A/N yes, it's been a while, but that's my life, very irregular, random, wait… were was I? Oh yeah, this story will continue, I do Love Your Reviews! Thanks to my two faithful reviewers (you know who you are… wink, wink) Here it goes…
Disclaimer: I'm not JKR (however, in my next lifetime…)
Saturday morning brought severe hangovers, much confusion among the staff, and a general amount of embarrassingly unexplainable situations. Minerva winced every time she turned a corner, afraid of encountering Fortinbras (who, she had convinced herself, was raving mad.). But breakfast did not provide an encounter with him. Instead, the Great Hall was eerily void of adult wizards and witches. The few Professors alive enough to make an attempt at food were Slughorn, who looked disgustingly pleased with himself when he saw the lack of staff members, Vector, Dumbledore, and McGonagall, who actually relaxed and enjoyed her scrambled eggs when she noted Fortinbras' absence.
The students were fairly busy with homework that weekend, as many Professors had been out of sorts from the Ministry decree and decided to share their humor with the student population. Minerva was knee deep in research for an article in Transfigurations Weekly. She was in her element, away from the frustrating buzz of the classroom, far from annoying ministry officials, and better still, far from overly drunk…
Her work was interrupted by a knock at the door. Minerva's feline instincts kicked in, her shoulders were instantly at her ears. It couldn't be Albus, he never bothered to knock. No one from the order was supposed to be seeing her, which only left….
"Come in," it was more of a concession than an invitation.
Exactly as she expected, Alexander Fortinbras slowly, painfully walked through the door to be blinded by sunlight. Minerva didn't even glance in the direction of the curtains. People who loose control will have to pay for it sooner or later. She quipped to herself.
"Hello, Professor," Minerva challenged, rising abruptly in lieu of inviting her "guest" to sit down.
"Hello…" Alex stopped, gathered himself together, and seemed to remember his purpose, "All right, Minerva. I have come to apologize, I was terribly forward last night. I was pigheaded, jealous, overbearing, and egotistic. I'm sorry you were caught in the middle of it. I'm sorry I tried to force myself on you, I have mad a fool of myself. I have come to ask you forgiveness, and beg for a chance to start over…"seeing Minerva's tense stance he amended, "as friends."
His entire person was so foreign, so aberrant, that for a moment, Minerva simply blinked, trying to process this change in character. He was no longer flattering her repetitively. His eyes were still mysterious and tempestuous, but their former passion was supplanted by a genuine regret, and a tinge of distant sorrow. He truly seemed contrite and, for the first time since Minerva had seen him, sincere.
"I believe both of us would like to forget last night… Alex…" she paused to weigh the effect of returning the use of given names, "I would like to continue to get to know you better, but I must warn you…" she held her hand up to stop the relief flickering on Fortinbras' face. Something glinting caught her eye. My ring! she inwardly shrieked at her carelessness. She and Albus always slept with their rings on, and she usually wore it on weekends when she would be away. But this morning she had forgotten to remove it. She quickly pulled her hand back. It was too late.
"Minerva," Fortinbras' face had suddenly grown darker, the shadow of pain in his eyes grew more prominent. "Why are you wearing a wedding ring?"
There was an awkward rebound where Minerva processed the situation and attempted to form a cover story in a few seconds.
"It's all right, you don't have to lie to me. You're married. How stupid of me! If I had looked…" He turned away from her, frustrated and disgusted with his double shame. Not only had he tried to force a woman to kiss him last night, but this woman was someone else's wife!
"If you had looked, you would have found nothing," Minerva finally started to accept the new Alex and glided around her desk to talk to him. "Only four other people know about this marriage. It is a preciously guarded secret, and I was slightly careless just now. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you Alex, but there is much at stake in the secrecy of this marriage. I must ask that you tell no one at all. I am sorry if I have hurt you in any way."
For a few breaths, Alex's face jumped from pain to regret to anger to sorrow.
"I did love you, you know," He whispered, as though all his anger had drained him of a voice, "It wasn't all an act last night. You are so beautiful, intelligent and compassionate. I guess I should have suspected something when someone as wonderful as you had remained single this long." He turned and walked toward the door.
"Alex!" Minerva suddenly felt like a cowardly backstabber. The Professor stopped and pivoted around, "I would still like to be friends!" she offered him the most kindhearted of smiled.
"Of course, Minerva, friends," He returned the smile reluctantly, and as he returned to his departure threw back, "Tell your husband, whoever he is, that he's the luckiest man in the world."
