Post by Hogwarts Duo on Aug 1, 2006 10:00:29 GMT -5
Summary: It’s Albus’ birthday! Let the madness begin! Answer to the challenge set by JKMcGonagall.
The dawn broke through the windowpanes into Albus Dumbledore’s rooms, bathing the sleeping man in soft light as his phoenix began to sing a soft, happy tune. Stretching his limbs, a smile curled upon Albus’ lips as he remembered that today was his birthday.
He had his suspicions about what his staff may or may not be planning. He had accidentally walked in on more than one conversation in the staff room causing everyone to cease talking almost immediately. Not one to spoil the delights of others, he shrugged it off and tried not to meddle in their plans. He would be happy as long as one person in particular remembered his birthday and based on the rather heated and passionate exchange from last night, he was certain she would be hard pressed to forget.
As usual, Albus started the day with a cup of steaming lemon tea. He always said his day wasn’t officially started until he had savored the first cup of the morning and today was no exception. However, when he removed the silver dome from the tray, he was surprised not only to find his cup of morning tea but also a small cake with a candle on top and a rather scribbled note of Happy Birthday from the Kitchen Staff beside it.
“Ah, Fawkes, would you look at this. The house elves have baked me a birthday cake and sent it with the morning tea.” Cutting a small slice of the cake for himself and an even smaller piece for his familiar, they both sampled the lemony treat. One bite and Fawkes began to push his plate away as he shook his head, as if trying to rid himself of a bad memory. A rather amused chuckle filled the room as Albus, too, pushed his plate aside. “Rather lemony indeed. I think they used a smidgen too much lemon but at least they tried. I will have to visit them later this morning to offer my thanks.” Fakwes ruffled his feathers and made a rather curt reply before leaving his perch and settling beside a tin of ginger newts Albus kept in his office for Minerva. “I get the idea. You need something to take the taste out of your mouth and you want one of Minerva’s biscuits.” After receiving the treat, he sang another happy note or two and watched as his companion began his morning routine.
Once properly dressed, Albus strolled leisurely down the winding corridors to Minerva’s rooms. It had become their custom to walk to breakfast together and he could hardly wait. Minerva had mentioned his birthday only yesterday, promising him it would be a day to remember. Knowing her as well as he did, it could only mean that she had something up her sleeves. Hopefully it would be a private affair since their relationship had been progressing rather happily in that general direction.
“Happy Birthday, Love” she greeted him as she opened the door to her private rooms and invited him quickly inside. Once the door was safely closed, she pressed him against it and gave him a rather heated kiss, skillfully sliding her tongue past his lips to deepen the display of affection almost immediately. When the need for a breath of air became too great, she pulled back and rested her hands on his chest, toying with the collar of his robes. “You have been eating something lemony already this morning,” she scolded playfully. “I can taste it in your kiss.”
“You’ve never complained before. I eat sherbet lemons all the time and kiss you and you’ve never mentioned a dislike for it before.” Albus was suddenly caught off guard by her comment, thinking back to all the times when he had kissed her, even while he still had the small confectionary in his mouth.
“I wasn’t complaining, just remarking on the unusually strong taste of your kiss this morning.” She leaned up and pecked him on the lips again then wiped the lipstick from his swollen lips. “Usually your morning kisses taste of tea and toothpaste in an odd combination but not strong lemons.” She giggled softly, wondering what had prompted the change this particular morning.
“Oh I see, well the house elves brought me a lemon cake with my morning tea. Fawkes and I decided to sample it before going down to breakfast so as not to offend them. It was rather tart, if I do say so myself. After one bite, Fawkes decided he had had enough and I was forced to give him one of your ginger newts to remove the taste from his mouth.”
“Was it that bad? Normally the elves are rather good at what they cook, especially something as simple as a cake.” Minerva pulled away from his arms and put the finishing touches to her hair before they left for the Great Hall.
“Normally they do wonders with recipes but this time it was as if they were trying too hard. The cake is delicious…in small amounts. Nevertheless, I will stop by the kitchens later this morning and thank them properly.”
“Good idea. I’m sure their hearts were in the right place and they were just overzealous to impress you with their culinary skills. It’s not every day the great Albus Dumbledore has a birthday you know.”
“Indeed I do…and what, may I ask, does the great Minerva McGonagall have planned for me?” Albus’ eyes were twinkling furiously, hoping for even the smallest clue as to what she had on her mind.
