A/N: After last week's long and heavy chapter, this one will be short and sweet. From now on there'll probably be some romance in the air. Hope you enjoy.

31. Shield

Minerva was crossing the Entrance Hall when Albus caught up with her. "Are you ready for your first Quidditch match?"

"This is hardly my first game."

"It's your first game watching as a teacher, not a player," Albus clarified.

Minerva shrugged. "I don't see the big difference, so yes, I'm ready."

His eyes travelled over her in a way that made her feel strangely self-conscious. "You don't look it."

It took her an embarrassingly long time to understand that he was referring to her lack of Gryffindor colours. "I thought I wasn't supposed to take sides."

"Not during school hours, but this is Quidditch, everybody's favourite pastime, which means, everybody is allowed," Albus told her.

"Good to know. I'll remember that next time," Minerva replied, secretly relieved. There was no way she could have cheered for the Slytherin team as much as for the Gryffindors.

"No need. This can be easily fixed." Albus took off his own Gryffindor scarf and held it up. "May I?"

Surprised, Minerva nodded and allowed him to wrap it around her neck. When he stepped back again, he smiled. "Much better."

"Cheers," she said as she rearranged the scarf a little. "I didn't know you cared so much."

"I'm just trying to get into the spirit of things," Albus replied with a shrug and a smile that looked somewhat pained.

"I think you have to work on that some more," Minerva informed him.

"Do I?" Albus retorted, his eyebrows raised, but his eyes sparkling. "We shall see."

They made their way to the Quidditch pitch and Minerva had no idea why Albus looked as though he would prefer to be back in the castle behind his desk, marking homework assignments. The energy in the stadium was invigorating. She hadn't watched a game from the stands in years. It meant that she could actually take in all the banners and creative items of clothing the students had brought in support of their teams. And she could hear them chant and feel the general excitement of the crowd. As part of the Gryffindor Quidditch team she had always been too focused at this point.

The game started with the blow of Rolanda Hooch's whistle. It took all of two minutes for Gryffindor to score their first goal and for Slytherin to commit their first foul. It was nothing Minerva hadn't expected. Nothing she hadn't experienced personally. She watched with only a small grimace, but those were only the first couple of minutes. Her composure began to slip when things got more intense.

Soon she found herself muttering under her breath, urging on the Gryffindor Chasers, suggesting the best routes to take or diversions to fake. She ducked when they almost got hit by Bludgers and she nearly shot out of her seat when they scored a particularly impressive goal.

That's when she noticed that Albus' eyes were on her. "Are you even trying to watch the game?" she challenged him.

"I'm watching something a lot more entertaining," he replied.

Minerva shook her head. She didn't have time for his antics because she was actually interested in the game. He had already distracted her for a second too long because when Minerva turned back towards the field, the Gryffindor Seeker took a Bludger right to the face. The whole stadium could hear his nose break and he swayed precariously on his broom.

Gasping, Minerva reached for her wand with one hand and for support with the other. But the Gryffindor Beaters had already intervened. They steadied their dazed teammate so he wouldn't fall off his broom. Rolanda flew over to them to fix the boy's nose.

"Do you think he's okay?" Minerva wondered aloud.

"Oh yes, anything that can be fixed up in the air doesn't even count as a real injury, or so I've been told," Albus replied.

Well, yes, Minerva thought, because as a player one never wanted to quit playing. That much she knew from personal experience. But she hadn't known how gruesome the blood spatter looked on those fresh Quidditch robes.

The game resumed and Minerva noticed that it was Albus' hand she had grabbed in her moment of concern for her student. "I'm sorry," she muttered when she let go again.

He just smiled at her. "So, it is a little different to watch a game rather than to play in it, isn't it?"

"Will you stop using everything as a teachable moment?" she said in exasperation. "You were right, I was wrong. I hardly think that's worth pointing out anymore."

Albus' brow furrowed. "I wasn't trying to be right. I was just hoping that we could share the agony of watching students we care about risk their necks for fun. As they like to say, misery loves company."

Minerva considered that for a minute. "I still love Quidditch," she clarified. "But… I understand what you're saying."

This was a lot more upsetting than she ever could have imagined.

"Wait, so you didn't actually like me playing back then?" she asked after a moment of watching the game in silence.

"I liked watching you win. But accompanying students of mine to the hospital wing is not a part of being a teacher I particularly enjoy," Albus said. "Especially not when I promised their parents not to let them get hurt."

"Right," Minerva snorted. "I forgot about that."

"I haven't."

