Disclaimer: I do not own anything and I do not think that I shall anytime soon either.
A/N: I have started this author's note so many times but I have never known which story to update. Hopefully once I get started though I shall know. Anyone who knows me well knows that everything I write comes on the spur of the moment. And if you like my stuff now, imagine if I actually thought everything out. LOL!
Chapter Seven: Saturday Morning…
Albus rushed as quickly as he could down the ballroom stairs without actually running. He could not believe that he had slept so long. True, he did usually take the luxury of sleeping in whenever he had the chance, and yet… This was a very important weekend. How could he have slept in until nine o clock? That was just ridiculous, and not a good impression to make on one's perspective in-laws.
He quickly ran his fingers through his beard as he made his way towards the dining room. He hoped he hadn't completely missed out on breakfast. If there was one thing Albus enjoyed even more than a good night's sleep, it was a large breakfast. He loved to eat, and he especially loved breakfast.
He paused just outside the dining room in order to catch his breath. It would be no use for him to have finally reached the dining room only to hyperventilate in front of her father. Okay, this was it. His first breakfast with his perspective in laws. He liked the sound of that. If the weekend went well enough, then her would be able to get rid of the perspective part and just refer to them as the 'in-laws'.
Heaving another sigh, Albus grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. What he saw when he entered made his heart fall into the pit of his stomach. The room was completely empty. There was no one in there, though there was a place set. Was that set for him? Albus felt like he was going to cry. He had completely missed breakfast. This was most certainly not the way to begin the weekend. He had hoped that after last night's awkwardness, things would have gotten better. Unfortunately, they seemed to have only gotten worse for him.
"Oh dear," he sighed to himself.
"Now, don't tell me that you have given up already, have you Albus?" He jumped slightly and turned when he heard the voice of Hera, Minerva's mother. Once again, she had a fan in her hand, although this one was a white feather fan. She was dressed in a white muggle pants suit with a long string of pearl strings. She wore her diamond engagement ring on her ring finger, right next to her wedding ring. A pair of pearl earrings and white muggle sandals completed the set. He smiled.
"Oh no, of course not," he replied. He kissed the back of her hand. "You could never get rid of me that easily." Hera smiled as she continued to fan herself.
"I am glad," she replied. "I think you have done beautifully so far, even with my overbearing brute of a husband questioning you the way he did." Albus breathed heavily.
"So you heard?" Hera nodded.
"I'm not gonna try and defend him for what he asked you, but let me just say that he is her father and he is only looking out for his only daughter." Albus nodded.
"I can understand. I suppose I will be the same with any daughters I have."
"I know you will," replied Hera, patting his cheek. "Switching conversation topics, what do you think of my outfit?" She turned around so he could get a view of the entire outfit.
"Very beautiful," Albus replied. Hera faced him again and clapped her hands, a smile upon her face.
"Oh, my wonderful husband, bless his soul, has a fetish for everything muggle. Electricity, muggle outfits, and even muggle servants. The only reason why he had house elves for the weekend was because Minerva asked him to. She thought you might feel more comfortable with a little bit of our world present."
"Ah, that's Minerva," Albus replied. "She is always so caring and thoughtful. That is part of why I love her so much." Hera laughed.
"While I do believe that is true, there is no need to try and convince. It is Aires you need to try and convince. Speaking of which, you should really sit down and eat." She indicated the table setting. "We missed you at breakfast this morning." Albus sat down as he felt guilt begin to weigh heavily upon his heart once again.
"Yes, I am very sorry about that," he replied. "I really had no intention of sleeping in. I even set that muggle alarm I found next to my bed. I do not know why it didn't go off." Hera sat across from him.
"That would be Minerva once again," she said. "She went to wake you so you could escort her to breakfast but when you didn't answer, she got worried. So she entered your room and saw you were still sleeping. She felt so sorry for you that she decided to turn off your alarm clock and allow you to sleep for a few more hours." She looked around, as though making sure they were the only ones around, and leaned in. She whispered, "Also, I think she wanted to save you as much as she could from her father's incessant questioning." Albus nodded.
"Still, I wish she would have woken me up. I do not wish for your husband do think me ill-bred or anything of the sort."
"Oh pish posh, Albus," said Hera. "I assure you that he thinks nothing of the sort. And if he does, I'll just have to set him straight, won't I?" Albus cleared his throat as a house elf appeared and set his breakfast in front of him.
