The Parent Trap

Chapter 27: Explanations and Reconciliation's

Albus leaned back against the headboard and pulled Minerva into his arms. To the surprise of them both, she went willingly and seemed to mold herself into his embrace. "Remember meeting my mother when I first brought you home?" Minerva nodded that she had remembered the day. In fact, she couldn't remember ever being so nervous in her entire life. Her entire future seemed to hinge on whether or not Mrs. Dumbledore approved of her son's choice for a mate.

"She made me so nervous that day. I knew when I left the house that night that she'd never approve of our relationship and that scared me." Minerva shifted so that she could look into his eyes. "I always wondered what she said about me after you went back home that night. You never did tell me."

"Ah, that's because you never asked my dear," he chuckled, trying to add some levity into the situation. "Mother thought you were perfect for me and she could sense the amount of love and devotion you seemed to radiate when I was near. You were more than she had hoped for and so much more than I ever deserved," he added in all sincerity.

"Then why did I get the impression that she wasn't overly fond of me?"

"It was never that she didn't love you like a daughter but your powers set her on edge." Minerva's furrowed brow spurred Albus into continuing his story. "It seems that when I was born, an old seer visited my mother and told her many things, some of which came true and some which did not. One of those things involved me and my future with the women of my dreams. I was to marry a powerful witch, one the likes of which our world had yet to see since the Founders. Any children we conceived had the potential to be amazingly powerful, drawing strength from myself and my bride."

"I still don't see how that affects our girls, unless of course you believe in all that rubbish!" Minerva had never been one to tolerate the less skilful are of divination and made no efforts to hide her distaste for the subject.

"Minerva my dearest, look at what our girls just told us!" he advised.

"But that doesn't necessary prove that so-called seer right," replied Minerva.

Albus smiled softly. She had never had much time for the art of divination and he was glad to see she still held on to that view. He didn't have much time for it either but he was aware of true seers and their correct predictions. From what Abigail told them, Albus could see no other explanation but he knew that he would have a hard time convincing the woman who was currently snuggled against his chest.

"Think of it this way my dear. It has been said that I am the most powerful wizard of modern times and with all my heart, I believe you to be the most powerful witch. Logically speaking, we had two choices. We could either produce amazingly powerful children or squibs."

"Albus, that's absurd! Just because we're powerful doesn't mean our children will have an advantage over any others." Minerva had to admit that even as young girls things always seemed special about them. Things in the nursery would levitate into the cribs, especially Abigail's. When Evie cried forcefully, the air would crackle around her. And Merlin forbid they both become upset at the same time. It took her two weeks to mend all the broken objects that one time when they were eight months old.

"I'm merely saying that I believe we somehow passed on more of ourselves to our children than even we were aware of at the time. If we can determine their eye colours, hair tints, and even their creamy complexions, why is it so hard to fathom that maybe we passed along other things as well?"

Minerva had to admit he made a strong argument. Even being separated for all those years, Abigail had developed certain tastes and interests that only her father held and the same could be said for Evelyn. "Maybe you're right."

"Have you forgotten how we used to communicate sometimes, my love?" he asked running his hand up and down her arm. "We used to spend so many speechless hours in front of a fire or snuggled together in bed and yet I could hear your voice as plain as day in my mind. We have never really needed any other means to communicate other than our head and hearts," he finished softly. "Maybe our children have that same sort of bond with each of us and it just goes to prove that some bonds can't be broken."

"I suppose what you are saying is true," she said softly. "I know it has to be true. Look at their arms and look at what happened. I am just worried about them Albus. They are so young." She closed her eyes and sighed to herself. They were only eleven years old and needed to be children. They would have to be so aware of themselves in certain situations. They would have to hold back from their friends and what sort of childhood would that be for them?

Albus felt Minerva grow tense in his arms and he feared that she would become uncomfortable with the new developments between them. "Now, now. I can still tell what you're thinking at times too Minerva and the girls will be fine. We'll be here for them and together we can teach them how to harness their powers and use them for their benefit."

Minerva got up from the bed and walked over to the window. She wasn't sure she was quite ready for this conversation but it was one that needed to occur. "Albus, yesterday and this morning were wonderful and I felt like we were a real family. Waking in your arms this morning was more than I ever thought possible after so many years and yet there are so many years between us."

Albus walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Feeling you against my body was like tasting heaven again, Minerva. I never realized just how much I needed you until you were gone. And by 'need' I do not mean to do things for me but just to be by my side, to hold me at night, to share in the joys and pains of our days together, to know that in your arms I can be myself without worry. I made grave mistakes in the past and I am more than aware of where I went wrong." He turned her to face him as he cupped her face in his large hands. "Believe me, if you walked out that door today as you did all those years ago, I'd move heaven and earth to get you back. I wouldn't waste a single second at the Ministry or with anyone else until I was assured that we were together and you were happy."

Minerva turned around and looked at him. His eyes were twinkling again and she quickly found herself lost in the blue pools that were his eyes. She could see that there was love in them as well as warmth but also sadness. She believed him when he said he was sorry and she would do anything to replace the ten years she had lived without him. So many years had passed between them and they were bound to have changed in that time. What would happen if they couldn't make a go of it and it ended how it did last time? Minerva wasn't sure she could go through that again. The pain in leaving him had never eased through the years and her love for him never diminished.

Over the years she had carefully and secretly collected a scrapbook, placing every article that she had found with him inside it. She had told herself that she was doing it for Abigail so she could know her father through that but she was also doing it for herself. It helped to remind her that he was okay. Each day she had dreaded the arrival of the newspapers just in case they told of Albus Dumbledore's latest love. There was never any mention of his love life, though. In fact, most the papers thought he was a bachelor.

