Post by Karlynne on Jan 22, 2005 5:19:18 GMT -5
Midlife Crisis
Albus Dumbledore listened with half an ear while his wife, Minerva, read through their post. Most of the letters contained get well wishes for her or welcome back messages for him.
School had been let out two weeks ago and the hot sun and gentle breeze was trying to lure him out of doors. Fawkes was at the annoying post growth-spurt stage following his rebirth and his voice was changing which caused the phoenix to chirp incessantly in order to hear his own voice.
“My dear it is too nice a day to sit here opening mail. Let’s take a stroll.” His suggestion was pitched to closed ears however and Albus had to rise and cross the room in order to stand in front of her and gain her attention. “Minerva?”
“Honestly Albus, the offers you get!” She thrust a piece of parchment at him and he read the note quickly.
It contained an offer for his endorsement on the prototype of a new broom. This wasn’t a racing broom or a quidditch model. This was the ultimate in luxury brooms with nothing overlooked in the ways of keeping its rider in utmost comfort while riding.
“I wouldn’t mind one of these. It has air conditioning and heating charms already applied, and it says here that there is a constant temperature guide if you prefer.” He perused the rest of the letter before looking at Minerva who flashed him an annoyed look.
“Albus, that broom is entirely unnecessary. What do you need with altimeters and barometers? This broom is for the man that hasn’t anything better to do with his time or money. You are at least a hundred years beyond such foolishness.”
Albus dropped the subject but he was rather irritated that Minerva thought him too old for the broom. It took another hour before he convinced her to take a walk with him. He led her away from Hogsmeade and into the hillside. The steady pace soothed him and his bad humor disappeared as he began enjoying himself again.
Several brooms could be seen chasing each other in the distance and Albus pointed them out to Minerva. “They can’t be playing quidditch, there aren’t enough people to play.”
Minerva agreed and they continued to head in the direction of the players. When they were within earshot several calls were made for Albus to join in the game. There were extra brooms in the hopes that they would find additional players for a game.
Before Albus could agree to play Minerva effectively turned the offer down but wished them well and urged Albus on.
“My dear, I was interested in a bit of sport,” he protested.
“Albus those young men were barely out of university if at all. You are no longer as young as you think you are or as young as you behave now lets just enjoy the sunshine.”
Albus’ grumpy mood returned and they remained silent as they headed back to Hogwarts. It took nearly half an hour after they returned before Albus decided to return to Hogsmeade and see if a game was still going on. He made a stop at the broom shed and asked Madame Hooch for a broom to borrow after making her promise not to tell he had one. He promised to return before it grew too late so she could lock up. She agreed to his promise, as she knew Minerva would not be pleased if Albus took to the skies after his last time on a broom. It hadn’t been Albus’ fault that Fawkes had appeared suddenly and startled him causing him to fly into another person. His injuries had been minor and instantly healed by Madame Pomfrey but Minerva had scolded him and told him he would not be riding one again if she had anything to do about it.
Albus was smart enough to know that Minerva might see him from her windows so he quickly walked to the gates and apparated to the field.
Minerva was subdued as she searched her shelves for a magazine. She had seen an article on men and the problems they suffered, as they grew older and she wanted to reread it. Albus was showing all the signs of denying that his body was aging and she needed him to read it. He could no longer disregard his health.
She flipped through several magazines before she came across the article she wanted. It was a short piece but very informative. Many men had problems adjusting to the loss of youth. In short they often had midlife crisis that could be handled with a bit of understanding.
Minerva made a checklist of the symptoms. Yes, he was showing an increase in mood swings. Just today he had become cranky for no reason. He was certainly more restless than usual and he was trying to capture his youth. Hadn’t he been fascinated by that broom just as many of her male students were? Did he not try to join in a game of quidditch with people that were at least a hundred and thirty years younger?
At least she didn’t have to worry about him having a wandering eye or trying to take hair replacement potions. Maybe he was just having a minor crisis. She would speak with him about it tomorrow.
