Disclaimer: The same as usual ... nothing belongs to me – N-O-T-H-I-N-G –
how depressing :-(
Sorry, sorry, sorry about that long waiting time! Lot's of things happened the past months . . . Hope you will forgive me.
Note: This is the final chapter – I hope you like it. Thanks to everyone who read the story. Especially to redwoman06, minni, Jestana, petriebird18, Liz O'Brien, Emutet, MinervasQuill, Hermione Gardiner, Hogwarts Duo, lemondroppaddict and Athena Dumbledore for all your reviews!
The Endlessness Of Time
Chapter 4
"Good, I owe you an answer." Armando took a drink of the tea and began to comment as the door of his office opened.
Albus Dumbledore entered the office, holding and reading some letters in his hands, he didn't looked up.
"Good evening Armando, I'm back from the Ministry. You will be very interested in these letters. By the way how was your vacation?" Albus still didn't look up.
Unlike Albus, Minerva admitted his presence very well. Although she cringed inwardly, outwardly she showed no signs of her true feelings.
'His hair has become grayer' She noticed immediately.
He wore his hair a little longer, his beard was still dark and trimmed. Otherwise the years had not changed him much. Her thoughts were interrupted, as Armando Dippet cleared his throat and spoke to Albus:
"My vacation was very pleasant. Andora and I was fishing at Lock Ness. Well . . . I did the fishing part and Andora watched me." He twinkled to Minerva.
"By the way Albus –"Dippet continued. "May I introduce our new teacher of Transfiguration. I'm sure you will be satisfied with my choice."
Questioned looked Albus up and when he noticed who was sitting next to the headmaster, he felt like he had been hit by a bolt of lightning. As he saw her dark green eyes, a wave of feelings rushed trough his body.
Eighteen years had passed as he looked at her he noticed she had changed, her face had sharper contours, her hairstyle was different and her body was tensed almost distant. Only her eyes were still the same. He looked into her dark green eyes which met his quietly 'Bloody hell' Albus thought.
In the meantime headmaster Dipped got up and went to his deputy.
"I see, you remember Miss McGonagall." He said contentedly.
Dumbledore felt that he should answer something, but the great Albus Dumbledore was speechless. Fortunately continued Dippet his words.
"Well, I see there are a couple of questions and things which still have to be discussed. Therefore I suggest we could do that while we're having dinner tonight." At this he turned his look from Albus to Minerva. "Albus, please show Professor McGonagall her private chambers. I suggest that we meet here within three hours." With that Armando sat down to read Albus's papers.
The two professors had nothing else left and went out of the office. 'A polite booting out' thought Minerva when she and Albus stood in front of the gargoyle.
Depressing silence filled the air between the witch and wizard while they stood into the hall.
'Say something, Albus!' he thought to himself and remained quiet.
'Where is your self-assurance, Minerva? You're not a child anymore! Do something about this silence!' She tried to convince herself and said nothing.
Slowly Minerva's reason returned she had seen and experienced too many dark things and now she was about to fail only because Albus Dumbledore stood next to her.
"Professor, where – "
"This – "Both spoke at the same time.
Minerva and Albus looked astonished to each other. She saw an amused twinkle in his eyes which she answered with a little smile. The uncomfortable feeling lowerd.
"This way." He showed the direction and moved.
Again in silence they walked along the long corridors. Minerva knew the way, she couldn't remember how many times she had followed the corridor to the Gryffindor tower.
Then Albus stopped and turned to the stone wall. With a wink of his wand he touched a small black brick. Suddenly hundreds of bricks left their usual position and revealed a gateway to a hidden corridor.
'Hogwarts is always good for a surprise.' She smiled.
Finally Dumbledore stopped in front of an oak door.
"Earl Gray" said Albus and Minerva smiled when the door opened. Obviously was Dippets weakness of that tea type bigger than she thought. When the black haired woman entered the room first and Albus followed her. They stood in a foyer which adjoined to the living room. Minerva liked the living room immediately, tapestries hung on the stone walls with the red and golden symbols of Gryffindor, the floor was dark red, almost black. The witch smiled as she faced the crimson sofa and two armchairs in front of the fireplace. The remaining furniture was of cherry wood – how did Armando Dippet know about her passion of cherry wood? Suddenly her gaze fell upon the old desk opposite of a big window.
