Out of her Hands

[Lay]

Hey I really thought was either Minerva or Alastor that had said that at the end of chapter seven so it was a great twist that you brought Aberforth into the story.

Well done on another great chapter

Lay

(i must really get around to joining this group but then I dont write fanfic, just read it)

[Kassandra]

I was very happy with this update. I liked the use of Aberforth and Minerva overhearing the way she did.

[Orion's Guard]

Yeah, awesome having it be Aberforth and not Minerva. I am glad she got to hear it. I like to see weak Albus, him crying makes him seem more human.

[Karlynne]

I was very pleased that you updated. I was pleasantly surprised that it was Aberforth behind Albus. I think he needed a harsh word from a family member. It wasn't just Minerva that was hurting. I can't wait to see what Minerva does next. Karlie

[Sensiblyquirky]

He definately needed someone to point a few things out. I'm eager to see what Minerva does after having heard it all.

Christy

[Kamdra]

I"m really late in reviewing but I was surprised at this turn. I hope Minerva can find her way through this. Kammie

[Nerweniel]

Aaaaw... I so hope Minerva forgives him... poor Albus, poor Minerva- poor them. Wonderful fic, though it's sad to see them apart... hope it's gonna be alright soon .

Love,

Lies

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter Nine: Really should have fixed that!

Minerva went through everything she had heard and sighed softly to herself. She was torn and didn’t know what to do. She had heard every word Albus had told his brother and though she saw his reasoning, she still couldn’t quite forgive him. There were also many other questions that she needed answers to and the only way she would get them would be if she faced him. Her mind told her it was simple enough to do but her heart was telling her something else. Minerva tended to listen to her heart more than her mind when it came to the matters of the heart.

Minerva tried to think sensibly but her judgement was clouded. Part of her wanted to run in and hold him and the other part wanted to hex him into oblivion. She decided that she needed to get out of the house that held some many happy memories. She was sure that they were to blame for her clouded thoughts. She rose carefully and started to make her way down the stairs, so caught up in her thoughts that she forgot about the squeaky floorboard. Albus had planned to repair the board because it was driving both of them mad. He never got around to doing it because he had went away. As her foot touched the polished pine board, it gave a squeak and Minerva cursed Albus under her breath.

Within seconds, both the Dumbledore brothers were in the hallway with their wands pointed at the intruder. Aberforth was standing slightly behind his brother, as it was a known fact that his wand techniques weren’t that advanced. He tended to hex himself rather than an opponent.

“Minerva?” asked Albus softly. He was surprised to see her back in their home.

“Min!” exclaimed Aberforth as he lowered his wand and moved around in front of Albus so he could embrace her.

“Hello Abe,” she greeted with a friendly smile as she accepted his brotherly like embrace. “Alastor told me that you flooed by.”

Minerva looked at Aberforth and smiled inwardly. He had been a great support to her through the eight month ordeal of thinking Albus dead. He had been one of the few who hadn’t given up and had followed her to every destination, as she had left no stone unturned in her search for her fiancée.

“Wanted to see how you were doing,” he told her “then Alastor told me about the return of this scallywag and I came looking.”

“Scallywag isn’t the term I would use,” admitted Minerva who had refused to acknowledge Albus’ presence until now. “I have another term on the end of my tongue which is more appropriate.”

Aberforth nodded his head and glanced over at Albus. His older brother was looking down at his feet and not saying anything. He knew that Minerva had every right not to be gushing over Albus but he did wish that she would hear him out. Aberforth had never come across a couple that were prefect for one another, until his brother had introduced Minerva to the family. The whole family knew that the love bug had finally bitten Albus because he was bringing a girl home. The whole house had been cleaned from top to bottom as soon as Albus’ letter had arrived telling his family that he was coming for the weekend and bringing a guest. Their mother had got the house elves from the near by restaurant to come and help prepare dinner. The usual house elves had been most put out when they found they had company in the Dumbledore estate kitchens. As soon as Albus and Minerva walked into the entrance hall hand in hand, Aberforth knew that they were a match made in eternity.

