Post by Krystal on Feb 9, 2005 21:47:46 GMT -5
The Gift
Challenge response #20
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, calmly lined up sunflower seeds, berries, and lemon drops. He chuckled when his familiar, Fawkes a rather extraordinary phoenix, picked up a lemon drop in his beak and swallowed.
“You’re a bird after my own heart, Fawkes,” he crooned. He spent a few minutes petting the bird while his supper was being disposed and when finished he sang a few notes of glee which cheered Albus further.
“I’m glad you approved of your supper,” He cast a warning eye at Fawkes and continued. “Perhaps this will dissuade you from picking up Minerva when she is walking the grounds in cat form.”
Fawkes let out a “who me?” trill and buried his head beneath his wing. Albus wasn’t fooled for a minute. His faithful pet loved Minerva and spoke to her at every visit but he disliked her in her animagus form and would fly over the grounds in search of her before swooping low and carrying her to his office.
Minerva would become human again and point her finger sternly at Fawkes, who always appeared repentant and would sing a song of apology until she forgave him.
Albus stroked Fawkes feathers until he was certain Fawkes was asleep. He took a seat behind his desk and allowed his thoughts to turn from Fawkes and towards Minerva. He had confessed his feelings for her a mere three weeks ago and he still felt elated when he remembered the look on her face. It wasn’t shock although she had been surprised but the joy on her face was reflected in her eyes had been a sight to behold.
The days passed quickly now and he thought a small token of affection would not be out of hand and he was certain she wouldn’t refuse a Valentine’s gift from him.
Nothing too fancy and it was definitely too soon for jewelry, although a bracelet for her birthday would be lovely.
He straightened in his seat and tugged on his beard. He would get her a pet. He loved Fawkes and Minerva got on well with him. She probably loved animals being an animagus herself. He couldn’t get her a rodent and certainly not a frog. A cat seemed redundant and she would hate a snake. He snapped his fingers causing Fawkes to lift his head briefly. He had just the pet for her.
Minerva hurried to Albus’ office. He had awakened her very early and she knew it must be an emergency. She didn’t bother changing. She just threw her dressing gown over her nightdress.
“Albus, what is the matter?” She was panting lightly.
“I have a gift for you, my dear, and it just arrived.” Minerva exercised the strictest control and refrained from rolling her eyes. Albus looked so happy and he literally bounced in anticipation.
He brought a box over to her and placed it in her hands. She set the box on his desk and raised the top. Inside was a rock or jagged stone. She looked at Albus puzzled at his choice of a gift. He peered inside and knocked on the stone and limbs appeared.
“It’s a turtle,” he announced.
Minerva looked at it in dismay. He hadn’t gotten her one of the pattern-shelled tortoises or even a colorful one. This was an ordinary brownish gray rock with legs.
“Thank you, Albus,” she stammered.
“I thought since Fawkes and I are together so much, you might enjoy a bit of company at times too.” He reached inside his desk drawer. “I have a booklet her on how to care for it.”
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness,” she began. “But I’m going to have to refuse. I’d rather not have a pet.”
Minerva tried to look regretful especially now since Albus looked so disappointed.
“I went to the pet shop and chose him personally,” he protested. “He seemed to have quite the personality.” He added hopefully.
“I’m sure he’s the talk of turtle town but I have enough responsibilities at the moment.”
“Why not try it for a week?” he suggested.
“Albus, why are you pressing this pet on me?” She tried not to frown but was unsuccessful.
“I want you to have company if I’m away on school or Order business.” He answered.
“I think I can manage to amuse myself.” She shook her head slightly. “I have been told I’m rather resourceful,” she added dryly.
“Fine,” He covered the box and took a seat. “I apologize for having woken you up so early.”
“Albus…” Minerva began.
“I’m sure you’ve plenty to do until breakfast. I’ll just send him back.” He took a sheet of parchment and began writing.
Minerva sighed. She had hurt his feelings and his pride. She walked around his desk and stood by his chair.
“I just wanted to make you happy,” he mumbled.
She wrapped her arms the back of his chair enveloping him too. “You have made me happy. You, Albus, not a pet.” She placed a kiss on his cheek. “I’m happier than I’ve been in my whole life.”
He turned his head and searched her eyes. He found truth and sincerity in them.
Minerva smiled fondly at him. “Why don’t you keep him? You’re already very attached to him.”
Albus’ eyes lit up and then dampened. “But it’s your gift.”
“My gift can be the joy it brings you.” She replied. “Now why don’t you find a place for…Rocky?”
Albus stood. “Rocky. I like that name. I think he looks good right here.” He placed the box on a low table.
Minerva glanced around his office and looked over the eclectic mix of magical artifacts, muggle gadgets, and books strewn all over.
