Post by Karlynne on Apr 18, 2005 1:18:56 GMT -5
This challenge response was written because of something ginger newts said to me in a conversation and somehow it grew from a drabble into this story.
The Visit
Minerva McGonagall sat at the staff table in the Great Hall and waited impatiently for breakfast to end. It was a week into the summer holidays and she was ready for the next term already.
The faculty seemed to linger over every meal these days. She knew it was the absence of Dolores Umbridge that made the staff want to savor their meals. They had often rushed through meals during the last term. Dining with Dolores had certainly robbed many of them of their appetites and those that could eat often complained of nausea after listening to her clear her throat throughout the meals.
Albus had asked her to meet with him immediately following breakfast and Minerva could hardly stop wondering about it. Did he have an Order assignment for her? She no longer needed a walking stick and she had been given a clean bill of health so there was no need to keep her from her duties.
She was honest enough with herself to admit that last term had been a terrible blow to her pride and esteem. Having to deal with Dolores while Albus was away from the castle had been a lesson in keeping her temper in check. It wasn’t only Potter that had to reign in his temper.
Minerva had been affronted that Dolores had been appointed Headmistress. High Inquisitor had been awful enough but to be overlooked for that incompetent toad had been a slight Minerva would not forgive Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, in his lifetime. She knew it was simply politics and she was well qualified to handle the job of Headmistress. She had filled in for Albus before after all.
A larger blow was dealt when she was attacked. She was an excellent dueler but she had fallen to four stunners to her chest. A chest now filled with scars still visible, although fading. To later learn that the assault had been witnessed by many of her fifth year students had filled her with shame and she was embarrassed. It didn’t matter that her pupils had been enraged in her behalf. She was now seen as a failure in her eyes and maybe in theirs too.
Albus had been wonderful and extremely solicitous towards her. They had been good friends for so long that she never gave it a second thought when he started escorting her to meals and to her rooms each night. He often made it a point to meet in her office to save her the walk to his. Twice he had brought flowers with him to brighten up her rooms.
Her heart usually fluttered when he looked at her, let alone smiled at her, so she was pleased with the additional attention but unsure if he was simply grateful she was fine or if this were a signal of some sort. Was he waiting for her to give him a sign?
Minerva hadn’t entertained the thought of Albus courting her but she was thrilled with the thought or she would have been last year. Now she felt she had to prove herself to him once again. She had always prided herself with a trim body that was well defined and firm but now she had scars that disfigured although she had been assured they would fade and with careful application of healing creams each night, two would disappear completely.
Albus watched Minerva surreptitiously beneath hooded eyelids. He noted the impatience in her posture and barely refrained from smiling. She was so lovely and he would do anything to erase the pain he saw behind her eyes. He wanted to pull her in his arms and comfort her but he was unsure if she would welcome him.
She certainly seemed pleased when he inquired after her health or lent an arm for her to grasp but she was guarded at times and he was reluctant to make her uncomfortable. He had seen the worry and uncertainty until he reassured her that her position as Deputy Headmistress remained. He had been careful not to lessen her duties or assign any task to others that she normally performed. He had seen her confidence returning but there was still something that seemed to darken the glow in her emerald eyes.
Albus had thought for hours last night until a stray thread of light entered his mind. He was musing about his crooked nose and wondering if Minerva found it as endearing as she claimed when his mind turned to injuries and he was reminded of hers. A woman such as Minerva would have a hard time accepting anything less than perfect and she took good care of herself.
Minerva was a beautiful woman and although she wasn’t vain she took the time and care to maintain herself. She wore her hair in a bun to keep it out of the way but when she went to social functions, she wore her hair loose and it cascaded down her back in curly tresses that many men would love to feel within their fingers.
Yes, Minerva McGonagall was worried that she wasn’t beautiful or at least according to her standards and Albus would have to change her attitude. He wanted all of her and he was certain she would erect barriers if he made any more advances.
