Chapter Nine

1945

"No, Albus Dumbledore, I will not let you go on your own!"

The young witch crossed her arms, green eyes shooting more fire than ever- and as she moved to stand in the door-opening, blocking Albus's way, the auburn-haired wizard nearly grinned, playing with his wand, a semi-serious look on his face.

"Minerva, dear, you do realize that I can move you away from that door with one tiny swish of this thing over here, right?"

"Oh that youcan all right- only you won't."

Hands on hips, the black-haired woman linked eyes with the man now standing in front of her- and just for a moment, it looked as if he really was going to shove her aside- be it with his wand or physically- but then, green eyes triumphed over blue ones, and the wizard lowered his wand with a sigh.

"You're right. I won't. But Minerva- you have to understand…"

"What do I have to understand, Albus? That you are going to fight my battle, mine, and that you are leaving me behind? That even after two years of Auror Training, you are incapable of seeing me as a full person-"

"My dear, you still aren't a qualified Auror-"

Albus rested a calming hand on the young woman's shoulder- but Minerva shrugged it off, and went on, angrier than ever.

"As if that matters to you! As if that matters only the tiniest little bit to you- as if that would convince you to see me as a person, and not as some weak little sick plant you have the oh so noble urge to protect! But you can't protect me, Albus! You can't keep me locked up forever and hope that nothing happens to me that way! I'm coming with you, Albus Dumbledore- get used to the idea already!"

There was, once more, a moment of pressure that made the silence in the room go surprisingly heavy, as blue eyes, again, linked with green ones- and only seconds later, one of the two pairs of eyes were lowered.

It was the blue set.

Could he really keep her from doing this, after all? Could he, Albus Dumbledore- could he keep a girl who was technically an adult woman and who had every right to fight that which had destroyed her family, from fighting her own battles?

Could he stop her from coming along with him- merely with the excuse that she was not yet a qualified Auror- while masses of young, unqualified, incapable boys had already given their lives for the cause she so dearly wanted to fight for?

No, he couldn't.

Yet it was in remarkably short sentences that he spoke up, a mere second later- and with a sigh.

"Alright, pack your things. I don't know where we're going. It's a ministry secret. We leave in five minutes."

As Minerva left the room to go pack, it was only the slightest twitch of lips that gave away that inwardly, she was smirking.

She'd won this battle.

She would win the next one, too.