Post by osusprinks on Sept 6, 2007 21:15:34 GMT -5
A/N: So this is way late, but I only now had time to write it and since no one else had the time to respond yet, here it is...
Also, I know they are rather OOC, but I am still working back into ADMM after my hiatus. Thanks for putting up with me!
Minerva entered her rooms and closed the door more firmly than she normally would, trying to block out her evening. She took off her robe, leaving her comfortable underrobe on. With a flick of her wand the robe and her hairpins were in their place in her bedroom. She started the fire and laid her wand on the coffee table. Then, sitting on the sofa, she removed her shoes and stockings before collapsing back into the comfortable cushions.
She was never dating again. Not that she was ready to declare herself an old spinster, but this was getting a bit ridiculous. Each and every man she had been out with in the last year had taken her out and insisted on ordering for her, only to order tuna, the one type of fish she hated more than the rest, which were all disgusting. Not that she was conceited enough to think they should have known that she did not like fish. It was just the idea that they insisted on ordering for her and then did not know her well enough to know what she would like. She was beginning to take it as a sign from above whenever tuna was even mentioned.
Just as she was beginning to drown in self-pity, which was not something she would have readily admitted, there was a knock at her door. The rhythm was “Shave and a Haircut” and she smiled as she said, “Two bits,” and the door opened.
If Minerva had been able to see herself as Albus saw her upon entering her rooms, she would have gotten up or at least rearranged herself. The thin, silky, emerald green dress hugged her body as her curves were highlighted by the flickering reflection of flames from the fireplace. Her long, black hair cascaded over the arm of the sofa and it was all he could do to not reach out and touch it. She twisted to greet him and the hem of her dress rose revealing creamy white, perfectly toned calves. He forgot why he had stopped by as he watched emerald eyes watching him.
“Hello.”
He searched for something to say besides, “Hello,” and finally remembered why he had come. “How was your evening?”
“Let’s not talk about it.”
“That bad?”
“Worse, I’m afraid.” She sat up and patted the cushion next to her in invitation. He sat down and got comfortable as she told him about the blind date her sister had set her up with. “Magnus ‘Dent-Head’ MacDonald! Would you believe it? I may never talk to her again.”
“I’m sure she meant well.” Her look told him otherwise. “I do have a bit of gossip that might brighten your evening.”
“Albus, you know how I feel about gossip.” She switched into her teacher-mode and he nearly chuckled at the thought of her lecturing in her classroom wearing her current attire. She certainly would have had his attention, though he would have learned nothing about transfiguration.
“It’s about your favorite castle lovebirds,” he said, interrupting her mid sentence.
“Oh, really?” Her eyes brightened. “What is it?”
“Now, Minerva, you know how I feel about gossip.” He tried and failed to keep a straight face before laughing. She raised one eyebrow at his teasing then swatted his chest.
“Well, go on, tell me.”
He had not realized how close they were until now. At some point during the story of her date, he had draped an arm on the sofa behind her, but now it had drifted down to her shoulders and she was leaning against him. He hesitantly wrapped his hand around her far shoulder, but she either did not notice or did not mind.
“A certain charms professor stopped by earlier to show me a piece of jewelry he purchased today.”
“You mean?” Her question trailed off as he nodded and she nearly squealed. He loved to see her like this; it reminded him of her younger self. Her natural curiosity and excitement overwhelming her learned reserved behavior was a beautiful sight and he was glad to be one of the few lucky enough to experience it. Her words came out as a rush. “Oh she will be delighted. Do you know what he is planning to do? Don’t tell me, I want to be surprised. Oh, tell me anyway!”
“Actually, he wouldn’t say what he had planned, but he did say that she would be surprised and we would probably all be hearing about it one way or another, soon.”
“I know she’ll say yes, so I hope he isn’t too worried. I am surprised he didn’t tell you though. It hasn’t been that long since he was asking you how to begin.”
She pulled her legs up next to her and leaned a little closer into his embrace. There was something about Albus that always allowed her to relax and feel at peace and happy when she was near him.
“I know you weren’t comfortable with that, but he was obviously very serious about Pomona and didn’t want to make any avoidable mistakes. I can’t say I blame him for that.”
She knew he had a point, but still it bothered her. “I know we have had this conversation then, but I still can’t imagine being with someone who went to my employer for advice about courting me.”
“I like to think of myself first as Filius’ friend, then his employer and the same goes for you and Pomona.”
She turned to face him, making sure she had not hurt his feelings before continuing and drawing closer to him at the same time. “Of course, you are my friend, Albus.” They smiled at each other.
