Resolving a Misunderstanding (complete)

[dianahawthorne]

I hope that they don't each turn up where the other is not... that wouldn't be good! Great chapter, as always, and I'm glad we saw Minerva's reaction to Albus's rejection. Dilys's input was great, too, as well as Gertrude's. Great job, as always, and I look forward to the next update!

[Gemmie Lou]

Here i am leaving lurkdom to comment i just want to shake albus sometimes he is so dense for the brightest wizard of their age!!! I love this story thanks for keeping us updated so quickly xx

[MMADfan]

Hi, all! I'd address each comment, but I'm having a lazy Sunday and can't seem to gather my ooomph to do that (you know "ooomph," don't you?), but I wanted to hop on briefly and say how much I am enjoying reading everyone's observations and speculations and such. I'm especially happy that folks are coming out of lurkdom to say "hi"! ;D

The other reason I'm posting the message is to let you know that

a) I will be away for about a week (there's a big U.S. holiday this week that I am actually able to get out-of-town for this year, which is really unusual), therefore,
b) there will be about one week without any RaM updates (horrors! grab the tranquilisers -- or the chamomile & catnip tea!); HOWEVER,
c) while I am away, there will be a poll up on my LiveJournal (to be posted probably on Tuesday) for folk to choose their favourite RaM Original Character, and
d) when I return, I will reveal the results of the poll and I will write a one-shot featuring the favourite character (after posting a new chapter of RaM, of course!).

I'll post an announcement here when the poll is up. Please don't try to vote more than once. It will be a blind poll, so you won't be able to see the results until I close the poll. It will be a lovely surprise!

I will update RaM once more before I leave town, so you needn't start to panic yet! LOL!

Also, at the risk of sounding wa-ay pathetic, my poor little one-shot, "Impressing Filius," over on the "Somewhat Related" board, only has ONE very lonely -- but lovely! -- review. So if you are dying to read something while waiting for an update to RaM, you could read & review that -- it is set in the RaM-universe, after all. I'm told by others that it is cute. It's a companion to "Falling for Pomona," which is humorous.

Anyway, I hope people aren't too distressed by the idea of a week without RaM, but I'm sure you will enjoy the next couple updates even more!

Thanks again for all the reviews and comments!

[esoterica1693]

Big "Yay!" that you're able to get away for Thanksgiving. Hopefully you're able to avoid the worst of the high traffic days and spend more time at your destination than in traffic jams or airports!

While the Canadians have their own version of Thanksgiving, I guess there really is no equivalent in the UK as far as a large national holiday, is there? save a Harvest Festival in some churches? So no potential RAM tie-in. :-( <g>

[MMADfan]

The answers to "When they were kids . . ." are up on my LJ!

Now, I am debating between a matching game and another multiple choice . . . . hmmmm . . . They're both sitting there, waving their metaphorical little hands, saying, "pick me! pick me!" I think the matching game is hardest, and since the last one was easier than I had thought it would be . . . hmmm.

Re: my travel plans. I hope to be able to hop in the car very early in the morning and miss a lot of the traffic. I'll just stock the car with my favorite music and pray that the cats don't cause me too much trouble herding them . . .

[dmf1984]

I'll add my "yay" for your upcoming travel plans and best wishes for a safe holiday. And, good luck "herding the cats"; Jimmy and I have 3 (so it's "herding toddler plus cats" por moi, into the mini-van).

But, we're not travelling this year, other than across town...it's my sisters' turns to drive, herding my nieces and nephews. Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

Good things come to we who wait? ;-)

Cheers!
Di

[minerva62]

I'm back from the weekend trip to find another great update....

I like the portraits' comments, especially Dilys, of course,... ;D

I started panicking when Albus reflected about potions to eliminate his libido...oh dear...I hope he'll think it over...or maybe the dramatic turning point will be that he nearly poisons himself...

I noticed that Hogwarts is feminine...

So cute that Albus and Minerva both invited each other to breakfast...I'm looking forward to that incident...

One week without RaM-update will be hard, but I'll survive... ;D

Have a safe trip and a very Happy Thanksgiving!

[MMADfan]

The next RaM-based game is up on my LJ. This one is really pretty challenging, I think -- but maybe not! It's a matching game. Have fun with it! You don't have to be logged into LJ to post your guesses!

[esoterica1693]

Minerva62--Albus accidentally poisons himself w/ anti-Viagra...now there's an interesting plot bunny! I guess he'd be found just in the nick of time by Minerva and then treated by Poppy, and then he'd have some serious 'splainin' to do to both of those witches.

Somehow I doubt MMADfan is going there (but what do I know?)....But it's quite the amusing bunny! If there were a contest for RAM-spinoff crack-fics, that one might be a contender... Just IMHO... (Of course, w/ my poor divination skills, now watch--MMADfan will have indeed included this as a plot-point in some very logical, appropriate, un-crack-fic-ish way <vbg>)

Punchily,
Esoterica1693

[MMADfan]

Note: Not DH-compliant!

Posted in three parts because of length. I hope this nice long chapter holds you all for a while!

CXXVII: In Memoriam

Minerva woke with her Tempus alarm and was pleased when a few minutes later, Blampa arrived bearing a cup of tea. Encouraged by this to force herself out of bed, Minerva saw the letter lying on her dressing table. Her sleepy brain hadn’t immediately recalled that she needed to contact Albus. She called for Blampa, who popped in looking far more cheerful than Minerva felt.

“Blampa, can you fetch Wilspy for me, or give her a message for the Headmaster?”

“I, Blampa can fetch Wilspy and give her a message, yes!” Blampa said, bouncing on her tip-toes.

“Only one or the other. Please have Wilspy let the Headmaster know that I will meet him for breakfast in his suite at seven. Please return to me here afterwards.”

The house-elf Disapparated, and Minerva selected her navy blue Muggle suit and cream silk blouse. She had acquired it when she lived in London and occasionally had the need for such a thing. It wasn’t particularly comfortable, to her way of thinking, the skirt seemed too narrow to walk in comfortably, but it was stylish when she bought it a several years ago, and she thought it was still sufficiently fashionable that she wouldn’t look entirely out of place. Black pumps, taupe stockings, chemise – she couldn’t bring herself to wear a bra. Uncomfortable things. She had tried one once, thinking to have one to go with her few Muggle outfits, but decided that she was hardly likely to undress for a Muggle who would notice her chemise and its Support Charm. And a garter belt was likewise out of the question; her Charmed stockings would do. She couldn’t imagine having to dress completely as a Muggle everyday. She had a little blue hat with a small black feather that went with the suit, and she found that. Minerva thought she would look quite presentable.

There was a sharp snick, and Minerva turned around.

“I, Blampa, gives Wilspy Professor Minerva’s message for the Headmaster,” Blampa said proudly.

“Very good, Blampa. Did Wilspy say anything?”

“No, Wilspy goes to her Professor.”

“Thank you, Blampa. That will be all.”

Minerva showered quickly and dressed, putting her hair into a French twist. It would look well with her little hat, she thought. For jewelry, since all of her earrings were Charmed and would not bear close inspection by a Muggle, she decided to wear only a small gold and cloisonne brooch on her suit jacket. Slightly old-fashioned, but it picked up the colour of her suit nicely. The last thing she did before leaving her room was to find a pair of gloves and her small black handbag. It was just large enough to put her wand in diagonally. She kept some Muggle money in it, and she added a fresh handkerchief. If she were truly Muggle, she would have a lipstick and compact, but Muggle make-up always felt so peculiar, particularly the heavy, waxy-seeming lipstick. She could purchase some Charmed make-up, she supposed, but she never really used it, being perfectly adept at the few make-up charms she used regularly.

Minerva Flooed to her office then hurried up to the second floor. She was very nearly late, and would have been if she had had to walk the entire way. She could have simply Flooed to the office, but she understood that that was to be reserved for emergency use only. And she couldn’t blame Albus – you couldn’t have people popping in unannounced all of the time, after all, even if the only people who could do that were the Heads of House and the school matron. And the Deputy, of course, but she knew that Gertrude didn’t make a habit of using the Floo. Even though he was expecting her this morning, Minerva thought it polite to give him some warning that she was coming up by using the gargoyle entrance. It seemed to provide an admirable doorbell for him, if he weren’t too deeply asleep.

As she rode the stairs up to the office, Minerva was slightly nervous. In so many ways, she felt closer to Albus than she did any other human being, and there were times when she had the sense that he felt close to her, too. Perhaps not in the same way, but that he trusted her and loved her. She had certainly felt that way the other night when he had told her so much of his past, all of those things he had seemed to fear would disappoint or disillusion her. But then at other times, she could feel him withdrawing, or he would behave in a way that puzzled and confused her. They would have such a lovely time together, she would feel closer to him than ever, and then – he would do or say something that left her wondering whether he truly enjoyed their time together anywhere nearly as much as she did. Part of it might be that she tended to be oversensitive to his every word and gesture, positive or otherwise, because she placed such a great weight on their relationship and her own feelings for him were so very intense. Minerva worried now that even if Albus were his normal, kind, genial self, that she would find him wanting and say or do something that was unwarranted, hurting his feelings. Worse, though, Minerva feared saying or doing something that would reveal the true nature of her love for him. She had given Albus opportunities to explore how she felt about him if he did, indeed, feel something more for her, as Quin had suggested, but he had not responded at all. She was once more becoming resigned to the fact that his love for her was that of a mentor or older relative and likely to remain that way. And it could be that he was past wanting any kind of romantic relationship with anyone at all, and it wouldn’t matter if she were older, or if she hadn’t been his student. But that was of no consequence. Albus felt as he did, and her explorations had only made her sadder.

Last night . . . at least he hadn’t stiffened and patted her back, telling her he was “fond” of her, too. But he had not seemed to respond at all when she said that she loved him. Minerva didn’t know which was worse. But at least he seemed to accept her words. She would just have to be very careful not to repeat it too frequently or to say it in a way where he could hear precisely how much she loved him. That thought brought tears to her eyes, and she wiped them away before opening the door at the top of the stairs.

Minerva began to cross the office to the brass staircase that led to Albus’s suite when Dilys’s cheerful voice greeted her.

“Good morning, dear! Come to see the Headmaster? Very good . . . he was saying just yesterday what a treasure you are . . . and how he values you and your concern. I am sure he will be very pleased to see you. He was quite sad when you had to leave yesterday.”

Minerva never felt particularly comfortable speaking with these portraits, though she supposed she would become more used to it. Certainly the portraits at Hogwarts, particularly those of the former headmasters and headmistresses, were more lively and seemed more real than most portraits she was acquainted with, with the exception of a few at the Ministry, but she had rarely been in their company.

“Good morning, headmistress,” Minerva said, unsure what else to say in response to the information that Dilys had just imparted.

“Dilys, please, dear. Well, you go on up. I am sure you are anxious to see him.”

Minerva went up the stairs, remembering how the first time she had attempted it, she had landed at the bottom and Albus had stood at the top, quite amused. She still didn’t find it amusing. But he had been sorry, and as far as Minerva could tell, she was one of very few people who did not require an invitation to mount the stairs. Gertrude was correct in one thing: he should change his system. Simply requiring a second password would be sufficient security, she would think. It was nice, though, that he had charmed them to recognise her. Dilys was right, too. Albus did value her. And it was unsurprising that he had been sad when she had left, but so had she. She would have to work on avoiding creating circumstances that would lead to such strained expectations on her part. She should just be patient with Albus. Give him his own time. And perhaps if she did that, he might eventually come to love her as she did him, which was hardly likely to happen if he felt that he was always wanting in her eyes, or was not who she wished him to be, which sounded even worse. She would not want Albus to be anyone else; Minerva only wanted him to feel something for her which he clearly didn’t and which could not be forced.

As she reached the top of the stairs, the door to the sitting room opened, and Albus was standing there, dressed in a grey flannel three-piece suit with a neat pocket square, a gold fob hanging from his watch-chain, and matching gold cufflinks, his black shoes shined to a high polish. He hadn’t applied a Glamour; however, Minerva thought she spied a black bow-tie obscured by his beard. She thought he looked very nice, and very authentically Muggle, despite the long hair and beard, and she hoped that he didn’t use a Glamour that day.

