Ceilidh

[Kamdra]

I don't mind not learning another dance when I can just read about a romantic evening.

[Karlynne]

Another great chapter. I wondered what went on behind closed doors but I was able to withstand my curiosity. ;D

[Sensiblyquirky]

Nights off from dancing are good if we get romantic evenings! I can't wait to see him with her family trying to do the dances.

Christy

[Lay]

Wow...I am glad that they decided that distractions are good and improve learning lol great line!!

Lay xx

[griseldalafey]

Lovely chapter *grin* I bet Albus was happy with the distractions ;D

You learned those dances at school? That's so cool!

[QuillofMinerva]

ENJOY! ;D

Chapter Six: The Military Two Step

Minerva was waiting in her rooms for Albus to join her. She was unaware of his presence until she felt two arms slip around her waist. She felt herself being pulled against someone and that someone nuzzling into her neck.

“Albus, it’s a good thing that I know only you would dare to do that,” she said with a playful smile. “Otherwise, you might find yourself in the hospital wing.”

“I nearly ended up there last night,” he replied with a grin. “I thought I had done my back in.”

“Well you wanted to try something different,” she said with a blush “but enough talking about last night. You have come for a lesson and this is the hardest one out of the three dances. So, I need you to behave and listen.”

“Yes Professor!” answered Albus as he pulled away from her and walked around to face her.

They had enjoyed their much needed distraction the night before. It had done both of them the world of good. Albus felt like a new man and was ready to take on the new challenging dance that she was going to teach him. She hadn’t mentioned the name of the dance so he hadn’t been able to read up on it like he had with the others. There were only a few more days till the big McGonagall Ceilidh and Albus was still unsure of his actual dancing abilities.

Minerva decided that they should go through the other two dances before they started on the next one. She wanted to see how Albus was doing with pivoting and she watched him with a neutral expression. He was still having trouble staying in the same spot but she tried not to discourage him. He had done better than she had expected and that needed to be praised. The Gay Gordon’s dance usually ended the Ceilidh and by then, most of the guests had had too much Scottish whiskey and were all over the place. She hadn’t told Albus that, though. She hadn’t felt the need to.

The next dance Minerva was going to teach him was The Military Two Step. Out of all the Ceilidh dances, this one had always been her favorite. She had remembered watching her mother and father dancing together when she was a little girl. She had always felt that you needed to be deeply in love with the man you were dancing with but as she had grown older, she realized that it wasn’t always the case. In her mind, she wanted to dance with the person she loved and that would be Albus. She had danced it with her father and brother but it would be different with Albus.

“Darling,” she said as she led him into the middle of the room “the next dance shall be The Military Two Step.”

“Hmm, that sounds fun,” Albus answered with bright eyes.

She smiled. She loved having a willing student who would listen so intently to her and put all his effort into learning. She had been like that when she had been his student all those years ago. She had listened to every word he had said and some had even been imprinted in her brain to remain with her forever. She moved beside him and took hold of his hand. She ignored the spark that jolted her through her as she touched him.

“I place my hand on your shoulder,” she said as she dropped his hand and placed her own on top of his shoulder. “Now you place your hand around my waist.”

Albus did as she instructed and then looked down at her. He kissed the top of her head lovingly. He knew that she loved those tender moments where he acted on instinct instead of duty.

“Now we touch the heel of the outer foot to the ground twice,” she explained. “While we doing that we bounce on the inner foot.”

Albus, with concentration etched on his face, tried his best to follow her instructions though he did find it hard to bounce and tap at the same time. He thought he had finally mastered it but then Minerva had had to burst his bubble. She informed him that he was bouncing on the wrong foot. Minerva had thought it best that they stand apart so Albus could learn the first part of the dance without her body getting in the way. They spent half an hour concentrating on that part of the dance. Albus had been able to master the tap and bounce one but the other part he struggled with a bit. He tended to tap twice without bouncing.

“Why don’t we continue with the rest of the dance and then come back to this part my love,” suggested Minerva. “You are nearly there.”

