To Escape the
Eye
By: Griselda
La Fey
Disclaimer:
J.K. Rowling ownes everything. I’m just twisting things for my own amusement.
Summary:
After Minerva is hit by four Stunners, Albus visits
her at St. Mungo’s. This story has been done before, but I promise, this story
holds a twist.
"So- back
again, Harry?
Harry felt as though
his insides had turned to ice. He looked behind him.
Sitting on one of
the desks by the wall was none other than Albus Dumbledore.
Harry must have
walked straight past him, so desperate to get to the mirror,
He hadn’t even
noticed him.
"I- I didn’t
see you sir".
"Strange how
short- sighted being invisible can make you", said Dumbledore
From: Harry
Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Epilogue:
She wondered who had put them there. Again.
Ten beautiful crimson red roses stood on her desk. Like
three days ago and three days before them.
It had started ever since Albus Dumbledore was forced
to leave the school by Umbridge and Fudge. Every other three days fresh roses
would appear in her study. Without a note or any sign of the sender.
Minerva wondered from who they came.
* * *
Pain was everywhere. It stabbed through her body like
knifes. The skin of her chest, were the stunners had hit her burnt, like a
dragon was breathing on them. Her limbs were sore, her back was arching and her
head was throbbing from a headache.
The room was poorly illuminated and the moon that
shone through the window formed eerie shadows on the wall. Minerva McGonagall
had never felt more helpless, or alone.
Tears began to trickle down her face. She was no
longer able to take care of them. Of Harry, Ron and Hermione, of her other
students, of Hagrid, even of Sybil. She felt like she had failed them. She had
promised Albus to stay at Hogwarts, to protect their students, their school. She
felt as though she had failed him too. A soft sob escaped her throat, making
the scars burn even harder.
Suddenly the form of a tall man appeared next to her
bed. Minerva watched in shock and then she recognised her friend.
"Albus!" she gasped not believing her eyes. She
tried to sit up, but winced in pain as her body protested.
Albus pushed her gently down on the pillows again.
"Don’t move", he told her softly,
"don’t move an inch". He pulled out his wand and draw up a chair. Then
he sat down next to the bed and took hold of her hand. With his other hand he
brushed away the tears. "Don’t cry Tabby", he voice was just above a
whisper, "Don’t cry".
Upon his words, even more tears started to flow, tears
of relief and happiness.
"How’s Hagrid?" Minerva asked.
"He is all right", Albus told her, he is in
hiding now. I have spoken with him today, he was very worried about you". He
paused for a moment and his hand moved to her hair, gently caressing it, and
added, "and so was I".
Minerva smiled at him.
"I will be all right. I’ve been through the worse
I believe. But what about you? Isn’t it dangerous for you to be here? What if
Fudge"
Albus shook his head.
"Don’t worry, they won’t find me. I had to see
you. When I heard what that Umbridge woman had done to you¼ She could have
killed you. Four stunning spells without any warning. She will pay for this,
Minerva, I promise you".
"Don’t." Minerva answered softly, "Don’t
start a personal vendetta against Dolores Umbridge, there is enough to worry
about".
In response he kissed her hand. "I should have
been more careful", Minerva continued, adverting his gaze, "I have
failed you and the school¼"
Albus cupped her face with his hand and forced her to
look at him. His brought his face only inches from hers.
"It’s not your fault, Minerva", he said
urgently, "you were so brave last night. It is I who failed you. I should
have been there in time, to save you".
She covered his hand with her own.
"How could you? You weren’t there".
"I was there", he told her softly. I’ve
never left Hogwarts".
Minerva frowned.
"How is that possible, no- one saw you¼ I didn’t
know¼" Another thought stuck her, "and how did you get here?"
"Easy Tabby", he answered smiling,
"I’ll explain it to you. There is something I have never told you. I am an
Invisiblearus"
She almost sat right up again. His hand moved quickly
to her shoulder to prevent that.
"You are an Invisiblearus? For how long? And how?
The last one was Godric Gryffindor!"
"I have been an Invisiblearus for sixty- two
years or something", Albus began to explain, "I never told anyone
because if it was widely known, I could not take advantage of it. I stayed at
Hogwarts over the passed months. I told you I would not go into hiding. But
tonight I was too late, too late to save you".
Minerva smiled at him wonder.
"I can’t believe it", she said eventually,
"I have known you for so many years and you still manage to surprise
me".
Albus grinned back at her.
"I am glad I still posses that ability, even
after so many years.
She continued to stare at him.
"I can’t believe I didn’t notice you were
there".
"Oh, there were a few close calls", he
admitted. "You once almost caught me in your study".
Her eyes widened in realisation.
"Those roses came from you".
"Yes", he replied, stroking her cheek.
It was such a tender, loving gesture it made her
cheeks flush. She knew he liked her, they shared a strong friendship, but he
had never expressed his feelings so openly. He had been touching her from the
moment he had came in. Soft, loving touches that made her wonder if the dream
she had buried in her heart so many years ago was possible after all.
Suddenly, they heard voices on the corridor.
"I demand access", a voice was saying,
"I have reason to believe he is here".
"That’s Fudge", Minerva hissed, "Quick,
you have to leave, he must not find you here".
Albus rose to his feet and with a flick of his wand
the chair had disappeared.
"Don’t worry", he told her softly, "he
won’t find me here, but I will not leave you either".
Minerva watched him turn invisible again. Right after
he had gone, the door burst open and Fudge came in, followed by a healer.
"Where is he?" Fudge demanded.
"Sir, please", the healer said weakly.
Minerva felt Albus’ hand on her shoulder, softly
brushing her hair.
"Who do you mean?" she asked innocently.
"Albus Dumbledore of course", Fudge snapped.
"Has he been here?"
"No", Minerva replied, feeling how Albus
covered one of her hands with his own.
Fudge made a move as if wanted to drop down on his
knees.
"I didn’t hide him under my bed either",
Minerva said, rolling her eyes. Albus squeezed her hand gently.
"Sir, I really think you should leave", the
healer said.
"One moment", Fudge replied, pulling out his
wand, "there is a spell to check if she is speaking the truth". He
raised his wand. "Reveallarus Corpus", he bellowed.
Minerva’s entire body tensed.
‘This is it, he will be discovered’, she thought
franticly, ‘he will be send to Azkaban’ But nothing happened. Fudge stuffed his
wand in his pocket again.
"Well, it seems she is speaking the truth",
he said sounding very sorry indeed. Without saying anything more he left the
room.
After a few minutes, when they were sure everything
was safe again, Albus re- appeared.
"How is it possible Fudge couldn’t reveal your
presence by using Reveallarus Corpus?" Minerva asked.
"That’s the point of being a true
Invisiblearus", Albus answered. "You become completely invisible, you
are not to be found, in any way. It’s quite useful, I must say".
"He had me worried for a moment though",
Minerva said. Albus reached out and stroked a strand of her hair out of face.
"I really should leave now", he said
regretfully, "you need your rest".
"I’ll be back soon", she promised him.
Albus became invisible again.
"Are you still here?" Minerva asked after a
while.
"Yes, I am", his voice whispered near her
ear, causing a shiver to ran through her body. Then she felt his lips covering
hers. He kissed her gently, but so full of passion, it brought tears to her
eyes.
"Get better, Tabby", he whispered some time
later, "I need you".
Then he really left. She could no longer feel his
presence. Closing her eyes she relived the last hour. His touches, his kiss.
The war may have just began, they may have one hell of a ride in front of them,
for now it didn’t matter. They were together.
Fin