She smiled. “Good morning, Albus!”

“Good morning, my dear. I was pleased to receive your invitation to breakfast last night, and equally pleased to receive your message this morning saying that you would be arriving at seven. You look very nice, quite smart,” he added as he admitted her to his sitting room.

“Thank you, you do, too. Very appropriate,” Minerva said, admiring how nicely the suit accentuated his long legs and broad shoulders. Sometimes in his robes, you could scarcely tell where his waist began, let alone how fit he was.

“Yes, well, I didn’t think that a more colourful choice would be suitable for this occasion. I am glad you find it appropriate.” He pulled out a chair for her.

Albus thought Minerva looked lovely, just as lovely in a Muggle suit as in her prettiest robes, but her legs were really quite distracting. He was very glad that shorter robes had never become fashionable among adult witches. Minerva had lovely ankles, and the curve of her calf was enough to make him want to caress her leg from her calf to her sweet foot. It was very good he couldn’t see her knees, Albus thought, and a vision flashed through his mind of himself kneeling behind her and kissing the backs of her knees while gently caressing her legs from her ankles to her thighs, reaching up under her skirt – he pushed slightly on the back of Minerva’s chair as she sat, and made an effort to redirect his thoughts. Breakfast, breakfast . . . he cleared his throat.

“I wasn’t entirely certain what you would like for breakfast, my dear,” Albus said, still standing behind Minerva, regaining control of himself, “so I simply asked for tea. We can call Wilspy for whatever you would like.”

“I’m actually ravenous this morning. I didn’t feel hungry at all yesterday evening and didn’t have any supper, so I haven’t had anything but tea since about three o’clock yesterday, when I had sandwiches with Gertrude, and I didn’t eat much then, since it was so early,” Minerva answered as he came around the table and took his seat.

“Well, we’ll ask Wilspy for a full breakfast, then!”

“Haggis, too, please, Albus.” She was one of the few people she knew who liked haggis for breakfast, but she liked it better than regular breakfast sausage. She might not be fond of meat in general, but she did like fish and all kinds of cured meat and sausages.

While they waited for Wilspy to return with their breakfast, Minerva asked, “Where does Professor Pretnick’s family live?”

“Just outside of London,” Albus answered as he poured their tea.

Minerva hesitated. “How are we getting there? Portkey or Apparition? I’m just thinking about my planned breakfast, and I assume they are not on the Floo-Network.”

“I thought we would Apparate – I’ll make it an easy Apparition for you, Minerva. You can eat all you like and not worry,” he said with a smile that belied his nervousness at the thought of holding Minerva in his arms, bringing his magic in perfect tune with hers, and Apparating her to the Muggle neighbourhood.

Minerva nodded. “All right . . . your Side-Alongs are usually perfectly comfortable. Better than using a Portkey, in fact.” Her heart beat faster at the thought of being so close to Albus, feeling his arms and his magic enfolding her. She would have to be careful, but there was no reason why she shouldn’t enjoy it, just a little.

Albus spoke briefly of his visit to Robert’s sister, Anne Carter, the previous afternoon, and Robert’s mother, Sharon Pretnick, who lived with her daughter’s family.

“I believe that Robert was right. His nephew is certainly a wizard. I haven’t checked the Hogwarts book yet, to confirm it, but I have no doubt that Matthew Carter’s name is in it.”

“He spoke of his nephew to me when I visited him. He had wanted to help him make the transition from the Muggle world to the wizarding one,” Minerva said.

“I know . . . that was one of the things I told him the last time I saw him. That he should be there for his nephew, that he needed to be in his life. But . . . that obviously did not outweigh all of the other factors.”

Breakfast arrived, eggs, bacon, haggis, fried bread, toast, grilled tomatoes, and a large bowl of mixed berries and cream.

Minerva ate with a good appetite, having some of everything but the fried bread. Albus had eggs, bacon, and fried bread.

“You should have some of the tomato or fruit, too, Albus – and that’s the last word from ‘Mother McGonagall’ for the morning,” she said, holding up a hand. “Promise!”

He chuckled and helped himself to some fruit. “I think I would worry if you stopped being Mother McGonagall entirely, my dear. I would think I had fallen out of favour and lost your affection.” Hearing his own words, Albus fought a blush.

“Never, Albus.” Minerva reached across the table and took his hand. “You will never lose that. It is impossible.” She looked at him, trying to discern his mood. “I am sorry about the way I left last night. It was probably wise to retire, since we were both tired and it had been a long day, but I should never have left you as I did, feeling as though you were wanting in some way. You are not. And I don’t want you to change, not at all.” She wanted to tell him that he had her heart just as he was, but she could not. Instead, she added, releasing his hand, “I have become very attached to the wizard you are.”

“Well, thank you, my dear – and a very good thing, too, since the one change I tried recently was not a particular success.” Seeing her puzzled expression, he smiled and waved his wand twice rapidly, applying a quick Glamour that removed his beard and shortened his hair.

“As I said before, you are quite handsome with or without the Glamour, but I do prefer your usual look. If you are going to go out like that today, though, you’ll need to fix it – it’s wavering a bit,” she said.

“No, no, I thought I would go as myself. This was just a quick reminder of my recent folly.” He waved his wand once, completely removing the temporary Glamour, and hoping that his expression didn’t show how pleased he was by her words. It was silly, after all. She was just being kind and polite . . . a bit of social courtesy.

Minerva laughed slightly. “Oh, I wouldn’t call it a folly. After so many years with the beard and such, I certainly understand that you must have been curious to know what it would be like without it. It’s fortunate you are adept with Glamours and you were able to make the change so thorough but temporary. There’s a fellow in Portree, in the little bookshop there, he has green hair. I have never been able to decide whether it was intentional or not, and whether it is the result of a Glamour, a colour charm, or a potion. Whatever it is, it’s been that way for years. Morgan says his hair used to be brown, going grey.”

“Well, I am fortunate there, then . . . although green hair could be quite fun,” he said with a chuckle.

“Not if we are going out among Muggles, though, Albus. You would be sure to attract far more attention than you even would in your robes!” Minerva said with a laugh.

“Speaking of Muggles, however, I had Wilspy fetch me yesterday’s post, and there was an invitation waiting for me in my owl box. For Melina and Brennan’s wedding.”

“Yes, I received mine yesterday morning,” Minerva said.

“It’s to be the twenty-third. I don’t know if you are planning to be at Hogwarts at that time, but I thought if you were, well, perhaps, if you would like, perhaps we might go together?” Albus asked. “Of course, if you have another escort, or aren’t going to be – ”

“I would love that. Yes. And even if I’m at my parents, I would like to. Yes. That’s an excellent idea,” Minerva said quickly, trying not to sound too excited about it.

“Very well. We can discuss the details closer to the event.”

Minerva hesitated, remembering that Gertrude had been invited, too. “You know, I think that Melina and Brennan may have invited Gertrude. Brennan met her at my tea and they mentioned something about it.”

“Really?” Albus said, finishing his last bit of bacon. “Perhaps we could sit together. The Hogwarts contingent, so to speak.”

Minerva smiled. “Yes, that would be nice, wouldn’t it? And Poppy, too, since I believe she is also attending.” He hadn’t seemed to consider even for a moment asking Gertrude to come with them. Of course, she could make it there quite easily on her own, Minerva was certain. Although she should be generous about it . . . if all three of them were in the castle and were going at the same time. What mattered was that Albus had asked her to go with him, and they would be together.

Albus nodded. “Melina also asked about the binding, as you had said she might. It won’t take long to remove the one and replace it with the basic marriage bond. I’m sure we can find somewhere to perform it quickly, and Brennan will be free to speak to and about the wizarding world however he wishes. Although, of course, I do hope he has some degree of circumspection.”

“I’m sure he does. He doesn’t want to be dragged off to a Muggle asylum, thought a lunatic, or, worse, be Obliviated by the Ministry,” Minerva responded.

Continued in the next post!

[MMADfan]

Continued from the previous post!

CXXVII: In Memoriam, continued

They finished their breakfast and left for their unhappy deed. They walked down to the gates together, Minerva taking Albus’s elbow. He had put on a black bowler. Minerva thought a Homburg would suit him better, though, and suggested a change. Albus took off his hat and handed it to her, and with a quick wave of her wand, Minerva had changed the style of his hat.

“If you like it, you could make the change permanent, Albus, but this should last the day, at least,” she said, “and I think it looks quite good on you, for a Muggle hat.”

“I will take your word for it, my dear!” he responded cheerfully.

They stepped through the gates, and Albus turned to Minerva. “Are you ready?”

Minerva nodded. “Yes. I trust I will not lose my breakfast.”

“I will endeavour to see to it,” Albus said with a smile. He held out his hand to her, and Minerva stepped into his arms. “Just blank your mind and let me take care of the destination and the rest.”

She relaxed, closing her eyes, her head resting against his chest, one hand on his shoulder and the other arm encircling him as she listened to his heartbeat and felt his magic surround her.

“Let me know when you are prepared,” Albus said softly, one arm around her shoulders, the other at her waist.

Wishing she could stall, but knowing she shouldn’t, Minerva nodded against his chest and said, “I’m ready.”

Albus moved his hand up and held her just a bit more closely, then Minerva felt the sensation of Apparition and a moment later, she opened her eyes. They had arrived. Slowly, she stepped back and to his side, taking his arm as she did so.

“All right, my dear?” Albus asked.

“Perfectly, Albus. Very smooth. I scarcely knew we were Apparating, and I didn’t hear a thing.” Minerva smiled up at him. She looked around her. They were on a quiet street with small, detached houses. It looked as though they had all been constructed on one of three or four plans, sometimes reversed. “Which house is theirs? I’m surprised that people don’t sometimes find themselves in the wrong house; they all look alike.”

“Give it a few decades, and the houses will take on more individuality,” Albus said, “but they don’t live on this street. I thought we would walk a little ways. There’s a park around the corner. We can cross through that and we’ll reach their street easily.”

Minerva nodded. As they crossed the little park, Albus indicated a bench near the small children’s play area.

“Let’s sit a bit, shall we?” he asked.

Before Minerva sat down, Albus gestured with his hand, drying the bench of any remaining morning dew and sweeping it clean.

Minerva smiled and sat, crossing her ankles, her purse in her lap. “Thank you, Albus.”

“We wouldn’t want your smart suit to become soiled,” Albus said, sitting beside her. “I wanted to tell you a little about yesterday afternoon. It was a pity that you weren’t able to accompany me then, but when I was unable to find Gertrude . . . I wasn’t comfortable leaving the school entirely unattended.”

“I hadn’t realised you wanted me with you yesterday,” Minerva said.

“Yes, I had hoped to find Gertrude and bring her back to the school with me, but when I couldn’t . . . I needed to reach the Ministry quickly, not simply to find out what they knew but to try to stop them before they made the family notification.”

“Of course. Gertrude said something about the Ministry not doing well at that when it came to Muggles.”

Albus shook his head. “They mean well, usually, but they tend to confuse the Muggles’ ignorance of the magical world for general ignorance. They condescend to them, but at the same time, they don’t explain the circumstances properly. As a result, the families are never entirely sure what brought about their loved ones’ deaths. And particularly since this was not the typical magical accident, I thought they deserved as much information as they could comprehend, but especially to know how very heroic Robert had been. I thought it most appropriate for that news to come from me, rather than some Ministry official who had never known him. I thought that it you would be good to have along, not only to provide me with a little support, my dear, but as a representative of Gryffindor House. Having read his letter last night, it seems even more appropriate for the current Head of his House to be with me today.” He smiled at her. “And, of course, I very much appreciate your company, my dear. Thank you for coming with me on this sad errand.”

“I hope that his letter . . . well, I suppose it’s bound to upset them, but I hope it also gives them some comfort. Have you read it, Albus?”

