A/N: Because so many people (both here and elsewhere) have asked us for an epilogue, we tried our best to give you one to thank you for reading and commenting on our stories! We truly hope you will enjoy our efforts:
EPILOGUE
“Not going to bed without me tonight, are you?” he teased. But upon seeing her exasperated expression, he quickly tried to make amends. “Still pondering over the choices, my dear? You know, we don’t have to decide anything tonight, this week, or even this month. There’s still plenty of time,” he said, climbing onto the bed with her and drawing her into his arms.
Minerva readily accepted the comfort he was offering, and closed her eyes as she snuggled into his embrace. “I know that, but I thought it would be easy to at least eliminate something from the group.” She sighed heavily. “It would have been much simpler if you’d just told me where we were going instead of laying the world at my feet.”
He chuckled, softly at first, then began to shake from trying to hold in his laughter. Before long, Minerva, too, was laughing so hard, she had tears forming in her eyes.
“Yes, blame it on your poor old husband who thought he was giving his loving wife the perfect gift for their anniversary. Whatever was I thinking?” He was trying to sound serious, but it was hard since they were both having a good laugh about it.
“How silly of me? Tell you what ... why don’t you surprise me and you choose?” She had tried this tactic on more than one occasion but his response was always the same.
“I am merely a pawn in your chess game, my queen. It is for you to decide our fate.”
“Yes, well how lovely for you. Perhaps I should decide on some place Muggle so that we’ll be forced to dress as they do. I know how much you love those trousers the men wear,” she said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“But you look so handsome in them, Albus,” she said, trying to sound innocent and sweet. “The way the trousers mold around your arse and the ease with which I can see how I’m affecting other bits of you ... mmm, it’s getting warm in here,” she said with a purr.
He took her hand in his and kissed it softly before drawing her index finger between his lips and giving it a little suckle. “Yes, it is, but we have a mess on the bed and you have rounds to make in one half hour.” He tilted her face up to his and kissed her softly on the lips. “However, I promise to have the clutter removed from the bed, the sheets turned down, a glass of wine in my hand for you, and a bathtub of hot water waiting when you get back. How’s that sound?”
Minerva reached up and caressed his cheek. “Sounds like a little slice of heaven. Thank you. Right now, though, I’d like to stay right where I am until I have to leave.”
He pressed his lips to her temple and tightened his arms around her. “I think that can be arranged, with ease, my dear, with ease.”
Minerva’s lips were still tingling as she shut the door to their rooms so she could start her turn at the nightly rounds. Their pleasant cuddling had somehow turned into a bit of a snogging session, and now the parts of her body that were humming with pleasure outnumbered the ones that were not. And on top of it all, she was starting her rounds late. Still, she wouldn’t have changed any of it. She loved Albus, and she particularly loved being loved by Albus. The man could do amazing things with his lips and fingers. Even his eyes, focused on her so completely, could make her weak in the knees. And thinking about it all again was making her weak in the knees, which certainly wasn’t going to help her rounds go faster.
She instead decided to focus on the brochures. There were so many of them. What should one do for their twenty-fifth anniversary? Was Italy better than Switzerland? Should they travel to South America where there were many historical magical sites to behold? Perhaps Paris would be best as it was close to home. They’d been there several times, but she’d always enjoyed each trip. Then again, she enjoyed any trip that involved Albus. They weren’t the traveling sort, choosing to stay home together if possible, but each time they went on holiday, she had a wonderful time.
Celebrating twenty-five years should be special, or so she’d been told. Her mother and Poppy both agreed that they should celebrate and do something exciting. Poppy had practically had heart palpitations when Minerva had secretly confessed she’d rather just stay home. Why did momentous events have to be surrounded by pomp and circumstance, or at the very least, extravagance? Why couldn’t the special moments be celebrated quietly with those who mattered most?
Giving a soft sigh, Minerva shook her head to clear it. She would need to choose someplace to go. She didn’t want to disappoint Albus, and he’d been so enthusiastic when presenting the brochures to her. Maybe if she stopped worrying about all the possibilities, the perfect place would come to her. However, before any place had a chance to come to mind, Minerva heard hushed voices coming from one of the cupboards down the hall.
Minerva never enjoyed finding students out and about when they were supposed to be in their dormitories for the night. She particularly did not enjoy finding them in cupboards, where the likelihood of seeing them in various states of indecency increased. But she had come to realize that as summer drew closer, the lovesick saw the coming break as a void during which they would never see their beloved. Ridiculous mostly, but the young were predisposed to such emotional thoughts. So, making sure her boots were quite audible on the stone corridor, Minerva marched up to the door and flung it open.
“Bloody hell!”
Minerva clutched her heart as she stumbled backward. A rather white and hairy arse was speedily being shoved into a pair of trousers. Obviously this was not a couple of students as she had assumed. The expletive had been issued by a deep, gruff voice, presumably the owner of the arse and trousers. It took Minerva a moment to recover enough to address the site before her, speaking just after the sound of a zipper closing filled the air.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Oh thank goodness! I’m so glad it’s you,” said a feminine voice, an all-too-familiar feminine voice.
