Chapter Three: While I Cross The Border
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And they sat there, in silence. Was there anything else to say?
Perhaps there was, but a soft, yet firm knock on the door interrupted them, and Poppy Pomfrey's head appeared. She softly coughed.
"Albus… Minerva… I am so sorry to bother you, now, but here are some people who want to see you… Shall I let them in?"
Minerva hesitated, yet Albus softly squeezed her hand, then nodded.
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey- Poppy. Let them in. I think I know who they are."
And indeed he knew. The first three people to enter were Severus Snape, nervously twitching his fingers, followed by a Hermione Granger with red, puffy eyes, then a very pale Harry Potter with his arm in a bandage. Behind them followed another three people- Molly and Arthur Weasley, and their only daughter.
As Molly noticed Minerva, she almost ran towards her friend to embrace her.
"Oh, Minerva, dear, I am so sorry for you!"
Minerva stood up, yet softly patted the other woman's back.
"Don't be, Molly… How- how are the children?" she added, as she noticed the redness of the woman's dark blue eyes.
Molly shrugged her shoulders and softly sniffed.
"Well, you know… Ron- Ron has been killed by that… that villain Lucius Malfoy. Charlie attempted to save him, but got killed himself. The twins are injured, but there's good hope. Bill is alive as well, as is little Ginny over here. And Percy…"
She silently wept in Minerva's arms as she spoke the name of the son whom had perhaps always been her favorite, despite the things he'd put her through.
"Percy has died with his beloved Minister… But…" she added, and firmly wiped her tears away.
"I shouldn't be the one complaining here. I still have my husband and four wonderful kids. You are the one…"
Minerva sighed as she sat down on the bed again.
"Oh Molly, don't say it. We both have our grieves, and none is worse than another. Albus, I…"
But Albus wasn't looking at her- he was smiling at two other people in the room. Severus Snape and Harry Potter.
"So you have finally forgiven each other, haven't you?" he, slightly hoarse, spoke, directly addressing the two men.
It was Severus who answered.
"Indeed I think we have, Headmaster. There are some things one can't do without forgiving each other, and fighting Death Eaters side by side is one of them."
Harry nodded with a faint smile.
"I believe that's true, Professor. Professor Snape and I have both made our mistakes. Perhaps this, this battle- fight- thing…"
He started to stammer, but as the Headmaster nodded, he continued
"This battle, which is the end of so many things, can thus perhaps be the start of some things as well…"
The man in the bed softly chuckled as he pointedly looked at Hermione Granger and Severus Snape.
"Yes, I think this battle actually has been the start of something…"
The girl's cheeks flushed as she hastily withdrew her hand from the Potion Master's. As she noticed the look in Hermione's eyes, Minerva really was surprised.
Severus could be a very nice man if he wanted to- she'd known that for many years. Though she, real Gryffindor she was, always had had her prejudices towards him… unjust prejudices, that was… he had, throughout the time they'd worked together, gained her respect. She had learned he could be very kind and friendly, sometimes, but she did not know that Hermione Granger, ever her star pupil, had experienced that as well. Yet apparently she had.
The Headmaster happily sighed and closed his eyes.
"Good. Good. Now I can die in peace…"
Minerva's heart almost stopped beating.
"Don't!" she sharply exclaimed, yet then blushed and muttered "Sorry…" as Albus spoke again.
"It is the truth, Minerva, we must- we must admit it, even if we don't want to. This will be my end, perhaps, but you all…" He addressed all people in the room.
"You all have a future in front of you. And you all have to do something with it, for all others whose futures have been destroyed today."
He had spoken these words without any bitterness, even without regret, perhaps, and Minerva's sadness was, for a moment, overwhelmed by admiration for his courage- a courage she knew even she would never be able to muster.
"So what do you intend to do? Harry?
The boy painfully smiled, stroking away his hair from his brow.
"I want to become an Auror, Professor. For Ron. It was our dream. Now… now he will never live to see it, it is my duty to achieve it."
Molly Weasley soundly blew her nose, and the Headmaster turned towards another person in the room.
"Ginevra?"
