Chapter Six: Duty Calls
Minerva took a deep breath before she whispered the password to the Gryffindor common room and climbed through the portrait hole. Elizabeth was crying on the couch near the fire as Minerva approached her.
"Elizabeth," Minerva called softly choosing to use the child's first name.
Elizabeth sat up quickly and tried to dry her eyes with the sleeve of her robes. "I-I'm s-sorry Professor, I know I should be in class."
Minerva sat down on the couch and produced her handkerchief and presented it to the child. "It is ok Elizabeth. I came to see if you were ok, or if you needed to talk."
"Oh," Elizabeth dropped her eyes to her lap and desperately tried not to cry.
Before Minerva knew it she had her arms full of a little girl crying into her shoulder. Minerva rubbed the child's back in large circles and used her other hand to stroke her hair. "It's ok to grieve, Elizabeth. I'm sorry for your loss, and that you had to find out the way you did."
"I just don't understand," the child said through her tears, "why would anyone want to do that to my mum? She had a lot of friends."
"I don't know why Elizabeth. Not all wizards are good,-"
"My mother used to say that, a lot." Elizabeth whispered between her sobs. "Have you ever lost someone, Professor?"
Minerva typically did not share her personal life with her students, but perhaps it would help the child. "Yes, my father passed away four years ago."
"I've never lost someone before, what-what is it like? I mean what do you do when that happens?"
Minerva sighed softly as she continued to stroke the child's hair and eased her into a sitting position. "Well you will need to go home so you can be with your family, and there will be a service and burial. As to the grief that just takes time, Elizabeth, and I'm here to help you if you need it. You are allowed to cry, but remember all the good memories too."
Elizabeth just nodded as she blew her nose, "Thanks Professor, I really appreciate it."
"Your welcome, lass, now why don't you go pack some things and I'll wait for you here. We can contact your father in my office, and send you home for a few days. How does that sound?"
"Ok."
The child had left and was back in no time, and within the hour Minerva had sent her home for as long as she needed. Elizabeth had hugged Minerva tightly before she left and she made a note to seek the child out once she returned. Minerva left in search of Albus as soon as the child was off. She knew he had covered her first class, and now she had a break so there was time for a short conversation before she taught for the rest of the day.
Minerva knocked twice before being allowed in his office, "Albus?"
"How did it go, Minerva," Albus asked immediately, standing up from behind his desk and moving towards her. To Minerva's surprise, Albus took her in his arms and began to rub her back much like she had done Elizabeth's.
Sighing Minerva completely relaxed in Albus' arms, "How do you always know what I need," she asked into his shoulder.
"I figured it would bring up memories from three years ago, and that you could use a hug. I take it I was right in my assumption?"
Minerva merely nodded her head before filling Albus in on her morning with Elizabeth.
"And you were worried about being the Head of House; you did a wonderful job from how it sounds. How long before your next class?"
"Well I should do some paperwork, but one more before lunch so about thirty minutes."
"Do you have any plans this evening?" Albus asked settling behind his desk once again.
"Yes, I have a date with you so we can discuss what happened this morning and what else you have up in that overstuffed brain of yours." Minerva teased.
"It might be a late night, but if it is I want you to get some rest this weekend you look tired Minerva."
"Thank you Albus, I appreciate the compliment."
"I didn't mean you don't look beautiful, you always do, you just look tired. Can I not be concerned?"
Minerva was trying not to blush at his compliment to her looks before she answered him, "Of course you can, Albus, and thank you. Perhaps Sunday I will leave the school and all discipline into your hands and just take the entire day to sleep."
"I will allow it only if you play chess with me that evening."
"I knew you couldn't live without me."
"'Tis true, but I'm hoping your sleep addled brain would effect your game and I could win."
"Never."
"See you at lunch."
Albus and Minerva met that night after they had both finished their work for the day. They talked again about the disappearances and what the implications could be for the Ministry of Magic and the Wizarding world in general. It was difficult to predict what might happen with so little information, but they both remembered what Grindelwald's rise to power had been like. With the deaths and disappearances of the members of the committee designed to forestall another dark lord it wasn't too big of a leap to assume it had to do with very dark magic. After a few hours of discussion, they had to admit there wasn't anything they could do at this point and agreed to be vigilant of future incidents.
