oh I am SOOOOO sorry to anybody and everybody who is into this fic. NOt only have I put posting, off for almost two months, but I have made this chapter a bit more indepth with some of the thoughts going through their heads. I suppose Albus is starting to realize something, and Minerva is wondering just how much he knows! Oh the irony!
i shall take this opportunity to thank and leave notes to all who have left reviews the last chapter, and again, I send my apologies.
chicken13- Yes, yes! i shall keep going, and try not to wait so long!
minerva and albus must be togather- I hope you'll stay tuned to see the rest of this story!
Mini Minerva- Haha, no, i haven't gotten flamed yet, so I suppose no one has the extra hole in the head! lol. Oooooooh, I'm glad you like the characterizations. It makes me feel all warm inside when you people leave me long notes, and yours was one of the special ones that made me go and get a cup of hot chocolate just so I could be bursting with warmness!
Liz O'Brien- Yes! the new chapter is here, you shall rejoice! jk. :-).
Tabby_4ever- Ahhh, yes, ONE ROOM! Me thinks she won't be too happy about it, don't you? Albus and Minerva will eventually be paired up...in a very torrid relationship I may add. *pssst, i like that word a lot! torrid* Yepsies, they be in Egypt by the end of the chapter, yay. Poppy and SEverus? Well...we'll see them sooner or later to. But i warn thee...it may be a few chapters! Why don't u just scroll down, and find out for yourself?
Jestana- Oooooh, Poppy and Severus! They're confrontation w/ Minerva and Albus will be sooo MUCH fun! 'Twill take a while perhaps, but it shall be long anticipated!
Child-Of-the-Dawn - Sev bad boy? Haha...he's a guy, that's what guys do! [evil laugh] just wait and see what comes next! Ahh, and the turban and robes? I needed SOME kind of joke in that, glad you liked it!
PrincessWitch- You must wait no more! The chapter is here, now onward and into the void of words!
*******************************************************************************************
Chapter four: Minerva's Secrets
The summer had come, thank Merlin it had come! No more papers to grade, no more students to nag, and what was best of all...Egypt with Albus was soon. So soon, Minerva almost forgot to breathe from excitement. "Tomorrow," she muttered to herself.
She took out a small bag to put her paraphernalia in, and opened her lingerie drawer. 'Am I getting my hopes up too much?' She thought, as she picked up a white, most unorthodox nightgown. 'After all, he is my…boss. But then why on Earth would he ask me? Again Min, you're thinking too much. He probably is just messing with my emotions, just like every other time.' She stared closer, 'Why can't I just tell him? Say that he's the person I think about day and night, and the person I've cried tears over and over because I know I can't have him? Why, out of every person in the world, out of every thing that I can do, why is this the one thing that I can't…when I want so badly to? It's just not fair.'
She threw the gown into the bag, and pulled out a more modest one. 'Maybe Poppy was right. Maybe I have made a statement by not getting involved yet. I mean, I'm thirty-two, and still a virgin. I suppose that in itself says something about me. One, I ruined my life too much when I was younger, two, I'm too ugly to find someone, three, I think too much to just do something, or four, there's only that one person out there…but I'm tired of waiting. If it's not him, then who? Oh Merlin! What is making me think that he'd even do it with me?'
The gown flew halfway across the room in her exasperation. 'What if he really is toying with my emotions? He's devious enough for it, I thought I'd done a good job hiding my feelings, but he's probably figured it out anyway.'
She bit her lip, and stared around the room. It looked so empty. It looked redundant; like the photos you saw in a catalogue for home furnishing. Then she looked back down at her lingerie drawer.
'No, he wouldn't do that. He's the sweetest man I've ever known. He's wonderful. I don't think I feel this way because of some girlish crush I had on him during my last year at school.' She smiled to herself, and began scavenging through her clothes again.
"You know what Minerva? If you're ever going to attempt this, now is as good of a time as any."
************************************************
Albus walked noiselessly through his two bit apartment. He hadn't any reason for a real home, not really that he couldn't afford it; he just never had a purpose for it. He was the only one living there, so why go through the extra hassle, only for a home he would never use more than three months of the year?
He shifted quietly towards the only part that he really ever stood by, or even used; his fireplace. He watched as the warm fire crackled merrily. 'Just one more day,' he thought slowly. He smiled to himself, feeling eerily confident. He'd never felt so sure in his life that she was the one. Now, however, it was as obvious as the flames that he watched. He'd be smooth about it, making sure Severus was right in stating that she liked him as well, and then he'd proclaim his love. He'd tell her how much she meant to him; hopefully, she'd commit to it, just like he was willing to do the same. Of course, a lot can happen in ten days.
