The Parent Trap Continued

[Jaya]

Wonderful new chapter!

Is there going to be a swimming pool?

Jaya ;D

[ginger newts]

Oops, I missed a chapter at some point. The update before this one made me almost cry, I hope they start working things out soon. Update again soon and I'll just sit here and hope for a quick resolution.

[fatedromance]

great story! i've been reading it on fanfiction.net before now and have been absolutly loving it!

[QuillofMinerva]

The Parent Trap

A/n: We both want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you that have been taking the time to read and review this story. We are over the moon that you are still enjoying it.

Chapter Fourteen: It’s Time To Confess By Ang:

Dear Sis

We are in serious trouble if we don’t do something and fast. Remember I told you about the professor here, Nicholette Cline, that wanted Papa to go out with her? Well, she’s finally done it! She’s tricked him into agreeing to go out with her this Friday. He thinks that this outing is going to be a group of professors but instead it’s just going to be her and I don’t doubt that she’s got a few more tricks up her sleeve! I overheard her talking to another professor and believe me her intentions are less than honourable. I wouldn’t be surprised if she planned to have the Daily Prophet reporters there to make a scene for the front page of the newspaper.

As much as I’ve enjoyed spending time with Papa, I really believe that if we don’t confess now, it may seriously hurt our chances of getting Mum and Papa back together. If we can convince Mum to come here to Hogwarts or Papa to visit her at the estate to switch us back then maybe we can brainstorm and come up with an idea to keep them together. I really think it’s our only hope. If Mum finds out that he’s dated even once, she may think he’s completely over her and then we’ll have a right mess with really no way around it.

I hate to cut our time short but I really think it’s the only way. Please send Eros back as soon as possible with your answer. If you agree, then I’ll tell Papa and you can tell Mum tonight.

Love,
Me

Evie looked at the note once more and read it through carefully just to make sure she had understood it correctly. She had always suspected the Charms Professor wanted to date their father but she never believed the woman would stoop to trickery to get her wishes. And now that the girls had discovered each other and learned just how much each parent still loved the other, there was no way on earth they could afford to let her get her claws into their dear Papa. Taking out a spare bit of parchment, she quickly wrote a note agreeing to Abigail’s plan and after giving Eros a handful of treats and a kiss to the head, she sent the owl on his way, hoping that everything would work out as they had planned. Now all she had to do was find a way to confess to their mother.

Minerva was downstairs in her private study reading when her daughter came in and interrupted her concentration. She watched as her little girl walked slowly over to her and without any warning, threw herself onto her mother’s lap. Wrapping her arms around her mother and hugging her tightly, Evie began to cry silent tears. Minerva immediately discarded the book on the floor and drew her daughter into her arms, holding her as close as humanly possible and whispering soothing words into the little girls’ ear.

Evie felt a fear like none she had ever known grip her heart. She knew that her father still adored their mother. Abigail had discovered as much and confirmed her every suspicion. And in talking with her mother, she could tell that her feelings for him had remained unchanged all these years. But now that they were standing on the threshold of confession, she wasn’t so sure of anything anymore.

While their mother had been loving and attentive, there was still the chance she would grow incredibly angry with both of her daughters and Albus. What if her mother blamed her for the switch and demanded Abigail back? Would she also send Evie back to Albus without even a second thought? And what would her father say when he learned of their deception? He was definitely not one to anger. But the larger question was what would happen once the two adults met face to face?

Unfortunately the time for weighing her options and thinking of the best way to handle this situation was over. She knew that Abigail was worried enough to risk their exposure by sending Eros so things had to be serious. Thus, she was sitting in her mother’s lap, sobbing for the past, the present and the future because it lay in the hands of herself and her sister.

“Abbie, my sweet, what’s the matter? What’s upset you so my petal?” Minerva asked softly as she lifted her daughter’s chin to look into her eyes. For a split instant, Minerva felt as if she was looking directly into Albus’ blue eyes and feeling every ounce of pain he had ever experienced both before and after her departure from their home.