Minerva sighed as her colleagues began rising from the table. Albus remained behind and they left the Great Hall together. She was surprised when he led her towards the front doors instead of her office or even his but she knew he would let her know what he wanted when he was ready.
They strolled towards the gates of the school and on to the road to Hogsmeade. It was a lovely morning and the sun while bright had not begun bearing down on them yet. There was a mild breeze and Minerva couldn’t help but smile and tilt her head back to let the sun kiss her face.
They left the village behind and walked several blocks before stopping in front of a green shuttered white house.
“I hope you don’t mind but I need to stop in on my cousin Abernathy and his wife, Helen. There are so many things to do and I rarely get the chance to stop in anymore.”
Minerva smiled in agreement. Albus rarely visited his family much and after all he had done this past year, surely a few minutes could be spared.
Minerva was shocked and hoped her manners automatically kept it from appearing on her face. The door had been opened after Albus’ knock by a white haired man that strongly resembled the few Dumbledores that she had seen. Her surprise was at the appearance of Helen.
While Abernathy was a tall, distinguished man of at least a hundred, Helen couldn’t have been more than fifty. She had an uneven, jagged scar running down the side of her face from her eye to her chin. The arm on that side of her body was shorter than its mate by at least half and Minerva could see that she wore a wig.
Albus and Minerva visited for over an hour and she was surprised at how quickly time had passed. Abernathy was charming and slightly eccentric which hadn’t been unexpected but Minerva had watched in amazement as Abernathy helped serve tea. This man was in love with his wife and it was apparent in the manner in which he spoke to Helen. He would occasionally give her arm or hand a squeeze. The look he gave her was filled with so much devotion Minerva had to blush.
Abernathy didn’t seem to notice the disfigurement or the scar. Helen in return was a delight. She told beautiful stories and easily explained the injury that caused her scar. Helen calmly mentioned she had expected to remain a spinster or at the very least married to a squib desperate to father magical children but Abernathy had fallen for her and the past twenty years had flown by rapidly.
Albus watched Minerva listening attentively to Helen. The men had moved on to several different topics but the ladies were still discussing the state of the ministry. He had to cough twice before he caught Minerva’s eye and had to plead another engagement.
The Visit
Minerva McGonagall sat at the staff table in the Great Hall and waited impatiently for breakfast to end. It was a week into the summer holidays and she was ready for the next term already.
The faculty seemed to linger over every meal these days. She knew it was the absence of Dolores Umbridge that made the staff want to savor their meals. They had often rushed through meals during the last term. Dining with Dolores had certainly robbed many of them of their appetites and those that could eat often complained of nausea after listening to her clear her throat throughout the meals.
Albus had asked her to meet with him immediately following breakfast and Minerva could hardly stop wondering about it. Did he have an Order assignment for her? She no longer needed a walking stick and she had been given a clean bill of health so there was no need to keep her from her duties.
She was honest enough with herself to admit that last term had been a terrible blow to her pride and esteem. Having to deal with Dolores while Albus was away from the castle had been a lesson in keeping her temper in check. It wasn’t only Potter that had to reign in his temper.
Minerva had been affronted that Dolores had been appointed Headmistress. High Inquisitor had been awful enough but to be overlooked for that incompetent toad had been a slight Minerva would not forgive Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, in his lifetime. She knew it was simply politics and she was well qualified to handle the job of Headmistress. She had filled in for Albus before after all.
A larger blow was dealt when she was attacked. She was an excellent dueler but she had fallen to four stunners to her chest. A chest now filled with scars still visible, although fading. To later learn that the assault had been witnessed by many of her fifth year students had filled her with shame and she was embarrassed. It didn’t matter that her pupils had been enraged in her behalf. She was now seen as a failure in her eyes and maybe in theirs too.
Albus had been wonderful and extremely solicitous towards her. They had been good friends for so long that she never gave it a second thought when he started escorting her to meals and to her rooms each night. He often made it a point to meet in her office to save her the walk to his. Twice he had brought flowers with him to brighten up her rooms.
