Post by EloquentPhoenix on Dec 17, 2005 18:51:57 GMT -5
Arguments
Disclaimer: Not mine.
“Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!” Minerva’s voice echoed around as she stormed up the stairs to his office.
The portraits on the wall winced at her tone and looked worried. Albus smiled at them, he was tempted to chuckle but he thought better of it. She was angry enough already. The portraits all wondered what Albus had done this time for it to warrant this at midnight.
With twinkling eyes at her accusing and angry tone Albus put down his quill and opened the door to his office with a wave of his hand. He looked at her expectantly and smiled as she entered the room. She shot him a look she usually reserved for badly behaved students; a look that would make most people quiver. Albus Dumbledore seemed to be the only person who did not feel any fear at this look, but even his smile faded a little. He hated to upset her but he couldn’t let her get hurt. He loved her even though she didn’t know it.
“Yes, Minerva?” he questioned with a hint of mirth in his voice although her knew why she had come.
“How could you?” she growled. “You are despicable and your behaviour and attitude were appalling, oh I never been so humiliated in all my entire life! Albus how could you do that to me? A friend for dinner, fine was what you said and yet the way you treated him was-”
“No, Minerva. It was the way he treated you, I could not just let him do that and say nothing!” Albus interrupted. His temper was fully under control though his heart was beating terribly at the thought of her asking why he behaved as such.
“The way he treated me? THE WAY HE TREATED ME?!? Albus, he treated me with the up most respect. He was the perfect gentleman and he was so embarrassed by you and so was I!” she shouted, her voice steadily increasing in volume.
“Minerva you are wrong, it was the way he looked at you, as a friend I couldn’t do nothing. The things he said about you when you were not listening; he did not respect you at all,” Albus continued in a calm voice.
His calmness only made her more furious and her usually controlled temper was raging.
What does he know anyway? And my friend does respect me, well enough anyway. If Albus doesn’t care for me I have to move on and this was the start. Oh how could he?
“Albus,” she sighed “he did respect me, he still does I hope.”
“No he did not. He wanted a trophy for his arm, someone to sit quietly and look nice. He didn’t want you; your spirit, your temperament, your laugh, your voice, your mind, your opinions, your stubbornness, your temper and everything that makes you who you are! He didn’t understand who you are, he didn’t want to find out either. Your beauty is not what makes you who you are, but your personality is,” he said.
He inwardly kicked himself; he was losing control. She was going to find out if he didn’t shut up.
Why don’t you just tell her you’re jealous and be done with it?
Yes, I’m sure that will go down well: “Well you see, I’ve been in love with you since you were seventeen and I was your professor. You don’t mind that I’m eighty years older than you, do you?” She’ll love that. And how do you know I am jealous?
I’m your subconscious, I know everything about you.
She swallowed, lost and confused. He had never shown any interest in her before but she had loved him since she was a student at Hogwarts. No, no, no! He could not do this now. She looked back at him, embarrassed by his compliments.
“Albus…” she began but trailed off.
What could she say, his mere presence sent her heart into overdrive and now he was saying this? She struggled to gain control of her emotions she was tempted to tell him that it was him she loved. However, she couldn’t face the rejection or him being flattered. No, she loved him too much to face that. Moving quickly around the desk Albus reached for her hand. Pulling away Minerva moved quickly to the window and stared out onto the endless horizon. He followed her, this had been enough to make him realise how much he loved her. Jealous was the word.
“Albus, he does respect me, he just does,” she said.
“He doesn’t, Minerva, and you know it. I just couldn’t bear to see him hurt you.”
Anger flashed in her eyes and she stalked away from him to the door.
He just wanted to protect me from hurt, yeah well love hurts, Albus. And I should know, I’ve loved you since I was fifteen and it’s been hurting ever since.
“Albus, you’re wrong. And I do not need you to worry about him, or anyone else, hurting me! I am going before I say something I regret forever,” she said heavily, the anger quickly replaced by hurt as her hopes were dashed again.
For the first time he felt anger, a quick wave of his hand locked the door. Minerva turned to face him but there was only hurt in her eyes.
“Please, let me be,” she said.
“What would you say that you would regret?” he asked.
“Nothing, I won’t say it. You can’t make me, Albus. It would ruin our friendship. Please, Albus,” she pleaded.
“Minerva, tell me,” he insisted.
“NO! Why don’t you tell me why you behaved like that?”
That was it the question he had been dreading. It was no one’s fault but his own.
Say something… Anything. The truth if you have to.
No! Not the truth.
He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. A blush rose in his cheeks that even his beard couldn’t hide. Phineas had been listening to everything from his portrait. All of the portraits knew how much Minerva meant to the current Headmaster, but Phineas was sure that now was the time to give them a good shove in the right direction.
“He is jealous, Professor McGonagall,” Phineas said.
