Disclaimer: None of the recognizable characters and settings belong to me. They are all the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling. I'm just playing around with them for the fun of it…no monetary gain is sought.
This story is dedicated to scattered logic for her cherished friendship and all her invaluable help.
Chapter Eight: Opening MovesThe next day Ian Standish was making his presence felt all over the school. Everywhere he went, he was making it a point to ooze charm. He was flattering the ladies, complimenting the men, admiring the condition of the school and the intelligence of its students. He even had a kind word for the efficiency of the house elves and the sparkling transparency of the castle ghosts.
Minerva was sure that if Peeves had blown him a raspberry or doused him with paint, he'd have found some way to put a positive spin on that, too. The man was obviously determined to be adored, and his gullible audience was lapping it up. It was enough to make his long-suffering ex-wife ill. All day long, all she heard from anyone who crossed her path was how nice, how charming, how interesting and perceptive Ian was.
The frustrated witch couldn't remember when she'd spent a longer or more nerve-wracking day. By the end of it, her teeth hurt from clenching them shut, and her face hurt from the artificial smile that she was careful to keep firmly plastered upon it.
Goddess, if she had a Galleon for every time she heard how lucky she was to have been married to such a nice man and how did she ever let him get away, she'd undoubtedly have ended up richer than the Muggle Queen of England! How did she ever let him get away…let him…if only they knew. She'd have paid every Knut she ever had to escape from him. She counted herself lucky to have gotten out of her marriage to Ian Standish in one piece. These people had no idea what marriage to him was like, and she hoped they'd never have to find out.
Obviously, her hopes of keeping her former relationship with the man a secret were vain ones. Thanks to Severus, of all people, apparently. Poppy let it slip in conversation that he'd been the one to tell her about their former status as husband and wife, and then coyly added that she might have casually mentioned it to one or two others, including Flitwick, the worst gossip in the castle. Thank you, Severus.
Interestingly enough, he was one person whom she didn't lay eyes on all day, probably the only one, in fact. Most likely, he knew very well that his indiscretion would annoy her no end, and so he managed to stay out of her way on purpose. The coward.
Finally, as she watched her last class of the day make its somewhat straggly exit from her classroom, Minerva simply dropped her head down onto her folded arms and closed her eyes. Immediately, visions of her encounter with Ian from the night before sprang to mind and played themselves out against the back of her eyelids.
All the way through the corridors of the castle, until they reached the guest suites on the rear of the first floor, in the main part of the castle proper, Ian had kept up a running commentary on everything that he could think of to talk about. He didn't even seem to realize that it was a virtual monologue since she was contributing to the conversation as little as it was possible to get away with and not be openly rude. Though, why she should care about whether or not she was being rude to Ian after that disgusting display in the Great Hall, she certainly couldn't explain. Habit she supposed. After all, she was Deputy Headmistress of the school, and he was a visiting dignitary. That required her to treat him with the utmost courtesy and respect…not an easy task when what she really wanted to do was slap his face soundly and run away as fast as possible.
Despite his protests to the contrary, Ian didn't seem to have the slightest problem navigating around the building and indeed he even corrected her when she deliberately turned down the wrong corridor in order to see just how lost he really was. The chagrined look on his face betrayed the fact that he obviously regretted speaking up as soon as he did it. He couldn't help but realize that he'd been found out, but it was too late by then. Minerva knew that Ian simply couldn't resist telling someone what to do in any situation where he knew that he was right. Obviously, that hadn't changed. Somehow, she managed to keep her smug feeling of triumph, at maneuvering him into showing what a liar he was, to herself. It did feel good, though.
As they finally reached his door, he smiled and tried to engage her in some further conversation to delay their parting a while longer. As he stepped a bit closer, she stepped back.
"Your colleagues seem to be a nice bunch of people, Minerva."
An opening that she could hardly argue with, so she nodded her agreement pleasantly. "Yes, by and large they are. I've enjoyed working with all of them."
"Yes, I can imagine that you have." His deep voice seemed somehow overly warm and friendly; it made her uneasy. "The Potions master seems like an interesting man. Though, he was a little quiet at dinner." His eyes held a speculative gleam as he waited to hear her response.
The unexpected mention of Severus caused her heart rate to rise slightly. What was the man after? "Severus tends to be a fairly private person. He seldom has a lot to add to the general dinnertime conversation."
"Yes," Ian nodded casually, "I noticed that he asked if he'd be seeing you later. Are the two of you working on some special project together?"
With a pang of dismay, she could read his curiosity in his face and gave an internal sigh. The very last person whom she wanted to discuss with Ian was Severus. It suddenly occurred to her, as she stood there looking at him, that if he was involved, however peripherally, with Voldemort, she shouldn't take the slightest chance that news of her arrangement with Severus might get back to the wrong ears. She didn't believe for a moment that Voldemort would approve of Severus having any sort of relationship with her, even one of simple convenience.
Trying to project an outward demeanor of calm, she smiled slightly and shook her head. "I wouldn't call it a project exactly. We usually play chess in the evenings if we aren't too busy with work. As Deputy Headmistress of the school, it's my job to keep the staff reasonably happy and content here. While Severus was laid up for so long in the infirmary, we began to play chess as a means of keeping him occupied in the evenings. He's an excellent opponent, and I've found playing with him to be quite a challenge."
