Different Times, Different Lives

Chapter Two: Different Times, Different Lives

I froze hearing that oh-so-familiar voice. I heard someone snap their fingers, causing all of the lights to turn on at once. Closing my eyes against the blinding light, I was unable to verify the identity of that voice. Slowly opening my eyes a few moments after being blinded, I looked up into the most astounded and shocked face I had ever seen. I gasped, just as shocked as he was. It was Albus Dumbledore.

Taking in his appearance with quick glances from underneath my lowered eyelids, I noticed that Albus seemed older than he did back in my own time. He had more white hairs running through his auburn mane as well as fine wrinkles lining his otherwise unaged face. The twinkle so often present in his eyes (though not around me) was not present, either, but the way he was looking at me gave me hope that he didn’t hate me as much as the Albus of my time did.

“Min-min-erva?” Albus stuttered. “Is it really you?” He took a few steps forward, almost involuntarily, and touched my face.

I suppose I must have looked confused – after all, the Albus of my time had never called me by my first name.

“Yes, Headmaster… but I’m not from this time. I made a device to allow me to travel sideways through time, and it obviously worked,” I explained rather awkwardly.

He seemed taken aback by my use of his title. “Headmaster, my dear?” he questioned, seeming to be gradually getting over his shock. “So formal… why?”

I gaped. So formal? “If… If you’d prefer I address you as Professor Dumbledore or sir, then I will,” I replied, confused.

His expression saddened. “I suppose things really are different in other times. You obviously do not like me. The Minerva from my time never addressed me in such a formal manner – at least, not as an adult.”

I felt tears come to my eyes as I frantically sought to correct the misconceptions Albus obviously held. “Sir, in my time, you had told me to always address you formally, even though you address all other members of the staff by their given names.” I decided to just tell Albus how I felt about him – obviously, the Minerva of this time was much closer to this Albus than I ever was to the Albus of my own time. And, as I was not in my own time, I had nothing to lose by confessing my feelings. “I do like you… In fact, I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember. However, friendly feelings have never been returned by you – after you helped me to become an Animagus, you didn’t talk to me until I began teaching at Hogwarts,” I explained sadly.

Looking up into his eyes, I saw them light up at my confession of love to him. However, they immediately saddened when he looked down at me, when I explained my use of his formal title.

“Please, my dear, call me Albus,” he requested.

“All right… Albus.” I loved the way his name sounded.

“Daddy? Who’s there?” I heard a tiny voice ask. A young girl, around the age of six or seven, perhaps, was standing in the doorway which led, I presumed, to Albus’s private quarters. As the girl moved closer into his study, I was able to see her clearly for the first time. She had pale skin, dark hair, and large, twinkling blue eyes, which widened in amazement as they rested upon me.

“Mummy?” she whispered and flung herself onto my lap, burying her head in my hair.

I looked up at Albus with an expression of utter disbelief written across my face. He nodded, and I closed my eyes, relishing an experience I never thought I would have – holding Albus’s and my child.