What happened?

[TartanPhoenix]

Disclaimer: I hate to say it, but they aren't mine. Nope, not at all. They belong to J.K. Rowling.

Rating: 14+ but it could change

AN: Hello everyone. Finals are OVER!!!!!!! I'm free, and this one's been biting at my ankles for a week, so here we go. It will probably be a slow post, just because I'm not quite sure where I want it to end up just yet, so if anyone has any ideas, let me know.

What Happened?

“That old goat!!” The portrait slammed shut behind Thomas Greenly as he stalked across the Gryffindor common room, flinging himself down in front of the fire. “I can’t believe it. Twenty points, twenty points! I wasn’t actually doing anything, and I lose twenty points for ‘not making productive use of my time’. I’m telling you, Dumbledore has finally lost it.”

“And you just lost another ten for speaking ill of the Headmaster,” said seventh year prefect Jonathan Duncan as he walked past.

“First years, it never changes! They open their mouths before they think, and talk about things they don’t understand,” he grumbled to his friends.

Thomas was still staring after him with his mouth hanging open, rage written plainly on his face. “Then perhaps you would care to explain it to me,” he ground out.
By this time the entire common room was silent. Thomas had unintentionally managed to ask the one question that every student in the room had asked themselves but never voiced aloud. Everyone saw the emptly seat that no professor would take, and the looks of worry the Headmaster recieved in the corridors as he moved silently by.

“Don’t be thick Greenly. I know you’ve heard the stories. You don’t think Dumbledore’s always been like this, do you? The eccentric, fun loving headmaster that ate more sweets than most his students. Didn't you ever bother to look around and wonder why?”

He moved farther into the crowded room, taking the chair directly across from Thomas, never noticing the circle of students that followed him. He leaned forward, the fire light illuminating his features, shadows obscuring everything but his eyes, which held an intensity that sent shivers though the young first year.

“It all began during my first year. Professor Travers wasn’t always the Transfiguration professor, if you can actually call him a professor. It used to be held by our head of house, Professor McGonagall. She was strict, but fair, with a serious pension for Quidditch. No one really knows what happened, but my best guess is that she’s at the heart of everything. It was the middle of March; one day she was in the castle teaching, the next morning she was gone. That, Greenly, is the day everything changed. That is the day that the man who was Albus Dumbledore died.”

[Catwoman99]

Hmmm, looks promising. Glad your finals are over because now you can write us some stories!

- April :-)

[snowcat]

Lucky you, My last is tomorrow.
The last line made me cry. It sounds so good and so sad and I am addicted already and this proves that the best stories come after finals. Personaly I have my room full of plotbunnies.
You must update. My sanity depends on it.
How I love this story already....

[Kamdra]

I am intrigued. I notice that you said she was missing so I hope it means she's alive and well somewhere. Kammie

[JKMcGonagall]

Well, I am hooked. What on earth happened to Minerva? Please continue the story quickly.

Kay

[QuillofMinerva]

What in the name of Merlin has happened to Minerva?
Looking forward to reading more of this story and glad that your finals are over and done with.

Clayre x x

[griseldalafey]

Yay for finals being over

This looks very promising, I can't wait to read more!

[Alesia]

Glad to hear finals are over. Hope you did well. Great start, now tell us where the heck Min is.

[snowcat]

Ah finals... mine are over too.

[TheGryffindorSeeker]

oh! interesting story, cant wait for the update

[TartanPhoenix]

Here's the next part guys. I just want to say a big thank you to Jestana. This story was actually a rabid bunny set loose by one of her responses to my boggart challenge. I'm just adding a bit of a twist to it. I promise it will begin to make more sense as the story moves along. Enjoy.

Chapter 2

Albus moved silently into their sitting room, his sitting room he amended, letting the portrait of the Scottish highlands swing shut behind him. In the ten steps it had taken him to cross the room, his hat, boots, and now black outer robes had fallen to the floor before he slumped onto the small love seat before the fire. It would have broken even the most jaded of hearts to watch the once great wizard reach for the now ever present bottle of firewhisky. He poured himself a glass, and knocked it back without a second thought and a grimace. He never had gotten used to the burn it created, but it was the one thing that allowed him to do what he craved most; to stop thinking.

