Post by Kandice on Dec 13, 2004 11:28:39 GMT -5
The Ring (Challenge #15)
Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall stared at the Dumbledore Manor in dismay. Aberforth had been in residence for the past few months while his rooms at the Hog’s Head were being enlarged.
Albus knew his brother would bring his goats along but he didn’t believe they would stay inside. There were several acres of land where they could have roamed but Aberforth had given them free run of the house.
Minerva gave his hand a squeeze. “Albus, it isn’t so bad. Most of it is cosmetic and simple to repair. A coat of paint, a bit of wallpaper, and a few more odds and ends and it will look better than new.”
Albus didn’t look too sure. “I’m really not good with decorations and such. I can figure out what needs to be done but I don’t know how to make it all come together so it looks nice.”
“You just need a bit of a woman’s flair. I’ll help you,” decided Minerva.
Albus shook his head. “This will take at least a week. I can’t steal your entire spring holiday from you.”
“Well, you need me. You’re head of Gryffindor house and have to sleep at the school. I can stay here.”
Albus frowned. “I can’t have you stay here. Maybe if you apparated here each day?” He cocked his head at her but she was firm.
“It’s difficult enough getting here through your wards with you by my side. Can you imagine how hard it would be without you? I’ll be fine here. You can join me after breakfast and leave in time to have dinner at the castle.”
“You can’t eat your meals alone,” protested Albus.
“You may provide lunch each day. I can manage.” She smiled engagingly at him and he weakened.
The first two days of the spring holiday was spent tossing out everything damaged beyond repair. Albus was rather upset at discarding some of the furnishings that had meant so much to him. He had taken Minerva on a tour of the place that first day and pointed out the rooms to her. They had immediately chosen a guest room for her that had remained goat free. Actually several rooms were untouched on the third floor.
Currently they were clearing out the master suite.
“This room definitely needs paint. I’ll go grab the buckets and paint tins,” offered Albus.
Minerva surveyed the room with a critical eye. It was lovely if you overlooked the obvious. The room was very large with a wall of windows on one side that brightened the room with natural light. The furniture was a bit ornate but tasteful. She opened several dresser drawers and to her delight found a box containing several pieces of jewelry. Albus would have to take this back to the castle with him.
Albus returned and Minerva immediately showed him the box.
“Aberforth told me he couldn’t find it. It’s doubtful he ever looked.” Albus shook his head and opened the box. He cried with delight and picked out a diamond ring.
“This was my mother’s wedding ring.” He pointed out.
Minerva took the ring from him and examined it. It was beautiful; a diamond solitaire with a sapphire on either side of it.
“Let’s get to work.”
Minerva reluctantly replaced the ring in the box and began removing pictures from the walls. Several times through the course of the day she returned to look at the ring again. Her slim fingers immediately took on an elegance she had never achieved with the ring held up against it. The ring would be simply stunning on her hand. She admired it for several minutes before Albus called for her. She quickly slipped the ring on her finger and took in a big breath of air. Stunning was not the word, it was exquisite.
“What are you doing? I’ve been calling for hours.” Albus came into the room and Minerva looked up guiltily.
“I was making sure everything was out so we can paint.”
“Good. Wear these gloves. I don’t want you to soil your hands.” Albus held out a pair of gloves and Minerva took it with her ring free hand. Albus was watching so Minerva quickly pulled the gloves on and helped him carry in the paint tins.
Two hours later the room was coated in a fresh color and the breeze blowing through the windows was helping to dry the paint quickly. Albus didn’t want to use drying charms as they caused the paint to fade sometimes. Albus suggested calling it quits for the day.
“I’ve brought us a supper and thought we could eat on the grounds before it gets dark,” he suggested.
“Let me get cleaned up and I’ll meet you at the pond,” agreed Minerva. She banished the last of the painting supplies to the tool shed and headed for the guest room. Entering the bath she removed her gloves and began washing up.
It sure looked naked without the ring on it. She paused in her washing and slowly tried to remember removing the ring. Not wanting to panic when she couldn’t remember doing so, she picked up the gloves she had worn and searched inside. No ring was found. Minerva ran to the master suite and began looking around. Oh no! The ring was lost. It was probably very valuable not to mention the sentiment that went along with it.
