The Parent Trap Continued

[Lady Lavendar]

Wow! i just love this story!! Hope to see another update soon!!

LL

[bee.]

another superb update, hoorah! now let's see how a breakfast and banter bring our favourite characters closer to a wonderful reunion... and hopefully plenty of make-up kisses.
ecks oh ecks oh,
bee

[ginger newts]

Aw, another cute chapter. I agree with other reviewers, bring on the kissing. I can't imagine the trouble those two girls are going to cause.

[rogueinker]

Getting better and better. Looks like they are both quite willing but neither can make the first step.

What do their daughters have in mind to get them together? Can't wait for more.

[mugglemin]

I hope you update this soon. You know I love this story. I love that it's going to have a happy ending!

[Sola]

I have deserted this story for some time and am really sorry about that. So I had to catch up a lot.
And I love it.
Chapter 16 was especially great ;D

Anyway...Hope you update soon.

Sola

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter Nineteen: Learning to Share by Clayre

Evie dragged her sister into the trophy room and made her press her nose up against the cold, glass cabinet. An array of differently shaped trophies was on display ranging from the Hogwarts House Cup to special awards for individual students.

“Look at that one!” urged Evie as she pointed to the large, dark wood Quidditch trophy that stood beside the grand Quidditch cup.

“What about it?” asked Abigail who was a little confused at what she was supposed to be looking at behind the glass.

“Honestly,” sighed Evie “your eyesight is as bad as Papa’s!”

Both girls broke into a fit of giggles at the comment about their father. They both knew that his eyesight was pretty bad when he wasn’t wearing his glasses. Evie had told Abigail a story of when he had been searching high and low for his glasses only for Evie to tell that they were on his head.

“Mum’s name is on it,” continued Evie, once her laughter had subsided “Aunt Xio said that she could have played professionally.”

Abigail turned to look at her newly found sister with her mouth hanging open in shock and surprise. She had never known that her mother had played quidditch. She knew of her passion for the game but she had never seen her mother go near a broomstick.

“Mum hates flying though!” said Abigail.

Evie seemed to have an answer for everything and Abigail was slightly taken back that her sister seemed to know more about their mother than she did. It wasn’t that she was jealous but Abigail had known their mother longer.

“Aunt Xio said that there was an accident during the final house match against the snakes,” explained Evie. “They played dirty and Mum fell but it was only down to Papa that she survived the fall. She refused to play again after that.”

“Mum never told me any of this,” said Abigail sadly. “You know stuff about her and you have known her less than me. It’s not fair!”

Evie turned her head sideways and looked at her twin sister. What she saw in her face wasn’t what she expected. She had thought that Abigail was joking around but Evie could tell from the look of pain and anguish on her face that she was far from joking. Evie hadn’t meant it to come across how it had been taken. She just wanted to show Abigail the cup. She hadn’t thought that Abigail would take offense and it saddened her greatly to know that she had upset her sister.

“Abigail,” said Evie softly “I didn’t mean to get one up on you. I still have so much to learn about our mother and I want to learn it from you. Please don’t be angry! This trophy was the only story I had about her.”

Abigail wiped a tear from her cheek and stared back at her sister. She couldn’t quite believe that she had reacted as she had. She knew that Evie didn’t have many memories of their mother just like she didn’t have any of her father. But it had unnerved her. Abigail had always thought that she knew everything about her mother and it was a shock to discover that she didn’t.

“Sorry Evie,” Abigail replied, her voice full of remorse. “Everything is going to be so different from now on. We are going to have to share and neither of us has had to do that before!”

Evie nodded. She had been so caught up in the fact that she had found her sister and her mother that she hadn’t given much thought to what was going to happen afterwards. She had assumed that Abigail and her mother would move into Hogwarts with them and that everything would fit into place. She knew that she would spend time with Abigail during the school term and she hoped that they were in the same house. But she also wanted her mother to be in the castle all day, every day, because it fit in with what she wanted.

“They may never get back together,” said Abigail breaking into her sisters’ musings. “We might have to spend one holiday with one of them and the other holiday with the other one. They may have their favourite!”

