CXXXVI: Aprés Spree

CXXXVI: Aprés Spree

The world slowly came into focus, a deep blue sky with a few puffy clouds. A woman's voice reached his ears, coming closer, but he couldn't tell precisely what she was saying. A face appeared above him, but it wasn't the face he wanted to see.

"Trude . . . Gertrude," Malcolm said. His head pounded.

"He seems confused," the witch said.

"No, he's not." Albus bent over him, smiling. "She will be here shortly, my boy. She's coming down from the stands. You did very well." The older wizard patted him on the shoulder.

Malcolm blinked and returned his smile wanly. "Some trick that was, boss. You had me scared."

Malcolm pushed himself up into a sitting position. The witch, whom Malcolm now recognised as Poppy, tutted at that, but despite the fact that his head was swimming and he was more tired than he had been in years, he didn't want to have Gertrude arrive while he was still flat on his back. The ground was hard, anyway. He tried to get to his feet, but Poppy took hold of his shoulder, preventing him from rising.

"I haven't finished my examination yet. And when I'm through with him," Poppy said, turning to Albus, "you're next."

"I am sure we can complete this in a more congenial environment, however," Albus said. "It was just a very light Stunner. He was beginning to come around before you reached us."

"That's as may be," Poppy said as she waved her wand over Malcolm's head, "but he caught something on his shoulder, as well, I noticed, and the spell-work itself was enough to exhaust any wizard."

"I'm fine. Bit of a headache, that's all. You should look at the Headmaster," Malcolm said, looking up at Albus, who showed not a single sign of being singed, but whose head wound was still oozing blood.

Poppy glanced over at the Headmaster and nodded. "I will when I'm through with you, Malcolm." Noting the wizard's impatience, she added, "And I'll be quick about it."

Poppy was as good as her word, and as Gertrude crossed the Quidditch pitch to him, Malcolm was getting to his feet.

"You'll be wanting something for your headache, Malcolm, so don't go far," Poppy admonished.

"Just to the changing room, that's all," Malcolm said as he turned and went to meet Gertrude, and his sister and grandmother, who were hurrying along beside her. Blampa was practically invisible as she followed Minerva, a small second shadow.

As he strode toward his family, the crowd stood and cheered. Malcolm smiled and waved briefly, but he was focussed on Gertrude. As he met the three witches, Malcolm tore his gaze from Gertrude long enough to greet his grandmother and put a hand on her arm.

"Are you all right, Malcolm?" Gertrude asked in a low, worried tone.

"Aye, just fine. Poppy's going to give me something for my headache, and she has a balm she wants me to rub into my shoulder at the first opportunity." Malcolm looked up at the stands, where people were still on their feet. He gave one more brief wave, then said, "Let's get out from under all these eyes."

Malcolm turned and started toward the Gryffindor changing rooms, the three witches following him closely, Blampa still trotting along behind them. Albus and Poppy were also walking in that direction and they all met a few yards from the entrance. The wound on Albus's forehead was completely healed with no sign that it had ever been there.

"Well, my boy, I have been given a clean bill of health, so no damage at all, just as I said," Albus told Malcolm. "I am going to go and consult with Filius, then I'll make an announcement regarding your performance. We aren't scoring this officially, but he has been making a record of it, and I am sure he would be happy to speak with you about it later, if you like." Albus held out his hand. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall!"

Malcolm smiled a real, broad smile for the first time since he woke up staring at the sky. "Thank you, sir! I hope the entire year is as much fun as this morning has been – if, um, a wee bit less exciting," he added, sensing Gertrude stiffen beside him.

Albus turned to Malcolm's small entourage and said, "I shall see you ladies at lunch. You will stay, won't you, Siofre?"

"Of course, Albus. It has been a while since I endured a Hogwarts meal. It should be good for my character, if not for my digestion," Siofre quipped.

"Very good, then. And Professor McGonagall, er, Minerva McGonagall," Albus clarified, "we were going to meet briefly before lunch. Where would be most convenient for you, my dear?"

Minerva was still trying to process what she had experienced when she saw Albus disappear in a burst of flames, but Albus's warm smile and bright eyes brought a smile to her own face, particularly as they had made no definite plans to see each other that day, other than some vague thought that they would meet after dinner to discuss their departure.

"Your office?" she suggested. "Or mine."

"Yours, perhaps," Albus agreed with a nod. He looked toward the stands. "Now, I must go before the natives become restless."

Malcolm was happy to reach the confines of the changing rooms, and he lowered himself gingerly onto a bench.

"You aren't all right," Gertrude said with concern.

"I'm just a little tired, Tru, that's all," Malcolm said with what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "And my legs ache from holding onto that dragon for so long. Just took a little while to catch up with me."

"And your shoulder?" she asked, reaching to move his plaid aside.

"Something Albus called a 'thumper.' Just like being hit by a Bludger, that's all," Malcolm said, trying to avoid having her touch his clothing. He glanced up at his grandmother, who was smirking at him.

"The grandson's suffered worse than a Bludger to the shoulder, lass, and I doubt that Albus had any desire to permanently injure his newest staff member – nor the brother of Head of Gryffindor," Siofre remarked dryly.

Gertrude moved away from Malcolm slightly, once more aware that, although they may no longer be observed by a couple hundred eyes, they were not really alone.

