Masterpiece Of The Heart

[Sensiblyquirky]

I love this story, ladies, and I cannot wait for the next bit!! I really want to see how you get them into kisses.

Christy

[Kandice]

Okay ladies, I have read your work before and I know you are more than capable. With only one chapter to go I am anxious to see how tart you are going to make this. I like the way you captured the style of the last painter. I so hate abstract art or whatever his style was. Kandie

[griseldalafey]

*squeeeeeee* I was so hoping Minerva would paint his portrait... and she did ;D ;D

*sigh* Albus is going to be so happy.

I love this story and I'm dangling on one foot in anticipatition of the last chapter. Wonderful story, you two

[tayryn]

This is a WONDERFUL story!! I am loving the slow buildup... and can not wait to read Albus' reaction!!

[Jaya]

I am really enjoying this story and can't wait to read the next installment!

[Lady Lavendar]

I love this wonderful story! it's jsut what I needed after a long day of softball try-outs!!

LL ;D

[Karlynne]

What a wonderful gift for Albus. Painting is so personal and the artist puts so much of him or herself in their work. I can't wait for the last chapter. Karlie

[Hogwarts Duo]

A/N: A world of thanks to everyone who’s taken the time to let us know what you think of our story. And a HUGE thanks to Clayre for the idea of adding the cat to Albus’ portrait….you’ll see what we mean at the end of the story!

It’s How I See You

One look at Minerva descending the staircase had stolen the very breath from Albus’ lungs and the very words from his lips. He watched as the graceful figure in blue slowly made her way to him and he couldn’t stop the surge of pride and adoration he suddenly felt. She twirled around in front of him, giving him a full view of her new robes and the very womanly curves she had managed to keep well hidden in her normal attire.

“You look absolutely amazing, Minerva. I’ll be the envy of every man who crosses our path tonight.” His voice was strong and steady but his heart was beating so fast he was sure she could see it through his robes.

“You look handsome yourself and I dare say that I’ll have to hex all the women who throw themselves at your feet this evening,” she answered with a mischievous grin. “Then again, who’s to say that you’d want me to rid you of the annoyance?”

Albus looped her arm through his and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You’re the only woman I see when I look into a crowd. You always have been,” he admitted softly. A comfortable silence fell upon them as they set out on their evening together.

Hours later, he walked her back to her rooms and was delighted to be invited inside for a nightcap. They had spent the evening talking about lots of things, none of which had to do with their new appointments or the school. It had been a relaxing and very enjoyable evening, one in which Albus felt certain he could never duplicate with another woman no matter how hard they each tried or how long he lived.

“Have a seat, Albus. I have something I want to show you.” Minerva disappeared into her bedroom and Albus’ eyes grew wide. His mind tried to remind him that it was probably something innocent, something simple, but his body prayed that it was some new nightwear that she wanted him to see and experience for himself. Scolding himself for thinking such thoughts, he waited patiently for her return.

“Close your eyes, Albus…no peeking,” she called out from her bedroom.

“Do you mind telling me how I’m supposed to see what you want to show me with my eyes closed my dear? I know I’m good at seeing through invisibility cloaks and magical enchantments but this is something completely new,” he replied.

Minerva paid him no attention and carefully maneuvered the canvas and easel into his line of sight. After checking to make sure everything was perfect, she stepped behind the sofa and whispered into his ear, “open your eyes slowly.”

The canvas itself was much larger than any of the other attempts at his portrait. Minerva had chosen the largest one available and had utilized every inch of it. In the painting, Albus was standing in the center of a room, looking every bit as powerful as he did in person. Yet, somehow she had managed to capture his softer side, the one that endeared him to everyone he’d ever met. It was the part of him that put those around him at ease and made them feel just as intelligent and important as they deemed him.

His robes were the most amazing shade of royal blue. He recognized the color immediately as the same shade as her dress from their outing just this evening. One had to look closely to see the tiny silver moons and stars she had painted on the hem and cuffs of his sleeves but to the observant viewer, her attention to every detail was evident.

His hair had been changed somewhat to reflect an older Albus Dumbledore, one she envisioned in her mind. She had used the photo of Albus’ father as a model for what he might look like with a decade or two behind him. When Minerva started painting, she quickly decided that it would be only fitting to represent an older version of Albus, one that would depict the way he would most likely look during his tenure as Headmaster. His auburn hair would be completely white and if she had anything to say about it, he would let his silky hair grow much longer than what it was currently, along with his beard.

The image of the most powerful wizard of their time also had the most captivating blue eyes of anyone Minerva had ever seen. She had spent several nights working on them, in an attempt to get them the perfect shade of sky blue with tiny golden flecks in them. Painstakingly, she had also been successful in adding his half moon spectacles without taking anything away from those wonderfully expressive eyes.

