An Answer To My Dreams

[dianahawthorne]

Aw, this chapter was so adorable, and I can't wait for the next one! Great job, as always!

[minervasong]

Goodness, last night I read this, and I didn't take notes since I was so tired... However, I'll compliment you two as best as I possibly can...

Oh, that was such a cute chapter. I loved the idea that Minerva's parents jumped to conclusions yet again when Albus came from the same corridor as Minerva's bedroom... Ah, priceless. ;D

I love the descriptions of their feelings... They're just so vivid. (and so wonderfully indicative!) I cannot wait until the next...

~MinervaSong

[Hogwarts Duo]

Chapter Six

“May I have your attention, please?” Headmaster Dippet rose from his chair at the High Table. “I have a special announcement to make.”

Albus Dumbledore placed his spoon back into his soup bowl. Dinner that evening was as sumptuous as usual, but Albus found he could only stomach some fresh bread and soup. His nerves were keeping him from the delicious-looking roast, but he found he didn’t mind in the least, for the announcement that was about to be made was far more important than missing out on a favored dish.

He knew, of course, what was about to be said, as he had discussed it at length with Headmaster Dippet earlier in the day. And he had also attended the staff meeting in the afternoon where the same words had been spoken, but with perhaps a more personal tone. Still, he found his anticipation had not diminished in the least. All of his hard work, his dedication, and his love for Hogwarts were about to be rewarded, and he couldn’t be more pleased. His only hope, and the reason for his nerves, was that the sea of faces before him took the news well, and was in fact pleased by the announcement. The students were what mattered, after all.

“As most of you are aware, my health has been in decline over the past year, and it is apparent that my illness is progressing at a faster pace than anticipated.”

Albus looked around and saw some shock, but also nods or whispered agreements at the various House tables. It was no secret that Armando was very sick. He’d never hidden the fact from anyone, and his growing lack of attendance at meals and Quidditch matches had been noticed. In fact, Albus had seen looks of surprise on some of the students’ faces when he had taken his seat at dinner this evening.

“Therefore, while I will still officially retire at the end of the year as planned, the Board of Governors and I have decided to go ahead and name my successor.”

This brought out lots of whispering and pointed looks at Albus, but they were short-lived since Armando had continued to speak.

“My successor is a wizard of the greatest integrity, an individual whose love of this school and whose vision of progress in our curriculum and methods has kept us at the forefront of wizarding education. May I present the next Headmaster of Hogwarts, our very own and beloved Professor Albus Dumbledore.”

Albus stood as a deafening chorus of applause, shouts and whistles swept over him. He looked around at the smiling faces and felt his heart clench in his chest. He fought down the sudden onslaught of tears in his eyes as he smiled back at the students who dominated his life. This outpouring of support was more than he had hoped for, and though there were a few who did not seem pleased, overall the children before him were obviously delighted with the choice which had been made.

It was a couple of hours later, after his speech to the students and his acceptance of personal congratulations from many, particularly in his own House, that he finally found himself alone in his rooms. The warm glow which had accompanied him ever since the announcement was still strongly present, causing him to suddenly grin for no reason, and to burst out into a bout of whistling as he finished grading some sixth-year essays.

It was during the reading of a particularly poorly researched parchment that his mind turned to a certain witch who would be starting her career at Hogwarts very soon. Albus decided that it was under no fault of his own that any time he saw a rose, or heard the beautiful flower mentioned in conversation, that his thoughts traveled to her. And as this student decided to use roses as an example of what she was trying to explain, it was only natural that he should become distracted, as he had over the several days that had passed since he saw Minerva. Of course, it was more than just roses which would turn his thoughts. The littlest thing would do it of late, and when the regular owl post had come yesterday morning and he’d thought of nothing but seeing if there was a letter from her in his pile, he knew he was in deep, perhaps too deep.

Now, with the announcement of him becoming the next Headmaster about to make the front page of the Daily Prophet, a known fact since he had given an interview that morning, he wondered what Minerva would think. He had prepared a note to send her, a personal version for her to read since they were friends, but he had hesitated to send it. He reasoned to himself that since he would see her the next evening for dinner, it seemed a bit much to send a letter as well. Officially, he wasn’t allowed to say anything until tomorrow, but he had owled his brother, Aberforth, and his good friends, the Flamels. Still, dinner was long after she would read the paper, and he wasn’t sure that was how he would like her to hear the news.

Thoughts of their upcoming dinner caused the warm glow inside him to expand and intensify. He had read her letter to him, thanking him and asking if he would like to get together, countless times. He had responded almost immediately, more than happy to continue their friendship and hopefully help it to grow. And while he couldn’t think of any loose ends that needed tying, he figured that at the very least she might have questions, and that was a very good reason to meet, and dinner was a much nicer setting than his office.

He looked over at the letter he had composed to her, which lay on the corner of his desk. Surely sending Minerva a letter, one of only three, about an event which would be one of the most important in his life, would not be too forward, or be a sign of his growing affection. He was to be her boss after all, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to become attached to her. Besides, their age difference was so great that she would not feel the pull to become romantically involved with him. After a moment more of hesitation, in which, to no avail, he tried to discern his motives, he called to Fawkes, who was quite happily napping on his stand.

“Please take this to Minerva McGonagall,” Albus asked politely, always aware that the phoenix was with him by his own choice.

The rare bird looked a bit put out, but took the letter after Albus had offered him a treat for making the trip. He disappeared and Albus sighed, his feelings still torn. When had things become so complicated? And how was he going to manage once she was actually living at Hogwarts? For no matter how hard he tried, his feelings seemed to take no heed of the limitations his head was trying to put on his heart. He had a feeling his life would never be the same now that he had met Minerva McGonagall.

Meanwhile, ever since Minerva had received a reply letter from Albus regarding dinner plans, she had been nervous. This was all so new to her in some respects, though the idea of sharing a meal with someone not related to her was not. But every time she let her thoughts drift towards the few times she’d seen Albus Dumbledore recently, a swarm of butterflies began to flutter about in her stomach. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt such awareness of her feelings regarding someone, even when she’d dated Michael for two years. No, he’d never inspired such feelings of excitement and anticipation within her, perhaps one more reason she was thankful they had parted ways.

No, Albus was different. They’d hardly spent time together, yet she felt as though she could truly relax and be herself around him. That was something to be especially thankful for, and he seemed to truly value her thoughts and opinions. Not many wizards put much stock into the opinions of witches, no matter how skilled and accomplished they happened to be. Yet, he was different. Every time he looked at her, it was with sincerity and warmth, a twinkle in his eyes, a true interest in what she had to say. Perhaps that was why she found herself having such a hard time trying to decide on dinner.

She had said this outing would be her treat and she meant it. She wanted to do something nice for him, something special, and she’d already invited him to lunch. That had been a truly wonderful day, though it had been interrupted by her enthusiastic parents. Minerva smiled as she remembered the looks on her parents’ faces upon seeing Albus returning from the hallway leading to her bedroom. Oh, what they must have thought upon seeing him initially! And Albus, he had been just wonderful about the entire thing. She was lost deep in the memory of his flushed face when she was startled from her thoughts by a burst of flames in front of her wistful eyes.

Fawkes could see that the witch before him seemed a bit surprised and panicky with his sudden appearance in her sitting room. Silly human, he mused to himself, though there was something about this particular witch that caused him to soften towards her quickly. Hoping to make amends for his abrupt arrival, he began to sing a song softly as he offered her the letter he’d been asked to deliver.

Minerva felt very reassured once the magnificent creature in front of her began to sing. She recognized him as a phoenix, though she’d never seen one in person. Tentatively, she accepted the letter, and all her worries were immediately forgotten as she recognized the seal upon the parchment. It’s from Albus…a letter from Albus, she sighed softly. Sitting back on her sofa, she offered Fawkes a biscuit, which he gratefully accepted. As he nibbled on the treat beside her, she opened the note and began to read.

Dearest Minerva,

I hope this letter finds you well and happy. I am very much looking forward to our dinner tomorrow evening, but I’m afraid I have some news which could not wait.

This evening at dinner, Headmaster Dippet made a formal announcement that I am to succeed him as the new Headmaster at the end of the year. There will, of course, be an article in the Daily Prophet, but I wished you to know of the happy event from me and not the papers. I wanted you to share in my happiness. I am not officially supposed to say anything until tomorrow, but I took the liberty of writing three letters, one to my brother, one to the Flamels, and one to you.

Again, I am very much looking forward to seeing you tomorrow evening for dinner. I believe we are to meet at six o’clock, but if there is any change, please let me know and I will alter my schedule accordingly.

Yours truly,
Albus

P.S. I suppose you have met Fawkes, my familiar. I do hope he didn’t cause you any distress with his sudden appearance. He is rather particular about his friendships so please don’t take it personally if he delivered the letter and then disappeared as quickly as he arrived.

Minerva read the last bit of the letter and laughed softly. “He seems to think you would drop your letter and leave,” Minerva said softly to Fawkes as she stroked the top of his head. “Perhaps I should give him a few insights about his familiar, let him know that you’re quite sociable.” She smiled and offered him a grape, then another, as he gobbled down the treats.

Minerva had read about phoenixes. They were rare magical creatures and said to be incredibly particular where witches and wizards were concerned. She felt a surge of pride fill her heart as the red and gold plumed bird took pleasure in her company, singing her soft notes from time to time. I’ll definitely have to tell Albus about this. I wonder if you’re this friendly with all the witches with an interest in your wizard.

As if sensing her thoughts, Fawkes nipped lightly at her finger, then turned his back to her, in a huff.

“Oh I am sorry. I didn’t mean any offense. I simply thought that, well, he is a handsome wizard and no doubt he has lots of offers from witches wishing to spend time with him. I assumed he had to send lots of letters to them. I am honored, though, that he would send me one of three letters, including me with his family,” she explained softly. “Fawkes, I must admit that I am very taken with your wizard. I didn’t expect anything like this, but, well, he’s all I seem to think about these days. Silly, isn’t it …thinking someone my age and with little experience could even dare to dream of meaning something more than a friend to him. Still, his friendship is important, and I look forward to growing closer to him.”

He looked back at the pretty witch, speaking so softly and honestly to him, like he was one of her kind and she trusted him. He hopped over to her and bumped his head against hers, then looked down at her letter, as if trying to tell her something. She picked up the letter and read it again quickly. I wished you to know of the happy event from me and not the papers. I wanted you to share in my happiness.

