Chapter 51

AN: Sorry about the delay, I was having a bit of writers' block. I seem to be passed that now, hope you like this chapter.

A week and a half have passed since Mie begin her exams, since it was decided that Gellert would be free for another year then things would be re-evaluated, and it is a Thursday night the night before the seventh years will experience their last day of exams. Just like they have been every night since exams begin Mie, and not just her friend group, but every seventh year who wants to be included are in their empty classroom studying.

"Point Sirius," Kathleen, who is asking the questions this round, says, and Sirius looks proud of himself as Remus kisses his cheek.

"Wow, so you really do just pull pranks for the hell of it," A seventh year Hufflepuff by the name of Conrad says, looking at Sirius with a look of amazement on his face.

"It's been seven years, are you only just realising that?" Sirius asks, with a smirk.

"Let's move on," Kathleen says, with an amused look on her face. "We've got one question left for this round," Kathleen informs everyone.

"I am sorry to interrupt," A voice says, and all the students turn to see Albus, and it is clear that everyone, even Mie, is surprised to see him.

"Dad? What's wrong?" Mie asks surprised, as due to their finale exam being defence against the dark arts, she wasn't expecting to see him, in fact she was planning on staying at the Gryffindor tower so that no one can claim special treatment or knowledge, and she can practically feel all the other seventh years tense as they all assume it is bad for Albus to be there.

"I have been informed by the ministry that there will be ministry representatives visiting Hogwarts tomorrow, one of the things they will be doing is observing your exam," Albus explains to the students, and Mie can tell that he is not happy about that. "Now, I don't want you to worry, it will not effect anything you do, I just didn't want you to be blindsided," Albus explains to the students.

"Why are they coming, Sir?" Kathleen asks, and she can tell that a lot of the other seventh years are curious about that too, while Mie has a horrible feeling about what is going on.

"The ministry wants to be more informed about what is going on at Hogwarts, their visit tomorrow is the start of that," Albus explains, and those who read the books are incredibly concerned as it seems like the Ministry want to interfere at Hogwarts, just like they did in the timeline Mie is from. "I have had the pleasure of teaching you for the last few months, and I truly believe you are all more than prepared for your exam tomorrow," Albus says, looking between the students. "You'll will all do well, more people observing you won't effect that," Albus explains, looking between the students, wanting to give them as much encouragement as he can. "Good evening," Albus says, looking between the students, before leaving, and as he leaves Mie gets up and hurries after him.

"Dad," Mie says once she is in the corridor and Albus turns around to look at her. "This is it, isn't it?" Mie asks her father, walking towards him. "This is the start of the ministry interfering at Hogwarts," Mie says concerned.

"This is the Ministry looking for a reason why they can," Albus explains. "But I don't want you to worry, I want you to focus on your exam," Albus tells his daughter, as while he Is worrying, he doesn't want Mie to when she has one more exam to go.

"Easier said than done," Mie admits, and she looks around to make sure they are alone. "Dad, what about Gellert?" Mie asks concerned.

"As far as anyone knows he will be Gerald," Albus explains, and Mie can tell that he is concerned about Gellert's safety, something she doesn't blame him for.

"And if Crouch has told the people who are coming? Or if he's coming himself?" Mie asks.

"Then we will deal with it," Albus tells her reassuringly, before taking a step closer to his daughter. "Annemie, I know this is a lot, and we will talk after your exam, but until then I want you to focus on that. I know how much it means to you to do well," Albus tells his daughter, as he doesn't want Mie doing well to be jeopardised.

"You and Gellert mean a lot to me too, making sure the ministry doesn't interfere at Hogwarts means a lot to me," Mie tells her father, wanting to make that clear.

"I know," Albus says, walking the few steps that separate him and his daughter and hugging her.

For a few moments Albus and Mie hug each other until and once they break apart, Albus kissing Mie's cheek before they do, Mie heads back into the empty classroom while Albus heads in the opposite direction.

After leaving Mie, rather than going back to Gellert, Albus needs some time to ponder a few things and so rather than going back to his quarters he heads to Hogsmeade and to the Hogshead where he sits down at the end of the sparsely filled bar.

Even though Albus is sure that his brother realised the second he walked in Aberforth makes no effort to serve him, in fact for a few minutes Albus just sits alone until it becomes clear to Aberforth that his brother isn't going anywhere and so he walks over to him.

"What can I get you?" Aberforth asks his brother when he finally walks over to him.

"Whiskey, whichever you'd recommend," Albus responds and Aberforth gets his brother a whiskey but rather than it being one he'd recommend it is one he knows his brother would like.

"What's he done now?" Aberforth asks, anger in his voice, and there is no question about who he is referring to, as he hands his brother his drink, as he assumes there is only one reason for Albus to be in his bar.

"Gellert, has done nothing," Albus tells his brother, wanting to make that clear as he won't have Aberforth blaming Gellert for something that isn't' his fault.