Ginny Weasley smiled at this use of her full name and then shrugged her shoulders.
"Whatever Harry does." she honestly muttered, casting a thin smile towards the boy. "But I will first finish my 7th year, of course…"
Albus nodded and turned his eyes to the next person.
"Severus?"
"I will stay at Hogwarts, naturally." the Potion Master's deep baritone voice answered.
"What should I do otherwise? The school needs me and I need the school."
Albus softly smiled.
"You are loyal, Severus, as you have always been. And indeed, Hogwarts will need you in the days to come, as it has always needed you."
Minerva cast a thankful look at the black-haired man, as Albus turned towards Hermione.
"And you, Miss Granger, Hermione?"
The girl bit her lips as she stared at her hands.
"I do not know yet, Professor." she then, sincerely, answered. "But-"
She hesitated as she looked at the Potions Master.
"Yes, of course." Minerva hastily spoke, receiving a thankful smile from her star pupil.
"We- I think we understand."
"And you, Arthur and Molly?" Albus finally addressed the two mourning parents in the corner of the room.
"I believe both I and Minerva have something to ask you."
Minerva nodded, firmly squeezing her husband's hand. She knew what he was talking about.
"Yes, Arthur." she continued. "We want you to become Minister of Magic."
For a moment, Minerva thought Arthur Weasley would faint.
"I…" he then managed to stammer. "I? But Minerva… I… Minerva, they want you to become Minister… they've talked about it, and… and I agree. You would be a much better leader than I'd be… I am totally inexperienced, and…"
"And you are honest, a good man, a powerful wizard and you'd make a great leader." Minerva firmly settled the matter.
"Besides, I have no intentions whatsoever to leave Hogwarts for all gold in the world!"
Arthur opened his mouth to say something more, but Albus smiled as he took Minerva's hand once more.
"Don't try, Arthur, she's a bloody stubborn thing." he affectionately spoke, surprising the younger people in the room, whom did not know about their Professor's marriage.
"But she's a bloody devoted thing as well. Arthur, listen to the advice of a dying old man, and accept the position. Please."
And Arthur looked at Molly, Molly looked at Arthur, and finally the man gave in.
"Fine… I will try my best."
Albus smiled, then closed his eyes.
"And I am sure that'll be more than enough, my friend. More than- enough…"
Suddenly, all the power, courage, happiness had faded from his voice, and he sounded as, how he'd put it, "a dying old man".
Minerva soundly swallowed as she, completely unnecessarily smoothed the sheets.
"Albus…" she tried, yet her husband interrupted her.
"Minerva?"
"Yes."
"I cannot move. Kiss me."
She slowly bowed and did as he'd asked, almost hearing the jaws of the people present drop in shock. The formidable Deputy Headmistress… kissing her employer? Impossible… or not.
As she looked up again, she saw his eyes and saw the final goodbye in them.
She knew the moment had come, and suddenly, she gave in.
"Albus, don't… don't… don't…"
Her voice was muffled by the sheets she hid her face in, clinging to his arm.
And there was silence.
No-one said anything, except one, last soft mutter of the Headmaster
"Minerva, don't cry… It won't be long, my love. And when we'll meet again, then it'll be forever, Minerva. Forever."
And Minerva's sobs faded.
"Yes, Albus. I believe, I want to believe that it's the truth. No," she corrected herself.
"It is the truth. And it won't be long, my love. I promise you."
Albus sighed, but it was a contented sigh.
"Good, my love. Now I have only one last wish…"
"And that… and that is?"
"Hold my hand while I cross the border."
Minerva McGonagall did as he had bid her, and she could not help the tears streaming from her eyes, over her cheeks, on the sheets, as she slowly, slowly felt her husband's heartbeat fade.
Half an hour later, she felt a soft squeeze in her hand and knew it was over.
Seemingly controlled, yet shaking inside, Minerva stood up and looked on her watch.
He had not died "that day", she ironically thought.
It was three past midnight.
Then, she slowly turned towards the people in the room, almost all of whom were sobbing themselves.
"Tonight, Albus Dumbledore has passed away." she slowly, softly, yet matter-of-factly spoke.
