Post by ginger newts on Feb 17, 2005 21:19:20 GMT -5
Here's the rest of my challenge response (Run Away Dog on the challenge board) as promised. (Oh, and the title is supposed to be a rip off of that song Summer of '69...which I believe belongs to Brian Adams.)
Summer of '48
The next morning Minerva woke with a smile, she couldn’t wait to see Albus again. She bathed quickly and then spent a while staring at her clothes trying to decide what to wear. Minerva had never owned a lot of Muggle clothes, but had purchased some more for her stay in London, knowing she would be out and about Muggle neighborhoods. Finally, she decided on a red dress with a scoop neck and a narrow skirt. She slipped into matching shoes and a jacket and headed out. Not feeling very comfortable with the buses or The Underground, Minerva decided to take a taxi to the museum.
Albus was waiting for her outside the small tea shop, looking very handsome in a light summer suit. He smiled when he saw Minerva step out of the cab and walked forward to meet her.
“You look wonderful this morning,” he said in greeting.
“Thank you, you look very nice yourself,” she replied.
“Shall we have a cup of tea before the museum?” Albus offered. “We can sit out here on the sidewalk and watch the people go by.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Minerva answered. “I love to just watch people pass, sometimes you hear some very interesting conversations as well.”
“You’re not nosy are you?” he teased.
“Well, curiosity killed the cat you know,” she joked, before realizing he might not understand her meaning.
“Ah, so you are the Miss Minerva McGonagall that showed up on the registry a couple of years ago,” Albus said, eyes twinkling. “You’ll have to demonstrate your skill for me sometime...out of range of the dog of course.”
Minerva laughed, “Definitely not in front of the dog.”
They shared a nice cup of tea, watching people walk by on the sidewalk and talking about whatever came to mind. Minerva couldn’t help but marvel at how easy Albus was to get along with and how comfortable she was with him after only a day. It usually took her a long time to get to know people, but she felt as though she had known Albus for years. He had a way of setting her at ease, just a look from him was somehow calming. After tea, they took their time exploring the museum’s exhibits and then had a late lunch.
“I really should get back and let the dog out,” Minerva said reluctantly as they paid their lunch bill.
“I’d be happy to help you walk him again,” Albus offered.
Minerva smiled, “Actually, I thought I’d cheat and just let him out in the garden for a bit. Besides,” she ventured, “I don’t want to monopolize your whole day. You must have other things to do?”
“None that come to mind,” he answered casually.
“No big dates tonight?” she teased.
“What? Oh, you mean last night?” Albus laughed. “That wasn’t a date, I had dinner with an old friend and his wife. I try to keep my schedule pretty open in the summers and since I’ve met you I’m very glad of that.”
Minerva blushed. “Well in that case I’d love to have your help with the dog. I’m not sure he likes me very much, actually, but he seemed to take to you.”
“He can probably tell that you’re nervous around him,” Albus said.
Albus showed Minerva how to use the tube to get to and from Holland Park and she was both amazed at how fast it was and annoyed by the crowds. They took the dog for a long walk and then dropped him off at home before going around the corner to the pub for a quick dinner. Minerva couldn’t remember ever laughing so much in one day or enjoying one person’s company as much as she did Albus’. It had been a wonderful day and she fell asleep quickly with a happy smile, thinking about the plans they had made for the next day.
The next two weeks passed in much the same manner. Albus and Minerva visited museums, the Tower, Westminster, St. Paul’s, and took several day trips outside London to visit other places Minerva had never been. They ate dinner out almost every evening and went to the cinema twice. Albus was very familiar with Muggle London and enjoyed showing Minerva all of his favorite haunts. She also enjoyed having someone so knowledgeable to introduce her to the city and had a good time just being with Albus no matter what they did. Some nights they just stayed in, at either Albus’ flat or Rebecca’s house.
It was during one of their nights at home early in the third week that the conversation turned to Minerva leaving soon.
“When I first got here, I thought I was going to hate London, but meeting you has made this the most enjoyable summer of my life. I wish I didn’t have to leave in a few days,” she said.
