Back in the headmaster's study, Dumbledore was contemplating the woman
asleep in his favorite stuffed chair before the fire. Her bun had tumbled
down her shoulders and the book she had been reading had slipped from her
fingers and fallen to the carpeted floor. Across the room, Fawkes, the
swan-sized red and orange phoenix, cooed softly as he slept. He couldn't
believe how long it had taken for him to admit to himself that it was all
right to love Minerva without feeling like he was depriving her of a life
with a man her own age. Minerva wouldn't hear of it. She only wanted him.
Smiling, Albus tiptoed out of his office and made for Minerva's quarters.
She was asleep in his study, expecting him to come back from his talk with
Severus. Now was the perfect time. He took a spool of ribbon out of his
pocket. It was her favorite shade of Gryffindor red, and velvety soft. He
started at the door, tying one end of the ribbon to the knob and strung it
to various places in the rooms, every so often attaching a small card to
the ribbon. The first one said, "Presenting: Reason's I love you, by Albus
W.P.B Dumbledore. Please follow the cards." The rest of the cards each
declared reasons that Albus loved Minerva more than anything else in the
world.
"You make me happy to be alive"
"Your smile is better than 10 sunrises"
"That look you give me when you're trying to be mad at me"
"Your voice is like music to my ears"
"You didn't need magic to capture my heart"
"I've never seen a lovelier tabby cat"
"My heart skips a beat when you dance"
"You are so beautiful"
The list went on and on. When he finished, he sat patiently at the end of the ribbon, having attached it to the nightstand beside her bed where he carefully placed the box that held her ring. The card he placed beside this one said, "Will you marry me, Tabby?". This time, he couldn't lose. It had taken him all day to write the cards, choosing from the dozens of things he loved about her to find the ones that were just right. He calmly walked back to him office to find that Minerva had awakened.
"What took you so long?" she murmured sleepily.
"Poor Severus has had his heart broken. He attempted a proposal to Rolanda and she's turned him down," said Albus. Minerva made a face.
"What's wrong with her? Severus loves her more than even his potions class and she turned him down? I'll talk with her in the morning," said Minerva, lingering in Albus' arms. He smiled and lifted a wisp of hair from her eyes. Lightly the two kissed, and Albus proceeded to walk Minerva to her quarters.
When she saw the ribbon, she looked apprehensive at first. Who had been in her room? Then she read the first card. A pleased gasp escaped Minerva. She looked up at Albus with an expression that couldn't have been anything but elated joy. By the time she reached the end, Minerva was crying. Albus had never shown so much affection at once. She found the last card on the table and read it. Albus braced himself for her answer. He was sure he had won the competition. He even had his laundry basket ready and waiting for Severus to come and pick it up on his way to the laundry room.
"Oh, Albus, we've been through this!" Minerva said. She could have slammed his nose in a book for all the force that these words had on him.
"Is that a no?" he muttered, dropping his head down. Minerva took his face gently in her hands and lifted his face to meet her eyes.
"No, it isn't. Just not now," she replied. She and Albus kissed for a moment he bid her goodnight, the blow she had inflicted upon him still stinging. He would have to think of something else.
"You make me happy to be alive"
"Your smile is better than 10 sunrises"
"That look you give me when you're trying to be mad at me"
"Your voice is like music to my ears"
"You didn't need magic to capture my heart"
"I've never seen a lovelier tabby cat"
"My heart skips a beat when you dance"
"You are so beautiful"
The list went on and on. When he finished, he sat patiently at the end of the ribbon, having attached it to the nightstand beside her bed where he carefully placed the box that held her ring. The card he placed beside this one said, "Will you marry me, Tabby?". This time, he couldn't lose. It had taken him all day to write the cards, choosing from the dozens of things he loved about her to find the ones that were just right. He calmly walked back to him office to find that Minerva had awakened.
"What took you so long?" she murmured sleepily.
"Poor Severus has had his heart broken. He attempted a proposal to Rolanda and she's turned him down," said Albus. Minerva made a face.
"What's wrong with her? Severus loves her more than even his potions class and she turned him down? I'll talk with her in the morning," said Minerva, lingering in Albus' arms. He smiled and lifted a wisp of hair from her eyes. Lightly the two kissed, and Albus proceeded to walk Minerva to her quarters.
When she saw the ribbon, she looked apprehensive at first. Who had been in her room? Then she read the first card. A pleased gasp escaped Minerva. She looked up at Albus with an expression that couldn't have been anything but elated joy. By the time she reached the end, Minerva was crying. Albus had never shown so much affection at once. She found the last card on the table and read it. Albus braced himself for her answer. He was sure he had won the competition. He even had his laundry basket ready and waiting for Severus to come and pick it up on his way to the laundry room.
"Oh, Albus, we've been through this!" Minerva said. She could have slammed his nose in a book for all the force that these words had on him.
"Is that a no?" he muttered, dropping his head down. Minerva took his face gently in her hands and lifted his face to meet her eyes.
"No, it isn't. Just not now," she replied. She and Albus kissed for a moment he bid her goodnight, the blow she had inflicted upon him still stinging. He would have to think of something else.