Post by Kerin on Jun 12, 2005 18:40:36 GMT -5
I want to thank Ginger Newts for all her help. This is my first time writing an AD/MM story and posting it here.
On The Road Again
Summary: Challenge #32 Response
“Albus are you certain that muggles in the States take vacations like this?” Minerva was standing next to a box on wheels while Albus was signing papers.
Last week Albus had convinced her that they needed a change, a vacation of sorts and he didn’t want to spend his few free days in Britain. He wanted to see the United States of America. He didn’t even want to visit any of the wizarding cities in the States. He wanted to explore muggle America.
Minerva only agreed to accompany him because she was certain he would need her help if he took off exploring and because she wanted a few days off to enjoy some of life’s pleasures also. The fact that she would be spending a week in his company was just the icing on the cake.
Minerva was in love with Albus and she was beginning to think he was more than a little fond of her as well. However, he hadn’t made one move toward approaching her so she was reluctant to pass up the opportunity of spending time away from the school with him.
Albus finished signing the mountain of papers with a flourish and jingled the keys in his hands. Minerva looked at him in apprehension. They had traveled to the States in an airplane and she could have done without that form of muggle transportation. She had seen automobiles in London and had been unimpressed. This recreation vehicle, as the leasing agent had described the large box on wheels, seemed huge and she hope Albus could drive as well as he claimed. It wasn’t as large as the knight bus but it seemed close. The plane landed in Charlotte, North Carolina but Albus told her it was South Carolina where they were headed.
“Don’t look so nervous, Minerva. I’ve been assured that this is a perfectly safe mode of transportation and we’ll have all the comforts of home. Shall we go inspect the inside?” Albus opened the door and stood back to let Minerva enter the RV.
She stepped inside and looked around. There was a kitchen area, bathroom, and bedroom/living area all squeezed into about twenty square feet of space. Her first observation was that, “Albus, there’s only one bed.”
He inspected the diagram the rental man had given him. “It says here there should be another bed about...here,” he said, indicating the dining table. He flipped the table open to reveal a make-shift sleeping area.
“I’m not eating off any surface that someone slept on,” Minerva exclaimed in horror.
Albus had to agree; it was a less than ideal situation. He wouldn’t mind sharing the one real bed, but he didn’t want to offend Minerva. “Why don’t we hit the road and we can figure out what to do when we get to the camp site,” he suggested.
Minerva agreed and Albus helped her into the passenger seat. Minerva had to admit that Albus seemed to handle the vehicle with ease. She turned her head and took in the miniscule kitchen again. A person could live in one of these things but they would be cramped. She was itching to add enlarging charms but Albus had already cautioned her against tampering with the RV as they were only renting it and not buying it.
Albus began humming as he guided the RV toward the interstate. He didn’t want to drive through the cities, he would rather take the scenic route but since their time was short, he compromised by deciding to drive the interstate for a couple of hours and then turning off on the smaller, more scenic route. They would make the first campsite by dusk this way, which was agreeable.
Finally Albus saw the sign directing him to get off Interstate 95 and onto route 52. They had entered the state of South Carolina and Albus found the area rural but beautiful.
He had expected to see cotton fields and plantations. He had just seen a movie depicting the southeastern half of the United States and he was certain he had seen several large homes and estates.
He gazed out the window and wondered at the strange sites. So many homes seemed made of the same materials that were in the RV. Some of the homes were raised on cinder blocks and many were rusted and none had wheels.
He counted twenty-seven pickup trucks before he stopped counting. He was getting worried because he no longer knew where he was and sunset was less than an hour away. Minerva was dozing lightly in the seat beside him but if he stopped to ask directions, she would wake up and he didn’t want to diminish himself in her eyes.
He drove for another half hour before reluctantly deciding to awaken Minerva and tell her he was lost. He didn’t know whether she would be angry or disappointed but it was nearly dark now.
Bang! The RV gave a jolt and Albus had to struggle to remain in control of the vehicle. Minerva was rudely awakened when her head crashed into the passenger side window.
Albus pulled off the highway onto the soft shoulder and turned to Minerva.
“Are you alright, my dear?”
Minerva was wincing in pain and her hand covered her right temple but she nodded to him.
“Let me see.”
“Albus, let’s find out what is wrong with this motor vehicle first.”
Albus reluctantly rose and went outside. Both front tires were flat. Minerva joined him as he examined the right front wheel.
