The Choice of One

Her body writhed in sheets drenched by her own perspiration. Her eyes, shut tight in denial of reality, leaked tears of frustration and outrage. Her skin felt seared by probing touches on her breasts and below. Her nails raked across flesh not in pleasure but in anger. Her teeth bit down drawing blood from lips forced upon her own.

"Why do you fight me?" Hands, strong and ruthless, gripped her shoulders. "Has he touched you? Has he?"

A sharp pain across her jaw brought tears to her eyes forcing them open. Piers loomed above her body. His shirt was unbuttoned to the waist. His pants were unbuckled but not entirely undone. "Stop this, Piers, please ..."

Piers climbed off her and the bed. He stared down at her. He chuckled. "Oh, I intend to, Minerva. I will stop this ... this infatuation where it stands."

Minerva drew her blanket to cover herself. Her hand rubbed her forehead. The pain of her body had no measure against the fiery ache in her head. "I ... I don't love you. Please understand."

"You loved me before and you will again."

"I can't change the way I feel. I'm sorry it had to happen like this but I love Albus and -" She could not continue as a sharp pain blazed across her consciousness.

Her anguished cry would have melted any man's heart but it only made Piers happier. It was proof that the Forgesi Deziro potion was doing its work. "As I said, you will love me again. I have no doubt about that at all."

Minerva rocked sideways on the bed. Piers behavior was unnerving and puzzling. She glanced upwards to study him. Even through the haze of pain, his smile chilled her blood. Her voice whispered "What ... what have you done?"

"I always tell people how bright you are. As usual, I am proven right." Piers drew up a chair and sat down on it facing her.

"This pain is not ... not natural." Minerva breathed in and out steadily. The pain intensified when she was agitated and seemed to subside when she was calm. "What have you done to me? Poison, a curse, what?"

"I did what I had to do to bring you back to your own mind. I'm sure Dumbledore put some kind of spell on you."

Minerva shrieked. "He's honorable, gentle, loves ..." This time the pain was so great that Minerva's body shuddered convulsively. All sensation was centered in her head.

Piers watched fascinated as Minerva curled herself into a fetal ball whimpering and gasping as she fought through the pain.

"Have you not realized yet what triggers the pain, Minerva?" Piers pushed a stray lock of hair from her face. "Keep that that old goat in your thoughts. See what happens."

Minerva steadied herself and thought about Albus and her together. A spike of pain lanced through her head jerking her head back. She brought to mind Albus' face. There was another stab of pain but not as acute as before.

"Your feelings for him cause the pain. Judging from your behavior, you feel strongly about him."

"Why?" Minerva asked through gritted teeth.

Piers was slow to answer. When he did his voice was low, wistful. "Because he dared to take my future from me."

"We have no future Piers especially after this."

Piers was undeterred. "We'll get married and bound together as man and wife. I'll use part of your inheritance to rebuild my family's fortunes. And when I have done that, we can do anything we want. Minerva, you love to travel. We'll travel the world, you and I, in luxury fit for royalty."

"Greed drives your expectations." Minerva buried her head in her folded arms. "What a fool."

Piers stroked her hair as one would a beloved pet. "I admit your fortune was the lure at first, but, Minerva, you discount your own charms. I fell in love with you as I came to know you. I could hardly help it."

Minerva rolled away from him as far away as the bed would permit her to.

"I do love you, Minerva. I have never been unfaithful. I have supported you in all that you have wanted to do. The day you accepted my proposal was the happiest day of my life."

"You love the idea of possessing me like some trophy on display."

"And Dumbledore is above that? Did he not come here for the express purpose of recruiting you before anyone else does, like some prize. He is no different than me." Piers stood up and began to pace. "What can he give you but a drafty school in the middle of the wilderness and the promise of toiling in obscurity for the rest of your life? Is a life forever in his shadow, the life you deserve?"

Minerva closed her eyes.

"You are a forceful brilliant woman. You deserve to be showered with accolades and rewards for your accomplishments. You would be wasted teaching willful students who will forget you one hour after they graduate. I want only what is good for you, Minerva. Can't you see that?"

"You want to take me and mold me into what you want, Piers. You always have. I see that now."

"I simply want you to reach your true potential. I will be there to guide you and -"

"Piers, that is the difference between you two." Minerva let out a long breath. "You give me guidelines. Albus gives me choices." Her back stiffened as another tendril of pain whipped across her mind. "He will allow me anything. You will only allow me what you feel I should have." Minerva clenched her fists fighting the pain so she could continue. "I choose to have ... have choices. Albus." Minerva bowed her head over her pillow. She screamed into her pillow as her mind reeled from pain.

Piers looked at her shuddering form. He began to button his shirt. "I gave you a potion called Forgesi Deziro. Its name describes its effects well - to force forgetfulness of the heart's desire. The harder you fight its effects, the more pain it will cause, the longer your ordeal will last. It will not wear off until you've forgotten your feelings for him."

"Albus ... Albus expects nothing from me." Minerva's breathing was rapid and shallow. "Demands nothing."

"You are a stubborn woman but even you must bow sometime. I didn't expect you to accept things so easily." He checked his appearance in her mirror.

Her voice was strained. "Never."

"You will recall him only as an acquaintance, nothing more. You and I will rebuild our relationship and marry." Piers cast a series of quick spells. "I've warded the tent to keep you in. I have put a silencing spell so you may scream as you like."

"Get out!"

"I will see to our guests, shall I? They must have grown tired of that chatterbox boy by now." Piers paused by the door. "I don't blame you, Minerva. It's Dumbledore's fault, all of it. He forced me to do this. You must realize that."

Minerva's defiant yell, hinting of anger and hurt, was his answer.

