Post by Nerweniel on Feb 11, 2005 12:27:36 GMT -5
A/N: This is probably one of the most insane things I ever wrote, but I blame Griselda for at least half of it ;D. Tsk, should never have told her about my experience with a muskrat 
.
Penelope
To that one muskrat in the Molenbeek- I am sorry I stepped on you.
A small smile graced Minerva McGonagall’s lips as, much more slowly than usual, the Transfiguration teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry allowed herself to return to the world of every day. She didn’t even have to open her eyes and look at the calendar on the wall to know which day it was- and her smile only grow broader as she turned around under her warm coverlets, for just this once permitting herself to simply enjoy the warmth of her bed and the expectation of something which would warm her even more.
Exactly five months earlier, Minerva had finally found the courage to confess her love to the man who had not only been her employer for over twenty years, but also her best friend and confidant for at least ten more. Neither her surprise nor her joy had ever been greater as he had chosen to accept and return her love- and they had been involved in a rather shy at first, yet nonetheless satisfactory relationship ever since.
And today- today was Minerva’s first real Valentine’s Day ever, and she was determined to enjoy it as much as humanly possible. It was, perhaps, because of that that she was so hesitant, too, to open her eyes. It was silly, true- but somehow she didn’t want to spoil the surprise too early.
So she remained in bed, cuddled up against her pillow in a decidedly cat-like fashion- and when she thought she felt something nibbling at the ends of her toes, a happy smile enfolded her lips as she realized she was dreaming again.
Until the nibbling became biting, and a shocked shriek tore Hogwarts’ quiet morning sky apart.
“ALBUS PERCIVAL WULFRIC BRIAN DUMBLEDORE!”
Because there- happily sitting up on the end of her bed, a bizarre grin fixed on its- face?- and a red ribbon tied loosely around its hairy head sat a muskrat, obviously well-fed, its large teeth glimmering in the morning sunshine.
The note attached to the ribbon was written on light pink parchment- and the handwriting didn’t allow any doubts yet to exist- nor did, in fact, the contents of the small letter.
“To my Scottish Rose, the only person I would ever entrust my beloved Penelope to, a very happy Valentine’s Day. I am sure you will soon grow very fond of each other. I love you.”
“Penelope? Penelope? Does that… that *thing* have a name as well?”
She didn’t have any doubts anymore about the name on the letter being undisputedly correct, though, as at her calling it out loud, a delighted squeak left the animal’s mouth and Minerva found herself being- cuddled?- by two hairy, rough paws.
“Yes- yes, dear, I’m sure you love me- yes- goodness, animal, leave me alone!”
As the big, fat rat tried to push its mouth to Minerva’s cheek in a very good imitation of an enthusiastic kiss, Penelope found herself landing none too gently on the floor again as the witch shook her head- cheeks bright red, eyes nearly shooting fire as she repeated her yell.
“ALBUS PERCIVAL WULFRIC BRIAN DUMBLEDORE!”
The door flew open mere instants later, and a totally bewildered Headmaster stood in the door-opening, eyes sleepy, hair and beard ruffled, wearing a purple-yellow striped dressing gown which, under different circumstances, Minerva would have undoubtedly judged funny.
What followed then happened terribly quickly.
“My dear, what is wrong? I mean, I thought you were being-”
Not so much as one instant later, a hard, slapping sound had been followed by a flustered Headmaster staring at the woman he loved in obvious shock and disbelief, one fiery red cheek covered by a shaking hand.
“YOU ASK ME WHAT IS WRONG WHEN ALL YOU CAN GIVE ME- WHEN MY VALENTINE’S GIFT FROM YOU- WHEN I-”
Here, though, Minerva’s rant ended- and to her great irritation, she started to cry. A tentative arm slipped around her shoulder as Albus started to explain.
“Minerva- Minerva, this is Penny, my muskrat- I saved her when I was a boy, nearly stepped on her, in fact- and she’s an orphan, her father Fernando died when she was just little- he was huge and had a wooden leg, and he wanted to be called “Your Royal Highness”- and Penelope-”
“OUT! I WANT YOU OUT, ALBUS DUMBLEDORE, AND NOW!”
Minerva was still crying as she threw the door shut behind his retreating back- and honestly felt ridiculous because of it. She had always labelled Valentine’s Day as a preposterous and ridiculous excuse for people to embarrass their fellow human beings with all kinds of tacky, clichéd gifts- but why did she then all of a sudden care so much?
Because you had expected to get something, and you didn’t.
Because you thought he cared more about you than-this.
As Minerva sat down on her bed again, she felt positively miserable as she threw the fat muskrat- or better, as she threw Penny- a teary glance.
“Penny, what shall I do with him? I mean- of course I- love him and- oh God, I’ve behaved like an idiot.”
This thought made her cry even more, and when she felt something jump on her lap, followed by the tight embrace of two hairy paws, she didn’t look up anymore.
“Penelope- oh damn, I’m talking to a muskrat, I’ve finally lost it- Penny, he- he cares for you, doesn’t he?”
