Reviews make me so happy! Thank-you so much for all of them!
Chapter Three.
Lettuces and Thistles.
"Thistle! Thistle! Where are you, you daft animal!? I'm cold!" Minerva called from the Steps of the Great Hall. Thistle hadn't come in for her lunch, breakfast or supper, and Minerva was worried. So here she was, calling like Filchs' batty cousin, Mrs. Figg, for one of her many cats. But where was Thistle?
Minerva gave up, turning to go back to the castle, when out of the corner of her eye, she saw something flash just to her left. She spun round to look, wand at the ready, but there was nothing there.
Minerva approached the place she had seen it and poked around in the scrub carefully. There was still nothing. "Hello?" she whispered.
She cocked her head and listened. There was nothing but ...
Crack!
Minerva shot out her wand again. This time, the noise was in the forest. It had sounded exactly like someone running away. Who?
A howl of something echoed over the misty forest. Minerva shivered and went back to the steps into the Entrance Hall.
She would have to tell Albus about this.
--
Poppy tapped her foot on the golden staircase nervously. She had come to talk to Albus about Minerva, but she wouldn't be able to if Letitia was there. She didn't think she could stand any more talks about make-up brands. Rolanda had also not been informed of her destination. Poppy had a feeling that the names, 'The Lettuce,' or 'The Pet' or even, 'The Butterfly'. That would have meant three of them facing dismissal from their posts. Albus had to befriend Minerva again.
Poppy banged the door-knocker and waited for the inevitable "Enter!" Sure enough, it came and Poppy entered, twisting her fingers, but managing to maintain her stern Matron look.
"Poppy! What can I do for you?" he looked surprised.
"It's about Minerva, Albus." she looked him straight in the eye; blue met blue.
He gestured to sit down. She took the seat and clasped her hands. Here I go, she thought and started speaking.
"Albus, why isn't Minerva speaking to you?" Feigning ignorance seemed like a good thing to do.
"We had a falling out," he said, puzzled.
Throwing away the ignorance dodge, she said; "She told me that Letitia had something to do with it."
His expression tightened. "I do not see that it is any business of yours, Poppy."
Anger flared in Poppy's fair Hufflepuff heart. "It is my business, Albus! Minerva has been working overtime, and you seem not to have noticed! She does paperwork, gets the Ministry off your lazy, unworthy back and is, for some reason, very close to losing her job because she told the truth and your...fiancé didn't like it!"
A;bus surveyed her with piercing eyes. "It is good to know your thoughts Poppy, as with all my employees. However, this is between Minerva and me."
You and Letitia, you mean, thought Poppy angrily. Out loud, she said; "Minerva is wasting away, Headmaster."
Now he looked startled and faintly worried. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I say. She works far too hard, Albus. And she values your friendship..." Poppy hesitated. "values your friendship more than you know."
Albus looked at her calculatingly. "What do you mean, 'wasting away'?"
Poppy sighed. "She just goes to bed later, sleeps worse, eats less, and is not very happy."
Albus swallowed; Poppy wondered what was going on in his head. "Thank-you, Poppy," he said eventually. "I will take your words into account."
Sensing the interview was over, she nodded and excused herself. Back on the stairs, she closed her eyes as they transported her back down. She had done it! She only hoped he would apologise to Minerva or at least try make friends with her again.
--
Minerva, who was very emotional at the moment, though good at hiding it, felt tears prick at her eyes. Where was Thistle? Minerva couldn't bear the thought of her being lunch for a Flesh-Eating Bugbear or a punchbag for a suspicious Krup.
Where was she?
Minerva sniffed and pulled on her black skirt to go to lunch in. All the students were in Hogsmeade, apart from the First and Second-Years so it would be peaceful. She was too miserable to dress up and the skirt and green blouse suited fine.
The Great Hall was quiet and she gratefully dropped into her chair and liberally sprinkled her lamb with mint sauce. She hadn't had that in ages but it didn't help to lighten her mood very much. Thistle was weighing to heavily on her mind.
She was just contemplating another round of carrots when Albus spoke to her.
