Flames

[Hogwarts Duo]

CHAPTER 10

Part 1 of 2

Minerva woke the next morning feeling utterly relaxed. She stretched lazily and only opened her eyes once she had fully snuggled back under the covers. Her gaze was drawn to Albus’ side of the bed, which was empty. With a frown she looked up to find him sitting in a chair studying her face.

“Good morning, my dear.”

“Good morning.”

Her smile had retuned, and it widened as Albus stood and moved to sit on the bed. His hand reached out to stroke her hair and face, tracing every curve and causing a warm contentment to fill her. She signed happily and closed her eyes. “How long have you been awake, watching me?”

Albus’ warm chuckle caused her heart to fill with love. It was a sound she could never hear enough. “Not nearly as long as I would have liked. You’ve always been an early riser.”

“Very true,” she responded.

Deciding she really should get out of bed, she started to rise. Albus’ hand fell away and she felt a pang of regret. But his lips, soft against hers, had her thinking of nothing but the feelings coursing through her. As his tongue traced along the seal of her lips, she opened to him. He consumed her with a slow, steady rhythm that drove her mad. The warmth in her belly spread, making her limbs weak with pleasure as she held onto him. He broke away much too soon.

“I wish we could continue this morning, but I promise to make it up to you tonight after the ball. I must get ready to attend a meeting, and breakfast should be arriving any moment.”

Minerva’s stomach growled at the mention of food, and she felt herself blush. It was only at that moment that she realized she had not eaten dinner the evening before. She was suddenly starving and was very much looking forward to food, of any sort.

“I ordered all your favorites, but until it arrives I managed to secure you a cup of tea.”

Minerva smiled gratefully as he handed her the steaming cup. “Thank you.”

Albus kissed her again, just a brush of his lips, before he rose. “I’m afraid a bit of washing up is in my near future. I’ll return as soon as I can.” He started towards the bathroom, but suddenly stopped and turned around towards the main door leading into the hallway.

“What’s wrong, love” Minerva asked, her teacup halfway to her lips.

“I forgot about the wards I put on the door last night so we wouldn’t be disturbed. I need to remove them so we can hear room service when they arrive.”

Minerva smiled happily at the thoughtfulness and determination of her husband. She hadn’t even been aware that he had taken such precautions, but was very glad indeed that he had. “You go shower. I’ll take care of the wards,” she winked. “And hurry back. I don’t want your breakfast to grow cold. You deserve a nice, hot meal after that workout last night,” she giggled with a slight warming to her cheeks.

Albus disappeared into the bathroom and Minerva stood up from the bed. She moved toward a mirror and attempted to run her fingers through her hair. It was obviously not meant to be as she hit several snarls before making it half way through. Looking around, she realized she had none of her items in his room and would have to rely on her Transfiguration skills to make herself presentable before breakfast arrived. The quill on the desk became a brush, and when she was satisfied with her hair, the sheet that was hanging off the side of the bed became a beautiful cream dressing gown.

Picking up her tea, she took a few sips of the hot liquid before moving to take a seat in the chair recently occupied by her husband. Her mind began to race over the events of the previous evening and with the memories came a realization. Poppy and Xiomara did not know what had happened between her and Albus. She hoped she had not worried them too badly by not returning to their room. Perhaps a quick visit next door was in order. At least they would be able to head back to Hogwarts after learning that her relationship was on the mend.

Minerva stood and went to the door. She pulled her wand from her pocket and ended the silencing and locking spells Albus had placed on the room the previous night. The din which met her ears had her taking a step back. She realized rather quickly that she recognized the voice that was shouting vehemently and cringed. She was rushing for the door and managed to throw it open before she thought through what she was going to do.

Xiomara was just turning away from Aurelia, who looked like she’d been stampeded by a herd of hippogriffs, to turn her accusations on Poppy. “Give me my wand Poppy,” she growled. “I promise that the hex will wear off by next year.”

“Why I ought to call the Aurors on you. How dare you attack me!”

It appeared Aurelia had regained her senses, and Minerva grew even more distressed when the angry witch pulled out her wand. She had to do something, but she wasn’t sure what. The situation was completely out of control, and she was sure someone down the hall was bound to notice soon, if they hadn’t already.

“Perhaps we all ought to calm down for a moment.”

All eyes turned toward Minerva with various expressions of shock on their faces. Minerva, for her part, hadn’t even realized she’d spoken until all eyes had locked on her. Luckily, Xiomara looked much calmer than she had moments before as she reassessed the scene. However, Minerva knew she would need to act quickly if she wanted to save any of her self-respect. The last thing she needed was for Aurelia to know that she had shown up to spy on Albus.

“Please accept my apologies, Xia and Poppy. I’m afraid that after I arrived, I learned that Albus had taken up residence in a different room.”

Her two friends’ eyes lit up with the new knowledge and they suddenly looked comfortable for the first time since Minerva had entered the hall. “I guess this means I overreacted,” Xiomara stated calmly, though she had yet to turn her attention to Aurelia.

“Overreacted,” Aurelia repeated. “I think you more than overreacted.”

Minerva noticed the bags on the ground which belonged to her two friends and to her. “She isn’t known for being the sensible one,” Minerva said in way of an explanation. She then turned to Poppy and Xia. “Thank you for bringing me my bag. I know you had to go out of your way to do it.”

Poppy reacted first, and Minerva’s smile spread at her response. “We were just on our way to Greece, so it was not a problem at all. Only next time you may want to warn us if there is a change in rooms.”

“I’ll do that,” Minerva said sweetly.

“Well, we’ll just be on our way then,” Xiomara quipped while picking up her bag, which had been dropped to the floor. She refused to apologize to Aurelia. The witch deserved what she got and then some. Everything would have been fine if she hadn’t been caught coming out of what was supposed to be Albus’ room in a dressing gown.

“Thanks again, and I’ll stop by to visit once we are all back in town.”

Minerva watched her friends leave and didn’t turn to face Aurelia until they had disappeared down the stairs.

“I didn’t realize you would be joining Albus this weekend. He never mentioned it,” Aurelia said in a tight voice.

“I decided to surprise him. And I am very happy that I did.”

Minerva leaned against the door frame and allowed her dressing gown to gap a little at the top. Aurelia turned a bit red before turning and walking back toward her room. When she reached her own door she looked back at Minerva. “It is nice seeing you again. Perhaps we can all catch lunch together today.”

“Actually, I think Albus has a rather busy schedule, but I’ll let him know you asked after him. Have a nice day, Aurelia.”

Minerva stepped back into Albus’ room with her luggage and pushed the door closed firmly. She wanted to laugh and dance around but instead she busied herself unpacking until a knock sounded at the door. Food had arrived and Minerva hungrily filled her plate. Today was going to be a wonderful day.

Breakfast was a leisurely affair for Minerva, though Albus had to somewhat rush through his in order to get to his meeting on time. More than once, he expressed his regret at not being able to spend the morning with her as he had the night before, reminding her of how much he loved and cherished her beyond all others. The moment he sat down at the table, he took her hand in his and only let it go when he needed to cut his food.

“I’m sorry I have to leave you for most of the day, my dear. I will do my best to get out by mid-afternoon though so we can spend some time together before attending the ball.”

