Out of her Hands

[QuillofMinerva]

Out of her hands

Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me and so no money is to be made out of this story. I am simply using them to put them into situations that JK Rowling would never do.

Summary: He returns to her after eight months away. She thought he was dead. Can things go back to the way they were before he left her? AD/MM

A/N: This is my new chapter fic. I am not sure how long it will be but I do have a faint idea how I want this to go. I would be grateful if you could read and then review. Your comments are always welcomed. Thanks to my beta reader, Ang!

Chapter One: Accepting the Truth?

In the middle of the vast Scottish Highlands there was a quaint old stone cottage. Simply by looking at it, you would have thought that it had stood there for hundreds of years, as it blended with the miles of greenery and the stone taken from the quarry. In fact, the cottage was relatively new, only a year old to this day but the owners had lovingly made it appear old so it wouldn’t stick out and cause offence. There was an ivy vine growing up around the farmyard style door with flowers in the window boxes. The garden was neat but needed some tending to it. This cottage looked the same as the others in the nearby village but one thing set it apart from the others. The curtains were always drawn.

Inside the cottage, Minerva McGonagall sighed. Eight months ago, her life was very different. She had been engaged to the most wonderful man, who was eighty years her senior but it didn’t seem that way. He loved and adored her and she felt the same about him. She had no opposition from her family about the man who she loved because they saw the love between them. They had so much in common and felt as though they were equals and soul mates.

He had been the most eligible bachelor when she had met him and she was still a schoolgirl herself. They had struck up a platonic relationship, which didn’t blossom into love until she was out of school and working to become a professor. Minerva had moved into the house, which her fiancé built for them and their future children. She had been living with him for two months before the letter had come and took him from her. She still had the letter and she would look at it everyday, as if it held clues to where he was.

He had promised her that he would be back soon and that he loved her dearly. She had believed him and now it had been eight months since he had walked out that door and she had received no word from him. He had gone to fight the darkest wizard that had brought fear and terror into the lives of her and many others. Within days of his departure, word had come through that the dark wizard, Grindelwald, had fallen. Minerva had waited patiently by the door for days. She watched the path that led to their front door but he didn’t walk up it. He didn’t come home to her.

As the months slowly went by, Minerva had to reside herself to the fact that he wasn’t coming back to her. There was no sightings of him. He hadn’t been in contact with her family or his. And none of their friends had received a word from him either. She didn’t want to give up hope but each day that went by, she lost a little bit more. Her friends were worried about her. She wasn’t eating properly and the weight was falling off her lithe frame, making her look gaunt and ill. Minerva could not mourn because she had no closure. She had no body to bury. All she could think about was that somewhere out there, he was hurt and in pain.

Search parties had been sent to the field where Grindelwald had fallen, in hope of finding the greatest wizard of recent times, as the wizarding public had dubbed him. The search parties came back with nothing apart from blood samples that showed his DNA. Minerva, herself, had actually gone with them to see for herself but she was still in denial.

Minerva looked around the familiar kitchen and fought back the tears. She had cried so much and felt that she didn’t have the strength to cry anymore. She felt lost without him by her side; making her laugh and making her feel comfortable. She had never known how dependant she was on him until he left her. Part of her wanted to hate him but the other part loved him so much that her heart could not hate. Minerva had gone through so many emotions during the last eight months and she hoped she would never have to deal with them again.

Not only did she think that he was probably dead, she also went through a stage of thinking that he had gone to hiding. He didn’t want to return to his life with her. Maybe he had a new life with a new woman and he was never going to come back to her. She had mentioned this to her best friend, Poppy Pomfrey, who had quickly scolded her for thinking such things. But Minerva ignored her. How could Poppy truly understand what she was going through? True, Poppy had had her fair share of troubles. The man she loved was badly injured but Alastor had still found a way back to her. If Minerva was honest with herself, she had no idea what to believe and she wasn’t sure if she cared anymore.

