Post by Karlynne on Jun 25, 2005 1:55:03 GMT -5
As soon as I saw the challenge I knew I had to post this story. Karlie wrote it to me while she was stuck in the hospital in Alaska and I was stuck in the hospital in Essex. She emailed it to me to cheer me up and it worked. Kacie
Declaration of Love (I think there’s a song by this title)
Minerva let herself into Albus’ office while trying to balance a box of old robes in her arms. She was collecting for the annual charity clothing drive and Albus promised to part with a few of his robes. She sighed. Each year he pledged and after spending hours trying to find even one robe he could bear to give away, he would donate enough money to purchase a few new robes instead. Albus was a hopeless case but it was a worthy cause and she had to ask him again.
She wasn’t surprised to find he wasn’t in his office yet. She purposely came early in hopes that he would still be asleep and less able to pay attention as she pulled a few of his brighter robes from his wardrobe. It hadn’t worked yet but there was no harm in trying.
She knocked softly on the door to his sitting room before entering. Two weeks ago she had entered to find him wearing only a towel and sitting on the couch reading the Daily Prophet. Both had been embarrassed and she made it a point to knock. She had grown accustomed to doing as she pleased but maybe they needed to get on a more formal footing again.
It hadn’t helped matters that she had fallen in love with him. He was an easy man to love and it was obvious he held some feelings for her but he never acted on them. She knew he was hesitant to approach her because of some noble need to keep her safe but she didn’t care about safety. He would do whatever was necessary to protect her. She was certain.
She knocked softly on his bedroom door and waited for a response. When none was forthcoming, she smiled. This would be easy. She could slip in and out while he slept. She entered but frowned when she noticed the bed was empty. She crept over to the bathroom door and placed her ear against the door.
The murmur of voices startled her. She held her breath so she could hear better and nearly gasped. Albus was talking to a woman! She took out her wand and cast a listening spell at the door. It was eavesdropping plain and simple but she wanted to know who was in the bathroom with him.
“Marriage is a sacred union,” she heard him say. She could also hear the clanging of drawers opening and closing. “I’ve loved you for so long and I hoped you might allow me to court you.”
Minerva’s eyes widened and her heart dropped. Her Albus was in love with someone else?
“No, no that’s all wrong. I don’t want to court you. I want to marry you. I hope that doesn’t frighten you away but you’re all I dream about and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Oh Albus!” A feminine sigh was heard and then silence. Minerva was sure Albus was snogging the other woman senseless. Tears gathered and she turned to leave. She had waited to long and her opportunity was lost forever probably.
Her vision was blurred and she missed the bench at the end of the bed and tripped over the leg landing squarely on her bum.
“Oh!”
She heard the bathroom door opening before she could rise and firm hands lifted her and sat her on the bed.
“Are you alright, Minerva?” Blue eyes looked into hers and filled with worry as they took in her tears. “No, you’re hurt. Do you need to see the school mediwitch?”
Minerva shook her head. She just needed to pick up her self-esteem and restore her composure. Tears spilled from her eyes in defiance of her wishes and she closed them. Could things get worse?
“Minerva, my dear, where do you hurt? Where did you fall?” His hands felt her arms and shoulders before pressing lightly against her back. He was so close and she could smell his cologne. He was wearing a light blue bathrobe and orange slippers. His green nightshirt showed where the robe was loosely tied and Minerva wondered if the woman would come out or remain in the bathroom.
Thoughts of him loving someone else filled her head again and she shook with anguish. Muscular but wiry arms encircled her and she gladly accepted the comfort he offered. She might not have him for long but she would take what she could. He was rubbing her back in soothing circles and she felt him murmuring against her hair.
Reluctantly she pulled back. “I’m embarrassed more than hurt, Albus,” she sniffled. “A fall on my bottom is a larger blow to my ego than to my body.”
“I supposed offering to kiss it and make it better is out of the question then,” commented Albus with a devilish glint in his eyes.
“You could kiss me and perhaps the healing power will spread,” countered Minerva resorting to their normal banter.
Albus blinked but then smiled and leaned closer.
