Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Rainforest Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter 12 – Questions and a Confession

Albus spent most of the day with Minerva since it was Saturday. They did not talk until the afternoon, preferring to just spend time in each other's company. When they did talk there were many questions Albus wanted answered, some much, much harder then others. Albus was the first to break their silence.

"When did you find out?"

Minerva thought for a moment, "During those check ups all the teachers have during the summer. My healer assumes the disease began not long after my previous check up. It was pretty far along then, he said that it had spread throughout my body and that was really the first stage. He said that I should expect drowsiness soon and I did. He then took me through the rest of the stages. Now I'm at stage 4 since I fainted yesterday. There's only one left, before . . ."

Albus nodded and quickly asked another question. "Why didn't you tell me? Well, why did you wait so long to tell me?"

"You know how when you have bad news there's really no good time to tell anyone but you try to find a good time anyway. I couldn't tell you when I first found out because you would only fawn over me and lighten my work load. I couldn't tell you when we firsts tarted dating because it was so new and I just wanted to savour it. Then you proposed and I didn't want to hurt you so I just waited, but I waited too long."

"Minerva…Minerva do you still want to get married? I mean, if you're dying do you really want to do this?"

Minerva looked at him amazement written all over her face. "Albus I told you I loved you because of this disease. I'm going to marry you in spite of it. I love you and I want to spend what time I have left with you! Do you still want to marry me?"

Albus hugged her, pulling her tight into his chest. "Of course I do Minerva! Never doubt that I just didn't want you to marry me if you didn't really, truly want to."

"Albus you should know I would never do anything I didn't want to."

Albus continued to hold her, relishing the feel of her warm body against his. They relaxed slightly in the silence before Minerva spoke.

"Albus just because I'm stage four doesn't mean that I don't have long left. Each stage lasts differently with different people and sometimes one stage can last for years. Just before Christmas I saw my healer and he said that I was doing much better then he expected me to be doing at that stage. He said that I may have a month or two more then the year he first told me."

Albus nodded, registering the fact that if the healer had given her a year at the end of summer then she had another 5 or possibly six or seven months left.

As his mind processed this information he asked, "Should we tell the school?"

"No Albus, I don't want to worry the students. I would like to tell Hermione, if that's okay with you. Also it might be ideal to tell the Governors that I don't plan on coming back next year."

"It's fine to tell Hermione, I know the two of you have become close. And I'll inform the Governors of your resignation." Albus suddenly lifted his head as if inspired. "That's why you asked her to be your apprentice when you have not asked for one ever before. You want her to be the next Transfiguration teacher, don't you?"

"Yes Albus, I would. She would love to teach here and she would be good at it too. She has almost reached her animagus form as well; she will make a beautiful fox."

Albus nodded and they lapsed into silence, Albus satisfied for the moment as his questions had been answered. They were happy to spend the rest of the day together, in one another's arms before Albus would have to leave for the night.

POP

Minerva was extremely happy to be released form the hospital the next day. She was at least able to plan the whole wedding while she was there as well as sleep but being able to do absolutely nothing pained her.

She spent her first evening out of the hospital in her office, doing some light cleaning so that she would be ready on Monday morning. She was interrupted in her work by a knock at the door, Hermione.

Minerva knew it had to be her as the girl knew she was being released today and would want to schedule her next lessons. Minerva knew that she should tell her now though, the sooner she knew the sooner she would become accustomed to the situation.

She quickly let her in and conjured some tea and offered Hermione a ginger newt before taking Hermione's hands in her and getting directly to the point.

"Hermione, there is something I need to tell you. I just want you to listen to me as I tell you?"

Hermione nodded, confused at what appeared to be a serious situation. "Does this have to do with why you spent a week in the Hospital Wing form exhaustion?"

"Yes Hermione, it does. I'm sick, very sick and I will die from it. I have had this disease for awhile now and it is starting to take control over my life. I have Infensus Morturio."

Hermione's face took on a look of first bewilderment then disbelief and finally sadness. Tears quickly pooled in her eyes as she realized that she would not just to say see you soon to her mentor at the end of the year she could quite possibly be saying good bye.

As her tears began to glide down her cheeks Hermione spoke, her voice choked up. "But, you can't die. I don't want you too. I've always admired and respected you, your intelligence and strength. And now I know you on a different level which makes it so much harder to even consider the fact that you will die." Hermione's tears were rapidly cascading down her face by the end but she whispered one last thing. "You don't deserve to die."

"Don't try to reason why it has happened to me, you won't be able to find one, it is just meant to be. Bad things sometimes happen to good people and we can't help that, we can only live with it."

Minerva herself had begun to cry, she had not realised exactly how much she could mean to a student even though she had been a teacher for over forty years. Yet there was one more thing she had to tell Hermione.

"Hermione there was a reason why I asked you to be my apprentice. I didn't just do it because you are the smartest witch I have seen come through the school in years. I did it because you will make a brilliant teacher. You are strict, understanding but you help students to understand, look at how you helped Longbottom last year. Hermione, I would like for you to take over my post as Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor House next year. Albus will still need to ask you formally but I he has agreed. Please consider this, it is an unbelievable opportunity."

Hermione began to shake her head, no but Minerva began to speak more forcefully.

"I know Hermione, it is extremely confusing. I also know it will be hard for you to take over my job but Hermione, you are the perfect woman for the job, the only woman."

Hermione had stopped shaking her head and just looked at Minerva shock still evident on her face.

"Okay."

Minerva smiled and pulled Hermione into a hug, knowing she had made the right decision because of the girl's loyalty, intelligence and determination.

To be continued . . .

A/N: Well another chapter and things are rather depressing right now but they will begin to lighten up next chapter with the wedding, if the story doesn't decide to go a different way.

Also there are about 5-ish chapters left.

Thanks to Karlynne, Niami, tigger2025643119, Quill of Minerva, TabbyMinerva, rogueinker, ProfessorMelissaMcGonagall, Always Hopeful, Lady-jolly, MissWings27, bigkihap and SleepOverBabe13 for reviewing.

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