Post by QuillofMinerva on Jul 6, 2005 5:36:57 GMT -5
The Trinket Box
Minerva McGonagall looked at the sign that hung from the wall of Gringotts Bank and sighed heavily, she couldn’t believe her bad luck. She rarely had a free moment to herself to do some shopping and when she did managed to seek out of the school without being asked to do something, the bank was shut.
According to the notice on the wall, the bank was shut for staff training. Minerva had never come across this before and it highly annoyed her. Goblins didn’t need to be trained during the day for Merlin’s sake, didn’t they know it would inconvenience people like herself.
She needed to use the bank today, this instant in fact because she wasn’t sure that she would be able to get into Diagon Alley again for sometime. She had come into London today to find a birthday present for her best friend and employer, Albus Dumbledore. She only had a certain amount of money on her and it wasn’t nearly enough to cover what she had in mind for getting him. If only she kept more money on her or in her rooms but she had always been taught when you don’t have it around, you are less likely to spend it on things that you don’t really need or want. Her father had told her that when she had just turned ten years old and received some money from her grandmother, her father had told her that it was best to invest rather than buy the big cuddly lion she had wanted for the past year and a half. She had placed it in her Gringotts account and watched it grow over the years, she also remembered pressing her nose up against the toyshop window for months after her birthday looking at the lion sadly.
She had always wanted that lion and she had kept on wanting it till last year and then after years of waiting and wanting, it was delivered to her by none other that her best friend who had remembered her saying something about a cuddly lion in a toy shop. Minerva couldn’t believe that he had remembered, she was incredibly touched by the effort he had put into getting the lion for. It was just as soft as she had remembered from her childhood, it wasn’t as large as it once seemed but then she had grown over the years and its green eyes were still bright and alert looking.
He had gone to so much trouble for her birthday that she felt that she had to get something really special for him; she wanted to get something special for him. She wanted to let him know how special he was to her but now the present she wanted to get him was out of sight because she didn’t have enough money on her and his birthday was tomorrow. She should have made time to do his birthday shopping before today, it was her own fault but then if she weren’t always asked to deal with things at the school or with the order then she would have more time.
She had been looking forward to shopping today but now her spirits had been dampened and she had lost the urge to shop till she dropped. Minerva was the type of woman who had to be in the mood to shop otherwise it was a futile pastime for her.
Now she was at a lost for what to do, she had to get him a present but she couldn’t get him what she wanted t get him which had put her in a bad mood and now she was trying to weigh up her options. She could have a look around all the shops for a present that would make do for him, she could go and look for friends who she could borrow some money from or she could go to the shop and see if they would be willing to work something out.
She decided on the latter option and quickly hotfooted it towards ‘Fabians Treasures’. She had stumbled across this shop during her last visit to Diagon Alley, she had been with Albus and he had literally dragged her into it. Albus had been completely at home in this shop, in fact it reminded her lot of how his office looked.
The shop was cluttered with numerous things ranging from trinkets to grandfather clocks and big oak work desks with secret draws. Albus had made a beeline for a shelf that held jewel encrusted trinket boxes, she watched as his eyes lit up as he toyed with each box with his nimble, long fingers. He had told her that one of these boxes would be a perfect container to hold his sherbet lemons, she had rolled her eyes and sighed, only Albus could take such a beautiful box and use it to put sweets in. She had also watched his eyes dim when he was told that the boxes on the shelf had already been sold and were waiting to be collected by the buyer later on that day. Albus had swept out of the shop and Minerva had followed closely behind but not before asking the shop owner if he expected anymore deliveries of such items, he had told her that he expected some in the next few weeks and that when she had decided to buy one for his upcoming birthday.
Minerva walked along the deserted street and made her way into Fabians Treasure, she had to admit that she was slightly nervous about going into such a shop without Albus by her side. The shop smelt of old parchment and a mixture of smells that she didn’t wish to know about, she was here for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to make Albus happy. She couldn’t pin point the exact moment when she had fallen in love with him, all she knew was that she was in love with him and being near him set her body alight. She knew that he couldn’t see her in that way and so tried to concentrate of their friendship but it was hard to do and she often caught herself daydreaming about him and her while sat at her desk in her classroom.
“Can I help you Miss?” came a voice from the back of the shop
The voice had startled Minerva slightly and she turned around to face the surprisingly well-dressed wizard, who was wearing dress robes and his usually scruffy long hair had been pulled into a ponytail.
