Post by nemi on Apr 29, 2006 8:11:06 GMT -5
I had to type this in WordPad before posting as Word was playing up... ugh.
I don't want to give the rest of the content away but what happens seemed very Albus-like... it was inspired by a letter someone sent into a magazine I once read and thought was very cute.
Title: That's How Much
Rating: PG/K+
Summary: Albus employs an unusual McGonagall family tradition to tell Minerva how much he loves her... and it's one that appeals to him as well!
~~~~~~~~~~
"Albus, I'd love to, but I - "
"I'm not accepting any excuses," Albus said sternly, although the twinkle in his eye was there. "It's the summer holidays and Voldemort is dead. We need to celebrate. You have the whole holiday to plan your lessons for next year, and you didn't set any homework this term! Please, Minerva, come to England and stay with me. If it's too bad you can leave after a week, but you're welcome for the entire summer if you like it. Please just give it a chance."
Minerva sighed. "I suppose, Albus. Can I bring my work?"
Albus smiled. "Okay. But I don't want you working yourself silly. It's the holidays and I plan to teach you how to celebrate them in style."
"Now shoo," Minerva said teasingly, "if you want me to pack."
Obligingly, Albus kissed her hand and left. If he had looked back before shutting the door behind him, he would have seen Minerva shiver - and it wasn't with the cold: on the contrary, the room was quite stuffy.
The headmaster had been attempting to persuade his deputy to join him at his summer cottage in Dover ever since the war with Voldemort ended three weeks ago. She had been reluctant, but it wasn't because she didn't want to go. She wanted nothing more than to spend their first completely free summer with the man she loved.
Yes, she loved Albus Dumbledore. But she tried to kid herself that she was hesitating because she didn't want to be distracted from her workload. And yet she hadn't had the heart to give the students any homework because of the joyous occasion, and she was so adept at writing lesson plans that they only took her five days - at the most.
Minerva had dearly wanted to jump up and say yes to his invitation, but she didn't want to build up any hopes while staying at Albus' cottage. She had long since abandoned the notion that he might love her in return. She had no insecurities as a teacher, or as a friend, but when it came to being a woman Minerva was incredibly self-conscious, and only she, and her best friend Poppy Pomfrey, knew it. She knew it would be sunny in Dover, although she had not actually been there (and had also not actually stayed in England for a long period of time), and there would be no option involving her usual school robes for two hot months; that would just be silly. She had never spent an entire summer with Albus before, they had only met up frequently and she had always managed to get away with travelling robes, but now it seemed she had no choice.
She sighed and made her way into her bedroom to locate her trunk. The students were gone; they would be leaving in three days. It was time to get ready.
~~~~~
Three weeks had past since Minerva's reluctant acceptance of Albus' proposal, and the two of them were having the time of their lives. They had been into town where Albus had helped Minerva buy souvenirs for her family - in particular her sister and her children - and Poppy, but most of their time had been spent either in the house chatting or out and about in the countryside near the house.
Albus' only problem was the fact that Minerva wouldn't wear anything other than loose, high-necked summer dresses. He knew she had other clothes, but since she didn't appear too hot he didn't know how to say anything without rousing suspicion. He had wanted to tell her he loved her ever since she had stormed five minutes late into his first Transfiguration lesson, outraged that her favourite professor had left and had been replaced. He had fallen in love with her feisty yet shy demeanour instantly; it had just taken him a few years to realise it.
The headmaster's lucky break came while Minerva was sitting, curled up in what she had claimed as her favourite armchair, reading a letter from her sister, Diana. Albus, reading a Muggle novel opposite her, heard the soft musical laugh that was loved by the few friends and family that heard it, and absolutely cherished by him. He loved hearing her laugh.
