Post by osusprinks on Sept 30, 2006 7:58:44 GMT -5
A/N: Sorry for the wait! A killer OSU football game (Go Buckeyes!), the first full week of classes, and a grandmother in the hospital will do that to you! Thanks as always to Always Hopeful, Hawk, padishahZ, and the Dancing Banana for reading, editing, and hand holding. 
Chapter Four
On the way back to his rooms, Albus had come to an important conclusion. He could no longer hide his feelings for Minerva from her. Even when he tried his actions seemed to betray him; his work in Minerva’s rooms tonight was a perfect example. Perhaps it was time for direct action. After all, she hadn’t seemed upset with his attentions to her or her rooms. Perhaps there was hope.
“Charleston Chew,” he said to the gargoyle, then took the stairs to his office. Fawkes was sitting on his desk already beginning to molt. Albus picked up his fiery friend and carried him into the bedroom. Fawkes’ special pillow, where he preferred to spend his burning day and the first days afterward, was ready on Albus’ nightstand. Albus remembered when his mother had first presented the pillow to Fawkes many years ago. It was a beautiful, bright purple of the softest fabric. His mother had hand-embroidered lemon drops onto the pillow and charmed them to smell of the sweets. The pillow had pleased Albus almost as much as Fawkes. Over the years other women in Albus’ life had given Fawkes presents, attempting to woo the familiar in order to get closer to the man. Each time, Fawkes had rejected the gifts.
When Minerva had presented Fawkes with his bird bath the Christmas before, Albus had been worried. The gift was beautiful. Made from fine marble, it seemed almost too elegant for a bird’s bath. Delicate carvings of birds of every type covered the stand and the outside of the basin. While Albus enjoyed watching the carvings as they interacted, he was enamored with the bowl itself. The bottom contained a carving of a phoenix, which looked much like Fawkes. The ever-fresh water which filled the basin changed colors often, cycling from neon green to fuchsia and back again while the central carving mirrored Fawkes’ every move. Albus was amazed by the gift and had never seen anything like it.
He was sorry that he would have to tell Minerva about Fawkes and his refusals of gifts. He didn’t want to see her disappointed and it was obvious she had put a lot of thought and effort into the bath. As Albus had tried to find the right words, an amazing thing happened. Fawkes had flown over to the bath and with only a moments’ hesitation landed in the water. As he flitted around and began to groom, Minerva had smiled and whispered, “I think he likes it, Albus.”
Albus had known Fawkes liked it. He also knew the bird’s acceptance of the gift meant his familiar accepted Minerva as well. Looking back, Albus believed that had been the low point in his dealings with his feelings for Minerva. He had long known they would never have anything but a platonic relationship, but to realize that the same woman he was destined to remain only friends with was the one woman Fawkes accepted had been difficult.
Albus saw Fawkes settled for the night before returning to his office to think. He reached for a lemon drop, hearing Minerva’s voice in his mind, scolding him for eating yet another sweet. Minerva. His thoughts centered on her more than anything or anyone else. Sometimes he believed everything he did and had done in the last ten years was done to please her. As he thought of their past, Albus realized that, while he’d been happy as her closest friend and confidant, he could no longer be satisfied with only that.
Albus stood and walked over to the bird bath. He watched as the carving slept, loosing its feathers, looking older minute by minute. He too was running out of time. Albus’ thoughts returned again to that last Christmas.
He realized that his sudden need to tell Minerva of his feelings was not as sudden as he had originally believed. As Albus thought back, he saw a pattern of events leading up to his epiphany. First had been the Valentines’ Ball.
In their many years as colleagues, Albus and Minerva had somehow come to a tacit agreement that they would attend the balls together. Though they rarely danced, spending their time conversing and supervising their students, they had come to a silent understanding to spend the time together. But this year things had changed.
A few weeks before the ball was to be held, Albus had asked Minerva if she would accompany him. At the time, Albus had seen nothing strange in his courtesy and Minerva had seemed to take it in stride. Now Albus realized he’d asked Minerva to the ball in order to ensure that she would remain by his side the whole evening and that he would not have to share her company.
