Betrayal

"Well, this is pleasant," I whispered to Minerva.

Since we had gotten on the train, Albus had just stared at me, not saying a word.

"Albus," Minerva ventured, "Xiomara and I were wondering…" She looked at me, looking for help. I shrugged. "We were wondering what's the matter. You've hardly said a word since we got on the train."

Albus stared blankly at us.

"Lovely! I'll just pop off to the loo. Don't you crazy kids make too much noise while I'm gone!" I said, jokingly.

"Really, Xiomara," Minerva whispered harshly as she elbowed me. I shrugged and stood.

Immediately after I closed the carriage door, Albus spoke. The walls were thin and I could hear quite clearly everything he said.

"I thought you hated her. You could never forgive her. Minerva, I can't believe you! She hurt you!" I hear Albus say, his voice growing. "I was here for you, Min! This was supposed to be our time! You were supposed to be with m…" Albus had just caught himself.

Minerva was supposed to be with him. He had planned this "tragic reunion" so that she would crawl to him.

I slammed the door open.

"She's supposed to be with you? It's supposed to be 'your time?' What the bloody hell does that mean? Shouldn't a decision like that be left to, gee, I don't know… Minerva?" I screeched at him.

I looked to Minerva. She was as stunned by all of this as I was. She sat staring blankly.

"Well, Albus," I spat, "she didn't choose you. You don't have what she wants. You don't have history! She chose me! She loves me!"

"Damn it, Xiomara! Both of you stop!" Minerva said, standing. "I'm not a prize!" She stormed out of the carriage, leaving me and Dumbledore confused.

"Minnie, baby, come back! That's not what I meant! I know you're not an object!" I shrieked after her as I followed her as she ran to the loo.

"No! Not now! I need time!" she told me, slamming the door.

"Minnie!" I yelled, hammering on the door. "Sweetie! That's not what I meant! I love you! I just didn't want to lose you! Not again!"

I stopped beating on the door, knowing that continuing would just aggravate her.

"Minnie," I whispered, sliding to the floor. "Don't be mad, baby. I love you. Please forgive me."

My apology was met with silence.

"I'll wait in the carriage. Please baby…"

I walked back to the train carriage dejectedly.

An hour ago we had been so happy. Now, Minerva had locked herself in the loo and refused to speak to me. All because Dumbledore had proclaimed his "right to be with her" and I had gotten all possessive.

I scowled at him as I sat down. "Why couldn't you have just let her be happy?" I demanded.

"You think you made her happy?" he asked me incredulously. "Leaving her for quidditch? Never actually saying goodbye? Never owling her?" He stared at me. "I'm sure that made her jump for joy," he said sarcastically.

I suddenly felt myself blinking back tears. Surely I hadn't hurt her that much. I would never hurt her intentionally. "No."

"Yes," Albus nodded. "You hurt her more than words could say. I could see it in her eyes… in her heart. She closed her heart completely after you left her."

I shook my head. That couldn't be true. Minerva had always been such a warm woman.

"Like ice," Albus nodded, as if reading my thoughts. "I could tell that she never wanted to fall in love again. She never wanted to give that much of herself away again for fear of never getting it back. You broke her."

"Your lying!" I screeched, tears flooding my eyes.

What was going on? I don't cry, ever. I certainly don't cry in front of people.

"He's not," Minerva whispered from the doorway. I turned around, surprised.

"I was broken. I didn't want to love because I didn't want to feel that pain again," she said, clutching her heart as if she could feel all the pain now.

"I'm sorry, Minnie," I choked out. She flinched slightly as I took her hand, but allowed herself to be led to the seat next to me. "Forgive me? I never meant to hurt you. I was young and stupid. The more the years passed, the more I just thought that you would hate me if I went back to you."

She stared back at me with tears in her eyes.

"I never stopped loving you," I told her as I hugged her close.

She cried into my shoulder and I cried as well.

Albus stood and left after several minutes of our crying.

She pulled her tear-stained face from my shoulder. "I wished every day that you would come back to be and sweep me into your arms," she confessed.

I hugged her close again.

"I wished for you, too."