Forget Me Not

[QuillofMinerva]

A/n: I thought this story had been lost with the sands of time but I came across it a few seconds ago. Before the board was up in action, I used ffnet and my user name was Minerva'sQuill. I got banned for writing a lemon and I lost all my previous stories. Luckily for me, some readers had saved my stories off line to read at a later date so I was have some of them back. That was nearly a year ago now. This is one of earlier stories and I do think that I might have improved slightly since writing this but I have decided to post it as it was first time round.

I had planned to never write a story again after my banning but Karlie, encouraged me to continue...well she ordered me too. I am going to repost this story in her memory as I know she enjoyed this.

Summary: Minerva has an accident and loses her memory. Can Albus make her remember him and the love they once shared.

Rating: 11 +

Forget Me Not

Chapter one - Anniversary.


Minerva McGonagall strode into her office to find a vase of beautiful lilies awaiting her. She smiled as she opened the note and the words written brought a tear to her eye, they were simple but held so much feeling.

Dearest Minerva,
Thank you my love!
Love A x

She placed the note safely in her robe pocket and looked at the flowers lovingly. He had not forgotten their anniversary even though that morning at breakfast he had not brought the subject up, despite the hints she had been dropping. Married twenty-five years, she couldn't believe it had been that long. Time had flown by, some of it good and some of it bad. Minerva couldn't help but wonder what he had planned for them that evening, he never failed to surprise her on this special day in all the years she had known him. She sat down behind her desk and pulled out her students’ homework to mark before meeting her husband.
An hour later she sat back in her chair and sighed, she had marked all she had to and was surprised to find that she had quite a talented bunch of first years. She packed her quill and ink away and filed the homework to give out tomorrow. She took a look around the classroom to make sure everything was in order, she hated a messy classroom as she found it disturbed her concentration as well as her students’. Satisfied that everything was in its usual place, she bent down and sniffed the fragrant lilies. She loved the smell of these particular flowers and she had even carried them long the aisle on her wedding way. It touched her that he had always remembered her favourite flower and without fail always sent her some. She picked up the vase and made her way out of her classroom.
She swept along the unusually quiet corridor and thought nothing of it. So lost in her thoughts she failed to notice a slippery wet puddle before her, it only came to her attention when she suddenly felt her foot come out beneath her. The vase of lilies were flung into the air and came down with a smash. Minerva slipped and unable to regain her balance also met the floor with a bang, hitting her head on the stone statue of Godric Gryffindor.
Blood started to seep for the deep wound in her head and she found herself becoming dizzy and her eyesight started to become blurry. Her head hurt and she placed her hand up against the wound, her hand covered in blood as she pulled it away from her head to look at it. She couldn't keep her eyes open much longer, she needed to sleep. She tried to fight the feeling but it was so overpowering that it consumed her and sleep overtook her body. Her last thought as she laid there was of her husband and how much she loved him.

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter 2 - Waiting and Wondering

Albus Dumbledore took a look around the romantic setting in front of him, making sure that everything was in place so he could enjoy this special day with his wife in style.

He had outdone himself this year, he had charmed their bedroom to look like where they had spent their wedding night twenty-five years ago. The scene before him was beautiful, there were tall beautiful trees and a long babbling brook that ran right past the romantically laid dinner table. The table was covered with a white satin table cloth and a candle was lit in the centre of the table. To the right of the table there was a vase of lilies and a bottle of pink champagne that was Minerva's favourite drink. The table was laid for two people and the very best of china plates Hogwarts had to offer was set on the table, awaiting the lavish meal he had got the house elves to prepare for them. To finish off the meal Albus had brought a rather sickly looking chocolate cake with sherbet lemons decorating the top of it. Albus licked his lips and had to fight the urge to stick one of his long fingers in the cake and savour the taste of the delicious looking thing. He knew that Minerva would roll her eyes at the sight of his favourite sweets on the cake and then she would smile and say it's your anniversary as well.

There was once a time when Minerva couldn't get enough sherbet lemons and Albus clearly remembered being sent out at all types of hours to fetch them for her. It later turned out that she had been pregnant and had a craving for the delightful sweet but her taste for them had turned sour and she hated them now. A chuckle escaped his lips as he thought about those nights where she would be in tears before he had ran out for them and he also thought about when their first child had been born.

He was brought back to the present by a loud squawk from Fawkes. Albus realized that he had dangled his robe sleeve in the candle and was currently on fire. Albus waved his arm around in the air in hope that the small flame on his sleeve would snuff out and it finally did when Albus thrust his hand into the ice bucket that was holding the bottle of pink champagne.

"Thank you Fawkes old chap," said Albus looking over at his phoenix with a smile. "I guess I shouldn't let my mind wander."

Fawkes sang a simple note in answer to his master’s voice and then looked around the room, searching for his perch. The phoenix finally gave up and perched on a tree branch where he soon dosed off. Albus smiled at the sight before him, Minerva wouldn't recognize their bedroom when she walked in and he would see tears of happiness shining in her beautiful emerald green eyes. Albus charmed the lights to soften and then put on some soft romantic music to create the perfect mood for love.

The large grandfather clock that had been transfigured into a tall evergreen struck eight o clock and Albus began to pace up and down the room. She should have been back by now, she had told him that she didn't have much to do. He did toy with the idea of going to find her but then thought what if they missed each other in passing and she saw his surprise without him present, he didn't want to miss the look in her eyes as he swept her off her feet and kissed her before carrying her towards the table where she would see the full effect of his masterpiece. He decided to wait for her return and sat down at the table, trying not to look at the cake that was just inches away from him and calling for him to just have a little taste.

Severus Snape was walking along the corridor when he noticed a stray lily laying on the floor. He picked it up and wondered where it had came from after all this corridor was quite away from the greenhouse. He walked a few steps forward and then he noticed a body, a large puddle of blood was surrounding the head. Severus stepped forward and recognized the person straight away.

"Minerva!" he said as he bent down beside the witch and felt for a pulse.

He was relieved to feel a faint pulse running through her body and he checked her over for any other injuries but only saw her head wound. He quickly got to his feet and bent down to pick up the lithe frame of a witch he admired as well as despised at times. He was taken aback at how light she was in his arms. Her arms dropped down by her sides as Severus swept along the corridor quickly. He cursed the corridors for being so damn long and winding. He looked down at the witch in his arms and was alarmed to see how ghostly white she was now. He put it down to the amount of blood she had lost through that deep wound in the back of her head. He finally reached the hospital wing and quickly slammed through the door.

"POMFREY!" he yelled loudly as he set Minerva down on the nearest bed. "Come on woman, where are you!"

Poppy Pomfrey came out of her office and was about to speak her mind when she saw Minerva lying on the bed. She quickly came to her side and checked her over before reaching for her medical bag.

"Do you know what happened?" questioned the mediwitch as she began to work on the deathly coloured Minerva.

"I think she must have slipped and banged her head on a statue," answered Severus. "I don't know how long she has been there though. Will she be okay?"

