"That was kind of you, what you did for them," Minerva said over the rim of her tea cup. They were seated at a comfortable table in a quaint sidewalk café. They nibbled on scones and drank their tea, the meal filling with easy conversation and easier silences. So much of the tension of the last couple days had faded away, even if a small flicker still remained. Albus just shook his head, putting his own tea down. "It was nothing special Minerva. The little girl couldn't be expected to live on the street, and our young Hermione has wanted a child of her own for some time. I simply killed two birds with one stone."

He spoke matter of factly, but the tips of his ears had turned an endearing shade of pink with her compliment. Minerva placed her hand over his, doing all she could to ignore the warmth that flowed between them as they touched. "It was something Albus," she said emphatically, "even if you don't believe it."

Her eyes shone with determination. "And another thing, I don't care how often you..what are those people staring at!"

Turning slowly, several people came into Albus' range of vision, and each did their best to pretend they hadn't been caught. It always amused him how quickly shoes could become the most interesting things in the world. "You would think people have never seen you have breakfast before," Minerva complained bringing him back to the present.

"They haven't," he countered. He put up his hand to stop her protests. "I rarely leave the Ministry anymore. In fact," he said, stroking his chin, "this is probably the first time I've been out in public in over a year. By now, most people have forgotten exactly what it is I look like. They still remember the flowing beard and glasses."

Minerva stared at the man across from her, and once again wondered just how much pain he had gone through to change him so. For all of his protests, no one in her many years had enjoyed a party as much as Albus. The man could dance and talk until the wee hours of the morning, and then some if he was allowed. "If they don't recognize you, than what exactly are they staring at?"

Albus' lips curled at the end slightly, almost ironically. The affect was more sad than amusing, and it made knots form in Minerva's stomach. "You," he said. "Don't forget Minerva, you're dead. Wouldn't you stare if someone from the past simply sat down for a cup of tea in the middle of town?" He looked at her dropped eyes and obvious embarrassment. "If they're bothering you, I could make them go away."

Before Albus could even lean back in his chair to signal the waiter, Minerva had his arm in a vice grip, her emerald eyes pleading. "No! I mean..it's no problem Albus. They aren't bothering me at all. I just..I hadn't thought..they would recognize me. It's just a little odd that's all."

Albus felt a flicker of guilt at her reaction. Even despite the events of that morning, she still saw him as a monster, or so he thought. "Nothing was going to happen Minerva," he assured her, pulling her hand off his arm and wrapping it protectively within his own. "I was simply going to ask the waiter to move them along. I wouldn't have harmed them."

He was hurt, she could see that much, and his eyes begged for her trust. Unfortunately, all he asked for was something she couldn't afford to give. "You've already done more for less Albus," she whispered.

He recoiled as if struck. "I know why you've done it Albus," she added quickly, "but knowing why doesn't make it anymore palatable. Pain is still pain, no matter how you describe it. Look at me Albus," she said, and waited until his eyes met hers. "If I went into the heart of London today, surrounded by everyone, and called your removal, your..overthrow, would I make it through the night? Would anyone remember my words in the morning? Or, would I simply disappear as others have, only to be seen in a green glow?"

He continued to stare at her, his hands twisting around the teacup, but it was obvious he no longer saw her. His lips were moving, speaking to someone only he could see, his eyes truly vulnerable for the first time.

"So this is what you think of me," he said, breaking the silence. "A heartless monster, a beast who only cares for himself?" He closed his eyes and waited. He heard the scrape of her chair, and he waited for the sound of her footsteps, leaving him alone once again. He was surprised when instead, he felt two warm hands cup his cheeks.

He brought a hand up to steady her as she leaned on the arm of his chair, hovering over him, a tender look shining back at him. "Not a beast," she contradicted, "simply..lost. This morning, I saw the man I remembered, the one who would move heavens and earth to make a crying child laugh. The kind, gentle, loving man who stole my heart all those years ago. I know he is still in there," she said, brushing her hands over his heart. "You just need to find him again. You lost yourself in your grief Albus, and you destroyed everything we loved in the process. I want trust you again , to be able to once again call you friend before I return home, but you're not there yet."

His hand fisted in the shirts at her waist as he nodded. "And what do I need to do?" She brushed a stray hair out of his eyes, smiling sadly.

"That's something only you can answer Albus. When you find it, you'll know." She looked up and glared at another couple she caught staring in their direction, now more to protect Albus then from her own discomfort.

"I need to return to the Ministry," he said, "will you come with me?"

Minerva shook her head, smoothing out invisible wrinkles in her robes as she stood. "There are still some things I want to do today, and.." she hesitated, flicking lint from his shirt. "I think we need a little time to breath. Go, I'll be back in time for dinner, and we can talk then." She leaned up, hands resting on his shoulders for support. She kissed his cheek gently, chastely. "Come back to me Albus," she whispered for him alone before turning and walking away.

Minerva walked through the various streets, nodding at the few brave souls that approached her, doing her best to ignore the others. She was now acutely and painfully aware of what Harry must have suffered through upon his reentry to the wizarding world. She was the goldfish, forced to watch as horrific things pressed their distorted faces up against her bowl, and there was nothing she could do to stop them.

It was with these thoughts that she found herself walking down a narrow, deserted street, finally able to breath easily. That breath hitched and quickened however, as she picked up the faint sound of a second set of steps following close behind her.

Doing her best to remain calm, Minerva slowly reached into her robes, wrapping her hand around her wand. She continued walking, and soon, she noticed an odd pattern to the other steps. There would be one step, and then an abnormally long pause before the next slightly heavier step sounded.

Exhaling the breath she didn't realize she was holding, Minerva loosened the grip on her wand slightly, smiling all the while. She should have known it couldn't be true. From personal experience, she knew he would, by all rights, outlive cockroaches.