She stopped walking long enough to give him a mischievous wink and a tap on the end of his crooked nose. “Now, now…patience my dear. Good things come to those who wait and I promise you that if you wait long enough, you will not be disappointed.”
As expected, breakfast was a grander than normal affair. The house elves sent up all of Albus’ favorite morning dishes and all of the staff members took turns wishing him a happy day. Hagrid had expressed regret at not having been able to find an appropriate animal as a gift, something Albus was sure Fawkes would appreciate. Madame Sprout had arranged some of her best flowers in a nice bouquet and had it placed at Albus’ seat. Professor Flitwick had charmed all of the house banners to read Happy Birthday Headmaster Dumbledore. In some way or another, each of the professors had offered some small token of remembrance for his birthday and Albus had to admit he found it all rather uplifting.
Throughout the day, little gifts or birthday owls arrived in his office, some from people he knew and others from people, mainly available women, who wished to know him better. Aberforth sent over a batch of lemon flavored cupcakes with tiny goat designs on the top. Over the years, it had been their tradition to send practical jokes as gifts so it was with extreme caution that he even sampled the delicious looking treat. Finding it was harmless, he took a second bite, only to have the goat on the top of the cupcake bleat out a cry of panic. Dropping the cupcake to the floor in surprise, all of the remaining goats began to make loud noises and refused to stop. It took Albus nearly two hours to undo the magical spells cast on Aberforth’s gift but he had to admit that it was quite the unusual surprise.
Lunch brought more of the same types of greetings and surprises. The Minster of Magic had sent an owl with wishes for the day and requesting a meeting for later in the afternoon. It was with great pleasure that Albus replied with his regrets, telling them of a scheduled staff meeting for later that day. He assumed the staff had something planned for his birthday but he had learned to never assume. He was merely thankful at not having to sit through another boring meeting with Cornelius Fudge on his birthday.
Pernelle and Nicholas Flamel sent a parcel with a rather ominous looking owl. The bird had nearly drawn blood as he tried to untie the package from its’ leg and Albus had to seriously consider whether or not to reward the bird. In the end, he felt the bird had done his intended job, even it he was reluctant to relinquish the package and he gave him two of Fawkes’ treats, much to his familiar’s disapproval.
“Now Fawkes! You are one to squawk. I’ve seen you become just as protective over things so do not condemn the bird so hastily. Besides, it looks like Pernelle has sent a little something for you as well.” Albus had untied the wrapping like an excited child. Inside he found one of Pernelle’s famous lemon meringue pies and a bag of treats she had baked specifically for Fawkes. Wasting no time at all, Albus cut into the pie and truly relished every morsel before sending a note of thanks with one of the school owls.
The rest of the afternoon Albus spent reading, not for business but for his own pleasure. He promised himself that he would finish the book Minerva had loaned him nearly a month ago. She was in no hurry to have it returned but she was rather anxious to get his thoughts on the novel. Apparently this book was the first in a series and it was rather entertaining, so much so that Minerva had practically raced through the second book while eagerly awaiting the third. Since no one else at the castle had any interest in reading the muggle books, she desperately wanted to share her thoughts and opinions with Albus but he had to complete the book first so she wouldn’t be forced to give away important details. Ever mindful of the clock and the upcoming staff meeting, Albus was able to finish the book with a few moments to spare.
Minerva’s familiar knock on the door caused him to smile. She was always the first one to arrive for the staff meetings and the last one to leave, something they both enjoyed. “There’s been a change in plans, Headmaster. The staff would like to invite you to join us in the staff room for the afternoon meeting. We thought it would be a nice change of scenery today.” Her subtle wink was all he needed to see before he readily agreed to accompany her without question. Obviously she had been sent to summon him, the staff knowing how much sway she held over him.
“And may I ask why the sudden change of venue today?” Albus had looped her arm through his and was toying absently with her fingers as they walked slowly along the corridors.
“Oh, no particular reason. After all, it’s another ordinary day here at the castle. Nothing noteworthy happening today at all.” As they neared the door, she brought his hand to her lips and kissed each of his fingers, drawing the last one into her mouth and suckling on it seductively for a moment. “Enjoy the meeting, Love,” she whispered before pushing open the door.
As soon as the door opened, the entire staff shouted “surprise” and immediately began to sing the happy birthday song, well all except Severus Snape who was standing off in the corner of the room. While he did not wish the Headmaster a bad day, he felt the display of such childish antics was a bit much for his taste. He had sent a private owl earlier in the day expressing his sincerest well wishes.