"I've been his wife for forty years."
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And they sat there, in silence. Was there anything else to say?
Perhaps there was, but a soft, yet firm knock on the door interrupted them, and Poppy Pomfrey's head appeared. She softly coughed.
"Albus… Minerva… I am so sorry to bother you, now, but here are some people who want to see you… Shall I let them in?"
Minerva hesitated, yet Albus softly squeezed her hand, then nodded.
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey- Poppy. Let them in. I think I know who they are."
And indeed he knew. The first three people to enter were Severus Snape, nervously twitching his fingers, followed by a Hermione Granger with red, puffy eyes, then a very pale Harry Potter with his arm in a bandage. Behind them followed another three people- Molly and Arthur Weasley, and their only daughter.
As Molly noticed Minerva, she almost ran towards her friend to embrace her.
"Oh, Minerva, dear, I am so sorry for you!"
Minerva stood up, yet softly patted the other woman's back.
"Don't be, Molly… How- how are the children?" she added, as she noticed the redness of the woman's dark blue eyes.
Molly shrugged her shoulders and softly sniffed.
"Well, you know… Ron- Ron has been killed by that… that villain Lucius Malfoy. Charlie attempted to save him, but got killed himself. The twins are injured, but there's good hope. Bill is alive as well, as is little Ginny over here. And Percy…"
She silently wept in Minerva's arms as she spoke the name of the son whom had perhaps always been her favorite, despite the things he'd put her through.
"Percy has died with his beloved Minister… But…" she added, and firmly wiped her tears away.
"I shouldn't be the one complaining here. I still have my husband and four wonderful kids. You are the one…"
Minerva sighed as she sat down on the bed again.
"Oh Molly, don't say it. We both have our grieves, and none is worse than another. Albus, I…"
But Albus wasn't looking at her- he was smiling at two other people in the room. Severus Snape and Harry Potter.
"So you have finally forgiven each other, haven't you?" he, slightly hoarse, spoke, directly addressing the two men.
It was Severus who answered.
"Indeed I think we have, Headmaster. There are some things one can't do without forgiving each other, and fighting Death Eaters side by side is one of them."
Harry nodded with a faint smile.
"I believe that's true, Professor. Professor Snape and I have both made our mistakes. Perhaps this, this battle- fight- thing…"
He started to stammer, but as the Headmaster nodded, he continued
"This battle, which is the end of so many things, can thus perhaps be the start of some things as well…"
The man in the bed softly chuckled as he pointedly looked at Hermione Granger and Severus Snape.
"Yes, I think this battle actually has been the start of something…"
The girl's cheeks flushed as she hastily withdrew her hand from the Potion Master's. As she noticed the look in Hermione's eyes, Minerva really was surprised.
Severus could be a very nice man if he wanted to- she'd known that for many years. Though she, real Gryffindor she was, always had had her prejudices towards him… unjust prejudices, that was… he had, throughout the time they'd worked together, gained her respect. She had learned he could be very kind and friendly, sometimes, but she did not know that Hermione Granger, ever her star pupil, had experienced that as well. Yet apparently she had.
The Headmaster happily sighed and closed his eyes.
"Good. Good. Now I can die in peace…"
Minerva's heart almost stopped beating.
"Don't!" she sharply exclaimed, yet then blushed and muttered "Sorry…" as Albus spoke again.
"It is the truth, Minerva, we must- we must admit it, even if we don't want to. This will be my end, perhaps, but you all…" He addressed all people in the room.
"You all have a future in front of you. And you all have to do something with it, for all others whose futures have been destroyed today."
He had spoken these words without any bitterness, even without regret, perhaps, and Minerva's sadness was, for a moment, overwhelmed by admiration for his courage- a courage she knew even she would never be able to muster.
"So what do you intend to do? Harry?
The boy painfully smiled, stroking away his hair from his brow.
"I want to become an Auror, Professor. For Ron. It was our dream. Now… now he will never live to see it, it is my duty to achieve it."
Molly Weasley soundly blew her nose, and the Headmaster turned towards another person in the room.
"Ginevra?"
Ginny Weasley smiled at this use of her full name and then shrugged her shoulders.