She walked slowly in direction of the window. Minerva stroked gentle over the desk surface before the view out of her window caught her. She had a wonderful view over hills and the dark lake of Hogwarts.
The whole time had Albus watched her every movement – how she included all new impressions into herself. Yes she belonged to Hogwarts. Then he noticed that Minerva looked at him with a smile. A great desire to pull her into his arms came over Albus, but he didn't know how she felt after that long time. He decided that he better go and Dumbledore truned around.
"I'll pick you up for dinner in about two hours." He said.
She answered: "Thank you, I'll be ready then."
Minerva turned around to look at her other rooms, when Albus stopped again.
"Minerva . . . "She raised her head. ". . . Welcome home."
Three hours later Albus and Minerva sat once again in the Headmaster office. After dinner the three professors decided to take a rest in front of the fireplace. Now it was time to answer questions thought Dippet and started speaking:
"Well Minerva, after the Ministry informed me thay you want to give up your work as an Auror to become a teacher . . ." Dippet stopped for a moment and Albus turned his look from Armando to Minerva.
'What was the reason for this decision?" Dumbledore wondered.
". . . before, I should mention that I plan to retire coming summer." The old wizard explained. Suddenly Minerva understand and wanted to say something, but Headmaster Dippet wanted no interrupion.
"Albus will take over my position next summer, but his actions are already that of a Headmaster. Actually position as teacher of Tranfiguration should be announced this coming spring and filled by summer. The Minister of Magic told me about your request I knew that you are more than suitable for the position. Well, I had to act quickly." The Headmaster smiled. "Albus, I'm sure you're more than content about my choise." Contentedly drank Dippet his tea.
"I am Armando, I am." Said Dumbledore with twinkling eyes.
They spent the rest evening talking about the arts of high magic. Both men were surprised about Minervas knowledge of old and forbidden curses. Long after midnight the dark haired woman excused herself and left.
"Fascinating woman." Noticed Dippet as Minerva had gone.
"Yes." Answered Albus and looked to the door.
Two weeks had passed.
Minerva McGonagall left her office by the magical door which was connected to her private rooms. She had to admit that she liked this kind of luxury, without this door she had to walk a longer way. What she still wanted was a hot cup of tea and reading a book in front of the fireplace.
In this afternoon Minerva started to plan her lessons for the school year. Perhaps she demanded too much of her students but Transfiguration was too important. She remembered at her lessons with Albus Dumbledore. How many parchment scrolls she had to write for Transfiguration homework, how often had her classmates complained . . .
'Oh by Merlin's beard, Albus Dumbledore had too much influence on you, Minerva.' She grinned.
After finishing her tea the dark haired professor went to bed, ignoring the pain in her shoulder and stomach.
At the same time sat Albus Dumbledore in his favourite armchair with a cup of hot chocolate deep in thought. Two weeks ago a certain black-haired woman came back into his life and that had been completely unexpected. The past years he had thought of her often, but she was far away then. Now that she was back everything was different.
These thoughts drove Albus almost crazy. Perhaps would the cool night air help him to think normal again.
Trapping pain woke Minerva from her sleep, full of pain she left her bed. Minerva knew, that she would find something to relieve her pain in the hospital wing. The white nightgrown was blood soaked at her stomach. Carefully she touched her shoulder, relieved she noticed that there was no blood.
She reached for a jade green scarf and put it around her thin shoulders. She left her room in silence. Minerva hoped that nobody would see her in her light dress, but she had to find a potion against the pain. The black haired professor had to stop a few times, because she had to wait until the black spots in front of her eyes disappeared. It was not the first time that pain attacks struck her.
'The Admirabilis curse shows his full effect.' She thought bitter.
Minerva didn't see the dark person coming when she had to stop again.
"Minerva?" A well known voice asked.
He could hear her undertow the air sharply and tried to stand upright.
'Something is wrong.' He worried.