Minerva smiled warmly at him as she used her napkin to clear off a bit of jam that had remained on the corner of his mouth. “I’ll be fine. I thought I might go do a bit of shopping this morning. I brought some dress robes for the ball, but I’m feeling rather like something new.”

He stood up and leaned over her, one arm resting on the table and the other cradling the back of her neck, drawing her to him. “Whatever my beautiful wife wishes, that she shall have.” Before she could answer, his lips slowly descended upon hers for yet another heated and lingering kiss, followed by a few shorter ones, then a tap to the end of her nose. “Would you like me to meet you somewhere for lunch? I’m sure I can come up with some good excuse as to why I need to leave the conference.”

For a brief moment, Minerva thought of having him return to her, to have him spend as much time with her as possible, but then she realized that it would be unfair. She took his hand in hers and brought it to her lips, placing a kiss on the back of it. “As lovely as that sounds and as much as I would love to have you here with me all day, I don’t want you to have to make excuses for your nagging wife,” she laughed softly. “Go to your conference and meeting. Enjoy getting together with your friends and I’ll be here when you return. Then we can go to the ball together, sweetheart.”

Albus drew Minerva out of her chair and into his loving embrace, holding her firmly against him. His eyes captured hers in a stare and he almost lost himself in her emerald pools, which seemed to be sparkling with new life. “Just to ease your mind…Aurelia won’t be at this meeting. It’s for the senior members of the panel, and as such, she’s not invited.” Minerva started to comment on his remarks, but was stalled by his finger across her lips. “Merely being honest and open with you, so you’d know where I’ll be and with whom.” He leaned down and kissed her once more. “I really have to go or I’ll be late. If you need me, just call Fawkes and he can get a message to me as always.”

Once Albus left, Minerva walked back over to the bed and dropped down onto Albus’ side, the middle, to be exact, since they usually enjoyed sleeping intertwined. His pillow still smelled of his hair and cologne, causing her to hug it to her chest and sigh softly. He had been very patient with her last night in explaining things she hadn’t understood or had misjudged before. And the lovely man even accepted some of the blame for her actions, saying that his callousness and blind trust in others had pushed her to those conclusions. But last night…mmm, last night, she thought to herself as she rolled onto her back and let her mind wander back through previous few hours. Her muscles were still a wee bit sore but nothing that a good brisk walk and some shopping couldn’t cure.

A quick shower and some fresh robes later, Minerva stopped at the concierge desk and encountered the lovely little man she’d met the day before, though she looked vastly different and no doubt he had no idea they’d ever met. He was only too happy to suggest some very nice shops nearby where a lady might spend an afternoon trying on gowns and robes for an elegant night on the town. He even went so far as to ask the identity of the lucky lad escorting her to the ball.

“My husband,” she said proudly, though she was careful not to reveal his identity.

“One lucky man indeed,” she heard him comment in a lusty, low sort of voice. And with a new spring in her step and a smile adorning her face, she stepped out into the fresh light of day, feeling relieved and happy to have things back to normal in her life.

Shop after shop and dress after dress, Minerva began to feel a bit disheartened. All of the dress robes and gowns she’d tried were beautiful, but none of them seemed to be the one. She was hoping for something stunning, something to make Albus proud to have her on his arm and to remind him of just what he had waiting for him at home. Of course, it also wouldn’t hurt to look her absolute best in front of Aurelia, who would no doubt be approaching Albus at some point this evening. Still, Albus has promised to be more careful with his dealings regarding Aurelia, and Minerva had no reason to doubt every word of his promises.

She was about to give up hope and return to the hotel, settling unhappily for the robes she’d packed from home, when a quaint little shop on a side street caught her eyes. The name didn’t sound familiar, so she was certain it hadn’t been recommended by the gentleman in the hotel. But the selections in the window seemed lovely. Glancing at the bell tower clock in the nearby square, Minerva surmised she had more than enough time for one last stop.

[Hogwarts Duo]

Part 2 of 2

From the moment she walked into the little dressmakers shop, she felt at ease. The atmosphere was certainly a stark contrast to the posh establishments she’d been enduring all day. This one seemed to have a comfortable feel to it, and the dresses, according to the sign on the door, were all handmade and promised to be originals. She was halfway through her second rack of lovely dresses when a sweet elderly voice addressed her.

“Good afternoon, Miss,” the aging woman greeted as she approached Minerva. “May I be of some assistance, or would you prefer to simply browse through the selection I have?”

Minerva turned and smiled at the woman. “These dresses and robes…do you make them all yourself? They’re remarkable,” she gasped, fingering one deep green robe she intended to try on before she left.

“I do some of them, and almost all of the designs are mine. I have a few women who take my designs and then create the dresses to my specifications. Not a very industrial system we have, but it works and has for decades. We pride ourselves on making only the best, and whatever you find in here you can be assured it will not be duplicated anywhere else.” She took a few steps towards a particular group of dresses, running her hands appreciatively along the varying fabrics. “Anything in particular you’re looking for?”

“I’m looking for a dress, obviously,” Minerva laughed nervously. “A special one for a ball I’m to attend this evening. I want it to be something exceptional, something very unique and beautiful.” Her eyes had taken on a dreamy look to match the tone of voice laced in her words.

“To impress the man in your life or the woman he used to court?” the elder witch replied, obviously sensing more about Minerva than she had said in her comment.

At first Minerva was a bit taken back by the conjecture on the part of the shop owner, but felt no twinge of embarrassment or anger towards the assumptions being made. “Actually, I’d like to impress my husband, though in truth his former childhood sweetheart will be in attendance, as well, but the dress is for me and for him. It has very little at all to do with her,” Minerva proudly announced, knowing that her words were true.

“Then might I suggest you step with me into this section of the room? These dresses are designed for the more daring witch, one with a womanly figure such as yourself.” She placed her hand on Minerva’s elbow and guided her towards the selection in question. “Might I inquire as to the color of your husband’s robes, so I am better able to make suggestions?”

An image flashed in Minerva’s mind of Albus in his royal blue robes with the silver trim. His blue eyes would no doubt take on an even more pronounced shade of the color and the silver would only serve to accentuate his hair color and complexion. Feeling a warmth beginning to invade her memories, Minerva shook her head slightly, regaining control over her emotions and the matter at hand. “Royal blue with silver designs on the sleeves,” she answered.

“Then might I propose something along the same lines for you. Mind you, all of these robes can be magically altered to suit your shape, so if you find something you like and it’s not a perfect fit, I am more than capable and certainly willing to assist you. Please, take your time and if you need me, just give a shout. I find it’s best to let a woman browse on her own and offer assistance when needed rather than hovering.”

Minerva found it incredibly hard to believe this little shop wasn’t packed with customers, though it might have deterred her from entering, which would have been a mistake. And the quality of the gowns and robes was beyond anything she’d seen all morning. After sorting through several different groups, Minerva was shown a dressing room and began the arduous task of trying them on. She was grateful that the helpful woman had decided to linger just outside the doorway to give an opinion or to hand Minerva another dress in a different color or size.