She picked up the latest copy of the Daily Prophet. Her eyes couldn’t miss the headline that shouted out to her. ALBUS DUMBLEDORE PRESUMED DEAD! Everyone else was giving up hope and carrying on with his or her lives. Minerva had to as well, no matter how painful that was. She had already packed her bags. If she were to move on then she would have to move out of the cottage. She had arranged to stay with Poppy and Alastor while she looked for somewhere else to make her home. She picked up her bags and, before leaving, she left a note addressed to Albus. She wasn’t sure if the only man she loved and would ever love would ever find it and read it but she had to leave it.

To be continued

[Sensiblyquirky]

Well written, and I can feel her pain. Albus better get his butt home to make Minerva happy! Can't wait for the next bits!

Christy

[Nerweniel]

Oh my god, ALBUS, GET HOME! Dork *shakes head*! So sad for Minerva- very well-written, but sad. Hope to see a next part soon!

Love,

Lies

[KayleeTonksLupin]

Ohmygod, Albus, COME BACK NOW! OR ELSE!

-Kaylee

[Karlynne]

I felt so badly for Minerva. Albus better have a good reason for staying away like he has.

[Lay]

Another good start to a story, which I am sure is going to be fab!

Lay

[griseldalafey]

Poor Minerva... I feel so sorry for her and I worry about Albus (assuming he has a valid reason for staying away so long)

But wonderful start of a no doubt great story. Can't wait what happens next.

[Rikki]

Sorry, I didn't review earlier but better late than never, right?

Great new start for a story. I'm looking forward to the update. *hint hint*

Hugs, Rikki

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter Two: Returning to an empty house

A man wearing royal blue dress robes limped his way up the stone path that led to the quaint cottage as a sense of relief flooded through his body. He was home. After eight months, he was home at last. Nothing had changed and for that he was grateful. He had kept this place in his mind all the months he had been away from it. He smiled as he saw that the ivy vine had finally grown up and around the archway he had made. For some time he was convinced that he had bought a vine, which would never grow, no matter how much you watered and talked to it. He stopped briefly to catch his breath before continuing up the path. He was out of condition but that was not surprising after what he had had to deal with.

Albus Dumbledore was the shadow of his former self. Everything had changed apart from his bright blue eyes but they told a story of darkness. The twinkle didn’t appear as much as it used to but that was for two reasons. He had killed a man and though the man was rotten to the core, it had lasting effects on the wizard who brought about his demise. In fact, Grindelwald haunted him in his sleep because every time he closed his eyes, Albus could see the pain as the killing curse ripped through his enemies’ body. The second reason for the absence of the twinkle was that he hadn’t seen his beloved for eight months. He hadn’t even been able to contact her while in the hospital.

He didn’t know what to expect as he reached the door to his home. He hoped she was there waiting for him but he knew that was unlikely. Maybe she would be in town, getting some basic household things, or maybe she was a visiting friend. He knew that she would be shocked to see him. He had heard the rumors of his death while he had been confined to bed at the hospital. He had wanted to write to Minerva and tell her that he was well and not to worry but he hadn’t. He had been bed ridden. Healers had told him that he wouldn’t be able to walk again and he hadn’t wanted to be a burden to her.

He knew that she would stand by him but he didn’t want her to give her life away. He wanted her to have a life and not look after him for the rest of his days. He had thought his reasons were unselfish for keeping her in the dark and the right decision to make at the time. He knew that her mother had nursed her father in his later years. He had seen Mrs. McGonagall become nothing more that a caregiver. She had lost her identity as a wife to Mr. McGonagall and Minerva had often commented on it to him. She had said that her mother, though she loved her husband, found it frustrating at times and resented the fact that he had become ill. Albus didn’t want Minerva to resent being with him as her mother had her father.

Perhaps, he should have written and told her he was well but not to expect him back. It would have broken her heart but at least she would have known that he was well but he hadn’t thought of that then. In hindsight, that would have been the better thing to do. He hadn’t even written to any of his family to put their minds at ease. If truths were told, he hadn’t known what to say.

