15 July 1996
"I should not have troubled you," Minerva said, regretting now her decision to come and see Poppy. After a short dizzy spell Minerva had finally conceded that perhaps she did need some help. Yet, standing in front of Poppy now, Minerva wished that she had not come to that conclusion earlier on. "It's likely just a result from that cold–"
"Sit down, Minerva," Poppy interrupted, adopting the look she reserved for her most stubborn patients like Potter and Granger. "It isn't often you come here, much less on your own volition," she added. "How long has this been going on for?"
Minerva hesitated and Poppy gave her another hard stare. Finally, Minerva sighed and sat down with some difficulty. "Long enough," she replied tiredly. "But really I am quite well."
Poppy pursed her lips when Minerva said this. After a moment, however, her expression softened. "I don't think I agree with your definition of feeling well," she said, shaking her head and waving her wand so that two bottles flew into her hand. "Take these once a day and hopefully we will start to see improvements," she said, handing Minerva the bottles. "But I would like you to come back if things do not change."
Minerva nodded. "Thank you, Poppy," she said appreciatively.
Poppy pressed her lips together slightly as she gave Minerva a brief once over with her eyes. "You should try to rest as well."
"I have had enough rest to kill a mule," Minerva replied. "I just need time."
"And rest," Poppy interjected firmly, giving Minerva a knowing look. "I am a qualified Healer so I know what I am talking about," she added, standing up.
Minerva looked down at her hands, internally grateful that Poppy was not privy to a lot of what she was getting up to. Indeed, if Poppy knew that Minerva was disapparating to London every week and staying up until well into the early hours of the morning discussing plans about You-Know-Who and trailing suspicious Ministry workers, most likely the younger witch would be saying more than a few sharp words to Minerva.
"I will try my best," Minerva said finally, looking up and pushing herself up from the bed. She breathed heavily and leaned on her cane that she was clasping tightly in her hands. Despite the fact that she despised it so much, she had to grudgingly come to terms that she did, in fact, need it.
Poppy straightened as Minerva prepared herself to leave. "I heard Dolores is back at the Ministry," she said quietly. "Senior undersecretary to Rufus Scrimgeour. It didn't take them long to pardon her."
Minerva put her free hand on a bedknob as she paused. "No, it did not," she agreed.
"Even after what she did?" Poppy said, and Minerva noted the hurt and anger the matron had tried to conceal in her voice. "I thought Scrimgeour would be more sensible than Fudge."
Minerva sighed. "Scrimgeour does not deem the issue of Dolores to be of much importance," she said, "Given what is happening now."
Poppy swallowed. "I still disagree," she said resolutely.
"As do I," Minerva agreed, "but that is their reasoning, or so I have been told. Unfortunately, we do not have much say in Ministry related matters."
Poppy nodded quietly, and Minerva noticed her bottom lip starting to tremble. The mediwitch turned away and closed the door to her medicine cupboard, trying to resume her work. This lasted only a moment, however, and finally, Poppy sunk down onto a bed and covered her eyes with her hand as she began to cry.
"Oh, Poppy," Minerva said, her eyebrows creased into a deeply worried frown, "trial or no trial, it is not the end of the world."
Poppy shook her head as Minerva came to sit beside her and wrapped a comforting arm around her shaking shoulders.
"It isn't only that," Poppy said in a strained voice, as she wiped her eyes with the handkerchief Minerva had offered her. "I just—I can't believe this is where we are again. I am so worried about the students, about the school, about..."
She trailed away as she started to cry again and Minerva rubbed her arm comfortingly.
"I know it is not ideal," Minerva began, struggling to come up with something reassuring to say. "The situation that we are in—none of it is fair," she added. "But we managed to get through it the last time. We will be able to go through it once more."
Poppy nodded and sat up slightly. "I know," she said, "deep down, I think I do know that," she added, wiping away another few stray tears from her cheeks. She nodded again and tried a smile. "Either way I am glad you're back, Minerva."
Minerva smiled too. "Me too," she said. "We are all safe, and well so far."
"And it is something to be grateful for," Poppy finished. She stood up and patted Minerva's arm. "It's late, we should probably both get some rest. Do let me know how you find the medicine."
"I will," Minerva replied, getting up again. "Goodnight, Poppy."
"Night, Minerva."
Minerva smiled, though really she was only putting on a brave face for the younger witch, then turned and proceeded to leave the Hospital Wing. She was on her way to her own quarters, about to pass the Headmaster's Office when she spotted a dark outline of a person leaning heavily against the wall beside the gargoyle. Minerva felt herself tense at the sight of the person whom she instantly recognised.
"Albus?" she said, panic rising as she noticed his hand slip down the wall several inches. She dropped her cane and hurried towards him as fast as she could, crouching once she reached him so that she was at the same height as he was. "Albus, can you hear me?" she said, assessing him quickly with a worried glance over to see what could be causing him to be breathing so heavily and leaning, almost slumped, against the wall.
It took her less than a second to notice the odd way in which he was carrying his right arm. Quickly, she lit her wand and inhaled sharply when she noticed the blackened skin of his right hand; like it was dead. She tore her eyes away from his hand and put her hand on his left shoulder and shook him slightly.
"Albus?" she repeated.
He groaned and opened his eyes. "Minerva," he mumbled, the act of speaking looking as though it had cost him much energy. He reached out for her with his good arm and Minerva immediately put her hands out to help support him. "Severus..." he said, "I need Severus."