He shook his head again. “It was already read by too many others at the Ministry. It was meant for them. If they care to share it with others, that is a different proposition. It does seem to be quite long, though, longer than the one that he wrote to me. In any event, yesterday, I told his sister and mother about the attack last month, and how bravely Robert defended the Higgs family. I told them that the werewolf was a Muggle woman, partly so that they wouldn’t associate his death only with the wizarding world. I would be distressed if this event caused them to deny Matthew his place at Hogwarts. I explained to them the typical life of a werewolf, but also how we had created a place for him at Hogwarts, and how his colleagues supported him, then . . . well, I hadn’t received his letter yet, so I couldn’t explain his reasoning, but I told them that Robert nonetheless believed that he could not live as a werewolf and so took his own life. It is a pity that the Ministry did not release the letter to me before I called on them; I could have given them a less bleak picture of his decision. As much as I still disagree with what he did, he believed that what he was doing was the right thing, not just for himself, but for others.”

“I know . . . I just wish he had talked to someone about it before he carried through on his plan,” Minerva said with a sigh.

“I think the primary problem was his assumption that it was almost inevitable that he would at some point attack and kill or infect someone else. It is moot now, but I could have assured him of his safety. Not only is Belby committed to finding some kind of potion to alleviate the werewolf’s condition, and I believe that he will eventually achieve that, but we could have isolated him entirely. My cottage is, as I said, very isolated. He would run no risk whatsoever of encountering another human being if he were to stay there over his transition.”

“How can that be?” Minerva asked.

“It is the only habitation on its own little island, and it is secured by wards. It is truly set apart from the rest of the world. Perhaps I could have impressed that upon him . . .”

Minerva wondered again whether this was the same cottage at which he had discovered Valerianna with another wizard, but since they had never explicitly discussed Valerianna, and he might not know that she had heard that part of the story, she could find no way to ask about it tactfully. Instead, she listened as Albus told her about the family’s reaction to the news the previous day.

“It sounds as though they took it very hard,” Minerva said after he had finished describing his visit.

“It was a shock to them, particularly as they had no idea that he had been bitten or in hospital. There is one other thing, Minerva,” Albus said hesitantly.

“Yes?”

“It’s just . . . last night . . . I know we have cleared the air, so to speak, but I need to explain to you that I did enjoy our time together, and your offer of comfort was welcome. It’s simply that I often need time to process something before I can talk about it, and especially when I am tired. I did not mean to seem to be putting you off, my dear. I know that you care about me, and that means so much to me, please don’t doubt that. I would have found your continued company a comfort, truly . . . I just couldn’t talk about my own feelings just then. I wouldn’t have been able to find the words even if I had wanted to talk. Can you understand that?”

“Yes, I can, and I said something similar, myself, when everyone was trying to cheer up Gertrude a couple weeks ago . . . it’s just . . . it reminded me of the way you were after Carson’s death,” Minerva answered frankly.

“That was somewhat different . . . both the circumstances and my own internal state at the time. I mistakenly thought I was protecting you by not burdening you with my own grief, but I also . . . I needed to put my feelings aside for a time in order to do what needed to be done. It had been a very difficult few years up to that point, with many losses and many failures . . . I honestly do not know if I could have gathered myself together sufficiently to mount the attack on the Grindelwald’s castle, let alone to duel him, if I had . . . let go just then. It probably did take longer for me to recover after the war as a result, but, for me, the way that I function best, it was the only thing I could do at the time. Perhaps if I had had the presence of mind at the time, I might have at least . . . accepted your company. But by that point in the war . . . I think I was even beyond that.”

“I remember how you returned one night when I was in my fifth year; you were very distraught,” Minerva said softly.

“Yes, and you responded perfectly, so warmly, as I have always appreciated from you. You were very young, but you were very comforting for me, just your presence and knowing that you cared . . . .”

“Didn’t you have anyone you could talk to during the war?” Minerva asked, then immediately regretted it, feeling that she was treading on personal ground where she did not belong, but Albus answered her question without hesitation.

“Yes . . . sometimes I would, of course, speak with some of the Aurors and others who had shared the same experiences. And Gertrude was at the school, and she is well-acquainted with pain, and she lost her husband, then later, her brother, to Grindelwald. I spoke to her sometimes, but primarily . . . primarily, she was just company. She . . . she has an ability to sit and just be there.”

Minerva nodded. “Quin said that after Aileen died, she stayed with him night and day.”

“I am sure that she was a comfort to him,” Albus said softly. He looked up. “But come, it is getting later. We need to deliver the letter and speak with the family, then return to Hogwarts and prepare for the staff meeting, although I do not believe that it will be a long one. I was thinking that perhaps tomorrow, if you would like, you might say a few words at the memorial? As Head of Gryffindor?”

“Of course. I will be pleased to,” Minerva answered.

Albus stood and offered her his hand, which she took as she rose from the bench. He placed her hand at his elbow, and together, they set off to speak to a family about their sad loss and deliver his final letter to them.

-/-/-/-

Although there had been some debate the day before about the appropriate venue for Pretnick’s memorial, it was held in the rose garden, just as Wilhelmina had originally suggested. To Minerva’s surprise, Professor Dustern did, indeed, come to the small gathering, though she had not been at the meeting the previous day. The entire Hogwarts staff was present, Norman James appearing somewhat haggard after multiple Portkeys across Asia then Europe had brought him back to Britain a week early, and six members of the Board of Governors were in attendance, as well – two Gryffindors, two Slytherins, one Hufflepuff, and one Ravenclaw. Minerva had spoken the first words at the event, in her first official act as Head of Gryffindor House, and then those who felt comfortable doing so, stood and informally offered their memories of their late colleague. Finally, Albus offered his own words, stressing the heroism exhibited by the late Defence teacher and only referring once to the pressures that had brought him to end his own life, saying that he hoped that advances both social and medical would be made so that future victims of the werewolf curse were not faced with such a grim fate.

Gertrude, in her capacity as Deputy Headmistress, had arranged for light refreshments to be served in the garden and had asked the new Charms teacher to provide some appropriate background music for people to mingle and reminisce about their deceased colleague. Minerva was trying to decide whether she had any appetite when she sensed someone at her elbow. She turned and saw Professor Dustern.

“I would like to offer my condolences to you on the loss of your fellow Gryffindor. Professor Pretnick was a model for your House – I don’t mean, that is, not that his last action – I am not saying this correctly.” Dustern took a breath. “I taught him for the seven years he was a student here, and when he was brought on staff last summer, I was pleased to welcome him. He will be missed, I am sure . . . more than I will be, certainly. But also, if I may, what I said to you last week was uncalled for. You were always an exemplary student, both bright and diligent. I do not doubt your ability as a teacher or in your new position. I . . . apologise.”

Minerva, as dumbstruck by this speech as she had been by the witch’s previous invective, could only nod at first, but then she cleared her throat and said, “Of course . . . I am sure it had been a trying day for you.”

Dustern just pursed her lips and nodded.

“Apology accepted, then,” Minerva added lightly, deciding it cost her little to be magnanimous in this situation.

The former Charms teacher’s expression softened. “Congratulations on your installation as Head of Gryffindor. I wish you the best.” She offered her hand, which Minerva took and shook briefly, then Professor Dustern departed with a nod.

Minerva watched the witch discreetly as she spoke with a few of her former colleagues, shook Flitwick’s hand, then left the garden, headed in the direction of the gates.

“What did she have to say for herself?” Gertrude said as she appeared at Minerva’s side.

“She apologised for what she said last week before you Silenced her,” Minerva answered.

“Did she really?” Gertrude asked, one eyebrow raised.

“You could have knocked me over with a feather. I really don’t know which surprised me more, her initial speech or her apology,” Minerva said.

Gertrude shrugged. “I doubt you will have to deal with her again. If you do encounter her elsewhere now, though, at least you will be less uncomfortable. I actually was coming over here because I think that Albus needs to have some time to himself and some rest. Knowing him as I do, however, I believe that he would stay here until the final guest left, regardless of who it was or whether his presence was necessary. So, if you do not mind colluding with me in a bit of a rescue operation, I thought that together, we might be able to convince him that he has done enough and that he can leave the guests to their own devices.”

Minerva looked over at Albus, where he stood speaking with two of the members of the Board.

“What did you have in mind?” she asked neutrally. In principle, she agreed with Gertrude, but she thought it best not to agree to anything immediately.

“Simplicity is the best strategy here, I believe. I will approach him, join the conversation, then you will come along, and I will persuade him that he can leave the Hogwarts guests to me and the Hogwarts staff to themselves and that you should take him off for a walk – or he, you. I suggest down near the greenhouses and Johannes’s gardens, since you are unlikely to encounter anyone down there who would engage him in conversation. Does that sound acceptable to you? If you don’t mind going for a walk with Albus, that is.”

“Of course I don’t mind. We can try, I suppose. Oh, there goes Cornelius Fudge to speak to him now. I couldn’t understand why he wanted to be on the Board of Governors. I don’t think he has the slightest bit of interest in education, and he and his wife have no children. I assume he thinks that it will help him advance in the Ministry if he is on Albus’s good side.”

“Mmm, well, let’s go save Albus from the sycophants, shall we?” Gertrude said.

Minerva waited a few minutes until it appeared as though Gertrude had succeeded in fully entering the conversation, then she approached the small group. The music had shifted from sedate adagios to some brighter, lighter pieces, no doubt to encourage the mood of the attendees to likewise brighten. It seemed a good time for Albus to depart.

“Professor McGonagall, I was just speaking of you,” Gertrude said. “I am sure that you are acquainted with Mr Fudge, Hufflepuff, a few years behind you in school, and this is Mr Darrowby and Mrs Ingers, both of Slytherin.”

Minerva greeted the three school governors cordially.

“Now, I believe you needed a word with the Headmaster,” Gertrude said. “Perhaps we should allow you some privacy in which to discuss your matter. Better yet, you might wish to find somewhere else to speak. Professor Dumbledore,” she added, turning to Albus, “I am sure that Professor McGonagall could benefit from a walk, she has been so hard at work the last few days. I am happy to stay and speak with our guests.”

Before Albus knew what was happening, he had agreed, barely had a moment to take his leave of the school governors, and Minerva had taken his arm and was very gently steering him out of the rose garden and around the castle toward the greenhouses.

As they rounded the west side of the castle and the music grew faint, he smiled down at her and said, “I should have known when I saw the two of you with your heads together a few minutes ago that you were planning something.”

“Yes, well, we both know how you are – and how those people can be. They’d keep you there forever if they could,” Minerva said with some exaggeration. “We were your rescue team.”

Albus chuckled at that. “The two of you together could be quite dangerous, I do believe!” he teased.

“You never know what might happen when a Slytherin and a Gryffindor get together,” Minerva said with a grin.

“So, is there more to this plot? Do I need to be on my toes?” Albus asked.

“Oh, you should always be on your toes,” Minerva teased, “but as for this plot, I have now achieved our goal: we have arrived at the greenhouses.”

“And what are we supposed to be doing at the greenhouses?” Albus asked.

“Avoiding people,” Minerva answered simply, but her mind went to the students who liked to go to a particular nook behind greenhouse three in order to avoid people for a very specific purpose. “Let’s just walk a bit. You were supposed to be taking me for a walk, after all.”

Albus said, “Then may I recommend that we walk over to the gardens behind greenhouse three, my dear? Johannes has some lovely flowers in full bloom there.”

Minerva blushed, thinking of her recent thought about the activities that were often engaged in behind greenhouse three, but she answered, “That sounds very nice.”

Albus noticed Minerva’s blush and realised that his suggestion had likely sounded like a pick-up line, a very bad pick-up line.

“Or, if you prefer, we could walk down by the lake,” he offered.

“No, the gardens would be nice,” Minerva said.

The two walked and talked, Albus pointing out particular plants that had interesting properties or uses in potions. The conversation eventually turned back to the memorial, its attendees, and various remarks made by Robert’s colleagues. As they walked, Minerva’s hand slid down Albus’s arm, and she took his hand. Her heart beat faster. Holding hands with Albus, feeling the warmth and strength of his hand around hers, and his magic pulsing against her palm, Minerva felt simultaneously nervous and enlivened, and her hopes rose, soaring again for the first time in days.

