Post by ginger newts on Oct 27, 2004 21:44:37 GMT -5
Okay, so I don't think this is all that good, but I was asked to post it anyway. It occurred to me some time ago that perhaps the reason we all think the relationship is a big secret is because we've never been given any actual confirmation in the books. And why is that? Because Harry doesn't know. We only find things out as he does, but just because he doesn't know them certainly doesn't mean the rest of the world doesn't. With that in mind, this is probably the first of several fics from me where Albus and Minerva do not keep their relationship a secret. Whew, that was an A/N and a half!
************
Everybody Knows
Order meetings were still being held in Grimmauld Place even though Sirius had died. Albus had briefly discussed other locations with some of the members, but the Black house still felt like the best place and Sirius had left it to them. The Weasleys stayed there for the summer again so that Harry could come and live there with them after only a few weeks at the Dursleys. He had never been so happy to leave them as he was that summer, although it was hard for him to be in his godfather’s house when Sirius wasn’t there. Hermione had also joined them around the same time Harry had. In light of what had happened earlier in the summer, Albus had decided that the students should be let in on some of the meetings. He had decided that keeping them completely in the dark would only lead to more negative consequences, never let it be said that Albus Dumbledore didn’t learn from his mistakes.
The day of their first meeting, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were in the kitchen early, eagerly anticipating the information they were about to hear. Arthur and Molly Weasley soon joined them, along with Remus Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, Kingsley Shakelbolt, and Minerva McGonagall. When Albus entered, the students were surprised to see him squeeze Minerva’s shoulder and sit down next to her at the kitchen table, very close to her. She turned and smiled lovingly at him and patted his knee. Harry and his friends exchanged looks, what was going on with those two? Molly set out some sandwiches and tea for everyone and the students looked on stupidly as Minerva poured Albus a cup of tea and he picked out her favorite sandwich, all of it without either of them asking. This was getting confusing. The students all knew that their Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress were good friends, of course, but this seemed like more than that. They never touched this often or smiled at each other so much, not at the school at least.
A few more Order members arrived and the meeting was finally held. The excited younger members, however, were asked to leave after about an hour. There were still some things to be discussed that the adults felt they did not need to know. The four of them went upstairs to the drawing room and started playing cards, waiting for the sounds that would signal the end of the meeting. About an hour later, they heard voices on the stairs and people leaving, no one stopped in to say goodbye. Then they heard Molly’s voice floating up from downstairs.
“Do you need me to fix up a bedroom for you, Professors? We have a couple that are empty.”
“No thank you, Molly, that won’t be necessary,” Albus said. “We’ll just wait here for Severus to leave his report and then there will be plenty of time to return to Hogwarts for the night.”
“Why don’t we all take our tea upstairs and see what’s become of the children,” Arthur suggested and they soon heard five sets of footsteps climbing the stairs.
The kids were sitting on the floor at one end of the long room and they looked up when Molly, Arthur, Remus, Albus, and Minerva came in. Remus took a book down from a shelf and sat in an armchair to read; Molly and Arthur sat down on a couch under the windows knitting and reading the paper respectively; and to their students’ great surprise, Albus and Minerva took a seat on a smaller couch against the wall. They sat very close together and Albus wrapped his arm around Minerva’s shoulders and kissed her quickly on the temple. She smiled and leaned against him and they sat that way in silence watching the rest of the occupants of the room.
Harry shared a look with Ron that told him his friend was just as confused as he was, then he looked at Hermione and Ginny. They were watching the professors out of the corners of their eyes and had odd half-focused dreamy expressions on their faces. Harry cleared his throat to get their attention and gave them a “what’s going on look.” Hermione shrugged and whispered, “it’s cute,” and then they all turned their attention back to the card game, stealing occasional glances at their professors who were still sitting comfortably together on the couch. After a few minutes Minerva sighed softly and rested her right hand on Albus’ stomach, he was toying with the end of her braid.
They all sat that way for an hour or two and then Severus Snape dropped by to give Albus a report. The two of them went downstairs to the kitchen so no one else heard what the Potions Master had to say, which was somewhat of a disappointment to the younger occupants of the house. After Snape left, Albus came back into the drawing room.
“My dear, are you ready to go?” he asked.
“Of course,” she stood and moved to join him. “Thank you for everything, Molly. We’ll talk to you all tomorrow.”
Harry had to consciously stop his jaw from dropping when Minerva crossed the room and slipped her hand into Albus’ before they walked away. Everyone else said goodbye to the couple as they exited the room and then resumed their previous activities. Fifteen minutes went by until Harry could stand it no longer. He spoke as though he were talking only to his friends, but loudly enough for the adults to hear because he knew they would have the answer.
