Post by dragonlady1290 on Aug 21, 2004 0:01:50 GMT -5
As you can see by the subject, I've got a question. I have a fic (A Lioness, for those of you who might have read it) that I'd like to put up here. It strongly features Albus and Minerva, but it's not exactly shippy. I ship them, of course, but I don't know how to write them together, so I wrote them in an ambiguous and very strong friendship, if that makes sense. There are definitely shippy overtones, though. Excerpt-
“You could not have known,” the headmaster repeated more forcefully. “Even if you had known, you would not have been able to do anything about it. Because of the folly of the Ministry, Dolores Umbridge was given absolute control of Hogwarts in my absence. Though I assure you,” his voice hardened, “the issue of the Blood Quill will be dealt with. Your openly opposing her would only have resulted in your removal from the school as well, depriving your students of the help you could give them. You are a strong woman, Minerva, a lioness who does her utmost to protect her cubs. Do not cause yourself more pain than you already have by berating yourself for things you had no control over. And you are not and have never been ineffective. I have said it before, and I will repeat it again now-Hogwarts needs you. You have always done well by it, and I am confident that you will continue to do so in the future.”
Minerva let a breath out slowly. The headmaster was right; she had been being irrational. There was nothing she could have done that would not have gotten her fired or worse. And the rest…well. She had known Albus for over sixty years, and had looked up to him for all of that time. For him to give her such praise meant a great deal to her. It was also worth thinking about, for she had never known him to give praise that was not deserved. “You are, as always, correct. I was wrong to be so self-pitying, and I am honored beyond words that you think so highly of me.” Tearing her eyes away from Albus’ intense gaze, she looked around the room, starting visibly when she saw the clock. “Good heavens, is that the time? I am sorry, but I really ought to be going.”
Albus said nothing more, but instead stood and helped Minerva to rise before offering her the walking stick. “How I abhor that piece of wood,” she muttered. The headmaster’s mustache twitched.
They walked to the door together, and as Minerva opened it, the headmaster stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Minerva. The Roman goddess of wisdom. You live up to your namesake, my dear. Never forget that.”
She flushed. “Oh-I-Thank you, Albus.”
He smiled, and the twinkle was back in his eyes. “Thank you, Minerva. Good night.”
That's about as shippy as it gets. So, verdict, anyone?
“You could not have known,” the headmaster repeated more forcefully. “Even if you had known, you would not have been able to do anything about it. Because of the folly of the Ministry, Dolores Umbridge was given absolute control of Hogwarts in my absence. Though I assure you,” his voice hardened, “the issue of the Blood Quill will be dealt with. Your openly opposing her would only have resulted in your removal from the school as well, depriving your students of the help you could give them. You are a strong woman, Minerva, a lioness who does her utmost to protect her cubs. Do not cause yourself more pain than you already have by berating yourself for things you had no control over. And you are not and have never been ineffective. I have said it before, and I will repeat it again now-Hogwarts needs you. You have always done well by it, and I am confident that you will continue to do so in the future.”
Minerva let a breath out slowly. The headmaster was right; she had been being irrational. There was nothing she could have done that would not have gotten her fired or worse. And the rest…well. She had known Albus for over sixty years, and had looked up to him for all of that time. For him to give her such praise meant a great deal to her. It was also worth thinking about, for she had never known him to give praise that was not deserved. “You are, as always, correct. I was wrong to be so self-pitying, and I am honored beyond words that you think so highly of me.” Tearing her eyes away from Albus’ intense gaze, she looked around the room, starting visibly when she saw the clock. “Good heavens, is that the time? I am sorry, but I really ought to be going.”
Albus said nothing more, but instead stood and helped Minerva to rise before offering her the walking stick. “How I abhor that piece of wood,” she muttered. The headmaster’s mustache twitched.
They walked to the door together, and as Minerva opened it, the headmaster stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Minerva. The Roman goddess of wisdom. You live up to your namesake, my dear. Never forget that.”
She flushed. “Oh-I-Thank you, Albus.”
He smiled, and the twinkle was back in his eyes. “Thank you, Minerva. Good night.”
That's about as shippy as it gets. So, verdict, anyone?