*************************************************
Minerva woke up, and the sunlight streamed in through her room, onto her face. It was a beautiful day, too beautiful for words. And best of all…Albus was…infront of her?
She pulled her bed-sheets closer to her, and stared up at him with wide eyes. "Albus? What are you doing here?!" Her breathing began to quicken, he was there, and she was wearing what? Her hair was down, her skin probably looked completely hideous, and her breathing, 'Oh please say I wasn't snoring!'
She stared at him, waiting for an answer. "I believe you were to meet me an hour ago at my apartment. I waited a while, but you didn't show up. I thought you may have been having a little trouble. Of course, sleep trouble wasn't exactly what I had in mind."
"What time is it?" She whispered.
"Nine fifteen. I don't think I've ever heard of you sleeping in longer than seven thirty in all my life. Even on the weekends at school you're early for breakfast."
"Oh I'm such an idiot," she blushed, "I thought we weren't leaving until this evening. How incredibly stupid of me…I'm sorry."
Albus stared, she looked mortified. He smiled to himself, mortified, but beautiful. He hadn't been expecting her to still be in bed, no, he was expecting her to be hurrying around the house getting ready to reveal her hot temper when she wasn't able to handle all of her luggage. He was expecting her to be brushing her hair out, or making some last minute packing; but no, she was still in bed. Though he had to admit, her thinking they were leaving at night was rather outrageously funny. Due to the fact however, that SEVERUS was the one who was supposed to send the letter, it was no surprise.
"Don't be sorry, go ahead and take your time getting ready. I'll be downstairs waiting for you," he got up from his crouching position next to the bed, and walked towards the door. "Oh," he turned around to face her, "and Min, it would be nice if you made mistakes like these more often."
Albus walked slowly down the stairs. What had he been thinking? He'd actually gone up there, looked at that beautiful woman sleeping like an angel, and still had the guts to tell her to mess up more. Though he couldn't help but smile at himself, she hadn't seemed to mind. She had seemed shocked yes, but she didn't scream at the top of her lungs for him to get out; actually, he could almost believe he'd seen her smile when he said that last line. Today was going to be a beautiful day.
He found a seat on the couch, which stood infront of her fireplace. The room was nice, though a little impersonal perhaps. He only saw maybe two pictures, they were on the mantel. He walked closer so as to get a better look. Naturally, one was with her family. It was just her and her parents; she had never had any brother or sisters. He stared closer at the little pale child, with black, curly locks of hair. Her eyes; they were still as beautiful as now, that same tint of blue.
The child kept on turning around, and hugging her father. Albus gave an inward sigh; Minerva had never said anything about her parents before. He wasn't sure what became of them, nor the little girl that hugged them every three seconds. It most definitely was Minerva, but that childish essence that was in the picture, no longer seemed to be possessed by her in her thirties. He wondered to himself how she had become so impersonal over the years. True enough, she did seem to open up slightly to him, she'd told him more than she'd told anyone else, at least out of the staff. Perhaps that is what intrigued him so much about her. He had to learn about her; live, learn and love.
He stared a few more seconds at the picture, and then looked next to it. 'Odd,' he quirked his head, 'who is this she's with?' He took the gold framed picture off the mantel, and stared. She was holding hands with this man. He shook his head, 'Yes, she looks a bit old to be in school.' Minerva kept on looking up at him with that smile of hers. She seemed happy enough in this picture…but there was something slightly fictitious about how she looked at him. Her eyes didn't seem to meet the man's that was looking down. She looked almost as if she'd been looking past him, behind him, infront of him; like she was waiting for something.
He made a mental note to ask Minerva who it was when she came down, seeing as how he'd never seen this light haired, brown eyed, broad shouldered man before. It was his intent to find out, and ask where he was now; who he had been to her.
He sat back down on the couch, but didn't take his eyes off of the picture. How could he not? With those two simple pictures, it became clear to him, he didn't know anything about her, not anything important. He didn't know where her parents were, he didn't know what real childhood she had. He didn't know if she'd ever had someone to love before. He didn't know anything about her, nothing before Hogwarts, and hardly anything after, except for what she was willing to reveal. He turned his head…'what she is willing to reveal.'
