Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter Eight: Night at the Cottage

Minerva woke to the feeling of eyes on her. Rolling over, she was met by her husband"s tranquil blue gaze. Glancing out the window, Minerva surmised that it had to be much later than when they laid down.

"How long have we been asleep, dear?"

"We, my love?"

"Didn't you take a nap as well? You surely must have been exhausted afterward." As she said this, Minerva's cheeks colored slightly. It wasn't that she was ashamed of their enthusiasm; it was just a sharp departure from their normally gentle lovemaking.

"I was well rested beforehand. I believe you have not been sleeping well for a while now." Albus reminded her.

Minerva nodded slighly and looked away. Albus reached over and carefully grasped her chin, forcing her to face him again.

"I love you." he whispered before placing a tender kiss on his wife's lips. Minerva responded, though it did not last long.

"I shall leave you to dress. I have some correspondences to take care of, after which I believe the house elves will be serving dinner."

As Albus crossed the room, he heard Minerva whisper "I love you too."

When Minerva was dressed she sat down with her lesson plans. She intended to simply read over them, ensuring she had included everything she wished to cover with each year for the following month. However, her concentration would not allow this. Giving up a half hour later, she changed into her animagus form and took to running down the hill and onto the gray beach below.

She sat for what seemed like ages, until the salt from the sea stung her eyes. That surely had to be the source of her tears; after all, in her cat form her emotions were not nearly so painful. But this thought brought another realization. She was hiding. She was hiding because she was scared.

Minerva's thoughts once again went to another war, when Grindelwald threatened everything. She didn't remember being this afraid then. Why was she now? Was it the fact that her and Albus had been together so long now that she didn't know how to go on should he be killed? Had age made her dread what was coming? Had she somehow remained innocently naive during that war? She had often felt that the last part of her naivety had left her when she was raped.

Minerva didn't understand that. She saw people tortured and killed by Grindelwald and his followers. That she could still consider herself even partially innocent until that point amazed her. But then, there is still a difference between seeing evil and being touched by it.

Then, there was Albus' age to consider. He had been close to fifty years younger during the last war. While he was still not nearly as old as some wizards, he was by no means a young man now. The sheer power he held would help compensate for this; she didn't doubt for a second that her husband was still the most powerful wizard alive. It was just something else for her to worry about.

Moxy appeared suddenly, startling Minerva from her thoughts. The house elf regarded the cat carefully, looking hard into it's eyes. Then, just as suddenly, Moxy disappeared.

In an instant, the little elf was back. "Madam, Moxy is very sorry. Moxy did not know it was Madam." Then, without warning, Moxy began bashing her head against a rock.

Minerva, shocked, quickly changed into her human form and grabbed the elf. She hated it when the elves harmed themselves. Filius had at one point helped her research ways to prohibit this instinctive reaction, but they were unsuccessful. She hadn't given up, and until a way was found, she would continue to stop the behavior in her presence.

"Moxy, it's all right. You had no way of knowing I could turn into a cat. You must stop that." The students knew, of course, but the elves did not enter the classrooms when classes were in sessions. She tried to be discreet about transforming at night; it was easier to sneak up on disobedient children that way. She knew it was sneaky, but she needed every advantage available when going against the Marauders.

"That's what Sir said, too" Moxy muttered. "When Moxy tried to stick her hand in a candle flame."

"Oh, Moxy."

"Madam and Sir's dinner is ready." the elf whispered.

The two apparated to the dining room, where Albus stood waiting. He saw the redness in his wife's eyes but did not question her. Moxy had said she found a cat on the beach where he told her Minerva would be, meaning it could just be from the air. He could not deduce why she was in that form, though.

The two ate quietly until Mineva asked how his letter writing had gone. To answer her, Albus began to chuckle. She glanced at him, questioningly.

"Filius wrote." he answered. "It seems that several students thought it would be quite amusing to transfigure all the suits of armor into Armenians. While he is highly gifted in charms, transfiguration is not one of Filius' strengths."

Minerva pinched the bridge of her nose and groaned. She didn't even have to ask who this particular group of students were.

"The incantation was not difficult. I sent Fawkes with the answer to his problem." Albus continued. "Apparently the only real difficulty was the language barrier. None of the students or staff are from that part of Europe." As her husband said this, he once again chuckled.

Minerva, on the other hand, didn't see anything humorous about this prank. "What are their punishments, Albus?"

"Oh, I don't think punishments are warranted. After all, the suits were just standing there. They couldn't help being brought to life." Albus said, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Albus." Minerva groaned before giving up. It was useless to argue with him about school discipline. He didn't think any child was a hopeless case, and therefore, never expelled students. Albus truly believed there were far better ways for a child to be disciplined. This did not include corporeal punishment either; forbiding physical punishments was Albus' first accomplishment as headmaster.

