Post by childminerva on Mar 2, 2007 18:38:26 GMT -5
It's not the best, but since Sprinkle's gave such a great challenge I couldn't pass it up. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll let you know how I complied with the challenge rules at the end.
Disclaimer: I'm no JKR, so don't sue me!
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Albus Dumbledore had just entered his rooms after another long visit to London where he had been to meeting after meeting with the Minister of Magic as well as several sessions of the Wizengomet. He was physically and mentally exhausted and all he wanted was to enjoy the last week of August before the students arrived for the start of term.
His wife was waiting for him and she helped him unpack his bags and brought him a cup of hot chocolate as he sank down into his favorite chair with a sigh.
“Thank you, Minerva,” he told her as he accepted the mug filled with his favorite drink.
“Bad as ever?” she asked, her eyes filled with sympathy.
“I’m afraid my so,” Albus answered. “Everyone at the Ministry thinks that I can give them all the answers, just snap my fingers and make everything better.”
Minerva McGonagall kissed her husband’s cheek and massaged his shoulders gently.
“I know how much you hate that sort of thing,” she told him as she kneaded out the tension in his neck and shoulders. “So, I planned a little vacation for us to help you relax.”
Albus stopped his wife’s hands and twisted around in his chair to look at her.
“A vacation, Minerva? But school starts in just over a week.”
“All the more reason to get away while we can.”
Albus smiled.
“Alright then, where are we going?”
Minerva grinned and shook her head.
“I’m not telling. Just be ready to go tomorrow morning at eight. I’ve already packed everything you’ll need for the weekend.”
Minerva refused to tell him anything more and so Albus went to bed that night in a state of anticipation, his head buzzing with all the places Minerva could take him for a vacation.
The next morning Albus awoke to find a tray of breakfast on the bed beside him and a suitcase sitting by the bedroom door. As he ate, Albus was surprised to notice a muggle outfit draped across the chair next to the bed.
Albus grinned widely and jumped out of bed to try on the clothes. Minerva was clearly taking them to a muggles destination; something she knew Albus would love.
The clothes Albus put on fit perfectly. They were not as brightly colored as Albus would have liked, but the fact that they were muggle clothes made him extremely happy. The pants were dark blue and the button up shirt was a light blue that nearly matched his eyes. Albus hummed as he brushed his hair and beard.
“Albus? Are you ready?” Minerva walked into the bedroom and glanced at Albus’s outfit. “Hmm, it doesn’t look too bad, I suppose.”
Minerva was wearing very professional looking tailored black pants and a green blouse that matched her eyes. Her dark hair was only loosely pulled back; Albus thought she looked beautiful and told her so.
Minerva waved away this compliment and glanced down at her watch.
“I wanted to leave ten minutes ago,” she told Albus. “Finish up here and let’s go.”
“Won’t you just give me a hint about where we’re headed?” Albus asked hopefully. “Just a little hint?”
“I thought the muggle clothing was enough of a hint,” she told him. “I want this to be a surprise, so I’m not going to tell you anything more.”
No amount of pouting would make Minerva give anything away and so Albus was left to speculate. As it turned out, he did not have long to wait. Minerva led him out the front gates of the school and held out her arm to him.
“Side Along Apparation,” she told him. He complied and soon the two of them were standing in a quiet alleyway.
The buildings were unfamiliar but Minerva took Albus’s hand and led him out onto the street.
“Where are we?” Albus asked his wife, still uncertain.
The buildings were attractive and they were clearly in a downtown area, but Albus did not think he had ever been there before. Minerva did not answer him; she merely smiled and turned to walk uphill. Albus kept a firm hold on her hand as they walked and he gazed at the buildings as they passed.
Several people did a double take as they passed the well dressed couple carrying suitcases; Albus assumed they must be gawking at his wife’s beauty, but Minerva surmised, correctly, that they were curious about Albus’s long hair and beard.
Albus knew better than to ask his wife where they were once more, she had already made it clear that she was not going to tell him. But from the accents in brief snippets of conversation that Albus picked up from the people they passed, he decided they must be in America.
The streets were steep and Albus thought they would walk uphill forever, but Minerva finally stopped in front of an attractive building with vines growing up the side. The painted sign said it was a bed and breakfast.
“This is where we’ll be staying,” Minerva informed him. They entered the building and were directed to a small but charming bedroom with an adjoining bathroom. Minerva told Albus the unpacking could wait and led him back out onto the street.
They walked up one more block until they were directly across the street from a group of cream colored buildings with columns. Two statues of dogs guarded what appeared to be the main entrance.
“What is this place?” Albus asked, but Minerva smiled mischievously and shook her head.
They crossed the street and walked around the building with the statues until they found a bench. Minerva sat down and gestured for Albus to do the same as she checked her watch.
“We’re a little early, I think,” she murmured.
“A little early for what?”
