Disclaimer. Don't own them. Only like playing in the same sand box.
Echo's in the Moonlight.
Chapter Three August 11th 1981.
Minerva slid from the back of Pet and strode along side of Poppy to the Burrow where inside Molly Weasley struggled to give birth yet again. She found Ron squalling, the twins using him for tug of war- and he trying to wiggle free from their grasp. Minerva couldn't say anything- others thought them mad for having so many, but there was a joy in the family, one that she wished she had in her own life. She watched as a perfect red head tiny girl slipped into the world giving a small squeaking squall as Poppy pat the baby on the backside to help it clear its lungs, For the moment, everything stopped.
When Minerva returned to Hogwarts she wore a flush of joy on her cheeks as she entered into Albus's office to tell him the news
"Arthur and Molly finally have a daughter!" she said her eyes brimming with happiness for them. She caught herself short as she turned and saw the four young men in Albus's office. They wore such a serious look on their faces- Albus gave the smallest shake of his head that spoke volumes to Minerva that her news would have to wait. She pulled off her traveling cloak and sat while listening to the plans that James had to keep his family safe.
With each word, Minerva felt her heart growing heavier.
October 24th 1981
Minerva walked down the long hall to where her classroom was. She felt – numb. Godric Hollow had been safe- being one of the few wizard villages left untouched before- now the dark mark had stained the sky three nights in a row. She knew it was time, Lily and James knew as well. She had briefly seen them when they entered into the same hallway that she was walking along on their way to see Prof Flitwick. Everyone was so guarded- she swallowed as she leaned against the wall for a moment, overcome with the feeling she would never see the two of them again. Nothing would be the same. If it was just- the two of them, they were willing to take the risks- but- they needed to protect little Harry.
A cold chill as if she would never be happy again gripped her heart. She slid down the wall to sit leaning against it- not able to go to her own classroom. It was Prof Flitwick who found her later, who helped her up off of the floor and escorted her down to the infirmary where she had a good cry in private. He reassured her that the charm that was used was one of the best for hiding things. He didn't know who their secret keeper was- only Lily and James knew that. He knew that the shell that held the charm was one of the best he had ever seen. He tried everything he knew to comfort her, but her tears still came. When her tears had stopped, she looked at Flitwick who had moved in to hold her hand "We have to keep hoping for the best though we know the worst in the truth" he said at last, tears in his own eyes.
November 1st 1981
Minerva found herself sitting on the cold stonewall watching a horrible man go to work. She was uncomfortable, but, she needed to know what types of people were going to encounter a very special child. She saw Albus come down the street, and later Hagrid came with the small bundle held in the sling. Albus trusted Hagrid with his life, and the life of a tiny boy.
Her heart fought to stay calm and not snatch the child off of the doorstep into her arms and flee. She watched Albus say something over the young child, and then they returned to Hogwarts to face the unthinkable. In the time that it had taken to rescue young Harry Potter, the death eaters had attacked Frank and Alice Longbottom. They had tried to force them to tell them where Voldemort had gone- how a child that was now missing in the world of wizards could have made Voldemort vanish. The death eaters learned nothing- and were captured by ministry officials and taken into custody. It was only after tense hours that little Neville had been discovered, hidden in the kitchen cupboards with a silencing spell cast on him to prevent him from crying out. When the spell had been removed, he screamed until his memory of the horror's he had seen were obliterated.
Albus sat in his office. The room was dark, the portraits had retreated to give him privacy in his grief. He ignored the soft knock on his door. He had it charmed so that no one would be able to enter- or interrupt his grief. He wasn't counting on Minerva's resourcefulness. She transfigured the door into something that would move- or more precisely a single feather that she brushed aside before transforming it back into a door. She saw Albus with his back to her, heard the anger in his voice as he told her unkindly that if she didn't have the sense not to know what a closed door was that she had no business being a teacher at Hogwarts. Minerva felt the bite of his words. She blinked several times then striding to him she lifted her foot and planted a kick in his back side that made him turn. She saw his eyes were red from crying- his face stricken with grief mingled with – something she hoped she would never have to face again.
"I loved them too!" Minerva said her voice husky from her tears. She stepped closer to him to give him a shove backwards. "You are not the only one who is in pain tonight!"
Albus leaned against his desk for support. He couldn't find words to say to her. He knew she was right, that he was being selfish for what he was feeling just then. He knew he had a right to morn, and to his pain- but seeing her stand so strong after everything made him want to pull her close to him and hold onto her for her strength. She would have none of that though, not just then. She had taken another step and was speaking downward at him in a no nonsense tone as she recounted those whom the order had lost in the battle with Voldemort, ending with James and Lily with the betrayal of Sirius Black of his friends, and the death of poor Peter Pettigrew and twelve innocent muggles in the following firefight between them. – that Sirius Black was now in Azkaban, sent by Barty Crouch with out a trial.
