Disclaimer: If I own Harry Potter, then Al Gore invented the internet. If I own Harry Potter, then John Kerry won the presidential election. If I own Harry Potter, then Wal Mart has gone out of business. Enough said.
Comments
ADandMM4eva: Yes, finally some ADMM! Hmmm...some real kissing? Maybe...maybe...
Rosaleen: Don't worry, Albus and Minerva will find Severus soon!
Q-BriarXJade-Q: Now we're back to Severus (kind of)!
Lou. McGonagall: Thanks for finally hittin' that update button, I was glad to read your comments. Thanks!
Aurinko: Yes, poor Severus! He'll get better eventually, though, so never fear (he still needs to sort out his problems with the memory from the Pensieve)!
Quill of Minerva: Yes, aren't sweet moments the best?
Rikki8879: Don't worry, Dumbledore and McGonagall will figure out that their feelings are mutual. Oh, and after this chapter, things should get a little better for Snape.
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers who helped me reach the 50 reviews mark (hey, give me a break, that's a big number for me)! Enjoy this chapter!
saiyanwizardgurl
Chapter 9: Findings
"Professor Dumbledore, sir! You must be waking up!"
Dumbledore opened his eyes wearily. He had been dreaming about sitting at the top of the Astronomy tower with Minerva, the bright moonlight cascading down on them both. He was suddenly pulled from his wonderful dream by something shaking him. "Please, Professor Dumbledore, sir! You must be waking up!"
The headmaster sat up. He felt a headache coming on, but he ignored it. "Dobby!"
"Yes, sir! Professor Snape is being back! You must hurry, sir, for he is not being well!"
"I see. Thank you, Dobby."
"You are being very welcome, sir!" The overexcited house-elf bowed deeply so that the ends of his batlike ears and the tip of his long, pointed nose brushed the hearth rug. "Please be calling for us if we can dos things for you!" Dobby turned around and scuttled out of McGonagall's office, shutting the door behind him with a snap!
Dumbledore looked at the clock above the fireplace, which read 2:13 am. Then he turned and saw the Transfigurations teacher sleeping on the couch next to him. "Minerva, my dear," he said, shaking her gently, "Severus is back."
McGonagall shifted slightly and her eyes fluttered open. "Hmm? I'm sorry, Albus, what did you say?"
"Dobby just came and told me that Severus is back in the castle. I think we should go check on him; Dobby told me he did not look well."
"All right, then. Let's go!"
For having being woken up about twenty seconds ago, the Transfigurations teacher had a lot of energy. She sprang to her feet and strode to the door, Dumbledore following closely behind. They walked in silence down the stone corridors to the dungeons, each lost in thought.
They reached the Potions Master's office and the headmaster knocked. "Severus?" No answer. Glancing at the witch beside him, he opened the office door to find…a normal office. It was just as neat as it had been when he walked in yesterday and the day before. His worry began to increase, and he strode towards the door to Snape's private rooms and knocked. "Severus? Are you all right?" Again, no response.
Dumbledore pushed the door open and he and the Transfigurations teacher stepped into a pitch black room. The bathroom lights were off. The fireplace was dead (The Potions Master probably never used it often anyway). The bed was empty. The couch was empty.
Looking down at the hearth rug, they saw a lump on the floor. Approaching it cautiously, they soon found it to be Snape himself. They could not see anything, so McGonagall flicked her wand and a roaring fire started in the fireplace. She turned back to the Potions Master and covered her hands with her mouth.
Snape's arms and shoulders were covered with bruises and scratches. A long gash ran down his right arm. His face was pale and drained. "Minerva," said the headmaster, "you levitate him onto his bed. Don't cover him up just yet, though. We need to bandage his arm and give him a Healing Potion."
McGonagall did as she was told. With a wave of her wand, she levitated the Potions Master onto the thick black covers of his bed and sat on the edge beside him. Dumbledore walked out of room. Looking at the worn young wizard, McGonagall felt hot tears being to fill her eyes as she touched his forehead gently. "Oh, Severus, what have they done to you?"
The Potions Master opened his eyes wearily. "Minerva?" he whispered weakly as he tried to sit up. "What – "
"Shhh, everything's fine, just lay down," said the Transfigurations teacher as she laid him back down.
"I – what happened?"
"You went to a meeting with the Death Eaters," said Dumbledore, walking back into the room with an armful of potion vials. He put them down and began to scan Snape with his wand.
"Right. I went to the meeting. And the Dark Lord was angry."
"About what?" asked McGonagall.
"A lot of the Death Eaters are not fulfilling their missions in a timely manner, so the Dark Lord decided we all needed a reminder of where our loyalties should lie."
"Did he use – "
"Yeah, the Cruciatus," said Snape, finishing her sentence.
"Then why are there bruises on your arms?" she asked, tentatively touching his injured shoulder.
"I don't know; I probably bumped into some things when I fell while he had the curse on me. Some are probably from when we were leaving because some idiot fell on me." Dumbledore flicked his wand and a bandage wound around the Potions Master's arm.
"So he used the curse on everyone?"
"Yeah, everyone was really screwed up after. Someone even slammed a door in Lucius' face." Minerva smiled, and Severus saw it. "Yeah, it was really funny," he added. "I almost laughed."
"Help him sit up, Minerva," said the headmaster. "Severus, you need to drink this."
Both obeyed the headmaster immediately. The Potions Master took the goblet that Dumbledore offered him and tanked down its contents. Then the headmaster took the goblet and the Transfigurations teacher tucked Snape in. "Pleasant dreams, Severus," said Dumbledore, kissing his forehead.
"We'll come to check on you in a few hours," said McGonagall, kissing him on the cheek.
"Night," mumbled the Potions Master, snuggling into his pillows.
Dumbledore and McGonagall crept out of Snape's rooms and shut the door quietly behind themselves. They strode out into the dungeon corridors, completely lost in thought. Before they knew it, they were standing in front of the Transfigurations teacher's office.
"Would you care to come in?" asked McGonagall.
"For a bit, if you wouldn't mind," said the headmaster, following her in.
"Albus," said the witch, relighting the fire with a flick of her wand, "what are we going to do?" Dumbledore noticed that she was shaking slightly. He walked over to her and pulled her into a strong embrace.
"Well, I'm going to stay the night with him, just to make sure he's okay. All we can do is wait for the potions to take effect and come back every few hours."
"Okay," whispered McGonagall into his beard. "I'll be down in the dungeons in the morning."
"All right then."
"Thank you, Albus," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
"You're very welcome, my dear." He turned to walk out of the office, but stopped as he touched the door handle. "Minerva?"
"Yes, Albus?"
"May I ask you something?" He walked back to her.
"Of course, Albus."
Dumbledore bent over slightly and kissed the Transfigurations teacher. A real kiss. It was simple enough, but she could feel the passion, the longing, and the love. He pulled back after a few moments, and said, "I shall await your answer." With that, the headmaster turned on his heel and strode out of the office.
"Finally," you all say, "some real romance between Albus and Minerva!"
Please Review!