The battle that had made his name well known throughout the wizarding world was a blur. He could only remember some of it. He remembered casting the killing curse and watching Grindelwald twitch and cry out in pain. But then everything had gone black. He woke up in a white room, dressed in a white and blue hospital gown. He was told that he had been unconscious for four months and that the healers had no idea what his injuries were because they couldn’t examine him properly while he was knocked out. Albus had been aware of slight tingling in his legs but when he tried to move them, he found that they would not obey his brains command to move. He had tried in vain to wiggle his toes but his efforts had been in vain. He was angry and demanded answers.

The healers did their best to answer him but they hadn’t been there when he had blacked out and they didn’t even know what spells had been cast. They knew it had been ancient magic curses but none of them knew much about them. Albus had asked the hospital to keep quiet about his whereabouts. He hadn’t wanted the world to know where he was. He wanted to be alone and to wallow in self-pity. He couldn’t walk so what was the point of life now? He would merely exist, blend in with the background and what sort of existence would that be for him?

He had moped around in bed, refusing help and blocking people out as they tried to speak to him. He didn’t want their help. How did they know how he was feeling? They were able bodied and could carry on with their lives. Albus lost his life. He might as well have died and part of him wished he had. His thoughts would often drift to Minerva. He wondered what she was doing and wondered if she was missing him. He had loved her so much. She was everything he had ever searched for in a woman. She was his equal and his soul mate, the only one that really understood him. His heart had broken as he waved goodbye to her. He promised her that he would be back but he had known that promises can’t always been kept.

It was the remembrance of her smile and her love that finally brought him out of his wallowing. Suddenly he felt he was ready to try and conquer his demons and not accept his situation. He had surprised everyone with his sudden turn around. He was determined and would not give up, even when his joints were causing him pain. His dedication to trying to walk paid off in three weeks and he took his first step without the aid of balancing charms and sticks. It had worn him out but it had also given him an incentive to continue. He fell to his knees several times and pulled muscles but his drive never faltered and eventually it paid off and now he was standing outside the door that led to his home. He had surprised everyone and he apologized for this defiant behaviour at the start as he had left the hospital.

He placed his hand on the doorknob and opened the door. It swung open and he made his way into the kitchen He could smell the familiar perfume of Minerva. She must have been living there still, which pleased him. He hoped she was there now. He called out to her but received no answer. His eyes were drawn to an envelope on the table. He noticed the familiar emerald green elegant writing. He reached out and picked it up. It was addressed to him and so he opened it.

Dearest Albus,

I do not know whether you will ever read this letter but I am leaving it here just in case. It has been eight months since you left me to go and bring about the downfall of that beast. I have had no word and reports are telling me that you are dead. I have tried to keep living but without you but I am lost. I can’t be in this house without you.

If you are alive, why didn’t you come back? Was it such a horrid thought for you to return to a woman who loved you? I searched for you but found nothing so perhaps you have died. How can I truly mourn for you if there is no body? How I can I move on knowing that maybe somewhere you are out there, dead or alive? I love you, Albus but I cannot wait for your return because it may never happen. I pray you are alive and that you are well but if not, I hope that I can bury you one day.

All my love

Minerva

Albus fell to his knees and clutched the letter and sobbed. He had lost her. He couldn’t blame her, though. He hadn’t kept his promise to her. He had been alive all the time and he hadn’t told her. But he had his reasons but they seemed so selfish now. He had left her to mourn his rumoured death. He had ruined her life without thinking about it. How was he to ever make it up to her, if he could find her?

To be continued

[Kamdra]

I do hope he can find her and I really hope she can accept his reasons for staying away.

[Karlynne]

A very hard chapter to read but I still couldn't stop. I can understand the difficulties Albus was facing although he should have realized that Minerva would love him whether he ever walked again or not and once he decided to try he should have notified her so she would at least stop worrying but then I believe women are the more logical creatures.

