Dear Reader,
This is it. This is the chapter when everything comes together. All the chapters after this are the final showdown kind of thing. I hope you enjoy, and if you're confused about the end, please look back for the clues in previous chapters. They are there.
Oh, also, I'm working on a oneshot from Ginny's POV where she gets sent the Spiderman movies by Hermione and sees the likeness between MJ and Peter and herself and Harry, and realizes she should be with him and be able to make her own decision, like MJ in the second movie. I have two ways I've written in which I can start it, but I don't know which I like better, so I'll ask your opinion. Please include which one you like better and why in your review. I'd appreciate it. (BTW, you don't actually have to know anything about Spiderman to understand this, so please give me your advice : ) Thanks!)
Beginning #1: Usually I nearly pass out in excitement and relief when I get post from Hermione, Ron, and, of course, Harry.
But not this time. This time I am worried bloodly sick. Sicker than Mum.
Usually hearing from them thrills me because I have solid evidence that they're alive and well – except sometimes they're not well – but they are at least ok.
But not this time. This time I think something might be really wrong.
Usually they make me proud because they have made an accomplishment, even if a small one, and have come one step closer to acquiring a Horcrux.
But not this time. This time I think they have come to a dead end.
Usually I feel their optimism from their last great success or new promising lead.
But not this time. This time I sense only despair and hopelessness.
All these thoughts, feelings and suspicions I have are Hermione's fault! Though the last letter she sent did not actually express or depict any serious distress blatantly, it certainly implied it. Her tone made me speculate. And the words she selected made me worry. And the package she sent along made me wonder.
She made me speculate, and worry, and wonder whether Harry needs me.
Beginning #2: That Hermione! She sent me on a bloody wild-goose chase. I think she did, anyway. I could be wrong; I could've read the bloody hints wrong; she might not have wanted me to come at all. But, no, she was bloody obvious. She really, really seemed to want me to find her and that bloody brother of mine. Well, not really find them, but to find the third person in their party: the bloody – GINNY, STOP SAYING BLOODY – fine, the blood-ILY hot Harry Potter. (Is that better?)
But maybe she doesn't really want me to find them. Maybe I'm just studying each letter so hard that I am reading more into them. Maybe I'm going crazy, having been stuck at home for so long, while they're out here somewhere, constantly sticking their necks out… But maybe I am just being selfish. Maybe I want to be involved, like everyone else is. Or maybe it's just that I miss looking into those green eyes and smelling that messy hair and being held by those strong arms.
Ginny, STOP feeling sorry for yourself! And STOP thinking about him! It only makes you miss him more.
But, of course, I constantly think about him and Ron and Hermione. I wonder where they are, if they are safe, and whether they've yet destroyed another of Voldemort's Horcruxes… However, the last letter was not optimistic, or even hopeful.
But, yes, I wonder about all that, all the time, constantly. And now Hermione has added another burden to my worrying and wondering.
She makes me think that Harry needs me.
THANKS! I really appreciate your input! Now for this story!
-LunarLitLover
Preview for next time: Minerva freaks out a bit and then goes for help
Recap: Minerva and Albus have made up. Grindelwald also took over the Ministry of Magic and intends to make his rule legal by bribing/blackmailing the Committee and using torture of some kind against the Minister of Magic, Charles Reese.
Chapter 23: Traitor Revealed
Minerva woke in the middle of the night with a start. She had opened her eyes to the purple hangings and had been a bit confused, but when she rolled onto her side and saw Albus lying beside her, she was both confused and addled. But a few seconds later, memories of the night returned to her, and these not only ended her confusion, but they also restored an exuberant feeling to her heart.
She beamed at the peacefully sleeping Albus, before turning over and snuggling farther into the crook of his arm and the curve of his body. Her soft movements, however, woke him from his light sleep.
"Morning, Minerva," he whispered so lightly into her ear that she shivered. He took this as a sign of being cold, and he pulled her in closer to him in an attempt to warm her.
"Morning, Albus," she responded, once getting comfortable again. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, Minerva. Even though neither of us has been asleep for very long," She could feel him grin. "I've been more relaxed than I have been in years."
"You were tired," Minerva said, mischievously.
"I daresay I was," Albus replied honestly. "But I think there's another reason I've slept the best in years."