“Well I am probably Papa’s because I have always lived with him,” said Evie in a matter of fact tone. “And you are Mum’s for the same reason!”

“How would you feel if Papa said to you that he want to spend some time alone with me?” questioned Abigail. She was very much like her mother when it came to direct questions.

“Well Papa wouldn’t say that!” protested Evie.

“Nor would Mum,” replied Abigail “but I know if she did, I would be angry and upset and feel that she was pushing me away. I think it is only natural!”

“You don’t want to share them?” asked Evie in shock.

“It’s not about sharing Evie,” said Abigail. “It’s about learning to be a family and not to get jealous!”

Evie looked at her sister with wide eyes. She wasn’t entirely sure about what her sister was saying. It seemed very grown up for an eleven year old and Evie presumed that she was like this because she had lived with their mother for most of her life. Evie couldn’t imagine ever coming out with something like that until she was at least one hundred years old.

“What do you think they are doing right now?” asked Evie, changing the subject to what their parents were doing.

“Talking!” answered Abigail.

“I hope they are not arguing!” added Evie. “It’s been many years since they saw each other and their reunion was kind of thrust upon them without them knowing till the last moment. I just hope they are talking and not fighting.”

To be continued!

[Alesia]

It is nice to see the girls are finally realizing it isn't going to be all fun and games.

[ginger newts]

Uh oh, their first fight. Glad they sorted it out so quickly, but what happens next time? Update soon, I wonder what Albus and Minerva are discussing.

[Mellypoo622]

I was so glad to see this was updated Love this story more and more each chapter! Parent trap was my favorite movie when I was litte, I used to watch it everday, it's just as great a fan fic! Your doing and awesome job! Keep up the good work!

[Lady Lavendar]

Man that was a great update,and I hope that the girls can learn to share and everything else. Well I can't wait for the next update!

LL

[rogueinker]

Love that you're showing all sides of the soon-to-be-one-family. One forgets that the girls don't know each other and have to adjust too.

[steffi0210]

This is a great story, really!

I've been reading it on fanfiction.net before and I must say it's fantastic.

I hope you update this soon!

[Jessabelle]

very good .. please update soon!

[LadyJolly]

I must say Abigail really does sound like a very wise young girl and it's amazing hehehe good chapter write more soon please and post ;D

Lady Jolly

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter Twenty: When the Bough Breaks by Ang:

Minerva sat in the windowsill looking out over the expansive grounds she once called home. She couldn’t help but remember happier times spent among these walls and upon these very hallowed grounds. Yet sprinkled among the happiness had also been her greatest heartache. Now, it had become both for she had been reunited with her daughter but that didn’t make things any easier around the man she was still legally bound to for life and in her heart forever.

“I’d give almost anything to know what you’re thinking right now,” came his warm voice to her ear. “I remember you telling me that you always did your best thinking in that window and I’ve often wondered if that’s where you decided to leave me.”

“Actually, it isn’t. I only had happy thoughts here. I decided to leave you in our bedroom, after crying for hours and realizing that I couldn’t go on like we were anymore. I wanted you to love me so much but every time I tried to get close, you always had somewhere else you had to be,” she spoke honestly.

“You have no idea how many times I’ve cursed myself and my job for not treating you and the girls properly. I thought I was doing what was best for my family at the time and look at the mess I created.”

“Yes, well hindsight is always better than the moment, isn’t it?” Minerva had not wanted to start an argument but the more he spoke, the more her temper seemed to bubble just below the surface. “I think we are to meet the girls this afternoon for a picnic. Perhaps I should go change. Shall I meet you there?”

“I’d like it if we could go together. I’ll wait for you, Min.” She gave him a weak smile and disappeared into the bedroom. “I’ve been waiting for ten years,” he whispered to her retreating form, “what’s a few more minutes?”

An uncomfortable silence descended upon Albus and Minerva as they walked to the lake. Albus was so sure that they were going to have a wonderful day based on the way the morning had started but all too quickly it had gone downhill. His only hope was that seeing their daughters getting along famously might brighten Minerva’s mood and make her more agreeable in the evening. But his hopes were short lived when they neared the lake.

