Disclaimer: Admiting defeat, I sit here holding upmy hands, expecting to be slapped for even thinking I could ever own any of the Harry Potter characters. I never have owned them and I never will.
A.N: This version has not been beta-read as I am too impatient to wait, lol. So, as usual, I have to appologise for the terrible spelling and grammermistakes. I shall re-post it when bigkihap has had the time to edit my version, bless her. Anyhow, thank you to everyone who has reviewed! You all rock!
Bex
minni:LOL! you make me laugh. I'm afraid I don't really watch television unless there is a good sitcom, drama or film on. I find everything else rubbish really, lol. Thank you for the review! I'm glad you liked it, even though it was quite brief. I just couldn't find anythingelse to put into the chapter at the time, if you know what i mean. I justwent brain dead. But anyway, thanks again! I hope you like this chapter!
Always Hopeful: Thanks for putting me on your favourates list! It means loads that people like my story! And I pity you for your computer crashing! I spend a good ten minutes trying to resist the urge to not kick my computer out he door, lol. Thanks for reviewing!
esb: Thank you for the review! I hope you like this one!
Joelpup62: I'm happy you like my story, lol! I just had to put that line in, it's the sort of typical thing Albus would say! Thanks for reviewing!
Sherbertkitty: You shall see in this chapter! Thanks for reviewing!
TheGryffindorSeeker: You deserve to be thanked if you review! And I shall thank you again! I'm glad you like my story!
Portkeys Miss-Mione: I hope I found a good enough place to take them, lol! Thank you for the review! I hope you like this chapter!
foci: Thank you for the praise! I hoped the awkward lines were ok! Thank you for the review! The stick is like the rebellion Minerva is going through at the moment. She hates to use it so she leaves it behind when she can, lol!
xrazorbladeromancex: Hi sarah! Thank you for your lovely review! No Aberforth hasn't got her under a spell lol! I'm glad you liked the drinking competition also. I hope you like where Albus takes Minerva!
Leta McGotor: No he is not quite out of the run yet! lol, I hope you like where Albus takes Minerva! Thank you for the review!
'Tis a Gift to Be Free: I'm so glad you love my story! It means tonnes! I like to just throw a few clues of Minerva in at random, it gives it a little someting extra! Thank you for the praise! Thanks for the review, also!
Alesia G: Poppy knows Albus wants Minerva but she also realises that if he wants to win her, he has to admit it. Thats why she got Minerva to go to see him to 'make up' in a way. Thanks for the review!
Lady-jolly: I'm glad you like it! Thank you for the review!
Chapter 8
A Tree House Party
Poppy Pomfrey sat in her small office at the end of the hospital wing filling in a few old forms that she had left from the previous term. Dolores Umbridge had undoubtedly been the worst headmistress that Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry had ever seen. In a bid to overthrow Albus Dumbledore and to gain power over the students and staff, she had stooped so low as to use violent measures by reinstating the use of Blood-ink quills and merciless punishments such as the rack, whips and chains. As a result of this treachery, Poppy was left to tend to the injured and wounded students that had been forced to suffer these unworthy punishments for either something they did not do or something so tedious. All that they really needed was to write lines or a day in the trophy room as punishment.
By leaving the paperwork for the summer and just making odd notes in her nursing journal, Poppy could focus on the job at hand and heal the poor students that Dolores had bestowed this unworthy fate upon. Poppy had had at least twenty students a day to tend to as the year went by without word of Albus coming back to protect them. Only three to five of these injuries had either been self-inflicted or pranks gone wrong. After several long complaints to the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, Poppy had given up writing to the fool in attempt to ban these terrible punishments. The Minister simply ignored her howlers and letters so Poppy had to settle for just simply being around for the students to seek help from her. She would just have to wait until there was a new Minister of Magic to tell him of the abusive behaviour of the so-called "better" headmistress.
Poppy suddenly looked up at the door to find Alastor standing there with a lop-sided grin, his magical eye swivelling around the room and the hospital wing, never quite residing on one place.
"Took you a while to notice me," he said, a hint of amusement evident in his deep voice. Alastor never took his real eye off the mediwitch in front of him, as he picked up a lot of paperwork off a chair and placed it onto a small table. "What's on your mind?"
Poppy sighed and pushed her curly ash-blonde hair out of her face.
"I'm sorry Alastor," she replied wearily. "I was just thinking back over what that poor excuse of a Minister and his pathetic pet frog has done to the school and its occupants."
