The Truth Revealed: By Ang.
Silence filled the room as three pairs of eyes stared at the new addition to the room. Albus looked from the tiny girl framed in the doorway back to the mirror image of that same girl standing right beside him. His mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, apparently searching for his voice but not finding it immediately.
Evie walked into the room tentatively, locking eyes with her sister and giving her a questioning glance about the other woman staring at her. In an instant, she realized they had arrived just in time to spare Albus the attempt of seduction by this woman and yet the one who still owned his heart and would be the most capable of winning his love stood just outside the door waiting impatiently. Minerva had felt it best to ease Albus into the situation rather than just barge in on him and catch him completely by surprise.
"Evie?" Albus asked looking down at the young lass by his side.
"No, Papa. I'm Abigail. That's Evie over there," she answered quietly but with an apologetic smile on her face. She wasn't sure what emotions were flashing in his usually clear blue eyes. She had learned quickly that one could tell what Albus was feeling just by the color and expressions radiating from his stare. Yet, this was one time that those emotions and thoughts were hidden.
Albus turned his head and locked stares with Evie, still standing nervously close to the slightly opened door. She knew her mother was just outside and listening intently to everything that was said. "How…when…" he managed to stutter before dropping to his knees and hugging Abigail tightly, as if seeing her for the first time in his life. She eagerly returned his embrace and for the first time felt that he really and truly loved her for he knew it was Abigail he was holding and not Evie.
"Well, isn't this a cozy little scene," snapped Nicholette. "It would seem that their mother is playing a few tricks of her own now." Nicholette looked from one girl to the other before scanning Albus' face for any type of response. When she got none, she decided to press her luck. "Maybe she's realized her grand mistake and now that they're supposed to start school, she wants back into the Dumbledore bed!"
Both girls started towards her, as if they were ready to tear her limb from limb but Albus' strong arms around Abigail and his halting glare at Evie stopped them both in their tracks. "You have no right whatsoever to speak ill of my wife and their mother, especially in front of my children. And no matter what the reasons, they are of no concern of yours. This is a family matter and one in which you have no right to intrude! I think it's past the time of your departure, Professor." Albus fixed cold eyes on the woman who was still shooting daggers at his children. "NOW!" he added as the seconds flew by.
Before Nicholette took her leave she looked at each of the girls with anger etched across her features. "You're both horrid little girls! If I'd had my way, you'd both be shipped off to your mother where the three of you could live miserably without the man you don't even deserve!" She turned on her heels and gasped as she stood nearly toe to toe with Minerva McGonagall, rage blazing in her emerald green eyes.
"Fortunately for all of us, you won't get your way or even a say in the matter of what happens to me and my children. Now I do believe that Albus asked you politely to leave. If I ask you, I can assure you it won't be nearly as nice as the way you spoke to my daughters!" Minerva's fury was not one to be teased or tampered with and Nicholette realized she was not a woman to be tested, at least not now. Brushing past Minerva, she huffed and turned to face Albus one last time.
"We could have had something amazing but obviously you're not as smart as everyone thinks you are. You're giving up a chance for happiness with me so that you can devote your entire life to a woman who left you and two girls who only want to manipulate you. You deserve each other," she spat as she slammed the door behind her.
Once again there was silence, the deafening kind that allows one to hear a pin drop on the carpeted floor. It was Abigail who made the first move and in a flash she was in her mother's arms as Evie made her way into Albus' embrace. Tears and kisses fell freely upon each girl and several moments passed before the girls pulled back and stood side by side, watching and waiting for their parents to finally speak to one another.
"Hello Albus," Minerva began softly, a hint of her Scottish accent seeping through her voice. Albus has always loved it when she lost her focus and slipped into the slight lilt he had grown to love. He remembered waking her each morning with kisses, on the mornings when he was actually home, and hearing her husky voice murmur a 'good morning' using that very same tone and to hear it once more sent a warm feeling through him.
"Minerva, you look beautiful," he answered in all sincerity. He watched as she dropped her eyes to the floor and he hoped he hadn't overstepped his boundaries but it was the only thing he could think to say. For years he'd dreamed of this moment and the things he'd like to say to her but suddenly they were all so unimportant, except for the feelings and emotions that came straight from the depths of his heart and soul. He had never stopped loving her and wondering where it had all gone wrong but years ago he finally came to the conclusion that it was mostly his fault but by then it was too late to go after her.
Abigail and Evie nudged each other and tried hard not to giggle at their parents' reactions to seeing each other again. They could tell that things were somewhat stilted between them but it was probably due to the long absence from each other. Neither Albus nor Minerva could think of anything in particular to say so it was left up to the girls.
"We hope you're not angry with us for switching places on you. We met in Madame Malkin's when we went to get our school supplies," Abigail started.
"Yes, and she was kind enough to help us pull off the little trade. She was just as shocked as we were to learn about the other. Seems we weren't the only ones kept in the dark for years," Evie added. "We didn't mean to make you mad, but we each wanted to spend some time alone with the other parent and I for one am not sorry in the least."