"And he needs his Headache Potion," Poppy said briskly. "One of your brother's, Malcolm. It should work very quickly – and help some with the shoulder, too. But be sure to use this balm on it. And don't wait too long to do it, either, or it won't be as effective." She handed him a small silver tin.

"That's one of mine, as well, Malcolm," Murdoch added. He had come in as Poppy was speaking, and now stood close behind her. "You really should let her apply it now – or apply it yourself as soon as we all leave you alone, if you prefer."

Gertrude, who had turned to listen to Poppy and Murdoch, glanced over at Malcolm, who had put the tin into his sporran and now accepted his vial of Headache Potion and downed it in one swallow.

Minerva stepped forward. "Are you sure you're all right, Malcolm? Not just physically – that was quite a shock to everyone, Dumbledore's trick there at the end. It must have been even more of a shock to you."

Malcolm gave a one-shouldered shrug, feeling the bruising on his shoulder more now that his adrenalin wasn't running as high. "It was a shock, I'll give you that. It shouldn't have exploded quite like that, for one, and that was the first shock, and then to seem to have completely disintegrated, nothing left but ash on the grass, that was the second shock. I thought for a moment that I had killed him. But it was just for a moment." Malcolm grinned. "It was a very good trick! Quite amusing now that I think about it. And it certainly did teach me not to take anything for granted in a duel, and reminded me that appearances can be deceiving." He chuckled and shook his head. "Here I thought I'd done something clever with the sod, and the bagpipes and giant sunflowers, and it barely ruffled him. I'll have to practise with him more this year – but we'll be careful, I promise, Tru-love," Malcolm said softly, seeing the expression in Gertrude's eyes and suddenly not caring who in the room knew how he felt about her. They were family, anyway, except for Poppy, and she seemed a discreet sort, however silly he might sometimes find her.

Gertrude quirked a smile. "Just don't tell me about it until afterward, Malcolm. I think that would be safest," she said, finally sitting down next to him rather than hovering uncertainly off to one side.

Minerva watched with interest the different expressions that crossed the faces of the others in the room as they suddenly realised why the Deputy Headmistress had been so concerned about the most recent addition to the Hogwarts staff. Siofre looked amused and smug, Murdoch seemed floored and incredulous, and Poppy looked surprised and at a loss for words.

"I think we should leave you alone now, Malcolm, to take care of your shoulder," Minerva said. "We'll see you at lunch. One o'clock in the Great Hall. I'm certain that Gertrude can ensure that you make it on time and in one piece."

Malcolm looked up at Minerva and smiled. "Aye, little sister, Trudie will take care of me."

Minerva took Poppy's elbow and turned her, steering the baffled witch toward the exit as Siofre looked up at her tall grandson and said, "Well, offer an old witch an arm, lad! I know your mother raised you properly, so you have no excuses!"

Murdoch blinked and shook himself slightly. He turned from staring at his oldest brother and the seemingly dour witch at his side, who had now turned soft and warm as she touched Malcolm's arm. Murdoch grinned down at Siofre. "Of course, I am happy to escort you, Grandmother!"

The four left the changing room to Malcolm and Gertrude, Blampa silently following along. Minerva cast one last glance back at the two, but they were now oblivious of any company, and although neither had moved, it was clear that their attention was entirely focussed on each other. Minerva closed the door behind them.

"To the castle, then, I think," Minerva said, adding, "I don't know how many are staying for lunch, but I'm glad you will be, Grandmother."

"Aye, Herbert said to give his best to you children and told me to enjoy myself, but I will need to leave right after lunch, I think," Siofre replied.

"How is he? I thought he seemed . . . tired at the wedding yesterday," Minerva said, not saying what she really thought – that he had looked gaunt and pale.

Siofre shook her head. "He isn't well, but he doesn't want a fuss. Typical Herbert," she said.

Murdoch said with some concern, "Is he ill, then?"

"Just numerous small ills, that's all, but you know that at his age, numerous small ills can be as draining as one major illness," Siofre replied. "But he's still enjoying every day. He would have come today, but after the wedding yesterday, I thought it too much all at once for him – and I think that seeing Albus explode like that might not have done his heart any favours, either." She chuckled. "He may have even stripped a few months from my own life with that stunt, I think!"

Minerva shook her head. She thought she had lost a few years of her life in those seconds between Albus's disappearance in the flash of flame and his reappearance behind Malcolm. Minerva had only a suspicion of how he may have achieved it. It certainly was an impressive performance, though, even before he had accomplished that trick. And Malcolm had certainly done very well, better than Minerva thought any other wizard of her acquaintance could have done. Minerva smiled to herself, proud of both Albus and her brother, ignoring the other three as they chatted, and so when Poppy spoke to her, she didn't hear her immediately.

"Minerva?" Poppy repeated.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Minerva asked.

"I was asking whether you would like to come with us." Realising that her friend had been lost in thought, Poppy added, "We're going up to my sitting room until one. I still want to check Dumbledore again, but he was adamant about waiting until after lunch, so I thought we could all go up to my rooms and visit."

Minerva looked surprised. "I thought he said you gave him a clean bill of health."

"Well, what he would let me check, yes. And he seems fine, but I wouldn't be very happy if he had a delayed reaction that I could have prevented." Poppy sighed. "I suppose an hour or two won't make any difference."