“Perhaps we should return to the castle,” Albus suggested softly, and his voice sent a thrill through her. “Most folk should be dispersed. Or we could use the lower entry at the base of the north tower. We would probably avoid everyone, even staff, if we were to do that.”

Minerva nodded her assent. Could he possibly be feeling anything like what she was right then?

They walked back to the castle, Albus dropping her hand as they approached the tower. He didn’t draw his wand, but simply held out his hand, and Minerva could feel a ripple of magic aimed at the ancient door. It creaked open, and Albus waved his hand again, lighting the lanterns that hung inside the door.

“Have you ever been this way?” he asked.

“No. I’ve been through the exit by Wilhelmina’s quarters, but not this one,” Minerva answered.

“We’re in the upper dungeon here. It is only narrow for a short way, then we will come out to the main corridor on the same level,” Albus said.

They reached the main corridor, and Albus offered Minerva his arm again. She was slightly disappointed that he didn’t take her hand, but she supposed that there was a remote possibility that they might encounter Slughorn or one of the other staff members. It would look peculiar for them to be walking hand-in-hand.

“Now, here is another Headmaster’s shortcut,” Albus said as they reached a bright tapestry depicting magical animals of every description, a bearded, white-haired wizard standing in their midst, a large staff in his right hand. He somewhat resembled Albus, but for the colour of his hair and beard.

Albus waved his hand and the tapestry drew itself to one side, revealing what appeared to be a blank stone wall, but at a gesture from Albus, the wall shimmered, the outline of a door appeared, then the stone vanished, revealing a hallway, well-lit with lanterns. It was wide enough for them to walk side-by-side. The doorway vanished as soon as they stepped inside, and Minerva shivered, but she was with Albus; she was safe. After a dozen yards, Albus stopped, placed his hand on the wall to his left, and another door appeared. When they stepped through, Minerva was astonished to discover they were on the second floor.

She looked around. “But, we didn’t go up. How did we get here?” she asked.

Albus shrugged and smiled, amused. “It’s Hogwarts, my dear. That hallway had exits to the second, fourth, and sixth floors, and, of course, to the upper level of the dungeons. It feels as though we are remaining on the level, but we are not. May I accompany you to Gryffindor Tower? Or walk me to the gargoyle?”

Minerva smiled. “Your gargoyle is fine, Albus.”

When they reached the gargoyle, she was disappointed when Albus thanked her for her assistance rescuing him, then bowed over her hand, lips barely brushing her knuckles, before he wished her a good afternoon.

“I hope the rest of your afternoon is pleasant. I assume I will see you at dinner?” he asked.

“Yes, of course,” Minerva answered, hiding her disappointment that he didn’t invite her up. “I hope you have a good afternoon, as well, Albus. I enjoyed our walk very much.”

“As did I, my dear. Very much. Thank you for your lovely company.”

Continued in the next post!

[MMADfan]

Continued from the previous post!

CXXVII: In Memoriam, continued

Minerva made her way back to her rooms, taking the stairs all the way up rather than going down one flight and Flooing from her office. Her heart was in her shoes, and when she reached her rooms, she stared at the Silent Knight, her mind a blank, forgetting what her most recent password was. To her mild surprise, the Knight bowed to her.

“My lady, I am your servant. Wish you entry?”

“Yes . . .” Before Minerva could utter her password, the Knight opened her door to her.

“A most pleasant afternoon to you, my lady,” the Knight said.

“Um, thank you.” Minerva stepped through.

There was apparently something wrong with her door portrait, since he was not supposed to open to anyone, even her, without a password, but she couldn’t be bothered with that at the moment. Somehow, she doubted, despite the Knight’s peculiar behaviour, that he would simply open to anyone who came by. She would have to read the Gryffindor book on the portrait network. Perhaps there was something she could do to fix it. If not . . . if not, she’d have to consult Albus.

Albus . . . her throat tightened. She was such a fool. And if he were beginning to twig to her feelings, if when he held her hand – no, when she held [/i]his[/i] hand – if he found that odd or uncomfortable . . . . Oh, no, he couldn’t possibly know how she felt and yet not return her feelings, could he? No . . . she couldn’t bear that. But it would explain why he had taken his leave from her as he had, not to mention, why he hadn’t invited her up to his office. Or, he could simply be tired. That was as likely an explanation as any, she decided, trying to be rational about it. But it was becoming increasingly difficult to be only Albus’s friend and nothing more. Minerva didn’t know how much longer she could bear it.

She felt like taking a nap, to shut out the world for a while, if nothing else, but instead, she went into her pleasant study and pulled out a parchment and her favourite quill.

“Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
“6 August 1957

“Dear Quin,

“We had a private memorial service for Robert Pretnick today. No doubt you saw the article in the Prophet about his death. Every member of staff attended, as well as several members of the Board of Governors. As you can imagine, it has been a sad few days here.

“Oh, Quin, I do not know how long I can continue like this. Albus and I seem so close sometimes, sometimes I feel so very happy in his company, but then other times, even being with him is painful. Even when I am happy with him, there is an undercurrent of fear and sorrow floating through my soul. I do not know how I will be able to bear it.

“I have no doubt that we are becoming closer friends, and I know very well that Albus values me and values our friendship. I thought that would be enough, that it could be enough, but it no longer feels like enough. And yet, if I were to act on my feelings, I know he would withdraw from me, not meaning me any harm, of course, and he would likely wish to continue with our friendship, but he would withdraw as surely as he has withdrawn when I have offered him other, less amorous gestures of my affection for him. And he would pity me.

“Today, we took a stroll in the gardens after the memorial. We were both relaxed. He joked with me, we talked about the plants, and potions, and the beauty of the day, and at some point, I took his hand. He didn’t object or let go, Quin. I thought, foolishly, that this meant something, that perhaps you had been right, after all, and he does harbour some romantic feelings toward me. But then, we reached the castle. Clearly, I recognise that it would be inappropriate for us to walk hand-in-hand through the castle where anyone could happen upon us and get the wrong idea – though I wish it were the “right” idea – but as we proceeded through the castle, he seemed to withdraw from me with every step we took. There was nothing overt about it, nothing I can put my finger on. It simply felt that way to me. Then he asked me if I would like him to walk me to Gryffindor Tower, and I told him that wasn’t necessary, so I left him at the entrance to his tower. It would have been nice if he had invited me up, Quin, but it isn’t even that he didn’t – and I could certainly understand if he wanted some time to himself after the last few days – but his manner when I left him. It was, not cool, precisely, but far more formal than it has been in the last few weeks. I felt as though, as we walked through the castle, we stepped back in time by a month or more.

“I do not know what to do, Quin, and I don’t expect you to have any solution for me. I just needed to speak with someone. I don’t know if you are still in Ireland with your family or if you are back in London, either alone or with your children, but I believe I will be leaving for my family home in the next day or so. I promised my parents that I would spend some time with them, and Melina wants me to visit now that she has moved into the new flat. I believe that Brennan is already moved in, as well, but I have not asked and she has not said. I am hoping that some time away from Hogwarts might help me to clarify my thoughts and feelings and regain some perspective.

“Thank you very much for listening to me – even if it’s just reading my letters – I really appreciate having someone who knows and cares.

“I hope you and your family are all well.

“Best,

“Minerva”

Minerva was just sealing her letter when she heard barking coming from her sitting room. When she entered the sitting room, the Silent Knight bowed with a creak and left the landscape, and Fidelio sat down and thumped his tail, tongue out in a big doggy smile.

“Good boy, Fidelio. You may rejoin the Knight now,” Minerva said. She wished she knew who was at the door, but the Knight had not deigned to announce whoever it was.

Minerva opened the door and saw Gertrude standing there.

“Gertrude! Good afternoon,” Minerva greeted.

“Good afternoon, Minerva. I thought I would stop by on my way to my rooms.”

“Your rooms are on the second floor, Gertrude, unless you have recently moved,” Minerva pointed out, but she opened the door to the older witch. “Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you. I was imprecise in my language. I thought I would stop by before going to my rooms,” Gertrude said, choosing the armchair next to the fireplace.

“I’m sorry – would you like some tea? Biscuits?” Minerva offered.

“No, thank you, although if you were about to have tea, please don’t let me keep you – ”

Minerva shook her head and sat down in the armchair across from her. “Everyone has left, I presume.”

“Yes. Did you successfully avoid everyone on your walk with Albus?”

Minerva nodded. “Yes. It was quite uneventful. I left him at the gargoyle about forty-five minutes ago.”

“I am sure he appreciated your rescue,” Gertie said with a crooked smile.

“Mmm, although he knew immediately that you and I had colluded. He seemed amused, though.”

“Yes, well, we were rather obvious about it, although I don’t believe the governors were any the wiser, even Ingers and Darrowby, although they likely knew he was taking advantage of the opportunity to escape the gathering early.”

Minerva was at a loss. Although she had come to have somewhat warmer feelings for the witch sitting across from her, she had no idea what to say or why the witch had stopped by and stayed.

“I was just about to owl a letter,” Minerva said, thinking that perhaps Gertrude would excuse herself at that point.

“Convenient to be so close to the Owlery,” Gertrude observed. “Did you and Albus have a good walk, then? It was a beautiful afternoon for a walk in the gardens.”

“Yes. It was a nice afternoon. We walked through the flower gardens before we returned to the castle,” Minerva answered.

“I am sure that Albus was glad for the respite and to be able to spend some time with you.”

Minerva nodded noncommittally. Given her feelings at the moment, she really didn’t want to sit there discussing how glad Albus may have been to spend time with her.

“Albus may not always express himself as openly as one might think he should, as a Gryffindor, but that is an acquired habit, the result of long years of self-denial and discipline, but he cares for you very much, Minerva. You have a special place in his life, and I think you can do a lot to help him overcome some of those habits.”

“Perhaps . . . would you like to walk with me to the Owlery? I thought I would take a nap before dinner,” Minerva said.

Gertie chuckled. “No, thank you. I just wanted to stop by and see if you were in and if you had a nice walk. A nap sounds like a good idea. I may have one, myself.”

After Gertie left, Minerva shook her head. She wondered whether the other witch had some notion about her feelings for Albus and had been fishing to see what Minerva had to say about him. But she had had few occasions to observe Minerva and Albus together, and certainly on almost all of them, they had been in public. Minerva was fairly certain that her behaviour around Albus in public had been perfectly appropriate. No, whatever Gertie’s motives were for her visit and her statements, they were based on something other than observing Minerva when she was in the company of Albus. And Minerva was fairly certain that Quin would never say anything to anyone. She would talk to him about that the next time she saw him. If he had, it was likely inadvertent. She would just owl her letter and take her nap and not think about anything for a while. Then she would go to dinner and behave as though everything in her life was normal.

-/-/-/-/-

Albus went up to his sitting room. He should stay in his office and do some work, but there was nothing pressing, nothing that couldn’t wait until tomorrow. He was pleased with himself. He had become aware of his growing pleasure in Minerva’s company, and when she took his hand as they walked through the gardens, he had allowed him to take some enjoyment in it, mostly contentment that she cared for him. Still, as they walked, his imagination began to create a new notion, the notion that Minerva cared for him in the same way that he cared for her, that when she held his hand, her heart beat a little faster, that when she looked up and smiled at him, she was looking at a wizard with whom she was in love. Albus put a stop those wild thoughts, and when the two began to return to the castle, he vowed that he would behave as a gentleman toward Minerva, that he would not allow his fantasies to overwhelm his good sense, and that he would give Minerva no cause to be uncomfortable with his gestures of affection. And he had achieved that. He had bid her a good-afternoon just as he should, and with no indication of his ludicrous romantic feelings or his unseemly desires. Yes, Albus was pleased with himself. But he also felt bleakly empty and alone, and that was the stronger sense, overriding any satisfaction he felt at behaving with propriety.

Albus reminded himself of his blessings, including Minerva’s presence at Hogwarts and her friendship, then called to mind the happiest moments of the past few days, all of which involved Minerva, and gradually his heart eased and his mind calmed without him having to perform any Occlumency or other mental exercises. He picked up the most recent novel he had borrowed from Minerva, actually something he had read a several decades before, and joined three men in a boat, to say nothing of the dog, for an hour or two of amusement before he had to check his Charmed owl box and go through the late afternoon post before dinner.