Without second guessing her decision, Minerva dropped to her knees in front of the fireplace, and with one look back at Fawkes, who seemed to know of and approve of her intentions, she threw a pinch of Floo powder into the grate and called out to Albus Dumbledore.

Albus was packing up his essays, though he wasn’t nearly done with them. His thoughts had been too preoccupied with Minerva and what she might think of his letter for him to concentrate fully on what he was reading. Fawkes hadn’t returned, though it wasn’t unlike him to take a night flight or visit his brother or even the Flamels from time to time. Still, it would have been nice to at least know that his letter had arrived safely, though of that he had no doubts.

“Albus Dumbledore,” the soft voice had spoken as his fireplace erupted in green flames.

Albus dashed over to the fireplace, his essays landing carelessly on the small table. He dropped to his knees and smiled broadly at the beautiful witch in front of him. “Minerva, such a pleasure to see you. I trust you are well.” His heart was beating wildly in his chest, something he wasn’t accustomed to these days, but a feeling one never forgets.

“I’m very well, thank you. I wanted to thank you for your lovely letter and to congratulate you on being named the new Headmaster. It’s such an honor, and I have no doubts that you will do wonderful things! I’m very much looking forward to working closely with you as a colleague and as the new Headmaster.”

Albus was thankful she couldn’t properly see his cheeks, for they were warm and no doubt taking on a pinkish hue. “Thank you very much. That means a great deal coming from you. I ... I hope it wasn’t presumptuous of me to send you that letter this evening. I didn’t want you to read about it in the paper tomorrow. I wanted to be the one to tell you,” he finished softly.

“And I’m very glad you did. I am flattered that you would think of me when thinking of your family, and I promise you that your announcement is safe with me,” she said with a wink. “As for dinner tomorrow night, I do hope you’ll still have time to spare for me. I’m sure once the announcement is made your schedule will become quite full and I will understand …”

“Nonsense, my dear. I made plans to dine with a very lovely witch tomorrow, and I fully intend to honor those plans. I have been looking forward to dinner since we settled on a date.” Albus couldn’t believe his words were flowing so easily. There was something about Minerva that put him at ease, made him want to share things with her, made him want to be more of himself and to enjoy being in her company. “Besides, I will always have time for you. I feel I can be myself in your company, and I do enjoy your company as well.”

Now, it was Minerva’s turn to blush. “I feel the same way, Albus. And I am very much looking forward to dinner as well, though now my plans for our evening will have to change.”

“What? Why?” he asked, before giving her a chance to fully explain.

She smiled and wished she could reach through the fire and touch his arm in a calming gesture. The look of panic that crossed his face was both amusing and unsettling to Minerva, to think he would be so nervous. “I didn’t mean that in a bad way. I had thought we might go somewhere nearby, somewhere quaint but with good food. Now that I’ll be dining with the man who will be on the front page of the Daily Prophet … and who will also be the new Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry … well, that calls for a celebration. And a celebration, though nice in a local establishment, should be something special, something memorable.” She smiled and gave him a wink. “You just leave everything to me. Unless I owl you back, we’ll still plan to meet at six tomorrow evening. I have an idea for a celebratory dinner for you!”

“You needn’t go to all that trouble just for me. I wouldn’t mind dining somewhere locally or in a sandwich shop.” And honestly, he wouldn’t have minded if they stayed at her flat and ate soup and sandwiches. What truly mattered to him was spending a quiet evening in her company without being bombarded at every turn with well-wishers.

“Just leave everything to me, all right? Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Fawkes is still here with me. We’ve been eating biscuits and grapes. I hope that was suitable for a phoenix.” Her smile was infectious, and soon he was nodding his head, agreeing to whatever she said as he promised to meet her the following evening.

As the green flames died, Albus sat back and grinned from ear to ear. Sending her the letter had been a good idea, a very good idea indeed. And Fawkes was still with her. That was a peculiarity indeed. He rarely tarried around unfamiliar people, though there must be something about Minerva McGonagall he liked, aside from the grapes and biscuits. Albus chuckled. Maybe he wasn’t the only male in the family who was smitten with the beautiful green-eyed witch.

Minerva had waited until Fawkes had taken his leave before she began to fret about the dinner with Albus set for tomorrow. She had claimed that she had an idea for a celebration, but, in all honesty, she had too many ideas and wasn’t at all sure which one would be appropriate.

“Whatever am I going to do?” she said aloud.

Things tended to look better with a hot cup of tea in one’s hands, so Minerva headed to her kitchen to start brewing her favorite blend. The spicy aroma soon wafted to her from her favorite cup, and in a moment of weakness, a few ginger newts joined the cup of tea on a tray that she hovered over to the table closest to the fireplace. It was time to decide what to do.

She started with one of the first ideas she had which was to invite Aberforth Dumbledore and the Flamels. It was supposed to be a celebration after all, but she wasn’t really sure how to locate them on such short notice. They were obviously important to him, as he had sent them letters once he’d received the news. She ignored the flush of pleasure that came with the thought that he had sent her one as well and of what that might possibly mean. That would get her nowhere with her planning, and she certainly did not want to foster false hope. With a huff, she refocused her mind and thought more on the idea as she sipped at her tea and took a bite of one of her biscuits. After only a few minutes, the unease she felt at the idea, and the complications it produced, had her dismissing it. It was originally supposed to be a dinner for just the two of them, and she’d like to keep it that way.

She moved on to other options and the easiest came to mind – make a reservation at one of the nicer establishments in Diagon Alley, or that little place in Hogsmeade which had become popular. However, with Albus being on the front page of the paper tomorrow, they would probably not get a moment to themselves. She was sure they would be bombarded with well-wishers, and perhaps even those who wanted to discuss the announcement in depth. Minerva frowned, and she placed her teacup back on the tray. Again, she came back to wanting to have dinner with just the two of them. It was then that she realized just how important being alone with Albus, and having his complete attention, was to her.

Minerva stood and walked to the window, her eyes unconsciously seeking the rose bushes in the dark. She wasn’t exactly sure how this had happened. How had she fallen so hard for someone in so short a time? And more importantly, what was she going to do about it? She could keep it, this desire for him that while perhaps wasn’t love, certainly had the possibility to develop quickly into it, inside and hope that it buried itself, or possibly even died as she got to know him better. They could become and stay the greatest of friends with time, but perhaps she could find some odd quirks about him that would put her off this silly notion of romance with Albus Dumbledore. But even as she thought it, she knew it would never happen.

An odd idea began to form and take shape in her mind. Her heart rejoiced with the notion, but her practical side was desperately shouting that she had gone barmy. Maybe she could woo Albus, make him see her as more than a former student or new colleague. No matter how she tried to deny it, or explain it away, the fact that he sent her a letter instead of letting her find out with everyone else about his new appointment as the next Headmaster in the Prophet meant that she had to mean something to him even now, even if it was simply as a friend. And friendship could turn into more under the right circumstances.

She laughed aloud and shook her head. It wasn’t as if this would be at all complicated. Here she was contemplating wooing Albus Dumbledore, the famous Albus Dumbledore who had defeated Grindelwald, who had discovered the twelve uses of dragon’s blood, who was utterly brilliant and engaging, and who was probably the most eligible bachelor in the wizarding world, not to mention that he was going to be her new boss in such a short time. However, he was still just a man, and one she couldn’t help picturing sitting in the chair opposite her as they played chess, fiercely concentrating on which move he next wanted to make while giving her a sly smile that had warmed her heart.

Her decision obviously made for her, Minerva found her planning to be all the more complicated. How did one go about wooing a wizard? She certainly didn’t have any experience with it and she couldn’t say that she knew anyone else who did either, not that she wanted to let anyone know of her plans just yet. Obviously, she should lean toward the romantic. But did that mean a candlelight dinner for two, with flowers and perhaps chocolates? Well, she was sure Albus would appreciate chocolates, but maybe she’d save flowers for later. And where could she book a dinner for two where interruptions wouldn’t be a foregone conclusion?

Minerva pondered her situation for nearly thirty minutes before the perfect idea came to her. She had dismissed picnics, or any other outdoor dining, due to the cold weather, though it was the sort of thing she thoroughly enjoyed and thought Albus would enjoy as well. Thinking of nature, and the lovely scenery it tended to offer a couple on a date, had her thinking of her cousin. And that had led her to her final plan.

Her cousin, Cameron Ian Stewart McGonagall, had been a nightmare when Minerva was a child. They were five years apart, Cameron being older, and he had tried desperately, at least it seemed so to Minerva at the time, to make her life as difficult as possible. Looking back, she realized he was only being a typical boy; however, spiders in one’s bed, taffy in her hair, being thrown in the loch, and many other scenes too numerous to list had made her quite unfriendly towards him when she was young. When they had gotten a bit older, her dislike had turned to fondness, and he had in turn been sweet, sticking to more good-natured teasing. He often referred to her as his favorite cousin, and with the McGonagall clan, that was saying quite a bit.

It had been a while since Minerva had seen Cameron, but they owled frequently. He owned the fastest growing magical horticultural company in the world. It wasn’t the largest, but it did grow rare and specialized plants. She remembered the first time she had visited. He had located it on some rolling hills, well away from any form of civilization. She had gone with him by Side-along Apparition, since he had wanted her to get a proper view, as he had called it. Of course you could Floo in as well, but that would land you in a sitting room, which didn’t provide nearly as spectacular a view.

The green hills had been the perfect backdrop for the large number of greenhouses, which tended to blend in with the countryside due to some well-placed charms. The structure that stood out among all the others was the central building where the offices were located. The front section was completely made of glass, spelled with anti-breaking charms of course, with just the very back composed in brick. It was architecturally gorgeous, and Minerva had discovered later that another cousin of theirs had designed it.

Stepping inside, Minerva had gasped in surprise and pleasure. She had walked in and found herself on a path which wove through a grassy, flower laden field. The walls appeared as the edge of a forest all around, and above, the ceiling reflected a sunny sky. Only the front doors behind her gave evidence that she was inside a building.