Albus enjoyed himself immensely. He had joined in several games and it was now beginning to grow dark. Knowing Minerva would be waiting for him to join her for dinner soon, he dashed off a short note that he would not make dinner and wouldn’t be home until later. He was powerful enough to banish the note to her rooms and knew she would find it before long.
He played well into the night and his protesting muscles grew tired as he struggled to bat away the bludger one last time. He missed spectacularly and it smashed into his ribs with a resounding snap.
His teammates helped him to the ground and he grimaced in pain. He couldn’t go home in this condition. He would have to seek out Poppy without Minerva finding out.
The young players gave him a lift to the gates as he was too tired to apparate and he slipped inside and skirted the school as he approached the broom shed.
Madame Hooch opened the door with a growl that turned into a gasp as she saw Albus was in pain. She opened the door wider and urged him inside.
“I believe I need the services of Poppy,” he commented. “Do you think you can reach her without Minerva finding out?”
Madame Hooch immediately had him lie down on a bench and told him to rest there and she would return as soon as possible with Poppy.
Waiting was boring for Albus and he decided to rest his eyes for a few minutes. It was several hours later that he woke up with a start. His ribs still ached and he was still on the bench in the broom shed. Where had Madame Hooch gone and why hadn’t she returned?
Albus struggled to his feet and quietly left the shed. A glance at his watch told him it was after eleven. He saw lights on the lower floors of the castle and knew people were up and about so he quietly entered through an unknown passage on the far side of the castle and made his way to the hospital wing.
Poppy shook her head at him as she examined him and healed his injury. His ribs would ache for a few days but he was fine and the bruises were gone. He would have to return the following evening for another dose of potions but Poppy had other plans and arrangements were made for him to go to St. Mungo’s and take them. He made his way to his office where he had a house elf bring him a couple of sandwiches and some pumpkin juice.
He slipped quietly into his bedroom after eating and crawled into bed where Minerva found him two hours later after giving up on waiting up for him.
Albus woke up first and winced as he moved to sit up. His movements woke up Minerva who instantly tried to curl up into his arms. His ribs protested and he released her quickly. Undaunted she moved to give him a hug but he deftly sidestepped her by rising and heading for the shower.
Puzzled Minerva lay back and listened to the shower. Why didn’t Albus want to be close? She normally chalked his unusually eccentric behavior to his age but the intimacy they shared was even deeper upon waking as they generally slept in each other’s arms. She had noticed he kept his back to her and wondered why.
Breakfast was quiet as each mulled over his or her own thoughts. Albus left as soon as he finished in order to send a few owls and Minerva wasn’t quick enough to tell him that the post had already arrived. There were several letters at the end of the table that had gone unnoticed.
Picking them up she decided to take them to him. The letter on top was addressed simply as headmaster and Minerva opened it thinking it another applicant for the open Defense position.
Her eyes grew moist as she read the short note inside.
Sorry about last night. I hope she didn’t discover you were with me even if only for a brief moment.
The letter was unsigned and Minerva might have thrown it out as a prank but Albus had acted strangely this morning.
The day passed slowly as Minerva watched her husband. Twice he had given her brief hugs without squeezing her as he usually did. She had made several overtures about having a romantic evening together but he dashed her hopes. He did sound regretful but he claimed to have another meeting.
Albus knew his way around St. Mungo’s so it was only a few minutes after arriving that Healer Cross was giving him his second and last dose. She had asked for his autograph, which amused him but he had given it and then returned to Hogwarts.
Albus already felt much better and knew most of the pain would be gone by morning. Unfortunately he had to get through tonight. Minerva might make more moves on him so he sought a quiet corner in the castle where he could read for a few hours without being noticed.
It was late when he entered his bedroom and undressed for bed.
Minerva awoke more troubled than ever. Albus had gotten home so late and he didn’t wake her as he usually did. It was almost as though he was avoiding her. He had awakened first again and she could hear him singing in the shower. He was obviously in a very good mood.