"Then why do I have the pleasure of your company?" Aberforth asks, as Albus takes a drink, as Aberforth knows that it is very out of character for Albus to be in his bar alone.

"The ministry is sending representatives to observe Hogwarts tomorrow, including the seventh years Defence Against the Dark Arts NEWT exam," Albus explains to his brother.

"So, in a way it is his fault," Aberforth says, and Albus drains the rest of his drink as he realises that it was a mistake for him to come as Aberforth is likely only going to find a way to blame Gellert.

"I shouldn't have come," Albus says, taking out money for the drink so that he can pay his brother.

"Albus why did you come?" Aberforth asks his brother, trying to make sense of his brother's actions, as he knows that Albus would have come to his bar for a specific reason, a bigger reason than just wanting a drink. "I've seen the whiskey you have in your quarters; you could be up their drinking it with him rather than walking all the way down here, alone," Aberforth says to his brother, watching him closely for how he reacts.

"I needed some time, to ponder, to determine how I am going to respond," Albus explains, as he walks back over to the stall he was sitting on.

"Of course," Aberforth says, rolling his eyes. "And let me guess you haven't told Mie how worried you are, you've probably made some excuse about wanting her to focus on her exam, so that you can shut everyone out," Aberforth tells his brother.

"It's not that simple," Albus responds.

"No, it is," Aberforth tells him. "You're falling back intro old patterns," Aberforth tells his brother.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Albus asks, an insulted edge to his voice.

"It means this is what you do, when you're afraid, or worried that you can't fix everything, you shut yourself off from everyone," Aberforth tells his brother. "When we were kids, right after… you locked yourself in your room, after that summer you disappeared on that solo research trip, after you put him in prison you…" Aberforth starts to explain.

"Don't go there," Albus warns his brother, as he does not want to think about that time in his life, and he certainly doesn't want his brother to talk about it.

"No, I am, because I may used to how you react, but Mie isn't, hell he isn't either, and if you act like this, act how I know you're going to, you're just going to hurt them," Aberforth tells his brother. "And I know that's not what you want," Aberforth tells his brother as while he wouldn't mind if Albus hurt Gellert he would mind if Albus hurt Mie, and he knows that Albus wouldn't want to hurt either of them.

"I don't know how not to shut myself off," Albus admits, as he just sits down across from Aberforth once more.

"I think you've just got to try not to," Aberforth responds, and he pours Albus another drink, but this time he also pours himself one, and the two brothers drift into silence.

After having a couple of drinks with his brother Albus has retuned to the castle and as he walks into his quarters he finds Gellert sitting up, and while it may seem like he is reading Albus knows him well enough to be able to tell that he has been waiting up, worrying about him.

"Hi," Albus greats.

"Hi," Gellert says, closing his book. "You've been gone a while," Gellert notes.

"Yes, I went to tell Annemie and the other seventh years what was happening tomorrow, then I went to the village," Albus explains.

"Right," Gellert says with a nod. "Albus, do you want me to go back to Nurmengard?" Gellert asks as he has been able to tell that something has been going on the past few days, but he isn't exactly sure what, but he can't help but think that Albus doesn't want him around.

"Gellert no, never," Albus assures him, walking over to him. "That's the last thing I want," Albus assures him, as he sits down next to him, realising that Aberforth is right, and he's already hurt Gellert without meaning to.

"I'm really glad to hear that," Gellert admits. "Then why have you been avoiding me the last few days?" Gellert asks. "And don't say you haven't, because I know you have," Gellert responds.

"You're right, I have," Albus confirms, seeing no point in lying about that when it is so obvious.

"Why?" Gellert asks, and Albus can see the hurt on his face.

"Because I'm afraid," Albus admits. "I'm afraid of what The Ministry is going to do to Hogwarts, scared of what Voldemort is going to do that we won't see coming, scared that just like in the timeline Annemie is from that others are going to pay the price for my choices and plans," Albus admits. "And when I'm afraid I shut myself off," Albus reveals. "It's what I've always done," Albus explains. "That's why I've been pushing you away," Albus admits.

"I'm not going to tell you that you don't have to do that, because I know it's not that simple," Gellert tells him. "I am going to tell you that I am here, and that you are not same as you were in Annemie's timeline," Gellert tells Albus. "Albus, I know you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, and I can't imagine what it's like to have detailed knowledge of another timeline and fighting to make sure it doesn't come into existence," Gellert admits. "But what I do know is that you don't have to carry it on your own. I know you don't want to burden Annemie, or your students who know the truth, but you can burden me," Gellert tells him. "I want to be your partner, and now that I know that shutting yourself off is your defence mechanism, I'm going to look out for signs that that's what you're doing and push back when you do," Gellert tells Albus.

"I want to be your partner too," Albus says, before kissing Gellert.

