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Hey there! Just to let you know, there will be about 8 chapters in this story. I hope you all like it so far! My thanks to all who have read. Reviews will be greatly appreciated!

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Chapter 5: Fair Enough

"I'm afraid we cannot let you see the headmaster," said McGonagall. "Please sit down." Moody, Tonks, and Kingsley sat around the headmaster's desk, Tonks and Kingsley accepting the tea McGonagall offered them and Moody pulling out his hip flask.

"Why can't we see Professor Dumbledore?" asked Tonks.

"He has taken ill. He is currently in bed with a headache," said McGonagall.

"A headache?" said Kingsley. "He's not sick, is he?"

"No, but he's terribly exhausted. He was up all night answering letters from the Ministry."

Moody swore aloud. "Leave it to Fudge to screw things up."

"Oh, he's actually had things screwed up for quite a while now," cut in Snape. "The headmaster said that he had had a headache this entire week when we found him this morning."

"Found him?" asked Tonks.

"He was sitting at his desk with his head in his hands," said McGonagall, grabbing a cookie.

"Will he be all right?" asked Tonks, also reaching for a cookie.

"Once he gets a few days' rest," said McGonagall. "Severus has already given him some Migraine Potion."

"Migraine Potion?" said Moody. "I thought you said he only had a headache?"

"That's what he said, but he looked like he was in a lot of pain, so I brought a stronger potion," said Snape.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. "Come in," said McGonagall.

Bill Weasley's head poked into the room. "I'm very sorry to disturb you, sir, but -- oh -- hello Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Mad-Eye, Kingsley, Tonks," he said, nodding to them all. "Where's Professor Dumbledore?"

"I'm afraid he's in bed with a headache," said McGonagall. "Please, sit down."

"Is he sick?" asked Bill.

"No, just tired," said McGonagall. "He's had a headache ever since the end of term."

"Did he tell you he had a headache?" asked Bill, taking the cup that the Deputy Headmistress offered him.

"Only just this morning," said McGonagall.

There was another knock on the door. "Come in," said McGonagall.

"Professor Dumbledore?" said Remus Lupin, peeking into the room. When he did not see the headmaster but saw the others, he said, "You're having a party and you didn't invite me?"

McGonagall smiled. "It does seem that way, doesn't it?" She motioned for him to sit down.

"Where's Professor Dumbledore?" asked Remus.

"Well, to make a long story short," said Snape, refilling his teacup, "the headmaster has had a headache ever since the end of term. He did not tell anyone about it. Minerva and I found him in his office this morning. He had been up all night answering Ministry owls. I gave him a Migraine Potion, and he's currently resting in his room."

"Whoa, that's a lot of info," said Remus, accepting a teacup from McGonagall. "And he's had a headache all this week?"

"It would appear so," said the Potions Master.

Remus sighed. "Well, I can't say that I'm surprised. That sound exactly like Dumbledore."

"What? How can you say that?" said Tonks.

"Well, I don't think I've ever heard of him getting sick, but Professor Dumbledore is the kind of person that will always put other's needs before his. And if the Ministry asked questions about the war – "

" – He'd give them answers," Snape finished for him. "I agree with Lupin."

"I believe I do as well," said McGonagall, "which brings me to my next question. Should we cancel tomorrow's Order meeting? I will have to have Albus' consent as he is the founder of the Order of the Phoenix, but I think he will give the okay. What do you think?"

"Definitely," said Tonks.

"We can put it off until next week," said Remus.

"He shouldn't come in his condition," said Kingsley.

"Very well, then; I will ask him about it later," said McGonagall.

There was another knock on the door. "Come in," said McGonagall.

Arabella Figg walked into the headmaster's office. "Hello all. Where's Albus?"

"He's in bed with a headache," said McGonagall.

"In bed with a headache? Now that's something I don't hear everyday. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard of it before," said Arabella, sitting next to Moody and taking the teacup McGonagall offered to her.

