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 Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
AUTHOR NOTE: Many thanks to the wonderfully talented, Niamh for betaing this story. All of her fics should be on your reading list if you are enjoying, At Any Moment.
Albus VI
Just after dinner...I need to talk to Minerva and here I am worrying about seeing her, and trying to undo the damage I did at breakfast. I haven't felt like this since I first started courting her all those years ago, and I don't like feeling so lost for a conversation starter.
I suppose I should let her just slap me...or hex me, and then we can start to mend the bridge that I so recklessly sought to tear down between us.
I am a stupid fool to be sitting here letting you see my torment, and it won't make it any easier to beg her forgiveness for my behaviour.
I did think to make some partial amends at dinner, but she and Severus were engrossed in some debate that was neither kind nor particularly friendly. I stood behind her for a moment, with my right hand extended towards her back. I had thought to gently squeeze her shoulder on the way to my seat; on her left, but I didn't. I'm scared of her reaction, but more than that I was more than a little intrigued to be witness to the savage whispering, and odd looks Severus and Minerva kept throwing to the Gryffindor table. I'll be most interested to hear exactly what is going on in that quarter, and I just hope it's nothing too drastic.
I am an optimist though, as Severus loudly scraped his chair back, all the while giving Minerva the most horrified look, and exited the Great Hall with more than half the students watching his hasty exit.
I really do not need this sort of childish nonsense!
We are all supposed to be showing a united front, an aura of calm for the students so that they will feel more at ease and less likely to panic.
A little after nine o'clock in the evening...Minerva and I caught up to each other in the Gryffindor corridor. I needed to connect with her and talk to her about my savage mood, but she didn't let me get a word in edgewise...at first.
She was so angry about my failure to trust her, and she quite bluntly let me know what she thought of our unequal partnership...and at an elevated volume too! I've only the student curfew of nine o'clock to thank for the fact that no one witnessed her in all her indignant fury, and had we been caught, the story would have passed like wildfire through the school in a matter of hours.
I've always enjoyed watching her rail against any perceived injustice, but it was sobering to realise that her tirade was directed solely at me. Perhaps I inadvertently helped her, though I still feel guilty for my harsh words this morning.
At least she didn't slap me!
Once she'd calmed herself a bit and huffed at me a bit more about being an 'inconsiderate bastard'; all the while gently brushing away imaginary fluff and lint from the front of my robes, we swiftly made our way arm-in-arm to her quarters at the bottom of Gryffindor Tower. Once we were safely inside, far from any prying eyes out of their dormitories, we just quietly reassured ourselves that all was well despite this hiccup in our relationship.
She held me firmly in her arms and I did not let her go for some considerable time. Never with anyone else have I felt the same connection we seem to share.
I am so lucky to have this woman who loves me simply as a man, and not as some magical goliath who is unreachable. She makes me feel like I'm the most important person in her life...as she is to me. Nothing has ever stopped that feeling and I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost her, or irrevocably betrayed the trust she places in me.
Then we sat together facing each other, holding hands, and began to talk of our fears for each other. I could not let go of her and as I rubbed my thumbs gently, caressing the sides of her hands, and I sensed that we'd reached a much deeper understanding of each other. It was as though we'd finally let go of the past and started to finally trust each other in such a way that the words were merely for reassurance.
We talked about everything we'd missed in each other's day, of Miss Granger being discovered in the Library, and of the hurt Minerva had caused Severus with her accusation. But it was her solid defence of her own spirit when faced with Lucius that made my heart soar. Finally, she is all too aware that he has made of his life what he wanted too, and that she is in no way responsible for his sadistic displays. She still has some vague hope for Draco, and though it is an illusion, I left her with at least some small chance of a miracle occurring.
I would have liked nothing better than to have stayed with Minerva, but I have a meeting shortly and I'm not expecting it to run nearly so smoothly. In fact I will be satisfied to at least be left with the security of knowing that some of our information is mere hearsay.
About eleven o'clock...All the planning and scheming has come to this mad dash. Riddle has chosen his time wisely, but then he always was a cunning strategist.
It's begun...hasn't it, Arcanus?
Remus came and saw me secretly at about ten o'clock this evening, as I'm sure you are quite aware of, Arcanus. All the students are safely tucked away in their dormitories blissfully ignorant of what I must announce to the staff shortly. There is no time left to plan...for anything, and suddenly the news of two weeks ago makes the most horrible sense. I have so many things to organise quickly that I've stayed here in my office, almost willing myself to try and think of some tactic that Riddle might have ignored in his lust for Hogwarts, Harry and myself. I still keep hoping that by some flight of fancy, Remus was wrong in his estimation of when, but I can feel the tension in the castle.
Can you feel it too, old friend, or are you determined to remain silent?
Yes, Albus, I can feel it. It will soon become apparent to those who understand what is happening.
Who will understand? The teachers, the students...
The sentinels will understand.
Oh!
Look up from your desk, Albus. They are here now. They will help you alert your staff, but you must also call the keys to that meeting as well. Their gifts have a price...as you are all too aware of, and their payment is now more important than any of you could possibly realise.
Is there anything I can do to help them?
No. I will explain myself to them, but they must bring their journals to the meeting. Baron Romsey will stand in for the fifth key.
Who is the fifth key, and why must the Bloody Baron act as a stand-in?
Depravity has left to join his destiny.
But what of Sev...
He has been marked, and all will know his sacrifice...shortly. He holds the worthiest of gifts and he is; without knowing it, the key to your survival – and to his own destiny.
But...
There is no time to explain, Albus. Summon the keys!
Constructive criticism, comments, randomly hatched theories and reviews are most welcome!