To Watch A Witch: by Ang.

A stunning raven-haired witch sat at her table in the Three Broomsticks, attempting to read her latest issue of Transformation and Transfiguration. She had eagerly waited for this particular issue because it was supposed to contain a detailed article on the most accomplished animagi for the last two hundred years. But even though her anticipation was still great, she was having trouble concentrating, thus leading her to one conclusion…she had read that last paragraph at least three times now and still had no idea what it said. In her frustration, she quickly closed the magazine and focused on her gillywater, which by now would be lukewarm.

She watched the steady stream of people fluttering about in the crowded establishment and noticed one man in particular that seemed to catch her eye. For some strange reason, he seemed oddly familiar and yet brand new all at the same time. Of course, she could only see him from behind but the way he carried himself reminded her of someone, but whom? Then, realization hit her like a flash and suddenly her Scottish temper raged into action.

Without really considering what she would say, the formidable young witch crossed over to the gentleman in question and she began to release her fury. "I still don't see why you are being so stubborn on this point, Albus Dumbledore! I have fully recovered and there is absolutely no reason I should stay behind when I could be of use else...where…"

She never had a chance to finish her rant because as the man turned around she had to face facts. This was not Albus Dumbledore standing before her and yet the resemblance was striking.

"Excuse me but I think you have me confused with my older brother, who has obviously upset you greatly. Care to sit with me and we can swap stories about the old geezer?"

Minerva regarded the man before her and suddenly her anger subsided. Part of him was like Albus and then again he wasn't, which intrigued her. For a brief moment, she considered his proposal and ultimately decided that it would be an amusing way to pass the afternoon.

"Yes, I think I would like that…Mr. Dumbledore. I apologize for my earlier behavior but your brother and I had some cross words regarding a delicate matter and I mistook you for him. I can see the family resemblance though…somewhat," she laughed.

Several hours later they had covered a wide range of topics from the threat Grindelwald posed to their world to her successful transfiguration work and his research with goats. Aberforth could see why his big brother was so spellbound by this young witch. In his opinion she seemed much too good for his daft brother, who was too afraid to tell this woman how he felt but yet he could face the most evil wizard of their time. As he stared at Minerva, listening to her speak on her ability to transfigure into a cat, Aberforth also heard Albus' request ringing in his ears and he knew that this would be one favor he wouldn't mind granting his older sibling.

"Minerva, how about you and I popping over to Edinburgh tomorrow? You can show me around the city and we can grab a quick bite. I love my goats but they are sometimes hard to talk to these days. They can get so testy!"

And that was how it had all started. Minerva thought over Aberforth's proposal for a split second and realized that it might be a way to keep herself occupied. Albus had made her stay at home while the majority of the Order tracked Grindelwald and she felt somewhat helpless. After all, it wasn't her fault that some of the other members, one Alastor Moody in particular, had not had the foresight to warn others when they were going to practice their dueling abilities in the house. Something they had all been lectured on right after Albus had tended to her minor wounds.

The day in Edinburgh seemed to pass too quickly for both Minerva and Aberforth. Their banter flowed freely and she felt very comfortable in his company and was certain he felt the same. They had shared some wonderful laughs mingled with touching stories of family and friends lost in the war raging all around them. Each had shed a tear or three but still the lighthearted conversation returned and before they knew it, the sun was setting before them as they sat on a bench before Edinburgh castle.

As the last rays of the sun bid their final adieu to the day, Minerva sighed deeply and silently wondered how the Order was progressing in their mission, but more importantly how Albus was faring with the task at hand. She shivered slightly as images came unbidden to her mind of him facing Grindelwald and in an act of pure kindness Aberforth slipped his arm around her shoulders and offered comfort.

"I'm sorry Aberforth. I lost myself in thoughts there for a moment. Sometimes I get a bit melancholy at this time of day. It's so peaceful and yet we all know that there are forces at work which could destroy our world."

"Merlin Minerva! You sound just like Albus! He could kill a happy mood with a single sentence. Mother always did say that he was too serious for his age and that he was born an old man and I'm beginning to think you were born an old woman. Let me take you out tomorrow night and show you how to live it up for a change."

The next evening Aberforth met Minerva at the agreed upon location and he was surprised to see her smiling as he approached. Her dark hair and captivating eyes were certainly her best features but he had no idea how well defined her figure was until he saw her in more fitting robes. She had chosen a set of deep red, form fitting robes with matching shoes. It has taken her over an hour to decide on that particular outfit because she wasn't certain where they were headed or what they might encounter in their evening. With Aberforth one never knew what the evening would hold, as she quickly learned.

