Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, and things, (all Harry Potter nouns) belong to J. K. Rowlings. (This story takes place during Harry's sixth year.)
Chapter 5: Crocheting a plan.
In the wee hours of the morning Minerva was awakened from her uncomfortable dreamless sleep by a brilliant green ray of light. She watched with anticipation as the smoke began to dissipate and the wounded were carried toward the castle. As she waited with worry to see if Albus was brought in, she turned around and spotted Severus entering the infirmary carrying an indignant Rolanda.
"Will you just put me down? As I've told you before, it's not as bad as it looks!" Rolanda argued.
"That last hex broke your leg in four places. Woman if you intend to walk normally again, I suggest you wait until I set you down on something!" he retorted.
He set her down on one of the beds and dragged a nurse over to look at her. As the nurse examined her leg, she glanced over at Severus and noticed a dampness by his shoulder. She touched it and realized that it was blood. "Severus Snape, how dare you carry me here when you've hurt your shoulder!" she scolded.
Minerva, not having seen Albus among the wounded, left the infirmary and walked toward the foyer. She stopped dead in her tracks when she spotted him and thought back to their last discussion. He only kissed me because he was going off to war, she thought sadly. His beard was tangled and caked with dirt. As she glanced at his robes, small clumps of dirt clung to them and she saw blood among other charred marks, not his blood though.
As he walked in stiffly and looking only at the ground, he stopped at her shoes and met her eyes. "Minerva," his ragged voice whispered. "Voldemort is dead. Mr. Potter has completed the prophecy and surprisingly without injury. Our side won and everyone fought with courage and honor. You will be happy to learn that none of the children fighting were killed or seriously hurt."
She gently touched his face and eyed him with concern. When her eyes met his, she noticed that they seemed to have dimmed slightly. In one look, she understood the horror he had seen and fought through. "You should probably visit the infirmary before you-" he put a hand up to interrupt her.
"I only have a few minor scratches. People who actually require medical assistance ought to be taken care of. I myself only require a good bath and a game of chess," he commented.
A thought crossed her mind that caused her to smirk. "Albus, if you play chess in the bathtub, you'll lose most of the pieces," she teased.
He chuckled softly and held her hands in his. "My dear, you know very well what I meant, but I appreciate your attempt to lighten the mood. After a bath, I would like to play a game of chess and have hot chocolate with my favourite person."
She slipped her hands out of his and gasped his upper arms. His hands gently rested on her shoulders and their foreheads touched in a gesture of closeness that they both needed, knowing that words were unnecessary. Slowly they pulled apart and he glanced at his disheveled appearance. "As much as I would rather stay with you, I really must head off to that bath I mentioned. Would you care to join me later for chess and hot chocolate?"
Nodding, she smiled. "Of course, just owl me when you are ready."
Two hours later, Minerva was sitting at her office desk when the owl arrived. She quickly rose and headed toward his study. He greeted her at the door and handed her a cup of hot chocolate. She observed that his beard was white again from having been cleaned and his overall appearance had been improved upon considerably. But she still saw something in his eyes, something that had yet to be resolved.
"You're looking much better, Albus. How are you feeling?" she inquired as they sat in front of the chessboard.
He took a sip of his drink. "I feel better now that you are here with me. My dear Tabby, war is an unpleasant thing no one should ever have to endure. I am so glad that you didn't try something heroic and race out to join the others."
Even though he was talking about it, she could see that the subject troubled him. "Albus, you don't have to talk about it now. Why don't you rest a bit and play chess? I think we could both get our mind off things for a while."
He agreed and they played three games before either spoke again. "Thank you, Minerva, for being here when I need you."
She smiled and walked over to him. Then she knelt down in order to meet his eyes and caressed his cheek with her hand and whispered, "How could I be anywhere else?"
To her astonishment, she watched small twinkle appear in his eyes. He took her hand and kissed her wrist. "My dear, as always, you manage to brighten my day."
She blushed at the compliment. "Thank you, and the twinkle is back in your eyes," she paused and took a deep breath. I'll tell him now. "Albus, there's something I should have-"
A sharp tapping at his window interrupted her. He stood and walked over to let the owl in. He turned back to her after reading the parchment. "It would seem that the other professors request a meeting to clarify what occurred and what is to be done next. Now what were you saying?"
The moment had left her and she simply shook her head. In half an hour the faculty sat in the staff room and Albus spoke. "For those of you who are unaware, Voldemort has been defeated, along with several deatheaters. As for what should be done next, I believe we should proceed to live our lives without the dread we have been trapped by lately. I will announce Voldemort's defeat at breakfast tomorrow. I have no doubt that they will want to celebrate, therefore I will ask if any of you here would like to arrange the event or have suggestions."