Ian's face smoothed out, and the speculative look died away from his eyes. "Yes, you always were an excellent chess player. I used to enjoy our games together. I'm glad that you've been able to find yourself a new and challenging opponent. Still, there's certainly something to be said for revisiting the familiar. You wouldn't be willing to come in for a while and perhaps play a game with me now, would you? For old time's sake?"
He moved a step closer to her, hovering far too near for comfort, and standing between her and the freedom of the corridor beyond. Once more, she took a step backwards and now felt a hard unyielding surface behind her back. How had she let him maneuver her up against the door without even realizing it? She was obviously not thinking clearly at all in his presence.
Casually, he placed one large hand against the wall, imprisoning her on one side while his other hand came up to gently caress the side of her face. "I've missed spending time with you, Minerva. Please, come in and stay for awhile this evening," his deep voice cajoled softly.
A strong feeling of being trapped immediately came over her, and she stiffened up at his touch. Her mouth had gone as dry as autumn leaves, and she could feel her body begin to tremble as the old feelings of panic that were her constant companions during her life with this man once more made themselves felt.
"I have an awful headache, Ian," she whispered hoarsely. "I really need to take something and then lie down and rest for awhile. I wouldn't be up to playing chess this evening."
His hand moved caressingly from her cheek down the length of her throat and toyed softly with the line of her jaw and the collar of her robe. "You could rest here as well as in your own rooms. I have a bed in here, too, you know, and it's big enough to share."
As she gasped at his boldness, and the intimacy of his touch, he bent swiftly and kissed her once more. Somehow, she managed to keep herself rigid and still beneath his unwanted advance. Though her heart was pounding with the fear of him that was ingrained so deeply in her psyche as to be part of her image of him forever.
Automatically, her hand slipped into her pocket and grasped the handle of her wand. She had to fight with herself not to draw it out and blast him off of her. Something that would only cause more problems than it solved, unfortunately. It did produce a rather satisfying mental image, though, that gave her strength.
When Ian pulled back slightly, she drew on her years as a strong, independent woman, raised her chin defiantly and tried to speak in as calm a voice as possible, "How is Nelda, Ian? You didn't say."
A faint smirk crossed his lips at her non-reaction to his kiss, he knew he'd gotten to her more than she let on, and he reluctantly stepped back, releasing her from his hold. "She's well. She sends her regards."
"Yes, I'm sure that she does," Minerva murmured softly as she took advantage of the opening he was now providing and slipped away from his smothering presence to stand a bit apart from him in the thankfully deserted corridor.
"Good night, Ian," she stated firmly. Then, without hesitation, she turned and fled quickly up the corridor away from him. His low laugh and a final comment followed in her footsteps, "Good night, Minerva. I've missed you, you know. I'm looking forward to seeing more of you during my visit."
She didn't look back. Instead, she walked briskly up the corridor as fast as she could. Then as soon as she rounded the first corner that she came to, and wouldn't be visible to him any more, she broke into a run. If hellhounds had been pursuing her, she couldn't have moved any faster. Thankfully, she didn't meet anyone during her flight through the castle because she knew that she'd find her behavior difficult to explain to anyone who might see her, but she simply couldn't help herself. Putting as much distance as possible between them was suddenly of paramount importance. She didn't stop until she reached the sanctuary of her own rooms, only to open the door and discover that her sanctuary had been breached.
Albus Dumbledore turned away from the window at her entrance, unclasped his hands from behind his back and nodded pleasantly. "Ah, there you are, Minerva. I was beginning to wonder what was taking you so long."
Suddenly furious at this intrusion, she stepped inside and slammed the door in her wake. "That has to be the shortest meeting you've ever attended, Albus. Or was the meeting with Flitwick perhaps not so urgent as you'd have had me believe, after all?"
Guilt flashed across his features as he faced her, and she felt an odd stab of triumph to see it. Then he nodded slowly and opened his mouth to speak, "I'm sorry. You have every right to be angry with me. I owe you an apology, both for what happened at dinner and also for maneuvering you into walking Ian back to his room."
His admission caught her by surprise. "You admit that you manipulated me?"
With a deep sigh, he walked over to the sofa in front of the fireplace and sat down gesturing for her to come and sit with him. "Yes, my dear, I do reluctantly admit it, and I am sorry for the necessity. I'm concerned that whatever Ian wants here at Hogwarts, it isn't as simple as doing his job for the Board of Governors."
Minerva snorted derisively and crossed the room to join him on the couch. "I guarantee that you're right about that."
"Yes, but despite careful questioning during our initial meeting, and later before dinner began, it was clear that I was unlikely to be successful in finding out just what he was after. He was quite determined to speak of nothing with me other than his official mission here…and you."
"Me?" she exclaimed in surprise.
Dumbledore nodded seriously. "Yes. We actually spent a great deal of our time together talking about you, Minerva. It's quite obvious that whatever he's here for, it concerns you."