She remembered how he had just laughed when she asked if anyone had ever come to him with advice about dating her. She had told him then that if anyone ever did, he should tell them that she loved…
“Tuna fish!”
“What was that, my dear?”
She was shocked, beyond shocked actually, and appalled. It was not that she had been on that many dates in the year since their conversation, only a handful really, but the thought that every one of them had asked Albus’ advice on courting her…
“I told you that if anyone ever asked for like advice me to tell them I loved…”
“Tuna fish,” they said in unison. He seemed sad and somber as he looked down at their hands, which she was surprised to see clasped together. The thought struck her that if anyone saw them on her sofa like this, it would look like they were cuddling.
“I hope you’re not angry. I just couldn’t resist and I was following your instructions.”
“You mean they all asked you for advice?”
“Well, Magnus came up with tuna without me.” There was a moment or two of silence as Minerva came to terms with the fact that a sports-crazed idiot was the only man brave enough to try to get to know her without help. Albus startled her when he spoke again. “Actually, my dear, I have been meaning to talk to you about something related to this.”
“Related to tuna fish?” She would have laughed at the ridiculousness of it all, but the look on his face, only inches from hers, stopped her.
“Yes, you see… I mean to say…” He stopped, took a deep breath, and continued. “I am allergic to tuna fish.” He looked at her finally, waiting for a response, but she had no idea what to say.
Obviously she had missed something, but what? He was allergic to tuna fish. What by Merlin’s beard was that supposed to mean? Sure, if they were ever to go on a date, he…
She stopped breathing, thinking, and she was pretty sure her heart stopped beating as well. Is that what he meant? That if they dated she wouldn’t have to worry about tuna?
She considered the way she had curled herself into his embrace, the way everything seemed better when he was around, the feelings that rushed through her when she saw him, touched him. In short, she considered everything she had so desperately tried to ignore since returning to Hogwarts and with that she knew what she had to do.
She looked up at him and asked a single question. “How do you feel about steak?”
He was confused and she smiled at his answer. “I love steak, but wh-why?”
She leaned closer until her lips were nearly touching his. She smiled as she whispered, “Good,” and kissed him.
Also, I know they are rather OOC, but I am still working back into ADMM after my hiatus. Thanks for putting up with me!
The Tuna Fish Factor
Minerva entered her rooms and closed the door more firmly than she normally would, trying to block out her evening. She took off her robe, leaving her comfortable underrobe on. With a flick of her wand the robe and her hairpins were in their place in her bedroom. She started the fire and laid her wand on the coffee table. Then, sitting on the sofa, she removed her shoes and stockings before collapsing back into the comfortable cushions.
She was never dating again. Not that she was ready to declare herself an old spinster, but this was getting a bit ridiculous. Each and every man she had been out with in the last year had taken her out and insisted on ordering for her, only to order tuna, the one type of fish she hated more than the rest, which were all disgusting. Not that she was conceited enough to think they should have known that she did not like fish. It was just the idea that they insisted on ordering for her and then did not know her well enough to know what she would like. She was beginning to take it as a sign from above whenever tuna was even mentioned.
Just as she was beginning to drown in self-pity, which was not something she would have readily admitted, there was a knock at her door. The rhythm was “Shave and a Haircut” and she smiled as she said, “Two bits,” and the door opened.
If Minerva had been able to see herself as Albus saw her upon entering her rooms, she would have gotten up or at least rearranged herself. The thin, silky, emerald green dress hugged her body as her curves were highlighted by the flickering reflection of flames from the fireplace. Her long, black hair cascaded over the arm of the sofa and it was all he could do to not reach out and touch it. She twisted to greet him and the hem of her dress rose revealing creamy white, perfectly toned calves. He forgot why he had stopped by as he watched emerald eyes watching him.
“Hello.”
He searched for something to say besides, “Hello,” and finally remembered why he had come. “How was your evening?”
“Let’s not talk about it.”
“That bad?”
“Worse, I’m afraid.” She sat up and patted the cushion next to her in invitation. He sat down and got comfortable as she told him about the blind date her sister had set her up with. “Magnus ‘Dent-Head’ MacDonald! Would you believe it? I may never talk to her again.”
“I’m sure she meant well.” Her look told him otherwise. “I do have a bit of gossip that might brighten your evening.”
“Albus, you know how I feel about gossip.” She switched into her teacher-mode and he nearly chuckled at the thought of her lecturing in her classroom wearing her current attire. She certainly would have had his attention, though he would have learned nothing about transfiguration.