He sat in thought upon the couch, barely realizing how quickly the time was passing before him. He was so deep in his train of thought; he didn't even hear Minerva come down the wooden stairs. In a flash, a mass of white stood infront of him, and his gaze seemed to follow from the bottom of her weak ankles, up to the curve of her chest, to her glowing face. His breath caught slightly at the sight of her.
She looked ten years younger without that bun in her hair and that radiant smile on her face. She looked absolutely gorgeous, as attractive as ever, oh yes, most definitely as desirable as ever. "M-Minerva?"
"I'm sorry it took so long. I needed to wash my hair."
He nodded his head, afraid if he said something, his jaw would drop down to the floor.
"Are we ready to go then?" She said shyly.
"Aha," he whispered, barely opening his mouth. He swallowed hard; it would be challenging to keep his intentions if she wore things like that daily on the trip. Of course, she wasn't wearing anything special by muggle standards. He HAD told her to try to dress muggle…but that was quite overdoing it. The white made her skin look as pale as ever, which reminded him deeply of moonlight. The cut of the dress made her curves as apparent as day, and considering the fact that they'd been hidden behind robes for years on end, it just teased his mind more. What perhaps, was the most genial, was the way her mass of dark hair met up with the low of her back, making him wonder deeply how he'd ever missed the fact that she had to have a lot of hair to make that bun everyday.
"Albus, what are you staring at?"
He looked up at her face. "Is it a crime to be staring at my deputy? My eyes need to adjust to the muggle clothes you are wearing. Which, I may say, look absolutely exquisite on you."
"Well thank you," she grinned impishly, "but you've made me feel like I'm on display. It's not a very comfortable feeling."
'Display'. "Oh, I'm sorry Min. I didn't mean to make you feel like that. It's just you've never worn something like that during the school year, it just caught me off guard," he looked up at her, and she nodded, he took that as a point to say what he meant to ask first thing, "May I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Well, while you were getting ready I was looking around the room, forgive my impertinence, but I couldn't help but notice the photographs you have on your mantel. Would it be alright if I were to inquire about them?"
"The pictures on the mantelpiece? Well, that sort of depends what you wish to know; but you may ask."
He looked at her skeptically, 'that depends? Oh Min, now I know you're hiding things from me.' "I would assume that girl in the picture with the older woman and gentleman was you?"
"Yes, I was six in that picture."
"And those were your parents?"
"Yes," her gaze seemed to become diverted to the floor, "they were."
"Were?"
"I don't see them anymore. They're completely devoid from my life."
"I'm sorry Min," he reached up to grab her hand, she pulled back, "you looked happy in that picture."
"It's amazing what time can change," she had a contemptuous look on her face, obviously wishing not to speak anymore about it as well.
"And what about the other picture? Who is the man you're with?"
Her head turned towards the mantel, then back to him. "He was just a boy I knew; friend of the families, 'world's most important' egotistical type person. He wasn't really anything but a friend to me."
"In the picture, you looked different. Almost as if you were looking behind him, you didn't look like you were meeting his eye. And you were holding his hand."
"Ah Albus, the redundancy of this is more than I care to talk about. His name is Timothy Fudge, and was a friend of mine, that's all that matters. Can we start on our way now?"
He shook his head. He'd probably already taken the conversation too far. He had always known her as being closed up; she never was one for communication if possible; which may explain her stiffness when teaching. But deep down, he'd seen her a number of times as being full of life, and happy. He liked to think it was always just with him, but that, perhaps, was hoping for too much. She'd made it quite clear she didn't want this subject to come up again, and he had no intent on it anytime soon.
"Where are your bags?"
"I've only got one. I put a spell on it so I wouldn't have to make a mess with three or four of them. It's upstairs on my bed. I'll go and get it."
He watched as she walked slowly up the stairs. 'If there is one thing that I shall accomplish this trip, it's what that guy in the picture did to her. There has to be a reason she's so bitter to everyone…I think he may have something to do with it.' His gaze turned towards the mantel. There had to be something there, there just had to be.
Minerva came down quickly enough, with one small duffel bag. Needless to say, the smile had gone away from her face, and a vague expression had taken its place. Albus sighed; she was very intelligent sometimes, other times, he couldn't help but shake off the idea that she was hiding. Hiding from what, he did not know, but it was there, he knew. Whatever she was running away from, was right infront of her, and him.
"Shall we go then?" She spoke gently.
