Chapter 3
"I'll kill them both," Minerva muttered, pacing her bedroom floor like a woman gone mad.
She nearly stumbled to the floor when a sudden knocking startled her from her frenzied thoughts. Despite thinking it was probably against her better judgement, she opened the door.
"You."
"Yes, only me," Albus admitted sadly. "I'm sorry for the disappointment."
"That's not what I meant..." she replied, her heart breaking at the thought of hurting him.
"Never mind that," he said, though still looking downcast. "I came to apologize for however I offended you earlier."
"You didn't offend me," she said weakly, taking a step back to match his forward one.
"Then why did you run?" he asked, moving towards her again.
"I –"
She stepped backwards until she ran into the foot of her bed and collapsed down onto it. Albus still continued towards her as he spoke.
"I suppose I let my emotions get in the way," he explained. "Sometimes, I admit, I fancy that you... that you could feel for me in return."
An invisible hand seemed to be tightening around Minerva's throat. Her breathing grew shallow and unsteady and she drew dangerously close to her.
"But you couldn't possibly..."
"No," she exclaimed. "I mean, I do, but –"
Albus sank down innocently beside her, acting as if sitting merely inches away from her on her bed was nothing unusual.
"Please, spare my heart," he replied solemnly. "I can live with never knowing for certain, but the rejection... I cannot bear it."
"Albus."
And before she understood why she had, Minerva reached out and took his hand. He squeezed it lightly in return but would not meet her eyes.
"You must understand," she whispered, massaging a circular pattern onto the back of his hand with her thumb.
"Don't say it," he pleaded.
"Don't say what?"
"I don't want to hear you say that you don't love me."
Minerva swallowed hard.
"Albus, I can't tell you that..."
He lifted his head slowly, and his eyes searched her face for an answer. Some invisible force seemed to be drawing her into him as he leaned closer, closer... She felt dizzy, her senses blurring as he brushed his lips lightly against her quavering jawline. Suddenly she leapt to her feet, as if scalded by boiling water.
"I – We can't do this."
The twinkle in Albus's eyes diminished somewhat as confusion lined his face.
"You don't love me," she insisted, the words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. "You can't love me."
Again she felt the familiar sting of tears prickling at her eyes.
"What do you mean?" he asked, clearly perplexed. "I do love you.
Her heart rose momentarily then sank into her stomach as she heard the words she had always wanted to hear... but now they couldn't be more wrong. She shook her head vigorously, as if also desperately trying to rid herself of any hope she had left for his affections.
"It isn't love," she explained. "It's a spell... A love potion."
To be continued...