Fire

[tanja]

touching chapter, really.

[Miss Q]

This story is lovely! I look forward to read more!

M

[Kimberly]

so Albus is already worried that he is fighting a lost cause. I think he should just snog her senseless now. Kim

[Kacie]

It brought tears to my eyes when she found something. I know how awfulit is to lose everything in a fire.

[ginger newts]

That was a very sweet chapter. Really touching. I'm interested in this curse/prophecy that has Albus so worried. I hope you'll update again soon.

[Kegan]

I think this has the makings of a romantic story. I was hoping something fluffy could be found but this will do nicely. How many chapters are there?

[Kerin]

I almost missed the update but I'm glad I took a look. Maybe you can update before you go? Not that I'm pushing you or anything.

[TheGryffindorSeeker]

wow can't wait for more. this is really interesting, update soon Great fic

[Kamdra]

I delayed dinner because I couldn't wait to read this update. I hope Minerva convinces him that divination is a crock.

[Karlynne]

Chapter Three

Their first week together passed slowly. Albus spent the entire day away from home working on various projects and avoiding the flat. Minerva spent her days discussing building plans and looking at fabric samples. She would return to the flat late at night and bone weary but as soon as she crossed the threshold she was aware of his presence.

The air crackled with tension and Minerva found the air thick with sexual nervousness. Neither ate their meals at home because both were afraid to spend too much time together. Minerva wasn’t aware that Albus watched her from the corner of his eye. He was equally blind to her awareness of him.

Minerva would settle on one section of the sofa and read while Albus would sit at the opposite end and write letters. Conversation was brief and when the clock finally chimed eleven, both would rise and say goodnight with relief.

Albus rewarded himself with several lemon drops each night before falling asleep. He considered it a success to have survived another evening without taking her in his arms and making love to her.

Tonight was different. Albus had several sheets of parchment spread across the kitchen table and he remained there for some time while Minerva read. The fiery appearance of an adult phoenix startled her.

Beady eyes looked through her and the magical bird cocked his head to one side as he studied Minerva. She froze while he examined her and softly smiled. His trill was loud but melodious. Albus appeared within seconds.

“Fawkes!”

Minerva watched as the phoenix flew over to Albus and rubbed his head against Albus’. Man and bird communed for several minutes and Minerva was astounded at the gentle words Albus spoke.

“Is he yours?” she asked.

“I am his,” Albus responded. “He owns me body and soul but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Albus offered the bird a lemon drop. Fawkes chirped once and took the treat in his beak. In a flash he disappeared and reappeared at Minerva’s side. He dropped the treat in her lap and squawked at Albus.

“Forgive me, Minerva. Fawkes is scolding me for my poor manners.” Albus offered the bird another lemon drop and smiled when he grabbed it in his beak.

“He’s wonderful,” admired Minerva. Fawkes cooed and turned his head from side to side. “How often does he come?”

“He’s a free spirit but he comes when I need him. We understand each other.”

Minerva nodded but she was hardly listening. Fawkes was moving closer to her and ducked his head so she could pet him. He was warm beneath her fingers and she stroked him lightly. “You are beautiful,” she whispered in awe.

Fawkes trilled in agreement and disappeared in a circle of flames. He did not reappear.

“Phoenixes are very rare and bond with only the most trustworthy of humans,” Minerva eyed him critically.

Albus blushed but he nodded. “Phoenixes admire loyalty and courage. Fawkes was certainly impressed with you.”

Minerva felt herself flushing with pleasure. She rose quickly and turned to leave. It was early but the room seemed cramped now and she was very aware that Albus was a very virile man.

“I think I’ll call it a night a little early…” she began as she moved toward the stairs. She tripped and began to fall when his arms came out and caught her. His hand brushed against the swell of her breast as he did so.

Albus forced himself to release her and stepped back. She stared up at him, eyes gleaming and her perfect mouth trembling slightly.

“So clumsy of me,” she muttered.

He stared at her mouth. He needed to say something but no words came forth. He needed to tell her to stay away. He had to protect her from the Dumbledore curse. The words stuck in his throat like dry cotton.

His fingers still tingled from where he’d touched the small slope of her breasts and his body shook with powerful need. He couldn’t turn his face away from her lovely upturned face. He simply stared, swallowing hard. He didn’t understand what drew him to her but it was something powerful. He wanted to hold her again, to feel her softness crushed against him. The need was great and all of his hard won victories of the past week faded away. He reached out and touched her silky hair.

“Albus, what are you doing?” she asked, her breath was a soft whisper as his lips moved closer to hers.

“I’m making the biggest mistake of my life,” he answered then his mouth brushed over hers.