"Thank you," he said. The house elf bowed, nearly toppling over, and disappeared once again. Albus looked back at Hera.
"Where is your husband, by the way?" he asked.
"Oh, he was called away to Russia on some business. He is part of the Foreign Communications Department at the ministry, so he is called away quite often on the spur of the moment. He shall be back in no more than an hour or two." Albus nodded once again.
"He sounds like a hard working man with a lot of responsibilities."
"He most certainly is," agreed Hera. Then she looked at the clock. "Oh dear, nine thirty already. I have some shopping to do." She stood and went to the wall. Albus smiled as he watched her tap three times on the wall and it opened up slightly to reveal a hidden closet. She pulled out a long white cloak (she really liked to match, didn't she?) and a purse. "I need to go to the local market and pick up a few things. Would you like me to pick up anything for you while I am out?"
"No, thank you," he said. He stood as she came back to the table.
"Sit, sit," she said. "I don't need you standing up every time I do, although I do appreciate the thought." Albus obeyed, but only because he wanted to please her. She could very well be his mother in law soon. "If for some reason Aires should appear before I do, let him know I shall be back no later than twelve. Alright?"
"Of course," Albus replied. Hera threw her cloak over her shoulders and said goodbye, leaving Albus all alone. Suddenly, he was feeling extremely uncomfortable. He was sitting all alone, in the dining room, with nothing but a plate of eggs, bacon, and sausage. He wanted to eat so much, but he somehow felt too uncomfortable to eat alone. Oh how he wished someone could be there with him, even if it was just to talk with him.
"Helloooooo!?" He looked up when he heard the voice of T'ari fill the room. "Mr. Dumbidore?" He smiled. He liked that name. Well, he liked it when T'ari said it. "Are you up yet?"
"I'm in here, T'ari," he called out. At last, someone to talk to. He heard a door close and it wasn't long before he saw the little girl with brown eyes and brown hair bounce through the dining room door. She smiled broadly.
"I am so glad you are awake," she said as she made her way around the table and surprised him by giving him a hug. He rose from his chair and knelt before her.
"So am I, Miss T'ari," he said. "For now I am able to spend time with such a beautiful young lady." T'ari giggled. "What have you got here?" She held up her left hand.
"Flowers," she said. "Daisies. I so do love daisies. They are my favorite flowers in the whole world. That is why Grandpa Aires has them specially grown on the McGonagall land. This way, whenever I come over, I can pick them. Here, smell them!" He did. They didn't have a pungent smell, but he breathed in heavily anyway.
"Oh, my, they do smell lovely, don't they?" he asked. Then he frowned. "Were you picking these all by yourself?" She laughed.
"Don't be silly, Mr. Albus," she said. Albus had to bite back a laugh. "I could get lost if I went out by myself on the McGonagall land. Especially if I were to accidentally wonder into the maze, which I've done a few times." Albus laughed this time.
"Oh no," he said. "Then who did you go with? Your father?"
"No, he's at his office. The Daily Prophet called him in and Uncle Hermes had to go to a Quidditch meeting. So I went out onto the grounds with my Aunt Miner-buh."
"Ah, yes," he said. "Where is she, anyway?" T'ari laughed again.
"She's been right here all the time," she said knowingly. Albus looked up, but didn't see her. He looked back at T'ari, who elaborated. "You have to find her, silly." He laughed. This was a game?
"Is that right?" he asked. She nodded enthusiastically.
"And if you can't find her in ten seconds, I get a sickle."
"Oh dear, I better get to looking, shouldn't I?" He looked around and he instantly saw Minerva in cat form crouching in a dark corner. He smiled, but knew that the girl was looking forward to that sickle. Smiling at the cat, he looked around. "Hmm, where could she be?" He scratched his head thoughtfully. "Is she under the table?" He looked. There was nothing. He stood up again. "Is she next to the lamp?" He looked. Again she wasn't there. He tried a few more places until T'ari told him his time was up.
"Come on our, Auntie," she called. In a matter of seconds, Minerva had sprinted across the room and jumped onto the chair Albus had just vacated. T'ari giggled as she pet her aunt, who, in turn, licked T'ari's face. Then, she transformed back and they both laughed. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sickle, which she gave to T'ari.
"You were right, Ri-Ri," she laughed. "He couldn't find me." The child beamed at Albus.
"We win," she said. "Now I must go put these in water before they die." With that, she bounded off towards the kitchen. Albus merely shook his head and chuckled.
