Chapter 2

"Don't cry my precious!" Albus told her as he sat down beside her again, his voice was so unfamiliar to what she was used too.

Minerva grimaced as he ran one of his cold fingers over her pale lips, she wanted to pull away from him but her body would just not listen to her. The pain in her head was finally dulling but she was still temporary paralyzed and she didn't know why.

"In time you will all realise that I am right," Albus informed them all as he got to his feet and made his way towards the door.

Arthur got to his feet and was about to confront the older wizard when his wife and Tonks held him back. Albus simply laughed at Arthur and then swept out of the door and locking it behind him.

The mood in Grimmauld place was dark and tears were falling for the death of Remus Lupin and Hermione Granger. Severus and Alastor had found some sheets in a nearby wardrobe and had draped them over the broken bodies of the dead while the other members of the order mourned for them.

How could they have got Albus Dumbledore so wrong, why did none of them pick up on the twisted mind that he had kept hidden from them all for so many years. Just a few hours ago they would have stood shoulder to shoulder with this man and fought for the light side but now he was dark, darker than the dark lord himself. They had stared in shock as he had cast the killing curse on their friends; the look on his face as he pointed his wand at them had been of pleasure.

Minerva tried to sit up in bed but once again her battered body denied her. She felt a hand come to a rest on her lower back and a hand on her arm which her helping sit up. She looked around to see who the hands belonged to and saw that it was Severus Snape.

"How are you feeling?" he asked his voice full of genuine concern.

"I don't know Severus." she answered honestly. "I just don't know."

"I do believe that is the way we are all feeling." he answered grimly

"Why can't I move?" she asked

"Don't you remember?" Severus replied.

"If I did," she snapped "would I be asking you?"

"Albus cast a spell on you Minerva when you were trying to protect Harry," explained Severus "We have no idea what he cast but all we know is that it knocked you out and paralyzed you."

"Oh Severus!" she said, her voice unsteady "how did we get him so wrong?"

Minerva looked around the room; she saw Harry and Ron being comforted by a distraught Molly Weasley and by the window stood Tonks and Alastor, holding each other for comfort and support.

"Severus," Minerva whispered, not wanting to bring attention to herself "what are we going to do about Remus and Hermione?"

Severus shook his head indicating that he had no idea what was to become of the dead bodies, he took her by surprise when he reached for her hand and took it in his own, squeezing it softly.

"GET YOUR HAND OFF HER!" bellowed a voice from the doorway.

Everyone turned around to where the voice had come from, only to see that Albus had returned to their makeshift prison. They watched in uncertainly as he strode across the bedroom over to where Severus and Minerva were sitting. Severus found himself pushed violently up against the wall by the angry looking ex headmaster of Hogwarts.

"Don't touch what isn't yours." growled Albus.

He let Severus slide to the floor and turned around to face the others.

"I need to borrow the lovely Minerva for a while!" he told them

They watched in horror as Albus bent down and scooped the temporary paralyzed professor up in his arms.

"Don't touch me!" snapped Minerva angrily as she tried to wiggle out of his arms.

"Ssshhh!" he told her.

"Put her down!" growled Alastor Moody as he stood forward.

"You're not taking her anywhere." said Arthur, coming to stand beside the Auror.

"You can't stop me!" replied Albus, his eyes laughing at them "you have no wands and I do. If you get in my way, you will end up like the filthy mud bloods."

"Don't do anything!" warned Minerva who was still cradled in his arms, she sounded braver that she actually felt but she couldn't risk anymore lives "I'll be fine"

"You have my word that no harm will come to her" said Albus with a dark smile.

"Your word," laughed Harry "look where it got us."

As quick as a flash Albus pulled out his wand and pointed it at the young wizard.

"Don't!" snapped Minerva "leave the boy alone, you have me."

"Very well" answered Albus.

Minerva looked over his shoulder as he carried her out of the room before the door closed behind them, she mouthed

"Try and get out of here."

Minerva'sQuill

(Thank you to all who reviewed... Reviewer Date Chapter Type Morgana-Alex 2004-05-03 1 Signed I really don't know... But Minerva'sQuill is scary she manages to update loads! It takes me ages, yes I apologise for that. Liz O'Brien 2004-05-02 1 Anonymou s Sorry the update took so long! LinZE 2004-05-02 1 Signed Is he? I thought he would be classed as a half-blood or pure0blood as both his parents had magical power's... maybe I'm wrong though... I really don't know : ( Catwoman99 2004-05-01 1 Signed Thanx for reviewing! I guess it was a bit of a dramatic start Hogwarts Duo 2004-05-01 1 Signed I wish it was...