Disclaimer: As before Albus, Minerva and their wonderful world belong to the heavenly JKR.
A/N: I'm so sorry for the time it has taken to post this chapter. I am hopefully back on track now. Thank-you to all my reviewers. As always your words mean the world to me.
Minerva's Quill: I'm sorry for the delay in posting, many things have conspired against me in the last couple of weeks.
Evilwoman: We all need adversity. For how would we value joy or appreciate happiness if we had never experienced the flip side of the coin.
Minni: I normally would not condone "The other woman" either. But there are exceptions to every rule. Does Katarina really deserve everything she gets? Let me know when you have read this chapter.
Stoneygem: I hope that is will continue to keep you interested.
Now on with the story. Please read and Review. Morgana-Alex
Risking my sisters wrath or What have I done.
Chapter 3:
As I closed the door my heart rate doubled. Madam Rosmerta appeared at my side and guided me to where Albus was waiting. The moment I saw him I knew something was wrong. I took the seat opposite him, as I wanted to be able to see his eyes. There was a Gillywater on the table in front of me.
"Minerva."
"Albus." It was obvious that he was trying to put his thoughts in to words and by his own estimation falling miserably, so I waited. He looked up straight in to my eyes as he began.
"Minerva among many other things I have been unable to get the image of an evening we spent together in your fifth year of teaching out of my mind." I wondered why on earth he was bringing this up now? I tried to ask. But he covered my hand and went on.
"Minerva please permit me to continue; there is a method to what must seem like madness. It was the first time we had been alone together since the day you broke my heart." He squeezed my hand assuring me that he did not say the words to hurt me. "Almost ten years Minerva, which was some feat. I hadn't meant to ask you why that day. However as you walked in to the staff room and realised I was the rooms only other occupant. Well I had never seen someone look so frightened and yet so beautiful. As you explained to me what Katarina had done to you, what she had made you do, as I held you while you cried, it dawned on me what a dreadful mistake I had made in not coming after you, how blind I had been. My heart broke in two a second time for all the pain you had endured at the hands of the woman I had taken as my wife, knowing there was nothing I could do to ease that pain." He didn't say it; he didn't need to. We both knew wizarding marriages were binding until death.
"You did try Albus. Remember your last words to me that day. You told me that you would do your utmost never to hurt me again and Albus you haven't." I had tried to lighten the mood a little. But when I had finished and his face fell somehow I knew I would not like whatever he was about to say.
"Katarina is with child." It was a simple blunt statement of the facts. Those were the last words I'd ever imagined falling from his lips and no I was not in the least bit fond of them. He was watching me, looking for any kind of reaction, perhaps even using Legilimency to read my mind.
I'm going to be an aunt was my first thought, any hope I had of being with Albus was gone as if it had never been there - well that's that then, my second and that is the one I voiced. Albus's face was down cast as he listened so I added,
"Are you sad because your wife is pregnant or because of last Friday night?" I tried to keep my tone and expression neutral. I was not about to fall apart in public, so I schooled my features to reflect a calm I did not feel. He looked at me as if he were admonishing a child.
"Minerva I do not regret what we shared nor do I regret my unborn child. But please do not pretend as if we have nothing else to talk about, as if we have no other reason for being here." I let out a strangled laugh at that. Was he being serious?
"Albus after your revelation how can we have anything else to talk about. Now if you'll excuse me I have a lot of marking to do. Good evening headmaster." I fled the table knowing that he could not stop me, that he could not cause a scene. There would be enough gossip about the headmaster and his deputy in the Three Broomsticks on a school night as it was without adding fuel to the fire.
It started to rain as I walked back to the castle. However I cast no charm nor did I transfigure myself in to my Animagus form. Rain had always served to calm me and right now I was in a rage.
When I got back to my rooms I had no head for marking or for work of any kind. I changed in to my nightgown and readied myself for bed.
At around midnight I gave up trying to sleep. I got up and went in search of something that never fails to at least make me sleepy.
"Minerva." The one time I go to the kitchens in the middle of the night to get some milk, the one night I go in my human form, the one night I don't want company and in particular his company. He is sitting at the table as I enter. This is just not my week.
"Albus." I intend to get my milk and return to my rooms, I am in no mood for conversation. I go to the fridge and pour some milk in to a glass; I turn to walk out the door purposely not glancing at Albus hoping he will get the hint. No such luck as I look up he is standing in front of me with a look of determination on his face. I only just manage to keep an exasperated sigh to myself, however my expression in plain to see. He reaches for my arm and before I realise what is happening we are in my sitting room. I take a second to wonder how he did that, remind myself who he is and then remember to feel angry.
"Albus." He cuts me off from uttering anymore. I calm myself by repeating that I'm sure he has good intentions; don't they say that the road to hell is paved with them!
"Minerva you did not allow me to finish what I wanted to say to you earlier." He paused long enough for me to sit down at my desk.
"I do not regret what we shared. Please believe that. What I regret is the fact that I have hurt your heart, that I took advantage of you. But most of all I regret the look of pain in your eyes; knowing the cause, knowing I put it there is something I will never forgive myself for." I really didn't need this.
"Albus I'm not at all sure why you've come here tonight. Don't you think that you should be with your wife in her delicate condition." He went to interrupt me, so I raised my voice.
"Don't even try Albus I'm in no mood to hear excuses, apologies, self-pitying remarks and or promises to make it up to me. I'm tired Albus, I'm miserable; I want to sleep and consign the last week to history. My heart is breaking, I swore the day you married Katarina to bury my feelings and I should have left them under the rubble. I'm asking you to leave now and we will never discuss the subject again." When he didn't move I opened the door to my rooms, making it quite clear that I wanted him to leave. Still he did not move, my anger rose again and I drew my wand, pointing it at him as I said,
"Albus if you do not leave this instant I will hex you in to next week." He moved closer took my wand hand in his, closing the distance between us. Then he did the only thing I didn't have the strength to resist. He kissed me.
That was the night I became Albus Dumbeldore's Mistress…
A/N: What do you think? I know the little twist I threw in was very unexpected. But I thought it would be just a little too predictable without it.
Remember I don't mind criticism if it's constructive and I love kind words.
Morgana-Alex.