Albus stopped after taking a few steps into the room. His cheeks were flushed both from surprise and slight embarrassment. He nodded pleasantly to each of his staff members, making eye contact with each of them while they sang. He could feel Minerva’s hand on the small of his back and he could hear her soft voice singing along with them, his ears listening more closely to her voice than all the others combined.
“Well this is a surprise! I thought we were having a staff meeting to discuss grievances but I’m certainly glad it’s a party. Thank you all for going to so much trouble. It is friends like you who make birthdays so much fun.”
“We have another surprise for you, Headmaster,” Poppy Pomfrey spoke up from the back of the room. “The house elves always bake you a cake for your birthday but we decided to go a different route this year. Having debated the subject more than once,” she said giving some of her colleagues a disapproving glare, “we decided to have Madame Puddifoot bake you a cake. It’s supposed to be a lemon chiffon cake with a cream cheese icing. The chocolate shavings on the top were Hagrid’s idea and Xiomara provided the candles.”
Minerva had to stifle a giggle after hearing that. Knowing Xiomara Hooch there was nothing ordinary about those candles and she couldn’t wait to see what sort of chaos would ensue when he tried to extinguish them.
With a wave of her wand, dozens of candles sprang to life, their tiny flames flickering furiously as they blazed together for a spectacular scene. “Go ahead…make a wish and blow them out before we’re all caught on fire,” Flitwick advised. Being nearest the table with the cake, he was a bit worried that the little sparks might ignite other things, him being one of them.
Giving it careful thought, Albus imagined the one thing he wanted most for his birthday. Then, with a deep breath and the wish clearly set in his mind, he released the breath in the hopes that all the candles would go out. To his utter shock and those around him, all of the candles were extinguished in one breath, no small feat considering the number of candles adorning the outlandishly decorated cake. Smiling arrogantly, he was about to remark that he still had it in him despite his age when suddenly the candles burst to life again. This time the flames were a little higher than before.
Xiomara took a large step away from Minerva, knowing she might be the target of a rather nasty glare or hex after the prank but the mirth in her yellow hawk eyes was not to be missed. Each time Albus tried to blow out the candles, the flames sprang back to life, even higher than before. Professor Flitwick, who had been concerned before the incident had rather quickly decided that he needed to move farther away from the table and the rather animated flames while his colleagues gasped or laughed at the scene unfolding before their eyes.
“Xiomara Hooch!” Minerva bellowed. “I think we’ve all had enough. It was amusing at first but now it’s getting out of hand! Tell him how to put out the bloody candles before he catches his robes…or worse…his beard on fire!” Minerva’s stern glare left no room for argument but her friend of decades was more than prepared to deal with Minerva’s wrath.
“Oh come on Minerva. I’m sure Albus is more than capable of handling a little mischief on his birthday. He should have been expecting something like this anyway. Besides, I don’t see him complaining.” Xiomara Hooch was one of the few people who dared to challenge Minerva in any respect, especially when it came to matters concerning Albus.
Meanwhile, Albus was busy casting all sorts of spells on the candles in the hopes of putting out the rising flames without ruining the cake but to no avail. It seemed that Madame Hooch had really outdone herself with this particular charm, perhaps seeking some assistance from his brother or maybe even Professor Flitwick who seemed rather undaunted by the events now that he was a safe distance from the blaze.
“While I hate to be the party pooper, maybe it would be wise to call a truce to the prank, Xiomara. I’m afraid we’re running out of time with the candles and I fear we’ll lose the cake entirely as the wax drips onto the icing. It would be a shame to waste the cake because I cannot unlock the mystery of the candles.” He gave her a wink then stepped aside, indicating that he truly did wish for her to end the practical joke. “But see me later so I can learn the secret behind the candles. It might prove useful at some point in my future. Aberforth has a birthday in a few months and after this morning’s joke on me, I think he deserves a little fire in his life.”
With the candles under control and the cake dispensed, the staff meeting turned into more of a social gathering with lots of laughter and gaiety. Xiomara made sure to let Albus in on the secret of the charm and admitted that she did indeed have some help from Professor Flitwick but that neither of them had meant any harm…just a bit of fun.
One by one, the guests left for their own chores before the evening meal, leaving Albus and Minerva truly alone for the first time since the morning visit.
“Having a good birthday so far?” she asked as she cast a spell to clear away all the remnants of the party.
