Post by ginger newts on Oct 22, 2005 18:21:15 GMT -5
Challenge 45 Response: Historical Halloween
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a place of many secrets. Some secrets are kept by the staff, some by the students, and some by the castle itself. Among the many things the students of Hogwarts do not know is the fact that some of their teachers are married and that their spouses occasionally visit the castle. Teenagers are so egocentric that they mostly fail to notice an extra adult or two walking the grounds or the corridors on weekends. If they were to begin paying attention, the Gryffindors in particular would realize that their Head of House often had a weekend guest.
It was during one of these weekend visits that the topic of discussion for Albus Dumbledore and his wife turned to another of the faculty secrets.
“Well, my dear, Halloween is in two weeks,” he said casually, adjusting his arms around his wife’s shoulders and shifting her slightly against him. “Have you given any thought to your costume?”
“Costume?” she asked. “Why would I need a costume?” Minerva tilted her head up and back to look at her husband curiously.
Albus smiled. “So, the students still haven’t figured out our secret then?”
She shook her head. “I have no idea what you mean, but I’m going to assume that as of ten years ago this student, at least, had not. Now what are you on about?”
Sensing that frustration was soon to overtake his young wife’s curiosity, Albus decided to stop teasing her and explain himself. Every year, after the Halloween Feast, when the students had gone to bed, the professors of Hogwarts held a small ball in the Great Hall. Fancy dress was required and spouses and other significant others were invited, but Albus had never been able to bring Minerva until this year because they had both been involved in the war that had ravaged all of Northern Europe for five years. As soon as the war ended, they had married and now Albus was overjoyed to be getting back to a normal life in which he could spend the evening cuddling with his wife or take her to a ball dressed in a silly costume.
Minerva sighed. “I don’t want to go to a fancy dress ball, Albus,” she said as gently as she could. “I’ve never enjoyed dressing up in uncomfortable clothing and deciding what to go as is a nightmare for me.”
“It would mean a lot to me if you came,” he said softly, kissing her temple. “What if I decide what we should wear?”
Minerva sat up and turned to look at him with mild horror on her face. Albus laughed and kissed her.
“It won’t be that bad, I promise.”
“I’m not sure I trust you,” she told him with a suspicious smile.
“All right, then. How about a bet?” Albus suggested. “Whoever wins our next game of chess gets to decide what we wear to the ball.”
“Agreed,” Minerva practically purred, with a satisfied smile. She felt confident enough in her chess skills to win the game and the bet.
The next day it rained, forcing Albus and Minerva to cancel their plans of going into Hogsmeade for the afternoon. Instead, they decided to have the game of chess that would decide what they wore to the Halloween ball. Nearly two hours later, Albus won a very close victory and Minerva sat back with a defeated sigh.
“Well, what ridiculous costume are you going to force me to wear?” she asked.
Albus smiled. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about this since yesterday afternoon and I believe I’ve come up with something you just may enjoy.” He paused.
“Go on,” she prompted dryly. “I can’t wait to hear this.”
“Well, I know how much you enjoy history and while I was looking over your books last night I thought that perhaps we could go as Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.”
Minerva actually smiled. “Albus, that’s a wonderful idea! You actually do look quite a bit like Henry, with your auburn hair and beard. Except, of course, he was much broader in build than you are.”
“I guess I’ll just have to increase my sweet consumption between now and the thirty-first,” he teased.
“Don’t you dare,” she said with a scowl. “We’ll just pad your costume.”
“Of course we will, darling,” Albus assured her, standing and offering her his hand to help her up.
Minerva accepted his hand and let Albus lead her to the couch, where she snuggled happily into his arms.
“Just where will we get these costumes?” she asked after a moment.
“I think I know a place in Muggle London where we can rent them,” Albus answered. “Perhaps we can go one evening this week, I think I can get away for a couple of hours.”
Minerva rested her head against Albus’ shoulder with a contented sigh. “Henry and Anne,” she said musingly. “I bet we’ll have the best costumes at the ball.”
“And the most complete,” Albus added, resting his hand on her stomach. “As we’re brining the Princess Elizabeth too.”
Minerva smiled. “I hope it’s a girl, then.”
“If not, our son will just be the youngest cross dresser in history. It will make a good story some day.”