“What was going on with Dumbledore and McGonagall? I’ve never seen them act like that.”
Remus and Arthur chuckled and Molly made a disapproving sound. Ron looked at his dad as if to say “what’s so funny?” The three adults shared a look and nodded at each other and Remus took it upon himself to explain.
“They’re married,” he told the now gobsmacked students. “Have been for quite some time, they just don’t act that way in front of the school as it’s unprofessional and they are both intensely private people.”
“Why hasn’t anyone ever told us?” Ron exclaimed.
“Ron,” Molly said reprovingly, “it’s none of our business to tell you about someone else’s relationship. They don’t keep it a secret, we’ve all known for years, it’s just not something that comes up during a typical conversation with students.”
Arthur interrupted, “They obviously felt comfortable here today as they acted perfectly normal in front of all of you. I would caution you, however, not to go running on about it at school. They don’t mind when students find out, but Minerva told me they feel it’s more appropriate not to make a fuss over the situation at the school.”
Ron and Harry exchanged one last incredulous look and Ron rolled his eyes when both Hermione and Ginny suddenly said, “They’re so cute together.”
Meanwhile, Albus and Minerva had apparated back to Hogwarts and were enjoying a casual summer dinner in his sitting room, playing a little footsie under the table. Just because it was the summer holiday didn’t mean everything about meal time had to change for them and they had grown accustomed years ago to teasing each other under the table in the Great Hall.
“I think we confused a few people today,” Albus said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Minerva laughed softly, “Yes, did you see them watching us?”
“I did. I’m actually surprised none of them asked us what was going on, especially Hermione, she’s usually very forward about her questions.”
“Hmm, that’s true, but I’d bet you ten galleons that Molly, Arthur, and Remus had some explaining to do when we left,” Minerva answered with a smile.
“Ah, I only make wagers when I’m certain I will win. I do hope the children approve of our relationship,” Albus said, grinning.
“Did you see Mr. Weasley’s face? He may never look at us the same way again.” Minerva’s tone suddenly changed when she said, “But I don’t want to discuss the students tonight.”
“No?” Albus asked, reaching across the table for her hand. “What would you like to discuss then?”
“Nothing at all,” Minerva answered as she vanished their empty plates and moved to sit in Albus’ lap.
“I like the sound of that,” Albus agreed as Minerva started kissing his neck.
“Shhhh,” she whispered against his ear before standing again and running a finger slowly across his lips as she walked away toward the bedroom.
It took Albus no time at all to stand and follow her. He closed the door behind himself and they talked no more that night.
************
Everybody Knows
Order meetings were still being held in Grimmauld Place even though Sirius had died. Albus had briefly discussed other locations with some of the members, but the Black house still felt like the best place and Sirius had left it to them. The Weasleys stayed there for the summer again so that Harry could come and live there with them after only a few weeks at the Dursleys. He had never been so happy to leave them as he was that summer, although it was hard for him to be in his godfather’s house when Sirius wasn’t there. Hermione had also joined them around the same time Harry had. In light of what had happened earlier in the summer, Albus had decided that the students should be let in on some of the meetings. He had decided that keeping them completely in the dark would only lead to more negative consequences, never let it be said that Albus Dumbledore didn’t learn from his mistakes.
The day of their first meeting, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were in the kitchen early, eagerly anticipating the information they were about to hear. Arthur and Molly Weasley soon joined them, along with Remus Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, Kingsley Shakelbolt, and Minerva McGonagall. When Albus entered, the students were surprised to see him squeeze Minerva’s shoulder and sit down next to her at the kitchen table, very close to her. She turned and smiled lovingly at him and patted his knee. Harry and his friends exchanged looks, what was going on with those two? Molly set out some sandwiches and tea for everyone and the students looked on stupidly as Minerva poured Albus a cup of tea and he picked out her favorite sandwich, all of it without either of them asking. This was getting confusing. The students all knew that their Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress were good friends, of course, but this seemed like more than that. They never touched this often or smiled at each other so much, not at the school at least.
A few more Order members arrived and the meeting was finally held. The excited younger members, however, were asked to leave after about an hour. There were still some things to be discussed that the adults felt they did not need to know. The four of them went upstairs to the drawing room and started playing cards, waiting for the sounds that would signal the end of the meeting. About an hour later, they heard voices on the stairs and people leaving, no one stopped in to say goodbye. Then they heard Molly’s voice floating up from downstairs.
“Do you need me to fix up a bedroom for you, Professors? We have a couple that are empty.”
“No thank you, Molly, that won’t be necessary,” Albus said. “We’ll just wait here for Severus to leave his report and then there will be plenty of time to return to Hogwarts for the night.”