“I can repair this in seconds. It’s a nasty puncture but this is something magic can fix.” Minerva took out her wand and a couple of incantations later; the tires were as good as new. She noticed Albus still looked worried. “We can still make it to the campground before too late. How much farther?”
“I don’t know,” he mumbled.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“I was just about to wake you to tell you we were lost when we got the flat tires.”
“And how long have we been lost?”
“Only an hour or so.” He shifted from foot to foot.
“Oh Albus,” she took in a deep breath. He looked miserable and he hadn’t gotten lost on purpose. “We’ll never find it at night. It’s already after nine. Let’s just find a place for tonight.”
Albus helped her into the RV and he drove a few more miles until he found a small road that led to a clearing. It was only a mile from the highway but it was secluded and they wouldn’t be disturbed.
He parked the RV and turned to Minerva.
“I think I should take a look at your head.”
“Albus, I’m fine. It’s only a bump.”
“Nevertheless, I feel I need to examine it.”
Minerva felt self-conscious as they went to the rear of the camper. Albus took a seat next to her on the bed and touched her temple softly. She could feel his breath and was warmed by it. She couldn’t recall sitting so close to him before.
He took his time looking her over. His fingers touched her scalp and felt for bumps and lumps there as well. She closed her eyes as his long fingers stroked her scalp.
Albus loved the feel of her hair as it poured through his fingers. It was so soft and silky. He shook himself before he began to caress her temples.
“Why don’t we just make it an early night? We’ll have to make up for lost time in the morning and I don’t really know where we are.”
Minerva narrowed her eyes at him. “There’s still the question of our sleeping arrangements.”
Albus cleared his throat and then met her gaze. “I think I better stay close in case you are injured more than I can determine.”
Minerva burst into laughter. “Albus, you old codger. How long have you been using that line?”
Albus smiled with her. “I have never used that line. I wouldn’t use a line on you.” He denied it but Minerva could see his eyes were twinkling madly.
She decided to tease him in return. “I certainly don’t want to spoil our trip. If you would be kind enough to assist me out of my dress and into my nightgown…”
Albus couldn’t stop his heart from pounding madly. Did she just say…? Her laughter stopped his thoughts and he joined in.
“Fair enough, Minerva. I believe it’s safe to let you change without my help.”
Minerva stood and unbuttoned the top button. “It would be safe but not nearly as much fun.”
On The Road Again
Summary: Challenge #32 Response
“Albus are you certain that muggles in the States take vacations like this?” Minerva was standing next to a box on wheels while Albus was signing papers.
Last week Albus had convinced her that they needed a change, a vacation of sorts and he didn’t want to spend his few free days in Britain. He wanted to see the United States of America. He didn’t even want to visit any of the wizarding cities in the States. He wanted to explore muggle America.
Minerva only agreed to accompany him because she was certain he would need her help if he took off exploring and because she wanted a few days off to enjoy some of life’s pleasures also. The fact that she would be spending a week in his company was just the icing on the cake.
Minerva was in love with Albus and she was beginning to think he was more than a little fond of her as well. However, he hadn’t made one move toward approaching her so she was reluctant to pass up the opportunity of spending time away from the school with him.
Albus finished signing the mountain of papers with a flourish and jingled the keys in his hands. Minerva looked at him in apprehension. They had traveled to the States in an airplane and she could have done without that form of muggle transportation. She had seen automobiles in London and had been unimpressed. This recreation vehicle, as the leasing agent had described the large box on wheels, seemed huge and she hope Albus could drive as well as he claimed. It wasn’t as large as the knight bus but it seemed close. The plane landed in Charlotte, North Carolina but Albus told her it was South Carolina where they were headed.
“Don’t look so nervous, Minerva. I’ve been assured that this is a perfectly safe mode of transportation and we’ll have all the comforts of home. Shall we go inspect the inside?” Albus opened the door and stood back to let Minerva enter the RV.
She stepped inside and looked around. There was a kitchen area, bathroom, and bedroom/living area all squeezed into about twenty square feet of space. Her first observation was that, “Albus, there’s only one bed.”
He inspected the diagram the rental man had given him. “It says here there should be another bed about...here,” he said, indicating the dining table. He flipped the table open to reveal a make-shift sleeping area.
“I’m not eating off any surface that someone slept on,” Minerva exclaimed in horror.
Albus had to agree; it was a less than ideal situation. He wouldn’t mind sharing the one real bed, but he didn’t want to offend Minerva. “Why don’t we hit the road and we can figure out what to do when we get to the camp site,” he suggested.
