Chapter Two: April Showers
Back from lunch with Poppy, Minerva hung her cloak on the rack in her office. If Dumbledore came down to find her for their walk, it would be handy, and it saved her the trip up to her suite. Her work was all here in her office, anyway, although her study was a bit cosier.
She hadn't seen Dumbledore yet that day, since she had taken a light breakfast of tea and toast in her rooms, still in bed, which was a bit of a luxury that she couldn't indulge during term time. It wouldn't do for all of the staff to decide to lounge in bed late, even during a holiday, since there were always at least a few students staying in residence, but that never happened, as far as Minerva was aware. She laughed softly to herself, wondering what the students would do if none of the staff appeared for breakfast one morning. They'd probably sort themselves out just fine, she thought, although if it became a regular occurrence, she was certain they'd eventually get up to something they shouldn't.
She thought she'd managed to avoid that moment in Dumbledore's sitting room the evening before from becoming more awkward than it already was. Kissing a wizard and having him lie there as though he'd been simultaneously been hit by a Stunner and a Body Bind was not conducive to a comfortable evening, and it certainly did nothing for a witch's self-confidence. But it had been one moment of foolishness, one moment of madness, as she had told Albus, and as awkward as it had been, it wasn't fatal, neither to her nor to their friendship. She could certainly carry on. And that meant behaving as though nothing was different, as though that moment had never happened, and behaving that way whether she was planning her day and her evening, carving out a small slice of it to spend with him, just as usual, or whether she was all alone and merely reflecting upon the incident to herself. And, of course, behaving normally when she was with him, as well.
It wasn't the end of the world, she thought as she sat down behind her desk and pulled the fifth-year essays toward her. She and Dumbledore had an excellent working relationship and a close friendship. There was an easy warmth between them, and she knew that he felt more relaxed in her company than in that of anyone else's—he had told her that much, in fact. She hoped that Albus could put the moment behind them, as well, and retain that sense of ease he had with her. It would be a positive sign if he came down and fetched her for their walk, but if he didn't, she would simply continue reading student essays and then go up to his office after dinner as she always did.
Despite the rational talk Minerva had with herself, she still felt a sinking sensation in her stomach as the afternoon grew later and the time for Albus to fetch her came and went. It didn't matter, she told herself. But when she heard the door to her classroom open and then Albus's swift tread cross the room to her office, she breathed a sigh of relief.
As was his wont, Albus rapped once sharply on her door, then turned the handle to let himself in.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I had a Floo conversation with Minister Quigley, and it was becoming tiresome to squat there and argue with him, so I popped down to London to speak with him in person. I thought I'd be back sooner. I hope I'm not too late for our walk?"
"No, no, not at all," Minerva said brightly. "Although the dinner hour is approaching—"
"Not a problem. I've let Filius know that we would likely be out of the castle. He can look after everyone in our absence, and I know that Horace will be at dinner. I ran into him just now as he returned from his sister's."
"Only a day later than he said he'd be," Minerva said drily. "Not bad, for him."
"He apparently reacquainted himself with an old flame whilst he was visiting," Albus replied with some amusement. "Madam Bourgain."
"Bourgain? As in—"
"Yes, Bernard Bourgain's aunt. Interesting timing, wouldn't you say, my dear?" Albus asked as he helped Minerva on with her cloak.
"Just as Bernard has become Minister Quigley's aide, yes, I'd say that was interesting timing," Minerva replied with a smirk. "Didn't have two minutes for the boy when he was a student, if I remember correctly. Said he had a humdrum mind, wouldn't amount to much."
Albus laughed. "I think there is a lot going on inside that 'humdrum mind' of his that Bernard keeps to himself."
"He should do well for Quigley, I think," Minerva remarked as she closed up the classroom behind them. "I don't think the boy ever forgot a word he read."
"I believe he has an eidetic memory," Albus said, "and what's more, he could always pull up relevant facts as he needed them. Horace never appreciated his talents, as the lad never advertised them. I think that perhaps this might be a little lesson to him."
"For all his . . . quirks, though, Slughorn usually has an appreciation for intelligence, doesn't go just for the flashy ones—although they are his favourites. I suppose he assumes they'll make a splash once they leave Hogwarts, and then make all of the right connections," Minerva said.
"I do believe that young Bernard wasn't very impressed by our Head of Slytherin," Albus said softly as they headed down the stairs to the ground floor. "Probably did his best to remain beneath his notice."
