Post by ginger newts on Dec 3, 2006 15:37:18 GMT -5
Title: Of Old Fears and New Beginnings
Summary: Can Albus help Minerva forget an old fear so that they can build a life together, or will she ruin everything by keeping it a secret?
Rated: Safe for All
AN: Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I posted a story! Thanks to my good buddy Ang for the plot bunny.
Albus was growing frustrated. More so than he could ever remember being in his life. Every day for the past week, Minerva had found some excuse not to spend time with him. Her reasons were growing more outlandish and he was observant enough to know that she was desperately trying to avoid something. Time to find out if it was him she didn’t want, or something else.
“Oh! Hello, Albus. I didn’t hear you come in.” Minerva looked up from the essays she was marking, visibly flustered by his unannounced visit to her office.
She knew why he was there and felt a terrible guilt for avoiding him all week. It was just that her fear was so silly, so uncharacteristic for her, that she couldn’t bring herself to tell him. She had known all week what his plans were, and for whatever reason she had been unable to talk him into another activity.
Albus pulled a chair up to Minerva’s desk, folded his hands on top of the dark wood and looked at her seriously. He could see fear and worry in her lovely green eyes and thought for a moment there had been a flicker of guilt as well.
“I’ve tried to give you space this week, but I have to know what’s going on. Don’t you want to spend time with me anymore?”
“Of course I do. Albus, I love you.”
“Then why are you avoiding me, Minerva? Why all the excuses?” His eyes held hers with a gaze so strong and so searching that Minerva found herself unable to look away.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice betraying her uneasiness and worry.
“I love you, Minerva, but I can’t keep waiting for you to grant me some of your time. Ever since I suggested going to the Astronomy Tower on Saturday night, you’ve been acting oddly. If something is wrong, I wish you would tell me. Have I offended you? I know you wanted to go into town that night, but I don’t understand why it was so important. Did I ruin your plans for something?”
“No, no. It’s nothing like that. I just... I can’t go up there with you.”
Albus was beginning to wonder if Minerva had realised he meant to propose up in the tower and was planning to turn him down.
“But why can’t you go with me?” he persisted.
She finally dropped her gaze from his, looking down at her hands clasped in her lap.
“Please, I just can’t.”
Albus sighed heavily and pushed back from the desk. If she refused to tell him, there was no reason for him to stay.
“I’m afraid,” she finally admitted, sensing that she would lose him forever if she kept her secret any longer.
“Afraid of what?” Albus’ voice was low and even as he leaned over the desk.
“Of falling.” Minerva finally looked up at him again, her expression troubled, tears brimming in her eyes.
Albus could only look at her for a long moment, shocked by this revelation. Minerva began to fear she had lost him anyway. Finally, after what felt like an age, he sat down again.
“Afraid of falling,” he repeated. “My dear, why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Because it’s so silly. I kept thinking I would just face it and let you take me to the Astronomy Tower – I could see it was important to you – but then at the last minute I would be too scared. I avoided you because I was embarrassed. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Can you forgive me?”
Albus thought for a long moment. “Of course I forgive you, but will you please do something for me?”
Minerva swallowed and nodded, fairly certain what he wanted.
Albus smiled and crossed to her side of the desk, offering her his hand. She took it and let him lead her from the office and through the corridors until they reached the entrance to the Astronomy Tower. Just one long set of winding stairs and they would be standing at the highest point of the castle. Minerva froze, shaking all over.
“Albus, I can’t,” she whispered, her voice strained.
“You can,” he corrected gently, but firmly. “I’ll be right there and I promise I won’t let you fall.”
He wrapped one arm tightly around her waist and began guiding her up the stairs. Whenever Minerva stopped moving, Albus increased the gentle pressure against her back and murmured comforting words as he propelled her further up toward the tower.
When they finally gained the top of the staircase, Albus opened the door to the tower and pulled Minerva out onto the flat stone surface. They stood just outside the door, far from the waist-high parapet. Albus stood behind Minerva, his arms wrapped securely around her. He felt her trembling and pressing herself tightly against his body.
“Look up at the stars,” he said softly, his lips brushing against her ear.
It took a great strength of will for Minerva to open her eyes and look out. She couldn’t deny that the night sky was beautiful and only just managed not to voice the very practical thought that it would be just as lovely if viewed from the ground.
“Now, tell me how this fear started. I know you came up here as a student, at least for your first five years.”
“Yes, I did, and I wasn’t afraid at first.” Minerva paused to take a deep breath, releasing it as a sigh, some of her tension going out with the air. “I was headed back to the dormitory one night during the last week of my fifth year when I heard people up here. I came up to investigate and found a group of students having a sort of party. I couldn’t tell who they were in the dark, or I might have gone back down to find a teacher.”
Albus sensed Minerva’s growing distress, so he conjured a large comfortable armchair and sat down, drawing her into his lap. Now he could watch her face, illuminated by the moon, and see her eyes as she finished her story.