First a silver floor length dress and then a crème set of robes were decidedly too boring and too unimaginative, respectively, and were sent back to the rack of dresses. Given Minerva’s hair color and skin tone, a vibrant red dress was suggested, though Minerva shied away from it immediately, saying only that while she loved the color and the style, she felt someone else would be in red, and she wanted to make a statement.

Understanding the meaning without needing further explanation, the woman returned the dress promptly and left the reds alone.

A green set of robes were put in the must-have selection, even if she didn’t plan on wearing them this evening. Albus had always said the color brought out the wonder in her eyes, and she knew he wouldn’t complain about her new purchase. Even if he did, one look at the neckline would convince him otherwise, she giggled to herself.

Once again, Minerva was nearly ready to give up hope of finding that one dress, the one that would stand out above all others, when the lady appeared with one final suggestion. “I was working on this one earlier today but I haven’t had a chance to properly inspect it. You’re welcome to try it, and if you deem it appropriate, it will only take a few moments to ensure the quality and fit.”

The pure silk material filtered through Minerva’s hands softly, causing her to shiver at the softness and texture of the dress. The deep blue color reminded her somewhat of Albus’ eyes during their lovemaking. It was intense and subtle, soft and mesmerizing. Minerva accepted the dress and held it up to her, looking into the mirror hanging in the dressing room. There were tiny silver beads along the bodice and up to the shoulder piece. It seemed to have a rather daring dip in the front and the back was open as well, something Minerva thought the amicable witch might alter for her before she left. And the bottom of the dress was simply perfect. A slight flare at the bottom in the front and a small train at the back gave the gown the elegance Minerva had been seeking all day. Without any further delay, she slipped into the dress then beckoned the woman for an opinion.

The woman stood speechless for a long moment, motioning for Minerva to turn slowly so she could give a detailed opinion. “If you don’t purchase this dress, I will simply have to give it to you, for I don’t think any other woman in the world could do this one justice. This apparently has been made specifically for you, for just this occasion.”

“But the neckline…it plunges deeply and…”

“And your point being?” she countered. “You said the dress was more for your husband, so what should it matter You have the figure to pull this dress off quite nicely, so why not remind him of all the reasons he chose you as his wife instead of the other woman. Of course, I won’t force it upon you, but out of all the ones you’ve tried, this one…”

“…is the perfect choice.” Minerva blushed slightly as she surveyed her reflection in the mirror once more, twisting and turning this way and that to get the full effect. “Would you mind making the necessary alterations to ensure a proper fit?” Minerva asked softly, her eyes still mesmerized by her reflection in the mirror.

The woman produced her wand and began casting a few simple spells, ones that Minerva most likely could have done herself at home. But it was better to have someone familiar with the style and construction of the dress perform the alterations to something as delicate and special as this. When she was finished, the woman stepped back to admire her work. “Absolutely perfect….proper length, very nice dip in the front, train is the perfect length for dancing…oh and I took the liberty of lowering the dip at the back just a bit to show off more of your complexion and figure. Your husband is sure to be very pleased and no doubt the envy of many at the ball this evening.”

“As long as he’s pleased with what he sees, I couldn’t care less about everyone else,” she laughed. A few moments later, Minerva had purchased several outfits in an array of colors and styles, as well as some new sexy lingerie for the occasion. But she was most proud of the blue dress to be worn this evening. After glancing at the clock once more in the center of the square, she surmised that she still had time for a bit of pampering back at the hotel. She turned once more to look at the shop from which she’d just purchased the bags in her hands and was shocked. There was nothing there. The shop had simply…disappeared. Everything looked different, and Minerva knew she’d only taken a few steps down the street. She even stopped into a few local shops nearby and inquired if they knew the location of the dress shop, though they all claimed to have no knowledge of the one in question though they had heard tales of it appearing and disappearing from time to time.

Deciding that perhaps it was simply one of those mysterious adventures in life, Minerva made a note to tell Albus of the shop, but not to waste any more time searching for it this afternoon. She had a ball attend and she wanted to look her absolute best.

Upon returning to the hotel room she was now sharing with her husband, Minerva shed her robes and slipped into a luxurious lavender bubble bath, relaxing and enjoying the leisurely time she had before he returned. She wanted to be nearly ready when he returned, ready except for the dress.

With her hair washed and now drying in waves and curls down her back, her skin moisturized and smooth to the touch, Minerva transfigured a teacup into a nail file to attend to her hands. Next came the make-up, though Minerva really had very little need of it. However, this evening she wanted to look her best, so she spent a little more time and effort on her appearance, though not adding enough cosmetics to really make it noticeable.

More than once while preparing for Albus’ return and the ball; she cast glances at her dress for the evening. It truly had been a stoke of good fortune to stumble across the lovely shop with the pleasant owner. Minerva now wished she’d thought to ask the woman her name and perhaps to see if she had a small piece of jewelry to go with her new attire.

Minerva took Albus’ robes from the closet and hung them on the door next to her own, admiring the colors and how they complimented each other very nicely. She saw a tiny thread hanging from the sleeve of Albus’ robes and quickly snipped it off with a cutting spell. She was about to toss it in the bin when an idea occurred. With a few intricate spells and some concentration on her part, Minerva turned the piece of blue thread into a beautiful sapphire colored heart. Using a bit of silver thread from her own dress, she lengthened it and cast another series of spells to turn it into a thin chain upon which the new heart could swing. She sat back in the chair and grinned, thankful for every single ounce of her Transfiguration skills!

She had just cast a concealment charm on her robes so that Albus wouldn’t get a sneak peek when the door opened and Albus stepped inside. He had only just managed to get the door closed when he started shedding his robes and complimenting Minerva on her appearance.

“My dear you look…well ravishing is the only word that comes to mind at the moment,” he admitted with a grin as he knelt in front of her chair and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I missed you this afternoon, but I trust you had a good one at shopping?”

Minerva stood up and escorted Albus over to the bed, pushing him down on top of the comforter then settling herself into his arms. “I did, indeed, but the strangest thing happened…” And she proceeded to tell him the story of the dressmaker and the shop.

“I must say that is rather odd, though I have heard of occurrences like this one before, though in various parts of England. And if the locals claim no knowledge of the store except through folklore, then I’d say you have been truly blessed to find the store in question. Though I have to ask…how many dresses did you buy and when do I get a fashion show?” His eyes twinkled wildly while his hands began roaming over her body greedily.

“Oh no you don’t. I’ve had my bath and I have a few things left to do before I am ready to go. I dare say you should get a shower and freshen up as well.”

“Not even a little hint, love? I’ve been a good boy in my meetings, boring though they were, and I think I deserve a nice little treat.” He rolled her onto her back and pinned her to the bed with his body. “Surely a few moments won’t hurt either of us,” he mumbled as his lips found the soft, sweet smelling skin near her ear and all her resolve seemed to melt away.

“Mmm, just a few moments though nothing too…ohhh…involved. We don’t have time for that…just now…” she struggled to answer before being lost in his arms. It was some time later before they parted and began to dress for the evening ahead.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Also, if you would like to see the images we used for Minerva’s dress and her hair style, please follow the links listed below. We based our descriptions of Minerva’s dress on this image, though obviously with a much lower dip in the back. Wink wink! And as always, we appreciate and look forward to your comments on the story!