"It's too early to say, Severus," answered Poppy as she frantically worked on Minerva. "I can't seem to stop this bleeding and she can't afford to lose any more blood."

"Can I do anything?" asked Severus who was feeling rather useless just standing there doing nothing.

"Go into my stores and get some more bandages please," she told him.

Severus quickly made his way into the nurse's stores, he was amazed how she was able to find anything in this mess. "Where are they?" he called to her.

"On the right next to the blankets," she called. "Do hurry up!"

Severus appeared moments later carrying several bundles of bandages and placed them down next to Pomfrey.

"You know you really should sort that mess out in there," suggested Severus.

"Your timing was never any bloody good, was it, Snape?" snapped the usually mild tempered witch.

"I was just saying!" replied Severus.

"Well don't," she cut in. "Right that's the bleeding stopped for now. She must have hit the statue at an angle, it's a miracle that she is still alive."

Severus watched as Poppy applied a manor of different creams and potions to the wound as well as wrapping a bandage around her head.

"Excuse me!" said Poppy as she pulled the curtains around the bed so she could slip Minerva into a hospital gown.

Severus waited till the mediwitch reappeared and then asked her "Should I get anyone?"

"You'd better go and get Professor Dumbledore," answered Poppy sadly.

"But I was told that he was not to be disturbed," said Severus.

"Believe me Severus, he will want to know about this," she replied. "Choose your words carefully, Severus."

"What do you mean?" he questioned.

"You can be awfully abrupt!" she simply said before turning to fuss over her new patient.

Pomfrey heard the potions master exit the room and she sat down beside her best friend. She reached for her friend's delicate hand and held it gently.

"Come on Min, if any one can get through this you can," whispered Poppy softly. "Wake up soon."

TBC

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter 3 - Who are you?

Severus Snape rushed along to the headmaster’s rooms, he wasn’t sure why he had to go and tell him personally after all Poppy could have used the floo network to call Albus Dumbledore to the hospital wing. Severus shook his head as he walked, he would never understand women. He reached the headmaster’s rooms and knocked loudly on the door. There was no answer so he tried again. He decided that he should go into his employer’s room in case the older wizard was fast asleep. He tried the door knob and found that it was open. Severus pushed open the door and the scene in front of him, left him speechless. He certainly hadn’t expected the headmaster’s rooms to look like this, it didn’t even look like a room. Severus felt as though he was stepping into a forest as he made his way further into the headmaster’s quarters.

"I was beginning to think you had got my lost, my love!" came the headmaster’s familiar voice from somewhere amongst the trees.

"I don’t think I’m the person you were expecting!" replied Severus as he searched for Albus.

"Professor Snape!" said Albus as he came into sight. "True, I was not expecting you. May I ask what brings you here this evening?"

"Madam Pomfrey told me to come and get you!" replied Snape looking around the room in surprise.

"Why didn’t she just call me?" asked Albus who was confused.

"Merlin only knows, I never understand women," answered Severus as he tapped his foot against the grass that once had been carpet.

"So why has she sent you here?" asked Albus.

"McGonagall has only gone and landed herself in the hospital wing," Severus explained to Albus who immediately paled in complexion.

"Minerva!" he exclaimed.

"Yes," replied Severus. "She’s out for the count, lost quite a lot of blood when I found her. I think she slipped and banged her head on a statue, lucky I found her really."

"Thank you for letting me know, Severus!" said Albus as he rushed out of the open door, leaving the potions master somewhat confused by his speed to reach his deputy head.


Albus rushed along the corridor and swept into the hospital wing as though he was being chased by a dozen dragons. He quickly made his way over to the only occupied bed and pulled back the curtains.

"OUT!" ordered Madam Pomfrey who was redressing Minerva’s wounds.

"Poppy," replied Albus, "I need to see her!"

"Professor Dumbledore will you let me do my job," scolded the school nurse, "you can see her in a minute."

Poppy pulled the curtains closed around them as Albus paced up and down the length of the wing. He was playing with his hands, trying to keep control. This had been why she had been late for their dinner. He cursed himself mentally as he should have known something was wrong as Minerva was never late for anything. Poppy finally opened the curtains and smiled softly at the clearly worried professor. Albus quickly rushed to his wife’s side and picked up her delicate hand, he kissed it softly before looking at Poppy for answers.

"Things aren’t good, Albus," she told him. "She lost a lot of blood and hasn’t yet regained consciousness. I’m afraid it’s a waiting game now but we both know Minerva is a fighter."

"Oh Minerva darling," said Albus as he looked back at his wife, "you can pull through, my dearest goddess, and I will be waiting for you so that I can shower you with soft kisses."

Poppy placed a hand on Dumbledore’s shoulder and guided him towards a chair that had been placed beside the bed. She gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before turning and leaving so Albus could be alone with Minerva. He simply looked at her and willed her to open her beautiful eyes, he longed to see the emerald green eyes he loved so much. He held her hand and never broke contact with her as the night wore on. Poppy silently watched him from her desk as she wrote to two people she knew Albus would want to be informed.

Poppy would check on her patient every two hours; she was relieved that Minerva’s temperature had slightly dropped and she took it as a good sign.

"Albus, you should sleep!" she suggested.

"How can I sleep at a time like this!" he snapped.

"Well you’ll be no good to her if you get ill yourself," she replied as she held out a blanket to him.

"I’m sorry Poppy," Albus replied softly as he took the offered blanket. "I just feel so helpless!"

"I understand, Albus," replied Poppy. "I felt the same when Alastor was lying in one of these beds."

"How is he now?" asked Albus.

"Better but he isn’t taking one blind of notice of his healer!" she answered with a weary smile.

"That’s Alastor for you," answered Albus. "I expect Minerva will be just the same."

Poppy pulled up another chair and sat beside Albus, she took hold of his spare hand and held it gently.

"Albus," she told him with a tear in her eye, "I hate to even say this, but we must prepare ourselves for the worst. Minerva may not wake up."

"She will, Poppy," replied Albus refusing to take in what his wife’s best friend was telling him. "She would never leave me yet!"

"Albus please," pleaded Poppy, "she is a fighter but listen when I tell you that she may lose this fight."

"I would like to be left alone with my wife!" answered Albus as he slipped his hand out of the nurse’s grip.

Poppy got the message and left him alone again with Minerva. The sun was breaking through the curtains now and Poppy was pleased that Minerva had made it through the night but she wasn’t sure how much longer she would last. She had run every diagnostic test she could think of and they had all come back saying the same thing, Minerva Aurora McGonagall was lucky to still be alive.

The days and nights passed with Minerva showing no sign of improvement but Albus wouldn’t move. Severus had come by to tell him that his office desk was overflowing with urgent owls from the ministry and had been sent off with a flea in his ear. Poppy didn’t think the potions master would disturb the headmaster again. Severus’ face had been a picture when Albus had snapped at him, Poppy had to hide a smile as she imagined what Minerva would have done if she had seen it.

