Post by Sensiblyquirky on Mar 30, 2005 21:11:01 GMT -5
The door to Grimmauld Place closed quietly behind a slim figure one summer afternoon. The figure paused to gage where the activity in the house was taking place, and after only a minute walked, with a very slight limp, in the direction of the kitchen. Opening the door a woman was seen at the sink working on something unseen by the guest.
“Hello Molly.”
Dropping what was in her hand the red-haired woman turned around quickly, “Merlin, you gave me a fright Minerva.”
Chuckling, the elder witch took a seat at the kitchen table, “Good to know I can still move around quietly. I owe that to my animagus form I believe.”
“What brings you here this afternoon, tea?” Molly asked indicating a pot.
“Yes, thank you. I needed to get away from Hogwarts for just a bit, and found myself coming here.”
“You and Professor Dumbledore aren’t in the mist of a disagreement are you?” Handing Minerva her cup of tea Molly took a seat opposite hers at the table, pleased for an excuse to stop working.
“Well not exactly,” Seeing the younger woman did not follow Minerva began to describe the past few days.
“On Monday Albus had his physical with Poppy, as is custom this time of year especially for a man his age, and her results were not excellent. Don’t worry,” Minerva continued on quickly at the distressed look on Molly’s face, “he is just under a lot of stress and some levels and such were a little higher than Poppy would like. Well to make a long story short she ordered him off of sweets, but most importantly his sherbet lemons.”
“Oh dear,” Molly interrupted smoothing a wrinkle in her dress out.
Minerva nodded taking a long sip of her drink. “Needless to say his withdrawals have been quite strong, and his mood has not been, oh shall we say, stellar.”
“No I would suppose not. Have you tried distracting him, or can he have a substitute?”
“I suggested that, and he informed me that if he couldn’t have his sherbet lemons he didn’t want anything else either. So then I tried the distractions: I suggested a walk around the lake, in which he spoke about his sweets the entire time,” Minerva made sure to elongate the syllables in entire, “then I thought a chess game, or exploding snap would be nice. That was a disaster.”
“Perhaps something muggle,” Molly interrupted once again hoping to be of some help.
“I’m coming to that,” Minerva sighed, “I thought of that for the next day. Between his paper work I asked if he had time for an outing in a muggle community knowing how much he enjoys that. Walking amongst the muggles as if he is one or just watching them from a store window really thrills Albus. I know.” Minerva shook her head as Molly laughed.
“He’s brilliant, but eccentric,” Molly attempted to put it nicely.
“Indeed. At first he was happy with the idea, but not long after arriving in the town he noticed every sweet in a child’s hand. Naturally a child had sherbet lemons, and I thought I was going to have to take him to St. Mungo’s for treatment. Hurriedly I got us back to the castle. When we got back he asked me in to stay for awhile,” Molly noticed Minerva’s cheeks pinked just enough to be noticeable.
“and when I suggested he find a substitute, or something sugar free the man pitched a fit. I had no idea Albus could throw such a temper tantrum. A one hundred and fifty year old man was reduced to acting like a two year old. After telling him such I left, and we haven’t had the chance to speak much today.”
“He’ll come around, Minerva. It is just hard for him. I remember when Arthur had to give a particular food up years ago. He was an absolute ogre to live with for awhile, but eventually he came around. Perhaps more drastic measures should be taken.”
“Like what? I would be happy to hear any suggestions you have at this point.” Minerva responded leaning forward in her chair.
“Well,” Molly started slowly running her finger around the edge of her cup, “I’m sure if you were to put something a little more revealing on you could keep his mind off of his sweets for an evening.”
“You mean seduce him?”
“Well, yes.”
“Not a bad idea really, but of course there is no guarantee he would appreciate such a gesture. Though I imagine with all the sucking on those candies he would be,”
“I don’t need to hear the rest of that thought, Minerva.”
“I apologize, Molly. I forgot you were here for a moment. No I don’t suppose you do, but for bringing the subject up…” Minerva teased looking ready to continue with her train of thought.
Molly laughed and moved from the table. “I think he would appreciate the gesture, Minerva. He is quite enamored with you.”
Raising her eyebrow Minerva replied, “Is that so?”
“Oh very, dear. He practically scowls when someone accidentally takes your seat beside of him for an order meeting, so…” But before Molly could finish Albus Dumbledore marched through the room and quickly headed for Minerva’s chair. Lifting her up with ease Albus swung her around in the air.
“Put me down! What has gotten in to you?” Minerva asked clenching onto his shoulders tightly.
Albus stopped, but held Minerva close. “Poppy got some test results back, and though I have to change some things she said I could have my sherbet lemons back if only I worked at cutting back on how many I eat. Isn’t that great news? I can eat them again!”
Albus was positively ecstatic, but he noticed Minerva wasn’t as happy as he thought she would be or thought she should be, so he tried again.
“Isn’t that great, Minerva?”
“Oh, yes. It is excellent news, Albus. I know how happy you are.”
“What’s the matter? You don’t look very happy.”
“Another distraction came to mind, and I wanted to see if it would work. Nothing important.”
“Well what was the distraction?” Before Minerva answered she noticed Molly had made a discreet exit out of the kitchen.
Not the one to beat around the bush Minerva answered honestly, “I was thinking of seducing you.”
To Minerva’s delight Albus pulled her closer, “Really?” he asked smiling.
“Yes.”
“I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t try to distract me tonight.”
“I do. You have your sweets back,” Minerva replied toying with the first button of his robe.
“I don’t have to have any tonight.” Albus suggested drawing circles over Minerva’s back.
Smiling Minerva leaned up and drew Albus’ earlobe into her mouth before saying, “Then what are we still doing here, Professor Dumbledore?”