Dress: i9.photobucket.com/albums/a62/HogwartsDuo/Minerva/Minsdress.jpg"

Hair: i9.photobucket.com/albums/a62/HogwartsDuo/Minerva/Minshair.jpg"

[KristaMarie]

Absolutely lovely! This was truly a bright spot on this rainy day! And the dress and the hair-- simply stunning! I may have to show those pictures to my cousin-- tell her 'as one of your bridesmaids, I vote for this dress!' Fantastic job all around!

[furandfeathers]

I loved the mysterious dress shop (and the pictures of the dress, it's lovely) And Aurelia's reaction to Minerva was fantastic as well. I can't wait to see what happens at the ball. Also, I'm glad that Poppy and Xiomara caught on quickly, that could have been terribly embarrassing. Great update!!

[MMADfan]

Oh, my, I can't express enough how much I LOVED this chapter!!! Please excuse the excessive exclamation marks, but I feel very gushy this morning after reading that wonderful chapter. I love your use of the magical dress shop! It's such a wonderful fairy-tale touch, it made me go all melty inside! And do I need to say how much I LOVED Minerva in this chapter? Now that she has regained herself, she showed so much aplomb and class -- it was just utterly gorgeous! She put Aurelia in her place simply by being her classy, authoritative, and sexy self. Beautiful! So glad that Xiomara (or is it "Xiamora"? I can never spell that -- which is why I go the wimpy route and usually just call her "Hooch," which I can spell without having to go to the Lexicon or back to the story -- I'm also lazy, as you can tell), anyway, I am sooo glad that Hooch was there to go ballistic so that Aurelia could get a little vehement telling off but Minerva could lean back and look (and be) superior. And it's also very touching that Poppy and Hooch were so upset on their friend's behalf! *sniffle* Minerva has great friends. Terrific!

Now to the part I liked in a very special way: the interactions between Albus and Minerva and the quite clear hints of the fun and love they had shared in a "physical" way the night before. The fun, affection, and warmth were so evident in their exchanges, their love practically leapt from the page and embraced the reader! Oh, what a wonderful way to start my day. (Yesterday was crappy -- RL problems that were frustrating and nothing I could do anything about at the time, for one -- and I am hoping that starting today with this lovely story will bode well for today!)

I hope I haven't overused the word "lovely," but it really was, and worth the journey that Minerva took to rediscover Albus -- and the journey that Albus took to wake up to the effect his actions were having on Minerva -- this was a WONDERFUL pay-off. And now you say that there will be a lemony chapter? Can one say "icing on the cake"?

I really have to go take my shower -- I overslept today and my schedule has been irretrievably thrown off for the whole day, but I fortunately have no appointments, though I do have to get to a gov't building before the clerk's office closes this afternoon -- but I think I am going to go back and re-read this chapter again just so I can savor it! (I am still curious about what was going on with Minerva that led her to be so insecure, and why she didn't talk to Albus about it earlier, but as long as they came through it all okay and they both have recognized the error of their ways and are happy and making lemons, then I am happy, too!)

BTW, just have to add that I ADORE your Albus. He's just so . . . Albus! Okay, now I have to go back and re-read Minerva's subtle and classy dismissal and put-down of Aurelia. (I almost feel sorry for Aurelia, she's so out-classed! But she behaved so abominably with Albus -- "warm and friendly" my foot! -- that I cannot conjure any sympathy for her at the moment.)

I don't know whether I should say "update soon" or not -- I really want to read the next chapter, but then it will be over and *sniffle* I am back on my ADMM-fanfic-restriction diet and *sniffle* will lack the excuse that "Flames" was my reward and an exception to my general fanfic-diet-rules. *sigh!* Since I am Wa-ay behind on my writing (and updating, as a result), I suppose it is just as well . . . .

THANK YOU for making my day, Hogwarts Duo! I just may have to write a "thank you lemon" for Ang and Lisa!

--MMADfan

[MMADfan]

Forgot to ask, am I correct in understanding that you will post the next chapter to this thread and in Lemons, just a toned-down version in this thread? I want to know whether I have to start watching the Lemons forum for the update or if I will notice because this thread is updated. (I assume you will post them at the same time?) Sorry if this seemed a dumb question, but I couldn't find where you had mentioned that before.

And yes, I went back and re-read the little Minerva-Aurelia interaction and I loved this:

Minerva watched her friends leave and didn’t turn to face Aurelia until they had disappeared down the stairs.

“I didn’t realize you would be joining Albus this weekend. He never mentioned it,” Aurelia said in a tight voice.

“I decided to surprise him. And I am very happy that I did.”

Minerva leaned against the door frame and allowed her dressing gown to gap a little at the top. Aurelia turned a bit red before turning and walking back toward her room. When she reached her own door she looked back at Minerva. “It is nice seeing you again. Perhaps we can all catch lunch together today.”

“Actually, I think Albus has a rather busy schedule, but I’ll let him know you asked after him. Have a nice day, Aurelia.”

Oh, so cool! So self-possessed! So utterly classy! Even the display of skin was classy because it was so casual and subtle. Oooo! Gotta love it!

[Hogwarts Duo]

Forgot to ask, am I correct in understanding that you will post the next chapter to this thread and in Lemons, just a toned-down version in this thread? I want to know whether I have to start watching the Lemons forum for the update or if I will notice because this thread is updated. (I assume you will post them at the same time?) Sorry if this seemed a dumb question, but I couldn't find where you had mentioned that before.

Yep...that is correct. For those wishing to enjoy the lemon-free version, it will be posted here in the regular thread with the appropriate parts edited for content. For those wishing to read a more tangy version of events, the entire chapter will also be posted in the lemon section and it will be labeled "Flames-Lemon".

And just so you know...you should probably start looking for that chapter sometime around Monday. I still need to create the "lemon-free" version of that chapter!

One more thing...we're happy to know that you loved this chapter enough to go back and read bits of it again. That's one of the highest compliments an author can receive...being read again and again and again.

TTFN,
Ang

[mmadcrazyfan]

this is fabulous!
and i love the dress!<!3
my prom dress was something like it in olive green. =]

[lemondrop]

just love this story! I'm new here but already know this story from fanfiction.net and I'd like to say: Wow! Amazing! And: I don't like this Aurelia! She was driven me mad (did you say this?! I have no idea )

keep on...I'm looking forward to the next chapter!


p.s.: Oh god! Sorry for my horrible english... it's just embarrassing! Hope you'll understand me anyway...

[Hogwarts Duo]

CHAPTER 11- PART 1 OF 2

“My dear, it’s nearly seven…are you about ready in there?” Albus called through the bathroom door, which upon checking for the fifth time he still found locked.

“Just adding the last of the pins to my hair, sweetheart. I’ll be out in a minute.” With little effort at all, Minerva added the final touches to her hair and applied a small amount of lipstick before standing back to admire herself in the mirror. Pleased with what she saw, Minerva unlocked the door after asking Albus to step back and close his eyes.

She glided into the center of the room and smoothed down her dress before letting him open his eyes.

