Dedicated to: my wife, in love

Chapter 10

The general mood was low and Alastair had agreed that something needed to be done.
They couldn't accept always having the sword of Damokles swingin above their heads. Taking their first step in the act of protest their decided to set a snare for their anonymous enemy, defeating him or her with their own weapons.

A council should be held. A council about the new curriculum that was to be introduced by the beginning of the new term. This was proclaimed loudly and to everyone who wanted to hear it and Moody made sure that everyone who doesn't, would hear it too, making sure these news would spread like a wildfire.
It did.
Headmaster and Debuty were going to have a short debate over business topics this evening and later on working out the details - this was the general information.
At the great dinner table an owl suddenly appeard... the Headmaster was called into the ministry of magic, right away for it was urgent the note said.
Now the Debuty Headmistress was going to do the new curriculum alone in her office - pity but well, boring routine and lots of work for her. No one really cared or paid a lot attention, except for Hermione who offered her help with all the paper work. However Minerva refused, thanked her and said, she didn't want to bother her.
Albus took his leave and headed for the ministry while Minerva raised as well, asking everyone to excuse her early leave but there was lots of work waiting for. No one minded.
On her way out of the hall, she smiled inwardly. Everything went well.

The only thing that didn't go so well was that she had to postpone her evening with Hermione. Her lover hadnt said a word about the arrangements she had made with Albus and without telling Hermione... however she had noticed the surprised and disappointed look on Hermione's face when the plans about the curriculum change were told at breakfast. She felt so sorry for not being able to tell Hermione the real reason but it she made a promise to herself that she would visit her before 'going down to business.'
She didn't need to.
Hermione was already waiting for her beside the great fireplace when Minerva entered her chambers.
They looked into each other's face for a long moment. Hermione made the start.
"So we are not going to have a romantic evening I guess...?"
"No, we aren't. I am sorry Mione."
Minerva felt so awful, her heart pounded and it didn't take much and she would have told Hermione everything.
"Darling, I am sorry, really. Just let me finish this curriculum and then I will take a few days off and we go away for a weekend, ok?"
A weak smile appeared on Hermione's face. Believe, was it not.
"Work always comes first, doesn't it?"
Minerva didn't answer. She knew what this must sound like to Hermione. But she couldnt tell her and with that endanger their whole plans.
"I see."
She turned to leave and Minerva felt tears in her eyes.
"I love you," she whispered. But Hermione was gone.

The three friends had agreed that Albus should stay at Moody's place over the weekend and Alastair should stay with him, so he would be safe.
Minerva passed the hours in her chambers trying to keep herself from going over to Hermione and explain things to her.
Every hour she received an owl from her friends that told everything was fine and Minerva would answer in return so they had acknowledment she had got their notes.
It was shortly about midnight and Minerva stepped over to the window to watch for the bird as it knocked.
Her heart leaped. Hermione!
She almost ran to the door to greet her lover, ready to ask her for forgiveness.
When she opened she was greeted by one of her students however.
A frist year that had become frightened by a strange noise down in the hall, where she shouldn't have been at such late hour of course, and had straightly come to her professors chambers, seeking for help.
The young girl was too scared to go back alone to her dormitory. Minerva couldn't but smile. Good to know that some things always remained the same - no matter what.
She took the girl by her hand and led it back to the Gryffindor dormitory, making sure on their way down that everything was in perfect order and just wonderful. They looked behind all curtains and shooed away Peeves as he tried to frighten the girl again with his rusty chains.
When she had said good night to her student she got herself a hot chocolate from the kitchen and then went a little outside to enjoy the warm summer air.
It was just when she had taken seat on the marble staircase when she wondered that there hadn't been an owl from Albus and Alastair since over two hours now. Wasn't that strange?
She hadn't admit it to herself yet but she felt that something was not right. There was such a deceiving silence in the air...
Taking another sip from her chocolate she tried to calm herself. A minute passed. Two minutes. Three.
She felt cold and decided to go back to her chambers. Maybe an owl was waiting already on her window sill.
The cool night air had refreshed her senses and Minerva felt how silly her thoughts had been. Alastair was with Albus. What could go wrong?
Conspiracy theories... she smiled to herself again. Only days ago...

She had almost reached her chambers when she heard someone quickly stepping up behind her.
A bad feeling was creeping up when she turned to see ... Poppy, standing at the end of the corridor, her face pale, her usually so rosy cheeks white and her eyes wide in horror.
Something had happened. That was evident.
Poppy was still panting from her run, trying to catch her breath. Minerva had no voice to ask. She was shocked to see her friend in such state.

"Minerva! Quick! - It's Hermione!"