Disclaimer: I do not own anything dealing with Harry Potter. Oh how I wish I could say that I own anything and everything to do with it, but alas, I cannot.

A/N: I know that I have not been updating, but come on… You are all authors yourselves, right? I mean, you have taken a while to update, right? LOL! I hope that you guys can forgive me. But read this chapter first and let me know if you forgive me or not.

Chapter Twelve: A Trip to Hogsmeade…

"Where is it that we are going again?" Minerva asked as Albus helped her into her cloak.

"There is a small town nearby called Hogsmeade," he replied. "I figured that since you spent all day yesterday speaking with Filius and Pomona and relearning about things which you already know and yet can't remember, then you deserved a break." Minerva turned to face him and smiled.

"Yes, Albus," she replied. "Thank you very much. How considerate of you. I must admit, I am rather exhausted from all this learning. I wonder if this is how my students feel." Her small spurt of laughter caused him to smile and that twinkle to shine brightly within his eye.

"Maybe, but, like your students, this is all for the best," he said. Minerva nodded.

"Yes, I suppose it is." They left the castle and began to walk towards the gate. It wasn't long before Minerva had a thought.

"Albus, how are we going to get there? Are we going to drive? Surely we cannot be using the floo network, seeing how there are no fireplaces here." She looked around. Albus chuckled.

"Well, I thought we could either walk, Apparate, or use a port key, though port keys really shouldn't be used for something that is so close." Minerva frowned and he smiled. "Don't worry, we shall just walk." Minerva nodded and faced forward.

She had been thinking a lot lately. It was no wonder she had feelings for this man next to her. Over the past few days, he had been so caring and paid a lot of attention to her and her needs. And ever since she remembered that Christmas Eve night, her feelings only began to increase more rapidly. She tried to suppress them, but she somehow suspected that it would be fruitless. If Severus had been correct, then she had loved Albus for too many years for those feelings to be suppressed. Even out of all the things Minerva still didn't know, she did know that such feelings did not come and go so easily. If only she could know what he felt for her?

As for Albus, he was pondering his feelings for the witch next to him. Oh why couldn't he have told her before the final war what he felt for her? Sure, she wouldn't have remembered him, but that would have given him more reason to hug her and hold her and kiss her and assure her that everything was going to be okay. Maybe not the first night or two, but after she became used to him, like she was now, then it would be well worth the first few nights of sleeping alone on the couch.

'Honestly, Albus,' he told himself, 'you are really thick.'

Both remained engrossed in their own thoughts, with the few exceptions of when Albus snapped out of it long enough to point something out. They both found the walk very enjoyable, despite the feelings brewing within both. When they finally reached Hogsmeade, they both decided to put aside their feelings for just a while longer.

"So, I thought we should go into the Three Broomsticks first," said Albus. "I know Rosemerta has been dying to see you again."

"Oh," said Minerva. "What is the Three Broomsticks? It sounds… interesting." Albus laughed.

"It's a pub," he said. Minerva looked rather apprehensive. "Do not worry, Tabby. This is a tasteful pub, as much of an oxymoron that may seem to be." Minerva could not help but laugh. Albus loved to hear her laugh. It was so melodious.

They entered the Three Broomsticks a few minutes later. It was not very crowded because it was still very early. After all, not many witches or wizards would be at a pub at ten in the morning, right? Minerva quickly scanned the room. It did seem tasteful enough, so she thought she might be able to relax. Albus lead her over to two bar stools at the counter, helped her onto the seat, and then sat next to her.

"Rosemerta," he called. There was a slight pause before a young witch came walking from the kitchen, cleaning her hands off on a rag. She smiled when she saw who her two guests were.

"Ah, Albus, so nice to see you again," she said, reaching her now dry hand over the counter and shaking his hand. "And Minerva," she said, turning to the older woman. Her gaze saddened a bit. "I'm so sorry to hear about your memory, Min," she said. She held Minerva's hand in hers. "But I am glad to see that you are out and about this fine day."

"Oh, yes, I am feeling much better," Minerva replied, smiling kindly. "I really wish I could say that I remember you, but, alas, I cannot. It is so frustrating to see so many people whom I simply cannot remember, but who remember me and know me so well."

"I've no doubt it is, dear," she said. She seemed to snap out of it. "But where are my manners? Would you two like a drink?"

"Oh," frowned Minerva, looking down at her empty hands. "I'm afraid I have no money. And I don't even know where I could get some."

"Don't worry, Tabby, I'll pay for it," offered Albus.