Alastor leaned forward to put a gnarled hand into Poppy's, leaving his other hand to push Poppy's head up gently to face him. Ever since Alastor was found in the bottom of his trunk at the end of last year, the two had found an unrequited attraction for each other. Every now and then, Alastor would pick a beautiful bunch of flowers from and obliging field and present them to Poppy. Half the time, Alastor would make up an excuse to visit the school, just to see the mediwitch, claiming that he either wanted to see the headmaster or was just visiting for a check up, as he did not "trust those so-called doctors at St. Mungo's because the hospital is funded by Death Eaters like the Malfoy's. You never know where their loyalties lie," he would complain loudly to anyone that would listen. Poppy, who was always near by when Alastor made such comments, blushed and busied herself by clearing up the hospital wing.
"Don't worry about that for now. When this war is over, I'm going to raise such a stink about it, frog-eyes won't know what hit her." Alastor promised and wiped a tear that fell unwanted down Poppy's cheek.
"I don't know how we are going to cope, how I am going to cope. I have already almost lost my best friend and the war hasn't even started yet," Poppy cried, placing her hand over her mouth and closing her eyes. Alastor edged closer to her, gently putting his arm around Poppy. Poppy leaned into Alastors' shoulder to cry. Listening to her soft sobs, Alastor gently let his head rest on Poppy's and rubbed her back.
"It's ok, Poppy. We're going to be fine. Come on, how about I take you out for a nice meal? Perhaps that will cheer you up," said Alastor soothingly as Poppy glanced up, her startling blue eyes filled with water. She smiled at Alastor as he grinned back.
"Thank you, Alastor. That would be wonderful," Poppy replied graciously and Alastors' smile grew wider. "I have to return this walking stick to Minerva. She is having a chat with Albus at the minute,"
"No problem. I'll tell you what, I will return the walking stick while you get ready," Alastor suggested and Poppy looked gratefully at him.
"Thank you,"
"Your most welcome," he replied, picking up the walking stick in question. Taking hold of her hand, Alastor gave Poppy a lingering kiss before disappearing into the fireplace.
Gazing over the hills and fields, Minerva lazily took in the spectacular sight that was before her. Her eyes sparkled as the sun began to set behind the clouds. Had it really been a whole hour since they had set out? The thought occurred to Minerva that she had absolutely no idea where they were going. Deciding not to ask Albus where they had set off to, Minerva felt the thrill of excitement course through her at the thought of being surprised. Thinking of the many romance novels she had read, Minerva thought wildly about their final destination, imagining it to be this enchanting place beyond the clouds where her delicious prince charming could whisk her off her feet. Albus looked across contentedly and gazed into the pair of mesmerising green eyes that had just looked across at him. Smiling, Albus just knew that Minerva was going to love the place that he was taking her. Gazing over the bonnet and over to what looked like a big green bush surrounded by clouds, Albus's smile grew wider as the object grew closer.
"If I am not mistaken, I do believe that we are almost at our destination." Albus announced to Minerva who sat up straight and narrowed her eyes at the green bush that appeared to be growing bigger as they approached it.
Slowing down slightly, Albus dipped the car so that it fell under the blanket of clouds and down into a lush green field laden with broomsticks, cars, illegal magic carpets and for some odd reason a muggle Hoover. Circling around so that he could land the car, Albus glanced around for a parking space near the entrance of the massive tree that towered over the fields nearby. After five minutes of circling the field, Albus found a space on the outskirts near an over-grown apple tree. Albus unclipped his seat belt and got out of the car to open Minerva's door only to find that Minerva was already out and staring at the tree. Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the tree's bringing out to the beautiful shade of green from its leaves. Albus offered Minerva his right arm and she took it without a question, still glancing up into the branches of the tree. The tree itself spread over at least an acre wide, and what Minerva could see was little wooden huts hanging from an awful lot of rope from several sturdy branches. Wondering how on earth they were going to get up to the top, Minerva let Albus guide her to the roots of the trunk where a wooden door appeared. The doorframe was calved into tiny patterns of swirls curling into a tree at the top of the arched door. Two doormen either side opened the wooden door for them and they both saw the whole room was completely made out of wood, except for the plaque that bid them a 'welcome'. An aged witch with long grey hair and oversized spectacles sat behind the desk that stood before them.
"Good evening, sir, madam. Would you like a table for two?" she inquired in a heavy Irish accent to Albus and Minerva.
"Yes please. Would it be possible to get the top cabin?" Albus asked gently.
"It is the most expensive of the lot I'm afraid. It will cost you seventy galleons and twenty sickles. Everything you order is inclusive, sir," replied the witch and Albus started to pull out his heavy pouch full of money. Minerva looked alarmed and put a hand on his.