Nothing could have shocked Minerva more. Albus pulled her up against him and brought his lips down, taking her in a dreamy kiss that belied every single fantasy she’d ever had.

She fell into his kiss like a thirsty woman given a tall, cool drink. She imbibed heartily, kissing him back, pressing her lips against his with equal passion and desire. Feeling his heat, the gentle yet commanding way he possessed her, went beyond anything Minerva might have imagined. In her heart she had known Albus could turn her inside out.

Albus toyed with Minerva’s hair, stroking the strands and then taking a fistful. The playful tug then release triggered rippling waves of electricity to course throughout her body and a soft moan tumbled from her lips.

Albus wedged his body closer, tightening the gap, meshing fully against her as he continued to kiss her. He coaxed her lips open, and when their tongues mated she braced herself against the onslaught of his passion, the erotic joining being almost too much to bear. A completely male sound escaped his throat and Minerva was lost.

Moonlight beamed down in soft rays. Minerva lifted her arms up grazing Albus’ shoulder, her fingers dipping into the auburn locks of hair at the base of his neck. He smiled into her mouth, obviously pleased with her response, and slanted his mouth once again to take her in another long deep kiss.

Minerva breathed in his scent, a completely unique smell associated with lemon drops and something male. Too soon Albus pulled away and they stood there, eyes locked while their breathing returned to normal.

Albus appeared shaken. Several expressions crossed his features and Minerva wondered what was going on behind his face. Moments ticked by and then Albus finally broke the silence.

“That was entirely my fault.”

[Aurinko]

Yeah, it was, but it was so good! Glad that he finally got around to it. Enjoying the story and the idea very much. Can't wait to hear the details of this "Dumbledore curse." Sounds very...interesting (and highly original!).

[Jessabelle]

Excellent post! .. What is going on with this Dumbledore Curse? Can't wait for more .. please post again soon!

[Karmin]

Oh Man! I Want to be kissed like that!

[Lady Lavendar]

Aaawww that was so nice! i can't wait to see another update!

LL

[tayryn]

*fans self*

Damn! that was a great chapter.

LOVE the kiss!! i mean... wow!

loved the part with Fawkes... i like that bird!

and this truly was an evil place to stop! i am so proud! *G*

looking forward to more!

[Jaya]

HuH???

Geez!!!

And you people tell me that I'm bad with cliffhangers!?!?

Grrr...

Thanks for the update... Looking forward to the next one...

Jaya ;D

[Hogwarts Duo]

Okay...it's hot enough here in the deep South without scorching kisses like that! But don't let that stop you from posting the next bit as soon as possible. I'm ready for another heat wave in SC!

[Sensiblyquirky]

Wow what a kiss! Thanks for the speedy update, and I'm anxious for more.

Christy

[Kerin]

I am almost certain Karlie did not stop the story there and we are seeing a little bit of posting skills via Kandie. It was a great kiss but I would love to read more.

[Miss Q]

Wow..... But this story really needs to continue soon.... Anyhow, it's a wonderful story!

M

[JKMcGonagall]

The Dumbledore Curse. I want to know what it is. Curiosity is killing me. I love this story. Please, update soon, that was and evil place to end it.

Kay

[Kimberly]

I loved that kiss! I need more! Update soon!

[Kacie]

Please post more soon!

[Kandice]

It's the middle of the night but I wasn't sure when I could update again so here's another. Also I didn't want to admit that I misplaced chapter five somewhere. Kandie

[Karlynne]

Chapter Four

Minerva crossed her arms over her middle and stood her ground. In the past she may not have had an abundance of experience with men but she had excellent female intuition and Albus Dumbledore was not getting away with this. He wanted her. And he wasn’t so dense as to see that she wanted him back.

What they shared tonight was something short of heaven. Minerva hadn’t felt anything like this before and she wasn’t about to let Albus deny it.

“It didn’t feel like a mistake,” she commented.

Albus’ head snapped up. “Well it was.”

“Are you saying you didn’t want to kiss me?”

He sighed. “Minerva.”

She looked up at him. “I liked it in case you didn’t notice.”

He swallowed, his gaze locking onto her lips. “I noticed.”

Albus Dumbledore had turned her life upside down and she needed to know how he felt inside. She needed to hear the words. She smiled and spoke softly, taking a brief glance below his waist. “And I noticed how much you liked it.”

Albus’ eyebrows shot up. She was certainly surprising.

“Yes, it was rather…pleasant and did … effect me.” He took a step back. “We have to respect the boundaries…and keep our distance.”

“Is that what you called that kiss? Were we keeping our distance or respecting the boundaries?” Minerva lifted her head high and thrust out her chin.

