Post by TartanPhoenix on Sept 12, 2005 2:29:17 GMT -5
Disclaimer: Just the usual. It's all hers', and I have no money, so please don't sue.
Rating: No clue
AN: I'm sorry if this isn't up to my usual standards, but it's a little after midnight, and the evil monster known as insomnia has come for another lovely visit.
Favorite time of year
“May I have this dance,” he smiled gently, reaching out a hand for hers.
“Of course headmaster,” she replied with an equally gentle smile. Streams of the nutcracker suite floated lightly though the air, and the pair joined the throng of brightly colored pairs as they moved, en masse, around the richly decorated hall.
Christmas had never been one of Minerva’s favorite times of year, but at the moment, with Albus’ arm wrapped snugly around her waist and the other wrapped around hers so softly, it was quickly gaining in her estimation. “When Albus,” she asked as they pulled out of a perfect spin, “did you decide that the Yule ball was going to become an annual event? Surely, the one during the tournament was enough.”
Albus chuckled, letting his thumb glide, of its own accord, along her lower back. “Not long after the students had returned to their beds that night actually. I enjoyed the evening immensely, and by their smiles, I guessed the students had as well. What better opportunity is there for young people in love to enjoy themselves than at a ball. They can get almost as close as they like, and the professor’s won’t say a word as long as they pretend to keep moving.”
He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively, and Minerva couldn’t help but snort quietly in response. “Really Albus, young people in love?! I hardly think they are old enough to know that. It is nothing more than another excuse for them to brush up against each other.” The pair continued to dance, each unaware that the other dancers had stepped aside to watch them. They moved together seamlessly, each perfectly in step with the other, never missing a beat.
“What about the professors than?” He pulled her closer to himself for emphasis. “Would you have me deny our colleagues their one opportunity during the school year to socialize and dance? I never thought you so cold Minerva,” he gently teased. “And,” he added slyly, “I’ve seen more than one couple leave a ball over the years. We are limited in our choices of partners Minerva,” he reminded her.
“I understand that Albus,” she said exasperated, “but that doesn’t mean we should act like a group of hormonal teenagers. We need to set an example for the students.”
“Honestly Minerva,” now Albus was the one exasperated. “Can you honestly tell me that you’ve never walked into a ballroom, the music playing, couples chatting, people dancing happily, and you, one of the most gorgeous and lively people I know, have never walked into the room and seen someone who set your heart on fire? You can truthfully tell me that you’ve never seen someone you wish nothing more than to dance the night away with?”
She looked up to him, her eyes pleading for a reprieve that never came. Instead, she dropped her brilliant green eyes to the polished marble floor, and took a step backward as the music came to a halt. “I see,” was his only reply, his own eyes becoming guarded, distant.
He walked her from the dance floor, again oblivious to the applause from the gathered crowd. “If you will excuse me Minerva? Thank you for the dance.” He bowed politely before walking away toward a group of men from the Ministry.
Minerva watched his retreating form and gave a sad sigh. She ignored the voices of those around her as she walked away, heading for the door and the safely of the grounds. She wrapped her cloak around her shoulders and drew it close. It wasn’t a cold night, at least not as cold as it could be given the time of year.
Minerva rubbed her arms slowly as she watched her breath float away and join the lightly falling snow. The grounds were quiet, and she watched the candle light spilling out of the high windows as it danced, to its own melody, across the snow covered landscape.
She felt, rather than saw him approach. He came up behind her silently, adding his own heavy cloak on top of hers, before letting his arms come to rest on her shoulders, kneading steadily. “What is it Minerva?” His voice was only a whisper, as if anything louder and the moment would vanish.
His hands fell away as she turned, her arms coming to rest against his chest, taking comfort in the warmth and steady beating of his heart. “I don’t know what I should be doing,” she admitted softly.
To each of their surprise, she stood on her toes and kissed his lips tentatively, almost reverently. It only took a split second for the shock to wear off and for Albus to return th kiss wholeheartedly. What started out as a gentle expression of so much more, quickly turned fierce, explosive as every passing glance, every prolonged touch, every loaded look came to the surface. By the time they broke apart, panting, the air around them was no longer cold by any stretch of the imagination.
“I’ve never been in love before.” Minerva finished.
Tenderly, Albus stroked her cheek, brushing away a loose tendril of hair and tucking it behind her ear. “And I’ve never loved anyone else.” He said, before leaning down for another kiss. Yes, Christmas was definitely becoming her favorite time of year.