"What's funny, my dear?" he inquired.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with mirth, and indicated the letter. "Katherine has been up to mischief again," she smiled, Katherine being her eight-year-old niece. "Here, I'll read it to you. 'Katherine told her friend Alexandra about the sugar custom and Alexandra told a boy in their class, James, who has what the Muggles call a 'crush' on Katherine. The next day, James presented Katherine with about ten sugar cubes and asked Katherine if she would be his girlfriend. It's sweet that such an important custom can be taken so lightly and yet so adorably.' Young children, they've always made me smile," she added, although her voice became slightly sadder as she said this.
Albus was confused. "What is this sugar custom?" he asked, with a puzzled frown.
Minerva blushed. "Oh, it's just a family tradition," she explained dismissively. "In our family, it is traditional for a person to give an amount of sugar to someone to express their love for them. If someone in the family starts showing romantic interest in someone, or vice versa, someone else in the family tells the person about the sugar custom - so if it's the family member that is interested in the other person, he or she can give them sugar cubes and they will understand, and if it's the other way round, the person can present the sugar cubes and the family member will know they really are attracted to them, because the sugar custom has always been important. People give sugar cubes, packets of sugar... and it's used for when you're really in love. Diana was saying that poor James is so innocent and yet it was a really sweet thing to do."
Albus couldn't believe it, but he didn't show his glee. He merely nodded with a smile and they both continued reading.
~~~~~
The next day, Albus awoke at eight o'clock, rather than the usual holiday eleven. He dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and comfortable sandals, and shortened his beard, before tapping lightly on the door of Minerva's bedroom. Despite being summer, and despite their friendship and the fact that they would be staying (or so he presumed) in the cottage for the whole holiday, Minerva still wore a dressing gown when she came down to breakfast, so, although it saddened him, he supposed he had better just knock.
Sure enough, a few seconds later Minerva opened the door sleepily, dressed in her tartan dressing gown. And yet she still looked beautiful, Albus thought. Due to the high temperature Minerva hadn't let her hair down, but it was only clamped up and there were sections hanging down at the front, framing her face. She looked so different. Albus just wished Ron Weasley could see.
Now was the first time Albus had actually seen her hair down. It fell down to her waist in lovely cascading waves, and he had to tear his eyes away after what felt like a decade of staring, and stop himself running his hands through it. "I have a plan for today," Albus said cheerfully. "I thought we'd go for a walk, and then come back and have a late breakfast. It's only half an hour to where I want to go, and we can take snacks."
Minerva smiled. "That sounds nice," she agreed. "Shall I get dressed?"
"Yes," he said, more quickly than he would have liked. "And, it's rather hot today." Indeed, as though the sun was on his side, the temperature was the hottest it had been all summer and Albus felt warm even standing in the cottage. "You might want to dress lightly... Do you have one of those... what do the Muggle women call them? I can't remember the name, but the dresses with the thin straps. And sandals."
Surprisingly, Minerva looked quite embarrassed. "Well, yes," she said meekly. "But... my scars, Albus," she whispered.
Albus could have pulled the house down in fury, but instead he just placed a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes. "Minerva," he said softly, "your scars only show how brave and wonderful you are. You shouldn't let them or that stupid woman upset you. You're perfect, and being brave only makes you even more perfect. And I'm sure they're hardly noticeable." He smiled. "I'll wait in the kitchen."
Again he should have turned around as he left. If he had, he would have seen one small tear of half-sorrow and half-joy make its way down Minerva's cheek as she gripped her shoulder with her hand, not wanting to let go.
~~~~~
"Albus?" Minerva called hesitantly from the doorway. "Are you ready?"
Looking up from where he was selecting apples, Albus nearly dropped the fruit bowl, and this time, he couldn't stop himself staring. Minerva was wearing a fitted, low-necked light green dress and looked positively stunning. The colour looked wonderful against her pale skin - the pale skin that, insufferably, never burned, but never tanned either, and retained its creamy quality. But what amazed Albus most was the fact that Minerva had managed to hide such an attractive figure right under his nose for over fifty years. She was slender and yet curvy, with quite wide hips and a narrow waist, giving her an hourglass shape.
