Minerva didn't know how long she had stood there, simply watching him sleep, but it didn't really matter. He was still firmly in Morpheus' grasp, his chest rising and falling slowly. She watched as his eyes darted quickly beneath his eyelids, and every so often his lips would move. She watched, curious, as his face took on a pained expression and his hand flexed, reaching for something or someone before falling limp again. It took another moment for his face to relax, and soon he was quiet again. 'He always was a restless sleeper,' she thought.

Her ears perked up as she heard a slight rustle from just beyond the curtain, and her back straightened as he entire body tensed in preparation. She would know exactly who was on the other side even if she couldn't smell Poppy's perfume. She still smelled of vanilla. Minerva didn't bother to turn around, didn't utter a sound as the screen was pulled away, revealing her to the other woman.

Poppy had come up short when she had found the strange woman just standing over Albus. She was simply standing there, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She didn't turn around, and, even though she seemed familiar somehow, Poppy just couldn't place her. Coming back to her senses, Poppy bristled as she walked into the small room. "Excuse me? The headmaster isn't up for visitors. I don't know how you got in here, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. This is a closed ward." In the deafening silence that followed, Poppy had expected the stranger to turn around and leave or at least argue, but remained silent and unmoving. By that point, Poppy was working herself up well to be furious. No one, no one, dared to disobey her in her ward. "It's time for you to be leaving," she ground out, letting her hand travel into her robes.

Her fingers had just wrapped around her wand when she received one of the greatest shocks of her life. "He looks older." It came out so quietly and matter of fact that, at first, Poppy didn't quite understand. Once the meaning of the words sunk in, it only took a heartbeat for the voice of the speaker to sink in as well. Without a second thought, or first for that matter, Poppy closed the small distance between them, and when Minerva finally turned weary eyes to the shorter woman, Poppy simply acted. The resounding crack was the only sound to be heard as Minerva's head snapped around, threatening to twist off completely. Her own hand came up to rub her now red, stinging cheek. She didn't say a word, but Poppy could easily read the surprise and hurt in Minerva's eyes.

"How dare you," Poppy hissed, "How dare you show your face here again. You leave, not a word to anyone, and just show up again as if nothing has happened? Why! Come back to see if you could get your old job back, or..his? Is that it! Did you assume he would just slip away and you could return. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you Min, but he's going to be just fine." All through her tirade, Poppy had inched closer and closer into Minerva's personal space. She now she toe to toe with the taller woman, and Minerva could smell the coffee from breakfast on her breath. It took a shifting from the man in question to break the tension that had filled the room. Poppy glanced quickly to make sure he hadn't woken up, and then grabbed Minerva roughly by the upper arm, dragging her back through the curtain and into the main ward.

Minerva's mind was reeling. This is what her best friend thought of her? That she had come back to..gloat? Over what? She still didn't have a clue what had happened. She allowed herself to show only a moment of weakness as she all but flopped into the nearest chair before looking up again. "What was wrong with him Poppy?" The question caught the nurse off guard, she had expected a fight, a defense at least, but not this. The worry, not curiosity on Minerva's face made her answer. "What wasn't wrong? He had an ulcer, bronchitis, his blood pressure was through the roof, he's lost almost thirty pounds since his last physical, his fever spiked at almost 104, and, not that's it's surprising, but he had enough alcohol in his system to knock out a hippogriff."

Minerva had gone paler and paler with every word Poppy spat, but it was the last item on the list that caught her attention. "Alcohol? Albus doesn't drink."

Poppy actually snorted. "No, Albus never used to drink. You of all people should know things change."

Minerva nodded. "They do, don't they? When will you release him?"

"I won't be." Poppy actually looked insulted by the question. "He's going to stay until I can be sure he won't go crawling back into his bottle."

"I see. Then I will leave you to your work Madam Pomfrey. I'll return later in the afternoon. He and I have a few things to discuss. Good day." Minerva turned as if she were about to leave, but Poppy reached out and put a restraining hand on her shoulder, whirling her around.

