Post by Asphodel on Oct 6, 2004 17:41:12 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Taking A Break[/glow]
It was a lucky thing the ghosts were having a meeting that night, and Filch and Mrs. Norris were in other places as she passed silently through the corridors. She glided gracefully across the floor, her eyes slightly glazed and her face blank, her raven hair billowing out behind in an eerie essence of the night.
Barefoot, she slid with grace through the stone halls with purpose, arriving at an ancient gargoyle. It made no motion, but seemed to give her a questioning look. She paid it no mind, muttering a phrase, the password. (Canary Cream Puffs) Mollified, the gargoyle slid from its position, revealing the staircase for the woman to continue her course. She ascended up the stone steps, her expression betraying no emotion as she made her way to the Headmaster’s office.
There was not, as one might think, some great tragedy occurring at that moment. Indeed, life was the epitome of calm as a distant clock struck 3 AM. No trouble was upon the woman. Minerva McGonagall was simply asleep.
Opening up the oak door without pausing to knock, she made her way through the main office, Fawkes giving off a sleepy trill as she passed. She ignored him, though a dream-filled smile slipped across her features at the heavenly noise. She opened another door silently, making her way through a small living room, the embers of the fire dying on the hearth. Past it she went, her dream leading her to the secret in her heart.
Another door opened silently, and she was in His bedchambers. He lay peacefully, unaware of the world around him. Without hesitation, she closed the distance and slid under the sheets, cocooning herself against him, a small sigh escaping her. He woke up.
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Albus Dumbledore woke up with a start as something very cold touched his legs. He almost jerked out of bed with realization that the icy object was a human foot. Putting two and two together, he could make out the outline of a figure sleeping peacefully next to him, snuggling their back against his stomach. Never let it be said Hogwarts was a dull place.
Squinting in the darkness, he was able to discern black hair spread over his pillow. Leaning over further, he recognized the strong though feminine build of a very familiar face. His jaw went slack. Minerva McGonagall was in his bed!
He stared at her for a moment, not sure what to do. Not that this wasn’t something Albus dreamed of most nights, but reality’s consequences were quite different from those of the dream world. Should he wake her? Or perhaps he could...just get comfortable...enjoy a good nights rest and deal with the affects in the morning? He sighed. No...no, that wouldn’t do. What in the world was she doing in his bed? How did she GET there?
She really was the most beautiful person he’d ever met. Kind and sweet and witty and funny, and so much more he could never find words to describe. And as she shifted against him, purring softly, he Albus had never felt anything more RIGHT than this. But he couldn’t do what he wanted and take her in his arms, drifting off to accompany her in dreamland. For Merlin’s sake, he didn’t even know how she’d gotten here- WHY she was here! There was nothing for it.
“Minerva?” He said softly, shaking her shoulder gently. “Minerva?” She awoke.
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Minerva woke up violently, a voice calling her from her dreamland. Her eyes opened at the touch on her arm, and she sat straight up in a bed that was not her own, looking around wildly. Where was she? She looked to where the voice had come from, and a hot flush rose up her neck, spilling onto her cheeks. Those blue eyes, twinkling even in the darkness, were unmistakable. Albus.
He smiled at her gently, looking a bit surprised himself, but waiting patiently for an answer. The blush deepened, her embarrassment growing. Apparently her dream had not been so much a dream after all.
She was in Albus’s bed! Goddess. He was still looking at her, his gaze holding hers, patient and good as always. She felt herself being pulled into them, by his humor, and courage and child-like wisdom, and so many other things. But he wanted an explanation. She could tell by the way his mouth was crooked upward on the left, just a tiny bit. An explanation. Taking a deep breath, she began.
“A-Albus, I...”
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“A-Albus, I...” He chuckled as she trailed off, her blush evident to him in the black-grey of night. Minerva McGonagall stuttering?
“Yes, Minerva?” He asked, allowing a light, teasing tone to leak through.
“I..I..” She looked too flustered to continue, so he decided to help her out a bit. Albus had learned over the years that riling her up was the quickest way to clear her head.
“Perhaps you can tell me to what I owe this unexpected visit, Professor?” HE asked mildly.
IT did the trick. Her eyes narrowed a bi and her back straightened. “I assume I sleepwalked here, Albus. I apologize for the surprise, but I assure you it was one for me as well.
“Well, Minerva, perhaps you’d like to chat for a bit? Have a cup of tea?” He asked, not able to resist teasing his unexpected companion.
“No, Albus, I...I think I’d better leave,” she said, shifting and looking uncomfortable.
He gave her a fake frown. “Was it really that unpleasant to wake up beside me?”
She looked away, glaring. “It...It isn’t that...I...I haven’t sleep walked since I was a child...and” Albus made a decision as he stared at her, surrounded by her beauty. “...well, I just-” She was cut off when his lips captured hers in a sweet, gentle kiss. Albus waited for her to relax before he began to explore her lips with his own, pleading silently to gain entry to her mouth. After a moment, it was granted. Bliss.
Eventually, he pulled away, meeting her gaze and waiting for her reaction. To his relief, she smiled at him. “You interrupted me.”
“You weren’t saying a whole lot, my dear.” When she looked away, he lifted her chin up gently with a finger. “Minerva, sleepwalking is nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m only glad it led you here. To me.”
She flushed, and shifted again. “Yes, well, Albus, as that may be...I ought to-“
He cut her off again, grabbing her hand. “I know it is unplanned, Minerva, but perhaps...you’d like to stay tonight? Here with me?” She hesitated. “Please.”
She sighed, and relaxed against him. Running his fingers through her flowing hair, he pulled her down to lie beside him. They were silent for a moment, until Albus could take it no more. He began to laugh, and Minerva, curled up against his front, swatted his chest. “It’s not funny, you old coot!” She muttered, but he disagreed.
“Oh Minerva,” He chuckled. “I suppose I simply find it amusing that you wound up here anyway.”
She gave him a glare without venom. “Well, having slept beside you for 42 years, I hardly think it surprising, thank you.” She sighed. “Some habits...well, some habits die hard, Albus.”
Chuckling as he pulled his wife into a passionate kiss, Albus murmured, “This my dear, is one habit I hope we never break,” before indulging in her second exploration of the night.
~Fin~
Tell me what you think! With any luck, you were slightly surprised/amused by the ending. Thanks for reading!
... gods I'm silly... and this was wonderful! Great challenge response, congrats!