Disclaimer: All Harry Potter people, places, things, or ideas (all Harry Potter nouns) belong to J. K. Rowlings.
Chapter 3: Confession.
The following week, as planned, Minerva sat in the infirmary as Poppy analyzed the results of her physical. The medwitch seated herself in a chair next to Minerva and sighed heavily. Finally she met Minerva's questioning green eyes and looked at her sadly. "Were you aware that you have Benford's Disease?"
The Transfiguration teacher broke the assessing stare and replied, "I did not want to loose my job over it and I let St. Mungo's send you a false report last year. Yes, I've known about it since I visited St. Mungo's for a check-up last summer. It is supposed to be a disease of slow progression, meaning that I should have at least another five years before it seriously impairs my teaching."
Poppy shook her head. "You do not seem to understand the seriousness of this."
"On the contrary, I do understand and I will not be treated as an invalid while I am still capable of teaching," Minerva argued.
"The disease is progressing at a quicker rate than they estimated. The shaking you have in your hands now will become uncontrollable as your nervous system begins to degrade and you loose control of your motor functions. Before your brain completely shuts down, you will become a vegetable. It may bare resemblance to a muggle disease called Parkinson 's disease, but it can revert back to a dormant state, perhaps for months or years. I'm sure you know as well as I do that there is no known cure for this. I can only give you a few things that will slow its progression and conceal it from everyone else for a while, but I recommend that you do tell the headmaster," the medwitch conveyed.
For all of the profoundly unpleasant news she had just received, Minerva did not seem overly shocked by it, as if she had been expecting such a verdict. "Thank you, Poppy. I will tell him on my own time," she remarked, accepting the potions Poppy handed her and leaving.
Reaching her office, she took the first few doses of the five potions she had been given. Grimacing as the foul-tasting concoctions trickled down her throat, she removed her chess board from the drawer, glad to have at least one thing to look forward to. Severus knocked on her door moments later and she quickly hid the potions before allowing him to enter.
As he took his seat and the game commenced, he observed his opponent. Though her appearance was as prim as always with no stray hairs protruding from her bun and her robes unwrinkled, her eyes looked haggard. They moved the pieces wordlessly for a while until he cleared his throat. He spoke when she looked up at him. "Professor, forgive my frankness, but you don't look well today."
I should have known he would be an observant one, having paid attention to all the details necessary to have scored so well in his Potions classes, she rationalized. "Thank you for your concern, but I assure you that I am quite well." She decided to change the subject. "How have you been getting along with Mr. Potter and Mr. Black?"
He sighed and sat back from the desk, staring at his hands for a moment. "I suppose you had to ask that. Those two lack manners regarding what they call me as I walk down the hall, minding my own business. I tried to ignore them, but it failed and the three of us were assigned a detention with Professor Binns for yelling at each other in the hall, which I have already served."
Minerva made her move on the board as she scooted the rook closer to Severus' knight. "Mr. Snape, you are better than that. I know it is difficult to avoid fellow classmen, but in your case it would prove beneficial."
He moved his knight out of the way and took a pawn she had missed. "Professor, but that is easier said than done."
So are a great many things, she mentally added. When their game had ended and he left, she realized how truly exhausted she was. Retiring to bed early, she left her stack of papers on her desk that evening, knowing that soon she would need to tell her boss about the illness.
Minerva waited until the school year had finished before she spoke to the headmaster regarding her health. Dumbledore was seated in his office when a knock was heard at the door. He raised an eyebrow when his deputy entered the room. "Is something wrong, Minerva? Any other students you wish to complain about?" he inquired with a patient smile, watching her over the top of his half-moon spectacles.
Sighing before facing him, she spoke. "I wish it was as simple as that. There is something you need to know that could affect my position here. I have Benford's Disease."
He quickly walked over to her and sat her down on the couch. "That is dreadful. Is there nothing that can be done?" he asked, deep concern reflected in his blue eyes.
She shook her head. "I only have what Poppy was able to give me. I don't know exactly how much time I have, but I would like to continue teaching while I can," she requested.
"How are you feeling?" he questioned. She knew that he wanted to assess the degree of her illness.
"My hands shake from time to time and I feel fatigued more often than I used to, but other than those things I feel fine at the moment."
He sighed and began pacing. After a few minutes he stopped and faced her. "Minerva, I hate to think of loosing you. Not only have you been a wonderful colleague, and excellent teacher, and an exceptional deputy, but you are also my friend. If you feel that you can continue teaching through the next year then go ahead, but be careful and be aware of your own health," he conveyed.
She nodded in agreement. "I will."
After she left he sank down into his desk chair and glanced over at his phoenix. "Well Fawkes, I truly hope that she can continue teaching. Not only will she be incredibly difficult to replace, but she is the only staff member who has made any progress in helping young Mr. Snape. I do hope that everything will turn out in the end."
(My thanks to LinZE, Leta McGotor, and Minerva'schild for reviewing :D)