As she studied the scenery even more, she discovered a small pond off to one side, where some ducks were splashing around and a couple of frogs rested on lily pads. Cameron, delighted by her compliments, explained that most of the scenery was created using well-placed charms, but some of it was real, like the grass, flowers, and water. He also went on to tell her how most of the flowers which grew in this area could be used in basic household potions, and that on the other side was an herb garden for cooking. It was an employee perk that they could pick and use anything in the front section as long as it was for personal use.

She smiled as she recalled how Cameron had gone on to show her every nook and cranny of his business, delighted that someone would listen to every detail he wanted to share. She took another bite of a ginger newt as she also took the time to remember other visits where she had met various members of his staff, all of whom seemed to be very friendly and knowledgeable. It was Minerva’s continued interest in his business that had led to one of his confessions after a family gathering where the two of them had wandered off from everyone else.

He had confided to Minerva that he had taken quite a few dates to his offices, setting up a pseudo-picnic in the front grassy area– after hours of course–and they had all worked out splendidly. At the time, Minerva had been taken aback, but now that she thought on it, it seemed like the perfect place for dinner with Albus. The scenery would be beautiful, the temperature ideal, and she was sure she could convince Mazie, her parents’ house-elf, to prepare dinner. And seeing as how Cameron owed her a few favors, well, she didn’t see how he could refuse her request, even on such short notice. Happy that she had a plan for tomorrow, Minerva headed to bed to get a good night’s rest.

A/N: Thanks, once again, for all the lovely comments and reviews for the story. In the next chapter, we’ll see what happens on the date, and just how quickly our lovebirds fall head over heels. Tee hee. Until then …

[dianahawthorne]

Ooh, that sounds like such a lovely spot! I wish it really existed. Great job, as always, and I can't wait for the next chapter!

[sherbetkitty]

wow...
I love the picture you painted there...
I'm so looking forward to how they're going to spend their next date!
Man... excitement oozing everywhere! lol

[micha]

Oh, I want to be Albus.....
I love and visit Botanical Gardens and especially the Greenhouses wherever I get a chance to - to have a romantic dinner there with Minerva sounds heavenly!

[Katheryn Mae]

Beautiful as always. I was delighted to come home after a week's trip and find two new chapters - both written beautifully. Can't wait to read the next chapter!

[3urmind]

It's lovely and brilliant!!
Can't wait for the next chapter!!
:-*Zuzia

[Hogwarts Duo]

CHAPTER 7

Sunlight broke through the windows to Albus’ room bright and early, much too early for the wizard in question to consider moving even so much as a toe from beneath his warm bedding. But as his mind began to rouse him from sleep and his most pleasant dreams, he began to think of the day ahead and what it might involve. At the top of his mental list was his dinner with Minerva, which would certainly be the highlight of his day.

Sitting up, he noticed that his tea and the Daily Prophet were sitting on the nightstand beside his bed. Just as he had predicted, his face and the accompanying article had been splashed on the front page. He chuckled as he read quotes from Ministry officials, some flattering and some more skeptical of his appointment. But the quote from Armando was one of the highest compliments Albus could ever remember receiving.

Putting the paper aside, he rested back against his pillows and took a long sip of his peppermint tea, a broad smile covering his face as he thought of Minerva and what she might think of the article. His instincts were telling him to fire-call her under the pretense of making sure they were still on for dinner that evening, but he knew that would sound silly and that quite possibly she was still in bed or perhaps readying for her day. No, he would just have to wait until he saw her that evening, but it was most certainly going to be a long day.

After contacting her cousin and receiving permission to use the greenhouses, Minerva had gone to bed. It had been difficult to go to sleep as she mentally planned the meal, the
way Albus might look when she informed him they were going somewhere quiet and special for dinner, and even the way they might enjoy the quiet time together. As she toyed with several ideas, ranging from the innocent to the downright scandalous, Minerva finally drifted off to sleep.

Her first thoughts upon waking quickly turned to her plans with Albus and the meal she wanted to request from Mazie. Everything had to be perfect, and she pondered for some time over the menu. While Minerva began her morning routine, ideas were discarded just as quickly as they were thought of. She finally admitted to herself that she was completely unsure of what to prepare, especially for a first date with Albus and considering that sometime during the night she had decided to try to court him. With a sigh, she gave up and decided to ask for help.

“Mother, Mother, are you there?” she called out through the green flames that roared in her parents’ sitting room.

“I’m here, love. I see Albus made the front page of the paper this morning. Your father and I are very pleased …for both of you.” Harold made a grunt of agreement as he studied the wizarding crossword intently. It was his morning routine to pore over the challenging puzzle before, during, and for a bit after his morning meal. Then, if he happened to finish it, all well and good. If not, he would declare it to be an utter waste of time, childish, and would swear he would never attempt another one, only to continue the same routine the following day.

“Mum, I need some advice and some help. Do you think you could come through to the flat now?” Minerva had considered going to her parents’ home, but since she was still in her nightgown and she also wanted some advice on her wardrobe, she thought it best to invite her mother to her flat.

Athena stepped through the fireplace after kissing Harold goodbye and promising to be back shortly. “Whatever’s got you in such a tizzy this morning, Minerva, dear?” Deep in her heart, though, Athena had already guessed that this had something to do with the man whose larger than life photo graced the front page of the Prophet.

“It’s Albus ….well sort of Albus. You see, he owled last night to tell me about the article appearing in the paper this morning, and we were supposed to go out dinner this evening, and I don’t know what to serve, what to wear, what would be appropriate, and …”

Athena placed a warm hand to her daughter’s cheek, cupping it as she smiled and shook her head. “How about I make you some toast and eggs while you start from the beginning and tell me everything? Then, as you’re eating, we’ll work on whatever the crisis is of the morning,” she laughed.

As her mother prepared the eggs and toast, for which Minerva’s stomach was very grateful, Minerva told her mother the entire story of how Albus had been so wonderful and how she believed she might be interested in him as more than a friend. To her surprise, her mother merely commented that she had felt that was the case the night they had taken her to dinner, but had been waiting for Minerva to broach the subject.

“So, you see, I’m not sure what to do. Cameron has said I can use the greenhouse tonight for a picnic since it’s too cold for a real one, and everywhere else we go, there will no doubt be countless interruptions.”

“Minerva, sweetheart, calm down and take a deep breath. Finish your tea while I think about your picnic. And I’m sure Mazie will be more than happy to help.”

As the two women finished their tea, they began to discuss the details of what Minerva would like to serve, what would take too much time to prepare or be too hard to eat picnic-style, and before their teacups were empty, they had a scrumptious meal planned for the evening.

“Now, you mentioned something about needing some help with your attire for this evening?” her mother asked, delicately in case Minerva had changed her mind about needing or wanting help.

“I’m just not sure. I didn’t exactly tell him how to dress or give him any indication of where we might be going since I wasn’t sure until late last night, myself. I could always owl him and tell him to dress casually but then that might be giving too much away.” Minerva sighed and slumped onto the sofa, closing her eyes and silently wondering why everything seemed so hard.

“Minerva, I have no doubts that whatever Albus Dumbledore wears, it won’t matter. And the same goes for you. You’re putting too much pressure on yourself, and if you’re not careful, you’ll work yourself into a panic and then things will be harder. My suggestion would be to pick your prettiest comfortable robes and some easily removed shoes. If it’s a picnic you’re having, then you’ll be on the ground anyway so you don’t want anything too heavy or formal.”

Minerva started to protest, but was immediately stopped as her mother held up her hand. “And correct me if I’m wrong, but both you and Albus Dumbledore are incredibly talented at Transfiguration so I have no worries in my mind that you can alter anything else that doesn’t suit you this evening, including his robes once you see what he’s wearing.”

Minerva threw her arms around her mother and hugged her tightly. “I love you, and I’m so glad I decided to ask for help. I was a bit nervous about asking since I’m not even sure what all this means. For all I know, he might just see me as a colleague whom he’s trying to get to know better.” Here Minerva paused and dropped her gaze to her folded hands in her lap. “But, if truth be told, I hope that’s not all there is to it. I … I really like him and I want him to like me too … as more than a friend.” Her confession was made with a whisper, but it was music to her own ears as well as her mother’s.

“Then my advice is to be yourself, and let him see the he can be himself around you, as well. It must be difficult for him, having to be on his guard all the time with the entire wizarding world. If you do that, and make him comfortable in your presence, everything will work exactly as it’s meant to be.”

Albus headed back to his rooms, exhaustion biting at his heels with every step. Today had been a whirlwind of activity, which included a couple of interviews, several guests, most of whom were uninvited, and more owl post than he had probably received in the last month. He had expected nothing less on the day of the announcement of his upcoming headmastership; however, he hadn’t counted on his recent lack of sleep and how truly old it would make him feel. He stifled a yawn and spoke his password as he reached his door. He was greeted by a pile of post on his desk, a rather uninviting sight, and an irritated-looking phoenix.

“I do apologize again, Fawkes. The owls don’t mean to disturb your rest, or eat all the treats, but they do have a job to do. One they seem to be doing rather well,” he commented, the last part more to himself as he eyed the precarious pile of parchment.

Fawkes trilled a bit, but then decided to settle down when Albus moved to his stand and stroked his head a bit. The sweet he offered from his pocket helped the phoenix’s mood as well. As the bird munched happily, Albus decided not to point out that the treats he left, and which Fawkes tended to snack on throughout the day, were for the owls in the first place and not for him.

Stroking Fawkes’ soft feathers helped Albus to sort through his day, and the yawn he had stifled earlier escaped as he realized that it was still only late afternoon and he had hours left to go. Luckily, the rest of the day promised to be much more interesting and welcome than the first half. As they had most of the day, his thoughts turned to Minerva McGonagall and their upcoming dinner together.

He happily contemplated their conversation from the previous evening. He had been delighted to hear from her and was still riding the waves of pleasure the short fire-call had given him. He knew, of course, that friendship was all he could hope for, with their relative situations being what they were, but he had decided to enjoy what he could and move forward in hopes of building a lasting friendship. His only regret with the upcoming dinner was the celebratory portion of it. He had been looking forward to the possibility of a quiet dinner with just the two of them where they could get to know one another better, but from the sound of it, Minerva had decided to plan something in honor of the announcement.

A list of the more exclusive wizarding restaurants scrolled through his mind, and he wondered which one she would choose. She said she wanted to do something special and memorable, and his heart gave an odd leap at that thought, but her original suggestion of a local place would have been far preferable. Granted, he was a popular figure, so they were bound to be interrupted wherever they went, but politics came into play more frequently at the higher-end restaurants than they would at a pub. Rather than a quick round of congratulations, they were sure to be interrupted by longer speeches, and more frequently.