Albus’ mouth fell open and his eyes darkened faster than Minerva had ever seen before. She was almost certain she heard a gasp and by the look on his face, she was sure it was a pleasing one. “Merlin’s beard…you look…that dress….my gods, Minerva…” He motioned for her to spin slowly for him, and when she was facing him once more, he stepped closer to her, holding her upper arms lightly. “It’s going to be a long night for me, I can see that now. My entire body is already eagerly anticipating peeling that marvelous dress from you and delighting in what’s beneath,” he groaned softly, guiding her hand down so she could feel what he meant.

“I’m glad you like what you see,” was her calm reply, though her body was already flushed both from his reaction and her own desires. “I know it’s a little more daring than my usual attire, but I wanted to look extra special this evening.”

“Special doesn’t do you justice, love. In fact, I don’t think they’ve invented words to adequately describe the way you look this evening. I’m sure every eye in the room will be on you, mark my words. Though just remember, no matter how handsome or flattering any other gentleman is, I get the privilege of escorting you home.”

“Why, kind sir, I do believe my dance card is already filled. You see, my husband is looking incredibly handsome this evening, and I do not wish to be parted from him for even the slightest amount of time.”

Albus leaned in and kissed her passionately on the lips, stopping himself before he got too involved or carried away in the moment. “Come on, my goddess. The sooner we put in an appearance, the sooner we can make our exit.”

Minerva took his hand then suddenly stopped. “Wait, I forgot something.” She summoned the newly created necklace and slipped it into Albus’ hand. “Will you help me with this?”

He looked down at the necklace and a look of puzzlement crossed his face. “Where did you get this? It’s lovely but I don’t remember ever seeing it.”

“I made it,” she announced proudly. “I took a piece of blue thread from your robes and a bit of silver from mine. You like it?”

Albus stepped behind her and fastened the clasp, then dropped a warm lingering kiss first to the nape of her neck then one on each shoulder while his arms stole around her waist. “It’s perfect…just like you.” His breath was warm on her bare skin, causing her to shiver in delight.

As they made their way to the ballroom, Minerva couldn’t help but notice Albus chuckling from time to time. “Care to enlighten me on what’s so amusing?” she asked, laughing softly herself, though at what she had no idea.

“Haven’t you noticed yet? You’re creating quite a stir,” he whispered, nodding his head in the general direction of several lads whose faces had reddened at having been caught staring.

“They’re just not used to seeing such a handsome man with such an ordinary looking woman,” she teased. “They’re wondering what I did to deserve someone like you,” she added with an exaggerated swing to her hips for effect.

Albus placed his hand on the small of Minerva’s back and ushered her through the large doors leading to the grand ballroom. The two gentlemen standing at the top of the stairs bowed gallantly to Minerva and spoke words of greeting to Albus. “We will now announce your presence, Headmaster Dumbledore, and the lovely lady is…”

Albus started to say his beautiful wife but opted instead for [/i]Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Professor of Transfiguration.[/i]

All eyes in the ballroom turned towards the grand staircase and the couple standing at the very top. Several gasps were heard, as well as a few whispers, as Minerva allowed Albus to take her arm and escort her down the staircase slowly.

“You know all eyes are on you, my dear,” he whispered so only she could hear. “I’m now the envy of every wizard in the room, and I’m proud of it too,” he added, taking a deep breath and walking just a little more proudly than before, if that were even possible.

“You’d be even more excited if you knew what was hidden beneath this dress in the way of lingerie,” she added discreetly with a wink and a decidedly mischievous grin.

Without stopping when they reached the bottom of the stairs, Albus led Minerva to the dance floor and bowed lowly to her. “May I have the pleasure of the first dance, my dear?”

“The first, last, and all the ones in between,” she replied as she took his hand. Suddenly the music began and the room began to bustle again with chatter, music, the clinking of glasses but Minerva heard very little of that. She was lost in the most amazing pair of blue eyes.

In the hours that passed between their introduction into the ball and the scheduled presentations, Minerva and Albus danced to nearly every tune that was played. Their only breaks were for some light refreshments. Albus guided her efficiently through the crowd, barely stopping to acknowledge those who tried to waylay them, but as always he did it in such a way so that each person they passed looked at him with only the utmost respect. Minerva felt as if she had fallen in love all over again. His attention to her was so complete as to nearly have her flustered. She was sure her cheeks would never recover from all of the laughter and blushing she had experienced. So it was with utmost pride and pleasure that she watched her husband move away from her and toward the stage which had been set up at one end of the room after his seductively whispered promises of a quick return.

As Minerva was decidedly uninterested in the awards being handed out and the speeches that were going to be given, she moved toward a far corner where a few chairs had freed up. She sat down with a sigh of happiness. This evening was more than she would ever have hoped for a few days ago, a few weeks ago even. Though their relationship had been tested, thoroughly at that, Minerva was satisfied in the knowledge that they had made it through and had deepened their relationship and knowledge of each other in the process.

As she gazed around the room at the various guests, Minerva’s thoughts landed on Aurelia for the first time that night. She had not seen the witch around and wondered if she had even made an appearance. If not, all the better for her. Still, her curiosity won out, and Minerva was soon scanning the room for a red dress, Aurelia’s signature color.

It wasn’t long before she spotted the witch. Aurelia was dancing with a very handsome young man who seemed to be thoroughly enjoying her company. He appeared to be laughing, though Minerva was much too far away to be able to tell for certain. Minerva studied Albus’ old flame and was surprised to find that the usual flare of jealousy she felt was not there anymore. Of course, if Aurelia were to start being overly friendly with her husband, her feelings might change, and drastically, but she was pleased with the knowledge that she had, in so short a time, become more confident in her marriage and in herself. The young wizard turned so that Aurelia was facing Minerva’s direction and, realizing she could get caught staring, Minerva switched her attention to the stage.

A short, balding old wizard in bright green robes was just stepping onto the platform, and several wizards followed behind to take seats which had been set up. Albus was one of the wizards, and the most distinguished and handsome one in Minerva’s opinion. She smiled at him, though she doubted he would be able to spot her in the crowd. She was surprised when he turned and his eyes locked with hers. He smiled back, and Minerva felt her insides melt in warmth at the glow in his eyes.

He turned away moments later as the music ended and the old wizard started to speak. For the most part Minerva tuned him out and instead used the time to fantasize about the evening ahead. She hoped Albus would be able to leave soon after the ceremony ended. She was very much looking forward to removing his robes and showing him just how much she had approved of his attention this evening. Just as she was imagining his reaction to her ministrations, a prickle of unease tingled up her spine. Focusing her eyes and looking up, she was decidedly displeased to see Aurelia looking at her with a smile on her face.

“Do you mind if I take the seat next to you?”

Minerva looked around quickly to see several vacant chairs available, ones that were not near her. Realizing she was probably being impolite, and that really she had no reason to say no, she acquiesced with a nod of her head. However, she had no desire to talk to the witch, who was making a grand gesture of just putting her bum on a chair. With a barely restrained groan of displeasure, Minerva pleaded to whatever deity was listening for patience to make it through her upcoming conversation with Aurelia.

“Did you say something dear?”

Minerva cringed at both the sound of her voice and the term of endearment she used. “No.” Her reply was short and probably rude but she certainly wasn’t going to go out of her way to make things easy for the witch.