“Poppy?” Minerva craned her neck to get a view of her friend. Poppy was leaning against the back wall straightening her skirt, her usually neat bun in disarray, and a pink tinge to her face. She seemed to be avoiding Minerva’s eyes. Minerva backed away from the door to allow the couple to exit the small space they were currently trapped in.
“I’m afraid Alastor and I didn’t quite make it to the door,” Poppy said in a breathy voice as she stepped out.
“Yes, I can see that.”
“He’s going to be on an extended assignment, so he stopped in to say goodbye. I wanted to give him a proper send off.” Poppy was straightening her hair as she said this, but stopped to give a warm smile to the Auror beside her.
“In a cupboard?”
“No, I took care of that before the cupboard.”
Minerva felt her cheeks flush at that pronouncement, and she noticed Alastor was looking at his boots as if they were the most interesting things in the world. However, that didn’t stop him from announcing that he thought it was time for him to leave. Minerva wished him a safe trip from her and Albus, and Poppy gave him a send off that made Minerva turn away. She certainly didn’t want that sight visiting her dreams. Only when she heard Alastor’s boots receding did she turn back around to see Poppy staring after her lover.
“You are very lucky that Albus is able to stay at the castle so much of the time. I worry when Alastor goes on assignment. He seems to be gone so frequently these days.”
Minerva put an arm around Poppy’s shoulders and squeezed. After a few moments, she suggested they return to Poppy’s rooms for some tea. Albus, her bath, and those brochures would have to wait.
With Minerva on rounds, Albus set about to take care of the few things he’d promised to have done while she was away. His first priority was to remove the cause of her apparent stress and frustration, which just happened to be the numerous brochures now littering their bed and even the floor. He smiled to himself as he bent to pick up the ones that had been pushed from the bed. Minerva certainly was an amazing kisser, and he could so easily be drawn into her embrace and warmth, forgetting everything around them for as long as she’d allow. Unfortunately, their timing had been a bit off this evening, and she’d had to part rather hastily to start her rounds.
He took a moment to look at each of the brochures before adding it to his growing stack on the bedside table. Every one of the destinations looked enchanting, some place he might like to visit at some point in time—or revisit, as the case may be—but nothing really called to his heart. In truth, he had only stopped by the travel office to get some ideas, but had been easily overwhelmed by the choices. Rather than bringing Minerva to Muggle London and having her sort through the dozens of choices, he thought he’d be nice and bring the world to her. He sighed softly. If he’d known it was going to be so hard for her to choose, though, he would have only brought home the ones that might be most appealing to her.
With all the little pamphlets tucked away neatly inside the bedside table drawer, he turned his attention to the bed. They had managed to make a little bit of a mess of it, but he wasn’t going to complain. He chuckled softly as he remembered Minerva swearing softly in his ear as the mantle clock chimed the hour and she realized she was late. She had left him in something of an uncomfortable state, but duty beckoned and she was never one to shirk her responsibilities. However, in hindsight, her departure would allow him a little time to create a more relaxing atmosphere for her—more relaxing than the one he saw when he first entered their bedroom at least.
With fresh sheets on the bed, the covers turned down and the pillows fluffed, Albus called for their house-elf, Daisy, and asked that she bring up a bottle of their private reserves and maybe a nice cheese as a small snack. A nice red wine, cheese, and some candles should go a long way towards promoting their continued amorous activities once Minerva returned. Of course, he had also promised her a hot bath, but he’d wait a little before running the water in the bathtub.
After seeing that everything was to his liking, Albus realized he had a little bit of time on his hands, so he sat down in his favorite chintz chair by the fireplace and started to read. Chapter after chapter, page after page passed until something in the back of Albus’ mind started nipping at his memory, causing him to lose his concentration. He withdrew his pocket watch and was shocked to see the time. Minerva should have been back an hour ago, unless she caught someone out of bed. He sighed softly. That would mean a night of detentions at some point, and she was never happy with those, especially if the offending students turned out to be her cubs. Deciding he would give her another few minutes before asking Daisy to find her in the castle, he went into the bathroom to start her bubble bath.
He’d just turned off the tap and cast a charm on the water to help it retain its warmth when he heard their bedroom door open and close with a soft click.
“Albus? I’m back,” she said softly, before sitting down on the small bench at the foot of their bed to remove her boots.
He stuck his head out of the bathroom and smiled with relief. “I was beginning to grow worried. I’m assuming you ran into a bit of late night mischief-making or canoodling by some of our lovelorn charges.”
Minerva gave an uncharacteristic snort and shook her head. “If only! I don’t think I’ll ever get that image out of my mind, unless you’re kind enough to Obliviate me,” she said with a shudder.
Albus’ brows wrinkled as he silently asked the question begging to be answered. He knelt at her feet and began to run his hands up her left leg, gently rolling down her stocking and massaging her calf as he waited for more of an answer.
Minerva closed her eyes and sighed softly, letting her body relax under his touch. “Seems Alastor has been called away on a mission and he stopped by to tell Poppy.”
“Ah, that was nice. I hope he won’t be gone for too long this time.” Albus took a few seconds to gently massage each of her toes before moving on to the right leg and continuing.