The next two months seemed quite a rush as everybody was getting ready for exams, and end of term, and holidays. Minerva had a pleasant conversation with one of her former pupils, Molly Weasley, when both women had stopped in Diagon Alley to prepare for the Christmas Holidays. Molly's brothers, Gideon and Fabian Prewitt, were both members of the Order. Dumbledore had invited Molly and Arthur to join, but both wanted to avoid combat and risks as they had recently started a family. Little Bill was just over a year old and got into trouble regularly. Minerva had kept in touch with Molly since she had left Hogwarts, and had been one of Bill's more frequent baby sitters. When Minerva encountered Molly in Diagon Alley, they began discussing various Holiday plans. To Minerva's chagrin, she had little to tell. She and Albus usually spent the Holidays in Hogwarts, but recently he had promised a getaway for her, and she was hoping it would payoff at Christmastide. Molly didn't know about Minerva and Albus' marriage, so her intentions were entirely pure when she asked if Minerva would be spending Christmas alone.
"Well actually, Albus and I usually spend Christmas together as a sort of tradition," she explained, lamely.
"Well, you see, Arthur and I just got settled into this lovely old house out in the country. It's called the Burrow. It's very roomy, and well, so far, my older twin brothers will be coming. But with such a big house, it seems a shame to not fill it up! It wouldn't be anything spectacular, but a nice cozy meal. And, apart from Gideon and Fabian, fairly pleasant company," Minerva smiled, Molly's brothers were such a handful! "It would be lovely if you, and Dumbledore as well, would join us out in our new house!"
"That does sound so peaceful! I would love to! I'll Dumbledore about it, and then I'll send you an owl, letting you know!" Minerva sighed. A whole Holiday away from the students, away from the pranks and noise…If only Albus would agree!
Albus, meanwhile was working out order business. Voldemort had been unusually inactive of late, and this worried Dumbledore. He was sure Voldemort was pulling back for a larger strike, but he wasn't sure where or when. As a result he had to constantly stay in contact with the various members of the order scattered across the country. He had not found anything as of yet…
Abraxas Malfoy was a sharper than most other men his age. It was he that had seen Voldemort at his true potential so early on in his promising career. It was he that had seen fit to expose him to valuable sources of information. It was he that was now inside the ministry doing some detailed research on the infamous Albus Dumbledore. Over the years, he had developed quite a strong relationship with the ministry. It was important to maintain a smiling public face for the mob. Donate to the right causes, support the right candidates, finance a few improvements, and the entire Ministry will roll over at your feet. These were his thoughts as he ferreted out Albus Dumbledore's deepest secrets. Voldemort had wanted a way to make Albus Dumbledore bow to him. There had to be some weakness, a loved one, a past misdeed, something the Dark Lord could use to bring the most powerful wizard of the age to his knees. Abraxas had been discreetly searching for a week, and was close to running out of resources, when he suddenly found a very recent entry in the most unexpected department. Finally! I've found my treasure! The Dark Lord will crush Dumbledore's very foundation! He stuffed the file in his cloak.
Albus had agreed to spend the Holidays with the Weasleys. However, he first visited Arthur personally, and explained to him that he and Minerva were married, to avoid awkward situations later. The Weasleys were a trustworthy, fiercely loyal family, and Dumbledore felt safe giving them his and Minerva's secret. Arthur had promised to explain the situation to Gideon and Fabian, who were both as upright and dependable as the Weasleys.
Minerva had packed their trunk and was fluttering around Albus' quarters ecstatic at the prospect of a holiday from the school. In addition, Minerva was looking forward to playing with Bill. She had always enjoyed toddlers and regretted not making more of an effort to start a family with Albus. But she and Bill would be thick as thieves this holiday, all ready he was trying to lisp out her name, though it only came out as a decided, "'Va!" whenever he say her. Minerva was not relishing the thought of staying in the same house as the Prewitt twins, however. She had begun teaching at the end of their fourth year, and they saw to it she had an adventurous first term. At the end of their seventh year, Minerva was ready to resign. But Albus had persuaded her that she had seen the worst of it, and besides, they were leaving now. Then he had proposed to her, and nothing else had mattered after that. Fabian and Gideon now served as a team in the Auror department of the Ministry. Poor Alastor had complained more than once to the Order that those two boys caused more trouble than then entire department put together. But they were incredible fighters, and they had designed some innovative espionage equipment that made them invaluable to the Auror department. More than once, they had proved the stumbling block for Voldemort's plans.
Albus rushed in to the room in a flurry of robes. Three days before Christmas, and the man is still managing Order business! Minerva smiled in exasperation as she extended her hand for him to clasp
"Are you ready to go?" Albus asked after he had greeted her with the customary kiss.
"I've got everything, dear. As well as several extra pairs of wool socks!" Minerva grinned as he pulled her in for a grateful hug.
"Minerva Dumbledore, you are my anchor!" he beamed.
Together, they walked outside the grounds and neatly disappeared into the night.
Once they had gotten settled in at the Burrow, Albus and Minerva moved into the adorably comfortable and invitingly informal kitchen to spend the dregs of the night catching up with their younger hosts.
