Their greatest fear
Author's notes:
My
response to the Boggart challenge I issued a few
weeks ago.
***
"Now remember what I've said
earlier, Minerva", Poppy told her while walking her to the door of the
Hospital Wing. "You're doing fine. But you need to take it easy for the next
months".
"I will, I will", Minerva
answered, her eyes sparkling.
Poppy smiled. "Go tell your
husband".
Feeling as if she was walking on air,
Minerva walked to the Headmasters office. She couldn't wait to tell him, to see
his surprised face.
Once inside she was somewhat
disappointed by the small note lying on his desk.
Dearest, I've gone to the Ministry for a
quick visit. Cornelius needed me. I should be back before dinner.
Yours always, Albus
Fiddling the note between her fingers,
she thought for a moment. Then her face brightened and she smiled even wider
then before. She knew the perfect way to tell him.
Humming softly, she made her way through
the castle and received several strange looks from passing students.
Finally she reached her destination, the
dungeons beneath the south tower. This dungeon was divided in several small
vaults. It was were the possessions of the professor's were kept.
Since she hadn't been down here in a
long time, it took her some time before she found hers. Laying her hand flat
against the wooden door it opened.
With a quick wave of her wand she
lighted the torches hanging on the wall.
Inside were several trunks and pieces of
furniture she did no longer use, but could not dispose of either.
The trunk she needed was in the back,
underneath some other, heavy ones, but she managed to pull it to the front. Wiping
her hair from her sweaty face, she reached down to open it.
As soon as she opened the trunk, someone
fell out, landing on the floor in heap of emerald robes.
She let out a piercing shriek and backed
away a little. The figure curled in a tight ball. Her knees were drawn against
her chest, her arms wrapped around them. She cried helplessly, rocking back and
forward, her face twisted in pain.
Then Minerva noticed blood leaking
through her robes, forming a puddle around her.
Her eyes widening in shock, she realised
what was happening. This woman was losing her baby. And the woman was her.
Immediately she felt her stomach
twisting, and she sank on her knees, wrapping her arms around her waist, much
like the figure in front of her.
"No…", she sobbed
uncontrollably… "No…, please…". A feeling of
nausea made it's way up trough her throat and she swallowed with difficulty. "No…no…".
"Minerva…? Sweetheart, what's the
matter?" Red and gold robes brushed passed her, a
tall figure stepped in front of her. With a soft pop the curled up figure in
front of her changed a little. It was still her, but
this time she was lying motionless on her back, her eyes open, but lifeless. And
there was a large wound on her forehead.
Her husband gasped softly, but when he
pointed his wand, his arm didn't tremble. "Ridikilus",
he spoke in clear voice. Suddenly the figure sat up and smiled for a few
seconds. Then it disappeared.
Immediately his arms were around her.
"Minerva… are you alright? Darling, it was only a
boggart… it's gone now…", he whispered
soothingly.
Still shaking, she buried her face in
his shoulder and cried, while he rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head.
Eventually she calmed down. Pulling back a little she gazed in his worry-filled
eyes. She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, Albus".
"My dear…", his face was still
thoughtful. "What was it what I saw…? The form of the boggart…"
She smiled wryly. "This is not how
I planned on telling you".
"Tell me what?" he asked
confused.
"I was down here to pick up some of
my old toys, rattles and things like that", she explained.
He blinked, looking even more confused. "Why
would you want to do that?"
She smiled happily at him. "Because
we are going to need them, love".
He blinked again. "Need them? For wha…", then his eyes widened. "Are you telling
me…?"
Linking her arms behind his neck she
nodded, her face beaming. "Yes. I'm pregnant… you are going to be a father".
She might as well have cast a stunning
spell on him. He stared at her for a full minute, his eyes wide.
"Albus…",
she tried carefully.
The next moment he had jumped to his
feet and scooping her up in his arms he kissed her until she was completely out
of breath.
"Is it true…?" he whispered
later, resting his forehead against hers.
"It is", she answered in an
equal soft voice. "I can hardly believe it myself, but it is true… we are
going to have a baby".
He allowed her to stand on her own feet
again, but kept her closely against him. "You're so amazing", he told
her.
She gave him a half smile. "Well,
if I remember correctly, I had some help".
He grinned and bend
down to kiss her again.
"Is the baby alright… are you
alright?" he asked, placing his hand over her still flat stomach.
"We're both fine", she
reassured him, covering his hand with her own. Looking past him to the trunk,
her face sobered a little. "That was just a boggart,
we are both fine".
He drew her in a tight hug. "Let's
get out of here"
"Good idea", she muttered,
snuggling closer to him. "Brian".
"What?"
"Brian, if it is a boy. After your grandfather".
"Oh", he replied smiling,
linking her arm through his. "And Hera if it's a
girl. After your grandmother.
Making their way to the corridor, she
muttered darkly: "We'll talk about it".
done