He reached her with a few steps. Albus saw feverish gleam in her eyes, her breath was irregular and she was tense.
"Good god, what has happened?"
Minerva winced when Albus seized her back. The jade green scarf slipped of her shoulders and laid them bare. Dumbledore's look fell on the injuries and the blood at her nightgrown. In the meantime cleared Minerva's mind and the could think again, she was angry with herself that Albus saw her like this.
"Nothing happened Albus. I am well - "
"I'm not blind, Minerva! You're in pain and all the blood. I'll take you to the hospital wing."
She agreed to take her to the hospital wing, because she lacked the strength for a discussion.
"I wanted to go there anyway." She said.
The medi-witch was still on vacation, so there was nothing left for Minerva to do but let Albus help treat her wounds. After he had given her a pain- relieving serum to her, Minerva relaxed visibly.
Both looked to each other. His eyes lost the worried expression and Minervas cheeks got some color again.
"Thank you, Albus."
"You're welcome. How has this happened?" Dumbledore asked softly.
She was silent for a moment, but he had a right to know. "Our command got the order to break the Inner Ring. While we fought two Admirabilis curses and a few different forbidden hexes hit me."
Albus raised his head: "When did it happened exactly?" Minerva pulled her scarf tight around her body.
"Two hours before you arrived and defeated Grindelwald. Strange. How much two hours difference can change or destroy." She laughed bitterly and her voice sounded foreign. "We entered Grindelwalds estate – we were six – and after the fight three of us were dead." Her face was petrified.
"You have fought against Grindelwald." He mumbled to himself and she nodded.
Albus remembered Grindelwalds injuries and harassed expressionn when he found him. Before he could continue his thoughts Minerva spoke again.
"The three had family, Albus. Grindelwald could have killed me, but he didn't do it. I'm not afraid of dying, he knew it. Even after his death he torments me! My family is dead – but out of here are people who suffering now." Her voice broke.
A tear ran down her cheek and a second followed and Minervas outer façade fell. Like so many years ago Albus pulled Minerva in his arms. Her tears dried, nevertheless she stayed in his embrace.
"Oh I have missed this all – missed you, our talks." She whispered.
"By Merlins beard, I didn't feel different. But we had to choose that way . . . and see you're back now." He mumbled into her hair.
"And I'm planning to stay quite a while, Albus." Minerva sighed and let her head rest at his chest.
xx
The night air had cooled down and Minerva cuddled up to him.
"I have never regretted that I chose my Transfiguration professor. Admittedly I could strangle him sometimes, when he suddenly appears behind me to surprise me!" She teased Albus and pulled gently at his beard.
"There, there my dear, but if sudden a little gray cat jumps on my desk . . ."
At these words Minerva laughed heartly: "One point for you, my dear."
He bowed his head and gave his wife a warm kiss.
"Fortunatley it is still vacation time, what would the students say if they would find the Headmaster and his old Deputy like this." She smiled.
"Then our well guarded secret about our marriage will be made public faster than we wanted." He answered while he played with a loose hair strand.
"Alright this should not happen then, although it would make some things easier. At last I have no longer to creep back into my rooms in the early mornings – a miracle that nobody has caught me already." Her hubsband laughed but got serious.
"How often I want to shout to the world that you belong to me, especially if other wizards look at you yearningly. However it would be too risky if your enemies would know about our relationship. In front of Voldemort – he would try everything. If we had children – not to think."
"Shhh." Minerva put her fingers on his lips. "We both knew about the victims we had to deprive. But I have accepted – in addition in a couple of days is the whole castle filled with 'our' children." She said soft.
"By the way, which wizards looked at me at this way?" Minerva sat upright, crooked her head and looked at him interested.
"My secret my dear Professor McGonagall." He teased her.
Minerva gave him the look and laughed.
"I love you, you old goat" She admitted.
"Oh really? what a surprise. I love you, too." As answer she punched his shoulder and jumped off the bank.
"I'm off to bed."
Albus eyes sparkled significantly while he got up as well.
"Sleeping!" Minerva completed.
"I have never thought something different." He said innocent.