“The way those two were going at it, you’d think it was a life sentence in Azkaban! Honestly … in a cupboard, Albus. I thought it was a set of students out of bed. But, oh no! It was Alastor and Poppy … in the cupboard. I will never look at him the same way, I swear.”
Albus raised up on his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist, his thumbs rubbing her sides gently. “What on earth did you see? I mean, aside from them apparently sharing some passionate kisses in a cupboard? Highly uncomfortable place for a romantic interlude, I’d think,” he said, his mind suddenly deviating from the conversation for a bit of rambling on its own.
“I saw his bottom, Albus. I literally flung open the door and caught them in mid … Albus, I have never been more embarrassed. Seeing students in varying states of disarray is one thing, but to see your best friend and her lover.” She shuddered. “I opened the door, thinking I was about to catch some students, but all I saw was Alastor’s arse before I heard him swear and I took a step back. They both seemed rather shaken, obviously, but damn it, that’s what locking spells are for, or silencing charms at the very least,” she grumbled.
“Yes, those have been handy for us from time to time, haven’t they, my dear?” he teased. He could obviously see the humor in the situation, having not experienced it first hand, but the slap on his shoulder from Minerva was enough to wipe the smirk from his face.
“It’s not funny, Albus. If I were Poppy, I would have been mortified, even though all her bits were covered, thankfully.”
Albus leaned up and kissed Minerva softly on the lips to silence her, then let his lips begin to trail sensually along her neck. As he continued to kiss her, in the hopes of calming her and banishing those images from her mind, his deft fingers began to work on removing her robes. “You have a lovely bubble bath waiting,” he said as he nibbled on her left earlobe. “When you’re done, there is wine and cheese … and me, of course,” he teased.
“Oh, no! After teasing me earlier and then starting it all over again, you’re coming with me … literally,” she said, trying to sound serious but not able to contain her laughter at her own pun.
It was well past midnight before they finally put out the last remaining candle and settled down for a good sleep. They were both sated and had much more pleasant things to dream about than Alastor and Poppy and their compromising position or the travel brochures.
Over a week had passed since the night of Minerva’s rounds, and Albus found himself missing his wife. She had been very busy of late, and he finally decided to take matters into his own hands. Smiling to himself, he walked down the hall, a basket dangling from his arm. The aroma of ginger newts and steaming tea floated up to him. It was the middle of the afternoon, and the halls were quiet as classes were in session. However, Minerva’s schedule was free during this period, and Albus had every intention of surprising her with a little break from her usual routine. He quietly eased open the door and gazed upon his beloved. Minerva’s head was bent over her desk, a quill poised above a piece of parchment. A look of intense concentration was accented by a frown as she made striking marks with her quill.
“What poor students bear your wrath?” Albus inquired as he made his way into the room.
Minerva looked up and smiled at him, a gesture that always caused a budding warmth in his chest. “No student, luckily, only a list. To what do I owe the honor of a visit from our esteemed Headmaster?”
He chuckled at her remark as he reached the front of the room. “Your esteemed Headmaster was hoping you might break for a spot of tea … and possibly some of your favorite ginger newts.”
Minerva was out of her seat almost before he finished. “Oh, Albus, you shouldn’t have.”
“But you won’t stop me,” Albus teased. “Come, sit and relax.”
Albus took the nearest desk and chairs and Transfigured something of proper size and comfort for them. He also shot a spell at the door to lock it and ward off unexpected visitors. He pulled out Minerva’s chair for her and then began to unload the basket. He glanced at his wife under the guise of setting things up and noticed she appeared rather tired. She’d been putting in some extra hours and seemed to be more on edge of late.
“So, what is this list that has you in such a state?” Albus asked as he took his own seat.
Minerva took her time pouring their tea and serving herself a couple of her favorite biscuits. “You’ll be cross with me, but it’s a list of pros and cons on places to go for our anniversary.”
Albus frowned as he took a sip of the warm tea. “I’m not cross, just concerned. I wish I had not given you the brochures. I thought it would make things easier, but it has only added stress to the decision. I am truly sorry.”
Minerva stood from her seat and quickly inserted herself onto his lap. “My dear Albus, your gesture was very kind. It’s me. I feel so responsible for picking the perfect place for us to go. After all, it’s not every day a witch gets to celebrate twenty-five years with the wizard she loves.”
Minerva leaned down and kissed him gently on his lips. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the softness. When she leaned back, he looked at her. He saw her dark shining hair, her porcelain like skin, full, pink lips, and slender neck. All the features he loved and had grown used to gazing upon. But one feature was not as it normally appeared. Her beautiful green eyes were not happy. They were marred by worry, and Albus felt responsible. He wanted Minerva to enjoy their anniversary, and he thought letting her pick their destination would ensure her pleasure, but now he realized that certainly was not the case.
Albus came to a decision and smiled up at Minerva. “My intention with the brochures was to have you pick out the place you most wanted to go, while providing all of the options I thought you would enjoy.”
“And it was very thoughtful,” Minerva interrupted.