“Min,” whispered Aberforth “listen to him please. If not for your sake or his at least for mine. I love you as a sister and I don’t want to lose you.”

“I heard him tell you his story and I was on my way back to Poppy’s but then this blasted step made its’ awful noise and told you of my presence.”

“I really should have fixed that,” Albus said softly as he looked up at Minerva. “Please let me fix us, Minerva?”

Aberforth looked at his brother and was proud that he had finally spoken up. For a while he had thought that he wasn’t going to even try to win Minerva back. Aberforth started to move towards the door, small movements that weren’t noticed until he had his hand on the doorknob.

“I need to go and see a man about a goat,” he declared. The smirk on his face gave away the fact that he was lying but Albus and Minerva weren’t paying attention to the wayward younger Dumbledore brother as they were looking at each other.

Aberforth made his exit without them really noticing and was glad to be out of the awkward atmosphere. He hoped that they would work it out but he wasn’t sure if they could. He glanced through the window before he apparated away to the warmness of his lodgings in Hogsmeade.

Back inside the cottage, an awkward silence had descended around the two occupants of the cottage. Never, in the months they had lived between these walls, had there been a silence such as this. There had always been comfortable silences, spaced between the chatter and laughter. Minerva looked at Albus and tried to read his face but he was masking his feelings from her, which infuriated her because he was acting as the injured party. She knew that he had been badly hurt and had suffered at the hands of the darkest wizard people had seen for many years but she needed him to understand that he shouldn’t have taken her choice away from her. She wanted him to speak but it was clear that he wasn’t going to. Minerva decided that she needed to get some answers and this was the time to get them.

“I have some questions to ask you!” she said, the silence finally broken.

To be continued.

[Karlynne]

I'm glad that Minerva is going to speak her mind to Albus but I hope no further damage to their relationship is done. Hopefully they will wade through this turbulent time and come out stronger. Karlie

[Sola]

I'm happy, too, that they will 'talk'...
...hope albus will be able to fix it!...and min will hopefully let him...I SO go for happy endings-throu sad one do sure have their apeal... ;D

Anyway...I loved how Min greeted Abe and totally ignored Albus...

Sola

[ginger newts]

They're talking now, that has to be good right. I'm so glad she's giving him the chance. Hoping for a happy ending soon.

[tayryn]

and people were telling me i was cruel to stop in the spots i did! sheeesh!! lol

okay... they're together... let's hope neither of them mess it up and we get some kissage!! (sorry, can't help it... am a sucker for kissing! lol)

[QuillofMinerva]

A/n: I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update this story. Many thanks to Ang. my beta reader.

Chapter Ten: Questions and Answers

“Would you like a cup of tea?” Albus asked nervously as Minerva strode past him and into the living room where he had just come from along with his brother.

“I’ll make it myself!” she countered rather childishly.

Albus wondered if Minerva was actually going to listen to what he had to say or put up walls between her and his answers. She had heard what he had told his brother but he was sure that she would have her own questions. Aberforth wasn’t nearly as frightening as Minerva when she wanted answers. Albus had noticed the icy glare she had whenever she looked at him and he couldn’t blame her but he didn’t want her to look at him like that. He longed to see love in those green eyes of hers and not contempt.

True to her word, she made her own pot of tea before making herself comfortable in her chair. Albus had remembered the day she had spotted it for the cottage. She had been so excited when her eyes fell upon the forest green velvet chair. Albus had bought it on the spot for her. Anything she wanted, Albus would do his very best to get. It was rare that Minerva wanted anything, so Albus had known she had fallen in love with the chair. He also bought himself a similar one but in deep blue velvet. They went together as a pair as did Minerva and Albus.

“I am glad that you aren’t dead!” she finally said.

Albus looked up at her hopefully. That must mean that she still cared for him and that meant a lot because there might be a chance of him winning her back. It felt good to be back in the cottage with her. It nearly felt like being back home again, apart from the coolness radiating off Minerva.