"Yes, to my apartment, then to Cairo. Shall we just apparate?"
"I believe so."
"You know where it is, I would assume?"
"What sort of an idiot do you take me for?" She smirked, "see you in about twenty seconds."
Before Albus even had a chance, she disappeared. 'Why does she tease me like that? I swear sometimes, she knows more about myself than I do.' He rolled his eyes, and apparated as quick as a flash. Naturally, she was already there, and taking a few glances around the room.
She made a tempting smile, "What took you so long?"
'She was just messing with me,' he sighed. "I had to think of my opening line once you saw how awful this apartment looks."
She walked slowly around the couch, and then looked at him. "No, it looks fine to me. Besides," she grinned, "you're a male, and males aren't expected to have that wonderful of an apartment anyhow."
"I suppose not," he returned the smile. "Well, I'd better get my bag, and we shall be on our way." Albus walked into his bedroom, taking a glance at her before he went inside. The bag was simply on his bed; he just grabbed the burgundy bag, and walked right back through the doorway.
As was expected, she too, was looking around, and staring at the pictures that were in his apartment. Although his were about eight times more than she had, a smile was on her lips. She looked up at him when he entered. "Sorry," she spoke softly, "forgive my impertinence, but I felt rather obligated to look at your pictures," she raised an eyebrow attentively.
"Are you trying to tell me Minerva, that it isn't alright to look through people's personal things?"
"Indeed I am. So shall we leave then?"
"I suppose so, unless you have any questions about the pictures."
"Oh no. They're all rather self explanatory."
"Very well, then let us go. Cairo, here we come."
*********************************************************************************
Minerva and Albus both walked slowly towards the counter. The hotel looked rather nice, considering there had been some battles in Egypt within the past few years. Quite honestly, everything looked just as if any other hotel may, granted, perhaps a little bit more unconventional than what they were used to, but the scenery was beautiful. There was indeed a pool behind the hotel, and the water looked reasonably clean. The palm trees around the grounds were newly planted.
The war had only ended a year ago; and everything looked like it ought to. Everyone seemed to be making an effort to make everything the way it had been, or the way it should be anyhow.
Albus spoke quietly to the Arabic cashier. "We're here for a room. I believe the name is under Albus Dumbledore."
The man looked up at him. Naturally, he had to know SOME English, if he were to take that job. He nodded his head, and looked at a list of names that we upon the roll of parchment infront of him. He pointed at the name DUMBLEDORE, and Albus nodded. Next to the name were some signs, Albus took them to be symbolic for the rooms. The cashier nodded, and muttered in a deep voice, "pay."
Albus removed a bag that had been around his neck for quite some time. He handed it to the cashier, and opened the bag. The cashier seemed to be counting to himself. He took nearly fifty bills from the bag, and handed it back to Albus. "Here is change," he stated, and handed Albus the rest of the money that was in the bag. Then he came around the desk, and took a quick glance at Minerva, then led them towards some stairs.
Both the two of them followed and they went down several short corridors, before the man stopped, and took out a key. He pointed at the door, "room." He stated, and gave Albus the source of opening the door; then left back towards the register.
"Not very friendly is he do you think?" Minerva asked quietly.
"I don't think he understands much English. More or less words that won't matter to him."
"I suppose not," Minerva stared at the door, then back up at Albus. "Albus?"
"Yes Min?"
"There's only one door."
"Uh…y-e-a-h," he said slowly, stretching his jaw out far wider than he ought to, "there is only going to be one door."
"What do you mean?" She said sternly.
"We're sharing a room."
"I thought you said our rooms were right next to eachother."
"No, what I said was that our beds are near eachother. Not rooms."
He stared at her, she was fighting very hard to keep her composure, he could tell. She was breathing through her nostrils, and staring at the ground. She closed her eyes, and clenched her fists. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." She opened her eyes, and stared at Albus. "So you're saying that we're staying in the same room this whole trip?"
"Uh…yes. There is supposed to be more than one bed. You don't have to worry."
She nodded her head. "Albus?"
"Y-y-es?"
"If you know anything else about this trip, that I was not informed of, I strongly urge you to tell me now, that way, once I go into the room and scream into my pillow, I'll get it out then, and not have to do it again." She said very calmly, it was her voice that had that hint of eccentricity, but by no means was it her wooden composure.
He swallowed, "No, nothing comes to mind. Shall we um…go in then?"
"Yes, I suppose we shall."