That had been Minerva’s favorite part of the painting. She had tried to remember those piercing looks he gave her and how his eyes always seemed to hold a certain twinkle whenever he laughed. And Albus had to admit that even he now saw the twinkle that resided in his eyes. However, he knew the real reason for the sparkle was the woman now waiting with baited breath for his opinion.

Several years ago, Albus had decided to redecorate his rooms and had bought the most comfortable chair Minerva had ever had the pleasure of occupying. Unfortunately, the company only had the chair in one color. Minerva had dubbed the chair the purple grape because of its’ shading and had begged Albus to change the color to something more tasteful. But he had flatly refused, saying that he thought it gave the chair some character. So, he had been most pleased to see that even though his robes clashed seriously with the chair, Minerva had seen fit to add it to the painting. She had obviously wanted him to spend his time in the portrait surrounded by the comfort of his most cherished possessions.

Behind Albus, Minerva had painted one of the large windows that granted a spectacular view of the grounds. In the background, Albus could make out the outline of the Forbidden Forest and the lake as well. The sky was a pale blue with white clouds and the sun was shining eternally in the painting, giving a happy atmosphere to the overall scene. Fawkes could be seen flying in the northern sky, making his way back to Albus after some assignment or adventure and the sun streaming through the window cast a shimmering gleam on the objects adorning his desk.

Over the years, the Transfiguration Professor had managed to collect a wide assortment of oddities, gadgets and trinkets. They were in constant states of spinning and whizzing, distracting Minerva to the point of hexing them sometimes when she was trying to work or discuss something with Albus. He said each one had a story or a unique ability and although she had never doubted his word, she also had no desire to hear their tales. But they were all part of what made him so special and they just had to be included in his official portrait.

One either side of the purple chair and the handsome man in the foreground of the large window were two rather sizeable bookcases. While the name of each book was not visible, the spines on some of them were enough to give a clue as to their content. Albus smiled as he studied that portion of her work. He noted several of his more frequently referenced transfiguration books, an ancient tome about the founding of Hogwarts and his personal favorite, Whimsical Socks of Famous Wizards and Witches. But the ones that made him beam with pride were his copies of The Animagus Within You, which listed both him and Minerva along with their chosen forms, and Dragon’s Blood: Benefits and Hazards, which he had co-written with Nicolas Flamel.

To Minerva, he seemed to take forever in his study of the portrait. She had waited for days now to give him her hard work and now it was taking him a small eternity to put her mind at ease or to confirm her worst fears of his disapproval. She wanted to say something to cut into the deafening silence but when he turned to face her, she realized there was no need for words. His thoughts were evident on his face.

His bright blue eyes were filled with tiny crystal tears and a smile like none she had ever seen played upon his lips. “It’s magnificent, Minerva, a true masterpiece,” he said barely loud enough for her to hear.

“I’m pleased you like it. I looked at each of the previous painting and realized that they were each missing something vital. And yet, I knew that I had what they were missing so I set out to prove to myself and to you that I was right.”

[Hogwarts Duo]

“I love you too, Minerva,” he said moving to stand before her with his hands on her upper arms.

“How…how did you know?” she stammered quietly. “I didn’t say…”

“It’s all here in the portrait. No one else would notice the tiny details that come together to make me the quirky man you see before you but yet you do. And you still portray me in a favorable way. You look beyond all my faults and you see me, the man, not the office or the title I am about to assume.”

“You saw all of that in my painting?”

“No, I see most of it in your eyes, those brilliant green eyes that bring so much joy and laughter into my life. Those wonderful green eyes with the tiny golden specks that I could lose myself in each time I look into them.”

“I never thought you’d notice me as a woman worthy of your love, Albus. I’m not flashy or incredibly attractive. I don’t wear revealing clothes and I certainly don’t throw myself at your feet like so many of your admirers.”

“That’s just it, Minerva. That’s it entirely. You’re above all of that. You don’t need expensive clothes or cunning tactics to catch my attention. And you’re most assuredly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You captured my heart long ago with your wit, your intelligence, your caring nature, your ability to see inside me…and I could go on and on.”

Minerva raised her hand to cup his cheek and brush across his lips tenderly with her thumb. “I admit it freely, Albus. I love you and have for years. I poured my heart into this labor of love and it looks like I got your heart in return,” she replied before leaning up to place a sweet kiss to his lips.

His arms wrapped around her waist and drew her fully into his embrace. He enjoyed the breathtaking sensation of their first kiss and after a minute of the soft touching of their lips, he felt bold enough to deepen the kiss. When she eagerly accepted his advances and laced her fingers through his silky hair, time simply stopped for them. Nothing else mattered except their newly admitted feelings and the wonder of the moment.

As they cuddled on Minerva’s couch late into the night, Albus tightened his grip on her and hugged her close. “Minerva, I do have one question to ask and please do not take offense. My hair isn’t entirely white and yet you painted it that way. Why?”

