Post by Hogwarts Duo on Sept 2, 2005 13:08:54 GMT -5
Disclaimer: They’re not ours…it’s that simple.
Summary: Minerva’s at her breaking point and it’s up to Albus to calm her nerves in ways that only he can.
Rating: All Ages
A/N: Thanks so much to Lisa for sticking by me with this story (and all the others) and for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. And to Meredith for convincing me it’s worth posting despite my “reservations”. You ladies are AWESOME!
Rain, Rain Go Away…or Maybe Not
Eight straight days of dark skies, torrential downpours and complaining students had finally taken its’ toll on the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Minerva McGonagall. She had tried her best to keep her own restless spirit under control but with the edgy atmosphere of her colleagues and her students, she had to admit she was losing the battle. There was seemingly nowhere to go for a moment of peace and quiet and tempers were beginning to run high among all of the inhabitants of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In short, everyone in the castle seemed to be irritable.
She sat in her office with her head in her hands, trying desperately to fight the growing pains at the base of her neck. There were lesson plans to revise because her order of pixies had not arrived in time for the practical lesson thanks in part to the rains. A mountain of third year essays on the ways of protecting ones self from dark spells awaited her perusal and comments. She had promised to write a brief article for the Daily Prophet on ways to help a child adjust to living away from home at Hogwarts. And to make her day complete, she had managed to spill an entire glass of pumpkin juice down her robes, thanks in part to a first year Ravenclaw who happened to be running to class.
Her nerves were frayed and her body was tense, no doubt from the lack of proper exercise and the stress of managing a bunch of bored students. Even Minerva’s own routine of relaxation had been interrupted. Instead of taking long leisurely strolls around the grounds with Albus after dinner or transforming into her tabby cat form and running about in the night air, she had been forced to remain inside.
Albus had tried to keep her mind occupied with chess games and other nonsense activities but nothing seemed to be effective in truly relaxing Minerva. He could tell by the weary look in her eyes that it had been a particularly difficult week and he wanted nothing more than to make her weekend the best it could possibly be under the circumstances. When Minerva failed to appear at dinner that evening, Albus called in a favor owed him by Professor Kettleburn so that his young cubs would be supervised and then excused himself to see about taking care of Minerva and her needs.
His next stop before heading to see Minerva was a little known room in a dark corridor of the castle. He had stumbled across it quite by accident one night when searching for the loo. To his amazement, Albus soon found himself standing in a room full of chamber pots but when he went back in search of the room later, he discovered the truth behind the magical room.
Pacing back and forth in front of the large blank space of the wall across from a particularly funny tapestry of trolls learning the ballet, Albus concentrated extremely hard on what he had in mind for Minerva. This was only the beginning of his plans for her but this was most essential in helping her relieve some of her stress. She might hex him once she learned of the liberties he had taken with the Room of Requirement but that was a risk he was willing to take for the woman he loved so very much. After the third pass in front of the wall, a door mysteriously appeared and Albus peered inside. It was just as he had imagined.
Stepping inside the room to admire his work, Albus could not suppress the grin on his face, nor did he really try. It had become a cat’s paradise, with numerous activities certain to entertain even the friskiest of kittens on their best day. There were brightly colored balls with bells inside littering the floor. Toy mice scurried around the room, just begging to be chased. A large structure in the center of the room was just perfect for climbing and sharpening the nails and to make the room complete, a bowl of fresh tuna sat beside a bowl of milk and a tiny birds flew close enough to the ground to tease but just far enough away not to be caught. Albus drew out his wand and lit a small burner with catnip incense inside before closing the door behind him and setting off to get Minerva.
After an hour of grading papers and not having the concentration necessary to do the papers justice, Minerva was about ready to give up and go to her rooms when a familiar knock sounded on her door. “Come in, Albus,” she called happily. “I’m sorry I missed dinner but I have so much work to do.”
“While I will not entirely excuse your absence, I will forgive it if you will accompany me. I have a little surprise planned for you,” he answered with a wink and a particularly charming smile.
“How could I refuse? You always seem to make my days better.” A soft peck on the lips followed by her gentle thumb wiping away the faint traces of lipstick from his mouth caused them both to smile.
Albus led Minerva through several corridors until he reached the desired location. “Please do not be angry with me. I’ve noticed how unsettled and restless you’ve been and I thought I might try to help. If nothing else, it will give you a small measure of time to yourself without interruptions.” When he opened the door, Minerva’s eyes went wide mere seconds before her arms flew around Albus’ neck.
“You…did…all this…for…me?” she asked in between playful kisses all over his face.
A hearty chuckle greeted her ears. “Yes, all for you. Now if you will kindly transform into your tabby form, I will shut the door behind you and leave you to your adventures.” One last kiss and a promise to find him later and Minerva transfigured into her animagus form before darting inside the room to begin her explorations.
