Post by jayejaye on May 14, 2007 12:55:09 GMT -5
Ok I know this is a bit close to the deadline, but I had several rewrites and I'm still not happy with it. I also know the title is terrible, but I have absolutly no idea what to call it. Anyhoo...here goes nothing.
Minerva gazed at her finally sleeping daughter and kissing her forehead one last time laid her gently into the crib. As silently as possible she backed towards the door and cringed as the rusted hinges emitted a harsh rasping sound. Freezing, Minerva offered a silent prayer to Merlin that Katherine had not woken and let out a soft sigh as she appeared to have got away with it. Minerva loved her daughter more than she could ever have imagined, but she did seem to have inherited her father’s desire to monopolise her time and attention. Minerva smiled sadly; how she longed for a little attention from him now. It had been three months since Katherine had been born and she and Albus had not been ‘at it’ as Rolanda so delicately put it since; every time they finally managed to get some time alone, Katherine seemed to instinctively know that she was not the focus of her parents attention and begin to howl. Minerva decided to have a glass of whisky and wait for Albus to return from his meeting with the Minister, with any luck Katherine would be sound asleep by then.
As Minerva padded through the hallway and into their sitting room she felt a strong hand grasp her wrist firmly and another cover her eyes. Before she had time to struggle a sweet lemony scent enveloped her and smooth lips descended on the delicate curve of her neck. Minerva sighed with pleasure and relaxed into the embrace.
“Well, good evening, my dear”
“Albus, you scared me” She admonished, playfully slapping his arm as it wound tightly around her.
“I’m sorry my dear, but I couldn’t resist you”
Minerva smirked and turned in Albus’ arms allowing her fingers to tangle in his beard as he raked his fingers through her flowing ebony locks. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the sensation wash over her. Her whole body shivered as she pressed herself firmly against him.
“So beautiful” he whispered.
Minerva opened her eyes just in time to see Albus’ lips as he leaned down to cover hers. Moaning into his mouth, Minerva felt herself being pushed gently back against the wall as Albus deepened the kiss. She snaked her own hands over his chest and into his silver hair, drawing him closer to her body.
Albus’ hands had just found their way under her emerald silk nightgown and were skilfully tracing the gentle curve of her hips when a familiar howl began in the nursery. Minerva could have cried.
Albus broke the kiss and panted heavily, Minerva rested her head back against the wall. Albus’ hands, still on her hips had stilled. The piercing wail continued and Minerva groaned, closing her eyes once more. She felt Albus’ hands leave her hips and the warmth of his body move away. She looked pleadingly at his retreating figure as he made his way to their daughter.
“No Albus” she muttered, knowing that she didn’t mean it. She was just so frustrated.
When Albus hadn’t returned some minutes later, Minerva made her way through into the nursery. Her heart constricted almost painfully as she surveyed the scene before her; Albus was seated on the antique rocking chair cradling their now very much awake daughter in his lap. His sapphire blue eyes danced as he whispered nonsense words to her. She was clutching her favourite toy, a stuffed grey tabby cat uncannily reminiscent of her animagus form and was gurgling happily at her father.
Minerva exhaled deeply, how could she begrudge Albus leaving her to go to Katherine? Albus was a loving husband and father; so much more than her own Father, who had been distant and somewhat harsh. With a shiver she crossed the room and placed a soft kiss atop Albus’ head. He grinned as he took her hand and tenderly kissed the sensitive skin of her inner wrist.
“I’m the happiest man alive Minerva.” He whispered and she felt tears well in her eyes as she wrapped slender arms lightly around his shoulders.
The next day, Minerva returned to their rooms at around six o’clock, hoping to be in time to tuck Katherine into bed. She had spent the morning at Grimmauld Place reading intelligence reports and then returned to her office to send out more letters to prospective first years. She had been about to check on Albus in the early afternoon, to ensure he was coping with their very demanding daughter; but she had been accosted by Poppy and Pomona, who had dragged her to Hogsmede for a few hours. Feeling decidedly guilty for leaving Albus to cope alone for so long, Minerva entered their rooms expecting to be met with chaos. She was surprised to find the sitting room empty and assuming Albus and Katherine would be in the nursery, she gently pushed the door open. When she found that room uninhabited a tight knot of anxiety began to form in the pit of her stomach. Rushing through to the bedroom, Minerva prayed that her family had fallen asleep in there. Finding no-one, she turned on her heal and bolted to the door. When she reached the sitting room once more Minerva gasped aloud and pressed her slim fingers to her mouth.
