Disclaimer: I do not own anything dealing with Harry Potter.
A/N: Wow, I can't believe how many people like this story. It is so surprising. Thank you all for reviewing. If I do not include you personally in my thanking, do not take it personally. Please forgive me if I do not put you in the thank you list.
Mollisk: Thank you for reading and I am so glad that you find it heartwarming. That means a lot to me to know that you like it.
Aurinko: Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for not being cruel about me adding new characters. A lot of people do not like original characters. And yes, I must admit, I love being cruel and leaving my updates. It keeps people guessing.
Bigkihap: Well, if you're going to start blubbering then here. Hands a box of Kleenex I hope there's enough in there. LOL!
Quill of Minerva: Yes, well, that part of the story was what I was most worried about. I wasn't quite sure if I should steer the chapter that way, so that was part of the reason why I kept it right there. I wanted to see how people would react to it. It looks like people are liking it so far.
La Belle Coeur: Once again, thank you very much for your interest in my story. And you are welcome. Trust me, I do not think I could handle giving Minerva a painful death. It would be just too much for even me.
TartanLioness: Wow, your review was my absolute favorite. I am not at liberty to say exactly what will happen to her, but I can assure that everything will turn out okay in the end… somewhat!
Chapter Eight: Helter Skelter…
Once Crystal and T'ari were shown where their rooms were, they were left to settle in. Crystal would be staying with her husband in his normal rooms, which made her happy because not only would she be spending the summer with her husband, but she would also be able to spend it with her favorite female professor. (Even in her school years, Severus had always been number one in her book. She was, after all, a Slytherin.)
As for T'ari, Minerva allowed her to stay in her rooms. At first, T'ari objected, saying that she could never do such a thing. But as the secret was already out, Albus figured that it would just be better if Minerva moved into his rooms for the remaining time period. She would, of coarse, continue to use her own office, but at night, she would stay with Albus.
So, as they began to unpack, Minerva and Albus walked slowly back down towards the Great Hall.
"So, what do you say we take a walk around the lake, huh?" asked Albus, placing his arm around Minerva and holding her tightly. "Or did you do that already?" Minerva looked at him questioningly. "Well, I must say that I was rather shocked when I woke this morning and saw that you were missing. Is that where you were, by the lake?" Minerva blushed and nodded. Then she looked up at him.
"But I wouldn't mind doing it once again, with you," she smiled.
"Good," smiled Albus, kissing her on the top of her head.
Ooooooooooo
Minerva and Albus reached the lake and began to walk around the lake for a good half hour in just comfortable silence. It was this kind of silence they both enjoyed having with each other. Minerva was really enjoying herself, hand in hand with her loved one. Then, as she felt Albus' finger brush against her ring, she remembered what it was that she needed to do. Her heart felt heavy as she decided that this was just as good a time as any to let him know. She stopped abruptly and looked at Albus.
When Albus felt a small tug on his hand, he stopped walking and turned to look at Minerva. He smiled at her, but grew scared when he saw her frown.
"Albus, there is something I must tell you," she whispered. Albus smiled and squeezed her hand.
"What is it, my love?" he asked, stepping closer to her. He took her other hand in his so that he was now holding both her hands. Minerva couldn't look him in the face. Instead, she just stared down at their hands, a lump suspending itself in her throat. Be strong, Minerva, be strong, she told herself. She looked up at Albus.
"Well, you see, Albus," she started, "I just wanted to say, first of all, that I am deeply moved and honored by you asking me to be your wife. I have dreamt of nothing more for so long than being referred to as Mrs. Albus Dumbledore. You do not know how many years I wanted to present myself as 'Minerva Dumbledore' or to present myself to my students as 'Professor Dumbledore'. And now, knowing that I can finally have that chance, makes my heart soar."
"Mine too," replied Albus, bringing her hands up to his lips and kissing them gently. "I, too, have always longed to call you my wife, but have refrained because of my foolish fear. But now, those dreams can be realized." He placed his hand on her cheek and lowered his lips to hers. He kissed her lips, and a tingling sensation ran through both of them. The kiss began to grow more passionate, but Minerva's thoughts, which had been growing fuzzy at first, were brought back like a jolt when she remembered what it was that she had wanted to tell him. She stepped back from him, her back facing him.
