Next chapter!!! This might be the final chapter. Sorry for the delay!!
"… she had not been eating for the past few days, so I got her to come to lunch." Harry concluded. Ron and Hermione's jaws dropped wide open.
"She what?" Hermione was shocked that her Professor could do something so drastic.
"Bloody hell… I know that Professor Dumbledore's death affected us, but I didn't know this had affected her that much." Ron was amazed that his head of house's strong bond of friendship with the headmaster.
Harry sighed as he saw his friends' expressions. They have no clue at all that Professor McGonagall's husband was indeed the headmaster himself. He wondered what his mum is doing now.
The above said person was in her rooms. Her hair was out of her customary bun, falling freely around her face. 'If any of my students could see me now.' Minerva's lip curled up in irony. 'The ice queen indeed.' She thought, as she sat down in front of her vanity table. It was fortunate that she had no other classes today. Brushing out her hair, she wondered if she could ever be happy again, now that Albus is gone. She did not know that a certain Albus Dumbledore was in fact sitting on her windowsill, listening, or rather looking in. Minerva sighed again and prepared herself for dinner.
Harry Potter raced around the corner, trying to evade an extremely pissed off librarian. He had been talking to Hermione rather loudly in the library about the greasy, long nosed, Professor Snape. Unfortunately, for him, the librarian heard him. Luckily, for Hermione, the librarian thought that she had been studying and Harry was in fact the person guilty of disturbing the peace and quiet of the library. Harry rounded another corner as he sprinted off. Madam Pince stopped chasing him then, and went back to the library.
Harry heaved a sigh of relief and paused to catch his breath. Looking at his watch, he wondered where his mum is. It was already dinner time. He sprinted to the Great Hall, ignoring the shouts of protests from the portraits. Before he reached there, he stopped by his mum's office. Knocking softly, he waited for her to open the door. After five minutes, no one answered the door. Worried, Harry said the password, "Lily of the valley", and entered the room. At first glance, he could not see Professor McGonagall anywhere. Noticing a lump lying on the couch, he moved closer. Only when the lump moved he realized that that was actually his mum.
"Mum?" He shook the Transfigurations professor, also his mum. "Wake up. Its time to go for dinner."
Minerva groaned slightly and sat up.
"What time is it?" She said blearily, as she sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"Its time for dinner, mum. Wait, mum, have you been crying again?" Harry pushed his mum's hair out of her face. Minerva's eyes were red and swollen and there was tear tracks all over her face.
"Well, it's pretty obvious, isn't it?" Minerva replied sarcastically, while readying herself for dinner.
After making sure that there were not any marks of her tears on her face, Minerva stepped out of her room, and walked to the Great Hall, with Harry trailing behind. Entering the Great Hall, Minerva took her usual place, while Harry sat between Ron and Hermione.
Minerva was pushing her food around her plate when Fawkes appeared right beside her. She gave a start and noticed that he was carrying a package with him. Minerva took the package from Fawkes, ignoring the curious glances that she was receiving and left the staff table. Harry glanced worriedly after her, seeing that she missed dinner again. After five minutes, Harry could not take it much longer, and left the Great Hall.
Minerva exited the Great Hall and walked back to her rooms, clutching the package tightly in her hands. She rushed into her rooms and slammed the portrait behind her. Eagerly, she opened the package. There was just a small object lying in the nest of wrapping paper. Disappointed she looked at the object, trying to quell the tears that had flooded her eyes. Looking closer, she realized that that was her wedding ring she thought that she had lost the week before. Attached was a note:
"I found this along the forbidden forest yesterday and I knew you lost it.
How obvious, thought Minerva sarcastically.
I hope Fawkes returned this to you. If you need anymore answers, wait for me at the lake at seven pm tonight."
Minerva glanced up at the clock in shock. It was already six thirty. She hurriedly bathed and got dressed to meet whoever this person was.
Harry Potter rushed down the halls of Hogwarts once more, ignoring the shouts he was getting from the portraits once again. Reaching the portrait that concealed the door to Professor McGonagall's office, he banged on the door.
Minerva McGonagall stood up from where she sat on the window sill irritably. It was the third time that someone came to her office today and honestly, she was getting tired of that. It was already almost seven and she was prepared to go down to meet the mystery person. She walked to her door and opened it. Outside, Harry Potter was panting heavily and almost fell over when she opened the door. Pulling Harry in, she closed the door behind them. Harry sat on the chair, breathing hard.
"What are you doing here, Harry?" She asked curiously.
"I wanted to know who sent you that parcel." Harry replied quietly.
Minerva sighed.
"I don't know, but whoever he or she was sent the ring I lost last week back. I am going to meet that person now." Minerva replied.
Harry glanced up. "Can I go with you, mum?" He asked.
Minerva nodded, and they went to the lake, ignoring the glances they were receiving.
