Disclaimer: All Events and characters of this story are my own property except Albus and Minerva, who are the property of J.K. Rowling
A Betrayal of Happiness
In the little living room, Minerva and Albus sat curled up together on the sofa, Albus's arms wrapped around her shoulders as they watched the fire crackle and dance, flickering light across the room, and shadowing part of her face.
Albus looked softly into her eyes, the mischevious twinkle that usually played there was gone, as he traced the shape of the light on her cheek. He bent forward softly, placing a gentle kiss on her nose, and felt her back strain against the deep breath she took to release a sigh. He blessed the day that Minerva had realized she could never marry the muggle boy Dougal McGregor, and the day she had left the ministry and come seeking a job, just a year ago, at Hogwarts. Their relationship had come slowly after the anguish of the past, and Minerva, ever cautious not to reveal her early pregnancy, had been slow to begin to show how she still felt for him, but eventually she had warmed up to his attentions once more, and now, as fellow teachers, it was much less innappropriate for them to be together.
He slid a leg over hers as they lay beside eachother, gently nibling her ear. They lay together silently for a while, just relaxing in the last night of their time alone together. Sreana would not sleep so peacefully in the future.
"I was so worried I wouldn't find the right one Albus..I'm so happy I found her." Minerva's breathing was faster than normal, but Albus knew that her heart beat with a happiness it had not known. As his fingers softly caressed her lips, she nipped him, then lifted her head, and turned to face him. Her kiss was soft upon his own lips, but the joy she felt flew through them. He could not help but smile.
"I'm glad you did, little Sreana has a good home now." For a moment a shadow flickered across her face; he thought that it was nothing more than the flicker of doubt..and as he started to assure her that it was indeed a good home, Minerva's strong voice interupted him, faltering as she asked him how he'd known the girl's name.
Color faded from Albus's face as he realized his mistake. He wondered if there was a way to tell Minerva that he'd known for over three years that she would not bear another child, that Malcom had come in the night, after the babe was born, to report the difficult birthing she had had, and that the nurse, Andreta, had reported to Isobel that Minerva was unlikely to conceive again.
When Minerva had given the child up for adoption, Albus had followed her, and gone in after she'd left to speak with the headmaster of the orphanage. He'd spoken temporarily, deceitfully about adopting a child, and had looked upon the little girl for only a moment. As he left, the headmaster had asked if he had any suggestions for a name for the child, as she had come recently, and without any name at all to go by.
Albus thought about that day over in his mind again, and knew it was not yet time. Softly he reminded her that he'd gone to the orphanage to pick up the papers before, and had seen a few of the children then. This was not a lie, but it was not the truth either, and he hated the deception.