Part 4

She was awake a few times before she was really fully awake. She felt her eyes flutter, but every time the warmth from her blanket would lull her body slowly to sleep again, eyes closing peacefully, a tired yawn stretching before she let a likewise pleasant blanket cover her mind as well. But the fourth time it happened, Minerva being more alert than the previous times, noticed something peculiar. She was fully dressed underneath the blanket, her black rope flattened andwrinkled by sleep. Another yawn crept along her mouth and she agreed with her mind; shehad been a wreck the day before. It was rare she was too exhausted to change her clothes before going to sleep, but that must have been the case , there was a once for everything. She enjoyed a few more peaceful moments before something slipped under the thick fog occupying her mind; since when was her bed twice the normal size?

And it was at that moment, a long time after waking, she became aware of her surroundings. Sitting up with jolt, she gaped at the room. It was without a doubt not hers; unless she mistakenly had transfigured her room in her sleep. No, that could not be, she had a ward against wandless magic, in case of scenario such as this. Slipping of the bed, she looked around trying to take it all in, but everything was in a haze.

Glasses! Where were her glasses? Fumbling back to the bed, she found them on a nightstand next to double-sized bed, on the right side. Sliding them onto her nose, she squinted her eyelids for a moment and inhaled before she opened them again.

And for the first time since her awakening, she knew where she was, not that it made the situation any better. Sagging down onto the floor, her back against the bedpost, she wondered what she was doing in the Headmasters bedroom. Doing! She had, for Merlin's sake, slept in his bedchamber!

Sighing she looked around the room again, hoping to find her friend or something that might give a hint to where he was, or why she was here. The door leading into his living room was ajar and caught her attention for a split second, but another thought interrupted. Anotherbolt brought her up to her feet in no time; she had completely forgotten what day it was. She searched her brain, sincerely hoping it would be Saturday.

However thinking back to yesterday, she found to her utmost horror yesterday was Thursday, and if yesterday was Thursday then today could only be Friday. Oh, crap and Circe! Where was a watch when you needed one! Never truly had she been a person with a lot of patience, so she ran out of the bedroom, into the living room, and was about to hastily floo back to her own chambers. At least that was her before she reached the fireplace, something – a shoe lying shamelessly on the floor – stopped her in her journey.

With a strained cry she felt herself fall in slow-motion, yet didn't have the time to alter the angle. She landed face forward on the floor, her arms flailing at her sides and pain, crucifying pain, erupted from her face and left her lying on the purple floor, absolutely immovable.

"Whah," she recognised Albus voice despite the groggy state of it. So, he had slept on the couch, obviously. She felt the sofa beside her creak, and she gathered she had woken him, and he was now wondering what, or who was making all the noise.

"Elp," was all she was able to stutter.

"Minerva?"

"Jes, am wright hjere," she found even moving her lips brought another wave of pain. She tried to sit up, and finally managed, the only problem now was facing Albus, a very distraught Albus at the look she got from him when he finally found her, sprawled out on his floor.

"Merlin! What have you been doing, dear? You're bleeding!" He said and was beside her in a second, taking hold of her hands, blue eyes full of worry, and slumber.

"I tripped," she looked to her right, "over your shoe!"

With a chuckle he helped her to her feet and beckoned her over to the couch. He told her to sit, and with that he went through a door, and was gone. She was too engrossed in her pain to wonder where he had gone, she could barely touch her nose without flinching. So when he came back she was glad to find it was with a wet cloth.

"Thank you," she said as she took the cloth and dipped it slightly to her nose, while he sat down beside her.

"Maybe it's broken," she told him, the cloth covering half her face in a richly feeling of cool material.

"Luckily we can get Madam Pompfrey to fix it then, we don't want you to run around with a nose like mine," he gave a grin pointing at his own disfigured nose, which had at least been broken ten times. She tried to grin back, but it caused more pain, so her grin was halfway to being a silent scream. It was at that moment she remembered why she had been in such a hurry, and had missed seeing the shoe in her way to the fireplace.

"The clock! Classes!"

