Chapter 3

Minerva's apartment was located on the seventh floor of a posh block of flats over looking Diagon alley. The apartment was spacious consisting of two bedrooms, one bathroom, a large living room, a joined kitchen and dining room and a study which Albus supposed would have been the third bedroom at one point. Each room was lusciously decorated with portraits, books and artwork.

Minerva showed him his room; it was large and airy with a huge king sized bed, wardrobe and bookshelf that were filled with many various works. Minerva seemed to have found space for at least one bookshelf in every room.

"I hope this is to your liking this window has one of the best views in the whole apartment." Albus just nodded in answer to her, he hadn't been able to bring himself to hold a proper conversation with her since his return from Germany.

"Who painted this?" He finally spoke after walking around the room for many minutes and finally stopped in front of a dark painting. It showed a woman sitting on a bed curled up into a corner, tears flowing down her cheeks her hands raised up to her face as if she was trying to place a barrier between herself and the world. The whole picture was made up of grays and blacks.

The woman in the picture held a remarkable likeness to Minerva.

"It's one of mine. I come to look at it sometimes to remind myself that things could always be a lot worse then they are. But it's quite morbid so I keep it in here so no guests have to endure it. I can move it if you wish."

"No… I like it." Albus spoke truthfully. Minerva was right this picture most certainly helped to put things in perspective, his situation could definitely have been a lot worse. It could have been Minerva who was imprisoned in that dreadful place not him.

"Are you quite sure?" Minerva asked comfortingly.

"Yes I am Minerva!" Albus snapped irritably. It seemed ever since his freedom his mood's had been changing so drastically he hated never knowing how his own mind would answer sometimes he would become so angry and

irritable and at others he would become so frightened and startled it was like being imprisoned again but only this time in his own mind.

"Of course." He heard Minerva's curt replay before she left him to unpack.

Albus's sleep that night was fitful and plagued with nightmares. His mind seemed insistent to keep playing those same memories over and over again and even when he was awake, odd day dreams interrupted his thoughts leaving him frightened and drenched in sweat. He rose from his new bed and headed for the kitchen, hoping to distract himself from any nightmares and flashbacks.

How he wished he could just be his old carefree fun loving Albus again but every time he tried those memories kept leaping forward in his mind leaving him to sob in a small heap like the woman in Minerva's painting.

Before he could reach the kitchen he found Minerva huddled over the fire place talking quietly.

"It is to be expected Minerva," He heard Poppy Pompfrey's voice call out from the fireplace. "We have now idea to what extent he was brutalized he is bound to suffer some kinds of trauma."

"But I don't even know what to expect from him anymore Poppy, I can hardly manage to get him to respond to me it's as if he's miles away hidden in his own mind and then when he does respond he's so irritable and his mood changes so often!" Minerva sobbed.

"No one ever said this would be easy Minerva, you just have to wait it out. He will return to you Minerva."

"He doesn't even seem to remember me Poppy. He hasn't said a single word about us, about that kiss."

"Did you really expect him to run into your arms once he returned Minerva? That man has been through so much you can't expect him to try and build a relationship with you also; just wait Minerva in time it will fall in place. I have no idea what happened in Balzac but I can give you my medical view of what symptoms Albus may display. He's bound to have nightmares and flashbacks you just need to remind him where he is and that everything he is seeing is behind him. He may suffer some emotional detachment and numbing of feelings don't try and force him into conversation just talk normally to him and don't be angered if he doesn't respond. He's bound to be very jumpy so keep loud noises down to a minimum and watch out for signs of Obsessive compulsive disorder.

Minerva this is a lot to do are you sure you can cope with this." Poppy asked caringly.

"Yes Poppy! I've just never seen him like this before it worries me."

Minerva spoke hoarsely her breath labored from trying to calm herself down.

"You can do it Minerva. I have to go now but if you ever need me you know…"

"Of course Poppy, goodnight." Albus watched as the face in the fire vanished and Minerva turned and saw him her puffy red eyes sparkling in alarm.

"Oh Albus! Are you alight? Would you like something to eat?"