Two blankets were spread out and on them were separate picnic baskets. Evie occupied a bright purple blanket while Abigail sat regally upon the emerald green one. Each looked lost in thought as their parents approached, a sombre sight if he had ever seen one.

“Well, well. Two blankets? Whatever happened to a good old fashioned family picnic,” Albus teased his girls.

“That was before we were split up, I suppose,” Abigail bit back. “We don’t remember any good old fashioned family anythings,” she answered bitterly.

“Abigail Dumbledore! You apologize to your father this instant!” Minerva scolded her daughter. The look in her eyes indicated she was leaving no room for argument on the matter.

“Sorry,” she muttered, never looking up from her folded hands still laying in her lap.

“Well, she’s right you know! But then again, I suppose you didn’t really want family time since you left Papa and me all those years ago,” Evie spat at Minerva.

“Evelyn, you will not speak to your mother in that matter. Say you’re sorry young lady. NOW!”

“No, I won’t! She left us all those years ago and now that she’s back she’s going to go away again and this time I will remember her,” she began to sob.

Minerva looked up at Albus and then dropped to her knees, pulling Evie into her lap and hugging her fiercely. “Evie, dear, I’m not planning to leave you again. Now that I have you back in my life, I wouldn’t dream of not being a part of your world. That is…if you’ll let me.”

Abigail sat stiffly and watched as her mother consoled her twin, taking note of the way she rubbed small circles on her back or the way her familiar hands filtered through the long locks of her sister’s hair. She couldn’t count the times she had cried her heart out and been soothed in just that manner by their mother. But never did she realize how hard it might be to see someone else receiving that kind of attention from the woman she adored.

Albus sat down on the blanket near Abigail and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her to his side. She sat stoically, just as her mother might have if he had tried to hug her. “Abigail, what’s gotten into the two of you today? When you both left us last night you each seemed fine. And now that you’ve had half a day together, this is what we find?”

“You didn’t even bother to come looking for us,” she replied in a tone barely loud enough for him to hear. “You just let us leave and never once took the time from your busy schedule to see if we were okay or needed anything. For all you knew we were living in a little shack somewhere starving to death.” She looked up into her father’s eyes as tears spilled from her own. “And to think I used to fantasize that you were my father!” Before Albus could say another word, Abigail had jumped up and darted off to the edge of the water, her shoulders visibly shaking with her quiet sobs.

Evie looked from her father to her mother then settled her gaze on her twin sister. “And I always thought all mothers loved their children. For so many years I wondered what I had done to make you go away and leave me. I’ve wondered why you didn’t love me enough to take me too.” Wrenching herself from Minerva’s arms, she quickly joined her sister by the lake, wrapping an arm around Abigail and in return resting her head on Abigail’s shoulder.

Albus and Minerva looked utterly defeated. They knew they were each to blame for the girls’ feelings and that this day would eventually come but they hadn’t expected it to be this afternoon. The girls had been carrying a lot on their shoulders since that fateful day in Diagon Alley and obviously it had just been too much for them to take.

Albus watched as Minerva dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief and then at his daughters who were still struggling to keep their tears to a minimum. “I think it’s time we cleared the air for the girls, Min. It’s time they knew everything.”

“Abigail, Evie, come here please. It’s time we had a heart to heart…the four of us.” Both girls reluctantly walked back to the blankets.

“So, which one of you is taking me this time,” Abigail dared to mouth at her father.

“You may sit anywhere you like, child. And the same goes for you too Evie. We’re not here to split you up again nor are we going to make you choose a parent. We simply wish to talk.”

“Your father and I thought that you two were handling this far better than we were but it seems that we all have some things we need to get off our chests.” Minerva opened her arms to her daughters and invited them to snuggle into her embrace. “Why not let your father go first and then when I’m explaining my end of things, you can sit with him. Sound fair?” The suggestion met with the approval of both girls and soon Albus found himself telling painful memories and thoughts in front of the three most important women in his life.

“First of all, I have never stopped loving your mother, nor you Abigail. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t wished I could still be a part of your lives. But that does not excuse what I did and I need to ask for your forgiveness, Minerva, and yours too, Abigail.” He locked eyes with each one of the girls and then held Minerva’s gaze for much longer before taking a deep breath to continue.

