Chapter 14
Minerva felt her feet strike the ground, hard. Her eyes swept over the cavernous room at a glance, and tried not to panic as she realized exactly where she was. How do I bloody well get out of Grindlewald's lair, when I have no idea where in Europe I am? Any further panic was waylaid as voices drifted through the air…and at once, the woman morphed into her animagus form.
The two men rounded the corner, eyes taking in the room. "Gutan Tag." And then after a pause, the other man spoke, " 'ello."
Minerva watched from her perch as the two men hastily spoke to the other in hushed tones, wands drawn out. They began to circle through the room. Must be warded to detect visitors.
Steeling her nerves, Minerva waited…and prayed for them to pass her, unnoticed. But her luck did not hold…as well as she would have liked…but it held far better than she could have hoped for.
After several hair raising seconds, she realized that they believed she was merely a cat. And when they accio'd her to them…she fought the sensation to return to her normal appearance as the larger one's hands wrapped around her scruff; holding her up and gazing into her eyes.
"What do you make of it?"
"First, Mikal, it's a girl." He nodded towards the cat in Mikal's large hand. "And from what I see; she must be a hell of a mouser. For she seems well fed."
"Aye, well…" Mikal glanced around, "I think we need to recalibrate the wards to include our little friend. I, for one, would like to see the mice population diminished a bit."
"Tired of the holes in grain?"
"Nah…the beer." Both men laughed and shook their heads, the smaller of the two patted her head and then she was dropped to the ground. She curled around…ears back as she turned her head and warily stared up at them.
"We'll call her 'Mouser.'"
"Do us proud." Mikal stated to the small tabby cat, before both men turned and swaggered out from where they came. Minerva sitting down…her heart hammering in her little chest…as she stared after them, truly thankful for the first time in her life that she had learned how to be an animagus.
Xoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Brianna rolled over…eyes cracking open against the morning light, only to see Albus Dumbledore leaning against the window frame, eyes staring out at the landscape, thumb caressing the outer shell of his gold pocket watch. Without turning his head, he whispered, "How are you this morning, Bree?"
Her mouth was dry and she felt as though she had awoken from the dead, and she could feel her magic was still drained…but at least she could say she was alive. Pushing herself up, she rested her back against the wall as she pulled the blanket to her chest before responding. "Tired, and you?" She asked, quite surprised he had the energy to get out of bed.
She could see his careful reflection of the question…before finally settling on his answer. "Empty." He quietly responded.
"She's a formidable witch, Albus. If anyone has found a way to live, she would have."
With aching slowness, he pulled his gaze from the large oak tree and winding river to that of Bree. "It's not quite that simple."
"Love never is." She replied, a gentle smile on her lips.
He opened his mouth…then stopped as he remembered his commentary yesterday when she had emerged from the building, and knew better than to disavow her statement. Instead, he wearily looked at his companion, fatigue lacing his eyes. "She is not whom she seems, nor is the situation, I am afraid."
Bree felt her eyes narrow, "We have been through much these last years, Albus. The war, the death of many of our colleagues, even that of my husband whom was one of your best friends, and yet my heart was warmed this last year as I have seen my friend who has been, lighter, despite the oppressing darkness we fight against. A lightness only derived from love." A gentle smile cracked across her dry lips and round cheeks. "I have read many of both yours and Morgana's reports; she is a fine witch. And from what I saw last eve, quite skilled – perhaps even an equal to you." Her eyes traveling over his countenance, and the cause for his pensiveness. "Have I missed something, was she a spy for Grindlewald?"
Her question brought a twinkle back into his eyes at the notion, a smile flashed across his faces as replied. "No. I can assure you that is not the case."
"Then what is?"
He eyed her, and then sighed. He needed to talk with someone. Someone other than Fawkes; just so he could hear another argument or rather a different point of view. And why not Brianna? He thought. They had known each other for half a century…had been married to one of his best friends…surely she would be honest…and then he thought better of it. No good would come out of it…and he felt himself begin to bury his feelings again…as the Minster's words echoed in his mind…
Reign in your emotion's Albus, or it will be the end of all of us.
He felt a tear prickling against his eyes, his soft voice finally answering Briana's question. "I didn't see her for who she was."
The woman opposite him felt as though she were at a loss, "Albus, I don't understand how that…"
His eyes dropped to his pocket watch, the golden red tipped rose and the words Always with love, Tabby staring back at him. "She was a student, Bree. Who has only recently graduated from Hogwarts…"
Bree was shaking her own head, "She is no student, Albus. Surely you are mistaken…" Her voice died away as he raised his head, and their eyes met. And she felt herself try and swallow, "…she is a woman in her late thirties to forties."
"Who has hoodwinked the entire wizarding community, myself included."
"Hoodwinked…you aren't mistaken..." She stated, as she realized that the man before her was indeed speaking the truth. "Who…" She licked her lips to try and ask the question again, "Albus, who is she?"
"Perhaps you've heard of the name, Minerva McGonagall."
"Minerva…McGonagall…" She rolled the name off her tongue again, recognition sparkling in her eyes. "Minerva…you don't mean the young woman who has been giving the Ministry grief regarding the war? And protesting the age restriction."
"The very one." He replied, his mind drifting…her beautiful emerald eyes filling his vision.
She felt her head shaking, "How in Merlin's name has she maintained her life in London and with the Ministry? Let alone the deadlines for her articles around the schedule of our insurgent strikes? And her skill…Albus, she does not duel as witch whom has just graduated from school; even one as prestigious as Hogwarts." She stopped her ramblings short as her brain recalled his face when she had exited the building; and how he had portrayed his feelings, even if momentarily for the woman who she believed was Morgana. His face…his comments… "When did you find out she was not who you, or who she had portrayed herself to be?" Brianna asked, her mind frantically trying to recall any significant events regarding Albus' team. And then she remembered…as he quietly replied.