Albus Dumbledore transformed from his animagus form and into his human form. He strode around anxiously. When he heard footsteps approaching, he quickly transformed back and sat on a tree limb, looking down at the scene below.
Minerva walked to the lake in a hurry, Harry not far behind. The area surrounding the lake was empty, save for a white owl sitting on a tree branch. Minerva twirled her long hair anxiously with her finger.
"Where is he?" She asked Harry. Harry's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the owl.
"You can show yourself now." He stated calmly.
The owl transformed himself back into a man but stayed hidden in the shadows.
Harry clasped Minerva's shoulder briefly and left Minerva alone by the lake.
"Minerva? Is that you?" Albus's voice seemingly came out of nowhere.
Minerva gave a start. Turning towards the voice, she got a shock of her life. Standing right before her was her husband, Albus Dumbledore.
"Albus? Albus!" Minerva shrieked as she flew into Albus's warm embrace, tears pouring from her eyes.
"Where did you go, Albus, where did you go? I was so worried, Harry and I. I could not live without you just like that. Damn you, Albus." Minerva beat her fists against Albus's chest, while Albus just stood there, holding her tightly. Harry watched the scene in awe. Even after so many years, they still harbored strong love towards each other. After a few minutes, Minerva pulled away.
"Why did you go, Albus?" She asked softly, never taking her eyes off him.
Albus sighed deeply and looked away.
"How about you getting Harry and we would explain all this in our rooms."
Minerva nodded and left to find Harry. Albus Dumbledore sighed and transformed into his animagus form, where he flew back to his rooms.
After five minutes of searching, Minerva found Harry crouching behind a tall clump of bushes, obviously eavesdropping on the couple's previous conversation. Minerva raised an eyebrow and Harry blushed. Both of them made their way back to the castle, where Albus was waiting for them.
Upon reaching the statue that conceals the door, Minerva said the password "White warrior". Surprisingly, the door did not open. After exhausting the whole list of passwords that she came up with, Minerva got severely pissed off.
"Open up, you barmy old codger." To her extreme surprise and to Harry's mirth, the gargoyle opened. Soon, they were on an escalator-liked ride to the top.
Minerva knocked softly on the door and entered when she heard the headmaster say,
"Come in".
Minerva flew into the rooms, followed by Harry.
"Why did you change the password, Albus?" She asked, or rather demanded of him.
Albus shot a pleading glance at Harry but Harry merely shrugged and covered his mouth, trying not to laugh aloud.
"It reminds me of you, when you are angry with me, my dear." He replied, shrugging his shoulders innocently.
Minerva glared at the two men for a while before her face softened into a resemblance of a smile.
Harry, seeing that his parents need a little privacy, left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Why did you leave like that, Albus?" Minerva asked softly.
Albus took her hands and traced circles on them.
"I had to do it; Min. Harry can't defeat Voldemort if I am there to protect him all this time. I found out a while ago that Severus made an Unbreakable Vow to Narissca that he would help Draco kill me if he fails. Severus has to kill me, in order for him to survive. I arranged it with Severus that he kills me, but at the last minute, I created an image of myself dieing before transforming into my animagus form. I'm sorry that I did that to you, my love." Albus said.
Minerva let out a sigh.
"Did you know what I went through after your supposed death? Everyone was consoling me, and yet saying that I should be happy; because of the pay rise, I got. Do you know how much it hurts, Albus? To see you die like that. Harry was crying all night after this." She said softly, fiddling with the edges of her robe.
Albus looked at Minerva, cupped her chin, and forced her to look into his eyes.
"I'm sorry my dear, for having caused you so much pain."
Minerva felt tears welling in her eyes. Without a word, she launched herself into Albus's arms. Albus's robes muffled her sobs as she cried. Albus just wrapped her arms around her, never letting go.
A loud knock interrupted their time together. Minerva and Albus both jumped apart. At that moment, Rolanda Hooch chose to open the portrait.
"Oh my gosh! This is not happening to me." The highly respectable quidditch professor let out a scream and promptly fainted.
"Do you think we should call Poppy, Albus?" Minerva asked, peering at Rolanda closely.
Albus nodded as Minerva fire-called the mediwitch. Within a few minutes, Madam Pomfrey arrived. Poppy stepped around Rolanda carefully and turned to face Minerva.
To her extreme shock, she saw her boss, the headmaster himself, very alive. No thanks to Severus there though.
"What in the world is going on here? First, I see Rolanda out cold. Moreover, she has not done that ever since the time she drank five bottles of fire whisky. Next, I see our much esteemed headmaster alive and well. Isn't that just great? The next thing I know, Draco Malfoy would turn out to be a girl." She said sarcastically.
Albus's eyes twinkled as he watched Minerva trying to contain herself. Finally, being unable to contain her mirth, Minerva burst into loud peals of laughter.