Even though his hope for a quiet dinner was shattered, Albus was still very much looking forward to an evening spent in Minerva’s company. Just being in her presence would be the highlight of his day, and possibly the best part of the coming week. He had much to do to prepare for her arrival at the school. She would be taking up residence in two weeks and taking over all but his sixth- and seventh-year classes. Everything for those classes would need to be gathered, copied, and owled to her before her arrival so she’d have plenty of time to prepare. And with Christmas coming, the students tended to be a bit more rowdy.

Albus made his way to the bath in order to clean up. It wasn’t long before he was standing in front of his wardrobe trying to decide what to wear. He knew he would look good in whichever of his formal robes he chose, as they were all tailored specifically for him. However, he didn’t want to overdress for the occasion. He wished to complement whatever Minerva chose to wear, and of course he had no idea what that might be. After a brief contemplation of several options, he pulled out a set in dark blue, which were of the finest wool, but were also simple in cut and style.

He dressed, added the appropriate confections to his pocket, namely a sample of sherbet lemons and some Zotz, a hard but fizzy candy that an Italian wizard had sent him, and said a brief goodbye to Fawkes before donning his winter cloak and heading out the door. He reached the Apparition point outside the school’s gates quickly and was soon standing on the path leading up to Minerva’s front door.

Albus knocked and waited, his mind whirling with inappropriate thoughts, such as what Minerva might be wearing and whether she would have her hair down. Shaking himself mentally, he raised his hand to knock again just as the door opened. Much to Albus’ delight, Minerva was wearing a beautiful set of purple robes. They were similar to his in that they were well made but simple in style. However, the way hers draped, clinging in the right places and falling away in others, had him temporarily incapacitated, as the only thing that he could process in his mind was how absolutely stunning she looked in them. Albus attempted to clear his suddenly dry throat in order to get out a greeting of some kind but she beat him to it.

“Good evening, Albus. Please come in.”

Albus stepped inside and his head cleared immediately. Grateful he could finally think coherently, he turned to face the dazzling witch. “Good evening to you as well. I hope you had a pleasant day.”

Minerva smiled at him and Albus felt his heart expand in his chest. He had nearly forgotten the lovely sight. Her eyes sparkled, and he wondered if something particularly nice had happened that day to cause such a look.

“It was a very nice day, thank you. Congratulations on your announcement. I read the article in the Prophet and was pleased to see that you managed to get one of the decent writers.”

Albus’ eyes twinkled as he responded. “I specifically requested Beatrice because of her talent with a quill. She tends to be fair, even when she asks difficult questions and doesn’t agree with what you have to say.”

Minerva nodded and seemed to hesitate before brushing a lock of hair away from her cheek, a detail Albus watched carefully, then heading over to pick up her cloak. “If you are agreeable, I think we would be best served by heading straight to dinner.”

Albus hid his disappointment to the best of his ability. He certainly wasn’t looking to rush to a restaurant of crowded people, but he also did not wish to go against Minerva’s request. So instead of protesting, he insisted on helping her with her cloak. They headed back outside and Minerva warded her door before turning to face him.

“I don’t believe you’ve ever been to the place I’ve reserved for dinner, and I would like to surprise you, but feel free to decline if you don’t wish to because I’d completely understand ...”

Albus reached out and took Minerva’s hand, completely unaware of his own actions. At least that’s what he convinced himself of later when he looked back at the moment. She quieted at his touch, and he smiled at the flustered look on her face. Where just a few minutes ago she had been self-possessed and cheerful, she now looked hesitant and unsure of herself.

“Whatever you have planned will be wonderful Minerva,” Albus said, leaving out the ‘as long as I’m with you’ that was echoing in his mind.

She laughed a bit, and again brushed a loose tendril of hair out of her face. “What I was trying to say, unsuccessfully, is that I’d like to Side-along Apparate us if you wouldn’t mind. And, of course, I promise not to Splinch you.”

Albus agreed wholeheartedly, and soon realized he had never released Minerva’s hand. There was an awkward moment when he let go, embarrassed by his lack of manners and about to apologize, only to find himself with an armful of warm Minerva, a feeling he certainly didn’t ever want to lose, She Apparated them without incident, and it was much too soon when she broke away and he found himself staring up at a large glass building.

A/N: LET THE GAMES BEGIN!! We have our dear couple at their picnic destination and wait until you “hear” the description and “see” what happens next. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed. At least, we hope you won’t be disappointed. All the build up will be worth it! Trust us … As always, we sincerely thank you for reading and reviewing the story. Your comments and appreciation for our work is what keeps us motivated and always looking for fresh ideas!

[Katheryn Mae]

Lovely. I love her mother in this ... she's so very well written and kind to Minerva (something not seen often that I can think of).

~Katheryn Rose

[Mrs Mendes]

OOOOoooooohhhh, it´s soooooooooooooo brilliant ^^!!!!!!!!
That´s my first post ^^, I realy loooove your story, you two are wonderful writers!!!!!!!
Looking forwart to the next chapter XD !!!!!!!!
Love,
Mrs Mendes ;-)

[McGonagallsGirl]

Classic Hogwartsduo, just like the old days. I love it.

--MG

[bethj4013]

Just found this story and absolutely love it I can't wait to read more.

[Hogwarts Duo]

Lisa and I wanted to say thanks for the reviews, and even for those who might be reading and not reviewing. We've received a great response to the story and it's fun to hear what you guys think of our efforts. We hope to have the next chapter up soon, with luck over the weekend.

Later,
Ang.

[Hogwarts Duo]

CHAPTER 8

He could pick out greenhouses, somewhat hidden by the hills and perhaps some magic, but he wasn’t certain what they were doing there. As far as he knew, there was no restaurant that boasted a location at a nursery. Regardless of why they were at this particular location, Albus was extremely impressed by their surroundings and took a moment to look around and admire nature’s beauty.

“My cousin, Cameron McGonagall, owns the company,” Minerva said from his right side. “He agreed to let us dine here this evening. I thought a picnic might make a nice celebration.”

Albus smiled, as all the details seemed to come together in his mind. He had heard about Cameron’s business, for both its excellence in plants and for the indoor garden it boasted. No restaurant was here, and as he realized that he would indeed be getting his private evening with Minerva McGonagall, only even better than he could have wished for, he felt a childish excitement as if it were Christmas morning and he was surrounded by a heap of presents.

He followed Minerva inside, impressed by the feeling of being in the middle of the woods on a sunny day. His eyes landed on the blanket and pillows spread on the green grass, a picnic basket nestled in the middle. He couldn’t have planned a better celebration himself.

“Is it okay? If you’d rather go to a restaurant, I’d understand.”

Albus looked up to find Minerva watching him with concern. It was then that he realized he hadn’t spoken in some time, his pleasure at what was being presented keeping him quiet. “It’s perfect and I can’t think of another way I’d rather spend my evening.”

Minerva immediately relaxed visibly and released a breath she’d been holding, waiting for him to comment, whether good or bad, on her choice of a celebratory outing. She smiled happily, the true happiness making her eyes sparkle like precious gems in a sea of sunshine. “I wanted this to be something extra special to mark the occasion, and I thought of going to fancy restaurants but then thought you might wish for a quieter affair at a pub. I couldn’t help but think we’d be interrupted, and no doubt you’d be bombarded with well wishes.” She turned away and began leading him towards their picnic area. “I suppose I wanted to be a bit selfish and have you all to myself this evening”

Albus’ heart leapt into his throat. Had he heard her correctly? She wanted to be selfish and have him to herself? He’d been feeling much the same way about her and her lovely company ever since she’d fire-called him the night before. He tried desperately to keep his emotions in check and to keep his hopes from making too much out of a simple comment.

“I have to say, Minerva, that this is perfect. To be honest, I wasn’t particularly looking forward to dining in public this evening, but I was certain whatever you planned would be perfect. And I will admit freely that I am not disappointed that I put myself in your capable hands. This is magnificent and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate. Thank you,” he said softly, giving her hand a squeeze.

Minerva motioned for Albus to take a seat on the blanket, and she knelt beside the basket. She had asked the house elf to prepare something simple and light, something which would be appropriate for a small picnic. She had not been disappointed when the little elf gave her the basket, listing, with pride, all the foods inside.

“I hope you enjoy the food. I wasn’t quite sure about your food preferences, so I went with standard picnic fare. We have chicken, cheese, bread, some fruits, a pasta salad, and, of course, wine and chocolate,” she announced with a smile as she handed him the bottle. “Would you be so kind as to do the honors and pour while I fill our plates?”

“It would be an honor, and everything looks and smells delicious. This is much better than spending time in a stuffy restaurant.” He took the bottle of wine and with little effort at all on his part, charmed the cork from the bottle with a loud pop, causing Minerva to jump then laugh. There was something in her laughter that made Albus feel as if he could walk on air. She seemed to be so alive and so sure of herself, so at ease in his presence, and he had to admit that he felt much the same way around her.

After enjoying the delicious meal and eating until they felt as if they’d burst, Minerva packed away the remnants of their leftovers, leaving the cheese and fruit out in case they wanted to snack later. She had reminded Albus to save room for dessert, but after devouring the chicken, bread, and salad, he asked that they hold off on the dessert for a bit.

Albus stretched his long legs and reclined on the blanket, his hands clasped behind his head as looked up at the sky. There were large puffy clouds floating overhead and the occasional bird seemed to glide along on a breeze. “Have you ever watched the clouds and made shapes from them?” he asked, his voice soft and soothing.

As soon as everything was packed away neatly and the basket was levitated out of the way, Minerva followed Albus’ lead and stretched out on the blanket. “I haven’t since I was a little girl, but I have fond memories of spending lazy summer days just like this. Well, not exactly like this,” she laughed nervously. “I spent most of my summer days alone, since I was an only child. I’d take a book and some fruit with me and enjoy the afternoons. I remember one time, the summer before my eleventh birthday. I had been reading a book about Hogwarts, and I looked up just in time to see two clouds shifting together and I swore it looked just like a majestic castle. I was convinced it was Hogwarts in the sky.”

