Albus
felt his body begin to spin into consciousness. Something wet and
cold was being dabbed against his throbbing head, his limbs felt
heavy. Trying to
lift his eyelids was almost like trying to lift
cement. Forcing his heavy eyelids open he was met with a blinding
light which quickly diminished to show a small dark empty room.
Turning his stiff head with great difficulty Albus could just see
Minerva McGonagall sitting to his left tenderly rubbing a wet cloth
against his head.
"She asked in a motherly tone. "Are
you awake?" he watched as she rearranged herself so he could see
her properly." Yes." Albus answered croakily, the terrible
pain in his head was slowly starting to disappear.
"Albus, do
you remember what happened yesterday?" She asked him softly, the
sound of true concern in her voice made Albus' heart leap with
joy.
"We were talking and you said something that made me
turn around, Gary was there." He muttered slowly racking his
brain for the small details.
"And then, something hit me from
behind. Where you were! Minerva, did you?" He asked softly, he
knew she was upset with him but attacking him for it! He watched as
the pretty face before him dropped and a look of guilt covered those
radiant features.
"Gary. Gary is an unspeakable. He
specializes in potions what I hadn't realized till now is that he has
been testing his new inventions on me. The one he was trying last
night was what he calls the point of view potion; it makes anyone who
drinks it share the opinions of the maker. Gary feels only hatred and
jealousy for you and under the potions influence this is what I felt
also." Albus struggled to take this all in with his numb brain,
so Minerva had been seeing things from Gary's point of view. It kind
of makes sense.
"So
you don't hate me?" Albus asked giddily, was there still a
chance.
"No." She answered simply.
" But the
hearing you." Albus started but she promptly cut him of.
"I
was angry Albus; but I am as much to blame as you are. I came into
your rooms wearing little I think part of me wanted you to do what
you did; I just wasn't ready to except it."
Albus couldn't
believe it; his heart was pounding so hard that he was sure it would
explode. She didn't hate him, she. She liked him, perhaps even more
then like. Albus had to keep repeating the words over and over again
just to make himself believe it.
"You're hearing continues
today, oh if your not there! I'm sure Gary planned this, Malfoy and
now this!" She moaned as she got up from her seat on the floor
and impatiently started to pull Albus up.
"Albus asked in
shock.
"Yes it was Gary's idea to have him as the opposition,
he knew full well he would cheat and lie. And now locking you in
here! We only have an hour or so before it starts. Oh if I hadn't
waked up when I did you would still be in chains!" Albus just
stared at her.
"Minerva, please slow down that was extremely
hard to understand!" Minerva just sighed in exasperation.
"We
don't have time! Can you walk?" She asked a tenderness forming
in her
voice as she took in the lacking presentation of the man
standing next to her. He looked so vulnerable.
"Yes."
Albus called after her as she fled quickly from the room not waiting
for an answer from him. He followed her through the long corridors
and luxurious rooms of the McGonagall mansion as she led him to the
nearest fire. She suddenly slowed down in front of him and turned to
face him.
"Go to the ministry and get ready for your hearing
you can't be late!" She said fiercely, her eyes burning with a
strong fire he had never seen before.
"After that we will go
see Alastor." Albus stared at her, his eyes dull with
confusion.
"Agatha contacted me last night; she told me what
you said. Gary is unwell his mother is right he needs some kind of
medical attention before he does something truly awful." She
looked desperately at the large extravagant clock on the left side
wall. He watched as she walked carelessly into the roaring fire and
beckoned Albus to join her.
"Agatha told me you asked if I
was in love with you." She called over the heavy roar of the
flames.
"The answer is yes!" She called out confidently
just before the familiar sound floo network engulfed them.
