I do apologize that I have not updated sooner; but I am hoping to have this story finished prior to Christmas.
Thank you all for your warm words & very glad you have been enjoying this tale!
Chapter 19Bree felt a wave of relief pass through her as a flood of orange, yellows, and reds briefly lit the small room, followed by Albus’ lithe form. Instantly she noticed that his breaths were shallow, and as he took two steps closer she could see the blood lining his robes. “Albus, your side.” Bree stated, trying to push herself completely upright.
“I was struck…” He said, coming to stand next to her, blue eyes blazing as they swept over her countenance. “It has been temporarily healed.”
“Temporarily?” Bree’s voice rose two octaves at the notion, temporary. “What in Merlin’s name is temporary?” She asked, then felt a spell warm her leg, their eyes meeting the others. “Albus?”
“Fawkes assisted me in closing the wound.” He stoutly replied.
Bree reached out, hand gently wrapping around his arm as she nodded to the far corner. “Albus…I don’t think she can change back.” She stated, both their eyes turning to the small tabby cat. Her once emerald green eyes, now muted olive green as she stared at them…pain emanating from her depths.
“I tried to get close to her,” Bree whispered, “But as I got closer, she would pull herself away.” Tears were threatening to spill from the older witch’s brown eyes. “She is not well.”
At once Albus stood, trying to ignore the pinch in his side as he did. “Minerva.” He stated as he took a step closer, “Can you understand me?”
Holding their breaths, Albus and Bree waited for a sign. Finally close to a minute later, Albus cleared his throat. “Minerva, dear, if you understand me, close your eyes.”
Again, both the wizard and witch waited for a sign. Anxious seconds passed, nothing. Albus raised his wand…
“Albus….!” Bree went to put her hand on his arm, “What do you think…?”
The sudden movement and commotion caused the small cat to stir, her fangs barred at the other occupants. Albus, remained undeterred, and before Bree could stop him or Minerva could move, a spell flashed towards Minerva which she sprang to the side…and before she could move again…a second spell struck her left back leg.
At once…they watched the body of the tabby cat disappear into the heap of a woman. Her black hair matted and stringy; her robes torn and bloody; green eyes filled with panic as she scrambled backwards.
“Minerva.” Albus stated…
But the woman before them did not respond, in any way that was expected. She merely gazed from wizard to the witch…eyes frantically snapping around the room, searching for an exit.
“Minerva.” Albus stated stepping closer, this caused her to raise her arms in a flash…and Albus felt his body being thrown backwards until he was sliding down the wall. With a grunt, he raised himself, eyes never leaving Minerva’s. “I hope you will believe me or remember the look in my eyes, for I am truly sorry, my dear.”
And then a flash of bright blue light shot across the room…and Minerva’s body was reeling backwards, stunned. Before her body crumpled to the ground, Albus was across the room, catching her as she fell. He barely turned his head, “She needs medical attention.”
“How far can Fawkes take you?” Bree asked.
“Us, Bree.” He said, nestling Minerva deeper into his arms, trying to ignore how light she had become, along with the blood lining her robes and interspersed through her hair. “Us. I am not leaving you in this forsaken land, any more than her.”
He felt her hand gently touch the side of his robes, “How far?”
“Far enough, dear.” He said as Fawkes swooshed lower, his fingers skimming across the plumed foliage. In a flash of flame, the wizard and two witches vanished from the small room.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Albus tried to stand as Poppy came into the room, only to have the healer place his hand upon Albus’ chest. “You are not to move.”
Albus ignored the man, turning to Poppy. “How is she?”
Poppy sighed, pulling up a chair as she did. “We don’t know.”
Albus felt a panic swelling up through him, “What do you mean?”
Poppy reached up, taking the elder wizard’s long fingers in her own. “When she’s conscious, she won’t allow another person near her. She has no recognition of places, persons…” Poppy’s voice caught as the first tear slipped down onto her cheek. “We’ve had to sedate her until we can transfer her to St. Mungos.”
“Can I see her?”
“You cannot leave, Mr. Dumbledore.” Christopher stated as he pushed harder on his chest.
Poppy slipped her hand from Albus’ and placed it on Christopher’s. “I will go with him.”
Christopher opened his mouth, and as he started to speak, he caught Poppy’s subtle shake of her head. Christopher frowned, raising his hand. “Nothing strenuous, you are quite weak.”
Albus nodded, “Thank you.” And was already swinging his legs from the bed, Poppy gently holding his arm as he stood. He could feel his body pull, his side burning, but his mind was already focused on Minerva.
He vaguely heard Christopher wish him well, stating how much of an honor it had been to meet him. Albus smiled, stated thank you, and with tired legs he maneuvered down the hall.
Poppy quietly walked beside him, until he was at her door…and she quietly pulled it opened, stepping aside as he went in.
Albus felt his breath catch as he entered. Gone was the beautiful glimmer of her eyes, the creamy complexion of her skin, and the satin finish that seemed to encompass her hair.
For it had been replaced.
A shadow of the woman he loved lay opposite of him. Her hair was stringy, face gaunt, skin sallow, lines edging from her eyes, and her lips contorted in pain. “Dear Merlin…Minerva.” He whispered edging closer, “What has happened?”
Her body moved, a soft sigh eschewing from her lips as if in response to either his presence or his voice. Gently he reached up, resting his hand atop hers. Her arm flinched, but her hand remained beneath his.