Albus, entranced, didn't have a clue what scars she had been going on about. He was too occupied staring at her breasts, which were another thing he would have found almost impossible to hide from him, as well as the ever-inquisitive students.
"Um, Albus?" she asked shyly. "Do I look alright?"
Shaking himself from his reverie rather reluctantly, Albus crossed the room in a few big strides and stood a couple of paces in front of her, smiling. "No," he whispered. "You look lovely." She blushed and he offered her an apple. "For the journey," he said. "Come on then, let's go."
They left the house and Albus locked the door - even though Muggles couldn't see the house - and they made their way down the garden path and out into the quiet country lane. Minerva quietly munched on her apple, subconsciously following Albus' lead, until she finished it and threw it with a laugh towards some birds that were nestled in a hedge.
It was only as she turned her head slightly that she realised Albus was holding her hand. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks and she looked up at him as he smiled slightly. The corners of her lips curved upwards just a little and she turned to look at the floor, amazed.
They walked along the road for about another ten minutes before Albus led her over a stile and across a field. She wondered what on earth he wanted to show her, and was even more surprised when she found herself facing a high wall.
"Albus," she said slowly, "is this what you wanted to show me?"
Albus laughed. "No, it's over the other side. We need to sit on the wall; there are steps of sort going three quarters of the way up."
Nervous, she climbed up the rock staircase that someone had obviously made a long time ago. She was going to try and pull herself up onto the top of the wall but she felt a pair of strong arms around her and seconds later she was lifted gracefully onto the stone.
Minerva really didn't understand what was going on. Why was Albus acting so strange? She watched as he leapt up to sit beside her, with amazing reflexes that she would not have thought possible.
"Look," he said simply.
She looked, and her eyes widened. There was a huge building right below them, with the wall a lot higher on this side. After a few minutes of watching people moving around, the realisation hit her. "It's a sugar factory!" she exclaimed.
"Yes," Albus said with a smile, "and that's how much I love you."
Minerva turned sharply and looked at him incredulously, her cheeks turning pink and tears springing to her eyes. She was absolutely astounded. "Albus... I..." She shook her head and laughed, speechless, before reaching across for a kiss. "That was a beautiful thing to do," she said breathlessly when they pulled away. "I didn't think you'd ever... Merlin, I've loved you since fifth year."
"That's a relief," Albus replied, the twinkle in his eyes brighter than ever.
"Can we take this somewhere else?" she whispered.
He nodded and helped her down from the wall, and they walked, arm in arm, back to the house - stopping only for kisses.
"I know one thing," Albus said as they opened the door.
"What's that?" Minerva asked as she slammed it shut and dragged him into his bedroom.
"We're not going to need that spare room any more."
She laughed warmly and kissed him.
"Except maybe for new arrivals," he added with a wink.
~~~~~
"Hermione, you didn't need to write to Dumbledore. Why are you fretting so much over the lack of a reply?" Ron Weasley grumbled to his pregnant soon-to-be wife. He had proposed shortly after graduation and conceived their child a day after that. Hermione was now just over a month pregnant and using that as an excuse to shout at Ron in public (and just in public).
"Ronald! I need advice on a career! And what to do about having a career and a baby! I need to know if I can work at home anywhere It was two weeks ago I sent that letter..."
"Mione, I've got a career," Ron protested, insulted.
"But still! We want to tell Dumbledore the news, anyway. Why hasn't he responded?" she groaned.
Harry looked up from where he and Ginny were searching through a catalogue of properties on sale. "Perhaps he's busy," he suggested.
"Busy? What d'you mean busy?" Hermione shrieked.
"Well, you know, people are busy sometimes, when we mail them," Ginny shrugged. "Like, perhaps, doing work, or out on vacation. We've had to wait for replies from you, haven't we, Harry?"
