Disclaimer: Athena and all children during Athena's time belong to me. The
rest belongs to J.K Rowling.
Thank you for all your reviews!
Chapter 14: Reunion
Athena opened her eyes and sat up. She looked around and found that she was not in the chamber anymore but at a strange white place with white clouds. "Is this heaven?" Athena thought and studied herself, her injuries were gone and her skin looked as beautiful as before.
"Hello Athena." A voice greeted and Athena turned around.
"Dumbledore?" She asked in amazement. "So this is heaven." She said unhappily, lowering her head. "It's too bad, I still have a lot of things to do in earth. Watching Quidditch with Mom, going to Hogsmeade with Lethe, Elizabeth, James and the others, listening to Eric about his father, playing with Mandy...." She stopped and let her tears flow.
"There, there." Dumbledore said quietly and pat Athena's shoulder gently. "This is only your dream, Athena. You are still alive."
"I am?" Athena asked in disbelief.
Dumbledore nodded. "But I..." He grinned. "Am still as dead as before."
"How do you know who I am?" Athena asked again in bewilderment.
Dumbledore just smiled warmly. "Do you know who exactly I am? Beside being the greatest wizard of modern times?"
Athena lifted up her head and stared into Dumbledore's blue eyes, which are as same as hers. "Dad?" She asked breathlessly.
Dumbledore smiled and nodded slightly.
Tears began to fill Athena's eyes again as she flung her arms around her father. Dumbledore smiled again softly and stroked Athena's long silky hair. "Oh Dad, I can't believe that I am meeting you at last." Athena said as she sobbed.
"Hush now, don't cry." Dumbledore whispered. Athena just sniffed in response. "Now let me have a good look at you and give me a cheerful smile."
Athena wiped her tears away and smiled brightly.
Dumbledore studied her carefully. "Look how you've grown, you have my blue eyes and your mother's beautiful face." He said cheerfully. "Come on, let's sit down." He took out his wand, waved it and a bench appeared immediately. Both of them sat down.
"Dad, I don't mean to be rude or something but why did Mom tell me that you die of illness when you are actually killed by Voldemort?" Athena suddenly asked.
Dumbledore sighed a little. "It's a very long story. Do you want to hear it?"
Athena nodded eagerly, listened attentively to Dumbledore's stories about Tom Riddle, the rise and fall of Voldemort, how he and her mother managed to get married secretly, and how Voldemort managed to kill him.
"So you see, to the powerful dark wizards, you are just an ordinary nameless witch. None of them know who you truly are. So you are safe from them." Dumbledore smiled and embraced his daughter. "But to the staff of Hogwarts included your mother and I, you are my daughter and a very, very powerful witch."
"So someday I can defeat the dark wizards and give peace to the wizarding world?" Athena asked.
"Something like that. And when that time comes, you can announce to the world that you are my daughter, loudly and proudly." Dumbledore stopped for a while and looked at his watch that is around Athena's neck. "Ah, you still have my watch."
"Watch?" Athena asked.
Dumbledore held his watch and examined it. "Yes, Athena, this is a watch. You will learn how to read the time from it when you are older. And oh yes, I have something for you." Dumbledore reached his pocket and took out a golden bracelet with a red crystal heart hanging from it.
"Wow." Was what Athena could say.
"Just a small gift." He said shortly.
"Thanks, Dad." Athena said happily as Dumbledore gave her the bracelet. "Dad, tell me about the story about you and Mom. Like how you two met or something like that...." Athena begged. "Please? Mom never tells me anything."
Dumbledore just stared at his daughter and nodded. Athena sat close to him as he began to speak.
***
When Dumbledore was talking halfway, Athena started to yawn. "Athena, you are tired, why don't you take a rest?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"No, I still want to listen...." Athena said sleepily.
"You are as stubborn as your mother." Dumbledore said flatly and Athena giggled. "Listen to your father and get some rest." He said firmly. Athena yawned again and Dumbledore put his arms around her as she closed her eyes. "Sweet dreams, Athena." He whispered and kissed her forehead.