Albus held up his hand, placing a single finger upon her lips to silence her. “However, the task is an overwhelming one. There are so many wonderful places to visit and choosing one above all others may be impossible. How would you feel if I took over that task? I know you’ve narrowed down the decision, and you are, of course, welcome to choose our final destination if you would like, but I would be happy to take the task from you and spare you any distress it is causing, if you would permit me.”
A bright smile broke out on his wife’s face and the worry seemed to fall from her eyes. “Oh, Albus, that would be wonderful. I have narrowed down the list of places to just a handful, so I know I will be happy with whichever one you choose.”
Albus smiled at the happiness that radiated from Minerva now that he was taking over the anniversary plans. He felt light himself for the decision, and chided himself for not thinking of it sooner. They embraced before Minerva extracted herself to finish her tea and biscuits. When they were finished, Minerva handed him her list, including a rather heated kiss with the transaction.
“I am a lucky witch to have captured your heart, Albus Dumbledore,” Minerva said quietly as Albus reached the door to her classroom.
“Not nearly as lucky as I am, my dear,” he said, looking at her with all the love he felt in his heart. “I love you and will see you after classes.”
With that, Albus exited the room and headed to his office so he could look over the list she had given him. It was time to make some plans about how to proceed.
It was the last week of classes, and Albus had been working very hard on his idea for their anniversary outing, but he had hit a major stumbling block. In order for his plan to be successful, he was going to have to seek some help. Fortunately for him, he knew the perfect witch for the job, and felt he had a rather brilliant idea.
While Minerva was busy teaching her last class of the year before the students boarded the train and headed home for the holidays, Albus visited the infirmary. After being assured that the witch would keep his secrets, Albus laid out his plan for her, explaining only what he felt necessary for the first part of his plan to be successful.
“So, you will invite Minerva to London for the day, a witches’ outing, if you will. Later that evening, you’ll have premium seats for The Nutcracker. Minerva made a comment about seeing it when we were shopping in London, but she only mentioned it once. I’m not a huge fan of the ballet, you see. I prefer plays and a little bit of opera.” He handed Poppy the two tickets in an envelope and grinned. “Meanwhile, I’m going to be working on my anniversary project, so keep her out as late as you’d like, though I will try to be back in our rooms by midnight.”
Poppy looked at him with awe and excitement. “Albus, these seats must have cost a small fortune. Are you sure you don’t want to take Minerva as part of your anniversary gift to her? I’m sure she’d enjoy going with you much more than she would me,” Poppy said, being as sincere as possible, though secretly excited about seeing the ballet.
Albus shook his head and chuckled softly. “No. My Minerva would enjoy your company more than mine on this one, I’m afraid. She knows my feelings about the ballet and she would know I was only going to please her, getting very little enjoyment from it myself.” He held up his hand to stop her from offering any additional arguments. “Please, consider it a gift from us for helping with our anniversary trip and for being such a wonderful friend.”
Poppy smiled and nodded her head. “You don’t have to give me expensive gifts for being your friend, but I sincerely thank you. I’ll speak with Minerva at dinner about the tickets and the day in London. Is she supposed to know where I got the tickets?”
Albus shook his head. “I would prefer that she didn’t, though I don’t expect you to lie to her either. You may simply say they’re a gift from a grateful friend. That should appease her curiosity ... for a bit at least,” he said with a laugh. “Perhaps after all is said and done, we can confess to this little conversation.”
After dinner, as Albus and Minerva were preparing for bed, Minerva kept going on and on about the wonderful friend Poppy had and the tickets. She had enthusiastically accepted the offer, and even as she brushed her teeth, she continued to talk about the ballet and how much they were going to enjoy the performance. Albus merely nodded and added innocent comments from time to time, all the while mentally planning his day and adding things to his mental list of things to do while they were away.
It was the day before New Year’s Eve, and Albus rose early in order to have breakfast ready for Minerva. He had asked the elves to set up the table in their sitting room near the fireplace. He wanted to spend a little time with Minerva, and it would also help motivate him to leave as soon as she left with Poppy for their outing.
Breakfast had been met with great enthusiasm and delight. Minerva had enjoyed his little surprise, and they’d even had time to enjoy a little cuddle on the sofa before it was time to shower and dress for the day.
As soon as Poppy and Minerva left for London, Albus gathered a few things he’d recently purchased but secretly kept hidden. He was in for a long day, but he was certainly looking forward to it. Hopefully, the look on Minerva’s face would be well worth his day of hard labor.
From the moment he’d taken over the arduous task of deciding on a place to take Minerva for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, he’d had nothing but trouble. He could now fully understand her frustration and sleepless nights over the matter. He knew, in his heart at least, that wherever he decided to take her, she would be happy, but none of the places felt right. His heart just wasn’t happy. Fortunately, his mind kept coming back to one simple thought: home is where the heart is.
So, his idea had been born early one morning before the first rays of the sun had ever peeked over the mountain ridge. After a rather intense and vivid dream, Albus knew exactly what he needed to do and it would make their special day even more memorable. And that was what led him to this particular day and his tasks while Minerva enjoyed herself with her best friend.
