The thestral-drawn carriage was getting closer. On the steps of the castle, the headmaster breathed deeply several times. Beside him, Madam Pomfrey looked on with minimal interest.
"After the introductions I will only stay for a few minutes. You're a grown man, Albus, you have no need of a chaperon."
Male feet shifted under new purple and white robes.
"I would like your opinion of her. If Minerva were here, there would have been no need for your presence."
The nurse straightened herself as the carriage drew closer.
"Minerva says that I always think too well of people so much so that I miss their true natures. After you meet her, simply tell me your thoughts on first impression after she has left."
The nurse nodded. She noted the headmaster's fine appearance - brushed beard, shiny hair and new purple and white robes.
"Very well. It is the least I can do for Minerva."
The headmaster smoothed down his beard. He heard her chuckle beside him.
"Is appearance all that important to you, Albus?"
He looked thoughtful.
"Yes and no. She ought to be pleasingly shaped in body and face. Not too tall but slender and willowy."
She coughed.
"From what Minerva has told me of her, she sounds a very confident woman but I hope not too forward or modern. I prefer a feminine woman."
The nurse put a hand to her bosom as a series of coughs racked her body.
"Ahem, here she is."
The carriage halted. The door opened. A flash of a well-turned ankle came into view as the occupant descended.
"Welcome, Miss Sageworth, to Hogwarts."
A voluminous cloak of burgundy disguised her figure. Her face was thinly veiled under a tall hat.
"Thank you, Headmaster. It is my pleasure I assure you."
The hat, veil and cloak when off revealed a very slim figure barely filling out her cream robes, brown hair not luxuriantly long but bobbed and underneath a pleasant if not stunning countenance.
"This is Madam Pomfrey, our head nurse. Shall we go in to lunch?"
If her face and figure left something to be desired and her hair too short for his tastes, he ignored it. At least, her voice was pleasant to hear.
"How are you acquainted with Minerva, er, Professor McGonagall, Miss Sageworth?"
Avid eyes took in her surroundings. Her stride was loose-limbed but smooth.
"We see each other at conferences where we are typically speakers on the same panel."
Albus discreetly compared her height to his own. She reached to his shoulder.
"And she helped immensely on my book though she insisted on being uncredited."
Heels clicked on the stone floors.
"However, I insisted that she get a portion of the royalties. I believe she donates the amount to a charity of some kind."
There was a raised eyebrow.
"The book? It's titled the Seven Habits of Incredibly Intelligent Wizards and Witches."
They stopped at the stone gargoyle leading to the headmaster's office.
"Well, you hardly need the book, do you, headmaster?"
Albus laughed. He motioned for her to go first up the winding staircase.
"Madam Pomfrey, do you wish to join us for lunch?"
The nurse understood the unsaid. She mentioned a list of things left undone and left the two to their own luncheon.
Later that evening, a house elf found himself summoned to a small room in the dungeons off in the farthest corner of the castle. The room was too small to be put to any useful purpose. At the moment, it held a large wardrobe, a highbacked chair and the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Any news? Has she returned from her shopping trip?"
The elf nodded.
"Has she seen it?"
The elf nodded again.
"Is she upset?"
The elf's expressive face showed great distress.
"Very upset?"
The nodding this time was vigorously done.
"I suppose she's looking for me."
The elf shrugged his shoulders.
"Yes, yes, very good, claim you don't know where I am. Spread that word about your fellows."
The man sat heavily into the chair. He cradled his head in his hands.
"I was called away to the Ministry and when I had returned ... when I returned it was ...was what it is."
A noise outside the door made him look up. His hand went to his wand.
"Er, go out there and ... and, er, make sure it's not her. In fact, discreetly patrol that hallway tonight. Wake me if you see any sign of her."
The elf was just about to apparate when another command was issued.
"Please bring me my pillows, blankets and my thick robe. I shall have to make myself comfortable here tonight."
The elf disappeared to do its task. Albus transfigured the chair into a small cot. Nothing bigger could fit in the room. There was no fireplace. It was going to be a cold, miserable night. He sighed and wondered how things could have gotten so wrong.