She turned her head towards Albus and was surprised to see his face so close to hers, his bright blue eyes staring back at her and twinkling madly. Her eyes locked with his, and suddenly her pulse quickened and her mind began to cloud. His lips looked so inviting, so soft, supple and surely warm. Before she had time to process another thought, Albus began to move his head slightly towards hers until those same warm, supple lips brushed tentatively against hers.

She relaxed at the first touch, her lips tingling in response. His lips departed too quickly, but she could feel that he was still close, hesitating. With a boldness that surprised her, she pushed herself toward him, their lips meeting once more. Minerva felt her body melt in response. It was as if a slow stream of fire was flowing through her veins. She angled her head, seeking more of the pleasure that filled her. A soft sigh escaped between her lips as she parted them, an invitation she was hardly aware of offering as her body was flushed with pleasure, clouding her mind even more. The reaction from Albus was immediate, and when his tongue darted along her parted lips, Minerva moaned involuntarily in response.

She’d never been kissed like this. She’d never felt such pleasure or such heat. It was as if she was being devoured by the desire Albus was creating within her. She ached to be closer to him, to feel his body against her own. She inched closer while his tongue explored her mouth, causing shivers to run up her spine. She felt herself flushing as one of his hands tickled across her neck before his fingers found purchase in her hair. His thumb ran across her ear and Minerva whimpered as the ache intensified within her.

Finally her body found his and she hummed lowly in response to having the warm long length of him pressed against her. The hand in her hair grasped more tightly as his teeth nipped at her lower lip. Minerva’s breath caught in her throat, and she trembled as she realized she could feel his racing heart against her own. If she could have melted into him, she was sure she would have happily done so.

“Minerva.”

Albus’ breath lightly fluttered against her cheek as he softly spoke her name. It wasn’t a question, more like a plea, and Minerva’s heart skipped a beat as if in answer. Both of them were breathing heavily, and Minerva kept her eyes closed as she tried to come back to herself before speaking. Their foreheads rested against each other, and Albus’ hand was still cradling the back of her neck.

When she finally felt more like herself, Minerva opened her eyes. She pulled back slightly and saw that Albus was watching her, his eyes no longer twinkling. They were a deeper blue than she remembered, and she was sure he could see straight to her soul. The intensity and heat in his gaze had her breath stilling in her throat. Instead of speaking, as had been her intention, Minerva gently pushed Albus back against the blanket, their eyes still locked. She leaned down slowly until their mouths touched ever so slightly. Her tongue traced the outline of his lips, ending in a gentle kiss.

When she pulled back his eyes were closed, and she curled against him, resting her head on his chest so she could hear his heartbeat. She felt content and oddly sated, though the ache that had been created with their first kiss still lingered. Her eyes sought out the drifting clouds as Albus’ arm wrapped more tightly around her. It seemed that they both were content to keep the silence between them, neither willing to be the first to break the spell that had been cast around them.

“Look!”

Minerva was pointing toward the Charmed sky above. They had lain quietly for a long time, and upon seeing the cloud, which uncannily resembled a dragon, she had immediately wanted to share her discovery.

“If I had to venture a guess, I’d have to say it’s a Hebridean Black.”

Minerva smiled to herself, a glow of mischief entering her eyes. “How can you say that? It’s quite obviously a Norwegian Ridgeback.”

Minerva felt Albus’ chest rise a bit meaning he had lifted his head to look down at her. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep as straight a face as possible and hoped he couldn’t see her upturned mouth.

“I’m quite sure it’s a Hebridean.”

She felt a bubble of laughter well up in her throat, but kept it down until she could make one more jab. “Albus, you obviously need some new spectacles. Look at the ridges on his back. That is a sure sign of a Ridgeback.”

There was a long pause and Minerva thought that perhaps she had pushed him too far. She was about to push herself up to apologize when Albus began to speak.

“Minerva,” he responded, his voice patient yet affronted sounding, “I discovered the twelve uses of dragon blood, and as such, I am very familiar with all of the varieties of dragons. I am quite sure that it is a Hebridean Black. Both of them have ridges but the spiked tail on the cloud and lack of horns quite clearly proves my point.”

Minerva could hold it in no longer, and she started to laugh with immense joy. She laughed so hard that part way through, she sat up just so she could catch her breath. When she had finally wiped away the few tears that had gathered in her eyes, she found that Albus had pushed himself onto his elbows and was looking at her with eyes that once again held their lovely twinkle.

“You are impossible, my dear.”

“And you are an amazing kisser,” she replied, her eyes drawn instinctively to his still slightly swollen lips. “I enjoyed that very much,” she announced boldly.

Albus felt his cheeks growing warm just at the mere mention of their previous activities. His mind raced through the emotions and desires she’d awakened within him and how much he’d love to have continued kissing her, holding her, just being near her. He reached out his hand and cradled her cheek, brushing his thumb lightly across her rosy lips.

“You weren’t so bad, yourself,” he teased. “Perhaps with some practice, you’ll develop a very enticing technique, though your execution left absolutely nothing to be desired this evening.” His voice had started out strong and teasing but by the end of his sentence, it was clear to both of them that all teasing had gone from his voice.

Minerva stretched out beside him on the blanket and looked up into his face as he shifted onto his side. She could still feel the heat closing in around them, and it felt delicious. “I hear you’re an excellent professor, and I’m told I was always a very capable student, willing to put in extra hours, days even, to learn a lesson,” she challenged.

He leaned in closer, his face now just a whisper from hers. “Ah, my dear, you flatter me. How do you know I’m the right professor to teach you these … lessons?”

Her hand snaked across his chest and over his shoulder, not stopping until it settled at the base of his neck. “Because you’re all I’ve thought about for days, and I felt more alive in those few minutes than I have in all my years combined on this earth.” Her answer was honest and simple, holding very little back from him and meeting his gaze with the truth flashing in her dark green eyes.

Albus wasted no time in closing the remaining distance between them. His body partially rested against hers, though he was careful not to put all of his weight on her for fear of making her uncomfortable.

But that mattered very little to Minerva. She slipped her free hand around his side and clutched his back, pressing him deeper into her arms as her tongue stroked his teasingly, sensually as the kiss progressed.

“Mmm, Minerva … wait … we should … wait.”

Her breaths were slightly ragged and her hair tousled. “I … I’m sorry. I thought you … we … oh dear.”

Albus recognized her embarrassment easily, and he responded quickly to allay any fears before they had a chance to take root and ruin their wonderful evening. “No, my dear, I only meant that we shouldn’t rush into this. There is much to consider, and while I’m enjoying this, I wouldn’t want to squander a single moment of our time together. I don’t want to lose your friendship, and certainly I don’t want to make our working relationship difficult.”

Minerva paused and gave him a reassuring smile. “While I’ll admit that I’ve never been that brazen before on a first date, I can say with all honesty that I don’t regret a single moment of it, nor do I wish to change anything about this evening. Spending this time with you tonight has been wonderful, and I hope you feel the same.”

She moved so that she was sitting in front of him, her legs crossed, and she reached out to take both of his hands in hers. Her thumbs traced invisible lines across the backs of his much larger hands. “I don’t know about all the ramifications of our working relationship, but I do know that I hope you won’t push me away. I am not sure where this path might lead us, but I’m certainly ready and willing to start the journey with you, wherever that might lead us.”

Albus’ eyes softened as he gazed into her face, seeing every emotion playing out through her eyes. “I do not have all the answers myself, but, Minerva McGonagall, you fascinate me in ways no other woman has ever tried. I find myself at ease in your presence, and when we’re apart, I constantly wonder what you’re doing and where you are. It must sound silly for a wizard of my age to speak in such boyish terms to you, but it’s how you make me feel. When you’re near, I am younger, and I don’t feel the weight of the world resting upon my shoulders. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I dare to fathom that I could one day feel this carefree, but I know it’s all because of you.”

“So, what are you saying, Albus? I need to hear you say it. Tell me, Albus, what you want. Please.”

He brought each of her hands to his lips, kissing the backs of them so softly it nearly tickled. “What I want? I haven’t been asked that question in quite some time. Most people usually start by telling me what they want or what I can do for them.”

“I’m not most people, but I think you already know that.”

His smile was warm and infectious, causing a smile to curl about Minerva’s lips in turn. “That I do, and I’m looking forward to learning more about you.” He paused, causing Minerva to stare at him with baited breath. “And I’m very much looking forward to perfecting our technique and learning lessons … together.”

A/N: We hope the wait was worth it for this chapter, and that you enjoyed seeing Albus and Minerva finally together. But don’t tune out just yet … there’s more to come for Albus and Minerva. Wink wink!

[bethj4013]

wow yeah on the update but this last chapter really made me want to read more.

[dianahawthorne]

Yay! A great update, as always! I can't wait for the next one!

[minervasong]

I've become a silent reader as of late, mainly because I found that one of my responses was never posted because my computer decided to crash about a week ago. I was very upset with it, and I did not desire to review because of that... And then you two had to write 'Let the games begin', thereby completely infuriating me, so I refused to review. ;D I must say that I'm still enjoying this, however, and then I felt immensely guilty at the last note that was posted directly to the readers.... Therefore, let me please tell you something about the latest chapter, and please let that suffice...

Oh, how lovely. Thank goodness they're together now. I was dying. ;D Their banter is so very cute, and I laughed myself... Oh, I love this fan-fiction.... Please keep it up. I want to read the next chapter very much.

~MinervaSong

[Hogwarts Duo]

Hi MinervaSong,

Thank you so very much for hopping back onto the board and leaving us a review. We're always grateful to those who read and review and even for those who read the story in private. Either way, as long as our work brings someone some joy or laughter, the world is a brighter place. That's not to say we don't love getting the comments on the stories, though. haha.

And yes. the games are about to begin. Albus and Minerva have four more chapters to explore their new happiness and we, as readers, will get to see that unfold!

Thanks again and we hope to hear from you again soon!

Ang & Lisa

[minervasong]

Mar 16, 2009 20:25:25 GMT -5 Hogwarts Duo said:

Hi MinervaSong,

Thank you so very much for hopping back onto the board and leaving us a review. We're always grateful to those who read and review and even for those who read the story in private. Either way, as long as our work brings someone some joy or laughter, the world is a brighter place. That's not to say we don't love getting the comments on the stories, though. haha.