Another knock sounded on the door. "You know, Minerva," said the Potions Master, "we should just put up a big sign that says Professor Dumbledore is currently unavailable due to a borderline migraine. He is resting in his room. It would look very pretty over there." He pointed to a spot over the fireplace.

McGonagall laughed. Severus just cracked a joke again! I think the potion fumes are finally getting to him. "Well, that would make things a little easier. Come in."

The door opened and in walked Arthur and Molly Weasley. "Well, this is a surprise! Where's Albus?" asked Arthur.

"He's in bed with a headache. He's had it for over a week," said McGonagall.

"Oh, my goodness!" exclaimed Molly. "Will he be all right?"

"After a few days' rest he will be," said Snape. "He was up all night answering letters from the Ministry."

"And he didn't tell anyone he wasn't feeling well?" asked Arthur.

"No," said McGonagall, "we only found out this morning. Speaking of which, I'd better go check on him, unless there are any volunteers?"

"I'll go," said Molly. She turned on her heel and crept quietly up the stairs to the headmaster's bedroom. She opened the door noiselessly and closed it behind her. Even though the room was nearly pitch black, she could see the small lump on the bed that was the headmaster. She approached it slowly. Taking in the sight of the headmaster as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could see that Dumbledore was lying on his stomach. The thick blanket, which was pulled up to his neck, rose and fell slightly with the rhythm of his breathing. The dark circles under his eyes made him look old and frail.

Without realizing what she was doing, she reached out and stroked his soft white hair. To Molly's astonishment, Dumbledore opened his eyes wearily. He stared at her for a few moments before closing them. "Hello, Molly," he whispered hoarsely.

She sat down on the edge of the bed and continued to stroke his hair. "How do you feel?" she asked.

"Tired," whispered Dumbledore in the same hoarse voice. "And my head still hurts."

"I'm sorry I yelled at you yesterday, Albus. My yelling mustn't have agreed with your headache. Can you forgive me?"

Dumbledore smiled but did not open his eyes. "It's all right, Molly; I forgive you. I know you care for Harry just as I do. I'll start gathering up a group to escort him from Privet Drive when I get better."

"Okay." She kissed him gently on the forehead and stood up. "I'll leave you to get some rest. Sweet dreams."

"Thanks, Molly," said Dumbledore in another hoarse whisper. He snuggled into the blanket more so that it was up past the tip of his long, crooked nose. Molly tiptoed quietly out of the room and downstairs where the others were having tea.

"How is he?" asked McGonagall, offering her a cup of tea.

"He's exhausted," said Molly, accepting the teacup and sitting next to her husband, "and he said his head still hurts."

The Deputy Headmistress sighed. "Well, all we can do is let him rest and give him some more potions later." She turned to the witches and wizards before her. "None of you needed to speak to the headmaster about anything urgent, did you?"

"Not me," said Tonks.

"No," said Remus.

"Nothing important," said Molly.

"I didn't," said Arabella.

"Nope," said Bill.

"Nothing urgent," said Snape.

"Just wanted to give a report," said Arthur. "It can wait."

"Needed to give him a letter. Nothing urgent; I'll leave it on his desk," said Kingsley.

"Wanted to ask him something," said Moody. "I'll just leave him a note."

"Very well, then. You're all welcome to stay and talk for a while. Severus and I didn't have anything planned for today."

"Me neither," said Remus.

"It's not like I've got a regular day job to go to," said Moody. "And besides, it's a Sunday; there's nothing on the WWN (Wizarding Wireless Network)."

"I'm off until three," said Tonks.

"Me too," said Kingsley.

"Works not until four," said Arthur.

"Charlie's at home with the kids," said Molly.

"Charlie doesn't need me to baby-sit him," said Bill with a smirk.

"The cats can look after themselves," said Arabella.

"And lesson plans don't need to be done right now, anyway," said Snape.

"Severus, I'm shocked!" said McGonagall in a mock-surprised voice. "What could be more important than starting next years lesson plans?"

"Sitting on my butt here in the headmaster's office, drinking tea and listening to all of you talk?" said the Potions Master, his eyebrows raised.

McGonagall smiled. "Fair enough."

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