“No idea.” With that the couple quickly left the headquarters to the Order, and Molly returned to the kitchen a few moments later smiling and shaking her head.
“Hello Molly.”
Dropping what was in her hand the red-haired woman turned around quickly, “Merlin, you gave me a fright Minerva.”
Chuckling, the elder witch took a seat at the kitchen table, “Good to know I can still move around quietly. I owe that to my animagus form I believe.”
“What brings you here this afternoon, tea?” Molly asked indicating a pot.
“Yes, thank you. I needed to get away from Hogwarts for just a bit, and found myself coming here.”
“You and Professor Dumbledore aren’t in the mist of a disagreement are you?” Handing Minerva her cup of tea Molly took a seat opposite hers at the table, pleased for an excuse to stop working.
“Well not exactly,” Seeing the younger woman did not follow Minerva began to describe the past few days.
“On Monday Albus had his physical with Poppy, as is custom this time of year especially for a man his age, and her results were not excellent. Don’t worry,” Minerva continued on quickly at the distressed look on Molly’s face, “he is just under a lot of stress and some levels and such were a little higher than Poppy would like. Well to make a long story short she ordered him off of sweets, but most importantly his sherbet lemons.”
“Oh dear,” Molly interrupted smoothing a wrinkle in her dress out.
Minerva nodded taking a long sip of her drink. “Needless to say his withdrawals have been quite strong, and his mood has not been, oh shall we say, stellar.”
“No I would suppose not. Have you tried distracting him, or can he have a substitute?”
“I suggested that, and he informed me that if he couldn’t have his sherbet lemons he didn’t want anything else either. So then I tried the distractions: I suggested a walk around the lake, in which he spoke about his sweets the entire time,” Minerva made sure to elongate the syllables in entire, “then I thought a chess game, or exploding snap would be nice. That was a disaster.”
“Perhaps something muggle,” Molly interrupted once again hoping to be of some help.
“I’m coming to that,” Minerva sighed, “I thought of that for the next day. Between his paper work I asked if he had time for an outing in a muggle community knowing how much he enjoys that. Walking amongst the muggles as if he is one or just watching them from a store window really thrills Albus. I know.” Minerva shook her head as Molly laughed.
“He’s brilliant, but eccentric,” Molly attempted to put it nicely.
“Indeed. At first he was happy with the idea, but not long after arriving in the town he noticed every sweet in a child’s hand. Naturally a child had sherbet lemons, and I thought I was going to have to take him to St. Mungo’s for treatment. Hurriedly I got us back to the castle. When we got back he asked me in to stay for awhile,” Molly noticed Minerva’s cheeks pinked just enough to be noticeable.
“and when I suggested he find a substitute, or something sugar free the man pitched a fit. I had no idea Albus could throw such a temper tantrum. A one hundred and fifty year old man was reduced to acting like a two year old. After telling him such I left, and we haven’t had the chance to speak much today.”
“He’ll come around, Minerva. It is just hard for him. I remember when Arthur had to give a particular food up years ago. He was an absolute ogre to live with for awhile, but eventually he came around. Perhaps more drastic measures should be taken.”
“Like what? I would be happy to hear any suggestions you have at this point.” Minerva responded leaning forward in her chair.
“Well,” Molly started slowly running her finger around the edge of her cup, “I’m sure if you were to put something a little more revealing on you could keep his mind off of his sweets for an evening.”
“You mean seduce him?”
“Well, yes.”
“Not a bad idea really, but of course there is no guarantee he would appreciate such a gesture. Though I imagine with all the sucking on those candies he would be,”
“I don’t need to hear the rest of that thought, Minerva.”
“I apologize, Molly. I forgot you were here for a moment. No I don’t suppose you do, but for bringing the subject up…” Minerva teased looking ready to continue with her train of thought.
Molly laughed and moved from the table. “I think he would appreciate the gesture, Minerva. He is quite enamored with you.”
Raising her eyebrow Minerva replied, “Is that so?”
“Oh very, dear. He practically scowls when someone accidentally takes your seat beside of him for an order meeting, so…” But before Molly could finish Albus Dumbledore marched through the room and quickly headed for Minerva’s chair. Lifting her up with ease Albus swung her around in the air.
“Put me down! What has gotten in to you?” Minerva asked clenching onto his shoulders tightly.
Albus stopped, but held Minerva close. “Poppy got some test results back, and though I have to change some things she said I could have my sherbet lemons back if only I worked at cutting back on how many I eat. Isn’t that great news? I can eat them again!”
Albus was positively ecstatic, but he noticed Minerva wasn’t as happy as he thought she would be or thought she should be, so he tried again.
“Isn’t that great, Minerva?”
“Oh, yes. It is excellent news, Albus. I know how happy you are.”
“What’s the matter? You don’t look very happy.”
“Another distraction came to mind, and I wanted to see if it would work. Nothing important.”
“Well what was the distraction?” Before Minerva answered she noticed Molly had made a discreet exit out of the kitchen.
Not the one to beat around the bush Minerva answered honestly, “I was thinking of seducing you.”
To Minerva’s delight Albus pulled her closer, “Really?” he asked smiling.
“Yes.”
“I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t try to distract me tonight.”
“I do. You have your sweets back,” Minerva replied toying with the first button of his robe.
“I don’t have to have any tonight.” Albus suggested drawing circles over Minerva’s back.
Smiling Minerva leaned up and drew Albus’ earlobe into her mouth before saying, “Then what are we still doing here, Professor Dumbledore?”
“No idea.” With that the couple quickly left the headquarters to the Order, and Molly returned to the kitchen a few moments later smiling and shaking her head.
Very nice response, made me laugh. I'm glad Albus still gets to be distracted even though he has his candy back.