On the tenth day of Minerva being unconscious Albus received some welcome visitors in the form of his son and daughter. Aurora Dumbledore-McGonagall had her mother’s rich ebony-coloured hair and her father’s twinkling blue eyes while Wulfric Dumbledore-McGonagall had his father’s auburn hair and his mother’s beautiful emerald green eyes. It was obvious to anyone who saw these two adults that they were the offspring of the most powerful witch and wizard this century had known.

"Papa!" said Aurora as she rushed to her father’s side.

"Sorry it’s taken us so long to get back, Pops!" said Wulfric as he strode around to the other side of the bed and dropped a tender kiss on his mother’s forehead. "How is she?"

"No change," answered Albus as his daughter embraced him, "no change at all!"

Aurora perched on the side of the bed and held her mother’s hand as well as her father’s, she looked down at her beloved mother and tears rolled down her face.

"Shhh darling," said Albus as he squeezed his daughter’s hand, "everything is going to be fine!"

"How can you say that, Papa?" questioned Aurora. "Look at her for Merlin’s sake, she is slipping away from us."

"Ro," said her brother, "that’s enough!"

"Fric!" replied Aurora glaring at her brother. "I’m only saying what Mama would say if she were here."

"She is here!" snapped Albus as he got to his feet. "Don’t talk about her like she isn’t here!"

"I’m sorry, Papa!" replied Aurora.

Aurora slipped off the bed and made her way over to her father, she held him tight and for the first time in ten days Albus allowed his tears to fall. It had finally sunk in that Minerva may not pull through and this was killing him, he wasn’t sure if he could carry on if Minerva left him. She was his best friend, his conscience, his better side, the love of his life, the mother of his beloved children and she was his soul mate. He had never imagined for one second that she would leave him, he had thought they would be together forever. When it came to love, Albus still had a romantic take on it and believe that nothing would come between them, they had been through so much already and he wasn’t going to let her slip through his fingers so easily. He broke away from his daughter’s comforting embrace and walked over to the bed. He bent down and placed a tender kiss on his wife’s pale lips.

"Oh Minerva," he whispered, "come back to me. I miss you so very much and I need you, darling. I love you, dearest wife. Wake up soon, my true love."

Albus sat back down in the chair he had vacated only minutes ago. He returned to staring at his wife while his children sat down next to him and waited for any signs that she was returning to them.


The next morning arrived slowly and the sun shined through the windows. Wulfric opened his eyes and he caught sight of his mother moving, it was only a slight move but it had to mean something. He rushed off to find Madam Pomfrey and woke his father and his sister in the process. Madam Pomfrey rushed out of her office and joined them around the bed, they all watched and waited and then another movement came. Aurora grabbed hold of her father’s hand as Minerva’s eyes began to flicker. Her eyes flew open and she looked around her, a confused expression etched on her face.

"Minerva," said Poppy with a smile as she checked her over, "Thank goddess you’ve woken up."

"Darling," said Albus as he lent forward to kiss her.
To his shock and despair, Minerva flinched away from him and looked at him with mistrust.

"Who are you?" she asked with a puzzled expression.

TBC

[snowcat]

Oh my.
hehehe I imagine the look on Albuses face.
Brilliant story. ;D
love and hugs
Snowcat(girl from iceland)

[Jaya]

Huh!?!?!

WHAT!?!?!?

And they accuse ME of being evil when it comes to cliffies!!!!

More soon, please!!!!

Jaya ;D

[Karmin]

I am so glad you were able to retrieve this story at least. It is a very good few chapters and I can't wait until you post more of it. Karmin

[ginger newts]

I too am glad you're finding your lost stories. Thanks for sharing this one with us and please update soon, that was a terrible place to stop!

[Hogwarts Duo]

Oh that was a horrible place to leave us hanging! Glad someone saved this story, plus some of the others..wink wink..and can't wait to see more of your first stories...woo hoo!

[bee.]

goodness! of all places to stop! but it's really good, so update soon. super soon.
ecks oh ecks oh
[glow=yellow,2,300]bee[/glow]

[Isabelle]

This was one of my favorites on ff.n. I'm glad someone saved it! Update soon!

Liz

[TartanPhoenix]

I loved this story the first time I read it on ff.net, and I was so upset when all of your stories disappeared. I'm glad to see that you've decided to post this one. Keep them coming!!

[tayryn]

I want it stated for the record, that Jaya and I are *NOT* the queens of evil cliffies any longer! LOL

this was a wonderful story! i love amnesia stories!!! i truly do.

and i am also pleased that we are reading this because some generous soul saved your story and sent it back to you.

very much looking forward to more.

[LadyJolly]

I am so glad you have found one of your stories from your other account. You had some really good stories that I like and when they were gone I was sad though I've always been looking for a particular story that I can't find and I don't remember the author or the title I just know the story sadly. Post more soon please

Lady Jolly

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter 4 - I think you should go!

Albus stared at the woman in the bed with shock. He looked into her usually expressive emerald green eyes and found that they were expressionless.

"I’m Albus Dumbledore," explained Albus. He hoped she was playing some kind of joke with him. "I’m your husband and these are our children!"

Aurora and Wulfric stood forward and looked down at the woman in bed. Aurora held her father’s hand tightly as Minerva looked at each of them in turn with no recognition.

"Hello Mumma!" said Wulfric, reaching for her hand.

He couldn’t hide the hurt look in his eyes as she pulled her hand away. Albus laid a reassuring hand on his son’s shoulder.

"Don’t you recognize us, Mumma?" questioned Aurora, taking a step closer to the bed.

"I’m sorry but I don’t know who you are!" replied Minerva, her voice sounded different from what they were all used to.

"Minerva!" said Poppy softly.

"Which of you is Minerva?" questioned Minerva looking around at the group in front of her.

"That’s your name, darling!" answered Albus.

Minerva closed her eyes and tired to take in what she had just been told. She had a husband and two children that she didn’t even know and she was in some type of hospital but she had never seen anything like it before. Perhaps she had been away on holiday and this was a foreign hospital. She opened her eyes again and looked at the four people who stood around her bed. They were dressed rather strangely.

"Where am I?" she finally asked.

"Hogwarts," replied Poppy. "It’s a school where you are a teacher!"

"What do I teach?" questioned Minerva. "I always thought I could teach English!"

"You don’t teach English, Minerva," answered Poppy with a smile. "You teach Transfiguration!"

"I teach what?" exclaimed Minerva with confusion evident on her face.

"Perhaps we should explain this when you’ve recovered!" said Poppy.

"Minerva, are you sure you don’t remember me?" asked Albus trying to hide his distress.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Dumbledore, but I don’t!" she answered.

Albus was taken back by her using his formal title. In all the years he had known her she had never called him by that title. Albus glanced down at the simple wedding ring on his left hand and then reached for Minerva’s left hand and fiddled with the elegant white gold ring.

"Look, these are the rings were exchanged when we said our vows!" he told her, hoping that the rings may stir something inside her.