“Oh Mum! I love you so much and I don’t ever want to be away from you again,” Evie began.

“Well, I’m afraid that isn’t entirely possible. You’ll start Hogwarts but I promise to owl you every week and you’re welcome to come home when the schedule permits. And I can always come and visit you, if you’d like.”

“But I’m not talking about Hogwarts. I’ve got something to tell you and I’m afraid that you’ll leave me, just like you left Papa when I tell you.” Evie realized that perhaps that was not the best way to start her conversation but the words tumbled from her lips long before her brain had a chance to process the thought. Judging from her mother’s shocked expression, though, it has certainly struck a painful chord in her heart.

“Abigail McGonagall, you know that I would never leave you. No matter what has happened, you can always tell me. Besides, I’m positive there’s nothing you could ever do to make me stop loving you.” Minerva kissed her daughter on both cheeks and then hugged her tighter than before. “Now, take a deep breath and start from the beginning. I’m sure whatever you have to tell me isn’t so bad and we’ll have a grand laugh about it after you’re done.”

Evie looked into the emerald eyes she had grown to love so much. Steeling her nerves and then cupping her mum’s cheeks in her hands, she began to tell a fascinating tale. “Mum, when you look at me what do you see?”

“I see my beautiful daughter. I see the one person who has brought joy into my life and has filled my every waking moment with love. I also see the future.”

“Do you see my father in me at all?”

“Of course I do. Sweetheart, you were conceived in love and while he’s been absent from your life, I’m sure he loves you just as much as I do. Maybe even more because he’s missed out on so much of your growing up so far. I see his eyes and as I told you before, you have a lot of his mannerisms and characteristics that remind me so much of him. But why all the questions?” Minerva was growing nervous with each passing moment. She had planned to tell Abigail about her sister before school started but not today…not this soon.

“And you see my sister as well, don’t you?” Evie asked softly.

At first, Minerva was stunned. How in the world could her daughter have learned about the most carefully guarded secret in the entire wizarding world? “What? What are you talking about?” Minerva finally managed to force from her lips. Her eyes blinked furiously as she tried to get a better look at the little girl seated on her lap.

“Mum, I’m Evie. I’ve been here with you since you took Abigail into Diagon Alley for her school supplies.” Evie paused to let her words sink in but she cautiously watched her mothers’ reaction to the news. “We switched at Madame Malkin’s when we ran into each other.”

“You…you’re my Evelyn? You’re my other darling girl?” Minerva cupped Evie’s face in her hands and studied her features carefully, not truly believing what she was hearing. “I can’t believe it! I’ve been living with you all this time and while I noticed a few things were different, I never would have guessed that you were not Abigail.” Minerva could not fight the steady stream of tears that were flowing down her face, nor did she really wish to try.

“Abigail and I met when we were being fitted for robes. Uncle Abe brought me to get my things because Papa was busy with Hogwarts business. Abe left me at Madame Malkin’s and just as I was about finished, I turned around and saw the girl I now know as my twin. Madame Malkin took us up to her office and that’s where we hatched our plan.”

The whole time Evie was talking, Minerva was inspecting her daughter, from the length of her hair to the shape of her fingers, the high cheekbones, down to the long legs. She had been utterly fooled by the girls’ switch and yet instead of being angry or upset, all she could feel was an overwhelming sense of relief and happiness.

“So that’s why you’ve been asking me all those questions about your father and me. I suppose you have hundreds more so I think we need to sit down and have a true heart to heart discussion about everything.”

“I’d like that but I have one question to ask before we start talking about you and Papa. Do you love me like you love Abigail?” Evie nervously waited for her mother’s response, hoping she’d hear those three words she’d longed to hear for so many years.

“Oh my baby, of course I love you! There hasn’t been a day gone by that I didn’t think of holding you in my arms and telling you that myself. I want you to understand that I never loved you less than Abigail. In fact, I may have loved you more because you were always so far away. While Abigail was here with me, I knew that the other two-thirds of my heart was still at Hogwarts, with you and your father.” A fresh wave of tears fell from both sets of eyes, blue and green, as they hugged.