"She is the cutest kid I have ever met," he said. He turned his head back towards Minerva when he felt her arms wrap around him. He leaned his forehead against hers. "I am sorry for oversleeping, but a little busybody turned off my alarm this morning," he said, tapping the tip of her nose. She looked down and bit her bottom lip.
"I am sorry about that, but I figured you needed some rest after all the drilling my father put you through last night." She looked back up at him.
"Well I normally wouldn't mind, Minerva, but I really want to impress your father this weekend and I definitely do not want him thinking that I am a lazy old codger who sleeps this late every morning." Minerva silenced him with her finger.
"You're extremely good looking when you pout like this," she said before she kissed him soundly. Albus gladly gave himself up to the kiss. He loved sharing kisses with this woman. Not only was she beautiful, smart, and kind, but she was also the best kisser he had ever known, and he had known a few. He brazenly thought of what else she might be good at. His thoughts were interrupted by the clearing of someone's throat. He jumped and felt a blush coming on when he saw Aires standing in the doorway which led to the parlor. Minerva had to fight the urge to sigh heavily as she took her arms from around Albus' waist.
"Hello, Aires," said Albus. "How was Russia?"
"It went well," he said. "I actually managed to get back a lot sooner than I thought I would." He eyed Albus critically. "Where is my wife?"
"She said she was going to the market and that she would be back around noon," Albus said, trying hard to keep his gaze steady with Aires'. Why did he feel like a bloody student who had just been caught by a teacher as he snogged another student in the broom closet? Well, he had made a promise to himself that he would not be intimidated by Minerva's father, no matter how hard he may try. Aires nodded.
"Minerva, where is T'ari?" he asked, never taking his eyes from Albus.
"She is placing some flowers into a vase." Minerva hated when her father did this to any of her boyfriends. And she hated it even more now that he was doing it to Albus. No wonder why she had had several boyfriends and no engagements yet. Not that she cared really, because all of the other boys were just that… boys. But Albus was different. She loved him and she hoped that she could build a future with him. Yes, she wanted to be his wife. But if her father kept this up, Albus would end up just like all of the other men who ran away from the McGonagall house. That thought alone made her want to cry.
"Very well," he said. He finally looked at her and smiled. "Well, my darling, I have quite the day planned for us. I have invited some friends from the office over for lunch today." Minerva paled, but kept up appearances. She could just see where this was going.
"Oh, that is nice," she said, smiling. "Lunch would be just fine." Aires smiled as he kept his hands behind his back. He looked upon his only daughter with love and adoration, but Albus felt as though he were planning something.
"And then I thought perhaps a friendly game of Quidditch would be in order," he continued.
"Oh father, no," Minerva pleaded. "I do not think Albus-,"
"But Minerva, it is already set up," said Aires, staring at his daughter as though he dared her to say otherwise. Minerva didn't know what to say.
"You know, Min, I think a game of Quidditch is just what we need," Albus cut in, seeing the look in Aires face. "After all, what could possibly make a Saturday better than a little Quidditch?" Aires beamed at him.
"Good, it is settled then," he said. "You've played the Seeker position before, have you not Albus?"
"Once or twice, in my youth," he said.
"Really, Albus, you can choose another position if you like," Minerva tried again.
"No, no, Min, I am willing to play whatever position I am needed at," said Albus honestly, looking at her and smiling.
"Good," said Aires. "You shall be on the same team as Hermes and Mercury. Hermes is the Keeper and Mercury is a Chaser. You shall also be playing with Adam McKay and Frank Smith, the two beaters, and Erik Erikson and Fredrick McArthur, the other Chasers. The others are close friends of mine, a few of whom I also work with." Albus nodded.
"This sounds like a lot of fun," he said. Aires nodded.
"Lunch shall be at twelve thirty, and the game shall be at one-thirty." With that, he left. Minerva sighed.
"Really, Albus, you should have said no," she said. Albus frowned.
"Why? I can survive a simple Quidditch match with your father, brothers, and those other men." She shot him an irritated glance.
"Who said it was going to be 'simple'?" Albus paled. Well, no one said it was going to be simple. He paled.
"What is he planning?" Albus asked. Minerva asked.
"I do not know. But what I do know is that I hope you are fit and up for a challenge."
A/N2: Okay, there's the next chapter. I hope you like it. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. Read long and prosper. Always Hopeful