"Please let go of my hand," she told him. "I’m sorry that I can’t tell you what you want to hear but I don’t even know who I am or where I am!"

"Please, Minerva!" pleaded Albus with tears visible in his blue eyes. "Remember!"

"I don’t!" answered Minerva who was starting to get quite distressed with the whole situation. "Please leave me alone all of you!"

Poppy placed a reassuring hand on Minerva’s arm and smiled softy at her best friend.

"You’ve got quite a lot to deal with, my dear," Poppy told Minerva. "Why don’t you rest and things might seem clearer then!"

Minerva nodded and rolled on to her side, her back facing Albus, Aurora and Wulfric. The three of them stared at her for a moment, unsure of what was actually happening. Surely this was just one huge nightmare and when they woke up, she would be propped up in bed with a smile and telling them not to eat too many sherbet lemons as it would spoil their appetite. But it wasn’t a dream. Poppy’s voice reminded them that it was no dream as she called them into her office. They followed her into the small office at the back of the hospital wing. They sat down in silence as Poppy shut the door and sat down behind her desk.

"What has happened to my wife?" demanded Albus, his voice slightly raised as his distress got the better of him.

"I will have to run some extensive test, Albus," replied Poppy. "At present I can’t tell you much apart from the fact that she is suffering from some major memory impairment."

"Will she get her memories back, Aunt Poppy?" asked Aurora.

"I can’t give you false hope!" answered Poppy sadly.

"We need to know something!" said Albus.

"Physically, she is as fit as a fiddle," Poppy told them. "But anymore I can’t tell you until the tests are carried out."

Albus lent forward and buried his head in his hands. He couldn’t accept these answers Poppy was giving him. He felt so drained and he could still see how she looked at him. There was no love in her eyes. He had grown accustomed to seeing her eyes full of love and as she had spoken her voice sounded harsher than he had ever remembered it being. He wanted answers but most importantly he wanted his wife back.

"I think perhaps you should go and rest for the rest of the day," suggested Poppy. "You’ve had quite a shock but that is nothing to what that poor woman in there is going through. Be patient, Albus!"

"Patient?" exclaimed Albus. "How in the name of Merlin, do you expect me to be that."

"You have to be!" scolded Poppy "If you want to be any help to Minerva then you must be patient!"

"I love her, Poppy!" replied Albus who had buried his head back in his hands.

"Oh I know you do," said Poppy standing up and embracing him. "I would never question your love for her. All I am asking is to be patient and not to push. Minerva is one confused and scared witch. She doesn’t know who or what she is. She feels alone, Albus. We need to show her that we can be trusted."

Albus nodded and looked up at his son and daughter, who were looking just as shell-shocked as he. He held his arms open to them and they both flocked to his embrace.

"We will help your Mother get through this," he told them. "We will get her back!"

"Go and rest together," Poppy told them. "Minerva is perfectly safe here with me and if there if any change, I will inform you straight away. Come back tomorrow!"

"We will be back first thing tomorrow morning!" answered Albus.

"That I didn’t doubt!" said Poppy.

The four of them made their way quietly out of the office and Poppy led them over to the double doors that led out of the hospital wing. Before Albus left, he glanced over at the sleeping woman who was tucked up in a ball under the covers.

"Tell her I love her!" he told Poppy.

"Get some rest!" urged Poppy as she closed the doors.

TBC

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter 5 - Taking It All In.

"Papa?" asked Aurora as she looked at her beloved father seated behind the desk in his private study. "Are you coming to bed?"

"I will shortly," he answered without looking up at his daughter. "I have a few things that need my attention first."

"Make sure you do get some sleep!" said Wulfric as he poked his head around the door.

Albus simply nodded in answer and then they left him in peace. Deep down they knew that their father wouldn’t sleep that night but they couldn’t do much about it.
Once the door to his study closed, Albus allowed his tears to fall more freely than ever before as he looked down at a moving picture of himself and Minerva on their wonderful wedding day. He ran a long finger over the face of his wife in the picture and smiled as she kissed him in the picture. She had looked so beautiful that day, she had totally taken his breath away when he saw her standing at the far end of the aisle and as she walked towards him, he lost his heart to her all over again. Their wedding had been small but perfect, they had to keep it low key because Albus was concerned over his wife’s safety. Minerva hadn’t minded a small wedding, in fact it had been what she had always wanted because she hated to be the centre of attention. Their close family and friends had witnessed their wedding vows and the binding kiss that had followed the minister announcing them as husband and wife. Minerva had worn a simple but elegant white fitted off the shoulder dress. Her beautiful long ebony-coloured hair had been down and there had been ivy interwoven in it. She carried a simple bouquet of wild flowers and her emerald green eyes shone with love and devotion for her husband.

Albus placed the picture back on to the desk and placed his head in his hands once more. He still had trouble accepting what had happened in the last forty-eight hours. He knew his children were struggling to take in the news but he was the one who was without his soul mate. Yes, she was alive but she didn’t know him and that’s what broke his heart. He ran over his last conversation with Poppy in his mind and decided that he had better get some sleep if he was to be any help to Minerva. He slowly got to his feet and walked into the master bedroom. He was immediately struck by the scent of his wife that hung in the air. His outer robes dropped to the floor and he didn’t even bother to dress and wash for bed, he simply let himself fall down onto her side of the bed and hugged her pillow tightly. He climbed under the covers and sunk beneath them, pulling them tightly around him. He closed his eyes and took in the scent of her before sleep soon took hold of him.

**************

"Albus Dumbledore!" came a voice that woke him up with a start.

His eyes flew open and his blue orbs scanned the room for the person who had woken him from his slumber. His eyes fell upon the person he least expected to see in this room. He opened his mouth to say something but then shut it again as he rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing anything.

"Albus Dumbledore," she spoke again, "what have I said about hogging the bed?"

"Minerva," he questioned, "Is that really you?"

"Who else would it be?" she answered. "Honestly, Albus, you come out with some of the strangest things at times."

She walked towards the bed and slid in beside him, she rested her head on his shoulder and draped a slender arm over his bare chest. Albus wrapped his arms tightly around her instinctively, something which surprised Minerva greatly.

"Albus, is everything okay?" she asked as she craned her head upwards to look at him.

"I thought I had lost you!" he told her before planting a tender kiss on her forehead.

"It seems like you’ve had a long day," concluded Minerva. "Sleep my love and remember I love you dearly!"

**************

"Papa!" said Aurora forcefully for the fourth time that morning "Wake up!"

"Please let your mother and I rest, Aurora!" mumbled Albus hugging the pillow tighter to his chest.

Aurora looked at her sleeping father with concern. She shook his shoulder again and this time his eyes flew open. He turned over to his side, thinking Minerva would be beside him but she wasn’t.

"Where’s your mother?" he asked looking around the room for her.

"In the hospital wing," answered Aurora, "don’t you remember, Papa?"

"But she was here with me last night!" he told his daughter as he reached for her hands.

"She couldn’t have been," carried on Aurora, "it must have been a dream."