“Yes Albus, he fits right in.”
Challenge response #20
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, calmly lined up sunflower seeds, berries, and lemon drops. He chuckled when his familiar, Fawkes a rather extraordinary phoenix, picked up a lemon drop in his beak and swallowed.
“You’re a bird after my own heart, Fawkes,” he crooned. He spent a few minutes petting the bird while his supper was being disposed and when finished he sang a few notes of glee which cheered Albus further.
“I’m glad you approved of your supper,” He cast a warning eye at Fawkes and continued. “Perhaps this will dissuade you from picking up Minerva when she is walking the grounds in cat form.”
Fawkes let out a “who me?” trill and buried his head beneath his wing. Albus wasn’t fooled for a minute. His faithful pet loved Minerva and spoke to her at every visit but he disliked her in her animagus form and would fly over the grounds in search of her before swooping low and carrying her to his office.
Minerva would become human again and point her finger sternly at Fawkes, who always appeared repentant and would sing a song of apology until she forgave him.
Albus stroked Fawkes feathers until he was certain Fawkes was asleep. He took a seat behind his desk and allowed his thoughts to turn from Fawkes and towards Minerva. He had confessed his feelings for her a mere three weeks ago and he still felt elated when he remembered the look on her face. It wasn’t shock although she had been surprised but the joy on her face was reflected in her eyes had been a sight to behold.
The days passed quickly now and he thought a small token of affection would not be out of hand and he was certain she wouldn’t refuse a Valentine’s gift from him.
Nothing too fancy and it was definitely too soon for jewelry, although a bracelet for her birthday would be lovely.
He straightened in his seat and tugged on his beard. He would get her a pet. He loved Fawkes and Minerva got on well with him. She probably loved animals being an animagus herself. He couldn’t get her a rodent and certainly not a frog. A cat seemed redundant and she would hate a snake. He snapped his fingers causing Fawkes to lift his head briefly. He had just the pet for her.
Minerva hurried to Albus’ office. He had awakened her very early and she knew it must be an emergency. She didn’t bother changing. She just threw her dressing gown over her nightdress.
“Albus, what is the matter?” She was panting lightly.
“I have a gift for you, my dear, and it just arrived.” Minerva exercised the strictest control and refrained from rolling her eyes. Albus looked so happy and he literally bounced in anticipation.
He brought a box over to her and placed it in her hands. She set the box on his desk and raised the top. Inside was a rock or jagged stone. She looked at Albus puzzled at his choice of a gift. He peered inside and knocked on the stone and limbs appeared.
“It’s a turtle,” he announced.
Minerva looked at it in dismay. He hadn’t gotten her one of the pattern-shelled tortoises or even a colorful one. This was an ordinary brownish gray rock with legs.
“Thank you, Albus,” she stammered.
“I thought since Fawkes and I are together so much, you might enjoy a bit of company at times too.” He reached inside his desk drawer. “I have a booklet her on how to care for it.”
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness,” she began. “But I’m going to have to refuse. I’d rather not have a pet.”
Minerva tried to look regretful especially now since Albus looked so disappointed.
“I went to the pet shop and chose him personally,” he protested. “He seemed to have quite the personality.” He added hopefully.
“I’m sure he’s the talk of turtle town but I have enough responsibilities at the moment.”
“Why not try it for a week?” he suggested.
“Albus, why are you pressing this pet on me?” She tried not to frown but was unsuccessful.
“I want you to have company if I’m away on school or Order business.” He answered.
“I think I can manage to amuse myself.” She shook her head slightly. “I have been told I’m rather resourceful,” she added dryly.
“Fine,” He covered the box and took a seat. “I apologize for having woken you up so early.”
“Albus…” Minerva began.
“I’m sure you’ve plenty to do until breakfast. I’ll just send him back.” He took a sheet of parchment and began writing.
Minerva sighed. She had hurt his feelings and his pride. She walked around his desk and stood by his chair.
“I just wanted to make you happy,” he mumbled.
She wrapped her arms the back of his chair enveloping him too. “You have made me happy. You, Albus, not a pet.” She placed a kiss on his cheek. “I’m happier than I’ve been in my whole life.”
He turned his head and searched her eyes. He found truth and sincerity in them.
Minerva smiled fondly at him. “Why don’t you keep him? You’re already very attached to him.”
Albus’ eyes lit up and then dampened. “But it’s your gift.”
“My gift can be the joy it brings you.” She replied. “Now why don’t you find a place for…Rocky?”
Albus stood. “Rocky. I like that name. I think he looks good right here.” He placed the box on a low table.
Minerva glanced around his office and looked over the eclectic mix of magical artifacts, muggle gadgets, and books strewn all over.
“Yes Albus, he fits right in.”