Minerva smiled at Evie, who she realized was speaking directly to her. "And I only wish I had realized it was you instead of Abigail sooner. It must have been hard pretending to be each other while wanting so desperately to be with us," Minerva said as a tear began to fall from down her cheek.
"Oh Mum, don't cry! We're both together and as long as you and Papa aren't angry at us, it will all be okay," Abigail said rushing to her mother's side, followed quickly by Evie. The two girls wrapped their arms around Minerva and planted kisses to her cheeks. Drawing her children tightly into her arms, Minerva kissed them each on the forehead and rocked them slightly back and forth, watching Albus to see what his reaction would be towards their children.
"Don't I get a hug like that too," he asked quietly but with a smile. He had knelt down and was holding out his hands to the girls', hoping they'd grant him the same kind of reception. He was not disappointed when they looked back at their mum, as if searching for permission, only to be pushed from her arms towards him.
A long forgotten happiness filled Minerva's heart as seeing both of her beautiful daughters being held protectively in Albus' arms. For a moment, she longed to be there herself, to feel his warmth wrapped around her and feeling the overwhelming love between them. But she dared not dream of such a scene for it would only open old wounds and taint the present with their past.
After everyone had finally overcome the initial shock and had grown somewhat comfortable in the sitting room, Evie tried to broach the subject of Nicholette with her father.
"Papa, what was that horrible woman taking about when she said that you two could have had something amazing? You've never mentioned her before but she seemed almost like you had broken a date with her. I don't understand why she blames us for what happened between the two of you," she tried to answer innocently. Her motive was simple. She wanted to hear the story for her mum's benefit, to prove to her that their father had not dated since her departure.
"To be truthful, I have only suspicions about that, sweetpea. It is Evie, right? Honestly, I never realized just how much you two look alike until seeing you sitting side by side."
"I can answer that Papa," Abigail offered, quickly picking up in her sister's reasoning. "I overheard Nicholette Cline and another professor talking about how you hadn't dated since mum and I left and she told the other professor about her master plan. She invited you to a staff dinner but really it was just supposed to be the two of you at a romantic table for two. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to seem like a snoop," she said before thinking. Quickly she looked over at her mum, who was smiling, almost near a slight giggle of her own.
"So there never was a staff dinner? Is that why you suddenly developed a stomach ache, little one?" he asked peering at her with piercing eyes, filled with a hint of mirth.
"Yes that and well I knew mum and Evie were coming here today to see us and…"
"Wait! Am I the only one who didn't know about this switch? Minerva, when did you find out," he asked.
"I only found out about it last night when Evie confessed to me and since I knew it would be something we needed to discuss, I decided to bring her here myself. I hope that was alright with you. I don't mean to intrude in any way so I'll go into Hogsmeade for the night and…"
"You'll do no such a thing. I just got my entire family back under one roof and I'm not ready to watch anyone walk out that door. Please, stay. I am sure we can make adequate sleeping arrangements for everyone, even if I have to give you my bed and sleep on the sofa. I can enlarge the Evie's bed and they can share at least for a few nights." Albus' pleading eyes had always been able to crack Minerva's strong resolve on any matter and he proved once more that he still had that power over her.
"Alright then, if you're sure it's not an inconvenience. I'd like the chance to spend more time with both of my girls."
"Good, then it's settled. I'll go and make the necessary adjustments to the beds and get my things from our bedroom. And I know two young ladies that need to take a bath before bed. Your mother and I will be in to tuck you in later." The three women in the room were too busy sharing looks of amusement and mischief as Albus spoke. Minerva had quickly picked up on the fact that he still referred to the room where he slept as 'ours' and the girls had seized upon that one word too.
"Are any of you listening to me?" he asked with a chuckle. "Now, I expect to see two clean faces and bodies in pajamas when we come into that room in half an hour," he teased before shooing the girls off in the direction of the bathroom and bedroom.
Albus turned to Minerva, watching her stare after her girls as they disappeared through the doorway. "It's really wonderful to see them together, isn't it?" he asked softly. "I've thought about this day ever since you left and now it all seems like a dream." He had not taken his eyes off Minerva since the young ladies had left the room. Old feelings were crashing to the surface but in his heart he knew that if there was even a chance at winning her back, there were lots of wounds he needed to heal first.
"I will admit I was worried about sending Abigail here this year. I've dreaded telling her everything and have been putting it off until closer to the start of the school term. I guess I just waited too long," Minerva remarked. "But seeing her with you and knowing that I had been granted the chance to spend some time with Evie gives me a feeling of hope. I don't want them separated again, Albus. They will need each other at school and I will work with you in any way I can to keep them from experiencing the pains of separation that we went through." She smiled weakly up at him and patted his hand. "Now, I think I'll go and take a bath of my own so that once we tuck the girls in for the night, I can get to bed early. I have a feeling that tomorrow will be filled with questions and we'll need all the strength we can get."
To Be Continued…