3

Kiss and Tell

She reached the corridor to Minerva's room when she bumped softly into Bill. Her boy was talking to Remus and Kingsley. She hadn't notice their arrival and was now astounded to see them standing in the middle of the hospital. Minerva sat in a wheelchair next to them and talked animatedly with Kingsley.

"Have we dead to enlist or captured members of the Order?" she asked bravely while the two younger men with her danced awkwardly around that question.

"No, only a few wounded. The worst is Arthur and he is taken care of here. How are you? I didn't know you were hit", answered Kingsley.

He eyed Minerva a bit worriedly but the formidable lady just shrugged her shoulders and answered nonchalantly.

"Yes, a stunner. Nothing to worry though. I will be fine in no time."

Molly heaved a sigh of relief that Minerva was lying so smoothly. Bill, though, shot his teacher a sharp glance but said nothing. Molly decided to stop further questioning by stepping out into the corridor and entering the conversation.

"Hello", she said, taking Kingsley hand in greeting and kissing Bill on the cheek. "Arthur woke up", she informed the others but didn't add any more information.

Bill's face had lit up and she didn't want to destroy his happiness by telling him that his father was still delusional. His killer smile had always had her tongue-tied, much like his father's. Minerva on the other hand had picked up on the slightly strained note in Molly's voice and looked at her curiously.

"Is he feeling better than before the operation?" she asked carefully, watching Molly closely to see if she caught on.

"A little ... not really ...", mumbled Molly, looking down onto her feet and a single tear coursed over her cheek.

Bill was quick to wrap his arms around his mother's shoulders and rock her gently back and forth. Minerva nodded once, tight-lipped and pale, but said nothing more while Remus and Kingsley looked from one person to the other in hopes of an explanation.

"He will be much better once they find a donate heart and transplant it", Bill tried to reassure Molly.

He had little success. Molly trembled a little in his arms and more tear slid down her cheeks. Minerva wheeled her chair closer to Molly and tucked at her skirt. Molly looked at her from the circle of her son's arms. She tried to smile and silently tell Minerva that her fresh tears had nothing to do with her and that she wasn't angry at her.

"What happened, Molly?" asked Minerva none the less.

She was really nervous. Never before had she seen Molly this scared and dissolved in tears. Two years ago when Arthur had been attacked by the snake Minerva had had to stay in Hogwarts and cover for the Weasley children and Harry and Hermione and had not witnessed Molly's breakdown then. Now she was more than worried for her young friend.

"He doesn't remember the last 26 years with me and the children. He still thinks he is in Hogwarts and lives with his parents", whimpered Molly. "And worst of all he called me an old woman", cried Molly. She dissolved into tears again and gently disentangled herself from Bill's embrace before kneeling in front of Minerva and burying her face into Minerva's lap. For a moment Minerva was completely thrown but then she stroked Molly's thick, luscious hair and murmured reassurances into her ear.

"He will get better soon, Molly, and his memory will return", she mumbled into Molly's ear, fighting down her own worries. "I will talk to Doctor Mbeke and ask him if there are any therapies which can help Arthur and if there is no muggle remedy we can still consult Poppy. Don't give up hope."

"I go out and send Poppy a patronus", said Remus, taking his leave from the touching scene in front of him.

Kingsley waved Bill to join him in the cafeteria for a cup of tea. That left Molly and Minerva alone. After a few more moment Molly had calmed down enough to get up and straighten her clothes.

"What is wrong with you?" she asked Minerva, indicating the wheelchair.

"I feel much better but it's hospital policy to wheel their patients around in case they have a relapse. It's tiring and frustrating", reassured Minerva, trying to lighten Molly up.

"Will you accompany to Arthur again ... I don't want to be alone ...", muttered Molly, terribly ashamed by her fear.

Minerva nodded and put her hands on the armrests of her wheelchair. With some effort she heaved herself out of it and stood up straight. She was rather out of breath and pale but she smiled at Molly.

