AN: Stormtrooper1- Thank you for always reviewing, you lovely person!. Okay I think this should have been made into two chapters but I hope it still makes sense. There's quite a lot in here and I hope it flows. Anyway if it doesn't please let me know. Thanks again.
Minerva continued to be part of the Order, against Albus' constant talks against it. She had taken a more suppressed role and would confer with the Ministry on matters at hand.
She had been back in contact with Elphinstone, he had heard of her attach by the deatheaters and wanted to make sure she was well. She had invited him up to visit a few times, they had spent evenings out in Hogsmeade and walks around the grounds of the castle. She enjoyed having his company, for the last few months herself and Albus had tried to distance themselves, they had gotten to close again.
One evening she had received an urgent letter, telling her to meet the rest of the Order at burrow. When she arrived she could see many of the members weren't there,. She sat and waited for Albus to speak.
"Thank you for joining me. It seems that Lord Voldemort has gained a lot more power than what we first thought. I'm sorry to have to tell you all but there have been murders, people from the order and their families." He face had fallen, she could tell it pained him much more than what he showed. "They fought bravely and they didn't give any information. I want us to keep these brave people in our minds. We have to be on guard at all times, now more than ever. The fact that the identities of the eaters is still unknown is a great disadvantage. This is extreme but you can't trust anyone. If you have any doubts, take them to the ministry." He sighed. "The wizarding world is crumbling. The Ministry is in turmoil. I cannot tell you what is about to happen but, please be on your guard". He ended the meeting and apparated back to the castle.
Minerva and Elphinstone were walking by the black lake. He had remembered that this was her favourite place. He stopped her and turned to her. "Minerva, I know you've told me things about the order, I know not everything but I wanted to thank you for trusting in me." He faced her now. "When I heard about the Death Eater attack, I felt my stomach drop, my heart sank and all I wanted to do was come and see you". Her eyes hadn't met his, she was facing him but her face was facing the water. "Minerva, I know you will never love me the way I do you, the way I have for a long time now. With all of these attacks and horrid things happening, it has made think about my life. I don't want to die and have never been able to be with the woman that I love." He took her hand in his "I hope one day you could learn to love me. Minerva, will you marry me?". His voice shook a little as he looked at her shocked face.
Well this she didn't expect. She listened intently to what he had said. It was true she had been thinking a lot about her own life since this war began. She was scared, she didn't want to die alone. She didn't want to be a spinster. She wanted everything, she always had wanted the family and marriage, she just couldn't have it with Albus. Not that she would compare them at all, she had loved Elphinstone once upon a time and she knew the feelings could return. She looked into his eyes and then glanced up to the familiar window she often looked at. Albus was looking down at them, her breathe caught in her throat. She looked back at Elphinstone, his eyes so full of tenderness. "Yes, I'll marry you.". She simply said. She felt his lips on hers, she couldn't bear to close her eyes though. Once they parted she gave him a smile and took his hand to lead him away. She looked back at his window, he had gone.
They had made the decision to get married in the next few days, what with the war still very apparent. They only wanted it to be them two, well Pomy as their witness. Elphinstone had already began looking for cottages in Hogmeade so Minerva could come home in the evenings. There's was only one person she still needed to speak with.
As she knocked on his door she waited for him to answer. He opened it with a charming smile, one that got her in places it shouldn't. "Professor Dumbledore, I hope I haven't caught you at an inconvenient time?".
He stepped aside giving her room to step in. "Minerva, you haven't called me Professor Dumbledore since you were a student. Albus, please. And you haven't caught me at a bad time. Would you like something to drink?." He could she was uneasy.
"A firewhisky please" she would need it.
"Something seems the matter my dear.". He spoke as he handed her the glass. His eyebrows raising as she drank it in one.
"Albus, I am to marry tomorrow." She could feel her chest rise and fall, taking in deeper breathes than usual. "Elphinstone has now bought a cottage in Hogsmeade so I will no longer be living in the castle." She practically said the whole sentence in one word.
He stood shocked for a moment. His heart breaking at every word she spoke. He put the welcoming smile back on his face and spoke joyfully. "That's marvellous news my dear. I am very happy for you. He's a very lucky man.". He couldn't quiver now. "There will always be quarters here, if they are ever needed." He smiled again.
"Thank you, Albus" her voice had a low tone. Perhaps he was happy for her. She never wanted to say that to him, she wished he would be the one marrying her. Not that she didn't want to marry Elphinstone, it just wasn't what she had imagined. They both stood looking at each other. "I'll make sure to have everything out this evening.".
"I wish you all the best, Minerva". He simply said as he watched her leave.
