Chapter 19
Disclaimer: No ownership here.
Author's Note: This is just a bit of Gandalf and Minerva fluff. I hope you enjoy!
With Minerva's help the wreckage that was Helm's Deep was repaired enough to hold up against possible attacks. While it may not hold up to another army of Uruks, it would do the trick. She fortified the walls as much as she could and made sure that the doors were repaired. Once she had finished her work, she went to join the group for some much needed nourishment.
"Ah Minerva! Finally deciding to give it a rest?" Gimli teased.
"Well unlike you I know how to finish a job," she gave as good as she got.
Gimli looked taken aback, but the rest of the group laughed at the foolish look on his face.
"He also doesn't know how to win in a battle of numbers either," Legolas helped to rub salt in the wound.
"I expect the ridicule from an elf," he huffed, "but not from a lady."
"I am a witch after all," Minerva countered while the dwarf shook his head and decided to focus on his food again.
"And a marvelous and skilled one at that," Gandalf said from behind her as he joined them at the small table.
"I may be all of that," she smiled and grasped his hand, "but I am not the white knight riding in at the last second."
"I just have a way with timing," he brushed it off as she thought he would and pulled her towards a chair to have a seat.
They sat and laughed for a long while, each thankful to be alive and overall unscathed. They honored the fallen and toasted to the war ahead. Before they knew it, most of the remaining men had made their way to bed. Families were together again and children could see their fathers, wives could see their husbands, at least for one more night.
Aragorn and Legolas has set up camp at the top of one of the exterior walls to keep an eye out for any possible danger. Gimli had settled a couple of steps down mumbling something about not being disturbed by snoring. Gandalf had led Minerva to a small area that would keep them warm for the night and away from the crowds. He had pulled out a cot and a couple blankets that he had acquired from the main hall.
"Why don't I make these a little more comfortable?" Minerva flicked her wand and the cot grew to the size of a queen bed and the blankets elongated so they could both share.
"That's quite the bed," Gandalf laughed.
"I hope it wasn't too forward to make it big enough for two," she blushed.
"I hope it's not too forward to accept," he smiled and she was instantly at ease.
They both crawled into bed and sought comfort in the other. Gandalf wrapped his arms around Minerva and just listened to her heart beating. Minerva took comfort in the feel of Gandalf's chest rising and falling with each breath. They laid together in peace as the world around them continued to move closer to a battle to end all battles. Gandalf's voice soon broke the quiet between them.
"I hope you did not have any troubles during the fight," he said softly as he ran his hand through her hair.
"I didn't" she reassured, "it helped to know I had you in my corner, but it also helped to realize that I can only do so much. And while I may not be able to save everyone, I can give it my all to save those around me. It's hard to let go, but there is power in accepting failure."
"Those are wise words," he said.
"I've learned a few things in my many years on this earth," she chuckled, "well, my earth."
"Do you miss it?" Gandalf caught her off guard with the question.
"I do," she said a little surprised, not realizing her true feelings on the matter, "I miss the school, walking to Hogsmede in the winter, the students, my friends…"
She trailed off and Gandalf backed away slightly to look at her.
"When this is over, we can find a way to get you back," he said with forced conviction.
He wanted to help her, but there was a selfish part of him that wanted to keep her with him. There was also the realization that whatever had happened in her world before her arriving here had led her down a dark path, and he hoped that by being here it would help her heal.
"I'm not sure if I want to go back," she said unsure, "I might miss my life, but I have also accepted the fact that I was not the happiest there. I will miss some of the food though. Ginger newts, Butterbeer, Hogwarts feasts."
"I will not lie, I am not sure how appetizing newts sound," he chuckled.
"It's a biscuit," she laughed at his confusion and disgust.
"That sounds a little more appetizing."
"They were my weakness," she admitted, "I could eat an entire tin in one sitting, especially if Severus was particularly ornery."
"Was Severus your betrothed?" Gandalf couldn't help himself.
Minerva laughed so hard it took a minute for her to recover.
"No," she caught her breath, "he was a complicated man, but in the end he was an amazing friend. He just had a way of getting under my skin, actually we both knew which buttons to push. However, he was also probably one of the bravest people I've ever met, and I didn't realize it until it was too late."
"I'm sorry."
He was conflicted. Every time he tried to learn more about her, it seemed to land them on memories that were upsetting. He only wished to know more about her and what made her into the woman she is now.
"How about you tell about some of your favorite memories of home?" Gandalf suggested.
She smiled before sitting up and searching for something. She soon found a goblet and transfigured it into a pensive then filled it with water.
"How about I show you?" Minvera beamed.
Gandalf watched as she closed her eyes and focused before she put her wand to her temple and pulled out silver wisps of light that filled the bowl.
"Give me your hand," she said gently.
He obliged and watched as she guided their hands to the surface of the water. Before he knew it, he felt himself being pulled down towards the bowl. They started falling and what started out as a grey background morphed into a scenery much like the shire. They were standing in front of a massive castle that was surrounded by grass and a perfectly serene lake.
"This is marvelous," he gasped.
"This is Hogwarts," she smiled, "this is the school that I told you about."
"I can see why you miss it," he sympathized.
"I always visit this memory when I want to experience the perfect summer day," she pointed towards a tree by the lake, "I used to sit there for hours and plan out my lessons for the year. The weather was always nice right before the term."
Gandalf watched as the woman next to him also sat under the tree. Occasionally she looked up to the sky with closed eyes to soak up the sun and bask in the slight breeze that swept across the top of the lake.
"So this is a memory?"
"Yes," she grabbed his hand and pulled him into another memory, "we jumped into a pensive, which is a way for witches and wizards to review their own memories from within."
