Post by Krystal on Jan 31, 2005 12:17:43 GMT -5
Challenge #19
Another Set Of Eyes
Minerva’s head raged as she made her way towards the hospital wing. Her head pounded and she made sure her feet barely made a sound on the stone floor. This was the fourth evening in a row that she had such a headache and she was determined to discover the cause. She had minor headaches during the past few weeks but these blazing ones were nearly migraines.
The previous nights she had taken a pain potion, which had immediately taken her headache away but she didn’t want to continue treating the symptoms. She needed a cure. The only person she could think of to help was her best friend, Poppy Pomfrey, the school nurse.
The glare of the light in the hospital wing almost sent Minerva away but she put a hand across her eyes and stumbled towards Poppy’s office.
Not bothering to knock she entered and took a seat in front of the mediwitch’s desk. The potion was taking longer and longer to work but she was beginning to feel the effects of it now.
Poppy looked up as soon as she heard the door opening but relaxed when it was only Minerva. She hadn’t wanted another student in her care today. It had been an extremely busy one.
She was immediately concerned at the serious expression on Minerva’s face and quickly asked what was wrong.
“Poppy, I’ve been getting headaches often. I’ve been taking pain potions and it works but the headaches are increasing in duration and intensity. I fear its something awful that’s wrong with me.”
The mediwitch immediately led Minerva to the bed, reserved for Hogwarts staff, in the room next to her office. Minerva never willingly came to see her so she must have suffered a long time.
She made Minerva disrobe much to the Transfiguration Professor’s annoyance and began casting diagnostic spells over her. There was nothing to be found.
“Minerva, I want you to come to me before you take any potions. I fear it is interfering with my scans.” She helped Minerva changed back into her robes and offered her a hug.
“It may not be anything other than allergies or something minor. Tell me everything you can about the pains you are getting.”
Minerva began listing everything she could remember, when they first began appearing and how she felt it was stress from her job or from the war with Voldemort. It had seemed the most likely reasons but the headaches had continued through the summer and now with Voldemort defeated she still had them.
“Let me try something,” Poppy cast one more spell over her and let out a sigh. “I should have thought of this first.” She began casting about in a drawer beside the bed and withdrew a pair of glasses. “Try these on.”
Minerva frowned fiercely. “My own glasses are fine, Poppy.”
The mediwitch ignored her and placed them on Minerva’s face. She placed several charms on them and told Minerva to look at her.
Minerva couldn’t stop her gasp. Poppy stood before her much clearer than she had seen her in a long while.
“As we get older, our eyes may become weaker. You, my dear, need to go into Hogsmeade and have another pair made for you.” She spoke softly but firmly. “The headaches will not continue if you wear your new glasses.”
Minerva’s eyes filled and she turned her head away. She may not be a raving beauty but even she knew bifocal glasses would hardly add to her looks. She had turned sixty and it seems her body was already beginning to fall apart.
“Minerva, it isn’t the end of the world. I have heard you give a speech to students who suddenly needed eyewear, which would you prefer the headaches or the glasses?”
Minerva’s silence may Poppy sigh in exasperation before her face softened. “You aren’t growing old, you just need a little help.”
Minerva nodded and rose from the bed.
“Make sure you go tomorrow, Minerva. It’s Saturday and they are closed Sunday.”
Minerva left after assuring Poppy she would and headed towards the Headmaster’s office. She would have to inform Albus she needed to take a few hours off.
Albus had been most solicitous to her and offered to accompany her into town but Minerva quickly rejected that notion. She intended to only wear bifocals during class or when she was reading in her rooms. Albus would never know she had them if she had a say in the matter.
Over the next several weeks Minerva took to wearing the bifocals only when no other staff member was around. The students never noticed the change in her glasses, as they would hardly pay much attention to how she looked unless it was a drastic change. Unfortunately she had cancelled several chess matches with Albus. She hated disappointing him but she could only do without her bifocals for a short while before her head began hurting. Her old glasses were worn around her neck so she could switch if necessary and she would transfigure her bifocals into something else.
She wore her old glasses to meals and ignored Poppy’s frowns. The meals seldom lasted too long and she promptly switched glasses as soon as possible.
“Minerva?”