Watching her close the distance to him, he became lost in his own thoughts of the lovely vision in red walking to accompany him for a night on the town. He envisioned Albus returning home from his battle to see those brilliant emerald green eyes with the golden flecks sparkling just for him and her long elegant arms outstretched, welcoming him home and into her arms. Yet his vision was cut short as he reminded himself that she belonged to Albus…the man in his vision, well almost, and that he had a job to do. Otherwise, he might have to explain to Albus what had gone wrong and that was certainly not an option. Albus would hex him into oblivion if anything happened to Minerva. And then who would take care of his beloved darlings safe at home?

Aberforth had decided that Minerva needed to liven up a bit so he had an evening planned to do just that. He had chosen to take her to his favorite pub in downtown London for some delicious fish and chips and then to an underground club that offered some of the best muggle music and dancing in the whole of the United Kingdom. Not to mention the most interesting clientele.

"Great Shepherd's Pie, Minerva! You look much better than the girls I left at the cottage!"

"Um, thank you I think," she answered utterly confused. "Aberforth, what girls? If you have other plans, we can postpone our outing until…"

"Don't be so stuffy. You remind me of Albus way too much but I must say, you're far prettier to look at than he. Shall we?"

Dinner was a simple affair and Minerva found that the more time she spent with Aberforth, the less lonely she felt and the cares of the world didn't seem so near. Until her thoughts returned to Albus, which they always did, and the dangers he must be facing, and then it all came crashing back to her memory. But tonight was not about worries. Her escort had gone to a great deal of effort to see that her evening was fun and she did not wish to disappoint him.

Minerva had always loved to dance and had learned various styles throughout her youth. But one dance had always been a problem for her and that was the tango. She had seen dozens of men and women engaged in the most intimate of dances and had often wondered if she would ever have the chance to share the same exhilaration with the man of her dreams.

Aberforth eyed Minerva and saw the look of wonder flashing in her eyes as the couples took to the dance floor at the first sounds of the exotic music. He watched as her face lit up and an idea was born.

"Come with me," he said as he practically pulled her from her chair. "I've spent a fortune on you tonight," he said mockingly, " and you owe me one more dance." Ignoring her protests, Aberforth laughed and pulled her close to his body as they began to move in step with the music, causing Minerva's cheeks to flush a most becoming shade of red.

Holding her in his arms, Aberforth became entranced. If this had not been the woman that his brother loved, he might give up his work and make an honest man of himself. But circumstances being as they were and his deep devotion to the projects he already had going, he knew in his heart that Albus was the man for her. But still, the way those other wizards watched her as they danced made him feel even more protective of this beautiful woman.

Minerva, too, was silent as Aberforth guided her through the difficult motions of the tango. This dance was one of the most intimate that a couple could share and here she was learning it from a wizard she had only known for a short time. But he was so similar to Albus in some ways that it was almost like dancing with him, aside from the odd cologne. She longed to share this type of close contact with his brother but a large part of her knew that those were merely dreams of a foolish girl. Dreams that could never come true for in order to really feel the dance in one's soul, one had to be in love with their partner. Sure, she and Aberforth made a nice dance team, but they were merely going through the motions and her heart did not race with the same kind of excitement it would have had that been Albus' arm around her waist, hugging her to him.

The remainder of the evening had slipped away and before long Aberforth was standing outside Minerva's door. "Thank you for tearing me away from my research once again. I really must introduce you to the kids. I know you'd love them. Say, that's an idea. How about you joining us at Dumbledore Estate and I can show you my research? My noble brother doesn't put much stock into my efforts but I just know that once the Ministry learns of my work, they'll be knocking down the door to talk to me. Just you wait. One day the entire wizarding world will read about me in the Daily Prophet!"

"I really must thank you for such a wonderful evening. I can't remember when I've had so much fun. And yes, I'd love to meet you again tomorrow. Just catch up with me sometime in the morning and let me know what time. I have some work to do early in the day but I should be at the Three Broomsticks around noon." As she turned to go into her small house, she was stunned by what transpired. Aberforth leaned forward and placed a soft kiss upon her cheek, flashed her a brilliant smile, and then bid a goodnight with pleasant dreams as he unlocked the door for her. For the first time in weeks, Minerva slipped into sleep thinking of a different Dumbledore man in her life. She was flattered, confused, and worried all at the same time.