The words echoed around the room and a resounding silence followed them. Minerva sat quickly in the chair close the desk, tears of hurt and anger welling in her eyes. Albus’ blush deepened further and he shot an angry look at Phineas. Looking back to her, his heart filled with dread.
He doesn’t. No! This is another joke, but it hurts.
You know it could be true-
No it isn’t, shut up you.
“So, Albus. After your amusing little joke would you please open the door,” she said, her voice thick with unshed tears.
“Minerva, I didn’t put him up to that and-”
“Albus Dumbledore! Oh how could you! Your joke, I’m sure, would have been hilarious had I not loved you. I loved since I was a child, fifteen, Albus, fifteen! And now your jokes hurt so much as does the fact you want to protect me. Well I’m sorry if it’s funny to you but I have loved you for seven years and each time I see you and then have to leave my heart is torn out and stamped on. That is how it feels and now your joke was the last in a long line of bruises. See there you have it, I’ve answered your question and ruined our friendship but I can’t bear it anymore,” she sobbed. Pulling out her wand she walked to the door. Turing to him and raising her wand she spoke again.
“I want to leave, Albus!”
He waved his hand and the door opened behind her.
Oh what have I done? I have hurt everyday for all these years. It’s a wonder she doesn’t hate me. And now look what I’ve done.
Dilys had been watching what was going on from her portrait. She sighed from her portrait; he was going to lose her if he didn’t move quickly. Dumbledore however was, for once, without any idea what to do. He sank into the chair that Minerva had just been sitting in and a single tear trailed a path down his cheek. Dilys was angry then.
“Headmaster! Do stop feeling sorry for yourself and follow the poor woman. I cannot see the problem, you both love each other!” she exclaimed.
“How can I? She must hate me for everything.”
“She will hate you if you do not go now and tell her. When I was alive no one was this stupid I will tell you… Now go! Before you lose her,” she pleaded.
“I fear I already have,” he replied sadly.
“You will if you don’t try and win her back,” she told him gently, “Now go to her. Before I hurt you for not doing.”
Dumbledore stood up and walked over to the door. Dilys was right. He could do this; he had to. Besides if she did hate him now he deserved it. Picking up his pace he ran down the steps and down the corridors. He ran to her rooms and arrived outside unsure of what to do. He knew the password of course and he doubted she had changed it. He knocked on the door but received no reply.
“Gryffindor,” he muttered before pushing open the door.
He walked through her living room to where he could see her bedroom door ajar. He could hear her soft sobs from inside. He strode purposefully into the room and sat on the bed next to her shaking form. She looked up at the movement and the look in her eyes changed from sorrow to dread.
“Albus, please. I don’t need to hear you reject me. I can’t hear it, I can’t bear it. Don’t say your flattered, or anything of the sort. Please leave me alone,” she begged.
She got up from her bed and backed herself into a corner of the room. Her tears still poured down her face, but she had no pride at the moment. She looked all the more beautiful to Albus; her hair loosened from its bun around her beautiful, but tear-stained, face. He stared at her and vowed to stop the tears he had caused. He stood up and walked over to her. He stood inches away from her. He lifted her face gently with one hand and wiped away the tears with the other.
“I can’t leave you alone, Minerva. I can’t leave the one I love like this,” he said, smiling at her and moving closer.
She shook her head violently and his hands fell away. She was determined that she would not be lied to.
“You don’t mean that, don’t say that,” she told him.
She looked down at her feet determinedly. He lifted her face again and made her look in his eyes.
“Look in my eyes and tell me I’m lying. I love you, Minerva. I have loved you since your last year of school. And I’m sorry, sorry for never telling you after you left school. But you have to understand, I never thought you could love me back,” he told her. “I thought of what you would think, I’m eighty years older than you and I couldn’t risk losing your friendship.”
Tears still poured down her cheeks and she stared into his eyes, hardly daring to believe it. He wiped away her tears with his thumb. He stepped ever closer to her. He lifted her face to meet his and kissed her gently. His arms slide around her waist and pulled her closer. Her arms moved from her sides and to his shoulders and she pushed him away. She had wanted him to love her for so long and now he apparently did she couldn’t believe it. Her lips were tingling and she wanted him to kiss her again but she couldn’t how he could love her.
“Albus, you don’t love me. You would have done something,” she said desperately.
“I was scared, Minerva. Scared of you not loving me, and even though I would sometimes think you might care I’d then think I would think I was being stupid. And in your last year, I knew it was wrong to love you. At least, I thought you would think it was wrong,” he explained in a pained voice.
He thought he’d lost her forever. He couldn’t give up now. He moved closer to her again and she stepped back into the wall.
“I love you,” he told her seriously as he stared unblinking into her eyes. “I love you, I love you so much. Please, Minerva, believe me.”
He saw her hopeful expression and her breathing become shallower from his closeness. He pulled her into his arms and when she put her arms around his neck he pulled her close to him. He wanted to laugh with relief.
“I love you too,” she whispered to him.