"I am meeting Dumbledore in my office before lunch," Minerva reminded her. "I don't know when he will be able to get away from everyone, so I had better not join you. I wouldn't want to miss him. And I do have some work to do."

Poppy nodded, and Murdoch said, "That's a pity, M'nervy, since you seemed the only one not surprised by Malcolm's sudden tender side – and the apparent object of his affection. Have they been seeing each other, then?"

Minerva hesitated. "They wish to be discreet. I think it's best if you talk to Malcolm. And I also think it best that they maintain some decorum with the students arriving in just over a week."

"So it is she who is making my grandson the respectable wizard, and not Albus," Siofre said with a smile. She nodded. "That will be interesting to see."

Minerva shrugged in response. She did not want to enter into any speculation with them. She could just imagine their reactions if they had a clue about her and Albus. It seemed that Murdoch had some notion of their relationship, but he had been fairly discreet the day before, and Minerva doubted that he had said anything to anyone else, even to Poppy. She certainly hoped that he wouldn't, at least not until she had talked to him herself. And she truly did not want Grandmother Siofre to know just yet. Minerva was beginning to appreciate Albus's policy of discretion and keeping their relationship private for a while. She had had no concern about her parents knowing, not after the conversation she had had with her mother when she realised that Egeria had known of her feelings for years and that she had hoped that Albus returned them. Siofre, however, was a different matter. Eventually, after their relationship was more established, Minerva supposed she wouldn't mind her knowing, but right then, it felt peculiar, and more so after having seen Albus and Siofre interact as they had. It had been a sharp reminder to Minerva of all of her own insecurities about her youth compared to Albus's age, something she had nearly forgotten in her attempts to relieve Albus's insecurities and in her joy at their new relationship.

The four entered the castle. Knowing that Albus would likely be at least a little while longer, she offered to show her grandmother and brother her new office and classroom before they went up to Poppy's to wait for lunch. After the other three had left, Minerva thanked Blampa for her company that morning, then dismissed her, reminding her to be sure that Spruffles knew all about how she had attended the event and how pleased Minerva was with her.

Twenty minutes later, Minerva was sitting at the desk in her office, Albus's old desk, when she heard – or felt – someone enter the classroom. Even without looking up and seeing who it was, she knew it was Albus. She couldn't consciously sense his magical signature, but she recognised him nonetheless.

Minerva smiled as she saw Albus wave his wand and seal the door behind him. He looked marvellous, and certainly none the worse for wear. He had cleaned any traces of blood from his robes, his colour was good, and his step lively. He smiled as he turned and saw her rise from her seat.

"My dear, how are you?" he asked as he crossed the classroom.

Minerva met him in the doorway. "More to the point, how are you, Albus? You were the one in that duel, not I."

Albus took her hand in one of his own and caressed her cheek with the other. "I am fine, but you seemed so pale when you came down on the pitch. I was worried about you, worried that I had frightened you."

Any residual irritation that Minerva felt toward Albus regarding his horrifying stunt seemed to melt away at his words, though she didn't let that prevent her from telling him precisely how she had felt.

"I am fine now, Albus," she said, squeezing his hand. "But I will admit to you, you gave me a terrible scare. It was a matter of seconds only, if that, but for that moment, I thought my heart stopped. Please don't scare me like that again. It was particularly dreadful because it had been Malcolm who cast the fireball. If he had done anything to you . . . I think it would have killed us both, Albus. I don't know if you saw his face, but he was terribly affected by what he thought he had done."

Albus cocked his head, smiling slightly as he looked down at her. "Your brother is a grown wizard, Minerva, and more than that, he is a powerful wizard. I don't know if you appreciate quite how powerful he is. I don't think that he does, in fact, although his control is quite good. It is never a bad thing to be reminded that the exercise of one's power can have devastating consequences, though that was not foremost in my mind when I let him believe that the fireball had devoured me. It simply seemed at the moment too good an opportunity to miss. In fact, had I given it any thought at all, I would have assumed that Malcolm may have known what could happen – what could really happen, as opposed to what appeared to occur."

"Well, you had several dozen people believing that you had died, killed in a sporting duel, and as for Malcolm . . . Malcolm said that your trick reminded him that things are not always as they appear and not to take anything for granted, so if you want him to learn anything else from the experience, I suggest you speak with him," Minerva said. "But am I right in believing that the flames weren't from the fireball at all?"

Albus's smile deepened. "You are perfectly correct. It was a matter of timing – close timing – in order to make it appear that way. I've always been rather good with fire and fire magic, and there's a little trick I have, hmm, how to put this . . . a trick I have borrowed from my Animagus form, shall we say. I don't do it in quite the same manner as I do when I am in my Animagus form, of course, and it is more difficult than when I am a phoenix, but it accomplishes much the same effect. I exploded the fireball just before it was to hit me, drawing on its energy to create the other fire effects. If you could perceive each instant slowly enough, you would see that the flames appear after I explode the fireball, then I vanish, and then there is another explosion, which is what appears to cause me to vanish, but which actually happens after I have disappeared – I step aside while casting a separate spell to create the second flash," Albus explained. "It requires very rapid, well-coordinated spell-casting, so it was extremely good practice for me, as I haven't had to do anything like it in some time, and it has been many years since I have actually performed that specific trick. I was pleased it had the intended effect. None of the individual spells is particularly difficult, but the execution is tricky."

