Blessings and Heartache

A/n: Hello everyone, thank you to those who took the time to review the last chapter. I am glad you liked and Xiomara's over eagerness made you chuckle, I am with Severus on the matter though. This chapter hasn't been beta read because I am simply too impatient. I hope Miss Ang is feeling better today, she had a migraine yesterday! On with the next chapter then.

Chapter Three: A lot of explaining to do.

Minerva let herself be swept along the corridor by Albus; she kept in step with him until they reached the stone gargoyle that guided the stairway that led to his office. They had slipped into a comfortable silence as soon as they had stepped out of the staff room; years of friendship had blessed them by not giving them uncomfortable silences to contend with. As she walked with him, her mind was on overload. She kept thinking about the article and what her friends and colleagues had said, it was becoming overwhelming.

Albus rarely gave interviews and to give one about his love life was practically unheard of, the paper had to be messing with words again so they could sell more papers. If Albus had met someone, Minerva would have known because there wasn't much he kept from her. She smiled to herself, her friends had vivid imaginations and she couldn't quite believe that part of her had believed them when they had jumped to conclusions.

Albus speaking the password to the gargoyle broke into her thoughts and she watched as the statue jumped aside and bowed slightly as Minerva walked by. She fought the urge to shiver has she felt Albus place one of his hands on the small of her back as she made her way up the stairs, he always did this when they made their way up to his office together. It always had the same effect on her though and that was why she wished the prophet had been correct in it's reporting.

Albus stepped in front of her as they reached the small landing before his office door; he opened the door and indicated for her to enter before him. She smiled and thanked him for his gentlemanly behaviour; she stepped in and was taken back by what she saw. Almost every available surface was covered with large red letters that were threatening to explode any minute. Minerva turned and looked at Albus with surprised, he was stood there with his shoulders slumped.

"Albus," she said softly "look at all these howlers!"

"They have been arriving since half five this morning," he told her "I barely have chance to open one before ten go off at once."

As soon as he stopped speaking, two howlers went off in unison.

"HOW COULD YOU"

"WHO IS SHE?"

The howlers burst into flames and the ashes floated to the floor; Minerva simply watched them and then looked around for anymore that were about to scream. She presumed that the howlers were sent in reply to the prophet article. Albus had been thee wizarding communities bachelor of the year for years now and he had picked up quite a following of lady admirers because of it. He received letters daily from witches of all ages declaring their love for him and even offering marriage proposals, Albus would always politely reply that he was unable to accept such offers but that didn't stop them from writing back. Minerva had even sat up with him in the small wee hours of the morning, helping him with his letters so he could get to bed and catch a few hours of sleep.

"SHE ISNT WORTHY, MARRY ME!" went off another howler, making Minerva jump slightly.

"Oh Albus, how are you supposed to open all of these?" she asked with a shake of her head.

"I don't think Merlin himself, could answer that!" Albus replied as he sunk down into a nearby chair and sighed.

A dozen so or more howlers screamed open and Minerva had to cover her ears as screeches filled the room. She had only been in his office for a few moments and already she was getting a headache, she couldn't imagine how Albus had coped for so long stuck in this room with the howlers.

"Am I right when say," she began "that these have been sent to you because of the article in the paper?"

"You are right," he told her "as you always are!"

Minerva fought the urge to pull out her wand and floo straight to the papers headquarters and tell them exactly what she thought of them and how their stupid article had caused the headmaster even more stress. She could never understand why the paper never got into trouble for printing stories that had never happened, the paper has printed lies on more than one occasion and yet they were still running.

"That woman," started Minerva as she spoke out Rita Skeeta "has a lot to answer for, she can't go around printing interviews that never took place! You must report her to the ministry, look at the problems her lies have caused you!"

"YOU CAN'T MARRY SOMEONE LIKE HER, WE ARE MEANT TO BE ALBUS!" screamed another howler.

"I gave the interview my dear!" he said quietly with a shake of his head.

Minerva felt her mouth drop open as she heard the words fall from his mouth, she couldn't believe it. Had he just said that he had freely given an interview to Rita Skeeta? Minerva cocked her head to the side and wondered if the screaming howlers had effected her hearing slightly.

"Pardon?" she asked again, she needed to make sure that she had heard correctly.

"I agreed to the interview," he told her "there was no trickery involved on Miss Skeeta's part. I sat with her and posed for the picture, all above board my dear."

Minerva looked at him over the top of her glasses, taking him in and realising that he was in fact telling her the truth. She couldn't understand why Albus would grant such an interview and with that woman no less, he couldn't stand her and the way she reported. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks, she felt the wind being knocked out of her as she realised that if Albus had given the interview then what was printed must have some truth to it.

"So it's true!" she asked, she hoped her voice didn't sound as wobbly as it did in her head.

"Partly!" he answered as he pressed his fingers together and rested his lips against them.

"SO MARRYING MCGONAGALL ARE WE, SHE CANT MAKE YOU HAPPY!" screeched another howler.

Hearing her name startled Minerva even more and she didn't know where to look. She was aware that he was watching her and for the first in many years, she suddenly felt rather uncomfortable.

"Seems they guessed of whom I was speaking about!" he said softly.

Minerva's head shot up and she looked at him, her heart beating in her throat. He had been talking about her to Rita Skeeta, her friends had been right all along. He did feel more for her then friendship! He wanted to marry her! Minerva wanted to sing with joy and dance around the room.

"Oh Albus," she started but stopped when Albus raised his hand.

"I know my dear," he began "it was wrong of me to say such a thing to her. I can understand why you are angry with me and I hold my hands up entirely, I am in fault here and I deserve these howlers."

Minerva stepped forward and took his hands in her own and looked down at him, he looked so handsome. His bright blue eyes twinkled slightly, not as bright as they usually did but there was a glint of something there. How could he think she would be angry with him? She couldn't be happier! She would have preferred to have heard it from him rather than a trashy paper but at least it was out in the open now and they could move forward.

"I was speaking of you my dear," he continued, as he looked up at her "I thought it perfect thing to get them to leave me alone and who better to say I am getting married too than you?

Minerva looked at him, pulling her hands slowly away from him and crossing them across her front. She didn't know what to say to him now, she simply shared at him and willing him to take back such words.

"It is amazing how gossip travels!" he continued, "I didn't even name names and they chose you. Isn't that funny my dear, we shall laugh about this over chess! I made a throw away comment and look how it has evolved."

Minerva felt her heart shatter into hundreds of pieces, she felt herself breakout into a cold sweat and she fought in vain to fight back the hot tears that were stinging her eyes. She had never known Albus to be a hurtful type of man but he had certainly hurt her now. Was the thought of marrying her that funny! Did he see her as a joke? Minerva leant against the wall for support, she was thankful that he wasn't looking at her because he was bound to notice the unshed tears.

"Jokes are funny things my dear, aren't they?" he asked with a small chuckle!

TO BE CONTINUED!