The following morning after Piers left camp with the rest of the team, Khalil crept into Minerva's tent. He had to make sure Miss Minerva was all right. Mr. Rampal had informed everyone late yesterday that Miss Minerva was ill and did not want to be disturbed. Khalil knew how tired she had been so he hadn't thought to see her last night. Today was different. Miss Minerva had not come for breakfast. Mr. Rampal had been most insistent that no one bother Miss Minerva. Khalil did not like his tone and, like any good merchant, he could plainly tell Mr. Rampal was hiding something.

He tread lightly inside. He carried a small plate of bread and cheese and a glass of juice with him. Minerva lay unmoving on her cot. Pillows lay on the floor. Her blanket lay bunched at her side. Khalil touched her hand gently. Minerva flinched and turned to face him. She was haggard and her eyes were dull, lifeless. Khalil was shocked. "Miss Minerva?"

Minerva looked around the tent. They were alone. "Help me sit up."

Khalil propped her up with pillows. He held the glass of juice to her lips. Minerva drank greedily.

"A doctor must see you, Miss Minerva." He put the plate of food in front of her.

Minerva managed a small smile. "It's not that kind of sickness, Khalil."

"Mr. Rampal said you were tired. Are you tired?"

Between bites of bread and cheese, Minerva explained further. "Fighting the sickness is tiresome."

"Does Mr. Claude have medicines to help you?"

"It has only one cure I'm afraid." Minerva finished her juice. "I have no choice really."

"Would you like another glass? I will go and -"

"No, Khalil, I need you to stay here." Though her voice was faint, Minerva's urgency was evident. "I cannot ... you must do so for me. I need you to remember Albus."

"I will always remember Albus and his great kindness."

Minerva shook her head. "Khalil, you saw us. You know I love Albus. You know our plans."

"You and he will live in ... in Og-warts you said."

"That may not be," Minerva motioned him closer to her. "Khalil, I will forget Albus and our plans. I cannot explain why but I will."

"Should I not send word to him that you are -"

"No. I must deal with this sickness now. You've given me the idea, my own cure, you might say. In my satchel, there," Minerva pointed to a large bag on the floor. "My wand, get it for me."

Khalil retrieved the wand quickly. Minerva was so weak that she could barely grasp her wand. Khalil wrapped his own hands around it, helping her to lift it and point it towards his chest Strangely enough, Khalil did not find the wand unusual. Curious, yes, surprising, no.

The next words that Minerva uttered sounded nothing more than gibberish to him but after she finished the hairs on the back of his neck rose. A comforting warmth swept over him. For an instant, he experienced the purest sensations - bubbling joy and deepest contentment.

She asked him, "Do you promise to keep this secret - to remember my love when I cannot, will not. To reveal to no one but Albus the secret you keep or what you have seen or heard. Do you promise to be bound by this?"

Khalil's eyes were wide and solemn. "Yes. I will remember. I promise." As soon as the last syllable was out of his mouth, Minerva's wand emitted a bright red spark. The spark glowed brighter and brighter floating upwards. It hovered for a few seconds at level with his eyes. It moved towards him and caressed his forehead. The glowing orb flashed once before dissolving into smaller particles that faded into nothingness.

Khalil blinked away the red spots dancing in his sight. He looked back at Minerva. She had grown paler. The hand encompassed in his own was limp and cold.

As if she were exerting immense effort to speak at all, her words were halting and whisper-soft. "As long as you ... keep my secret ... nothing can touch my heart. No one. You must ... must ..."

"What must I do, Miss Minerva?"

"Survive. Live." Minerva pulled her hand from his. "Keep my wand. Hide it. And ... something else." Minerva's right hand felt along the side of her mattress. In a seam cut into the mattress, she pulled out a well worn piece of paper. She held it out to him. He stretched his palm out to take it. Minerva, with sudden fierceness, placed the note in his hand and folded his fingers around it. "Your gift to Albus ... one day ... give him this and my wand. Tell him your ... your promise to me ... what I did."

Khalil nearly recoiled at her chilly touch. "I might never see him again."

Minerva let his hand go. "You will ... someday. Albus he ..." Minerva winced. "... he won't forget."

Khalil found himself cheered by her words. He tucked the wand and the note in a side pocket. "You are very sick, Miss Minerva. Do you want juice or food?"

"Just the mirror. Move it closer to me." Minerva nestled into her bed.

Khalil moved her small desk aside to make room for the mirror beside her bed. Thinking that perhaps she wanted to brush her hair, he put her brush on her bed. "What else?"

A faint smile came to her dry lips. "I have what I choose to have."

"I will bring mid-meal, Miss Minerva."

"Thank you, Khalil. One more thing ..."

"Yes?"

"Do not ... do not give Piers reason to harm you. He has a wand and a bad temper."

Khalil's hand patted his pocket. "I will not forget." With those words Khalil secured the tent flap leaving her with only her thoughts for company.

Minerva's fingertips barely grazed the mirror's frame. Her lips formed the two words that she would not say out loud. The image of Albus when it appeared seemed only half formed; one side in darkness and the other other outlined in dim candlelight. Her Albus smiled at her. He held his hand out to her, welcoming and needing. With the last of her ebbing will, she placed her hand over his. The touch lasted barely a minute before weakness overtook her and her hand slid downward to rest beside her.

With eyes misted with tears and an inner spirit, battered yet steadfastly defiant, she gazed at the image of her heart, now more shadow than form. She did not attempt to remember their time together for that only brought pain. She did not try to recall the rough glide of his beard against her skin or the tenderness of his voice against her ear for that way led to despair. Time ticked on in seconds and minutes and with their passing her love grew more indistinct, fading before her very eyes.

With dignity and all the love she possessed, Minerva bade her heart farewell.