“So am I,” he admitted. “There was a point when I thought I wasn’t going to make it.”

“You say you were taken to a hospital,” she began. “How did you get there? I searched every hospital in the United Kingdom and then spoke with each and every one of them who had someone who fit your description.”

“I was told that I found by two hikers,” he explained. “They took to me to the St Wilfred’s and I recovered slowly there.”

Minerva looked at Albus. She had been to St Wilfred’s more than a dozen times. It was the nearest place to where they found Grindelwald’s body. They had told her each time that they could not help but they would contact her immediately if they did. She had finally taken their word but now she found out that they were withholding information from her. They had seen the state she was in, the crying she had been doing and still they had refused to help her.

“Why did they say that they hadn’t been treating you?” she asked.

“I asked for no visitors,” answered Albus. “I was in a right mess and I didn’t want anyone to see me like that, especially not you.”

“Did they tell you that I had come?” she questioned.

“No,” he replied “I suppose they felt that it might upset me if I heard about you and it might have interfered with my rehabilitation”

“I could have helped you,” she argued, her tone of voice rising slightly. “You might have recovered quicker with your loved ones around.”

“I didn’t want you to see me like that,” he told her. “I didn’t want you to feel obligated to me.”

Minerva bit her lip to hold back from yelling at him. She knew it would not get them very far but she did feel like it. It was pent up frustration that was making it hard for Minerva to keep her cool.

“I think that was for me to decide whether I would have stayed or left,” she said. “You took the decision out of my hands without consulting me.”

“I know what you would have done Minerva,” he said softly. “What kind of life would that have been?”

Minerva had to look deep down inside of herself to answer his question. She had grown up watching her mother nurse her father through the last stages of his life. Her mother had said it had been hard work but she loved her husband and a smile from him was worth all the hard work.

“I would have been with the man I loved Albus,” she answered. “That was the only life I had wanted.”

“It is easy to say that!” he said.

“NO, its not!” she answered through gritted teeth. “You only thought about yourself and how you didn’t want people to see what you had become. You failed to realize that you were still Albus Dumbledore, the man I loved and adored. I mourned for you! Just this morning I had to think about arranging your funeral. Couldn’t you have at least picked up a quill and wrote me a simple note?”

“I know you are angry!”

Minerva’s nostrils flared as she stood up and walked over to the fireplace. She looked at the picture of them together that took the most prominent place on the mantelpiece. They were standing together, his arm wrapped around her waist and they were both smiling brightly. They looked so happy in the picture and they had so much to look forward to in their future together. How could he have been so selfish?

“You have no idea what I am feeling Albus Dumbledore,” she snapped. “How dare you try to even presume what I have gone through while you lying in bed covered in self pity?”

Albus placed his head in his hands and sighed. It was true that he had no idea how she was feeling but he wished she would see it from his point of view. He knew that she wouldn’t be able to, just like he couldn’t see if from her point of view.

“I realize what I did was wrong Minerva,” he told her as he moved to stand beside her. “I came back to try and work things out. To say I’m sorry for the pain I have caused my loved ones. To try to make it up to people.”

Minerva turned to look at him and smiled slightly at him. He was still the man she loved desperately and she wanted to hold him but something was holding her back. It was the pain he had caused her. She loved him more than words could express but was her heart willing to give him another go?

“I have been devastated by this Albus,” she told him.

“I know you have Minerva but I want to fix things.”

“I don’t know,” she said as she began to walk away from him. “I just don’t know!”

“Please Tabby!” he pleaded, his hands clenched together in a begging gesture.

“It can’t be fixed overnight Albus,” she answered. “ I need some time. Please give me some space!”

Albus nodded sadly. He would give her the space she needed and he wouldn’t pester her. He loved her and wanted to be with her but he didn’t want to force it. She needed time to heal and think things over.

To be continued

[tayryn]

oooh, man... that was a heartwrenchingly wonderful chapter.