End
AN: What do you think? Please let me know.
Sorry, sorry, sorry about that long waiting time! Lot's of things happened the past months . . . Hope you will forgive me.
Note: This is the final chapter – I hope you like it. Thanks to everyone who read the story. Especially to redwoman06, minni, Jestana, petriebird18, Liz O'Brien, Emutet, MinervasQuill, Hermione Gardiner, Hogwarts Duo, lemondroppaddict and Athena Dumbledore for all your reviews!
The Endlessness Of Time
Chapter 4
"Good, I owe you an answer." Armando took a drink of the tea and began to comment as the door of his office opened.
Albus Dumbledore entered the office, holding and reading some letters in his hands, he didn't looked up.
"Good evening Armando, I'm back from the Ministry. You will be very interested in these letters. By the way how was your vacation?" Albus still didn't look up.
Unlike Albus, Minerva admitted his presence very well. Although she cringed inwardly, outwardly she showed no signs of her true feelings.
'His hair has become grayer' She noticed immediately.
He wore his hair a little longer, his beard was still dark and trimmed. Otherwise the years had not changed him much. Her thoughts were interrupted, as Armando Dippet cleared his throat and spoke to Albus:
"My vacation was very pleasant. Andora and I was fishing at Lock Ness. Well . . . I did the fishing part and Andora watched me." He twinkled to Minerva.
"By the way Albus –"Dippet continued. "May I introduce our new teacher of Transfiguration. I'm sure you will be satisfied with my choice."
Questioned looked Albus up and when he noticed who was sitting next to the headmaster, he felt like he had been hit by a bolt of lightning. As he saw her dark green eyes, a wave of feelings rushed trough his body.
Eighteen years had passed as he looked at her he noticed she had changed, her face had sharper contours, her hairstyle was different and her body was tensed almost distant. Only her eyes were still the same. He looked into her dark green eyes which met his quietly 'Bloody hell' Albus thought.
In the meantime headmaster Dipped got up and went to his deputy.
"I see, you remember Miss McGonagall." He said contentedly.
Dumbledore felt that he should answer something, but the great Albus Dumbledore was speechless. Fortunately continued Dippet his words.
"Well, I see there are a couple of questions and things which still have to be discussed. Therefore I suggest we could do that while we're having dinner tonight." At this he turned his look from Albus to Minerva. "Albus, please show Professor McGonagall her private chambers. I suggest that we meet here within three hours." With that Armando sat down to read Albus's papers.
The two professors had nothing else left and went out of the office. 'A polite booting out' thought Minerva when she and Albus stood in front of the gargoyle.
Depressing silence filled the air between the witch and wizard while they stood into the hall.
'Say something, Albus!' he thought to himself and remained quiet.
'Where is your self-assurance, Minerva? You're not a child anymore! Do something about this silence!' She tried to convince herself and said nothing.
Slowly Minerva's reason returned she had seen and experienced too many dark things and now she was about to fail only because Albus Dumbledore stood next to her.
"Professor, where – "
"This – "Both spoke at the same time.
Minerva and Albus looked astonished to each other. She saw an amused twinkle in his eyes which she answered with a little smile. The uncomfortable feeling lowerd.
"This way." He showed the direction and moved.
Again in silence they walked along the long corridors. Minerva knew the way, she couldn't remember how many times she had followed the corridor to the Gryffindor tower.
Then Albus stopped and turned to the stone wall. With a wink of his wand he touched a small black brick. Suddenly hundreds of bricks left their usual position and revealed a gateway to a hidden corridor.
'Hogwarts is always good for a surprise.' She smiled.
Finally Dumbledore stopped in front of an oak door.
"Earl Gray" said Albus and Minerva smiled when the door opened. Obviously was Dippets weakness of that tea type bigger than she thought. When the black haired woman entered the room first and Albus followed her. They stood in a foyer which adjoined to the living room. Minerva liked the living room immediately, tapestries hung on the stone walls with the red and golden symbols of Gryffindor, the floor was dark red, almost black. The witch smiled as she faced the crimson sofa and two armchairs in front of the fireplace. The remaining furniture was of cherry wood – how did Armando Dippet know about her passion of cherry wood? Suddenly her gaze fell upon the old desk opposite of a big window.