“You see, I worked extremely long hours both before and after you were born. Your mother always allowed me the freedom to come and go as I pleased but in doing so, I found it easier and easier to get lost in my own work and the result was neglecting my duties at home. I often would come home late at night to find you both fed, bathed, and tucked safely in your cradles. Your mother would be exhausted but instead of offering her any help, I would spend a few minutes with her before disappearing for another hour or so to finish last minute work.”

“Didn’t you love us enough to want to spend time with us, Papa?” Evie asked timidly.

“Oh dearest, it was because of my love for you that I was working so hard. I wanted to protect all three of you from danger and I was trying to make this world a safer place for my family. But in doing that I lost sight of what was truly important and it cost me everything, although in truth, I am to blame for the loss.”

“Mother, that doesn’t explain why you just left without talking to Papa about your feelings,” Abigail observed.

Minerva released both of her girls and they went to sit beside Albus, trying hard not to break down in front of him again. “I tried my dears. I truly tried to talk to him but he was always so busy. Why he even forgot our anniversary the last year we were together and it wasn’t until he came home to a table set for two with gutted candles and both of you spending the night with your Aunt Xiomara that he realized his error. Of course, the dinner was ruined. I was furious and he spent the night on the couch while I cried myself to sleep in our bed.”

“I was a fool, Minerva and I’m sorry. I will never forget the sight of you in that nightgown, with a tear stained face and red eyes that greeted me the next morning.” A cold shiver passed through Albus’ body as he vividly remembered the sight of his lovely wife standing in a see through nightgown looking like her entire world had just crashed around her feet.

“I left because I thought I could teach your father a lesson and I took Abigail because she had been ill. I wasn’t about to leave her alone with anyone since I didn’t know exactly when Albus would return. Evie, you were always healthy and you loved playing with everyone in the castle so I had no worries that you would be well looked after until I returned. And yes, I did plan to return that night.”

“You planned on him coming after us, didn’t you Mum?” Abigail had learned to pick up on her mother’s thoughts and emotions at an early age and she could tell that she was struggling to tell her side of the story and wanted to do everything she could to make it easier for her mother.

Minerva felt hot tears began to trickle down her face. “Yes, I did. I just knew that as soon as he came home, he’d rush right back out to look for us. And I even went where I thought he’d look first,” she laughed bitterly. “But when he didn’t come or even floo to see if we were there, I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. I kept thinking he’d show up at any moment but when one week turned into a month and I still hadn’t heard from him, I felt foolish and didn’t dare come back to Hogwarts. You see, girls, I let my pride get in the way of your happiness.”

“But it was his fault,” Evie yelled. Her old feelings of longing for her mother and wondering why her father never spoke of Minerva came flooding back to her.

“No, Evie it wasn’t entirely his fault. I should have stayed and spoken to him again instead of running away from my problems…”

“Our problems, Minerva. I am mostly responsible for them in the first place.”

A long and emotional hour passed as the four of them spoke candidly about their feelings for each other and for the situation they now found themselves in at Hogwarts. Tears were shed and understandings were born as the girls were finally able to piece together the entire chain of events that had led them to their startling discovery at Madame Malkin’s.

“What happens to us now, Mum?” Abigail had always been one to ask blunt questions and to crave straight answers. In speaking, she had voiced the one question burning into Evie’s mind as well.

“You’ll start Hogwarts soon and I suspect you will have plenty of time to get to know each other, especially if you are sorted into the same house.”

“That’s not what she means,” Evie dared to speak. “She means on holidays, weekends, and all the times we should be spending as a family.”

“You two will not be separated again. We have already decided that much, girls, so there’s no need to worry. Your mother and I will do everything we can to make sure that you see each of us whenever you wish and your lives will be as normal as possible.”

“But what about the two of you? I know you still love her Papa and Mum still loves you. Don’t you think we deserve a complete family? The way we used to be? If we can forgive you for keeping up apart and denying us the other parent, then why can’t you forgive each other and try to make your marriage work? After all, neither of you asked for a breaking of the marriage bonds.” Both girls stared at their parents and then gathered up one of the blankets and a picnic basket.