“I was surprised to see you here this morning,” Aurelia said while looking at Minerva with what supposedly passed as an expression of innocent questioning. “I was under the impression that Albus was coming alone. He didn’t mention you would be joining him.”

Minerva gritted her teeth but did manage to reply in a normal tone of voice, not dissimilar from the one Aurelia was using. “I decided to surprise him, as I told you this morning.”

“Oh, I am sure he was very surprised,” she replied.

Minerva had had enough of the witch and her smug tone of voice. “He was very surprised. In fact, I don’t believe I have ever seen him so pleased with one of my gifts. And he spent many hours expressing his pleasure.”

Aurelia looked taken aback and Minerva smiled, extremely pleased with herself. Perhaps now the older woman would back off and take herself somewhere else. She truly didn’t want to be hateful to her, though the urge was certainly there. However, a witch could only take so much.

Settling back into her chair, Minerva noticed Albus was getting ready to take the stage. His eyes sparkled with intensity and he looked very distinguished in his blue dress robes. Minerva was suddenly very pleased that he had packed them after all. As he began to speak, Minerva focused on the sound of his voice, instead of his words, allowing it to dance down her spine in a delicious tingle. Her heart thudded a bit faster, and she felt a welling of warmth and pleasure build in her belly. Closing her eyes so she could focus on the sensations he was producing within her, she allowed her mind to recapture the daydream she had been having about her husband before Aurelia’s unpleasant interruption.

Albus’ words became moans of pleasure and his punctuation of points became pleading gasps. Minerva shifted slightly in her chair as her skin warmed and flushed. Her vision of the pleasuring of her husband was so strong that she found herself sinking into it as if it were her reality. Both finished at the same time, one with a frantic call of her name and one with a call for a round of applause.

Even with the roar of clapping around her, it took Minerva several moments to regain her equilibrium so she could open her eyes. Albus was handing a matronly witch a plaque. The poor woman appeared to be extremely nervous as Minerva could see her hands shaking from all the way across the room. Albus shook her hand and smiled, saying a few words to her that no one else could hear. The witch blushed profusely when he was finished and managed to mutter out a thank you to everyone before fleeing the stage, though her eyes glanced back toward Albus once or twice.

“You are a lucky witch, Minerva. Not everyone is able to catch the heart of such a wonderful man.”

Aurelia sounded a bit wistful and Minerva turned to truly look at her for the first time since she had sat down beside her. Her eyes were sort of hazy. Minerva knew that look, Albus would often get it when he was reminiscing, and Minerva was sure she got the same look when she would speak about happy memories from her childhood. Before Minerva could make a reply, Aurelia’s eyes cleared and she spoke.

“Albus, darling, your presentation was lovely. That young witch looked positively delighted that you were handing her that silly award,” Aurelia practically purred while she held out her hands to Minerva’s husband.

Minerva had not noticed Albus’ arrival and was rather irritated that Aurelia had spoken to him first. However, her mood improved considerably when Albus bypassed Aurelia’s obvious invitation for an embrace and instead moved to stand by his wife, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.

“She was rather pleased, and I was more than happy to give it to her. Her dedication to her chosen field is commendable and she deserved to be recognized.”

Albus glanced at Aurelia as he spoke, but it was obvious his attention was on Minerva. And Minerva was more than pleased to look at her husband rather than at the witch sitting beside her. Albus’ hand came to rest on her shoulder where he squeezed lightly in a supportive gesture.

“Well, yes, of course it is,” Aurelia said with a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

Minerva practically beamed at her husband, not bothering to hide her pleasure. “Do your duties require us to stay further?” she inquired.

“No, I believe we can take our leave, if I wasn’t interrupting anything…”

Aurelia spoke up before Minerva could even form a syllable. “No, of course not, I was just telling Minerva how lucky she is to have found you.”

Albus’ eyes twinkled madly at her comment. His face shone with pure pleasure. “And I am ten times luckier to have found her,” he said as he looked down into Minerva’s upturned face. “It is the rare witch or wizard who finds their one true love in life. Minerva makes every day one worth living to the fullest,” he said, his last comment directed fully at his wife.

Minerva felt tears gather in her eyes. She stood with his help and their lips met in a brief but emotion filled kiss. The music started in a swell of sound around them and couples moved from before the stage, where the last speech had finally ended, to the floor to begin dancing again. Aurelia stood as Albus placed Minerva’s hand in the crook of his arm.

“Perhaps we could share one dance before you make your departure,” Aurelia inquired. Her voice was softer than before.

“I appreciate the offer,” Albus began, “but I’m afraid I must decline. I made some promises to my wife and I plan on keeping them.”

Minerva’s heart ached with the love she felt for her husband. She spared barely a glance for Aurelia who appeared to be rather shocked, and possibly a bit heartbroken. Perhaps later she would feel sorry for the witch, but for now she only wished to bask in the glow of her husband’s love. She wanted to keep him all for herself, and it was obvious Albus felt the same.

“Goodbye, Aurelia,” Albus said.

“Goodbye, Albus,” Aurelia said in return, though her voice held none of the happiness that it had minutes earlier.

Albus and Minerva walked out the doors of the ballroom and past the desk where a single man was snoozing at the counter. Minerva held onto her husband’s arm tightly. She felt as if her happiness was literally radiating from her body with each step she took. She found it incredibly hard to imagine how she had let her mind run away with her to the extent that it had and that she had ever doubted Albus’ love and devotion. It all seemed a million years ago that the doubt and hurt she felt had surfaced and bubbled over, causing her to go to such lengths to prove what her heart already knew.

“I love you.”

“And I love you, my dear,” Albus said as he looked into her eyes.

“Thank you for spending so much time with me this evening,” Minerva stated as they each looked away as they started up the stairs to their room. “I know you usually mingle more during these things.”

“Please, don’t thank me,” Albus said quietly. “I should have been spending more time with you, just as I did this evening. And I enjoyed myself all the more for it. You are what is most important, not some pompous politicians and diplomats.”

“Still, I had the most wonderful time this evening. I’d like to thank you for that, at the very least, even if you could have spent more time with me at previous events. After all, they don’t seem quite so boring now.”

Albus had to agree with that and smiled as they stopped in front of their door. It was time to surprise her with his gift, and he was giddy with anticipation. He had spent a good portion of his afternoon planning it and settling the last of the details. However, his mind was turned in a different direction when he felt Minerva’s nails tiptoe up his chest.

“I’ve got something in mind to show you just how pleased I am,” she purred seductively, in a way only Minerva could do.

His insides sparked and caught fire at her words and the look in her eyes. Instead of answering her, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. His lips crushed into hers and she seemed to melt beneath him and into him. He couldn’t distinguish where he ended and she began as their limbs intertwined and the heat of her rushed through his body making his every nerve ache with wanting. Her tongue was doing things to his mouth that caused him to groan and his breath caught in his throat when she moved away only to nibble and lick at the spot just below his ear that always drove him mad.

“Let’s move inside,” she whispered.

Albus thought his body would simply melt at her words, and he had to shake his head to clear it. As he pulled out his wand, he realized that he had, at some point, pushed her against the wall. With a quick wave the door flew open and Albus followed Minerva in, consuming hungrily the sight of her in that delicious dress she had purchased as her hips swayed suggestively.

