Post by Karlynne on Jan 18, 2005 21:06:16 GMT -5
Troubled Waters- Challenge Response #18
Minerva McGonagall stared out her sitting room window onto the grounds below. The entire staff was in the great lake swimming and cavorting about as if they hadn’t a care in the world. Even Severus Snape had waded up to his knees in the water and was lazily splashing water with his feet at the Giant Squid.
She felt foolish and childish about remaining in her rooms but she didn’t know what else to do. Albus had invited the entire staff to a picnic on the grounds following the end of term and it had become a weekly event to go for a swim in the lake after the staff meeting and before dinner.
The weather had certainly cooperated by sending the temperatures soaring into the nineties. The blazing sun had sent even the most reluctant to take a dip in the lake. Madame Sprout had donned a modest swimsuit and entered despite saying several times that she would never inflict anyone to suffer seeing her in swimming attire. Everyone had laughed and told her she was speaking nonsense and encouraged her to take advantage of the cool water.
The first two weeks had been easy to refuse going into the lake. She was still using her cane and no one thought it odd that she stayed on the bank underneath a large umbrella that shaded her from the sun.
She had complained softly of having cramps the next week and looked wistfully at the water so Albus had taken the hint that she wouldn’t be swimming with them the following day and had been extremely solicitous going so far as offering her a back rub.
Minerva took a seat in her favorite wing back chair and sighed. After the staff meeting she had claimed needing something from her room and had stayed. She was running out of excuses and racked her brain trying to come up with an idea. The very thought of just telling Albus that she couldn’t swim didn’t occur to her. In her animagus form she could swim quite well but she hated being in the water as a cat. Somehow the skill did not carry over into her human form.
She had never been so unsure of herself. It had been an awful school term but several good things had come from it. Her defense of Albus had opened his eyes and after he was once again forced to leave his beloved Hogwarts, he had returned to speak with her and to thank her for her willingness to stand beside him.
He had kissed her softly on the cheek and somehow she felt words escaping her mouth telling him how much she loved him. To say that he had been surprised would be an understatement. He had stared at her in shock and then was kissing her with such ardor that her bun had loosened and his hands had weaved its way through her tresses to the nape of her neck.
She smiled as she remembered how they had pressed so hard into each other seeking more, wanting to get closer. It had been difficult not to get carried away and he had backed away regretfully but he had assured her that he felt the same as she and their relationship as finally more than friends had begun.
She was certain they weren’t far from becoming more intimate as their passions were becoming harder to corral. Being the gentleman that he was, she was certain he was waiting for her to give him a sign.
The sound of knocking at her door pulled her away from her thoughts and she rose to answer the door.
Blue eyes twinkled brightly at her and she couldn’t stop smiling in return.
“I thought perhaps you got caught up in work and forgot to join us at the lake,” he rebuked gently.
“I got caught up in some plans,” she dropped her eyes and cast her mind about searching for anything to stop him from inviting her down. “I thought we might take a moonlit walk tonight and thought perhaps a meal here before we left.”
“Splendid idea, Minerva. When shall I return?”
Minerva was glad to find an excuse to spare her for another week and said playfully, “Whenever you’re hungry.”
His eyes darkened and the playful mood evaporated as the tension in the room increased. He slowly lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her hand.
“I’ll return at six,, then.” He had left before she could speak and it took several minutes before she moved. They were definitely going to have to take the next step soon. She hurried to the kitchens to arrange supper for she and Albus and returned to her rooms to bathe and prepare.
Dinner had gone off without a hitch. The roasted chicken was succulent. The potatoes crisp and the vegetables were his favorites. She made certain something chocolate and decadent was served for desert and they laughed as they discussed needing to walk several laps around Hogwarts to burn off the meal.
The night was warm and sticky as they left the castle hand in hand. Neither spoke much but conversation wasn’t necessary. Being together was important not where they went. Albus led her to the far end of the lake that wasn’t visible from the castle and they took a seat on the blanket he conjured.