“Thank you for sharing all of this with us but we need to be alone now to talk. We’re leaving you a blanket and a basket full of food so that maybe you can use this time to talk too. Try talking to each other honestly, like you did with us. Mum, you could tell him how you never let me have lemon drops because they reminded you of him yet you’d always make me hot chocolate and we’d drink a cup together before bedtime. You always said it reminded you of the love of your life.”

“And Papa, why not tell Mum how you denied me a kitten every single time I asked because it reminded you of her but yet I have this locket with her picture. And I know you kept the letters you wrote to her but never sent. Why not share them with her now?”

Albus and Minerva had no words for their children, only blank faces and eyes clouded with tears. Maybe it was time for them to have a discussion about their life together. After all, they now had two children to consider and everyone’s happiness depended on their answers. Both knew they’d love to get back together and become a real family again but it wouldn’t be easy and neither was certain that the other felt the same way.

It was Minerva who broke the silence as her children walked away, hand in hand with a picnic blanket and a basket. “I suppose we deserved their anger, didn’t we Albus? But I must say they certainly are exceptional little girls to have handled this as well as they have.”

“Yes, my dear. We did deserve all they had to offer us and so much more. But they are strong and so are we. Somehow I just know this will bring us closer as a family.” He reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a comforting squeeze. Upon instinct, Minerva leaned over into him and felt his arms wrap around her slender frame as the tears they had been holding back finally found a release.

TBC…

[mugglemin]

Ahhh...I hope we get lots more fluff!

[tayryn]

give it to them, girls!

now this was a great chapter to wake up to!! i very much like that the twins are "forcing" Albus and Minerva to confront their demons, and see if they can work things out.

wonderful job! as always... looking forward to more!

[Jaya]

WOOHOO!

Another Chapter and a great one at that!

Finally the girls demand some answers. I think it was handled very well. They had the right to know and at some point in their reunion they would want to know...

Now if their parents can have the same sort of open discussion!

Jaya ;D

[Jessabelle]

oh i did like that post a lot! .. please post again soon .. i cannot wait to see wut happens .. hopefully more drama between min and albus

[ginger newts]

Great chapter. Those girls need to just browbeat their parents into getting back together. If they could just stop being proud for three seconds everything would work out alright. Update again soon.

[Herzele]

Great chapter !!! I so hope Min and Albus can sort this out and find a 'family' solution ...

[Alesia]

I am glad the girls got their answers but I couldn't help but wonder if they hadn't set the whole thing up to get their parents to talk to each other. ;D Clever clever children. Albus and Minerva have to get back together just to keep Abigail and Evie reigned in! These two could end with more schemes then Fred and George.

Seriously the chapter was very touching with just the right amount of emotional waves.

[Lady Lavendar]

Great update!!

LL

[QuillofMinerva]

The Parent Trap:

Chapter 21: Its not like old times

Minerva used the back of her hand to wipe the tears that had fallen from her eyes away, she was still leaning against Albus and though it felt good to be in such contact with him again, it felt too intimate after so many years apart. She pulled away from him and quickly rose to her feet, she walked forward towards the lake and wrapped her own arms around herself protectively.

She stared out over the still lake and sighed to herself, it was hard being back here after so long. So many memories, so many familiar scents and focal points surrounded her and it felt as though she had slipped into the past. She didn’t flinched when she felt a hand rest upon her shoulder; she had expected it because he had always done that.

Albus had watched her walk over to the lake and had then got to his own feet; he had made his way over to her and touched her shoulder gingerly. There had been a time when her own hand would cover his and she would step back against him but this time, she stood rooted to the spot and didn’t move. Deep down, he hadn’t expected her to step back but it had been wishful thinking that had kept some hope alive within him. He was finding it hard to read her, he had never had that problem before but then after listening to her as she talked to the girls, he began to realise that perhaps he only saw what he wanted to see and read her when it suited him.

“A knut for them?” Albus asked

“Maybe if you offer me a sickle,” she replied with a hint of a smile “I might be persuaded!”

“Then I will offer a galleon!” he countered with a grin, they had come up with those saying while they were courting and he was overjoyed that she hadn’t forgotten them.

