A/N: Uhm, a little late and really not my best chapter, but alas I has it's reason here…if nothing else to connect the last with the next chapter. Anyway, the chapter title is the program here. Tension is running high. Now, on with it.
Chapter 18 - Tension
Four days later found the four conspirators in the library of Albany House. They had decided to meet in the manor to save time, and thus had sworn the remaining house elves to secrecy. It was a lot more dangerous, but time was pressing and the frustration level high.
"Four days! Four days and nothing! We've searched every book we could find and there was nothing!" Melina exclaimed, raking her hands through her thick black hair and pacing.
Her father sat in his armchair much more quietly, but equally aggravated. "We didn't exactly find nothing, we just didn't find what we were hoping to. Antique mythology isn't exactly unknown, therefore we couldn't really discover any secrets."
Baldur leaned forward in his chair. "So there was nothing?" Uray and Meli nodded in disappointment.
"I don't think the problem is in finding the facts, but in connecting them to our current situation." Minerva put in quietly. The others looked at her in confusion. "And I don't believe that those connections are written in a book. Unless of course, there is a sequence in 'Hogwarts – A History' or in a collection of prophecies."
The silence was deafening. Finally, Melina heaved a sigh. "If only there would be some progress in your animagus work, Aunt Min. That would mean at least one step forward."
"I am trying with all my might, Melina. However, it took me eight months the first time around. This time it has not even been two weeks." Her aunt replied with a strained smile. Though she knew Meli had not meant to reproach her, it had certainly sounded like that and her own patience was running too thin to take it with a calm smile.
"There, there…" Baldur chimed in, patting Melina's hand soothingly and smiling at Minerva. "There is no need to beat yourself up unnecessarily. We've made much more progress than I would have expected in my wildest dreams. Though I should have known with such a powerful and talented witch as you Minerva, I believe in only one more week, we'll have made it."
"One week? Not more?" Uray exclaimed in delighted surprise. The other man nodded. "This is fantastic!" He turned to his sister, beaming. "Come here, Min. I want to hug you for that."
His sister went willingly into his embrace. He held her close and kissed her hair. "You are a genius, my Min," he whispered, "simply grand. I am so proud of you."
Minerva smiled and relaxed into her brother's chest. "Thank you, Uray."
"You really are fantastic, Aunt Min. And I am sorry for what I've said. I know you'll do your best. And even if you didn't, you would still do a lot better than I." Melina said with a sheepish grin, and stroked her aunt's back.
Minerva turned in her brother's embrace and smiled. "I know, Meli. I know. I am just as impatient as you are. That's why I am trying so hard."
"And you are doing a fantastic job of it."
"Yes, it is fantastic, alright." Baldur said, suddenly solemn. "And it is high time."
The smiles vanished at his grave expression. "What do you mean, Baldur? Is there something wrong?"
Nipps took a deep breath. "Well…I am not really sure. I could be wrong, of course."
"About what?"
"I don't really know, but I might have raised the suspicion of Lord Voldemort."
The other's breath caught. Minerva's hand flew to her throat. "Are you certain?"
Nipps looked at her gravely. "I am afraid so."
"Did he say anything?" Uray managed to choke out.
"Nothing obvious or anything I could put my finger on. He asked me if I knew you, your family. But he knows that already. He knows that Melina was working with me several years. I only repeated this information, of course, but still…" Seeing the worried looks of his companions he added. "Now, it is possible that the Lord was only fishing and doesn't really have an idea, but it could just as well mean that he suspects me double crossing him. If that is the case, it is no longer safe to come here."
The McGonagall's sat down heavily in their chairs, Uray gripping his sister's shaking hand tightly.
Minerva buried her face in her free hand and dropped her head. With her hair coming loose and hiding her face she was a picture of defeat. "I'm sorry. I am so sorry, Baldur," she choked out with a teary voice. "Now, I have brought you into danger too. I am so sorry."
Sobs were wrecking her body.
Baldur shot out of his chair and knelt in front of Minerva. He put one hand onto her shoulder and with the other one cupped her cheek, making her look at him. With a tender voice he soothed: "Don't feel guilty, Minerva. I am here of my own free will. I want to help. I want to help YOU!"
Minerva looked into his eyes at those forceful words, but found only sincerity in his face . Sincerity and...admiration.
"I am doing this for you, Minerva. And I am not afraid. For you, I'll do anything."
His meaning was clear and upon it Melina made eye contact with her father, eyebrows raised and an unspoken question in her face. Uray looked back and only offered a slight shrug of his shoulders. Melina raised an eyebrow demandingly, but her father only nodded a 'Not now!' His daughter frowned.
Minerva stared at the man before her, who had all but pledged his life to her and a slow smile crept onto her face. "Thank you, Baldur." He smiled too. Their eyes locked and the world seemed to stop.
Until Uray coughed and shattered the moment.
Baldur snapped out of his trance and his eyes fell onto the baroque clock on the mantle. "Oh my, is it that late? I'd better take my leave, before somebody checks on me and gets the idea that I have gone A.W.O.L." He turned. "Uranos, would you mind helping me home?"
"Of course not."
Baldur turned to Melina and waved. "Goodnight, my dear. I'll see you tomorrow." Melina waved back with an impish grin.
Then he turned to Minerva. "Goodnight, Minerva. Sleep well. And don't let the worry get the better of you. I'll be just fine."
The woman smiled in response. "I know, Baldur. Have a safe trip." Suddenly, she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "And thanks. For everything."
He beamed in response and followed Uray out of the library. In the hallway the other man turned to him with a serious expression on his face. "May I give you a piece of advice, Baldur?"