The smaller woman was actually pulsing with rage, her hazel eyes deepened to a menacing black. "Oh no you will not. You have no further business here, and I'll be damned if I'm letting you anywhere near him again. You've already caused him enough grief; I won't let you add to it." The venom in Poppy's voice was obvious, and it only served to anger Minerva more than her words ever could.

Reaching across, Minerva removed the other woman's hand from her shoulder with perhaps more force than necessary. Taking a step closer, she leaned down so that her lips were scant inches from Poppy's ear. "Since when, does taking a mistress make you the victim?" She straightened up again, looking Poppy directly in the eyes, taking little pleasure in the dazed, confused look she saw there. Taking a step back, Minerva paused before she turned back toward the door. "And Poppy, I forgave it once, I forgave it twice, but if you ever lay a hand on me again, there won't be enough pieces left to put you back together again."

Minerva strode across the hospital wing and reached for the door handle, but was given a rather nasty shock as she tried to leave. She whirled around, her wand already pointing at Poppy. "Let me out Poppy."

The woman simply stared at her as if seeing her for the first time. "You really don't know, do you? You truly don't have a clue."

"I know more than you seem to think, now let me out Poppy." The fight was slowly draining out of her, and Minerva was exhausted.

"He looked for you, you know. He spent every day for a month searching, and another six calling in favors left and right, looking for any sign." Poppy looked up from the seat Minerva had vacated. "You hurt him so much Minerva, but it took almost two years for him to stop looking."

Minerva couldn't believe her ears; Poppy was actually defending him. "I'm sure he was just devastated Poppy. I would imagine though that his little tramp found ample ways to console him."

This was the second time Minerva had mentioned another woman, and Poppy only became more confused. "Minerva, what are you talking about? There hasn't been anyone else. You know damn well I would have flayed him alive if there was."

Minerva shook her head. Apparently, Albus hadn't told them everything, not that she had expected him to. It would do for him to appear less then perfect. "I'm sorry to disappoint Poppy, but he told me all about his new secretary and her job description when he returned from the Ministry that day, if he had ever gone at all." By the time she choked out the last word, tears were beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. She had thought the time for tears had passed; apparently, she was wrong. "I was traded in for a new model Poppy," she whispered. "I was replaced and then removed. I lost it all Poppy, so don't lecture me about his pain. My only regret is that it couldn't have been more. Now, will you please let me go?"

Poppy didn't respond. Instead, she stood up and carefully made her way toward the shaking witch. She looked as if she were approaching a wild animal as she carefully raised her hand. Unlike before, the hand that rested on Minerva's shoulder was gentle, concerned. "Minerva," Poppy whispered, her brows knitting together, "What are you talking about? Albus didn't return from the Ministry until long after dinner, and he certainly didn't bring a secretary. There was no way he could have been in the castle. You were gone long before he ever returned."

Minerva shook her head. She couldn't believe what Poppy was saying. She had seen him, felt him. "He was there Poppy. Peeves had made a mess, and I was going to use the empty classroom next door, and he was there." Minerva had never told anyone about that day, and once she started, she just couldn't stop. "He meant everything to me Poppy; everything and he just threw me aside. I don't know what he's told you, but don't waste your sympathy on him. He doesn't deserve it."

Minerva let her eyes drop and sniffed while she tried to wipe the tears away. Before she could understand what was happening, Minerva found herself wrapped in Poppy's embrace. It only took a second for her walls to crumble, and she found herself weeping into Poppy's shoulder. Her entire body shook with the violence of her cries and her arms tightened around Poppy's shoulders. "Shh Min. Everything's going to be alright. It's going to be O.K." Poppy rubbed comforting circles along her back. "What am I going to do with the two of you?"

When Minerva finally managed to stem the tears, she gave Poppy a watery smile as she accepted the handkerchief being waved in front of her. "Now, you are going to come with me and have a nice cup of tea Min. I think there are some things you need to hear." The previous arguments seemed forgotten as Poppy led Minerva into her office, quietly shutting the door behind her. This would take awhile.