“I am after a trinket box,” she answered
“Oh your in luck, had some delivered just this morning.” He replied as he walked over to the shelf that Albus had been standing in front of a few weeks ago. “Some right pretty ones.”
Minerva looked at the boxes and immediately saw one that would suit Albus, it was made out of a dark wood and had blue, green and red jewels encrusted on the lid. She knew that it would look good on his desk amongst all the other trinkets he managed to keep on there and still have enough room to work.
“I like that one,” she said pointing to her chosen box “but I was wondering if there was anyway that I could pay half now and then half at the weekend when the bank it open.”
“Sorry Miss,” he said “but I don’t do credit like that, you might not come back and I wont get my money.”
“But I can assure that you would get your money,” she said, “I am Professor McGonagall and I teach at Hogwarts, I am not dishonest but its just that the bank is shut and I wanted this box for a birthday present.”
“I know who you are Professor,” he said with regret “but I can’t do it, if I do it for you then someone else will expect it but I don’t do business like that. I am sorry! I could reserve it!”
“I need it for tomorrow!” she answered sadly, she was thoroughly disappointed but she could understand what he meant and why he couldn’t.
She made her way out of the shop, her shoulders slumped sadly and her eyes on the ground. She felt slightly childish about being so upset about not being able to get her own way but at the moment, she didn’t really care because she was disappointed and she had no other ideas what to get the man she secretly loved.
“Minerva?” came a voice she recognised
Her head bolted upright and she saw the last person, she wanted to see at this precise moment in time. She plastered on a smile and walked over to where Albus Dumbledore stood.
“Hello Albus!” she said softly
“Hello my dear,” he answered “what brings you to Diagon Alley.”
“I was hoping to get something I needed but Gringotts is shut for staff training.” She explained, “So I can’ do what I planned because I don’t have enough money on me.”
Albus rooted around in his pocket and brought out a bulging moneybag, he smiled at her as he opened it.
“Good job you bumped into me,” he told her “consider me a walking bank today. How much do you need fair lady?”
Minerva looked at him horrified; there was no way that she could use the money that he lent her to buy his own birthday present. She could never look him in the eye, it was bad enough that she didn’t have enough money on her to buy a birthday present let alone use his money.
“No Albus,” she said softly “I can’t possibly.”
“Why not my dear,” he asked, his eyebrow raised slightly “I know you intend to repay me once the back is open so I don’t see the problem.”
“I can do my shopping another time!” she told him, letting her pride and stubbornness rule her.
“Minerva,” he said looking at her “come on, what’s the point in making a return trip another day when I can help you out today.”
For some reason, Minerva could feel hot tears pricking at the back of her eyes and she was trying her hardest to fight them. She couldn’t explain why she suddenly felt the urge to cry and she certainly did not want to do it front of Albus. She wished he would stop trying to be so nice to her, she felt bad enough already and him being nice was making her feel so inadequate.
“I can’t Albus!” she replied in a whimper
“Why not?” he questioned, he didn’t like pushing her but he could tell something was wrong.
“I just can’t!” she snapped
“Yes you can.” He said as he tried to slip the moneybag into her robe pocket, he missed and the bag fell on to the cobbled stones beneath their feet.
The money spilled out on to the floor and both Albus and Minerva sunk to their knees to pick it up and place it back in the bag. Minerva hurriedly picked up the coins and shoved them into the bag and was about to stand up and when she felt Albus’ handgrip on to her own.
“What is matter Minerva?” she heard him ask
The softness in his voice caused the hot tears to leak from her eyes and before she could stop herself, she was crying in public and in front of Albus Dumbledore.
“Oh Minerva!” he said as she felt him pull into his arms “its okay my dear, please tell me what has upset you.”
She sniffed and pulled herself away from him, she blushed and quickly got to her feet and then brushed the dust from the stones off her emerald green robes.
“I am fine Albus.” She told him
“I have known you long enough to know when something has upset you!” he said as he stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders “Please Minerva, I care for you and it concerns me greatly when I see something is wrong.”
“Its something silly Albus!” she said, trying to laugh it off
“Tell me please!” he begged “Please Min!”
She shook her head and tried to pull away, it was silly but because of the way she was acting, she was causing him and when she told him what the real reason was, it would make feel like an imbecile.
“Albus,” she asked, “will you just leave it!”
“No I will not leave it,” he answered sternly “I do not want to see the woman I love hurting.”
