This is a story idea I have been tossing around for weeks. (yes I'm still working on You belong to me) I decided I know enough of where i am going with this to post my first chapter, so without further or do, please enjoy...

It was Dusk as the last rays of sun colored the sky and cast a glow across the hill near the lake. Minerva sat with her legs hooked and resting her weight on her right arm, using her left to brush a tear as she sobbed uncontrollably. Her whole being seemed to be crumbling as her world came crashing down around her. Her husband, dead... her dear Albus... The stone which marked the place which he was buried stood against the light before her. Her normally neat bun was now messy for lack of caring, her robes falling off her shoulder making her look almost uncharacteristic.

"Why the hell did you have to do it? Why?" She shouted at the gravestone, knowing Albus couldn't hear her and was long past on, but it somehow made her feel better. "You didn't have to die, you could have fought back..." Her words drowning in sobs. A tear fell on the nearby flower that she had planted by Albus's tombstone, as was his request... He wished to give back to nature and be buried at the school... He said in a sense, he would live on as long as the flowers grew...

Minerva was so devastated, she didn't realise someone was behind her until she felt a light touch on her shoulders. "Why don't you come inside Min... It's so cold out here... you will catch a cold." She turned slightly and noticed a shadowed silhouette of Poppy Pomphery. Of course she would be there... She was only her best friend for what, thirty years or so? Minerva started sobbing harder, she really didn't care if she got sick, she wanted to be with her husband... But he was gone, forever this time. She could feel the absence in her aching heart and in the world in general. It was as if the winds shifted and the world stopped spinning to acknowledge the passing of such a great man.

"Come on, up you get." Poppy lifted Minerva to her feat and wrapped a blanket over her shoulders where she let her hands rest as she gently steered Minerva inside the castle walls. Should I bring her to her rooms or would it be too much for her... But if I bring her to my rooms it may be too much change... I would hate to ask... Maybe if I stayed with her... yes, that would be it, I'll just sleep on the couch if she needs me. Poppy thought to herself. She steered Minerva up the seven flights of stairs and up to the headmaster's office. Come up the stairs deary, one more set. They climbed clumsily to the headmaster's private quarters and Poppy lay Minerva gently on the bed and covered her up. Minerva began to sob again, knowing that her husband wouldn't be in her bed that night.

"I'll be just outside the door if you need me deary." Poppy reassured her as Minerva's sobs began to subside as Poppy rubbed her back gently. When Minerva finally fell completely asleep, Poppy quietly made her way to the couch and lay down to attempt some sleep... It was a trying night with Minerva's first day back to the school after Albus's death... It would be a hard year ahead, but maybe with her help, poor Minerva could find comfort. With that Poppy dosed off to sleep.

Minerva woke up and rolled over to put an arm around her husband, only to wake and realize that it was empty besides herself. She remembered again and cried silently to herself. How could she have forgotten? It had only been four months since his death and yet she keeps forgetting he is gone. Always expecting him to walk through the door as if nothing had happened. Sometimes she caught herself hearing his voice or his laugh and thinking for a split second that he was still there... but when reality hit, she couldn't handle it.

When Minerva managed to calm herself down enough to make it down the stairs and not alert Poppy she made her way. Poppy was already up and moving about cleaning but being careful not to move any of Albus's things. That was not her place and she didn't want to upset Minerva. Poppy smiled at Minerva who returned one, be it false, in order to reassure her that she was going to be alright.

"Today is going to be a long day Poppy, why don't you do inventory or something. The students will be arriving at 7pm today for orientation. It will definitely be a interesting year. Minerva walked down to breakfast, leaving Poppy do do what she would. She found the Great hall empty save for one shadowy character.

"SEVERUS YOU BASTARD" Minerva shouted as she ran at him, wand extended. Her wand flew but she didn't care and kept charging at him, she didn't care anymore, she would have her justice. Severus stood his ground wand extended. Min stopped pressed chest to tip and huffed. "YOU KILLED MY HUSBAND AND THEN HAVE THE NERVE, NO, THE AUDACITY TO COME IN HERE LIKE ALL IS HUNKY DORY? SHAME ON YOU AND DAMN YOU TO HELL." Minera slapped him hard. Severus's cheek stung and instantly began to redden.

"I deserved that." He said more to himself then to Minerva.

"YOU BET YOUR ASS YOU DO. HOW DARE YOU?" Minerva kneed him in the gut and finally Severus had enough and threw her to the ground and pinned her there with his knees. "LET ME GO! DON'T MAKE ME SHOUT FOR POPPY!" Severus put a silencing charm on her before continuing.

"You have it all wrong. Please, it was an order from your husband to save a young boy's innocence. Plus I made an unbreakable vow to Malfoy's mother... to protect him if he couldn't do it... I was between a rock and a hard place, plus he was already dying."

Minerva stopped thrashing for a moment and lie there with pause. Severus lifted the silencing charm to let her speak but she still sat silently. "He didn't want you to know so that his last days wouldn't be any different. He wanted to make love to you before he left this world, kiss you, romance you, and remind you how much he loves you. Don't you understand, he had real feelings for you. If you were dying, would you tell him?"

"I don't know, he is already gone." Minerva started to tear up again at the thought and Severus wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry. It's too soon, I know." Severus got off her and helped her to her feet. "Everyone else already knew the plan before hand. We were all sworn to secrecy." Minerva nodded and finally let the tears that were welling up inside her out onto Severus's robes.

"I... I'm sorry..."

"There is no need.. I deserved what I got..." Minerva felt a small tinge of guilt but left it all the same. Perhaps it was easier to blame him rather than face the truth that her beloved Albus didn't trust her to be strong enough to know... Hell, her best friend knew but not her, no, why would anyone tell his own fucking wife? Minerva felt the anger build back inside her and decided to march out of the great hall before she did something that she regretted. Before she knew it she found herself back under the tree on the hillside.

"Why the hell didn't you trust me? Why Albus, why?" Minerva said more to herself than the grave she sat beside. She collapsed into a fit of sobbing again, cursing the very land he was buried in.

I hope you enjoyed this short start to the story. I will be continuing, it just wont be as frequent as the first story I am working on until it is finished. Please review...

to be continued..