And yes. the games are about to begin. Albus and Minerva have four more chapters to explore their new happiness and we, as readers, will get to see that unfold!

Thanks again and we hope to hear from you again soon!

Ang & Lisa

I want to scream at you two to post, but I'll refrain.... with difficulty. ;D

Compliments on a fan-fiction are hard to come by, but it's even harder with a MMAD fic!

Post!
-did not scream that, by the way-
;D

~MinervaSong

[Hogwarts Duo]

CHAPTER 9

Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk, a rather messy desk at the moment, and dusted at his beard with his napkin in order to remove the crumbs that had gathered there, before grabbing the other half of his sandwich and taking a bite, not really tasting it and certainly not enjoying it. His eyes scanned the parchment in front of him, one of many that he had collected on Monday from his fifth-year classes. Their work had gotten sloppy as the upcoming holidays approached, which was attested to by the numerous comments he had been required to make.

Normally Albus would take his lunch in the Great Hall, but today, and the last two days as well, he had eaten in his office, attempting to complete as much work as possible. Of course even with the increased workload and his desire to get done as much as possible by this evening, Albus’ mind was having a terrible time concentrating on the essays in front of him.

It was Wednesday, four days after his dinner with Minerva, and yet his mind seemed unable to do anything but go over their evening together. The conversation, the laughter, the little habits she displayed when she was engaged in conversation, like the way her lips would compress when she disagreed with something someone said, or the way her eyes would light up when she was making a point, had him completely distracted. He would also quite frequently catch himself reliving their first kiss.

He had never experienced such immediate all-encompassing pleasure with a kiss. His body had tingled, warmed, and then burned as never before. Her lips had been soft and pliant, and had parted under his as her breath caressed his mouth. She had given of herself freely, and Albus had been lost, taking and giving all he could, unable to hold back even if he had wished to.

Of course, such thoughts caused his body to respond in kind, and Albus found himself shifting in his seat, his quill dripping ink on the student’s parchment he had been grading only moments ago. With a regretful sigh, he banished thoughts of kissing Minerva to the back of his mind as he certainly did not wish to go to his next class in such an obvious state of arousal. This was easier than he anticipated, since he had their meeting after dinner tonight to look forward to.

Cleaning the essay with a wave of his hand, Albus once again applied himself to grading his papers. The more he was able to get done, the more he would get to see Minerva over the next week and a half before she took up residence in the castle. After the debacle on Sunday, he did not want anything interfering with their planned time together.

Before parting ways on Saturday evening, Albus had proposed they meet for a few hours Sunday afternoon. Minerva had readily agreed, much to Albus’ delight. He had nearly not asked, seeing as how they had just finished having a wonderful and heated evening together. However, he knew that his time would be limited and that Sunday might well be the last opportunity he would have until the following weekend.

The next day had passed in a blur. He had sent a note to Minerva to confirm a time, two o’clock, and place, the Three Broomsticks. Just after lunch, the requests started coming in. He had no less than three students stop by for last-minute help on their essays, which were due the next day. Soon after, Nicholas and Perenelle had caught him by Floo to say that they’d be in the area sometime in the next fortnight and wanted to get together to visit and celebrate. Finally, just as he was getting ready to leave his rooms so he could meet Minerva, Armando had summoned him. By the time he had managed to remove himself from the impromptu meeting with the Head of the Board of Governors and the Minster for Magic, it had been well past time to meet Minerva.

Luckily he had sent Fawkes with a message about the unforeseen delay before leaving his rooms and Minerva had received it in time. His Floo call to her at half past three had gone well, considering what had transpired. He had apologized profusely and often, and she had forgiven him for breaking their date. She had been wonderfully understanding. Still, not wanting to press his luck, he had sent a bottle of wine and some flowers and a note. She had sent back her own note, agreeing to meet on Wednesday after his duties at the school had concluded. Since that time, he had been working as much as possible to make sure there would be absolutely no delays in his evening.

Albus shook his head as he realized that he had once again become distracted by thoughts of Minerva. At this rate, it would take the rest of the week just to get this stack of parchments graded. He sighed as he looked at the time and realized he was due in class. His good intentions did not seem to be getting him far today, especially with his mind on a certain green-eyed witch.

Minerva looked at the clock on her mantle and counted the hours until she would be able to see Albus again. Saturday seemed like such a long time ago now, and she found her thoughts settling on Albus more often than not. She had been disappointed, though not necessarily surprised, that his work had demanded his time on Sunday, and his excuses were valid ones with which she could find no fault. He was certainly a very busy and popular wizard. She knew that right from the start, and most certainly students in need of some help from their professor came before a few drinks at the Three Broomsticks on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Still, Minerva couldn’t help but feel a bit of a loss, realizing that she wouldn’t be able to see him until Wednesday. The flowers he’d sent as an apology were stunning, holding up beautifully, no doubt charmed to stay fresher longer. As her fingertips danced lightly along the petals of one rose in full bloom, she closed her eyes and relived that first glorious kiss. She was nearing the part of the memory where he had deepened the kiss when she heard a soft trill in the room.

“Fawkes? I certainly didn’t expect to see you again this evening.” She walked over to the stunning bird and stretched out her hand in greeting. The affectionate phoenix bumped his head against her palm and gave another series of soft notes before holding out his claw.

“Ah, I see. It’s not a social visit but an important mission from Albus,” she sighed as she took the parchment from him.

She read the note carefully, twice, then looked at the curious onlooker. “Seems there’s been a magical accident in one of the classes and the student was taken to St. Mungo’s. It was one of his Gryffindors and he felt compelled to go with the young lad and stay until his parents could be reached.” She sank back against the cushions of the sofa, her shoulders slumping and a sadness filling her heart. “He says he truly regrets breaking a second date, and if he were any other bloke, I’d have to question the veracity of his words. But, Fawkes, I know he’s telling me the truth. He wouldn’t lie to me, would he?”

Fawkes ruffled his feathers and gave a loud trill, then nipped her finger lightly as she reached out to stroke his neck, making it very clear that he disagreed with her last statement, wholeheartedly, in fact.

“Ouch! You didn’t have to inflict bodily harm. I was simply asking a rhetorical question, and one that needed no answer from you or from Albus. I’m sorry if I offended either of you. I meant no harm. I was simply hoping to see him–since Saturday in fact – and he suddenly seems busy.”

Minerva closed her eyes, and after a few moments of self-pity, she decided that she had to send him a reply of some sort. After all, it wasn’t his fault the student had been injured, and no doubt she would have accompanied the child to the hospital had she been in Albus’ shoes. It was the thought of him caring for his students so much that he would put his personal life on hold that she suddenly gave her an idea.

Albus,

Fawkes arrived with your letter, and I’m very sorry to hear about your cub being injured. I do hope he will be on the mend soon. No doubt he’s in very capable hands, and I do appreciate you letting me know as soon as you could about our missed date this evening.

I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t disappointed to read that I wouldn’t be seeing you this evening, but I have a suggestion. There’s a small cafeteria in St. Mungo’s, and you said that once the boys’ family arrived, you’d be heading back to Hogwarts. I know it’s growing late, but you’ll have to eat anyway. Would you be able to dine in the cafe by nine o’clock this evening? I still have that bottle of wine you sent on Sunday, and I could easily pack a few sandwiches and some crisps. It wouldn’t be anything elaborate, but I think we both prefer the simpler things in life from time to time.

If you think you can meet me there, just send Fawkes back with a note and I promise to be waiting anxiously, basket in hand and a kiss on my lips for you.

Hoping to see you very soon,
Minerva

“Fawkes, my friend, I need you to take this to Albus and wait until he sends a reply, please. There are three biscuits in it for you now and three for you when you return.” She winked at Fawkes as she tied her letter around his leg, handed him the first installment of her promised payment, and then watched as he disappeared in a small burst of flames.

Minerva moved to the kitchen as soon as he was gone and looked in her cupboards. She wished she’d done a bit more shopping yesterday when she’d gone to the market. She’d kept her purchases to a minimum since she’d be leaving for Hogwarts in less than two weeks. However, she could certainly cobble together a basic picnic dinner for the two of them.

Her first order of business was to pull out the wine, two glasses, a package of crisps and some fresh fruit. She summoned a hamper and placed them inside, including a few charms to keep everything padded. She also grabbed some napkins and a knife to cut the apples, should they decide to split one. It was only after Fawkes returned, a parchment on his leg, that it occurred to Minerva that Albus might not be up to meeting her after all. Sudden nerves crowded her stomach as she reached out to take the missive.

Minerva,

Your suggestion sounds wonderful, and I am grateful to have something to look forward to once Mr. Hoskins’ parents have arrived. I will be more than happy to meet you in the cafeteria, and will send a note as soon as I can.

Albus

Minerva let out the breath she’d been holding as she’d read the note. She was very pleased that he’d agreed and that he looked forward to it. A smile lit her face as she took out three more biscuits for Fawkes.

“Thank you,” she said to the beautiful bird as she handed him the rest of his payment. He was obviously pleased, as he gobbled them down rather quickly and then began to preen himself.

“You are quite spoiled, you know.”

The look the phoenix sent Minerva had her laughing out loud. She wasn’t sure how he managed it, but Fawkes had the most diverse expressions she had ever seen on a familiar. However, she was sure her sudden good mood had just as much to do with her newly found friend as it did with Albus and her delight in being able to see him soon.

“I’ve got to get back to the kitchen now,’ Minerva told Fawkes. “You are welcome to stay, of course.” Fawkes stayed perched on the stand, so she figured he had accepted her invitation. She left him to finish cleaning himself so she could start on the sandwiches.

Minerva brought out a loaf of bread and began slicing it with the Charmed knife her mother had given her. It was invaluable as it kept an even thickness as she cut the slices. She filled several sandwiches with a variety of ingredients from her cupboards, not knowing what Albus might prefer. She soon had the sandwiches made, wrapped and added to the hamper. Minerva closed the lid, content to let it sit on the counter since the built-in stasis charm would keep everything fresh until they ate.

She washed up in the loo, and then headed to her bedroom in order to change her clothes. She knew she didn’t need to dress up for sandwiches at St. Mungo’s, but as her relationship with Albus was still very new, and she still considered herself to be in the process of wooing him, she wanted to do everything she could to keep herself on his mind during the times they were parted. As she slipped on a pair of boots, she wondered if Albus thought of her even half as much as she thought of him.

