Chapter 2 - And I do not give a damn if you don't believe.
Sunday 20th October 1996.
His office door flew open as his closest friend strode into the room. Her relaxed attire attested to the fact this wasn't Hogwarts business, and he resisted a smile as he guessed the reason for her visit had something to do with a certain witch. A flick of his wand dismissed the portraits freezing them out of the room, and providing the privacy this conversation demanded.
"This is ridiculous Albus, I don't know what I was thinking. You have to stop this and release me from my promise. I know you have said something to her, whatever it was has caused her to seek my counsel on a near nightly basis. I have told you countless times, though you will no doubt ignore me this time just as you have all the others. I feel nothing for her." Standing on the other side of his desk she glared down at him. No one else would hear the edge of desperation and pleading in her voice, but then no one else had known her for 60 years.
"Minerva why do you continue to fight this when it is clear –"
"Because she is a child goddamn it, a child." Minerva's hand slammed down on the desk. "And I am an old woman entrusted to teach her. I am not some pervert to lust after a child and abuse them."
"No you're not." Albus made his voice gentle and warm. "You have done nothing wrong, and despite your feelings for her I doubt you have acted inappropriately."
A blush coloured Minerva's face before she grimaced. "These past few weeks I have found myself suffering from some unwelcome thoughts."
"She is of age." He knew Minerva would never cross the line with a student but he was pleased that he had been correct about the attraction.
"That doesn't make it right Albus, I am still her teacher and an old woman." Some of the fight seemed to have drained from Minerva's body now and she sat down heavily. Her green eyes flickering closed for just a second. The merry glow of the fire provided a golden shimmer to her hair, and banished any hint of the October cold from Minerva's body.
"I could take over her education or perhaps Filius." A few flicks of his wand found a tumbler of whiskey floating in front of Minerva. Plucking it from the air she nodded gratefully at him, as Albus raised his own glass to his lips.
"Don't be ridiculous, you have far too much to do as it is. Taking on my teaching duties would leave you no time to complete those tasks which only you can finish, and Filius while a talented wizard, is not a master in transfiguration. To provide Hermione a substandard education would be a crime. I will not allow any personal feelings to interfere with my teaching." Minerva's weary voice regained some of its familiar steel towards the end.
"I have no doubt of that, but if it would make it easier for you, I would find the time to teach her." It would be difficult however if it meant being able to ensure a chance at future happiness for Minerva then he would do it.
"Why are you so obsessed with this?" there was exasperation in the witches voice although there was a hint of curiosity.
Tenting his fingers together Albus leaned forward "Because you have done more for this world than most will ever know. You deserve to have the happiness your sacrifices have allowed so many others to have. You are still young –"
Minerva snorted at that before bringing the tumbler of whiskey to her mouth and letting the burn of the alcohol flow through her.
"You are 77 not the 140 you make yourself appear. We both know you are barely middle aged without even considering the effects on your life span of being an animagus. You could easily live to be 180 and that is a long time to live alone." Although never placed in any publish volume it was well known among transfiguration masters that many animagi experienced an increased life span.
"She is a child" the voice was dull now and lacked conviction.
"She is of age and your intellectual equal. I doubt it will be long before the prophet begins announcing you have competition for the title of greatest living witch." He tried to inject some humour in to his voice in an effort to lighten his friends mood.
This produced another snort and a mild smile "It is a title I would eagerly pass onto her."
Minerva looked at the face of her friend for over 50 years and felt her will to resist crumble, she couldn't go back on her word to him. And there was a part of her eager to fulfil that promise even if she didn't want to admit it. "Fine I will stand by my word, but this counts as your Christmas present as well."
Thank you all for the reviews. Sorry about this chapter, they get better after this.