Disclaimer: Obviously, none of this is mine. So if you think that this is mine, other than this particular plot, then…. smack!
A/N: In case you haven't read my one shot or if you haven't read the authors note, then I should tell you that I have decided not to kill off Minerva because I am not that cruel to my muse. Hahaha. I hope you like this chapter.
"And you didn't think to come and tell ME?" cried Poppy the next morning. The teachers were in the Great Hall, eating breakfast, when her dream came up.
"It was late, Poppy, and I didn't want to disturb anyone else," protested Minerva.
"That's no excuse, Min, and you know it," scolded Poppy, standing up and walking over to her friend.
"Poppy, please don't scold me so," huffed Minerva. "I am not a child and you are not my mother."
"Ease off, Poppy," said Severus. "She's right, you know? She's an adult and can make her own bloody decisions."
"Thank you, Severus," said Minerva. It surprised her that Severus would be helping her, but she was very grateful to him. Poppy was just about to debate when they heard a screech. Everyone looked up to see a brown owl swoop through the air and land right in front of Minerva. Somewhat baffled, Minerva untied the letter and fed the owl a piece of bacon.
"Who is it from, Min?" asked Poppy as she took her seat again.
"I haven't the slightest idea," Minerva replied. Albus looked at the paper curiously. Minerva rarely received an owl from anyone. But as curious as he was, he knew how much Minerva hated having people read over her shoulder. So, he let her open the letter and read it herself.
As soon as Minerva read the letter, she began to pale horribly. This was not good; not good at all.
"Minerva, what is wrong, my dear?" Albus asked, worried. He placed his hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump slightly. "What is wrong?" Without saying a word, she got up from the table and looked at him.
"I'm so sorry, Albus," she said. "I should have told you sooner." Tears were in her eyes as she dropped the letter and ran from the Great Hall.
"Minerva!" Albus called. All the teachers sat there, confused. It wasn't until Poppy picked up the letter, read it, and gasped that there was even a sound.
"So, this is why," she hissed. "That snake!"
"What the bloody hell is it?" cried Severus. "You women are always keeping people in the dark."
"Shove it, Severus," spat Poppy. "This is important. Listen to this." She looked down at the letter and began to read aloud.
"'My dearest Minerva,
'My, it has been so many years, hasn't it? Though you may not have seen me since that horrible day so long ago, I have seen you every day. Do not ask how, but I do have my ways. You are still as beautiful as the day I last saw you. This reminds me, I am sorry for what I did. I'm sure you understand why I couldn't go through with it. I was young and stupid, as many young men are. And, I am ready to take full responsibility to pick up where we left off at.
'Oh, and not getting out of it. I still have our contract. Yours truly,
Adam White.
P.S. See you in my dreams."
The teachers were all silent.
"I still don't understand," Xiomara said furiously.
"No one but me would," sighed Poppy. Then, turning to Albus, she said, "Perhaps this would be easiest for you if it came from Minerva herself. I'll fill in the rest of the staff myself." Albus nodded and quickly went to Minerva's room.
"Minerva?" Albus called out as he entered her room. He found her at her window, staring into the distance. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her right shoulder.
"I can't believe he's back," she whispered. "I never thought I'd see him again. And now I wish I never would."
"Darling, who is he?" asked Albus. Minerva took a deep breath before beginning.
"Adam was…. Is my fiancée," she said. Albus was stunned. He turned her around slowly and looked into her eyes.
"Your… fiancée?" he asked. Minerva nodded and looked down.
"You see, when I was eighteen years old, my parents arranged my marriage to him. Our families were long time friends, so it only seemed natural. At first, I didn't even like him. But he eventually won me over. I was crazy about him and would have followed him anywhere.
"To make it legally binding, our parents signed a contract, as did we. But on the day of our wedding, he was nowhere to be found. He took off because he couldn't handle the pressure. He broke my heart. A week later, someone said they'd found him… dead in a river. There was even a body to prove it. I, of course, was crushed.
"From then on, I've kept a high wall around my heart, making sure to let no one near it. Until you, of course," she added with a small smile. She looked up and stared at a saddened headmaster. Albus was shaking, his face was drained of color, and his bottom lip quivered.
"You-you… you mean, you must-." He couldn't finish his sentence; he was too afraid of the answer.
"Yes, Albus," said Minerva finally. "I must marry him. His family is too powerful to defy."
"What does that have to do with anything?" cried Albus. Minerva jumped, scared. Rarely had she ever heard him yell before and never with such anger or pain. "He left you at the alter! He's the one who broke the marriage contract! That bloody fool can't just leave and expect everything to fall back into place! The contract should be void, breaking your chains of imprisonment!" Tears were falling from both Minerva's and Albus' eyes. Albus got closer and cupped her face with both hands, speaking in a much quieter tone than before.