His stopped her midway from jumping up from the couch with a hand on her shoulder:"Don't worry, Minerva, it's only half past 5 pm. Your first lesson is at ten. Lots of time to tend to your little nose," he let go of her the moment he knew she wouldn't panic more.

"Thank you."

For some time they just sat on the soft fluffy couch, enjoying the silence – Minerva trying to quell the pain – and the comfort of just being together, sitting next to each other.

"So, what were you up to yesterday? I thought you were supposed to be here at Hogwarts, I came by with the papers you needed. They're out on you desk by the way," she turned her head, and dared giving him a slightly disapproving frown.

"Order business! I found you sound asleep in my chair, I couldn't bear to wake you dear," his tone was normal, even his eyes were their usual sparkling self.

"You should have just patted my arm, I sleep lightly."

"Dear, not ten wild horses running by would have made a difference. Without any vital signs, I would've thought you were dead."

"Scoundrel," the accusation was said with a light laughter as she gently hit his shoulder. The light atmosphere hung around them for a second or more, before the room again was full of tension and a sudden sadness, sadness she couldn't quite grasp.

"What kind of Order business? You could have told me, I despise not knowing where you are, or why you suddenly just disappear, without telling me the slightest of your plans," he sighed when she finished, and she could feel a headache beginning to form right behind her left eye.

"I fetched Harry," he told her in a calm voice as he leaned back on the couch, the opposite wall had his whole attention now.

"Oh," again the silence, this time less comfortable.

"How was he? Did the journey to the Burrow go well?"

"He's better than I anticipated. No trouble on the journey at all, couldn't have been more pleasant," at this he turned his head and gave her a semi smile.

"Guess who is going to be your new colleague?"

"Changing subject rather fast, aren't we Albus!"

He rolled his eyes, bringing out a slight giggle from her. Devious as he was, Albus knew the effect he had on her, and made damn sure he used it when needed. She couldn't really stay mad at him for long.

"Let's see… Someone I know?"

"Yes."

"A former student?"

"No, that would've been you doom!"

"Someone with an evil streak, I know! Hmm. Is it you?"

"Your dry humour never ceases to amaze me; you know that, don't you, dear!"

"Yes, your rarely miss an occasion to tell me. So, is my new colleague male?"

"Now, you would like that, wouldn't you! Another handsome wizard to look at," he shook his head in false desperation.

"So it's a he?"

"Yes!"

"Someone – a male - I know…"

"Need more hints?"

"Is it a former teacher?"

"Crap, I've forgotten how good you're at these mind-boggling games," he exclaimed with a rather loud voice, bringing his arms up in defeat. She looked at him in bewilderment. She had no clue whom it could be. Someone she knew, a former teacher… Someone who would make the Weasley's seem trivial… Oh no, he didn't!

"Oh no, Albus. Not him!"

"Indeed," he said the word with all the smugness he could muster, and that was a lot that early in the morning. Sighing she leaned back on the couch as well, still with the cloth on her face.

"Cheer up, Horace has been looking forward to seeing you again, my dear," he gave another grin, smoothing wrinkles in her rope with delicate fingers. The other hand he had hidden behind his own layers of cloak, ropes and other material. Lately he did that, hidding his blackened hand. It saddened her.

"If he's fortunate, he'll learn not toget on your wrong side, dear, and he is a quick leaner, so I'm sure you two will have a lovely time together," he said it with an undertone of amusement, lying just below the surface of his kindness.

"Maybe he'll be the first colleague to help scheme a plot against the current Headmaster with me," she was glad the cloth covered her mouth as well; it helped hid the uplifting of her mouth.

"That depends, dear, do you know more important people than I do?"

And the conversation went on, light teasing from both partners. The atmosphere again somewhat bright, sadness and other greyness hidden beneath a layer of friendly comfort.

A/N:

Sorry about the lateness of this. I've been so busy with everything, and on top of that writers block! Argh! I hate that ;) Anyways, I hope you like this part,

Pal waving a big banner with thanks to everyone you reviewed

Thank you )