Albus waited a few moments after Minerva and Poppy had Flooed to the Three Broomsticks before taking his leave, just in case they needed to return for something. When he was assured they were well on their way to a fun day, he called for Daisy and they walked to the gates, then Apparated to their little cottage.
It was certainly chilly inside the little house, but Daisy quickly went from room to room and started fires in the fireplaces while Albus cast warming charms in each room. Once they were comfortable, Albus took out a few bits of parchment and the brochures he’d placed inner robes and began to explain his plan to his very enthusiastic house-elf.
Together, they worked, blending their magic together to create the most amazing scenes inside the Dumbledore cottage. Each room was different, but they were all picturesque.
Surveying his work in the master bath, Albus grinned and nodded his head in delight. “Daisy, I think we should break for some tea and think about how to get the bedroom and kitchen to look and feel just right.” The little elf nodded and popped into the kitchen to start the kettle while Albus followed and rummaged in the picnic basket for some biscuits and sandwiches.
It was late in the evening when Albus and Daisy returned to the castle. Both were exhausted but incredibly happy with the work they’d done. The little elf shooed Albus off in the direction of the shower while she went to the kitchen to get him a bowl of hearty stew before seeing to her own meal for the evening. As he was eating, Albus thought of something he’d forgotten. He would need to pack Minerva’s clothes for the following week. If not, he’d have to confess his plan and that would certainly spoil the surprise. So, he ate rather quickly then tried to make a list of everything Minerva might need for a few nights at their cottage, and several appropriate outfits in case they decided to venture out among Muggles or even into the wizarding village.
He’d just finished with his list and tucked it safely into his book when Minerva arrived, looking tired but happy. As she undressed, she told Albus all about their day and the ballet. When she climbed into bed and slid into his arms, she began asking him about his day and what he’d done with it.
“I worked on the last details of our trip, and I’m happy to say that I’m nearly finished. I have only two more things to attend to before we can leave tomorrow, but those won’t take me very long at all. In fact, I may give Daisy my list and have her do them for me while we’re having breakfast.” He was sure that if the house-elf had a list of things to pack, she would know more about which clothes Minerva would prefer and could do a better job of making sure everything was there. “So, I suggest we both get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is a big day for us.”
She smiled and wrapped her arm around his waist and tossed her leg over his as they lay in bed. “You are truly a man of mystery. In case I get so overwhelmed tomorrow and forget to say it … thank you for planning this trip for us. I’m sure it’s going to be wonderful in every sense of the word.” She leaned up and kissed him slowly but with passion, letting all her emotions flow through her lips.
The following day, after breakfast, Albus and Minerva dressed in their warmest cloaks and took a stroll across the grounds. As they neared the gates, Albus took her hand in his and led her beyond the Hogwarts wards. “Ready to take a little trip?” he asked, giving her hand a squeeze.
“I thought you’d never ask. Are we Apparating or continuing on our walk? Maybe using a Portkey?”
“You ask too many questions. I have a little something for you before we go anywhere.” He reached into his pocket and produced a small purple box in his hand and offered it to Minerva.
She gently took the small box from Albus’ outstretched hand and questioned him with her eyes.
“Open it, then I’ll explain,” he answered softly. His heart was starting to beat in his chest as random thoughts began to swirl though his mind. What if she didn’t like what he’d done? What if she had truly desired to go somewhere exotic so she could tell her friends all about it? Or what if he had chosen the places she’d least desired? Quickly, he banished those thoughts. No, he had to put his faith in Minerva and their love. He’d spent the last twenty-five years falling in love with her every day. There was no way he could have made those mistakes.
“Albus?” she asked, holding up a silk burgundy blindfold.
He reached out and took the blindfold from her hand and smiled. “Do you trust me, my love?”
“With my life and then some,” was her honest reply, “but that doesn’t answer the questions I have. Care to explain?”
He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. “We talked about doing something special for our anniversary, did we not? And this is all part of that special something. I hope, once we’re there, you’ll enjoy our anniversary trip.”
She caressed his cheek and smiled softly. “I’ve told you countless times, the place is irrelevant. Spending time with you is what I want most. As long as we’re together, what more could I want?”
He placed both hands on her shoulders and leaned in to kiss her passionately before turning her around. “Then allow me to whisk you away to our destination.” He dropped a light kiss just below her ear then tied the blindfold around her. After making certain she couldn’t see, he drew her against his chest and cradled her head in the crook of his neck. “I’m going to Apparate us there, if that’s acceptable to you.” When she nodded and wrapped her arms even tighter around his waist and lightly kissed the side of his neck, he closed his eyes and with a soft pop, they were gone.
Minerva didn’t think they’d gone very far, but with Albus she could never be certain. He had the magical ability to transport them almost anywhere with a single Apparition, so she had no idea where they might be or if this was, indeed, their final destination. She took a moment to listen for anything that might give her some clues, but all was silent, almost too silent.
The air was still crisp and cold. At least that much was certain. That ruled out all of the exotic brochures he’d brought home for her to inspect. But that still left so many others. But before she could begin to ask Albus even one question, he was leading her, still blindfolded, up a cobblestone pathway and through a doorway. It wasn’t until they were safely inside the building that he finally spoke for the first time since they’d arrived.