[griseldalafey]

That was *so* sad. I feel with Minerva and just *hopehopehope* Albus won't push too hard.

fool

Still loving the story

[ginger newts]

Well that didn't go very well did it. I hope she doesn't need a lot of space... Update soon and don't let it be too terribly long till the happy ending please.

[Karlynne]

Minerva brought up some valid points. Taking the decision from her did not help her in the least. Of course, I still want them to work things out. Karlie

[JKMcGonagall]

I agree with Karlie, taking the decision out of Minerva's hands was not the best thing Albus could have done. Here's hoping he gives her some space to come to terms with what she is feeling. They are so right together.

[Kamdra]

I have to admit I am not thrilled with Albus at the moment. He caused a lot of unnecessary heartache because of his selfish actions. I do feel sorry for him however. I hope he can figure out how to make it up to Minerva. Kammie

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter Eleven: Forthcoming Nuptials.

Poppy Pomfrey looked critically at herself in the full-length mirror. Her hands rested on her bump and she rubbed it soothingly. Poppy was stressed. She had been tearful all morning and now she was getting cold feet. She rubbed her bulging stomach again and closed her eyes, trying to settle her nerves for her sake as well as the baby’s. Poppy had found that rubbing her stomach had some therapeutic side effects. She had never understood why pregnant women always seemed to be rubbing their bumps but now she knew why.

Poppy had never felt so unattractive in her life. It was her wedding day and she was fat! It didn’t matter how many times Minerva or even Alastor told her she was beautiful, Poppy took no notice. Alastor had even commented that there was nothing sexier than a pregnant woman. Poppy had simply glared at him and told him to go and bother someone else. She knew he was trying to be nice and reassure her. And she knew that carrying a child conceived in love was beautiful but all that didn’t matter on a day like today. She had already had her wedding robes enlarged twice, to her dismay, and not only was her stomach getting bigger but so was her bottom, chest and thighs.

“How can Alastor want to marry me like this?” she said softly to herself.

“Because he loves you and you are carrying his child,” interjected Minerva, who was beginning to lose patience with her best friend. “You look stunning. I only wish I could make you see that.”

Poppy turned around and looked at her best friend and maid of honour. She hadn’t realized she had company when she had been talking to her reflection. Poppy couldn’t help but feel slightly jealous as she saw Minerva standing before her wearing lilac dress fitted dress robes that clung to all the right places. Minerva had always had a figure that Poppy had dreamed of and now on her wedding day she was eight months pregnant while Minerva had a bride to be figure.

Minerva looked at her friend and knew exactly what she was thinking. Minerva had known deep down that they would run into this problem. She wanted to tell Poppy that she would give anything to be getting married when eight months pregnant but she didn’t. This was Poppy’s day and she needed to support her.

“Why don’t we make a start on your hair,” suggested Minerva who desperately wanted to uplift the tone of the bedroom. It felt more like they were preparing for a wake rather than a wedding.

“I would like to have it in loose ringlets and have daisies threaded through,” Poppy told her friend as she sat down in front of the dressing table and let Minerva create her dream hairstyle.

“What do you think?” questioned Minerva five minutes later.

“Perfect,” replied Poppy who was beginning to feel a lot better about her appearance now her hair was done. “I am sorry to be such a grump.”

“It’s understandable Poppy so I won’t hold it against you,” answered Minerva as she placed a white gold chain with a teardrop diamond around her friend’s neck. “This really finishes off the whole bridal look.”

Poppy raised her hand to the necklace and stared at the reflection in the mirror. It took a moment to realize where she had seen the necklace before. It had belonged to Minerva’s great grandmother and Minerva had planned to wear it to her own wedding.

“I can’t wear this Min,” gasped Poppy! “It’s yours.”

“You can wear it Poppy,” said Minerva softly. “Think of it as something borrowed and I will be deeply hurt if you don’t wear it.”

