Her Chance Gone

A/n: Thank you to Ang for being my beta reader and also a huge thank you to all of you that reviewed the last chapter, it is greatly appeciated. I now know how I am going to end this story and I have about 5 more chapters left to write so bare with me and I'll update as quick a i can promise

Chapter Eight: Three's A Crowd.

Minerva had received an owl the morning after the engagement party, requesting her presence in the Headmaster's office to discuss the upcoming year and the school budget. She had thrown the letter into the fire and watched as the parchment with the purple swirly writing burned slowly. The flames gave out no heat because it was summer and a fire wasn't needed but Minerva kept it for effect.

There was no way of getting out of this meeting. She was the Deputy Headmistress of the school and she would have to face the Headmaster regularly. She knew this would be difficult but what else could she do? She would have to grin and bare it or the other option was to hand in her notice. Teaching was her life and the only thing she truly had. Her friends were at Hogwarts and she had built a life around the school.

She dressed slowly and ate a small breakfast. She would only pick at her food now. She might as well have been eating cardboard. Nothing seemed to hold the taste it once had. She couldn't quite believe she had gotten herself into such a state over a man. She remembered that at school she had felt very little sympathy for her friends when they had declared themselves 'lovesick'. Looking back, she could see what they meant but she was sure that they hadn't felt anything like she did now. This wasn't a passing phase and it wouldn't heal with time. She had no cure for it.

She piled the relevant scrolls into her arms and made her way towards the Headmaster's office. She hoped that he wouldn't keep her long. In previous years, the meetings had been short and they had spent the rest of the morning playing chess and talking. Minerva doubted that they would share those times again, not only because she was distancing herself from him but also because he would be a married man and have responsibilities to his wife.

She reached the gargoyle that guarded the stairway to the Headmaster's office and it leapt aside without her needing to give the password. She stepped on the stairs and allowed herself to be taken up to his office. She would usually climb the stairs as they floated upwards but she didn't feel the need to rush now. She reached the top and raised her fist to knock on the Headmaster's door.

"Come in!" she heard a cheerful voice say as the door sprung open.

She walked in and looked around the office. She hadn't expected company in this meeting and so she was taken by surprise as her eyes fell upon Regina. Regina was sitting beside Albus, her hand on his arm and beaming brightly at Minerva. Albus was looking slightly perturbed and carefully extracted his fiancée's hand from his arm as he stood up and greeted Minerva.

"Minerva!" said Albus flashing her a welcoming smile that made her heart beat faster.

"Albus, Ms. Hardcastle." Minerva greeted professionally as she took her seat in front of the desk, facing both Albus and Regina.

Minerva laid the scrolls down on the disorganized desk. She had often wondered how Albus ever found anything on it but he always knew where everything was. Minerva felt as though she was under a magnifying glass as she felt Regina's eyes burning into her.

"How are you feeling this morning Minerva?" asked Regina with false compassion.

"Amazing what sleep can do for one's health," replied Minerva. " I am quite well, thank you."

"I am glad," said Albus as he sat down and looked at his Deputy. "You had me quite worried."

"Well, as you see, I am well," she answered, touched by his concern. "I have brought you a copy of the broken down budget plan for the year ahead. As you can see, I have managed to accommodate Severus' request for a bit of extra money so he can stock up the potions cupboard. However, I am sure that Madam Hooch will not be happy with this. She wants the school broomsticks to be updated but it will be too expensive to replace them all at the moment. I have set up an account to save for the broomsticks but we are a long way off the grand total."

"Well I'll sort that out," piped up Regina with bright eyes. "Consider them a gift from me."

"Oh," replied Minerva with surprise.

"Regina, that is very nice of you," Albus said as he squeezed her hand affectionately. "Madam Hooch will adore you."

As the meeting continued, Regina kept catching Minerva's eye and smiling sarcastically. Minerva did her best to ignore the presence of the intruder but wasn't very successful. Minerva stumbled over a few words, which was very unlike her.

"Once again Minerva, you have done a splendid job" praised Albus. "What would I do without you?"

"Yes Minerva," laughed Regina "without you, Albie would have less time to spend with me."

Minerva bit her lip and then simply smiled at the both. The scene before her made her sick to her stomach. Regina was stroking his thigh with her fingers and Albus was smiling. He didn't seem to mind that Regina was making a scene.

"Well, if that is all Albus," said Minerva getting to her feet "I will be on my way."

"You wouldn't like to stay for tea and a game of chess" asked Albus?

"I have to decline," she answered politely. " I am meeting Madam Hooch for lunch."

"Oh, I'll come with you Minerva," said Regina excitedly. "I want to tell her about the broomsticks."

"Oh, I am being abandoned." Albus sighed, as he raised his hand to his forehead.

"Oh Albie, I'll be back soon darling." Regina replied, sweetly.

Minerva grimaced at the sound of his pet name. The way Regina said it grated on her. Minerva bid her goodbyes and Regina quickly caught up with her and she tried to make conversation.

"You didn't mind me sitting in on your meeting, did you," asked Regina?

"No!" answered Minerva.

"Good. I will be present at all of them" said Regina. "It's not appropriate for Albie to be alone with you since he is to be married. We don't want tongues wagging."

"I don't know what you think we would get up to Mss Hardcastle," replied Minerva coolly. "We discuss school matters and that alone. You can't keep him away from witches. He comes into daily contact with them."

"Some witches you need to be more careful of than other's Minerva," said Regina coming to an abrupt halt. "I intend to keep an eye on you. Albus Dumbledore is mine and I don't need you causing problems. So, stay away from him."

"I work with him Ms. Hardcastle," snapped Minerva. "How do you expect me to stay away from him?"

"You will find a way Minerva," said Regina leaning close to her face. "Please tell Madam Hooch that I will buy the broomsticks, out of my fiancée's money. What's his is mine, and all that. Goodbye Minerva."

Minerva had to fight the urge to pull out her wand and hex the stupid woman, as she walked away. No one had ever made her blood boil as Regina did and Minerva knew that she could not put up with her for much longer. At some point in the near future, Minerva would blow and Regina wouldn't know what hit her.

To be continued...