Albus Dumbledore listened with half an ear while his wife, Minerva, read through their post. Most of the letters contained get well wishes for her or welcome back messages for him.
School had been let out two weeks ago and the hot sun and gentle breeze was trying to lure him out of doors. Fawkes was at the annoying post growth-spurt stage following his rebirth and his voice was changing which caused the phoenix to chirp incessantly in order to hear his own voice.
“My dear it is too nice a day to sit here opening mail. Let’s take a stroll.” His suggestion was pitched to closed ears however and Albus had to rise and cross the room in order to stand in front of her and gain her attention. “Minerva?”
“Honestly Albus, the offers you get!” She thrust a piece of parchment at him and he read the note quickly.
It contained an offer for his endorsement on the prototype of a new broom. This wasn’t a racing broom or a quidditch model. This was the ultimate in luxury brooms with nothing overlooked in the ways of keeping its rider in utmost comfort while riding.
“I wouldn’t mind one of these. It has air conditioning and heating charms already applied, and it says here that there is a constant temperature guide if you prefer.” He perused the rest of the letter before looking at Minerva who flashed him an annoyed look.
“Albus, that broom is entirely unnecessary. What do you need with altimeters and barometers? This broom is for the man that hasn’t anything better to do with his time or money. You are at least a hundred years beyond such foolishness.”
Albus dropped the subject but he was rather irritated that Minerva thought him too old for the broom. It took another hour before he convinced her to take a walk with him. He led her away from Hogsmeade and into the hillside. The steady pace soothed him and his bad humor disappeared as he began enjoying himself again.
Several brooms could be seen chasing each other in the distance and Albus pointed them out to Minerva. “They can’t be playing quidditch, there aren’t enough people to play.”
Minerva agreed and they continued to head in the direction of the players. When they were within earshot several calls were made for Albus to join in the game. There were extra brooms in the hopes that they would find additional players for a game.
Before Albus could agree to play Minerva effectively turned the offer down but wished them well and urged Albus on.
“My dear, I was interested in a bit of sport,” he protested.
“Albus those young men were barely out of university if at all. You are no longer as young as you think you are or as young as you behave now lets just enjoy the sunshine.”
Albus’ grumpy mood returned and they remained silent as they headed back to Hogwarts. It took nearly half an hour after they returned before Albus decided to return to Hogsmeade and see if a game was still going on. He made a stop at the broom shed and asked Madame Hooch for a broom to borrow after making her promise not to tell he had one. He promised to return before it grew too late so she could lock up. She agreed to his promise, as she knew Minerva would not be pleased if Albus took to the skies after his last time on a broom. It hadn’t been Albus’ fault that Fawkes had appeared suddenly and startled him causing him to fly into another person. His injuries had been minor and instantly healed by Madame Pomfrey but Minerva had scolded him and told him he would not be riding one again if she had anything to do about it.
Albus was smart enough to know that Minerva might see him from her windows so he quickly walked to the gates and apparated to the field.
Minerva was subdued as she searched her shelves for a magazine. She had seen an article on men and the problems they suffered, as they grew older and she wanted to reread it. Albus was showing all the signs of denying that his body was aging and she needed him to read it. He could no longer disregard his health.
She flipped through several magazines before she came across the article she wanted. It was a short piece but very informative. Many men had problems adjusting to the loss of youth. In short they often had midlife crisis that could be handled with a bit of understanding.
Minerva made a checklist of the symptoms. Yes, he was showing an increase in mood swings. Just today he had become cranky for no reason. He was certainly more restless than usual and he was trying to capture his youth. Hadn’t he been fascinated by that broom just as many of her male students were? Did he not try to join in a game of quidditch with people that were at least a hundred and thirty years younger?
At least she didn’t have to worry about him having a wandering eye or trying to take hair replacement potions. Maybe he was just having a minor crisis. She would speak with him about it tomorrow.