[Sensiblyquirky]

Oh so sad. He better go find her, and I hope she can accept his reasons for staying away...though he should have gone straight home to her...but i'm biased.

Christy

[KayleeTonksLupin]

OOH! He better write to her right away and explain! NOW! NOW!

-Kaylee, who is glad her Grand-pere is home, but knows he has to explain NOW to Grand-mere.

[angeldust]

ohh poor albus n poor min and poor eveyone!

This fic has got to be one of favs of yorus so far, its extreamly well written and i am really lookin forward to the next chap ;D

[Kassandra]

This is such an awesome fic but I was thinking it should be in angst cause I'm dying here. I felt so bad for Minerva then for Albus and now Minerva again. My heart can't take it. Please let him find her and fix things. I need a lift of spirits. Thanks for updating by the way. Kassie

[KayleeTonksLupin]

Gooooooood Clayre *gives Kaylee-wolf treats* And awesome chapter, too. I want more! *grin*

-Kaylee

[griseldalafey]

Albus you idiot!

I *do* understand your reasons, but still..... *frustrated nail bitin* Go after her. Now!

Another sad chapter... I just hope everything will turn out alright.

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter Three: Turning to Someone

Minerva set her bag down on the doorstep of Number Ten, Alexandra Road and sighed, she knew that coming here wasn’t one of the best options but it was the only one available to her. She knew that Poppy Pomfrey would welcome her with open arms; she had been on her to come and stay with her for months but Poppy had enough on her plate. Poppy was seven months pregnant and also trying to prepare a wedding, she wanted to be Poppy Moody before the baby arrived but time was against her and Alastor wasn’t being overly helpful.

Minerva raised her hand and knocked on the door quietly, she waited quietly for the door to open. Alastor opened the door and sighed with relief when he saw Minerva on their doorstep.

“Just the witch to help,” he exclaimed as he invited her in “Poppy cant decide between royal blue or shy blue tablecloths. Apparently, I am of no use when it comes to vital matters such as colour coordination.”

Minerva smiled; helping Poppy would probably take her mind off Albus and what she had just done. Part of her was still in shock that she had moved out of their home but she had had to, it was driving her mad being there alone with everything reminding her of Albus. Minerva followed Alastor through the house and into the living room where they found Poppy sitting awkwardly on a high back chair with colour charts on her lap.

“I have found someone to help you darling!” he said as walked over to Poppy who was frowning.

Poppy looked up and saw Minerva; she quickly shoved the wedding plans down the side of the chair and scowled at Alastor, who looked thoroughly confused. He had thought that Poppy would have been pleased with the help but then he remembered and he mentally kicked himself for being too wrapped up in his own wedding to remember that Minerva had been planning her own wedding before Albus had left to fight.

“You don’t have to tread on egg shells around me,” said Minerva, she had picked up on the tense atmosphere and smiled at Poppy “You don’t have long to plan especially since you want to marry before your arrival, so I don’t mind at all lending a hand.”

“Oh Min,” said Poppy gratefully “are you sure? Its just that the great lump beside me has no idea.”

“I do have a name!” grumbled Alastor before he limped out of living, leaving the two witches to talk matching flowers and table wear.

Poppy smiled after him before pulling out the colour charts and place sittings, she showed Minerva what she had planned and Minerva suggested a few seating adjustments to prevent upset. As Minerva glanced over the seating list, she noticed that her and Albus’ names were on either side of the future bride and groom. She ran her finger over the red ink that spelt Albus’ name and sighed.

“Has Alastor found a new best man?” she asked softly, not looking up from the parchment.

“Oh Min,” said Poppy with a gasp “I had forgotten about the seating plan and yes Alastor has found a new best man, his cousin Cecil.”