They shared several kisses before they were once again losing themselves in the moment and Minerva broke away gasping for breath and trying to resist the urge to unbutton his robes.
Albus was having more trouble. His desire had reached the point of needing a cold shower or finishing what they started. He stared at the lake for a moment before making a suggestion, a compromise of sorts.
“It is a rather warm night and I know I am in need of cooling off. Perhaps you will join me in a swim?”
Minerva stammered as she tried to give a valid reason to decline taking a dip. “This isn’t very secluded. Anyone can walk by, and our suits aren’t here.”
“My dear, we can summon them easily or transfigure our robes or even go without.” He smiled at her and added. “The last seems particularly appealing at the moment.”
Minerva looked at him horrified. She had no arguments to refute his suggestions. She stood suddenly and bolted transforming into a cat as she made her way back to the castle.
It was several hours before she could stop scolding herself for being foolish and search for Albus to apologize. She would have to tell him she couldn’t swim. She went to his office and then entered his rooms but he was not in either place. She searched several places before leaving the castle and walking towards the lake.
Albus still sat in the same spot with his shoulders hunched and his head bowed. Her heart leapt as she noted the hurt he was trying to dispel by breathing deeply. She could hear his gasps before she reached him. Her steps slowed however as she realized he wasn’t breathing deeply, he was shaking. He was crying.
She lowered herself beside him and pulled him into her arms. His arms reached around her and she began kissing his face, his eyes, and finally his lips.
His tears stopped as the passion denied earlier flared to life again. This time neither stopped and only when they were spent did she separate from him.
“I thought I had scared you off and lost you,” he whispered in her ear as they cuddled close on the blanket.
“I was afraid to tell you I couldn’t swim.” Minerva turned around to face him. “I thought you would laugh and I didn’t want you to tease me about it. To think that someone my age can’t swim is awful.”
Albus pulled her closer and kissed her softly. “I can teach you whenever you desire, my love. I promise to make sure you don’t drown.”
Her answer was another kiss and she let it carry them into the night as each showed the other how much they cared.
Minerva McGonagall stared out her sitting room window onto the grounds below. The entire staff was in the great lake swimming and cavorting about as if they hadn’t a care in the world. Even Severus Snape had waded up to his knees in the water and was lazily splashing water with his feet at the Giant Squid.
She felt foolish and childish about remaining in her rooms but she didn’t know what else to do. Albus had invited the entire staff to a picnic on the grounds following the end of term and it had become a weekly event to go for a swim in the lake after the staff meeting and before dinner.
The weather had certainly cooperated by sending the temperatures soaring into the nineties. The blazing sun had sent even the most reluctant to take a dip in the lake. Madame Sprout had donned a modest swimsuit and entered despite saying several times that she would never inflict anyone to suffer seeing her in swimming attire. Everyone had laughed and told her she was speaking nonsense and encouraged her to take advantage of the cool water.
The first two weeks had been easy to refuse going into the lake. She was still using her cane and no one thought it odd that she stayed on the bank underneath a large umbrella that shaded her from the sun.
She had complained softly of having cramps the next week and looked wistfully at the water so Albus had taken the hint that she wouldn’t be swimming with them the following day and had been extremely solicitous going so far as offering her a back rub.
Minerva took a seat in her favorite wing back chair and sighed. After the staff meeting she had claimed needing something from her room and had stayed. She was running out of excuses and racked her brain trying to come up with an idea. The very thought of just telling Albus that she couldn’t swim didn’t occur to her. In her animagus form she could swim quite well but she hated being in the water as a cat. Somehow the skill did not carry over into her human form.
She had never been so unsure of herself. It had been an awful school term but several good things had come from it. Her defense of Albus had opened his eyes and after he was once again forced to leave his beloved Hogwarts, he had returned to speak with her and to thank her for her willingness to stand beside him.