The squeak the muskrat made was undoubtedly a yes, and with a moan Minerva hid her face in her hands.
True, the rat might not have been the ideal Valentine’s Day gift- but she had seen the tears in Albus’s eyes as he had turned around and walked away. Only now, with the rat on her lap and his letter in her hand, did Minerva realize how ungrateful she had been.
“And- do you think he cares for me too?”
Squeak squeak.
Minerva’s frustrated moan only grow louder as- as if the rat was a teddybear and she but a toddler- she hugged Penny close, only gently putting the animal down again to stand up and shake her head.
“And I care for him- so then I do suppose I’ll now go and apologize, no?”
A faint smile enfolded her lips as, with another enthusiastic squeak, Penny jumped up and then, as Minerva walked towards the door, followed her almost like a faithful dog did. Minerva nearly slapped herself as she found herself holding the door open for the rat- realizing that for some reason she was growing fond of the animal already.
As her soft knock on her lover’s ebony wooden door remained unanswered, Minerva gently pushed it open, and for just once in her life, the stern and calm Minerva McGonagall found herself nearly sinking through the floor with guilt as her own eyes met Albus’s.
The Headmaster of Hogwarts looked nothing less than heart-breaking as he sat there, on his couch, his beloved phoenix gently patting one hand with a wing, the other hand enfolding the small, heart-shaped box of lemon drops Minerva herself had sent him.
As soon as he spotted her in the door-opening, though, he immediately got to his feet, walking towards her with an apologetic look on his tear-stained face.
“Minerva, I’m sorry, of course I should have known you wouldn’t like-”
An amazed smile covered his face, though- as he found the woman he loved absent-mindedly patting the rat’s hairy head, and, not even screaming as Penny started nibbling on the edge of her nightgown, Minerva weakly smiled as well, taking his hands in her own.
“No, Albus- I’m sorry myself. I should not have yelled at you- Penny’s a sweet thing and I am sorry for being such a horrible woman today. Do you think you’ll ever forgive me?”
The last words were spoken with a gentle grin, though- for as the mischievous twinkle slowly returned to her lover’s eyes, Minerva knew the answer to the last question.
And as his lips tenderly came to cover hers, she knew it for sure.
Only seconds later did they pull apart- and as Albus softly chuckled, Minerva didn’t understand it at first- until she, too, turned her head to look at both their familiars.
Fawkes’s wing was resting atop of Penny’s back, and she was squeaking softly as she leant her hairy head against his feathered chest… and Minerva grinned.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, darlings. To you two as well.”
THE END
.Penelope
To that one muskrat in the Molenbeek- I am sorry I stepped on you.
A small smile graced Minerva McGonagall’s lips as, much more slowly than usual, the Transfiguration teacher of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry allowed herself to return to the world of every day. She didn’t even have to open her eyes and look at the calendar on the wall to know which day it was- and her smile only grow broader as she turned around under her warm coverlets, for just this once permitting herself to simply enjoy the warmth of her bed and the expectation of something which would warm her even more.
Exactly five months earlier, Minerva had finally found the courage to confess her love to the man who had not only been her employer for over twenty years, but also her best friend and confidant for at least ten more. Neither her surprise nor her joy had ever been greater as he had chosen to accept and return her love- and they had been involved in a rather shy at first, yet nonetheless satisfactory relationship ever since.
And today- today was Minerva’s first real Valentine’s Day ever, and she was determined to enjoy it as much as humanly possible. It was, perhaps, because of that that she was so hesitant, too, to open her eyes. It was silly, true- but somehow she didn’t want to spoil the surprise too early.
So she remained in bed, cuddled up against her pillow in a decidedly cat-like fashion- and when she thought she felt something nibbling at the ends of her toes, a happy smile enfolded her lips as she realized she was dreaming again.
Until the nibbling became biting, and a shocked shriek tore Hogwarts’ quiet morning sky apart.
“ALBUS PERCIVAL WULFRIC BRIAN DUMBLEDORE!”
Because there- happily sitting up on the end of her bed, a bizarre grin fixed on its- face?- and a red ribbon tied loosely around its hairy head sat a muskrat, obviously well-fed, its large teeth glimmering in the morning sunshine.
The note attached to the ribbon was written on light pink parchment- and the handwriting didn’t allow any doubts yet to exist- nor did, in fact, the contents of the small letter.
“To my Scottish Rose, the only person I would ever entrust my beloved Penelope to, a very happy Valentine’s Day. I am sure you will soon grow very fond of each other. I love you.”
“Penelope? Penelope? Does that… that *thing* have a name as well?”
She didn’t have any doubts anymore about the name on the letter being undisputedly correct, though, as at her calling it out loud, a delighted squeak left the animal’s mouth and Minerva found herself being- cuddled?- by two hairy, rough paws.
“Yes- yes, dear, I’m sure you love me- yes- goodness, animal, leave me alone!”