After discussing the idea, Filius Flitwick and Sandra Sprout volunteered to plan a feast and a day of games for the students. The meeting ended and the staff filed out and went their separate ways. Minerva headed to her office to plan lessons, not wanting to be interrogated by Albus regarding what she had almost told him.
She was sitting in her office marking quizzes in the middle of March when Rolanda entered her office. "Is everything alright, Ro?" she inquired as she glanced up at her friend.
The other woman nodded. "I found this hiding in one of my trunks and I wanted to give it to you before I misplaced it again," Rolanda mentioned, handing her a small, red and gold crocheted blanket. "It's for the baby. I've no doubt that he or she will be in Gryffindor."
Minerva blushed and left her desk to hug her friend. "Thank you, it's beautiful. Did you make this?"
Rolanda grinned. "Yes, it's been a while since I tried my hand at crocheting, but when I found that red and gold yarn, the muse returned."
"This must have taken you hours," she remarked as she held the blanket. "I've been so distracted for the past couple of months that things are not quite as prepared as they ought to be. I really should prepare a room for the baby soon."
"That's alright. It happens to the best of us. How have you been feeling lately?" Rolanda questioned.
"I've been tired, but it's nothing that I cannot work through. I'm just glad that the nausea is gone. If only I could find a potion or spell that could hide…" she trailed off and placed her hand on her abdomen. After a moment, she smiled.
"Is something wrong?" her friend asked with concern.
Minerva shook her head and took Rolanda's hand. She allowed the flying instructor to feel the baby kick. "It has taken some getting used to, but I think I'm finally looking forward to holding this little one in my arms."
"And when will you tell Albus?" Rolanda asked.
The Transfiguration professor sighed heavily and paced between the door and the window. "I don't know how. Actually I have tried a few times, but every time I do, something interrupts me and I loose the nerve. How can I tell him that he is a father because of a drunken accident that caused him to do and say things that he did not mean?"
Rolanda sighed and shook her head, placing her hand on Minerva's shoulders. "Min, alcohol doesn't make you do things you never thought of: it lets your inhibitions down so you do things that protocol usually won't allow for."
She watched as the comment sank in. "Do you mean to tell me that he does love me in the same why I love him and that we were only doing what our own defenses would not allow?"
The spiky-haired witch laughed. "You said that better than I could've. Min, he loves you and deserves to know what is going on."
Perhaps wishes do come true. "I suppose you have a point. What about you and Severus?" Minerva added.
Rolanda crossed her arms and leaned back against the wall. "The irony of what I just told you is that it's one of those 'do as I say and not as I do' things. I don't know if I'll ever talk to Severus."
Minerva raised an eyebrow. "Why not try what you suggested a few months ago?"
The flying instructor ran her hands through her spiky hair in thought and then a broad grin appeared on her face. "Min, you're a genius. I'll just go up to him and snog him! Tally ho!" she exclaimed as she marched out of the door.
The Transfiguration professor tried to call after her friend. "Oh dear, wait, I didn't mean that one!" Realizing that the other woman could not hear her, she sighed heavily and sat back down at her desk. Maybe I should speak to Albus in order that Ro will stop pestering me. No matter what, I owe him the truth.
Severus was working on a potion for the next day's class when Rolanda entered his classroom. He did not notice her presents as he continued to prepare the concoction for the demonstration. She came up behind him and waited until he appeared to be finished. Then she quickly grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him so they were facing each other. Without a second thought, she kissed him passionately.
At first he was unresponsive because she had profoundly taken him by surprise. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss. They parted, out of breath, and he looked into her amber eyes. "I was wondering when one of us would finally get around to it," he said quietly.
"I love you, Severus Snape, crazy as that might sound," she remarked.
He chuckled and kissed her soundly. "Not as crazy as me admitting that I love you too. If only we could convince Minerva and Albus to have a chat."
She laughed. "I've been trying to do that for years and I've never gotten anywhere. The only way she would ever tell him is if he told her first."
A mischievous glint appeared in Severus' eyes. "It might just work too."
"What might work?" she inquired.
He let her go and headed over to his desk for a piece of parchment and a quill. "I'm talking about the grand, yet simple scheme to get our Headmaster and Headmistress together, of course."
"Now why on earth would you be so eager to get them together?" Rolanda questioned, looking over his shoulder.
He dealt her his customary smirk and pulled her to him for a quick kiss. "I would think that would be obvious; because all the staring they do is becoming annoying."
(my thanks to Quill of Minerva, TartanLioness, Morgana-Alex, Aurinko, MMrulz4eva, LinZE, Lady Jolly, Melissa, Emutet, Always Hopeful, Alesia G, Silver Sorceress, simpledaydreamer, and TabbyMin for reviewing :D)