“Not so bad, though I am still waiting for a certain someone to give me a proper birthday wish.” He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her flush against his body and pressing his lips to the side of her neck, letting his warm breath caress her ear.
“Albus Dumbledore, do you want someone to walk in and see us like this?” she gasped as her body flushed at his touch before she turned around to face him. She cupped his cheek in her hand and ran her thumb across his lips before dropping it to cover his heart. “Remember what I said this morning about patience? If I were you, I’d take this opportunity to go rest before dinner this evening. You never know what may…arise…later,” she reminded him in an alluring tone of voice he had never heard her use before.
After dinner, Minerva and Albus walked quietly up to his private rooms. Excitement filled his heart and mind, wondering what it was she had in store for him. She had teased him off and on all day, hinting at what might be in his future but always stopping short of giving away too much. When he opened the door leading to his chambers, he stopped…completely in awe.
Sometime during dinner, his rooms had been transformed slightly into a romantic setting. The doors leading out to his balcony were opened and a slight warming breeze caused the curtains to flutter ever so slightly. A few candles were scattered around the room as well as on the balcony, giving a soft glow to everything around them.
Minerva nudged Albus further into the room then closed and sealed the door behind them. When he turned around he was once more struck speechless. Minerva had quietly disrobed, leaving a pool of emerald green robes at her feet. She was standing in front of him in a simple deep purple gown that looked like shimmering water in the pale light of the room.
“Surprise,” she purred softly as she reached out to touch his face. “I hope you don’t mind one more party this evening, though it’s a much smaller affair.” Her hand had dropped from his cheek to the top of his robes where she was deftly unfastening the buttons as she spoke. “I know you’ve probably had enough dessert for one day but I hope you left room for one more piece of cake. I made it especially for you during my free time this afternoon.”
Albus nodded his head while his mind screamed YES! His mouth had gone dry at the sight of Minerva and he began instinctively licking his lips in anticipation for what was to come. Once he felt the heavy robes fall at his feet, he swept Minerva into his arms and kissed her hard on the lips, letting her feel the length of his body pressing against hers.
Several heated moments later she pulled away and took his hand, leading him towards the balcony. Outside was a small table which held a simple chocolate cake and a single candle. “Happy Birthday Love,” she whispered once more. “After all those lemony treats, I thought you might like something a little different…something more tantalizing to the palate and the mind.” She took her delicate finger and swiped the side of the cake, getting a generous amount of frosting.
Albus opened his mouth, waiting anxiously for the first taste of her dessert but Minerva placed her free hand under his chin, closing his mouth. He made a sound of protest but before he could voice his objection, Minerva had smeared the frosting across his lips then instantly attacked them with her own. Using her tongue to skillfully spread the chocolate across his lips, she then gave him the opportunity to taste it from her own tongue as it maneuvered seductively inside his warm mouth.
As the kiss intensified, so did their passions. Soft moans grew louder. Hands began to roam more freely both above and beneath thin layers of clothing. Knees grew weak from the intense feelings coursing through their bodies.
Minerva drew back slightly and led Albus over to the small settee she had transfigured on the balcony, pushing him down then climbing into his lap and giving him a seductive smile. “I am your gift this year,” she purred into his ear as her nails scraped across a bit of his exposed chest. “Tonight we take things to the next level…unless you’d rather wait,” she added more for his benefit than hers.
Albus’ wish from earlier that morning had indeed been granted. He dreamed of making love to Minerva for so many months. He had hoped that soon they would take the next step but it had to be her decision for he had made it clear that he wanted her to set the pace for their relationship.
His hands slipped beneath her gown, forging their way across new territory while his lips descended upon her throat and shoulders. Off in the distance, fireworks could be seen from the balcony as the lovers lost all interest in their surroundings.
“Oh yes…Dedalus Diggle promised to send up fireworks for you this evening. I didn’t have to persuade him much when I told him it was your birthday and it was part of my gift to you.” She wiggled her hips across his lap, feeling his growing desire pressing firmly against her. “So, shall we enjoy these fireworks or should we go inside and make some of our own?”
“Why not enjoy both?” he asked as he stood up with her still on his lap. “A simple spell and this couch will be large enough for both of us with plenty of room to move about,” he winked. “Besides, I’ve always wanted to make love to you beneath the moonlight and what better way to spend my birthday than fulfilling my most cherished fantasy?”
It was well past midnight before the happy couple moved their activities indoors to a much more comfortable and private location. This would certainly be a birthday to remember for Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall. Never again would they view birthday celebrations in the same way, especially when it was one of their own.
