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Chapter 51
Tom watched her disapparate with Dumbledore. Minerva was tense, he could see it in her eyes and the way she carried herself. He made excuses to Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy and decided to start the search for Seraphina. He needed to reach Hogwarts immediately. Tom found his date fairly easily.
"I have to leave." He kissed her cheek goodnight.
"We have to have a talk. Tom, she is not conductive to your aspirations." She said clearly.
Tom looked into her eyes and saw flashes of the conversation. "Seraphina, it was a lovely night. I trust that you can apparate home. Have a lovely evening." He fumed and apparated away. Tom conjured his patronus. He thought of going to see The Wizard of Oz with his parents. He came up with a plan. He had to see her.
He made his way to the abandoned house. It was his, well, it was his father's. One of the many Prince properties. Tom thought about making it livable for him and Minerva but it was a long term plan, and he did not dare hope just yet. He did not want to spook her.
She apparated in front of the house. Tom opened the door for her. The patronus reached her before she had time to change.
"What is so important that it could not wait for tomorrow?" She asked him a little impatiently.
Tom frowned. "I saw into Seraphina's mind." He said openly
"You have to stop doing that to people." She said crossly. Tom came closer to her. "I never thought that she would be so misguided. I apologize."
Minerva moved away from him, "she is not completely mistaken. You need to find someone to marry sooner rather than later. Seraphina could be ideal."
"I don't want her or anyone else. You know how I feel. You have known for years Minerva." He said clearly.
"I have and perhaps I should have done this sooner. It has to stop Tom. I cannot, I will not be able to give you what you want." She said once again.
Tom paced away from her, "you are scared. You have always been and you presume to know what I want. You always have, Minerva McGonagall, who always knows better." He was exasperated by her.
Minerva glared at him, "I heard them today. Longbottom, Rowle, Malfoy, Smith, Black, Potter and even Crouch. They all know where you are headed Tom. You are to be Minister of Magic one day. I cannot be involved in any of that."
Tom looked at her, "why not? Any other witch would be happy to be by my side."
Minerva frowned once more, "I am not any witch. I do not love you Tom."
Tom felt anger then. He looked at her and kissed her hard. She kissed him back just as fiercely. He then changed it to a tender kiss, He kissed her neck and grabbed her waist. "Define love for me Minerva."
She kissed him once more, "you and I are sexually compatible. You desire me and I desire you Tom. I don't want to hurt you."
Tom kissed her more, short kisses while undressing her, "you tremble at my touch Minnie. You always have. I am more than happy with this. We care for each other." He tried to undo her dress and Minerva stepped away from him.
"I cannot Tom. I know how this ends. We have sex and then you think that you can win me over. You have this ideal of who I am, what we could be and it will not happen. I am still in love with Dougal. I don't think that will ever change." She sobbed in front of him.
Tom could never see her cry. He hugged her and kissed her forehead. He felt a hole in his stomach. This was the end of it. She finally said it. There was no fighting over that. She was still in love with the muggle. Tom could not pretend that he could eventually win her over and make her love him when she expressively told him that she was still in love with another man.
He hugged her, "you win. I have fought in vain for years now. I always thought that it would work. I thought you stopped loving him." His voice broke a little.
Minerva cried harder, "I'm sorry Tom. I wish I could but I do not feel that way about you."
Tom needed her to stop being so honest now. He stepped away from her and kissed her gently. Minerva kissed him back quickly. "I care for you Minnie. You are my everything. I cannot lose you. We will always be friends but I need time and I need space." He said carefully.
"Time and space." Minerva said just as carefully.
Tom nodded, "for a while."
Minerva hugged him. "I'm so sorry Tom." He kissed her neck.
"I am too." He said and then disapparated.
Tom went straight to the liquor cabinet. He poured himself a drink, two, three, then five. Minerva was still in love with Dougal. He knew it, of course he did. It was the roadblock. He thought that he could wear her down. Tom believed that she would realize that they were meant for each other. It was not to be. Minerva dashed his hopes tonight. She was clear and the cruelest that she had ever been. Tom was not used to Minnie being cruel.
He knew Minerva was stubborn. The wizard thought that he would eventually make for fall in love with him but it would not happen. Not after Minerva told him that she was still in love with Dougal. He drank and drank until he fell asleep.
Tom woke up the next morning with a raging headache. He did not have time to brew a sober up potion. He had Bapsy make him a cup of coffee and then flooed to the ministry. Tom's course of action was distraction. If he worked and spent every single minute of day thinking of work or sleeping then Minerva would not consume him. It worked perfectly for a few months.
He thought of Minnie every day and itched to write to her but he knew that it was too fresh. He left her letters unopened. She wrote to him a month after the ball. He did not open it. She wrote every week for another month and then sent a howler. Tom let it explode in his office. He stayed the summer in London, near the ministry and excused himself with his parents. "The Wizengamot voting is taking all my time."