“It’s about your favorite castle lovebirds,” he said, interrupting her mid sentence.
“Oh, really?” Her eyes brightened. “What is it?”
“Now, Minerva, you know how I feel about gossip.” He tried and failed to keep a straight face before laughing. She raised one eyebrow at his teasing then swatted his chest.
“Well, go on, tell me.”
He had not realized how close they were until now. At some point during the story of her date, he had draped an arm on the sofa behind her, but now it had drifted down to her shoulders and she was leaning against him. He hesitantly wrapped his hand around her far shoulder, but she either did not notice or did not mind.
“A certain charms professor stopped by earlier to show me a piece of jewelry he purchased today.”
“You mean?” Her question trailed off as he nodded and she nearly squealed. He loved to see her like this; it reminded him of her younger self. Her natural curiosity and excitement overwhelming her learned reserved behavior was a beautiful sight and he was glad to be one of the few lucky enough to experience it. Her words came out as a rush. “Oh she will be delighted. Do you know what he is planning to do? Don’t tell me, I want to be surprised. Oh, tell me anyway!”
“Actually, he wouldn’t say what he had planned, but he did say that she would be surprised and we would probably all be hearing about it one way or another, soon.”
“I know she’ll say yes, so I hope he isn’t too worried. I am surprised he didn’t tell you though. It hasn’t been that long since he was asking you how to begin.”
She pulled her legs up next to her and leaned a little closer into his embrace. There was something about Albus that always allowed her to relax and feel at peace and happy when she was near him.
“I know you weren’t comfortable with that, but he was obviously very serious about Pomona and didn’t want to make any avoidable mistakes. I can’t say I blame him for that.”
She knew he had a point, but still it bothered her. “I know we have had this conversation then, but I still can’t imagine being with someone who went to my employer for advice about courting me.”
“I like to think of myself first as Filius’ friend, then his employer and the same goes for you and Pomona.”
She turned to face him, making sure she had not hurt his feelings before continuing and drawing closer to him at the same time. “Of course, you are my friend, Albus.” They smiled at each other.
She remembered how he had just laughed when she asked if anyone had ever come to him with advice about dating her. She had told him then that if anyone ever did, he should tell them that she loved…
“Tuna fish!”
“What was that, my dear?”
She was shocked, beyond shocked actually, and appalled. It was not that she had been on that many dates in the year since their conversation, only a handful really, but the thought that every one of them had asked Albus’ advice on courting her…
“I told you that if anyone ever asked for like advice me to tell them I loved…”
“Tuna fish,” they said in unison. He seemed sad and somber as he looked down at their hands, which she was surprised to see clasped together. The thought struck her that if anyone saw them on her sofa like this, it would look like they were cuddling.
“I hope you’re not angry. I just couldn’t resist and I was following your instructions.”
“You mean they all asked you for advice?”
“Well, Magnus came up with tuna without me.” There was a moment or two of silence as Minerva came to terms with the fact that a sports-crazed idiot was the only man brave enough to try to get to know her without help. Albus startled her when he spoke again. “Actually, my dear, I have been meaning to talk to you about something related to this.”
“Related to tuna fish?” She would have laughed at the ridiculousness of it all, but the look on his face, only inches from hers, stopped her.
“Yes, you see… I mean to say…” He stopped, took a deep breath, and continued. “I am allergic to tuna fish.” He looked at her finally, waiting for a response, but she had no idea what to say.
Obviously she had missed something, but what? He was allergic to tuna fish. What by Merlin’s beard was that supposed to mean? Sure, if they were ever to go on a date, he…
She stopped breathing, thinking, and she was pretty sure her heart stopped beating as well. Is that what he meant? That if they dated she wouldn’t have to worry about tuna?
She considered the way she had curled herself into his embrace, the way everything seemed better when he was around, the feelings that rushed through her when she saw him, touched him. In short, she considered everything she had so desperately tried to ignore since returning to Hogwarts and with that she knew what she had to do.
She looked up at him and asked a single question. “How do you feel about steak?”
He was confused and she smiled at his answer. “I love steak, but wh-why?”
She leaned closer until her lips were nearly touching his. She smiled as she whispered, “Good,” and kissed him.
He basically took her sarcasm and took it for truth. I'm glad you thought it was funny and cute and sorry that it was confusing! This was actually my second attempt since the first one somehow disappeared off the disk. The story was still there, but when I opened it, it was blank. They are always harder for me to write a second time and that may have contributed to the confusion!
