Albus woke up in one of the soft beds of the Hospital Wing. His head was in severe pain and he had trouble focusing his gaze on anything. 'What on earth had hit me?', he thought wryly. Only very slowly and gradually the memories trickled back. Minerva's enraged face swam to the surface and her angry voice, yelling bloody murder at him should he try to take Harry away from her.

Orange and red light filtered in through the high windows of the Hospital Wing, flooding the wide room in soft light. Albus' bed was the last in the row and closest to the window. Curtains were drawn up on two sides, enclosing him and ensuring his privacy. Light drew patterns on his blanket but was blotted out in a shadow at the foot of the bed. A slim figure stood in front of the window, looking out over the grounds. The sun beamed on her black hair and raised a golden halo all around her. She was beautiful. Albus tried to raise his head to see her better.

"Ow!" he groaned.

Minerva turned around. Her arms were folded under her bosom, looking stern and forbidding.

"You're awake", she pressed out through pursed lips.

"What hit me?" he asked while clutching his head with both hands to steady it.

"You don't remember?" asked Minerva.

Her voice sounded funny to his ears and he opened his eyes, looking over to his wife and trying to identify this funny note. She still stood there near the window. The sun was in her back and her face lay completely in the shadows. Albus was unable to see her expression.

"You raising your wand is the last I remember", Albus said cautiously. He had the sinking feeling that Minerva hadn't flunk something else at him but had instead jinxed him.

Minerva didn't answer him but turned around to the window. Again she starred out across the grounds without really seeing him, silently contemplating Harry and his miserable past.

Silence fell in between them. Neither one of them could think of anything to say. Before they could muster their respective considerable brain power to think of something, a soft clearing of a throat was heard from the opening in the curtains around the bed. Minerva turned around and Albus lifted his head from the pillow.

"Hi there ... uh, Professors", said Harry, still feeling a bit uncomfortable being around his teachers privately.

"Hi, Harry", said Minerva cheerfully.

Her whole attitude changed 180° around when she talked to Harry instead of Albus. Albus was surprised to see Harry's entire face light up when Minerva spoke to him. They smiled warmly at each other.

"I wanted to check on Al ... Professor Dumbledore. How is he?"

"See for yourself. Albus is not yet back on his feet but he's fine. Why don't you sit down with us? Perhaps we can talk some more now", said Minerva, indicating one chair for Harry to sit down.

"Sure ..."

But again they were interrupted. Pomona Sprout and Severus Snape burst through the door of the Hospital Wing.

"Poppy! Where are you? Some Slytherins started a fight with my Huffelpuffs", screeched Pomona in indignation.

Snape glared at the plump little witch witheringly.

"YOUR Hufflepuffs attacked my Slytherins when they showed the Durmstrangs around", he huffed. Minerva rolled her eyes and went to the fighting parties. Dumbledore sat up in his bed and called to Snape to come to him. Minerva cast a quick glance over her shoulder at her husband to reassure herself of his well-being. What she saw seemed to please her for she nodded and went with Poppy to the injured students. Pomona and Severus walked reluctantly up to Albus' bed, looking like two children who were in for a scolding.

Harry caught the Headmaster's eye and smirked while getting up and walking out of the Hospital Wing again. Outside the door waited Minerva.

"Here, that's the key to my quarters. The password is engraved in the key. Wait there for us."