Much Ado About Minerva
Ch 2
Just before the meeting started the next week, Tonks pulled the others into the sitting room quickly, "You all know the plan right?"
"Right, Remus and I will come back in here right after the meeting, where Albus will have to walk back through to get his cloak," Arthur answered.
"There he will overhear us talking about how much Minerva is in love with him," Remus nodded. Then looking at Tonks curiously asked, "Don't you think this is a little suspicious. It's not exactly common for men to talk about things like this when we're together."
Tonks rolled her eyes at him, "It won't matter how out of place it seems once the plan works. No one is going to question you, least of all Albus. His mind is going to be on other things as soon as he hears about it."
Remus gave her a skeptical look, "If you say so."
"I do," Tonks said with a smile. "Now, as you guys are doing that, Molly and I are going to be in the kitchen chatting over a cup of tea. Minerva always stays late to have a cup with Molly before leaving so that's where we'll catch her."
"We're going to have to work quickly to catch her. She usually heads into the kitchen first," Molly answered with a worried glance.
"Then we'll just be the first up from the table. Most of the others are going to disapparate from the garden so it shouldn't be a problem," Tonks said offhandedly. "So is everyone ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Arthur shrugged.
"I still think it sounds like a bit of a stretch, but if you're sure," Remus nodded.
Molly smiled clapping her hands together in excitement, "This should be fun."
…
As soon as the meeting was over Tonks and Molly set out with their plan, jumping up from the table before anyone else had even moved. Remus and Arthur followed them out, not waiting to watch the others disapparate home. As the rest of the Order filtered out, Albus and Minerva were suddenly the only ones left at the table. Realizing this Albus hastily got to his feet and went in search of the sitting room where he knew he'd find Arthur and Remus.
Albus was about to step into the room when he heard Arthur's voice. His words giving the older wizard pause, "Molly told me herself. She says Minerva can't possibly go on a mission with Albus anymore, she gets too distracted."
"What on Earth are they talking about?" Albus whispered to himself, but stayed outside to listen.
"Why's that?" Remus asked, sounding truly confused.
"Because she's in love with him," Arthur answered, a bit more loudly knowing that Albus was now listening in after seeing his shadow in the doorway.
Remus smirked, but tried to hide it hoping that Albus wouldn't look in and catch him. Returning to his skeptical tone he responded, "You can't be serious Arthur, the woman can't stand him."
"Don't you see that's how women are sometimes. Even Molly couldn't stand me in our second year. It took me years to win her over," Arthur smiled remembering.
"But surely Minerva could put aside her feelings when it comes to a mission," Remus scoffed. "An ex-Auror should be able to do that."
"Ah, but love can do strange things to a person," Arthur explained.
Remus shook his head in disbelief, playing his part to the fullest, "I don't believe it Arthur, she's not a woman to be blinded by love."
"Who's to say how any of us would act," Arthur asked easily.
"Minerva is usually the first to offer herself for a mission," Remus reasoned. "I can't see her changing that drastically that quickly."
"How do you think Tonks feels when you offer to go on a mission?" Arthur asked shooting a pointed look at Remus.
Remus gave him a dark look, saying under his breath, "We're not talking about that now." Then responding in a voice Albus could hear, "Maybe Molly has it wrong, maybe something else is going on with her."
"The way Molly says it she can't eat, she stays awake all night thinking about him, she can't focus during the day. What else would you call it?" Arthur said leaning back in his seat.
"Why doesn't she just tell him?" Remus asked sounding as if the question was blindingly obvious.
"Minerva, she's too proud," Arthur scoffed, "and Albus would just throw it back in her face."
"But even Albus couldn't be that callous," Remus retorted easily.
Arthur shook his head, "He may be a brilliant wizard, but when it comes to love he's not that bright."
"That's true." Remus nodded, "We all know his history with Grindelwald. But she should still say something."
"No," Arthur answered quickly, "I told Molly to try and talk her out of it. It may take some time, but she'll get over him."