---

Note: From 20 November through 27 November 2007, there will be a poll up on my LJ asking you to choose your favourite character. When the poll closes, I will reveal the results and write a one-shot featuring that character. Hop on over and vote!

Next: “Holiday from Hogwarts”

I will be taking my own holiday for Thanksgiving, so don’t panic when there’s no update for a while – my Muse is coming with me, and we’ll be gone for at least a week!

[Hogwarts Duo]

Minerva had lovely ankles, and the curve of her calf was enough to make him want to caress her leg from her calf to her sweet foot. It was very good he couldn’t see her knees, Albus thought, and a vision flashed through his mind of himself kneeling behind her and kissing the backs of her knees while gently caressing her legs from her ankles to her thighs, reaching up under her skirt – he pushed slightly on the back of Minerva’s chair as she sat, and made an effort to redirect his thoughts. Breakfast, breakfast . . . he cleared his throat.

Oh dear…seems our dear Albus is having some rather naughty thoughts about our dear Minerva. LET’S ALL DO A HAPPY DANCE!!! The way you’ve described that part makes it seem so erotic and innocent all at the same time. Brilliant bit of descriptive writing there. Now if only Albus would be daring and actually make a move…gasp…we’d all have a nice loooooong drink of lemonade!

Yay!! Albus asked Minerva on a date…well not a date but at least he wants to accompany her to Melina and Brennan’s wedding. That’s definitely a move in the right direction. And I love that he never mentioned escorting both Gertie and Minerva to the event. It’s a start, Albus…it’s a start!

Professor Dustern apologizes??? GASP!!! I was shocked to see that the witch actually had enough decency to approach Minerva, make a bit of small talk and then to apologize. I hope that’s the last we have to see of her. Maybe that scolding by Gertie and no doubt knowing that Gertie would tell Albus put a bit of fear into her cold heart!

As they walked, Minerva’s hand slid down Albus’s arm, and she took his hand. Her heart beat faster. Holding hands with Albus, feeling the warmth and strength of his hand around hers, and his magic pulsing against her palm, Minerva felt simultaneously nervous and enlivened, and her hopes rose, soaring again for the first time in days…

Albus: Still, as they walked, his imagination began to create a new notion, the notion that Minerva cared for him in the same way that he cared for her, that when she held his hand, her heart beat a little faster, that when she looked up and smiled at him, she was looking at a wizard with whom she was in love.

Ohhh they’re so close and yet still so far away. I applaud Minerva’s gutsy move to take his hand and I love how they’re both feeling excited, the flush of romance. If only they’d stop second guessing their feelings, they could have done more in that greenhouse than look at some silly plants and flowers…wink wink.

Albus . . . her throat tightened. She was such a fool. And if he were beginning to twig to her feelings, if when he held her hand – no, when she held his hand – if he found that odd or uncomfortable . . . . Oh, no, he couldn’t possibly know how she felt and yet not return her feelings, could he? No . . . she couldn’t bear that. But it would explain why he had taken his leave from her as he had, not to mention, why he hadn’t invited her up to his office. Or, he could simply be tired. That was as likely an explanation as any, she decided, trying to be rational about it. But it was becoming increasingly difficult to be only Albus’s friend and nothing more. Minerva didn’t know how much longer she could bear it.

And then the world falls apart again. It’s so sad that they get so close to feeling true happiness and love only to deny themselves because they’re too sure of how the other is feeling to actually explore any other options. Maybe one day they’ll get it together and actually start to believe in the love that’s waiting for them.

Thanks for updating before you go away for Thanksgiving. Hope you and your family have a great one!!

Cheers!
GLM ;D

[dianahawthorne]

Another stupendous chapter - I think it will tide me over for the next week! Great job, as always - I'm glad Min's comfortable confiding in Quin, and I do think that Gertie knows about Albus's feelings towards Minerva and vice-versa. I wish that Albus could realise that Minerva does care for him romantically! I was so pleased when he asked her to accompany him to Melina and Brennan's wedding, however! Great chapter, as always! Happy Thanksgiving!

[MMADfan]

The poll is up on my LiveJournal. Go vote for your favourite character -- you do have to be logged in to LJ to vote, but creating an account is easy, and you don't have to actually maintain your journal; you can just use the account to participate in LJ communities, etc. You DON'T have to be logged in in order to leave comments on my entries, however, so you can leave a comment there or play any of the RaM games. The current character matching game is up and the answers will be posted next week. It's a fun one!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the U.S. -- and we can all remember that we can count our blessings every day! (I forget that sometimes . . .)

[MMADfan]

Just wanted to wish people a Happy Thanksgiving, and remind everyone that the last chapter, posted on Monday, "In Memoriam," will be the last one for at least a week to ten days, since I will be out of town.

There was a teensy-tiny "thanks-giving" of sorts in that chapter, so it may not be a formal holiday, but we can always give thanks, just as Albus does!

Don't forget to vote in the poll over on my LJ! There are a bunch of votes already, but I know there are more opinionated folks out there! LOL!

[minerva62]

I give thanks for another wonderful chapter of RaM and look forward to the next one.

I'm also curious about the poll results!

Happy Thanksgiving!

[esoterica1693]

A lovely long chapter to send us into the holiday and RaM-fast .

Minerva's and Albus's outfits are both very smart. They surely make a wonderful couple. <g> And Albus admiring her legs--too bad magical fashion isn't more progressive--it might raise certain issues faster. ;-)

Haggis for breakfast? My, my, Minerva certainly is Scottish! Since Albus spent much of his youth in Wales, I expect to see laverbread, or at least some Bara Brith and lots of lamb and cheese, on future menus--or a nod to Cornwall w/ some more pasties. <g>

"I would think I had fallen out of favour and lost your affection.” Hearing his own words, Albus fought a blush.

“Never, Albus.” Minerva reached across the table and took his hand. “You will never lose that. It is impossible.”

Oooh, good for Minerva! This scene is so sweet. As is the one w/ them on the bench--and so sad about how Albus was so alone and shut-down during the war.

And the walk behind greenhouse three, and she takes his hand again....ahhh, sigh..... Albus, oh dearest Albus, just when are you going to let yourself believe that yes, that's exactly what's in her eyes--she's looking at you as a wizard with whom she is very mcuh in love....

Gertrude is becoming more and more direct. She needs to continue to do so w/ Albus, who is a bit behind where Minerva is, understandably.

I hope Quin says and does something brilliant and sweet in response to the letter.

Hope you're arriving safely at your holiday destination as I type this, MMADfan, and have a great break along w/ your Muse. Who must not miss the return flight/drive/train, you hear? <VBG>

[esoterica1693]

And I forgot to mention the wedding invitation! That's (hopefully!) the brightest thing Albus has done in a while! It must have just come into his mind w/o his over-analysing it.

[Alesia]

So have just read from "Happy Birthday, Albus" forward. I love the sweetness of them holding hands while walking in the gardens. Minvera needs to start reading between the lines. I love Gertie playing the Slytherian version of matchmaker. They are close to finally figuring it out.

[MMADfan]

Hi, all! I'm glad you liked the last chapter. There will be another one up in a couple days, I think. My Muse is still on holiday . . . .

<--My Muse on the Beach, drinking fruity things that come with little umbrellas in them (I wish she'd brought me with her . . . haha!)

Also, a reminder to anyone who hasn't voted in the favourite character poll up on my LJ -- there are 21 votes, last time I looked. That's pretty good, but I thought there'd be more opinionated readers out there!

Oh, yeah -- and don't forget the character matching game! You don't have to be logged in to respond to that one. Of course, you can keep your guesses to yourself, too, and just check back later for the answers -- which will be up late this week.

Hope everyone in the U.S. had a good Thanksgiving holiday!

[esoterica1693]

mmadfan said:

Also, a reminder to anyone who hasn't voted in the favourite character poll up on my LJ -- there are 21 votes, last time I looked. That's pretty good, but I thought there'd be more opinionated readers out there!

As the contest comes down to the wire, can those of us who have already voted cheer/lobby for our favourites in the comments? <g> It's quite a tight race!

[MMADfan]

esoterica1693 said:

mmadfan said:

Also, a reminder to anyone who hasn't voted in the favourite character poll up on my LJ -- there are 21 votes, last time I looked. That's pretty good, but I thought there'd be more opinionated readers out there!

As the contest comes down to the wire, can those of us who have already voted cheer/lobby for our favourites in the comments? <g> It's quite a tight race!

Feel free to extol the virtues of any of the characters. I would prefer it if folk didn't say negative things about the other characters, though. Living in D.C., I have my stomach overfull of "negative campaigning" and such! LOL! So positive comments about why you chose a particular character as a favourite are quite welcome!

Well, I'm off to bed after a busy day -- rainy and overcast, as if it weren't bad enough that the days are getting shorter and shorter here with less and less daylight! I'm looking forward to the solstice, that's for sure!

BTW, I hope to have the next chapter up on Thursday, depending on RL -- and whether my Muse has returned from her holiday in sunnier climes! LOL! (At least my imaginary friends have nice vacations! Haha!)

[esoterica1693]

When I was in Long's Drugs yesterday I saw the little paper umbrella thingies and thought of your Muse. If I see her 'round here (I do live in a sunny beachy place) I'll send her eastward forthwith! There are a few non-stops from SAN ....

I prepared myself for a 4-day weekend and a week's fast from RaM by checking out a sizeable stack of books and movies from work and was very eagerly anticipating working my way through them. No Nabokov, but some other good stuff.

Instead I came down w/ a cold/flu/bronchitis thing on Weds and have been sick ever since. I've gotten all of 2 books read in that time. One was a historical fiction by Judith Merkle Riley set in the 14thC, "A Vision of Light," which was good, and one was David Lodge's "Thinks," which I didn't like as much as his earlier novels, but I think I was simply too medicated to appreciate this one...

Now, where is that Pepper-Up Potion?

Eagerly but patiently awaiting your Muse's return...

[sevherfan]

Is it really sad it took me a minute to try to figure out how far from right now Thursday is? Days and weeks and months blend together when you start working. Bah. It has benefits though, like coming home to a Resolving a Misunderstanding update Thursday after a stressful-career-woman day.

MMADfan, you're making me feel guilty now... I have taken Resolving a Misunderstanding to atleast two beaches this year (southern France and Floridian islands) and some non-beachy places in between. You have my permission to join your muse. Since I'm able to read from the beach, I have perfect faith you'll be able to write update from one too.

[esoterica1693]

Sevherfan--

That would be an interesting topic, IMHO, that would be another form of appreciation for MMADfan's efforts--where all have RaM fans downloaded chapters other than at their usual "home" or "work/school" computers?

Normally based in extreme SoCal, I have it bookmarked on my Treo and have read chapters in airports en route to Baltimore, Md. and on a train to Santa Barbara, Ca.

[MMADfan]

Hi, all! Just wanted to let you know that the poll results are up on my LJ.

The answers to the character matching game will be posted before the end of the week. Take a shot at it! ;D

[MMADfan]

Note: Not DH-compliant.

Posted in two parts because of length.

CXXVIII: Holiday from Hogwarts

Minerva had only been home a day, and she was already growing restless, her thoughts turning continually to Hogwarts and Albus. She had seen Albus at dinner on Tuesday evening, but had scarcely been able to speak to him, as there were still a number of other staff members at the castle after Professor Pretnick’s small memorial, and it seemed that every one of them wanted the Headmaster’s ear. She couldn’t blame them, or him, but it did frustrate her. At least she had been able to confirm to Albus that she would be gone from the castle for the next several days, visiting her parents and spending some time with her niece. She had restrained herself from going to see Albus that evening, not wanting to appear too needy – after all, they had just spent the afternoon walking through the garden, and she was going to be returning to the school within the week.

Now, though, Minerva wished that she had taken proper leave from Albus, if not that evening, then the next morning before she Apparated to the McGonagall house. Perhaps it would be easier to get him out of her mind if she had seen him again before she left. At least this afternoon she would be going to Melina’s and staying for supper, then Malcolm was coming for dinner the next day. She would simply have to keep busy.