A sigh escaped his lips as his head lulled to the right, coming to rest along the edge of the love seat. The next part of his nightly ritual gave cause for the first. His now dull blue eyes fell upon the one lone remnant of his former life. It was a photograph of their fifth wedding anniversary. It was a muggle photo, she had even fled from the many moving photographs that once littered the walls. She was smiling at him as he playfully kissed the back of her hand, and the look she had in her eyes still sent shivers down his spine. It was the look he had taken for granted as his, that was until it was gone.

He shook himself from that line of thought as a log in the hearth cracked, and on instinct his hand refilled his empty glass. Even after all these years he still didn’t understand what went wrong. One day he returned from another pointless meeting with Cornelius, and she had simply vanished with only a letter of resignation and that photograph in her wake. He spent every waking moment for the first month looking for her, calling in every favor owed him, but still he came up empty.

He did, however, at least have the peace of mind of knowing she was well. He had sent dozens of letters with Fawkes in an attempt to bring her back, but his familiar had apparently turned traitor. He would always return without his letters, but he always refused to take Albus to her.

In the six years since she had left him, Albus knew he was a changed man. He had aged more than should be possible, and the things that once brought laughter into his life now meant nothing. Just that morning he had taken twenty points from a student for no reason; the poor boy had been merely talking with another student.

He knew the other professors were worried about him, and that only made it worse. Speculation ran rampant though the staff room, but none of them knew. They only saw their once revered friend and colleague slip farther and farther from himself.

Both of them had always known about the rumors of their mutually denied love, and neither had done anything to discourage them. It had provided a perfect cover and several laughs over their occasional chess games. He continued to allow his staff to believe that it was unrequited love that plagued him, specially since even he couldn’t offer a better explanation.

Slowly he fell into a routine of work and quiet evenings alone. His presence at the ministry was sporadic, but even rarer were his appearances in the Great Hall for dinner. His entire day now revolved around this very moment; when he could drown his sorrows and fall into a world where none of it existed, and they were still happy.

He let his eyelids fall shut as his hand came up to rub his temple. His head had been pounding for almost a week now, and he had never felt so tired. He let the glass fall to the end table as he drifted off to sleep, his mind filling with the one day in his life he wanted most to forget.

[LadyJolly]

WOW ARE YOU GOING TO BRING MINERVA BACK!?!?!?!? That was really mean of Minvera. Why?!?! Oh dear now you have me completely hooked!! So please write more soon and post.
Poor Albus.

Lady Jolly

[Alesia]

WOW!! She left him with no explanation? Wrong just wrong, but something must be up if Fawkes has taken her side.

[Catwoman99]

:-O Poor, poor Albus. You did a wonderful job of describing his suffering. I just want to hug him. I hope you continue soon. Come back, Minerva!!!!

- April :-)

[QuillofMinerva]

*hugs Albus and rubs his back gently*

You have done a great job explaining Albus' feelings in this chapter. It must be terrible for him to be alone, not able to talk about it and be clueless why she left.

I want to know why she left? Did she leave because she was threatened or something else? Hope to read a update soon

Clayre x

[tayryn]

okay, i just found this one, and i shouldn't have read it! i do not like tearing up first thing in the morning... and that's what i've done here.

please hurry with more!

i want to know why she left, and more importantly, what will happen when Albus finds her (or she returns)!!

these were a great two chapters! but more! soon! please!!

[Jessabelle]

Omg please write more soon .. you have got me sooo interested already ..

[TartanPhoenix]

AN: Well, here's the next part. I promise it will start to pick up after this. I'm still trying to figure out just how I want it to progress. Enjoy.

SIx years prior

Minerva stretched leisurely before turning over and snuggling deeper into the rumpled sheets, trying to hold onto the rather vivid dream she had been having. The sun was just beginning to peek through the gap in the heavy burgundy drapes that covered the far wall of their chambers, announcing the beginning of another day, Monday to be precise.

Minerva groaned and buried her face deeper into the pillow, pulling the blankets closer around her. She may love her job, but ever since her school days she had hated Mondays with a passion, and the last thing she wanted to do was deal with inattentive children. There was just something about that first weekday that set her teeth on edge. Lazily, she stretched an arm out, expecting to land on a warm body, but instead she found cooled sheets and a discarded nightshirt.

