Challenge #13: Tabby's Troubles

[KayleeTonksLupin]

A/N: This kinda goes with my new Angst fic, in a way. Anyway...it's set when Minerva's in sixth year. Madam Arden belongs to Jestana, I believe.

Minerva McGonagall wandered the halls on the first day back from Christmas break, delaying the time when she'd have to see her Transfiguration professor. It's true, he was handsome, and many of the girls in Hogwarts kept their eyes on him whenever they saw him. For some reason that made Minerva uncomfortable. But that wasn't the reason she wanted to avoid him today.
Athair had found fault with her yesterday for some reason that she wasn't sure of. He never explained himself, he just informed her that she was in trouble.
So they had had one of his "disciplinary sessions" as he referred to them, and Minerva had come out of it bruised and bleeding, as usual. She was dazed today, and wasn't sure how much blood she'd lost. Minerva couldn't sleep at all last night, and was drowsy all through morning classes.
In Herbology, Sylvia Sprout eyed her friend curiously, and in Potions, Rolanda Hooch was doing the same. By the time she got to Transfiguration, the bandages her brother had put on her wounds were slipping, and her back was bleeding once again. Professor Dumbledore did not take long to notice his star student's condition.
"Miss McGonagall, you're bleeding severely," he said, standing next to her desk. She merely nodded, as if she didn't care, though her heart leapt at the sight of her auburn-haired Professor standing there, blue eyes full of concern.
"It's nothing, sir," she lied, but his gaze made her feel as though he could see straight through her. She turned away and he lay his hand on hers. A jolt shot up her spine at his light touch, and she turned back.
"You must go to the hospital wing, Miss McGonagall," he said. Minerva nodded again, numbly, and felt as if her insides had vanished. She allowed him to escort her to the hospital wing, and place her in Madam Arden's care.

[KayleeTonksLupin]

Madam Arden held a quiet conference with Professor Dumbledore after she had attended to Minerva's many wounds. She was concerned as to their possible origin, but whenever she questioned Minerva, she was not answered. Minerva stubbornly refused to tell her what went on at home.
"You're her Head of House, Professor Dumbledore," Madam Arden pointed out, "and she might listen if you asked her, she might tell you. Maybe you should watch her more closely, she's been wounded worse than I've seen in a while. Though I'm sure I can cure her, she'll need to stay here a couple of weeks, and she'll need Blood-Replenishing Potion, for sure." Professor Dumbledore nodded gravely, turning toward his raven-haired student. Somehow, Minerva, he vowed silently, somehow, there must be a way. And I will find it.
Professor Dumbledore suddenly realized he had referred to his student as "Minerva" in his thoughts, not "Miss McGonagall." He liked the sound of her name very much. "Minerva." It was music. But it was improper for him to address her as such...what if he forgot, and called her Minerva out loud? What if she hated him? After all, he had been giving her Animagus lessons, and their relationship was slightly closer than that of any other student was to him, but he might risk losing it if he dared call her Minerva.
He conjured a chair by Minerva...Miss McGonagall's bed, and sat down, keeping a watchful vigil as his student slept. She had been given a Dreamless Sleep potion, among others. This would give the wounds time to heal. She was beautiful as she slept, Albus thought. Like an angel. How he wished she knew his feelings...

[KayleeTonksLupin]

(A/N: Anything in double asterisks is a dream.)

**Minerva was walking alone through the corridors of her family mansion. It was nearly midnight, the night before she was to come back to Hogwarts and get ready for classes to begin again. She did not watch where she was going, and she walked straight into her father, standing in the shadows. He caught her by the wrist.
"Hello, Minerva, Daughter," he whispered. "What keeps you awake at this time of night?" Minerva stiffened. She knew by her father's tone that she was in trouble already, but she didn't know why. It might have something to do with being up late, but her Athair looked for any excuse to punish her.
"I could not sleep, Athair. I am sorry." she said. "I will go back to my room right now." Mr. McGonagall sneered. He shook his head. Minerva knew that meant he had decided to punish her already, no second chance. She followed him, resigned to her fate, and managed not to make a sound as she walked the corridors behind him.
Her father opened the door and they passed through the master bedroom, then through the secret panel into the bare room where the rod hung on the wall. Minerva slipped the warm cloak she had wrapped herself in from her shoulders, leaving only her tartan nightgown. She lay down on the hard cot, and as the birch rod whistled through the air again and again, she managed to hold in the screams that formed in her throat. She held out until her father was done, then, bleeding, she got up and slowly made her way to her sister Selene's room. Selene got their older brother Duncan, and the two bandaged Minerva's wounds the best they could.**