A knock at the door had Minerva springing to her feet. She wasn’t expecting company and didn’t want anything to keep her from seeing Albus tonight. As she walked up the short hallway, she decided that whoever it was would have to be turned away. There was just nothing else to do. With a determined glint to her eyes, Minerva opened the door.

A/N: Gee, I wonder who's at the door??? Hmm, guess we’ll have to wait a little bit to find out, though I promise it won’t be long. Real life reared its ugly head and delayed the posting of this chapter. We sincerely apologize, and we thank you for all your comments and emails about the story. We love hearing from you!

[dianahawthorne]

Great chapter, as always - I was so glad to see an update!!

[admmityourlove]

It has been so long since I've read a really captivating ADMM fic- I was beginning to give up hope on the future of this incredible ship. Woohoo! I got chills reading about their garden date. Please post the next chapter soon!

[bethj4013]

yeah another update I am really starting to like this Fic please update more soon

[Hogwarts Duo]

Thanks for all the reviews and recent comments. It's great to hear that so many people are interested in the story. I hope to post the next chapter by Thursday. Hope you guys can wait until then ...

Thanks again,
Ang & Lisa

[Hogwarts Duo]

CHAPTER 10

“Good evening, my dear. I know we were to meet at St. Mungo’s, but Mr. Hoskins’ parents showed up shortly after I sent Fawkes back to you, and I thought you might prefer to meet here. And, to be completely honest, I was rather impatient to see you.”

Minerva felt a surge of happiness bubbling over in her heart. She had been ready to send the late night visitor away without so much as a halfhearted apology. But instead, she was standing face to face with the one man who invaded her every waking thought and even her dreams. Without another second of hesitation, Minerva pulled Albus into her flat, closed the door behind her, and pressed him up against the wall.

The moment her lips touched his, she felt a delicious fire flaming to life inside her and her instincts took over completely. She moved her lips against his sensually, taking her time deepening the kiss, preferring to tease him a little. Her kiss was soft and languid as her hands slipped over his chest to his shoulders before tangling in his hair, holding him closer.

Albus could barely think as Minerva lavished him with a greeting befitting a warrior home from a year-long battle. His arms went around her waist, drawing her even closer to him as his tongue greeted hers eagerly. A soft moan of appreciation from her encouraged him to prolong the embrace.

Finally, breathless and flushed, they broke apart and Minerva rested her head against Albus’ forehead. “I suppose you’ve gathered by now that I was rather impatient to see you, too,” she laughed softly. “It’s been a long week, and I’ve missed you terribly.”

Albus took her hand and brought it up to his lips, kissing each finger lightly before lacing his fingers through hers. “You’ll not hear me complaining. That’s the most enthusiastic and most enjoyable kiss I’ve ever received, and I’m glad it was from you.”

She leaned up and kissed him once more, quickly, then wiped the lipstick from his lips. “Where are my manners? Come in and make yourself at home,” she offered, guiding him into the sitting room and motioning for him to take a seat on the sofa. With a flick of her wand, she unlaced his boots and removed them, Levitating them over to the door, then doing the same with hers. “There, now we can both be more comfortable.”

“Thank you, my dear. That was very kind of you, but I’d be even more comfortable if I had someone to help me share this sofa,” he said with a wink. Taking her hand, he pulled her down beside him and began kissing her tenderly.

She relaxed in his arms, letting him have complete control over their kisses as they grew in intensity. It wasn’t until Minerva heard his stomach giving a rather loud rumble that she remembered their plans for the evening. “You must be starving. I’ve still got the sandwiches in the kitchen, or I could make scrambled eggs with sausages or bacon if you’d rather have that.”

Albus stood and pulled Minerva to her feet, keeping her close to him. “Sandwiches for now. I can always get something to eat at Hogwarts once I get back. I’d rather spend my time focusing on you.”

“You’ll not hear me complaining,” she answered, echoing his words from when he first arrived, and she’d ravished him.

Over the sandwiches and crisps in the kitchen, Albus asked Minerva for a dinner date on the following Saturday. “I thought maybe we could go somewhere very nice, maybe some dancing, and a moonlight stroll.”

“It all sounds lovely. I heard it’s supposed to snow again this weekend, so we might not get that stroll in the moonlight.”

“Ah, then we can have a nice dinner, some dancing, then come back here. We could build a fire, open a bottle of wine, and watch the snow falling past the windows,” he suggested softly, his eyes having grown darker and his voice heavy with desire. “I could spend several delicious hours canoodling with you in front of a fire, if you were agreeable.”

Minerva felt her mouth go dry and her body beginning to react to his suggestions. “I’m agreeable, most agreeable.” She stopped short of asking him if he’d have to return to Hogwarts Saturday evening, wishing she could find a way to ask him to stay.

Once the sandwich items were put away and the kitchen cleaned, Minerva and Albus returned to the sofa. With a few flicks of her wand, Minerva took the liberty of lowering the lights, leaving them surrounded by firelight and the warmth of a light blanket. They spent the remainder of the evening curled up together on the sofa until Albus noticed the time. With deep regret and hesitation, he bid her a good evening filled with pleasant dreams before taking his leave.

Albus arrived back at Hogwarts with a soft pop, heading through the gates and toward the castle. He drew his cloak more tightly about him as a gust of wind threatened to rip the warm fabric away. However, he didn’t feel the bitterly cold wind as it stung his face and hands, or the first icy drops of rain that started to fall as he reached the steps that led to the main doors. His attention was focused on the slightly bruised feeling of his lips, and the tingle that was just starting to fade. An evening spent … well, snogging, for lack of a better word, Minerva McGonagall was still firmly etched into his consciousness.

It had been a wonderful evening, though not nearly long enough. They had talked, and eaten the delicious sandwiches she had prepared, all around the snogging, of course. It seemed an odd word to use for the two of them. Snogging brought up pictures of students hidden behind tapestries, statues, and in closets jumping apart as the tip of his lighted wand burned brightly in flushed faces. But the more he thought on the word, the more he liked it, particularly if it was in conjunction with Minerva. And he hoped to do more of it at their date on Saturday, or rather after the date. He didn’t think the wizarding world needed more gossip for the society pages. A picture of him kissing Minerva at a nice restaurant spread across the pages of the Daily Prophet flashed into his mind. No, he certainly wasn’t interested in providing any more headlines for the popular paper.

The sandwiches and crisps had been satisfying, and, not feeling the least bit hungry, Albus made his way to his rooms. He unwrapped himself from his cloak and put his hat away before going to the fire, which had started burning brightly upon his entrance. As he settled himself in his favorite chair, an elf appeared and deposited a tray with hot chocolate and chocolate biscuits. He smiled and thanked the nervous creature before picking up the hot mug and taking a warming sip.

His nighttime treat was as tasty as it ever was, and Albus made fast work of it as his mind made the transition from his evening with Minerva to the upcoming days and the task of arranging a date out with her. There were several very nice restaurants with dancing that would provide the right sort of atmosphere he was after. However, since he was insistent in his own mind that it be a very special night, he laboriously went over all the details he could remember from each place in order to make his decision.

It was just as he was putting down his quill, after having made a decision and writing a short note to the owner of the establishment to reserve a table for him, that Fawkes appeared in a fiery flash.

“Did you have a nice hunt?” Albus inquired, as he placed his seal onto the hot wax.

Fawkes’ trill sounded immensely pleased so Albus congratulated him. Once the letter was ready, Albus laid it in the middle of his desk and walked over to his familiar. He stroked the bird’s feathers as the beautiful creature settled down on his perch.

“I’ve spent the evening with Minerva, my dear friend. She is an amazing woman.” Fawkes perked up at the sound of Minerva’s name and cooed into the palm of Albus’ hand in agreement. “I’m taking her to dinner this coming Saturday. I want it to be perfect. It may be our last opportunity to go on a proper date before she comes to the castle.”

Fawkes cocked his head and sang a short song, one that filled Albus with hope and a sense of contentment. “You know me too well. But do not worry yourself; I have no intention of letting her go.”

Fawkes nipped his finger lovingly and let out a soft note before turning his head and nestling down to sleep. Albus continued to stroke the bird, an action that always soothed him. His mind was still occupied with thoughts of Minerva, but they had settled enough that he managed to notice the time once again. It had grown late, and he needed his rest. Soon enough, he could think over his relationship with Minerva, his new responsibilities at Hogwarts, and how the two would come together shortly.

He yawned, pulling his hand away from its task. Realizing just how sleepy he was, Albus moved toward his bedroom. “Good night, Fawkes,” he said to his slumbering friend as he crossed the threshold. It wasn’t long before sleep claimed him as well.

Minerva slipped between her cool sheets and stared out of the bedroom window, watching the rain pelting it, almost in sheets. She hoped Albus had made it inside the castle before the heavens had opened, releasing the inclement weather.

As she closed her eyes and thought back over the evening, she found herself wishing Albus could have stayed. It would have been wonderful to curl up in his arms and listen to the rain outside, to feel his warm, solid body against hers, to wake up and see his bright blue eyes shining back at her at daybreak. A soft sigh of contentment slipped past her lips.

Perhaps one day she would get the chance to do all those things. He certainly seemed excited to see her this evening, and more than once, they’d kissed until both of them were rendered breathless and speechless. She felt a warm tingling stirring in her body as she remembered the intensity of his caress and how he nibbled her lips before kissing her deeply. Her fingertips instinctively went to her bottom lip, brushing across it lightly and noticing the slightly swollen feeling. She slipped off to sleep with a smile curling about those same lips and a hope in her heart that this was more than just a passing fancy for him and as it was most assuredly for her.

For the next couple of days, Minerva and Albus made time to fire call each other at night. It had become a lovely routine, and it helped them both deal with the distance between them. Minerva had come close to ending their last chat with a quick “love you,” and could almost convince herself that Albus had almost slipped as well, but of that she couldn’t be certain.

He’d made sure to give her a few hints about their dinner date on Saturday so she would be dressed appropriately. Thinking back on the last few dates he’d had, he realized that they were all rather casual dining experiences in comparison to what he had planned for this evening. He chuckled to himself as he thought of the prospect of falling in love so quickly.

“And just what is so funny, Albus Dumbledore?” He looked up to see Armando Dippet standing before him with an impish grin on his face.