"All we can do is watch the signs, Albus," Minerva said gently, laying a hand on his arm. "You can't stop an evil before you know its source."
"You're right, my dear," he answered, patting her knee in thanks. "It's late, we should try to get some sleep. Will I see you at breakfast tomorrow?"
"Of course," she answered with a smile. "I have a lot to get done tomorrow if I'm taking Sunday off."
Albus walked Minerva to the door and bid her goodnight with a gentle kiss on her hand. As she walked back to her rooms and prepared for bed Minerva couldn't stop thinking about how distressed Albus had seemed. She remembered just a few months ago when their biggest concern had been his stacks of mail and she had spent so many hours teasing him about his many admirers. Now he looked as if the weight of the world was rapidly settling on his strong shoulders.
Albus had always felt strongly about combating evil and keeping their world safe for future generations. His concern for the younger generations was what made him such an excellent educator, but it was also one of his greatest weaknesses. His heart was large and filled with love for all humanity, magical and Muggle, and sometimes that made it hard for him to focus on anything other than keeping people safe and free from fear. Minerva had experienced first had as his student how his need to protect people sometimes kept him from taking their needs into account when making decisions.
The only times Albus and Minerva saw each other the next day were at meals; Minerva spent most of the day in her office grading essays. At dinner Albus asked what her plans for the evening were and she told him with a smile that she planned to take a long hot bath and then curl up in front of the fire with a glass of wine and a good book before going to bed. She was very much looking forward to having a bit of a lie in on Sunday morning, it would be her first semblance of time off since the term started. Albus was pleased to see that she was truly planning to relax for the first time since becoming the deputy headmistress. That was why it pained him so much to have to wake her on Sunday morning.
An urgent owl arrived from the Ministry early Sunday morning and Albus opened it with a groan. He was needed in a meeting of the Wizengamut to discuss the recent deaths. From the sound of the letter he would be gone all day, which meant informing Minerva of his absence. Albus considered leaving a note for her, but knew that she would not appreciate the gesture. Minerva would want to be awake and in her office where she was easily accessible to the school if he was away from the castle. With a sigh he prepared for the day and then made his way quickly to Minerva's rooms in Gryffindor Tower. She didn't answer his knock so he gave the password and let himself in.
Albus stopped in the doorway to Minerva's bedroom and smiled when he saw her sleeping. She looked so peaceful and so much younger in her sleep. Minerva was lying on her side facing him, her legs pulled up slightly toward her chest, a small pillow clutched in her arms. Her dark hair was spread out on the pillow behind her and for a moment Albus was mesmerized by the way a beam of early morning sunlight was shining off the locks. He'd had no idea until that moment just how long her hair had gotten recently and made a mental note to ask her to leave it down for him sometime when the students weren't around.
Shaking himself, Albus realized he had been staring at her for almost a full minute. He quietly approached the bedside and reached out a hand to shake her shoulder gently. "Minerva?" he whispered. "Minerva, wake up."
She made a small noise somewhere between a groan and a sigh and rolled away from him, causing Albus to chuckle. "Minerva," he tried again. "My dear, you need to get up."
This time she managed actual words as she pulled the crimson covers up over her head. "Go away."
Albus grinned and cleared his throat. "Professor McGonagall, could I have a word?" he asked loudly.
Minerva sat up quickly and looked around in confusion before Albus handed her the glasses from the cabinet beside the bed. She put them on gratefully and then scowled when she saw the headmaster standing beside her bed grinning like a school boy.
"Albus, what are you doing here? What time is it?" she asked.
His smile faded immediately and he gingerly sat down on the edge of the bed to face her. "It's seven in the morning. I'm sorry, Minerva, but I've been summoned to the Wizengamut. I would have left you a note, but I knew you would want to be woken instead. I know this was supposed to be your morning off, but I have to go. I promise I'll make it up to you." He gave her what he hoped was a sympathetic and endearing look and she couldn't help but smile.