The two shared a laugh and then a long kiss before they returned to planning their costumes for the upcoming ball.
The End
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a place of many secrets. Some secrets are kept by the staff, some by the students, and some by the castle itself. Among the many things the students of Hogwarts do not know is the fact that some of their teachers are married and that their spouses occasionally visit the castle. Teenagers are so egocentric that they mostly fail to notice an extra adult or two walking the grounds or the corridors on weekends. If they were to begin paying attention, the Gryffindors in particular would realize that their Head of House often had a weekend guest.
It was during one of these weekend visits that the topic of discussion for Albus Dumbledore and his wife turned to another of the faculty secrets.
“Well, my dear, Halloween is in two weeks,” he said casually, adjusting his arms around his wife’s shoulders and shifting her slightly against him. “Have you given any thought to your costume?”
“Costume?” she asked. “Why would I need a costume?” Minerva tilted her head up and back to look at her husband curiously.
Albus smiled. “So, the students still haven’t figured out our secret then?”
She shook her head. “I have no idea what you mean, but I’m going to assume that as of ten years ago this student, at least, had not. Now what are you on about?”
Sensing that frustration was soon to overtake his young wife’s curiosity, Albus decided to stop teasing her and explain himself. Every year, after the Halloween Feast, when the students had gone to bed, the professors of Hogwarts held a small ball in the Great Hall. Fancy dress was required and spouses and other significant others were invited, but Albus had never been able to bring Minerva until this year because they had both been involved in the war that had ravaged all of Northern Europe for five years. As soon as the war ended, they had married and now Albus was overjoyed to be getting back to a normal life in which he could spend the evening cuddling with his wife or take her to a ball dressed in a silly costume.
Minerva sighed. “I don’t want to go to a fancy dress ball, Albus,” she said as gently as she could. “I’ve never enjoyed dressing up in uncomfortable clothing and deciding what to go as is a nightmare for me.”
“It would mean a lot to me if you came,” he said softly, kissing her temple. “What if I decide what we should wear?”
Minerva sat up and turned to look at him with mild horror on her face. Albus laughed and kissed her.
“It won’t be that bad, I promise.”
“I’m not sure I trust you,” she told him with a suspicious smile.
“All right, then. How about a bet?” Albus suggested. “Whoever wins our next game of chess gets to decide what we wear to the ball.”
“Agreed,” Minerva practically purred, with a satisfied smile. She felt confident enough in her chess skills to win the game and the bet.
The next day it rained, forcing Albus and Minerva to cancel their plans of going into Hogsmeade for the afternoon. Instead, they decided to have the game of chess that would decide what they wore to the Halloween ball. Nearly two hours later, Albus won a very close victory and Minerva sat back with a defeated sigh.
“Well, what ridiculous costume are you going to force me to wear?” she asked.
Albus smiled. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about this since yesterday afternoon and I believe I’ve come up with something you just may enjoy.” He paused.
“Go on,” she prompted dryly. “I can’t wait to hear this.”
“Well, I know how much you enjoy history and while I was looking over your books last night I thought that perhaps we could go as Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.”
Minerva actually smiled. “Albus, that’s a wonderful idea! You actually do look quite a bit like Henry, with your auburn hair and beard. Except, of course, he was much broader in build than you are.”
“I guess I’ll just have to increase my sweet consumption between now and the thirty-first,” he teased.
“Don’t you dare,” she said with a scowl. “We’ll just pad your costume.”
“Of course we will, darling,” Albus assured her, standing and offering her his hand to help her up.
Minerva accepted his hand and let Albus lead her to the couch, where she snuggled happily into his arms.
“Just where will we get these costumes?” she asked after a moment.
“I think I know a place in Muggle London where we can rent them,” Albus answered. “Perhaps we can go one evening this week, I think I can get away for a couple of hours.”
Minerva rested her head against Albus’ shoulder with a contented sigh. “Henry and Anne,” she said musingly. “I bet we’ll have the best costumes at the ball.”
“And the most complete,” Albus added, resting his hand on her stomach. “As we’re brining the Princess Elizabeth too.”
Minerva smiled. “I hope it’s a girl, then.”
“If not, our son will just be the youngest cross dresser in history. It will make a good story some day.”
The two shared a laugh and then a long kiss before they returned to planning their costumes for the upcoming ball.
The End
