This story is set in 1957, approximately one year after Minerva first starts teaching at Hogwarts.
Chapter One
Albus Dumbledore strode purposefully through the narrow twisting streets of Hogsmeade, he was on a most important mission - so important that he didn't even spare a single glance for Honeydukes, the candy store. Unusually he wasn't even tempted by the delectable display of tantalising candies that gleamed in the window, and normally would have called him like a siren song, instead he headed straight for the small shop on the corner of the road.
Reaching the doorway of the store, Albus stood motionless on the stone pavement for a moment - his gaze seemingly fixed on the golden sign that read Alfonzo's Emporium of Antiquities, underneath in smaller letters were the words, 'Treasures, Curios and Trinkets from the four corners of the World.' Albus hoped desperately that he would find what he sought here, it was his last chance if all was to go as he wished.
Gathering his midnight blue robes around him, Albus stepped into the building, then rubbed his head ruefully as he bumped it against the low wooden doorway. Muttering to himself Albus bent to pick his bright purple hat up off the floor, and replaced it on his head, without even noticing the large spider that was clinging to it.
"Good Morning Professor, not often we see you in here ..." An elderly man with a shock of white hair smiled at Albus from behind the counter, "Ah you seem to have picked up a little friend, if you will permit me ..." Stepping forward the man plucked the spider off Albus' tall pointed hat, and returned it safely to it's intricate web in the corner of the store.
"What ...what ...ah ...oh I see ...thank you my dear Alfonzo ..." Albus answered as he peered vaguely over his half moon spectacles at the spider, then ran his hand through his auburn hair in a slightly nervous manner.
"Bit distracted today, Professor ?" Alfonzo asked with a smile. Though Albus didn't often visit his shop he still knew him well, as did most of the residents of Hogsmeade, and he hadn't seen Albus this stressed since the Great Lemon Drop Crisis of 1951. As the memories of that time flooded back Alfonzo supressed a shudder, "I heard Honeydukes just got a new delivery of candy ..." he said tentatively.
For a few seconds Albus stared at Alfonzo in bewilderment, then as he realised what Alfonzo was referring to chuckled lightly, "Don't worry my dear Alfonzo I assure you I have ample lemon drops." Albus answered, with another chuckle. "And now to business ...You don't happen to have any rings do you ?" Albus asked casually, if it hadn't been for the way Albus fiddled with his robes anxiously, Alfonzo might almost have been fooled. As it was he couldn't help but notice the slight hint of desperation in Albus' voice, the flicker of panic in his eyes.
"Rings ?" Alfonzo asked somewhat bewildered, "Any particular type of ring ?"
"A very special ring ...yes yes a very very special ring indeed ...one that she will like, no love ..." Albus answered distractedly as he twiddled his fingers in a way that was utterly unlike his normally calm persona.
Alfonzo's eyes gleamed in understanding, so Albus was finally going to ask Minerva McGonagall to marry him, and about time too. Though both Albus and Minerva seemed to believe that their love for each other was a secret only they were aware of, it was obvious to most people who knew them just how much they adored each other, all those little half glances and secret smiles could only mean one thing. "Well I did have some rings in stock a few months ago, perhaps I still have some left ...I wonder where they might be ..." Alfonzo answered in what he hoped was a soothing calming voice.
Albus and Alfonzo spent the next fifteen minutes searching though the higgledy piggledy shelves of the store, every so often Alfonzo would show Albus a ring that he had found, and Albus would gaze at it hopefully then shake his head despairingly. Minerva deserved perfection, the best ring he could get her. Indeed Albus already had one ring which he'd bought for Minerva in Diagon Alley some weeks previously - it was a beautifull golden ring set with an emerald green jewell, which seemed to shine with it's own inner light as though a sunbeam had been captured in it. It was only today on the very day he planned to propose to her, that struck by unaccustomed nerves and near panic he'd decided that the ring he'd chosen with so much love and care, just wasn't good enough for his darling Minerva.
Suddenly Albus saw it, nestled in a bed of rich red velvet was a simple golden ring, set with a rounded shimmering gem engraved with a happily smiling face, that seemed almost real. Something about the ring caught Albus' attention and as he gazed at it, the ring opened it's eyes, beamed up at him with the merriest of grins, and began to sing in a high piping voice.
How I long to linger
On your sweetheart's finger,
If your love for her is true
Then choose me do,
If you'll do the wooing
I'll do the winning,
And soon two lovers will be cooing,
While I keep singing.
Alfonzo peered curiously over Albus' shoulder interested to see what had caught his attention. "Oh yes, I remember that ring now." He said as the song came to an end, "It would keep singing all the time when I had it on display, nearly drove me mad ...So I put it away ...I'd forgotten all about it."
Unfortunately Albus was too enraptured by the ring and it's song to really listen properly to Alfonzo. He was charmed, captivated by what seemed to him in his unusually flustered state, to be the perfect ring for Minerva.
"I'll take it." Albus stated firmly, as he almost thrust galleons into Alfonzo's hands, despite the shopkeeper's halfhearted protests that the ring really wasn't worth so much.
Within a couple of minutes Albus had left the shop, his light blue eyes sparkling in anticipation, the ring safely in the pocket of his robe.
Alfonzo frowned slightly as he gazed after the departing figure of Albus, perhaps he ought to warn him just how much the ring actually sang, still Albus had paid him an awful lot of galleons and it was business after all, and everyone knew that Minerva was crazy about Albus - so perhaps the ring wouldn't put her off too much.
Author's Notes
This story was inspired by the singing engagement ring in Tenth Kingdom, my brain went click and instantly thought Albus and Minerva. The first two lines of the song that the ring sings are from the Tenth Kingdom, the rest of the song is by me. There will be more chapters of this story. Please review.
