31Title: A Wistful Leaving.
Part 3
With her high heels clicking prickly on the floor in a rhythmic pulse, arms loaded with various degrees, paperwork and formal papers that needed signing Minerva was set on the course to the Headmasters office. Time had passed quickly, three weeks since the hospital and yet she felt the whole ordeal had happened yesterday, or was happening again. She feared it wasn't over, and in her mind she knew it wasn't. That's the trouble with war, she told herself over and over, trying to sooth her feelings but they kept nagging her in the cruellest of ways. Not even a glorious day with a clear blue sky, ever lush nature and a comfortable atmosphere could change that. To her eyes the sky was grey, the trees had claws and the students' laughter and happy faces became twisted.
No one noticed the change in her and fortunately, in her opinion, she kept it to herself, locked up tight. She kept up her façade and no one would be any wiser. It was for the best anyway. What wouldn't become of everyone if they saw those supposed to be strong collapse? The students expected their teacher to be a forever strong force on which they could rely and look up to in hard times. She didn't see the need to break more spirits; their world needed encouragement and sturdy hearts at the moment.
Again her thoughts turned to Albus. Despite of his injury he insisted he was in brilliant health, and maybe he was, but in those three weeks she had seen him perhaps maximum five times and that included two swift glimpses of something white and blue streaking past her with a distant "Professor". Of those five times only one had been a conversation that had lasted over 30 seconds and had consisted of more than one syllables thrown absently her way over a plate of breakfast. The whole situation was sickening her, and to top it all she felt nothing short of lost. Why was she so incompetent? What had happened to the stubborn woman who would let nothing get in her way, never wavered and most definitely never felt lost?
Lost in gloomy thoughts she was surprised to stagger into the door to his office, she had not realised where she had been, all caught up in emotions.
"Lost and blind, what a bliss," she spat quietly while knocking harshly on the door. With a sigh she opened the door when no one answered and went in.
His office was utterly deserted; not even a painting had an occupant.
"Albus?" His name echoed around the room, past bookshelves and foreign magical instruments, cabinets full of mysterious vials and other weird gadgets. After a quick search into his private chambers – she even dared sticking her head in the bathroom – and calling out rather loudly for him a flutter of wings caught her attention. It came from the office, so as she skidded across the floor in Albus Dumbledore's bedroom chamber she wondered whether she should start by boxing his ears or wait with that for later!
With a small wistful smile she pondered why he was the only one able to make her happy and sad at the same time; all it took was a glint or none in his eyes.
Fawkes sat perched on Albus's chair behind his desk and gave her a happy chirp when she entered the office once again. Albus on the other hand was no where to see.
"I guess he won't be long, huh," she asked Fawkes, who tilted his head and gave a little thrill. "Ahh, you're just as hopeless as your friend," she exclaimed as she opened a drawer and threw a bag full of sweets on the desk. Fawkes gave another thrilling note while he poked his feet trying to unwrap the candy.
After helping the bird wrapping the candy out, she sagged against a nice comfortable chair opposite Fawkes, the one she usually would sit in when Albus and she talked school business.
"It shouldn't be long till he comes, right," she told the room and the bird merrily chewing on a toffee.
With a yawn she leaned her head back and drowsily started counting cracks in the ceiling.
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A yawn scarcely concealed by his tired hand paused him as he was about to throw the green powder in his hand. Another yawn stretched his mouth as he stood hunched in a fireplace, walls filled with black soot, some of it falling onto his cloak.
"Albus Dumbledore's Office," he said as he threw the powder and was engulfed in green flames, tangling him in livid fire. He smiled despite his tiredness. It was always rather amusing he had to say his own name to get home. After several seconds he stepped out of his own fireplace, brushing off ash. It wasn't a success so he threw his cloak on the floor and was halfway to his bedroom when he changed his mind and went back to his cloak. He bent down and picked it up – better put it nicely away. If Minerva knew he was deposing of his clothes like that she would without doubt give a little lecture. With half a grin spread across a drawn face he threw the soiled cloak over the arm of a puffy sofa and with a flick of his wand the cloak laid folded and clean.
"There you go, ready for use," he was about to enter his bedroom when a noise from his office stopped him in his journey to sleep. He spun around; wanting to ensure nothing was amiss. It's probably Fawkes snoring in his sleep again; he thought with a shrug and ventured into to his office.
No curtains were drawn across the high ceiled windows, small rays of moonlight crept through the vast darkness coming from the night, softly illuminating the interior of his office and bringing out long twisted shadows as well. His eyes landed on Fawkes sitting perched on the arm of his chair, head under a wing of bright orange feathers. Albus held his breath for a moment listening for the usual snoring coming from the bird. Not a sound could be heard, it was all still, with the occasionally creak from the castle. Must have been my imagination then, Albus thought, that or I really should get that appointment for a check up on my hearing!
About to turn around and go back to bed something caught his eye, lying with feet tucked up under her, arms slung over the arm of a chair and sound asleep. The light from the moon lay like a soft blanket over face, which were for once free of worry lines.
He moved to the chair, shook his head as he bent his knees, resting on the balls of his feet and leaned down to move a strand of hair covering her face. Gently he let a finger run along her jawline, tracing the moonlight. He argued back and forth whether he should wake her, or let her sleep. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful. He allowed himself to study her face for while, enjoying being able to truly look at her unguarded. He kissed his fingertips and slowly touched them to the tip of her pointy nose; she stirred but did not wake.
And with a determined mind he tenderly put an arm under her knees and back and lifted her out off the chair without awakening her and made a slow progress to his bedroom praying she would stay asleep.
After having tucked his deputy he went back to the sofa and tucked himself in with his cloak as a blanket. Soon he was likewise his friend sound asleep in the world of dreaming.
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A/N:
I just wanna thank all of your lovely beings who reviewed, thank you.. It made my day ;)
Zoeteproet, MinBus, Amaya713, LinZe, JoolsFan, gahhMinerva, Tartanlioness, mugglemin, cybercat08, Portkeys Miss-Mione, sportsnightnut and GraciesMom. Thank you allxd
I hope you enjoyed part 3;) Part 4 willbe up and going as soon aspossible
Pal