She shot him a wary look when she noticed his use of the present tense. "Well, you're off the hook now."

Albus' lips twitched. "Am I?"

Minerva wasn't even sure if her father still remembered that conversation. Either way, she said, "I don't need protection anymore."

"We can all use some protecting every now and then," Albus said gently.

"Then who's protecting you?" she asked, facing him squarely.

He opened his mouth and closed it again. "I don't believe anyone's ever asked me that."

There was an immediate response on the tip of her tongue, but before Minerva could decide whether or not to actually say it, she saw something in the corner of her eye that made her jump to her feet.

Turning towards the Quidditch field, she yelled, "That was a foul! Rolanda, didn't you see that? Will you call a penalty already?"

Rolanda ignored her (she probably hadn't even heard her) and let the game continue.

Albus chortled.

"Don't you say anything!" Minerva hissed as she sat back down.

Albus rested his chin on the tips of his intertwined fingers, his lips pressed into a thin, smirking line.

At least, now he looked as though he was having fun.

Minerva sighed and settled in to watch the rest of the game with as much dignity as she could muster.

When Minerva knocked on the door of Albus' study and heard his soft "Enter" in response, she flashed back to the many, many times they had gone through this ritual during her time as a student. It was funny how things didn't seem to have changed at all, even though they were beginning to feel very different.

The scattered papers and pieces of parchment on Albus' desk looked exactly the same, though. "Sorry to interrupt," Minerva said as she approached. "I just wanted to hand in my lesson plans for next week."

Albus gave her an exasperated smile. "I told you, you really don't have to hand those in anymore."

"I know. I just had them ready so..." Minerva's voice trailed off.

The truth was that coming to Albus' study was the best excuse she had been able to think of in order to get out of her own office. There was no school on weekends and with all her upcoming lessons planned and ready, she had run out of ideas what to do with her free time. But she was not going to say that.

Albus' smile morphed into a more curious look. "So you thought you would make me feel bad for not being as organised as you are." He chuckled and shook his head to indicate that she didn't actually need to answer that. "Any plans for the rest of the day?"

"Not exactly," she said vaguely. She could write a couple of letters to her parents and to Elphinstone, but she would hardly call that 'having plans.'

"I was thinking about paying a quick visit to Diagon Alley," he said. "Care to join me?"

"I didn't have you pegged as an avid shopper," Minerva replied hesitantly, not sure if this was a pity invite and if she was bored enough to accept either way.

"I'm not. But I like to get my Christmas shopping done early."

His smile was open and truthful, and Minerva figured she had nothing to lose. He already knew the worst there was to know about her. She had no more secrets left. He knew she was lonely. And she didn't feel bad about that because she now knew that he was lonely, too, and more importantly, she knew why.

"I'm terrible at buying gifts, but I'll come," she agreed.

"Oh, I don't think so. Fawkes has always enjoyed the sweets you gave him," Albus said as he rose from his chair.

"Then I guess that's one less gift to worry about." So far Minerva had avoided thinking about Christmas altogether, but if Albus wanted to look for presents, she could just as well get it over with, too. And perhaps she could stop him from getting anything for her.

They left the castle grounds and Disapparated to London. Diagon Alley was fairly busy as usual, especially this time of year, but most people made room for Albus when they recognised him. It was a little disconcerting for Minerva to attract attention like this, but it was nice that people didn't step on their feet. Most of them, anyway. Some did just the opposite and insisted on talking to Albus.

It made the actual shopping a little difficult. They still hadn't bought anything an hour later. After listening for twenty minutes to a wizard who wanted to introduce a law that would force wizards to stop wearing robes in solidarity with Muggles, Minerva lost her patience.

"First of all, that is not a matter for the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot," she informed that wizard. "Secondly, a law like that would be impossible to enforce. And thirdly, if you want to improve wizard–Muggle relations, start with something more relevant than fashion!"

Having said that, Minerva pushed Albus into Flourish and Blotts and closed the door between them and that wizard.

Albus blinked. "Thank you."

"You could have just said that you needed me to come with you so you'd have a human shield," Minerva replied drily.

"It was never my intention to use you or anyone else in such a manner," Albus said gravely. "But that being said… it is an added bonus to your company."

"You're welcome," Minerva said with a wry grin. "Now go find what you want to buy before someone else asks you to legalise keeping dragons as pets."

Albus laughed, but he said, "Oh, I don't give away books as presents."

Minerva gaped at him. "Why not? What makes for a better present than a book?"