After dessert, Albus suggested a game of chess. Minerva readily agreed and the two were soon seated by a fire in the living room. The game progressed smoothly, with Minerva quickly winning. Afterword, the two moved to the couch.

Albus was content to simply hold his wife. The firelight danced around them, illuminating her bright eyes. Albus never knew whether her eyes were truly that expressive, or if he simply knew her so well that her emotions were easily accessible to him. He never betrayed her by using occlumency; he just knew.

"Albus?" Minerva asked, breaking the silence half an hour later.

"Yes, my dear?"

"I love you. There's nothing that I wouldn't do for you."

"I know how deeply you feel for me. It is my greatest wish that you know I return those feelings, Minerva."

Minerva nodded, but said nothing more. Once Albus saw she had no intention of continuing, he did. "Can you tell me what is wrong, Minerva?"

His wife looked into his eyes. Once again, she was caught between not wanting to burden him and wondering if ignoring a problem would be more troubling to him than discussing it.

Albus cupped her cheeks with his hands and gently kissed her. Keeping her face in his grasp, he whispered "Please, tell me."

"I- I'm frightened, Albus."

Albus frowned. "Of what, my dear?"

"Losing you."

Looking relieved, Albus smiled. "I have no intention of going anywhere, Minerva."

"It could happen, though." Minerva said, desperately. "If our world is destined for another war, if Voldemort realizes you are a threat to him, he will come after you."

Albus sighed. "He already knows, my dear."

"What?"

"He already knows that I oppose him."

"Oh, I know that it is assumed you do. Obviously you would oppose anyone using the dark arts but-"

"No." he interrupted her. "He knows that I oppose him personally."

Minerva was speechless for only a moment. "How would he know that?"

"You are aware that I know Voldemort's true identity?" At his wife's nod, Albus continued. "The last time I spoke with him was a year ago. I was very clear that should he pursue the course he was set on, he would face obstacles."

"What does he wish to do, Albus?"

"Much the same as Grindelwald. Much the same as Salazar Slytherin for that matter."

"Eliminate all those of non pureblood ancestry?"

"Yes. Although, Voldemort seems to not be quite as particular. Half-bloods and even muggleborns who wish to serve him will be spared."

"I see." Minerva muttered.

"You don't sound extraordinarily surprised, my dear."

"I guess I already knew. Saying it outloud somehow makes it worse, but I think I already knew."

"Not worse, love." Albus said as he took his wife into his arms. "Just more real."

Minerva nodded, giving into his embrace. She wasn't angry about him keeping this information from her. She would stake her life on the fact that he had only done so because she already seemed so upset. Sighing, she placed her head on his strong shoulder.

Albus kissed the top of her head. "I know you're worried, Minerva. I would be a fool to tell you that I am not. However, I am going to do what needs to be done, even if that includes leading the fight against him myself. I do not wish to put you in danger, so if you choose-"

"No, Albus." Minerva interrupted. "Voldemort is just as wrong as Grindelwald was. I fought then, I will fight now. That is not what concerns me."

"I will be careful. I promise you, Minerva."

"You know my fear has nothing to do with your abilities. You are the most powerful-"

Albus silenced her with another kiss. "You need not explain your reasoning to me, love." Then, he started chuckling again.

Minerva rolled her eyes. "What's so funny now, Albus Dumbledore?"

"Do you remember when we were newly married? You kept saying you led a life like no other wife in the wizarding world."

Minerva smiled, remembering the everyday events that prompted that saying. The times she would walk into their bedroom to find the greatest wizard in the world wearing mismatched pajamas while lecturing Fawkes on the goodness of lemon drops. The times when the two of them sat together in the Great Hall. None of the students would ever guess that the two most authoritative professors in the school had been naked together an hour earlier. The times when Albus would apparate them to some distant exotic location, just so they could make love.

"What reminded you of that, Albus?"

"You, my dear. You didn't want me to question the motives behind your concern, and I don't. You simply worry for me because I am your husband; in that way, you are very much just like every other wife in our world. Probably the muggle world as well."

Minerva gently smiled. Albus leaned over and kissed both corners of her mouth. "It's good to see you smiling again, my dear." he whispered, before claiming her lips.

Minerva fervently returned the kiss. She was going to suggest they retire for the evening when she felt Albus' hands slide to her shoulders, then to the clasps of her robes. The kiss was paused just long enough for him to look into her eyes. When Minerva did not stop him, he quickly undid the clasps and the cloth fell away. Albus muttered a simple spell, making the floor in front of the fire as soft and comfortable as their bed. He gently lowered her onto it and began kissing down her body as her hands sought to make him as lacking in clothes as she was. Her last coherent thought was that she didn't have to worry about living without Albus. She would be by his side no matter what. If he fell, surely she would too.

A/N: Yeah, I know, it's about time. Thanks to everyone for their patience and in at least one case, an encouraging private message. I believe there is only two more chapters to go and I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Thanks to everyone for their lovely reviews, please keep it up:)