"It is quite impressive," he took in the new image around him, "are those the students?"
They were now at the front of the Great Hall just behind in front of the table.
"Yes, this is the sorting ceremony that we hold every year. The incoming students are sorted into the four houses and they join the older students at their respective tables."
"There is a lot of wonder in their eyes," he remarked as he took in the awestricken looks of the first years.
"It was always so much fun to watch them take it all in for the first time," she chuckled as she looked towards the golden trio sitting at the table together right after their sorting.
She directed him towards the staff table and began introducing him to a few of her friends.
"These are some of my dearest friends. Pomona teaches Herbology, which I have never had much of a talent for, but she is truly amazing. Fillius teaches charms and is one of the best duelists I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Rolanda is our flying and Quidditch instructor, which is a type of sport and she is brilliant on a broom."
Gandalf took each one of her friends in and studied the happiness on their faces. He deduced that this memory must have been before the war that Minerva had spoken of. She directed him to another man, who was older and could almost pass as his brother. There was some resemblance and now he understood her reaction when she tumbled out of the cabinet.
"This is Albus," her breath hitched a bit, but it was hardly noticeable, "he was the headmaster of the school, one of the most brilliant men I have ever met, my dearest friend, and the man I loved for a great deal of time."
Gandalf was quiet and waited for her to continue.
"He was a great man," she turned to him and grabbed his hand, "and he helped me realize a lot about myself. He was the reason I came back to teach, and I will forever be grateful for that. Especially since one of the secrets of the castle brought me to you."
The both smiled at each other and Minerva directed them towards one more person at the staff table.
"And this is Severus," she smiled sadly at the man in front of them, "and he is nothing short of a hero."
"He is a rather…" he stuttered, "unpleasant fellow."
Minerva's laugh pulled his attention away from the man dressed in all black. She nodded her head as she took in the image of the man.
"He did not let people in easily, and his demeanor helped ward off any unwelcome visitors. But he was a warm person when you got to know him. It took me almost 4 years to get him to trust me, and that was after many fights. Most of those fights came when I thought he should share his burden with others. He spied on the enemy for us. Reported back information that helped us win the war. All the while he endured torture of all kinds. In the end he gave his life to give us the upper hand."
The tears that she had held back had fallen by the time she finished, and Gandalf was there in an instant.
"These were supposed to be happy memories, my love," he brushed the tears away.
"They are," she sniffled, "I just have to learn to find the happiness in the faces of lost friends."
"It will come with time," he reassured her.
"I know it will," she nodded.
"I take it this memory was before all of that transpired," he finally spoke his deduction.
"It is," she pointed towards the trio, "those three young ones grew up to be our saviors. Harry, the one in the middle, he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was dubbed 'the chosen one' and he didn't let it go to his head. He grew up to be a fine young man that his parents would be proud of, and he defeated Voldemort."
"That is quite a lot for the shoulders of one so young," he said almost absentmindedly.
"Remind you of someone?" Minerva said referring to Frodo.
"Indeed."
"I have something else I want to show you," she said, pulling them both out of that train of thought.
The scenery changed again and where there was once green grass there was nothing by snow. It was late at night and the moon above made the snow all around them glisten. They were in a courtyard of some kind that had flowers and plants in every available planter. The plants were somehow still glistening in the winter chill and it made everything seem so peaceful.
The light snow that fell dampened the sounds around them and it was almost as if they could somehow hear how crisp the night was. None of the chill was felt by either occupant of the memory however. They were spared from the freezing night and therefore enjoyed the environment around them.
"This is such a peaceful atmosphere," he whispered.
"It was my favorite spot during the winter. I would come out here and just bask in the moonlight as the snow fell. I discovered it when I was a student here, and it is actually where I had my first successful animagus transformation."
"The cat thing?" Gandalf asked.
"Yes," she chuckled, "the cat thing."
She led him to a bench at the heart of the courtyard and beckoned him to sit next to her.
"If this is a memory, shouldn't we see you?"
"I was just around the corner relaxing in my animagus form during this memory. I stayed there for hours," she gestured to just the tip of a cat's tail that could be seen on the other side of a pillar.
"You weren't cold?" Gandalf was astonished yet again.
"There is a lot of fur on that tiny feline form," she informed him matter of factly before grabbing his hand, "I wanted to show you this place because I could always find peace here, and I wanted you to experience it too. It's nice to have an escape before we have to go back into battle."
"I can see the appeal," he brought her hand to his lips, "having you next to me has the same effect that this place has for you. You bring a sense of calm over me."
"I'm glad I can help," she smiled tenderly at him.
"You are full of wonderful surprises Minerva, and I never once doubted your abilities. I do appreciate you sharing another piece of yourself with me."
They leaned in for a tender kiss that left them both feeling loved and warm. Minerva felt like she was being fully embraced by a single kiss from the man in front of her and it was clear to her in that moment that she would stay, even if given the chance to go back. Gandalf was her everything now, and she cared for the Fellowship as well.
"I want to share everything with you," she offered, "you've asked me before about what my life was like and what has happened. I brought you here so we can talk about it. Any questions you have, I can answer and possibly even show you."
"I'll give you any answers as well," Gandalf replied, happy to get to share this moment together.
They sat on the bench for a while. Each speaking about their lives and their trials. Minerva showed him memories of her as a student, learning to be an animagus, the wizarding wars, and her life afterwards. Gandalf told her all about his journey with Bilbo, his travels, and how he learned to become the man that he was. By the time they were done sharing, they were both exhausted and the pensive spit them out on the cot. They both immediately fell asleep in each other's arms waiting for the light of another day.
TBC…