Was he going to kiss her? Minerva’s lips parted with anticipation and hungrily sought his lips when they first touched. This was her one and only chance to kiss him and she was going to make it something she could remember for years to come. Her hands found their way into his hair and she stroke the soft tresses around his nape.
She barely heard his groan when she pressed her body against his but she felt his hardening desire pressed into her stomach and she leapt back as if burned.
“How dare you!”
Albus stared in confusion. Weren’t they just kissing with enthusiasm? Didn’t she enjoy it?
“You can’t kiss me like you want to make love to me when there is someone else you love. How she can stand to hide in the bathroom while you are here with me is beyond reasoning but you can’t propose to her and kiss me passionately five minutes later.” Minerva stood as though to leave but Albus stopped her before she could take a step.
He gently led her into the bathroom and Minerva cringed at the thought of facing his love, now his fiancé.
“Esmerelda, this is Minerva. Minerva I would like you to meet Esmerelda.” Albus smiled gently at her and pointed to the mirror over the sink.
“Please to meet you,” called a decidedly feminine voice from the other side of the mirror. “I’ve heard so much about you for so long, it seems we’ve already met.”
“Your mirror?” she said weakly.
“I was practicing and trying to find the right words to tell you how much I love you and wish to court you,” he whispered.
“You love me?” she asked dumbfounded. “But you were proposing.”
Albus nodded sheepishly. ‘I was ahead of myself.”
Minerva flung her arms around Albus and started kissing him. “I love you too, Albus and the answer is yes.”
“You will allow me the privilege of courting you?” he asked in disbelief.
“Minerva shook her head slowly. “Oh no you don’t! I heard a marriage proposal.”
Albus thought his heart had stopped. He had never dared to even hope she would agree to marry him. “I...I…I don’t know what to say.”
The voice in the mirror began chuckling. “I don’t think now’s the time for talking, dearie. Just kiss the lady.”
Never one to disobey the voice of reason Albus took Minerva in his arms and soundly kissed her.
Just a little bug in my ear that was driving me crazy, I think it was the anesthesia but it could have been the patty of meat they called chicken that was given to me for dinner. Unidentifiable meat always makes my head spin. I hope you’re at least getting better food. Karlie
Declaration of Love (I think there’s a song by this title)
Minerva let herself into Albus’ office while trying to balance a box of old robes in her arms. She was collecting for the annual charity clothing drive and Albus promised to part with a few of his robes. She sighed. Each year he pledged and after spending hours trying to find even one robe he could bear to give away, he would donate enough money to purchase a few new robes instead. Albus was a hopeless case but it was a worthy cause and she had to ask him again.
She wasn’t surprised to find he wasn’t in his office yet. She purposely came early in hopes that he would still be asleep and less able to pay attention as she pulled a few of his brighter robes from his wardrobe. It hadn’t worked yet but there was no harm in trying.
She knocked softly on the door to his sitting room before entering. Two weeks ago she had entered to find him wearing only a towel and sitting on the couch reading the Daily Prophet. Both had been embarrassed and she made it a point to knock. She had grown accustomed to doing as she pleased but maybe they needed to get on a more formal footing again.
It hadn’t helped matters that she had fallen in love with him. He was an easy man to love and it was obvious he held some feelings for her but he never acted on them. She knew he was hesitant to approach her because of some noble need to keep her safe but she didn’t care about safety. He would do whatever was necessary to protect her. She was certain.
She knocked softly on his bedroom door and waited for a response. When none was forthcoming, she smiled. This would be easy. She could slip in and out while he slept. She entered but frowned when she noticed the bed was empty. She crept over to the bathroom door and placed her ear against the door.
The murmur of voices startled her. She held her breath so she could hear better and nearly gasped. Albus was talking to a woman! She took out her wand and cast a listening spell at the door. It was eavesdropping plain and simple but she wanted to know who was in the bathroom with him.
“Marriage is a sacred union,” she heard him say. She could also hear the clanging of drawers opening and closing. “I’ve loved you for so long and I hoped you might allow me to court you.”
Minerva’s eyes widened and her heart dropped. Her Albus was in love with someone else?