The inventor-turned-teacher looked at him in confusion. "Of course."
"As much as I appreciate your sentiment and support, please do me and yourself a favour. Keep your heart in check."
"What do you mean?"
"You all but declared your undying love to my sister in there, Baldur. And I don't think that this was a good move. Minerva isn't free and she will not be for a long time. If ever."
"I am rather aware that she still loves Dumbledore, but what is your point?"
"Minerva is vulnerable, right now. And though I know that you won't take advantage of the situation, it still isn't a good idea. Somebody could get hurt. You are my friend and I don't want you to get hurt, but Minerva is my baby sister..." both men grinned at the term, "and she has been hurt very much recently and I will not stand for letting her suffer even more."
"So you demand that I stay away from her."
"No, not really. As I said, it's only an advice to keep your heart in check. Funny, it was usually my sister Diana breaking men's hearts easily. And now at this age and in such times, Minerva seems to develop such an irresistible allure too. It's almost funny." He paused. "No Baldur, this is neither a threat nor a warning, just advice for your own good. Falling for my sister is a dead end."
Baldur saw the sincerity in the other man's face. "I'll keep that in mind. I promise, Uray." He stepped into the fireplace, took a bit of the offered special floo powder, shouted, "Walpurgis' Lair", and was gone.
Uranos shook his head. "I hope so, my friend. I dearly hope so."
In the library, Melina turned to her aunt, who had resumed her sitting position and was now staring into space, a slight smile playing around her lips. The younger woman also sat down across from her aunt and a sly grin played over her face.
"A most interesting display, I must admit. I didn't know you had such talents, Aunt Min."
"What do you mean, Meli?"
"I know you are a powerful witch, but it was new to me to see your talents also lie in love spells."
Minerva frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
"Well, I am merely surprised. Seems like you have gotten over Dumbeldore fairly soon. Which is a good thing, mind you."
Her aunt's voice became dangerously low. "What are you getting at?"
Melina ignored the warning and her grin turned saucy. "Is there something going on between you and Baldur, Aunt Min?
"Is there something going on between you and Severus?"
The younger woman bristled at the sharp reaction. "Sweet Merlin, Aunt Min, why are you so touchy about this? All I am saying is that I like the idea of you and Baldur. He is a nice man and you two would be so cute together. And he's a lot better then Dumbledore."
Minerva's hands had clenched into fists in order to control her temper. Between gritted teeth she hissed. "What do you want to say, Melina?"
The younger woman still didn't see the danger she was in. "Well, when you hook up with Baldur, we could stop this ridiculous quest. Dumbledore behaved like a git, so let him be."
"This is quite enough, Melina." The booming voice of Uranos came from the door. "I don't think we should expand on this topic tonight anymore."
Minerva had calmed down a bit. "You are right, Uray. It is late and I better go to sleep." She rose from the chair and went for the door. Pointedly ignoring her niece, she addressed her brother. "Goodnight, Uray" She kissed him and he embraced her and whispered a soothing "I love you." And closed the door behind her.
Uranos glared at his daughter, fists at his hips. Melina shifted uneasily from one foot to the other.
Finally, she sighed. "What do you want, father?"
"Melina, your attitude is not to my liking. Not at all. If you don't want to participate in helping your aunt to clear her name, save herself, the man she loves and probably the wizarding community, then go. Go now! Go far! And never come back!"
The woman was taken aback. "You would send me away?"
Uray sighed. "I don't want to, but if you force me, I will. I have promised my sister to help her with everything I can. I will not break this promise. Baldur is willing to risk his life for her. Severus too. She is trying everything in her might to perform one of the most difficult feats of magic imaginable. And you have the nerve to criticise her. I will not accept that."
"But she is risking her life and ours for a man who wants to send her to Azkaban. For a man who broke her heart."
"I know it is hard to understand, especially if you have not loved yet." Seeing his daughter open her mouth to protest vehemently, he smiled "No Melina, you have not yet felt love like that. At least, I have not seen you with a man yet whom you loved like I loved your mother or like Minerva loves Dumbledore. That's why you can't understand that determination."
Melina slumped down onto the couch. "I'm sorry, daddy." She said with a very small voice. "I behaved like a brat, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did."
"I will apologize to Aunt Min. And I will try to be more supportive and more helpful too."
Uray sat down next to his daughter pulling her into a loving embrace. "I know you will, my baby. We are all a little edgy, lately. I'm sure Minerva will forgive you."
"I hope so." Came the sniffed reply.
"Don't worry, my baby. Everything will be alright."
Melina sniffed some more and finally asked, "Papa? Do you think I will find a love one day that is as strong as yours and Mama's, or that of Aunt Min and Dumbledore?"
A tender smile underlaid the words. "I'm sure you will, my baby. I'm sure you will." Mentally, Uray said: 'If your aunt is right in any way, then love is very near for you, my baby. Very near.'
~~~
Comments:
Eth: Thank you for your compliments.
VoyICJ: Could it be that you are a little impatient, kiddo? Unfortunately, this is necessary. So, bear with me…pwetty, pwetty, please. Oh and: join my club. Cat allergy here….
Child-of-the-dawn: Thank you so much.
Isabelle3: Well, that cat was angry, because Minerva ignored her and she wanted to be chosen. As for Albus, just wait and see…
Selene: You'll be wondering some more time, I'm afraid.
Griselda La Fey: uhm…uhm…well, can't tell you now. But it will all be revealed.
Jestana: Oh shucks…thankies. And do you think, you can make something out of the RR-idea?
Oh and finally…could you tell me, what you think about this chapter? Did it even make sense? Let me know through this button down there. Thanks.