Post by ginger newts on Nov 11, 2004 23:29:17 GMT -5
Here's another one co-written by myself and Sensiblyquirky, gotta love IM! (Oh, and it should be obvious but it takes place after the Dementors showed up at the Quidditch match in PoA.)
As Long As He Needs Me
After being reassured by Poppy that Harry hadn't suffered any serious injuries in his fifty foot fall, Minerva left the hospital wing and went back to the rooms she shared with Albus to wait for him. She had rarely seen him as angry as he was when the Dementors appeared during the Quidditch match and had little doubt that he would be just as angry, if not more so, when he returned from talking with them. He entered their rooms a few minutes later and, as predicted, was still very angry.
Without even acknowledging her presence in the rooms, Albus began to pace angrily, his eyes still blazing. Occasionally he would point his wand at an object and mutter "reducto," Minerva just watched as he destroyed various meaningless knick knacks, giving him a few minutes to vent his anger before she would step in and try to calm him down. She wasn't given the chance however, because after about a quarter of an hour Albus missed his intended target and accidentally blew up the very first photograph ever taken of the two of them. It was one of their favorites and had always occupied the small table between the armchairs they sat in to read and play chess.
Upon realizing what he had done, Albus stopped pacing and his expression changed from one of anger to one of grief. He knelt down and picked up the fragments of the frame and the two larger chunks of photograph, looking pained. Minerva walked over and crouched down next to him, placing a hand on his back she took out her own wand and repaired the damage.
"It's alright, Albus, no permanent harm done," she said softly, brushing a lock of silvery hair out of his face and tucking it behind his ear.
Standing, she pulled him up with her and led him to the couch where she sat and indicated for him to lie down and rest his head in her lap. Albus complied with her silent invitation and stretched out on the couch with a soft sigh, laying his head gently in her lap. Minerva began softly stroking his hair, letting her delicate fingers massage his weary head, as she murmured calming and soothing words to him. She could feel Albus relaxing as his eyes closed, allowing him to focus on the sensations of her hand hands moving over him and her soft voice with the slight Scottish accent he loved, floating across the room.
When Minerva decided that Albus was sufficiently calmed down from his interaction with the Dementors, she guided him back into an upright position and took his hand to lead him into the bathroom. She drew a warm bath and conjured a mug of his favorite hot chocolate, stripping down to her slip as Albus undressed and climbed into the soothing, perfectly heated water. She picked up a sponge and began to gently wash his back and neck, massaging his tired muscles as she did so, before moving on to his arms and then finally the front of his body.
As she washed his stomach, Albus leaned back until his head was once again resting in her lap and he looked up at Minerva, watching her face as she bathed him. He thought she was still just as beautiful as they day he had realized he was in love with her so many years ago. The years had left their mark on her face, but to him the few wrinkles only made her more beautiful. It was her eyes that really drew his attention, however. Most people never bothered to look hard enough but Albus could read her every thought and emotion in the green orbs. Right now, they were reflecting an enormous amount of love and devotion and the sight of it warmed his heart. What had he ever done to deserve such a wonderful woman?
When she was satisfied that he was both clean and relaxed Minerva stood and summoned a large fluffy purple towel and Albus climbed out of the tub to dry off. She led him back into the bedroom and picked out a clean crisp white nightshirt for him, which she helped him button after he slipped into it. Not to be outdone, Albus reached over and helped Minerva pull her slip off over her head and then grasped the hem of her nightgown and helped pull it down over her legs. She moved to sit in front of the mirror and took the pins from her hair but when she reached for her brush it wasn't there. Looking up quickly, she realized that Albus had picked it up off the vanity table.
He stood behind her and took his time in brushing out the long ebony locks, eventually replacing the brush with his long fingers, which was Minerva's cue to stand up and lead the way to the bed. Through out all of this they had spoken hardly more than ten words between them. Such was the nature of their relationship that they did not need words to communicate, neither felt a need to explain anything to the other and each knew what the other was thinking and feeling. When she crawled into bed, Minerva was prepared to hold Albus as he slept, but when she opened her arms to him he shook his head and pulled her into his embrace. She had been holding him and taking care of him all night and now Albus wanted to feel her in his arms.
Minerva smiled softly at him and they shared a tender goodnight kiss before she rested her head on his chest as Albus tightened his arms around her back. She could hear his heart beating and feel him tenderly stroking her back and hair as his breathing evened out and he gradually drifted off to sleep, his hands stopping their movements but his hold on her not loosening at all. Minerva sighed quietly and turned her head to look at his face, sleep would not come easily for her tonight. She studied the familiar face of her love, the long crooked nose, soft kissable lips, the lines on his forehead that had grown deeper since they met so many years ago, his hair and beard now a silvery white instead of the auburn of his youth.
