Post by Karlynne on May 19, 2005 3:07:00 GMT -5
Dedicated to Meredith for being a light during my darkest days. Karlie
Title: My Dearest Friend
Rating: 23 years of age, no more, no less.
Summary: A story with Minerva and Albus
(Theme from THE GOLDEN GIRLS)
Thank you for being a friend,
Traveled down the road and back again.
Your heart is true; you're a pal and a confident.
And if you threw a party-,
invited everyone you knew-,
you would see the biggest gift would be from me
and the card attached would say,
Thank you for being a friend-.
Minerva walked slowly along the road to Hogsmeade. She had left the castle fifteen minutes ago and she was still making a slow trek to the village. Tomorrow was Albus’ birthday and she needed to purchase a gift for him. He had invited her to his birthday party two weeks ago, on the last day of the school term, and it had seemed so far in the distance and there was so much for her to do.
Blast Delores for having ministry officials attack her. She was still moving slowly and by the time she retired for the night, she would be sore and stiff. Albus had bewitched her walking stick to remain with her at all times. He wasn’t worried that Peeves would take off with it again. He was concerned that Minerva would smash it into firewood and burn it. She heartily hated using a cane. It made her feel old and decrepit and she was neither.
She didn’t take the time to shop at her leisure. Instead she hurried into Honeydukes and purchased a variety of Albus’ favorite treats before heading into Zonkos. The Weasley twins had owled her with the news that several of their pranks were available for purchase through Zonkos joke shop. She shook her head in wonder as she wandered the store perusing the shelves. Albus would spend hours in here if he could but she didn’t have time to spare. She selected several of the twin terrors’ pranks and headed to the last shop on her list.
She wanted to purchase Albus a new chain for his pocket watch. His old one had finally broken and no number of charms could repair it again. It had been fixed too many times and even magic eventually wore out.
She paused to look at the clock on her way out of the village. There were few people out shopping now that Voldemort’s return was known and accepted by all. Most wizards and witches shopped in the morning and rushed away. Minerva snorted. You would think you-know-who was known for strolling down Diagon Alley or taking a tour through Hogsmeade just before lunch each day.
She had just reached the road that led to the castle when she noticed the wind blowing in every direction. She stopped to survey the phenomena. She noticed the temperature was dropping steadily and she was only dressed in a light summer robe and sandals.
The first snowflakes fell in a swirling pattern and she shivered. She increased her pace as she hurried along the path. She was hobbling a bit and the warming charm she cast on herself didn’t seem very effective. Her fingers and toes were already turning blue.
She just reached the small fork in the road when she paused. Visibility was limited and she could barely make out the castle gates. If she walked in a direct line she would reach them safely but if she strayed she might end up skirting the forbidden forest.
So intent was her focus on the barely visible gates that she neglected to watch her feet. She tripped over several tree roots covered by snow and went sprawling face down on the road. She tried to rise but her leg was injured and she cried out in pain. She had dropped her wand and it was already covered by snow. She tried crawling on her hands and knees to search for it but without luck. She scooted on her bum to one of the trees dotting the edge of the path and sat with her back against it. Many members of the staff were out and about. One of them would pass this way but for the moment she needed to rest. The walk had taken more from her than she intended and she needed to catch her breath.
The cold air penetrated every opening and she pulled her knees up to her chest in order to shield her feet from the snow. Why was it snowing in June? Her eyelids grew heavy and she slowly drifted to sleep.
Albus Dumbledore kept walking to his office window and gazing out toward the school gates. The weird weather didn’t bother him. He remembered a similar snowstorm about ninety years ago even later in the year. No, he was worried about Minerva.
He had watched her leave and she told him she would only be gone an hour and a half. It had been three hours now. She would have owled him at the very least if she was going to be late. He was certain something was wrong. If the weather kept her in the village surely she would have flooed him.
He went to his rooms and pulled on a heavy cloak over his summer robe. He grabbed and shrank another cloak and stuffed it in his pocket. He would search for her and escort her to the castle.
He left the school at a swift pace. He charmed the snow from blowing in his face and lit a small fire in his hand to light his way. The fire did not give off heat but light for the sky was nearly as dark as night and visibility was poor.