Albus nodded in argument and was silently relieved that Minerva had suggested moving on to another part of the dance. They moved back into their starting positions and then skipped the bouncing part.

“We move forward for three steps,” she explained. “We turn towards one another and then face the opposite direction. We repeat what we just did but facing this way.”

They walked through that part several times and then started from the beginning. Albus stumbled through the tap and bounce part but he was making progress.

“Now we face each other and hold hands,” she said with a smile as she turned to face him and reached for both his hands. “We bounce on both feet and then kick the right foot across the body followed by the left. Don’t kick too hard Albus! Otherwise you will hit me!”

Remarkably, Albus didn’t kick Minerva once and he wasn’t sure who was more relived, him for not kicking her or Minerva because he hadn’t kicked her. Her smile encouraged him and he began to enjoy the dance. All memories of the dreaded tap and bounce floated from his mind as she taught him the final move of the dance.

“You raise your left hand and I turn underneath,” she said as she tired to turn. Unfortunately she had failed to mention that they needed to drop the other hand so she ended up tripping and falling on the floor.

“Oh Min, are you okay?” he asked as he dropped to his feet.

“I am fine,” she answered with a giggle. “That was my fault.”

Albus helped Minerva to her feet and they tried the final part of the dance again and this time, Minerva didn’t end up on the floor. They spent half an hour walking through the dance without music before finally putting it to the music. Minerva decided to call it a night after that. She had noticed Albus was growing frustrated and tired.

“Let’s call it a night darling,” she suggested. “I think we have done enough for tonight.”

“Are you staying the night?” asked Albus with a playful smile.

“Yes!” she answered.

To be continued

[KayleeTonksLupin]

*BIGGRIN* ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D KAYLEE-WOLF TREATS FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, now that I've got THAT said...Awesome!


*more BIGGRIN*

More story soon, please!

Kaylee

[Karlynne]

This must be the most difficult dance as I couldn't picture it in my mind. I am curious to know how Albus hurt his back. Karlie

[mugglemin]

This story is soooo sweet. They are lovely together...it makes me smile lots.

[ginger newts]

I would also like to know how Albus hurt his back. *giggle* Can't wait to see how he does at the actual dance.

[Sola]

...ya, what exactly happened to Albus' back?
I'd also love to see the final family party...and how albus will manage...

Anyway...wich I would have gotten those distractions from my dance lessons...

Sola

[Nerweniel]

I love the cuteness between them... and I love the efforts Albus is making in order to be able to dance well. Very funny and fluffy, go you!

Love,

Lies

[griseldalafey]

Aw... Albus is so wonderful and dedicated

Still loving the story!

[QuillofMinerva]

Chapter Seven: Preparations

Albus Dumbledore stood in the center of his private living room looking at the grandfather clock. Two weeks of preparation for the night ahead had been completed and Albus had been working so hard to learn the dances. Tonight was the night where he would meet Minerva’s family and take part in her family’s Ceilidh. Two weeks ago, it had seemed like a great idea but now it seemed far from a great.

He was still having trouble with his pivoting and he had totally forgotten some of the steps from the Gay Gordon’s dance. As the hours ticked away, Albus Dumbledore began to get cold feet and he wondered if Minerva would let him off the hook. He was going to make a fool out of himself publicly. Some would say that he would be used to that by now but that was not the case. The Daily Prophet tried to discredit him because they were in collaboration with the ministry. He wanted to make a good impression at the Ceilidh. He was meeting the family of the woman he loved and he would need their permission and acceptance to continue his relationship with their daughter.

Half of him wanted to pull out of the Ceilidh, tell Minerva had he did his back again but he knew that she would march him down to see Poppy or not believe him. He also knew how important this evening was for his Minerva. It was the first time she had taken a partner home and he knew that he must be special and that he owed her for letting him love her. He turned to the portrait of Armando Dippet and sought his opinion.

“If you can’t be a fool in front of the woman you love,” said the previous headmaster “who can you?”