Evie finally felt at home with her Mum. While she had heard the “I love you’s” from her mother’s lips too many times to count, this time was like the first because they were directed at her and the girl she was perceived to be.

It was Minerva who pulled back from the embrace and looked at Evie. “I still can’t believe it’s you,” she said with a smile. “Do you still have that birthmark on your left shoulder? It was the shape of a perfect apple. Abigail has one in the same shape on her right shoulder and your father used to kid me about marking each of my children with love.” Minerva laughed at the memory. “He used to tell me that you girls were the apples of our eyes and I suppose he was right.”

“Yes I do,” she said as she wiggled around inside her clothes so she could prove to her mother that she still had the apple mark. “See, it’s there just like you remember.”

Minerva reached a shaking hand to trace the small design on her daughter’s shoulder and then hugged her once more. “Oh my sweet, beautiful Evelyn, how I’ve missed you so much! And I have just as many questions for you as you probably do for me.”

Hours later, Evie had most of her questions about her parents’ relationship answered. She had learned the heartbreak her mother had felt after leaving their home and how she cried for days when Albus hadn’t searched for her. Minerva told her of the numerous plots to come and take her away, knowing that it would only cause Albus more pain when he learned that his daughter was gone from his life. She told her how she had secretly celebrated her birthday each year after Abigail went to bed and how she searched the newspapers every day for some information about Albus and his daughter.

“So I guess the question is whether or not you still love Papa,” Evie asked boldly.

Minerva paused for a moment and then closed her eyes as her mind flooded with too many images of Albus to even count. “Yes, I do. I have never stopped loving him nor do I think I ever will. He was the only man I have every truly loved and when we married, I thought we’d live happily ever after. But as you can tell, life doesn’t always grant us the fairy tale ending we so desperately crave.”

“And what if I told you that he still loves you too?” Minerva shook her head as if to stop Evie from telling her any more but the little girl continued. “He would never let me have a cat because it reminded him of you. He used to say I had so many of your traits and I think some days it hurt him to even see me in his rooms. The most telling sign of all, though, is that he’s never had a single date or even had a woman in his private sitting room since you went away. It’s always been just the two of us and Uncle Abe.”

“Darling, while that may all be true, that does not mean that he loves me still. That might just mean that he’s realized what’s most important in his life…his work. That’s what drove us apart in the first place and I daresay that he doesn’t wish to be burdened down with a wife. Besides, I’m sure if he had really wished to make amends with me and try to rebuild our marriage, he would have already contacted me somehow, if only to see how Abigail was doing.”

“But that’s just it! I know for a fact that he was trying to give you space in the hopes of you coming back to him. And then when you didn’t, he felt it was too late and that you were never coming home. That’s why he didn’t contact you and Abigail.”

“And just how do you know all of this? I’m sure he didn’t tell you himself.”

“No, Uncle Abe told Abigail and she told me in a letter I got from her the other day. We’ve been owling each other and explaining what we each had learned from the both of you.”

“Does Albus know about your little switch?” Minerva suddenly realized that sooner or later she’d have to come face to face with the man who still owned her heart. She wasn’t sure what he might think of her or even if he’d be willing to meet and discuss their new situation but it was something that must be confronted in the very near future.

“I’m not sure if he does now but Abigail was supposed to tell him tonight. We decided that we couldn’t want any longer.”

“And why is that?” Minerva asked with raised eyebrows. She sensed that this was not the way the girls had wanted to handle their confessions so there must have been some motive behind their deeds.

“The Charms professor at Hogwarts has decided that Papa needs to move on with his life and she’s planned a trick to get him into go out with her. But Papa thinks that a group of colleagues are going out on Friday. Professor Cline is not a very nice woman and Abigail overheard her talking about making our Papa forget all about you one way or another, which means she’s up to no good.”