"No, no, it's on the house," smiled Rosemerta. She winked. "You've been through a lot, and I think you both deserve a drink or two." Minerva blushed, first at Albus' offer to pay for her drink, and then at the younger woman's kindness. Albus was pleased. He had not seen her blush since she was a student. But he didn't say anything. He knew that when she got her memory back, if she ever got it back, then she would hate herself forever for blushing in front of people, no matter who they were.

"Oh, that is very kind of you, Madam Rosemerta," she said.

"Please, call me Rosemerta, or simply Rosie, if you like," said Rosemerta.

"Okay," Minerva replied, unable to remove her smile. She really was becoming more comfortable with the people around her, even if she couldn't remember how or why she knew them. "Well, what drink do you think is the best?" Rosemerta seemed to ponder this before. She offered a small snicker.

"You know? I don't think anyone's ever asked me that question before. It's kind of nice. Well, I guess it all depends on what the occasion calls for. If you wish to celebrate something, but don't wish to get drunk, Butterbeer is always an excellent drink to choose. If you wish to celebrate and get drunk, any of the harder Irish drinks are great. If you simply wish to sample a few things, then we have a fine array of wines, both white and red. Or, if you simply wish to forget something, definitely go for fire whiskey." She began to laugh, but then choked on her words when she remembered Minerva's memory loss. She coughed. "I'm sorry, that was so insensitive of me, I am so bad sometimes-," Minerva held up her hand and stopped her.

"Don't be sorry," she said. "I don't wish for you to stop your life just because of me. I want you to joke as you normally would. That would probably help me a lot in remembering who you are and what your personality is like." Rosemerta, who was now doing her fair share of blushing, flashed a grateful smiled. "Well, I suppose I shall simply try some of the Butterbeer. I've been hearing a lot about it over the past few days, so I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try it." Rosemerta nodded and looked at Albus.

"And for the gentleman?" she inquired. He looked at the various drink glassed behind the bar, tapped his chin with his finger, and said,

"Hmm. Give me a fire whiskey, Rosie," he said. She nodded and set about getting their drinks. When she dropped off their drinks, she said something about finishing some dishes in the back (apparently, it was better to wash them the old muggle way; otherwise, several of the dishes would keep the smudges and stains upon them), she left them to talk alone.

"So, what in particular is it that you are trying to forget?" Minerva asked ruefully. Albus chuckled.

"What makes you think I have anything I'm trying to forget?" he asked as he took a big gulp of his drink.

"Well, according to Rosemerta, you order fire whiskey if you are trying to forget something," she laughed. She brought her drink to her lips and took a little sip. Wow, it was pretty good. Albus chuckled as he watched her. So childlike. He sighed when he thought that there was something in which he was trying to forget. He wished that he could forget about the entire war, and the fact that she didn't even remember the final war. But he didn't say as much to her. He simply pretended as if he were as carefree as the next person… which was not true.

"That does not mean that everybody who orders this drink is trying to forget something, my dear," he said. Minerva shrugged.

"Fine, you do not have to tell me," she replied slyly. "But then how am I supposed to believe that you and I are really as good friends as you have been leading me to believe these past few days if you will not tell me what you are trying to forget? I never thought of you to falsely advertise something." He knew she was joking, of course, which was in her nature when they were alone together. And yet, he felt a pang of guilt. She was his best friend, after all. But she simply would not understand. How could he expect her to understand his feelings if she couldn't even remember the past few decades of her life at Hogwarts, with her friends; with her students; with him? Oh, how his heart bled to tell her. But he could not. Instead, he changed the topic of discussion.

Minerva did not let his lack of an answer slip her notice, though she said nothing about it. She simply went along with the conversation where it went. Yes, she had to admit, if she had loved him before, she was falling for him again. She told herself time and time again that it was wrong to harbor feelings for someone you couldn't even remember. But then she would remind herself that he did remember her, and that they shared a lot more than her memory would let on. If she could see how wonderful he was in just a few short days, and if she could already feel so much for him in that short amount of time, then how could she not be head over heels for this man? It was so troubling, and yet wonderful at the same time.

She tried for her sake, more than anyone else's, to remember who he was, but every time she did, she would only be left with what she had learned in the short time since waking up from the hospital and that one memory.

She sighed inwardly; a happy sigh. That one, beautiful, wonderful memory. In that short two seconds, she felt as if she had known who he was again; she felt as if everything in the world was right again, and that there was nothing wrong. But as quickly as that feeling had come, it was gone again. She'd give anything to bring that feeling back again, even for a moment or two. Perhaps, with that short amount of time, another memory could be sparked, and that would set off an entire chain reaction. Yes, that would be the best thing.

But now she had to wonder if she would ever have that feeling of familiarity again?