Tom did not completely lie, the Wizengamot would vote that October. They did, the fourth. Minerva's birthday. He now had a chair and could directly affect law making. Tom thought about his gift to Minnie. She turned thirty-one. Tom wanted to give her a peace offering but could not resume their friendship just yet. Thinking of her hurt so much. He decided on something small and found it unexpectedly. He was on his way to the ministry when he saw it, it was a brooch, simple yet beautiful. Minerva would love it. It was a small flower, golden, understated yet beautiful.
Tom wrapped it and wrote a note to Minerva, "Happy Birthday Minnie."
He sent the owl with the small parcel. He wrote her a simple two sentences. "To my dearest friend. I miss you." He got a heavy letter in response. Tom did not open it.
He spent the following months submerged in work. Minerva did not write back and maybe it was for the best. Tom could almost pretend that he was fine. He went on a couple of dates with muggle women. Seraphina left a bitter taste in his mouth. The papers had a field day with him and Minerva. They linked her with him but the story failed to gain traction as they did not visit each other any longer.
It was by pure chance. The universe conspired against him. He met a young woman. Her name was Margot. She was a secretary in London, Scottish. They agreed to have dinner the first week of December. He would pick her up at her flat in London.
Tom knocked on the door and a man answered. He was a ginger and had a welcoming face. He extended a hand, "Dougal McGregor." Tom's smile froze for a second. It could not be the same Dougal.
"Maggie will be here in a minute." The man invited him in. "She must be delayed at work. Have a seat." He had kind eyes.
"I thought Margot lived by herself." Tom said following him to the living room.
"She does. Brave Maggie. I'm a farmer, here on some business." He poured him a drink.
Tom could not resist and looked into his mind. This was McGregor. He had three children with a woman named Laura, all gingers, two boys and a girl. He was deeply in love with Laura.
Dougal talked about the farm and talked about his children. He made some jokes and Tom laughed despite himself. Margot appeared an hour later, worse for wear.
"We may have to reschedule." She said in a whisper.
"Don't worry. I will see you next week. Your brother was a wonderful host." He said with a smile.
"He is. Dougal is wonderful. He is so much happier ever since Laura came into his life." Tom prodded further.
"He was very unhappy. He fell for a strange girl. He never said it but I knew. The McGonagall girl left. She teaches at a boarding school now." She parroted and kissed him good night.
Tom did not follow up on the coffee date. He however followed Dougal for that week. Dougal was ordinary. He liked tea, conducted business on some local markets and bought a tractor. He also bought little trinkets for his children. He was kind and helped older ladies with their groceries. Dougal made friends easily. He was sensible and it appeared that his wife was expecting once more as he bought a crib and a teddy bear. He was happy. Tom felt hatred then, the farmer was fucking satisfied with his life while Minerva pined for him.
Dougal went back to his family in Scotland. Tom looked as three kids ran after him and kissed him. A young woman, red haired and blue eyed kissed him as well. Tom was correct, the woman was heavily pregnant. He did not feel envy. Tom did not want that. He simply wanted Minerva. Tom went home that night, dissatisfied, angry and missing Minerva more than ever.
Before Tom knew it, he was boarding a plane to America, to then board another smaller plane for Nicaragua. His parents would not forgive him if he did not spend Christmas and his birthday with them.
The wizard asked for three weeks off. He needed to clear his head, to forget about McGregor and Minerva. He longed to see his parents. The flight to California was interminable. He longed to apparate to Nicaragua but was sure that it would not be safe to do so as he never had visited. He heeded his mother's letter and boarded another plane.
He then took a bus to his parents' little farm. His mother was tanned and wore a hat. She looked younger than ever. "Tom." She waved and then ran to kiss him.
He spun her around, "I look like your older brother."
"Sweetheart, you look tired, have you lost weight?" She asked and gave him an anxious look.
"I'm fine mum." He said with a smile. "I'm just getting older."
"You will always be my darling boy." She kissed him and looped her arm with his. "You must tell me everything about the Wizengamot."
He laughed and told her all about his job. "Where is dad?"
His mum smiled, "oh you know him. He is in the forest, collecting some rare plants for his potions. You would think he would be less passionate about them after all these years. He is like a child, exploring and creating remedies."
"How long will you stay here?" Tom asked while fanning himself. It was bloody hot.
"You will get used to the heat. Your father almost died the first week. He exaggerates." She kissed his hands. "We think another few months. There is some unrest in the area. Your father said that there will be uprisings soon. The whole region is under American influence which does not bode well with the Central American citizens. Latin America in itself is under political unrest. Your father and I thought of relocating to Oceania but we decided against it. We like the Americas." His mum said and then proceeded to ask him more questions about his newly appointed position. She wanted to know everything about the new laws that he tried to have the Wizengamot look at.
"We are starting small, parental trainings for muggleborn parents and an office to expand the muggle relations." He explained the initiative. His mum kissed his cheek. "I am so very proud of you." She said and hugged him.
"Hermione, I found the belladonna. It is most peculiar; its form is rather different from the ones we have in Europe." His father looked well. He smiled when he saw him.