“Here, let me take your cloak,” he said as he helped her slip it off her shoulders, then sent it flying to the post on the wall. He did the same with his cloak then wrapped his arms around Minerva from behind, softly whispering into her ear. “Take a moment and use your senses. Describe to me what you cannot see.”
Minerva took a moment and tried to hone her senses, calling upon all her knowledge and instincts to help her form an answer. “It’s warm in this place, much warmer than outside. It’s not just from a fire in the fireplace, either. No, it’s a special warmth.” She thought for a moment. “It reminds me of a cold winter morning at my grandmother’s house. I’d wake before everyone else and go downstairs to the kitchen and sit with her as she sipped her first cup of tea. She’d warm milk for me and we’d sit at the table waiting on the elves to start breakfast.” She paused, momentarily reliving some of her favorite childhood memories.
“Anything else?” he asked softly, his voice deep and rich in her ear.
“Yes. I smell yeast. I distinctly recognize the smell of baked bread, which leads me to believe I’m in a kitchen. But I don’t know if I’ve been in this kitchen before. Bread could be baked anywhere.”
“Ah, but what’s your favorite breakfast meals? If you could choose your breakfast, what would it be?”
“A slice of warm bread, lightly buttered, and some cheese. Or a croissant with some jam and a rich tea, maybe some cream.” She finally gasped. “Albus, we’re somewhere in France!”
He chuckled softly. “Well done, though you’re not entirely correct.” He removed the blindfold and let it slip from her eyes. “Welcome to your tour of the world, my dear.”
She quickly surveyed the room and was amazed by what she saw. She was standing in her very own kitchen, though she hardly recognized it. The cooker was the same, as was the cooling cupboard, but everything else seemed to have a French feel to it. There was freshly baked bread resting on a cutting board in the center of the table along with some cheese. Bottles of French wine were also present, but the most stunning feature of all was the view from the kitchen window.
Minerva’s eyes were drawn to the window. Just outside was one of the most stunning views she’d ever seen. The highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc, appeared to be just outside her window, covered in snow and reaching heavenward into a clear blue sky. The sun’s rays sparkled off the glistening snow, making it seem as if the entire mountain was covered with millions of tiny sparkling diamonds. With the smell of bread wafting though her kitchen and looking outside this particular window, Minerva would have sworn she had been transported into one of her favorite daydreams.
She crossed the room and moved the pale blue curtain aside so she could more easily see out the window. “Albus … that’s … how did you?” She turned to face him as tears began to form in her eyes. “How did you get Mont Blanc outside of my kitchen window, or am I seeing things?”
He laughed and came to admire his handiwork. “Yes and no. I can’t honestly say that I brought the mountain to you, but I did try. We’ve talked about going on holiday to Chamonix and renting a little chalet where we could lie in bed under the warm blankets and stare out at Mont Blanc while we drank wine and ate our cheese and bread.”
“Oh, Albus. This is perfect,” she replied, her voice a little shaky as her eyes stayed fixed on the scenery imposed on her windows.
“Ah, but don’t be fooled. If you open the window, the image will disappear. I’m sure you know it’s only an illusion, but one I had hoped you’d appreciate.”
Without any warning, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him hard on the lips, rendering them both a little breathless. “It’s amazing and I love you all the more for thinking of this.” She smiled up at him and winked. “But don’t think this gets you off the hook for taking me to the real Chamonix one day.”
He threw up his hands in surrender. “I wouldn’t deprive us the privilege of it, my dear. While we are here, we shall make a list of all the places we both want to see, and we’ll gradually make our way to each and every one of them. I promise you that.”
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “I love you and I couldn’t be happier. These last twenty-five years have been amazing, and I look forward to so many more years together.”
“Don’t you go getting all sappy on me just yet, my dear. You haven’t seen the rest of the house. I promised you the world, and the world you shall have. Did you honestly think that I would merely stop at one destination? We have a whole cottage to explore, at our leisure, of course.”
She looked into his twinkling eyes, and she could feel his excitement making its way into her soul. “Well, don’t just stand here. I want to see the rest of the house, and I want to know when you had time to do all of this!”
Albus chuckled and bent down to place a kiss on the tip of her nose. “A wizard is entitled to a few secrets, my dear.”
“We’ll see about that,” Minerva said playfully. “I’ll let you have your secrets for now, but I’m insisting on the tour.”
“Then we shall begin … after you cover your eyes. I’d like to keep each room a surprise.”
Minerva grinned and dutifully brought her hands up. “Is this good enough, or do you prefer the blindfold?”
The end of Minerva’s question was a seductive purr, and if Albus hadn’t been so excited about showing off his work, the tour would have gone no farther than the kitchen. As it was, he simply slipped his hand around her waist and leaned down until his mouth was nearly touching the shell of her ear, his warm breath caressing her as he spoke.
“Your hands are good where they are, until we find a better use for them.” He felt Minerva shiver in response and he grinned.
Albus moved forward, guiding Minerva out of the kitchen and down the hall to their sitting room. He pulled her inside so she would be able to see everything at once, and stepped back. Gently grasping her wrists, he pulled them down and watched as she opened her eyes.