Ooooooooooo

As they left a pub some time later, they were laughing as he told her stories of times when she was attending Hogwarts. He told her of the numerous times Pomona, Poppy, or especially Xiomara would talk her into sneaking out of the castle late at night to go into town to do whatever it was teenaged females liked to do. Though Albus knew of a few of these outings, he never said anything to Armondo Dippit, the previous headmaster, because he admired the group's spunk and sass. Minerva couldn't help but smile.

"I still cannot believe that you never told anyone, Albus," she said, wiping a tear from her eye.

"Well, honestly, my dear, would you have?" He knew the answer.

"Honestly? I do not know," she said. It was an honest answer. They were about to cross the street when her ears picked up a sound. She stopped him.

"What is it, Tabby?" he asked, suddenly worried. She suddenly looked sick.

"Don't you hear it?" she asked, frowning. She could not quite tell what it was. It was a soft sound. "It's something… Well, I don't know what it is. But it is most certainly human, that I know of."

"Well, you are a registered cat animagus, Tabby," he said. "You are bound to pick up things before most humans do. Can you tell what it is or where it is coming from?"

"It-it sounds like… like someone-crying," she said, looking to their right down an ally way. It was dark and damp back there. "And it sounds as if it is coming from that direction down there." Albus instinctively grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him. Taking out his wand, he lit the tip of it and motioned for her to follow him. They walked rather slowly. They did not wish to scare whoever it was.

They were only a few feet in before Minerva felt cold. She pulled her cloak over her and tried to control her breathing. She did not know who was crying, but she knew that she didn't like the thought of anybody coming into an ally way to cry: especially one as dark and cold as this one was.

Albus looked up when he heard creaking. Lifting his wand up, he saw a rickety old sign swing back and forth in the slight wind which had begun to blow. It was an old sign which led into a store which no longer existed. But the doorway was still there. She felt him tug at his arm. She gasped.

"Albus," she whispered. She nodded to the deserted doorway. He looked down and almost cried out at what he saw. He leant down, as did Minerva, and he placed his hand on the girl's head.

"Lenora," he said softly. The little girl had been sitting with her knees drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them, and her head lying upon her arms. He couldn't see very well, but he knew it was her. She was wearing the blue sweater he had gotten her the six months before for her birthday. It was her favorite. "My dear, what are you doing here? And where is your mother?" The little girl was shaking, and both Albus and Minerva could feel their hearts breaking as they watched her. She trembled violently whenever either one of them touched her.

"She's gone," Lenora whispered. "She got really mad at me and left. She said I was a bad little girl and that she was tired of watching over me. She said I was never to see her again." Albus was furious and Minerva felt as though she would cry. She pulled the little girl into her arms and held her. At first, Lenora did not know how to react. But then, she hugged Minerva with full force. Minerva's bottom lip quivered, but she fought to keep her voice level.

"Lenora, I'm so sorry that this had to happen to you," she said. "But you didn't deserve to be left behind. You are not a bad little girl. She was wrong."

"Oh but I am," persisted Lenora, crying uncontrollably. "If only I had been a better child, and not talked so much, or not asked for second desserts, then she would not have left me the way she did." Minerva was torn between crying with Lenora or tracking down Roberta and performing the worst sort of manual strangulation ever performed upon another human being.

As for Albus, he was fighting hard to keep his temper under control. He did not wish to frighten the child more. A few tears escaped his eyes, but he held the bulk of them back.

"Listen to me, Lenora," he whispered, rubbing her back as she continued to hug Minerva. "You are the most wonderful little girl I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, and believe me; I have met quite a few, being a teacher. You did not deserve any of this. Understand?" Her nod didn't come right away, but eventually it did. His heart lifted when he saw her nod. "Very good." They waited there a few moments longer until she stopped crying. In fact, she didn't stop crying until she fell asleep. Taking her in his arms, Albus carried her out and into the bright sunshine. He stopped when he heard Minerva gasp once again and stop him.

"Albus, look," she whispered. He looked down and this time he could not help the cry of agony from escaping his mouth. Lenora's eyes… they were bruised. And her cheek; slap marks!

A/N2: Kill me now, people! (Hits head upon desk) How could I do that to a child? GAH! (Almost kills Roberta myself) How about I tie her to Fluffy, let Fluffy chew her up and stamp upon her, and then you guys can have your turn for it? Huh? Right? Oh, and speaking of which, this is not the last we've heard of Roberta. Don't worry, I have not forgotten about the stranger in the pub, either. I'll update as soon as I possibly can, and get your hunger for fanfictions satisfied. Peace out, right arm, and all that rot! Read long and prosper! Always Hopeful