Albus turned on the couch to face her. “Do you have to go back right away?” he asked quietly.
“Well, my courses don’t start again until mid-September, but Rebecca and Gregory are coming home and I don’t want to stay with them,” she answered, slightly confused but also hopeful.
“What would you say if I asked you to stay here, with me, until I have to go back to school in four weeks?” he offered.
Minerva studied her hands, which were folded in her lap, before looking back up at Albus. “What are your intentions?” she asked softly.
“Nothing dishonorable, I promise you,” he answered quickly. “I’ve grown to care for you very much these last few weeks and I would like very much to get to know you better, but if you want to remain just friends then I will respect that.”
“I would also like to get to know you better,” she said, “and I would love to stay with you. Thank you so much.”
“No, my dear, thank you,” Albus countered. He reached out and cupped her cheek in his palm, brushing his thumb lightly over her cheekbone. “Minerva?” he asked very quietly.
In response she smiled and nodded almost imperceptibly. Albus closed the distance between them and pressed his lips gently to hers. The kiss was over before Minerva had a chance to respond, but Albus didn’t back away from her, so she quickly initiated a second kiss. That kiss led to a third and a fourth and then they both lost count. After a while, they broke apart and Minerva rested her head against Albus’ chest while he played with her hair. She woke up in a panic a few hours later, bolting up right on the couch and looking around wildly before remembering what had happened before. Albus opened one eye slowly and then sat up beside her.
“Are you alright?” he asked with concern.
Minerva took a deep breath and released it before answering. “I’m fine, I just woke up and didn’t know where I was right away.”
Albus looked around the darkened room and checked his pocket watch. “It’s two o’clock,” he told her. “We must have fallen asleep.”
“Apparently,” she answered dryly.
“Are you always this sarcastic when you wake up in the middle of the night?” he teased, pulling her back into his arms and settling down on the couch.
“I don’t know,” she answered. “I guess you’ll have to wake me up at two a.m. more often.”
Albus chuckled, “I think that can be arranged.”
Minerva swatted him on the chest playfully and then lifted her head enough to kiss him lightly before snuggling into his embrace and falling asleep again.
to be continued...
Summer of '48
The next morning Minerva woke with a smile, she couldn’t wait to see Albus again. She bathed quickly and then spent a while staring at her clothes trying to decide what to wear. Minerva had never owned a lot of Muggle clothes, but had purchased some more for her stay in London, knowing she would be out and about Muggle neighborhoods. Finally, she decided on a red dress with a scoop neck and a narrow skirt. She slipped into matching shoes and a jacket and headed out. Not feeling very comfortable with the buses or The Underground, Minerva decided to take a taxi to the museum.
Albus was waiting for her outside the small tea shop, looking very handsome in a light summer suit. He smiled when he saw Minerva step out of the cab and walked forward to meet her.
“You look wonderful this morning,” he said in greeting.
“Thank you, you look very nice yourself,” she replied.
“Shall we have a cup of tea before the museum?” Albus offered. “We can sit out here on the sidewalk and watch the people go by.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Minerva answered. “I love to just watch people pass, sometimes you hear some very interesting conversations as well.”
“You’re not nosy are you?” he teased.
“Well, curiosity killed the cat you know,” she joked, before realizing he might not understand her meaning.
“Ah, so you are the Miss Minerva McGonagall that showed up on the registry a couple of years ago,” Albus said, eyes twinkling. “You’ll have to demonstrate your skill for me sometime...out of range of the dog of course.”
Minerva laughed, “Definitely not in front of the dog.”
They shared a nice cup of tea, watching people walk by on the sidewalk and talking about whatever came to mind. Minerva couldn’t help but marvel at how easy Albus was to get along with and how comfortable she was with him after only a day. It usually took her a long time to get to know people, but she felt as though she had known Albus for years. He had a way of setting her at ease, just a look from him was somehow calming. After tea, they took their time exploring the museum’s exhibits and then had a late lunch.
“I really should get back and let the dog out,” Minerva said reluctantly as they paid their lunch bill.