She looked up at him in shock, had she just heard right or was her mind playing a nasty trick on her. He was looking at and not saying anything, she was trying to read his eyes but she was having difficulty.
“Albus!” she asked, “What did you just say?”
“I said I would not leave it!” he replied
“I meant after that.” She pushed
“Well erm…” he trailed off
“You love me?” she asked, hoping that she wasn’t making another fool out of herself.
Albus took a step back from her and looked down at the ground, he wanted to ground to swallow him up. He hadn’t meant to tell her this way; he had meant to never tell her because he didn’t want to ruin the friendship.
“I am sorry,” he said sadly “so sorry!”
“For what Albus?” she asked as she took a step towards him and cupped his face with her hands before summoning all her Gryffindor courage up “I love you too!”
She watched as his beautiful blue eyes lit up and he pulled her into his arms, neither of them seemed to care that they were in the middle of street. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled into his body, she felt his lips press against her neck and she felt her knees go weak.
“I can’t believe you love me too!” he whispered into her ear, causing her to shiver slightly
“I feel the same about you Albus.” She replied as she twirled a piece of his hair around her finger.
“Before we talk about what happens next,” he said pulling away from her slightly “I would like to know why you were so upset.”
“Oh Albus, it is really silly!” she began, but she saw the look in his eye and knew that she wasn’t going to be able to get out of this “I came into town to buy your present but the bank was shut and I didn’t have enough money to get what I wanted for you. I couldn’t borrow money from you so that I could buy something for you.”
“Oh Min,” he said with a chuckle “you silly but totally lovable thing!”
“Albus, don’t laugh!” she warned, “I wanted to get you something special!”
“I am not laughing at you sweetheart,” he told her “I just think that it was sweet of you but let me tell you something, you have already given me the best birthday present I have ever received and that is your love.”
“But I wanted to get you something.” She protested but he placed a finger on her lips to silence her.
“You can get me what ever you were planning to for Christmas Minerva.” He told her
“But!” she began
“No buts,” he interrupted while offering her his arm “Christmas isn’t that far away and I want us to go home and talk about us!”
She cocked her head to one side and then let herself be pulled away from the busy streets of Diagon Alley by the man she loved and the man that loved her. She would get him that box before Christmas.
THE END
Minerva McGonagall looked at the sign that hung from the wall of Gringotts Bank and sighed heavily, she couldn’t believe her bad luck. She rarely had a free moment to herself to do some shopping and when she did managed to seek out of the school without being asked to do something, the bank was shut.
According to the notice on the wall, the bank was shut for staff training. Minerva had never come across this before and it highly annoyed her. Goblins didn’t need to be trained during the day for Merlin’s sake, didn’t they know it would inconvenience people like herself.
She needed to use the bank today, this instant in fact because she wasn’t sure that she would be able to get into Diagon Alley again for sometime. She had come into London today to find a birthday present for her best friend and employer, Albus Dumbledore. She only had a certain amount of money on her and it wasn’t nearly enough to cover what she had in mind for getting him. If only she kept more money on her or in her rooms but she had always been taught when you don’t have it around, you are less likely to spend it on things that you don’t really need or want. Her father had told her that when she had just turned ten years old and received some money from her grandmother, her father had told her that it was best to invest rather than buy the big cuddly lion she had wanted for the past year and a half. She had placed it in her Gringotts account and watched it grow over the years, she also remembered pressing her nose up against the toyshop window for months after her birthday looking at the lion sadly.
She had always wanted that lion and she had kept on wanting it till last year and then after years of waiting and wanting, it was delivered to her by none other that her best friend who had remembered her saying something about a cuddly lion in a toy shop. Minerva couldn’t believe that he had remembered, she was incredibly touched by the effort he had put into getting the lion for. It was just as soft as she had remembered from her childhood, it wasn’t as large as it once seemed but then she had grown over the years and its green eyes were still bright and alert looking.
He had gone to so much trouble for her birthday that she felt that she had to get something really special for him; she wanted to get something special for him. She wanted to let him know how special he was to her but now the present she wanted to get him was out of sight because she didn’t have enough money on her and his birthday was tomorrow. She should have made time to do his birthday shopping before today, it was her own fault but then if she weren’t always asked to deal with things at the school or with the order then she would have more time.
She had been looking forward to shopping today but now her spirits had been dampened and she had lost the urge to shop till she dropped. Minerva was the type of woman who had to be in the mood to shop otherwise it was a futile pastime for her.
