Chapter Four

Minerva smiled as the train finally, after what felt like a journey of years and years and in fact had also been one, rolled down the peaceful railway station of Hogsmeade. As she picked up her large trunk whilst still enjoying the sight of the ever-unchanging village, she knew this was coming home, despite what she'd lost in order to earn it. Frank was gone, and she missed him despite herself. She had loved him, and he had loved her. If she'd been sure of anything; then it was that- she had been the only one for him. She'd known him long enough for that...

They had met years earlier- in the beginning of the War against Grindelwald. She'd been barely eighteen, just out of Hogwarts, and a promising Auror-in-Training already. He'd been older, of course, a Squib, yet wanting to do something for the world he'd grown up in. Or perhaps he'd done it for her.

Albus had coordinated everything, Minerva had been the number one spy in the wizarding world, whilst Frank did the same in the muggle world. A winning team indeed- and Frank and Minerva had shared their first victory and their first kiss on the same night...

And though Minerva couldn't possibly feel happy, she at least felt relieved as she stepped off the train. In a few minutes, she could finally exchange he uncomfortable, muggle two-piece she was wearing for her own, comfy robes- she could finally exchange what poor excuse for a life she had for the career she had, inwardly, perhaps always craved- the career of a teacher.

As she noticed the tall figure approaching her from the other end of the deserted, small countryside station, she even couldn't suppress a faint smile. There was something about Albus Dumbledore's appearance and behaviour which never failed to make her smile, somehow.

Levitating her trunk with a simple movement of his wand, he opened his arms as she stepped closer, and with a kind smile welcomed her.

"Minerva, how nice to see you again!"

The mere sentence sounded so sincere, so kind, so comforting even that she could, for just once, not restrain herself. She fell into his welcoming arms- and found herself crying into his shoulder.

He didn't say anything, and she closed her eyes out of relief- secretly thanking God. His hands were resting on the back of her head, and as her slender body trembled with soft sobs, he simply muttered gentle, soothing words whilst never letting her go.

"Minerva, calm down... you're here now... you're here now and everything is alright..."

The sound of his soothing voice alone was enough to make her smile against his shoulder. He couldn't possibly know what she was crying for, and yet the mere whispers of his voice made it all melt like late winter's snow.

He'd always had that effect on her- but now, somehow, more than ever.

As she grabbed her handkerchief, still leaning against him more than she wanted to, a rather weak, apologetic smile graced her lips.

"I am sorry, Albus. Don't know what just happened to me- I guess it simply was the emotion... you know, returning here after those long, five years."

He didn't believe her, she noticed as his piercing, blue eyes looked at her with a faint twinkle of understanding- and he realized she didn't want him to know.

But did she? And if she did, then why did she?

He was her very best friend, she realized as her bright green eyes locked with his blue ones. Her very best friend, along with Sera, and her most trusted one as well. And yet she did not want him to know about Frank. She didn't know why, because, as her arm linked with his and they went on their way to the castle, she realized Albus really did mean a lot to her.

But this she couldn't share with him- not yet and not now.

Not while she still loved Frank, not while she still blamed herself, more or less, for the break-up, deep down.

Not while Albus was the absolute dear he always was- and not while she couldn't possibly handle that...