“What did he do to you?” He asked, barely breathing as his eyes raked over her face…and then down her body. Shaking his head, he pulled his hand up to her face, trailing it down her cheek. A ghost of a smile wisped across her face as his hand tenderly caressed her skin, but before he could pull his hand up and gently repeat the gesture – her eyes snapped opened.
Green…almost wild eyes starred wide-eyed into his blue, calming ones. Neither moved…each barely breathing…
The door creaked, and Minerva’s eyes snapped over to it, body becoming defensive as she recoiled from the noise. Albus continued watching Minerva, “Whoever you are, you are unwelcome. Leave.”
“Such finality Albus.” Gertrude uttered, stepping into the room, causing Minerva to shrink back farther. Gertrude’s eyes swept pass Albus, landing on the wide-eyed girl, who for all intensive purposes helped to save the wizarding world. Her voice softened as she came up behind Albus, her hand gently squeezing his shoulder. “Merryweather said that she is unlikely to recover.”
Albus’ gaze never wavered, eyes still trained on Minerva. “I was told she is going to St. Mungos for treatment.”
“She is being transferred out this afternoon.” Gertrude reaffirmed, “However, the outcome does seem meek.” She turned to the elder wizard, “They do not know what spell struck her.”
“Gertrude,” His voice becoming raw as he tenderly reached outward towards Minerva whose eyes continued following the elder witch. “Her actions enabled us to stop Gellert.”
No sooner had he uttered Gellert’s name, and Minerva jerked her body backwards towards the wall, and Albus and Gertrude were magically thrown back against the door frame. As Albus picked himself up, he could see Minerva’s body morph into a cat…he could hear the nurses coming down the hall…and then she was running straight at him, the door behind him pulling open as she leapt in the air barely an inch above his outstretched fingers…
Albus tipped his head back following her jump, and then heard a yelp of pain as her nails dug into the healer’s chest and before he could react, she had catapulted over his shoulder before landing with a thud in the hall. “Grab…stun that cat!” Gertrude yelled and Albus watched as Minerva dodged a handful of spells before disappearing around the corner and out of sight. Gertrude and half of the healers trailing the cat, as Albus allowed his body to lean against the frame. Involuntarily, he closed his eyes as a solitary tear slipping out from beneath the lashes. “Come back, Minerva…” He whispered into the stillness.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Poppy glanced up as both Brianna and Gertrude entered Albus’ room. She noticed that the elder wizard barely acknowledged their entrance, and only after Gertrude stepped forward, clearly indicating her presence did he raise his gaze to meet hers. “I take it you have not found her.”
Gertrude’s peppering hair shook from side to side, “We did not.” She stepped closer, gently placing her hand on his leg. “Albus, I…am very sorry, but the bravery you and Brianna exhibited, along with your teams…we are all indebted to you.”
The warmth from Albus’ eyes had vanished as he quietly stared back at Gertrude. “It is not the act of one person but the act of many that has brought this war to an end, Gertrude.” Albus finally lowered his eyes as he leaned back into his pillows, “I shall be released and returning to Hogwarts the day after next, and will make myself available should I be needed, Gertrude.”
Gertrude eyed her friend, knowing that he was politely and effectively asking her to leave. Gently she squeezed his leg, “Rest and heal, both are deserved.” She whispered, “And I hope to be able to give you tidings of our recovery of Miss McGonagall upon your return to England.”
He gave a solitary nod, “That would indeed be welcome news.”
“Bree, Poppy.” Gertrude stated before turning and leaving the three of them alone.
Poppy barely waited for the door to close before casting a silencing charm upon the room, “You can’t leave Minerva here, Sir.”
Albus opened his mouth, but Bree shook her head. “She’s gone Poppy.”
Poppy opened her mouth and found she couldn’t speak.
Go…ne? Gone? “What…do you mean, gone?” She asked, voice taunt with emotion.
“She apparated away Poppy.” Bree stated, her eyes briefly glancing towards Albus. “And we have no idea where she has gone.”
“That was four hours ago.” Poppy snapped. “What have you been…”
“Bree and Lizzy have been apparating to every scouting location we have been to within the last eight months, Poppy. I am unable to go, they volunteered to verify that Minerva did not mistakenly apparate to an old camp site or a previous target area.” He raised his eyes to meet Bree’s and she shook her head.
“Lizzy returned just moments ago from the last one,” She shook her head, “She is not at any of those locations.” Bree turned to Poppy, “Do you have any other ideas where she would apparate to from this location?”
Poppy shook her head, “Other than London or the family manor, I don’t know where she would go. Wait.” The sudden jolt of energy from her idea was palatable to the others in the room. “Why haven’t you had your phoenix locate Minerva? Surely he is able.”
Bree looked expectantly at Albus. “Unless there is something you haven’t told us.”
Albus’ sighed, “Fawkes is able to detect where most wizards and witches are, true. However,” The elder wizard cleared his throat lightly, “He cannot detect Minerva in her animagus form nor if a witch or wizard’s location is hidden by a secret keeper.”
“Then surely, Fawkes can locate her when Minerva resumes her form as a witch.”
Bree stated.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
*Still debating on how angsty I am feeling in regards to how to end it, so...
*
Poppy’s quiet voiced rebutted her statement, “That’s assuming she returns into one.”
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Oh my god! She left 