"No, Albus, I cannot do this," she breathed. She quickly wiped away her tears, which she knew would fall if she didn't take care. Albus was just confused. "I can't let this happen, not when I've made up my mind."
"Minerva?" inquired Albus, walking behind her. "What are you trying to say?" He placed his hand on her back between her shoulder blades. What was it that she was trying to say? She turned around to face him and, taking his hand palm up, placed something small into it and wrapped his fingers around it.
"I'm sorry, Albus, but I simply cannot marry you," she whispered, her eyes tearing up again. "Not now. It would not be fair to you, now that I only have a year and a half left." Albus opened his hand and looked at the ring he held within it. He was dazed and numb, not quite sure of what he was hearing. "Please understand." Minerva turned to leave when Albus' voice stopped her.
"Why?" he asked quietly. Minerva turned and faced him. Then, louder, "Why would marrying me not be fair?"
"Listen, Albus-," began Minerva.
"No, Minerva, you listen," he said, tears now apparent in his eyes. "I have loved you for so long and now that you've agreed to be my wife, my wildest dreams have come true. Now why, Minerva, have you decided that it would be okay to break my heart?"
"It would be just unfair to make you a widower so soon after our marriage," replied Minerva.
"No, Minerva," he said, shaking his head. "It would be unfair to play with my heart this way." He walked up to her and placed the ring back in her right hand. "Please give it another thought. You don't want to make a mistake." He placed his hand on her cheek once more. "And I don't want to lose the most valuable gem I've ever had in my life." With that, he trudged back up to Hogwarts castle, leaving Minerva alone with her thoughts.
Minerva, with her bottom lip quivering, looked down at her ring, her vision blurring. She mentally cursed herself for becoming so much more emotional that she normally was. She knew that Poppy said it was normal for cancer patients to become more emotional, but that just wasn't her. She was not a normally emotional person.
Looking at the ring Albus left in her hand, she began to wonder. Perhaps it wasn't just the sickness that was getting to her. Perhaps it was the knowledge that she would have to leave Albus sooner than she wanted to. Perhaps it was the knowledge that she was harming the only man she had ever loved in her entire life, and it was really killing her.
Once again, she looked into the pond as if the answer would just jump out of the water. She stared at her reflection. What was she supposed to do?
"Minerva?" She turned around to see T'ari standing behind her. She dabbed at her face quickly.
"Oh, hello, dear," she said. T'ari rested her hand upon her former professors shoulder.
"Please, tell me what has happened," she said. "I saw you out here with P-Albus." It still felt so weird for her to call them by their first names. Minerva looked at T'ari. "I promise, I won't tell a soul, if you don't want me to."
Ooooooooooo
Albus entered his office, his heart breaking with each step. How could Minerva do this to him? What was, in her book, considered fair?
None of this made any sense to him at all. He was brought from his wonderings when he heard someone knock on his office door. Perhaps that was her. He rushed over to the door and opened it.
"Miner-," he began. But his face fell when he saw that it was Crystal.
"Hey, I know I'm not much to look at, but don't worry, this stomach is going to go once the baby was born," she joked.
"Oh, sorry, Crystal," said Albus, forcing a smile. "Come on in." Crystal walked in and looked at him. Then she saw something in his eyes that scared her.
"What is it?" she asked. Albus was the best Headmaster Hogwarts ever had.
"Nothing that you should worry about," replied Albus.
"Don't you tell me what to do," she said, half jokingly. "I'm a pregnant woman who hasn't had anything to eat yet, so you better let me know what happened." Albus couldn't help but laugh at how blunt Crystal was being. Crystal looked at him. "I can tell it has something to do with a certain Transfiguration professor, right?" Albus nodded. What did he have to fear? Besides, she was a woman. Perhaps it would help having a woman's insight on what would drive Minerva to do such an absurd thing.
To Be Continued…
A/N2: Well, here is the next chapter. I do hope you like it.