"Nothing. Unless it's the only thing people ever give you. Birthdays, Christmasses, doesn't matter, I always get books," Albus explained. "So I've stopped giving them away to discourage people from getting me any more."

"And is it working?"

"Not in the least."

Minerva snorted. "Well, then I'm going to buy something – for me, not for you – while you figure out where else you want to go."

"Of course, please take your time," Albus agreed. In the end, he did buy a book, too. He said that it was for Madam Reed.

"Because there's nothing a librarian needs more badly than more books?" she quipped.

Albus sighed. "I realise that. But quite honestly, I don't know what else to give her. Do you?"

"No, but then again, I don't even know her first name," Minerva replied.

"It's Jemma," Albus told her. "Or… was it Emma? Oh dear, that's going to haunt me."

Laughing, they left the bookstore and continued to buy delicacies (exotic mead for Horace, fine chocolates for Cyrille) and clothes (fireproof gloves for Silvanus, a fancy hat for Dippet) and similar items. Apparently, there would be a Christmas party for the Hogwarts staff Minerva hadn't previously known about. So she purchased a couple of things of her own until her feet hurt and she was ready to call it a day.

"I wonder," Albus said slowly, "if I could ask you for a favour, Minerva."

Surprised by his tone, she looked up from her bags. "Of course."

"I would do it myself, but as you have noticed, I tend to attract unwanted attention."

"Do you need me to buy something embarrassing for you?" she teased, though she was well aware that Albus wasn't laughing.

"No, merely to go inside a particular store and ask a question."

"Which store?"

"It's not actually in this alley," he said, and Minerva began to understand. He didn't want everyone to read in tomorrow's newspaper that Albus Dumbledore had been seen strolling down Knockturn Alley.

Which did not explain why he would want to go there in the first place or rather why he wanted her to do it for him. "So you did bring me along to be your shield after all."

She had meant it as just another joke, but Minerva could tell right away that Albus did not find this even remotely funny. "You're right. I apologise. Let us leave."

"Albus, stop," she said, grabbing his arm to hold him back. "I was just kidding."

"I am not," he replied.

"Fine, then let's say you didn't ask me. I volunteered. So where am I going and what am I asking?" Minerva gave him a prompting look, still holding on to his arm.

Albus sighed and gave her further instructions. Minerva decided not to ask any questions, lest he would change his mind again. She handed him her bags and then made her way into Knockturn Alley. No one took much notice of her, now that she was alone and no longer in the company of Albus Dumbledore.

She spotted the sign of the dimly lit antique shop called Borgin and Burkes fairly quickly and quickened her steps. Even though no one cared about her presence, Minerva didn't like being down here. It was dark, filthy and she had the strong urge to arrest every witch and wizard she met.

The inside of Borgin and Burkes was only marginally better. Minerva pretended to have a look around for about a minute before one of the owners approached her. "Can I be of assistance, Ma'am?"

Minerva disliked him on the spot, though that might have been because of the fake politeness in his voice when he called her 'Ma'am.' "I'm interested in a certain object I discussed with your assistant. I was hoping to speak to him."

"Aye, you and me both," Burke (or possibly Borgin) muttered.

"Excuse me?" Minerva asked.

"He doesn't work here anymore," Burke or Borgin replied.

"Just like that?"

"Yes, just like that!" he snapped. "Were you hoping for a forwarding address? Well, I ain't got one for you. Didn't even give me notice…" He paused in his rant and eyed her sceptically. "Did you actually want to buy anything or were you just interested in him?"

Minerva decided that it was just as well to let Burke/Borgin think that she was sweet on his former assistant. "No, I don't think I will buy anything from you today," she said and left.

Back in Diagon Alley, Albus was waiting for her with an ice cream sundae from Florean Fortescue, which was exactly the kind of sweet and cheerful distraction she needed after a trip to Knockturn Alley.

"It's as you suspected," Minerva said while she accepted the ice cream from him. "The assistant quit. Or disappeared it seems. The owner had no idea."

Albus nodded. "Thank you for acquiring that piece of information for me."

"So who is he?" Minerva asked simply. She didn't think what she had just done was a big deal. But it was definitely strange.

"A former student of mine," Albus replied.

"And why are you keeping tabs on him?"

"Because," Albus said, "I have reason to suspect that he is on a very dark path."

Minerva narrowed her eyes in response to those ominous words. "A path to where exactly?"

Albus heaved a deep sigh. "That seems to be the question."

She didn't know what else to say, but the ice cream suddenly felt a lot colder on the tip of her tongue.