Rating: No clue
AN: I'm sorry if this isn't up to my usual standards, but it's a little after midnight, and the evil monster known as insomnia has come for another lovely visit.
Favorite time of year
“May I have this dance,” he smiled gently, reaching out a hand for hers.
“Of course headmaster,” she replied with an equally gentle smile. Streams of the nutcracker suite floated lightly though the air, and the pair joined the throng of brightly colored pairs as they moved, en masse, around the richly decorated hall.
Christmas had never been one of Minerva’s favorite times of year, but at the moment, with Albus’ arm wrapped snugly around her waist and the other wrapped around hers so softly, it was quickly gaining in her estimation. “When Albus,” she asked as they pulled out of a perfect spin, “did you decide that the Yule ball was going to become an annual event? Surely, the one during the tournament was enough.”
Albus chuckled, letting his thumb glide, of its own accord, along her lower back. “Not long after the students had returned to their beds that night actually. I enjoyed the evening immensely, and by their smiles, I guessed the students had as well. What better opportunity is there for young people in love to enjoy themselves than at a ball. They can get almost as close as they like, and the professor’s won’t say a word as long as they pretend to keep moving.”
He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively, and Minerva couldn’t help but snort quietly in response. “Really Albus, young people in love?! I hardly think they are old enough to know that. It is nothing more than another excuse for them to brush up against each other.” The pair continued to dance, each unaware that the other dancers had stepped aside to watch them. They moved together seamlessly, each perfectly in step with the other, never missing a beat.
“What about the professors than?” He pulled her closer to himself for emphasis. “Would you have me deny our colleagues their one opportunity during the school year to socialize and dance? I never thought you so cold Minerva,” he gently teased. “And,” he added slyly, “I’ve seen more than one couple leave a ball over the years. We are limited in our choices of partners Minerva,” he reminded her.
“I understand that Albus,” she said exasperated, “but that doesn’t mean we should act like a group of hormonal teenagers. We need to set an example for the students.”
“Honestly Minerva,” now Albus was the one exasperated. “Can you honestly tell me that you’ve never walked into a ballroom, the music playing, couples chatting, people dancing happily, and you, one of the most gorgeous and lively people I know, have never walked into the room and seen someone who set your heart on fire? You can truthfully tell me that you’ve never seen someone you wish nothing more than to dance the night away with?”
She looked up to him, her eyes pleading for a reprieve that never came. Instead, she dropped her brilliant green eyes to the polished marble floor, and took a step backward as the music came to a halt. “I see,” was his only reply, his own eyes becoming guarded, distant.
He walked her from the dance floor, again oblivious to the applause from the gathered crowd. “If you will excuse me Minerva? Thank you for the dance.” He bowed politely before walking away toward a group of men from the Ministry.
Minerva watched his retreating form and gave a sad sigh. She ignored the voices of those around her as she walked away, heading for the door and the safely of the grounds. She wrapped her cloak around her shoulders and drew it close. It wasn’t a cold night, at least not as cold as it could be given the time of year.
Minerva rubbed her arms slowly as she watched her breath float away and join the lightly falling snow. The grounds were quiet, and she watched the candle light spilling out of the high windows as it danced, to its own melody, across the snow covered landscape.
She felt, rather than saw him approach. He came up behind her silently, adding his own heavy cloak on top of hers, before letting his arms come to rest on her shoulders, kneading steadily. “What is it Minerva?” His voice was only a whisper, as if anything louder and the moment would vanish.
His hands fell away as she turned, her arms coming to rest against his chest, taking comfort in the warmth and steady beating of his heart. “I don’t know what I should be doing,” she admitted softly.
To each of their surprise, she stood on her toes and kissed his lips tentatively, almost reverently. It only took a split second for the shock to wear off and for Albus to return th kiss wholeheartedly. What started out as a gentle expression of so much more, quickly turned fierce, explosive as every passing glance, every prolonged touch, every loaded look came to the surface. By the time they broke apart, panting, the air around them was no longer cold by any stretch of the imagination.
“I’ve never been in love before.” Minerva finished.
Tenderly, Albus stroked her cheek, brushing away a loose tendril of hair and tucking it behind her ear. “And I’ve never loved anyone else.” He said, before leaning down for another kiss. Yes, Christmas was definitely becoming her favorite time of year.