She walked slowly in direction of the window. Minerva stroked gentle over the desk surface before the view out of her window caught her. She had a wonderful view over hills and the dark lake of Hogwarts.
The whole time had Albus watched her every movement – how she included all new impressions into herself. Yes she belonged to Hogwarts. Then he noticed that Minerva looked at him with a smile. A great desire to pull her into his arms came over Albus, but he didn't know how she felt after that long time. He decided that he better go and Dumbledore truned around.
"I'll pick you up for dinner in about two hours." He said.
She answered: "Thank you, I'll be ready then."
Minerva turned around to look at her other rooms, when Albus stopped again.
"Minerva . . . "She raised her head. ". . . Welcome home."
Three hours later Albus and Minerva sat once again in the Headmaster office. After dinner the three professors decided to take a rest in front of the fireplace. Now it was time to answer questions thought Dippet and started speaking:
"Well Minerva, after the Ministry informed me thay you want to give up your work as an Auror to become a teacher . . ." Dippet stopped for a moment and Albus turned his look from Armando to Minerva.
'What was the reason for this decision?" Dumbledore wondered.
". . . before, I should mention that I plan to retire coming summer." The old wizard explained. Suddenly Minerva understand and wanted to say something, but Headmaster Dippet wanted no interrupion.
"Albus will take over my position next summer, but his actions are already that of a Headmaster. Actually position as teacher of Tranfiguration should be announced this coming spring and filled by summer. The Minister of Magic told me about your request I knew that you are more than suitable for the position. Well, I had to act quickly." The Headmaster smiled. "Albus, I'm sure you're more than content about my choise." Contentedly drank Dippet his tea.
"I am Armando, I am." Said Dumbledore with twinkling eyes.
They spent the rest evening talking about the arts of high magic. Both men were surprised about Minervas knowledge of old and forbidden curses. Long after midnight the dark haired woman excused herself and left.
"Fascinating woman." Noticed Dippet as Minerva had gone.
"Yes." Answered Albus and looked to the door.
Two weeks had passed.
Minerva McGonagall left her office by the magical door which was connected to her private rooms. She had to admit that she liked this kind of luxury, without this door she had to walk a longer way. What she still wanted was a hot cup of tea and reading a book in front of the fireplace.
In this afternoon Minerva started to plan her lessons for the school year. Perhaps she demanded too much of her students but Transfiguration was too important. She remembered at her lessons with Albus Dumbledore. How many parchment scrolls she had to write for Transfiguration homework, how often had her classmates complained . . .
'Oh by Merlin's beard, Albus Dumbledore had too much influence on you, Minerva.' She grinned.
After finishing her tea the dark haired professor went to bed, ignoring the pain in her shoulder and stomach.
At the same time sat Albus Dumbledore in his favourite armchair with a cup of hot chocolate deep in thought. Two weeks ago a certain black-haired woman came back into his life and that had been completely unexpected. The past years he had thought of her often, but she was far away then. Now that she was back everything was different.
These thoughts drove Albus almost crazy. Perhaps would the cool night air help him to think normal again.
Trapping pain woke Minerva from her sleep, full of pain she left her bed. Minerva knew, that she would find something to relieve her pain in the hospital wing. The white nightgrown was blood soaked at her stomach. Carefully she touched her shoulder, relieved she noticed that there was no blood.
She reached for a jade green scarf and put it around her thin shoulders. She left her room in silence. Minerva hoped that nobody would see her in her light dress, but she had to find a potion against the pain. The black haired professor had to stop a few times, because she had to wait until the black spots in front of her eyes disappeared. It was not the first time that pain attacks struck her.
'The Admirabilis curse shows his full effect.' She thought bitter.
Minerva didn't see the dark person coming when she had to stop again.
"Minerva?" A well known voice asked.
He could hear her undertow the air sharply and tried to stand upright.
'Something is wrong.' He worried.