Poppy reached over and took the seating plan from her best friends and carefully erased Albus’ name and replaced with Cecil, she hoped that Minerva hadn’t seen it but the eagle eyed witch had. Minerva knew that plans had to be made and that Albus was going to be replaced but it was too soon, for her it was. Everyone else seemed to be moving on and forgetting about Albus, Minerva felt thoroughly alone in the world. Poppy reached over and squeezed her hand, she felt bad about doing this in front of Minerva but things had to continue.

“Alastor, has written something in his speech about Albus.” Poppy explained, she wanted Minerva to know that Albus was still remembered and would never be forgotten “Its beautiful, it’s soppy and Albus would have surely blushed.”

Minerva smiled gratefully as Poppy and squeezed her hand with her own, she was thankful that Poppy had mentioned that. Albus had been looking forward to being best man and had been working on his speech ever since Alastor had asked him, Minerva still knew where the half finished speech was and she had planned to give to them as part of their wedding present since Albus wouldn’t be reading it out.

“Poppy,” said Minerva softly “I have a favour to ask, I know you have plenty of stuff going on already but I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need to.”

“Of course, you can stay Min.,” replied Poppy without giving Minerva the opportunity to ask her the question “your room is already prepared, it has been for a while now.”

“Thank you Pops.” Minerva replied gratefully “I decided that I needed to get out of that house, I love that place but its not helping me accept the fact that Albus isn’t coming back.”

Tears glistened in her tired, emerald green eyes, she hadn’t wanted to cry again and especially not in front of Poppy who had enough to deal with but she couldn’t help it. Poppy embraced her best friend and held her as tightly as she could, her pregnancy bump getting in the way but she knew that Minerva would appreciate the gesture. Poppy had been amazed at first at how Minerva was handing the situation, she had joined the search parties and had never given up hope but as the weeks had gone by, Poppy grew alarmed as she saw her best friend waste away in front of her eyes. The final straw was when Minerva had collapsed in the middle of Diagon Alley, Poppy had forced to her to see sense when she had recovered. Poppy hadn’t enjoyed telling Minerva that she needed to except that Albus wasn’t coming home and that things had to be arranged. For a while, Poppy had thought her words had sunk in but then Minerva went back to refusing that Albus was dead. Hearing Minerva say that she needed to leave her home because she had to accept that Albus wasn’t returning, had been the first admittance of accepting the situation and Poppy was glad for that

“I need closure Poppy,” sobbed Minerva “but how it that possible when I don’t have Albus’ body to bury?”

Poppy didn’t know what to say, she knew Albus and had loved him as a brother but she wasn’t suffering as Minerva was. Poppy had never been in this position before, she had lost friends and family the dark war but bodies had been recovered and they had been able to mourn properly but Minerva couldn’t. Poppy suddenly had an idea, a way of helping Minerva and giving her something she could do to remember Albus.

“Why don’t we plant a tree in his memory,” suggested Poppy “we could invite his friends and family to the planting and then we can hold some type of wake to remember and celebrate his life.”

“He would of have liked that idea,” sniffed Minerva as she looked up at her friend and smiled softly through her tears “We could plant it at Hogwarts, he loved that place and his life was there.”

So it was agreed that a tree would be planted in the grounds of Hogwarts as an remembrance of a great man, who had died bringing peace to their world. Albus Dumbledore would be honoured for years to come, his memory to be imprinted on the grounds of the finest wizarding school for miles around.

To be continued!

[Kassandra]

I'm glad Minerva has support in Poppy but I wish Albus finds her soon.

[KayleeTonksLupin]

*definitely still giving Clayre her well-earned Kaylee-wolf treats, but still...* ALBUS YOU IDIOT, COME BACK TO MINERVA NOW! RIGHT NOW DO YOU BLOODY HEAR ME, ALBUS PERCIVAL WULFRIC BRIAN DUMBLEDORE!!!!

*blushes* Sorry, Clayre...

-Kaylee

[Sensiblyquirky]

I'm glad Poppy is around to help, but forget planting the tree and just get her Albus back to her. Then you can plant a tree together or something...no trees for death.