"How are you, Minerva?"
She nearly dropped her fork. What was wrong with her? "I am fine."
He bobbed his head. "Good, good."
She couldn't help it; she turned to look at him. She knew immediately that it was a bad idea. Albus was searching her eyes intently. It was not a pleasant experience.
"Is something wrong?" he asked ever-so-gently...and kindly.
Minerva felt the sense of overwhelming sadness and a heavy burden come down on her. "No." she said firmly, proud of the strong way her voice came out.
He looked unconvinced, but the food suddenly disappeared and the teachers began leaving the table. Minerva stood quickly and left, skirt swishing. But Albus caught up with her in the Charms corridor.
"Minerva, something is wrong," he said slightly breathlessly.
"Well observed, Albus."
He frowned. "Minerva ..."
"What, Albus?! Worried about me? Or wondering if I could possibly do the last foot of data for the parents of the muggle-borns?" She felt satisfied at her outburst; it had been long in coming.
"You know I would never do that." he said solemnly. "I am genuinely worried for you."
"How sweet." she said acidly.
"Minerva, please don't snap at everything I say." Now he sounded weary.
"What do you have to say then?"
"I want us to be friends again, Minerva. I realise that I have not treated you completely fairly and I think words will not suffice to say how sorry I am."
Minerva nearly gaped. She nearly said something sarcastic, but the look in his eyes! And he had meant it, she could tell. She wanted to be friends again so much...
"I'm sorry Minerva, I'll – I'll leave you to think, then."
"Oh, you silly man!" Minerva grabbed him round the neck and squeezed. Hard. Albus froze.
"Minerva?" he choked.
"Forgiven, old man," she said affectionately, a nickname she had been calling him for years.
Now he squeezed her back. "I'm so glad, Minerva."
"Me too." Minerva stood back and grinned at him. "Come on, I have a very small amount of butterbeer in my room."
He didn't look very comfortable. "I - er – Minerva ..."
Minerva looked, puzzled, at him. "Why not...?" Then it hit her. "Oh, Letitia, right. I forgot, sorry Albus."
"No, no, I'm the sorry one. It's just she might get the wrong idea and..." he trailed off. "I'm sorry Minerva."
"You've already said that once." she pointed out with amusement.
"Must be getting absent minded in my old age, eh?"
"The great Albus Dumbledore? Absent minded? No way!!" she said, deadpan.
Albus laughed. "Feel free to come and visit us, all right?"
"I – yes, of course, Albus. So," she said as they walked back to the Entrance Hall, "did you ever get the book we were talking about?"
"Ahh, you never know, my dear, you never know..." they went off into the sun of the grounds talking happily.
Poppy, watching from an upstairs window, felt she had done her job very well.
--
Minerva plonked herself down happily at the staff table and began piling sausages onto the gold plate.
"Good Morning, Minerva." Albus said, watching her slice them up.
Filius looked up to stare; Professor Merrythought was watching them; Letitia smugly continued eating her lettuce and radishes.
"'Morning Albus!" She sang. The rest of the professor's at the table stared open-mouthed. Letitia dropped her knife and fork with a clatter.
"How are you this morning?" Albus asked, smiling.
The happiness drained from her face. "Thistle is still missing. She didn't come in for food this morning and – and there are so many things in the forest and the lake; I hope nothing has happened to him."
"Oh Minerva." Albus would have liked to pick her up and hug her tightly, but he thought it wasn't proper. "I'm sure nothing's happened to him."
"Well, if she hasn't come for food, there must be something wrong." Letitia put in blandly.
"Don't be stupid, pet!" said Rolanda venomously. "Everyone knows you're terrified of cats!"
Letitia opened her blue eyes wide. "Madam Hooch!I -"
"Well, you are! And what's more -"
"Rolanda!" barked Albus, "I'll thank you all to hold your tongues!"
The table quieted and Albus turned to Minerva, who was looking at her plate of hash-browns that remained untouched and were now getting cold.
"When did you last see her?"
"Three days ago."