Shortly after she had arrived home the previous morning, Minerva had received a letter from Quin in answer to hers of the day before. He was very sympathetic, but tried to encourage her to view things in a positive light and not to focus only on her doubts. He said that he was returning to London that afternoon, bringing both his children with him, and they would spend the next several days together until the children went to spend a week with their Grandmother Ella. Quin would still be having dinner with them every evening he was in town, though, since Ella’s flat was in London. But Ella had complained that she had not seen enough of the children in the last few months, and since he had some business travel scheduled, he thought this would provide the children an opportunity to spend time with their other grandmother before Alroy had to leave for Hogwarts. Quin said he would be busy over the next few weeks, between family and business, but that if she wanted to come to London for lunch or dinner, or meet him in Hogsmeade or elsewhere, he would find the time for her.

Minerva had written back and thanked Quin, but said that at the moment, she thought she would just do “family things,” as well, hoping that time with her family would provide her some perspective on her situation at Hogwarts. Now, though, sitting the library, a book unopened on her lap, Minerva doubted that her time away from Hogwarts would do anything except make her even more desperate for the slightest gesture of affection from Albus. What would she do during term time, when they were both so much more constrained by their schedules and the presence of so many more people in the castle? Perhaps being that busy would actually be a help . . .

Minerva set the book aside and decided to Apparate to Edinburgh early. Melina would still be at work for the morning, but Murdoch would be in the apothecary. She could do a little shopping in McTavish Street and keep her brother company in the apothecary if it was slow, perhaps give him a hand with something. Minerva told her parents that she was leaving and would be back sometime that evening.

She Apparated to the park and walked over to the apothecary from there, smiling as she remembered how she and Melina had happened into Albus that warm summer’s day the week before she was to return to Hogwarts to assist with the wards. She had finally managed to gain some control over herself and It, and she had enjoyed having Albus join them as she treated Melina to a bowl of ice cream. Of course, Albus had ended up treating them, but they had a nice time. It was one of the first times when she was still in school that she felt as though she had related to Albus as one adult to another, and not just as a student to her teacher. Of course, he had bristled when she had suggested that he might be suffering from the heat . . . that much hadn’t changed, Minerva thought with a sigh. Sometimes, Albus seemed to welcome her care and concern, and other times, he behaved as though her concern was completely unwanted.

Minerva stepped into the cool apothecary, and a bell rang in the back of the shop. Looking around, she didn’t see her brother, but his chime must have alerted him that she had entered. She was just examining a barrel of bulk desiccated Flobberworm larvae and wondering what on earth they were used for when Murdoch stuck his head out from the back room.

“Oh, Minerva Hello I wasn’t expecting you. I think Melina said she was meeting you here at one and we would have lunch together.”

“I was just bored at home. I thought I would pop around early, give you a hand, if you needed it, or go shopping if you didn’t,” Minerva answered.

“If you would like, you can stay . . . take care of customers for me, unless they have special requests. I’m brewing at the moment and I let Lawrence have the day to visit his sister, since she just had her first baby,” Murdoch said, referring to his single apprentice. “And, um, Poppy’s here – she’s keeping an eye on the potion now, but I should really go check it. It will need to have the Doxie wings added soon.”

Minerva shuddered at that thought. No wonder she hadn’t done particularly well in Potions. The ingredients tended to be disgusting. And Doxie wings weren’t the worst of them.

“Poppy’s here?” Minerva asked with a smiled. “Well, I’ll let you get back to her . . . and your potion.” She just restrained herself from giving Murdoch a cheeky wink, as he no doubt would give her under similar circumstances. But if Murdoch and Poppy were hitting it off, even if just as friends, she didn’t want to do anything that would make him feel uncomfortable about it.

Murdoch grinned. “Right-o. I’ll send her out to keep you company in a few minutes, then. Just give me a shout if you need any help with a customer.”

“No need to send Poppy out, not if she’s helping you with the potion.” This time, Minerva couldn’t keep a rather big grin from crossing her face, but Murdoch just grinned broadly, himself, and disappeared back into the rear of the shop.

Minerva was able to assist three customers, though she had some difficulty at first determining the price for the Runespoor eggshells. It didn’t help that the customer kept up a running complaint about the fact that Murdoch had no Runespoor eggs and he might just have to take his custom elsewhere.

As Minerva handed the customer his package of shells, she smiled pleasantly and said, “If you are able to find a reputable apothecary anywhere in Britain or Europe that sells Runespoor eggs, I would be most surprised. And any disreputable apothecary that would sell such a thing would probably be providing you with fakes and cheating you.”

The customer left, still grumbling about the unreasonable restrictions on necessary potions ingredients.

Finally, Minerva had to fetch Murdoch to help a customer who had questions that she felt best answered by an expert. She walked into the backroom to find her brother and Poppy together, Murdoch sitting on one of his high stools, his back to the potion, and Poppy standing in front of him between his legs, Murdoch’s arms loosely around her waist, her hands on his shoulders, and engaged in a very sensuous kiss. Minerva reddened, but knocked loudly on the door frame. Poppy jumped back and Murdoch almost fell off the stool.

“Oh, Merlin, Minerva You startled me . . . us,” Murdoch said.

“If the potion doesn’t require your immediate attention,” Minerva said, still blushing, “there is a customer who is asking about a few of the potions, and I don’t know enough about them to answer her.”

“Yes, of course,” Murdoch said. He turned back to Poppy and smiled softly. “I’ll just be a few minutes. Keep an eye on the potion for me?”

Poppy nodded, and a pleased expression crossed her face when Murdoch kissed her cheek gently before leaving.

“Well, I would say that you two are becoming well-acquainted,” Minerva said to her friend, not suppressing her smile.
Poppy blushed and nodded. “I think he likes me, Min.”

“I would say so – I dare say it’s been many a year since he’s canoodled with a witch in the backroom. Have you spent much time together over the last week?”

“We’ve seen each other several times . . . I think that since you brought me for dinner last Monday, the only day we haven’t seen each other at least for an hour or two was Tuesday, when I was at Hogwarts,” the mediwitch answered.

“And why didn’t you say anything to me then?” Minerva asked. “I would have enjoyed hearing some good news on that rather sombre day.”

“I thought about it, but you were busy, then you disappeared. I didn’t stay for dinner because I told Violet I would watch her children while she and Dylan were out that evening. It wasn’t something I could mention in the twenty second conversation that we had before the memorial. I liked your speech, by the way.”

“Thank you . . . yes, it was a busy day,” Minerva agreed. “I am happy to see you and Murdoch getting along so well, so to speak.”

Poppy blushed again. “I suppose it’s too early to say how serious it is, but I really do like him very much, I enjoy spending time with him – and not just doing what we were doing just now, either. He is simply nice, and very funny, too.”

A little bell chimed and Poppy picked up a stirring rod and began to stir the potion in a figure-eight pattern. As she stirred, she said, “I don’t want to push things along too fast, though. He’s been essentially a bachelor for a long time, and living with your daughter and a house-elf is not the same as having a relationship with a witch. I don’t want to spook him.”

“He didn’t look spooked to me,” Minerva observed.

Poppy shrugged. “I also don’t want to get cold feet. I’m enjoying this too much and I like him too well – I don’t want to rush, then get nervous about where it’s going and then do or say something stupid.”

Minerva nodded. “I can understand that . . . does this mean that the quality time you’ve been spending together has been, um, limited in scope, so to speak?”

“I can’t believe you just asked me that, Minerva This is your brother ” Poppy exclaimed.

“I know that, but I’m just . . . curious. Every day for almost two weeks – all right, with the exception of Tuesday – that’s some very intensive time. And you won’t be able to spend that kind of time with him when school starts in less than a month,” Minerva said.

Poppy visibly slumped. “I know it. I suppose that is why every time he suggests we get together, I agree, and when he doesn’t suggest it, I do. I’m afraid he’ll grow tired of spending time with me . . . but that’s all the more reason not to move too fast. And that should answer your question. What you just saw, that was almost the extent of, um, our activities.”

“It certainly looked promising. I’m surprised either of you can keep from moving beyond that if all of your kisses are like the one I witnessed. It was like your lips were having sex,” Minerva said bluntly.

Poppy giggled. “It felt like that, too. But that’s one reason why we scarcely even touch each other when we’re in the flat, I think. We haven’t discussed it, but . . . I think we are both thinking that it’s best to keep that sort of temptation at bay. At least for the time being.”

“As long as you are both happy. That’s what matters, that you are happy and enjoying yourselves. Murdoch certainly looked very happy,” Minerva said.

“Murdoch is very happy,” a deep voice behind her said. “And I do have a bone to pick with you, Minerva, for not introducing me sooner to this most . . . delightful witch.” Murdoch crossed the room and put his hands at Poppy’s waist, looking over her shoulder at the potion. “Just another few stirs, Poppy, and it will be good for the next hour.”

After Poppy removed the stirring rod and placed it on the slab next to the potion, Murdoch kissed the back of her neck.

“Well, I’ll be happy to watch the shop for a while longer,” Minerva offered.

“No, that’s all right. Why don’t you and Poppy go shopping, talk about whatever it is that witches talk about when the brother of one of them is smitten with the other,” Murdoch said, not taking his eyes off Poppy, and smiling when Poppy blushed and smiled.

After they were in the street, Minerva said, “I don’t think you have to worry about Murdoch losing interest in you. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Murdoch use the word ‘delightful’ to describe any witch, ever, and the fact that he said, in front of me, that he was smitten . . . I think that means he really is.”

“Really? I thought he was just teasing,” Poppy said.

“He was teasing, but in such a way that I could tell that he also meant it quite seriously. I think that, whether you want him or not, you now have a Potions Master, Poppy. Handle with care ” Minerva said with a laugh. “You never know what might happen with the introduction of volatile ingredients, after all ”

Poppy laughed, and the two went through a few shops, not buying anything, just looking and joking, Poppy’s ebullient mood contagious. As they were leaving Enrobed, Robes for Every Day and Every Witch, Minerva looked over at her smiling friend and, for just a moment, she felt a stab of envy. That Poppy could so easily and openly express interest in Murdoch and then take steps to get to know him and explore whether he might reciprocate created a sense of bereavement in Minerva’s heart.

Poppy looked over at Minerva at just that moment. “Minerva, are you all right?” she asked, a look of concern on her face.

Minerva smiled. “I’m fine. Where to next?” she asked briskly. “Melina won’t be here until one, so we have another half hour. We could just go back to the apothecary and you could help Murdoch with his potion.”

“That one should be done already. He said he wasn’t going to do much brewing today, with Lawrence away. He thought he might even close up shop early. He said that there is a film he wants to see, and we thought that before the show, we’d eat at an Indian restaurant he likes. I’ve only been to the cinema twice, and the last time was quite a while ago, so I thought it would be fun.”

“Yes, it seems that Brennan is Mugglizing the McGonagall clan. Hopefully, it will stop with the Edinburgh McGonagalls. My life is complicated enough without having Dad thinking he needs to buy an automobile or an aeroplane or some such.”

Poppy laughed. “Did you know that Melina is learning to drive?”

“What?” Minerva asked, puzzled.

“An automobile, of course. Brennan is finding the task of teaching a witch the finer points of Muggle traffic laws quite a challenge, I think. We all had dinner together on Sunday, and his stories were quite amusing. He claims to be getting grey hairs from it,” Poppy said with a grin.

“It can’t be any worse than a Side-Along from her,” Minerva said. “Not only is she the loudest Apparater I’ve ever met, I think she’d make anyone sick to their stomach, not just me. Brennan’s probably just trying to avoid having to Side-Along with her anymore ”

The two returned to the apothecary, where Murdoch greeted them with more enthusiasm than necessary since they had seen him only two hours before. When Melina arrived, Murdoch closed up shop and the four of them Apparated to Melina’s new flat, Murdoch bringing Poppy in a Side-Along. Brennan arrived for a lunch of soup, bread, and cheese, but had to leave immediately after to return to his shop, and Murdoch Apparated Poppy someplace, telling her he was going to surprise her. Minerva spent the rest of the day with Melina, looking at the house and how she was furnishing it from the odds and ends from the McGonagall attic. It looked quite good, although it still could do with more furniture, and Melina and Brennan were planning another excursion to the attic on the weekend. Melina pointed out the second-floor room that was going to be especially for Minerva when she came to visit.