A fire roared in the grate and hundreds of candles cast a flickering sensual glow over the room. The furniture had been pushed back and a table for two had been placed in the centre of the room. Beside it stood her husband, wearing deep midnight blue robes…her favourite.
The knot of fear in her stomach seemed to unravel and melt away as Albus reached out towards her. Silently stepping forward Minerva allowed herself to be drawn into his warm embrace, strong but gentle.
“I’m sorry to have alarmed you, my dear, but I fear this was the best way to ensure we would not be disturbed.”
“Albus…” Minerva spoke against the firmness of his shoulder as his arms circled her even tighter. “Exactly where is Katherine?
“Albus shifted and looked away sheepishly “Ah… Well, you see my dear, I decided it was high time ‘Aunt’ Rolanda fulfilled her duties as godmother.”
Minerva looked up sharply and stepped back; placing her hand lightly on Albus’ cheek, turning his face to look at him with a piercing stare.
“Albus Dumbledore…Do you mean to tell me that you left our daughter alone with Rolanda?”
“Don’t worry my dear, Poppy and Pomona joined her as soon as you left them. They promised to firecall if there was a problem.”
Minerva visibly relaxed and allowed Albus to envelope her in his arms once more. Reaching up on tiptoe, Minerva brushed her lips tenderly against his.
“Thank you” she whispered.
Albus nuzzled into the curve of her neck, his words reverberating against the delicate skin, causing a familiar warmth to spread through her.
“It is my absolute pleasure my love, and hopefully yours too…Now, lets eat and then I think an early night is very much overdue.”
At Albus’ wolfish grin, Minerva made a decision and began to pull her husband in the direction of their bedroom.
“Dinner can wait Albus…”
Minerva gazed at her finally sleeping daughter and kissing her forehead one last time laid her gently into the crib. As silently as possible she backed towards the door and cringed as the rusted hinges emitted a harsh rasping sound. Freezing, Minerva offered a silent prayer to Merlin that Katherine had not woken and let out a soft sigh as she appeared to have got away with it. Minerva loved her daughter more than she could ever have imagined, but she did seem to have inherited her father’s desire to monopolise her time and attention. Minerva smiled sadly; how she longed for a little attention from him now. It had been three months since Katherine had been born and she and Albus had not been ‘at it’ as Rolanda so delicately put it since; every time they finally managed to get some time alone, Katherine seemed to instinctively know that she was not the focus of her parents attention and begin to howl. Minerva decided to have a glass of whisky and wait for Albus to return from his meeting with the Minister, with any luck Katherine would be sound asleep by then.
As Minerva padded through the hallway and into their sitting room she felt a strong hand grasp her wrist firmly and another cover her eyes. Before she had time to struggle a sweet lemony scent enveloped her and smooth lips descended on the delicate curve of her neck. Minerva sighed with pleasure and relaxed into the embrace.
“Well, good evening, my dear”
“Albus, you scared me” She admonished, playfully slapping his arm as it wound tightly around her.
“I’m sorry my dear, but I couldn’t resist you”
Minerva smirked and turned in Albus’ arms allowing her fingers to tangle in his beard as he raked his fingers through her flowing ebony locks. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the sensation wash over her. Her whole body shivered as she pressed herself firmly against him.
“So beautiful” he whispered.
Minerva opened her eyes just in time to see Albus’ lips as he leaned down to cover hers. Moaning into his mouth, Minerva felt herself being pushed gently back against the wall as Albus deepened the kiss. She snaked her own hands over his chest and into his silver hair, drawing him closer to her body.
