Out of her Hands

A/N: Thank you Miss Ang! I also want to say a thank you to all of you who reviewed the last chapter. I don't want to say to much as I don't want to spoil the end but I will say that the angst and drama won't continue for much longer.

Chapter 6: If I were in your shoes!

Poppy and Alastor looked at each other as they heard Minerva storm up the stairs. Poppy was listening closely and she was able to hear the faint sound of Minerva crying. She hadn't expected it to be easy for her friend but she was surprised that Minerva had retreated to her rooms so quickly. Perhaps Albus had caused more damage to her heart by telling her what she feared more than his death, that he found someone else.

Poppy rose to her feet slowly and was about to walk out of the room when she felt Alastor's hand on her arm. She turned around and looked at him. She could tell that he knew what she was going to do and she knew what he was thinking.

"Let it be, Pop!" he told her.

"Alastor, she is my friend and she needs me," Poppy replied. "I won't get involved. I promise."

Alastor rolled his one good eye as his magical one stayed fixed on his wife to be. He still hadn't grown accustomed to having the cold replacement eye in his socket.

"I know you and you can't help yourself darling," he told her. "Just be a friend and no storming to the fireplace and demanding Albus' presence. It won't do Min any good and it certainly won't do you or our baby any good either."

Poppy smiled softly at him. He had such a good heart, which not many except a chosen few had the privilege to see. Even though he was utterly useless at arranging a wedding or even making a decision on what color the flowers should be in the chapel, she loved him with all her heart and couldn't wait to start her married life with him. She blew him a kiss and promised that she wouldn't get to involved in what had gone on in the kitchen before waddling out of the sitting room.

It took Poppy longer to make her way the stairs, gravity seemed to be pulling her downwards and she came to a stop mid way up the stairs. She had never expected pregnancy to be such hard work and she still had two months to go till the big day, plus she had a wedding to fit in. She was supposed to be blooming now but she just seemed to be tired and hungry all the time. Poppy finally reached the top of the stairs and made her way over to the room where Minerva was staying. Poppy pressed her ear against the door and heard muffled crying. Minerva must have been crying into one of the pillows on her bed.

"Minerva," called Poppy as she knocked softly on the door.

There was no answer and Poppy hadn't really expected one. She opened the door and stepped into the room. Minerva lay on her tummy on the bed. Instead of crying into the pillow like Poppy had thought, Minerva was crying into a pair of brightly colored robes. The bright orange with purple swirls embroidered on the robes could only belong to one person, Albus Dumbledore. Poppy sat on the edge of the bed and placed her hand on the small of Minerva's back.

"Min," she asked softly "what did he say?"

Minerva looked up from the robes she was crying into, her eyes red and wet and her skin all blotchy.

"He doesn't contact me in eight months and he thinks he can just appear back in my life as though nothing has happened," she sobbed. "How dare he do this to me!"

"What did he say?" asked Poppy as she rubbed her friend on the back.

"Well I didn't let him make his lame excuses," sniffed Minerva.

"Minerva!" sighed Poppy. "You should of have at least listened to him."

"That's isn't the point Poppy," replied Minerva as she glared down at the robes she was holding.

"Then what is the point?" asked Poppy, the tone of her voice rose slightly higher than usual.

Poppy was shocked that Minerva hadn't heard Albus out. She would have thought that Minerva would have reserved judgement until after she had heard what he had to say. Minerva was always one of these people who had to know both sides of the situation and then she would make her decision. That is how she had become renowned as being a fair and noble head of house.

"He may have had a perfectly reasonable excuse for being away so long," Poppy told her friend. "But you won't know because you won't let him explain."

"I can't Poppy," replied Minerva. "I am afraid of what he may say!"

Poppy looked into the teary eyes of her best friend and saw that Minerva was afraid. It was an emotion that she rarely saw in her Gryffindor friend but it was there now. Poppy opened her arms and indicated for Minerva to have a hug. She had no idea of the struggle Minerva was going through internally but she wanted to ease it as much as she could.

"Do you know what I would do if I were in your position?" asked Poppy softly.

"What?" questioned Minerva as she sat up the bed and looked at her friend. She had politely refused the embrace Poppy had been offering, knowing that it would probably cause discomfort to her pregnant friend.

"I would go and see him," said Poppy "demand answers to my questions and then tell him what exactly I went through over the eight months he had been gone, presumed dead."

"But you aren't me Poppy!"

"No I am not but I am only giving you the advice that you would have given me," replied Poppy as she rose up from the bed and made her way over to the door. "I can't force you into anything but think about what I have said my dear. Alastor and I are here for you always."

With that final thought, Poppy slipped out of the room and left her friend to ponder her words. She knew that Minerva take the words and think on them now that she was alone and Poppy hoped she would go and speak with Albus so she could find out what had happened. It would give her peace of mind and it might heal the wound that had been inflicted.

to be continued!