She stopped in the middle of the street, never turning around. She knew how to catch his attention, now she just had to hope he hadn't forgotten. "There once was a young girl from Rabat," she called out.

"And you're still too young to say such things," he called back. Minerva's grin grew and she turned around.

"So you've heard," she said casually.

He continued to walk forward, his unruly gait still amusing to watch. "Obviously," he drawled, "how have you been lass?"

Laughing and forgetting everything else, Minerva wrapped her arms around his neck, surprising them both. But after a moments hesitation, he returned the gesture, managing to lift her off the ground. "You've no idea Alastor. Everyone's a mess, the world is bloody backward, and they keep telling me you've 'disappeared. They all think you're dead."

His hair was stark white and shorter than she remembered. And, he was wearing a patch over his eye, the swirling blue ball was apparently missing, but, in that instant, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. "There's a simple reason for that Min. To almost everyone else, I am. There was an accident in the coal mine, and I managed to get free months ago. I've been working on a few things amongst the 'respectable' people left. Potter filled me in on your deal," he said, suddenly serious. "Will it work?"

'Always blunt,' she thought. They had known each other since she was five years old, but some things never change. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "Our Albus is still in there Alastor. I know you probably don't see it, but he's in there. I just don't know if I'm enough, or if I have enough time to bring him around. He's just so.." she struggled for the right word.

"Crazy," Alastor supplied.

"This is not the time for the pot and the kettle Alastor," Minerva chided him. "Speaking of crazy men, does Poppy know you're still alive?" The quick shadow that darted across Alastor's face spoke volumes. Minerva's eyebrows hit her hairline in disbelief and she smacked him none to lightly on the shoulder. "You git! The woman must be beside herself. She loves you to bits, although right now I cannot understand why for the life of me. You have to tell her Alastor."

He reached down and scratched his leg just above the wooden stump. "I will Min. After Friday. It would be too dangerous for her right now. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to her because of me. Those damn guards he has running all over the country would love to get their mitts on her. They never could understand why he left her in the school."

Minerva looked at him skeptically. "I promise, on Friday, no matter what happens."

Minerva stared him in the eye, and he could tell she didn't believe him, but thankfully, she let it drop. "We've been together too long," he said suddenly. Alastor wrapped his cloak tightly around his shoulders, turning to look around. "Get him to go Minerva. I don't care how, or why, but make it happen." His single grey eye was ablaze, intense in a way she could hardly remember. "He was my friend, but right now, given the opportunity, I would rip him apart with my bare hands. Don't give me the opportunity. I would hate to have you come after me." With a quick kiss and another quick glance, Alastor was gone.

Minerva just stood there, looking dully at the place where he was just standing. Thrusting her hands back under her cloak, she shook her head. "Damn."

When Minerva arrived back at the Ministry later that day, there was a small envelope sitting on her bed. She grinned as she read the short note.

Don't know how you managed it, but thank you. S

Quickly pulling away the wrapping, Minerva's eyes misted as she gazed at the photograph. It appeared Hermione had taken little time to settle into her new role with the first official family photo. She even managed to make Severus smile as they each wrapped their arms around the grinning girl.

Putting the photograph beside her bed, she spent the rest of her afternoon trying to find a way to convince Albus. She needed to find something, anything, that would make him see reason. It was doubtful he would simply step down, and any sort of power transfer would only leave him vulnerable to the masses. He would be swinging from the trees by nightfall. For all of her supposed intelligence she still hadn't come up with anything. And, it was with these maudlin thoughts that she made her way to the dining room for dinner.

What she found when she stepped through the high doorway stole her breath away. The long formal dining table had been removed, and in the corner sat a small table for two. All the lights, with the exception of a few candles floating aimlessly through the air, had been extinguished. The soft scent of wild flowers filled the air and a soothing jazz wafted through the air.

Stepping out of the shadows, Albus looked larger than life in magnificent blue robes and polished black boots. She was flushed with warmth from head to toe as he smiled at her, and that odd feeling of contentment washed through her as him image, her Albus, walked toward her. He was still missing the long beard, but she could overlook it. "Albus..what's all this?" she asked bewildered, accepting his outstretched hand.

He pulled her into his arms, holding her close as they danced slowly to the gentle music. "I thought a quiet dinner, without onlookers, would be nice. Are you hungry Minerva?"

She blushed again as the warmth from his body seeped into hers, and the memory of her dream entered her mind. Doing her best to suppress the feelings welling up inside her, she looked up at him and smiled. "Famished."

With a hand along her waist, he led her over to the table, and delighted in her gasp as dinner appeared before them. Conversation and laughter flowed easily between the two, each doing their best to avoid the unavoidable discussion that loomed in the corners. The hours breezed by like seconds, and before she knew it, Albus was again on his feet, reaching for her hand. They spun around the small room, the music switching to gentle waltz. At least he hadn't forgotten how to dance as they moved, never seeming to touch the ground.

It wasn't until the song stopped that they did. Panting slightly and rosy cheeked, Minerva looked into his eyes to thank him for the dance but stopped. His soul was laid bare before her, all his love, devotion, and guilt plain as the crooked nose on his face. "Minerva," he whispered, his hand coming to rest against the base of her neck.

He leaned forward, his breath caressing her face. But, an instant before their lips could touch, Minerva turned her head and he kissed her cheek instead. "I'm sorry Albus, I..I can't," she whispered, afraid to see the rejection in his eyes. For the second time that day she walked away from him, only this time both had tears in their eyes.

AN:If you're interested in the limerick Minerva started, you can find it here. Also, if you've gotten this far, could you please drop a line and let me know what you think? Comments I've gotten have actually changed the direction of the story, and any ideas would be welcome.