Trouble in paradise

"This can't go on, Albus. First the Dark Mark. Now this?"

"What do you suggest, Minerva?"

"Put an end to it." Minerva turned towards Severus for support. " Don't let Potter compete."

"You heard Barty. The rules are clear."

Albus seemed impatient and worried.

"Well, the devil with Barty and his rules." Minerva began to walk towards Albus and make him agree with her. "And since when do you accommodate the Ministry?

Severus walked forward too and said:

"Headmaster, I, too, find it difficult to believe this mere coincidence. However, if we are truly to discover the meaning of these events perhaps we should, for the time being, let them unfold."

Minerva couldn't believe what she heard.

"What ...? Do nothing? Offer him up as bait. Potter is a boy! Not a piece of meat!", cried out Minerva in desperation.

"I agree ... with Severus."

Minerva stared at her husband and for the second time in her married life she didn't know the man standing in front of him. Her eyes were wide and horrified. How could Albus do that without even blinking? She turned and all but ran out of the room. The door was slammed shut with a resounding 'slam'.

Albus closed his eyes for a moment. He could understand his wife. He, too, had problems accepting the fact that Harry had to compete but that didn't change anything. Severus watched the door also. Then he turned to Albus.

"You're sleeping on the couch tonight, aren't you?"

"Yep", said Albus tiredly and a bit forlorn. He hated to fight with his formidable wife. "It's all your fault, Severus. I wanted to tell her in private and try to appease her but you had to blurt it out, hadn't you."

"Yep!"

Severus, the slimy git, grinned at his boss without remorse.

For the thousandth time Minerva walked to the door. How could he have a nice little chat with Alastor and Severus when she waited anxiously for him? It was nerve-wracking. More infuriating was that she was nervous.

'I should sit down with a good book and pretend not to notice his absence!'

With the best intentions she picked up a book and sat down in the armchair by the window. After reading a few pages she fell asleep.

Admittedly it wasn't the most comfortable position to sleep in but she was tired beyond caring for small things such as discomfort. Most nights she slept dreamlessy but not so tonight. Her mind returned to the reason for her anger and frustration. Tonight of all nights she couldn't sink into Morpheus soft embrace.

She tossed slightly in the armchair and the book on her lap fell to the floor with a loud 'thump' but didn't wake her.

Her forehead was creased in a deep frown and her eyes moved restlessly to and fro behind her lids.

Albus found his wife in her own quarters behind her office instead of their sitting room. She must be really mad at him. How could he have allowed Harry to compete? He didn't know himself what had possessed him to agree with Severus.

Of course Severus had a point. Harry had to participate in the tournament, those were the rules. Barty Crouch had said so himself. No exception could be made. The person whose name the goblet spat out had made a binding contract that no magic could dissolve. Minerva had to understand that.

But Albus feared that Minerva was being emotional and unreasonable. What other explanation was there for her behaviour earlier?

Harry was Lily's son, that alone made him special to Minerva. When he had come to Hogwarts, clearly neglected by his aunt and uncle, Minerva had tried to hide her true feelings for the boy behind a stern mask of indifference. But Albus had found his wife sitting on the side of Harry's bed in Gryffindor tower on his first night in Hogwarts, stroking his hair out of his face and silently morning Lily and James all over again. Minerva always saw the son of her sort-of-adoptive daughter, never the Boy Who Lived.

Now his wife seemed as angry at him as in the night Albus had placed Harry on his aunt's threshold. Minerva had been furious with him and their marriage had nearly broken apart. He wouldn't ... no, he couldn't let that happen again! He would promise his wife that he would look out for the boy and make sure that he survived.

Silently he bent down and gently lifted his wife up into his arms. Minerva stirred and snuggled close to his chest, wrapping her arms around him, but did not wake up. Albus smiled softly and carried her to their bedroom.

The next morning Albus woke up in an empty bed. Minerva was nowhere to be seen. Confused and worried, he got up and dressed for breakfast, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach that Minerva had not yet forgiven him.

Down in the Great Hall the staff table was fully occupied. Minerva ate a bowl of oatmeal and talked quietly with Pomona Sprout. When Albus sat down next to her and turned to her for a 'good morning'-smile, since he couldn't have a 'good morning'-kiss in public, Minerva pushed away from the table. Getting up hastily, she prepared to storm out of the Great Hall, leaving Albus behind. Pomona though had another question.

"Potter didn't put his name in the goblet? You're absolutely sure?"

Minerva snapped. There and then.

"Yes, I am! I am sure that Harry would never enter something that stupid, that idiotic as the Triwizard Tournament! Why do you believe that? Is my word and his not enough?"

Albus saw Pomona's mouth hang open most unbecomingly and the shock in their long-time friend's eyes.

"Minerva, darling, please calm down. You are making a scene."

He had hoped to make her quieten down but then again ... his wife had a Scottish temper. There was no help for it.

"CALM DOWN!! MAKING A SCENE!!! How dare you, Albus?!? I#m Not the ONE to send Harry to CERTAIN DEATH without hesitation!!"

With that she stormed out and left not only Dumbledore in a stunned silence but the whole student body as well. No one could remember a time the Deputy Headmistress disagreed or even argued with the Headmaster.

"Please excuse me, Pomona. I ..."

"Go and talk to her. NOW! I understand her. Harry is like a son to her and she is his godmother after all."

Since it was silent in the Great Hall everybody heard this little interlude.

A./N.: Sorry for the cliffhanger. If you want more. Please revew and tell me what you think.