Post by Hogwarts Duo on Jun 28, 2005 10:42:53 GMT -5
Healing By the Sea
Summary: Umbridge’s trial is over. Now all that’s left is to pick up the pieces and move forward.
Rating: Suitable for all ages
A/N: The idea for this story came to me while watching Ladies in Lavender. There is a scene where Ursula (Dench's character) is sitting alone on a rocky cliff and the young man (Andrea) sits with her, ultimately resting his head on her lap. He had hurt her feelings and was there to apologize and I couldn't help but think of Albus and Minerva in a similar setting and the idea sort of stuck. Hence, this story. Thanks to Lisa and Meredith for encouraging me to write this, even when I doubted myself. You girls are awesome!
It was a gray, dreary August day in London as a light mist settled over the city and its’ inhabitants. Puddles from the rain shower the night before lingered, giving the birds a new place to bathe and play in the morning light. Witches and wizards everywhere were buzzing about the Ministry building this morning for today was the long awaited day. Dolores Umbridge would be tried and hopefully justice would be served.
Minerva McGonagall, the main witness in the case, walked silently along with Albus Dumbledore. Neither of them had spoken much over breakfast but then no words between them had ever really been needed to capture the essence of emotions swirling about them. So, each ate in silence, lost deep in memories and the uneasiness of what the day might bring with it.
Albus could tell from the moment his eyes opened and he looked over at a sleeping Minerva that today was not going to be a pleasant one for either of them. Her slumber had been plagued with nightmares reminiscent of the first few days after her stunner attack. Albus had tried to console her and in some small measure he had been successful but the pain was still there. He could see it in her eyes. Those emerald eyes which always held so many emotions were dark and a bit frightened as he held her to him in the dead of night.
Now as they walked in stony silence towards the Ministry building, Albus took a risk and reached out to clasp her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. When she returned the gesture he smiled before darting into a dark corridor just off from their ultimate destination, tugging her with him. Drawing her into his arms he heard her release a deep breath as her body began to tremble. This was unlike the Minerva he knew and loved but at the same time, she was the very woman he had fallen in love with so many decades ago. It was merely the thoughts of reliving her most horrid nightmares that were giving her cause to shake and cling to him tightly.
“My dear, whatever happens in there, I will be right there with you. She can’t harm you any longer and justice will be served.” He lowered his head and placed a soft kiss to her lips before hugging her tightly once more.
“I know, Albus. But it doesn’t make it any easier to relive the not so distant past where she is concerned. She did things…horrible things…to the staff, to our children, to you and even to me.”
Albus had heard reports and stories of some of the things Umbridge had managed to do during her stay at the school. And none of them made him think any better of her or Cornelius Fudge who had allowed it all to happen with his blessings. Taking a long breath and holding it for a moment, he traced the outline of Minerva’s jaw and lips. “Once this day is over, we can put it all behind us and never have to worry about her again. I have been assured that this is merely a formality and that her sentence will be swift and just.”
Half a day later, the hearing was over. Dolores Umbridge had been given the harshest penalty of them all, a one way trip to Azkaban prison where she would spend the rest of her days for all of her dastardly deeds. It had taken the highest ranking wizards and witches mere minutes to condemn the woman to her fate and even rarer was that all of them were in agreement with the decision.
Fudge, too, was implicated in the entire affair and as such had been removed as the Minister of Magic. Several of Albus’ friends had made it very clear that due to his lack of judgment, others had been harmed, including the innocent children of Hogwarts and that was not something they could tolerate. Amidst the scandal, Cornelius had tried to plead complete innocence but it was Minerva’s testimony that had ultimately sealed his fate once she explained the scene in Albus’ office where the Headmaster had been forced to flee his beloved school.
Hoards of reporters had packed the hearing chambers and as soon as the announcements were officially read, Minerva had been swamped with questions from eager witches and wizards. Her every word had to be carefully guarded for she knew that it would most likely end up splashed across some newspaper or gossip sheet for the next week. Feeling the crowds beginning to close in on her and the overwhelming emotions of the day, she searched in vain for Albus. She needed him by her side to offer support and to whisk her away from the chaos. Unfortunately, he was mired in his own battle with overzealous people battling to have a word with him. So, in her haste and desire to flee, she changed into her animagus form and ran.
Minerva ran swiftly down the long corridors until she safely reached the apparition spot. Not giving a second thought to Albus or anyone else who might worry at her sudden disappearance, she fled to the one place she knew she could always find solitude and peace. It was the one place in the world she knew no one could find her except for the one she craved to see.
The waves breaking on the rocky shore blew up a spray which lightly landed on Minerva’s face. The salty water from the ocean mingled with her fresh wave of tears as each droplet slid down her face. The lone woman sat still, breathing in the fresh air and not caring that her hair was being blown about her shoulders and face. All she cared was that it was quiet and the only noise was that of the breaking waves of the ocean upon the rocks below. She knew, in time, Albus would find her but for now she was left alone with her thoughts and emotions.
Memory after memory dashed through her mind. All the lonely nights spent without Albus, worrying for his safety and that of the school he had left behind suddenly were at the forefront of her mind. Images of Harry Potter being forced to use the pain inducing quill in his detentions, leaving him with horrible scars until Madame Pomfrey had been notified and of course there was Sirius’ death. All of which conspired to make Minerva feel at such a loss and so helpless.
Her own attack had done nothing but add to her grief when she thought back over the school year. Rushing out to save Hagrid had indeed been a noble and worthy cause but the cowardice of her attackers made her realize just how careless her actions were when it came to friends and those close to her heart. Had Albus been there, he would never have allowed such foolish behavior from Umbridge but instead of thinking clearly as Albus would have done, she had rushed in head strong and suffered the consequences.