"And if you think by hiding up here alone leaving me below to sort out the next 20 yrs by myself your balmy. This school needs you as a headmaster. It needs you today, and tomorrow, and then next and every day following. The order needs you as well to help recover from all that we have lost- and gained. Don't you dare go weepy on me then tell me to go away!" You and I both know that Voldemort isn't dead, he is just- somewhere else- for now, and we need to figure out what to do next to protect all of the children and the children's children from him. Have I made myself understood?"
Albus took a breath, then reached out and took both of her hands in his. "Perfectly" he said with out tone in his voice. He stood, pulled her into his arms and the two of them clung as they wept bitter tears until they became empty vessels. She knew they would shed more tears, later. Just tonight though- the grief had washed over both of them until by clinging to each other, they had found their salvation. He was her strength, and she, his. If Voldemort had killed Albus, Minerva knew her life would not be worth living, and she knew, Albus felt the same. She straightened up and pushed him back, both knowing that they had their duties to do, and they had to be on their own two feet to do it. While the world celebrated the disappearance of Voldemort by the boy who lived, a small gathering was held to honor those who had fallen by the hand of Voldemort and their followers.
It gave no comfort to Albus when those responsible for Frank and Alice's agony were taken to prison. He watched as Barty Crouch – the person who was thought to be the next Minister of Magic sent his only son Bartemius Crouch Jr – just 18 yrs old to prison- and Barty's wife collapse as her son cried out his innocence. It changed how people thought – what- was to be for the best of Wizard kind. Barty was moved sideways and Cornelius Fudge became the next Minister of Magic.
November 15th 1981
Winter was fast approaching the Burrow. Swirls of snow could be seen filtering down from the overcast skies as 5 yr old Percy followed his brother Bill to where the garden was to de gnome it for the last time before the ground was covered with a thick blanket. Percy was too young to toss gnomes from the garden. He played with a stick pretending it was a wand waving it over different pots. Nothing happened of course, which was a relief to Bill as he tried to keep his eyes on Percy to keep him out of mischief. Since Ginny's arrival Percy had been more sullen than normal. The twins didn't care. Ginny was just another baby to torment. Percy however was sensitive to his parents having less and less time for him.
"I hate them" He said sullenly as he kicked at some pots along the wall. His mood was dark and sullen. Bill heard the tone in his voice, one he had been hearing a lot coming out of the skinny little boy.
Bill tossed the gnome into the field and turned to face Percy. "Who do you hate? The twins? They are just tics, don't mind them." He saw Percy shake his head.
"Na Mum and Da. Why did they have to have another baby anyway? Wasn't I good enough for them? I hate them. They don't love me an with another mouth to feed I won't ever get a pet of my own. Not a real one at least" He gave a sigh and sat down on the stack of pots. The bugs he had collected over the summer had – in his dads words, needed to hibernate over the winter and he was forced to let them go into the wild. Bill went to him and knelt down in front of him
"Look, Perc, its not like that. Mum and Dad love each of us all the same. An having a pet is a lot of work" He saw the look of defiance in Percy's eyes.
"I could do it, you know- if I had the chance." He said still sullen, kicking at the row of pots along the wall and knocking a stack of them over. Bill caught them before they broke. He was about to put them back into place when Percy stopped him.
"Look! It's a rat." Percy said pointing to the still form that had crawled behind the pots to keep warm. Bill pulled him back. "Don't go near him. He could be sick, and if he bites you it could make you sick too." Percy looked at Bill. "If we leave him out here, he will die. I know, I can adopt him as my pet.- look, he's missing a toe- poor fellow has been through so much… He needs me- look, he isn't moving much, he is half frozen- we have to do something- we can't let him die!" Percy was on the point of tears. Rather than to see his brother inconsolable Bill got a small chicken box and using two sticks lifted the rat into the box and then closed the lid. He knew, if the rat really wanted out, it would slip through the weave of the box.
"We can put him in the barn with rest of the animals. It's warmer in there, and we need to ask mum and dad's permission before we bring him into the house. Ok? But promise me, what ever they decide, you will listen to them, and not hate them for what they think is best- ok?"
Percy nodded and followed Bill into where the barn was. He found the rat some straw to sleep on, and put a small cup of water in the cage along with some grain, then covering the cage part way they went inside. Five yr old Percy nearly bounded to his mother while saying "I found my pet Mum, an I'm naming him Scabbers!"