“I’d be happy to help you walk him again,” Albus offered.
Minerva smiled, “Actually, I thought I’d cheat and just let him out in the garden for a bit. Besides,” she ventured, “I don’t want to monopolize your whole day. You must have other things to do?”
“None that come to mind,” he answered casually.
“No big dates tonight?” she teased.
“What? Oh, you mean last night?” Albus laughed. “That wasn’t a date, I had dinner with an old friend and his wife. I try to keep my schedule pretty open in the summers and since I’ve met you I’m very glad of that.”
Minerva blushed. “Well in that case I’d love to have your help with the dog. I’m not sure he likes me very much, actually, but he seemed to take to you.”
“He can probably tell that you’re nervous around him,” Albus said.
Albus showed Minerva how to use the tube to get to and from Holland Park and she was both amazed at how fast it was and annoyed by the crowds. They took the dog for a long walk and then dropped him off at home before going around the corner to the pub for a quick dinner. Minerva couldn’t remember ever laughing so much in one day or enjoying one person’s company as much as she did Albus’. It had been a wonderful day and she fell asleep quickly with a happy smile, thinking about the plans they had made for the next day.
The next two weeks passed in much the same manner. Albus and Minerva visited museums, the Tower, Westminster, St. Paul’s, and took several day trips outside London to visit other places Minerva had never been. They ate dinner out almost every evening and went to the cinema twice. Albus was very familiar with Muggle London and enjoyed showing Minerva all of his favorite haunts. She also enjoyed having someone so knowledgeable to introduce her to the city and had a good time just being with Albus no matter what they did. Some nights they just stayed in, at either Albus’ flat or Rebecca’s house.
It was during one of their nights at home early in the third week that the conversation turned to Minerva leaving soon.
“When I first got here, I thought I was going to hate London, but meeting you has made this the most enjoyable summer of my life. I wish I didn’t have to leave in a few days,” she said.
Albus turned on the couch to face her. “Do you have to go back right away?” he asked quietly.
“Well, my courses don’t start again until mid-September, but Rebecca and Gregory are coming home and I don’t want to stay with them,” she answered, slightly confused but also hopeful.
“What would you say if I asked you to stay here, with me, until I have to go back to school in four weeks?” he offered.
Minerva studied her hands, which were folded in her lap, before looking back up at Albus. “What are your intentions?” she asked softly.
“Nothing dishonorable, I promise you,” he answered quickly. “I’ve grown to care for you very much these last few weeks and I would like very much to get to know you better, but if you want to remain just friends then I will respect that.”
“I would also like to get to know you better,” she said, “and I would love to stay with you. Thank you so much.”
“No, my dear, thank you,” Albus countered. He reached out and cupped her cheek in his palm, brushing his thumb lightly over her cheekbone. “Minerva?” he asked very quietly.
In response she smiled and nodded almost imperceptibly. Albus closed the distance between them and pressed his lips gently to hers. The kiss was over before Minerva had a chance to respond, but Albus didn’t back away from her, so she quickly initiated a second kiss. That kiss led to a third and a fourth and then they both lost count. After a while, they broke apart and Minerva rested her head against Albus’ chest while he played with her hair. She woke up in a panic a few hours later, bolting up right on the couch and looking around wildly before remembering what had happened before. Albus opened one eye slowly and then sat up beside her.
“Are you alright?” he asked with concern.
Minerva took a deep breath and released it before answering. “I’m fine, I just woke up and didn’t know where I was right away.”
Albus looked around the darkened room and checked his pocket watch. “It’s two o’clock,” he told her. “We must have fallen asleep.”
“Apparently,” she answered dryly.
“Are you always this sarcastic when you wake up in the middle of the night?” he teased, pulling her back into his arms and settling down on the couch.
“I don’t know,” she answered. “I guess you’ll have to wake me up at two a.m. more often.”
Albus chuckled, “I think that can be arranged.”
Minerva swatted him on the chest playfully and then lifted her head enough to kiss him lightly before snuggling into his embrace and falling asleep again.
to be continued...
Kassie
