Chapter 1 The Trap
Minerva trudged up the stairs that Friday evening. She had just arrived back from Dublin and the annual Transfiguration conference. This year she had been a guest speaker and now all she wanted to do was take a warm bath and go to sleep. It was oviously not meant to be, since as soon as she set her bag down inside the doorway to her office there was a knock on her door. Swearing to herself, she called for them to enter and a frightened first year student by the name of Arthur Weasley entered. "I'mmm sssorry to disturb yyou professsor, but I wwas asssked to deliver this to you as soon as you arrived." With that, he quickly turned around and fled. "What was that all about?" she wondered as she opened the note. Her confusion only increased as the contents appeared.
Your presence is needed in the room of requirement as soon as you arrive.
All will be revealed when you arrive.
Minerva sighed and made her way toward the third floor. To her surprise as she came to the corridor with the entrance, Albus was coming from the other direction. His surprise was also evident as they met in the middle. "Minerva what are you doing here? I would have thought you would want to go straight to bed after you returned." Despite herself she smiled. He always seemed to be able to anticipate what she wanted. It was one of the things that made her love him so much. "That was the plan, but I received one of these and it said to come here," she said holding up the note. "How odd," he muttered. "I received one as well." When he said this a third note appeared on the door.
Come inside and all will be made clear.
The pair entered and the door closed, disappearing behind them. In the middle of the room was a single table with another note. With a slight hesitation Minerva picked it up and read out loud.
"Our dearest Albus and Minerva,
If this note reaches you then our plan is moving
ahead as planned. Don't worry, you two, this is
nothing bad. We have decided that you have been
given sufficient time on your own to be honest
with each other and now require a little push.
You will remain together in this room
until you figure it out. Don't worry
there is a time stopping charm on the room;
you could be in there for years, but when you exit
it will be the same time out here as it was
when you left. Think of this as a mini
vacation. We all beg of you just get on with it.
Yours always,
The Hogwarts staff."
The pair sat for a moment in stunned silence, then Albus looked down at Minerva. "Well this is somewhat odd; even for our staff."
"Odd Albus! I don't think kidnaping could be considered odd! Then on top of it, they don't even tell us how to get out." Minerva flopped down in one of the chairs that had appeared, along with the rest of the furniture, when she finished reading the note. Albus looked at her over his spectacles with slight concern in his eyes and went to kneel down before her.
"My dear, they did mention being honest with each other, what ever that means. Now, I'm tired, your tired, lets get some sleep tonight and try to get out tomorrow. Neither of us is up to trying to figure this out tonight." He stood and held out his hand for her.
She smiled slightly and stood up. "I suppose your right. At least they produced decent furniture for our little box." She looked around. "Albus, there's only one bed."
He looked around. "It appears you are correct my dear. Well you take it and I will make myself comfortable on the couch out here. Good night Minerva." She watched him walk toward the couch and she began arguing with herself. You can't let him spend the night out here. The bed is big enough for both of you. Just stop acting like a hormonal school girl. It's not like anything could ever happen. She looked back at Albus who was shaking his wand at the coach but nothing was happening. "Well Minerva it appears our magic doesn't work in this room. They don't do anything half way, do they?"
Minerva walked up behind him and placed a hand on his arm. "Come along, Albus. There is no reason for you to sleep out here. The bed is large enough for both of us with room to spare, and we are both grown adults. I think we can handle it." She led him into the bedroom and started walking to the other side, all the while letting her hair down. She and Albus removed their shoes and crawled into bed. Both hugged their corner for some time until sleep finally claimed them.
Through the night they had moved closer together seeking the other's warmth. Minerva had her face tucked into the crook of his neck and an arm wrapped around his chest, holding him close. Albus' face was buried in her hair and his arms were around her shoulders. They spent the rest of the night with their bodies pressed together and getting the best sleep either had ever known.