"I doubt that anyone else present could have done it, though – particularly making themselves invisible. I don't know anyone else at all who can do that," Minerva said. "But even just using an ordinary Disillusionment . . . no, I can't imagine anyone being able to do that, let alone someone else imagining doing it." She looked up at him thoughtfully. "You do know that people are going to be talking about this for days – weeks, even – and wondering and speculating about how you accomplished that, don't you?"

Albus nodded. "Yes, and normally . . . normally, I do not seek quite so much public awareness of my particular talents, but I have reason to believe it might be time to remind . . ." Albus hesitated, then continued, "to remind certain wizards of my continued presence and let them know that sitting at Hogwarts these last years has not led me into a decline."

Minerva's first thought was of Valerianna Yaxley, but she knew that he was not speaking of her, and not only because he had used the word "wizards."

"You said something the other day when we were talking with my father, something about it not being a good thing to fall out of practice with your defensive skills. But we're at peace now; do you know anything that makes you believe that it won't last?" Minerva asked.

"Other than the fact that whenever one power-mad wizard has been defeated, he has never been the last?" Albus turned his head to face the window across the room. His expression was sombre, regretful, and his voice low as he said, "I have had concerns for a number of years, years when another might have thought my concerns to be mad. But I knew Grindelwald. I knew the look in his eye, the look that bespoke intelligence and wit, but which held no warmth or compassion, only selfishness, egotism, and the joy of cruelty. And when I see that look in the eye of a wizard who is also powerful, as powerful as Grindelwald, and as ambitious . . . . My concerns have not abated, and in recent years, I have heard rumours, yes." Albus nodded. "They are only rumours now, and vague. Perhaps something will intervene, or the wizard is not as clever and magnetic as he believes – nor as dangerous as I fear. But if he is . . . we must all be prepared, Minerva. I must be prepared," he ended softly.

Minerva leaned against him and put her arms around him. If having her wits scared out of her for a moment was a price to be paid for this preparation . . . she would simply have to learn to live with it, she supposed, or be prepared, herself, both for having her wits scared out of her and for the rise of another Dark Wizard. She sighed and relaxed in Albus's arms. She was safe here with him, and he was more powerful than any wizard in several generations. There was no cause for concern just yet . . . but she would still prepare herself.

"I love you, Albus," she said softly. She felt Albus kiss her head and inhale her scent in reply.

After a few moments, he said, "Let's go to your rooms for a bit, my dear. It's still a little while before lunch. I should go to my office and be the Headmaster for our guests, but . . . I think I would like to do a bunk, just this once."

Minerva let go and smiled up at him. "So, you would like to hide out in my rooms for a while? I think that is a very good idea. And you certainly deserve it after this morning." She kissed his cheek. "Let's go!"

The two Flooed through to Minerva's sitting room. Albus sat on the sofa and patted the cushion beside him.

"Wait just a minute, Albus. I'll be right back," Minerva said.

While she thought that although Albus looked fairly well, there was something about him that seemed fatigued. When she reemerged from the kitchen a moment later, Minerva held out a colourfully wrapped bar.

"Honeyduke's dark chocolate with hazelnuts. You look as though you could use it," she said.

Albus smiled and accepted the thick bar of chocolate. "Thank you, my dear. Share it with me?" he asked as he unwrapped it.

"No, thank you. I will wait for lunch," Minerva said, settling down beside him.

Albus broke off a piece of the chocolate and put it in his mouth. He chewed it slowly, letting it melt. He sighed and put his arm around Minerva, pulling her to rest against him.

He took another bite of chocolate, and when he had finished it, he said, "Poppy wants to give me a thorough examination."

"That would probably be a good idea," Minerva said.

"Other than the slicing hex and a stinger, which barely touched me – you didn't notice it? – anyway, other than those two, nothing really hit me. The fireball was alarming, but it didn't harm me, and the flames I cast burned the grass, not me. Other than a slightly bruised back and a bit of magical fatigue, which only time, food, and your loving care can help, I am fine," Albus replied.

"Still, you did expend a lot of energy, and Poppy doesn't know what happened with the fireball. For all she knows, you were hit by that explosion and only appear unscathed," Minerva reminded him. "And you should have her take a look at your back. I doubt the fall really did you any harm, but better to be safe about such things."

"If she does a thorough examination, though, some of the diagnostics she might cast could reveal certain things that I would rather remain private," Albus said, his cheeks pink.

Minerva raised her eyebrows and lifted her head from his shoulder, looking up at him. "And precisely what would that be? If you have a health problem – "

"Not a problem, my dear, but I did take a potion with my breakfast this morning. Yesterday was rather active for us in a way that I hadn't been in quite some time. I was a tad sore. Normally, I would have simply waited for it to wear off – I would have been fine tomorrow, I'm sure – but I thought that with the duel this morning, I should not be distracted by any discomfort, so I took a pain potion, and that might appear in a diagnostic spell. Then there was the activity itself," Albus said, growing pinker. "While I don't think that Poppy would specifically be testing for it, some of the general diagnostics might reveal, well, the expenditure of certain resources."

