Post by Sensiblyquirky on Feb 17, 2005 14:16:05 GMT -5
Chapter Fourteen
Thank you to Lies for all her help with the Latin words, and phrases!!
Fudge proved to be what Minerva thought: a thorn in Albus’ side, but the Headmaster was patient with the new Minister and offered as much help as he could. As he tried to tell Minerva it gave him more input on policies that shaped their world without actually being the Minister, so there were some good consequences to the constant badgering.
Deep into the school year Albus and Minerva were busy with their various school functions, and Albus had made several trips to the Ministry that Minerva had to admit she was never happy about but she tried to remind herself that she had so much of Albus’ time she had to share him some.
One such afternoon that Albus had left the castle Minerva was doing some inventory on supplies for the classrooms, and was currently shut up in the storeroom so she could get it all done without multiple interruptions. Reaching back into the cabinet she pulled out a group of various sized skulls. Annoyed that someone had placed them in the cabinet without putting them in a box Minerva set them on the ground to enclose them and reduce their size as well to create more space.
Unfortunately she sneezed as she said the two words that would reduce and enclose the skulls, “Minere Circumuenire,” the jolt causing Minerva to stumble backwards and the spell to hit the wall and not the box.
Sighing she straightened herself out before she took time to notice that the room didn’t seem quite as big as usual. Watching the walls carefully she noticed they were moving towards her. Minerva’s eyes widened and she tried to stop the movement of the walls. When that didn’t work she attempted to enlarge the room in an attempt to counter act the reduction. At first it seemed to work, but if Minerva dropped her wand the walls moved in again.
Deciding it was simply time to get out of the room Minerva rushed to the door only to find it locked, and she was unable to open it. For the first time panic started to take place as she looked around her. Raising her fists Minerva did the only thing she could she started to bang on the door.
It wasn’t long before a group of students heard it.
“This is Professor McGonagall, I’m trapped in here and I need you to alert another Professor immediately. Please there isn’t time to waste.” Above her words it was the slight tremor of fear the students noticed in their teacher’s voice that sent two of them to fetch the nearest Professor while the other two attempted to unlock the door.
Soon the entire Hogwarts staff, save Albus, was outside of the door and all of the students were in their common rooms excitedly discussing the various rumors they heard. Sam Morgan heard it was a monster, Audrey Edwards heard a teacher had finally gone mad and the professors had locked him/her up, and Eleanor McDougal was positive it was an ancient evil and they would all have to be sent home immediately.
As soon as the room started to change the castle had locked the door in an effort to protect itself, and Albus knew instantly that something was wrong. Excusing himself, stating emergency, he raced back to Hogwarts hoping he wasn’t too late.
He ran down the hall till he found the staff, and immediately noted Minerva wasn’t there.
“Where’s Minerva?” he asked breathlessly.
Reluctantly Poppy pointed in the direction of the room, and explained what she knew.
“Minerva?”
On the inside of the room Minerva was in full panic mode now. No one had been able to get her out, and the walls were too close for comfort. Pressed up against the door she started when she heard Albus’ voice.
“Albus!”
“What happened, Minerva? I need to know the spell.”
“I-I said Minere circumuenire, but I sneezed and it hit the walls. I’ve tried everything Albus the door won’t open, and the walls are getting so close. Please get me out of here, please,” Minerva pleaded frantically.
Albus ran a shaky hand through his hair, something the staff had never seen him do. “I have to stop the shrinking before the door will open,” he mumbled to himself but most of the staff had heard him; now Minerva wasn’t the only one who was afraid.
“Augere,” Albus cried putting all his might into the spell.
“It didn’t work, Albus.” Minerva whispered through the door. The walls were so close now.
He tried two more spells before he heard Minerva start to cry. In a resigned tone she whispered, “I love you, Albus.”
“Do not give up!” he practically roared causing many of the female staff members to jump. “I will get you out of there, I’m not going to loose you.”
Forcing his mind to run through every possible spell, and combination of spells he knew Albus finally yelled, “Libera borreum circumventi!” A bright blue light converged on the door, and it finally flew open.
The staff watched in silence as Minerva bolted from the room into Albus’ arms. She was sobbing uncontrollably into his chest, and clinging to him for dear life. No one had ever seen her loose control like this, and Albus wasn’t much better. They could tell his hands were still shaking as he ran them up and down her back trying to mold her to his form.
“I was so scared,” Minerva cried.
“I know so was I,” Albus admitted softly. “I was so afraid I wouldn’t be able to figure out how to get you out in time.” Turning to the staff Albus instructed that they would not be appearing at dinner tonight, and to tell the students that no serious damage has been done and all occupants of the castle are safe.
Leading Minerva back to “his” rooms Albus held her all night as she tried to calm down, and get some sleep.