As Albus thought back over the previous year, there were many instances in which his actions, though they’d seemed perfectly normal at the time, could have been taken as romantic overture. Over the summer he had planned picnics for the two of them, some on Hogwarts’ grounds while others took place in exotic locations he had always wanted to take her. While his favorite place had been on the bank of the Nile, hers had been in St. Petersburg, where they had also attended the ballet. Albus realized he had, also for the first time, given her flowers for her birthday. They had been a new creation of Pomona Sprout’s, a beautiful and simple white lily which smelled of daisies. Albus had taken one look and smell of the flowers and fallen in love. He’d wanted to share them with Minerva and the next day had been her birthday, though he supposed the several bouquets he’d delivered may have been a little much.
Albus shook his head, wondering at his own blind ignorance. He sincerely hoped this was the only area of his life in which his subconscious so blatantly betrayed him without him noticing.
Oh and then there had been his proposal. How could he have forgotten that day? He’s been so obvious. He knew no other friends who would be willing to marry just to help out one’s family situation. It was amazing Minerva didn’t realize then what Albus’ true feelings were.
Albus felt a small amount of doubt creep back into his heart. What if she had realized, but did not wish to hurt his feelings by telling him her own Albus tried to remember any change in her behavior towards him after their conversation that day. She hadn’t acted differently as he remembered but then, at the time he hadn’t fully been aware of his own actions. How could he be sure of her reactions?
Albus took another sweet before checking Fawkes once more. He changed into his favorite teal pajamas with lilac kittens playing at the hems. Albus lay down in his bed and pulled the covers up to his long crooked nose, still thinking about Minerva.
“This is no good,” Albus said aloud, more firmly than he intended as he sat up suddenly, waking Fawkes. He went on in a softer tone, “Either she will have me or she won’t. I’m going to stop worrying.”
Fawkes sang a harsh note in protest before falling back to sleep.
“Yes, it’s unlikely, I know. But I must try,” Albus said before rolling onto his side and eventually falling asleep.
As the two slept, neither noticed a small tabby cat enter the room.
A/N: My first cliffhanger (even if it may be more of a step than a cliff)! Thanks again for reading and to all my reviewers! You make my day with your comments!
Chapter Four
On the way back to his rooms, Albus had come to an important conclusion. He could no longer hide his feelings for Minerva from her. Even when he tried his actions seemed to betray him; his work in Minerva’s rooms tonight was a perfect example. Perhaps it was time for direct action. After all, she hadn’t seemed upset with his attentions to her or her rooms. Perhaps there was hope.
“Charleston Chew,” he said to the gargoyle, then took the stairs to his office. Fawkes was sitting on his desk already beginning to molt. Albus picked up his fiery friend and carried him into the bedroom. Fawkes’ special pillow, where he preferred to spend his burning day and the first days afterward, was ready on Albus’ nightstand. Albus remembered when his mother had first presented the pillow to Fawkes many years ago. It was a beautiful, bright purple of the softest fabric. His mother had hand-embroidered lemon drops onto the pillow and charmed them to smell of the sweets. The pillow had pleased Albus almost as much as Fawkes. Over the years other women in Albus’ life had given Fawkes presents, attempting to woo the familiar in order to get closer to the man. Each time, Fawkes had rejected the gifts.
When Minerva had presented Fawkes with his bird bath the Christmas before, Albus had been worried. The gift was beautiful. Made from fine marble, it seemed almost too elegant for a bird’s bath. Delicate carvings of birds of every type covered the stand and the outside of the basin. While Albus enjoyed watching the carvings as they interacted, he was enamored with the bowl itself. The bottom contained a carving of a phoenix, which looked much like Fawkes. The ever-fresh water which filled the basin changed colors often, cycling from neon green to fuchsia and back again while the central carving mirrored Fawkes’ every move. Albus was amazed by the gift and had never seen anything like it.