Christy

[Miss Q]

I love this story, I really do! But PLEASE let it be a happy ending!

M

[Nerweniel]

Right, I'll strange Albus with my own hands if he doesn't find her soon ;D. Planting a tree; good, snogging; BETTER ;D!

Love,

Lies

[Karlynne]

I keep telling myself not to read stories that stress me out but here I am back again. I hope Albus finds Minerva quickly before she accepts his death. I also hope Poppy and Alastor don't drive her insane. Planning a wedding is so stressful. Karlie

[griseldalafey]

Poor, poor Minerva, Albus really needs to hurry...

Love,
Griselda
totally captivated

[QuillofMinerva]

THANK YOU TO ALL MY REVIEWERS, YOU LOVELY, LOVELY PEOPLE ;D

Chapter Four: Reality Breaks

The morning rays shone through the gap in the curtains and awoke the sleeping man who had sunk to the floor the night before. He still had the letter clutched to his heart as he stirred. He had cried himself to sleep that night and he was quite exhausted from the emotional and physical pain he was feeling. He still wasn’t one hundred percent well but he had given the healers at the small private hospital such a hard time about discharging him that they finally allowed him to leave. But not before cautioning him that he needed to take things easy for a few weeks. They knew that he would not listen to them but they let him leave anyway. Many of them had liked Albus and had agreed to keep his whereabouts a secret so that he could recover. They had been sad but relieved when he limped out of their hospital. He had limped out with a purpose and had looked very different from what he looked like now. As he lay crumpled up on the floor, he looked like a broken man.

His blue eyes opened and adjusted to the light filled room. It took a moment or two before he realized where he was and then closed his eyes again when he remembered she was not there with him. His body ached from sleeping on the cold floor. His joints felt stiff but that was nothing compared to the ache in his heart and his brain telling him that he only had himself to blame. He knew he needed to get up and take his medication but what did he have to live for? He was presumed dead. People had accepted that and moved on and perhaps he should not come back from the dead and uproot people lives again. He could stay at the cottage for the rest of his days and die here without anyone knowing any better.

He didn’t know what to do as he pulled himself slowly to his feet. He looked around the kitchen and felt his heart begin to break again. He had made this kitchen with her in mind. He had incorporated rustic farmhouse chic with her Scottish heritage. He could remember the smile of her face as he had led her into the kitchen and told her to open his eyes. He remembered her flinging herself into his arms and planting lots of soft kisses all over his face before capturing his lips with her own.

He shook his head to bring himself out of his thoughts. It was not good from him to dwell on the past because it would prevent him living his future. The future that lay ahead of him what not the one he had ever expected. He had expected Minerva to be there and he had hoped they would have started a family together; she was the only woman he wanted to have them with. He made his way up the winding stairs that led to the master bedroom, the two spare bedrooms and the large bathroom. He walked into the bedroom and collapsed down on the bed. He could still smell her familiar scent on the fabric and it brought a smile to his face. He had bought her that perfume for her birthday and she had loved it and had since refused to wear anything but that perfume. He rolled over on to his side and winced with pain as his ribs hit the surface of the bed. His cracked and broken ribs were mostly healed but he still felt tender around that area and couldn’t put to much pressure on his side. He was about to roll over on to his back when a picture of Minerva caught his eye.

The picture had been taken during the spring, before he left to face the destiny that had been written for him before he was born. Minerva had been standing in a bluebell field and was smiling brightly towards him as the sun shone down on her. As her hair reflected the sun it seemed to have blue streaks amongst the luscious ebony locks. That had been the day Albus had got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. He hadn’t planned to ask her that day. Instead he had planned to ask her over a starlit picnic that night but when he saw her in that field he knew that it was time. He had gotten a muddy knee as he had kneeled down in front of her amongst the blue bells and her eyes had shone with hope and love as he asked her his important question. Before he had even finished asking her, she had flung herself down into his arms and cried out “yes!”