"Good on him," Minerva replied with a low chuckle. "I believe he might go far in the Ministry."
Albus laughed.
As was their way, they talked as they walked, speaking of Hogwarts, students, mutual acquaintances, of a loose stone, a lovely tree, a happy memory, and of nothing at all. Their walk took them around the lake, as it so often did, then through a hidden gate in the wall surrounding the Hogwarts grounds, and then along the edge of the forest, across the railway tracks, and from there, up the slope of the mountain across from the castle. They didn't climb far, though, before they found one of their favourite paths, which led them around the side of the mountain, Ben Beithir, as it was called, and thence into a dale whose rushing burn was one of several that fed the Hogwarts loch.
It was already becoming dark when they reached Glen Beithir, and Minerva suggested that they turn around and head back to the castle for dinner.
"It will be dark by the time we reach the wall, as it is," Minerva said.
"Indeed," Albus replied. "I thought that, if you liked, you might join me for a light supper when we return."
"As long as it isn't too light," Minerva said. "I'm rather hungry. My lunch seems very long ago and far away at the moment."
"I am sure that the house-elves can arrange a good, satisfying supper for us. I'd like something warming, myself, perhaps a nice hot soup. It's still quite brisk out."
Several times on the walk back to the castle, Albus reached out and gently touched Minerva's elbow in order to indicate direction, or took her hand briefly to assist her over a rocky spot. Minerva didn't really need any help, having been an avid hill-walker since childhood, but she didn't point that out, enjoying the warmth of Albus's hand around hers. The final time that he took her hand, just before they reached the little gate in the wall, he squeezed it gently before he released it, smiling at her.
"It's been a lovely walk, my dear. A wonderful way to end an otherwise rather vexatious afternoon. Your company is so often the cure for all of the weary burdens of this old wizard."
Minerva blushed and lowered her gaze. "I've enjoyed it as well, Albus, although my day was not as tiresome as yours sounded."
"I feel rejuvenated after our walk," Albus said, flicking a finger to make the gate appear, then waving his hand to open it to them. "Pleasantly tired, but rejuvenated at the same time."
"The exercise in the fresh air is good for that," Minerva replied sensibly.
"Ah, but the exercise alone would have been as nothing without your companionship," Albus said. "It is that to which I look forward every day, you know."
"I do, too, Albus."
By the time they began to round the lake, the dark clouds over head opened up, and it began to pour. Albus cast two quick Imperviuses, first on Minerva and then on himself, but although they remained dry, the rain still beat down on them as they ran toward the castle.
"You go on in your Animagus form," Albus called to her over the pounding rain. "I'll catch up."
"I shouldn't—can't you—"
"My form doesn't like flying in the rain, you know that. No arguments! I'll recast the Impervius as soon as you transform. Now go on!"
Minerva transformed with a quick pop, and although Albus was fast with his spell, the rain still dampened her fur, much to her feline distress. She raced off toward the castle, waiting for Albus in the minimal cover provided by the doorway at the base of the North Tower, which was the closest entrance, aside from the one down by the docks, but that one would have taken longer to reach, and it would have been a very treacherous, slippery path down.
Albus caught up with her in little time, still fairly dry, though he seemed to be steaming as the Impervius strained to keep him from becoming soaked in the downpour.
"Mrrrorrrww!" Minerva complained, dancing about at Albus's feet.
"I know, my dear, just a moment!" He drew his wand and opened the scarred old door. "There we are!"
Minerva leapt in, shook herself, and then smoothly returned to her ordinary form. "Pomona was right about the rain!" she said somewhat crossly.
"April showers, you know, Minerva!" Albus said brightly.
"I'll take the May flowers without getting caught in the April showers, though, thank you very much! Now I really am ravenous."
"Your Animagus transformation probably helped your appetite along," Albus said as he waved his wand to light the torches ahead of them.
"Lead on, Headmaster," Minerva said. She disliked the narrow, closed stairwell of the North Tower, but it was a convenient shortcut on occasion. Still, she preferred to have Albus go first; it didn't seem quite as claustrophobic that way.
Author's Note: Thank you for your reviews! I appreciate them very much!
If you're enjoying "A Momentary Madness," you may enjoy my other ADMM fics, including the one-shot, "A Light at Dusk" and the massive mega-novel, Resolving a Misunderstanding, as well as others that can be found either here or on the website of the Petulant Poetess archive. (There are links on my ffnet author's page to the Petulant Poetess and to my stories on that site.)