Silence engulfed them again, she had told him what she was thinking but he knew that he shouldn’t push her but then she needed to be pushed. He was thoroughly confused as to what he should do, his hand was still resting upon her shoulder and he was glad that she hadn’t shrugged it off.

“Our girls certainly have their heads screwed on.” Minerva finally said after a few tensioned filled minutes.

“I agree however sometimes I do think that spending time with Aberforth has rubbed off on Evie,” he answered with a grin “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.”

“Maybe a bit of both,” answered Minerva, she had always liked Albus’ younger brother, he had always managed to make her smile despite herself “How is Abe?”

“As unusual as always,” Albus replied “he is building up quite a goat collection in the manor. They have eaten their way through tapestry after tapestry and one even tried to take a nibble out of the muggle portrait of our mother.”

“Oh I am sure she liked that.” said Minerva with a smile.

Minerva had only met Constance Dumbledore a handful of times before her death and had always found her pleasant but extremely protective of her boys. Albus’ mother had asked Minerva some intense questions before she had even placed a foot in Dumbledore Manor. Constance had been extremely house proud, everything had its place and she hated people who would move things about. Achilles Dumbledore, Albus and Aberforth’s father had often moved ornaments around just to wind his wife up. Minerva was sure that Constance would not be overjoyed with the fact that goats were now running wild in her beloved home.

“Does it feel to you like history repeating itself?” she suddenly asked

“A goat nibbling a picture?” asked Albus, who was slightly confused to what she, was talking about.

“No,” she said with a shake of her head before moving away from him “us standing here, looking out across the lake.”

“We did it many times,” he said softly “we used to love coming here and watching the sun set. Good memories.”

She turned around to look at him, her arms still wrapped around herself and her right foot tapping against the soft mound of grass she was standing on. She had to agree with him that there were many memories but they weren’t all happy ones.

“I used to come out here when you had been called away to deal with something,” she began “I would sit against that tree and stare into the lake. I would cry my heart beneath that tree when I was pregnant, I put it down to my hormones but I knew deep down it was to do with you, your job and your responsibilities. I resented you for being who you were because it meant that you were taken from me. I know that sounds selfish but honestly, I don’t care.”

“I never knew that it affected you so Minerva,” he said sincerely “I should have seen it but I was too wrapped up in everything else. As I said in front of the girls, I only realised this when you had gone.”

“Albus, why didn’t you come after me?” she asked softly, that had been the one question she had always wanted to ask him.

Albus looked at her, his shoulder slumped with his own failure. They had covered this subject with the girls but it hadn’t been answered properly and now she was asking him a direct question about it. It was time to face his own inner demons and not hide behind his job.

“I did want to come after you,” he said honestly “I did think that you would be back in the morning and then the next morning and it went on for days like that and then it was to late. I was in denial, I thought that with time everything would be sorted out and we could get on with our life together but I was wrong, so very wrong. I convinced myself that you would walk back through that door and then another letter from the ministry arrived and I was needed. I lost sight Minerva and for that I am truly sorry for making you and our daughters suffer.”

She nodded and turned away from him; she knew that it took a lot for him to admit that he was in the wrong. The fault couldn’t solely be placed at his feet, she was to blame as well but at the time it was easier to blame him.

“The girls mentioned something about some letter’s you wrote but you never sent them.” She said as she walked closer to the lake.

“All to you after you left.” He answered

“I would like to see and read them.” She told him as she turned back around to look at him, she desperately wanted to read them.

“Of course,” he replied “would you like to read them with me?”

Minerva shook her head; she wanted to be alone when she read this letters from him. She wanted to see if he had been aware of what had gone wrong soon after she had left rather then ten years down the line.

“If you don’t mind,” she began “I would like to read them alone Albus.”

“I don’t mind,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment “they are address to you after all. I’ll have Fawkes deliver them to you.”

“Thank you,” she replied with a faint smile “I think I’ll head indoors for a while. I’ll see you soon Albus.”

Albus watched her walk away before cleaning up the unopened picnic basket and packing away the blankets. He then dashed off in the direction of his private office to fetch the letters he had written to her over the ten years they had been parted.

