Post by Sensiblyquirky on Aug 24, 2004 16:34:08 GMT -5
I own nothing, JKR does.
Lonely. If Albus Dumbledore was asked to describe how he felt at this moment in time when he was riding by carriage in one of the worst rainstorms all summer toward his beloved Hogwarts it would be lonely. He longed to have someone wait up for his return, someone he could hold at the end of the day, comforted by her warmth, and who would hold him when he needed to be held. Whenever he was away from Hogwarts he knew he was missed, but it wasn’t the same. To be missed by friends and colleagues does not compare to being missed by that one person you love more than life itself.
On nights like this Albus would get lost in his thoughts, and every time he felt lonely he would think of her, and it was always the same image. Her long black hair out of its day-to-day confines and falling over her shoulders down to her waist, and she would be wearing one of his oversized nightshirts as she awaited his return and upon his return he would be greeted with a kiss so loving he would never fear the cold again.
Minerva, ‘Kitten’ as he called her when talking to Fawkes, was the object of his affection, his desires, and his dreams.
Pulling out his watch he knew she would be in bed by now, and he would have to wait till tomorrow to see her. Albus Dumbledore could no pinpoint the day he fell in love with his deputy headmistress and best friend, Minerva McGonagall, but he had fallen, and fallen hard. Though he longed for another body to share his bed he knew unless it was her slim but womanly frame beside of his the loneliness would never go away.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden stopping of the carriage, and Albus knew he was home. Entering the front hall not a soul was in sight and he knew no one would be there, after all it was one in the morning, but Albus Dumbledore was a man who hoped. Sometimes he was hurt more by hoping, because his dreams would be left unfulfilled and smashed like a ship on a beach’s rocks which had fallen prey to the counterfeit calmness of the ocean; always giving in to the security of the wave less sea only to be torn apart when it was the farthest from home. Walking quickly to his office he made for his bedroom, because he could see her in his dreams.
Albus was shocked when he entered his room, and stopped abruptly in the doorway. His bed had been turned down, a fire was going, and his nightclothes had been laid out on the bed. Looking to his left he noticed the bathroom door was a jar, and pushing it open slowly he could make out the steam as it rose from the bathtub. ‘Who could have done this for me, certainly not the houselves,” he thought as he undressed and sank into the warm water. There was something different about this bath, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. It was the warmest bath he had ever taken, not hot as if to scald, just warm; a warmth that reached his very bones. Once out of the tub he dressed, and climbed into bed thinking that for some reason he didn’t feel as lonely as before. If only Albus could have seen the woman of his dreams smile, and quietly close his bedroom door.
When Albus awoke the next morning he was pleasantly surprised to see a tray beside of his bed filled with all of his favorite breakfast foods. The fire had been put out, and now on the chair, where his nightshirt had been before, were his dressing gown and slippers. Sitting up in bed Albus noticed an extra pillow had been placed behind his head, as well as an extra blanket on his bed. Albus was running through all the people in his mind who could have done this for him when he caught a whiff of a familiar scent on the air. Smelling the air again he identified it as a mix of vanilla and ginger; immediately he associated the two scents with Minerva but before he could get out of bed the scent was gone.
Disappointed. That’s how he felt now knowing Minerva would never be in his rooms. Albus eventually got to work, and was about to go see Minerva when he got an urgent owl from the ministry requesting his immediate presence at a meeting. Sighing Albus thought he could at least say good-bye to her, but when he went to her rooms she wasn’t there. Albus spent twenty minutes looking for Minerva, and was peeved that she didn’t tell him where she had gone. Deciding he needed to leave Albus left without ever seeing her. Watching from his office window Minerva was disconcerted at the droop of his shoulders as he walked across the school grounds, and she hoped he would be happy with her later.
Albus returned to Hogwarts late again, and considerably more depressed than the previous evening. Upon entering his sitting room he noticed a book and mug of his favorite hot chocolate sitting by his chair. At first he was going to forgo the treat, but changed his mind and settled down to relax. Looking up at the clock and hour later he saw that is was one, and time to head for bed. Once again his room had been prepared for his arrival, with the only change being his night apparel was beside of the tub rather than on the chair. Deciding he could sleep in in the morning Albus took his time in the bathtub revealing, once again, in the water’s warmth.
When Albus opened the bathroom door he thought he was dreaming. There standing by his bed was Minerva, hair down and wearing one of his nightshirts. Albus just stood there staring at her until he finally muttered, “You’re a dream, this is all a dream, and tomorrow I’ll wake up to the harsh truth, a dream.” He was so sure it wasn’t real until Minerva touched him, first his hand then his arm, and finally his face. “I’m not a dream, Albus. I’m very real, unless you want me to disappear,” she suggested anxiously.
“NO!” Albus shouted, but then dropped his gaze and whispered again, “No, I don’t want you to go.”