Albus enjoyed himself immensely. He had joined in several games and it was now beginning to grow dark. Knowing Minerva would be waiting for him to join her for dinner soon, he dashed off a short note that he would not make dinner and wouldn’t be home until later. He was powerful enough to banish the note to her rooms and knew she would find it before long.
He played well into the night and his protesting muscles grew tired as he struggled to bat away the bludger one last time. He missed spectacularly and it smashed into his ribs with a resounding snap.
His teammates helped him to the ground and he grimaced in pain. He couldn’t go home in this condition. He would have to seek out Poppy without Minerva finding out.
The young players gave him a lift to the gates as he was too tired to apparate and he slipped inside and skirted the school as he approached the broom shed.
Madame Hooch opened the door with a growl that turned into a gasp as she saw Albus was in pain. She opened the door wider and urged him inside.
“I believe I need the services of Poppy,” he commented. “Do you think you can reach her without Minerva finding out?”
Madame Hooch immediately had him lie down on a bench and told him to rest there and she would return as soon as possible with Poppy.
Waiting was boring for Albus and he decided to rest his eyes for a few minutes. It was several hours later that he woke up with a start. His ribs still ached and he was still on the bench in the broom shed. Where had Madame Hooch gone and why hadn’t she returned?
Albus struggled to his feet and quietly left the shed. A glance at his watch told him it was after eleven. He saw lights on the lower floors of the castle and knew people were up and about so he quietly entered through an unknown passage on the far side of the castle and made his way to the hospital wing.
Poppy shook her head at him as she examined him and healed his injury. His ribs would ache for a few days but he was fine and the bruises were gone. He would have to return the following evening for another dose of potions but Poppy had other plans and arrangements were made for him to go to St. Mungo’s and take them. He made his way to his office where he had a house elf bring him a couple of sandwiches and some pumpkin juice.
He slipped quietly into his bedroom after eating and crawled into bed where Minerva found him two hours later after giving up on waiting up for him.
Albus woke up first and winced as he moved to sit up. His movements woke up Minerva who instantly tried to curl up into his arms. His ribs protested and he released her quickly. Undaunted she moved to give him a hug but he deftly sidestepped her by rising and heading for the shower.
Puzzled Minerva lay back and listened to the shower. Why didn’t Albus want to be close? She normally chalked his unusually eccentric behavior to his age but the intimacy they shared was even deeper upon waking as they generally slept in each other’s arms. She had noticed he kept his back to her and wondered why.
Breakfast was quiet as each mulled over his or her own thoughts. Albus left as soon as he finished in order to send a few owls and Minerva wasn’t quick enough to tell him that the post had already arrived. There were several letters at the end of the table that had gone unnoticed.
Picking them up she decided to take them to him. The letter on top was addressed simply as headmaster and Minerva opened it thinking it another applicant for the open Defense position.
Her eyes grew moist as she read the short note inside.
Sorry about last night. I hope she didn’t discover you were with me even if only for a brief moment.
The letter was unsigned and Minerva might have thrown it out as a prank but Albus had acted strangely this morning.
The day passed slowly as Minerva watched her husband. Twice he had given her brief hugs without squeezing her as he usually did. She had made several overtures about having a romantic evening together but he dashed her hopes. He did sound regretful but he claimed to have another meeting.
Albus knew his way around St. Mungo’s so it was only a few minutes after arriving that Healer Cross was giving him his second and last dose. She had asked for his autograph, which amused him but he had given it and then returned to Hogwarts.
Albus already felt much better and knew most of the pain would be gone by morning. Unfortunately he had to get through tonight. Minerva might make more moves on him so he sought a quiet corner in the castle where he could read for a few hours without being noticed.
It was late when he entered his bedroom and undressed for bed.
Minerva awoke more troubled than ever. Albus had gotten home so late and he didn’t wake her as he usually did. It was almost as though he was avoiding her. He had awakened first again and she could hear him singing in the shower. He was obviously in a very good mood.