***
"Minerva, why don't you get some rest? I will watch over her." Madam Hooch offered gently in the hospital wing.
Professor McGonagall shook her head stubbornly and held her daughter's hand tightly. Madam Pomfrey was bending over Athena, checking her pulse. "Her pulse is still very weak. I wonder if she can make it..." She stopped when she saw Professor McGonagall turning a few shades paler.
"Athena, wake up please, please, I beg you.." Professor McGonagall whispered and started to weep.
"Come on Athena, wake up, your mother needs you.." Madam Hooch pleaded, as she watched Athena lying motionless in her bed, with bandages on her arms and cheek and her face was as pale as chalk.
Professor McGonagall brought Athena's hand to her own cheek, feeling her cold hand against her warm skin; she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Min..Minerva, look!" Professor Sprouts gasped and Professor McGonagall opened her eyes just in time to see Athena blinking her eyes.
"Athena." Professor McGonagall said happily and Athena turned her head slowly to her. "Hi, Mom." She whispered weakly.
"She speaks!" Madam Hooch exclaimed as Madam Pomfrey checked Athena's pulse again. "How's her pulse?"
"Getting stronger." Madam Pomfrey reported in surprise. "It's a miracle. One moment her pulse is near to a stop and now it is getting better."
"How are you feeling, Athena?" Professor Sprouts asked gently.
"Weak." Athena said shortly and felt her cheek with her right hand.
"Athena, what's tha'?" Hagrid asked, pointing at Athena's right hand.
Athena removed her hand and found a golden bracelet with a red crystal heart around her four fingers.
"Nice bracelet, who give it to you?" Madam Hooch asked.
Before Athena could say anything, Madam Pomfrey cut in sternly: "Hey, no questions, all right? She need more rest."
"How long have I been like this?" Athena asked.
"Err...if I count the day from you fainted in the chamber that will be.." Madam Hooch made a quick calculation. "Three weeks." Then she saw Athena had her mouth opened. "I am not joking. We take turns to watch over you but most of the time, your mother stays with us. She didn't eat or sleep well in the past three weeks. In fact, none of us have been sleeping or eating well."
Athena studied her mother's face closely and Madam Hooch was right. She could see her mother's pale face and dark circles under her eyes clearly now. "Mom, get some rest." She said feebly.
"Later." Professor McGonagall said, smiling.
"All right, Athena needs more rest so all of you can go and get some sleep now." Madam Pomfrey said firmly and all of the teachers except for Professor McGonagall stood up, greeted goodbye to Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall and Athena, and left the hospital wing.
"I will leave you two alone for a while." Madam Pomfrey said quietly and left too.
Professor McGonagall sighed and looked at Athena seriously. "Athena, I think it is the time for you to learn the whole truth. Your father..." But she stopped when Athena held up her hand.
"Hey Mom, I think it's worth it to go to the chamber because you know why?" Athena asked and Professor McGonagall shook her head tiredly.
"Because I met Dad," Athena whispered happily. "Just now, in my dream. At least I think so."
"You think so?" Professor McGonagall echoed in bewilderment.
"Dad gave me a bracelet and here it is." Athena said proudly, held up her right hand to let Professor McGonagall to have a look at the bracelet. "Amazing, isn't it, Mom? Now I know that my father is...." She looked around and dropped her voice into a whisper: "Albus Dumbledore."
Professor McGonagall smiled and nodded. Madam Pomfrey came in with a Chocolate Frog in her hand. "Here, it will make you better." She said and handed it to Athena. "Minerva..."
"I know, I should get some rest." Professor McGonagall said and leaned forward to kiss Athena on her cheek. "Rest well, Athena." She said and left unwillingly.
Athena unwrapped the Chocolate Frog and took out the card. She smiled at the card happily. "Hi, Dad." She whispered.
Tune in next chapter for Narcissus Malfoy's punishment, a very, very special Quidditch match and Minerva's decision on whether to stay in Hogwarts or go back to the Muggle world!
