Her Chance Gone

A/N: Thank you to each and every one of you who took the time to review the last chapter. It's great to know that you are enjoying this story as much as I am writing it. Though I have to warn you that at present I have no idea what is going to happen to Regina. Once again a HUGE thank you to my beta reader, Ang.

Chapter Five: Knock, knock

Minerva was relieved to step back into her comfortable and welcoming living quarters. Her first and, what she hoped would be, her last encounter with Regina Hardcastle had been hard and uncomfortable. Minerva wandered over to her desk that was piled high with lesson plans waiting to be sorted through. She had no energy to deal with them right now and pulled out her wand to banish the parchments away in a drawer until a time when she felt calm enough to tackle them.

She sat down and unfastened the tight laces that kept her black boots gathered to her shapely legs. With two simple kicks, both boots flew across the room and landed in a crumpled mess near her bedroom door. She rose once again and wandered over to her overstuffed bookshelf and her fingers ran over the spines of the books before she pulled one from its' resting place. She walked over and collapsed, rather unladylike, on to the comfortable couch with big fluffy cushions, her feet tucked up under her as she opened the book. She sighed sadly as her eyes fell upon the inscription written on the inner sleeve of the cover.

Dearest Minerva,

A true representation of the best qualities

of Scarlett O'Hara...beautiful, vibrant, strong willed,

and incredibly loyal…

Like someone else we both know

Albus xxx

The muggle book, Gone with the Wind, had been a Christmas present from Albus four years ago and had been one of Minerva's favourites ever since. She ran her fingers over the swirling deep purple writing that belonged to him and felt tears resurfacing. Just as she was about to give in to her tears there was a knock on her door. Minerva felt like cursing out loud but instead she rose to her feet and opened to the door.

"Albus!" greeted Minerva. She hoped her hadn't come to tell her that he disapproved of her treatment to his intended.

"Hello Minerva!" he answered. "May I come in?"

"Of course," replied Minerva opening the door wider so he could enter. "Please have a seat." Albus flashed her a smile as he walked past her. She felt her heart beat slightly faster as he sat down and picked up the book she had been reading.

"Don't tell me, after four years, you still haven't finished it," Albus teased.

"What do you think?" asked Minerva as she looked at him over the top of her glasses.

"You probably finished it within three days," he answered.

"Two actually," came her quick reply. "Now, what can I do for you Albus?"

Albus was slightly taken back by how on edge she seemed at his presence. He wasn't accustomed to such tension within the room when he was with her. They had always had a very easy, comfortable relationship but something had changed and he had no idea what it was. He decided not to push the subject with her. She would come to him if she felt the need to talk and he would be patient. She had always been there for him and in the past he had taken her for granted. But he knew that she understood he was always there for her.

"Thank you for showing Regina around," began Albus. "She hopes that you will be great friends and already has started to think up of eligible bachelors to set you up with."

"I do not wish to be set up Albus," interrupted Minerva rather coldly. "You know how much I hate people interfering in MY personal life."

Albus knew all too well that Minerva despised any interference in both her personal and professional life. He had been brave enough to question one of her essay questions and had received a serious tongue lashing where she accused him of doubting her teaching practices. He had learned not to question Minerva because she always knew what she was doing and she was always right.

Her friends had tried to pry into her personal life and had met obstacles at every turn. They accepted it and left the subject well alone. Poppy Pomfrey and Xiomara Hooch had a better insight into the mind of the Deputy Headmistress than anyone he knew and even they knew not to delve too deeply into her life.

Albus hadn't known the exact point when he fell in love with her but he had. And he had fallen deeply. However, after years of unsuccessful flirting he gave up. Convinced she only had feelings for him as a friend, he had decided to move on, as painful as it was. After a year he had met Regina. Yes, the engagement was quick but he wasn't getting any younger and there seemed to be no point in waiting. All his colleagues had been delighted by the news and offered him their congratulations.

"Don't worry my dear. I won't let Regina set you up," he said, finally coming out of his thoughts.

"I should hope so!" agreed Minerva.

"It's so good to see you again Min," said Albus changing the subject. "I have missed you."

"Nonsense," she said dismissing his words for her own good. She didn't want to read too much into it. "You have been busy getting engaged and only Merlin knows what else you have been up to these days."

"I did miss you Minerva," he assured her. "I even brought you a present."

He rooted around in one of his many robe pockets and pulled out a long black velvet box with silver edging. He handed it to her and waited for her response. Minerva opened the box and gasped. There in the box was the most beautiful bracelet she had ever seen. Made from what looked like white gold with an intricate Gaelic design, it took her breath away. She felt her tears threatening to appear for the second time that day.

"It's beautiful Albus," she said closing the lid and handing it back to him. "I can't accept it though."

"Why in the name of Merlin not?" he questioned, hurt by her refusal of the gift.

"It must have been expensive and you shouldn't be spending money on me," she answered softly. "What would Ms. Hardcastle say?"

"She knows that I purchased it for you Minerva," said Albus. "She was there when I found it."

"Albus, thank you, but I really can't accept such a gift," Minerva repeated.

"I bought it with you and only you in mind Minerva," he told her. "What would you have me do with it?"

"Maybe Ms. Hardcastle would like it," suggested Minerva. "After all, she is your fiancée and you should be spending money on her and not me."

"I purchased it for you," said Albus, who was confused by her refusal of his gift. As soon as he had seen the simple but elegant bracelet, he knew that it was made for one person and one person alone. That was Minerva McGonagall.

Regina had thought the gift had been for her and had been most disappointed when he revealed that he had bought it for someone else. In fact, she had sulked for several days but Albus hadn't given in to her tantrums. He kept the gift for who it was intended.

"I don't think it's appropriate for me to accept this gift. Please try to understand this from my point of view Albus," Minerva asked softly.

"I'm afraid I can't," said Albus rising to his feet and making his way to the door. "I never thought you were the ungrateful sort, Minerva."

Before Minerva could answer, she found herself alone in her rooms with the box still in her hand. She wanted to go after him but some invisible force prevented her from following. She curled up on her couch and clutched the box that held the bracelet to her heart and cried herself to sleep.

To be continued…….