Wakening the next morning Albus had decided it was time to propose to Minerva. His mind had been returning to the idea as of late, and yesterday was the catalyst Albus needed to commit fully to the idea.
So that Saturday he left a calm Minerva to quickly visit this antique jewelry shop he knew of in a small town in Scotland. Once there it didn’t take Albus long to find just the perfect ring for Minerva. White gold, a center round diamond was surrounded by six other opal size diamonds so it appeared as a cluster. Only the diamonds surrounding the one in the middle had faint rose tints to them making the ring very valuable. There was intricate metal working around the cluster of diamonds to make the ring even more special. Not a poor man Albus bought the ring knowing that there was no need to hoard his money for the grave, and he used none of it for room or board and rarely for food or even clothes anymore. Various store dealers would give him things for free.
Returning to Hogwarts he had time to set a table out on his balcony, off of the observatory, and have the elves send up a delicious meal. Choosing to wear a conservative set of midnight blue robes Albus retrieved Minerva only after making sure the ring was in his inside pocket.
“Darling I thought we could use a romantic dinner after the ordeal of this week,” Albus whispered before kissing her shoulder as he stood behind her on the balcony.
“Oh Albus this is beautiful. You got back early today, didn’t you?”
“Well yes, but I wanted it to be a surprise, do you like it?” he asked apprehensively suddenly rather nervous.
“I love it,” she replied turning around to capture his lips in a gentle kiss.
They spent the dinner discussing a variety of topics, and Albus insisted on feeding Minerva more than once. She did notice over dessert he missed her mouth more than once, something she was sure he did not do on accident.
Before she could get up from the table Albus took one of her hands in his. “Minerva, you know I love you. The brightest points in my day always involve seeing your beautiful face, and spending every moment with you that I can. You have made me happier than I ever remember feeling, and I only hope you will give me the chance to do the same to you for the rest of my time here on earth.”
Sliding from the table he kneeled before her, and pulled the ring out from his robes. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Marry me, Minerva.”
When he opened the box Minerva gasped at the beauty of the ring, and glanced back up to Albus’ face. “Oh Albus, are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” He answered honestly.
That was all she needed to here, and Minerva whispered a yes before sinking to the ground and throwing her arms around his neck. “Yes, yes I’ll marry you.”
Slipping the ring on her finger Albus engaged Minerva in the first of many sensuous kisses that night as they celebrated their engagement.
Thank you to Lies for all her help with the Latin words, and phrases!!
Fudge proved to be what Minerva thought: a thorn in Albus’ side, but the Headmaster was patient with the new Minister and offered as much help as he could. As he tried to tell Minerva it gave him more input on policies that shaped their world without actually being the Minister, so there were some good consequences to the constant badgering.
Deep into the school year Albus and Minerva were busy with their various school functions, and Albus had made several trips to the Ministry that Minerva had to admit she was never happy about but she tried to remind herself that she had so much of Albus’ time she had to share him some.
One such afternoon that Albus had left the castle Minerva was doing some inventory on supplies for the classrooms, and was currently shut up in the storeroom so she could get it all done without multiple interruptions. Reaching back into the cabinet she pulled out a group of various sized skulls. Annoyed that someone had placed them in the cabinet without putting them in a box Minerva set them on the ground to enclose them and reduce their size as well to create more space.
Unfortunately she sneezed as she said the two words that would reduce and enclose the skulls, “Minere Circumuenire,” the jolt causing Minerva to stumble backwards and the spell to hit the wall and not the box.
Sighing she straightened herself out before she took time to notice that the room didn’t seem quite as big as usual. Watching the walls carefully she noticed they were moving towards her. Minerva’s eyes widened and she tried to stop the movement of the walls. When that didn’t work she attempted to enlarge the room in an attempt to counter act the reduction. At first it seemed to work, but if Minerva dropped her wand the walls moved in again.
Deciding it was simply time to get out of the room Minerva rushed to the door only to find it locked, and she was unable to open it. For the first time panic started to take place as she looked around her. Raising her fists Minerva did the only thing she could she started to bang on the door.
It wasn’t long before a group of students heard it.
“This is Professor McGonagall, I’m trapped in here and I need you to alert another Professor immediately. Please there isn’t time to waste.” Above her words it was the slight tremor of fear the students noticed in their teacher’s voice that sent two of them to fetch the nearest Professor while the other two attempted to unlock the door.
Soon the entire Hogwarts staff, save Albus, was outside of the door and all of the students were in their common rooms excitedly discussing the various rumors they heard. Sam Morgan heard it was a monster, Audrey Edwards heard a teacher had finally gone mad and the professors had locked him/her up, and Eleanor McDougal was positive it was an ancient evil and they would all have to be sent home immediately.