He had kissed her softly on the cheek and somehow she felt words escaping her mouth telling him how much she loved him. To say that he had been surprised would be an understatement. He had stared at her in shock and then was kissing her with such ardor that her bun had loosened and his hands had weaved its way through her tresses to the nape of her neck.
She smiled as she remembered how they had pressed so hard into each other seeking more, wanting to get closer. It had been difficult not to get carried away and he had backed away regretfully but he had assured her that he felt the same as she and their relationship as finally more than friends had begun.
She was certain they weren’t far from becoming more intimate as their passions were becoming harder to corral. Being the gentleman that he was, she was certain he was waiting for her to give him a sign.
The sound of knocking at her door pulled her away from her thoughts and she rose to answer the door.
Blue eyes twinkled brightly at her and she couldn’t stop smiling in return.
“I thought perhaps you got caught up in work and forgot to join us at the lake,” he rebuked gently.
“I got caught up in some plans,” she dropped her eyes and cast her mind about searching for anything to stop him from inviting her down. “I thought we might take a moonlit walk tonight and thought perhaps a meal here before we left.”
“Splendid idea, Minerva. When shall I return?”
Minerva was glad to find an excuse to spare her for another week and said playfully, “Whenever you’re hungry.”
His eyes darkened and the playful mood evaporated as the tension in the room increased. He slowly lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her hand.
“I’ll return at six,, then.” He had left before she could speak and it took several minutes before she moved. They were definitely going to have to take the next step soon. She hurried to the kitchens to arrange supper for she and Albus and returned to her rooms to bathe and prepare.
Dinner had gone off without a hitch. The roasted chicken was succulent. The potatoes crisp and the vegetables were his favorites. She made certain something chocolate and decadent was served for desert and they laughed as they discussed needing to walk several laps around Hogwarts to burn off the meal.
The night was warm and sticky as they left the castle hand in hand. Neither spoke much but conversation wasn’t necessary. Being together was important not where they went. Albus led her to the far end of the lake that wasn’t visible from the castle and they took a seat on the blanket he conjured.
They shared several kisses before they were once again losing themselves in the moment and Minerva broke away gasping for breath and trying to resist the urge to unbutton his robes.
Albus was having more trouble. His desire had reached the point of needing a cold shower or finishing what they started. He stared at the lake for a moment before making a suggestion, a compromise of sorts.
“It is a rather warm night and I know I am in need of cooling off. Perhaps you will join me in a swim?”
Minerva stammered as she tried to give a valid reason to decline taking a dip. “This isn’t very secluded. Anyone can walk by, and our suits aren’t here.”
“My dear, we can summon them easily or transfigure our robes or even go without.” He smiled at her and added. “The last seems particularly appealing at the moment.”
Minerva looked at him horrified. She had no arguments to refute his suggestions. She stood suddenly and bolted transforming into a cat as she made her way back to the castle.
It was several hours before she could stop scolding herself for being foolish and search for Albus to apologize. She would have to tell him she couldn’t swim. She went to his office and then entered his rooms but he was not in either place. She searched several places before leaving the castle and walking towards the lake.
Albus still sat in the same spot with his shoulders hunched and his head bowed. Her heart leapt as she noted the hurt he was trying to dispel by breathing deeply. She could hear his gasps before she reached him. Her steps slowed however as she realized he wasn’t breathing deeply, he was shaking. He was crying.
She lowered herself beside him and pulled him into her arms. His arms reached around her and she began kissing his face, his eyes, and finally his lips.
His tears stopped as the passion denied earlier flared to life again. This time neither stopped and only when they were spent did she separate from him.
“I thought I had scared you off and lost you,” he whispered in her ear as they cuddled close on the blanket.
“I was afraid to tell you I couldn’t swim.” Minerva turned around to face him. “I thought you would laugh and I didn’t want you to tease me about it. To think that someone my age can’t swim is awful.”
Albus pulled her closer and kissed her softly. “I can teach you whenever you desire, my love. I promise to make sure you don’t drown.”
Her answer was another kiss and she let it carry them into the night as each showed the other how much they cared.