Albus was thrilled that Minerva had put up so little resistance into the first stage of his plan. If he had been a betting man, he would surely have lost for all of his instincts told him that Minerva would have protested. But she hadn’t and all had gone well. Now it was time to begin stage two of his little plan for his lovely woman.
Entering Minerva’s rooms without prior permission was something Albus would normally never do but desperate times called for drastic measures. He was certain she would not be offended, especially once she returned from her time in the utopia he had conjured for her.
The rain was still pelting the windowpanes and Albus cast a series of charms to soften the sound of the beating drops. In the right mood, raindrops could be highly romantic, especially if the rest of the atmosphere was taken into consideration. Hoping that he was not overstepping his boundaries too much, he began moving furniture out of the way and creating the vision he held in his mind.
In each of the corners of the room, tall white candles flickered, casting soft shadows across the stone walls. The fireplace was blazing furiously, giving off the right amount of warmth to ward off the chill threatening to overtake the entire castle. Minerva’s favorite book and several of her favorite foods were placed on a nearby table. And the comfortable sofa where they had spent many enjoyable evenings had been altered so that it could serve as a small cot if necessary, just in case Minerva happened to fall asleep while reading. With the finishing touch, a delicate orchid lying on a deep maroon colored pillow, Albus glanced around the room before taking his leave.
Before starting on even his first set of arrangements, Albus had owled a trusted friend in Hogsmeade, the woman who owned the most luxurious shop selling all sorts of bath products. On various occasions, Minerva had mentioned visiting the shop to purchase some of her favorite scents and luxury items. With little persuasion on his part, the helpful owner sent over a basket full of Minerva’s most frequently purchased items, guaranteed to relax and pamper even the most stressed woman. Of course, she also sent along a pamphlet on sensual massage, no doubt directed as a hint to Albus, which caused him to flush crimson but intrigued him immensely. After changing into the most comfortable robes he owned, Albus gathered the basket of goodies and returned to Minerva’s rooms, hoping she would already be there.
The sleek tabby cat stretched one last time and inhaled the soothing aroma of the catnip incense before changing back into her human form. Minerva couldn’t remember the last time she had felt more relaxed and calm since the rainstorm had started over a week ago. Her mind was clear and she no longer had the feeling of restlessness, something for which she was eternally grateful. But her thoughts kept returning to Albus and the wonderful way he treated her. No matter what her cluttered mind was thinking, he could always pinpoint her exact needs, just as he had done tonight. With every intention of showering and then going to his room to thank him personally, Minerva bid the room a fond goodbye and lazily walked the corridors back to her rooms.
Summary: Minerva’s at her breaking point and it’s up to Albus to calm her nerves in ways that only he can.
Rating: All Ages
A/N: Thanks so much to Lisa for sticking by me with this story (and all the others) and for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. And to Meredith for convincing me it’s worth posting despite my “reservations”. You ladies are AWESOME!
Rain, Rain Go Away…or Maybe Not
Eight straight days of dark skies, torrential downpours and complaining students had finally taken its’ toll on the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Minerva McGonagall. She had tried her best to keep her own restless spirit under control but with the edgy atmosphere of her colleagues and her students, she had to admit she was losing the battle. There was seemingly nowhere to go for a moment of peace and quiet and tempers were beginning to run high among all of the inhabitants of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In short, everyone in the castle seemed to be irritable.
She sat in her office with her head in her hands, trying desperately to fight the growing pains at the base of her neck. There were lesson plans to revise because her order of pixies had not arrived in time for the practical lesson thanks in part to the rains. A mountain of third year essays on the ways of protecting ones self from dark spells awaited her perusal and comments. She had promised to write a brief article for the Daily Prophet on ways to help a child adjust to living away from home at Hogwarts. And to make her day complete, she had managed to spill an entire glass of pumpkin juice down her robes, thanks in part to a first year Ravenclaw who happened to be running to class.
Her nerves were frayed and her body was tense, no doubt from the lack of proper exercise and the stress of managing a bunch of bored students. Even Minerva’s own routine of relaxation had been interrupted. Instead of taking long leisurely strolls around the grounds with Albus after dinner or transforming into her tabby cat form and running about in the night air, she had been forced to remain inside.
Albus had tried to keep her mind occupied with chess games and other nonsense activities but nothing seemed to be effective in truly relaxing Minerva. He could tell by the weary look in her eyes that it had been a particularly difficult week and he wanted nothing more than to make her weekend the best it could possibly be under the circumstances. When Minerva failed to appear at dinner that evening, Albus called in a favor owed him by Professor Kettleburn so that his young cubs would be supervised and then excused himself to see about taking care of Minerva and her needs.
His next stop before heading to see Minerva was a little known room in a dark corridor of the castle. He had stumbled across it quite by accident one night when searching for the loo. To his amazement, Albus soon found himself standing in a room full of chamber pots but when he went back in search of the room later, he discovered the truth behind the magical room.