Minerva gasped as she looked around. She was stunned by the transformation. This room was unlike any room she’d been in before. She was reminded of an old storybook her mother used to read her, where great wizards lived in gilded tents on vast hills of sun-drenched sands.
The ceiling and walls of the room were covered in rich fabrics of red and gold creating the appearance of being in a tent. A large lantern, the metal intricately carved and stunning to behold, hung from the middle of the ceiling giving off a soft glow.
In front of her was a pair of low couches facing each other, each covered in piles of beautifully patterned pillows. Between them was a long dark wood table set with candles, small figurines of animals, and piles of books. Minerva moved into the room to investigate further and discovered the floor was covered in thick, soft rugs.
She looked back at Albus but found she was unsure what to say. He had said she would get a tour of the world, and he had certainly outdone himself so far. She truly felt like she was in a storybook that had come to life.
“Albus, this room is breathtaking. It’s like waking up in a dream.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Albus said as he joined her in the room. “It was an interesting room to transform, and the only one without a window to charm.”
“It’s wonderful, better than I could have imagined for myself.”
Albus slipped his arm around her and pulled her close. Minerva let herself fall into his side as she studied the room a bit longer, noticing more pillows scattered along the floor among some tall vases. A few smaller tables were also hidden amongst the plush surroundings, each with interesting trinkets nestled together on top.
“I love you,” Minerva said softly, looking up at the wizard beside her.
“And I you,” Albus said as he smiled down at her. “Would you like to continue the tour?”
“Does Albus Dumbledore love socks?”
Albus laughed heartily at her comment. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
After the sitting room, Albus led Minerva down the hallway towards their bedroom and the master bathroom. Her heart was pounding with excitement. Everything so far had been utterly amazing, and yet she felt he was saving his most creative ideas for their bedroom and bath.
“I still can’t believe this is our very own cottage, Albus. I wish we could leave it this way, at least for a bit.”
“We can, if you’d like. I hadn’t really made any plans to restore the rooms to their original states and move our regular furniture out of storage.” He placed his hand on her elbow to stop her at the door leading to the bathroom. “If you find a room you absolutely love, we can see about making the changes more permanent after our little holiday. It would take more spell work and time, but it could be done, perhaps over the summer.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. At this point, I’m inclined to say let’s leave everything as it is,” she said with a laugh.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You know how this works by now,” he teased, slipping his hand over her eyes before opening the door. This time, Albus led Minerva into the center of the room but didn’t ask any questions or give her any prompts. He simply removed his hands and whispered into her ear. “Open your eyes.”
Slowly, Minerva opened her eyes and they immediately widened in surprise. She took a second or two to drink in the sight in front of her before turning and looking at the rest of the room.
The first thing Minerva saw was the familiar white claw-foot bathtub with the sparkling silver fixtures in the center of the room, sitting on a lush dark green rug. It had always been something she’d loved about their master bathroom so she was happy to see that Albus had left it. They’d spent many pleasurable hours amongst the bubbles, sloshing water all over the floor and making some very erotic memories. She could easily imagine them making good use of this room later.
The next thing Minerva noticed was that the walls had been charmed. She now had white stucco walls in her bathroom and at the top of the wall, near the ceiling, there appeared to be ivy vines growing, adding just a splash of color to the room. At various intervals around the walls there were arched inserts, which now housed candles to add just the right amount of light and no doubt a romantic glow once the sun went down.
Turning once more to face the tub, Minerva’s eyes were drawn to the window scene. The window had been enlarged and was now in the shape of an arch with a solid pane of glass so there would be no obstruction of the view beyond. She stepped over to the window and gently placed her fingertips on the glass as she truly inspected the landscape.
Just outside the window was a cobblestone pathway leading to a larger patio garden area. There were two white columns with ivy winding its way up and down to add just the right amount of contrast and blending in well with the greenery and blooming flowers closest to the window. Soft shafts of sunlight shone through the tall greenery, reminding Minerva of the little glade she and Albus used in the Forbidden Forest for their secluded picnics. She sighed contentedly even as she discovered new things about the image before her.
Beyond the clay pots with blooming flowers, the ivy, and all the greenery growing in the garden, Minerva could see the railing of a balcony, which overlooked the sea. She could see sailboats with white masts in the distance, and not far away, there was what appeared to be a little village. A large white stucco building with a cerulean colored domed roof with a cross adorning the top was the centerpiece of the village. Immediately, Minerva recognized it as a Muggle church and she had the distinct impression that she was somewhere in Greece.
Albus stood back and watched Minerva’s inspection of the room. “So, my dear, do you have any idea what part of the world you’re in now?” He was now standing behind her, his chin resting on her shoulder as he, too, gazed out the window and admired the scenery.
“Somewhere in Greece?”
His lips brushed the sensitive spot behind her ear before he answered. “The village is Oios and the island is Santorini. It’s somewhere I’ve never been but I’ve always wanted to visit.”
She turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing his face towards hers for a slow, sensual kiss. She took her time in tasting his kiss, teasing him, and letting the moment play out slowly. When their lips parted, she kissed him quickly once more. “Then this summer, we’ll go. It will be wonderful to experience someplace new for both of us. I’ll even plan it, if you’d like.”