As soon as the room started to change the castle had locked the door in an effort to protect itself, and Albus knew instantly that something was wrong. Excusing himself, stating emergency, he raced back to Hogwarts hoping he wasn’t too late.
He ran down the hall till he found the staff, and immediately noted Minerva wasn’t there.
“Where’s Minerva?” he asked breathlessly.
Reluctantly Poppy pointed in the direction of the room, and explained what she knew.
“Minerva?”
On the inside of the room Minerva was in full panic mode now. No one had been able to get her out, and the walls were too close for comfort. Pressed up against the door she started when she heard Albus’ voice.
“Albus!”
“What happened, Minerva? I need to know the spell.”
“I-I said Minere circumuenire, but I sneezed and it hit the walls. I’ve tried everything Albus the door won’t open, and the walls are getting so close. Please get me out of here, please,” Minerva pleaded frantically.
Albus ran a shaky hand through his hair, something the staff had never seen him do. “I have to stop the shrinking before the door will open,” he mumbled to himself but most of the staff had heard him; now Minerva wasn’t the only one who was afraid.
“Augere,” Albus cried putting all his might into the spell.
“It didn’t work, Albus.” Minerva whispered through the door. The walls were so close now.
He tried two more spells before he heard Minerva start to cry. In a resigned tone she whispered, “I love you, Albus.”
“Do not give up!” he practically roared causing many of the female staff members to jump. “I will get you out of there, I’m not going to loose you.”
Forcing his mind to run through every possible spell, and combination of spells he knew Albus finally yelled, “Libera borreum circumventi!” A bright blue light converged on the door, and it finally flew open.
The staff watched in silence as Minerva bolted from the room into Albus’ arms. She was sobbing uncontrollably into his chest, and clinging to him for dear life. No one had ever seen her loose control like this, and Albus wasn’t much better. They could tell his hands were still shaking as he ran them up and down her back trying to mold her to his form.
“I was so scared,” Minerva cried.
“I know so was I,” Albus admitted softly. “I was so afraid I wouldn’t be able to figure out how to get you out in time.” Turning to the staff Albus instructed that they would not be appearing at dinner tonight, and to tell the students that no serious damage has been done and all occupants of the castle are safe.
Leading Minerva back to “his” rooms Albus held her all night as she tried to calm down, and get some sleep.
Wakening the next morning Albus had decided it was time to propose to Minerva. His mind had been returning to the idea as of late, and yesterday was the catalyst Albus needed to commit fully to the idea.
So that Saturday he left a calm Minerva to quickly visit this antique jewelry shop he knew of in a small town in Scotland. Once there it didn’t take Albus long to find just the perfect ring for Minerva. White gold, a center round diamond was surrounded by six other opal size diamonds so it appeared as a cluster. Only the diamonds surrounding the one in the middle had faint rose tints to them making the ring very valuable. There was intricate metal working around the cluster of diamonds to make the ring even more special. Not a poor man Albus bought the ring knowing that there was no need to hoard his money for the grave, and he used none of it for room or board and rarely for food or even clothes anymore. Various store dealers would give him things for free.
Returning to Hogwarts he had time to set a table out on his balcony, off of the observatory, and have the elves send up a delicious meal. Choosing to wear a conservative set of midnight blue robes Albus retrieved Minerva only after making sure the ring was in his inside pocket.
“Darling I thought we could use a romantic dinner after the ordeal of this week,” Albus whispered before kissing her shoulder as he stood behind her on the balcony.
“Oh Albus this is beautiful. You got back early today, didn’t you?”
“Well yes, but I wanted it to be a surprise, do you like it?” he asked apprehensively suddenly rather nervous.
“I love it,” she replied turning around to capture his lips in a gentle kiss.
They spent the dinner discussing a variety of topics, and Albus insisted on feeding Minerva more than once. She did notice over dessert he missed her mouth more than once, something she was sure he did not do on accident.
Before she could get up from the table Albus took one of her hands in his. “Minerva, you know I love you. The brightest points in my day always involve seeing your beautiful face, and spending every moment with you that I can. You have made me happier than I ever remember feeling, and I only hope you will give me the chance to do the same to you for the rest of my time here on earth.”
Sliding from the table he kneeled before her, and pulled the ring out from his robes. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Marry me, Minerva.”
When he opened the box Minerva gasped at the beauty of the ring, and glanced back up to Albus’ face. “Oh Albus, are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” He answered honestly.
That was all she needed to here, and Minerva whispered a yes before sinking to the ground and throwing her arms around his neck. “Yes, yes I’ll marry you.”
Slipping the ring on her finger Albus engaged Minerva in the first of many sensuous kisses that night as they celebrated their engagement.
Nice update.