“Leave it to Abigail to overhear something like that. Your sister has always been able to hear things she shouldn’t!” Minerva answered with a smile and a tap on Evie’s nose. “But I don’t understand what all this has to do with me. Your father is a grown man and can go out with whomever he chooses. I’m in no position to stop him.”

“But if you still love each other, then why not at least tell him and let him decide? Mum, he still worships you, and even though he doesn’t say it, I can see it in his eyes every time he looks at me. I’m a constant reminder of you and the love you two shared. Don’t you see? He feels the same way about you that you do him. All you two need to do is sit down and talk things through. If not for your sakes, then think of Abigail and me.”

Minerva was at a loss for words. Her bright daughter was making some very valid points and yet her heart wasn’t sure it could withstand having to say goodbye to him again. As she looked at Evie and thought of all the years she’d lost because of the stubbornness of herself and Albus, something within her changed. For once, she was going to think of the happy moments between them and the love that had conceived their children. For once, she was going to risk being hurt again by the only man who could bring her to her knees with a few simple words. “Alright, Evie. What do we do now?”

To Be Continued…

[Krystal]

A great update to read when sleep evades me. Well Minerva is just going to have to suck it up and do what's best for us. :-)

[Lady Jolly so tired]

Alright GO MINERVA AND GO EvIE yay can't wait til more to come

Lady Jolly

[Alesia]

Whoooo hooo, we are on a roll now. I wonder how Abigail's conversation with Albus is going???

[Herzele]

Yay !! Another wonderful update !!! I just love this story and what you've changed it into ...
Hopefully Abigail's conversation with Albus led to the same results ...

[tanja]

Tell us what they´ll do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kimberly]

Great update. I am so glad Minerva knows now and I hope the first meeting goes well. Kim

[Lady Lavendar]

Wonderful updates ladies!! I knew I had missed some! Well I hope to see another update soon!

LL

[Karmin]

Okay I'm caught up now and I must say I can't wait until Minerva and Albus meet up with each other. Karmin

[Kegan]

This is a very good story and makes me want to watch the movie again.

[ginger newts]

Great update, ladies. Can't wait to see what happens when Minerva gets to Hogwarts! Update soon.

[Dewey]

Yay! Great update. I'm looking forward to the next. -Kathy

[mugglemin]

I don't want to HASSLE you or anthing...PLEASE can you update a bit faster? Don't rush the story, it's going so well, but consider the sanity of a fellow ficcer...I'm just DYING to know what's going to happen!

[Jessabelle]

omg omg omg .. please update soon .. very soon ..

[JKMcGonagall]

Really great update. This story is really getting going. Ok, Minerva knows about the swap now, I assume we get to see Abbie tell Albus next, or do Min and Evie just show up. I can't remember how the original story goes.
They have just got to get Albus out of the clutches of that coniving female, Nicolette.

Update soon please.

Kay

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter Fifteen: Stalling for time by Clayre

Abigail had received word from her sister that their mother knew of the switch and was going to come to Hogwarts. Evie had written in her letter that she could expect them at lunchtime on Friday. It was now four o’clock that Friday afternoon and there had been so sign of Evie or their mother. Abigail was feeling uncomfortable. It was getting closer and closer to the hour that her father was going to meet up with that woman and Abigail couldn’t do much about it.

She had complained of stomach cramps during the morning and her father had sent for the school medi-witch to check her over and the nurse had found nothing wrong with her. She had also informed her Uncle Aberforth what was going on but he had been unable to help. He told her that her father was a grown man and able to handle the situation easily. Abigail hadn’t mentioned about Evie returning and bringing their mother with her.

Abigail glanced at the large, ornate grandfather clock that stood in the far left corner of the room and shifted uncomfortably. Time was ticking away and Abigail felt useless. She didn’t want to blurt out that she was actually Abigail and that they were soon to all be reunited again. She hadn’t told her father who she was yet. She couldn’t find the words to speak to him about it. He had also been rushed off his feet with one thing after the other all day. Armando Dippet had been called away to a meeting and her father had been left in charge. Once again, he had been taken away from her by his work and Abigail was beginning to understand how her mother felt so many years ago.