A shiver shot through her, and she felt suddenly chilled, clasping her arms tightly against her body she rubbed them firmly to try to ward it off. Damn. She'd suspected something like this, but she hadn't wanted to admit it, even to herself.
"He asked if he could possibly sit next to you at dinner. I couldn't think of any particular reason to refuse his request, and I hoped that since he was so eager to talk to you that perhaps you could draw out his true reason for coming. That's also why I had you escort him to his rooms this evening. I thought that once the two of you were alone for a while that he might come out with his true reason for being here. Was I right?" He looked at her hopefully.
Minerva's expression clouded as she recalled their conversation, and she rose to her feet and began to pace back and forth restlessly before the hearth. "No. I don't think so. He did make a pass at me, not a terribly insistent one, thank goodness, but a pass nevertheless. He talked about how much he'd missed me and how much he was looking forward to spending time with me again. That really was the extent of our conversation. Yet that can't be the real reason he's here. It simply can't be."
Dumbledore frowned and looked up at her as she paused in her pacing to stare off into space in contemplation. "Are you sure? Perhaps we're being too suspicious. Is it possible that he is here simply to try to convince you to come back to him?"
What a horrifying idea! Could that possibly be it? Her mind skated away from the idea, and she shook herself firmly to rid herself of the thought. "No," she stated determinedly. "I don't believe that for a moment. I asked him about his wife. He said that she was fine, and that she sent her regards. An obvious lie, the woman despises me, but, nevertheless, a lie that he never would have made if he seriously wanted me back. Instead, he'd have used the opportunity to tell me how they aren't getting along anymore, and that their marriage was over, or had become strictly in name only. Whatever would cast a good light on him and a bad one on their relationship. He didn't do that, though."
She sought her friend's eyes with her own. "No. There has to be something else that he wants. Though I'll grant you, it does seem to have something to do with me. However, the last time we were in the same place at the same time, twelve years ago at an academic conference, we simply ignored each other's existence every time our paths crossed. What's changed? Certainly I'm not any more desirable now than I was twelve years ago," she said with a mocking ring to her voice.
Dumbledore smiled and stood up. "I suppose that's a matter of opinion, Minerva. I've always maintained that you are a very lovely woman. It wouldn't be a surprise to me if Ian had simply realized that he'd made a very big mistake when he let you go."
She laughed at Albus' rather obvious attempt to allay her fears. "Well, if so, it certainly took him long enough to figure that out."
"Sometimes the truth simply takes a while to be recognized."
"True…but not this time." She shook her head decisively. "There has to be something else going on. Ian is far too self absorbed to be truly interested in anyone other than himself." She sighed. "We also can't forget that he seems to have a connection to…Lord Voldemort. Perhaps that figures into his mission here."
"Perhaps. We shall all simply have to be very vigilant in our dealings with him until we learn the truth. Since he seems to want to spend so much time with you, I'm assuming that if he gets his way, we'll find out the truth that much quicker. So, though I know it'll be difficult, I'm asking if you'll agree to spend as much time as you can stand in his company in order to try to discover what he truly wants. I can't help but believe that you'll have the best chance of discovering the truth."
Minerva's heart sank at that request. As logical as he made it sound, the last thing that she wanted to do was to spend any more time in Ian Standish's presence. One minute spent with that man was too much! Yet she knew that Albus was probably right, and since they did need to find out just what the man was up to, it seemed to have fallen to her to find the answers that they sought.
With a deep sigh, Minerva raised her head from her arms and stared out across her empty classroom. And here it was dinnertime already and no doubt her next chance to experience more of Ian's scintillating company. Merlin give her strength!
Just as she was reluctantly dragging herself to her feet to head down to the Great Hall, her door opened and Irma Pince popped her head in.
"Oh, good. I was hoping that you were still here, Minerva. Would you like to go down for dinner?" Her friend looked hopeful.
Minerva sighed and crossed the room as if dragging herself to the gallows. "Yes, I suppose so."
Irma frowned. "Are you sure that you're all right? You've been looking worried and upset for days. You used to tell me what was bothering you, you know."
Forcing a smile, Minerva answered as calmly as she could. "I still would tell you if there was anything worth telling. I'm just tired. The last few days have been a bit stressful, what with preparing for Ian's visit and speculating as to whether he'll support giving us the extra resources we need. I just haven't gotten enough sleep, I'm afraid. Have you gone over your budget and made a list of things that the library needs, but that you're always complaining that we can't afford because of inadequate funding?"
Irma smiled grimly. "As a matter of fact, I made a point of doing that today. Do you think that Mr. Standish will take the time to come and talk to me about the library? In the past, the emphasis has always been on classroom instruction, and precious little attention was given to the vital support services that the library provides to keep this school running."
Minerva took her friend's arm and guided her out into the corridor, closing her door behind then with a firm snap. "You're absolutely right, Irma. I'll make sure that Ian puts a visit to the library on his schedule, if it isn't there already."
Irma flushed slightly. "Oh, good. He's certainly an attractive man, isn't he? Why didn't you ever tell me that you'd been married? I thought we were friends, Minerva," her curious friend chided gently.
With another sigh, Minerva picked up her pace and the two of them hurried off to the Great Hall for dinner.