Minerva choked back a laugh. "You mean she could tell you've had sex?"

Albus nodded. "Particularly, um, well, the details aren't important. But given that she doesn't know that I'm with you – with anyone – she might think that, well, to be in the condition I'm in, without a, um, a partner, I'd have to be quite, um . . ."

"You mean she might think you've been masturbating? A lot?" Minerva asked, successfully keeping the smile from her face, although it was something of a struggle for her.

Albus blushed, nodding again. "It would be rather embarrassing for me, even if she didn't say anything. And I doubt she would. She does try to be, um, to be discreet, and she doesn't normally even ask about my sexual health, since she knows it embarrasses me, but . . . just knowing that she would be wondering, it makes me uncomfortable."

Minerva did smile at that. "Well, I wasn't really ready to talk to her about this, but she has been a friend for a long time, and she does care about me – and you. I think that she might be one of those who should know about us. It might be a good idea, anyway, since she is the school matron, as well as my friend. I think it might be hard, otherwise. I might feel as though I was sneaking around if I tried to hide it from her. I don't mind if no other members of staff know – in fact, I can think of a few whom I'd prefer to know nothing about my private life – but she's probably all right. And she's not one to repeat a confidence."

After thinking a moment, Albus asked, "Do you suppose you could speak with her, then? Before the exam? You needn't mention our, um, activities specifically, but if she should notice something, at least she wouldn't wonder. And let her know that we are trying to be discreet?"

"Of course, Albus." She patted his arm. "Leave it to me. I somehow think it will be less of a surprise to her than Gertrude and Malcolm were. She kept encouraging me to see more of you, telling me it would be good if we could become closer. I don't know if she guesses, but at least subconsciously, I think she may have known something of my feelings for you."

"Good. Thank you, my dear." Albus looked toward her chimneypiece and the clock resting on it. He sighed. "Lunch shortly, my dear. We should leave. I wish we could spend the afternoon together."

"I will be in the castle. Come find me after you're done with everything. Let's try to snatch whatever time we have now," Minerva suggested. "I had invited Gertrude to tea, and she may still come, but I have a feeling she and Malcolm will be spending the afternoon together somewhere private."

The two Flooed to Minerva's office then walked down to the ground floor together. It appeared that most of the staff and a good many of the guests had stayed for lunch. The house-elves had set up a few small round tables and one rectangular table. Albus guided Minerva to that table and pulled out a chair for her. As Malcolm and Gertrude stepped into the Great Hall, Albus excused himself and brought them over to sit at the long table with him, as well, placing Malcolm on his left, Gertrude next to Malcolm, and leaving a chair free between himself and Minerva.

Albus leaned over and said to Minerva, "I thought that Siofre might sit between us, my dear. If you see her arrive before I do, could you bring her over?"

"And Murdoch?" Minerva asked.

"He may sit with Poppy wherever they choose, of course. I imagine that Johannes and Horace will sit up here with us, as well. And Norman may choose to join us, but he may wish not to. He had some guests with him, I noticed," Albus replied.

Minerva nodded. It sounded sensible. She thought it might be a bit strange to be sitting with Grandmother Siofre between her and Albus, but it made sense, and she wouldn't allow herself to be uncomfortable. Or she wouldn't think about it until later. There was certainly no point in having the old witch notice anything odd about her granddaughter and wonder about it later. She was Head of Gryffindor House having lunch in the Great Hall after a Hogwarts event. That was all she had to remember, and she would be fine.

Malcolm didn't notice that the others left, he only noticed that he was alone with Trudie. When she reached to move aside his plaid again, he caught up her hand and brought it to his mouth. As he held her hand to his lips, he closed his eyes.

"Ah, Malcolm, we should see to that shoulder," Gertrude said. "And to the rest of you. You look exhausted."

"No, I'm fine, Trudie, fine with you here," Malcolm said, bringing her hand to his cheek. He let out a sigh.

Gertrude leaned forward and kissed his forehead softly. "Let me see to that shoulder, then. You heard what Poppy and your brother said. It won't do to wait."

Malcolm opened his eyes and looked into hers. "No," he said softly, "it wouldn't do to wait. Not at all."

He leaned forward and kissed her lips. "Mmm. No delay then, only sufficient to find ourselves in better surroundings. Not here for you, Tru-love."

"Shush, Malcolm. Let me tend that shoulder. Then you need to get cleaned up and have your lunch," Gertrude said, brushing his hair back from his face.

"I'll need some help with that, Trude. As you remarked, I am exhausted. I need your help," Malcolm said, stroking his fingertips over her face. "And we need to work on those worry lines of yours. I am fine. I really am. I was just a bit shaken, that's all."

"You're sure? I thought I was the one being hit by that Stunner. It was a shock, it really was," Gertrude said. "And we saw him reappear behind you before you did, and it was still . . . are you sure you are all right?"

"Aye, Trudie, I'm fine." Malcolm looked down. "I suppose I looked a right fool there," he said, suddenly embarrassed, "on my knees, him standing behind me like that."

"No, no! Not at all! You were absolutely wonderful, Malcolm. Your spells were ingenious. And the way you tried to stop the fireball when Albus just stood there laughing at it – that is the mark of a real hero, Malcolm. You were very impressive!" Gertrude shook her head. "I love Albus, but sometimes he is somewhat too impulsive. He probably thought it was a terribly clever and amusing idea. I'm not very happy with him at the moment."