Now she was at a lost for what to do, she had to get him a present but she couldn’t get him what she wanted t get him which had put her in a bad mood and now she was trying to weigh up her options. She could have a look around all the shops for a present that would make do for him, she could go and look for friends who she could borrow some money from or she could go to the shop and see if they would be willing to work something out.
She decided on the latter option and quickly hotfooted it towards ‘Fabians Treasures’. She had stumbled across this shop during her last visit to Diagon Alley, she had been with Albus and he had literally dragged her into it. Albus had been completely at home in this shop, in fact it reminded her lot of how his office looked.
The shop was cluttered with numerous things ranging from trinkets to grandfather clocks and big oak work desks with secret draws. Albus had made a beeline for a shelf that held jewel encrusted trinket boxes, she watched as his eyes lit up as he toyed with each box with his nimble, long fingers. He had told her that one of these boxes would be a perfect container to hold his sherbet lemons, she had rolled her eyes and sighed, only Albus could take such a beautiful box and use it to put sweets in. She had also watched his eyes dim when he was told that the boxes on the shelf had already been sold and were waiting to be collected by the buyer later on that day. Albus had swept out of the shop and Minerva had followed closely behind but not before asking the shop owner if he expected anymore deliveries of such items, he had told her that he expected some in the next few weeks and that when she had decided to buy one for his upcoming birthday.
Minerva walked along the deserted street and made her way into Fabians Treasure, she had to admit that she was slightly nervous about going into such a shop without Albus by her side. The shop smelt of old parchment and a mixture of smells that she didn’t wish to know about, she was here for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to make Albus happy. She couldn’t pin point the exact moment when she had fallen in love with him, all she knew was that she was in love with him and being near him set her body alight. She knew that he couldn’t see her in that way and so tried to concentrate of their friendship but it was hard to do and she often caught herself daydreaming about him and her while sat at her desk in her classroom.
“Can I help you Miss?” came a voice from the back of the shop
The voice had startled Minerva slightly and she turned around to face the surprisingly well-dressed wizard, who was wearing dress robes and his usually scruffy long hair had been pulled into a ponytail.
“I am after a trinket box,” she answered
“Oh your in luck, had some delivered just this morning.” He replied as he walked over to the shelf that Albus had been standing in front of a few weeks ago. “Some right pretty ones.”
Minerva looked at the boxes and immediately saw one that would suit Albus, it was made out of a dark wood and had blue, green and red jewels encrusted on the lid. She knew that it would look good on his desk amongst all the other trinkets he managed to keep on there and still have enough room to work.
“I like that one,” she said pointing to her chosen box “but I was wondering if there was anyway that I could pay half now and then half at the weekend when the bank it open.”
“Sorry Miss,” he said “but I don’t do credit like that, you might not come back and I wont get my money.”
“But I can assure that you would get your money,” she said, “I am Professor McGonagall and I teach at Hogwarts, I am not dishonest but its just that the bank is shut and I wanted this box for a birthday present.”
“I know who you are Professor,” he said with regret “but I can’t do it, if I do it for you then someone else will expect it but I don’t do business like that. I am sorry! I could reserve it!”
“I need it for tomorrow!” she answered sadly, she was thoroughly disappointed but she could understand what he meant and why he couldn’t.
She made her way out of the shop, her shoulders slumped sadly and her eyes on the ground. She felt slightly childish about being so upset about not being able to get her own way but at the moment, she didn’t really care because she was disappointed and she had no other ideas what to get the man she secretly loved.
“Minerva?” came a voice she recognised
Her head bolted upright and she saw the last person, she wanted to see at this precise moment in time. She plastered on a smile and walked over to where Albus Dumbledore stood.
“Hello Albus!” she said softly
“Hello my dear,” he answered “what brings you to Diagon Alley.”
“I was hoping to get something I needed but Gringotts is shut for staff training.” She explained, “So I can’ do what I planned because I don’t have enough money on me.”
Albus rooted around in his pocket and brought out a bulging moneybag, he smiled at her as he opened it.
“Good job you bumped into me,” he told her “consider me a walking bank today. How much do you need fair lady?”
Minerva looked at him horrified; there was no way that she could use the money that he lent her to buy his own birthday present. She could never look him in the eye, it was bad enough that she didn’t have enough money on her to buy a birthday present let alone use his money.