Ron and Hermione gaped, not realising how right Harry and Ginny were. Albus Dumbledore was indeed very busy.
I don't want to give the rest of the content away but what happens seemed very Albus-like... it was inspired by a letter someone sent into a magazine I once read and thought was very cute.
Title: That's How Much
Rating: PG/K+
Summary: Albus employs an unusual McGonagall family tradition to tell Minerva how much he loves her... and it's one that appeals to him as well!
~~~~~~~~~~
"Albus, I'd love to, but I - "
"I'm not accepting any excuses," Albus said sternly, although the twinkle in his eye was there. "It's the summer holidays and Voldemort is dead. We need to celebrate. You have the whole holiday to plan your lessons for next year, and you didn't set any homework this term! Please, Minerva, come to England and stay with me. If it's too bad you can leave after a week, but you're welcome for the entire summer if you like it. Please just give it a chance."
Minerva sighed. "I suppose, Albus. Can I bring my work?"
Albus smiled. "Okay. But I don't want you working yourself silly. It's the holidays and I plan to teach you how to celebrate them in style."
"Now shoo," Minerva said teasingly, "if you want me to pack."
Obligingly, Albus kissed her hand and left. If he had looked back before shutting the door behind him, he would have seen Minerva shiver - and it wasn't with the cold: on the contrary, the room was quite stuffy.
The headmaster had been attempting to persuade his deputy to join him at his summer cottage in Dover ever since the war with Voldemort ended three weeks ago. She had been reluctant, but it wasn't because she didn't want to go. She wanted nothing more than to spend their first completely free summer with the man she loved.
Yes, she loved Albus Dumbledore. But she tried to kid herself that she was hesitating because she didn't want to be distracted from her workload. And yet she hadn't had the heart to give the students any homework because of the joyous occasion, and she was so adept at writing lesson plans that they only took her five days - at the most.
Minerva had dearly wanted to jump up and say yes to his invitation, but she didn't want to build up any hopes while staying at Albus' cottage. She had long since abandoned the notion that he might love her in return. She had no insecurities as a teacher, or as a friend, but when it came to being a woman Minerva was incredibly self-conscious, and only she, and her best friend Poppy Pomfrey, knew it. She knew it would be sunny in Dover, although she had not actually been there (and had also not actually stayed in England for a long period of time), and there would be no option involving her usual school robes for two hot months; that would just be silly. She had never spent an entire summer with Albus before, they had only met up frequently and she had always managed to get away with travelling robes, but now it seemed she had no choice.
She sighed and made her way into her bedroom to locate her trunk. The students were gone; they would be leaving in three days. It was time to get ready.
~~~~~
Three weeks had past since Minerva's reluctant acceptance of Albus' proposal, and the two of them were having the time of their lives. They had been into town where Albus had helped Minerva buy souvenirs for her family - in particular her sister and her children - and Poppy, but most of their time had been spent either in the house chatting or out and about in the countryside near the house.
Albus' only problem was the fact that Minerva wouldn't wear anything other than loose, high-necked summer dresses. He knew she had other clothes, but since she didn't appear too hot he didn't know how to say anything without rousing suspicion. He had wanted to tell her he loved her ever since she had stormed five minutes late into his first Transfiguration lesson, outraged that her favourite professor had left and had been replaced. He had fallen in love with her feisty yet shy demeanour instantly; it had just taken him a few years to realise it.
The headmaster's lucky break came while Minerva was sitting, curled up in what she had claimed as her favourite armchair, reading a letter from her sister, Diana. Albus, reading a Muggle novel opposite her, heard the soft musical laugh that was loved by the few friends and family that heard it, and absolutely cherished by him. He loved hearing her laugh.