Remus nodded sadly, "Perhaps you're right. Well I should be getting home. I'm leaving for the mission tomorrow…"
The rest of their conversation went completely unnoticed by Albus. He'd heard enough to last him a lifetime. Standing in the hallway he wracked his head. Whispering to himself he said, "Can what they've said be true? Minerva is in love with me? I don't understand. Ever since our parting she has seemed to hate me. I suppose that could simply be her way of covering her feelings. I did treat her poorly then, but how was I to act. Minerva was a beautiful, talented, brilliant, young witch. She still is come to think of it. I was certain that she would find someone else, someone better and leave me. I couldn't bear to have my heart broken by her. I did not believe that I could endure it, so I did the only thing I could, I left her. Yet, she never seemed taken with any other man. Is it true, could she possibly still care for me, love me even? I have never lost my feelings for her, so it is possible. I have made up my mind. If Minerva feels so strongly for me I must show her I feel the same. Love on Minerva, I shall return your love and we shall be together once more."
…
While the men were talking, Minerva had made her way to the door of the kitchen. As her hand reached out for the door knob she stopped, hearing Molly's voice talking to someone inside, "… Tonks, you can't believe everything you hear. There is no way Albus is in love with Minerva."
Minerva's eyes grew wide as she heard this. She couldn't believe it, but had to know what Tonks had to say in response, so standing just on the other side of the door she listened intently.
"But Remus told me and he heard it from Albus himself," Tonks responded quickly.
Molly shook her head, knowing that Minerva was watching surreptitiously, or so she though, in the window, "Surely he must be mistaken; Albus wouldn't say such a thing."
"I know it doesn't sound like him at all, but Remus said he wasn't exactly himself," Tonks paused, trying to figure out her next words. "He was almost giddy."
Molly gave her a dubious glance, "Dumbledore is a rather happy man, but giddy?"
Tonks shrugged, "I know, but Remus said that's what he seemed like."
"Are you sure there was no alcohol involved in this discussion?" Molly laughed lightly.
"It could be, but sometimes that works as more of a truth serum than Veritaserum," Tonks countered easily.
"That is true," Molly nodded. "Did Remus try and convince him to tell her?"
Tonks shook her head adamantly, "No, and I told him not to. Could you imagine the jokes she'd make?"
Molly sighed, "I can't deny that one. She would get quite a laugh out of it. But I can't see why she'd be so hard on him. He's such a good man."
"Wise, noble, a true gentleman, I don't know how much more she could want," Tonks said seriously, though the smirk on her face gave her away.
Molly laughed loudly, "It sounds as if you're developing a crush."
Tonks smiled, "If it wasn't for Remus I might."
Molly paused for a moment, seemingly thinking things over as she took a sip from her tea cup, then continued, "Well maybe he should tell her anyway. She's smart enough to see a good thing when it comes her way."
"No, I've told Remus just to let it be," Tonks countered. "Albus will get over it at some point."
"One should never have to 'get over' love," Molly shook her head. "It's one of life's great joys."
"Only if the other reciprocates your love," Tonks responded sadly.
Molly placed a comforting hand over Tonks's, "Don't worry dear. Remus will see the light sooner or later."
Tonks sighed wistfully, "I only hope it's sooner rather than later."
Molly smiled, "Don't we all. Come on dear, you'd best get to bed it's getting late."
Tonks nodded, "You're right. Good night Molly. I'll see you next week"
"Good night dear," Molly said just before a pop could be heard as Tonks disapparated.
Watching Molly retreat into the sitting room with the men Minerva made her way into the kitchen in a daze. Taking a seat at the scrubbed wooden table she ran her hands over it whispering to herself, "This cannot be true. Albus still loves me? But the things they said about me, I'm so embarrassed. Do they really think that I would be so horrible to him should he choose to tell me? Yes I have made my fair share of witticisms in the past about him, but they were nothing. I had to do something to hide my true feelings. I could not go moping about wallowing over the love I lost. Albus was the only man I have ever loved, doesn't he know that? Didn't he see that there has been no one since him? It doesn't matter now, what matters is that I must change. No more jokes, no more poking fun at his little comments from here on out I will be nothing but my best self around him. If what they say is true and Albus does love me, then I will show him how much I love him."
A/N: Thank you all for the kind reviews on the last chapter and for making it this far. I hope I've done the story justice, but let me know either way. I just wanted to put in a little side note here about the Grindwald comment from earlier. Yes we all know that JKR has said that Dumbledore is gay right. Well I only believe that to be half true. Knowing the character of Dumbledore and how much love is a big factor to him I believe that he is bi. No if you would like to argue me on this I'm fine with that, just a little alternative which would make all of our favorite MMAD scenarios actually work. Ok enough about that. A big thanks goes to slenderpanda597 for once again coming to my rescue as my beta. She's fabulous and if you haven't read her work please take the time. I mean it go now! Well after you write a review for me of course ;)