For a moment Minerva froze. She was in her office but wearing her bifocals and Albus was approaching. She turned away and quickly removed the offensive glasses and turned around to face him. She lifted the pair from around her neck and sat them on her nose.
“Yes, Albus?” She noticed the twinkle in his eyes was muted and he wore a serious expression.
“I wondered if something were the matter? I noticed you cancelled several chess matches and you seem to avoid me as often as possible.” His blue eyes gazed into hers and she could see the hurt inside. Her heart tore and she felt horrible. She hadn’t stopped to think how her actions were affecting him. Technically, they were best friends but loved him with all her heart. She was aware of a growing awareness in him also but something seemed to hold him back from making his intentions known.
“I’ve been keeping something from you,” she confessed. She removed her old pair of glasses and replaced them with the bifocals.
He was puzzled for a moment before he noticed the telltale line across the center of each square of glass. “Bifocals?” She nodded and hung her head.
“This is wonderful,” he exclaimed. “I have them so we are a matched set.” He beamed at her before his smile slowly faded. “It bothers you because you think it makes you look older?” She nodded without replying.
“Well it does,” he stated simply. Her head came up with a snap and she sent a glare at him.
He raised both hands in a sign of surrender and spoke again. “I have loved you for a long time but always felt I would look like a dirty old man trying to court someone so much younger than I. I know other men would nudge me or wink at me for catching someone so young.” He stood and came closer. “I love you no matter what you wear or how you look but I must admit I like the more mature look on you.”
She stood and leaned over her desk until her face was inches from his. “I am not going to look old just to make you feel good. If you choose to court me, you will have to accept me as I am.” She moved a few inches until their lips met. The kiss was much more than she expected and she instinctively allowed him entry when he initiated it. As the kiss became even more passionate she gave into the feeling and moved around the desk separating from him.
The need for air finally made them part and Minerva fairly smoked from the desire she found in his eyes.
Albus wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. “Perhaps an oversized handbag then?” He placed another searing kiss on her lips and released her hair from its severe bun.
“Albus, if I had known this sooner, I would have worn my hair in a bun ages ago.” She groaned as his fingers massaged her scalp.
He chuckled before capturing her lips in another kiss.
Another Set Of Eyes
Minerva’s head raged as she made her way towards the hospital wing. Her head pounded and she made sure her feet barely made a sound on the stone floor. This was the fourth evening in a row that she had such a headache and she was determined to discover the cause. She had minor headaches during the past few weeks but these blazing ones were nearly migraines.
The previous nights she had taken a pain potion, which had immediately taken her headache away but she didn’t want to continue treating the symptoms. She needed a cure. The only person she could think of to help was her best friend, Poppy Pomfrey, the school nurse.
The glare of the light in the hospital wing almost sent Minerva away but she put a hand across her eyes and stumbled towards Poppy’s office.
Not bothering to knock she entered and took a seat in front of the mediwitch’s desk. The potion was taking longer and longer to work but she was beginning to feel the effects of it now.
Poppy looked up as soon as she heard the door opening but relaxed when it was only Minerva. She hadn’t wanted another student in her care today. It had been an extremely busy one.
She was immediately concerned at the serious expression on Minerva’s face and quickly asked what was wrong.
“Poppy, I’ve been getting headaches often. I’ve been taking pain potions and it works but the headaches are increasing in duration and intensity. I fear its something awful that’s wrong with me.”
The mediwitch immediately led Minerva to the bed, reserved for Hogwarts staff, in the room next to her office. Minerva never willingly came to see her so she must have suffered a long time.
She made Minerva disrobe much to the Transfiguration Professor’s annoyance and began casting diagnostic spells over her. There was nothing to be found.
“Minerva, I want you to come to me before you take any potions. I fear it is interfering with my scans.” She helped Minerva changed back into her robes and offered her a hug.
“It may not be anything other than allergies or something minor. Tell me everything you can about the pains you are getting.”
Minerva began listing everything she could remember, when they first began appearing and how she felt it was stress from her job or from the war with Voldemort. It had seemed the most likely reasons but the headaches had continued through the summer and now with Voldemort defeated she still had them.
“Let me try something,” Poppy cast one more spell over her and let out a sigh. “I should have thought of this first.” She began casting about in a drawer beside the bed and withdrew a pair of glasses. “Try these on.”