"What's funny, my dear?" he inquired.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with mirth, and indicated the letter. "Katherine has been up to mischief again," she smiled, Katherine being her eight-year-old niece. "Here, I'll read it to you. 'Katherine told her friend Alexandra about the sugar custom and Alexandra told a boy in their class, James, who has what the Muggles call a 'crush' on Katherine. The next day, James presented Katherine with about ten sugar cubes and asked Katherine if she would be his girlfriend. It's sweet that such an important custom can be taken so lightly and yet so adorably.' Young children, they've always made me smile," she added, although her voice became slightly sadder as she said this.
Albus was confused. "What is this sugar custom?" he asked, with a puzzled frown.
Minerva blushed. "Oh, it's just a family tradition," she explained dismissively. "In our family, it is traditional for a person to give an amount of sugar to someone to express their love for them. If someone in the family starts showing romantic interest in someone, or vice versa, someone else in the family tells the person about the sugar custom - so if it's the family member that is interested in the other person, he or she can give them sugar cubes and they will understand, and if it's the other way round, the person can present the sugar cubes and the family member will know they really are attracted to them, because the sugar custom has always been important. People give sugar cubes, packets of sugar... and it's used for when you're really in love. Diana was saying that poor James is so innocent and yet it was a really sweet thing to do."
Albus couldn't believe it, but he didn't show his glee. He merely nodded with a smile and they both continued reading.
~~~~~
The next day, Albus awoke at eight o'clock, rather than the usual holiday eleven. He dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and comfortable sandals, and shortened his beard, before tapping lightly on the door of Minerva's bedroom. Despite being summer, and despite their friendship and the fact that they would be staying (or so he presumed) in the cottage for the whole holiday, Minerva still wore a dressing gown when she came down to breakfast, so, although it saddened him, he supposed he had better just knock.
Sure enough, a few seconds later Minerva opened the door sleepily, dressed in her tartan dressing gown. And yet she still looked beautiful, Albus thought. Due to the high temperature Minerva hadn't let her hair down, but it was only clamped up and there were sections hanging down at the front, framing her face. She looked so different. Albus just wished Ron Weasley could see.
Now was the first time Albus had actually seen her hair down. It fell down to her waist in lovely cascading waves, and he had to tear his eyes away after what felt like a decade of staring, and stop himself running his hands through it. "I have a plan for today," Albus said cheerfully. "I thought we'd go for a walk, and then come back and have a late breakfast. It's only half an hour to where I want to go, and we can take snacks."
Minerva smiled. "That sounds nice," she agreed. "Shall I get dressed?"
"Yes," he said, more quickly than he would have liked. "And, it's rather hot today." Indeed, as though the sun was on his side, the temperature was the hottest it had been all summer and Albus felt warm even standing in the cottage. "You might want to dress lightly... Do you have one of those... what do the Muggle women call them? I can't remember the name, but the dresses with the thin straps. And sandals."
Surprisingly, Minerva looked quite embarrassed. "Well, yes," she said meekly. "But... my scars, Albus," she whispered.
Albus could have pulled the house down in fury, but instead he just placed a hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes. "Minerva," he said softly, "your scars only show how brave and wonderful you are. You shouldn't let them or that stupid woman upset you. You're perfect, and being brave only makes you even more perfect. And I'm sure they're hardly noticeable." He smiled. "I'll wait in the kitchen."
Again he should have turned around as he left. If he had, he would have seen one small tear of half-sorrow and half-joy make its way down Minerva's cheek as she gripped her shoulder with her hand, not wanting to let go.
~~~~~
"Albus?" Minerva called hesitantly from the doorway. "Are you ready?"
Looking up from where he was selecting apples, Albus nearly dropped the fruit bowl, and this time, he couldn't stop himself staring. Minerva was wearing a fitted, low-necked light green dress and looked positively stunning. The colour looked wonderful against her pale skin - the pale skin that, insufferably, never burned, but never tanned either, and retained its creamy quality. But what amazed Albus most was the fact that Minerva had managed to hide such an attractive figure right under his nose for over fifty years. She was slender and yet curvy, with quite wide hips and a narrow waist, giving her an hourglass shape.