He left the gate and took a few steps toward Hogsmeade. He stopped to holler Minerva’s name but there was no response. He took a few more steps and stopped to call again. He did this four times before he tripped.
The fire gave off just enough light for him to see Minerva’s lightly clad leg. He was beside her in seconds and took her by the shoulders and shook her. “Minerva!”
Her head snapped up and she looked around, her eyes wild.
“Tired,” she mumbled.
Albus took her chin between his fingers and pinched firmly. “It’s Albus, Minerva. Look at me.”
She pulled away, averting his face. “Go away. Want to sleep.”
It’s the cold, realized Albus. He had read stories of people, usually muggles, who had been out in the cold and let their core body temperature drop to perilous levels. He jumped up, stepped around behind Minerva, and dragged her to her feet. “Minerva, you’re cold. You’ve got to move around.”
“Not cold,” she muttered. “I’m finally warm. Leave me alone.”
He shook her again, rougher now. To his astonishment, she was instantly strong again. She whirled on him, her eyes blazing. “Go away!”
“No. You’ve got to walk, Minerva. Please. You can’t stop.”
She backed away with her hands up to ward him off. “Can’t go on. So tired.” She sank back to the ground and curled into a ball.
Fear gripped Albus. He had to get her moving. He lifted her none too softly and stood her on her feet. He missed Minerva’s move but he felt the slap across his cheek.
“Leave me alone!”
He placed a hand over his reddened cheek in shock. She raised her hand to strike again but Albus was ready this time. He sidestepped and caught her before she lost her balance.
Before she could raise her hand again he pulled her up against his chest and kissed her soundly. He released her to see fury in her eyes.
“What’s the matter, Minerva? Afraid I’ll steal more kisses?”
She lunged at him but he jumped back then laughed in her face. “Come on, Minerva. You’re very slow.”
The cold had numbed her legs and she couldn’t feel the pain from injuring it earlier. Screaming, she came for him, lumbering awkwardly in the snow. He kept dancing backwards. She chased after him until she could run no longer. She bent over, hands on her legs, breathing in great gulps of air.
Title: My Dearest Friend
Rating: 23 years of age, no more, no less.
Summary: A story with Minerva and Albus
(Theme from THE GOLDEN GIRLS)
Thank you for being a friend,
Traveled down the road and back again.
Your heart is true; you're a pal and a confident.
And if you threw a party-,
invited everyone you knew-,
you would see the biggest gift would be from me
and the card attached would say,
Thank you for being a friend-.
Minerva walked slowly along the road to Hogsmeade. She had left the castle fifteen minutes ago and she was still making a slow trek to the village. Tomorrow was Albus’ birthday and she needed to purchase a gift for him. He had invited her to his birthday party two weeks ago, on the last day of the school term, and it had seemed so far in the distance and there was so much for her to do.
Blast Delores for having ministry officials attack her. She was still moving slowly and by the time she retired for the night, she would be sore and stiff. Albus had bewitched her walking stick to remain with her at all times. He wasn’t worried that Peeves would take off with it again. He was concerned that Minerva would smash it into firewood and burn it. She heartily hated using a cane. It made her feel old and decrepit and she was neither.
She didn’t take the time to shop at her leisure. Instead she hurried into Honeydukes and purchased a variety of Albus’ favorite treats before heading into Zonkos. The Weasley twins had owled her with the news that several of their pranks were available for purchase through Zonkos joke shop. She shook her head in wonder as she wandered the store perusing the shelves. Albus would spend hours in here if he could but she didn’t have time to spare. She selected several of the twin terrors’ pranks and headed to the last shop on her list.
She wanted to purchase Albus a new chain for his pocket watch. His old one had finally broken and no number of charms could repair it again. It had been fixed too many times and even magic eventually wore out.
She paused to look at the clock on her way out of the village. There were few people out shopping now that Voldemort’s return was known and accepted by all. Most wizards and witches shopped in the morning and rushed away. Minerva snorted. You would think you-know-who was known for strolling down Diagon Alley or taking a tour through Hogsmeade just before lunch each day.