“I wondered if you’d have something to say on that,” she laughed. “It’s how I see you in the future. I am confident that you will live a long life with lots of adventures, hopes and dreams but unfortunately age will begin to catch up to us. You already have a few strands of white and I wanted to represent you as I see you, at the height of your power and glory. I see that happening while you are the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Great things are about to happen and they’re all because of you.”

“Alas, you are right but you have left out one significant detail of my life and I will not give my approval of this painting until the error has been corrected.”

Minerva gave him a shocked look and pulled back from his arms, appearing more confused than she had ever been. “How can you say that? I added your favorite chair, your books, your familiar, your glasses, and all those horrid little noisemakers from your desk! What on earth is missing?”

“You,” he answered simply. “I want you in the portrait with me, some how, some way. I want some representation of you in there for if I’m going to have all of my favorite things about me, I need the most important one of all.”

She smiled at him as a single tear fell from her eyes. “That’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me, Albus. Do you mean it?”

“Of course I do, my dear. I’d be lost without you,” he said leaning down to kiss her lovingly. “Now, tomorrow, we can spend all day snuggled up right here on this couch discussing all the ways we can add you into my life, both in the portrait and in reality.” She started to speak but his long finger across her lips silenced her. “Right now, I just want to spend the night holding you in my arms and whispering into your ears the words to every romantic song, poem, and sonnet, I’ve ever heard.”

“I think that can be arranged, my dear sweet Albus. But should your voice get tired, I can think of something else we can do with those lips,” was her only reply as she kissed him soundly and with all the love she held in her heart.

On the day that Albus officially took office and was declared the new Headmaster of Hogwarts, his painting was unveiled. Everyone that saw it inquired as to the artist and how they had managed to capture the very essence of the man they all knew and loved. But in keeping with Minerva’s wishes, Albus would only tell them that it had been done as a special present and that the artist wished to remain anonymous. However, for the observant admirer of the artwork, the clues were all there, as was an image of Minerva.

Curled up in the luxurious but still hideously purple chair was a small tabby cat. To the causal onlooker, it would appear to be just another tabby but to those who knew the newly appointed Headmaster and his Deputy, there was no doubt as to the true identity. The familiar markings were easily spotted and the deep green eyes trained carefully on the aged man behind her left no room for doubt. At Albus insistence, Minerva had added a bit of herself into his portrait. And although she had been in her animagus form, the amazing silver broach he had given her on their one-month anniversary was clearly visible, dangling effortlessly from her collar.

In the years to come, they would grow to look at the portrait as something more than a visual representation of Albus. It became a symbol of their love, a tribute if you will, because after all, it was a masterpiece of the heart.

The end.

[griseldalafey]

*sob* *sniff* What a wonderful ending. It was so perfect. *sobs some more*

You really wrote a great story, I love it.

[tayryn]

oh... that was beautifully done!! what a wonderful way to start my day!!

i love the addition of the cat!

[Kassandra]

I am so moved over the painting. I am sure Minerva poured her heart and soul into it. I also loved the addition of the cat. Kassie

[Nerweniel]

Aaaw... I so love the idea of Minerva as a painter... makes me believe I'm not the only person who's covered in paint on a regular basis ;D. I simply loved how she inserted herself into the portrait, and that last line just got me melting. Great job!!!

Love,

Lies

[Sensiblyquirky]

Oh I just loved this ending, and all the detail in the painting! I'm glad he was able to read the love there. Great story, ladies!

Christy

[Kamdra]

I tried to save the ending to read later but I couldn't. This was a wonderful story with a great ending. It was sweet to include a cat in the picture. Kammie

[QuillofMinerva]

This has to be my favorite chapter Ang, I loved how Albus picked up her feelings for him from how she painted him AWWWWW!

I am glad that Minerva adding herself in as Tabby is popular ;D

Brilliant story

Clayre

[Karlynne]

Just wonderfull ladies. I liked the entire story but the ending was the clincher. I knew Minerva would paint but the way you explained how she captured so much of him was great. I liked the cat but I must admit, I would love to see that chair. Karlie

[Kassandra]

This was really good and I loved the ending. I'm glad he could read the love she had for him in the portrait. Simply lovely. Kassie.

[angeldust]

i can't believe i have only just got round to reviewing this (slaps self) this story is fantastic it had me melting over and over again ;D

[TartanPhoenix]

I'm not sure how I missed this last update, but wow!!! The way you described his portrait is perfect, and I loved the happy ending. Another wonderful story.

[Karmin]

This was a great story ladies!

[zoeteproet]

*is also sobbing* such a beautiful story!
I wish I could see the portret =D
Love,
Sarah xx

[minnie313]

Hi!

I've entered HP mood again (quite violently, I must say ^^) and I decided I would reread averything on the board Anyway, your story was great, lovely, sweet as hell and as I'm quite tired this time around, it was wonderful to read it again

[Mandy McGonagall-Dumbledore]

This story IS AMAZING!!!!