Her breath tickled his skin and she felt so right in his arms. He lowered his head to hers and kissed her. She kissed him back; her fears were gone. He had wanted this for so long, they both had. Gently brushing his lips across hers he smiled.
“I can’t believe I nearly lost you, my dear,” he murmured into her lips.
“You’ll never lose me,” she said before kissing him again.
As she knotted her fingers through his greying locks he pulled the pins from her hair and let it fall down her back. He buried his hands in her hair; it was unbelievably soft. He ran his tongue across her lips, asking for permission to deepen the kiss. She parted her lips and sighed softly. He pulled her closer to him; he never wanted to let her go.
A little later they were sat on the couch in Minerva’s living room, she was lay in his arms falling asleep. He was staring into the flames of the fire whilst holding her close; keeping her safe. He chuckled to himself as he remembered their argument.
“What?” she questioned sleepily.
“Oh, I’m just glad you brought that friend to dinner,” he laughed.
Soon she began to giggle too.
“Minerva! Are you giggling?” he gasped.
“I do believe I am, care to remedy the problem, darling?” she said.
“And how might I do that?” he teased.
“Well if I was otherwise occupied…” she hinted.
“I think I might be able to help there,” he said.
Pulling her into his arms he captured her lips with his. A few moments later she was laid in his arms again and her head resting on his chest.
“I think we can safely say that problem has been remedied,” he joked.
“Good. Giggling is most unseemly,” she informed him.
“No, my dearest, nothing you could ever do is unseemly,”
“I’m glad you think so,” she informed him.
“And why’s that?” he asked.
She punched him gently on his chest in answer.
“And what was that for?” he asked.
“For not telling me that what Phineas said was true,” she told him.
“Ahh, but I tried to. You cut me off. And then I had to follow you. Oh, that reminds me; I owe Dilys and Phineas a thank you each,” he said.
“Why Dilys?”
“She threatened to hurt me if I didn’t follow you,” he laughed.
“I should thank them too. If it wasn’t for Dilys I could have been packing my bags now,” she sighed.
“You were going to leave? Oh, Minerva, I am so sorry,” he said.
“Don’t be. Besides, you’ll have a job getting rid of me now,” she laughed.
“I wouldn’t want to,” he said.
A little while later he realised she had fallen asleep. He smiled looking down at her. He was so lucky to have her and he would never nearly lose her again. She was too precious to be lost. He kissed her forehead and pulled her close, much too precious he decided. She shifted in her sleep and curled up in his arms. He couldn’t believe he had never told her before. She was the best thing in his life and he had nearly thrown everything away. He stared into the fire and soon found himself dropping off as well. Tightening his arms around her he fell into a peaceful sleep.
Minerva shivered in her sleep and woke with a jolt. She smiled and snuggled closer to Albus, he had stayed with her. Looking up to the clock on the mantle piece she saw it was ten past four in the morning. Taking her wand from her pocket she levitated her tartan blanket and covered them both. She rested her head on his chest again and soon fell back to sleep. She had woken him up during her movements and he smiled down at her. He pulled her closer to him and drifted back off to sleep.
Sometime next morning he woke up again to the birds singing outside. He tucked Minerva more tightly in his arms and kissed her to wake her. Her eyes flew open but she smiled and kissed him back.
“I love you,” she said as a morning greeting.
“And I love you,” he said.
*~*~*
Albus smiled to himself as he came back from the past to present. That was the perfect memory. Looking over to his wife who was curled up stiffly as far from him as possible the smile was replaced by a mixture of sadness and inspiration. They had had a stupid row earlier. It was all over Cornelius Fudge. He wanted to go to the Ministry; Fudge undoubtedly needed his help. Minerva however refused to accompany him, she understood how a united front needed to be show between the Ministry and Hogwarts but she wanted Fudge to manage first. She had missed Albus so much. She knew wit was selfish but she loved Albus.
They were now both in bed, neither was asleep and they were keeping away from each other. Although they could usually keep their tempers they had both lost them. And know they were finally alone together they weren’t speaking. Albus decided that although he was thinking of the bigger picture she was too precious. He rolled over to the middle of the bed and slowly slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered in her ear.
She turned quickly and snuggled close to him.
“I’m sorry, too,” she replied. “I know you’re right, I just missed you.”
“What were you thinking of?” she asked him a few moments later.
“Thinking of? How do you always know?” he asked.
“Seeing as we’ve been together for, oh what is it, fifty years, I think I have some idea,” she joked.
“The argument.”
“Which one?”
“The argument,” he said.
She laughed and rested her head on his chest, much like she had on that night.
“Me too. The start of a lifetime,” she said.
“I think I love you even more now,” he said.
“Why?” she questioned.
“Because every time I see you I fall in love with you all over again,” he said.
She just smiled and snuggled ever closer to him.
“I love you,” she told him.
He kissed her forehead and tightened his arms around her before he said, “And I love you, my Minerva.”
Finite