The trip to the Dumbledore Estate had proven to be quite the adventure. Upon arriving, Minerva had been greeted at the door by Aberforth, wearing the most ridiculous looking outfit. It appeared to be some sort of hairy gray material and had an odd smell to it. When she asked him about it, he simply told her that his 'friends', as he liked to call them, felt more comfortable around him when he tried to blend into their group.

Aberforth wasted no time in introducing her to each and every one of his many goats, calling them each by name and insisting that Minerva greet them all in kind. Had this been any other wizard, she would've suggested a trip to the special unit in St. Mungo's that dealt with those unfortunate souls who had lost their grasp on reality. But this was the same man with whom she had spent so many exciting evenings and somehow his behavior no longer seemed so troublesome. Instead, she chose to think of it as quirky and a bit intriguing. And nothing at all like his brother.

After dinner, he had treated her to the grand tour of the house and grounds. He still had not tended to the gardens or the lawn but the house was in some sort of chaotic order. They discussed several of the muggle items that had been in the family for generations, family portraits that hung proudly on the hallways, and even the rich tapestries that adorned the many walls. Yet one thing in particular caught her eye and that was the grand family portrait that hung over the hearth.

The rather large image of the Dumbledore family had graced the space above the hearth for as long as they could remember. It has been painted when Aberforth was a baby and Albus had been a spirited teen. The older wizard in the painting had auburn hair and the most expressive green eyes that never seemed to stray from the witch with the golden brown hair seated to his right. The baby depicted on the canvas was obviously Aberforth. Minerva noted that his smile had not changed since his youth and he still had that impish look. Albus Dumbledore had been easy to identify. His auburn hair matched his father's and yet he had been fortunate to inherit his captivating blue eyes from his mother. And yes, the twinkle was there even in his younger days, tinged with a hint of mischievousness.

Aberforth had gone to the kitchen to get a pot of tea and as he returned he stopped in the doorway to silently watch Minerva. She stared at the portrait, etching into memory the faces before her. And then, thinking that she was alone, she reached up to trace the face of the man she loved, Albus.

His moment of weakness had come. He knew that if he told her the truth about the initial reason for spending so much time with her and of Albus' plan, she would be hurt and possibly never speak to either of them again. Yet, he felt guilty for not telling her the truth. But if he did tell her, he would be betraying a promise he had made and that was not acceptable on any terms. No, he would just have to sit tight and pray that Albus returned soon. After all, the war was heating up and that meant that it would all be over soon.

Over the next month, the two new friends spent more and more time together. Minerva had received only three owls from Albus, detailing some of his mission and asking about her health or some trivial bits of news. And with each letter, she felt a pang of melancholy take hold of her heart. She had loved Albus for so many years, since his first day teaching actually, but had never felt confident enough to act upon her feelings. But one thing had started to bother her.

She had accidentally bumped into his brother and had been spending her free time with him. The more time she spent with Albus' peculiar younger brother, the less she focused on Albus and that part pained her most. In a way, she felt as if she were betraying him. And to compound the matter, Aberforth had become rather friendly with her, kissing her on the cheek, hugging her when they met or parted, buying her meals when they went out…all the things that a young wizard would do for the witch he courted. Now, she had to wonder if maybe Aberforth was interested in a relationship with her and if so, what would her heart say. More importantly, what would Albus think?

She had tried to push those thoughts from her mind, preferring not to deal with the situation at hand and just enjoy the diversions Aberforth always seemed to create. He had a way of taking the simplest outing and turning it into something spectacular. She concluded that it must be a Dumbledore trait for Albus always seemed to create his own brand of magic as well. Each had been given the rare talent of pulling the heartiest of laughs from Minerva and to experience the warmer side of this fascinating witch.

In another part of the world, someone was thinking seriously of Minerva. Albus wondered how things were going between his brother and the woman he loved and he wanted to hear something from her to brighten his day. Since Albus wasn't completely convinced that his brother could read, he was left in a tough spot. He desperately wanted to know more news of Minerva and how she was faring with her limited duties and yet it would be of no use to send Aberforth an owl.

Thus, he had to rely on the other Order members who had seen them on occasion for his information. Unfortunately, their reports were never detailed enough and yet they all had a common theme. She seemed to be healed and having an enjoyable time with the younger Dumbledore, a thought that made his heart sing and shatter all at once. He wanted her to be happy but did she miss him at all or was that too much to hope for? In the end, he would have to hope for the best and focus on the tasks at hand…defeating the evil threatening their world and returning home safely to see her again.

To be continued…

Author's Notes: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews and we're glad you like this story. We hope you enjoyed this chapter too.