He smiled and his eyes sparkled. “I’d like that very much, and I’m glad you approve of the bathroom. Later tonight, we can make use of the candles and the tub. I added some new scents of bubbles to the faucets so you’ll have to give me your opinion on those as well. That, of course, means we’ll have to take quite a few baths while we’re here.”
She giggled. “I don’t think that will be a problem at all. It makes it quite convenient to get a little dirty, take a long soak in the tub, only to get even naughtier in here.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her back to the door. “Only one room left, but it’s the most important. And then, we can kick off our shoes and truly start our anniversary celebration.”
“Lead the way, love. I’m sure you can’t disappoint me.”
Finally, Albus and Minerva made their way to the bedroom. Albus had put the most work into this room and he hoped it still looked as amazing to him in the fresh light of day as it did when he finished decorating it the night before. He held Minerva’s hand in his and gave it a soft squeeze.
“Out of all the places in the world, all the destinations I could choose for our bedroom, I kept coming back to this one particular place. Simply working on this room for you … for us, gave me such immense pleasure. I hope you’ll love it, too.”
“I’m sure I will. I’ve loved everything else you’ve done, and I’m still amazed that you managed to get all this done in one day. Please, share with me your vision for the last room.”
He nodded and placed his hand gently over her eyes before opening the door and leading her into their master bedroom. He paused for a moment, letting her take in the sounds, smells, and the overall feel of the room.
“There’s a light breeze,” she said softly as her hair began to lightly tickle her cheek. She listened more closely. “I can hear waves lapping at the shore, but it’s not like we’re directly on the beach.” She thought for a brief moment. “No, we’re on a cliff of sorts where the water is below us.”
“Very good, my dear. I am very impressed, though I doubt you would guess the inspiration for this room. It is, indeed, something of a beach location.” He slowly removed his hand from her eyes, allowing her to drink in the sight of the room and the image through the Charmed window.
First of all, the room seemed bright and as if the sunshine was pouring in through every portion of the room. The light breeze Minerva had felt appeared to be coming from an opened window, though she knew it was a charm to make it appear so. Albus had told her, back in the kitchen, that to open the windows would release the spells and undo all his hard work. White sheer curtains gently swayed in the warm breeze coming from that particular window.
Opposite the bed, that entire wall had undergone a rather large transformation. The cottage wall appeared to have been replaced by a large glass one. From floor to ceiling, there was nothing obstructing the view of the bay outside. Minerva took her first few steps deeper into the room towards this window and gasped.
Just outside the window was a small field of hundreds of yellow and purple flowers in bloom. Again, the sky seemed to be pale blue, and white puffy clouds painted a picturesque scene. They seemed to be moving in rhythm with the same breeze blowing about the room, and as far as Minerva could tell, no two clouds were the same, just as in real life.
Beyond the flowers was a small cliff side, and at the bottom of the cliff was a stunning bay area. White sand created a stark contrast between the rocks jutting from the sides of the cliff and those rising above the water further out. The color of the ocean was nothing like Minerva had ever seen before. It was a rich, deep blue which reminded her of the velvety night sky with the white caps of the waves making up the stars.
“This is, by far, my favorite room,” she said as she turned to face him and to see the bed for the first time since her arrival into the room.
Albus had left nothing untouched in this fantasy cottage. Even their bed has been altered slightly to match the feel of the room. Gone was their mahogany sleigh bed and most of the other furniture that usually adorned the room. In its place was a beautiful four-poster bed with a sheer pale blue canopy and matching sheets. From the position of the bed, Albus and Minerva could curl up and watch the flowers blowing in the breeze and the ocean just beyond.
He smiled as he saw the look on her face, feeling a sense of pride at his work. “This concludes our tour of the world, my dear. I trust you approve? I based this room on Scopello, Sicily.”
Minerva ran to him and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly. When the kiss ended, she took both his hands in hers and led him over to the glass wall overlooking the ocean. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
He shook his head. “No, but you make me want to be a better wizard. I hope our next twenty-five years is as wonderful as the first.”
She wrapped her arm around his waist and rested against him. “I look forward to the adventure, sweetheart. I can’t even begin to thank you for going to so much trouble to create all of this. It’s perfect, so much better than actually going to all these places.”
“One day, though, we will go to each and every one of them.” He turned and wrapped both arms around her waist, picking her up and carrying her over to the bed. “But for now, for this holiday, I hope we can enjoy them from the comforts of our home.” He placed her on the bed and leaned over her. “I forgot to mention that the windows are charmed to reflect the passing of each day, so we will be able to enjoy both day and night views of everything you’ve seen from the windows. We also have an array of clothing,
should we choose to venture to the villages nearby.”
Minerva laughed and drew his face closer to her. “As long as we have food in our kitchen, I have everything I need right here.”
Albus couldn’t have agreed more. Indeed, they had the world at their fingertips, and he certainly didn’t intend to waste it. Reality would invade their cottage soon enough, but for the next few days, they were cut off from the outside world, and the only thing that mattered was making wonderful, romantic memories together.
The End.