Ever since her dad warned her that the ministry would be visiting Hogwarts the following day Mie has bene distracted, even though she continued to study with her friends Mie found herself unable to completely focus. While the rest of her friends have gone to bed, as they all want to get a good night sleep before their final exam, Mie is sitting awake in the Gryffindor common room, so she doesn't wake her doormats, and staring out the window.

"Mie," A voice says, and Mie turns to see Amelia, and she is a little surprised by that as she didn't even hear Amelia coming.

"Hi, Sorry I didn't wake you up did I?" Mie asks concerned.

"No, I woke up and saw you gone, so I figured you might be down here," Amelia admits as she walks over to her friend, casting spells towards the stairs so that they can have a private conversation. "Do you want to talk?" Amelia asks curious as she sits down next to Mie, and because of everything she has been thinking about Mie realises that she does need to get it out.

"I'm worried," Mie admits. "I can't help but think about what the ministry did in my time," Mie admits.

"Your afraid history is going to repeat itself," Amelia comments. "No, hang on, it's not history yet, you're worried that it will happen sooner than it did in your time," Amelia corrects, though considering they are dealing with time travel she isn't even sure that that is the right way to put it.

"I know how bad it got, and It scares me that it's going to get like that again," Mie admits. "Umbridge is lower in the ministry in this time, but she's still around and there are a lot of people who would like Dad gone," Mie tells Amelia. "Hogwarts needs Dad, and if he's not here Voldemort is going to use all his power and influence to take control here, and if that happens…. I don't know if we can stop it," Mie admits, as she is horrified that that is going to happen again. While she was on the hunt, she didn't realise how bad things got at Hogwarts at the time she talked to Neville and Luna after and knows exactly what Hogwarts was like and she never wants that to happen again.

"We will," Amelia tells her. "Yes, your dad has enemies in the ministry, but he also has support, my parents, both of whom are in pretty powerful positions, for one, and he has supporters within the students and parents," Amelia explains to her. "In your time Fudge was able to get rid of your dad because he spent months telling lies, Mitchum hasn't done that. He doesn't have the narrative to spin to get rid of your Dad," Amelia tells Mie, trying to be reassuring.

"That's the thing, I think he does," Mie admits, and Amelia gives her a curious look. "I've been thinking about it. Crouch knows about Gellert, he's known for weeks, and nothing has leaked," Mie tells Amelia, knowing that the fact that nothing has leaked alone is suspicious.

"You think he and Mitchum are waiting for the right occasion to pull that trigger," Amelia realises, putting the pieces together.

"It would make sense," Mie admits. "Think about it, there is only one week left of this year, there's no point trying to oust Dad now, but the summer is coming, and if they reveal about Gellert at the start of summer they have two months to put out whatever narrative they want without Dad being able to explain himself to the students in person," Mie explains to Amelia.

"That's a good point, but they are also risking the students spending more time with Gellert without realising who he is which can lead to more people defending him," Amelia admits.

"That's true, but how do you think parents are going to react when they find out a Dark Lord has been among their children for months and haven't been told?" Mie asks Amelia, as while she knows that Gellert isn't a dark lord anymore she is sure that that is the narrative that will be spun.

"Good point," Amelia admits. "Mie, I know that the way your mind works means that you need to see all possible outcomes, and that you want to see all ways forward, but now you're getting into obsession territory and there may be nothing for you to obsess over," Amelia says and as she does she sees the Mie is about to say something. "I know, I know that after everything you've been through, everything you've come here to do it's apart of you, but right now isn't the time," Amelia tells her. "Tomorrow is your last exam, ever, focus on that," Amelia tells her.

"I don't know if I can," Mie admits.

"Try," Amelia tells her. "Mie let's get through tomorrow, and once we have we can obsess over what the ministry is up to, and I promise I will help you," Amelia tells her friend. "I will be your sounding board, help you re-experience your memories for insight, do whatever you need, but right now everything you've been working towards for the past eight years is here, your final exam, don't let the ministry that that away from you," Amelia tells her friend.

"I'll try," Mie responds, and Amelia stands up.

"Then start trying by sleeping," Amelia says, standing up and sticking out her hand for Mie to grab.

"Thanks Amy," Mie says as it means a lot that Amelia has been able to help her get out of her own head.

"I'm your friend, Mie, you don't have to thank me for helping you," Amelia assures her and the two of them head up to their dorm, Amelia removing the spells she casted as they go.

After a night of sleep more restful than Mie was expecting, Mie and her fellow seventh years have headed down to breakfast and just like every morning for the past two weeks the seventh years are rather quiet as they eat their breakfast, making it clear that they are all nervous. As Mie picks at her breakfast she looks up at the table where she sees her father and Gellert sitting together, neither giving away that they are nervous about the ministry visit even though Mie assumes they must be.

"Um, Mie," Lily's worried voice says, and Mie looks to her, noticing that that the noise in the hall has suddenly started to increase.

"Yeah?" Mie asks her friend and Lily shows her the front of the daily prophet. "No, no, not today," Mie says, sounding horrified as she sees what is on the front of the paper.