"We'll all keep an eye out for her, I promise," he said seriously.
Minerva smiled. "Thanks Albus."
--
Letitia hummed Celestina Warbeck's newest song, "Tiger, tiger" and pulled out a dark green dress. Hmm, maybe it wasn't quite what she was looking for. Perhaps this one...
No, to heavy. Ah, how about her summer robes? They were in a chest of drawers in the corner of her and Albus' bedroom. Letitia opened the top drawer, feeling around through the magically enhanced size of the drawer, digging through her many clothes.
She felt something warm and furry in amongst the clothes: the something moved: Letitia froze; the thing in the drawer wriggled, and Letitia screamed.
"Alllll-buuuuuuuuuuuuus!"
--
Minerva knocked on Albus' door, hoping Letitia wasn't there. She wasn't.
"Hey Albus, there are some letters from Madam Marshbanks and Professor Tofty you might want to read."
He took them, skimming the first few lines before putting them down on the desk. "Thank-you Minerva – has Thistle turned up yet?"
She sighed. "No. I just hope she hasn't ended up as a snack for Flesh-Eating Bugbear."
"Oh, Minerva, Thistle is a cat – she hasn't been around for reason."
"Oh, that's comforting," she said sarcastically, "anyway, your fiancé pointed that out to me at breakfast."
He frowned. "I am not -" He stopped. A loud shriek from the next room stopped him up short.
"Letitia!" He jumped up, dropping the papers all over the floor, as she noticed ruefully, and sprang across the room, Minerva close behind him.
Letitia was standing in front of her chest of drawers, face set in utter terror, pointing breathlessly at the innocent piece of furniture. "Some..thing in...there." she panted out, scrambling behind Albus, not forgetting to give Minerva a bad look. "Something...furry."
Minerva snorted derisively. "It's probably just a nest of puffskeins. Let's have a look." Minerva opened the drawer,pulling out the clothes none to gently, as Letitia noticed.
Minerva felt the furry thing. Stopping herself from pulling her hand out, she pulled the last of the clothes out and poked the small bundles of fur. One of them squeaked. Looking confusedly at Albus, Minerva gently lifted the tiny form out.
It was a kitten. Tiny and dark grey, it hadn't even opened it's eyes yet. "Oh, wee one," whispered Minerva, "how did you get here? Where's your Mammy, eh?"
"Rowl!" a dark grey shape flung itself on to Letitia and clawed it's way up her pink dressing robe.
Letitia screamed, loudly. The grey shape aimed one more swipe at her, then jumped to Minerva, meowing up at her.
"Thistle!" she cried. The cat jumped up onto the chest of drawers and gently took the kitten from her hand. "Oh, you sweet cat! They're yours!"
Thistle blinked at her, then settled down into her nest again, licking her kittens tenderly. Minerva turned to Albus happily. "Can you believe it?! She's had kittens!"
"All over my summer clothes!" interjected Letitia angrily, "I demand that you make them leave at once!"
Minerva looked at her scornfully and angrily. "You can't move her now," she said heatedly,"it will be too much shock for them, and Thistle might take them somewhere else, somewhere I can't look after them."
"I'll tell you what," said Albus quickly, "We can move the chest to Minerva's room. That way, they are gone from your bedroom and Minerva can look after them."
"But I need it for my clothes!" Letitia shrieked.
"The kittens are living creatures; they are far more important than clothes, Letitia." said Albus, starting to get annoyed. Minerva was in the seventh heaven of delight over the bundles of fur and his fiancé was ruining it for her!
Letitia mouthed wordlessly, then stormed out of the room. Minerva looked at Albus. "This is very kind of you, Albus."
"I said I would look for Thistle for you – and so here I am, upholding my promise."
"But Letitia..." trailed off Minerva.
"She will have to grin and bear it," said Albus. "She will come round."
Minerva felt a light foreboding of that statement inside, but did not voice it, instead she said; "Right. So how shall we move these drawers, then?"
--
Hope you liked! Thank-you to everyone who reviewed. You are so, like, the best!
Please drop in a review. Please?