“Of course, when you’re not here, we may have other guests stay in it if the other bedrooms are full, but we thought you might like to have somewhere to go that wasn’t the McGonagall place,” Melina explained enthusiastically. “You are always welcome here, Auntie Min. If we have other guests, we’ll just find other accommodation for them. Otherwise, well, it’s fairly private, too, since there’s a bathroom up here, and our room is down on the first floor, and if we have a baby, the nursery will be there, as well. And, of course, you’re welcome to bring a friend. If you need a separate bedroom for him – or her, if it’s somebody like Poppy, of course – there’s the small one across the hall. But I thought I’d do the room in Gryffindor colours and try to make it comfortable for you. Speaking of Gryffindor colours, how is your new set of rooms at Hogwarts?”

Minerva protested their setting aside a bedroom especially for her use, but Melina insisted, reminding her that it was rather impractical for her to have a flat when she spent most of the year at Hogwarts. And sometimes one wanted a place to go, Melina declared, other than the family home, as nice as that was.

“Besides,” Melina added, “it would be difficult for you to impose on us, since you are at the school most of the time, required to be there, even. And that is all the more reason for you to have somewhere to go when you can get away from the school. Any time, Minerva, really. Whatever is going on here, you’re family, and without you, it would have been so much harder for us. If it hadn’t been for you and Professor Dumbledore, I don’t know whether we would even still be together now, let alone be getting married in two weeks ”

Minerva stayed for dinner, watching as Melina used the Muggle cooker.

“It took some getting used to, but now I’m quite adept, if I do say so myself. I still use a lot of magic, of course, but we had to have Muggle appliances not just for Brennan’s sake, but because when our friends come by, many of them are Muggles, and I can’t have them wondering about our kitchen, or anything else they may see.”

Brennan arrived for dinner, and Minerva learned that, although he had moved over many of his things, he was still living in his flat over the shop. She was somewhat surprised by this, and it must have shown in her face.

Brennan grinned and said, “Well, we do have to save something for after the wedding, and spending an entire night together in our own place seemed manageable.”

“It is sometimes, difficult, though,” Melina added. “It’s hard for me to let him leave some nights, which is why I think we’ll be doing supper at his place from now until we’re married. I can just Apparate away before bedtime . . . it will be so nice not to do that any longer.”

Finally, Minerva said that it was time for her to be going, and she offered to Side-Along Brennan back to his address. She had never been in his flat, but she’d been to the shop. Minerva said it would be no problem to Apparate him to the alley behind it.

“Brennan doesn’t like to Side-Along, Min,” Melina explained as Brennan hesitated. “He’d rather take Muggle transportation, even if it costs him money.”
“Has he ever Apparated with anyone but you? No? Brennan, I think that you might have an easier time of it if I give you a Side-Along – no offense, Melina, but yours are truly dreadful. I think even Dad would have a hard time, and nothing ever seems to bother his stomach.” She turned back to Brennan. “You may still experience a moment or two of vertigo, but it shouldn’t be too bad. And if you are sick, we’ll know not to do it again.”

Brennan reluctantly agreed, and Minerva discreetly stepped into the foyer while he said good-bye to his fiancée. It took them ten minutes, but finally, Brennan emerged.

Minerva said, “You aren’t a wizard, but I still think you might be able to make it easier – at least on yourself – by visualising the alley. So close your eyes, visualise the alley, and breathe regularly, even if you feel nervous. And don’t open your eyes immediately upon arrival – just keep visualising the alley for a moment or two, then open them. It might help with your vertigo a little.”

She had Brennan stand beside her and put one arm around her shoulder while she put one of hers around his waist. After he confirmed that he was visualising the alley, Minerva waved good-bye to her niece and Disapparated. When they arrived in the alley, Minerva waited to make sure that Brennan wasn’t going to faint or fall over, then she let go.

“How was that?” she asked.

Brennan opened his eyes and blinked a few times before letting go of Minerva.

“All right, actually. I was a little dizzy at first, but there was no nausea at all, and I didn’t feel like the world was spinning around me.” He seemed astonished at that.

“I am going to see if I can have someone help Melina with her Apparating. She’ll likely take some offense, but if I tell her it’s so that she can Apparate with you more easily, I think she’ll do it. She’s never Splinched, that I know of, but she is dreadfully noisy, and her Side-Alongs, well, you know about them.”

“Spinched?” Brennan asked, puzzled, as they began to walk to the end of the alley.

“Splinched. It can happen if one doesn’t have enough determination, or if they don’t have their destinations firmly fixed in their mind. You leave a bit of your body behind, so part of you arrives and part of you doesn’t. Come to think of it, until Melina has the extra . . . tutoring, don’t Apparate with her unless it’s an emergency. Splinching is almost never fatal, although if it isn’t repaired immediately, it can cause permanent injury. And I have a very strong feeling that Splinching would not be as easy on a Muggle, and unless you only lost a fingernail or some hair or something of that sort, it could be quite serious. Yes, I will definitely talk to Melina about this. I’ll write her a letter in the morning, in fact.”

Brennan had grown quite pale as Minerva discussed Splinching, and he assured Minerva that he would not be Apparating Side-Along with Melina again until she had received some remedial training.

Continued in the next post

[MMADfan]

Continued from the previous post

CXXVIII: Holiday from Hogwarts, continued

The next day, Minerva spent the morning with her father working on his latest acquisition, an ancient Pali wizarding text. She wasn’t very much help, since she knew no Pali, but she enjoyed helping her father find the most apposite English translations, although some of them were such circumlocutions, Merwyn said, that the original meaning seemed impossible to capture. Finally, at about eleven o’clock, he suggested a cup of tea and a change of focus.

“After we have our tea, why don’t we take a look at the translation you said you were having difficulty with, Min?”

Minerva had brought home her copy of The Book of Taliesin, and she was working on a poem that was particularly difficult to translate. She had worked on it shortly after receiving the manuscript, then put it aside and worked instead on some of the less difficult ones. She was only just now returning to it. The poem was one of the ones that appeared in neither the oldest Muggle copy nor in the oldest publicly-known wizarding copy, and Minerva was finding it very frustrating and remembered now why she had abandoned it more than a decade before.

After they had their tea in the kitchen, Minerva fetched the manuscript and they returned to her father’s study. Merwyn examined the Welsh original, then looked at Minerva’s most recent attempt at translation.

“Hmm, yes, I see where your problem lies. The inflections are unusual, and you have also been trying to translate each word rather than looking at the phrasing – which is also somewhat unusual. This is certainly the oldest text of the ones I’ve looked at in this manuscript, and the least changed by the scribe who copied it. See, here’s your translation:

“Born to light in darkness I was
“and falling high and brightly
“I rose to sun-soaked plains and clouds
“a life ungiven and last I releasing life
“grasp to come out again and find once more
“what unlearned I had long forgotten
“and so will I climb again
“up the ravine and down the cairn
“to birth myself anew
“and gain through sorrow
“all undeserving I swallowed whole once
“and in my quest unaccompanied
“will I be by silence or roar or crash of sea
“not that will one await in quiet din
“and lead final steps of mine
“to ultimate fire and summit power.”

Merwyn read out her translation, then he went through the Welsh, phrase by phrase, with Minerva, and when they were finished, they had a new translation:

In darkness, I was born to light,
and falling, high and brightly,
I rose to sun-soaked plains and clouds,
to a life ungiven.
From life, I release my final grasp
to reemerge and find again
what, unlearned, I had long forgotten.
And so will I climb again
up the ravine and down the cairn
to birth myself anew
and earn through sorrow
what, all undeserving, once I swallowed whole.
In my quest, unaccompanied
will I be, not by silence, nor by roar or crash of sea;
instead, one will await me in the din of quiet
and lead me in my final steps
to ultimate flame and power’s summit.

“Well, that makes a little more sense, I suppose,” Minerva said. “At least superficially. But I can’t say I really understand it.”

“It is one of the mystical, prophetic poems, so the language is meant metaphorically,” Merwyn explained. “No doubt, it meant something to the poet and, perhaps, to the small audience to which it was addressed. The ‘I’ could be the poet himself or it could represent someone or something else entirely. Perhaps once you have translated a few of the other texts unique to this manuscript, its meaning will become clearer. They may be related, and that may be why they appear in this manuscript and none of the other extant copies.”

They perused some of the other translations that Minerva had made over the years, her father offering suggestions for improvements, until Egeria arrived home at one o’clock, and they had lunch. Malcolm had owled his mother the day before and said that he would be arriving some time that afternoon, but had not been any more specific than that. Minerva and her father were in the library playing chess when Malcolm walked in, wearing a kilt and sporran rather than either robes or trousers.

“It was a warm day today,” Malcolm explained, “and I had some work for a few wizarding folk and spent some time around Muggles, as well.”

He sat and watched the other two play chess for a while, then got up and wandered off, saying something about finding his mother and asking about gathering some herbs from her garden.

“Wonder what he wants with Mother’s herbs,” Minerva said idly as she moved her rook.

“Probably for some pest-control potion or other,” Merwyn replied. “Or maybe just for seasoning his dinner tomorrow ”

After she had beaten her father for the first time in months, Minerva decided to quit on a high note, and went off to find her brother. She found him in the herb garden with their mother, who was explaining the best method for harvesting the small leaves of a particular plant and admonishing him, probably unnecessarily, to take only a few from each plant.

“I don’t want to come out here tomorrow morning and discover that one of them has been completely denuded, Malcolm ” Egeria said.

Malcolm grinned. “I think I can manage that, Mother. Hello, little sister Done defeating Dad?”

“Yes, so I thought I would rest on my laurels for a little while, at least, and come find you,” Minerva answered.

“I’m going to go see Fwisky about dinner. You two have fun ” Egeria said, dusting off her green robes.

“So, doing a little cooking, Malcolm? Or brewing?” Minerva asked, curious.

“Wouldn’t cook with these unless I wanted to make myself rather ill,” Malcolm responded. “I’ll gather them before I leave tonight. How is Hogwarts biding?”

“Much the same as usual. We had a memorial service on Tuesday for Professor Pretnick,” Minerva answered.

“Bitten by a werewolf . . . can’t say I’d make the decision he did, but I can understand it,” Malcolm said.

“Please don’t, if you ever are bitten, Malcolm. You may irritate me, but I would miss you ”

“No worries there, little sister. I don’t plan on being bitten, and if ever I am . . . there are remote places one can go, chase a few beasts and encounter no human beings. Suicide is certainly an extreme solution for a problem that only crops up a few days a month,” Malcolm said.

“Have you ever dealt with werewolves?” Minerva asked.

“Mmm. Singly. Werewolves, unlike true wolves, as you most likely are aware, are not pack animals, but solitary hunters, seeking their favourite prey, and, unlike vampires, who often develop an attachment to those they have turned, during the full moon, werewolves do not seek out those they have infected, and when they are human, they are unaware of anyone whom they may have bitten. They could pass each other on the street, and although they would likely recognise a fellow sufferer of the curse, they would have no way of knowing whether one of them infected the other,” Malcolm said. “And because of the stigma attached to being a werewolf, even when they recognise each other in their human forms as being fellow sufferers, they do not usually speak of it. In fact, they tend to avoid one another.” He shrugged. “Just as well, I suppose. Folk might become paranoid if werewolves started gathering during their human time. Think they were up to something, despite the fact that the werewolves don’t remember their true selves when they transform, nor when they awaken after the last night of the full moon. There should be better formal support systems for them, but . . . no one in the Ministry would listen to me, in any case.”

“Have you ever had to kill one?” Minerva asked hesitantly.

“Once, about twenty-five years ago,” Malcolm answered softly, quite serious for once. “I have developed a rather nice variation on the Stunner since then, however, which is effective against werewolves, and I find that is quite sufficient. Try an ordinary Stunner, and they don’t even blink.”

