Post by EloquentPhoenix on Nov 23, 2007 18:42:43 GMT -5
A Bath
A/N: Hopefully a little funny. And obviously fluffy. I tried to write a more daring side of both Albus and Minerva I’ve never really written before. I’d appreciate any thoughts on how you think I did. I was going to go to bed, but my muse has been bothering me all night to write this, so I have done and so it is unbetaed. Since I’ve lost some sleep, I’ll have to get it up now.
The door slammed violently in the wind, and the rain pounded hard against the windows. Outside a bright flash of light, followed by the roar of thunder added to the intensity of the storm. In the hallway of the small cottage the door slammed again, but not before a gust of icy wind swept through the open door. In the doorway a bedraggled and wet tabby cat shivered and crept further into the room, looking around cautiously. The door slammed again, the sound echoing throughout the empty room.
Suddenly, Albus Dumbledore burst into the cold room. He was wearing a purple-and-yellow striped nightshirt with matching stripy socks and nightcap. Had the aforementioned tabby cat been in her human form she would have rolled her eyes and snorted with laughter. She came further into the room towards the dying embers of the fire, which were unfortunately heatless, as Albus magically locked the door. Seconds later the fire was brought back to life and the silhouette of Minerva McGonagall was highlighted by it.
She looked equally dishevelled in her human form. Her thin summer robes were not designed for this unfortunate summer storm. The wet material clung to her body, and her bun was completely destroyed. Thick bands of her hair were plastered to her face and neck and down her back. What a fine day it was for her to surprise Albus. She ought to have just flooed through, instead of passing unnoticed through his extensive wards and walking the mile to his cottage. And what a summer for him to actually spend time at his cottage, she could have been at Hogwarts warm and dry sharing a hot drink in his office right now. She sighed, and looked over at him, trying but failing to glare at the obvious amusement in his eyes.
He took in her appearance slowly, trying not to notice the way her wet robes offered a clear view of her figure. He tried not to laugh at the obvious disgruntlement on her face.
“How lovely to see you, Minerva,” he said, his eyes dancing with mirth.
She merely glared in response and shivered.
He walked across to her to offer her a seat and perhaps offer to cast a drying charm. As he reached for her arm to lead her he gasped in surprise.
“Minerva, you’re freezing! Is it really so bad out there?” he asked, looking at her in concern.
“I’ll be fine, Albus,” she replied patiently, “I just came to spend the evening with you, and I’m sure I’ll warm up by the fire soon enough.”
“Nonsense! You’ll catch your death like that, what you need is a hot bath and some hot chocolate to warm you up and restore your strength,” he insisted.
“Don’t be silly, Albus,” she protested half-heartedly, at the mere mention of a bath she couldn’t imagine any better way to warm her up. Unless of course Albus would consent to another method, but she wouldn’t dwell on that. “I couldn’t possibly, besides I came to talk. And as for hot chocolate-“
“Now, Minerva,” he said, interrupting, “I insist, really, and you’ll enjoy a hot chocolate now, I promise.” He gave her a push towards what she knew to be his bedroom and bathroom and turned himself towards the kitchen to get hot chocolate.
Conceding defeat, Minerva began to walk towards his room. Pausing in the doorway she called out over her shoulder, “Oh and Albus… nice nightshirt.”
He chuckled to himself as he made up some of his hot chocolate the muggle way. Well, what did she expect to find him in when he had a long afternoon nap? He wandered back into his bedroom, finding the door to the bathroom shut and he changed into some garish robes quickly, the hot chocolate hovering behind him. He tapped lightly on the bathroom door, and leaned closer to it to listen, hoping to tell Minerva to come out to the sitting room as soon as she was warm.
In the bathroom Minerva glanced over to the door hearing Albus’ tapping and his suggestion. She’d laid out and dried her robes and sunk gratefully into the hot bubble bath. It appeared the bath was charmed to suit one’s mood and it had filled with hot rose scented water with pure white bubbles piled on top. She had felt the warmth through to her bones, and though she was feeling much warmer immediately she loathed the thought of getting out so soon. She looked down at the bath, the bubbles were piled high and only her head and neck were at all visible. She was perfectly decent, and she and Albus were close enough friends for this to be okay.
“You know, Albus, I am perfectly decent, come in I am so warm I really don’t wish to get out,” she called.
Albus gently pushed the door open and lost his breath at the beauty before him. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her looking more beautiful than she did at that moment, relaxed against the back of his bathtub amidst a sea of bubbles. And despite her earlier boldness Minerva felt a little unsure and self-conscious now. But she had no real reason to feel as such, and so she dismissed it, looking up to Albus as he finally recovered.
Her cup of hot chocolate floated over to her and she plucked it from the air and drank some gratefully. Albus settled himself down next to the bath in a wicker chair and sipped his own hot chocolate. They settled into a comfortable silence, despite the tension in the room, before it was eventually interrupted by a friendly conversation.
“So, my dear, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I just wished to see you, Albus, and tonight had seemed the perfect night for a summer stroll from your boundaries up to here. Though I am afraid I mustn’t have really thought it through.”
He laughed slightly at that, and smiled fondly at her.
“Though I must say it is nice to see you relaxed a little more, Albus. Though I am sorry I interrupted your nap I’m glad you took one, as well as this working holiday,” she told him.
“As am I, my dear, though I missed you, and the castle. And of course I missed you looking after my health, or should I say-“
“Yes, yes, Albus, I know I fuss, but it’s only because I care,” she interrupted the end of his sentence and mock glared at him. He smiled back, putting down his now empty cup and moving to kneel beside the bath.
He cupped the back of her head and kissed her forehead.
“I know it is because you care, my dear,” he said, still very close to her.
She gave a weak smile in return and brought up a damp hand to stroke his bearded jaw. Without even thinking any further she drew his face closer to hers and pressed her lips against his.
If he were shocked, he hid it well. The hand that had cupped her head slid down to her neck and his fingers wound themselves in the hair there. His other hand rose to close around her hand and squeeze it gently. They each pressed closer to each other, the side of the bath hindering their movement. A moan escaped Minerva’s lips as his tongue moved past her lips to stroke hers and they broke apart.
“Albus…”
“Minerva…”
They both whispered each other’s name at the same time before Albus moved to kiss her again. When they broke apart, breathless, Minerva smiled and sighed before speaking, a spark of mischief evident in her eyes as well as the questions there.
“Hmm, Albus, I’m not sure here is the best place for us to talk about this,” she said, leaning back in the tub languidly and closing her eyes.
“I quite agree my dear,” Albus said. And he stood and moved towards to door, giving her chance to dry off and dress.
As he reached for the door handle he was interrupted by Minerva’s voice floating towards him.
“Where are you going, Albus?” she asked, knowing despite her eyes still being closed. It seemed, however she expected no answer as she continued shortly after. “You, Albus, suggested a bath to warm me up, and I intend to stay here for a long time in order to get sufficiently warm. If we’re to talk I suggest you join me, and we’ll see if you think of any other ways to warm me up.”
Finite
xXx 
Thank you!
