When Eternity Ceases
Chapter Seven
Minerva and Alastor sat with Albus for the best part of the day, every day, for weeks. Every once in a while another Auror would come in to see Albus, but they always left quickly, shaking their heads.
The wizarding newspapers proclaimed that celebrated wizard Albus Dumbledore had become dangerously unbalanced, and many witches and wizards would hang around the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of the crazed savior of wizardkind. Minerva grew so disgusted by it all that, one day, she launched curse after curse at a nosy witch, sending her on her way with a "Leave, damn it!"
A few months after Albus's admittance to St. Mungo's, he had shown little improvement. Sometimes Minerva almost believed that he recognized her a little, if not as Minerva, his love, at least as the witch who came to see him so much. Alastor could not always come anymore, but Minerva had gotten over her fear. Now she just felt deeper sadness than she had ever known existed.
One evening when Minerva and Alastor arrived, Albus was sitting with his face buried in his hands. Alastor questioned a Healer, and she replied that he had been that way, muttering to himself, for hours. Minerva and Alastor took their usual seats and watched Albus in silence.
"Minerva."
Minerva glanced at Alastor, then back at Albus.
"She had such beautiful eyes. Green. The most beautiful green in the world. She was so perfect. So brilliant. I loved her so much. When she died, the world ended."
Minerva was staring at him, entranced. She had not heard him say so much in months.
"I loved her. I have never felt as alive as when we made love."
Alastor shifted uncomfortably, but Minerva did not notice.
"The feel of her skin, her breath on my chest, her love…she was my everything. When she died, I died. I wish I could have died in her place." He lapsed back into silence for a few minutes. Minerva hardly breathed until he spoke again.
Albus shook his head. "For eternity. So…she could not have died. It isn't possible…we saved her. We found her by that tree."
Minerva's hand on the wall steadied her as she stood up.
Nodding vehemently, Albus continued. "She's alive. She had to be. Minerva's alive. Alastor's alive. Minerva…."
In an instant, Albus straightened up. He took his face out of his hands. He looked at Minerva, really looked at her and saw her. "Minerva."
Minerva took a step toward him. "Albus?"
Albus stood up. He went to Minerva. "It's you," he said softly, stroking her face.
Minerva fell into his arms. She trembled as he cradled her against his chest, his hand moving up and down her back. This was Albus, his touch, his voice, his eyes so full of emotion and being. She closed her eyes as he whispered apologies and words of love against her hair.
"I'm sorry I abandoned you. But you waited."
"I would have forever."
"As promised," Albus said with a small smile.
Author's Note:
Thanks for all the reviews! They make me so happy! I hope you all liked this chapter and that the final chapter (dun dun dun…) is satisfying. There will be a bit of zest, not quite a lemon, but you know. Hopefully it will rot your teeth, ADandMMforever! Thanks to Angeldust-aka-Evilwoman, foci, bigkihap, bogus7, Lady-jolly, Quill of Minerva, ADandMMforever, Silver Sorceress, and Lyny Angell!