Minerva used her hand to raise his chin and tracing his features replied, “Good, because I don’t want to.” Then she kissed him exactly how he had dreamed she would. They stood there kissing for several moments, gently exploring and enjoying the taste and feel of the other. When they broke apart Minerva led Albus to the bed, motioning him to lie down. Doing as instructed he watched as she moved to the other side, sitting up in the bed.
“Come here, Albus,” she spoke softly as she held her arms opened for him. Albus couldn’t believe it, and in fact a part of him still believed that when he awoke the next morning her beautiful vision would be gone, but for now he was going to enjoy her arms wrapped around him as he pillowed his head against her bosom.
“How was your day, Albus?” Minerva asked as she began running her fingers through his hair.
“Except for this morning and now not that great, Fudge needed me, again, and everything was a mess.”
“I’m sorry, Darling. Just go to sleep, Albus. Just go to sleep.” Minerva continued to stroke his hair and gently massage his scalp as he drifted off to sleep, but before he was completely gone he heard her whisper: “I love you, Albus. Forever and Always.”
“I love you too, my kitten.”
When he awoke the next morning Albus was alone. He knew it. Last night was too perfect for it to have been real, but it had felt so real. He started to cry. Albus Dumbledore could not remember the last time he cried, but he needed to now thinking it had all been a dream. Because of his sobs Albus never heard Minerva enter until her sweet voice reached his ears: “Albus, darling, what is wrong?”
Turning quickly Albus grabbed Minerva and kissed her fiercely while pulling her down on the bed. When he released her lips he hugged her tight to him.
“Not that I mind the affection, but what’s wrong?” Minerva asked wiping the last of his tears away.
“I thought it was a dream, and I couldn’t take it. You have no idea how long I have loved you, and how all I’ve ever wanted is you to come home to and then I thought I had finally gotten it only to find you gone this morning.”
Minerva had tears in her eyes as he finished his response, and she immediately hugged him and said, “I was just getting us some breakfast, I’m sorry. I-I’ve loved you for ages, Albus, and I’ve always waited up for you. You just never knew it.”
“Minerva, do you think we could…I mean do you think you could stay…” taking a deep breath he finally spat it out, “Do you think we could live together? I mean I don’t expect anything, I just want to hold you at night.” Minerva thought he looked so cute when he was embarrassed, and unsure.
“Albus, I would love to live with you.” Albus looked up quickly and when realization hit that she wasn’t kidding he smiled.
“You’ll never be alone again Albus.”
“And you’ll never be alone again, my love.”
They sealed the promise with a kiss.
Lonely. If Albus Dumbledore was asked to describe how he felt at this moment in time when he was riding by carriage in one of the worst rainstorms all summer toward his beloved Hogwarts it would be lonely. He longed to have someone wait up for his return, someone he could hold at the end of the day, comforted by her warmth, and who would hold him when he needed to be held. Whenever he was away from Hogwarts he knew he was missed, but it wasn’t the same. To be missed by friends and colleagues does not compare to being missed by that one person you love more than life itself.
On nights like this Albus would get lost in his thoughts, and every time he felt lonely he would think of her, and it was always the same image. Her long black hair out of its day-to-day confines and falling over her shoulders down to her waist, and she would be wearing one of his oversized nightshirts as she awaited his return and upon his return he would be greeted with a kiss so loving he would never fear the cold again.
Minerva, ‘Kitten’ as he called her when talking to Fawkes, was the object of his affection, his desires, and his dreams.
Pulling out his watch he knew she would be in bed by now, and he would have to wait till tomorrow to see her. Albus Dumbledore could no pinpoint the day he fell in love with his deputy headmistress and best friend, Minerva McGonagall, but he had fallen, and fallen hard. Though he longed for another body to share his bed he knew unless it was her slim but womanly frame beside of his the loneliness would never go away.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden stopping of the carriage, and Albus knew he was home. Entering the front hall not a soul was in sight and he knew no one would be there, after all it was one in the morning, but Albus Dumbledore was a man who hoped. Sometimes he was hurt more by hoping, because his dreams would be left unfulfilled and smashed like a ship on a beach’s rocks which had fallen prey to the counterfeit calmness of the ocean; always giving in to the security of the wave less sea only to be torn apart when it was the farthest from home. Walking quickly to his office he made for his bedroom, because he could see her in his dreams.
Albus was shocked when he entered his room, and stopped abruptly in the doorway. His bed had been turned down, a fire was going, and his nightclothes had been laid out on the bed. Looking to his left he noticed the bathroom door was a jar, and pushing it open slowly he could make out the steam as it rose from the bathtub. ‘Who could have done this for me, certainly not the houselves,” he thought as he undressed and sank into the warm water. There was something different about this bath, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. It was the warmest bath he had ever taken, not hot as if to scald, just warm; a warmth that reached his very bones. Once out of the tub he dressed, and climbed into bed thinking that for some reason he didn’t feel as lonely as before. If only Albus could have seen the woman of his dreams smile, and quietly close his bedroom door.