“Nothing in particular, Armando. Just thinking of the past and future in relation to each other, I suppose.”

“And that strikes you as funny? Hmm, must be witches you’re dreaming of … or at least one in particular,” he teased. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed a spring in your step and caught a whiff of lightly perfumed notes you’ve received at breakfast …what was it now … three times this week?”

Albus blushed as he thought back to the lovely notes he and Minerva had been exchanging. Fawkes really was a remarkable companion and apparently he had no objections to delivering messages for himself and Minerva. No doubt, he was being richly rewarded on both ends of his job for a task well done.

“I was merely contemplating the act of falling in love and how impossible it seems at times and how easy it seems at other times.”

Armando sank into the chintz chair by the fire and motioned for Albus to sit across from him. “You’ll soon find, my boy, that love isn’t created, it just sort of happens when you least expect it. That’s when you know you’re onto something that will last. You sort of stumble into it, and you can’t help yourself, nor do you really want to help yourself. You’ll find she’s the first thing you think of each morning, you crave her kisses at night, and all during the day, you long to see her smile,” he finished, before slipping into his own memories.

Albus smiled and nodded his head. “Then, my friend, I do believe I’m hopelessly in love already, and I can only hope that she feels the same way. Perhaps I’ll test the waters tonight,” he mused aloud.

Armando nodded and winked. “Please give Miss McGonagall my regards when you see her.”

Albus looked up in surprise. He’d prepared for this day in his mind. It was bound to come out, sooner or later, that he was dating Minerva. Once she started at Hogwarts, there would be more time for them to be together, and less time for them to be alone. While he would hardly snog her in front of the student body at dinner, nothing ever stayed a secret at Hogwarts for long, no matter how hard one tried to keep a secret. In fact, he thought quite the opposite to be true. Those things one wished to keep a secret seemed to spread like fire through the halls, while the ordinary was hardly discussed.

He had not counted on this, however. Armando guessing at the truth had never even crossed his mind. He had determined that the Headmaster would find out through idle gossip if he had not told him first, and Albus would have dealt with the consequences at that time. He had even harbored the hope that Armando would retire before his relationship with Minerva had made the rounds. For Albus believed, upon first speculation about Armando’s reaction, that his friend would not approve.

Armando had always followed the rules strictly in his time as Headmaster. Granted, he took ideas into consideration should they have merit, but all in all, he tended to avoid risk at all costs. He left the big changes and ideas to others who, as he put it to Albus at one time, were better suited for the upheaval they would create.

Armando’s strict adherence to the rules would not shed favorable light on him and Minerva. There were questionable ethics involved in their relationship should it continue. And Albus was determined to do everything in his power to make sure that it did. Albus’ main concern with Armando, other than the possibility of losing his respect, was that the Headmaster might take steps to make sure that he not see Minerva in the future, at least not while she was on staff.

Albus looked into Armando’s eyes and was prepared to defend his relationship with a list of arguments he had prepared earlier, arguments he had hoped to never have to use. What he saw, however, was not disappointment or disapproval, but rather a look of support and happiness.

“Oh don’t be so surprised, Albus. Surely you didn’t think I’d condemn you for something of which I am all too familiar. Besides, I rather like Minerva, and from what I’ve seen of her so far, she’ll be good for you.”

Armando’s wife used to be the mediwitch at Hogwarts before she passed on several years ago. Albus had always been under the impression that they had been together before Margaret started at Hogwarts. And back then, the mediwitch was under the jurisdiction of St. Mungo’s. He wasn’t quite sure how Armando’s relationship with his wife could be compared with his and Minerva’s.

“I’m glad of your approval, Armando. It was my understanding, however, that you and Margaret were together before she began at Hogwarts.”

Armando gave him a rather pointed look. “It is interesting what one believes based on rumors and speculation. Besides, you and Minerva are together now and she doesn’t start here for another week.”

Albus wasn’t sure that the Board of Governors would agree with Armando’s view of when it began, should the matter come to their attention. He was silent as he waited for Armando to reveal more of his thinking. The best way to get the older wizard to talk was to wait patiently, something Albus had certainly perfected over the years of working with the Headmaster.

“I’m sure you’ve heard that Margaret and I were sweethearts before she began at Hogwarts. In fact, you should have heard that she took the job in the infirmary so that we could be closer and see each other more frequently. I know all of this, not because it is true or because I have heard the rumors myself, but because I’m the one who spread word of our relationship, the way I wanted it to appear, not necessarily the way it actually happened.”

Albus knew he probably appeared surprised, and possibly disbelieving. Neither reaction was one that often appeared on his features. He was all too familiar with deception and maneuvering, the war had required it, but he had never considered Armando to be quite so adept at it.

“Come now. I may be old and I may not have stood up for much in my tenure here, but I am well aware of what is in my best interests and how to make things work to my advantage. Hogwarts has gone through many professors in the last hundred years, and as positions change, details are forgotten. I simply helped change them as it became apparent that St. Mungo’s would be pulling out of Hogwarts, or rather ejected by the Board of Governors, amicably of course.

“Now, I didn’t stray far from the truth. Margaret and I began to see each other relatively shortly after she began her apprenticeship here. We were also married rather quickly, the summer after her first term. And you are well aware that there is not a bylaw against the Headmaster being married to a professor, it is simply frowned upon, and it makes excellent fodder for the press.

“Just remember one thing, my friend, the love of a woman, one who completes you so wholly that you can’t imagine how you lived before you met, is worth more than any position or job.”

Armando raised himself from his seat slowly. It was obvious the conversation had exhausted him. He nodded at Albus as he reached the door from the office to his personal rooms. “Be happy, Albus.” And with those words, he took his leave.

Albus sat in stunned silence as he carefully digested Armando’s words of advice and the story he’d just heard. Never in his wildest dreams did he think his mentor capable of distorting the truth for personal gain, but in this instance Albus could see no harm in presenting the story of their romance in a way that could only benefit them. In fact, he was almost certain that the older wizard was giving him some sage advice for his own romantic life.

He smiled to himself until he was nearly on the verge of a chuckle. This was something he would certainly have to discuss with Minerva, but it was a conversation he could easily see them having. There was something about her, something that drew him to her and made him want to always be near her. If he hadn’t known better, he would have sworn she was part vela, and her alluring powers were what had attracted him to her in the first place. But, knowing how he felt about her, even when she was nowhere nearby and knowing her background, he couldn’t deny that he was just hopelessly in love with her. Fate had smiled down upon him and sent him a beautiful witch who seemed to return his affections in equal measure.

Albus looked up and noted the time. If he didn’t rush back to his rooms, he would surely miss Minerva’s fire call for the evening. She’d promised to contact him this evening around eight since he had contacted her the night before. Never had Albus dated someone who was so willing to give as much, if not more, than she asked of him in return. Yet one more reason to love her and cherish her for the rest of his days.

As he made his way back to his rooms, his thoughts strayed to their upcoming date and his hopes for the evening. He could say with some great deal of certainty that Minerva felt as he did about the progression of their relationship. He had no plans to seduce her, per se, but if things took a natural progression on Saturday, he would do nothing to stop the chain of events, unless of course Minerva had objections. He’d even made arrangements for the Head of Hufflepuff to look after his Gryffindors until late Sunday. However, he had decided not to tell Minerva until the time was right, just in case she might feel he was pressuring her.

Promptly at eight, the fireplace erupted in a blaze and Minerva’s head appeared, calling out his name. “Are you there?”

“I’m here,” he assured her, settling on the rug and greeting her with a smile. “I wouldn’t miss a chance to talk to you and wish you sweet dreams.”

She laughed and shook her head. “My dreams are anything but sweet these days. They’ve moved beyond that to more provocative realms,” she teased with a wink. She was very grateful that the fire tended to distort features for she was sure she was blushing furiously.

“Ah, then we must surely be sharing the same muse for mine have been rather exciting of late, though that’s most likely because you are the star of my dreams.” He wished desperately to reach out and caress her cheek and to hold her in his arms, even for just a few stolen moments. To feel her warmth and softness pressed against him would have surely made his day complete. He was snapped from his thoughts by her soothing voice.

“I’m looking forward to our date. I am very excited about spending some time with you, and in anticipation of the snow, I went to a Muggle shop and bought some marshmallows … for roasting over the fire in case we don’t get that moonlit stroll we talked about.”

“That sounds lovely. Maybe, if you’re agreeable and weather permits, we can do both. The stroll and the marshmallows,” he suggested. His mind raced back to his earlier musings and how they might possibly spend the remainder of the evening.

It was nearly half an hour later before either of them realized the time and that they needed to end the connection.

“Sleep well, Albus, and I’ll see you tomorrow. Happy dreams,” she said softly.

“And you, my darling. May your dreams be wonderful and leave you feeling happy in the morning light. I cannot wait to see you in person tomorrow. Sleep well.”

And with that, the fire connection was closed and Albus was left with a silly grin on his face. Yes, tomorrow evening would be something special. He could feel it down to his very soul.


A/N: Well, there you have it … the answer to the identity of the person at the door. Were you surprised? Nope, we didn’t think you would be! There are two chapters left, and we hope you have enjoyed this chapter and the story thus far.

[dianahawthorne]

Great job, as always, and I can't wait for the next one!

[bethj4013]

Okay it is the weekend and I have time to read more now I just need an update.

[admmityourlove]

You two just have such an incredible ability to write our favorite couple in the most romantic way possible in each of your stories, but in a different way each time. I can't fathom it, but I love where this is headed. Please update again soon!

[Hogwarts Duo]

Apr 3, 2009 21:21:16 GMT -5 admmityourlove said:

You two just have such an incredible ability to write our favorite couple in the most romantic way possible in each of your stories, but in a different way each time. I can't fathom it, but I love where this is headed. Please update again soon!

Wow, what a lovely thing to say and we truly appreciate the compliment! We try, very hard, to come up with new ideas for ADMM and sometimes that poses a true challenge for us. It's always nice to hear, though, that others appreciate the work we stories we weave and the way we write Albus and Minerva. Your reviews keep us writing and trying.

To bethj4013: I hate to disappoint you, but we just uploaded chapter 10 on Thursday, so there won't be another update for a few days. We have two chapters left to the story and they're both written so it's just a matter of timing. Hope you'll be able to wait a few more days for the next chapter!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Ang & Lisa