Pacing back and forth in front of the large blank space of the wall across from a particularly funny tapestry of trolls learning the ballet, Albus concentrated extremely hard on what he had in mind for Minerva. This was only the beginning of his plans for her but this was most essential in helping her relieve some of her stress. She might hex him once she learned of the liberties he had taken with the Room of Requirement but that was a risk he was willing to take for the woman he loved so very much. After the third pass in front of the wall, a door mysteriously appeared and Albus peered inside. It was just as he had imagined.
Stepping inside the room to admire his work, Albus could not suppress the grin on his face, nor did he really try. It had become a cat’s paradise, with numerous activities certain to entertain even the friskiest of kittens on their best day. There were brightly colored balls with bells inside littering the floor. Toy mice scurried around the room, just begging to be chased. A large structure in the center of the room was just perfect for climbing and sharpening the nails and to make the room complete, a bowl of fresh tuna sat beside a bowl of milk and a tiny birds flew close enough to the ground to tease but just far enough away not to be caught. Albus drew out his wand and lit a small burner with catnip incense inside before closing the door behind him and setting off to get Minerva.
After an hour of grading papers and not having the concentration necessary to do the papers justice, Minerva was about ready to give up and go to her rooms when a familiar knock sounded on her door. “Come in, Albus,” she called happily. “I’m sorry I missed dinner but I have so much work to do.”
“While I will not entirely excuse your absence, I will forgive it if you will accompany me. I have a little surprise planned for you,” he answered with a wink and a particularly charming smile.
“How could I refuse? You always seem to make my days better.” A soft peck on the lips followed by her gentle thumb wiping away the faint traces of lipstick from his mouth caused them both to smile.
Albus led Minerva through several corridors until he reached the desired location. “Please do not be angry with me. I’ve noticed how unsettled and restless you’ve been and I thought I might try to help. If nothing else, it will give you a small measure of time to yourself without interruptions.” When he opened the door, Minerva’s eyes went wide mere seconds before her arms flew around Albus’ neck.
“You…did…all this…for…me?” she asked in between playful kisses all over his face.
A hearty chuckle greeted her ears. “Yes, all for you. Now if you will kindly transform into your tabby form, I will shut the door behind you and leave you to your adventures.” One last kiss and a promise to find him later and Minerva transfigured into her animagus form before darting inside the room to begin her explorations.
Albus was thrilled that Minerva had put up so little resistance into the first stage of his plan. If he had been a betting man, he would surely have lost for all of his instincts told him that Minerva would have protested. But she hadn’t and all had gone well. Now it was time to begin stage two of his little plan for his lovely woman.
Entering Minerva’s rooms without prior permission was something Albus would normally never do but desperate times called for drastic measures. He was certain she would not be offended, especially once she returned from her time in the utopia he had conjured for her.
The rain was still pelting the windowpanes and Albus cast a series of charms to soften the sound of the beating drops. In the right mood, raindrops could be highly romantic, especially if the rest of the atmosphere was taken into consideration. Hoping that he was not overstepping his boundaries too much, he began moving furniture out of the way and creating the vision he held in his mind.
In each of the corners of the room, tall white candles flickered, casting soft shadows across the stone walls. The fireplace was blazing furiously, giving off the right amount of warmth to ward off the chill threatening to overtake the entire castle. Minerva’s favorite book and several of her favorite foods were placed on a nearby table. And the comfortable sofa where they had spent many enjoyable evenings had been altered so that it could serve as a small cot if necessary, just in case Minerva happened to fall asleep while reading. With the finishing touch, a delicate orchid lying on a deep maroon colored pillow, Albus glanced around the room before taking his leave.
Before starting on even his first set of arrangements, Albus had owled a trusted friend in Hogsmeade, the woman who owned the most luxurious shop selling all sorts of bath products. On various occasions, Minerva had mentioned visiting the shop to purchase some of her favorite scents and luxury items. With little persuasion on his part, the helpful owner sent over a basket full of Minerva’s most frequently purchased items, guaranteed to relax and pamper even the most stressed woman. Of course, she also sent along a pamphlet on sensual massage, no doubt directed as a hint to Albus, which caused him to flush crimson but intrigued him immensely. After changing into the most comfortable robes he owned, Albus gathered the basket of goodies and returned to Minerva’s rooms, hoping she would already be there.
The sleek tabby cat stretched one last time and inhaled the soothing aroma of the catnip incense before changing back into her human form. Minerva couldn’t remember the last time she had felt more relaxed and calm since the rainstorm had started over a week ago. Her mind was clear and she no longer had the feeling of restlessness, something for which she was eternally grateful. But her thoughts kept returning to Albus and the wonderful way he treated her. No matter what her cluttered mind was thinking, he could always pinpoint her exact needs, just as he had done tonight. With every intention of showering and then going to his room to thank him personally, Minerva bid the room a fond goodbye and lazily walked the corridors back to her rooms.
.