Poppy felt tears brim up in her pale blue eyes. She felt deeply touched that Minerva would let her wear such a prized piece of jewelry that she had reserved for her own wedding. Poppy had always admired the beautiful necklace and she had to agree with Minerva, it did finish the bride’s outfit.

“Thank you Min!” said Poppy as her tears leaked from her eyes all over again.

Minerva smiled and then added the finishing touches to her outfit. Poppy simply stared at her friend and wondered what she was thinking. Minerva hadn’t been herself for the last week and a half. She had been quiet and had slipped off to her rooms instead of chatting with Alastor and Poppy.

“Min,” asked Poppy softly “are you okay with Alastor asking Albus to be his best man again?”

“It is Alastor’s choice and they have been friends for decades,” answered Minerva as she looked up and caught her friends’ eyes. “Albus was always going to be his best man. It was only when we thought he was dead that other arrangements were made but now he is back and can fulfil his promise to you and Alastor.”

“You haven’t seen him since that night you went to see him?” asked Poppy. “You must be feeling something!”

“I asked him to give me space and that is what he is doing,” replied Minerva. “Today is about you and Alastor, not about Albus and me.”

“But he will be there and you have some duties together,” protested Poppy who couldn’t believe how cold Minerva was behaving.

“Poppy,” said Minerva as she moved across the room and took her friends hands “I can assure you that nothing is going to ruin your big day. We will speak when we need to and that’s that.”

Minerva let go of Poppy’s hands and made her way into the bathroom. She needed to be on her own for a few moments. She sat down on the edge of the bath and placed her head in her hands. She knew today was going to be so hard to get through because he would be there. She hadn’t seen him since she had asked him to give her space. He had done just that and part of her was upset that he hadn’t even tried getting in contact with her.

It was taking all the strength she had to stop her from running to him. She wanted to. She loved him more than anything in the world. He was her soul mate and the only man she had ever wanted to share her life with. She wanted to be his wife and have his children. Those had been the plans before he went away and left her. She knew that as soon as she saw Albus wearing his dress robes, she would lose all coherent thoughts and words. She would be reduced to a bumbling wreck of emotions and make a spectacle of herself. Despite her love for him, there was something holding her back from him. The hurt she had suffered was slowly slipping away and was being replaced with want and need. What she hated the most was that she was not in control anymore. She wanted him back.

“Minerva!” called Poppy through the door.

“I’m coming.” Minerva replied as she rose to her feet.

“Remember you said nothing will ruin my big day?” Poppy asked, her voice strained but calm.

“Yes,” replied Minerva as she opened the bathroom door.

“Well my water’s have broken!” announced Poppy clearly.

To be continued

[Karlynne]

Well the birth of a baby can't ruin your big day it only enhances it. I hope Albus and Minerva have the job of staying with the happy couple. Karlie

[tayryn]

what a time for Poppy's water to break!

i'm with Karlynne, in my hopes that Albus and Minerva will be hanging around to aid the parents to be!!

looking forward to the next chapter!

[ginger newts]

Oh, Minerva, go to him! Sheesh. Oh dear, having a baby during your wedding? That's a new one. Can't wait to see how the big day turns out, update soon.

[Jaya]

Actually it was the perfect spot to have her water break! I can't wait to see what happens next.... I have an idea... hope I'm right!!!!

Jaya

[DumbledoresKitten]

perfect timing!!

I have an idea of where this is going. . . and i can't wait to see if i'm right *grins*

with any luck Min and Albus will not only be the best man and maid of Honour but also godparents. hehe

update soon
cat

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter 12: Arriving Early

Minerva looked her friend in the eyes and saw that what she said was not a joke and that there would be no wedding today. Minerva swept out of the bathroom and rushed to her friends’ side, helping her over towards the comfortable couch. Poppy sat down gingerly and rubbed her protruding bump for comfort.

“I’ll contact Alastor!” said Minerva as she moved towards the fireplace.

“No!” yelped Poppy as she cringed when a contraction ripped through her stomach.

“Is something wrong?” asked Minerva, worry evident in her voice.

