I know it seems like forever since i have posted the last chapter, but I am working actively on two fan fiction stories right now and I took a day off. If it makes up for anything, I am bound and determined to give you yet another chapter tonight. Please grab your tea and a comfy chair, because here is another chapter for you.
Minerva sat down quickly after the class filtered out of the room. Her head was spinning and fuzzy, like she was going to pass out. Alastor hobbled to her side.
"You alright Minerva?" She feigned a smile.
"Of course I am Alastor." He sighed. Clearly he knew more than he let on.
"You haven't been eating right since he died, have you?" The realization that the real reason Alastor was there was to keep her from hurting herself... to make her whole made her twinge with both anger and guilt. Her appetite had been off since he died. She just wasn't hungry, as far as she was concerned, it is all just part of the grieving process. Then the pieces began to fall together.
"Poppy sent you, didn't she? This isn't just a friendly visit." Moody looked at her with sad eyes. clearly that look alone proved he wouldn't be here if it weren't for Poppy begging him to come, knowing he was the only one that could bring her to his senses.
"She wrote me a few times, yes. Ultimately I needed to see for myself. I chose to stay for you as a friend to help you through this. If you don't want me here, I'll leave. Like I said, I am here as long as you need me to be." Minerva nodded. "I understand you are depressed, heartbroken, and that this is just the grieving process, but you do need to eat for the good of these students and yourself. If you passed out during a class, what would that do to your students?"
"I'm.. sorry Alastor... I didn't think, I just didn't feel hungry is all." he embraced her then looked her in the eyes with a hand on either shoulder.
"How long has it been since you last ate?" Minerva thought long and hard about this.
"Dinner maybe, yesterday?" He sighed again, clearly frustrated at what a mess she had become. She wasn't the strong gryffindor he remembered.
"We should get you to lunch then. The great hall is likely full, but we must get you something to eat quickly before your condition worsens." Alastor helped her up and supported her to the door. Minerva pushed him away gently.
"I must walk on my own. I don't want anyone to panic at my expense." he let go, making sure to be ready to catch her if need be. They made their way down the stairs to the great hall. Once the made it to the bottom Minerva dropped like a fly and Alastor caught her just in time before she hit the floor. a few students that were late for lunch stopped short at the site of moody on the floor with Minerva's head on his lap. He was trying to wake her when he noticed them.
"Don't just stand there, get madame pomfrey. Be discrete about it or you will be expelled." The students shuffled off in a hurry to the great hall to get the mediwitch who was out in seconds. Her white robes billowing behind her as she ran to them. she has smelling salts in her hands as well as a pasty. The smelling salts were given to moody to hold under her nose as Minerva's eyes fluttered open slowly. Poppy then gave her the pasty with a stern look.
"You should have eaten breakfast." Poppy gently reprimanded her. "I understand you are upset, but you need to eat. Especially since your heart is so weak from that stunning attack two years ago. You must be careful." Minerva nodded as she ate the pasty, not understanding how hungry she really was. the pasty was gone within minutes. "Come upstairs with me please. I wish to do an exam to make sure you are okay." Minerva shook her head.
"I'm fine now, thanks Poppy. I just needed to eat. like you said, I forgot before I stormed out this morning." Minerva got herself up and proudly walked up the stairs and into her private rooms. Poppy helped moody off the floor who stormed after her with poppy at his heels. Mad eye got to the door before poppy even climbed the stairs. He rushed in to find an empty room, he looked around and opened the bathroom door to find her puking. He rubbed her back and held her hand as she finished, tears were streaming down her face. Moody turned to poppy standing in the doorway with a grave look. It was clear to him that her malnutrition had reached a new level. She couldn't keep food down. They exchanged looks before helping Minerva to lie down in her bed for a rest. She fell asleep quickly and Poppy pulled Moody aside.
"You do understand that this is something above my schooling. I was never trained to deal with malnutrition to this point. Simple eating disorders, yes, but this... this is different."
"Are you sure? There's nothing you can do?"
"I'm sure. We need to alert St. Mungos. with her heart so weak even throwing up could cause her to have a heart attack." Moody nodded and flood St. Mungo's and four mediwitches came and carried her off through the floo followed by mad eye. Poppy decidingly stayed in case a student needed her. Moody was made to sit in the waiting room for what felt like hours. He contemplated leaving but he knew that he should stay for when she needed him.
About four hours later a mediwitch came out to talk to him. "She is awake and wants to speak with you." It wall all he needed to hear. he followed her until she stopped at room 161. Alastor knocked and entered. Minerva was in tears, absolute sobbing, heart wrenching tears. Moody hobbled his way over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder after wiping her tears.
"What's the matter?" He asked as softly and calmingly as possible. Minerva shook her head. She wasn't ready to speak yet. after another hour or so she calmed down while they were playing a game of wizards chess.
"You asked what was wrong with me?"
"Are you sure you are ready to talk about it?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Alastor, the doctors said I'm pregnant." Moody smiled wide.
"That's wonderful news my dear. Albus will live on inside of you." he placed a hand gently on her lower abdomen. "Many widows would have killed for this." Minerva began to sob gently again as tears welled in her eyes. She placed a hand on his.
"I.. can't. my heart can't take it. The doctors said..." Mad eye got angry.
"Screw them. you can do this. I will help you through this. You deserve a little happiness in all this sadness." Minerva smiled.
"thank you." A medwitch came in shortly after this moment with a needle. "That won't be necessary." The medwitch stopped looking confused.
"But, you will die otherwise." the medwitch stated.
"I am already dead. I am growing old and my husband is dead. It would only be a matter of time." The medwitch nodded at this and walked away with moody grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm glad to hear you have a reason to live now. Albus would be proud of you." Minerva nodded. maybe somewhere in his head he had planned this. all she knew for sure was that she was going to keep this baby if it was the last thing she did. It was her husband's legacy and it was all hers.
I have been tossing this idea around in my head since i thought of the idea for this book and I decided that it would be a good time to implement this. It was now or never and I thought it would play a detrimental part of Minerva's recovery. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review.
To be continued.
