A/N: Hey guys! Sorry that this chapter's taken me so long... unfortunately my computer crashed this week. Still, I prioritized getting a chapter to y'all above all else. I love each and every one of you. To all the silent readers, please leave a review.
Albus trudged back to the hospital wing, head heavy with thoughts of the future. He would never tell Minerva, but was secretly relieved she lost the child. He didn't want his personal life to be a liability when engaging in battle with Grindelwald. Having a girlfriend was one thing … but a wife and unborn child? He would normally always put the greater good before his own life, but lately had been questioning if it was all even worth it, if he'd rather run away with Minerva and raise his family safely and quietly away from the chaos of the Wizarding World. But now, after this personal tragedy, he steeled himself and vowed to defeat Grindelwald once and for all.
After resigning, Albus figured he'd come out publicly as Grindlewald's main foe. There was no real reason to keep hiding and he could recruit more fighters for the resistance if he started doing Prophet interviews and the like. Albus realized that he could spin this sacking into a positive thing. Of course, he'd miss Minerva, but she was strong. She had good friends. He knew she'd pull through these next few months without him. And, maybe through life. Albus pondered how selfish he'd been - tying down a teenage girl when she had her whole life ahead of her. He needed to let Minerva go and experience the world. But enough of that. For now, he needed to be with her for the weekend, to grieve with her and to savor their last moments together.
But first, Albus had another stop he needed to make. Diverging from his route to the Hospital Wing, he headed towards the dungeons, wanting to speak to one particular Slytherin. Striding into the Slytherin commons with full confidence, like a man with nothing to hide, the murmured chatter of the students instantly came to a halt once they saw Albus. Undoubtedly, they'd been gossiping about him and Minerva. Albus spotted Tom, sitting at the fireplace with a self-assured grin on his face that quickly evaporated once the professor barked, "Mr. Riddle, I need to speak with you outside."
"Yes, sir." Tom instantly went pale and followed him into the hall.
Once the two of them were a few meters distance from the common room entrance, Albus abruptly turned and grabbed the boy's robes at his chest, shoving him up against the wall. Riddle whimpered in pain.
"You should be sent to Azkaban for your crime, Riddle. You knew Minerva was pregnant. I would take you to court, try you, and win if I wasn't busy trying to save our entire Wizarding world from evil, but I also know that if I get you expelled you'll be more dangerous outside of Hogwarts than in. Therefore I'm not taking this to Dippet or the authorities. However, you WILL keep Minerva's name out of your mouth, you won't even look at her in the halls. You'll keep up your little Head Boy rounds and you won't say a peep about Minerva not accompanying you. I don't want her anywhere near you. And you won't tell a soul about my relationship with her. You murdered my child and hurt the woman I love most in this word, Tom. I won't forget and someday you will pay. As for now, you should feel lucky I've shown mercy." Albus released Tom from the wall and spit at his feet, turning away and walking down the corridor as the boy shook and tears dripped down his face. Tom Riddle was still a teenage boy and as powerful as he thought he was, this encounter with Dumbledore terrified him.
Casting a calming spell on himself and fixing his robes, Albus re-entered the Hospital Wing. Minerva looked remarkably better from earlier in the day. The girl was always able to keep such a stoic demeanor, even after losing the life she looked forward to so dearly. Minerva had packed up her bag, folded the hospital sheets, and was perched at the edge of the bed, eager to leave the stuffy and grief filled wing.
Albus looked around and pecked her on the cheek. "We're getting you out of here, dearest. I'll make sure you're all checked out."
He left Minerva and went to enter the healer's office. "Elizabeth - thank you again. Before you say anything - I've resigned and will be gone by Monday, don't worry. If you wouldn't mind looking the other way one last time, I'll escort Minerva back to my rooms for these last few days so we can grieve in private. Thank you again for all your kindness - you were always my favorite on staff."
Healer Blackmar nodded, her withered face full of understanding. "I'm disappointed, Albus, don't get me wrong, but you're a good man. You'll do right by her. And I'll make sure that the students and other staff aren't too cruel. You know how rumors fly in this castle."
"Alright, my dear! You're all set to go." Albus mustered up enthusiasm to try and brighten the witches' mood. Albus offered a hand to Minerva and she weakly grasped it, standing up, wobbly at first. She winced in pain.
Minerva and Albus made a sorry looking couple, hobbling down the hall towards his quarters. Thank gods no one was around. This was in stark contrast to just weeks earlier, when they walked arm in arm around the Black Lake, freshly engaged and teeming with love and energy. Now the couple silently grieved together.
Albus forced Minerva to lie down in the sitting room, as she was visibly exhausted from that short trek, and went to heat her some soup, not wanting to disturb the house elves. He returned and sat across from her at his fireplace, watching her take in small sips as her hand shook from the effort. Or maybe it was just out of grief.
"Minerva love, we need to talk about what happens next. Armando knows and therefore I need to leave by Monday morning." He tried to sound sensitive, but the harsh reality of his words didn't escape either party.
She was a strong witch. She expected this and therefore choked down her tears and nodded. "I know."
"And you know I don't want to leave you like this, alone to grieve and heal. But you have friends who will watch over you, you have professors who care. And it won't be long until you're graduated. Merlin willing, I'll have defeated Grindelwald and our world will be a little brighter."
Minerva reached up to touch his face. "You will, Albus. But for now, can't you just hold me for the weekend?"
And so they stayed together that final weekend, embracing each other and forgetting the world.
Monday came all too soon and as the sun rose over the castle, Albus knew it was his time to leave. He looked down at Minerva sleeping peacefully beside him, curled up into his side. She'd healed remarkably over the weekend and was really starting to come out of her grief. He felt confident in leaving her to finish out the rest of the semester. But now he had to wake her up and say goodbye.
"Minerva, Minerva sweetie, its time to go." He nudged her softly and she nestled further into him, not wanting to let go. But eventually, Albus had to prod her awake. "Minerva, I promised Dippet I'd leave before breakfast."
She sat upright, not wanting to spoil their last minutes together. "When will I see you again?"
He answered truthfully, "I don't know." Albus stood up and shrunk all his various trinkets and clothing into his trunk with a packing charm. Minerva's inquisitive eyes followed him around the room.
"And where are you heading? Germany?"
He looked at her questioning face sadly. "You know I can't tell you that." Albus walked towards her and placed a kiss on her forehead, planted kisses on her cheek, her ear, everywhere, finally stopping at her lips. "I love you, Minerva. This is only temporary."
Albus left her in his now near-empty rooms, stepping through the Floo and vanishing away. Minerva slowly rose from his bed, still sore from the miscarriage, and wandered through his rooms one last time, tracing her hand along the stone walls. She looked into his mirror and didn't recognize who she saw. A thinner, almost gaunt and deathly pale woman looked back at her, with eyes and hair that had lost their former youthful sheen. Minerva's innocence had been stolen from her in this year, her chance at ever being a mother robbed away, and she'd never get these back.