He smiled at the memory as he reached over and picked up the picture. He rolled back over on to his back and stared at it for a while before he traced the outline of her with a long, slightly crooked finger.

“Oh Min,” he said out loud with a sigh “I love you so much and I hate myself for hurting you as I have!”

Albus did hate himself. When he had been lying there on that hospital bed had he really thought not telling Minerva was for her sake or was it because he was ashamed and revolted about what he had become? He had told himself that he was doing it for Minerva and that she needed to live her life and not feel obligated to look after him. He had even convinced himself of that but now he was back home and he finally realized that he had been wrong to have done that to her. He was disgusted with himself. His pride had taken a battering and he wanted no one to see him this way. He didn’t want to hear words of sympathy or get the pitiful looks from people. He didn’t want to be stared at as though he were an animal. He had missed Minerva terribly and had thought about her all the time but he had taken the one thing she loved and wanted away from her because of his pride and he had to make it up to her.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Albus sat up on the bed and scanned the bedroom for the one thing that would help him locate her whereabouts. His eyes fell upon the small address book that she kept on her dressing table and he made his way over to it quickly, ignoring his body’s protests. He had a faint idea where she might have gone but he wanted to be sure that the address was correct. He didn’t want his head to pop up and frighten some strangers half to death. He knew that his appearance would be a shock to anyone but he wanted to find Minerva before word got around that his head was popping up in fires all over the Scottish highlands.

He found the address of her best friend, Poppy Pomfrey, and he found that she still lived at the same place. He sat down in a chair in front of the fire. A small pot of floo powder still sat on the small table to his right. He collected his thoughts before taking a pinch of floo powder and throwing it into the fire

“Poppy, Alexandra Road!” he said clearly into the roaring green flames.

Poppy had been in the kitchen, making some tea when the green flames had roared in the fire. She stared in shock, as she looked at the head that was floating effortlessly in the green flames, her hands instinctively coming to rest upon her bump.

“Poppy!” said Albus softly “I am sorry to have of startled you.”

“Who are you?” she asked in confusion.

“Poppy,” he answered with a slight smile “it me, Albus!”

Poppy stared at him before answering him. She was trying to be sure that she wasn’t imagining things. Her brain had been playing silly tricks on her ever since she had been pregnant and she didn’t want to feel stupid again.

“Well I know who you are,” she finally replied “but your dead!”

“Poppy, please listen to me,” he urged, trying not to grimace when a sharp pain shot through his spine. “I am not dead, I have been alive all this time…….”

“Do you KNOW what YOU have put that poor lassie through?” cried Poppy, interrupting him as anger flowed through her body. “You have been alive all this time and you didn’t send her a single word! What kind of man are you?”

Albus had been expecting something like this but he was worried about Poppy getting herself into a state. He had noticed that she was heavily pregnant and knew that she shouldn’t get worked up.

“Poppy, calm down” he suggested, raising his hands up. “It’s not good for you or the baby. I need to know where Minerva is. Is she with you?”

Poppy wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t know how Minerva would react and did Albus have the right to turn up eight months later and uproot Minerva all over again? Poppy thought about Alastor and what she would want if she where in Minerva position. She would have wanted to see him so she decided to go and find Minerva and tell her. But a voice from behind her stopped her from moving. It was full of shock, confused and disbelief.

“Albus?”

To be continued!

[KayleeTonksLupin]

Ooh, goood Clayre...Kaylee-wolf treats for Clayre! I hope Min forgives Albus! *grin*

Hugs,

Kaylee

[Kassandra]

You stopped there?!? I am dying here. Now I will have to go through all sorts of agonies until you update again. I am so loving this fic. Kassie

[Karlynne]

Is it too much to hope that he comes through the fireplace, embraces her and she feverishly assures herself he is real by kissing him and they live happily ever after? I am enjoying each update. Keep going please, Karlie.

[Nerweniel]

You *so* have to update soon... oh god, this is so exciting- please let them be somewhat okay at least ;D. Love this!!

Love,

Lies