Albus stared down at her mouth, her kissable mouth. “I’m taking all the blame. It was a wonderful kiss but it was wrong.”

Minerva waited.

Albus shifted on his feet. “I wanted to kiss you since I saw you in Armando’s office last spring.”

Minerva’s heart lurched. She hadn’t expected to hear him admit anything of the sort. All this time he had been aloof and detached.

“But it isn’t right. I need you to understand, Minerva. I’m not the man for you.” His tone was soft and regretful but the words cut through her heart. She turned and ran up the stairs before he could see her tears.

She closed the door and lay on her bed. She felt empty, naked even. She knew it was simply the vulnerability of having no home, no family, and no one to love that made her feel this way.

Instinctively Minerva fingered the charm around her neck. She had Godric. Her precious heirloom brought her a good measure of comfort. She had plenty to be thankful for. She didn’t regret kissing Albus. In fact, it answered several questions for her.

She glanced around her room. She had a comfortable bed with a thick hand-quilted comforter. Her meager belongings were housed in a lovely carved oak armoire that stood against one wall. She was already beginning to feel at home.

In so many ways, Albus Dumbledore was a mystery to her. He was an unreadable man that rarely let his guard down, and rarely let anyone inside. He had given her a taste of that in his kiss. She knew he wanted her to forget about the kiss but she couldn’t and wouldn’t and he would rue the day if he ever succeeded in doing so.

It went without saying that he would revert to the distant man she had known when she first arrived but she wouldn’t keep her distance. However business-like their relationship would become, she would let him know just what he was missing, each and every day.

Minerva removed her robes and crawled under the covers. She still needed to buy a nightgown and she was too tired to transfigure one. She closed her eyes and slept.

Sunlight beamed in bright and warm through the shuttered window and Minerva was reminded that she needed to wake and start her day. She tossed off the covers and stretched. She donned her dressing gown and headed straight for the bathroom. She pushed open the door and stopped dead in her tracks.

Albus stood in front of the mirror with a washcloth in one hand and a bar of soap in the other. He was dressed in a towel that had been carelessly wrapped around his waist. Fresh lime permeated the air, the soapy clean scent appealing to all of her female senses.

“Oh, sorry.”

Albus glanced her way briefly and turned back to the mirror. He had risen early every morning in order to be out of the bathroom before Minerva woke but this morning he had overslept. He had tossed half the night wondering how they would get back on a more formal footing and the other half had been spent reliving the kiss.

Minerva was prepared to bolt but she stood there when he didn’t respond. She looked at him. He looked tired. She fought to direct her gaze away from the wide expanse of Albus’ solid chest. She battled with her mind to adjust her focus from the tiny hairs curling around his nipples, leading down his torso in a narrow path that flowed beneath the towel.

“I overslept. I’ll be out shortly.”

“No problem, Albus,” she assured him. She stood there watching him stare at his face in the mirror.

He sighed. “About last night…”

With a tilt of her head, Minerva finished his thought. “It was a mistake.”

His head snapped up and his blue eyes studied her for a moment. “I think its best that we move forward and forget…”

“It’s already done, Albus. It’s forgotten.” She smiled brightly at him. “I’m sure you won’t do it again.” She gave another quick smile and turned away. “Just call when you’re finished in the bath.”

He watched her go with a swing to her hips. His body reacted and he realized she probably wore little if anything beneath her dressing gown.

Minerva returned to her bedroom and sat on her bed. She heard the sound of water running in the shower and couldn’t block out the image of one naked Deputy Headmaster soaping up in a steamy hot shower.

Heart pounding, she rose and closed her bedroom door then leaned heavily against it. “Oh Minerva, you are such a liar. You are never going to forget that kiss and you aren’t going to let him forget it either.”

[QuillofMinerva]

Oh wow...firstly I didnt review the kiss chapter so I am now....boy, was that one hell of a kiss!

Now for this chapter: I am liking the fact that Minerva plans to show Albus what he is missing and I couldnt forget a kiss like that either.

Roll on with the next chapter

[Adrasteia]

I can't wait to see what Minerva is up to.
Albus is going to have a hard time, that's for sure ;D.
This is really a beautiful story and I hope the next part will be up soon.

[Hogwarts Duo]

Hmmm, a scheming Minerva. I really like that idea! Albus won't know what hit him when she starts the subtle seduction....wheeeee!

[angeldust]

that was one hell of a kiss!!!! Naughty Minerva lets hope she gets her way ;D and what is the curse!!!!!!!!

[Kimberly]

Minerva does seem determined ;D and its nice that she isn't letting things get her down.