"It was clever and amusing, Trudie," Malcolm said with a grin. "Although I wish I knew how he did it. It was as if he just became the flame, then he was gone, and next I knew, I was looking up at him, practically blinded by the sun in my eyes, and I couldn't comprehend what I was seeing at all. Then it all went completely black." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "It was a very good morning."

Gertrude sighed and shook her head. A very good morning, indeed! "Now, will you let me see to that shoulder?" she asked, reaching for him again.

Malcolm grinned. "The salve is in my sporran, you know – and you'll need that!" Suddenly he was on his feet, his eyes sparkling, taking her hands and pulling her up from the bench. "Come on, Tru, see if you can get it!"

He turned and gave her one last tug, then he let her go and headed for the rear exit. He looked back at her, his face alight. "Catch me! Catch me, Tru!"

He laughed as he loped away from the Quidditch stadium and towards the castle. It was a glorious day: he had duelled the greatest wizard in the world and impressed the witch whom he loved, his beautiful, beautiful Trudie.

Gertrude laughed herself as she saw him take off through the doors. She shook her head, then she reached out a hand and Malcolm's broom jumped into it. "Silly wizard," she said softly. "My dear, wonderful, and very silly wizard."

She strode out of the stadium and caught sight of Malcolm as he looked back to see where she was. She mounted the broom and followed him, catching up to him as he ran. She flew beside him and looked down at him, unrestrained amusement in her eyes.

"Seems you forgot something, Malcolm," she called.

Malcolm laughed then collapsed onto the grass, rolling over onto his back, breathing hard. Gertrude circled back around and landed next to him.

"Now, do you think that running about like that is a wise thing to do after you've just spent all that energy in the duel?" she asked, looking down at him.

He shook his head, catching his breath. "No, probably not wise at all. But you're the wise one, Tru. See why I need you?"

"Hmmph. Let's get up to my room," Gertrude said with a small grin. "And I would say that I caught you, Malcolm."

"Yes, you have, you most certainly have," he said, accepting her hand as he got to his feet. "You still have to get the tin from my sporran, though, you know."

"As I said, let's get to my room," Gertrude said with a smile. In a softer voice, she said, "I missed you last night."

Malcolm grinned happily at that, and they began to walk the last few yards to one of the castle's back entrances.

"Well, you may be the wise one, but I did think it best. Better no distractions. And," he added, looking down at her and winking, "I thought you might tire me out too much this morning. A man has to preserve his strength, you know, lass!"

Gertrude barked a laugh at that.

The two took some dark, narrow backstairs up to the second floor and avoided seeing anyone. When they reached her rooms, Malcolm whispered the password he had chosen for Gertrude, "Carissima."

The door clicked open and Gertrude led the way in, leaning Malcolm's broom against the doorjamb as Malcolm closed the door behind them.

Gertrude turned slowly and faced him. "Now, we are dealing with that shoulder, Malcolm, if I have to tie you down to do it!"

"Oh, would you do that for me, Gertrude, really?" Malcolm said with a teasing smile.

"You want to play? Then," she said, reaching toward him, "we . . . will . . . play."

She pulled hard on his plaid, eliciting a slight grimace from Malcolm as it tugged on his injured shoulder. With her other hand, she reached down and grabbed the top of his sporran. Walking backwards, Gertrude led him into the bedroom. She pulled him around, then let go of him, pushing him back to sit on the edge of the bed.

She stepped close to him, shaking her head slightly, and whispered, "Silly boy, my sweet, silly wizard."

Gertrude unpinned his plaid and draped the long cloth over the end of the bed, smiling slightly as she looked at the raven and the snake. Her smile grew, one of pleasure and pride as, wandless, she sent the pin floating across the room to settle on the table.

Malcolm grinned. "So, now who is showing off, Trude? Very well done, very nice, indeed," he said. He was genuinely pleased that she had been practising. "I knew I saw something more in you than just a staid Arithmancer. I knew it the first moment I laid eyes on you, before I even knew your name, I knew that, that there was so much there, so much . . ."

"I was just distracting you so that I could do this," Gertrude said with a matching smile, holding up the small silver tin she had pulled from his sporran.

She unbuttoned his shirt with one hand, pulling the tails from the kilt. As she pushed the shirt back, she winced to see the large purple bruise developing on his shoulder.

"Oh, Malcolm," she said softly. "You should have let me take care of this sooner."

As she dipped her fingers into the bright green salve, Malcolm removed his shirt and tossed it left-handed over on top of the plaid. He watched Gertrude's face as she tentatively began to smooth the thick ointment over his shoulder.

"It looks worse than it is, Tru, really," Malcolm said.

One corner of her mouth quirked up in a smile. "It hurts to see this, your beautiful shoulder, your skin . . ." She blinked rapidly and dipped her fingers in the balm again.

As she rubbed the potion into Malcolm's shoulder, the bruise began to recede, turning green, then yellow, as it gradually disappeared, and she put a little more force behind her massage of his muscles, working the liniment into the tissues.

"It does feel much better. Thank you, Trudie," Malcolm said.