"Dad." Tom said and hugged him. His father hugged him back. "You look tired." He said and then have his mum a look. "Hermione, is there any of that rabbit stew I made yesterday?"
His mum laughed. "yes. Come, let's have some early dinner."
Tom ate and found the stew delicious. He told them about work and the different ideas he had. His father smiled and outlined some possible difficulties. His mum beamed at him and asked more questions. Tom laughed when his parents told him about their stay in the farm.
They spent the evening catching up. His mum talked about the new things she learned in town and how they helped the community. They were doctors and teachers for the neediest. They also provided food and shelter when needed. Tom smiled at them. It was inevitable.
"How is Minerva?" his dad asked as he drank some wine.
"Busy. She is deputy headmistress." Tom said quickly.
His father smiled, "you have not written about her in your letters lately."
"We do not see each other as much anymore." Tom replied.
"I see." His father looked into his eyes and tried to get more information.
"That is extremely rude." Tom blocked him easily.
"Force of habit." The older man said and smiled.
Tom shook his head, "I'm a bit tired." He retired for the evening.
They did not ask him about Minerva directly anymore. Tom had to admit that he liked being away. His parents and him visited the small towns, lagoons and volcanoes. He also visited the rainforests and beaches. It was truly a wonderful place.
He received a book and a scarf for his birthday. Tom in turn gave his mother a necklace and his father a set of knives for potions. He enjoyed working in the farm too. His dad and him worked on fixing an old pick-up truck for the remainder of his visit. He ate and laughed more than he had in the last year or so. Tom turned thirty-one without any fuss. His parents gave him something very thoughtful. It was an old picture of them. "Your mother found it in her things." He must have been seven in there.
"I don't remember this." Tom said.
His mum laughed, "this was taken three days before our departure to France. We went to get our pictures taken."
Tom shook his head a little, "I don't remember."
"I've wanted to ask you for years, what do you remember about the orphanage?" His father asked him as he served him some wine.
Tom did not like thinking of that time, "I remember the other children crying, the disgusting food and ugly stares. I used to steal things." Tom said. "I stole a something from a girl who was nasty to me."
His mum sighed, "enough about old ugly memories." She said. "We have to show you the clearing we found, it has snakes. You Slytherins love your snakes."
She stood up and led them to the small clearing. Tom listened for the hisses. There were baby snakes. He spoke to them and helped a few of the venomous snakes to make their way deeper into the forest.
They swam in the river and spent the afternoon drinking wine and listening to different records that he brought them.
His father was the first one to fall asleep. He was passed out on the couch. His mum looked at him and smiled. She offered him another glass of wine.
"Your father is sound sleep. Tell me, what is bothering you?" She said as she sipped on her wine.
"Nothing." Tom said and attempted a smile.
"You can't lie to me, that little smirk and the charming eyes do not work on me." She insisted. "I am only asking because you look sick. It isn't just work. I have seen your father exhausted with work. That look, the thinness, and those bags under your eyes, that's not just work."
Tom slumped, "Minerva and I had a fight. She knows I love her. Minerva cannot love me back, will not love me back. She is in love with a muggle who has a family of his own. They met when I was in the continent. She could not give up her magic. McGregor moved on, yet Minnie cannot, will not consider a future with me."
His mum came to sit next to him and grabbed his hand, "she needs to see you. McGregor is an illusion. Give yourself some time."
"I have not seen her in almost a year." Tom replied while taking a swig out of the bottle of wine.
"Oh Tom." His mum frowned, "she's your oldest friend. You need to face her. you need to talk to her when you go back. Your father and I went through a rough patch when you started school. We fixed it, we talked. You need to at least try to med your friendship."
Tom shook his head, "I'm not ready." He said quickly. The remained quiet until his dad stood up.
"Bedroom." He said and extended his hand to the witch.
"Night." Tom said and decided to place a silencio charm around him. His parents could be embarrassing.
His mum did not mention Minerva anymore. They spent the last three days of his trip in a small town, eating good food and visiting the small markets.
He was to apparate to Mexico City and then board a plane for England. He kissed his mother goodbye. She smiled tenderly at him, "promise to come for summer."
Tom hugged her, "I'll be here for my birthday."
His father hugged him briefly, "behave." He said and patted his face.
Tom apparated away then. He boarded his plane and slept away until he arrived in London.
The wizard immersed himself into his work once again until the Headmaster visited his office.
"Headmaster, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Tom said as the professor sat in front of him.
"I've come to invite you for a seminar." The older man said.
Tom smiled, "a seminar?" He tried to keep up the polite pretense.
"Yes, I would like you to come and lecture to our seventh years. They are about to take their NEWTS and I need them to see your brochures about the ministry." Dumbledore said. The old man sold his point.
"Of course." Tom accepted, he needed to recruit young mind. The Ministry was filled with older people who were set in their ways and very resistant to change. The Ministry needed an influx of young people to shake it up. Dumbledore gave him the dates. It was to take place that weekend. He had two days to prepare for his visit to win young minds and face Minerva.