“A pity that Robert didn’t know that one . . .” Minerva said softly.

Malcolm nodded soberly.

The two strolled through the garden in a thoughtful silence for a while, ending up at the gazebo near the ornamental flower garden. They sat, Malcolm stretching his long legs out in front of him and folding his hands behind his head.

“Do be mindful of how you sit when wearing that thing, Malcolm,” Minerva said jokingly. “Don’t want to know too much about my brother, after all ”

Malcolm quirked a sideways grin. “The sporran helps keep the kilt in place, covering everything it should. Now, if I were to put stone or throw a weight, you might like to cover your maidenly eyes My spinning has been known to have the ladies fainting, and even a few gentlemen. From shock or desire, I haven’t yet determined ”

Minerva laughed, then remembered Quin’s curiosity about Malcolm’s visit. Malcolm’s mention of both ladies and gentlemen raised her own curiosity.

“Quin tells me you two had lunch a while back.”

“Mmm-hmm. Fascinating chap, your friend,” Malcolm answered laconically.

“I think he was a little surprised you found him.”

Malcolm grinned. “Tracking is part of what I do, after all. I’ve even, on occasion when I needed the brass, tracked a few errant husbands in my time. And he wasn’t making any effort to hide, so it was quite easy.”

“What brought you to even look for him like that? Why not owl him and set something up? It could be quite unnerving for someone to have you track them down unexpectedly like that,” Minerva pointed out.

“Didn’t seem unnerved. But he seems quite unflappable, though I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side, I’m thinking. He’s fair powerful, though he wastes it, in my opinion. But the chap’s a father, and that does tie him down, I suppose.”

“Yes, he’s a father . . . he was very devoted to his late wife, Aileen. Very devoted,” Minerva emphasised, recalling Quin’s concerns, as unlikely as they were. “The love of his life, from what he says.”

“Yes, he did tend to wax on about her.” Malcolm shrugged. “Don’t fancy being that tied down, myself, but . . . life can bring surprises, I suppose, even to the most wary wizard.”

“So why did you track him down?”

“Wanted to get to know him a bit better, as I mentioned to you last time I saw you. He’s interesting. Not all moulded by Hogwarts and the Ministry. Refreshing . . . besides, a brother might want to know what a wizard’s intentions were toward his sister.”

“His intentions toward . . . me? Oh, really, Malcolm I don’t think you would have to worry about that ”

“I’m not. Just saying I might, that’s all. But he doesn’t seem interested in anyone in particular, though he did speak rather glowingly of you. If you were interested in him, you could probably just – ” Malcolm made a flicking motion with his little finger “ – tip him right over. If you wanted.”

“Well, neither of us want that; we are quite happy as friends. I do hope you will approach him in a more conventional manner next time, though, Malcolm. Or at least, don’t sneak up on him.”

“No sneaking involved, little sister. Walked right up to him on a public street, face-to-face. But I’ll try not to startle him,” Malcolm said with a laugh.

“Still, I think if you hadn’t been my brother, Quin might have been less likely to go to lunch with you. He has had some bad experiences with the Ministry, and it crossed his mind that your distaste for them might have been an act and you were really with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement or the Department of Mysteries, or something. So you see why he was a little troubled.”

Malcolm sat up and looked at Minerva. “I can understand that quite well. I will apologise to him. That didn’t occur to me,” he said seriously.

“I reassured him – I presume, truthfully – that you would have nothing to do with the Ministry, let alone work for them to trap honest businessmen,” Minerva said. “So you needn’t apologise unless you feel you must.”

“I do. No wonder he seemed not to want to discuss what it was like to work with Muggles . . . I will owl him and ask him to have coffee, or, better yet, to come to my flat for lunch. My croque monsieur is quite tasty, I have recently been informed,” Malcolm said with a grin.

“Um, hmm, I don’t know. Coffee might be sufficient. In Diagon Alley,” Minerva suggested. “He likes Fortescue’s coffee.”

“I think lunch. I could show him some of my finds – he might even know of some good buyers for a few of the rarer objects. Murdoch is already snapping up the last of my Erumpent horn – at a very good price, I might add. The family discount ” Malcolm said.

“Erumpent horn? Isn’t that – ”

“Restricted? Yes, but a friend of mine knows someone in the French Ministry who is old friends with the harridan currently in charge of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, and he was able to get me a permit to import it. Should be enough to keep me going for a few years. Not that I have stopped working. You never know when there might be a dry spell. Besides, I bore easily.”

“I have noticed,” Minerva said drily. She thought a moment. “Malcolm, may I be frank with you?”

“Always, little sister,” Malcolm replied, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

“Quin was worried . . . once he had dismissed the notion that you were from the Ministry, he wondered whether, well, whether you were interested in him.”

“Of course, I am; he’s not the run-of-the-mill – oh, you mean interested in him ” Malcolm chuckled. “Well, Quin is pretty. Lovely blue eyes and long legs, not to mention his dimples. And yet rugged at the same time. A delicious but uncommon combination in a wizard. Most are one or the other. And he is quite the charmer. Yes, quite an attractive package. But, no, dearest sister-of-mine, pretty as he is, I am not interested him romantically or sexually. So you can both iron out your twisted knickers and relax,” he teased.

“Well, all right, don’t be that way,” Minerva said crossly. “I did try to reassure him on that point, as well, but I wasn’t certain. I mean, you were eying him at the party, and you expressed interest in him, and some of the things that you said, right there in public – you can’t blame me for not being sure, myself.”

“You weren’t certain yourself, but you reassured him that I wasn’t after his, um, masculinity?” Malcolm said, obviously amused. “Is that the act of a true friend?”

“Well, I also thought that even if you were interested in him, you have enough . . . integrity and, um, concern for others’ feelings that you wouldn’t pursue him if he didn’t return your interest,” Minerva said, put out, and increasingly uncomfortable with the topic. “Look, I’m going up to the house now. Come if you want. I don’t care. You may not be an underhanded Slytherin, but sometimes you are worse.” Minerva stood.

“Hold up, there, little sister ” Malcolm interrupted, his mood suddenly shifted. “Underhanded Slytherin? Aside from the implications you are making about my own character, I have to inform you that I have known many an underhanded witch or wizard who was sorted into one of the other three Houses. Just because Slytherins may be a bit more successfully ‘underhanded,’ as you put it, doesn’t make that either their sole province or theirs alone. I have seen good Slytherins wounded and dead, doing the right thing, and believe me, their bodies go cold and their blood flows red just as much as any Gryffindor’s does. So you go on up to the house, Minerva. I expected better from the new Head of Gryffindor, but perhaps that position just ingrains all the old House prejudices.” Malcolm got up and left, striding south, away from the house.

Minerva was speechless. She had rarely seen Malcolm get hot under the collar, and she hadn’t meant anything by her remark, it was just a manner of speaking . . . she had been irritated with him and his teasing. She sat back down. Of course he was right. And perhaps she should avoid that manner of speaking in the future, particularly as Head of Gryffindor. House rivalry was one thing, but she certainly should not be encouraging prejudices. They seemed to spread too easily, as it was, without people in authority appearing to approve of them. Minerva got up and followed her brother down out of the garden. She owed him some thanks. But she wasn’t going to apologise. No, that would be going too far, after his annoying teasing. Malcolm did take being an older brother to new heights – or lows. Murdoch, for all he was a Ravenclaw, restrained his teasing more than Malcolm did. And Morgan, well, he was sweet, but dull. No teasing from that quarter. Malcolm certainly made up for it, though.

By the time the two returned to the house for dinner, Malcolm was relaxed and teasing again, and Minerva was putting up with him in better humour than she had. Dinner was lively, though Minerva found herself increasingly distracted by thoughts of Hogwarts. When her father suggested another chess game after dinner, she declined, reading instead, and looking up occasionally to observe her father and Malcolm go at it. They played fast, at practically breakneck speed, and Malcolm had a tendency to bounce in his seat as he considered his moves, which drove Minerva batty, but Merwyn seemed able to ignore that and everything else. They were playing with the wizarding chess set, and Malcolm’s pieces, regardless whether he played white or black, seemed unnaturally bloodthirsty. The pawns even pounded their chests and clashed their armour with each piece they took out, and his queen licked her dagger when she took a knight. Minerva found it most disturbing, and she finally excused herself and retired for the evening. Egeria took her knitting and left with her.

“Malcolm certainly thinks he can throw your father with his tactics, but I will not be surprised if Malcolm still loses more games than he wins. Your father is not easily perturbed,” Egeria said with a chuckle. “Of course, I have found some methods of distracting him from his game over the years – none of which I could use with you children in the house ”

“Mother ” Minerva blushed. “I am glad you spare us that ”

“Mmm, but it is a technique you may wish to try with a wizard one day . . . I’ll leave to your imagination precisely what the technique might involve,” Egeria said with a wink.

Minerva laughed. “I am sure I will be able to use my imagination should the occasion ever arise, Mother – but it is an interesting idea, and one I hadn’t considered before.”

“Mmm, best not to use it too frequently, of course. And you have to start off innocently, as though you have no intention whatsoever to distract him, so that by the time he twigs to it, he is so distracted, he doesn’t care. Of course, by that point, you both may completely forget the game.”

“I’ll remember that bit of advice.” Minerva smiled. “Good night, Mother ”

“Good night, sweetness. See you in the morning,” Egeria said, giving her daughter a quick, one-armed hug.

-/-/-/-

Note: Hope you all enjoyed the update! I know it's been a bit longer coming than usual. The next chapter will be up in a few days, "Seduction."

[Hogwarts Duo]

Murdoch and Poppy and sooooo cute together. I love how their relationship is slowly developing and that they seem to be falling in love. Poppy seems so happy, as does Murdoch. I hope that they’ll grow closer and closer together and we’ll learn more about their budding relationship.

Albus and Minerva in the poem:

In my quest, unaccompanied
will I be, not by silence, nor by roar or crash of sea;

instead, one will await me in the din of quiet

and lead me in my final steps

to ultimate flame and power’s summit.

I can definitely see Albus and Minerva in the above section from the poem Minerva and her father were translation. I see Albus as the wanderer and Minerva as the one who will await in the din of quiet to the ultimate flame and summit of power, which I definitely see as the realization and consummation of their love.

“Of course, I am; he’s not the run-of-the-mill – oh, you mean interested in him!” Malcolm chuckled. “Well, Quin is pretty. Lovely blue eyes and long legs, not to mention his dimples. And yet rugged at the same time. A delicious but uncommon combination in a wizard. Most are one or the other. And he is quite the charmer. Yes, quite an attractive package. But, no, dearest sister-of-mine, pretty as he is, I am not interested him romantically or sexually. So you can both iron out your twisted knickers and relax,” he teased.

I do believe I love these McGonagall men. If it’s not the romantic Merwyn wooing and cuddling with his wife, it’s Murdoch with Poppy. And now Malcolm is showing me his wicked sense of humor. Iron our your twisted knickers…I do believe I’ve just found my new catch phrase. LOL

“Of course, I have found some methods of distracting him from his game over the years – none of which I could use with you children in the house!”


“Mother!” Minerva blushed. “I am glad you spare us that!”



“Mmm, but it is a technique you may wish to try with a wizard one day . . . I’ll leave to your imagination precisely what the technique might involve,” Egeria said with a wink.



Minerva laughed. “I am sure I will be able to use my imagination should the occasion ever arise, Mother – but it is an interesting idea, and one I hadn’t considered before.”



“Mmm, best not to use it too frequently, of course. And you have to start off innocently, as though you have no intention whatsoever to distract him, so that by the time he twigs to it, he is so distracted, he doesn’t care. Of course, by that point, you both may completely forget the game.”

Egeria cracks me up with her subtle advice to Minerva. She seems like such a happy and fun loving woman and it’s good to see Minerva observing her parents and how they are still able to keep the romance alive. Maybe it will give her hope for her own future with Albus.

Thanks for the update! Can’t wait for more RaM. That was a looooong fast you had us on there. I think I lost weight…okay, not really but I wish!