The days she had spent with her father had been wonderful, full of laughter and eating sweets together while talking about a range of different subjects. He hadn’t been with her all the time because his work had taken over and Abigail had been left to her own devices. She spent most of the free time thinking. Her thoughts wandered to her mother and father’s relationship. To her they seemed the perfect couple. She had seen a picture of them together beside her father’s bed and had stared at it for hours. (If he had the picture there, Evie would have recognized Minerva in her locket that Aberforth had given her. Maybe Abigail went snooping in a special drawer that she managed to unlock with an advanced charm or something and found the photo…just a suggestion.) They seemed truly happy.

For a while, Abigail had blamed her mother for parting the family. She wasn’t proud of doing that but she couldn’t help her feelings. Her emotions were on overload and her mother seemed the best person to blame. Aberforth had laid most of the blame at her father’s door, which had surprised Abigail. She would have thought he would have been on his brother’s side. The more time her father was away, Abigail realized what her mother must have felt. She resented her father for having the job he had. He was a great professor but she wanted him to be a dad. She was so used to being the center of her mother’s world that living with her father had been a shock. Abigail knew that her father’s love for her was strong and that she was the apple of his eye, well Evie was. She couldn’t blame him for working hard. It was something he had to do but she wished he didn’t. Abigail wondered why he hadn’t searched for them once he knew they had gone. She had heard his excuses but she couldn’t help but think they were pitiful. She supposed he found it harder each day to get up the courage to find them but she wished he had tried though. She knew of the letters he wrote her and where they were all hidden. Perhaps when her parents got back together they could all read them.

“Sweetpea,” came the sound of her father’s voice “are you here?”

Albus Dumbledore walked in and smiled at his daughter. She was looking more like her mother each day now and it pulled at his heartstrings. He, once again, felt bad for working while he should be spending time with her before she started her school life.

“Hello Papa,” Abigail replied as she sprung from the chair she was sitting in and launched herself into his arms.

“Oh, what a welcome,” he chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead. “How’s the stomach?”

“Oh,” said Abigail pulling back slightly “it’s a little better.”

“Would you like me to cancel tonight?” he asked her.

Abigail thought for a moment. She was unsure what to say. It would be perfect if he stayed but she also wanted the woman who was trying to trick her father to be caught in her devious plan of deceiving Albus.

“Would you mind?” she questioned.

“Evie,” answered Albus “you are my main concern. Dinners can be rearranged, unlike you.”

Albus chuckled and stared down at his daughter. She had definitely changed over the last few days and to him she seemed like a totally new person. It was decided that Albus would cancel the drinks and dinner with the staff and stay with his daughter. They were going to play a selection of muggle games that had been given to Albus for Christmas last year and have their own little feast up in their rooms.

While her father was finding the games, Abigail glanced at the clock again and worried. Where were they? Had something gone wrong? Had there been an accident? She hadn’t heard a word from her sister since the note she received that morning saying that they would be all together for lunch. But that had been five hours ago now.

“A knut for your thoughts?” asked Albus as he walked over and placed the games down on the table.

Abigail looked at the pile and smiled. There was Snakes and Ladders, Connect 4, Scrabble and Monopoly. She had played all of these before with her mother and had always enjoyed them.

“My thoughts aren’t worth that much!” she replied with a smile.

“Well if you want to share,” he continued, “then I am all ears.”

Abigail smiled and nodded her head before leaning forward and began to unpack Snakes and Ladders. They both got into the game with Abigail ahead when there was a knock on the door and Abigail’s heart started to beat faster. They were finally here. Albus rose from his chair and walked over to the door. He opened it and greeted the visitor politely.

“Nicholette,” he said with a smile “what can we do for you?”

“Can I come in Albus?” she asked even though she had already walked into the room and was scanning it as if she was looking for something or someone. “Evie dear, how are you feeling?”