She nodded and sent the tin of salve to join his pin. "You are beautiful, Malcolm, very beautiful," she said softly, running her hands over his shoulders and down his arms. "Please don't let yourself be hurt."

"I will do my best, but this really wasn't anything," he replied. He reached up and touched her cheek, turning her face toward him. There were tears welling in her eyes. "Oh, Tru, I'm sorry. Please . . . please, Tru."

She blinked back her tears, but a few escaped to roll down her cheeks. She started to dash them away, but Malcolm caught her wrists and pulled her down to sit beside him on the bed. He kissed her cheeks, gently kissing her tears away. He put both arms around her and lay down with her, their legs dangling over the edge of the bed.

"Come here, love, don't cry, please," Malcolm said.

"I'm not crying," Gertrude said. "I don't cry."

"Of course you don't," Malcolm murmured. Her tears may have dried, but he could feel that she was still distressed. "What was it? I know I have a most beautiful shoulder, and it doesn't look quite as beautiful in purple," he said lightly, "but I don't think it could be hideous enough to elicit tears." He was pleased to feel her smile. "So . . . what was it? You know that Dumbledore wouldn't have hurt me. I am fine."

"Just . . . just a glimpse of a memory, and a time when no salve could erase a hurt," Gertrude said. "But I don't want to talk about that now. Sometime. Not now."

Malcolm nodded and held her closer. "So, what shall we talk about, then?" He smiled. "I know! My beautiful . . . my beautiful Trudie." He caressed her cheek.

"No, my beautiful, beautiful Malcolm," she responded, running her hand over his shoulder and chest, then up his arm and back down over his chest.

"If you insist, far be it from me to protest!" Malcolm said with a laugh. "Shall we focus on the shoulders, or would you care to move on to other body parts?"

Gertrude rose up on one elbow and looked down at him. She ran her index finger over his face, outlining his features. "All of you is beautiful. Your face . . . your eyes . . . your nose . . . your lips . . . your hair, such beautiful curls . . ." She leaned forward and kissed his lips lightly. Her fingers strayed back down to his chest. "And these curls here on your chest, your beautiful, broad chest." She brushed his nipples. "Beautiful, beautiful, all of you . . . your stomach, very beautiful."

Her fingers reached his kilt and made quick work of the small buckles on either side. Two quick tugs, and the kilt fell open.

"Beautiful legs, beautiful hips, and this . . . this . . . so very, very beautiful," she said, her voice growing husky as she looked down at the erection she was now stroking with two fingers.

"Beautiful?" Malcolm said in mock surprise. "Not . . . not more beautiful than my winning smile or my pretty eyes? Surely not!"

"No, not more beautiful. All of you, beautiful . . . and those eyes of yours. Now I know where you got them. Your grandmother has those same sharp, mischievous eyes. I thought your eyes were like your sister's, but they really aren't, they are only the same colour." Gertrude wrapped her hand around him. "But this, this is just as beautiful as the rest of you, and I see all of your beauty in every part of you."

"Oh, Tru, I should be telling you these things. You . . . you are the only witch I have ever known who is so beautiful. You are truly beautiful, and warm and exciting." He groaned as she kissed the most recent object of her attention. "Yes, very, very warm and exciting."

Gertrude slipped from the bed to her knees beside him. She pulled off his short boots and then his socks. She smiled up at him. "Do you always go barefoot when riding a dragon?" she asked. "I don't know the protocol for dragon-riding."

He turned his head to look down at her. "When I'm wearing dragonhide boots, it only seems respectful, if not prudent, to remove them. Besides, I did have a better purchase with bare feet."

Gertrude smiled and stood. She held out her hand to him. "Time for your shower now, Malcolm. You don't want to walk into the Great Hall smelling like dragon and burnt turf."

"Hmmpf. No one else complained!" Malcolm said, sitting up and taking her hand.

"I'm not complaining. It's rather alluring, actually, and very masculine," Gertrude said with a gleam in her eye. "But you're alluring enough without it, and I don't want you turning any of those other witches' heads with your charms, as it is."

He stood in front of her and put his arms around her. "Well . . . I suppose if you are joining me, I could."

"No, not this time, Malcolm. We need to get down to lunch in a little while. I don't want you becoming distracted – or trying to distract me. You are the wizard-of-the-hour, after all. Everyone will be expecting you. And I have to go. I'm the Deputy. I can't let Albus down."

"Albus? What of me, Tru?" Malcolm asked, pulling her close and rubbing against her. "You don't want to let me down, now, do you? And what if I faint in the shower without you there to catch me? I am exhausted, after all."

"Ha! You are fine when it pleases you, and fine enough for this," she said, reaching between them and taking hold of him, "but otherwise you're exhausted and prone to a fainting spell?"

"I always feel faint around you, Tru, but you also revitalise me at the same time, thankfully. Your presence in the shower would be very, very welcome," he said, brushing kisses over her face to punctuate his points.

Gertrude's lips met his, and for a moment, he thought he had persuaded her, but then she pushed away from him with a sigh. "Later, Malcolm. After lunch, we can spend some time together. I told Minerva I might come to tea, but it wasn't a firm plan. She'll understand. We'll do it after they're back from their holiday."

"Holiday?" This was the first Malcolm had heard of any holiday.