The End.
An Extraordinary Birthday for Albus
The dawn broke through the windowpanes into Albus Dumbledore’s rooms, bathing the sleeping man in soft light as his phoenix began to sing a soft, happy tune. Stretching his limbs, a smile curled upon Albus’ lips as he remembered that today was his birthday.
He had his suspicions about what his staff may or may not be planning. He had accidentally walked in on more than one conversation in the staff room causing everyone to cease talking almost immediately. Not one to spoil the delights of others, he shrugged it off and tried not to meddle in their plans. He would be happy as long as one person in particular remembered his birthday and based on the rather heated and passionate exchange from last night, he was certain she would be hard pressed to forget.
As usual, Albus started the day with a cup of steaming lemon tea. He always said his day wasn’t officially started until he had savored the first cup of the morning and today was no exception. However, when he removed the silver dome from the tray, he was surprised not only to find his cup of morning tea but also a small cake with a candle on top and a rather scribbled note of Happy Birthday from the Kitchen Staff beside it.
“Ah, Fawkes, would you look at this. The house elves have baked me a birthday cake and sent it with the morning tea.” Cutting a small slice of the cake for himself and an even smaller piece for his familiar, they both sampled the lemony treat. One bite and Fawkes began to push his plate away as he shook his head, as if trying to rid himself of a bad memory. A rather amused chuckle filled the room as Albus, too, pushed his plate aside. “Rather lemony indeed. I think they used a smidgen too much lemon but at least they tried. I will have to visit them later this morning to offer my thanks.” Fakwes ruffled his feathers and made a rather curt reply before leaving his perch and settling beside a tin of ginger newts Albus kept in his office for Minerva. “I get the idea. You need something to take the taste out of your mouth and you want one of Minerva’s biscuits.” After receiving the treat, he sang another happy note or two and watched as his companion began his morning routine.
Once properly dressed, Albus strolled leisurely down the winding corridors to Minerva’s rooms. It had become their custom to walk to breakfast together and he could hardly wait. Minerva had mentioned his birthday only yesterday, promising him it would be a day to remember. Knowing her as well as he did, it could only mean that she had something up her sleeves. Hopefully it would be a private affair since their relationship had been progressing rather happily in that general direction.
“Happy Birthday, Love” she greeted him as she opened the door to her private rooms and invited him quickly inside. Once the door was safely closed, she pressed him against it and gave him a rather heated kiss, skillfully sliding her tongue past his lips to deepen the display of affection almost immediately. When the need for a breath of air became too great, she pulled back and rested her hands on his chest, toying with the collar of his robes. “You have been eating something lemony already this morning,” she scolded playfully. “I can taste it in your kiss.”
“You’ve never complained before. I eat sherbet lemons all the time and kiss you and you’ve never mentioned a dislike for it before.” Albus was suddenly caught off guard by her comment, thinking back to all the times when he had kissed her, even while he still had the small confectionary in his mouth.
“I wasn’t complaining, just remarking on the unusually strong taste of your kiss this morning.” She leaned up and pecked him on the lips again then wiped the lipstick from his swollen lips. “Usually your morning kisses taste of tea and toothpaste in an odd combination but not strong lemons.” She giggled softly, wondering what had prompted the change this particular morning.
“Oh I see, well the house elves brought me a lemon cake with my morning tea. Fawkes and I decided to sample it before going down to breakfast so as not to offend them. It was rather tart, if I do say so myself. After one bite, Fawkes decided he had had enough and I was forced to give him one of your ginger newts to remove the taste from his mouth.”
“Was it that bad? Normally the elves are rather good at what they cook, especially something as simple as a cake.” Minerva pulled away from his arms and put the finishing touches to her hair before they left for the Great Hall.
“Normally they do wonders with recipes but this time it was as if they were trying too hard. The cake is delicious…in small amounts. Nevertheless, I will stop by the kitchens later this morning and thank them properly.”
“Good idea. I’m sure their hearts were in the right place and they were just overzealous to impress you with their culinary skills. It’s not every day the great Albus Dumbledore has a birthday you know.”
“Indeed I do…and what, may I ask, does the great Minerva McGonagall have planned for me?” Albus’ eyes were twinkling furiously, hoping for even the smallest clue as to what she had on her mind.
She stopped walking long enough to give him a mischievous wink and a tap on the end of his crooked nose. “Now, now…patience my dear. Good things come to those who wait and I promise you that if you wait long enough, you will not be disappointed.”