“Fine thank you,” answered Abigail through gritted teeth. She didn’t like it that Nicholette had appeared unannounced.

“Good,” replied the Charms professor “you won’t mind if I steal your father for an hour then.”

“Nicholette,” interrupted Albus “I am staying in with Evie tonight. She hasn’t been too well today and I would like to keep an eye on her. I am sure we can arrange another night. I have responsibilities here.”

Nicholette didn’t take his words too seriously. She had spent most of the day making herself beautiful for her date with Albus Dumbledore and she wasn’t going to give up so easily. All she needed to do was get past the daughter and then Albus Dumbledore would be like putty in her hands.

“Albus,” she said sweetly “I really think you need this night out. Evie looks well enough to spend some time with someone else but you. You need some adult company.”

“Maybe tomorrow night,” answered Albus. “Tonight I have my daughter to keep company.”

“May I speak freely?” asked Nicholette who was watching Abigail closely.

“You may,” answered Albus who was rather confused by the whole situation. Why was his presence needed so badly at a staff get together?

“I think she is putting it on,” declared Nicholette. “She doesn’t want to share you with anyone else. She isn’t putting your happiness first, just her own selfishness.”

“Professor,” snapped Albus, slipping into his professional mode. “Evie is only eleven years old, a child. I will not have you speak to or about her like this!”

Abigail had risen from her chair and had gone to stand beside her father, glaring at the witch before her. Abigail might be pretending about her cramps but she was willing to share her father but only with her sister and mother. Albus had placed a protective arm around his daughter. He had been completely taken back by Nicholette’s outburst.

“Children can be spiteful,” argued Nicholette. “She has you wrapped around her little finger!”

“She is my daughter and I am bound to choose her over some staff drinks this evening,” replied Albus. “Now I think you ought to be going.”

Abigail tried not to smirk at the look on Nicholette’s face. She looked down at her feet so she could stifle a giggle. Nicholette was about the turn on her heel and storm out when there was a gentle tapping on the door and a girl with black hair and blue eyes peered around it mischievously.

To be continued.

[Claire]

:)Please, post the next update really soon. Can't wait to read the next chapter to see Albus' reaction at finding his wife on the other side of the door. Pleeeeease
Claire

[mugglemin]

AGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! MUST have next chapter soon or I shall pull all of my hair out!!! I am so gripped!

[Herzele]

That was just wonderful !!!! Please update soon !! I can't wait to see what happens next ...

[JKMcGonagall]

I really think you like to torture us. Evil place to quit. I can just imagine all of their faces. Albus's eyes will be wide with disbelief, Nicholette will be shocked because there are two of them, and Abbie will be triumphant and joyful. Great story. Keep it coming.

Kay

[Alesia]

Oh, what an evil place to stop, I could have handled Albus telling off Nicholette and have it end but to have Evie show up right at the last minute was just evil evil evil. If Nicholette thinks one daughter is a stumbling block wait til she finds out there are two!! Let alone what Minerva will do to her. (he he he he he) Can't wait until the next update.

[tayryn]

oh geeeez!!!

i just caught up on the last three updates... (sharing a comp is fun! LOL)... all three were wonderful! i really am loving this story, and am very much looking forward to the next update!

but again... that was a hell of a spot to leave it!

[Karmin]

Oh man, when the chapter ended I was still trying to read more. Please update soon. Karmin

[bee.]

ooooh my gosh... i swear, really... of all the places to stop. that chapter was awesome. i cant wait to see Nicholette's expression when she sees two Abigails... and Minerva...
post as soon as possible!
ecks oh ecks oh
bee

[tanja]

what a cruel point to stop !!!!!!!! I really can´t wait to see Albus and Min meeting again...please update VERY soon !!!!just a great story

[Jessabelle]

another great post .. but wut an evil time to stop .. post soon please!

[Kamdra]

I can hardly wait for the next chapter. I can tell it will be great! I used to use stomach cramps as my catchall sickness too. Kammie