Albus and the Sleeping Beauty
Part Two: Prince Charming's Explaination

It was Albus who Apparated to Hogsmeade with Minerva, and Albus who Flooed from there to Hogwarts with her. Harry, under the watchful eyes of Mad-Eye, Scrimgeour, Lupin and Tonks, met him there in what used to be Dumbledore's office. Albus smiled when he saw that he was absent from his portrait. He had bewitched it to appear that he was asleep for the entire year, or until he either returned to the office or actually died. Albus was sure that he knew which spell had afflicted his friend, for it was famous even in the Muggle world. The ancient spell, or curse, depending on who was defining it, would put the person under it, traditionally a woman, to sleep until…well…until she was awoken by just the right person. Some said True Love's First Kiss would break the spell, others argued that it took much more than that, and some believed that the whole thing was rubbish and therefore not worth investigating at all, thus those under the spell would sleep for one hundred years and awake to worlds unknown to them, having not aged at all.

Knowing that he could do little for Minerva in the office with everyone else expected to arrive any second, he took her to his bedchambers (her bedchambers now, her tartan comforter and battered ball of yarn reminded him upon entrance) and set her gently on the bed. He leaned down to her, just to try it, to see if merely a kiss would do, but just before he pressed his lips to hers he heard Ron shout, "It's finally over! Harry, it's over!" Albus decided to join them in the sitting room.

He conjured up several chairs and transfigured two small tables into couches, and soon everyone had settled in. Albus looked around slowly, at each and every person he had not seen in so long. Harry was on one couch, looking as pale and frightened as Albus had ever seen him. On his left, Ron and Hermione, holding hands and whispering to their friend. On his right, Ginny, holding his shaking hand between her own, trying to keep it warm and still. Arthur was there, with Bill, and Fleur, but Molly had gone along with Fred, George and Charlie to St. Mungo's. Remus sat in one of Albus' favorite chairs, apparently Minerva had decided to keep it, and Tonks settled herself in his lap. Albus could not help but smile a little when Remus wrapped his arms protectively and comfortably around the young pink-haired witch. Alastor Moody plopped himself in one of the sturdier chairs and rubbed his forehead, looking pained. Neville stood alone by the bookcase, and Albus was sure he was crying quietly. He turned and locked eyes with Dumbledore.

"Luna and Susan are in the hospital wing with Madam Pomfrey," he said, holding back tears. "And Ernie…Ernie wasn't moving."

Hermione began to sob, and Ron put her arms around her. Harry did not react.

Rufus Scrimgeour spoke next. "They have all been arrested. There will be trials, of course, but I suspect that they will all be administered the kiss as soon as we have the Dementors back on our side."

Arthur's eyes flashed. "The Dementors? Are you mad!"

"Dad," Bill said quietly, putting a hand on his father's arm. "I want to hear from Dumbledore."

Rufus cleared his throat. "That is, of course, if you are Dumbledore." He said importantly.

"I will take Veritaserum if you have it handy," responded the former Headmaster. "If not, I can wait. But I do not wish to say it twice."

The Minister nodded. "Why don't you give us the condensed version then, eh, and when we have the potion handy, you can give your complete statement. I repeat, if you even are Dumbledore. And after that, I want to know what happened today."

"For what happened today, I would be glad to place my thoughts in my Pensieve for you so you can see for yourself. I wish to not waste time. Student's are injured, Harry is obviously in shock, and Minerva, er, Professor McGonagall, is in need of medical attention."

The Minister agreed. "Go on," he coaxed, and Albus began to explain.

"Severus came to me and told me that he had spoken to Narcissa Malfoy, concerning her son, Draco. Draco was to kill me, you see, on Voldemort's orders, and Narcissa was adamant that her son not become a murderer, nor would he get killed. Snape had to find another solution that would keep all of us safe. And he did. A variation of Polyjuice potion that I could give to an animal, my Pheonix, Fawkes, and the use of a Time Turner. It was Fawkes who would die, and be reborn later. I brought Harry to find the locket, and became very ill as a result of drinking that substance. I used the Time Turner in the very way it should not be used, and I also used a Time Stopper. As soon as Severus said the first word of the Killing Spell, I stopped time, went back only a minute, and changed with Fawkes, and then started time again. I had already spoken my last words. Snape's spell finished and Fawkes was dead, but I, weak and in my animagus form, flew up above everyone. I lifted the spell I had placed on Harry in that same moment, and he was able to move. I was afraid that someone would hurt him, but luckily Severus had already warned them not to. He escaped with Draco and I checked on everyone else. I was most scared for Bill; I did not know what to make of a bite from an untransformed werewolf."

At this both Tonks and Fleur shuddered, and held their men a little closer. Bill reached up and gently ran his fingers over one of the scars on his face, and Remus silently kissed Tonks' neck.

"I have spent this year searching for Horcrux's, spying on Voldemort, watching over Harry, and trying to find ways to point our Golden Trio in the right direction. I knew that Harry had to do this last bit himself. He had to finish it. I hated watching from the sidelines, so to speak, but it was simply safer that way. For all of us."

"You caused us pain," whispered Neville, and Albus felt the overwhelming urge to cry, though he did not break down.

"I am sorry Neville. My only hope is that, someday, you can see that what I tried to do was what I thought best for you, and you will forgive me."

"I forgive you, sir," said Hermione, "And I think I understand. And yet I doesn't make any of this easier to take. Though…" she wiped her eyes. "I am glad to have you back."

"Me too," whispered Ginny and Ron, and Scrimgeour shook his head.

"I need to get to the Ministry. Come on, Harry, you'll come with me."

Harry said nothing, but shook his head. "Madam Pomfrey," he finally said about a minute later. "Hospital wing. With my friends…" then, with the faintest smile he added, "It's where I spend every end-of-term."

"We will take him there," Offered Arthur, adding, "And you can tend to Minerva."

"Is that alright, Harry?" asked Albus Dumbledore, and Harry nodded, though he would not look at the old wizard, his one-time mentor and friend.

So they piled out of the office, and Scrimgeour went back to the Ministry alone, and Albus locked the office with the strongest spell he knew to use for such a purpose, and opened the bedroom door. Minerva was lying there, peaceful and quiet, her hair all over the pillow under her head, as it must have fallen out of her customary bun during the fight.

She looked so beautifully.

Assuring himself that he was doing the right thing for her, and that she would not throttle him upon waking, he made his way to the bed and sat down beside her. Slowly he lowered his lips to her, and pressed against her ever so gently.

But she did not wake up.