A/N Thank you Maria for taking the time to beta this.
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Albus Dumbledore awoke, but was careful not to make any movement or sound. Very slowly, he raised his eyelids enough to catch glimpses of the darkened room, but hopefully not enough to be perceived by the other person in the room. He knew his awakening was not natural.
As he looked out of his barely opened eyes, through his eyelashes, he discovered the culprit in the act. Perhaps the most audacious part of the plot was the offender's weapon of choice. To have his own beard used against him!
A frustrated sigh filled the room at his apparent lack of response.
When the assault began again, eyes closed, Albus swatted at his own nose, which was being tickled with the end of his own beard. He could tell his beard was being quickly settled back into place. With an entirely false display of yawning and stretching, he opened his eyes completely.
Though his beard was no longer in her hand, Minerva's raised eyebrow and poor imitation of a surprised tone did nothing to fool him.
"Oh, you are awake too?"
Nor did the way she had to bite her own lip in an attempt to not dissolve into laughter. He did however find it rather amusing. Attempting not to smile, he replied.
"Yes, it would appear that I am."
He watched one of her hands find its way to her mouth, trying to cover her smile as she spoke to him almost reprimandingly.
"You know, it is quite late. You really ought to be asleep by now."
The battle Albus was waging to keep his own tone and expression something close to approximating solemn was not a campaign he was going to win. Nevertheless, with a shrug he attempted to keep up the façade a little longer.
"Lately I keep waking up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. Why just this past week it happened twice."
In Minerva's reply he could detect something slightly more than mere amusement.
"Albus, how terrible for you!"
He nodded as somberly as he could manage.
"I think it might be time to speak with Madam Pomfrey about the matter. Sleep disorders can after all be a serious matter."
Minerva's fingers were no longer covering her own mouth. His lips twitched as one of her fingers leisurely traced them.
"Very true, Albus. After all, if you have not got your health…"
With a tone that implied she had given the matter due consideration, she continued speaking.
"But it is quite late right now. You should probably wait until morning to talk to Poppy."
No longer able to fully contain his own smile, Albus agreed.
"That would seem to be the sensible course of action."
A brief moment of silence followed during which her mouth began nipping at his ear. She paused and spoke with her lips still brushing against his ear. Her voice was practically a purr.
"Of course, since you are awake…"
Finding the idea not at all disagreeable, Albus chuckled. Shifting his ear out of her range, he offered her his lips instead.
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Albus Dumbledore awoke, but was careful not to make any movement or sound. Very slowly, he raised his eyelids enough to catch glimpses of the darkened room, but hopefully not enough to be perceived by the other person in the room. He knew his awakening was not natural.
As he looked out of his barely opened eyes, through his eyelashes, he discovered the culprit in the act. Perhaps the most audacious part of the plot was the offender's weapon of choice. To have his own beard used against him!
A frustrated sigh filled the room at his apparent lack of response.
When the assault began again, eyes closed, Albus swatted at his own nose, which was being tickled with the end of his own beard. He could tell his beard was being quickly settled back into place. With an entirely false display of yawning and stretching, he opened his eyes completely.
Though his beard was no longer in her hand, Minerva's raised eyebrow and poor imitation of a surprised tone did nothing to fool him.
"Oh, you are awake too?"
Nor did the way she had to bite her own lip in an attempt to not dissolve into laughter. He did however find it rather amusing. Attempting not to smile, he replied.
"Yes, it would appear that I am."
He watched one of her hands find its way to her mouth, trying to cover her smile as she spoke to him almost reprimandingly.
"You know, it is quite late. You really ought to be asleep by now."
The battle Albus was waging to keep his own tone and expression something close to approximating solemn was not a campaign he was going to win. Nevertheless, with a shrug he attempted to keep up the façade a little longer.
"Lately I keep waking up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. Why just this past week it happened twice."
In Minerva's reply he could detect something slightly more than mere amusement.
"Albus, how terrible for you!"
He nodded as somberly as he could manage.
"I think it might be time to speak with Madam Pomfrey about the matter. Sleep disorders can after all be a serious matter."
Minerva's fingers were no longer covering her own mouth. His lips twitched as one of her fingers leisurely traced them.
"Very true, Albus. After all, if you have not got your health…"
With a tone that implied she had given the matter due consideration, she continued speaking.
"But it is quite late right now. You should probably wait until morning to talk to Poppy."
No longer able to fully contain his own smile, Albus agreed.
"That would seem to be the sensible course of action."
A brief moment of silence followed during which her mouth began nipping at his ear. She paused and spoke with her lips still brushing against his ear. Her voice was practically a purr.
"Of course, since you are awake…"
Finding the idea not at all disagreeable, Albus chuckled. Shifting his ear out of her range, he offered her his lips instead.