“I want to make a good impression Armando,” said Albus as he sat down.

“You don’t need to Albus,” explained Armando. “The only person you need to impress is Minerva and you have already done that.”

“But….” Albus began before being interrupted by his former employer.

“But nothing Albus! Just enjoy yourself in the company of that wonderful witch and her family. I am positive that you will not make a spectacle of yourself. It’s a Ceilidh! Drinks will be on tap and there will be many drunk uncles trying to do the Highland fling that they won’t even notice you.”

“You are probably right!” agreed Albus.

“I am right Albus!” replied Armando with a hint of superiority in his voice.

Albus knew his friend and former employer was right but it didn’t get rid of the doubts that were in his mind. Maybe he should speak with Minerva. She would understand but then he would be letting her down and he couldn’t do that. She was always there for him. She would never let him down. She would go to the muggle cinema even though she never really enjoyed it because she would always end up with irritable legs halfway through the film. She had allowed herself to be dragged around a muggle candy factory by him for four hours and hadn’t complained once. He would have to get over his nerves and go to the Ceilidh. If he made a fool of himself, then so be it.

Albus had finally got into the right state of mind. The soft Ceilidh band music floated through his living room as he practiced his dances over and over again without Minerva. He had managed the hang of The Highland Barn Dance but the Gay Gordon’s and the Military Two step were still giving him problems. But he didn’t think he would be able to stumble through the dances without anyone noticing.

He worked up quite a sweat as he had danced around his room. He needed a bath and stiff drink to get him prepared for the night ahead. The hotness of the bath water gave Albus the relaxation he craved and he closed his eyes with a contented sigh. His began to wonder what he would wear for the night. He had some tartan robes that he had transfigured for their dance lessons but they were quite bright. He decided to wait till Minerva arrived. He would see what she was wearing and then find something that would compliment her outfit.

“Albus?” came the voice of the woman he had just been thinking of.

“I’m in the bathroom, love!” he called out to her.

“I do hope you aren’t descent!” she said with a playful giggle.

“Naked as the day as I was born,” he answered.

She walked into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bathtub. She smiled down at him before reaching forward and running her fingers through his slightly wet hair.

“Do you love and adore me?” she questioned.

“You know I do sweetheart!” he answered. He wondered why she had asked him such a question and it seemed out of the blue.

“Would you do anything for me?” she asked him.

“You know I would!” he replied.

“Good,” she answered with a smile. “Be a darling and wear what I have put on your bed to the Ceilidh without any arguments.”

Albus didn’t know what he was agreeing to but something in her eyes made him agree without even questioning her. She always had that effect on him and he didn’t mind one bit.

“I’ll see you soon then darling,” she told him as she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his.

“You’re going already?” he asked sadly.

“I need to go and get dressed,” she told him with a smile. “I’ll be back soon darling and I love you.”

She rose from the edge of the bathtub and then disappeared out of the bathroom, leaving Albus to his thoughts. Albus wondered what she had laid out on his bed for him to wear. He hoped it was something colorful and comfortable. He soaked for a bit longer in the bath before deciding that he really needed to get out and get ready. He got out of the bath and cast a drying spell on his body and hair. He walked through to his bedroom and suddenly stopped as his eyes caught sight of what she wanted him to wear.

On his bed lay, a white Jacobite Shirt with leather ties at the top of the shirt as well as a kilt with leather straps on the side. The tartan was red, green and blue cheque with a touch of yellow. There was also a dark leather sporran that would attach itself to the thistle belt. He looked at the kilt and thought that Minerva must be playing a joke on him. She had to be because she couldn’t expect him to wear a skirt.

To be continued

[KayleeTonksLupin]

*growls at Albus* A SKIRT?!!!!! DUMBLEDORE YOU IDIOT, IT'S A *KILT*!!!!!!! *shakes head* Albus, Albus, Albus. Three things you never do around Scots.

1. Never refer to "Scotch" when thinking of "belonging or relating to Scotland" or "the people of Scotland". That would be "Scots." Scotch is a drink, plain and simple.