As the big, fat rat tried to push its mouth to Minerva’s cheek in a very good imitation of an enthusiastic kiss, Penelope found herself landing none too gently on the floor again as the witch shook her head- cheeks bright red, eyes nearly shooting fire as she repeated her yell.
“ALBUS PERCIVAL WULFRIC BRIAN DUMBLEDORE!”
The door flew open mere instants later, and a totally bewildered Headmaster stood in the door-opening, eyes sleepy, hair and beard ruffled, wearing a purple-yellow striped dressing gown which, under different circumstances, Minerva would have undoubtedly judged funny.
What followed then happened terribly quickly.
“My dear, what is wrong? I mean, I thought you were being-”
Not so much as one instant later, a hard, slapping sound had been followed by a flustered Headmaster staring at the woman he loved in obvious shock and disbelief, one fiery red cheek covered by a shaking hand.
“YOU ASK ME WHAT IS WRONG WHEN ALL YOU CAN GIVE ME- WHEN MY VALENTINE’S GIFT FROM YOU- WHEN I-”
Here, though, Minerva’s rant ended- and to her great irritation, she started to cry. A tentative arm slipped around her shoulder as Albus started to explain.
“Minerva- Minerva, this is Penny, my muskrat- I saved her when I was a boy, nearly stepped on her, in fact- and she’s an orphan, her father Fernando died when she was just little- he was huge and had a wooden leg, and he wanted to be called “Your Royal Highness”- and Penelope-”
“OUT! I WANT YOU OUT, ALBUS DUMBLEDORE, AND NOW!”
Minerva was still crying as she threw the door shut behind his retreating back- and honestly felt ridiculous because of it. She had always labelled Valentine’s Day as a preposterous and ridiculous excuse for people to embarrass their fellow human beings with all kinds of tacky, clichéd gifts- but why did she then all of a sudden care so much?
Because you had expected to get something, and you didn’t.
Because you thought he cared more about you than-this.
As Minerva sat down on her bed again, she felt positively miserable as she threw the fat muskrat- or better, as she threw Penny- a teary glance.
“Penny, what shall I do with him? I mean- of course I- love him and- oh God, I’ve behaved like an idiot.”
This thought made her cry even more, and when she felt something jump on her lap, followed by the tight embrace of two hairy paws, she didn’t look up anymore.
“Penelope- oh damn, I’m talking to a muskrat, I’ve finally lost it- Penny, he- he cares for you, doesn’t he?”
The squeak the muskrat made was undoubtedly a yes, and with a moan Minerva hid her face in her hands.
True, the rat might not have been the ideal Valentine’s Day gift- but she had seen the tears in Albus’s eyes as he had turned around and walked away. Only now, with the rat on her lap and his letter in her hand, did Minerva realize how ungrateful she had been.
“And- do you think he cares for me too?”
Squeak squeak.
Minerva’s frustrated moan only grow louder as- as if the rat was a teddybear and she but a toddler- she hugged Penny close, only gently putting the animal down again to stand up and shake her head.
“And I care for him- so then I do suppose I’ll now go and apologize, no?”
A faint smile enfolded her lips as, with another enthusiastic squeak, Penny jumped up and then, as Minerva walked towards the door, followed her almost like a faithful dog did. Minerva nearly slapped herself as she found herself holding the door open for the rat- realizing that for some reason she was growing fond of the animal already.
As her soft knock on her lover’s ebony wooden door remained unanswered, Minerva gently pushed it open, and for just once in her life, the stern and calm Minerva McGonagall found herself nearly sinking through the floor with guilt as her own eyes met Albus’s.
The Headmaster of Hogwarts looked nothing less than heart-breaking as he sat there, on his couch, his beloved phoenix gently patting one hand with a wing, the other hand enfolding the small, heart-shaped box of lemon drops Minerva herself had sent him.
As soon as he spotted her in the door-opening, though, he immediately got to his feet, walking towards her with an apologetic look on his tear-stained face.
“Minerva, I’m sorry, of course I should have known you wouldn’t like-”
An amazed smile covered his face, though- as he found the woman he loved absent-mindedly patting the rat’s hairy head, and, not even screaming as Penny started nibbling on the edge of her nightgown, Minerva weakly smiled as well, taking his hands in her own.
“No, Albus- I’m sorry myself. I should not have yelled at you- Penny’s a sweet thing and I am sorry for being such a horrible woman today. Do you think you’ll ever forgive me?”
The last words were spoken with a gentle grin, though- for as the mischievous twinkle slowly returned to her lover’s eyes, Minerva knew the answer to the last question.
And as his lips tenderly came to cover hers, she knew it for sure.
Only seconds later did they pull apart- and as Albus softly chuckled, Minerva didn’t understand it at first- until she, too, turned her head to look at both their familiars.
Fawkes’s wing was resting atop of Penny’s back, and she was squeaking softly as she leant her hairy head against his feathered chest… and Minerva grinned.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, darlings. To you two as well.”
THE END
Great job, honey.