Albus’ hands had just found their way under her emerald silk nightgown and were skilfully tracing the gentle curve of her hips when a familiar howl began in the nursery. Minerva could have cried.
Albus broke the kiss and panted heavily, Minerva rested her head back against the wall. Albus’ hands, still on her hips had stilled. The piercing wail continued and Minerva groaned, closing her eyes once more. She felt Albus’ hands leave her hips and the warmth of his body move away. She looked pleadingly at his retreating figure as he made his way to their daughter.
“No Albus” she muttered, knowing that she didn’t mean it. She was just so frustrated.
When Albus hadn’t returned some minutes later, Minerva made her way through into the nursery. Her heart constricted almost painfully as she surveyed the scene before her; Albus was seated on the antique rocking chair cradling their now very much awake daughter in his lap. His sapphire blue eyes danced as he whispered nonsense words to her. She was clutching her favourite toy, a stuffed grey tabby cat uncannily reminiscent of her animagus form and was gurgling happily at her father.
Minerva exhaled deeply, how could she begrudge Albus leaving her to go to Katherine? Albus was a loving husband and father; so much more than her own Father, who had been distant and somewhat harsh. With a shiver she crossed the room and placed a soft kiss atop Albus’ head. He grinned as he took her hand and tenderly kissed the sensitive skin of her inner wrist.
“I’m the happiest man alive Minerva.” He whispered and she felt tears well in her eyes as she wrapped slender arms lightly around his shoulders.
The next day, Minerva returned to their rooms at around six o’clock, hoping to be in time to tuck Katherine into bed. She had spent the morning at Grimmauld Place reading intelligence reports and then returned to her office to send out more letters to prospective first years. She had been about to check on Albus in the early afternoon, to ensure he was coping with their very demanding daughter; but she had been accosted by Poppy and Pomona, who had dragged her to Hogsmede for a few hours. Feeling decidedly guilty for leaving Albus to cope alone for so long, Minerva entered their rooms expecting to be met with chaos. She was surprised to find the sitting room empty and assuming Albus and Katherine would be in the nursery, she gently pushed the door open. When she found that room uninhabited a tight knot of anxiety began to form in the pit of her stomach. Rushing through to the bedroom, Minerva prayed that her family had fallen asleep in there. Finding no-one, she turned on her heal and bolted to the door. When she reached the sitting room once more Minerva gasped aloud and pressed her slim fingers to her mouth.
A fire roared in the grate and hundreds of candles cast a flickering sensual glow over the room. The furniture had been pushed back and a table for two had been placed in the centre of the room. Beside it stood her husband, wearing deep midnight blue robes…her favourite.
The knot of fear in her stomach seemed to unravel and melt away as Albus reached out towards her. Silently stepping forward Minerva allowed herself to be drawn into his warm embrace, strong but gentle.
“I’m sorry to have alarmed you, my dear, but I fear this was the best way to ensure we would not be disturbed.”
“Albus…” Minerva spoke against the firmness of his shoulder as his arms circled her even tighter. “Exactly where is Katherine?
“Albus shifted and looked away sheepishly “Ah… Well, you see my dear, I decided it was high time ‘Aunt’ Rolanda fulfilled her duties as godmother.”
Minerva looked up sharply and stepped back; placing her hand lightly on Albus’ cheek, turning his face to look at him with a piercing stare.
“Albus Dumbledore…Do you mean to tell me that you left our daughter alone with Rolanda?”
“Don’t worry my dear, Poppy and Pomona joined her as soon as you left them. They promised to firecall if there was a problem.”
Minerva visibly relaxed and allowed Albus to envelope her in his arms once more. Reaching up on tiptoe, Minerva brushed her lips tenderly against his.
“Thank you” she whispered.
Albus nuzzled into the curve of her neck, his words reverberating against the delicate skin, causing a familiar warmth to spread through her.
“It is my absolute pleasure my love, and hopefully yours too…Now, lets eat and then I think an early night is very much overdue.”
At Albus’ wolfish grin, Minerva made a decision and began to pull her husband in the direction of their bedroom.
“Dinner can wait Albus…”