He was sorry that he would have to tell Minerva about Fawkes and his refusals of gifts. He didn’t want to see her disappointed and it was obvious she had put a lot of thought and effort into the bath. As Albus had tried to find the right words, an amazing thing happened. Fawkes had flown over to the bath and with only a moments’ hesitation landed in the water. As he flitted around and began to groom, Minerva had smiled and whispered, “I think he likes it, Albus.”
Albus had known Fawkes liked it. He also knew the bird’s acceptance of the gift meant his familiar accepted Minerva as well. Looking back, Albus believed that had been the low point in his dealings with his feelings for Minerva. He had long known they would never have anything but a platonic relationship, but to realize that the same woman he was destined to remain only friends with was the one woman Fawkes accepted had been difficult.
Albus saw Fawkes settled for the night before returning to his office to think. He reached for a lemon drop, hearing Minerva’s voice in his mind, scolding him for eating yet another sweet. Minerva. His thoughts centered on her more than anything or anyone else. Sometimes he believed everything he did and had done in the last ten years was done to please her. As he thought of their past, Albus realized that, while he’d been happy as her closest friend and confidant, he could no longer be satisfied with only that.
Albus stood and walked over to the bird bath. He watched as the carving slept, loosing its feathers, looking older minute by minute. He too was running out of time. Albus’ thoughts returned again to that last Christmas.
He realized that his sudden need to tell Minerva of his feelings was not as sudden as he had originally believed. As Albus thought back, he saw a pattern of events leading up to his epiphany. First had been the Valentines’ Ball.
In their many years as colleagues, Albus and Minerva had somehow come to a tacit agreement that they would attend the balls together. Though they rarely danced, spending their time conversing and supervising their students, they had come to a silent understanding to spend the time together. But this year things had changed.
A few weeks before the ball was to be held, Albus had asked Minerva if she would accompany him. At the time, Albus had seen nothing strange in his courtesy and Minerva had seemed to take it in stride. Now Albus realized he’d asked Minerva to the ball in order to ensure that she would remain by his side the whole evening and that he would not have to share her company.
As Albus thought back over the previous year, there were many instances in which his actions, though they’d seemed perfectly normal at the time, could have been taken as romantic overture. Over the summer he had planned picnics for the two of them, some on Hogwarts’ grounds while others took place in exotic locations he had always wanted to take her. While his favorite place had been on the bank of the Nile, hers had been in St. Petersburg, where they had also attended the ballet. Albus realized he had, also for the first time, given her flowers for her birthday. They had been a new creation of Pomona Sprout’s, a beautiful and simple white lily which smelled of daisies. Albus had taken one look and smell of the flowers and fallen in love. He’d wanted to share them with Minerva and the next day had been her birthday, though he supposed the several bouquets he’d delivered may have been a little much.
Albus shook his head, wondering at his own blind ignorance. He sincerely hoped this was the only area of his life in which his subconscious so blatantly betrayed him without him noticing.
Oh and then there had been his proposal. How could he have forgotten that day? He’s been so obvious. He knew no other friends who would be willing to marry just to help out one’s family situation. It was amazing Minerva didn’t realize then what Albus’ true feelings were.
Albus felt a small amount of doubt creep back into his heart. What if she had realized, but did not wish to hurt his feelings by telling him her own Albus tried to remember any change in her behavior towards him after their conversation that day. She hadn’t acted differently as he remembered but then, at the time he hadn’t fully been aware of his own actions. How could he be sure of her reactions?
Albus took another sweet before checking Fawkes once more. He changed into his favorite teal pajamas with lilac kittens playing at the hems. Albus lay down in his bed and pulled the covers up to his long crooked nose, still thinking about Minerva.
“This is no good,” Albus said aloud, more firmly than he intended as he sat up suddenly, waking Fawkes. He went on in a softer tone, “Either she will have me or she won’t. I’m going to stop worrying.”
Fawkes sang a harsh note in protest before falling back to sleep.
“Yes, it’s unlikely, I know. But I must try,” Albus said before rolling onto his side and eventually falling asleep.
As the two slept, neither noticed a small tabby cat enter the room.
A/N: My first cliffhanger (even if it may be more of a step than a cliff)! Thanks again for reading and to all my reviewers! You make my day with your comments!
Grrrr.