“Thank you. So, I walked out to the middle of the tower and told them it was nearly curfew and that the tower was off limits except for classes. That was when a cloud drifted away from the moon and I found myself surrounded by Slytherins – mostly sixth and seventh years – and they didn’t look happy to see me.” Minerva started to shake, her voice wavering as she continued. “They were all around me, I couldn’t get away. Before I could even draw my wand, one of them disarmed me.” She released a small sob and, seeming to grow smaller in his arms, cringed against Albus’ chest.
He tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “Shh, you’re safe now. I’m here.” Albus thought he understood the rest of her story and spared her having to tell it. “They tried to throw you off the tower?”
Minerva nodded. She paused to blow her nose before continuing. “At the last second, and I still don’t know how I did it, I thought of you and our lessons on becoming an Animagus. Somehow, I finally managed what I’d been struggling with all year. I didn’t even realise I’d managed to transform at first, until I had slipped out of their hands and was standing on the very edge of the parapet. While they were still surprised and confused, I slipped down and ran past them down the stairs and back to the dormitory. I haven’t been up here since.”
Albus felt a confusing mix of emotions as he rocked Minerva on his lap and tried to comfort her. He was angry with those young men, amazed by the way she had rescued herself, and sad that she’d had to live with this fear for so long.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Even to his own ears, Albus’ voice sounded choked with emotion. “Would you let me take you over to the edge of the tower to fight this fear?”
“Yes. I – I think it’s time I got over this.”
Albus gently set Minerva on her feet and held her close as they approached the parapet. Minerva held her breath and looked down at the ground, endlessly far away. Eventually she stopped shaking, feeling safe with Albus there.
“Now, let’s see if we can create a happy memory to replace the bad one.” Albus pulled Minerva a few feet back from the low stone wall and dropped to one knee. “I love you more than I ever thought possible, Minerva. You’ve brought me so much happiness and inspire me to be a better man. In fact, I think I am better for being with you. Would you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?”
Overcome with emotion, Minerva fell to her knees in front of him. “Yes, Albus. Yes, I will.”
He smiled widely and slipped a platinum and emerald ring onto her finger just before their lips met in a passionate and tender kiss.
“I love you,” they whispered together.
They didn’t frequent the tower, but Minerva was no longer afraid of it. It had become a romantic place in her mind and even the thought of the Astronomy Tower made her smile. She also promised never to keep her fears secret from Albus in the future.
The End
Summary: Can Albus help Minerva forget an old fear so that they can build a life together, or will she ruin everything by keeping it a secret?
Rated: Safe for All
AN: Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I posted a story! Thanks to my good buddy Ang for the plot bunny.
Albus was growing frustrated. More so than he could ever remember being in his life. Every day for the past week, Minerva had found some excuse not to spend time with him. Her reasons were growing more outlandish and he was observant enough to know that she was desperately trying to avoid something. Time to find out if it was him she didn’t want, or something else.
“Oh! Hello, Albus. I didn’t hear you come in.” Minerva looked up from the essays she was marking, visibly flustered by his unannounced visit to her office.
She knew why he was there and felt a terrible guilt for avoiding him all week. It was just that her fear was so silly, so uncharacteristic for her, that she couldn’t bring herself to tell him. She had known all week what his plans were, and for whatever reason she had been unable to talk him into another activity.
Albus pulled a chair up to Minerva’s desk, folded his hands on top of the dark wood and looked at her seriously. He could see fear and worry in her lovely green eyes and thought for a moment there had been a flicker of guilt as well.
“I’ve tried to give you space this week, but I have to know what’s going on. Don’t you want to spend time with me anymore?”
“Of course I do. Albus, I love you.”
“Then why are you avoiding me, Minerva? Why all the excuses?” His eyes held hers with a gaze so strong and so searching that Minerva found herself unable to look away.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice betraying her uneasiness and worry.
“I love you, Minerva, but I can’t keep waiting for you to grant me some of your time. Ever since I suggested going to the Astronomy Tower on Saturday night, you’ve been acting oddly. If something is wrong, I wish you would tell me. Have I offended you? I know you wanted to go into town that night, but I don’t understand why it was so important. Did I ruin your plans for something?”
“No, no. It’s nothing like that. I just... I can’t go up there with you.”
Albus was beginning to wonder if Minerva had realised he meant to propose up in the tower and was planning to turn him down.
“But why can’t you go with me?” he persisted.
She finally dropped her gaze from his, looking down at her hands clasped in her lap.
“Please, I just can’t.”
Albus sighed heavily and pushed back from the desk. If she refused to tell him, there was no reason for him to stay.
“I’m afraid,” she finally admitted, sensing that she would lose him forever if she kept her secret any longer.
“Afraid of what?” Albus’ voice was low and even as he leaned over the desk.