As expected, breakfast was a grander than normal affair. The house elves sent up all of Albus’ favorite morning dishes and all of the staff members took turns wishing him a happy day. Hagrid had expressed regret at not having been able to find an appropriate animal as a gift, something Albus was sure Fawkes would appreciate. Madame Sprout had arranged some of her best flowers in a nice bouquet and had it placed at Albus’ seat. Professor Flitwick had charmed all of the house banners to read Happy Birthday Headmaster Dumbledore. In some way or another, each of the professors had offered some small token of remembrance for his birthday and Albus had to admit he found it all rather uplifting.
Throughout the day, little gifts or birthday owls arrived in his office, some from people he knew and others from people, mainly available women, who wished to know him better. Aberforth sent over a batch of lemon flavored cupcakes with tiny goat designs on the top. Over the years, it had been their tradition to send practical jokes as gifts so it was with extreme caution that he even sampled the delicious looking treat. Finding it was harmless, he took a second bite, only to have the goat on the top of the cupcake bleat out a cry of panic. Dropping the cupcake to the floor in surprise, all of the remaining goats began to make loud noises and refused to stop. It took Albus nearly two hours to undo the magical spells cast on Aberforth’s gift but he had to admit that it was quite the unusual surprise.
Lunch brought more of the same types of greetings and surprises. The Minster of Magic had sent an owl with wishes for the day and requesting a meeting for later in the afternoon. It was with great pleasure that Albus replied with his regrets, telling them of a scheduled staff meeting for later that day. He assumed the staff had something planned for his birthday but he had learned to never assume. He was merely thankful at not having to sit through another boring meeting with Cornelius Fudge on his birthday.
Pernelle and Nicholas Flamel sent a parcel with a rather ominous looking owl. The bird had nearly drawn blood as he tried to untie the package from its’ leg and Albus had to seriously consider whether or not to reward the bird. In the end, he felt the bird had done his intended job, even it he was reluctant to relinquish the package and he gave him two of Fawkes’ treats, much to his familiar’s disapproval.
“Now Fawkes! You are one to squawk. I’ve seen you become just as protective over things so do not condemn the bird so hastily. Besides, it looks like Pernelle has sent a little something for you as well.” Albus had untied the wrapping like an excited child. Inside he found one of Pernelle’s famous lemon meringue pies and a bag of treats she had baked specifically for Fawkes. Wasting no time at all, Albus cut into the pie and truly relished every morsel before sending a note of thanks with one of the school owls.
The rest of the afternoon Albus spent reading, not for business but for his own pleasure. He promised himself that he would finish the book Minerva had loaned him nearly a month ago. She was in no hurry to have it returned but she was rather anxious to get his thoughts on the novel. Apparently this book was the first in a series and it was rather entertaining, so much so that Minerva had practically raced through the second book while eagerly awaiting the third. Since no one else at the castle had any interest in reading the muggle books, she desperately wanted to share her thoughts and opinions with Albus but he had to complete the book first so she wouldn’t be forced to give away important details. Ever mindful of the clock and the upcoming staff meeting, Albus was able to finish the book with a few moments to spare.
Minerva’s familiar knock on the door caused him to smile. She was always the first one to arrive for the staff meetings and the last one to leave, something they both enjoyed. “There’s been a change in plans, Headmaster. The staff would like to invite you to join us in the staff room for the afternoon meeting. We thought it would be a nice change of scenery today.” Her subtle wink was all he needed to see before he readily agreed to accompany her without question. Obviously she had been sent to summon him, the staff knowing how much sway she held over him.
“And may I ask why the sudden change of venue today?” Albus had looped her arm through his and was toying absently with her fingers as they walked slowly along the corridors.
“Oh, no particular reason. After all, it’s another ordinary day here at the castle. Nothing noteworthy happening today at all.” As they neared the door, she brought his hand to her lips and kissed each of his fingers, drawing the last one into her mouth and suckling on it seductively for a moment. “Enjoy the meeting, Love,” she whispered before pushing open the door.
As soon as the door opened, the entire staff shouted “surprise” and immediately began to sing the happy birthday song, well all except Severus Snape who was standing off in the corner of the room. While he did not wish the Headmaster a bad day, he felt the display of such childish antics was a bit much for his taste. He had sent a private owl earlier in the day expressing his sincerest well wishes.