The following day a rumpled, dishevelled figure made his way furtively to the main entrance glancing cautiously left, right, front and back.
"Minerva said she would be back by three. It's almost that. Maybe I ought to wait for her by the gates."
He ducked his head around the corner to make sure the way was clear. He muttered under his breath.
"No, that's too open. Not defensible at all."
He crouched low at every noise. He hugged the walls before turning every corner. And so he creeped and sidled his way to the main hall from his dungeon abyss.
"Almost there."
A few minutes later, in the main hall, the enormous front door began to open. Minerva stepped in.
"I don't see anyone. Now or never, old man."
Albus eyed the hall, the stairway, the cross corridors then ran pell mell towards salvation.
"Oh, it's nice to see family but there's nothing like home."
Her eyes spied the blur of purple veering towards her.
"Albus!?"
Albus halted just behind her gasping for breath. She whirled around but he moved behind her again.
"Will you please stop moving and face me?"
The sound of approaching footsteps brought Albus to attention. He gripped Minerva's waist and inched closer to her.
"What ... what are you doing?"
The footsteps became louder. A murmur of voices reached him.
"You believe he's finally come out now that she's here, Severus?"
Albus swallowed and took deep calming breaths.
"You there!"
Madam Pince streaked towards the deputy and headmaster like an avenging angel wand at the ready.
"Take your due like a man!"
Minerva grew alarmed. Was that a whimper she heard from behind her?
"Irma, calm down. Someone tell me what is going on here?"
The librarian drew her wand and circled the two. Albus made sure to keep Minerva between him and the pointed wand.
"Do you know what his girlfriend did?!"
Minerva's back stiffened.
"I ... I didn't realize Amelia would make such a good impression so quickly."
Madam Pince made another circle.
"I was gone for only a few hours! How could you have let her do what she did!?"
Madam Pince spluttered. Her rage was terrifying to behold.
"Amelia? She wouldn't harm a fly, Irma. I've known her for years."
Minerva found herself being pulled backwards by the headmaster. Towards the Great Hall she guessed.
"She ... she reorganized the library! My library! Mine!"
Minerva gasped. Her hand flew to her chest so great was her shock.
"Ah, er, we can all help to put things back on the right shelves, Irma. I'm sure Amelia meant no harm."
The librarian snarled. The potions master sensing the potential homicide in the air made his presence felt.
"Miss Sageworth did more than rearrange the books. After Albus had to leave, I was pressed to give her the tour. We passed by the Library and when she was left to her own for a time, she returned there."
The deputy found herself being propelled much faster, backwards. Her feet left fhe floor several times. The headmaster's grip felt like manacles on her waist.
"That ... that woman RECATALOGUED and RESHELVED every book, parchment and article, in her OWN classification system! No one can find anything! ANYTHING! How is anyone going to use the library?! It's not a library ANYMORE!"
Albus braced himself against the doors of the Great Hall. His lungs heaved like bellows. He ached everywhere.
"Oh, dear. I knew she had her theories I never would have thought she would have applied them. If only I was here. Oh, dear."
Albus felt behind him for the door handles. Madam Pince was beside herself.
"Now, Irma, here is what we will do. The library will be closed for the week. That will be enough time to reorganize?"
The other woman nodded.
"All right, Severus, inform the other teachers that students should not be given homework that would require use of the library this week."
There was another nod.
"And, Irma, do get some rest. You can start tomorrow. I will have extra elves, as many as you need, assigned to help you."
Madam Pince cast a last glare at the cowering headmaster. She pointed her chin at him.
"I'm sure it was just a mistake, Irma. It WAS a mistake, wasn't it, headmaster?"
Like a meek schoolboy, the headmaster nodded with great seriousness. He apologized most humbly.
"Then that's all settled."
Madam Pince left mollified. Professor Snape glided away.
"You can let go of me now."
Albus let his hands drop to his sides. Minerva turned around.
"I'm glad you're back, Minerva, very, very glad."
Together they went into the hall for tea. Things were back to normal once again.
Author's Note: Whew! I had so many versions for this. I hope you like this one and that the bloodthirsty among you feel that Albus got some misery and suffering. Which bride should go next? What is Minerva up to, do you think?