Minerva swallowed and looked up and down the hallway, then back at Albus. Severus was all the way in the dungeons, Minerva thought. She couldn't just very well leave Albus up here in this state.
Albus slipped down the wall, even more, pulling her down with him too. Minerva breathed in sharply as a stabbing pain shot up her own chest. Composing herself as best as she could, she helped Albus up a bit whilst reaching for her own wand. Thinking hard about something happy, difficult though it was under these circumstances, Minerva produced her familiar tabby cat Patronus.
"Fetch me, Severus," she told the cat, "and tell him to meet me in the Headmaster's office," she added. "At once."
The tabby cat bowed its head before darting off nimbly down the corridor. Minerva instantly turned her attention back to Albus. With effort, she tried supporting his weight and stood up.
"Ginger nuts," she gasped at the gargoyle, who immediately moved aside to let both Minerva and Albus through.
Minerva helped Albus onto the first step and together, Albus leaning heavily on Minerva and Minerva leaning heavily against the wall, both witch and wizard ascended towards the office upstairs.
Albus' silence was worrying, but Minerva did not have the strength to ask him about what had happened.
Finally, the staircase stopped moving and Minerva reached out to open the office door. A few minutes later and she had managed to get Albus sitting down, in a far more comfortable position than he had been previously. Pushing her own troubles to one side, Minerva ignored the rapid rate of her breathing and the stabbing sensation in her chest as she bent over her friend once again.
"Severus is on his way," she told him reassuringly.
Albus nodded and sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "Thank you," he managed to say.
Minerva shook her head, looking back down at the blackened hand. "What were you doing to get yourself in this state?" she said. "Is there anything—"
"Minerva?"
Minerva turned abruptly to see Severus. The latter looked utterly bemused, an expression he shared with Minerva.
"Albus is hurt," she said quickly, gesturing at Albus who now seemed a little more alert than he had. A look passed between both wizards and Severus gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"I can take it from here, Minerva," Severus said, sweeping towards Albus.
"But—"
"It's all right, my dear," Albus said, catching her eye. He tried to smile, though it ended up looking more like a grimace. "Severus will be needing some bandages from the Hospital Wing."
There was a brief pause until Severus cleared his throat. "Indeed," he said. "I would be much obliged if you could get some for me, Minerva."
Minerva's eyes darted between Severus and Albus; knowing full well that she was being shafted to one side.
"Minerva," said Albus quietly. He looked at her, almost implorignly, and finally Minerva nodded.
"I will be as quick as I can," she said, already turning back to leave the office.
Fifteen minutes later and Minerva was silently tying a bandage around Albus' hand. Severus had left barely three minutes ago in a strange mood, while Minerva had offered to help Albus with his bandages. Her hands shook slightly as she tenderly tied the knot. She felt his eyes on her but she did not look up to meet them just yet.
Though Minerva knew that there were times that Albus was more tired, more upset or more emotional than he tried to let on, the moment with the Mirror of Erised coming particularly to mind, Minerva had still never seen Albus like this in all the 49 years she had known him. It was unsettling to see him in this weakened state. Not to mention worrying as she tried to understand why he had ended up like this in the first place.
Yet, Minerva did not probe him. There would be a time for all of that, but now was not that time. With one last tug, she tied the knot of the bandage and moved her hands away and back onto her lap.
"Thank you," Albus said quietly.
"No need to thank me," she managed, clearing her throat slightly.
"There is," he insisted, pausing slightly afterwards. "What were you doing up so late?"
"I couldn't sleep."
"Fortunately for me," he said.
Minerva swallowed but did not reply immediately. She looked away first at her hands, then out of the window, and then back at her interlocked fingers again. "Will you be all right?" she asked gently.
"Severus arrived just in time," came the reply.
Minerva looked up and they caught each others' eyes. She could have asked more but she decided not to, yet. She knew that there was hardly any point; he had not disclosed the information earlier so he would not be disclosing the information anytime soon. Severus knew and perhaps that was enough. If that was who Albus wanted to share information with then that was his right and his choice. Minerva was respectful enough to understand that, even if it made her sad.
At last, she nodded and got up, her hand reaching out to the corner of Albus' desk for support. Her efforts that evening had not come without consequences and Minerva was quite certain she would be waking the next morning with pains in her joints and a sorer chest than she really would have liked.
"I will leave you to rest," she said, composing herself enough to manage standing with her cane and the arm of the chair for support. Slowly, she removed her hand from the chair and a spasm of pain shot up her arm and down her ribcage. An involuntary sharp intake of the breath escaped her lips, and Minerva stopped moving for a moment to regain her balance and composure.
"Are you all right?"
Not trusting herself to speak immediately, Minerva nodded as she closed her eyes briefly. When she was sure that she had somewhat recovered from the episode, she looked up to see Albus frowning. "Better than you, I should think," she said finally, waving her hand to brush off his concern despite the fact that it was probably well placed. "Goodnight, Albus," she added.
"Goodnight, my dear," he replied, though hesitantly.
Minerva pressed her lips together, then turned to leave the room. Before she left, however, she turned briefly around. "If you need anything, Albus..." she trailed away and he nodded.
"I know where to find you," he finished for her.
Minerva swallowed, nodded, then after catching his eye one last time she left the circular office.