"Might I ask for your assistance?" she asked softly, winking slightly at Molly. "I don't want any student, or former student, to see me in a wheelchair."

Molly smiled back, reassured and happy that Minerva was feeling better. She offered her teacher her arm and patted her hand as it came to rest on her forearm. Both women slowly walked towards Arthur's room, pausing every now and then for Minerva to catch her breath. Finally they reached the room and looked in while they put on the sterile clothes. Arthur was awake and propped up against his pillows. The doctor was in with him and monitored closely the laboured breathing of his patient. After some time he seemed to be satisfied and exited the room. Then he saw Molly and Minerva. He nodded to them and came over.

"He is much better. His lung will heal perfectly and there will only be a tiny scar left from the operation. Of course he might experience oxygen deficiency doing strenuous things like running a marathon or lifting heavy loads. That's because his left lung is scarred from the operation and won't stretch as far as the right one. He will be just fine after the heart transplant."

"What about his amnesia?" asked Minerva in her best classroom voice.

"It is probably due to the cut in oxygen supply to the brain during his cardiac arrest and the operation. I'm sure everything will go back to normal in a few days as he recovers gradually from the operation." Mbeke smiled broadly at both women and waved them into the room. "You can visit him now. But please don't agitate him."

Molly nodded, relief evident in her posture, and rushed past the doctor to her husband's sick bed. Minerva smiled at the young man and nodded as well before going in after Molly.

"How are you, darling?" asked Molly her husband as Minerva walked in.

Arthur still looked very ill from Minerva's point of view and also disoriented.

"Where is Miss Pomfrey?" asked Arthur.

"Honey, you are at a muggle hospital. They had to operate on you", explained Molly softly.

"Oh ... really? Cool", exclaimed Arthur, more delighted than worried.

Minerva stepped forward a little at that and drew his attention on herself. His eyes opened wide when he saw her and he smiled softly with a very weird expression on his face. It had been some time since last Minerva had seen this look on a boy's face. The lad really thought he was in love with her! She was amazed and taken aback.

"Hello, Mr. Weasley. How are you feeling?" she asked, trying to be polite and not overly friendly.

"Fine, now with you here", answered Arthur flirtatiously, winking at her and totally ignoring Molly. "Can I ask you something?" asked Arthur then, waving Minerva feebly closer to him.

Minerva looked at Molly and saw a little nod. Apparently Molly took Mbeke's advice not to agitate Arthur by heart. Minerva slowly walked closer to Arthur's side and sat down in a seat next to his head. She bent over a little and smiled encouragingly at her former student who thought he was still her student.

"What is it?" she asked softly.

"I can't live any longer without you knowing", he whispered hoarsely and winked at her.

"Mmhmm", she made a nonchalant sound to indicate that she was listening and waited for Arthur to come out with whatever was bothering him.

Instead of a vocal answer Arthur lifted his hand and placed it softly on the back of her neck, drawing her face closer to his. It was only inches from his face when he opened his mouth a little and licked his dry lips. Then he drew her even closer and pressed his lips softly onto hers. Minerva was completely baffled and after a second of utter and complete surprise she tried to push away from Arthur. Arthur's other hand pressed in between her shoulder blades, drawing her ever closer and deepening the kiss. Minerva made strangling noises of protest and tried to pull away again. Arthur was surprisingly strong for a man who had just been operated on. His tongue flicked over her lower lip and demanded entrance into her mouth but that went way too far for Minerva. She pressed her hands against his shoulders and pushed hard. Finally she could pry herself loose of him and turned around to apologize to Molly.

As her eyes lit on Molly, she discovered her standing pressed against the wall with both her hands over her mouth, trying to hold back the scream which had formed in her throat. She was as white as the wall behind her and her eyes filled with fresh tears at an alarming speed.

"Molly ..."

"Don't!" screamed Molly, losing the battle against her temper.

One more heart-wrenchingly sad look at her husband and she was out of the room.