Disclaimer: See chapter 1…
Dedicated to: Jonas, my dear fellow Maggie Smith fan, what would I do without you? Don't you forget to laugh at the ABI ball!
And a huge thanx to my reviewers, guys, you're the best! And as for the part whether Bill is Bill Weasley, just read on…. ;)
Minerva battled with herself, should she tell him the truth or should she lie? Should she upset him, because of something she now wasn't even sure had really happened? But if it had happened, should she endanger him by telling him?
She was spared the decision, when Poppy Pomfrey strode into the room.
"Minerva you look terrible!" The older witch exclaimed, instantly starting to check Minerva's temperature.
"Thank you very much Poppy." The patient smiled weakly at her friend.
"You have a slight temperature, nothing dramatic. You fainted?"
Minerva hated physicals: "Yes, but it was really nothing."
Poppy eyed her strictly, before she handed Albus a potion: "I think your wife has the flu. She must have been feeling unwell for some time, but knowing her, she didn't say a word. I want her to stay in bed for the next two days. Make sure she takes this potion in the morning." She searched her bag, and then handed him another bottle: "And this one in the evening, it will help her sleep."
"I can look after myself." Minerva protested.
"Yes, of course you can, but you won't! That's why I am telling your husband." Poppy replied dryly. "I will come back tomorrow to check how you're doing."
Albus sat down on the bed again after Poppy had left. He handed Minerva the potion, which she accepted right away. She wanted to sleep without having dreams about today. Besides she really felt miserable.
Her husband watched with satisfaction when she drank the potion, and almost instantly fell asleep. He gently kissed her forehead, before going over to his desk and finishing some of the work he had abandoned earlier today.
***
When Minerva opened her eyes the next morning she instantly spotted her husband sitting in the armchair opposite to the bed: "You've been watching me." She said softly.
He got op and sat down beside her on the bed: "You know I love to watch you sleep. How are you feeling?"
"Much better." She replied, and he believed her. Some colour hat returned to her cheeks, and her eyes were no longer dull, but full of life again.
"What would you like to have for breakfast?" Minerva made an attempt to get up, but he gently pushed her down again: "You heard Poppy, didn't you? You'll stay in bed."
Minerva wanted to protest, but seeing the determined look in his eyes, she instantly gave up: "Green tea, and some toast with jam, please."
He returned with a small tablet only five minutes later. He handed her the tablet, before sitting down in the armchair again: "I have to meet Cornelius in fifteen minutes, but I can cancel if you like."
Minerva shook her head: "No, you can go, I am really feeling better, and I'll stay in bed, I promise!"
"Yes, but I don't believe you. Poppy will come and look after you." Albus laughed softly, when he saw the look on his wife's face. He got up and kissed her on the forehead: "I'll be back soon, and don't you dare to get out of bed!"
Minerva rolled her eyes: "I am not dying, and I am much better, really, you're overdoing it!"
She was shocked, when she saw him become completely serious after her statement: "You scared me last night, Minerva."
She put the tablet away, and took his hands. Pulling him down to her, she looked deeply into his eyes: "I know, and I am sorry. I am fine now." She kissed him gently, and he reluctantly pulled away after some time: "I have to go. God, I wish I wouldn't."
Minerva chuckled: "We have four more days till the students return, just finish this meeting soon."
He nodded and left the room. Minerva waited five minutes until she was sure he had really left, and then slipped out of bed. It felt good to walk around. After she had had a good night's sleep the world seemed okay again. She was convinced that the abduction had never really happened. Maybe she really fainted, and the whole scenery had just been produced by her troubled mind.
She walked into Albus' study, searching for the Daily Prophet. When she turned around to look on his desk, she had to stop herself from screaming.
On the desk sat a huge black owl, watching her through incredibly green eyes. For a moment Minerva was completely fascinated by the animal. Black owls were extremely rare, and almost impossible to train. Old myths said they were able to do magic themselves, and therefore not dependent on wizards and witches.
Minerva had never seen a black owl before, let alone such a beautiful one. Only at second glance she realized that the owl was carrying a letter. Stepping forward carefully, she took the letter from the bird. She briefly considered touching it, but thought better of it.
She offered the owl a cracker (Albus always had some on his desk for the many owls who brought him letters), but the owl simply spread its wings and left again.
Minerva watched it fly for a while, before she turned her attention to the letter. There was no name on it, neither for whom, or from whom it was, and Minerva wondered how the owl had known where to bring the letter.
She carefully opened it, and took out the simple sheet of paper:
Receive your first orders at the centaur's place inside the forbidden forest. Tonight 18.30h. Come alone! Tell no one!