“And it just keeps getting better,” she thought wryly as her hand slid upward toward the pillow. Her slender fingers wrapped around a piece of parchment, and for the first time that morning her eyes opened as the usually graceful woman flopped on her back.

Good morning love,

As you have probably guessed, Cornelius has owled me for another meeting this morning, and if you’re reading this, than I have yet to return. I regret that I couldn’t be there to welcome another glorious morning with you properly, but it would seem our dear Minister is determined not to have an original thought, and you are just to beautiful as you sleep to wake for a goodbye. Perhaps if I informed Cornelius of just what I have to leave he would be less inclined to call. I will return as soon as I can, but in the mean time, just try to avoid Severus until you have had at least your morning coffee. I would prefer not to have to spend my afternoon trying to transfigure him back like last week. Although, I will admit he did make a fine penguin. So, until I see you again, I am now and forever,
Yours,
A.

A smile flitted across Minerva’s face as she remembered Severus screeching as he waddled down the corridor. He knew better than to aggravate her before breakfast, and he still was having trouble staying away from the fish during meals, much to the rest of the staffs amusement.

The smile faded as she thought back to Albus. Despite the humor of his note, she knew the constant summons on his time from so many people bothered him. There had been more than one evening ruined because the Minister, or the Wizengamot had required his attention. He was a great man to be sure, the best she had ever known, but a man never the less, and it seemed that most of their world had forgotten that simple fact.

The small brass clock on the night table, a gift from her parents for Albus’ last birthday, told her she still had an hour before she needed to be up, so, pulling the stray nightshirt close, she inhaled that unique mix of lemon and spice that was her husband and drifted back to sleep, the man she adored filling her dreams. It would only be a few short hours before she truly had a reason to hate Mondays.

[Alesia]

Interesting, I am assuming that was of course some sort of flashback, but even him being overworked doesn't explain why she would leave him without an explanation. Please update soon.

[TartanPhoenix]

Sorry for the confusion; I forgot to put the header up. I've fixed it though.

[JKMcGonagall]

I'm a teacher too. So, I understand her feelings about Monday mornings. You have intriqued me. I can't imagine what is going to happen that will make her truly hate Mondays. Update soon, Please!!!

Severus as a penguin. I laughed til I cried, it was just so funny. And he still can't stay away from the fish at meals. Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

Kay

[clayre]

I think most ppl hate Monday's!

I liked the thought of Severus being a penguin! *Imagines him waddling down the corridor*

I am looking forward to reading more of this and finding out what went wrong!

[Jessabelle]

Intersting post .. Please don't wait so long to update again.

[Mellypoo622]

Great chapter! Can't wait to see where this is going!

[Aurinko]

Interesting, very sad premise that just makes me want to know MORE! Please update soon.

[foci]

I'm starting to catch up with my reading. Great story, I'm looking much forward to an update. I love suspense.

[TheGryffindorSeeker]

loving it, can't wait for the update keep it coming

[TartanPhoenix]

AN: Alright this is it until the mystery is revealed, but I'm sure most of you will have it figured out by the middle of the chapter. I'm so transparent it's sad. Enjoy.

Hogwarts had always been confusing, even for those who spent their lives within it, but for most first year students navigating its vast corridors was nothing short of a nightmare. This was again the case as Jonathan Duncan made a wrong turn on his way to Transfiguration that morning, ending up in the abandoned classroom next door. It was well known that the first class on Monday’s was not one to be late for. With his eyes wide at the thought of having to face the stern professor and explain his tardiness, Jonathan slipped through the door and turned to shut it quietly behind him.

Taking a deep breath, hoping he looked braver than he felt, he turned around. His heart stopped and a silent scream came from his parted lips as he came face to face with the largest rat he could imagine. The beast could have rivaled a house cat in size, and it sat atop an empty cabinet, his jaws opening and snapping shut as its beady eyes stared down at him. As the light from the walls torches danced off the creatures fangs Jonathan found his voice, and his screams echoed off the walls as he ran though the door and back to his dormitory. Of course he never saw the rat shift into something indefinable and find its way back into the open desk drawer a few feet away. He never knew that the not so simple rat would be the cause of so much misery.