His eyes were closed, but even without seeing them Minerva could clearly picture the sky blue pools that she so often lost herself in. His every emotion was always visible in his eyes, they twinkled when he was happy, clouded over when he was sad, and almost sparked with danger when he was angry, but there was another look that she loved, one only she was privileged to see. Those expressive eyes could hold so much love, devotion, and appreciation that sometimes it was overwhelming for Minerva. Nobody had ever cared about her the way Albus did. For a long time after her father's death she thought no one would ever care about her again. That brought her thoughts around to her father, to the memories she had tried so hard all afternoon to forget, the ones the Dementors conjured up in her mind every time they got too close.
She closed her eyes and willed herself not to think about it, but it was no use, it all came rushing back: the screams, the shouts, the horrible images, she should never had witnessed that and yet she was lucky to have walked away from it alive. It was too much, careful not to wake Albus, Minerva slipped from between his arms and crossed to the window, sitting down on the wide sill and looking out on the still night. Albus awoke when he sensed the loss of Minerva's warmth in his arms, opening his eyes slowly he spotted her sitting in the window bathed in the moonlight, a faraway look in her eyes. He knew what she was thinking about and it broke his heart.
“Minerva,” he called softly.
"I couldn't sleep."
Rising from the bed Albus crossed the room to stand at her side, "You're not there anymore, sweetheart, come back to me," he whispered close to her ear.
"Minerva," he tried again gently touching her shoulder.
She jumped and turned to look at him searching his face. Albus cupped her face in his hands, "Minerva, it's over sweetheart. The war's over. You aren't there anymore, you are in our bedroom. Come back to me, love."
Minerva's eyes slowly echoed the change being made in her mind as she looked at Albus. "I'm sorry, Albus."
"There's no need to apologize, Minerva. What did you see," Albus replied pulling her completely into his arms.
Minerva shuddered, "I saw Grindelwald's men killing Daddy. It's my worst memory those foul creatures always recall it, always."
"I'm so sorry, Minerva, sorry I didn't help you earlier tonight. I should have been there for you."
Minerva pulled back sharply, "Do not apologize, Albus. I wanted to help you. I love you, and you needed me and I wanted to be there for you."
Albus smiled softly as he kissed her lips ever so gently, "I love you too. Do you think you can go back to sleep?"
"Just as long as you hold me."
He didn’t answer with words, instead he bent down slightly and scooped her into his arms, carrying her back to bed where she once again curled into his loving embrace with her head resting on his chest.
“Sleep, love, I’m here and you’re safe,” he said quietly, placing a tender kiss to her forehead.
Minerva only snuggled closer to him and wrapped her right arm tightly around his waist knowing that this time she would fall asleep because she was safe and loved, nothing could hurt her tonight.
As Long As He Needs Me
After being reassured by Poppy that Harry hadn't suffered any serious injuries in his fifty foot fall, Minerva left the hospital wing and went back to the rooms she shared with Albus to wait for him. She had rarely seen him as angry as he was when the Dementors appeared during the Quidditch match and had little doubt that he would be just as angry, if not more so, when he returned from talking with them. He entered their rooms a few minutes later and, as predicted, was still very angry.
Without even acknowledging her presence in the rooms, Albus began to pace angrily, his eyes still blazing. Occasionally he would point his wand at an object and mutter "reducto," Minerva just watched as he destroyed various meaningless knick knacks, giving him a few minutes to vent his anger before she would step in and try to calm him down. She wasn't given the chance however, because after about a quarter of an hour Albus missed his intended target and accidentally blew up the very first photograph ever taken of the two of them. It was one of their favorites and had always occupied the small table between the armchairs they sat in to read and play chess.
Upon realizing what he had done, Albus stopped pacing and his expression changed from one of anger to one of grief. He knelt down and picked up the fragments of the frame and the two larger chunks of photograph, looking pained. Minerva walked over and crouched down next to him, placing a hand on his back she took out her own wand and repaired the damage.
"It's alright, Albus, no permanent harm done," she said softly, brushing a lock of silvery hair out of his face and tucking it behind his ear.
Standing, she pulled him up with her and led him to the couch where she sat and indicated for him to lie down and rest his head in her lap. Albus complied with her silent invitation and stretched out on the couch with a soft sigh, laying his head gently in her lap. Minerva began softly stroking his hair, letting her delicate fingers massage his weary head, as she murmured calming and soothing words to him. She could feel Albus relaxing as his eyes closed, allowing him to focus on the sensations of her hand hands moving over him and her soft voice with the slight Scottish accent he loved, floating across the room.
When Minerva decided that Albus was sufficiently calmed down from his interaction with the Dementors, she guided him back into an upright position and took his hand to lead him into the bathroom. She drew a warm bath and conjured a mug of his favorite hot chocolate, stripping down to her slip as Albus undressed and climbed into the soothing, perfectly heated water. She picked up a sponge and began to gently wash his back and neck, massaging his tired muscles as she did so, before moving on to his arms and then finally the front of his body.
