Ch.9

Authors note: Hi again, this chapter is more or less just a fill in to get to the next, you see I needed to kill off dippet (yes I finnaly remebered his silly name) and I needed to set Dumbledore and Minerva up for their little 'chat' sor sorry, next chapter will be better I promise. Thank you kind person who offered spelling help, I looked at your story, excellent story by the way, but sadley I have no idea what you are talking about, about this spell help thing...but I would love to try it. Anyway hope you enjoy.

The rubble from the battle the next day was undeniable, and scattered among it were two unconscious fugures. One that lay in an awkward position at the base of the stairs, raven hair matted with glissting blood in the early June sun. Minerva was the first to wake, her vision blured for an instant and and then was clear again. She vaguely realized that her hair was wet, she touched it gently, bringing her fingers delicantly back down in front of her face. They were ruby red, the nights events came flooding back to her. Tom, he had left her, hurt her, broken her, almost killed her, he had dueled with……..

"PROFFESOR DUMBLEDORE!" Minerva jumped up, which probely wasn't a good idea considering her physical state. Her eyes, though still fuzzy, spotted a bent over unconscious man, Minerva ran to him. Checking his pulse, he was alive! Minerva felt swept with relief.

"Proffesor?" Minerva said prodding him slightly. Dumbledore opened his eyes to slits.

"Minerva," said Dumbledore in a raspy voice.
"Your alive!" A weak but obvious smile crept up on the mans face.

"Yes, my dear, it would appear so, I greatly appreciate your enthusiasm toward me." He placed a hand on her face and ran his thumb across her cheek. Minerva shivered.

"Sir, you won't be if we don't get you to the hospital wing," Minerva said noticing a large gastly cut on Dumbledore's shoulder. Blood was seeping through his robes.

"Ah, yes well, by all means," And he (to Minerva's amazment) lifted himself to his feet without showing any sign of pain or struggle. Dubledore, catching the look of shock on Minerva's face chuckled.

"Don't worry the pain comes from the repairs in the hospital wing, I find, though don't tell Madame Katz that, she would never forgive me." Minerva was completely amazed and oddly relieved at Dumbledore's making light of this catostrophie. Still she hoped that he would be willing to supply her with adicate details of what happened later, her memory simply wasn't up to par. None the less, Minerva accompanied the Proffesor to the hospital wing without even a second glance at the destruction of the courtyard.

Madame Katz was in an outrage. As soon as the hospital wing door had opened, her sqwaking like an angry chicken filled there ears. She ushered both of them to beds immediately scolding and questioning all the way.

"What on earth were you doing!" She repeated over and over again, but even as they tried to explain that there had been a battle, she was off again, demanding that they weren't to be talking. In the end she sent one of the other patients whose injuries were much less severe to go and fetch the headmaster. Ages slipped by it seemed, waiting for the limping boy to return. Minerva was growing stedily more nervous as the clock at the far end of the room ticked on. What on earth were they supposed to tell Headmaster Dippet? That one of the best students in the school was off his nut, and planning to take over the world. Or should they simply start with the events of last night. To Minerva's annoyance Dumbledore did not seemed troubled in the least, drumming his fingers ever so lightly on the bedside table and smiling goofily up at the celing. And then with a deafing bang, the oak doors to the hospital wing flew open once more and there stood the same little boy with the limp, his face pale white in horror. "Proffesor Dippet is dead!" And he promptly fainted on the spot. For the first time Dumbledore looked rather worried, and stood up immediately from his bed. Minerva only gaped, not fully believing any of this, it had to be some sort of joke. Madame Katz covered her face with her hands and let out a shriek of fright.

"Minerva, quickly come with me!"

"Proffesor I-" "Minerva, please, come." And he strood off past the boy who had fainted and headed twoards the grand staircase. Minerva hesitated for a moment, throwing one pleading look at Madame Katz as if the plump woman could somehow stop all of this, before she too excited the hospital wing. Jogging to keep Dumbledore in sight she was relieved when he finaly came to a halt in front of a stone gargoyle on the 7th floor.

"gargoyle" whispered Dumbledore to the gargoyle, and it sprang aside.
"Dippet does not waste time on creativity." Explained Dumbledore automatically. Minerva only panted in return. The office was in the same state as the courtyard completely torn to shreads, and yet there was no signs of battle here. It more looked like someone had been searching for something. Then Minerva saw it, with his head face down on his desk, sat Proffesor Dippet. Dumbledore quickly stepped around to the old man, and placed his wand on the base of his neck, after a moment he pulled it away. His head dropped down and he sighed heavily looking beaten.

"Did-Is he…dead?" Minerva asked, although she knew it was a stupid question. Dumbledore looked up as if just realizing she was present.

"Oh, yes, unfortunately it seems that Proffesor Dippet was not as cautious with his goblets as I." He gestured at the goblet turned on its side atop a pile of now orange stained papers. Minerva only stared, it was hard to believe that just yesterday this man had been standing before the school making the speech, about Ariel.
"It was Tom then, sir?" Minerva asked with a slight tremble in her voice.

"Yes it was Minerva." Minerva looked down suddenly ashamed and embarrassed, because Dumbledore had glanced down at her waist.
"I should like to speak to you Minerva, now that Tom has fled the school. We have much to discuss, I am sure you would like to know what occurred last night, and of course there is your…situation to adhear to."

"Of course, sir" Minerva said, wishing more than ever that she could leave.

"Until tonight then." Dumbledore said, much brighter than before, which somehow didn't fit the scene that surrounded him.

"Sir, just one more thing if I may," Seeing that Dumbledore didn't protest she continued, "What will happen now, now that Proffesor Dippet is no longer….." She glanced at him to signify her meaning, "And since two students are dead, will they shut down the school?" Minerva asked gently, hopeing with all her might that Dumbledore would laugh at this suggestion. Instead he stared at her for a long moment, his blue eyes serching her face, at last he smiled and steped forward. Placing his hand delicantly on her shoulder he replied,

"Not if I can help in Minerva." Then he bent down his head and to Minervas utter surprise he lightly kissed her forehead. Minerva closed her eyes gently, holding the threating tears at bay. "I told you once that you would do wonders Minerva, the stars are alined in a perculiar manner with you, you have a great destiny ahead of you." Minerva retained a smirk at the 'stars aliened' part, it would have been very inappropriate to laugh. Not entirely satisfied with Dumbledore's answer, but very tired and frightened she turned and left the office, that she would have once been so curious to see. The body of Dippet, however, seemed to put a damper on the large circular room that was usually emacualtly clean. In fact the room that day, and the Proffesor's body left such an impression on Minerva, that she would never be able to appreciate it for what it was not even when it would one day belong to her.