“Oh my, look at that squirrel,” Minerva ignored Albus’s question and pointed to a squirrel that was sitting on the sidewalk in front of them, gazing at the two humans with a curious expression.
“She did say they were nearly tame around here,” Minerva said softly, peering down at the little creature.
“Who did?”
Minerva was spared the trouble of answering as a loud shriek cut through the air.
“Nana! Pops!” A dark haired young woman in jeans and a dark sweatshirt was running towards them. Albus was on his feet in an instant to gather her into his arms.
“Grace!”
Minerva smiled as her husband and granddaughter embraced. When Albus finally released Grace Minerva hugged the young woman and kissed her on the forehead.
“I’m so happy you guys are here!” Grace said excitedly.
At nineteen, Grace Murray was tall and shockingly beautiful, with her father’s dark brown hair and her mother’s light blue eyes. Her mother, Evelyn Dumbledore, had married a man named William Murray and the two lived in Scotland, but their only daughter, Grace, had elected to attend college in the United States. Lacking magical powers, Grace was unable to attend Hogwarts, much to her grandparents’ dismay. Albus and Minerva tried to visit her as much as they could when she lived in Scotland, but since she moved to America, they had been unable to visit her until Minerva had planned this trip.
Minerva laughed at the matching expressions of glee on the faces of the two people before her.
“Were you surprised?” Grace asked Albus eagerly.
“Completely,” he assured her. “Your grandmother wouldn’t tell me a thing.”
Grace looped her arm through her grandfather’s and steered him down the hill.
“I have so much to show you,” she told him, “there are so many people for you to meet. First let’s go to The Mill for lunch, they have such wonderful food. Oh, Pops I’m so glad two were able to come!”
Grace did not have any classes that day and so the three were able to enjoy one another’s company for hours and hours. She led them around the campus and to the apartment she shared with two other girls. Then she took them to lunch and then to all her favorite bookstores, coffee shops and finally to a play at the local playhouse.
When Albus and Minerva finally hugged their only grandchild goodnight, it was nearly one in the morning. They walked back to the bed and breakfast in a comfortable silence, Album’s arm around his wife’s waist.
“Minerva,” Albus whispered softly as they strolled through the quite streets, “thank you for this.”
Minerva smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.
“You’re welcome, love.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple as they walked on together through the night.
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Grace's college is not where I live now, but where I will live when school starts in the fall. The landmark would be the dog statues and the restaurant I mentioned, The Mill, has the most amazing food. And then there's the Shakespearean playhouse...so I think I covered it all!
Disclaimer: I'm no JKR, so don't sue me!
-------------------------------------------------
Albus Dumbledore had just entered his rooms after another long visit to London where he had been to meeting after meeting with the Minister of Magic as well as several sessions of the Wizengomet. He was physically and mentally exhausted and all he wanted was to enjoy the last week of August before the students arrived for the start of term.
His wife was waiting for him and she helped him unpack his bags and brought him a cup of hot chocolate as he sank down into his favorite chair with a sigh.
“Thank you, Minerva,” he told her as he accepted the mug filled with his favorite drink.
“Bad as ever?” she asked, her eyes filled with sympathy.
“I’m afraid my so,” Albus answered. “Everyone at the Ministry thinks that I can give them all the answers, just snap my fingers and make everything better.”
Minerva McGonagall kissed her husband’s cheek and massaged his shoulders gently.
“I know how much you hate that sort of thing,” she told him as she kneaded out the tension in his neck and shoulders. “So, I planned a little vacation for us to help you relax.”
Albus stopped his wife’s hands and twisted around in his chair to look at her.
“A vacation, Minerva? But school starts in just over a week.”
“All the more reason to get away while we can.”
Albus smiled.
“Alright then, where are we going?”
Minerva grinned and shook her head.
“I’m not telling. Just be ready to go tomorrow morning at eight. I’ve already packed everything you’ll need for the weekend.”
Minerva refused to tell him anything more and so Albus went to bed that night in a state of anticipation, his head buzzing with all the places Minerva could take him for a vacation.
The next morning Albus awoke to find a tray of breakfast on the bed beside him and a suitcase sitting by the bedroom door. As he ate, Albus was surprised to notice a muggle outfit draped across the chair next to the bed.
Albus grinned widely and jumped out of bed to try on the clothes. Minerva was clearly taking them to a muggles destination; something she knew Albus would love.
The clothes Albus put on fit perfectly. They were not as brightly colored as Albus would have liked, but the fact that they were muggle clothes made him extremely happy. The pants were dark blue and the button up shirt was a light blue that nearly matched his eyes. Albus hummed as he brushed his hair and beard.
“Albus? Are you ready?” Minerva walked into the bedroom and glanced at Albus’s outfit. “Hmm, it doesn’t look too bad, I suppose.”
