Chapter 2: Talk and Tea
'And have a nice day, Severus!' Dumbledore watched the retreating form of one Potions Master, black robes billowing behind said person. As the door closed his carefree smile morphed into a somewhat sombre expression. He loved his job and wouldn't even think of burdening anyone else with his duties but sometimes even he whished for a break. He knew he did everything in his powers to ensure the war ended as quickly and bloodless as possible but was it enough? Or was there another, better way to lead to victory, one he had overlooked? Perhaps, though they'd chosen their path to which they had to stick now. Too much depended on it, not to speak of the sacrifices made or the lives already lost to see it through. Dwelling on the past, he was definitely growing old.
'Everything will be fine, you'll see and you're not turning into a tottering fool.' A voice spoke in dry humour just a few steps behind him. He turned around facing a stern looking woman standing beside the multicoloured window of his office where only seconds before there'd been empty space.
'Ah, Minerva, am I that easy to read?' he asked her fondly.
'Not at all my dear headmaster. I just know you too well. By the way, you should really rest more or you will become what you're dreading.' A tight lipped smile took some of the strictness away from her face. She stepped closer, resting one hand at the back of his chair, without losing eye contact.
'I know. It's just that sometimes I start wondering.' He broke off, his gaze losing all focus, his mind falling into a state of blankness.
'As do we all, as do we all', Minerva McGonagall replied. 'But now that we have set the last step in motion, there is no turning back.' The words last step were spoken with a hint of distaste, which was not lost on Dumbledore.
'Are you still miffed that the final part of our plan is based on Sybill Trelawney?' he asked with a raised brow, knowing the answer even before she began to talk.
'Of course! The woman is a fraud!' Now there was definite despise in Minerva's voice. Leaving her vigil position at the headmaster's chair she began to pace the room, upsetting the phoenix that was still held up with cleaning his feathery dress.
'But a fraud with her two or three moments of clarity and true seeing. Why else would I have hired her?' Amusement accompanied his rhetoric question.
Snorting, Minerva didn't even pause in her stride. 'Well, it would help if said person was not so full of herself. But you are right. Her real predictions – which she can't even remember by the way – always come true.'
'Alas, so it will be this time,' he paused before adding totally out of context, 'Now can I interest you in a cup of coffee?' Dumbledore beamed at her disarmingly, while making Severus' cup disappear only to be replaced by a steaming mug of a Peruvian blend.
Rolling her eyes she shook her head, 'You're incorrigible, you know that?'
'Why yes! That's my charm.'