As the realization of what had happened just yesterday hit, Albus Dumbledore jumped out of bed and pulled on his dressing gown.

"Has Madam Pomfrey been in contact yet?" he asked with hope.

"No," answered Aurora. "Shall we go and see Muma? Wulfric is in the library looking for something that could help and will meet us in the hospital wing at lunchtime."

"Let me wash and dress!" said Albus quickly.

Aurora waited in the living area of her parent’s private rooms for her father to appear and when he did, he was carrying a large leather-bound photo album. He noticed his daughter’s questioning gaze as she looked at the album under his arm.

"I thought these might help bring her back to us!" he explained with a smile.

"It may help!" answered Aurora who was trying to remain composed. She wasn’t sure that the photo album would do much good but she knew her father needed to do this.

Father and daughter walked in silence to the hospital wing. They hoped for improvements but they also dreaded the cool unknowing look she may still give them. Albus had brought along some wild flowers for her as well as a tin of ginger newts; he hoped that these may also stir some memories inside her head. They pushed open the double doors and saw that she was sitting up in bed, staring out of the window out across the lake.

"Hello Minerva!" said Albus softly. "How are you feeling?"

"Hello," she replied almost shyly. "My head aches a bit!"

"Should I get Madam Pomfrey?" asked Aurora who couldn’t help but notice that her mother still looked at her as though she were a stranger.

"No," answered Minerva as she returned to looking out the window, "she said I will feel like this for sometime."

"I brought you some flowers and some ginger newts," said Albus as he offered her the tin of biscuits and placed the flowers in a vase that was on her side table. "I thought they might cheer you up!"

"You didn’t have to do that," she replied without feeling. "I don’t think I like ginger."

"But they are your favourite!" cried Aurora with surprise. "You always have a tin in your desk drawer. In our home there is a full tin in every room."

Minerva dragged her gaze from the window and looked at the girl who stood beside her bed. The girl had beautiful eyes but there were unshed tears in them. Minerva gestured for the girl to sit down on the bed and she reached for her hand.

"I am sorry that I am causing you pain, little one," said Minerva with a hint of sadness. "I don’t mean to, I am as confused as you are. Only last night it was explained to me that I am a witch and that I have a family. I wish I could remember you all but I don’t and it scares me. Poppy says that my memories will start coming back but it will take time, please be patient and will you come and see me?"

"I will come everyday," reassured Aurora as she squeezed her mother’s hand. "You’ll get better, Muma!"

Minerva grew uncomfortable at the usage of the term mother used by the girl and she pulled her hand away slowly.

"I erm..." she began, "I don’t think you should call me that."

"I don’t understand?" replied Aurora. The hurt in her voice didn’t go unnoticed by her father who reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I just think that I don’t deserve the title," answered Minerva. "I can’t remember anything about you."

"I’m going to go and help Wulfric!" announced Aurora moments later as she quickly made her way out of the hospital wing.

Albus sunk down in a nearby chair and looked at the woman who was seated up in bed, looking strangely at the tin of ginger newts.

"Why don’t you have one!" suggested Albus.

"I didn’t mean to make her cry," revealed Minerva as she turned to look at him. "I’m not enjoying this one bit and last night I wished I was dead."

"Oh darling!" said Albus as he went to hold her but stopped as she looked at him with alarm. "Sorry!"

"Please tell her that I didn’t mean to cause her distress," she told him. "I would very much like to see her again. She is very pretty and has a very kind heart."

"She takes after you," replied Albus as he looked at her. "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t push this with you. It must be horrible for you to have lost all your memories, you must feel very alone, my dear."

"This must be very hard for you as well," she continued, "you seem like a very nice and caring man."

"I think that was part of why you married me," he replied with a smile.

"Oh!" she answered.

Albus saw that she shifted uncomfortably in bed and decided that it was time to bring out the photo album.

"Would you like to see some photo’s?" he asked.

"That would be nice," she replied.

TBC

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter 6 : Memories Stored in Photos.

Minerva waited patiently as Albus reached behind him and picked up the leather-bound photo album, she felt butterflies in her stomach. She was nervous about what the photo album might contain. Part of her was hopeful that the photos would trigger something but another part of her was worried that the photos would mean nothing to her. Albus placed the book on the bed, he then did something which startled Minerva. He reached out for her wedding hand and brought it over to the book. He felt her stiffen under his touch and he tried not to show how hurt he felt.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "I should have reminded you that the book needs our wedding rings to open."

"Oh!" said Minerva looking away from him.

Minerva felt him place her hand down on the cool leather surface and he put his hand over hers. She heard a click and the lock came open. Albus let his hand linger on hers for a moment before lifting his hand off and letting her pull her hand away and place it in her lap.

The book opened revealing their names in large thick roman italics and the year that the album was started. Minerva reached forward and traced their names with a delicate finger as she looked intently at small inscriptions that surrounded their names. She felt a blush creep upon her cheeks as she caught Albus looking at her. She turned the page and saw that it was a wedding photo, the two people in the picture were smiling and looking at each other with love and devotion in their eyes. Minerva recognized the man in the picture to be a younger version of the man sat beside her bed and she presumed that the woman in the picture was a younger her. She looked at the picture for some time trying to recall this special day but nothing came. She felt a small tear tickle down her cheek and saw it land on the picture.

"Perhaps I shouldn’t have shown you this yet!" said Albus softly. He was distressed to see a tear fall from her eyes.

"No, it’s fine," she answered. "I want to see it!"

"As long as you’re sure!" he replied.

"Yes, I’m sure!" she told him. "Is that a church behind us?"

"It’s my family parish," answered Albus. "There is a better picture on the next page."

Minerva turned the page over and gasped in delight as she saw the parish in its full glory. It was made of grey stone and arched windows and a beautiful tall steeple. Ivy was growing up some of the walls and wild flowers grew around the bottom on the parish.

"It’s beautiful!" exclaimed Minerva.

"Over the centuries many a Dumbledore has married in that parish," explained Albus, who was a little disheartened that she didn’t seem to remember their wedding day. "I recall you were very excited about marrying in the parish, you always loved it there."

"I’m not surprised," she said catching his eye briefly before returning to picture. "It’s enchanting."

Minerva looked at the other pictures of their wedding, it seemed to have been a perfect day. A dream of any bride to be and Minerva could tell by the pictures that she had been very much in love with this man and that he returned the feelings just as strongly. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, he was looking at the pictures as well. He had the most remarkable eyes she had ever seen, every emotion that he was feeling seemed to reflect in his eyes. She could tell that he was reminiscing but there was also sadness in his eyes. Every time she had turned the page she had seen a flicker of hope appear in his eyes, but then disappear when she didn’t say anything. There was something about this man that drew her to him. Yes she knew that they shared a connection but she couldn’t remember what they shared. She felt so bad for him that she couldn’t remember their love and that she looked at him as a stranger. Each time he had touched her, she had felt a surge of emotion flow through her body and she wasn’t sure what it meant. She turned her attention back to the album and sighed to herself. Even though she knew that the woman in this pictures was her, she still felt as though she was looking at a stranger’s wedding photos. She was about to turn the page when a face in the crowd caught her attention. She picked the book and stared at the face as her thoughts pounded against her skull.

