Capter 3 - After all Those Years
She walked through the silent castle, but it felt completely different from the last time.
Although she hadn't faced Albus yet, she felt the world had changed, simply from the knowledge she had gained in the conversation with Severus.
Lightly she entered her private chambers and sat down by the fire to rethink the whole thing. It was half past twelve, a time where Albus normally was still up reading. Should it now be the time be come to make it all up, to dare what she had dreaded for decades? After all those years?
Why by the way did she believe in the stories of a man which had contradicted her on every possible occasion so far, she asked herself. For a moment she thought about it, but then she knew why.
Besides the fact that Severus' emotions had seemed genuine he had never ever lied to her. He had said plainly what he thought. By lying he would risk Albus' trust. He spoke the truth.
Minerva went over to her mirror and loosened the hairnet that held her dark hair back. With one swirl, the shiny dark locks fell down, almost to her waist.
She studied the woman in the mirror and smiled. Strange, she thought.
A seventy years old woman, still relatively good-looking, just about to confess her love to an old friend. Strange indeed, after all those years.
She cast a last glance into the mirror which returned a rather reassuring one to her and with that she left her chambers, not able to think of anything at all. She didn't even know what to say to him, although she had had so much time think about that.
Again she stood in the cold empty corridor, but this time she ran.
In no time she stood in front of the stone-gargoyle and muttered the password 'canary cream'. She stepped onto the staircase which liftet her to the oaken door of Albus' office. She took a deep breath and knocked.
There was a moments pause and then the door was opened. Albus was in a dressing gown and looked at her in deep concern, somewhat alarmed. Minerva's heart sank, he obviously wasn't pleased to see her in the middle of the night.
Gingerly she said "Good evening Albus"
He motioned her inside and said "What is it Minerva, did something strange happen, please." She was immensely relieved as she heard this, she was only worried because he thought her appearance in connection with some strange incident.
Once again, she cursed herself for not being prepared for this. "No, it's yes, something happened, but n.nothing to worry about.that's at least what I think." She smiled sheepishly.
Albus face softened and he took her arm to lead her through the door to his living room. She seldom had been here, only once or twice. It was a beautiful room with lovely yet mismatched furniture, old tapestries, and hundreds of ancient books lined up in shelves. He tried to make her sit down, but she refused.
"Thanks Albus, but I would rather.rather say the things I have to say standing."
He studied her face, his eyes analyzing every line on the face he had known for so long a time. She couldn't tell from his eyes, what he was thinking, but a smile lingered his mouth. A loving smile she thought suddenly. Why had she never realised that?
Softly he spoke "Well then Minerva, why do you seek me in the middle of the night, and looking rather not like yourself." He followed her hair down to her waist, his eyes twinkling this time.
"I don't know how to put it Albus." Fear fought it's way up and she made to the door, desperate about her stupidity. She should never have come here.
Strong hands gripped her at the shoulders and she was turned around.
She stared at him, tears in her eyes. Then something strange happened.
Albus expression changed rapidly from concern to panicked bewilderment. He released her shoulders and took a step backwards.
She too was confused by his behaviour. Just to break the silence she said "Sorry, I didn't mean to.to.whatever."
He still hadn't lifted his gaze from her. Slowly he opend his mouth and said in a sad voice "Tell me Minerva, for how long?"
"Sorry? What do you mean?" "For how long did you conceile your feelings? For.for me?"
She only could reply "Ever since I came back to Hogwarts after I graduated." He seemed to come to life. He went forward and took her hands.
Gravely he said "How can you ever forgive me. I alwys thought you deserved better than me. Than the old bighead I have ever been. Therefore I never showed you.
Minerva, I love you. How can I forgive myslef to cause you all this pain?"
She wasn't fit to answer, she just put her lips to his and kissed him.
He replied it tendely, tentatively, but as she drew her hands to his ceeks, the kiss became more passionate and he laid his hands on her waist, stroking her softly.
Shivers of pleasure mingled with the feeling that this was what it was meant to be.
She drew away from his lips and murmured "Never you mind Albus, never you mind, it seems as if we are at last getting somewhere. After all those years."
The End Author's Note: So that's it, my very first fanfiction. Please tell me what you think, emails also welcome for instructions etc. Thanks for reading and thanks to all Reviewers.
