see her.

"Aww Minerva! Of course I will give the headmaster's mistress an answer," he said happily. She blushed a bit but shook it away. "He is back in his private quarters my dear. I believe he has a guest. The teacher that was really some death eater I believe. I'm sure you know the way back there."

Minerva was determined to do everything in her power to protect the children. She would die protecting them or die trying.