Minerva stared at the letter. So it had not been a bad dream. What was she supposed to do now? Albus would never let her go.
She suddenly whirled around and started a fire in the small fireplace. With grim determination she threw the letter into the fire and watched it burn to pieces with satisfaction.
No! She wouldn't let herself get blackmailed like that. Who knew who this crazy person was? Maybe just someone who wanted to feel power over someone else. Nothing would happen, nothing at all. She would be laughing about the whole incident in a few hours.
"Minerva, what are you doing here?"
Minerva turned around guiltily: "I was… searching for the toilet."
Poppy didn't have to say a word, Minerva walked past her and went straight into bed. Nothing was going to happen!
***
"She didn't come." A fearful voice said.
"I knew she wouldn't." came the cold reply: "But she'll learn to obey orders. Show her what will happen, when she doesn't listen."
"As you wish."
***
Minerva sat contently in front of the fire. She was snuggled against her husband, who had draped an arm protectively around her shoulder. It was past nine p.m. and Minerva was happy to realize that nothing had happened.
The couple was talking about their daughter's pregnancy, when the fire started to turn green, and a head appeared inside of it.
"Molly." Minerva exclaimed happily, "I've been meaning to call you, but I couldn't. Aren't that wonderful news?"
Albus had instantly noticed the troubled look on the other woman's face: "Molly, what happened?"
The red haired witch visibly forced herself to stay calm: "There's been a fire in Bill's and Aurelia's house. They brought her into a hospital. Bill couldn't tell me whether it was serious."
Both parents leaped to their feet: "We'll meet you there." Albus said, and Molly's head disappeared. Minerva was pulling on a cloak, when Albus took her arm. She glared hard at him: "Don't you even dare suggest I stay home!"
He let go of her arm, and simply handed her the floo powder.
Molly and Arthur awaited them already and lead them into a small corridor, where the two couples sat down.
"Do you know how it happened?" Albus asked, all the time holding his wife's hand. Aurelia was officially Minerva's daughter. She had always denied information about the father. Albus would simply declare that he had come along to comfort his deputy.
Arthur shook his head: "No, Bill just called, and informed us. We only know that there was a fire, and that Aurelia was brought here."
They didn't have to wait long for a doctor to appear. A young wizard came to them: "Are you the parents?" He looked at the four of them. Recognising Albus his eyes widened, but he didn't say anything: "It's nothing serious, we simply wanted to check her over. We'll keep her in for the night, only to be absolutely sure everything is alright with the baby. You can go in now."
The four rushed past him, without saying a word. The doctor didn't bother, he was used to that kind of reactions.
Aurelia lay in a small bed, and looked clearly unnerved.
"Honey, are you alright?" Minerva had instantly rushed to her daughter's side. Albus stood next to her, noticing with relief that his daughter looked very healthy. Molly and Arthur had hugged Bill first and now stood on the other side of the bed.
"I am fine." Aurelia said in a dangerous tone, "really, I don't understand why I am here anyway. Bill insisted I go to the hospital, and apparently the doctors think he was right to do so. I am feeling very good, I am not dying. My lovely husband and the doctors are simply overreacting." Bill looked very uncomfortable, and Arthur patted his back sympathetically.
Minerva took her daughter's hand, and squeezed it reassuringly: "I know how that feels like, darling." She shot Albus a side glance, which he chose to ignore.
They stayed another ten minutes, before they realized that Aurelia was really very fine, and simply wanted to be left alone.
"Listen, dear we'll have your house up again in no time." Molly smiled at her daughter-in-law, and Aurelia smiled back at her. She had come to love Molly and Arthur Weasley almost as much as her own parents.
Minerva and Albus each hugged her daughter, before they left. Back at Hogwarts, Minerva realized that her husband had been oddly quiet. She walked up to him, and laid a hand on his arm: "Are you okay?"
He looked at her, and nodded: "Yes, but that was a bit too much trouble in the last two days." Minerva smiled understandingly at him: "No good timing, hm?"
He drew her into his arms, and hugged her tightly: "I could never stand losing one of you two."
Minerva hugged him back: "I know, and you won't."
Albus had decided to go to bed, but Minerva wasn't tired yet. She curled up in front of the fire, and started to read a new book about Transfiguration, when a strange noise startled her. Looking up a small cry escaped her lips.
In front of her on the table sat the black owl, staring intently on her. Minerva removed the letter from its beak with trembling hands.
The next time she'll die. Tomorrow 18.30 o'clock, Centaur's place.