Minerva was wearing very professional looking tailored black pants and a green blouse that matched her eyes. Her dark hair was only loosely pulled back; Albus thought she looked beautiful and told her so.
Minerva waved away this compliment and glanced down at her watch.
“I wanted to leave ten minutes ago,” she told Albus. “Finish up here and let’s go.”
“Won’t you just give me a hint about where we’re headed?” Albus asked hopefully. “Just a little hint?”
“I thought the muggle clothing was enough of a hint,” she told him. “I want this to be a surprise, so I’m not going to tell you anything more.”
No amount of pouting would make Minerva give anything away and so Albus was left to speculate. As it turned out, he did not have long to wait. Minerva led him out the front gates of the school and held out her arm to him.
“Side Along Apparation,” she told him. He complied and soon the two of them were standing in a quiet alleyway.
The buildings were unfamiliar but Minerva took Albus’s hand and led him out onto the street.
“Where are we?” Albus asked his wife, still uncertain.
The buildings were attractive and they were clearly in a downtown area, but Albus did not think he had ever been there before. Minerva did not answer him; she merely smiled and turned to walk uphill. Albus kept a firm hold on her hand as they walked and he gazed at the buildings as they passed.
Several people did a double take as they passed the well dressed couple carrying suitcases; Albus assumed they must be gawking at his wife’s beauty, but Minerva surmised, correctly, that they were curious about Albus’s long hair and beard.
Albus knew better than to ask his wife where they were once more, she had already made it clear that she was not going to tell him. But from the accents in brief snippets of conversation that Albus picked up from the people they passed, he decided they must be in America.
The streets were steep and Albus thought they would walk uphill forever, but Minerva finally stopped in front of an attractive building with vines growing up the side. The painted sign said it was a bed and breakfast.
“This is where we’ll be staying,” Minerva informed him. They entered the building and were directed to a small but charming bedroom with an adjoining bathroom. Minerva told Albus the unpacking could wait and led him back out onto the street.
They walked up one more block until they were directly across the street from a group of cream colored buildings with columns. Two statues of dogs guarded what appeared to be the main entrance.
“What is this place?” Albus asked, but Minerva smiled mischievously and shook her head.
They crossed the street and walked around the building with the statues until they found a bench. Minerva sat down and gestured for Albus to do the same as she checked her watch.
“We’re a little early, I think,” she murmured.
“A little early for what?”
“Oh my, look at that squirrel,” Minerva ignored Albus’s question and pointed to a squirrel that was sitting on the sidewalk in front of them, gazing at the two humans with a curious expression.
“She did say they were nearly tame around here,” Minerva said softly, peering down at the little creature.
“Who did?”
Minerva was spared the trouble of answering as a loud shriek cut through the air.
“Nana! Pops!” A dark haired young woman in jeans and a dark sweatshirt was running towards them. Albus was on his feet in an instant to gather her into his arms.
“Grace!”
Minerva smiled as her husband and granddaughter embraced. When Albus finally released Grace Minerva hugged the young woman and kissed her on the forehead.
“I’m so happy you guys are here!” Grace said excitedly.
At nineteen, Grace Murray was tall and shockingly beautiful, with her father’s dark brown hair and her mother’s light blue eyes. Her mother, Evelyn Dumbledore, had married a man named William Murray and the two lived in Scotland, but their only daughter, Grace, had elected to attend college in the United States. Lacking magical powers, Grace was unable to attend Hogwarts, much to her grandparents’ dismay. Albus and Minerva tried to visit her as much as they could when she lived in Scotland, but since she moved to America, they had been unable to visit her until Minerva had planned this trip.
Minerva laughed at the matching expressions of glee on the faces of the two people before her.
“Were you surprised?” Grace asked Albus eagerly.
“Completely,” he assured her. “Your grandmother wouldn’t tell me a thing.”
Grace looped her arm through her grandfather’s and steered him down the hill.
“I have so much to show you,” she told him, “there are so many people for you to meet. First let’s go to The Mill for lunch, they have such wonderful food. Oh, Pops I’m so glad two were able to come!”
Grace did not have any classes that day and so the three were able to enjoy one another’s company for hours and hours. She led them around the campus and to the apartment she shared with two other girls. Then she took them to lunch and then to all her favorite bookstores, coffee shops and finally to a play at the local playhouse.
When Albus and Minerva finally hugged their only grandchild goodnight, it was nearly one in the morning. They walked back to the bed and breakfast in a comfortable silence, Album’s arm around his wife’s waist.
“Minerva,” Albus whispered softly as they strolled through the quite streets, “thank you for this.”
Minerva smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.
“You’re welcome, love.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple as they walked on together through the night.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Grace's college is not where I live now, but where I will live when school starts in the fall. The landmark would be the dog statues and the restaurant I mentioned, The Mill, has the most amazing food. And then there's the Shakespearean playhouse...so I think I covered it all!