Albus stopped after taking a few steps into the room. His cheeks were flushed both from surprise and slight embarrassment. He nodded pleasantly to each of his staff members, making eye contact with each of them while they sang. He could feel Minerva’s hand on the small of his back and he could hear her soft voice singing along with them, his ears listening more closely to her voice than all the others combined.
“Well this is a surprise! I thought we were having a staff meeting to discuss grievances but I’m certainly glad it’s a party. Thank you all for going to so much trouble. It is friends like you who make birthdays so much fun.”
“We have another surprise for you, Headmaster,” Poppy Pomfrey spoke up from the back of the room. “The house elves always bake you a cake for your birthday but we decided to go a different route this year. Having debated the subject more than once,” she said giving some of her colleagues a disapproving glare, “we decided to have Madame Puddifoot bake you a cake. It’s supposed to be a lemon chiffon cake with a cream cheese icing. The chocolate shavings on the top were Hagrid’s idea and Xiomara provided the candles.”
Minerva had to stifle a giggle after hearing that. Knowing Xiomara Hooch there was nothing ordinary about those candles and she couldn’t wait to see what sort of chaos would ensue when he tried to extinguish them.
With a wave of her wand, dozens of candles sprang to life, their tiny flames flickering furiously as they blazed together for a spectacular scene. “Go ahead…make a wish and blow them out before we’re all caught on fire,” Flitwick advised. Being nearest the table with the cake, he was a bit worried that the little sparks might ignite other things, him being one of them.
Giving it careful thought, Albus imagined the one thing he wanted most for his birthday. Then, with a deep breath and the wish clearly set in his mind, he released the breath in the hopes that all the candles would go out. To his utter shock and those around him, all of the candles were extinguished in one breath, no small feat considering the number of candles adorning the outlandishly decorated cake. Smiling arrogantly, he was about to remark that he still had it in him despite his age when suddenly the candles burst to life again. This time the flames were a little higher than before.
Xiomara took a large step away from Minerva, knowing she might be the target of a rather nasty glare or hex after the prank but the mirth in her yellow hawk eyes was not to be missed. Each time Albus tried to blow out the candles, the flames sprang back to life, even higher than before. Professor Flitwick, who had been concerned before the incident had rather quickly decided that he needed to move farther away from the table and the rather animated flames while his colleagues gasped or laughed at the scene unfolding before their eyes.
“Xiomara Hooch!” Minerva bellowed. “I think we’ve all had enough. It was amusing at first but now it’s getting out of hand! Tell him how to put out the bloody candles before he catches his robes…or worse…his beard on fire!” Minerva’s stern glare left no room for argument but her friend of decades was more than prepared to deal with Minerva’s wrath.
“Oh come on Minerva. I’m sure Albus is more than capable of handling a little mischief on his birthday. He should have been expecting something like this anyway. Besides, I don’t see him complaining.” Xiomara Hooch was one of the few people who dared to challenge Minerva in any respect, especially when it came to matters concerning Albus.
Meanwhile, Albus was busy casting all sorts of spells on the candles in the hopes of putting out the rising flames without ruining the cake but to no avail. It seemed that Madame Hooch had really outdone herself with this particular charm, perhaps seeking some assistance from his brother or maybe even Professor Flitwick who seemed rather undaunted by the events now that he was a safe distance from the blaze.
“While I hate to be the party pooper, maybe it would be wise to call a truce to the prank, Xiomara. I’m afraid we’re running out of time with the candles and I fear we’ll lose the cake entirely as the wax drips onto the icing. It would be a shame to waste the cake because I cannot unlock the mystery of the candles.” He gave her a wink then stepped aside, indicating that he truly did wish for her to end the practical joke. “But see me later so I can learn the secret behind the candles. It might prove useful at some point in my future. Aberforth has a birthday in a few months and after this morning’s joke on me, I think he deserves a little fire in his life.”
With the candles under control and the cake dispensed, the staff meeting turned into more of a social gathering with lots of laughter and gaiety. Xiomara made sure to let Albus in on the secret of the charm and admitted that she did indeed have some help from Professor Flitwick but that neither of them had meant any harm…just a bit of fun.
One by one, the guests left for their own chores before the evening meal, leaving Albus and Minerva truly alone for the first time since the morning visit.
“Having a good birthday so far?” she asked as she cast a spell to clear away all the remnants of the party.
“Not so bad, though I am still waiting for a certain someone to give me a proper birthday wish.” He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her flush against his body and pressing his lips to the side of her neck, letting his warm breath caress her ear.
