Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, and things, (all Harry Potter nouns) belong to J. K. Rowlings.
Chapter 4: Reactions.
Minerva had a suspicion about why Professor Dumbledore had called her to his office the next day. She knocked and waited for him to let her in this time. When he did so she quietly took a seat and stared at his desk. Because she was not looking at him, she did not notice him studying her. Supposedly she's seventeen, but she has always acted older. Perhaps she is impulsive, but she will always be a Gryffindor. "Miss McGonagall, do you know why you're here?" he began.
She took a deep breath before finally looking up at him. "I believe so, Professor."
"Did you in fact enter the infirmary with out permission and access both my medical files and your own?" he questioned.
Unable to tell whether he was actually angry with her or not, she replied, "Yes."
"Did you also change your appearance and falsify your identity in order to donate bone marrow?"
It nearly broke her heart that he could be upset with her for trying to help him. "Yes," she said in a voice barely above a whisper.
He walked over to her and kneeled to be on her level. "Why, Minerva? Why would you do something so dangerous to yourself?"
Her breath caught in her throat as she noticed that he used her first name. "Someone needed to," she answered.
He shook his head at her reply. "But why?"
"They were never going to find you a donor in any reasonable time and time was something you were running out of. I had to do something and I was not about to let you die because they couldn't find a donor!" she declared.
"What if your idea had not worked?" he challenged.
Her green eyes sparked with determination and pride as he watched her. Those eyes, Merlin, her eyes are beautiful, he thought for a second. "I would have come up with another plan. As long as there is something you can do, you don't let your friends die. I'd have done the same for Poppy or any of my friends. You, Professor, have become my friend," she paused and he noticed tears in her eyes. "And I didn't want to imagine my life without you because I love you," she added in a voice barely above a whisper.
Comprehension flashed across her face as she covered her mouth with both hands. Oh Merlin, what she had just said! The tears I can't control anymore, but if I refuse to answer anymore questions, perhaps he'll forget that last part, she reasoned. When she tried to look away again, he gently placed his hand under her chin to bring her gaze back to his. She slowly dropper her hands and looked directly into his blue eyes.
He had never expected an answer like that. It was the simplest one he had ever heard. The smile he gave her reached his eyes. Suddenly she smiled back. Finally he broke the silence. "Minerva, I understand now. You are so unselfish and bright. I have something to tell you. I thought that you would consider me a twisted old man for it before today. Minerva, I love you too."
"Professor, the twinkle is back in your eyes," she pointed out quietly.
"Call me 'Albus,'" he told her.
He had not removed his hand from her chin. They slowly moved closer to each other and closed their eyes, neither one understanding what was happening. When their lips gently touched, everything began to make sense. His other hand moved to her back and she rested her hands on his shoulders. When they broke away, both blushed lightly in surprise.
"How do we make this work, Pro-Albus?" she asked.
He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "We keep things as quiet as possible for a while."
She nodded. "I suppose that means I shouldn't tell Poppy?"
"I'm afraid it's for the best. I've no doubt that she is outside waiting for you. Perhaps you can tell her later," he stated. They kissed lightly before Minerva left.
Poppy paced back and forth in front of the door to Professor Dumbledore's office. What's taking her so long? Is everything alright? Is she going to be expelled? I hope she comes out soon, she worried. She breathed a sigh of relief when Minerva emerged.
"Min, what happened? How much trouble are you in? What took you so long?" Poppy questioned. Minerva seemed not to see her and walked as if in a daze with a beaming smile on her face. Poppy abruptly stepped in front of Minerva and grabbed her by the by the shoulders. "Royal Air Force to Minerva, are you planning to land sometime soon?"
Minerva laughed. "Everything is fine. We came to an understanding and I don't have detention."
Poppy smirked and crossed her arms. "You're not telling me the whole story, that much is plain to see. One of these days you're going to have to tell me, but I'll let it go this time."
Minerva hugged her friend. "I promise I'll explain eventually."
After she graduated from Hogwarts, Minerva spent four years at a university and returned to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. She finally told Poppy what had transpired at the meeting when she called her friend and asked if she would be a bridesmaid at the wedding. Two years later, Albus Dumbledore became Headmaster and Minerva Dumbledore not only became the Transfiguration professor, but also Deputy Headmistress. Due to the uncanny knack they both had for acquiring enemies, their marriage had to remain a secret, therefore Minerva had to teach using her maiden name.
Minerva flipped through a photo album that had been a gift from Poppy on her and Albus' fiftieth wedding anniversary. "Albus, look at this one. I didn't even realize that anyone with a camera was watching," she remarked, pointing to a staff Christmas party in which she and Albus had been caught on film kissing under the mistletoe.
Albus smiled and kissed his wife on the cheek. "Someone managed to catch the family picnic too. Apparently the entire staff has been watching us for years," he remarked, showing her the picture of them and their two children, Kyle and Maria, sitting on a blanket by the lake.
"One of these days I would like to tell the school the truth. You wouldn't believe whom they have speculated I might have been seeing! That detestable Guilderoy Lockhart was a favourite rumor of theirs," she commented.
He chuckled. "All in good time, my dear, I promise. And I always keep my promises," he paused and pulled out his wand to make their wedding bands visible. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist. "For better or for worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I always keep my promises."
"I know, as do I," she whispered before kissing him soundly.
………………………….. Fin …………………………..
(I enjoyed writing this story and I hope all of you have enjoyed reading it; my thanks to TartanLioness, Morgana-Alex, Quill of Minerva, esb, and Lady Jolly for reviewing :D)