He turned to close the door and realized that he had yet to tell Minerva about their imminent departure. He would have to put a cooling charm on his clothes in order to think but as their Portkey was leaving soon he had no choice. Their elf at Hogwarts had been more than happy to pack some bags for them, and they should have arrived while they were at the ball. Feeling slightly more balanced than moments earlier, Albus turned to tell Minerva of the surprise he had planned.

The words never left his mouth as Minerva attacked him this time and tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling his face down to hers. She flicked her tongue across his lips and he couldn’t help but open them to her. She nibbled and suckled and was well on the way to driving him mad again before he managed to regain some form of thought. As soon as she started to trail her hot mouth down the side of his throat, he attempted to speak.

“Minerva.” Her name had come out as a moan and he cursed himself. He tried to catch a breath to clear his throat as he felt her fingers beginning to undo the buttons on his robes. “Minerva, wait.”

Her glowing green eyes looked up at him, and he had to remind himself that if they missed the Portkey today, it would be Monday before they could leave. “Yes, darling,” she said in a low, seductive lilt.

“I have something I need to tell you.”

“It can wait,” she responded and nipped at his throat causing his body to convulse.

Perhaps a Portkey on Monday would not be such a bad thing after all. Shaking himself mentally, Albus managed to catch her quick fingers, which already had him half undressed, in his own. “I’ve arranged a surprise for us.”

This piqued her interest, and she stopped trying to disentangle herself and looked at him. Albus ran his hands down the front of his robes after freeing her fingers from his grasp. He took a deep breath and smiled. His body was aching for her touch, but it would not do to give in…just yet.

“I have arranged a getaway for us. I know it won’t make up for all that I’ve done or for the cancelled vacation you worked so hard on, but I hope it will allow us to have some much needed time together and also be one more step towards an apology for the way I have treated you of late.”

[Hogwarts Duo]

PART 2 OF 2

Albus looked at Minerva, his beautiful wife, and watched her eyes melt with love. He felt a sudden warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the immense waves of pleasure he had experienced moments before. How he ever put her second in his life was still a mystery to him. She was the most important part of him, she made everything he did worthwhile. She soothed him when he ached and caused his joy to rise to new levels when he was happy.

“Oh, Albus, that sounds…perfect,” Minerva said softly, her eyes filled with unshed tears.

“We have to leave soon,” he responded as his hand reached up to stroke the side of her face. “Perhaps we can continue where we left off after we arrive.”

“Yes,” she murmured heatedly. “You’ll be lucky if we make it in the door.”

Albus swallowed hard, his body tingling in response to her words. He cleared his throat and walked toward the bed where two new bags were resting. “I had some of our things from home packed and brought here. We can purchase anything else we need once we arrive and get settled.”

“Let me get our toiletries and you can pack our clothes from the wardrobe. We should be able to get ready quickly. How long until we leave?”

Albus took out his pocket watch and looked at it briefly. “About fifteen minutes.”

“Plenty of time,” Minerva announced as she sauntered off in the direction of the bathroom.

Albus watched her until she disappeared around the corner. His traitorous mind flashed an image of Minerva gloriously naked and wet in the shower. Groaning aloud he tried to refocus his thoughts on the task at hand. However, parts of his body were being horribly distracted and, in the process, distracting him. He did manage to pack most of their clothes before their personal items came floating out of the bathroom, Minerva following behind with her wand raised. She directed them into the appropriate bags as he managed to get their last few items neatly inside. He shrunk their old bags and the new ones which had arrived and put them into his pockets, removing the Portkey from one of them at the same time.

The pamphlet was a bit crumpled in one corner, but otherwise in good condition, considering where it had been stored for the last several hours. His pockets were charmed to keep items from being damaged from his movement and possible compression but it did not keep various items safe from each other.

“Oh!” Minerva exclaimed as she eyed the colorful leaflet. “Is this where we are headed?”

Albus chuckled as she snatched it from him and opened it. She barely paid him any mind as she consumed the contents. He had memorized the pictures of the pristine beaches, the quaint villas that were offered for rent, the scenes of an exotic market with various wares for sale, and the beautiful countryside which could be hiked if one so chose.

“It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed as she looked up from the brochure to find him staring at her intently. “Albus, it’s almost too beautiful. Thank you so much for arranging all of this for us to make up for everything.” Tears began to shimmer in her eyes as she locked eyes with him and felt a tugging at her heartstrings. “I am so sorry that I doubted you and that I let my mind wander away with me. I know I should have trusted you more and from now on I fully intend to talk to you about things that bother me. I never meant to hurt you with my actions and I’m sorry,” she finished as the first teardrop slid down her cheek.

“I was hoping you would approve,” he smiled, pleased that she was so happy at the arrangements he had made for them and also that she had felt the need to apologize. He wiped away the tear from her cheek and kissed her softly. “It’s time to go, my dear.”

Minerva nodded and took yet another step closer to him, offering him the pamphlet so he could grasp it as well. As he took hold of it, he also drew her against his body and his lips descended on hers once more. Albus’ body, still thrumming from their earlier encounter, was instantly on fire at the touch of her soft, warm and supple lips. He whispered into her mouth as she opened under him, my Minerva, my everything, just before he felt a familiar pull at his navel.

Almost instantly they were transported from their hotel room to a fully furnished seaside cottage. The sounds of the waves lapping at the shore could be heard just outside, creating a soft rumble through the air though for several long and wonderful moments, neither Albus nor Minerva paid it any heed. They were too engrossed in the irresistible feelings surging between them. The pamphlet Portkey lay discarded haphazardly on the floor as both travelers needed their hands for other things.

Minerva’s lips were so warm and inviting to Albus that he hated to pull back from her for any reason, but it proved necessary. There was so much more of her he wanted and needed to explore, places he wanted to linger, sounds he wanted to hear coming from those luscious lips.

Albus’ lips trailed hotly over her flushed neck and down to her shoulders where his progress was halted by the blue silky fabric. “So beautiful and soft,” he murmured against her skin as he slowly peeled away the material from her shoulder, letting it fall down her arm slightly. He wasted no time in smothering the area with warm kisses and feather like touches.

“Ohh, Albus,” she moaned as she arched her body into his. She had managed to push his outer robes to the floor, though she’d never really know how. Letting her arousal take control of her actions, she easily slipped her hand inside his robes to feel his warm skin beneath her fingertips, tracing his collarbone and broad shoulder delicately. She could already imagine placing her lips to the area her fingers now caressed and how she would nip it then soothe it with her tongue. She moaned deeply at the thought, though not wishing for a moment to rush through this night.

As soon as both her shoulders were bared to him, Minerva took one step deeper into his arms, needing to feel closer to him. His lips brushed lovingly along her shoulders and throat causing her head to fall back in invitation and excitement as she reveled in the sensations only he was able to induce within her. Emerald eyes fluttered closed as she gave herself over to him completely as he took a moment to pay attention to a particularly sensitive spot at the base of her neck. She could feel his body reacting to hers as she began to move against him, creating tiny fires in her body while his moans reverberated through her. Thinking of only their pleasure and need, Minerva buried her hands in his hair, urging him to continue.