"Who is this?" she said loudly, pointing at the picture. "I know her!"

"That’s Kate," he answered as he leaned forward and began to feel hopeful again "she is your..."

"My mother!" said Minerva finishing his sentence for him "Oh, I remember her, I really do."

"You remember her?" asked Albus allowing himself to smile for the first time in weeks.

"Yes!" replied Minerva with a small laugh. "She used to make the best sponge cake in the whole world, I tried to get the recipe off her but she would never tell me. She said I had to wait till I was married."

"This is wonderful, Minerva!" exclaimed Albus as he reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

He looked at her and saw that she was smiling brightly at the picture. Her eyes seemed to be returning to their normal colour and her cheeks were flushed with excitement.

Minerva was about to turn the page when Poppy Pomfrey marched in and looked at them both sternly. She crossed her arms across her chest and tapped her foot impatiently.

"Minerva," she scolded, "I do not want you to get overexcited. Albus, please refrain from getting her too excited as it may put back her recovery."

"Poppy," said Albus getting to his feet, "she has remembered Kate."

"That does not excuse this behaviour," replied Poppy who wasn’t listening properly at first. "She what...? Oh Minerva, this is excellent. Let me scan you!"

Poppy gently pushed Albus aside so she should reach Minerva. With a flick of her wand Poppy cast several diagnostic spells over her patient and waited. Albus rubbed his hands together and silently hoped that the results showed some improvement. If Minerva had remembered her mother, then surely it was the start of her memory coming back. The streams of light around Minerva died out and Poppy charted her findings down on a piece of parchment, making sounds to herself as she wrote.

"Well?" Albus asked.

"Well what?" asked Poppy who was still immersed in her parchment.

"Poppy!" sighed Albus.

"Oh sorry," she answered. "I just had to write this down. Well, it seems that some of the pressure that was on Minerva’s brain has dispersed but there is still a long way to go. We are on the right track though."

"Can I look at the photo album some more?" asked Minerva with a yawn.

"Of course!" said Albus.

"No!" said Poppy sternly. "You’re worn out, Minerva, and you’ve had far too much excitement already. You need to sleep now, dearie. Albus can pop by later on and you can have another look through the album then, but not before. Do you hear me?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you enjoy ordering people around a bit too much?" said Minerva with a faint smile.

"I learnt from the best!" answered Poppy who winked at Albus which caused him to smile again.

"What do you mean?" asked Minerva whose nose was a bit put out of joint. "Tell me this instant!"

"Ah Minerva," answered Poppy, "I do believe that you are well on the road to recovery. Now, Albus, can you leave us for now, I’ll keep an good eye on her."

"Make sure you do!" said Albus. He nodded at both women before leaving the hospital wing with a spring in his step.

Minerva let her head rest upon the pillow. She asked Poppy to sit with her for a while and talk to her. Poppy did as she was asked and perched on the edge of Minerva’s bed.

"Oh Poppy!" sighed Minerva. "This is harder than I thought it would be. I want to remember but till moments ago I didn’t. I only remember my mother baking, that’s hardly a lot, is it?"

"It’s a big step in the right direction, Minerva," reassured Poppy. "Remembering Kate is more than I expected so soon after waking up. It wasn’t that long ago that I had to tell you that you were a witch and had been brought up in the wizarding community. You lost all your memories after that nasty fall and already you’ve accomplished more than we expected. You’re fitting back into our world without even realizing it. You didn’t think twice about those moving pictures in the album and you didn’t even finch when Fawkes visited you last night."

"Fawkes," said Minerva with a smile, "he belongs to Albus, doesn’t he!"

"See!" said Poppy, "Fawkes does belong to Albus, but also to you. That phoenix it quite attached to you. I recall him becoming rather jealous every time Albus was near you. Albus took him off to have a man-to-phoenix talk and everything seemed to be fine after that, but Fawkes still used to follow you around and perch on your chair rather than Albus’."

"Albus!" said Minerva closing her eyes and smiling. "I can see why I married him!"

"Minerva, what did you just say?" asked Poppy who wanted to make sure she had heard her friend right.
Minerva didn’t answer though as she had fallen asleep. Poppy smiled to herself as she tucked the covers around her friend. She placed a soft friendly kiss on her forehead before leaving her to sleep.

TBC

[Hogwarts Duo]

I loved the fact that it took both of their wedding bands to open the photo album. And the part about Fawkes and Albus having a phoenix to man chat was just too cute for words. I love it!!!

[Alesia]

I am really enjoying this. I read the first few chapters yesterday and returned to find more this morning. What I a great Monday start. It will be interesting to watch the various things Minerva remembers and in what order.

Alesia

[TheGryffindorSeeker]

oh i remember this one well from ff.net , i so loved it and im loving it again from re-reading,been a while since i read it cant wait for the update

[ginger newts]

There are a lot more smiles in these chapters than I expected to get when I heard it was an amnesia story, I like the way you're handling the memory thing. I loved the passage about Fawkes and the photo album that had to be opened with their rings. Update soon!

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter 7: The picnic!

Poppy Pomfrey quickly made her way along to the private quarters belonging to Albus Dumbledore. She knocked loudly on the door and waited to be asked in. She didn’t have to wait long because within seconds of knocking the door swung open, revealing a tired-looking headmaster.

"Poppy!" he exclaimed with panic evident in his voice. "Is it Minerva? Is she okay?"

"Hold your dragons, Professor!" said Poppy raising her hand to stop him from working himself into a panic. "Minerva is fine, I have just come along to suggest a picnic."

"A picnic?" questioned Albus. "Poppy, with all due respect, I don’t think it’s time to enjoy myself!"

"Minerva needs to get out of the hospital wing for a few hours," continued Poppy. "I’m suggesting that we all go for a picnic beside the lake."

"That is a inspired idea, Poppy," replied Albus with a smile. "Minerva loved picnics beside the lake. We would always have one the day the students left in the summer."

"It may jog her memory as well!" said Poppy. "Meet us at the hospital wing at noon and bring the hamper with you!"

Albus nodded and watched the mediwitch exit his living areas. A picnic was an excellent idea and he planned to enjoy every minute of the picnic. He was feeling better since Minerva had remembered her mother. He could now look to the future hopefully, he wanted his wife to return to him. He had caught her watching him as they flicked through the photo album, the look in her eyes was familiar to him but it had gone as soon as it had come.

Two hours later Albus, Wulfric and Aurora were making their way along to the hospital wing, carrying a picnic hamper and a large tartan blanket. They arrived at the hospital wing and found that Poppy, Alastor Moody and Minerva were already waiting for them. Minerva flashed the three new arrivals a shy smile before fiddling with her hands as Alastor offered to carry the hamper.