His office was organised chaos, he knew where everything was but other’s were frustrated by the piles of parchments on his desk, books shattered everywhere and the numerous amounts of trinkets he had had picked up from people over the years. He knew exactly were the letters were, they were stored in a secret draw in his large, deep red mahogany work desk though you couldn’t tell what wood it was made from under the piles of paper on his desk.

He felt for the chain around his neck and then carefully took it off; no one knew he wore a silver chain around his neck because it was hidden by his beard and also by his robes. Attached to the chain there was a white gold wedding ring, the same ring that had bound Minerva and himself as husband and wife thirteen years ago. He looked at it and read the inscription inside ‘Forever and Always!. His blue eyes suddenly became misty and he had to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall. He shook his head and placed the ring in a small hole in his desk, it glowed a pale blue before a draw appeared from nowhere. He pulled the ring out of the hole and placed back on the chain before putting it back on around his neck. He touched it lightly before it disappeared under a mass of hair and material. The draw was heaving with letters to Minerva and without even reading one of them; he bound them up and made them smaller so they were easier for Fawkes to deliver.

Meanwhile, Minerva was curled up in one of the chairs in the bedroom she used to share with Albus. She was facing the fireplace and waiting for Fawkes to appear. She hadn’t seen the Phoenix for many years and she wondered if he would still remember her. She hoped that he didn’t hold anything against her because she knew that a scorned Phoenix wasn’t probably the best choice to deliver letters. She and Fawkes had always got which had surprised Albus, it was known that Phoenixes were protective of their masters and didn’t like to share but Fawkes had welcomed her with open wings and had even taken to sleeping on her side of the bed when she had moved into their rooms. Fawkes had also become protective of Minerva while she was carrying the twins; it was as though he felt it needed to be done since his master wasn’t always around. Minerva had been extremely comforted by the presence of Fawkes and had often spoilt him a bit too much with ginger newts.

A ball of flames appeared to her right and if she had been anyone else, she would have screamed and pulled out her wand but she had spent some years in the presence of a phoenix and so knew to expect such an entrance.

Fawkes regarded the woman before him with an inquisitive eye, he peered at her for sometime and Minerva was beginning to feel a little uneasy but luckily for her, the phoenix then broke out into a beautiful trill and Minerva relaxed.

“Hello my friend,” said Minerva softly as she reached out with her left hand “how have you been?”

Fawkes cocked his head to one side before knocking his head against her hand, he cooed contently and kept both his eyes on her.

“You do look very handsome,” she told him and he nodded in agreement “and have you been looking after your master like I asked you too?”

Minerva had gone to see Fawkes before she had taken Abigail away and asked him to keep an eye on Albus till she was back, she knew Fawkes would watch out for his master like he always had done.

Fawkes thrilled and nodded his head before nudging her hand. Minerva smiled and rooted around in her pocket for a ginger newt. Fawkes took the ginger biscuit in delight and dropped off his parcel before flying to his perch in the corner of the room. Minerva settled back down in the chair and enlarged the package, she was taken back by the amount of letter’s there seemed to be.

She opened the first one and silently read:

Minerva, dearest,

Where are you! I came back to find you and Abigail gone. Evie is crying for you and I must confess to not knowing how to settle her as you do. I am worried that something has happened to you. Is something wrong with Abi? Please my love, get in contact.

Forever and Always

Albus x

TO BE CONTINUED

[Herzele]

Great update !!
Now let's just hope those letters make Min realise how much he loved her and still loves her ...

[Jaya]

Woohoo!

Another update!

I am loving this story!

Now if only Albus and Min can decide to forgive...

Jaya ;D

[Adrasteia]

I *so* hope that they will realize that they still love each other.
I am really enjoying this story and I hope you will update soon.

[ginger newts]

I love Fawkes! Now if only it was that easy for Albus and Minerva to get back to old times.

[tayryn]

this was a great update! i'm glad to see that Albus and Minerva are at least attempting to talk with one another!

i hope we get to 'see' more of the letters Albus wrote to Minerva... and then some more talking then making up... and then... KISSAGE!!

looking forward to the next update!