She had just reached the road that led to the castle when she noticed the wind blowing in every direction. She stopped to survey the phenomena. She noticed the temperature was dropping steadily and she was only dressed in a light summer robe and sandals.
The first snowflakes fell in a swirling pattern and she shivered. She increased her pace as she hurried along the path. She was hobbling a bit and the warming charm she cast on herself didn’t seem very effective. Her fingers and toes were already turning blue.
She just reached the small fork in the road when she paused. Visibility was limited and she could barely make out the castle gates. If she walked in a direct line she would reach them safely but if she strayed she might end up skirting the forbidden forest.
So intent was her focus on the barely visible gates that she neglected to watch her feet. She tripped over several tree roots covered by snow and went sprawling face down on the road. She tried to rise but her leg was injured and she cried out in pain. She had dropped her wand and it was already covered by snow. She tried crawling on her hands and knees to search for it but without luck. She scooted on her bum to one of the trees dotting the edge of the path and sat with her back against it. Many members of the staff were out and about. One of them would pass this way but for the moment she needed to rest. The walk had taken more from her than she intended and she needed to catch her breath.
The cold air penetrated every opening and she pulled her knees up to her chest in order to shield her feet from the snow. Why was it snowing in June? Her eyelids grew heavy and she slowly drifted to sleep.
Albus Dumbledore kept walking to his office window and gazing out toward the school gates. The weird weather didn’t bother him. He remembered a similar snowstorm about ninety years ago even later in the year. No, he was worried about Minerva.
He had watched her leave and she told him she would only be gone an hour and a half. It had been three hours now. She would have owled him at the very least if she was going to be late. He was certain something was wrong. If the weather kept her in the village surely she would have flooed him.
He went to his rooms and pulled on a heavy cloak over his summer robe. He grabbed and shrank another cloak and stuffed it in his pocket. He would search for her and escort her to the castle.
He left the school at a swift pace. He charmed the snow from blowing in his face and lit a small fire in his hand to light his way. The fire did not give off heat but light for the sky was nearly as dark as night and visibility was poor.
He left the gate and took a few steps toward Hogsmeade. He stopped to holler Minerva’s name but there was no response. He took a few more steps and stopped to call again. He did this four times before he tripped.
The fire gave off just enough light for him to see Minerva’s lightly clad leg. He was beside her in seconds and took her by the shoulders and shook her. “Minerva!”
Her head snapped up and she looked around, her eyes wild.
“Tired,” she mumbled.
Albus took her chin between his fingers and pinched firmly. “It’s Albus, Minerva. Look at me.”
She pulled away, averting his face. “Go away. Want to sleep.”
It’s the cold, realized Albus. He had read stories of people, usually muggles, who had been out in the cold and let their core body temperature drop to perilous levels. He jumped up, stepped around behind Minerva, and dragged her to her feet. “Minerva, you’re cold. You’ve got to move around.”
“Not cold,” she muttered. “I’m finally warm. Leave me alone.”
He shook her again, rougher now. To his astonishment, she was instantly strong again. She whirled on him, her eyes blazing. “Go away!”
“No. You’ve got to walk, Minerva. Please. You can’t stop.”
She backed away with her hands up to ward him off. “Can’t go on. So tired.” She sank back to the ground and curled into a ball.
Fear gripped Albus. He had to get her moving. He lifted her none too softly and stood her on her feet. He missed Minerva’s move but he felt the slap across his cheek.
“Leave me alone!”
He placed a hand over his reddened cheek in shock. She raised her hand to strike again but Albus was ready this time. He sidestepped and caught her before she lost her balance.
Before she could raise her hand again he pulled her up against his chest and kissed her soundly. He released her to see fury in her eyes.
“What’s the matter, Minerva? Afraid I’ll steal more kisses?”
She lunged at him but he jumped back then laughed in her face. “Come on, Minerva. You’re very slow.”
The cold had numbed her legs and she couldn’t feel the pain from injuring it earlier. Screaming, she came for him, lumbering awkwardly in the snow. He kept dancing backwards. She chased after him until she could run no longer. She bent over, hands on her legs, breathing in great gulps of air.
Great fic
Karmin