"Yes, she and Albus are going away for a few days before school starts. They won't have much time alone after the first. I think it's quite a sensible idea."

"Where are they going?" Malcolm asked, curious.

"I don't know, though he did ask me about our trip to Egypt. But that was a few days ago. I don't know what their final plans are. I imagine he'll tell me before they leave, which I believe will be in the morning. Now, off to the shower with you!" When he still seemed reluctant, she said, "I will keep you company in the bathroom, but I'm not coming into the shower with you. I will give you a massage when we get back. You probably need one after this morning. You'd like that, wouldn't you?" She ran one hand over his chest.

Malcolm gave a sideways grin. "You are a stern schoolmistress, you know. You may not be staid, but you are stern." He began to back toward the bathroom, dragging Gertrude with him. "I'll take my shower like a good boy, but I do expect the promised massage as a reward." He opened the door to the bathroom and let go of her as he moved over to the shower. "And didn't you say something about . . . tying me down? You haven't done that yet!"

Gertrude grinned. "Oh, the thought crossed my mind. If you had been very naughty, I might have had to use that plaid to bind you to the bed. For purely salutary purposes, of course. To enable me to apply that salve."

"There may be other 'salutary' reasons that you may find . . . if you put your mind to it, Tru-love," Malcolm said as he stepped under the spray of warm water.

She laughed. "You would like that, would you?"

Malcolm stood with his head back, the water coursing over his chest and down his body. "We won't know until we try, will we? Blast, no flannel – Tru? Hand me a flannel, will you?"

"Yours isn't in there from yesterday? Spoonie must have taken it to be laundered." Gertrude retrieved a clean cloth from a covered basket. "Here you are."

"Soap in my eyes," Malcolm said, groping for her arm. Then suddenly, she was under the water with him. He looked down at her, grinning as she sputtered. "The old 'soap-in-the-eyes' trick! Surprised you fell for that one, Trudie."

"Malcolm, you have confirmed it. You are mad!" Gertrude looked down at her robes, which were drenched. "Utterly mad."

"Mmhm, and still in great need of your attention. I have this swelling, and it just won't go down," he said in a low voice. "I think you're the only one who can help me. I know you are the only one who can help me, Tru." He bent and kissed the side of her neck.

"Not in these robes," Gertrude replied. "And I think my shoes are quite ruined."

"Better to take it all off, then . . ."

Malcolm made quick work of removing Gertrude's sodden garments, and then she proceeded to help him as only she could.

At just a few minutes before one, Gertrude and Malcolm emerged from her rooms. Gertrude was wearing robes of three shades of bright green that Malcolm told her made her look like Spring personified. She had wanted to put a teaching robe over them, but Malcolm had dissuaded her from that. She was slightly uncomfortable thinking that people – specifically, Poppy, Murdoch, and Siofre – might notice that she wasn't in the aqua robes she had worn that morning, but Malcolm told her that there were many reasons that she might have changed her robes, and he doubted that anyone would think that one of them was that she had taken a shower while fully-clothed. Gertrude shook her head, but laughed.

The two hurried down the stairs, meeting Siofre, Poppy, and Murdoch on their way.

"We're waiting for Johannes," Poppy explained. "He stopped by the infirmary, but he had to get something from his rooms. We'll be along in a minute."

As they entered the Great Hall, Gertrude said in a low voice, "You see, Malcolm. A lot of people stayed for lunch. It would have been inconsiderate to have kept them waiting when they were expecting you."

He chuckled. "A free meal was likely more the incentive than my presence."

"The Headmaster would have waited to serve the lunch, though. Even if no one cared about your presence for any other reason, you would have delayed their meal."

Albus came down and asked them to join him at the large table. "You can sit on my right today, Malcolm, if you would, as the wizard-of-the-hour," he said with a pleased smile.

The two sat, and a few minutes later, Siofre, Murdoch, Poppy, and Johannes appeared in the doorway, Siofre on the German Herbology teacher's arm. He led her to the long table, where Albus indicated that Siofre was to sit on his left, so Johannes held her chair for her then took a seat on the other side of Minerva. Slughorn, Wilhelmina, and Hagrid followed closely. With the rest of the staff already seated at various tables, as soon as Slughorn sat down on Gertrude's right, Albus stood and the room grew quiet.

"I am very glad that so many of you could remain and partake of Hogwarts hospitality. Although I do not wish to delay you from your meal, I do wish to take a moment to welcome Professor Malcolm McGonagall to Hogwarts and to congratulate him on his outstanding performance this morning."

There was polite, yet genuinely enthusiastic, clapping from everyone in the Hall. Malcolm smiled and nodded, looking up at Albus and thanking him, then he looked over at Gertrude on his right, and smiled at her. She gave him a small smile and a nod, but Malcolm didn't care how small her smile was in public – he could make her laugh and smile in private, and he had had her smiling quite happily after her impromptu shower. Everything in life was brighter, better, more beautiful with Gertrude in it. Even the prospect of an entire year in one place didn't give him cause to twitch or feel like Apparating away as fast and as far as he could. He had found his refuge and his peace in her, and he wished to be nowhere else that moment but by her side.

*EDIT, 19 Aug 2009*

Author's Note: This chapter now has a "missing scene" lemony one-shot, "An Unexpected Shower," posted here on TPP.