Minerva moved slowly downstairs. If she could keep Albus occupied until it was dark. He might not notice. He would leave for Hogwarts and she would be free to search at will. She could find the ring before he returned in the morning.
It was hard keeping Albus out of the house. She had eaten as slowly as possible and dragged out the meal as long as possible. She insisted on a walk around the grounds and it was very dark by the time they returned. As soon as she entered the house she claimed to be fatigued from all the work and was heading to bed. He had apparated away within minutes and Minerva began her search.
Morning came and Minerva was still searching. She had stayed up all night and her eyes were red from bouts of weeping as she gave in to despair at times. The house was huge and she had been in nearly every room yesterday.
Albus found her on her knees in the master suite feeling around on the carpet with her hands. Tears blurred her vision and she could no longer see. He quickly pulled her to her feet.
“What is it, Minerva?”
“I’ve lost your mum’s ring. I’ve searched all night and I can’t find it.” She was crying in earnest and Albus held her to him.
“Minerva, my mother’s ring is charmed to disappear once it’s on its owner’s finger. Only her true love would be able to see it.” He lifted her hand and removed the ring from her finger.
“You won’t be able to see it on your finger again unless we marry,” he smiled.
“It was there all the time?” Minerva hiccoughed and gave a sniff. “Why would it disappear on my finger?”
“Because you are my true love,” he whispered. “It only disappears on its owner’s hand, I told you. You are its rightful owner.” He smiled gently.
Minerva gave a yawn.
Albus chuckled. “That’s not exactly the response I expected.”
Minerva blushed and placed her head against his chest.
“Come, there’s no chance of working today. You need to rest.” Albus led her to the third floor and pulled back the bedcovers. “I’ll return later.”
“No, don’t go,” she pleaded. “I’ve never had a true love before. I need to get used to the idea.”
He sat on the bed and covered her before kissing her softly. “Go to sleep. I’ll stay here until you wake.”
Minerva closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep anxious for her dreams to come.
Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall stared at the Dumbledore Manor in dismay. Aberforth had been in residence for the past few months while his rooms at the Hog’s Head were being enlarged.
Albus knew his brother would bring his goats along but he didn’t believe they would stay inside. There were several acres of land where they could have roamed but Aberforth had given them free run of the house.
Minerva gave his hand a squeeze. “Albus, it isn’t so bad. Most of it is cosmetic and simple to repair. A coat of paint, a bit of wallpaper, and a few more odds and ends and it will look better than new.”
Albus didn’t look too sure. “I’m really not good with decorations and such. I can figure out what needs to be done but I don’t know how to make it all come together so it looks nice.”
“You just need a bit of a woman’s flair. I’ll help you,” decided Minerva.
Albus shook his head. “This will take at least a week. I can’t steal your entire spring holiday from you.”
“Well, you need me. You’re head of Gryffindor house and have to sleep at the school. I can stay here.”
Albus frowned. “I can’t have you stay here. Maybe if you apparated here each day?” He cocked his head at her but she was firm.
“It’s difficult enough getting here through your wards with you by my side. Can you imagine how hard it would be without you? I’ll be fine here. You can join me after breakfast and leave in time to have dinner at the castle.”
“You can’t eat your meals alone,” protested Albus.
“You may provide lunch each day. I can manage.” She smiled engagingly at him and he weakened.
The first two days of the spring holiday was spent tossing out everything damaged beyond repair. Albus was rather upset at discarding some of the furnishings that had meant so much to him. He had taken Minerva on a tour of the place that first day and pointed out the rooms to her. They had immediately chosen a guest room for her that had remained goat free. Actually several rooms were untouched on the third floor.
Currently they were clearing out the master suite.
“This room definitely needs paint. I’ll go grab the buckets and paint tins,” offered Albus.
Minerva surveyed the room with a critical eye. It was lovely if you overlooked the obvious. The room was very large with a wall of windows on one side that brightened the room with natural light. The furniture was a bit ornate but tasteful. She opened several dresser drawers and to her delight found a box containing several pieces of jewelry. Albus would have to take this back to the castle with him.