"Three days ago. She was severely injured…"
"That's why she wasn't on the mission yesterday."
"Amongst other reasons…"
"Of a more personal nature?" She asked, and at his slight nod, the question tumbled from her lips before she could stop herself. "What happened between you two, Albus?"
He shifted his weight, back now leaning against the window frame, body silhouetted against the light. "The woman I loved had become the one I was trying not to fall in love with."
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Poppy took a shuddering breath, fingers still curled around the door handle. "You can do this." She whispered to herself and then with every gram of Hufflepuff courage she had, she opened the door and entered the room.
Dumbledore was sitting on his bed, reading what looked to be reports, dressed in a nightshirt that had obviously been altered to his more eccentric tastes, purple with limes dancing across. Poppy couldn't help the stray thought from surfacing, eyes watering at the source…as she wondered what in Merlin did Minerva see in the man before her as his blue eyes drifted over the rims of his glasses to take in the young witch upon her entry.
Bolthouse mirrored Dumbledore's image, for she too was sitting in bed, reading a similar looking stack of parchment. Though, she still sported the hospital shirt, untransfigured. Her eyes lifted momentarily from the parchment, a smile gracing her features before her brown eyes dropped back to the documents in hand.
"Sir, I was hoping to speak with you…" Poppy didn't know what she could and could not say in front of the auror, Bolthouse…but, she knew that if she didn't get in here and ask what happened to Minerva before Dumbledore was discharged, it could be months until she would know the truth – if at all.
"Regarding Minerva." He finished quietly, hand setting the parchment down as his eyes remained focused on her.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded, "Yes, Sir."
Peripherally, Albus noticed Bree's head drift upwards, eyes re-evaluating the medi-witch as he nodded. "You must realize Miss Pomfry that any information shared must be kept in the strictest confidence."
Poppy felt herself acknowledge his statement as her jaw tightened, preparing for the news. She was, however, unprepared for Brianna's voice to waft across the air.
"Minerva, she was a friend of yours?"
Poppy's eyes immediately jerked from Dumbledore to Bolthouse, her breathing hard to maintain. "Yes."
The women's eyes peered deeply into the other, "She is a brave woman, Miss Pomfry."
The word is echoed through her mind, her head snapping back to left and to Dumbledore's penetrating gaze. "Minerva lives?"
"So far as we know." Bree replied.
Poppy felt relief flood through her veins…as her eyes snapped back to Bree. "Then where is she?"
Bree glanced at Dumbledore, who nodded, and then back to the young medi-witch. "We don't know for sure…" She raised her hand to stay Poppy's question. "However, we do know she is at Grindlewald's lair."
Poppy felt her hand fly to her mouth, "Merlin…no." She could feel her hand shaking as she asked the next question, "Are there any plans for a rescue?"
At this Albus cleared his throat, bringing Poppy's gaze to him. "There are only 3 people…and now 4 who know of Minerva's whereabouts." Poppy vaguely noticed on some level, that his eyes were no longer twinkling as he spoke. "It is our hope that she is able to…" He paused, choosing his words carefully, for as far as he knew only he and Gertrude were aware of Minerva's ability to transfigure into a tabby cat. "…remain hidden, until we strike Grindlewald."
"But…that could be days." She breathed out, suddenly realizing that her reason for elation may very well have been for naught.
At this, Albus solemnly nodded, "Yes, Miss Pomfry…it could very well be days, upwards to a week."
Poppy could feel the tears burning in her eyes, "If she didn't…" Poppy gulped in some air, "If she didn't manage to remain undetected, she'll be tortured to death."
"I am acutely aware of that." He quietly replied.
"How can you say that, Professor?" She asked, her voice rising. "How can you say that you do not care that Minerva may be raped…tortured…and then murdered?" Large tears pooling down her face, "Do you even care what she went through to help the Ministry…so she could help you? And now you sit there…acting as though she means nothing to you, and if she still lives or dies…so be it. She loved…loves you…Professor. Merlin knows why, but she does." Brown eyes burning into blue ones, "I thought you loved her too…obviously, I was wrong." She turned on her heel and was halfway to the door when his words danced on the air.
"Miss Pomfry…" His voice was haunting…powerful…and laced with magic…as she was no longer able to move. For a moment, Poppy felt a surge of fear course through her as she watched Albus Dumbledore slowly stand up. It was as if the world snapped into slow motion as he came towards her…she could feel his magic crackling… "I shall only say this once, and only because of your exceptionally close relationship with Minerva." His voice was dangerously low…reverberating along her skin. "I cannot go after Minerva for another day perhaps two. As you are aware, I haven't the strength. And if I had my choice, I never would have returned here last evening, I would have gone after her then. It has nothing to do with desire, my dear. It has solely to do with stamina." And as he paused…Poppy could feel the spell holding her dissipate, and Albus tiredly leaned upon his bed. Then slowly…tiredly he lifted his head, "And in this war…I do not have the luxury of feelings. I have a job to do...for our whole country…our way of life hangs in the balance, Miss Pomfry. But…you should know, that I do love her Poppy." More than you can ever know. He finished silently.
Bree took this opportunity to ease Albus' burden, "Poppy, you must remember that upon returning here, we are now able to bring closure to the war. I know you love your friend, she is a marvelous witch. But she is one witch." Her face softened, "And through her valiant actions, we may now have the ability to end the war and save our way of life for both the wizarding and muggle worlds."
A/N: so…still want more? Or has the story become too boring ;) hope you are still enjoying – leave me note and let me know!