"There is really no need, Albus. It really is quite dear," she protested but her requests fell on deaf ears.
"The advantage of being the headmaster of Hogwarts, my dear," Albus smiled, looking quite amused at the expression on Minerva's face, "Is that I get an awful lot of money each month. I really have no time to spend it but when an occasion comes along such as this one, I am happy to empty a few vaults. Besides, you are worth every knut of it,"
Counting out seventy-one galleons from his pouch and placing it on the side, Albus offered Minerva his arm once more as the witch told the directions towards the top hut. After thanking the witch, they both made their way over to the wooden lift. Sitting down on the wooden seats provided by the lift, Albus said "The Top House" and the lift took them up at least one hundred feet high until it came to a stop. Albus and Minerva walked on to the wooden platform that was surrounded by a four-foot weaved fence and followed it around until they came across a wooden bridge. The bridge was made of wooden planks and chains that carried up to the gorgeous thatched wooden hut that hung from the thick rope. It reminded Minerva of a tree house that she had built in her youth, but ten times the size of her miniature one. Following the bridge up to the door, Minerva pushed down on the door handle and entered the hut. Several small, round tables that could seat up to four people stood with identical chairs and a bar 'Smoky Joe's' wrapped itself around the back of the hut. Turning to face Albus, Minerva saw the warmth from his sparkling eyes melt into her's. A waiter walked from the bar towards the couple and Minerva had to break away from the dreamy expression she now had one her face.
"We have a table just around the back here," the waiter indicated to a small-secluded table in the corner that over looked the beautiful sunset.
"It's perfect," Minerva muttered so that only Albus could here. Albus felt on top of the world, thanking the heavens that his plan had worked. Sliding into the wooden seat opposite Minerva, he could not take his eyes off the beautiful witch in front of him. The waiter placed two menus down in front of them then walked away. The beauty of the place dazzled Minerva, never knowing that a tree could ever hold so much. Albus locked eyes with Minerva. Only actions could speak for them now as words had failed them. It just seemed only right as they sat there in silence for the whole meal, each knowing what they wanted to say, but neither saying it for now was not the time for such things. Albus took hold of Minerva's hand, squeezing it for reassurance and getting it in return with a sparkle of delight that flashed through Minerva's eyes like a shooting star. They sat there, waiting for the sun to set behind the distant fields and watched for the moon to come out and play. Soon the cloud cover had disappeared and the stars shone in the midnight sky above. A feeling of accomplishment settled in Albus's heart, as he knew from just watching Minerva that she was really his. Minerva shut her eyes and pictured the view that she had just soaked in from the sky and pictured herself flying throughout the air on a broomstick, as if dancing with the stars above. Imagining herself doing flip after flip and eventually falling into the arms of Albus who caught her and took her off to the gorgeous cottage at the seaside that he had taken her too once, many years ago. Back then Minerva had been a young talented witch with a lot of potential. But she had chosen to teach beside her idol Albus Dumbledore, to become his right hand and best friend. Minerva's eyes suddenly snapped open as she thought of his brother, Aberforth. But did she really feel for him? Sure he was handsome, eccentric like his brother, and adventurous. But could she really love him? Or a better question would be had she ever loved him? The answer was no. Suddenly Minerva felt the cold pang of guilt for leading him on. How would she ever break it to him? Aberforth had been nothing but generous to Minerva and now she was about to brake up with him? Guilt lead to despair as Minerva realised there was no easy way to tell him. Deciding to worry about it in the morning, Minerva glanced over to Albus who was in a daydream. He gave Minerva start when he started to talk.
"It is getting rather late, isn't it?" he said dreamily. "I think perhaps I should get you home young lady. Poppy will be angry if we're back too late,"
Minerva laughed as Albus stood up and offered his arm to her.
"I know, she will never let me out again if I stayed out all night," Minerva replied dryly and Albus chuckled. Leaving a tip for the waiter, Albus nodded to him as they departed from the wooden hut and walked along the bridge to the elevator. Waiting for the elevator to arrive, Albus placed his arm around Minerva because she started to shiver.
"Thank you, Albus." she muttered bashfully.
Once they had made their way to the car, Albus placed his cloak on Minerva's legs before walking around and climbing into the car. Starting the engine and pressing the invisibility button again, the old Thunderbird started to rise into the air and towards the east. Albus grasped Minerva's hand as they flew back to the castle and wait to see what Poppy thought of them sneaking out at night.
Please tell me it was ok...just press the little button!