"Whatever Harry does." she honestly muttered, casting a thin smile towards the boy. "But I will first finish my 7th year, of course…"
Albus nodded and turned his eyes to the next person.
"Severus?"
"I will stay at Hogwarts, naturally." the Potion Master's deep baritone voice answered.
"What should I do otherwise? The school needs me and I need the school."
Albus softly smiled.
"You are loyal, Severus, as you have always been. And indeed, Hogwarts will need you in the days to come, as it has always needed you."
Minerva cast a thankful look at the black-haired man, as Albus turned towards Hermione.
"And you, Miss Granger, Hermione?"
The girl bit her lips as she stared at her hands.
"I do not know yet, Professor." she then, sincerely, answered. "But-"
She hesitated as she looked at the Potions Master.
"Yes, of course." Minerva hastily spoke, receiving a thankful smile from her star pupil.
"We- I think we understand."
"And you, Arthur and Molly?" Albus finally addressed the two mourning parents in the corner of the room.
"I believe both I and Minerva have something to ask you."
Minerva nodded, firmly squeezing her husband's hand. She knew what he was talking about.
"Yes, Arthur." she continued. "We want you to become Minister of Magic."
For a moment, Minerva thought Arthur Weasley would faint.
"I…" he then managed to stammer. "I? But Minerva… I… Minerva, they want you to become Minister… they've talked about it, and… and I agree. You would be a much better leader than I'd be… I am totally inexperienced, and…"
"And you are honest, a good man, a powerful wizard and you'd make a great leader." Minerva firmly settled the matter.
"Besides, I have no intentions whatsoever to leave Hogwarts for all gold in the world!"
Arthur opened his mouth to say something more, but Albus smiled as he took Minerva's hand once more.
"Don't try, Arthur, she's a bloody stubborn thing." he affectionately spoke, surprising the younger people in the room, whom did not know about their Professor's marriage.
"But she's a bloody devoted thing as well. Arthur, listen to the advice of a dying old man, and accept the position. Please."
And Arthur looked at Molly, Molly looked at Arthur, and finally the man gave in.
"Fine… I will try my best."
Albus smiled, then closed his eyes.
"And I am sure that'll be more than enough, my friend. More than- enough…"
Suddenly, all the power, courage, happiness had faded from his voice, and he sounded as, how he'd put it, "a dying old man".
Minerva soundly swallowed as she, completely unnecessarily smoothed the sheets.
"Albus…" she tried, yet her husband interrupted her.
"Minerva?"
"Yes."
"I cannot move. Kiss me."
She slowly bowed and did as he'd asked, almost hearing the jaws of the people present drop in shock. The formidable Deputy Headmistress… kissing her employer? Impossible… or not.
As she looked up again, she saw his eyes and saw the final goodbye in them.
She knew the moment had come, and suddenly, she gave in.
"Albus, don't… don't… don't…"
Her voice was muffled by the sheets she hid her face in, clinging to his arm.
And there was silence.
No-one said anything, except one, last soft mutter of the Headmaster
"Minerva, don't cry… It won't be long, my love. And when we'll meet again, then it'll be forever, Minerva. Forever."
And Minerva's sobs faded.
"Yes, Albus. I believe, I want to believe that it's the truth. No," she corrected herself.
"It is the truth. And it won't be long, my love. I promise you."
Albus sighed, but it was a contented sigh.
"Good, my love. Now I have only one last wish…"
"And that… and that is?"
"Hold my hand while I cross the border."
Minerva McGonagall did as he had bid her, and she could not help the tears streaming from her eyes, over her cheeks, on the sheets, as she slowly, slowly felt her husband's heartbeat fade.
Half an hour later, she felt a soft squeeze in her hand and knew it was over.
Seemingly controlled, yet shaking inside, Minerva stood up and looked on her watch.
He had not died "that day", she ironically thought.
It was three past midnight.
Then, she slowly turned towards the people in the room, almost all of whom were sobbing themselves.
"Tonight, Albus Dumbledore has passed away." she slowly, softly, yet matter-of-factly spoke.
"I've been his wife for forty years."