Albus, entranced, didn't have a clue what scars she had been going on about. He was too occupied staring at her breasts, which were another thing he would have found almost impossible to hide from him, as well as the ever-inquisitive students.
"Um, Albus?" she asked shyly. "Do I look alright?"
Shaking himself from his reverie rather reluctantly, Albus crossed the room in a few big strides and stood a couple of paces in front of her, smiling. "No," he whispered. "You look lovely." She blushed and he offered her an apple. "For the journey," he said. "Come on then, let's go."
They left the house and Albus locked the door - even though Muggles couldn't see the house - and they made their way down the garden path and out into the quiet country lane. Minerva quietly munched on her apple, subconsciously following Albus' lead, until she finished it and threw it with a laugh towards some birds that were nestled in a hedge.
It was only as she turned her head slightly that she realised Albus was holding her hand. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks and she looked up at him as he smiled slightly. The corners of her lips curved upwards just a little and she turned to look at the floor, amazed.
They walked along the road for about another ten minutes before Albus led her over a stile and across a field. She wondered what on earth he wanted to show her, and was even more surprised when she found herself facing a high wall.
"Albus," she said slowly, "is this what you wanted to show me?"
Albus laughed. "No, it's over the other side. We need to sit on the wall; there are steps of sort going three quarters of the way up."
Nervous, she climbed up the rock staircase that someone had obviously made a long time ago. She was going to try and pull herself up onto the top of the wall but she felt a pair of strong arms around her and seconds later she was lifted gracefully onto the stone.
Minerva really didn't understand what was going on. Why was Albus acting so strange? She watched as he leapt up to sit beside her, with amazing reflexes that she would not have thought possible.
"Look," he said simply.
She looked, and her eyes widened. There was a huge building right below them, with the wall a lot higher on this side. After a few minutes of watching people moving around, the realisation hit her. "It's a sugar factory!" she exclaimed.
"Yes," Albus said with a smile, "and that's how much I love you."
Minerva turned sharply and looked at him incredulously, her cheeks turning pink and tears springing to her eyes. She was absolutely astounded. "Albus... I..." She shook her head and laughed, speechless, before reaching across for a kiss. "That was a beautiful thing to do," she said breathlessly when they pulled away. "I didn't think you'd ever... Merlin, I've loved you since fifth year."
"That's a relief," Albus replied, the twinkle in his eyes brighter than ever.
"Can we take this somewhere else?" she whispered.
He nodded and helped her down from the wall, and they walked, arm in arm, back to the house - stopping only for kisses.
"I know one thing," Albus said as they opened the door.
"What's that?" Minerva asked as she slammed it shut and dragged him into his bedroom.
"We're not going to need that spare room any more."
She laughed warmly and kissed him.
"Except maybe for new arrivals," he added with a wink.
~~~~~
"Hermione, you didn't need to write to Dumbledore. Why are you fretting so much over the lack of a reply?" Ron Weasley grumbled to his pregnant soon-to-be wife. He had proposed shortly after graduation and conceived their child a day after that. Hermione was now just over a month pregnant and using that as an excuse to shout at Ron in public (and just in public).
"Ronald! I need advice on a career! And what to do about having a career and a baby! I need to know if I can work at home anywhere It was two weeks ago I sent that letter..."
"Mione, I've got a career," Ron protested, insulted.
"But still! We want to tell Dumbledore the news, anyway. Why hasn't he responded?" she groaned.
Harry looked up from where he and Ginny were searching through a catalogue of properties on sale. "Perhaps he's busy," he suggested.
"Busy? What d'you mean busy?" Hermione shrieked.
"Well, you know, people are busy sometimes, when we mail them," Ginny shrugged. "Like, perhaps, doing work, or out on vacation. We've had to wait for replies from you, haven't we, Harry?"
Ron and Hermione gaped, not realising how right Harry and Ginny were. Albus Dumbledore was indeed very busy.
. 