Everything had been going so well. Minerva had managed to have two full cups of coffee before Severus even appeared for breakfast that morning, and her forth year students were actually progressing ahead of her expectations, so she had been kind enough to let them out of homework for the day. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been so popular. She should have known better than to think it would last.

It was only five minutes into her final class before lunch. She had managed to put the sixth year Gryffindors with Hufflepuffs this year, so the number of spontaneous duels had decreased, and the quality of their work also seemed to improve. Minerva looked around the room once more, watching the students diligently copy down the notes from the board before making her way back to the desk in the front of the room. She smiled, running her fingers lightly across the top. It was the same desk Albus had used when he was her professor. She remembered the cause for every nick and ding in the deep cherry wood, and she wouldn’t change a thing, even if she could. Her fingers came to rest against a faded scorch mark along the edge and she couldn’t help the small giggle the memory brought up, even if it did earn her a few stray looks. It had been their first kiss.

flashback
She had returned to the school five years after graduation to finish work for her Transfiguration mistress title, and Albus had been gracious enough to offer himself as a mentor. She had always been his favorite student, and it didn’t take long for them to fall back into their habit of easy chatter and playful barbs. It took even less time, within the span of their first breaths, for the undeniable fire to engulf them again. It had been hard to ignore the butterflies and tension in those last months of her schooling, but nothing could have come of it then, and each assumed nothing ever would. Minerva had never been so happy to be wrong.

He had been correcting essays on that very desk one evening and had again missed dinner. Knowing how wrapped up he could become, Minerva grabbed a candle and a plate of turkey sandwiches and headed for the classroom. “Albus, you need to eat,” she chided gently when she found him. He looked up from his stack of papers and smiled, a small smear of red ink on the tip of his nose.

“I suppose so my dear, but only if you agree to join me.” She perched herself on the edge of his desk and pushed the plate in his direction. “I suppose that could be arranged.”

They talked about everything but work; it ws never hard for them to find a topic and their debates were already becoming things of legend among the staff. They had just moved onto MacBeth when the classroom door burst open and a tidal wave flew at them accompanied by a very distinctive cackle.

Reacting completely on instinct Albus had wrapped himself around Minerva, trying to protect her against the onslaught. Dripping wet, Albus looked more like a wet cat than a great wizard. “I really must speak to the Bloody Baron in the morning,” he muttered. It wasn’t until Minerva’s breath hitched that he looked down and felt his heartbeat double.

Their faces were scant centimeters apart. He could feel her warm breath along his neck, and he was very much aware of everyplace that their bodies touched. They never could agree on just who made the first move, but in the end, does it really matter. Their lips met in a ferocious kiss that stoked the always present fire whenever they were together.

They became so wrapped up in the feeling of the other that neither noticed when the still lit candle tipped over, catching the essays on fire. They jumped apart as a flame licked Minerva’s back, and by the time the flames had been extinguished, they were both doubled over with laughter and his essays beyond repair.

Minerva was rudely brought back to the present when, again, the door burst open. Instead of water this time, however, a dozen dung bombs flew through the air and landed square in the middle of the class. Before she even had a chance to react, the students were stampeding for the nearest exit and she was forced to follow them out into the corridor.

Slamming the door behind her, even the gagging students backed away at the look of sheer murder on her face. “PEEVES! I swear you had better hope I don’t run into the Bloody Baron. Of the all irresponsible, ridiculous,..” she would have gone on, but the poltergeist simply stuck out his tongue and dropped through the floor.

She turned back to her students, all of whom were looking at her as if she had grown not only a second head but horns as well. “Class dismissed; I want a foot essay on the precautions taken during human transformations. Pay special attention to the cases presented in your text.” With that last word the students scattered to the four winds, and Minerva was left standing alone in the corridor.

She knew it would take Argus all day to clear out her room, and she still had one more class after lunch. Luckily, there was a spare room next door that was used for storage now. It would take some quick work, but although she couldn’t remember a time the room had ever been used, it would have to do. Pulling out her wand, and expecting to work through lunch, Minerva pushed open the creaking door and came face to face with none other than Albus Dumbledore.

AN: I just wanted to say thanks to everyone that has reviewed. Your comments have been great.

[Lady Lavendar]

Hope you update soon!! This is really getting interesting!!

Courtney

[Kegan]

I feel like a dunce. I can't figure it out yet. I'll look forward to the next chapter.