2. NEVER, but NEVER, call a kilt a SKIRT. And...

3. Never pronounce Gaelic "Gay-lick". It's "Gah-lick", people.

Got it? Good. *flashes an impish grin* And now...*pours endless Kaylee-wolf treats on Clayre*

Hugs,

Kaylee

[KayleeTonksLupin]

[quote author=KayleeTonksLupin link=board=romance&thread=1107800394&start=44#2 date=1110958675

Three things you never do around Scots.

1. Never refer to "Scotch" when thinking of "belonging or relating to Scotland" or "the people of Scotland". That would be "Scots." Scotch is a drink, plain and simple.

2. NEVER, but NEVER, call a kilt a SKIRT. And...

3. Never pronounce Gaelic "Gay-lick". It's "Gah-lick", people. [/quote]

Oh, before I forget...I know this because I LEARNED IT ALL THE HARD WAY!!!!! *biggrin* Haha!!!!

[Karlynne]

Just what I needed to read. I am really looking forward to the actual dance. Karlie

[Sola]

Wonderfull ;D...don't know what's Albus prob with the Kilt... ;D
Hehe...Can't wait for the feast to begin!

Anyway...Hope ya update soon...

Sola

[tayryn]

QuillofMinerva said:

Chapter Seven: Preparations

“I do hope you aren’t descent!” she said with a playful giggle.

“Naked as the day as I was born,” he answered.

hee!! i LOVED this part! that is just inspired, and i couldn't help but laugh out loud at that!

“Do you love and adore me?” she questioned.

and i couldn't help but have a Maggie, Murder by Death moment of deja-vous here! *g*

He looked at the kilt and thought that Minerva must be playing a joke on him. She had to be because she couldn’t expect him to wear a skirt.

hee! and i bet he has such cute knees too!!

wonderful update! can't wait to read them at the actual dance, and i hope Albus doesn't embarass himself too much!!

[Jaya]

Albus in a kilt... woohoo!!!!

Someone sent me a pic of Queen Elizabeth posing with a Scottish military unit in full military dress (kilts, of course...) The soldier sitting next to her hadn't draped his kilt properly and the picture showed an EYEFUL!

Wonder if Albus will get embarrassed the same way with the McGonagall clan....

I can only hope!!!

Jaya

[TheGryffindorSeeker]

Three things you never do around Scots.

1. Never refer to "Scotch" when thinking of "belonging or relating to Scotland" or "the people of Scotland". That would be "Scots." Scotch is a drink, plain and simple.

2. NEVER, but NEVER, call a kilt a SKIRT. And...

3. Never pronounce Gaelic "Gay-lick". It's "Gah-lick", people.

Yeah lol especially me being a Scot, but the Ceilidh's are great fun . Just as much fun as this fic. Amazing, so amazing,i can hardly wait for the next instalment already lol

[griseldalafey]

Oh poor Albus.... LOL!!!

Minerva has her ways of making him agree. *giggle*

Great update!

*off to change Sims!Albus outfit* ;D

[QuillofMinerva]

Ceilidh

A/N: This chapter is just a shortie. I apologize in advance. It leads up to the final two chapters so don’t be too angry with me. Thank you so much to all of you that took the time to review the last chapter. It means a great deal to me. Ang, thank you for being a great beta reader! Oh forgot to mention that in the previous chapter I couldn't resist using a line from the fab movie 'Murder by Death' starring the wonderful Maggie Smith.


Chapter Eight: Respect for Family Traditions.

Albus Dumbledore had been staring at the skirt of the last ten minutes. He had put the rest of the clothing on and stood wearing his bright yellow boxer shorts with purple ants scuttling across the yellow material. These particular boxer shorts had been a gift from Minerva one Christmas. She had always said that he had ants in his pants at Christmastime because he never sat still for very long. They were one of his favourite pairs and they went well with the cream Jacobean shirt she had given him to wear.

