A Sense of Love or Duty

Chapter Four

"What?" gasped Minerva "Father, why did you agree to such a thing?"

"At the time, Petal," replied Maxim "you had agreed to the wedding."

"It wasn't like I had much choice," snapped Minerva angrily.

Albus knelt down beside Minerva and held her face between his hands. He looked at her with his sparkling blue eyes and smiled.

"I'll go and speak with Daniel," he told her softly. "I'll see if we can work this out. Stay with Maxim and I'll be back soon."

He pressed a tender kiss on her lips before rising to his feet and briefly shaking Maxim's hand. Minerva watched Albus go. Deep down she knew that Daniel wouldn't let her go just like that.

Albus swept along the corridor that led to the rooms where Daniel was staying. He tapped sharply on the door twice and waited. Moments later the door swung open and Daniel stood looking at him.

"Oh it's you!" mumbled Daniel as he disappeared back into the room.

Albus remained in the hallway looking somewhat taken back. He hadn't expected to be met with open arms but he had expected to be asked in. It soon became obvious that Daniel wasn't going to ask him in, so Albus walked in uninvited. Daniel was sitting down in the chair, glaring into the fireplace. The room was messy and it smelled of dried old musty books and paper. Albus looked around the room and found the source of the smell. A stack of stained parchments was laid out flat on the table.

"What do you want?" asked Daniel abruptly.

"I have come to speak to you about Minerva!" replied Albus.

Daniel's head snapped around and faced him for a moment before getting to his feet and walking towards Albus. They stood inches apart from each other and Albus could feel Daniel's eyes on him. He seemed to be weighing up the older wizard.

"I don't have anything to discuss with you about Minerva." said Daniel crisply.

"Oh I think you do," urged Albus. "If you love her as you say you do, then why not let her go."

"You are only saying this because you want her," replied Daniel. "But I tell you this, she will never be yours old man. She is mine and I intend for her to keep her promise."

"You can't force someone to love you Daniel," said Albus wisely.

"She loves me," answered Daniel confidently. "She just doesn't know it yet."

"Daniel she doesn't love you, can't you see that?" said Albus who was trying to keep his cool.

Daniel walked away from Albus and walked over to his unpacked suitcase. He pulled out a leather bound photo album, which he placed on the table, over the pieces of parchment. Albus was curious as to what was in the photo album but he didn't have to wonder for too long, as Daniel opened the book up.

"This is what kept me going while I was under lock at key," he explained to Albus as he turned the page over to reveal a picture of a younger Minerva. "She is the reason that I found the strength to work out a plan to get away from my captures. Isn't she beautiful?"

Albus looked down at the picture of Minerva. She could have been no older that twenty in the picture. She was wearing a pale pink dress with some cream summer robes over the top of it. Her hair was loose and cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. Albus felt the familiar warm sensation flow through his body as he looked at her. He looked across at Daniel and noticed that he was looking at Minerva with a dazed expression.

"I know this must be hard for you Daniel," said Albus softly. "But you can't expect Minerva not to have moved on. Things have changed over the years you have been away. Minerva is happy. Why take that away from her?"

"She will be happy with me!" answered Daniel as he slammed the photo album shut. "You are only delaying things and causing Minerva more pain."

Albus felt his blood begin to boil under his skin. How dare Daniel accuse him of causing Minerva pain when it was down to him returning in the first place? Daniel was looking at him in a menacing way and it was obvious that he was trying to provoke Albus into doing something.

"Daniel," asked Albus "can't you be reasonable about this? Ten years, after all, is a long time. What if she had already married me or someone else?"

"Then they would be dead," replied Daniel with a twisted smile. "The charm that was placed on us both would have killed you!"

"Do you want Minerva to be unhappy?" asked Albus. "In pain because she is forced to do something that she doesn't want to do. What kind of man are you?"

"I am a man who intends to get his wife!" growled Daniel "She isn't yours Dumbledore. Don't think you can take her from me. I assure you that if you do anything to prevent my marriage to my betrothed, you will curse the day you met me."

"I don't know what ever made Maxim think you were the right sort of man for Minerva! It is beyond me!" replied Albus coolly. "Minerva can make her own decisions and she will not be forced into marrying someone like you."

"She has to marry me," explained Daniel with a smile. "The sooner the better for her sake!"

"What do you mean?" asked Albus, taking a step towards Daniel who flinched slightly.

"I have set a date and she has to marry me that day," answered Daniel with a smug smile. "Otherwise her beloved father meets his maker."

"What?" demanded Albus?

"You heard," replied Daniel. "I have set a date and if she refuses, it's bye-bye Maxim. I believe Minerva will choose duty to me over her love for you."

"I will do everything in my power to stop you from hurting Maxim, Minerva, or any of her family! Do you hear me!" warned Albus, his voice low but full of assertion.

"I hear you alright Albus Dumbledore," sneered Daniel. "But you can do nothing about it. Minerva will be my wife in two weeks time. I thought it fitting, that we get married on the day that you two were going to be. Now if you don't mind, I have a wedding to plan and I need to be alone."

Albus stared at Daniel who had now turned his back to him and was humming a tune. Albus turned and stormed out of the rooms. There had to be some way to prevent this from happening without any lives being lost.

to be continued