"Albus I want us to give it another go," she said softly "but I am scared!"

For the first time in ten years, Albus finally felt hope. He knew it had taken a great deal for Minerva to willingly admit a fear to anyone but this one time she had spoken it and he felt the full impact of her words. "I'm afraid too, Min. Afraid you won't love me as you once did. Afraid that one day you'll realize that you enjoyed your life without me more than the days with me. But what scares me most is the possibility that you might walk away from me again. I know how that felt the first time and I'm willing to do everything in my powers never to let you feel the need to leave me again." Albus pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

"Those were the hardest years of my life, Albus, and ones that I never wish to relive. I know some part of me has been changed by those ten years but deep down, I think I am still the same woman you fell in love with all those years ago. And I can see that you're not the same man I married." Albus pulled back and was frightened by her words. "No, sweetheart, that's a good thing," she was quick to answer as she cupped his cheek in her warm hand. "It shows me that you've changed for the better. Instead of putting us last in your life, I get the feeling that you're ready to make us your top priority, which is all I ever wanted to in the first place, darling."

"So are you saying what I think your saying?" he asked. He didn't want to get his hopes up only to have the dashed. He needed to hear her say those words again.

"Yes, love," she said as she cupped his cheek with her hand and ran her thumb across his cheekbone. "Let's try again!"

Albus felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. He hadn't felt so light and happy for years. He smiled brightly and wrapped his arms tightly around her. He twirled her around the room and her laughter echoed in his ear. He had his wife back and he was going to make sure that he never lost her or his daughters again. He was going to prove to them all as well as himself that he had changed for the better.

"I love you Minerva!" he whispered in her ear, causing a tingling sensation to ripple down her spine.

"And I love you too, Albus. Now how about a proper kiss to show me," she laughed with bright eyes as she clung to him as if her very life depended on it.

"With pleasure, my dear, with pleasure." Albus set Minerva firmly on the ground but held her flush against his body. His thumb brushed slowly across her lips, remembering the softness of them and how sweet they tasted. Lowering his head, they shared the same breath for what seemed an eternity before the distance between them was closed.

When his lips first touched hers, Minerva felt as if she had finally come home again. After years and years of longing, she felt young and alive again. His touch was gentle and yet insistent as his tongue eagerly begged for entrance. Her lips parted in a silent invitation as her hands threaded through his long hair, seeking the one spot on the nape of his neck that she knew would ignite his passions. As their tongues waged a most provocative and pleasurable war, their bodies grew more and more aroused with each second until Minerva heard a small giggle behind them. It took all of her willpower to break the heated kiss but she knew she needed to before things went too far.

Abigail and Evie were now standing in the doorway, clutching each other's hands and smiling brightly at their parents. Both looked slightly embarrassed at catching their parent in such an intimate embrace but they also looked overjoyed at the prospect of their parents getting back together.

The nudged one another, urging the other to say something so that the silence was broken. But neither of the girls wanted to say anything. They simply looked at their parents with wide eyes and waited patiently for them to speak.

"Hello you two troublemakers!" said Albus, who felt the need to help his daughters out.

"Hello Papa!" they answered in chorus and then looked at their mother who was blushing slightly. "Hi Mum!"

"So would you like to tell us how long you have been standing in the doorway?" asked Minerva, amusement evident in her voice, which made the girls both relax.

"It was Abigail's idea to listen..." started Evie

"No it wasn't," jumped in Abigail quickly. "It was your idea, Evelyn Dumbledore!"

Albus and Minerva looked at one another and shared a smile. It was bound to happen at some point and now the girls seemed like proper sisters.

"No matter whose idea it was, you were both caught spying on us and while your intentions might have been good ones, it was still an invasion of our privacy," Albus interjected.

"So in the future, if you know that we are discussing something private and have asked you not to interrupt, we would appreciate it if you would knock first before entering. You are both old enough to understand that parents sometimes need a little quiet time alone," Minerva finished with a wink and a smile.

"Yes, Mother," Evie quickly answered.

"Wait…you…you said in the future! Does that mean? You were kissing so you have to…." Abigail was finding it hard to put her thoughts into words, a habit her father sometimes had when he was thrilled beyond all words.

"Albus, she is definitely your daughter," Minerva teased. "And yes, that means that we're going to give it another try. But we'll need help from both of you if we're to make this a proper family again. Lots of love and kisses. You'll be expected to spend some nights with us, even after you start school. Holidays will be spent as a family and most importantly, we'll both be here if you need us. Well your father will during the school but I'll only be an owl away."

Both girls ran and hugged their parents. "Mum, can't you stay here with us? I mean, you and Papa are married and it should be okay with everybody else," Evie asked quietly. "Besides, we all lived here before you went away."

"She has a point, my dear. And I have just become aware of a vacancy in the Charms department which needs filling immediately," he finished with a mischievous wink. "Think you're up to the task of teaching a bunch of headstrong lads and lasses the fine art of Charms until the Transfiguration professor retires at the end of this coming school year? Armando did instruct me to find someone I trusted and thought could do the job."

Minerva didn't have to think twice. She had been given a new lease on life, the life she had dreamed of for so many years. After spending a few fun filled hours with his family, Minerva took both girls back to her home and began packing up some of the more desperately needed items. In the meantime, Albus wrote a long and very detailed report to the Ministry detailing the events surrounding Nicholette Cline's resignation from the school and offering Minerva's name as the sole candidate for the position. Once he had received word back that his arrangements had been accepted, Albus hurriedly set about making plans of another variety involving the only woman who had ever mattered in his life.

TBC ...