He prodded the kilt with his wand. Anyone watching this would have thought a dangerous snake had been placed on his bed instead of a kilt. How could Minerva expect him to wear that? She must be teasing him. She had to be teasing him. There was a knock at the door and Albus recognized the short, ryhmatic knocks as those belonging to Minerva. The door swung open and Minerva walked in wearing a tartan hand pleated skirt that reached down to her ankles. Draped over her right shoulder there was a matching tartan shawl. Albus looked closely at Minerva and saw that she was also wearing a black cashmere wrap around cardigan that had a small collar.

“You look stunning!” he told her, meaning every single word of it.

“Albus, this may seem like a strange question but why aren’t you wearing your kilt?” she asked as she eyed his appearance. “Aunt Constance would have a fit if she saw you in those boxers.”

Albus looked down at his feet and shuffled awkwardly. He hoped that she would have suggested another form of clothing to wear or better still, not noticed he wasn’t wearing the kilt.

“Sweetheart, I have been looking forward to this evening for a while now” he began softly. “I just can’t get my head around wearing a skirt!”

“Albus how can you expect me to take you seriously when you are telling me this while standing in your bright clashing boxer shorts?” she answered as she crossed her arms across her chest and fixed him with a stern glare. “It is a kilt not a skirt! They are totally different.”

“Will the men be wearing them?” asked Albus.

“Yes, it’s tradition!” she answered.

“Technically,” he replied “I don’t have to follow tradition since I am not a family member.”

Minerva’s nostrils flared and she unfolded her arms and folded them again. Albus could tell that his last comment had hurt her slightly but he was trying to save himself from wearing a glorified skirt.

“You are attending a family event,” she told him sternly. “There is a dress code and the code is there to be followed by one and all. Don’t I put on the Dumbledore family Christmas hat when I attend the Boxing Day party Aberforth arranges? I play the games you both think up without complaining. Do you know why I do that?”

Albus shook his head. He had started to feel like one of her students who had been caught not listening to her while she told the class about complex transfiguration spells.

“I do it because they are your family traditions,” she told him. “I respect them and I thought you might do the same for me. You don’t have to wear the kilt, Albus.”

“I don’t?” he said happily.

“No you don’t,” she answered as she made her way towards the door. “You don’t have to wear any of the clothing I gave you because I am going…ALONE!”

Minerva pulled back the door and stormed out through the opening. She didn’t even glance back to see the look of shock on Albus’ face. The door slammed violently behind her and Albus bit his lip. He had really done it this time.

To be continued

[DumbledoresKitten]

okay you are forgiven for the short chapter, if you forgive me for not reviewing. i thought i had *looks sheepish* lol
fab chapter! first of all albus is trying to get away with wearing the kilt w/boxers if he will wear them at all. and i loved the way Min handled him. GO MIN!!
hehe . . . brillant!
cat

[Karlynne]

I loved the boxers and the reference to having ants in yur pants. I think Albus is going to have to get over wearing a 'skirt'. Thanks for the update. Karlie

[KayleeTonksLupin]

ohhhh crap, Albus is in big trouble...Kaylee-wolf treats of course, but I'm afraid they're lime-flavored...Min's treatment of Albus has left me bitter, you see...*Kaylee-wolf chews tail nervously* You don't think she'll REALLY go without him?!

[Sola]

....ahh!...that was dumb, albus! realy dumb!!!

Hope he'll be able to apologise...how about a big declaration at the feast, huh?
...if Min'll realy go without him.....but she won't....will she?

Anyway....am absolutly hoping-for-good, till the next update...so...go! ;D

Sola

[Kamdra]

Albus is definitely in the doghouse. I hope he knows how to throw on a kilt and race after her.

[tabbylvr77]

OH NO!! Albus has really done it this time! I really love this story and can't wait to see what happens next!

Love, Rae ;D

[tayryn]

QuillofMinerva said:

Ceilidh

Albus Dumbledore...He had put the rest of the clothing on and stood wearing his bright yellow boxer shorts with purple ants scuttling across the yellow material.

what an image!!

*wonders if she could do a picture that shows that...*