Part 5

Time flew ahead without consideration on the behalf of humans, days numbered up to months and soon memories faded to distant blurs left in the back of your mind. It was with some perplexity and yet with a joyous mentality Minerva greeted the Christmas holidays, welcoming that time of year where heavy hearts and heavy minds were set at ease by the spirit of Christmas and family gatherings, even the cold weather and semi snow-covered landscape got elevated.

Time flew, and already the misty month of September had passed, the murky weather of October long gone and even the shadowy month of November had reached its peak and brought along a promise of a cold December. The first of September had gone in a blink and with the start of a new school year hope lay gently under the surface of stark fear.

Saturday had dawned as any other day in December, bringing yet another foggy shower upon the lands, covering her world in a hushed melody of raindrops. Despite, or perhaps in spite of the weather she had with sheer will forced herself out in the wet nature, rationalising the need for fresh air. A walk would do her good, clear a troubled mind for a while. Troubled she was; her head swimming in a pool of aching pain and the feel of her forehead resting over her eyes clouding her vision did nothing but further indulge that throbbing.

So with a brisk stride she wandered through the snow, breathing in the scent of an atmosphere where the air was crisp and the small drops of rain cool to her skin. She tried inhaling as much air as she could, tried to force it all the way down to her stomach; it stopped midway - cramped in her throat. Another heave for air and she had to bend over, hands on knees supporting her. Relaxation was slipping out of her soul every minute she spent being awake, not even truly there even in slumber.

Every happy memory, every remembrance of happy times spent with people she cared for, fell into a dark never ending abyss, flooding her mind with greys fears and a blanket of despair. She felt tired, tired of memories being replaced by all the sadness in her heart. And for the umpteenth time she wished she had someone to talk to, really talk to. She wished time would unravel, disentangling the horrors of humans and the madness of power to shape another time, one without despair, dread and death.

"May you feel the void of death," she hissed at the ground, frustrations bringing long thin fingers into fists filled with a slumbering hatred.

"I hope you're not referring to me, dear," a voice whispered from behind her, voice melodious caring a breeze of familiarity. She spun around, half opened mouth ready to scream and the point of her wand resting slightly on his nose below veiled blue eyes.

"Albus, you scared me!" she lowered her arm and tried breathing normally again.

"Sorry, dear, that was not my intent," he said with a gentle voice as he started walking, inclining she should follow. For a while they walked side by side in complete silence,she waswatching the snow at her feet and he was watching the horizon with a solemn look. Slowly she became aware of him humming softly beside her, a peaceful tune that should have carried sunrays in its paths. She wondered when he had begun humming, she was quite certain he must have started the humming very quietly. Exclusive of her knowledge she had linked her arm with his in all of her pondering, and they now walked even closer. Water came into view and on the top of a small knoll of a hill a fresh puff of air settled around them spontaneously bringing along a small flicker of intense bliss on both parts.

"May I ask whom you were referring to?" The sound of his voice startled her and for a few seconds she looked in confusion at his questioning eyes. When she finally caught on she averted her eyes and focussed on the sea only a few feet away, small waves hitting the shore in a lulling embrace.

"I… It was just a stupid remark," she replied in a quiet voice, wetting her lower lip with the tip of her tongue. She felt him softly squeeze her arm but still her gaze was locked upon the dark water.

"Stupidity is not something I associate with you, my dear," this time she felt hot air caress her ear and the sense of his soft languid lips close to the bare skin.

Another knot of air got stuck in her throat, this time born out of something altogether different than distress. His whisper though long gone still tingled her ear and skin, prodding her mind with ludicrous fantasies she considered buried in another era. It was with some hesitance she answered: "You-know-who!"

"Ahh," was the reply, said with a knowledgeable tone. They had begun walking again, this time along the seaside, dark looming trees on their other side. The rain had stopped for the moment, leaving puddles of mud to live in its wake and for first time that day she saw patches of a blue sky hidden behind dark clouds.

"It seems so hopeless, Albus," she told him and turned her head towards him, blank eyes meeting twinkling. She wished she had the strength that seemed to run freely in his veins, filled with optimism, trust and vigour. She wished dearly for such strength on which others could rely on, and take strength from.

"I know, so does the world at times appear, so hopeless. Fortunately for us, my dear, even in the bleakest of times there's a beacon of light, of hope," the words came to him so easy, rolled out of his mouth with a delicacy that graced his features.

"I feel blind then, blind to any beacon, be it of light or grey," this time a shimmer of sorrow crossed his face, however it was quickly gone. So quickly, she doubted the fact that she had even seen such a thing. But she soon forgot as arms encircled her in a comforting embrace squeezing her body to his chest, which almost left her heaving for air.

She leaned in after a time, forgetting what lay beyond the two of them and rested her head on his shoulder. A wave of sadness hit her and she had to bite her lower lip to keep from crying, yet a small sound escaped her mouth.

"Even blind people can feel the warmth from a fire and the heat from hope, however small that may be," he murmured into her hair, his voice bringing another small whimper from her.

And so they stood, there in the midst of a truce between the rain and blue skies, holding on to each other, contemplating life.

A/N:

I hope you find this chapter to your liking, it's not much...

Pal