Summary: Umbridge’s trial is over. Now all that’s left is to pick up the pieces and move forward.
Rating: Suitable for all ages
A/N: The idea for this story came to me while watching Ladies in Lavender. There is a scene where Ursula (Dench's character) is sitting alone on a rocky cliff and the young man (Andrea) sits with her, ultimately resting his head on her lap. He had hurt her feelings and was there to apologize and I couldn't help but think of Albus and Minerva in a similar setting and the idea sort of stuck. Hence, this story. Thanks to Lisa and Meredith for encouraging me to write this, even when I doubted myself. You girls are awesome!
It was a gray, dreary August day in London as a light mist settled over the city and its’ inhabitants. Puddles from the rain shower the night before lingered, giving the birds a new place to bathe and play in the morning light. Witches and wizards everywhere were buzzing about the Ministry building this morning for today was the long awaited day. Dolores Umbridge would be tried and hopefully justice would be served.
Minerva McGonagall, the main witness in the case, walked silently along with Albus Dumbledore. Neither of them had spoken much over breakfast but then no words between them had ever really been needed to capture the essence of emotions swirling about them. So, each ate in silence, lost deep in memories and the uneasiness of what the day might bring with it.
Albus could tell from the moment his eyes opened and he looked over at a sleeping Minerva that today was not going to be a pleasant one for either of them. Her slumber had been plagued with nightmares reminiscent of the first few days after her stunner attack. Albus had tried to console her and in some small measure he had been successful but the pain was still there. He could see it in her eyes. Those emerald eyes which always held so many emotions were dark and a bit frightened as he held her to him in the dead of night.
Now as they walked in stony silence towards the Ministry building, Albus took a risk and reached out to clasp her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. When she returned the gesture he smiled before darting into a dark corridor just off from their ultimate destination, tugging her with him. Drawing her into his arms he heard her release a deep breath as her body began to tremble. This was unlike the Minerva he knew and loved but at the same time, she was the very woman he had fallen in love with so many decades ago. It was merely the thoughts of reliving her most horrid nightmares that were giving her cause to shake and cling to him tightly.
“My dear, whatever happens in there, I will be right there with you. She can’t harm you any longer and justice will be served.” He lowered his head and placed a soft kiss to her lips before hugging her tightly once more.
“I know, Albus. But it doesn’t make it any easier to relive the not so distant past where she is concerned. She did things…horrible things…to the staff, to our children, to you and even to me.”
Albus had heard reports and stories of some of the things Umbridge had managed to do during her stay at the school. And none of them made him think any better of her or Cornelius Fudge who had allowed it all to happen with his blessings. Taking a long breath and holding it for a moment, he traced the outline of Minerva’s jaw and lips. “Once this day is over, we can put it all behind us and never have to worry about her again. I have been assured that this is merely a formality and that her sentence will be swift and just.”
Half a day later, the hearing was over. Dolores Umbridge had been given the harshest penalty of them all, a one way trip to Azkaban prison where she would spend the rest of her days for all of her dastardly deeds. It had taken the highest ranking wizards and witches mere minutes to condemn the woman to her fate and even rarer was that all of them were in agreement with the decision.
Fudge, too, was implicated in the entire affair and as such had been removed as the Minister of Magic. Several of Albus’ friends had made it very clear that due to his lack of judgment, others had been harmed, including the innocent children of Hogwarts and that was not something they could tolerate. Amidst the scandal, Cornelius had tried to plead complete innocence but it was Minerva’s testimony that had ultimately sealed his fate once she explained the scene in Albus’ office where the Headmaster had been forced to flee his beloved school.
Hoards of reporters had packed the hearing chambers and as soon as the announcements were officially read, Minerva had been swamped with questions from eager witches and wizards. Her every word had to be carefully guarded for she knew that it would most likely end up splashed across some newspaper or gossip sheet for the next week. Feeling the crowds beginning to close in on her and the overwhelming emotions of the day, she searched in vain for Albus. She needed him by her side to offer support and to whisk her away from the chaos. Unfortunately, he was mired in his own battle with overzealous people battling to have a word with him. So, in her haste and desire to flee, she changed into her animagus form and ran.
Minerva ran swiftly down the long corridors until she safely reached the apparition spot. Not giving a second thought to Albus or anyone else who might worry at her sudden disappearance, she fled to the one place she knew she could always find solitude and peace. It was the one place in the world she knew no one could find her except for the one she craved to see.
The waves breaking on the rocky shore blew up a spray which lightly landed on Minerva’s face. The salty water from the ocean mingled with her fresh wave of tears as each droplet slid down her face. The lone woman sat still, breathing in the fresh air and not caring that her hair was being blown about her shoulders and face. All she cared was that it was quiet and the only noise was that of the breaking waves of the ocean upon the rocks below. She knew, in time, Albus would find her but for now she was left alone with her thoughts and emotions.
Memory after memory dashed through her mind. All the lonely nights spent without Albus, worrying for his safety and that of the school he had left behind suddenly were at the forefront of her mind. Images of Harry Potter being forced to use the pain inducing quill in his detentions, leaving him with horrible scars until Madame Pomfrey had been notified and of course there was Sirius’ death. All of which conspired to make Minerva feel at such a loss and so helpless.
Her own attack had done nothing but add to her grief when she thought back over the school year. Rushing out to save Hagrid had indeed been a noble and worthy cause but the cowardice of her attackers made her realize just how careless her actions were when it came to friends and those close to her heart. Had Albus been there, he would never have allowed such foolish behavior from Umbridge but instead of thinking clearly as Albus would have done, she had rushed in head strong and suffered the consequences.