Her heart usually fluttered when he looked at her, let alone smiled at her, so she was pleased with the additional attention but unsure if he was simply grateful she was fine or if this were a signal of some sort. Was he waiting for her to give him a sign?
Minerva hadn’t entertained the thought of Albus courting her but she was thrilled with the thought or she would have been last year. Now she felt she had to prove herself to him once again. She had always prided herself with a trim body that was well defined and firm but now she had scars that disfigured although she had been assured they would fade and with careful application of healing creams each night, two would disappear completely.
Albus watched Minerva surreptitiously beneath hooded eyelids. He noted the impatience in her posture and barely refrained from smiling. She was so lovely and he would do anything to erase the pain he saw behind her eyes. He wanted to pull her in his arms and comfort her but he was unsure if she would welcome him.
She certainly seemed pleased when he inquired after her health or lent an arm for her to grasp but she was guarded at times and he was reluctant to make her uncomfortable. He had seen the worry and uncertainty until he reassured her that her position as Deputy Headmistress remained. He had been careful not to lessen her duties or assign any task to others that she normally performed. He had seen her confidence returning but there was still something that seemed to darken the glow in her emerald eyes.
Albus had thought for hours last night until a stray thread of light entered his mind. He was musing about his crooked nose and wondering if Minerva found it as endearing as she claimed when his mind turned to injuries and he was reminded of hers. A woman such as Minerva would have a hard time accepting anything less than perfect and she took good care of herself.
Minerva was a beautiful woman and although she wasn’t vain she took the time and care to maintain herself. She wore her hair in a bun to keep it out of the way but when she went to social functions, she wore her hair loose and it cascaded down her back in curly tresses that many men would love to feel within their fingers.
Yes, Minerva McGonagall was worried that she wasn’t beautiful or at least according to her standards and Albus would have to change her attitude. He wanted all of her and he was certain she would erect barriers if he made any more advances.
Minerva sighed as her colleagues began rising from the table. Albus remained behind and they left the Great Hall together. She was surprised when he led her towards the front doors instead of her office or even his but she knew he would let her know what he wanted when he was ready.
They strolled towards the gates of the school and on to the road to Hogsmeade. It was a lovely morning and the sun while bright had not begun bearing down on them yet. There was a mild breeze and Minerva couldn’t help but smile and tilt her head back to let the sun kiss her face.
They left the village behind and walked several blocks before stopping in front of a green shuttered white house.
“I hope you don’t mind but I need to stop in on my cousin Abernathy and his wife, Helen. There are so many things to do and I rarely get the chance to stop in anymore.”
Minerva smiled in agreement. Albus rarely visited his family much and after all he had done this past year, surely a few minutes could be spared.
Minerva was shocked and hoped her manners automatically kept it from appearing on her face. The door had been opened after Albus’ knock by a white haired man that strongly resembled the few Dumbledores that she had seen. Her surprise was at the appearance of Helen.
While Abernathy was a tall, distinguished man of at least a hundred, Helen couldn’t have been more than fifty. She had an uneven, jagged scar running down the side of her face from her eye to her chin. The arm on that side of her body was shorter than its mate by at least half and Minerva could see that she wore a wig.
Albus and Minerva visited for over an hour and she was surprised at how quickly time had passed. Abernathy was charming and slightly eccentric which hadn’t been unexpected but Minerva had watched in amazement as Abernathy helped serve tea. This man was in love with his wife and it was apparent in the manner in which he spoke to Helen. He would occasionally give her arm or hand a squeeze. The look he gave her was filled with so much devotion Minerva had to blush.
Abernathy didn’t seem to notice the disfigurement or the scar. Helen in return was a delight. She told beautiful stories and easily explained the injury that caused her scar. Helen calmly mentioned she had expected to remain a spinster or at the very least married to a squib desperate to father magical children but Abernathy had fallen for her and the past twenty years had flown by rapidly.
Albus watched Minerva listening attentively to Helen. The men had moved on to several different topics but the ladies were still discussing the state of the ministry. He had to cough twice before he caught Minerva’s eye and had to plead another engagement.