“Of falling.” Minerva finally looked up at him again, her expression troubled, tears brimming in her eyes.
Albus could only look at her for a long moment, shocked by this revelation. Minerva began to fear she had lost him anyway. Finally, after what felt like an age, he sat down again.
“Afraid of falling,” he repeated. “My dear, why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Because it’s so silly. I kept thinking I would just face it and let you take me to the Astronomy Tower – I could see it was important to you – but then at the last minute I would be too scared. I avoided you because I was embarrassed. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Can you forgive me?”
Albus thought for a long moment. “Of course I forgive you, but will you please do something for me?”
Minerva swallowed and nodded, fairly certain what he wanted.
Albus smiled and crossed to her side of the desk, offering her his hand. She took it and let him lead her from the office and through the corridors until they reached the entrance to the Astronomy Tower. Just one long set of winding stairs and they would be standing at the highest point of the castle. Minerva froze, shaking all over.
“Albus, I can’t,” she whispered, her voice strained.
“You can,” he corrected gently, but firmly. “I’ll be right there and I promise I won’t let you fall.”
He wrapped one arm tightly around her waist and began guiding her up the stairs. Whenever Minerva stopped moving, Albus increased the gentle pressure against her back and murmured comforting words as he propelled her further up toward the tower.
When they finally gained the top of the staircase, Albus opened the door to the tower and pulled Minerva out onto the flat stone surface. They stood just outside the door, far from the waist-high parapet. Albus stood behind Minerva, his arms wrapped securely around her. He felt her trembling and pressing herself tightly against his body.
“Look up at the stars,” he said softly, his lips brushing against her ear.
It took a great strength of will for Minerva to open her eyes and look out. She couldn’t deny that the night sky was beautiful and only just managed not to voice the very practical thought that it would be just as lovely if viewed from the ground.
“Now, tell me how this fear started. I know you came up here as a student, at least for your first five years.”
“Yes, I did, and I wasn’t afraid at first.” Minerva paused to take a deep breath, releasing it as a sigh, some of her tension going out with the air. “I was headed back to the dormitory one night during the last week of my fifth year when I heard people up here. I came up to investigate and found a group of students having a sort of party. I couldn’t tell who they were in the dark, or I might have gone back down to find a teacher.”
Albus sensed Minerva’s growing distress, so he conjured a large comfortable armchair and sat down, drawing her into his lap. Now he could watch her face, illuminated by the moon, and see her eyes as she finished her story.
“Thank you. So, I walked out to the middle of the tower and told them it was nearly curfew and that the tower was off limits except for classes. That was when a cloud drifted away from the moon and I found myself surrounded by Slytherins – mostly sixth and seventh years – and they didn’t look happy to see me.” Minerva started to shake, her voice wavering as she continued. “They were all around me, I couldn’t get away. Before I could even draw my wand, one of them disarmed me.” She released a small sob and, seeming to grow smaller in his arms, cringed against Albus’ chest.
He tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “Shh, you’re safe now. I’m here.” Albus thought he understood the rest of her story and spared her having to tell it. “They tried to throw you off the tower?”
Minerva nodded. She paused to blow her nose before continuing. “At the last second, and I still don’t know how I did it, I thought of you and our lessons on becoming an Animagus. Somehow, I finally managed what I’d been struggling with all year. I didn’t even realise I’d managed to transform at first, until I had slipped out of their hands and was standing on the very edge of the parapet. While they were still surprised and confused, I slipped down and ran past them down the stairs and back to the dormitory. I haven’t been up here since.”
Albus felt a confusing mix of emotions as he rocked Minerva on his lap and tried to comfort her. He was angry with those young men, amazed by the way she had rescued herself, and sad that she’d had to live with this fear for so long.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Even to his own ears, Albus’ voice sounded choked with emotion. “Would you let me take you over to the edge of the tower to fight this fear?”
“Yes. I – I think it’s time I got over this.”
Albus gently set Minerva on her feet and held her close as they approached the parapet. Minerva held her breath and looked down at the ground, endlessly far away. Eventually she stopped shaking, feeling safe with Albus there.
“Now, let’s see if we can create a happy memory to replace the bad one.” Albus pulled Minerva a few feet back from the low stone wall and dropped to one knee. “I love you more than I ever thought possible, Minerva. You’ve brought me so much happiness and inspire me to be a better man. In fact, I think I am better for being with you. Would you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?”
Overcome with emotion, Minerva fell to her knees in front of him. “Yes, Albus. Yes, I will.”
He smiled widely and slipped a platinum and emerald ring onto her finger just before their lips met in a passionate and tender kiss.
“I love you,” they whispered together.
They didn’t frequent the tower, but Minerva was no longer afraid of it. It had become a romantic place in her mind and even the thought of the Astronomy Tower made her smile. She also promised never to keep her fears secret from Albus in the future.
The End