Thank you for all your reviews!
Chapter 14: Reunion
Athena opened her eyes and sat up. She looked around and found that she was not in the chamber anymore but at a strange white place with white clouds. "Is this heaven?" Athena thought and studied herself, her injuries were gone and her skin looked as beautiful as before.
"Hello Athena." A voice greeted and Athena turned around.
"Dumbledore?" She asked in amazement. "So this is heaven." She said unhappily, lowering her head. "It's too bad, I still have a lot of things to do in earth. Watching Quidditch with Mom, going to Hogsmeade with Lethe, Elizabeth, James and the others, listening to Eric about his father, playing with Mandy...." She stopped and let her tears flow.
"There, there." Dumbledore said quietly and pat Athena's shoulder gently. "This is only your dream, Athena. You are still alive."
"I am?" Athena asked in disbelief.
Dumbledore nodded. "But I..." He grinned. "Am still as dead as before."
"How do you know who I am?" Athena asked again in bewilderment.
Dumbledore just smiled warmly. "Do you know who exactly I am? Beside being the greatest wizard of modern times?"
Athena lifted up her head and stared into Dumbledore's blue eyes, which are as same as hers. "Dad?" She asked breathlessly.
Dumbledore smiled and nodded slightly.
Tears began to fill Athena's eyes again as she flung her arms around her father. Dumbledore smiled again softly and stroked Athena's long silky hair. "Oh Dad, I can't believe that I am meeting you at last." Athena said as she sobbed.
"Hush now, don't cry." Dumbledore whispered. Athena just sniffed in response. "Now let me have a good look at you and give me a cheerful smile."
Athena wiped her tears away and smiled brightly.
Dumbledore studied her carefully. "Look how you've grown, you have my blue eyes and your mother's beautiful face." He said cheerfully. "Come on, let's sit down." He took out his wand, waved it and a bench appeared immediately. Both of them sat down.
"Dad, I don't mean to be rude or something but why did Mom tell me that you die of illness when you are actually killed by Voldemort?" Athena suddenly asked.
Dumbledore sighed a little. "It's a very long story. Do you want to hear it?"
Athena nodded eagerly, listened attentively to Dumbledore's stories about Tom Riddle, the rise and fall of Voldemort, how he and her mother managed to get married secretly, and how Voldemort managed to kill him.
"So you see, to the powerful dark wizards, you are just an ordinary nameless witch. None of them know who you truly are. So you are safe from them." Dumbledore smiled and embraced his daughter. "But to the staff of Hogwarts included your mother and I, you are my daughter and a very, very powerful witch."
"So someday I can defeat the dark wizards and give peace to the wizarding world?" Athena asked.
"Something like that. And when that time comes, you can announce to the world that you are my daughter, loudly and proudly." Dumbledore stopped for a while and looked at his watch that is around Athena's neck. "Ah, you still have my watch."
"Watch?" Athena asked.
Dumbledore held his watch and examined it. "Yes, Athena, this is a watch. You will learn how to read the time from it when you are older. And oh yes, I have something for you." Dumbledore reached his pocket and took out a golden bracelet with a red crystal heart hanging from it.
"Wow." Was what Athena could say.
"Just a small gift." He said shortly.
"Thanks, Dad." Athena said happily as Dumbledore gave her the bracelet. "Dad, tell me about the story about you and Mom. Like how you two met or something like that...." Athena begged. "Please? Mom never tells me anything."
Dumbledore just stared at his daughter and nodded. Athena sat close to him as he began to speak.
***
When Dumbledore was talking halfway, Athena started to yawn. "Athena, you are tired, why don't you take a rest?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"No, I still want to listen...." Athena said sleepily.
"You are as stubborn as your mother." Dumbledore said flatly and Athena giggled. "Listen to your father and get some rest." He said firmly. Athena yawned again and Dumbledore put his arms around her as she closed her eyes. "Sweet dreams, Athena." He whispered and kissed her forehead.
