Total Eclipse

Hello folks! Sorry about the incredibly long wait for this chapter. I was just released from the hospital last week. I had my gall bladder removed and complications arose while I was on the operating table. Let's just say that I'm more than happy to be here today!

This chapter has something of a surprise ending...

ENJOY!

Disclaimer: After all the hospital bills I'll be getting soon, I'll really wish I was J.K. Rowling! But alas, I am not and all things Harry Potter related belong to her and her brilliant mind.



"Albus, are you sure this was a good idea?"

Minerva McGonagall was finishing up her morning tea and chatting with the portrait of her former lover, Albus Dumbledore. Since sending Hermione and Draco off two days before, she hadn't seen nor heard from either of them. And while it wasn't unusual for the older witch to go for days at a time without seeing Draco, it was something of a shock that neither he nor Hermione had shown up for meals the last two days. The portrait of the former Headmaster chuckled, the familiar twinkle not having left his blue eyes, even in death.

"My dear Minerva, I'm absolutely certain that my little plan will work out for the best." The picture moved to pour himself another cup of the tea that was sat with him in his frame. "Did you not see the way Draco and Miss Granger looked at one another? Circe, if they'd been standing any closer to my portrait, I fear it may have caught fire!"

Minerva smiled slightly before her face once again took on a worried look. "But isn't it wrong to use them like this? It's not as if they honestly had a choice after that little guilt trip I gave them about it being '...one of Albus' fondest wishes' that they work together to teach this subject. And why hasn't Mr. Malfoy realized the foolishness of the idea of a Sex Ed class for wizards? If anyone, he should be more than familiar with the law the ministry passed about the charm parents were to perform on their children before their arrival at Hogwarts!"

At this the former professor's eyes lost their characteristic twinkle. "Draco suffered many wounds when he saved Mr. Potter's life, Minerva. Not the least of which was the loss of the majority of his memories 'pre-Hogwarts'. He still has the odd little memory now and again, but has never made mention of his memory loss." Looking down, almost dejectedly, at his teacup, the portrait sighed. "As you know, his childhood was less than happy."

At that moment more than anything, Minerva McGonagall wished with all her heart that she could put her arms around her love to comfort him. Placing her cup and saucer on the table, she rose and crossed to where his painting hung. Touching his face lightly, the headmistress' eyes lovingly traced the contours of the wizard's profile. "Albus, there was nothing you could do. After Lucius discovered the truth, it was inevitable. And to have attempted to remove Draco from his parents..."

Albus sighed heavily once again and leaned his face into the caressing fingertip of the older witch. "He would never have survived. I know, dearest, I know. But it doesn't change the fact that because of something I did, Draco had to live a lie. Had to be taught in the ways of the darkest wizards of our time. Had to endure hex after hex as a way to 'toughen him up'. Had to undergo the Cruciatus curse no fewer than 40 times before the age of 10."

Minerva could almost feel the tears that were slowly making their way down the wizard's wizened old cheek. Her own eyes shone with the brilliance of unshed tears as she quietly 'shushed' the older man's picture, trying as best she could to calm him. With a large blow into the hanky he kept in his robe pocket, Albus looked up, his eyes still tortured.

"But what's worst, Minerva, is that, although I was his Headmaster for six years, I never once had the opportunity to hug my own son."




~o0o~


Er....surprise? ^__~