"I will not let you go, Minerva. You are too important to me and I will love you for the rest of my life."
"And I love you, Albus," Minerva replied. "And I don't wish to see you harmed. Adam is very powerful, as is his whole family. They have ways of influencing people to their advantage. I don't want to see anything happen to you or the school or the other teachers. You're all much too important to me; especially you. I couldn't bare the thought of losing you."
"You shall not lose me, my dear," said Albus, running his thumb over her bottom lip. "If you can find that contract for me, I swear on my life that I will find a way to get you out of this marriage."
"You'd really do that?" Minerva asked, looking up at him. Albus smiled slightly.
"Of coarse I would," he replied. "You're worth that and more." Minerva wrapped her arms around her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Their lips cam close, each feeling the other's breath. Their hearts and their minds were racing, and they were so close when suddenly,
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?" The next thing either of them knew, they were being ripped apart and a man stood between the, his back to Minerva in an attempt to protect her from Albus. "Leave her alone, you bloody bastard!" Albus was stormed, but kept a cool face.
"You must be Mr. White."
"Yes, what of it?" the man growled. He had sandy colored hair and brown eyes. Standing at about six-foot-one-inch, he was still rather muscular for his age. He wore a set of navy blue robes; undoubtedly very expensive.
"Nice to meet you, sir," said Albus politely. "I am Albus Dumbledore."
"Yes, yes, I know all about you," Adam grumbled. "I know of all the women who throw themselves at your feet. How many of them warm your bed at night is your business, but not her." He pointed behind him to Minerva, who was growing angrier by the second. How dare he barge in here and insult Albus like this? Albus clenched his teeth.
"I can assure you that I have had no woman in my bed ever in my lifetime," he said. "I treat all of them with the utmost respect to which they deserve; especially Minerva. And that is more than I can say for you, sir."
"What is that supposed to mean?" barked Adam.
"It is not appropriate, nor is it respectable, to just barge into a woman's bedroom unannounced or without her permission," growled Albus in a dangerously low voice.
"And kissing her when she isn't your fiancée is?" shot Adam.
"STOP!" cried Minerva as she stepped in between the fighting wizards and put her hands up. She looked from on to the other until finally resting her eyes upon Adam. "If you are going to behave like a child, do it outside." Turning to Albus, she said, "Let me talk with him for just a moment alone, please." Albus sighed and reluctantly nodded.
"Alright, Minerva, if that is your wish," he breathed. He bowed, not wanting Adam to grow angrier at the sight of them kissing, and left.
"Finally!" breathed Adam, spinning Minerva around and holding her close. "I thought he'd never leave!" He pressed his lips roughly against hers. Minerva struggled and beat against him, finally forcing herself from his grasp.
"Don't you dare do that again," she said in a dangerous voice. "You can't just waltz right into my life again and expect to just pick up where we left off at. Adam, I've moved on with my life. I thought you were dead. There was even a body."
"Yes, I thought that was a great touch," he smiled. "It's good to be skilled in all areas of magic, including Transfiguration. Wouldn't you agree, Minzie?" Minerva shivered.
"You know how much I hate that nickname," she hissed. "Well, if that wasn't your body, then whose was it?"
"I don't really know," Adam shrugged, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Just some guy I found. He was already dead, so I figured he could buy me some time to think things out."
"Well, you took too much time," hissed Minerva. "I don't love you anymore. I am deeply in love with Albus, and he loves me."
"Minerva, we have an iron-clad contract," sneered Adam. "There is no getting out of it." He pulled out a parchment and handed it to her. She read it and then placed them in her robes.
"I'll keep this," she said. "And until we are married, I'll ask you to stay out of my room." She walked over to the door, opened it, and motioned for Adam to leave. He merely smiled, shrugged, and walked out. Just after Minerva slammed the door in his face, she could hear him say,
"You can't escape me, no matter where you are or what you're doing!"
"Leave me alone, Adam!" She quickly cast a locking spell on her door and went over to the fireplace. Hopefully, Albus was in his office. She needed to talk to him.
A/N2: There is my newest addition to this story. First of all, sorry if it super sucks but I wrote this chapter while I was at school, so I wasn't totally into it. Second of all, I know this may seem like it's coming completely from left field, but I promise you it'll all tie in. Just so you don't think I decided to do a wronskei feint in crazyville, okay? Hope you guys liked this chapter. Always Hopeful