Minerva frowned fiercely. “My own glasses are fine, Poppy.”
The mediwitch ignored her and placed them on Minerva’s face. She placed several charms on them and told Minerva to look at her.
Minerva couldn’t stop her gasp. Poppy stood before her much clearer than she had seen her in a long while.
“As we get older, our eyes may become weaker. You, my dear, need to go into Hogsmeade and have another pair made for you.” She spoke softly but firmly. “The headaches will not continue if you wear your new glasses.”
Minerva’s eyes filled and she turned her head away. She may not be a raving beauty but even she knew bifocal glasses would hardly add to her looks. She had turned sixty and it seems her body was already beginning to fall apart.
“Minerva, it isn’t the end of the world. I have heard you give a speech to students who suddenly needed eyewear, which would you prefer the headaches or the glasses?”
Minerva’s silence may Poppy sigh in exasperation before her face softened. “You aren’t growing old, you just need a little help.”
Minerva nodded and rose from the bed.
“Make sure you go tomorrow, Minerva. It’s Saturday and they are closed Sunday.”
Minerva left after assuring Poppy she would and headed towards the Headmaster’s office. She would have to inform Albus she needed to take a few hours off.
Albus had been most solicitous to her and offered to accompany her into town but Minerva quickly rejected that notion. She intended to only wear bifocals during class or when she was reading in her rooms. Albus would never know she had them if she had a say in the matter.
Over the next several weeks Minerva took to wearing the bifocals only when no other staff member was around. The students never noticed the change in her glasses, as they would hardly pay much attention to how she looked unless it was a drastic change. Unfortunately she had cancelled several chess matches with Albus. She hated disappointing him but she could only do without her bifocals for a short while before her head began hurting. Her old glasses were worn around her neck so she could switch if necessary and she would transfigure her bifocals into something else.
She wore her old glasses to meals and ignored Poppy’s frowns. The meals seldom lasted too long and she promptly switched glasses as soon as possible.
“Minerva?”
For a moment Minerva froze. She was in her office but wearing her bifocals and Albus was approaching. She turned away and quickly removed the offensive glasses and turned around to face him. She lifted the pair from around her neck and sat them on her nose.
“Yes, Albus?” She noticed the twinkle in his eyes was muted and he wore a serious expression.
“I wondered if something were the matter? I noticed you cancelled several chess matches and you seem to avoid me as often as possible.” His blue eyes gazed into hers and she could see the hurt inside. Her heart tore and she felt horrible. She hadn’t stopped to think how her actions were affecting him. Technically, they were best friends but loved him with all her heart. She was aware of a growing awareness in him also but something seemed to hold him back from making his intentions known.
“I’ve been keeping something from you,” she confessed. She removed her old pair of glasses and replaced them with the bifocals.
He was puzzled for a moment before he noticed the telltale line across the center of each square of glass. “Bifocals?” She nodded and hung her head.
“This is wonderful,” he exclaimed. “I have them so we are a matched set.” He beamed at her before his smile slowly faded. “It bothers you because you think it makes you look older?” She nodded without replying.
“Well it does,” he stated simply. Her head came up with a snap and she sent a glare at him.
He raised both hands in a sign of surrender and spoke again. “I have loved you for a long time but always felt I would look like a dirty old man trying to court someone so much younger than I. I know other men would nudge me or wink at me for catching someone so young.” He stood and came closer. “I love you no matter what you wear or how you look but I must admit I like the more mature look on you.”
She stood and leaned over her desk until her face was inches from his. “I am not going to look old just to make you feel good. If you choose to court me, you will have to accept me as I am.” She moved a few inches until their lips met. The kiss was much more than she expected and she instinctively allowed him entry when he initiated it. As the kiss became even more passionate she gave into the feeling and moved around the desk separating from him.
The need for air finally made them part and Minerva fairly smoked from the desire she found in his eyes.
Albus wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. “Perhaps an oversized handbag then?” He placed another searing kiss on her lips and released her hair from its severe bun.
“Albus, if I had known this sooner, I would have worn my hair in a bun ages ago.” She groaned as his fingers massaged her scalp.
He chuckled before capturing her lips in another kiss.
And I'm very glad he could help her get over feeling old.