But it was all happening so fast, and Minerva regained enough of her senses to regain control of the situation for a brief moment, but Merlin only knew why. “Albus…wait,” she panted as she began to pull away from him slightly, feeling an instant grief at their separation. A groan of frustration was his only response. “Not here…please…let’s go somewhere besides the front door,” she suggested as she struggled to harness her ragged breaths.

Albus looked around, and for the first time he noticed that their surroundings had changed and that they were finally alone and on holiday. With a broad smile and a dark twinkle in his eyes, he scooped Minerva into his arms and carried her through the house, making a note to give her a proper tour later. For now though, he had other things on his mind and so did she.

Trusting his sense of direction in the unfamiliar house, Albus successfully navigated them into the bedroom before setting Minerva back on her feet so she could properly look at their bedroom. One entire wall from floor to ceiling was made of glass and offered a breathtaking view of the ocean just outside. With a wave of Albus’ hand, one section of the wall began to move and the loud sound of the ocean waves rushed in around them.

“We can sleep with the glass doors open or closed and still hear the lull of the waves and smell the fresh air. And over here is our bed where we can spend hours and hours together watching the ocean, and at night we can enjoy the stars.” He turned Minerva around to see the massive bed covered in crisp white linens that looked as if they’d be as soft as the clouds outside. A sheer canopy cascaded from the ceiling down around the upper portion of the bed, giving the entire room a regal feel about it.

“It’s…it’s…” Minerva struggled to find words to adequately describe the feelings stirring in her heart. Never had she imagined such a luxurious setting, and she felt a renewed passion building within her. “I love you so much, Albus Dumbledore. You are the most romantic man in the world and you’re all mine,” she said as she launched herself into his arms.

In a flash, Albus’ arms were full of Minerva, her kisses falling down upon him like a refreshing summer rain. He laughed with happiness at her excitement and with the knowledge that they were truly experiencing a healing after the events of the last few days.

“Mmm, Minerva,” he moaned as her teeth nipped at his ear. “I don’t want to wait any longer for you. This night has been torture,” he said as he once again put her on her feet. “While this dress is truly extraordinary, I do believe it would look much better in a puddle on the floor.” And with that, the dress slipped off her supple body, creating a small pool of blue fabric at her feet.

Minerva watched as Albus’ eyes widened at what lay beneath the dress. She had warned him earlier about some new lingerie she’d purchased but he’d brushed it off as a new bra and panties. Never had he dared imagine the treasures awaiting him once she disrobed.

Standing before Albus in all her glory was Minerva, looking even more desirable and delicious than he could ever remember. She had purchased an incredibly sexy bra in the exact same shade as her dress, the lacy cups leaving very little to the imagination. He swallowed hard as he drank in the sight of her body as her breaths quickened under his gaze. There were no straps holding the bra in place and he had to assume that the shiny silk fabric had Muggle clasps or she had placed a charm to keep it in place.

His eyes raked over her form hungrily from her chest, across the flat plane of her stomach, all the way down to her painted toenails. He vividly remembered other occasions when they had been together like this, loving one another and giving of themselves. Once, again, he longed to pleasure her and to show her all of his love. He wanted this night to last, for them to take their time in expressing their love.

As his eyes devoured the sight before him, he paused to mentally scold himself. How could he have forgotten just how amazing his wife is and how incredibly sexy she could be for him? Had he truly grown so distracted by work and other projects that he’d neglected to really look at his wife with more than a passing glance at her familiar and loving form?

Albus took one last sweeping look up and down her body and struggled to swallow. His mouth had gone dry and his heart rate quickened. “My gods, Minerva. Had I known you were hiding all this, they could have found someone else to give away that award hours ago,” he gasped.

She twirled around slowly, giving him ample time to appreciate her efforts. “So you like what you see?”

“I think we need to get a set of these in every color and maybe even do some more lingerie shopping while we’re here on holiday. Not that you’ll be wearing many clothes while we’re here,” he growled.

Before she could answer, Albus’ lips had crushed hers in a searing kiss. His nimble fingers had effortlessly unhooked her bra and it went sailing across the room, landing carelessly on a lampshade. She gasped at the passion radiating from him.

He couldn’t stand it any longer. Albus scooped her into his arms and gently placed her on the bed and without another word, his mouth covered hers in a passionate kiss. Her hands found their way to the back of his head, encouraging him, letting him know how much she was enjoying his attentions. Her nails scratched his scalp and back lightly as the kiss deepened, creating wonderful sensations within her. Realizing that with each moan and sigh coming from her lips he was losing control, he paused and stared into her eyes.

“Oh Gods, Minerva…you’re so beautiful.”

“Please, Albus…I need you,” she cried out as her body tingled and ached at the same time, desperate for him.

Albus sat up and summoned his wand. He saw her eyes widen and darken as she watched him, curious about what was next. With the wand firmly in his grasp, he cast a series of spells, ridding himself of all clothing, and with another flick of his wand, her panties disappeared.

“Tell me again, Minerva, what do you want?” His breath was hot against the side of her neck as his lips brushed across her flushed skin.

“YOU,” she cried out. “Always YOU.”

He needed no further encouragement as he slowly made love to her until they had both found release with loud cries of each other’s name and soft sighs of contentment. “Minerva…sweet Minerva. I will love you forever,” he swore before devoting all of his remaining energy on making sure she was spent and happy. His mind cleared of everything except the woman writhing beneath him and the pleasure he was bringing to her, the woman who alone held the key to his heart and his body.

Hours later, the morning sun began to rise beyond the ocean, casting a brilliant orange glow over the room where scattered bits of clothing lay haphazardly. Arms and legs were tangled in the thin sheet as the two lovers snuggled together, each bearing marks of a passion filled night.

A new day had dawned and with it a love had been reborn. There would be more trying times in their future, but never again would one doubt where the true affection and love of the other resided. And when times grew tough again, they would make a special trip, even for one night, to this little seaside cottage to renew the commitment they made and to ensure that their flame never ever died.

The End.

A/N: We hope you have enjoyed this story as much as we enjoyed writing it and hearing your comments. For the lemony version of this chapter, please go to the lemon section here on the board. The entire chapter has bee posted…unedited for content. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!!! You guys are the BEST!

[furandfeathers]

awwww I love it! What a perfect ending! I especially loved how Albus really put Aurelia in her place, and didn't let her drool all over him
*goes off to re-read cause it's sooo sweet!*

[MMADfan]

Okay, having a taste for lemons, I have to admit that I read and reviewed this chapter over in the Lemons forum already. But I just had to pop over here and let you know, once again, how much I enjoyed this story, especially the last couple chapters, 'cause I'm a sucker for Happy Endings, and this story definitely has a Happy Ending! Loved the way they came together at the end, just as they should, and they both got to apologize, and they managed to get the spark up into a flame again! ;D

Thanks for sharing this story with us!

[lemondrop]

just perfect! amazing work guys! I love this story and nearly after reading it twice it still isn't boring!! and i'm glad that Minerva and Albus made it up and are happier than before!

it was a pleasure to read your story! you did an amazing work like I said before...

p.s.: hope it's understandable...

[Mandy McGonagall-Dumbledore]

Just amazing!!! *~*