Chapter 7: Misunderstandings and Proposals

Albus was awoken from his slumber by, someone sitting down on his bed. He rolled over and smiled at the person with his eyes still closed.

"Morning!" said Aberforth Dumbledore.

"What in the name of Merlin?" exclaimed Albus as he eyes flew open. "I thought I had made myself clear last night."

Aberforth simply smiled at his brother and swung his legs on to his bed, making himself more comfortable. "Is the lovely Minerva hiding beneath the covers?" questioned Aberforth with a smirk as he reached forward and brought the covers back revealing Albus' half naked body.

"Do you mind?" reacted Albus quickly as he snatched the covers back.

"Nice choice of night wear old chap," said Aberforth, with a hint of amusement as he regarded the pajama bottoms that were covered in sherbet lemons. "They would look better with goats on."

"Goats! I've had enough of this obsession with goats," replied Albus, looking rather disgruntled.

"But..." began Aberforth.

"Enough!" interrupted Albus. "What are you still doing here?"

"I had to have somewhere to sleep," answered Aberforth.

Albus climbed out of bed and reached for his dressing gown, which he wrapped tightly around himself. He eyed his brother with a hint of amusement then sat down in a rather large comfortable looking blue chair. Aberforth joined him beside the fire and sat down in the green chair that usually belonged to Minerva.

Minerva made her way along to the Headmaster's private rooms. It was just before six in the morning and she was looking forward to wrapping her arms around him. She had gone to bed lonely last night and had woken up the same that morning. She reached the picture of Merlin and whispered the password, 'Lovers Kiss'. Through this picture was her private entrance to his rooms. They had done this because they didn't want to draw attention to her visits at odd times of the day and night. She swept across the living room to the craved oak door that led to his bedroom. She was about to open the door when she heard two voices from within.

"So why haven't you done it yet?" she heard Aberforth ask Albus.

"I have tried to tell her a couple of times now but I keep getting interrupted and I don't want to just blurt it out," replied Albus, his voice was slightly muffled through the thick wooden door. But thanks to Minerva's animagus abilities she was able to hear him clearly.

"The longer you leave it, the harder it will become," said Aberforth.

"Speaking from experience?" asked Albus with a smile. "I must admit I didn't think it would be this hard."

"Well it was never meant to be easy, Albus," said Aberforth. "Just get it over and done with."

"I will just not blurt it out. She deserves more than that," replied Albus.

Minerva leaned against the door as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Silent tears spilled out of her emerald green eyes and her throat suddenly became very dry. She had to get out of his rooms. She ran through the living room partly blinded by her tears. As she ran out of the room she bumped into a table, a rather ugly looking red and green vase fell to the floor and smashed. She didn't care about the vase. Her world had just crumbled around her and she had to get out of Hogwarts.

She couldn't believe that Albus had another woman and his brother knew all about it. How could he do this to her? More tears fell down her cheeks as she ran to her rooms. She threw herself down on her bed as soon as she reached her rooms and sobbed.

Albus had heard the vase shatter and had gotten to his feet to investigate. His eyes fell upon the half-opened door and he knew straight away that Minerva had been in his rooms.

"It's not the Ministry officials, is it?" asked Aberforth, as he poked his head around the door and looked out.

"Minerva!" answered Albus.

"Why didn't she come in?" questioned Aberforth curiously.

Albus didn't hear his brother's question as he had already swept out of his rooms. He needed to find Minerva and find out why she had left without coming in to see him. Albus hurried along the corridor and swept into her quarters. He could hear crying coming from her bedroom. He quickly made his way over to her bedroom door and went to go in, but he found it was locked.

"Minerva darling?" he called. "What's happened?" He didn't receive an answer and his concern was growing. The damn door was locked and he had left his wand in his rooms.

"Minerva, let me in!" said Albus, trying the door again.

"Leave me alone, Albus Dumbledore!" she shouted.

"Minerva?" asked Albus. "Darling, what is the matter?"

"I hate you!" came Minerva's voice from the other side of the door.

Albus was confused. What had changed since the night before? He walked around to the other side of a large overflowing bookcase and lifted up the wall hanging that hung beside it. It revealed another door that led into her bedroom. He silently stepped into the room and saw that Minerva was curled up on her bed with her head in the pillows. Albus sat down beside her and went to place a hand on her shoulder. To his shock, she flinched away from him. She sat up and looked at him, her face was red and her eyes puffy.

"How could you do this to me, Albus?" she asked.

"I don't understand!" replied Albus.

"Don't you dare play the innocent with me, Albus Dumbledore!" she snapped as she pointed a finger at him. "I heard you talking with your brother."

"I still don't understand, Minerva!" said Albus, somewhat bemused by the whole situation.

"All I ask of you Albus," she said, "is why did you want to hurt me so? All I have ever done is love you and now it comes to my attention that you have another woman. Why have you made me fall deeper in love with you over this last few weeks? You have treated me like a princess but..."

"Another woman?" interrupted Albus. "Do you think I would do that to you? There is no other in my life as I only want you."

"I heard you!" snapped Minerva.

"You only heard part of the conversation, Minerva," answered Albus. It suddenly came to light that she must have heard his conversation with Aberforth and had taken it the completely wrong way.

Minerva wasn't listening to his excuses. She stood up and made her way over to the window and looked out on the grounds. "Now I know why you found the thought of marrying me so amusing because all along you were searching for a way out," said Minerva, more tears spilled out of her eyes.

"Oh Minerva, you are silly at times," said Albus with a smile.

"Does my distress please you?" she hissed.

"Of course it doesn't please me," he replied with a sigh. "Just give me a chance to explain."

"I don't want to hear your excuses. I would be grateful if you left me alone so I could continue with my packing."

"Packing?" questioned Albus.

"You heard correctly," she answered. "My departure means you can parade your floozy. I refuse to be made a laughing stock."

"But you can't leave!" pleaded Albus.

"To think I wanted to marry you," she said quietly. "All you had to do was ask and I would be yours forever."

"For the love of Merlin! Will you listen to me?" said Albus as he stood up and walked towards her. He clasped her shoulders lightly and made her look at him. "There is no other woman in my life. Why would I want another one when I have you? I am very much in love with you, Minerva. You hold the key to my heart."

"If what you say is true, why don't you want to marry me?" she asked.

"Minerva, I have been trying to ask you for the last few weeks but I kept getting interrupted or something happened," he told her tenderly.

"Have you?" she asked, wiping her tears away from her eyes.

"Yes!" he said with a chuckle.

"Oh Albus!" she replied, throwing herself into his arms and crying all over again.

"I love you so very much," he told her.

"But what were you and Aberforth talking about?" she suddenly questioned, pulling away from his embrace.

"He was telling me that I better get a move on and not to bother with all the romantic plans I had made," Albus explained.

"Oh Albus!" said Minerva. "I have been rather silly, haven't I? You tried to propose at the picnic, at the meal, and when Peeves came in."

"Yes plus a couple of other times," he chuckled.

Minerva snuggled into him closely, taking in his scent and mentally scolding herself for letting her mind get carried away.

"Shall I take your cuddles as an acceptance?" questioned Albus, with a smile.

"No!" she replied. "Ask me properly! I want a proper story to tell our children."

Luckily, Albus had placed her engagement ring in his dressing gown for safekeeping. He pulled it out as he went down on one knee. He took hold of her left hand and held it in his right.

"Minerva! You are my world and words simply do not convey how much I truly love you. Would you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?"

"Yes," she said, smiling as she bent down to his level. "I will kiss be kiss honored kiss to become kiss Mrs. Albus kiss Dumbledore."