Minerva was tossing and turning in her sleep, and Albus Dumbledore laid his hand on her shoulder. "Miss McGonagall...wake up..." She jerked awake, her green eyes wide with fright, then relaxed when she realized where she was and who was there. It was comforting to know that Alb...Professor Dumbledore was there for her.
Did I really almost think of him as Albus? Minerva asked herself. She was stunned. Minerva looked up into her professor's face, green eyes meeting blue for a split second before Minerva found herself blushing.
"Miss McGonagall? You seem to be flushed...perhaps you're overheated. You may have a fever." Professor Dumbledore sounded genuinely concerned, Minerva thought.
"Maybe so, Professor. I'm not sure." Minerva just lay there, and Albus went to get Minerva's potions from Madam Arden, and coaxed her into taking them. He fixed some hot chocolate for her, and to Minerva's surprise and delight, there was a distinct mint flavor in it.
"How did you know, Professor?" she asked, smiling. "I have my ways, Miss McGonagall," was his cryptic answer. Personally, Minerva suspected her Hufflepuff friend, Sylvia Sprout.
Days and nights passed in much the same way; Professor Dumbledore's daytime and nighttime vigils, Minerva's nightmares, potions, hot chocolate, and more frequently, the strange feelings they both harbored when looking at each other. Professor Dumbledore finally decided what those feelings were. They had to be. He loved Minerva McGonagall. And, unless he was sorely mistaken, she loved him back. He saw signs of it here and there, so he hoped he was NOT mistaken.

[KayleeTonksLupin]

**Minerva patrolled the corridors of Hogwarts at midnight, her golden prefect badge flashing in the moonlight streaming through the windows. She was keeping as far away from the Transfiguration classroom as possible. After all, he was there. Professor Dumbledore. Professor Albus Dumbledore. Albus...Albus...**

Minerva awoke abruptly, moonlight shining on her face. It was the middle of the night, and Albus Dumbledore was curled up on a chair next to her bed in the hospital wing. She seemed to be much better now, and Minerva wondered whether it had anything to do with Albus...Professor Dumbledore...staying with her every day. She supposed it did. It was very likely, at any rate. Minerva listened to Professor Dumbledore, who was talking in his sleep. He was speaking Gaelic, a language that Minerva knew as well as English. One phrase caught her attention...she knew it translated roughly to "I love you." He said it again. "I love you, Tabby." Then she realized he'd stopped saying anything else, merely repeating the same words over and over again. She was in shock. He loved her? He did? Did she love him?
Minerva was fairly sure the feelings she'd begun to have were love, but didn't think it possible that her Professor would love her back. Yet here it was, in Gaelic no less. "I love you, Tabby," he had said. She was blushing furiously now. This was more than she had ever hoped for. Albus really did love her.
"Ta Gra Agam Ort, Albus..." she whispered. Then Albus' eyes sprang open. He turned to stare at Minerva. "Really? Do you mean it?" Minerva nodded. "With all my heart, Professor Dumbledore. Albus. I love you."
Albus was almost frightened, knowing that his student returned his feelings. Minerva commented dryly, "In fairy tales, Professor Dumbledore, this is the part where the kiss comes in." Albus chuckled. "Then, since you so wish, I will make your fairy tale complete." He closed the distance between them and kissed her gently.

[angeldust]

This goes really well with ur fic actually!!!! It's bril both fluffy n agnsty bril combernation

[TabbyForever]

Cool entry, evil man though!!!
Grrr thats really bad!!! People like that are evil!!!
Any way, well done, thanks for sharing!!
J

[Nerweniel]

Awww... cute & fluffy, though I really feel like *killing* Athair now . Still, absolutely love the ending, aw! Congrats!!!

Love,

Lies

[QuillofMinerva]

oh i HATE Athair and think twice about casting the killing curse on him

A nice though sad but fluffy response to the challenge

[ArabellaFiggs]

Great response, altough it was sad.
But the end was lovely.

Joop

[ginger newts]

I almost did a Minerva as a student fic for this challenge too. Nice job, but I hate her father so much!

[Dewey]

;D Yeah! **angry mob mode** Let's get 'em!

Good job; keep it up, Kaylee.

Your friend,
Kathy.

[griseldalafey]

Nice challenge response. Her father is really horrible, but I'm so glad you gave them a fluffy ending

[Jestana]

Good job! Yes, Madam Arden is mine, but you may use her. *grin* Bittersweet response and a very cute ending.

[KayleeTonksLupin]

Jestana said:

Good job! Yes, Madam Arden is mine, but you may use her. *grin* Bittersweet response and a very cute ending.

Thank you, my friend. Of course, *grin* I ought to have asked you first. I realized as soon as I finished posting. *headdesk*

Kaylee

[TheEmeraldRose]

Simply lovely, Kaylee! I loved that you used my favorite Gaelic phrase in there, too! ;D Made the story all the more interesting! *grin*

-<3-Lauren

[Catwoman99]

Good job, Kaylee! It was angsty, but the ending was nice and fluffy. I agree with everyone else that we should all kill her father!

- April :-)