As she washed his stomach, Albus leaned back until his head was once again resting in her lap and he looked up at Minerva, watching her face as she bathed him. He thought she was still just as beautiful as they day he had realized he was in love with her so many years ago. The years had left their mark on her face, but to him the few wrinkles only made her more beautiful. It was her eyes that really drew his attention, however. Most people never bothered to look hard enough but Albus could read her every thought and emotion in the green orbs. Right now, they were reflecting an enormous amount of love and devotion and the sight of it warmed his heart. What had he ever done to deserve such a wonderful woman?
When she was satisfied that he was both clean and relaxed Minerva stood and summoned a large fluffy purple towel and Albus climbed out of the tub to dry off. She led him back into the bedroom and picked out a clean crisp white nightshirt for him, which she helped him button after he slipped into it. Not to be outdone, Albus reached over and helped Minerva pull her slip off over her head and then grasped the hem of her nightgown and helped pull it down over her legs. She moved to sit in front of the mirror and took the pins from her hair but when she reached for her brush it wasn't there. Looking up quickly, she realized that Albus had picked it up off the vanity table.
He stood behind her and took his time in brushing out the long ebony locks, eventually replacing the brush with his long fingers, which was Minerva's cue to stand up and lead the way to the bed. Through out all of this they had spoken hardly more than ten words between them. Such was the nature of their relationship that they did not need words to communicate, neither felt a need to explain anything to the other and each knew what the other was thinking and feeling. When she crawled into bed, Minerva was prepared to hold Albus as he slept, but when she opened her arms to him he shook his head and pulled her into his embrace. She had been holding him and taking care of him all night and now Albus wanted to feel her in his arms.
Minerva smiled softly at him and they shared a tender goodnight kiss before she rested her head on his chest as Albus tightened his arms around her back. She could hear his heart beating and feel him tenderly stroking her back and hair as his breathing evened out and he gradually drifted off to sleep, his hands stopping their movements but his hold on her not loosening at all. Minerva sighed quietly and turned her head to look at his face, sleep would not come easily for her tonight. She studied the familiar face of her love, the long crooked nose, soft kissable lips, the lines on his forehead that had grown deeper since they met so many years ago, his hair and beard now a silvery white instead of the auburn of his youth.
His eyes were closed, but even without seeing them Minerva could clearly picture the sky blue pools that she so often lost herself in. His every emotion was always visible in his eyes, they twinkled when he was happy, clouded over when he was sad, and almost sparked with danger when he was angry, but there was another look that she loved, one only she was privileged to see. Those expressive eyes could hold so much love, devotion, and appreciation that sometimes it was overwhelming for Minerva. Nobody had ever cared about her the way Albus did. For a long time after her father's death she thought no one would ever care about her again. That brought her thoughts around to her father, to the memories she had tried so hard all afternoon to forget, the ones the Dementors conjured up in her mind every time they got too close.
She closed her eyes and willed herself not to think about it, but it was no use, it all came rushing back: the screams, the shouts, the horrible images, she should never had witnessed that and yet she was lucky to have walked away from it alive. It was too much, careful not to wake Albus, Minerva slipped from between his arms and crossed to the window, sitting down on the wide sill and looking out on the still night. Albus awoke when he sensed the loss of Minerva's warmth in his arms, opening his eyes slowly he spotted her sitting in the window bathed in the moonlight, a faraway look in her eyes. He knew what she was thinking about and it broke his heart.
“Minerva,” he called softly.
"I couldn't sleep."
Rising from the bed Albus crossed the room to stand at her side, "You're not there anymore, sweetheart, come back to me," he whispered close to her ear.
"Minerva," he tried again gently touching her shoulder.
She jumped and turned to look at him searching his face. Albus cupped her face in his hands, "Minerva, it's over sweetheart. The war's over. You aren't there anymore, you are in our bedroom. Come back to me, love."
Minerva's eyes slowly echoed the change being made in her mind as she looked at Albus. "I'm sorry, Albus."
"There's no need to apologize, Minerva. What did you see," Albus replied pulling her completely into his arms.
Minerva shuddered, "I saw Grindelwald's men killing Daddy. It's my worst memory those foul creatures always recall it, always."
"I'm so sorry, Minerva, sorry I didn't help you earlier tonight. I should have been there for you."
Minerva pulled back sharply, "Do not apologize, Albus. I wanted to help you. I love you, and you needed me and I wanted to be there for you."
Albus smiled softly as he kissed her lips ever so gently, "I love you too. Do you think you can go back to sleep?"
"Just as long as you hold me."
He didn’t answer with words, instead he bent down slightly and scooped her into his arms, carrying her back to bed where she once again curled into his loving embrace with her head resting on his chest.
“Sleep, love, I’m here and you’re safe,” he said quietly, placing a tender kiss to her forehead.
Minerva only snuggled closer to him and wrapped her right arm tightly around his waist knowing that this time she would fall asleep because she was safe and loved, nothing could hurt her tonight.
...me likies! ;D Loved this muchly, is there more?