“Why don’t we all take our tea upstairs and see what’s become of the children,” Arthur suggested and they soon heard five sets of footsteps climbing the stairs.
The kids were sitting on the floor at one end of the long room and they looked up when Molly, Arthur, Remus, Albus, and Minerva came in. Remus took a book down from a shelf and sat in an armchair to read; Molly and Arthur sat down on a couch under the windows knitting and reading the paper respectively; and to their students’ great surprise, Albus and Minerva took a seat on a smaller couch against the wall. They sat very close together and Albus wrapped his arm around Minerva’s shoulders and kissed her quickly on the temple. She smiled and leaned against him and they sat that way in silence watching the rest of the occupants of the room.
Harry shared a look with Ron that told him his friend was just as confused as he was, then he looked at Hermione and Ginny. They were watching the professors out of the corners of their eyes and had odd half-focused dreamy expressions on their faces. Harry cleared his throat to get their attention and gave them a “what’s going on look.” Hermione shrugged and whispered, “it’s cute,” and then they all turned their attention back to the card game, stealing occasional glances at their professors who were still sitting comfortably together on the couch. After a few minutes Minerva sighed softly and rested her right hand on Albus’ stomach, he was toying with the end of her braid.
They all sat that way for an hour or two and then Severus Snape dropped by to give Albus a report. The two of them went downstairs to the kitchen so no one else heard what the Potions Master had to say, which was somewhat of a disappointment to the younger occupants of the house. After Snape left, Albus came back into the drawing room.
“My dear, are you ready to go?” he asked.
“Of course,” she stood and moved to join him. “Thank you for everything, Molly. We’ll talk to you all tomorrow.”
Harry had to consciously stop his jaw from dropping when Minerva crossed the room and slipped her hand into Albus’ before they walked away. Everyone else said goodbye to the couple as they exited the room and then resumed their previous activities. Fifteen minutes went by until Harry could stand it no longer. He spoke as though he were talking only to his friends, but loudly enough for the adults to hear because he knew they would have the answer.
“What was going on with Dumbledore and McGonagall? I’ve never seen them act like that.”
Remus and Arthur chuckled and Molly made a disapproving sound. Ron looked at his dad as if to say “what’s so funny?” The three adults shared a look and nodded at each other and Remus took it upon himself to explain.
“They’re married,” he told the now gobsmacked students. “Have been for quite some time, they just don’t act that way in front of the school as it’s unprofessional and they are both intensely private people.”
“Why hasn’t anyone ever told us?” Ron exclaimed.
“Ron,” Molly said reprovingly, “it’s none of our business to tell you about someone else’s relationship. They don’t keep it a secret, we’ve all known for years, it’s just not something that comes up during a typical conversation with students.”
Arthur interrupted, “They obviously felt comfortable here today as they acted perfectly normal in front of all of you. I would caution you, however, not to go running on about it at school. They don’t mind when students find out, but Minerva told me they feel it’s more appropriate not to make a fuss over the situation at the school.”
Ron and Harry exchanged one last incredulous look and Ron rolled his eyes when both Hermione and Ginny suddenly said, “They’re so cute together.”
Meanwhile, Albus and Minerva had apparated back to Hogwarts and were enjoying a casual summer dinner in his sitting room, playing a little footsie under the table. Just because it was the summer holiday didn’t mean everything about meal time had to change for them and they had grown accustomed years ago to teasing each other under the table in the Great Hall.
“I think we confused a few people today,” Albus said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Minerva laughed softly, “Yes, did you see them watching us?”
“I did. I’m actually surprised none of them asked us what was going on, especially Hermione, she’s usually very forward about her questions.”
“Hmm, that’s true, but I’d bet you ten galleons that Molly, Arthur, and Remus had some explaining to do when we left,” Minerva answered with a smile.
“Ah, I only make wagers when I’m certain I will win. I do hope the children approve of our relationship,” Albus said, grinning.
“Did you see Mr. Weasley’s face? He may never look at us the same way again.” Minerva’s tone suddenly changed when she said, “But I don’t want to discuss the students tonight.”
“No?” Albus asked, reaching across the table for her hand. “What would you like to discuss then?”
“Nothing at all,” Minerva answered as she vanished their empty plates and moved to sit in Albus’ lap.
“I like the sound of that,” Albus agreed as Minerva started kissing his neck.
“Shhhh,” she whispered against his ear before standing again and running a finger slowly across his lips as she walked away toward the bedroom.
It took Albus no time at all to stand and follow her. He closed the door behind himself and they talked no more that night.
Glad you liked the fic.