***
"Minerva, why don't you get some rest? I will watch over her." Madam Hooch offered gently in the hospital wing.
Professor McGonagall shook her head stubbornly and held her daughter's hand tightly. Madam Pomfrey was bending over Athena, checking her pulse. "Her pulse is still very weak. I wonder if she can make it..." She stopped when she saw Professor McGonagall turning a few shades paler.
"Athena, wake up please, please, I beg you.." Professor McGonagall whispered and started to weep.
"Come on Athena, wake up, your mother needs you.." Madam Hooch pleaded, as she watched Athena lying motionless in her bed, with bandages on her arms and cheek and her face was as pale as chalk.
Professor McGonagall brought Athena's hand to her own cheek, feeling her cold hand against her warm skin; she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Min..Minerva, look!" Professor Sprouts gasped and Professor McGonagall opened her eyes just in time to see Athena blinking her eyes.
"Athena." Professor McGonagall said happily and Athena turned her head slowly to her. "Hi, Mom." She whispered weakly.
"She speaks!" Madam Hooch exclaimed as Madam Pomfrey checked Athena's pulse again. "How's her pulse?"
"Getting stronger." Madam Pomfrey reported in surprise. "It's a miracle. One moment her pulse is near to a stop and now it is getting better."
"How are you feeling, Athena?" Professor Sprouts asked gently.
"Weak." Athena said shortly and felt her cheek with her right hand.
"Athena, what's tha'?" Hagrid asked, pointing at Athena's right hand.
Athena removed her hand and found a golden bracelet with a red crystal heart around her four fingers.
"Nice bracelet, who give it to you?" Madam Hooch asked.
Before Athena could say anything, Madam Pomfrey cut in sternly: "Hey, no questions, all right? She need more rest."
"How long have I been like this?" Athena asked.
"Err...if I count the day from you fainted in the chamber that will be.." Madam Hooch made a quick calculation. "Three weeks." Then she saw Athena had her mouth opened. "I am not joking. We take turns to watch over you but most of the time, your mother stays with us. She didn't eat or sleep well in the past three weeks. In fact, none of us have been sleeping or eating well."
Athena studied her mother's face closely and Madam Hooch was right. She could see her mother's pale face and dark circles under her eyes clearly now. "Mom, get some rest." She said feebly.
"Later." Professor McGonagall said, smiling.
"All right, Athena needs more rest so all of you can go and get some sleep now." Madam Pomfrey said firmly and all of the teachers except for Professor McGonagall stood up, greeted goodbye to Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall and Athena, and left the hospital wing.
"I will leave you two alone for a while." Madam Pomfrey said quietly and left too.
Professor McGonagall sighed and looked at Athena seriously. "Athena, I think it is the time for you to learn the whole truth. Your father..." But she stopped when Athena held up her hand.
"Hey Mom, I think it's worth it to go to the chamber because you know why?" Athena asked and Professor McGonagall shook her head tiredly.
"Because I met Dad," Athena whispered happily. "Just now, in my dream. At least I think so."
"You think so?" Professor McGonagall echoed in bewilderment.
"Dad gave me a bracelet and here it is." Athena said proudly, held up her right hand to let Professor McGonagall to have a look at the bracelet. "Amazing, isn't it, Mom? Now I know that my father is...." She looked around and dropped her voice into a whisper: "Albus Dumbledore."
Professor McGonagall smiled and nodded. Madam Pomfrey came in with a Chocolate Frog in her hand. "Here, it will make you better." She said and handed it to Athena. "Minerva..."
"I know, I should get some rest." Professor McGonagall said and leaned forward to kiss Athena on her cheek. "Rest well, Athena." She said and left unwillingly.
Athena unwrapped the Chocolate Frog and took out the card. She smiled at the card happily. "Hi, Dad." She whispered.
Tune in next chapter for Narcissus Malfoy's punishment, a very, very special Quidditch match and Minerva's decision on whether to stay in Hogwarts or go back to the Muggle world!