“It’s bad luck to see the bride and her dress before the ceremony,” answered Poppy.

Minerva stopped moving towards her friend and stood still with her hands on her hips. Had she heard right? Had Poppy really said what Minerva had just heard? Minerva had never known Poppy to be superstitious. In fact, they had often laughed at Sybil when she went all misty eyed at school.

“Poppy Anne Pomfrey,” said Minerva sternly “this is not the time to be worrying about Alastor seeing your dress! You are having your baby now.”

Poppy protested and told Minerva under no conditions was Alastor to see her while she was wearing her wedding dress. Minerva sighed in frustration before trying to convince Poppy to see sense.

“Don’t you want him to be here to support you?” asked Minerva.

“Of course I do,” snapped Poppy “but today is my wedding day!”

Minerva sat beside her best friend and reached for her hands. Poppy grabbed hold tightly and Minerva was sure she had heard her bones crack. Poppy leaned forward and breathed in deeply before breathing out slowly and closing her eyes.

“I don’t think there is going to be a wedding,” replied Minerva. “Right, we need to get you to St Mungo’s and welcome this little one into the world.”

“I am having a home birth,” declared Poppy as she got to feet and started to pace up and down slowly. “It’s all prepared downstairs.”

Minerva went pale. She hadn’t known that Poppy had decided on a home birth and now that she knew Minerva didn’t feel so good. Poppy looked at her friend and couldn’t help but smile at her friends’ worried expression.

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk you through it!” she assured.

Minerva’s head snapped up and looked directly at Poppy. Minerva was sure that the role of chief bridesmaid did not include delivering babies. Surely Poppy didn’t expect Minerva to oversee the labour and birth of her first child? That had to be madness. Minerva had never felt so out of control as she did right now. She had thought not knowing if Albus was alive or dead was bad but it didn’t compare to this.

“You’re not serious!” asked Minerva as she walked briskly after Poppy who was somehow managing to waddle down the stairs.

“Min,” replied Poppy calmly “all the charms are set up for an easy and safe delivery. All you have to do is be there for me.”

“Please let me contact Alastor!” pleaded Minerva.

“Fine,” she answered “but tell him that I can’t see him because I don’t want bad luck.”

Minerva helped Poppy into the room that had been set up for Poppy’s home birth. On seeing the room, it didn’t exactly fill Minerva was ease. Poppy settled down on a birthing stool and indicated for Minerva to contact Alastor using the floo network in the room they were in. Minerva shook her head as she threw some floo powder into the fire and called out Alastor’s name. The green flames roared and seconds later Minerva saw Albus Dumbledore’s head appear.

“Albus?” she questioned. She hadn’t expected to see his head dancing around in the flames.

“Minerva,” he answered with a bright smile that made her go weak at the knees, “Alastor is in the bathroom, a tad nervous about his forthcoming nuptials.”

Minerva had to quickly pull herself together. She couldn’t go losing herself in his eyes and smile when she had more pressing matters to attend to. A moan from Poppy made her pull herself together and relay the situation to Albus. Albus was as bemused as Minerva was when she told him that Poppy had become superstitious and was refusing to let Alastor see her on their wedding day.

“She wants me to help with the delivery,” Minerva whispered to Albus, hoping that Poppy wouldn’t hear her. “I can’t do that. I have no idea in the name of Merlin what to do.”

“Why don’t you contact someone from St Mungo’s? They can be with you in a matter of minutes!” suggested Albus.

“I do not want anyone from St Mungo’s” came Poppy’s voice from behind Minerva. “I may be in labour but I am not tone deaf!”

Minerva pulled a face that made Albus chuckle and Poppy shot them both a stern look. Albus said that he would inform Alastor of what was going and get back in contact with them both. After his head had flickered away from view, Minerva wished he would have stayed and helped her through this.

“Do you need anything?” asked Minerva.

“I need to change out of my dress,” complained Poppy “it’s ruined. This was not supposed to happen.”