The six of them made their way along the corridor and out into the beautiful grounds belonging to Hogwarts. Albus offered his arm to Minerva and to his delight, she accepted the gesture and looped her slim arm through his. Wulfric nudged Aurora and pointed to were their beloved father and mother were. Aurora let out an excited giggle which made everyone turn around and look at her with questioning eyes. They reached the edge of the lake and Wulfric laid the tartan blanket down on the grass underneath a large chestnut tree. Minerva stared at the tartan with interest.

"Is everything okay?" asked Albus who had noticed that she had become distracted by something.

"The blanket is familiar to me!" she said in a whisper as she didn’t want to draw attention to herself.

"Do you remember anything about it?" he asked as he helped her sit down on the blanket.

She didn’t answer him, instead she fingered the chequered pattern and looked at it intently as though she was searching for her answer. Albus decided not to push the subject and opened the picnic hamper. The selection of food flew out of the hamper and positioned themselves on the blanket so that everyone could tuck in when they wanted to.

"Oh Papa," cried Aurora excitedly, "you remembered the egg and bacon savoury bites. They are yummy, you have to have one."

Aurora offered the plate around and everyone took one except for Minerva who regarded the plate with a critical eye.

"No thank you, Aurora," she answered. "They look similar to..."

"FISH EYES!" cried Albus, Wulfric and Aurora.

"How did you know I was going to say that?" asked Minerva with a small smile.

"You’ve been saying it for as long as I can remember!" answered Wulfric with a laugh.

"Your tastes have certainly not changed!" said Albus as he pointed to her plate.

Minerva looked down at her plate and looked at what she had picked up. There were two tuna and cucumber sandwiches, cheese and pineapple on sticks, some raw carrots and three ginger newts. She blushed slightly as she realised that all eyes were on her.

"I like them!" she answered in her defence.

"We know!" said Alastor Moody as he took a swig out of his hip flask before tucking into the ham and pickle sandwiches.

Albus couldn’t help but watch Minerva out of the corner of his eyes as she carefully ate her sandwiches. She had always eaten gracefully no matter what they had been having for dinner. He smiled to himself when a memory resurfaced in his own mind. He remember when they had attended a Muggle-style barbeque at the Weasleys’ some years ago and Minerva had tried to eat a sparerib without making a mess. She had failed and decided that she better put the rib back down on her plate before any of her former and present students saw her attempting to eat one.

"What are you smiling about?" asked Minerva who was looking at him.

"A memory!" answered Albus.

"Aren’t I the one who is meant to be doing that?" she said with a raised eyebrow. "Oh Merlin, it’s my family tartan."

"I wasn’t thinking about that!" replied Albus with confusion.

"You weren’t," she answered, "but the blanket I’m sitting on is made of my family tartan. Look!"

"I know!" grinned Albus. "Rather lovely isn’t it?"

Minerva nodded and fingered the deep red and forest green chequered squares. As she looked at the tartan she felt a flood of memories consume her mind. She placed her hand on her head as she began to feel slightly faint and overwhelmed by the memories.

"Minerva!" said Poppy dropping to her knees beside her friend.

"I’m fine, Poppy!" assured Minerva. "I remember some things about my family, my parents and my siblings. They are all dead, aren’t they?"

"I’m afraid so," answered Poppy sadly. "You came and lived with me and my parents."

"Yes, I remember," said Minerva with a nod. "I remember everything till then and then it’s still blank."

"You’re doing so well!" said Albus as he carefully placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

Silence consumed them all for a few moments till Wulfric suggested they all paddle in the lake to cool off. Poppy, Minerva and Aurora all agreed to join Wulfric leaving Alastor and Albus alone to talk.

"How are you doing, old friend?" asked Alastor before popping a cauldron cake into his mouth.

"Words can’t describe what I’m feeling, Alastor," replied Albus sadly as he watched Minerva hitch her robes up and place her feet on the cool water. "It all feels like a dream and all I want to do is wake up and find her beside me in our bed. I feel as though I’m missing part of me."

"I couldn’t imagine what I would do if Poppy was in Minerva’s situation," said Alastor. "She will come back to you, Albus, it’s just going to take time."

"Everyone is telling me that, Alastor," snapped Albus. "If one more person mentions time, I am sure to hex them into next year and I won’t be sorry about it. No one knows what this is doing to me, I just want my Minerva back."

"Albus," said Alastor as he put a friendly hand on his shoulder. "I’m here whenever you want to talk, this isn’t just happening to Minerva."

"I mustn’t be selfish," answered Albus. "Minerva needs me, my children are leaning on me for support"

"Albus, you need someone for you!" said Alastor.

"I had Minerva for me!" snapped Albus loudly.

"I know!" said Alastor who was finally admitting defeat.

Albus looked down at his hands, he felt bad for snapping at Alastor but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t want anyone’s help, he wanted his Minerva back. He wanted to have her curled up in his arms in front of the fire like they would do every winter, he wanted to wake up in the morning and have her snuggle against him and most of all he wanted to feel her lips on his and taste her tender loving kisses. He didn’t notice that someone was walking towards him till they had bent down and held his hand.

"Albus!" she said softly.

He looked up and the sound of the familiar voice and the very familiar look she was giving him but he longed for the touch of her, kneeled down in front of him was Minerva with concern in her vivid emerald coloured eyes.

"Come and paddle!" she suggested softly.

"I don’t think so!" he answered coldly.

He couldn’t help but notice the hurt look that appeared in her eyes as she went to get up on her feet.

"I’m sorry!" she said with tears present in her eyes before she suddenly transformed into the small silver and black tabby cat that hadn’t been seen for a long time.

"Albus! What did you do?" demanded Poppy.

"I did nothing!" said Albus as he banged his fists against the grass.

"You must have..." continued Poppy who was raising her voice.

"Poppy, that’s enough!" said Alastor stepping in before things got out of hand.

"I have to go and find her," said Poppy "she may not know what has actually happened to her."

Poppy swept off in the direction that Minerva had gone off in, but not before sending a death glare at Albus.

"Papa!" screeched Aurora as tears rolled down her face. "Why did you have to ruin things!"

"Aurora," started Albus but he didn’t get chance to continue as she ran off as well.

"I’ll go after her," volunteered Wulfric, "she is just upset, Pops!"

Albus watched as his son ran off after his daughter and then turned to look at Alastor. Albus simply nodded his head before walking away from the ex-auror. Alastor watched his friend walk out of the grounds and then apparate away.

TBC

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter 8 - Love and Despair.

Poppy ran through the corridors in search of a small black and silver tabby cat. She had looked in every possible place and still hadn’t found her. She was about to make her way back to the hospital wing when she heard a faint meow. She followed the slight sound and came to a stop in front of a chair outside the transfiguration classroom. Poppy kneeled down and peered under the chair to find the cat in question backed up against the wall and shaking.

"Oh Minerva, it’s okay!" reassured Poppy as she placed her hand under the chair. "Come out!"