So long Lady Ti
She walked through the silent castle, but it felt completely different from the last time.
Although she hadn't faced Albus yet, she felt the world had changed, simply from the knowledge she had gained in the conversation with Severus.
Lightly she entered her private chambers and sat down by the fire to rethink the whole thing. It was half past twelve, a time where Albus normally was still up reading. Should it now be the time be come to make it all up, to dare what she had dreaded for decades? After all those years?
Why by the way did she believe in the stories of a man which had contradicted her on every possible occasion so far, she asked herself. For a moment she thought about it, but then she knew why.
Besides the fact that Severus' emotions had seemed genuine he had never ever lied to her. He had said plainly what he thought. By lying he would risk Albus' trust. He spoke the truth.
Minerva went over to her mirror and loosened the hairnet that held her dark hair back. With one swirl, the shiny dark locks fell down, almost to her waist.
She studied the woman in the mirror and smiled. Strange, she thought.
A seventy years old woman, still relatively good-looking, just about to confess her love to an old friend. Strange indeed, after all those years.
She cast a last glance into the mirror which returned a rather reassuring one to her and with that she left her chambers, not able to think of anything at all. She didn't even know what to say to him, although she had had so much time think about that.
Again she stood in the cold empty corridor, but this time she ran.
In no time she stood in front of the stone-gargoyle and muttered the password 'canary cream'. She stepped onto the staircase which liftet her to the oaken door of Albus' office. She took a deep breath and knocked.
There was a moments pause and then the door was opened. Albus was in a dressing gown and looked at her in deep concern, somewhat alarmed. Minerva's heart sank, he obviously wasn't pleased to see her in the middle of the night.
Gingerly she said "Good evening Albus"
He motioned her inside and said "What is it Minerva, did something strange happen, please." She was immensely relieved as she heard this, she was only worried because he thought her appearance in connection with some strange incident.
Once again, she cursed herself for not being prepared for this. "No, it's yes, something happened, but n.nothing to worry about.that's at least what I think." She smiled sheepishly.
Albus face softened and he took her arm to lead her through the door to his living room. She seldom had been here, only once or twice. It was a beautiful room with lovely yet mismatched furniture, old tapestries, and hundreds of ancient books lined up in shelves. He tried to make her sit down, but she refused.
"Thanks Albus, but I would rather.rather say the things I have to say standing."
He studied her face, his eyes analyzing every line on the face he had known for so long a time. She couldn't tell from his eyes, what he was thinking, but a smile lingered his mouth. A loving smile she thought suddenly. Why had she never realised that?
Softly he spoke "Well then Minerva, why do you seek me in the middle of the night, and looking rather not like yourself." He followed her hair down to her waist, his eyes twinkling this time.
"I don't know how to put it Albus." Fear fought it's way up and she made to the door, desperate about her stupidity. She should never have come here.
Strong hands gripped her at the shoulders and she was turned around.
She stared at him, tears in her eyes. Then something strange happened.
Albus expression changed rapidly from concern to panicked bewilderment. He released her shoulders and took a step backwards.
She too was confused by his behaviour. Just to break the silence she said "Sorry, I didn't mean to.to.whatever."
He still hadn't lifted his gaze from her. Slowly he opend his mouth and said in a sad voice "Tell me Minerva, for how long?"
"Sorry? What do you mean?" "For how long did you conceile your feelings? For.for me?"
She only could reply "Ever since I came back to Hogwarts after I graduated." He seemed to come to life. He went forward and took her hands.
Gravely he said "How can you ever forgive me. I alwys thought you deserved better than me. Than the old bighead I have ever been. Therefore I never showed you.
Minerva, I love you. How can I forgive myslef to cause you all this pain?"
She wasn't fit to answer, she just put her lips to his and kissed him.
He replied it tendely, tentatively, but as she drew her hands to his ceeks, the kiss became more passionate and he laid his hands on her waist, stroking her softly.
Shivers of pleasure mingled with the feeling that this was what it was meant to be.
She drew away from his lips and murmured "Never you mind Albus, never you mind, it seems as if we are at last getting somewhere. After all those years."
The End Author's Note: So that's it, my very first fanfiction. Please tell me what you think, emails also welcome for instructions etc. Thanks for reading and thanks to all Reviewers.
So long Lady Ti