"What is it?" Minerva asked, sincerely curious.
"Because you were here beside me."
Minerva felt a flutter in her stomach and her heart jumped. I can't believe him saying things as simple as that still give me butterflies, Minerva thought. She turned over again to look into his eyes, which were as bright as shining stars.
Minerva caressed his cheek, and said unabashedly, "I love you."
"I love you, too, Minerva," Albus responded, now kissing her hand.
"No, I don't think you understand," Minerva said. "I mean, I really do love you. I really do."
"You're wrong; I understand perfectly. I truly love you, too, Minerva. Just as much. If not more."
Minerva grinned sheepishly, and she even felt herself blush.
Albus kissed her lightly and gently on the mouth before closing his eyes again to sleep. Minerva rolled over again and did the same, but she, however, doubted that sleep would take her quickly.
But she was wrong again. She fell to sleep very quickly. But, after all, she was warmer, more comfortable and, of course, happier than she could ever remember.
---
When Minerva awoke again it was light out. The sun shown through the small window, indicating that dawn had broken nearly two hours earlier. Minerva stretched her arms above her head, and was about to rise from the bed when she heard voices coming from Albus's office. She froze, not wanting to make a sound, in case she was heard. She knew being caught in naught but her skin in Albus's bed would make her chances of expulsion very likely indeed.
So, instead, she listened.
The door between the two rooms was ajar, and the door was situated at just the right angle to the bed that Minerva could see through the crack and right to the seat behind Albus's desk. At the moment, it was unoccupied, though, and she could see nothing but a long-fingered hand resting on the desk, just barely in her view.
It was a very grey hand, so shriveled that it appeared to have been emerged in water for months, perhaps even years. It was quite unusual, and Minerva found herself wondering to whom it belonged.
Her question was answered almost instantly, as a bald, grey-headed wizard sat down in the desk's chair.
Minerva barely suppressed a gasp.
It was Grindelwald.
But what is Grindelwald doing here, and in Albus's office? Has he taken over Hogwarts already! Or is he just here for Albus because of the resistance?
The situation had increased from bad to worse. Yet, now knowing the gravity of the situation somehow motivated Minerva to be even calmer and quieter than before. She knew it was essential she heard what was being said.
The voices drifted through the crack in the door.
"…wouldn't cooperate. I tried every kind of usual convincing method, bribery, blackmail, and the like, but he wouldn't budge or even think of signing any of your ideas into law."
"I expected this," Minerva saw that it was Grindelwald now speaking, "And I warned you about it. I suppose I really will have to come in and deal with it. Reese will have to answer to me."
Reese? The Minister of Magic? Minerva thought. Good thing he's not cooperating at all. Otherwise, all of Britain would be under this tyranny!
The other voice spoke now. "When will you be coming to handle this?"
"In an hour or so. I have a few things to deal with before I join you and the others."
"See you then, Sir," the other voice said, and there was a rustle of robes.
Once the other wizard had left, Minerva had planned to roll back over and pretend to be sleeping, so that if Grindelwald entered her room, she, by ignorance, would be a bit safer. But her curiosity got the better of her; she found herself continuing to watch Grindelwald behind Albus's desk, hoping to see something that might be valuable information.
She got her wish.
Grindelwald straightened and shuffled some of the papers on the desk before standing again. He then took his wand into his hand, and, strangely enough, put it to his temple as if drawing out a memory to put in a pensieve or preparing to kill himself. But there was no pensieve that Minerva could see and she couldn't exactly picture the now-powerful dark wizard using Avada Kedavra on himself.
Grindelwald then muttered a spell, although it wasn't Avada Kedavra. He, instead, clearly said "Regreso Me Transfigurius!"
The spell began to take effect immediately, and a previous transfiguration spell started to undo itself. Minerva's mouth hung open at this, but she did not make any sound, not even a gasp of horror. She was too shocked to do anything but stare.
Grindelwald's bald, wrinkled head began to smooth out and the color of his skin lightened. Although his fingers stayed long and skinny, they grew to look healthier so that they no longer appeared to be made of just bones. Once his head nearly smoothed out, red hair began to grow from it at an alarmingly fast rate. His skin finally smoothed out and turned to the right shade of peach. But his bright blue eyes had not changed one bit.
Minerva stared.
It was none other than Albus Dumbledore.