Poppy clutched her stomach again and breathed in deeply. She had been timing her contractions using the grandfather clock in the corner and found that they were five minutes apart. She was controlling her breathing well and she felt calm. She only wished that Minerva would calm down because watching her dash around like a headless chicken could play havoc with her blood pressure. Poppy was about to tell Minerva to calm down when green flames roared in the fire and Alastor’s head appeared.

“Tell me she is joking,” he asked sounding rather ruffled. “I want to be with her!”

“Tell him I am not joking,” urged Poppy. “Tell I love him but he can’t be with me yet.”

“Tell her I am coming regardless,” said Alastor purposely. “I am not letting something Sybil rambled on about prevent me from being there.”

Minerva had never felt so relieved in her life. Alastor was coming and Poppy had to deal with it. She looked over at her friend and saw that she was sulking. She shook her head in disbelief. The whole situation she found herself in was surreal. It felt like she was having a dream and at any point she would wake up. Poppy asked Minerva to quickly help her out of her wedding dress and banish it to the upstairs bedroom. They worked rapidly and soon Poppy was in a loose fitting gown. Using a wand had made the changing of outfits so much easier and Poppy closed her eyes and worked through her contractions.

The door swung open and Alastor dashed in. He moved quickly for a man who was still getting used to his new leg. He dropped down beside Poppy and kissed her temple, whispering words of encouragement and comfort. Minerva suddenly felt like a spare part and she turned away to give them some privacy.

“I can manage from here now Min,” said Alastor. “I did a training course at the hospital so we could have a home birth. I’ll let you both know what’s going on as it goes on.”

Minerva nodded and wondered what he had meant by letting them both know. She soon found out what he meant as she walked out into the hallway and saw Albus leaning up against the banister. Minerva felt her breath catch in her throat as she saw him standing there in his wedding attire. He looked extremely dashing and all her feelings for him came flooding to the surface.

“Hello!” she said softly.

“Hello,” he answered back, equally as softly. “How is she?”

Minerva closed the door and walked over to him. She sat down on the small couch and rested her head in her hands. She was pleased not to be directly involved in what was going on in the room she just left. She wouldn’t have been able to cope if something had gone wrong and Poppy had hated her.

“Poppy,” answered Minerva “is calmer than I expected. I can’t you tell you how glad I am that Alastor is here.”

Albus sat beside her and tentively placed an arm around her shoulder. To his surprise and delight she leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder. He sighed happily. He had missed contact like this. He could smell that she still used the same shampoo and that she wore the perfume that he had introduced her to a few years ago. It had become her favourite and she always received a bottle for her birthday and Christmas along with her other presents.

They sat in silence for a long time, neither one feeling the need to speak. They were both waiting for news and the waiting was long. Hours tickled away without them really realizing. When they did speak, it was about Poppy, the wedding and a few times they had even strayed to topics that involved them. Minerva was surprised how comfortable the silences had been. It was almost like normal again and the feeling of being held in his arms again was wonderful. She now knew that she had to follow her heart. She had to give him a second chance. She wanted to give him another chance!

“Albus,” she said softly as she looked up at him “I am sorry for the way I have been. Could we try…..”

What she was about to say was cut off by the sound of the door opening and Alastor appearing with a bundle.

“It’s a boy!” he declared proudly!

To be continued

[Karlynne]

I am so happy Minerva decided to give Albus a second chance. Of course the baby would decide to come out once Minerva decided to speak with Albus about their problems. ;D Karlie

[TheGryffindorSeeker]

awwww...a baby and Albus and Minerva getting back together (hopefully*fingers crossed*)

Realyl enjoying this, cant wait for more

[Ginger Newts]

Gah, that baby has horrible timing! I'm so so glad she's decided to give Albus another chance and I hope they get to talk about it soon.

[Jaya]

Glad Min didn't have to assist with the birth (what did Sybil predict???). I'm also glad that she's of a mind to talk to Albus now... and maybe make a few babies with him!?!?!?!

Jaya