Minerva agreed and Albus helped her into the passenger seat. Minerva had to admit that Albus seemed to handle the vehicle with ease. She turned her head and took in the miniscule kitchen again. A person could live in one of these things but they would be cramped. She was itching to add enlarging charms but Albus had already cautioned her against tampering with the RV as they were only renting it and not buying it.
Albus began humming as he guided the RV toward the interstate. He didn’t want to drive through the cities, he would rather take the scenic route but since their time was short, he compromised by deciding to drive the interstate for a couple of hours and then turning off on the smaller, more scenic route. They would make the first campsite by dusk this way, which was agreeable.
Finally Albus saw the sign directing him to get off Interstate 95 and onto route 52. They had entered the state of South Carolina and Albus found the area rural but beautiful.
He had expected to see cotton fields and plantations. He had just seen a movie depicting the southeastern half of the United States and he was certain he had seen several large homes and estates.
He gazed out the window and wondered at the strange sites. So many homes seemed made of the same materials that were in the RV. Some of the homes were raised on cinder blocks and many were rusted and none had wheels.
He counted twenty-seven pickup trucks before he stopped counting. He was getting worried because he no longer knew where he was and sunset was less than an hour away. Minerva was dozing lightly in the seat beside him but if he stopped to ask directions, she would wake up and he didn’t want to diminish himself in her eyes.
He drove for another half hour before reluctantly deciding to awaken Minerva and tell her he was lost. He didn’t know whether she would be angry or disappointed but it was nearly dark now.
Bang! The RV gave a jolt and Albus had to struggle to remain in control of the vehicle. Minerva was rudely awakened when her head crashed into the passenger side window.
Albus pulled off the highway onto the soft shoulder and turned to Minerva.
“Are you alright, my dear?”
Minerva was wincing in pain and her hand covered her right temple but she nodded to him.
“Let me see.”
“Albus, let’s find out what is wrong with this motor vehicle first.”
Albus reluctantly rose and went outside. Both front tires were flat. Minerva joined him as he examined the right front wheel.
“I can repair this in seconds. It’s a nasty puncture but this is something magic can fix.” Minerva took out her wand and a couple of incantations later; the tires were as good as new. She noticed Albus still looked worried. “We can still make it to the campground before too late. How much farther?”
“I don’t know,” he mumbled.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“I was just about to wake you to tell you we were lost when we got the flat tires.”
“And how long have we been lost?”
“Only an hour or so.” He shifted from foot to foot.
“Oh Albus,” she took in a deep breath. He looked miserable and he hadn’t gotten lost on purpose. “We’ll never find it at night. It’s already after nine. Let’s just find a place for tonight.”
Albus helped her into the RV and he drove a few more miles until he found a small road that led to a clearing. It was only a mile from the highway but it was secluded and they wouldn’t be disturbed.
He parked the RV and turned to Minerva.
“I think I should take a look at your head.”
“Albus, I’m fine. It’s only a bump.”
“Nevertheless, I feel I need to examine it.”
Minerva felt self-conscious as they went to the rear of the camper. Albus took a seat next to her on the bed and touched her temple softly. She could feel his breath and was warmed by it. She couldn’t recall sitting so close to him before.
He took his time looking her over. His fingers touched her scalp and felt for bumps and lumps there as well. She closed her eyes as his long fingers stroked her scalp.
Albus loved the feel of her hair as it poured through his fingers. It was so soft and silky. He shook himself before he began to caress her temples.
“Why don’t we just make it an early night? We’ll have to make up for lost time in the morning and I don’t really know where we are.”
Minerva narrowed her eyes at him. “There’s still the question of our sleeping arrangements.”
Albus cleared his throat and then met her gaze. “I think I better stay close in case you are injured more than I can determine.”
Minerva burst into laughter. “Albus, you old codger. How long have you been using that line?”
Albus smiled with her. “I have never used that line. I wouldn’t use a line on you.” He denied it but Minerva could see his eyes were twinkling madly.
She decided to tease him in return. “I certainly don’t want to spoil our trip. If you would be kind enough to assist me out of my dress and into my nightgown…”
Albus couldn’t stop his heart from pounding madly. Did she just say…? Her laughter stopped his thoughts and he joined in.
“Fair enough, Minerva. I believe it’s safe to let you change without my help.”
Minerva stood and unbuttoned the top button. “It would be safe but not nearly as much fun.”
I love the way Albus was so concerned for Minerva while struggling with his need to be closer to her...awwww! Looking forward to many more stories from you. You did an excellent job!