Albus returned and Minerva immediately showed him the box.
“Aberforth told me he couldn’t find it. It’s doubtful he ever looked.” Albus shook his head and opened the box. He cried with delight and picked out a diamond ring.
“This was my mother’s wedding ring.” He pointed out.
Minerva took the ring from him and examined it. It was beautiful; a diamond solitaire with a sapphire on either side of it.
“Let’s get to work.”
Minerva reluctantly replaced the ring in the box and began removing pictures from the walls. Several times through the course of the day she returned to look at the ring again. Her slim fingers immediately took on an elegance she had never achieved with the ring held up against it. The ring would be simply stunning on her hand. She admired it for several minutes before Albus called for her. She quickly slipped the ring on her finger and took in a big breath of air. Stunning was not the word, it was exquisite.
“What are you doing? I’ve been calling for hours.” Albus came into the room and Minerva looked up guiltily.
“I was making sure everything was out so we can paint.”
“Good. Wear these gloves. I don’t want you to soil your hands.” Albus held out a pair of gloves and Minerva took it with her ring free hand. Albus was watching so Minerva quickly pulled the gloves on and helped him carry in the paint tins.
Two hours later the room was coated in a fresh color and the breeze blowing through the windows was helping to dry the paint quickly. Albus didn’t want to use drying charms as they caused the paint to fade sometimes. Albus suggested calling it quits for the day.
“I’ve brought us a supper and thought we could eat on the grounds before it gets dark,” he suggested.
“Let me get cleaned up and I’ll meet you at the pond,” agreed Minerva. She banished the last of the painting supplies to the tool shed and headed for the guest room. Entering the bath she removed her gloves and began washing up.
It sure looked naked without the ring on it. She paused in her washing and slowly tried to remember removing the ring. Not wanting to panic when she couldn’t remember doing so, she picked up the gloves she had worn and searched inside. No ring was found. Minerva ran to the master suite and began looking around. Oh no! The ring was lost. It was probably very valuable not to mention the sentiment that went along with it.
Minerva moved slowly downstairs. If she could keep Albus occupied until it was dark. He might not notice. He would leave for Hogwarts and she would be free to search at will. She could find the ring before he returned in the morning.
It was hard keeping Albus out of the house. She had eaten as slowly as possible and dragged out the meal as long as possible. She insisted on a walk around the grounds and it was very dark by the time they returned. As soon as she entered the house she claimed to be fatigued from all the work and was heading to bed. He had apparated away within minutes and Minerva began her search.
Morning came and Minerva was still searching. She had stayed up all night and her eyes were red from bouts of weeping as she gave in to despair at times. The house was huge and she had been in nearly every room yesterday.
Albus found her on her knees in the master suite feeling around on the carpet with her hands. Tears blurred her vision and she could no longer see. He quickly pulled her to her feet.
“What is it, Minerva?”
“I’ve lost your mum’s ring. I’ve searched all night and I can’t find it.” She was crying in earnest and Albus held her to him.
“Minerva, my mother’s ring is charmed to disappear once it’s on its owner’s finger. Only her true love would be able to see it.” He lifted her hand and removed the ring from her finger.
“You won’t be able to see it on your finger again unless we marry,” he smiled.
“It was there all the time?” Minerva hiccoughed and gave a sniff. “Why would it disappear on my finger?”
“Because you are my true love,” he whispered. “It only disappears on its owner’s hand, I told you. You are its rightful owner.” He smiled gently.
Minerva gave a yawn.
Albus chuckled. “That’s not exactly the response I expected.”
Minerva blushed and placed her head against his chest.
“Come, there’s no chance of working today. You need to rest.” Albus led her to the third floor and pulled back the bedcovers. “I’ll return later.”
“No, don’t go,” she pleaded. “I’ve never had a true love before. I need to get used to the idea.”
He sat on the bed and covered her before kissing her softly. “Go to sleep. I’ll stay here until you wake.”
Minerva closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep anxious for her dreams to come.
!