He reached her with a few steps. Albus saw feverish gleam in her eyes, her breath was irregular and she was tense.
"Good god, what has happened?"
Minerva winced when Albus seized her back. The jade green scarf slipped of her shoulders and laid them bare. Dumbledore's look fell on the injuries and the blood at her nightgrown. In the meantime cleared Minerva's mind and the could think again, she was angry with herself that Albus saw her like this.
"Nothing happened Albus. I am well - "
"I'm not blind, Minerva! You're in pain and all the blood. I'll take you to the hospital wing."
She agreed to take her to the hospital wing, because she lacked the strength for a discussion.
"I wanted to go there anyway." She said.
The medi-witch was still on vacation, so there was nothing left for Minerva to do but let Albus help treat her wounds. After he had given her a pain- relieving serum to her, Minerva relaxed visibly.
Both looked to each other. His eyes lost the worried expression and Minervas cheeks got some color again.
"Thank you, Albus."
"You're welcome. How has this happened?" Dumbledore asked softly.
She was silent for a moment, but he had a right to know. "Our command got the order to break the Inner Ring. While we fought two Admirabilis curses and a few different forbidden hexes hit me."
Albus raised his head: "When did it happened exactly?" Minerva pulled her scarf tight around her body.
"Two hours before you arrived and defeated Grindelwald. Strange. How much two hours difference can change or destroy." She laughed bitterly and her voice sounded foreign. "We entered Grindelwalds estate – we were six – and after the fight three of us were dead." Her face was petrified.
"You have fought against Grindelwald." He mumbled to himself and she nodded.
Albus remembered Grindelwalds injuries and harassed expressionn when he found him. Before he could continue his thoughts Minerva spoke again.
"The three had family, Albus. Grindelwald could have killed me, but he didn't do it. I'm not afraid of dying, he knew it. Even after his death he torments me! My family is dead – but out of here are people who suffering now." Her voice broke.
A tear ran down her cheek and a second followed and Minervas outer façade fell. Like so many years ago Albus pulled Minerva in his arms. Her tears dried, nevertheless she stayed in his embrace.
"Oh I have missed this all – missed you, our talks." She whispered.
"By Merlins beard, I didn't feel different. But we had to choose that way . . . and see you're back now." He mumbled into her hair.
"And I'm planning to stay quite a while, Albus." Minerva sighed and let her head rest at his chest.
xx
The night air had cooled down and Minerva cuddled up to him.
"I have never regretted that I chose my Transfiguration professor. Admittedly I could strangle him sometimes, when he suddenly appears behind me to surprise me!" She teased Albus and pulled gently at his beard.
"There, there my dear, but if sudden a little gray cat jumps on my desk . . ."
At these words Minerva laughed heartly: "One point for you, my dear."
He bowed his head and gave his wife a warm kiss.
"Fortunatley it is still vacation time, what would the students say if they would find the Headmaster and his old Deputy like this." She smiled.
"Then our well guarded secret about our marriage will be made public faster than we wanted." He answered while he played with a loose hair strand.
"Alright this should not happen then, although it would make some things easier. At last I have no longer to creep back into my rooms in the early mornings – a miracle that nobody has caught me already." Her hubsband laughed but got serious.
"How often I want to shout to the world that you belong to me, especially if other wizards look at you yearningly. However it would be too risky if your enemies would know about our relationship. In front of Voldemort – he would try everything. If we had children – not to think."
"Shhh." Minerva put her fingers on his lips. "We both knew about the victims we had to deprive. But I have accepted – in addition in a couple of days is the whole castle filled with 'our' children." She said soft.
"By the way, which wizards looked at me at this way?" Minerva sat upright, crooked her head and looked at him interested.
"My secret my dear Professor McGonagall." He teased her.
Minerva gave him the look and laughed.
"I love you, you old goat" She admitted.
"Oh really? what a surprise. I love you, too." As answer she punched his shoulder and jumped off the bank.
"I'm off to bed."
Albus eyes sparkled significantly while he got up as well.
"Sleeping!" Minerva completed.
"I have never thought something different." He said innocent.
End
AN: What do you think? Please let me know.