"That's alright, Albus," Minerva said graciously. "You have a duty to go when they call you and I have a duty to be available for anything that may arise within the school while you are away. Go and I'll see you later this evening."
"Thank you," he answered with a friendly smile. "I will make it up to you, I mean that."
Albus left for his urgent meeting and Minerva got up with a sigh to get ready for the day. So much for a morning off, she thought wistfully. I know Albus will want to make it up to me as he promised, but he won't have time. I definitely shouldn't get my hopes up. And yet, I do enjoy it when he spends a few moments just focusing on me and making me feel special. She shook herself, realizing that she felt special every time he smiled at her or even looked at her. Minerva left for her office wondering what on earth she was thinking.
The day passed relatively uneventfully at Hogwarts. There were no major crises with students or staff and Minerva spent most of the day in her office going over some paperwork that really didn't need to be finished for a while and rearranging her Transfiguration journals on the shelves. By late afternoon she was frankly bored and wishing she hadn't been so efficient the day before. Just as she was wondering whether or not Albus would put in an appearance at dinner so she could ask about his day, his phoenix Fawkes burst into her office with a note.
Albus had returned to Hogwarts about five minutes before he sent the message to Minerva. He was tired from the meeting, or rather from fighting with the Minister of Magic that the deaths of these four specific individuals was cause for concern, but he had promised to make things up to Minerva and that was just what he was going to do. Actually, Albus had been looking forward to his evening with Minerva ever since the idea entered his mind during the morning session. He had stopped off at her favorite restaurant in London to bring back dinner for two and hoped she would enjoy the quiet time the meal would allow them to share. He sent Fawkes with a note asking Minerva to meet him in her sitting room in ten minutes. That would give him just enough time to change into a fresh set of robes and run a comb through his hair and beard.
Minerva smiled when she read the message from Albus and rushed back to her rooms to make sure everything was put away and her hair and robes were neat. She was just exiting the bathroom as Albus knocked a few minutes later.
She opened the door and greeted him with a smile, "Hello, Albus, come in."
"Thank you," he returned the smile. "I brought dinner." He held up the take away bags as if to prove his statement.
"It smells wonderful." Then Minerva noticed the name of the restaurant on the side of the bag. "I can't believe you remembered my favorite restaurant," she exclaimed. "I think I only mentioned it once."
"Ah, but the great Albus Dumbledore knows all," he replied, tapping the side of his nose. "Did you forget I'm omniscient?"
"My apologies for underestimating you, I guess I forget sometimes that you're a god," she answered playfully.
"Well, who better to keep this god company than a lovely goddess such as yourself," he returned, making her blush.
They settled down on the rug in front of the fire to enjoy the meal as Albus told Minerva about his frustrations from earlier in the day. Minerva was about to move behind him and massage his shoulders because he looked tense, but when she stood he called her back.
"Where are you going, my dear?" he asked. "This evening is all about you and making sure you get the relaxation I denied you this morning."
She smiled, "What did you have in mind?"
Albus just grinned and motioned for her to sit in front of him, facing the fire. She complied and then startled a bit when he placed his hands on her shoulders and began to massage them. For a few moments the contact flustered Minerva and then she began to relax and enjoy the sensations provided. Albus really did have skilled hands and Minerva soon found herself turning into a puddle as her whole body relaxed.
Before she realized what he was doing, Albus had removed the pins from her bun and was combing his long fingers through her hair until it fell in somewhat messy waves down her back. Then his hands were on her scalp. Minerva sighed and leaned her head back. After a few minutes her head was resting lightly against Albus' shoulder as he continued his ministrations. He smiled as he heard her begin to purr, knowing that she wasn't aware of the soft noises she was making. By the time he finished Minerva was asleep and Albus couldn't bring himself to wake her so he carefully picked her up and carried her to bed in the next room.
Minerva had already removed her own shoes earlier in the evening, so Albus transfigured her robes into a nightgown as he had done several months earlier when he found her sleeping in his office and then covered her with the thick blankets. He dropped a tender kiss on her forehead and smoothed back a strand of hair from her face before whispering, "Good night, my dear. Sleep well," and leaving her rooms.
