Chapter 6: Lonely Without You

With a determined look on his face Albus folded the letter and tied it around the leg of a large, snow white owl. "Take this letter to Shaun Fitzgerald and make sure he gets it", he ordered the bird.

"And if you can find the opportunity", he added softly, "Try and find out if everything is all right with Minerva".

***

Minerva sat in the window seat and looked outside, into the dark night. The window was open, allowing the cool night air to breeze inside. She was wearing a thick, warm dressing gown, so the cold wasn't bothering her.

She leaned her forehead against the cool glass. 'I'm not going home', she thought for the hundreds time that day. She still couldn't believe it. The thought of going home was the only thing that had kept her going for the past few months. She had been counting the days. Two weeks to go, fourteen days, 336 hours…

She had to wait for another six months now. Six months, twenty- four weeks… she didn't dare to calculate the hours, feeling it would only depress her more.

Another six months before she would see Albus again. She missed him so much. Why didn't he write to her? Why didn't she hear anything from him? Even if it was just a little note, just to let her know he was still thinking of her. Well, it was obvious that she missed him far more then he missed her.

She wrapped her arms around her knees and started to cry. Once she had started, she wasn't able to stop anymore. The tears continue to flow from her eyes. She sat there for a long time, simply crying her heart out, when suddenly she heard a soft, ticking noise against the window.

Startled, she looked up. A handsome, snow white owl sat in front of the window. Minerva pulled the window further open and the owl flew inside and sat down on her lap. "Hey, where're you coming from?' she asked softly, while caressing its head. The owl hooted softly and nibbled her finger.

The tears were still pouring down her face. "Can I borrow your wings, so I can fly home?" The owl looked at her with its big, brown eyes and shook its head sadly. Despite herself, Minerva laughed. She pulled an owl treat from the pockets of her dressing gown and gave it to the owl.

Then she helped the owl out of the window. "Go home you", she said while letting go. She watched the animal fly away into the night. It grew smaller and smaller, until she couldn't see it anymore.

***

Albus looked outside from behind the windows of the Transfiguration classroom. It was still snowing. He had sent the students away, since he couldn't concentrate on the lesson. And transforming table's into pigs was a difficult thing indeed if one wasn't concentrating. With a heavy sigh he pulled his wand from his robes and whispered a spell that made all the feathers disappear.

During breakfast that morning, Merlin, his white owl had returned. The owl had made it clear that he had succeeded in delivering the letter, but he had not received a reply. When he had asked after Minerva, the bird had only shook its head sadly. And now he was worried sick.

Who could have written those threatening letters? Who wanted to hurt Minerva? What on earth were they doing in Finland? How could any Medical Research be that dangerous? Only questions and no answers. And on top of that the knowledge, she would not be home with Christmas.

Why hadn't he stopped her during the summer? Why hadn't he just opened his mouth and told her the truth? 'Minerva, I love you and I can't miss you. Not for a minute and certainly not for four years'.

It was too ridiculous for words. He had defeated Grindlewald, he had faced Voldemort various times, he was known as the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared, but he didn't dare to tell his best friend what he felt for her.

And why wasn't he able to write her a letter? And besides that, he had a fireplace, she probably had a fireplace, he had a pot full of Floo Powder, he could talk to her every time he wanted. What was stopping him?

He knew exactly what held him back. She had been gone for almost four months and he hadn't written her once. She probably assumed he had forgotten her. If only she knew…

The rest of the afternoon dragged on. Dinner at the Great Hall was a disaster. 'Why was everyone so tiresome cheerful?" Around eight o'clock that night he couldn't stand it any longer. He threw a handful of Floo Powder in the fireplace and said "Shaun Fitzgerald".

The fire roared up high and he felt himself being pulled in. Everything around him went black for a second. Then he looked around him and found himself in a large office, filled with bookshelves and a large desk. Various heads of stuffed animals were hanging on the wall. Despite the situation he grinned for a moment. Poor Minerva, she despised stuffed animals. They made her nervous.

A middle-aged man rose to his feet and walked towards the fireplace. "Good afternoon", he said in a surprised voice.

"Good evening", he greeted back, "My name is Albus Dumbledore…"

"Oh, of course", the man interrupted him, "Minerva told us about you. How nice to meet you. What can I do for you, Professor?"

"I heard Minerva received threatening letters", Albus started, "and I wondered if she was all right. And the rest of the team of course", he added hastily.

"Let me reassure you", Shaun replied, "We are all fine. We did receive a number of threatening letters. It's not that uncommon, it's just that this time, we've received more then usual. And oddly enough, they are all addressed to Minerva".

Albus was definitely not reassured by this. "Is she in danger?" he asked bluntly.

Shaun shook his head. "Not at the moment, no. We watch her closely. That is one of the reasons she can't come to Hogwarts for Christmas."

"There really isn't a possibility?' Albus asked. 'I understand she can't travel alone, but what if I came to pick her up?" 'And carry her home and never let her come back', he added in his mind)

"I'm sorry to disappoint you", Shaun answered, "it's not just the journey. The situation is very serious at the moment and I need the entire staff to find out who is sending those threatening letters. Minerva is one of the best of my team and I can't possible miss her at the moment".

'I can't miss her either, and I haven't seen her for four months', Albus thought angrily, but he nodded in understanding. "I understand", he said, "If there is anything I can do to help you, I would like to hear it".

 "That's very kind of you", Shaun replied, "I appreciate the offer. Do you wish to speak to Minerva? She is working at the moment, but I could call her if you want?"

'She's still at work? It's half past nine!' Albus thought indignant, but he answered politely, "That won't be necessary. I don't want to worry her. Please don't tell her we've spoken". 

"If you wish", Shaun nodded and the face of Albus disappeared from the fireplace.

'Strange man', Shaun thought, shaking his head and he sat back behind his desk again.

***

Minerva cleared her cauldron and put her books back in her bag. She was finished for today, it was beyond half past ten and she decided that she had done enough for the day. With the bag on her shoulder she walked through the dark and deserted corridors of the laboratory. She had worked twelve hours today and felt totally exhausted. 'Well, at least I will be able to sleep tonight', she thought wearily.

She walked past Shaun's Office when she heard a sound. She stopped to listen. Shaun's Office was like the Fort Knox of the laboratory. All the secret information was kept here and only Shaun knew the password. Who was messing around in his office at this time of night and who had been so foolish to let the door open?

Minerva pulled her wand from her pocket and whispered "Lumos". Then she pushed the door open and asked "who's there?"

She heard something drop and some muttering.

'Illuminate', she said and the lights went on immediately.

Charles Winwood got to his feet and looked spitefully at her. "What are you doing here?" he spat.

 "I was about to ask you the same question?" Minerva replied coldly. 'What are you doing in Shaun's office?"

"I left something here, during the meeting this morning and Shaun gave me the password so I could come in and fetch it", Charles replied.

"Don't you think it would be sensible to turn on the lights, so you can actually see what you are looking for?" Minerva suggested dryly.

Charles walked towards her and slammed the door of the office closed. "Mind your own business", he hissed in her face, "or you will be very sorry indeed!"

And with that, he turned around and left.