Chapter Two
"I'm afraid I really must ..." Dumbledore said courteously, "Farewell my dear it really has been most pleasant ..." He doffed his vivid purple hat politely and turned to leave.
Desperate to stop him I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind, "Chocolate truffles ..."
"I beg your pardon ?" Dumbledore asked looking slightly bemused, but I was certain that I saw a gleam of interest in his eyes.
"Chocolate truffles." I repeated, almost certain that I had captured his attention, "Best chocolate truffles in town, divine heavenly, creamy truffles, lots and lots of them, I'm buying."
Bright blue eyes sparkled in amusement as he gazed at me from under snowy white eybrows. "Indeed ..." Dumbledore murmured, "It appears my weakness is all too well known, now tell me more about these divine chocolate truffles ..."
"Cafe round the corner, famous for chocolate ..." I gasped, then shook myself and tried to make more sense. "I would like to treat you to hot chocolate and truffles, and cake if you would accompany me there. We could have a nice chat too." I added casually, desperately hoping that he wouldn't realise what I was up to.
Dumbledore chuckled softly, and for a moment I felt as though he could see deep within me. Under the perusal of those all seeing blue eyes I shifted uncomfortably, and hoped he wouldn't be too annoyed about my attempt to bribe him with candy and cake. "How could I resist such an entrancing invitation ..." He finally said lightly, and extending his arm courteously to me, he allowed me to lead him to the cafe.
Once at the cafe we settled ourselves at a round table covered with a lace tablecloth. As I ordered all the most delicious treats I could think of, treats fit for bribing Dumbledore for information, the tall wizard coiled his long silver beard into a spiral and tucked it securely on his lap, then took off his hat and hung it over the back of his chair.
For a few minutes all was silence, apart from the noise of slurping and chewing, and the occasional blissful sigh of content from Dumbledore. I could still scarcely believe my luck, I was actually sitting across from Albus Dumbledore, someone I'd dreamed of meeting for so long. So entranced by watching him, that all the questions I'd longed to ask him had flown from my mind. I couldn't let this oppourtunity slip by. Desperately I prodded my mind into action, implored frantically, ask him anything, just ask him anything, stop grinning like a fool and just ask him stuff.
Thinking back to our conversation earlier gave me an idea at last, "So, are there any other inaccuracies in the books ?" I asked as casually as I could.
Dumbledore swallowed the mouthful of chocolate and lemon cake, wiped a stray crumb from his beard, then answered. "Oh yes, for one thing she misquoted me in book one. I actually said Tweak blubber oddment nitwit, it has a quite different meaning when said in the correct order." I was surprised to see what looked like a flash of irritation on his face.
"Really ? What does it mean ?" I asked, fascinated and excited.
Then I noticed how he was struggling to surpress a chuckle and the mischevious twinkle in his eyes. I couldn't help but start to grin, I'd been well and truly fooled by him, but at least I could say I'd been fooled by one of the wisest wizards ever. After we'd stopped laughing I tried to put on a stern and slightly scary face, rather as I would imagine Minerva glaring at him, and said sternly. "You know it really isn't fair if you won't answer any of my questions seriously when I've bribed ..." Suddenly I realised what I'd just said, as I gaped at Dumbledore in dismay.
Blue eyes twinkling brightly, Dumbledore said lightly, "So I'm being bribed for information with delectable treats, how delightful. I've never been bribed before ... I shall of course endeavour to enjoy it. It would seem only fair that I answer your questions properly ..." He mused, as he stroked his long silver beard absentmindedly, then grew suddenly serious for a moment. "Though you must understand that there are some things I simply cannot answer, even with Voldemort's defeat one must still be carefull. Now shall we try some of that delicious looking strawberry trifle ?"
"Don't you ever get ill from eating too much rich stuff ?" I blurted out, without thinking.
"You know Minerva never can understand how I manage to eat so much rich food and never get sick from it ..." Dumbledore said conversationally. "Let me see, how does she put it exactly ... Ah yes ...." He drew himself up to his full height, assumed an expression of mock sterneness and said, "What I utterly fail to understand Albus Dumbledore is how you manage to devour such disgustingly sickly, excessively sweet foods and suffer no ill effects whatsoever."
As I listened entranced, Dumbledore continued absently, "You know Minerva sometimes tries to get me to give up all this unhealthy food, as she calls it, and eat healthy foods like porridge and vegetables. She says I would learn to like it if I gave it a chance. She even tries to persuade me to diet, even though I don't have more than an ounce or two of excess fat on me ..." Dumbledore added mournfully, as he prodded his wasitline. Suddenly he smiled radiantly, in a way that seemed to light up the entire room, "Of course she only does so because she loves me." He said softly, as his face softened and his eyes shone tenderly, while I sat in silence captured by the specialness of the moment, by the love and adoration that was so clearly written in his face.
Author's Notes
Reviews will be loved, cuddled and appreciated. :)
Wow it really has been a long time for this one, over two years. My writing has changed so much since then. for one thing I still called him Dumbledore in those days, Albus seemed far too informal then. Now it just seems strange calling him Dumbledore. :D
I was sorting out all my old story notes and found a part written chapter two for this, it seemed quite fun to me so I decided to quickly add a little to it and publish it. The additions were made quite quickly, so somehow I feel them to be less good than normal, but this is just for fun. :) Perhaps in another two years there will be another update, *laughs*, unless I get any more sudden inspiration for it.
Suggestions for questions welcomed and hopefully may inspire me, what would you like to ask Albus ?