It had been a four months since Minerva married and moved out of the castle. Albus stood every evening as he watched her leave the castle. She no longer sat next to him at the dinner table of the evenings and they no longer had the chess games or the night-cap's. He, for the first time, felt so alone. She still apart of the Order and he was thankful to her for that.
"I know most of you have probably already heard, there was an attack by the Giants. Aurors managed to fight off the majority of them, but many Aurors were killed. The beats retreated. Two death eaters were killed but many wizards have had their lives taken." He stopped. "I fear things aren't going to get any easier. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, not for now anyway. We must continue to fight, we must remain strong. You have all done so well". He knew he was probably being a little sentimental but his friends, their friends, had been killed and he trusted them all.
After the meeting had ended a few had stayed to ask him questions. Minerva had hung around, she had been speaking with Lily and James Potter. She could see Albus had finished and was about to leave, she said her goodbyes and walked to him. "Albus..". She smiled at him, his eyes twinkled as they looked to her. "I just wanted to know" she stopped a moment "I wanted to know how you are. It's been a while since we had a good talk".
He gestured them to walk outside, leaving the warmth of the burrow and into the crisp winter air. "That's very kind of you Minerva, I'm.. keeping busy" He said with a smile as they stood looking at each other. "My evenings have become very, quiet. I'm afraid I have been caught a few too many times sneaking down to the kitchen to get hot chocolate" he laughed lightly. "And how are you my dear?".
"Now, why doesn't that surprise me?" her face was pointed as she smirked to him. She looked down and nodded her head. "I'm well thank you Albus. It's rather strange but I've become used to it. It's nice" She smiled at the thought of going home to Elphinstone, he had become her safe heaven now.". She looked up to him again.
"I'm very glad. Well I must be getting on, I'll see you at Hogwarts. Goodnight." He apparated.
It was just after class when Albus barged into Minerva's office. She turned to scold the person who dared not knock but when she saw the look on his face she stood immediately and went to him. " A prophecy has been made, there's going to be a child born who will have the power to destroy Voldemort. There's are two women who are pregnant, they're in the Order. Potter and Longbottom. Minerva, I've had a Death Eater turn his back on Voldemort, he wants to protect the Potter's.".
Minerva looked confused. "Albus, you can't be thinking of trusting this, this Death Eater, are you?. What if he's spying for Voldemort?. Albus, what are you doing?". Her face was panicked.
"I do trust him. And I hope you trust me enough to believe me. I have instructed that the Potters go into hiding. They have been put under the protection of the Fidelius Charm, Mr Black is their secret keeper. I suppose only now time will tell.".
It had been six months since the Potter's went into hiding. The birth of their son Harry had been a welcomed source. Although this meant things could get even more deadly.
It was 18.00 pm when Albus had gotten the word. He sent an owl straight to Minerva. She appeared through his fire place only five minutes later.
"Albus, is it true?". She stood with her tartan robes and her wooly hat.
"I'm afraid so my dear, Lily and James are both dead. It appears Voldemort has tried to use the killing curse on Harry however because Lily sacrificed herself for him, the spell backfired and evidently destroying Voldemort. As soon as I heard I sent Hagrid to collect Harry." He was interrupted by her soft Scottish lilt.
"Is that wise?. I know he's a good groundsman but to put a precious baby into his care. Albus, let me go. I'll bring Harry back here.. We could figure something out?." She pleaded with her eyes.
"The boy had living family Minerva. I believe it's safer for him to be with them, to not know what he is, not until it's necessary. We will meet Hagrid there in a few hours. I need to go to the Ministry, there's a lot that needs to be mended."
"If you give me the address and I shall meet you there." She said as he nodded and wrote it down on a piece of parchment.
"Albus, must we leave him here?. I've been sat here for the last few hours and I can already tell you, they are the worst sorts of muggles. The boy is horrendous and the mother, she's nothing but a push over. Can't we take him back to the castle?. He'll be well looked after.".
"I have no doubt about that Minerva. Harry needs family, they are all he has now. I really believe this is the best solutions. Remember dear, this isn't goodbye". Albus placed Harry on the doorstep with a note. "You know what this means now?." seeing her head shake he answered. "The war has ended.". his eyes twinkled.
"Yes, I suppose it has, hasn't it". She felt a slight twinge in her chest. They had agreed to separate until the war had ended, until they could finally be together. But now she was married and both of them would respect that.
"Thank you for standing by me and the others throughout this horrid war." Albus spoke quietly as he looked at Harry.
"I'd always be your side." She replied as a whisper.
That night Albus went to bed longing for the women he should be holding, who he should be waking next to.
That night Minerva kissed her husband goodnight, all the while thinking of another man.