Chapter 6
Minerva's fingers trembled as they reached hesitantly for the doorknob. It shouldn't be this difficult! Still, a strange flurry of thrill mingling with fear and perhaps a tinge of sadness whirled within her. She drew in a shaky breath as she slowly turned the knob and stepped inside the room.
As she entered, Albus rose, looking as if suddenly finding it inappropriate to be sitting on her bed.
"It's all right, you can sit there," she said quietly, keeping her eyes averted from his face.
He sank back down as she settled apprehensively in her favorite chair by the corner. Despite the desire to pull him near, the need to keep him at a comfortable distance was strong, as she felt she was now exposing her raw emotions to him. She didn't like feeling so uncontrollably vulnerable, even though she had forever trusted Albus with everything.
"Should I go ahead and hire new professors to take Severus and Rolanda's place?" Albus asked solemnly, though the tiny twinkle in his eyes betrayed the seriousness in his countenance.
Minerva could not help but laugh. She cherished the way Albus could always find a way to make her smile, even when she felt so unstable and insecure.
"No, I let them live... for now," she replied with a smirk.
"You are quite merciful," he commented with a grin.
She felt the warmth of his smile piercing through her, making her weak, and she struggled to keep a straight face. She swallowed hard and stared down at her feet, unsure of how to approach him now. She had always imagined that if he loved her as she loved him, then everything would be complete, everything would be okay... So where was that comfort now? Why was it difficult to face him after they had both shared their feelings? Granted, in all her fantasies, Minerva had never imagined anything like this would occasion the confession...
"I apologize for the way I acted towards you earlier," she said, noting that her voice sounded stony and flat. "When I thought you were under the effects of a love potion, I didn't want you to regret anything between us when the spell wore off."
"There is no need for an explanation," he assured her. "It is I who should apologize. I should never have pushed you. I didn't realize –"
Minerva shook her head.
"Don't," she replied simply, feeling her throat constrict once more.
"If you're worried that I'm expecting things to change between us," Albus said in a low voice, "don't be."
For what seemed to be the hundredth time that day, Minerva's heart sank. How could she have thought that this would make a difference? Of course, he was the Headmaster, the great and powerful Albus Dumbledore, and she was his Deputy; that was all she could ever be.
"What do you mean?" she asked in what she hoped sounded like nonchalance.
Albus suddenly looked very uncomfortable as he focused his gaze down onto his folded hands.
"When I said I loved you?" she went on, not sure as to why she was pressing the subject that would clearly only bring her more heartbreak.
He nodded, still not looking at her.
"I know you didn't mean it... that you were just trying to protect me..." His voice was heavy as it drifted away. "I won't hold it against you," he said, attempting a light-hearted smile.
Minerva narrowed her eyes in slight confusion.
"Albus... I couldn't tell you I loved you if I didn't."
He seemed to be considering this as he slowly lifted his eyes to her. She suddenly became aware of how rapidly her heart was pounding in her chest as her lungs forced the air in and out.
"I do love you," she said, echoing his words from before.
The cloud of doubt appeared to be slowly dissipating from his eyes; Minerva was not certain of how long she could go on without seeing the twinkle in them.
"Are you certain you were not the one who drank the love potion?" he asked incredulously but with a smile forming at his lips.
"Perhaps I did," she mused playfully, "but if so, this is the longest I've ever known anyone to be under a spell..."
The End?
A/N: I'm still debating as to whether or not I want to end it there or give it just one more small chapter...