Chapter Five: The Morning After
Minerva awoke the next morning, not completely comfortable – or uncomfortable, either. She was content. Sybill's hand grasped her own, and Minerva smiled. Then something snapped together in her.
"Fuck!"
She usually didn't swear, but it did happen occasionally. She got out of bed and put on her robe and slippers, staring at the frizz that sprawled across her bed. She went to her sitting area, and made herself a cup of tea, but dropped it. She siphoned the tea from the floor, but merely looked at the cup. Cradling the jagged pieces in her hand, she realised she had to do something. She repaired the cup and walked to the edge of her bed. She got properly dressed for the day as quietly as she could. It was lucky that Sybill had insisted on getting dressed before falling asleep the night before, claiming she could not sleep otherwise.
Sybill let out a small snore and mumbled something in her sleep. Minerva stopped and looked at her. Something in her wanted to stay right where she was, and she could feel the magic swaying her once more, tugging at her. She moved close to the woman, and knelt beside her. Her glasses were still gone and Minerva knelt down and watched for a few moments, in awe of her beauty. It was hard to notice with the way she dressed. She stroked the woman's hair lightly enough not to wake her, and then brushed her lips against her own.
She stood erect and pointed her wand at Sybill. "O-Obliviate," she stammered and swept from the room. She was not one to cry, but she felt the singular drop that escaped her despite herself before she went to the Great Hall.
She met Dumbledore near the stairs. "Albus, goodness, what are you doing here?"
"My dear Minerva, I was just on my way to see poor Professor Trelawney. How has she been doing?" He began to head in the direction of the tower.
"She – she's not up there, but I suspect you already knew as much."
"Ah, yes, well I did have an inkling but I thought I might try anyway."
"She's – in my quarters…but I assume you knew that as well, Albus."
"I would have ventured a guess if you asked me."
Minerva stood there, the guilt swelling up inside her like one of the Weasley twins' fake wands.
"Is there something on your mind, Minerva?"
"I–I did something, Albus – something I am not proud of. I–I… I modified her memory."
"Was that really necessary Minerva? I know she is in a good deal of pain –"
"I didn't do it for her."
"Yes, well, I did gather that or else you would not feel a need to tell me."
"I – we – last night – Sybill and I..."
"There is no need to give me details, Minerva. I can speculate what happened and I cannot say that I am at all surprised."
Minerva raised her brows. "You knew this might happen? Why did you not tell me?"
"Forgive me for humbling you my friend, but I did warn you about investigating strange noises that you and presumably no one else heard."
"You knew it was Sybill, even then?"
"Professor Trelawney, as much as anyone might believe she is liar or a fraud, or however uncouth she may be, is a somewhat tortured soul at times. She feels a connection to you, though, and that is why I believe you heard her that night."
"A connection?"
"Yes. It is old magic, Minerva, though having not been presented with it for some time, you may have forgotten. She wanted you to hear her, and so you did."
"Why did she want me to hear her?"
"Though I cannot say for certain, it seemed to me, for a great deal of time, that Professor Trelawney felt for you – once. I thought perhaps it had dissipated, but it seems I was wrong."
Minerva could sense herself unravelling at this. Sybill had had feelings for her before?
"If it is your wish that Professor Trelawney not remember the events of last night, I shall handle it, Minerva. It cannot be erased by simply removing the memory of what happened. She would have to have reason to leave."
"I wouldn't wish for her to leave the school, Albus."
"You misunderstand me, Minerva. You clearly do not want to pursue a relationship with her, or you would not have modified her memory in the first place. It would be unwise, then, for her to continue to stay in your quarters as it could only lead her to believe that it might be possible for something to happen between the two of you."
"Why did Sybill –" she could not say love. "How…?"
"In this matter I cannot say exactly, Minerva. After all the things you said to her over the years, though, it did seem to die down, and when you befriended her, I believe it gave her hope."
Sybill couldn't be in love with her for so long without her knowing. It was nonsense.
"You believe I am mistaken, Minerva. It has happened on occasion, but either way, as you have indicated that you do not return her feelings, it would be ill-advised to give her any mind otherwise, in case I should be right."
When Minerva did not dispute him, Dumbledore sauntered off to her quarters. She watched him go, feeling puzzled. Finally, she made her way to the Great Hall, where she found she had no appetite, though she presumed this might have happened even if she had not run into Dumbledore.
Sybill woke up in Minerva's bed, and had no idea how she had gotten there. She remembered Minerva letting her take it, but she could not remember or fathom why. She got up, and just as she had dressed, there was a knock at the door. She did not feel at all uncomfortable opening it, and was a little awed to find Dumbledore on the other side.
She let him in and took a seat on Minerva's two-seater. "Headmaster, I'm afraid that Professor McGonagall is not here."
"Yes, well, it was actually you that I came to see Sybill… You seem surprised by this."
"The Inner Eye does not see everything, Dumbledore."
"Quite," he twinkled. "I thought perhaps you might be willing to accompany me to the tower today."
"I do not see a reason to go up there, Dumbledore. I am quite content here. Minerva does not seem to mind."
"Surely a walk would not do any harm? You have not been in your own office for quite some time."
"Yes, yes I suppose I could venture up there for a bit. My Inner Eye has been a bit cloudy from being so near the masses…. But what will Minerva think?"
"I could not see her objecting to such a thing as this, but if you feel she would, I do not see why she would have to know..."
Sybill contemplated this, and Dumbledore spoke again. "You have eaten breakfast already, Sybill?"
She shook her head no. "I do not enjoy being in the Great Hall every morning. I am accustomed to normally only dining there for the Sorting."
"Yes, I remember. I thought, perhaps you might be willing to accept an invitation to join me for breakfast this morning in my office before visiting your office." He looked at her and added, "This is an impulsive idea, so do not blame yourself for not having seen it."
"You would not miss the usual breakfast muddle?"
He shook his head lightly. "I have already made an appearance in the Great Hall this morning, so I shall neither miss it nor be missed. I take it then you are willing to accept my offer?"
Sybill nodded, and left happily with him.