The room was cozy and filled with all sorts of mouse-like holes, which, in time, Minerva imagined would be filled with the treasures of tiny little redheads. The fireplace gave the entire space a glow that warmed the clean, but tired stone that poured out over the entire floor. The kitchen table was extensive, also giving the impression that Bill would be the first in a long line of Weasleys. The table was sturdy, with a stoic brown wood that leant the room a taste of permanence, as if the entire space was gearing up for several decades of sieges by smiling, hungry little mouths. All in all, the air was peaceful, and somehow more fresh than the feel of Hogwarts. This house had yet to make its memories.
They talked about Arthur's new job at the Ministry. He seemed very pleased to be working in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts division, even though Minerva secretly thought that a very dull job. Arthur fairly glowed as he described to them how he had handled a Muggle electric torch once, when a malignant wizard had charmed it to make the user's eyes glow. Molly began talking about Bill's latest escapade involving a pair of garden shoes and his father's wand. He had actually gotten the wand to charm the shoes to tap dance for a little while. Abruptly the conversation reversed itself, when Arthur made a request.
"You see, Minerva," He began, "We haven't quite finished our Christmas shopping yet, what with Bill around all the time. And since it's only two more days 'til Christmas, Molly and I were wondering… well…"
"Oh, for heaven's sake, Arthur! Just ask her!" Molly turned to look across the table, "Minerva, we were wondering if you and Albus would be up for looking after Bill while Arthur and I run a few late errands in Diagon Alley?"
Minerva was delighted. Lately the idea of having a toddler around had become more and more appealing. Ever since the Ministry decree, the strict professor had caught her mind listing into daydreams of a family. It wasn't such an awful idea after all. Maybe a little intimidating, but definitely something Minerva was starting to ponder.
To her left, Albus looked a little leery, "Minerva, I shall have to be gone tomorrow, on…"
"On Order business," She finished for him, slightly disgusted, "This close to a holiday, Albus? Ah, well, I can handle the bairn by myself for a day."
Swooping in with a chill wind from outside an enormous racket flung the door open in what sounded like a veritable explosion of singing and laughter. Fabian and Gideon sashayed over the threshold, singing a Christmas carol rather loudly, and mostly off-key. They were dressed in matching, apparently hand-knitted, hats, scarves and mittens, their noses the color of a frosty apple. Pulling their hats off, Minerva saw that their hair was of a congruent shade, and the sight brought slightly horrifying memories to mind. Together, the duet, finished the song with a near tone-splitting attempt at harmony, and piled onto their sister, wrapping her in snow-dusted arms.
"Fabian, Gideon! You Comedians! Quiet! Or you'll wake your nephew!!" Molly hissed, trying desperately to pull the two lanky jokers into a seat at the table.
"Sorry, Molly darling," Fabian smiled, putting on a face that shone of mock innocence. "We don't want to wake Billy Boy!"
"Yeah, we promise to be as quiet as mice!" Gideon leaned in closer to the conversation, whispering studiously.
"Oh, you're not fooling anybody, y'clowns!" Arthur smiled, "Look, since you're here, we were just asking Minerva if she'd be willing to watch Bill while we did some shopping in Diagon Alley. Since you pair have shown up, why don't you stick around tomorrow and give her a hand?"
At the thought of receiving Fabian and Gideon's "help" Minerva cringed.
Gideon noticed, because he leaned a little closer to his former professor and solemnly stated, "Don't worry, professor, will help you with the little tyke! He can be quite a handful sometimes! Don't we know, Fawby?" Fabian nodded sagaciously, "We've kidnapped the little squirt a few times, and let me tell you, there's more energy in that half-pint than in the both of us put together. So don't worry, professor, we are here to help make up for all past indiscretions…" The collective reaction to his choice of words was instantaneous. Gideon coughed pointedly, Fabian cleared his throat, Arthur shock his exasperated expression, Albus grinned, Minerva winced, and Molly simply look mortified, "by helping you keep our nephew in line tomorrow." The mock sobriety of his tone had softened Minerva a little. Perhaps she could enjoy their sense of humor, now that she was no longer on the receiving end of the twin's pranks.
"Well, that's settled then," Fabian shot up from his chair, "Sis, I'm dead tired! Where do I lay me down for my beauty sleep?"
"Yeah, if we're going to be wrestling your monster of a kid all day," Gideon teased, grinning at her, "We have to get as much rest as possible before he rips us to shreds tomorrow!"
"Oh, bugger off, you two! You're more trouble than Bill is, and you're over ten times his age! Now, follow me," She said as she marshaled them out of the kitchen.
Albus smiled, "Shall we head to bed as well, dear?" He snaked an arm around her waist.
"After you, darling," She stretched in a feline style while Albus moved to the door, "It will be so nice to not have students banging at the door in the middle of the night!" She sighed as she fell into Albus's outstretched arm.
Still sitting before the fire, Arthur shivered aberrantly, "As long as I live, I don't think I'll ever get used to the idea of the those two being married!"
A/N: TBC Please Review!