“No, no that’s all wrong. I don’t want to court you. I want to marry you. I hope that doesn’t frighten you away but you’re all I dream about and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Oh Albus!” A feminine sigh was heard and then silence. Minerva was sure Albus was snogging the other woman senseless. Tears gathered and she turned to leave. She had waited to long and her opportunity was lost forever probably.
Her vision was blurred and she missed the bench at the end of the bed and tripped over the leg landing squarely on her bum.
“Oh!”
She heard the bathroom door opening before she could rise and firm hands lifted her and sat her on the bed.
“Are you alright, Minerva?” Blue eyes looked into hers and filled with worry as they took in her tears. “No, you’re hurt. Do you need to see the school mediwitch?”
Minerva shook her head. She just needed to pick up her self-esteem and restore her composure. Tears spilled from her eyes in defiance of her wishes and she closed them. Could things get worse?
“Minerva, my dear, where do you hurt? Where did you fall?” His hands felt her arms and shoulders before pressing lightly against her back. He was so close and she could smell his cologne. He was wearing a light blue bathrobe and orange slippers. His green nightshirt showed where the robe was loosely tied and Minerva wondered if the woman would come out or remain in the bathroom.
Thoughts of him loving someone else filled her head again and she shook with anguish. Muscular but wiry arms encircled her and she gladly accepted the comfort he offered. She might not have him for long but she would take what she could. He was rubbing her back in soothing circles and she felt him murmuring against her hair.
Reluctantly she pulled back. “I’m embarrassed more than hurt, Albus,” she sniffled. “A fall on my bottom is a larger blow to my ego than to my body.”
“I supposed offering to kiss it and make it better is out of the question then,” commented Albus with a devilish glint in his eyes.
“You could kiss me and perhaps the healing power will spread,” countered Minerva resorting to their normal banter.
Albus blinked but then smiled and leaned closer.
Was he going to kiss her? Minerva’s lips parted with anticipation and hungrily sought his lips when they first touched. This was her one and only chance to kiss him and she was going to make it something she could remember for years to come. Her hands found their way into his hair and she stroke the soft tresses around his nape.
She barely heard his groan when she pressed her body against his but she felt his hardening desire pressed into her stomach and she leapt back as if burned.
“How dare you!”
Albus stared in confusion. Weren’t they just kissing with enthusiasm? Didn’t she enjoy it?
“You can’t kiss me like you want to make love to me when there is someone else you love. How she can stand to hide in the bathroom while you are here with me is beyond reasoning but you can’t propose to her and kiss me passionately five minutes later.” Minerva stood as though to leave but Albus stopped her before she could take a step.
He gently led her into the bathroom and Minerva cringed at the thought of facing his love, now his fiancé.
“Esmerelda, this is Minerva. Minerva I would like you to meet Esmerelda.” Albus smiled gently at her and pointed to the mirror over the sink.
“Please to meet you,” called a decidedly feminine voice from the other side of the mirror. “I’ve heard so much about you for so long, it seems we’ve already met.”
“Your mirror?” she said weakly.
“I was practicing and trying to find the right words to tell you how much I love you and wish to court you,” he whispered.
“You love me?” she asked dumbfounded. “But you were proposing.”
Albus nodded sheepishly. ‘I was ahead of myself.”
Minerva flung her arms around Albus and started kissing him. “I love you too, Albus and the answer is yes.”
“You will allow me the privilege of courting you?” he asked in disbelief.
“Minerva shook her head slowly. “Oh no you don’t! I heard a marriage proposal.”
Albus thought his heart had stopped. He had never dared to even hope she would agree to marry him. “I...I…I don’t know what to say.”
The voice in the mirror began chuckling. “I don’t think now’s the time for talking, dearie. Just kiss the lady.”
Never one to disobey the voice of reason Albus took Minerva in his arms and soundly kissed her.
Just a little bug in my ear that was driving me crazy, I think it was the anesthesia but it could have been the patty of meat they called chicken that was given to me for dinner. Unidentifiable meat always makes my head spin. I hope you’re at least getting better food. Karlie