“No Albus,” she said softly “I can’t possibly.”
“Why not my dear,” he asked, his eyebrow raised slightly “I know you intend to repay me once the back is open so I don’t see the problem.”
“I can do my shopping another time!” she told him, letting her pride and stubbornness rule her.
“Minerva,” he said looking at her “come on, what’s the point in making a return trip another day when I can help you out today.”
For some reason, Minerva could feel hot tears pricking at the back of her eyes and she was trying her hardest to fight them. She couldn’t explain why she suddenly felt the urge to cry and she certainly did not want to do it front of Albus. She wished he would stop trying to be so nice to her, she felt bad enough already and him being nice was making her feel so inadequate.
“I can’t Albus!” she replied in a whimper
“Why not?” he questioned, he didn’t like pushing her but he could tell something was wrong.
“I just can’t!” she snapped
“Yes you can.” He said as he tried to slip the moneybag into her robe pocket, he missed and the bag fell on to the cobbled stones beneath their feet.
The money spilled out on to the floor and both Albus and Minerva sunk to their knees to pick it up and place it back in the bag. Minerva hurriedly picked up the coins and shoved them into the bag and was about to stand up and when she felt Albus’ handgrip on to her own.
“What is matter Minerva?” she heard him ask
The softness in his voice caused the hot tears to leak from her eyes and before she could stop herself, she was crying in public and in front of Albus Dumbledore.
“Oh Minerva!” he said as she felt him pull into his arms “its okay my dear, please tell me what has upset you.”
She sniffed and pulled herself away from him, she blushed and quickly got to her feet and then brushed the dust from the stones off her emerald green robes.
“I am fine Albus.” She told him
“I have known you long enough to know when something has upset you!” he said as he stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders “Please Minerva, I care for you and it concerns me greatly when I see something is wrong.”
“Its something silly Albus!” she said, trying to laugh it off
“Tell me please!” he begged “Please Min!”
She shook her head and tried to pull away, it was silly but because of the way she was acting, she was causing him and when she told him what the real reason was, it would make feel like an imbecile.
“Albus,” she asked, “will you just leave it!”
“No I will not leave it,” he answered sternly “I do not want to see the woman I love hurting.”
She looked up at him in shock, had she just heard right or was her mind playing a nasty trick on her. He was looking at and not saying anything, she was trying to read his eyes but she was having difficulty.
“Albus!” she asked, “What did you just say?”
“I said I would not leave it!” he replied
“I meant after that.” She pushed
“Well erm…” he trailed off
“You love me?” she asked, hoping that she wasn’t making another fool out of herself.
Albus took a step back from her and looked down at the ground, he wanted to ground to swallow him up. He hadn’t meant to tell her this way; he had meant to never tell her because he didn’t want to ruin the friendship.
“I am sorry,” he said sadly “so sorry!”
“For what Albus?” she asked as she took a step towards him and cupped his face with her hands before summoning all her Gryffindor courage up “I love you too!”
She watched as his beautiful blue eyes lit up and he pulled her into his arms, neither of them seemed to care that they were in the middle of street. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled into his body, she felt his lips press against her neck and she felt her knees go weak.
“I can’t believe you love me too!” he whispered into her ear, causing her to shiver slightly
“I feel the same about you Albus.” She replied as she twirled a piece of his hair around her finger.
“Before we talk about what happens next,” he said pulling away from her slightly “I would like to know why you were so upset.”
“Oh Albus, it is really silly!” she began, but she saw the look in his eye and knew that she wasn’t going to be able to get out of this “I came into town to buy your present but the bank was shut and I didn’t have enough money to get what I wanted for you. I couldn’t borrow money from you so that I could buy something for you.”
“Oh Min,” he said with a chuckle “you silly but totally lovable thing!”
“Albus, don’t laugh!” she warned, “I wanted to get you something special!”
“I am not laughing at you sweetheart,” he told her “I just think that it was sweet of you but let me tell you something, you have already given me the best birthday present I have ever received and that is your love.”
“But I wanted to get you something.” She protested but he placed a finger on her lips to silence her.
“You can get me what ever you were planning to for Christmas Minerva.” He told her
“But!” she began
“No buts,” he interrupted while offering her his arm “Christmas isn’t that far away and I want us to go home and talk about us!”
She cocked her head to one side and then let herself be pulled away from the busy streets of Diagon Alley by the man she loved and the man that loved her. She would get him that box before Christmas.
THE END
