Albus woke up hours later to a pounding headache. He shook back his hair and turned to the couch. Minerva was gone. He began to panic. What if Grindelwald had taken her? Albus snatched up his book to make sure it had not all been a dream. He turned to the page he had drawn on the night before.
His eyes were drawn to the adjacent page. He read the words there. "She loves me." Albus jumped up, grabbed his wand, and ran out the door. He knew from watching her that Minerva would go to the lake or the Astronomy Tower to think. He looked out at the grounds, but did not see her. That made sense. To be out on the grounds would be to be in the middle of the world. In the Astronomy Tower, it was to be above it, out of reach of its horrors.
Albus sprinted up all the flights of stairs, causing students to stare at him. When he finally reached the tower, he stopped in the doorway, panting. Minerva was sitting in a stone window, silhouetted by the sun. She did not turn around until Albus came closer.
Neither said a word, they simply locked their eyes on the other's. Albus took a few steps toward Minerva. He stopped when they were a few inches apart. Albus caressed Minerva's face tenderly, letting his fingers rest on her lips. He leaned forward and brought his hand behind her head. Bringing his face to hers, he kissed her with extreme delicacy. He felt her brace herself against the window with one hand, as if to keep herself from falling. Her other hand ventured to his chest.
"Minerva," Albus whispered against her lips, "I'll never let you go."
Author's Note: Thanks to Lady-jolly, Quill of Minerva, Inappropriate Goat, ginger newts, avocado 75, Angeldust-aka-Evilwoman, and Tess for your reviews!