She felt the cat brush her head against hand and then come forward and climbed on the medi-witches lap. Poppy got to her feet and cradled her in her arms as she walked along to the hospital wing. Poppy tickled Minerva behind the ear every now and then to comfort the distressed cat. She placed Minerva down on the bed and looked her over before pulling out her wand.

"Can you change back?" asked Poppy.

The cat just looked at Poppy strangely and went about cleaning her coat. Poppy sighed to herself, she wasn’t sure that she should try and transform Minerva back into her human state. Transfiguration wasn’t her strongest talent but luckily for her, Minerva transformed back into a witch on her own accord.

"It just came to me!" exclaimed Minerva.

"That is excellent!" replied Poppy who put her wand back in her pocket "Are you okay?"

"Oh Poppy," said Minerva as she relaxed against the plump pillows behind her. "I was having such a lovely time today and then..."

"Albus ruined it," interrupted Poppy. "I never thought he would be selfish!"

"He isn’t," said Minerva jumping to his defence. "This is hard on him, no one has taken his feelings into consideration. He doesn’t know whether he is coming or going. He wants his wife back and though I’m alive and well, I’m not acting like his wife. The poor man! I want to remember him but at present that is a blur."

"Minerva, you’re the important one here," said Poppy.

"Everyone involved is important," replied Minerva sadly. "I have this family that I don’t know. It must be heartbreaking for them to know who I am but for me to look at them as strangers."

"It takes time!" said Poppy as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Like Albus," continued Minerva, "I have had enough with this take time business. I want to remember him. I want to remember my son and daughter who are part of me and Albus. I want to love him as I did before. I feel myself drawn to him, Poppy!"

"Drawn to him?" questioned Poppy. "How do you mean?"

"I can’t explain," answered Minerva. "All I know is that I do have feelings for this man, I don’t know what they are at present though. It hurts me to see him hurting, Poppy, and I want to take the hurt away. At first I was wary of him because I was confused but now I want him here!"

"Minerva, the feelings you are feeling could be to do with what you and him shared before the accident. You are bonded to one another so there is a connection. This is very promising!"

Minerva had struggled to hold onto the tears that had been present since Albus had shunned her. She finally let them fall from her emerald green eyes as she tried to make sense of the situation. Poppy moved forward and embraced her friend.

"Why is that I remember silly things like family tartan and baking biscuits and do not remember the man I love?" she whimpered against Poppy’s shoulder. "He looks at me with devotion and love and I look at him with confusion. Poppy, why did it have to happen to us? It was our anniversary only a few weeks ago, twenty-five years together."

"Minerva!" said Poppy holding her at arms length. "Did Albus tell you about that?"

"No!" answered Minerva truthfully. "It just seemed to roll off my tongue. Please get Albus, I need to speak with him."

"I’m afraid that you can’t talk to Albus!" came Alastor Moody’s voice from the doorway.

"What do you mean?" asked Minerva.

"He has gone!" answered Alastor. "I think he needs time to set a few things straight in his mind."

"Where has he gone?" Minerva questioned, concern was evident in her voice.

"He just apparated away, no mention of where he was going!" replied Alastor.

"Oh no," cried Minerva, "it’s all my fault. What if he doesn’t come back!"

"Ssshhh Minerva," said Poppy softly, "don’t get yourself worked up."

"Why shouldn’t I?" screeched Minerva frantically. "The man I love has just up and left me!"

"Thank you very much, Alastor Moody!" growled Poppy as she tried to calm Minerva down.

Albus Dumbledore stormed into the small cottage he shared with his family when he and Minerva were not working at Hogwarts. The door banged loudly behind him as he strode into the living room. He had had to get away from Hogwarts, away from Poppy, his children and away from Minerva. He had been surprised to see hurt in her eyes when he had rebuffed her invitation to join them in a paddle and he had wanted to follow her as she had darted off, but his body wouldn’t let him.

His heavy heart was weighing him down and he was losing patience. He wanted to be by Minerva’s side twenty hours a day but he couldn’t handle her eyes and how she looked at him with no feeling. He had thought that she was remembering him but she never mentioned anything and so he was losing hope. Poppy kept going on about it taking time and that she was on the right path, but none of Poppy’s words brought Minerva closer to him. He couldn’t keep watching her remember small things like tartan blankets, he wanted her to remember him. He wanted her to remember the love they shared, the small things that kept them so in love over the years. She was still as beautiful as she had always been and it killed him that he could not touch her without causing offence. He had gotten used to being able to lavish his attention on her and now he couldn’t. No one seemed to be supporting him. He knew that he was selfish to think this but he couldn’t help it.

Minerva had always been his support and in return he would be hers, but not this time. He still wasn’t even sure what had caused Minerva to slip and bang her head, she was normally so careful. Suddenly a thought popped into his head that filled him with dread; what if she did remember him but didn’t want him anymore? He tried to push that thought out of his mind, but he feared that it was going to stay with him for a while.

He was exhausted. Sleepless nights had finally caught up with him and he made his way out of the living room and into his private office at the cottage. The room was full of her smell and it reflected her taste. Wherever he was in the cottage it was a constant reminder that she wasn’t there with him. He sat down in his usual comfortable chair and glanced at the wedding photo that was in a frame on the coffee table. He leaned forward and picked it up. He let his fingers graze over the picture of her.

"Why don’t you remember me!" he asked the picture.

He knew that a picture wouldn’t answer him but he became frustrated with it. Without hesitation, he threw the picture towards the fireplace. It hit the wall and he heard the glass shatter. It had felt good to take his frustration out on something. It had been building up inside of him over the weeks and now he had had a release. Like a ton of bricks descending down in him, he realized what he had done and he quickly got to his feet and swept over to the fire place. He knelt down and looked at the wedding picture again as he picked up the broken glass. He cursed to himself as he cut his finger on a piece of glass.

"Minerva!" he cried out. "Please remember me. Wasn’t my love clear to you from the start? How could you forget what we had? Please, please come back to me, I need you so much."

In the silence of their summer cottage, Albus curled up in a ball and cried.

TBC

[angeldust]

wow i had totally forgotten about this fic It's wondeful to see it again

[ginger newts]

Okay, I feel sorry for Albus but he needs to get himself back to Hogwarts and hear all that stuff Minerva told Poppy! I love the way she wants to remember so badly and then sort of does without realizing it. Update soon!

[TheGryffindorSeeker]

awwww this is heart breaking, cant wait for update

[Alesia]

*sniff* Albus just talk her to dammit!!.

Great story!

Alesia

[Isabelle]

Poor Albus. If only he knew... Great update!

Liz

[Hogwarts Duo]

That has to be the saddest chapter in the entire story and the image of a heartbroken Albus just tugs at my heartstrings. Sniff Sniff

[tayryn]

oh... *sniffle*... poor Albus! my heart is just breaking for him.

this update, and the one before it, were simply wonderful.

very much *still* looking forward to more.

[DianaB]

Omg this is such a great story, can't wait for next update!