When Albus awoke the next morning he was pleasantly surprised to see a tray beside of his bed filled with all of his favorite breakfast foods. The fire had been put out, and now on the chair, where his nightshirt had been before, were his dressing gown and slippers. Sitting up in bed Albus noticed an extra pillow had been placed behind his head, as well as an extra blanket on his bed. Albus was running through all the people in his mind who could have done this for him when he caught a whiff of a familiar scent on the air. Smelling the air again he identified it as a mix of vanilla and ginger; immediately he associated the two scents with Minerva but before he could get out of bed the scent was gone.
Disappointed. That’s how he felt now knowing Minerva would never be in his rooms. Albus eventually got to work, and was about to go see Minerva when he got an urgent owl from the ministry requesting his immediate presence at a meeting. Sighing Albus thought he could at least say good-bye to her, but when he went to her rooms she wasn’t there. Albus spent twenty minutes looking for Minerva, and was peeved that she didn’t tell him where she had gone. Deciding he needed to leave Albus left without ever seeing her. Watching from his office window Minerva was disconcerted at the droop of his shoulders as he walked across the school grounds, and she hoped he would be happy with her later.
Albus returned to Hogwarts late again, and considerably more depressed than the previous evening. Upon entering his sitting room he noticed a book and mug of his favorite hot chocolate sitting by his chair. At first he was going to forgo the treat, but changed his mind and settled down to relax. Looking up at the clock and hour later he saw that is was one, and time to head for bed. Once again his room had been prepared for his arrival, with the only change being his night apparel was beside of the tub rather than on the chair. Deciding he could sleep in in the morning Albus took his time in the bathtub revealing, once again, in the water’s warmth.
When Albus opened the bathroom door he thought he was dreaming. There standing by his bed was Minerva, hair down and wearing one of his nightshirts. Albus just stood there staring at her until he finally muttered, “You’re a dream, this is all a dream, and tomorrow I’ll wake up to the harsh truth, a dream.” He was so sure it wasn’t real until Minerva touched him, first his hand then his arm, and finally his face. “I’m not a dream, Albus. I’m very real, unless you want me to disappear,” she suggested anxiously.
“NO!” Albus shouted, but then dropped his gaze and whispered again, “No, I don’t want you to go.”
Minerva used her hand to raise his chin and tracing his features replied, “Good, because I don’t want to.” Then she kissed him exactly how he had dreamed she would. They stood there kissing for several moments, gently exploring and enjoying the taste and feel of the other. When they broke apart Minerva led Albus to the bed, motioning him to lie down. Doing as instructed he watched as she moved to the other side, sitting up in the bed.
“Come here, Albus,” she spoke softly as she held her arms opened for him. Albus couldn’t believe it, and in fact a part of him still believed that when he awoke the next morning her beautiful vision would be gone, but for now he was going to enjoy her arms wrapped around him as he pillowed his head against her bosom.
“How was your day, Albus?” Minerva asked as she began running her fingers through his hair.
“Except for this morning and now not that great, Fudge needed me, again, and everything was a mess.”
“I’m sorry, Darling. Just go to sleep, Albus. Just go to sleep.” Minerva continued to stroke his hair and gently massage his scalp as he drifted off to sleep, but before he was completely gone he heard her whisper: “I love you, Albus. Forever and Always.”
“I love you too, my kitten.”
When he awoke the next morning Albus was alone. He knew it. Last night was too perfect for it to have been real, but it had felt so real. He started to cry. Albus Dumbledore could not remember the last time he cried, but he needed to now thinking it had all been a dream. Because of his sobs Albus never heard Minerva enter until her sweet voice reached his ears: “Albus, darling, what is wrong?”
Turning quickly Albus grabbed Minerva and kissed her fiercely while pulling her down on the bed. When he released her lips he hugged her tight to him.
“Not that I mind the affection, but what’s wrong?” Minerva asked wiping the last of his tears away.
“I thought it was a dream, and I couldn’t take it. You have no idea how long I have loved you, and how all I’ve ever wanted is you to come home to and then I thought I had finally gotten it only to find you gone this morning.”
Minerva had tears in her eyes as he finished his response, and she immediately hugged him and said, “I was just getting us some breakfast, I’m sorry. I-I’ve loved you for ages, Albus, and I’ve always waited up for you. You just never knew it.”
“Minerva, do you think we could…I mean do you think you could stay…” taking a deep breath he finally spat it out, “Do you think we could live together? I mean I don’t expect anything, I just want to hold you at night.” Minerva thought he looked so cute when he was embarrassed, and unsure.
“Albus, I would love to live with you.” Albus looked up quickly and when realization hit that she wasn’t kidding he smiled.
“You’ll never be alone again Albus.”
“And you’ll never be alone again, my love.”
They sealed the promise with a kiss.
Wonderful done! 
*