“Albus Dumbledore, do you want someone to walk in and see us like this?” she gasped as her body flushed at his touch before she turned around to face him. She cupped his cheek in her hand and ran her thumb across his lips before dropping it to cover his heart. “Remember what I said this morning about patience? If I were you, I’d take this opportunity to go rest before dinner this evening. You never know what may…arise…later,” she reminded him in an alluring tone of voice he had never heard her use before.
After dinner, Minerva and Albus walked quietly up to his private rooms. Excitement filled his heart and mind, wondering what it was she had in store for him. She had teased him off and on all day, hinting at what might be in his future but always stopping short of giving away too much. When he opened the door leading to his chambers, he stopped…completely in awe.
Sometime during dinner, his rooms had been transformed slightly into a romantic setting. The doors leading out to his balcony were opened and a slight warming breeze caused the curtains to flutter ever so slightly. A few candles were scattered around the room as well as on the balcony, giving a soft glow to everything around them.
Minerva nudged Albus further into the room then closed and sealed the door behind them. When he turned around he was once more struck speechless. Minerva had quietly disrobed, leaving a pool of emerald green robes at her feet. She was standing in front of him in a simple deep purple gown that looked like shimmering water in the pale light of the room.
“Surprise,” she purred softly as she reached out to touch his face. “I hope you don’t mind one more party this evening, though it’s a much smaller affair.” Her hand had dropped from his cheek to the top of his robes where she was deftly unfastening the buttons as she spoke. “I know you’ve probably had enough dessert for one day but I hope you left room for one more piece of cake. I made it especially for you during my free time this afternoon.”
Albus nodded his head while his mind screamed YES! His mouth had gone dry at the sight of Minerva and he began instinctively licking his lips in anticipation for what was to come. Once he felt the heavy robes fall at his feet, he swept Minerva into his arms and kissed her hard on the lips, letting her feel the length of his body pressing against hers.
Several heated moments later she pulled away and took his hand, leading him towards the balcony. Outside was a small table which held a simple chocolate cake and a single candle. “Happy Birthday Love,” she whispered once more. “After all those lemony treats, I thought you might like something a little different…something more tantalizing to the palate and the mind.” She took her delicate finger and swiped the side of the cake, getting a generous amount of frosting.
Albus opened his mouth, waiting anxiously for the first taste of her dessert but Minerva placed her free hand under his chin, closing his mouth. He made a sound of protest but before he could voice his objection, Minerva had smeared the frosting across his lips then instantly attacked them with her own. Using her tongue to skillfully spread the chocolate across his lips, she then gave him the opportunity to taste it from her own tongue as it maneuvered seductively inside his warm mouth.
As the kiss intensified, so did their passions. Soft moans grew louder. Hands began to roam more freely both above and beneath thin layers of clothing. Knees grew weak from the intense feelings coursing through their bodies.
Minerva drew back slightly and led Albus over to the small settee she had transfigured on the balcony, pushing him down then climbing into his lap and giving him a seductive smile. “I am your gift this year,” she purred into his ear as her nails scraped across a bit of his exposed chest. “Tonight we take things to the next level…unless you’d rather wait,” she added more for his benefit than hers.
Albus’ wish from earlier that morning had indeed been granted. He dreamed of making love to Minerva for so many months. He had hoped that soon they would take the next step but it had to be her decision for he had made it clear that he wanted her to set the pace for their relationship.
His hands slipped beneath her gown, forging their way across new territory while his lips descended upon her throat and shoulders. Off in the distance, fireworks could be seen from the balcony as the lovers lost all interest in their surroundings.
“Oh yes…Dedalus Diggle promised to send up fireworks for you this evening. I didn’t have to persuade him much when I told him it was your birthday and it was part of my gift to you.” She wiggled her hips across his lap, feeling his growing desire pressing firmly against her. “So, shall we enjoy these fireworks or should we go inside and make some of our own?”
“Why not enjoy both?” he asked as he stood up with her still on his lap. “A simple spell and this couch will be large enough for both of us with plenty of room to move about,” he winked. “Besides, I’ve always wanted to make love to you beneath the moonlight and what better way to spend my birthday than fulfilling my most cherished fantasy?”
It was well past midnight before the happy couple moved their activities indoors to a much more comfortable and private location. This would certainly be a birthday to remember for Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall. Never again would they view birthday celebrations in the same way, especially when it was one of their own.
The End.