Albus slowly took the key, he was shaking. He was shaking so hard, it almost looked impossible to get the key through the lock. But he managed, and turned it gently. The door pushed open easily, and first sight of the room…it was beautiful.
He thought he'd heard Minerva take in a large 'awwwing' breath. Its theme was no doubt Egypt. There were paintings of hieroglyphics on the wall, and pictures of jewels and cats. The walls were painted gold, not crummy cheap looking gold, but it reminded him slightly of the pyramids and the shrines meant for the dead. They both walked in slowly deeper into the room. They glanced at eachother, and they both went their separate ways through the two other doors inside the room.
Minerva headed towards the master bedroom, where there was a large four poster bed with satin sheets. There was a balcony on the outside of the rooms, and the whole room, much like the front looking on was Egyptian. This room, however, was more represented by the harems that pharaohs had during their reigns as the government. Thin fabric was pinned on the top of the bed, it was brightly colored, and showed the majestic traditional ways of the rulers. 'My Egyptians sure liked bright colors,' she thought quietly.
Albus went the other way, to the right. In the room, was a small dining table, and a regal, giant bath-tub. His eyes lightened up at the sight. It was gold; the bath-tub looked gold. He looked back up, and around the room. This room was decorated by Egyptian children, and a giant picture of an Egyptian town. Children were playing in the water, while the adults carried what water they could in buckets towards their fields. Of course, Albus knew someone obviously was trying to draw others away from what really had happened in Egypt long ago, but it made no difference, the picture was exquisite.
Albus walked out of the room, and towards the center living room. There was a couch, which he took would be where the bed was supposed to be made, and there were drawers beneath it, which had the blankets. Albus smiled. Infront of him was a fireplace. He doubted there was much reason for one in Egypt, though the nights were supposed to be awfully cold, let alone the winter. 'The dream,' he thought quietly to himself, 'the dream, this room…it's from the dream.'
"Albus?"
He turned around as quickly, and saw Minerva, who was currently smiling. "Yes?"
"I believe this will work wonderfully. Even if we do need to share a room, I think this is absolutely perfect. Thank you."
"You're quite welcome Min. Anything you wish to do today; while we still have plenty of daylight?"
"I have a question for you."
"Alright?"
"Why do you stare at me so awkwardly all the time?"
"Awkwardly? How do I stare awkwardly at you?"
"Like you're doing now. Your eyes look hazy, and unfocused. Poppy says you don't look at her like that, and I want to know why you look at ME so strangely."
"Because, you perplex me Minerva McGonagall," he said in one low, drawn out voice.
"How do I do that?"
He looked down on his hands; he may as well tell her what had been going through his head the past hour. "You act serious one moment, then the next your happy, or sad. You seem devoid of every human emotion sometimes I look at you, and other times, you're completely set beside yourself with emotion. You pretend to be happy, but I know you're not. I look at you like that, in the hopes that someday you may reveal to me what vexes you so."
Minerva stepped back, eyes wide. "What if I don't want to tell?"
"Then you don't trust me."
********************************************************************************************
Perhaps a little bit more in-tune w/ their thoughts? Albus wonders who Timothy is, Minerva wonders how much of a scuz ball Albus is for the one room thing, and she still doesn't know about Sev setting them up. What do you think? The makes of some interesting chapters? And then there's the obvious future between the two main characters...how long before they do trust eachother? [evil grin]
Oohhhh, again, such a late chapter! and I thank those of you who have taken the time to wait! Reviews would be nice, actually, they would be saving me at the moment! Please? Please? Please? please? Pwetty pwease? I'll give you all a cookie in my next chapter! 0:-)
i shall take this opportunity to thank and leave notes to all who have left reviews the last chapter, and again, I send my apologies.
chicken13- Yes, yes! i shall keep going, and try not to wait so long!
minerva and albus must be togather- I hope you'll stay tuned to see the rest of this story!
Mini Minerva- Haha, no, i haven't gotten flamed yet, so I suppose no one has the extra hole in the head! lol. Oooooooh, I'm glad you like the characterizations. It makes me feel all warm inside when you people leave me long notes, and yours was one of the special ones that made me go and get a cup of hot chocolate just so I could be bursting with warmness!
Liz O'Brien- Yes! the new chapter is here, you shall rejoice! jk. :-).
Tabby_4ever- Ahhh, yes, ONE ROOM! Me thinks she won't be too happy about it, don't you? Albus and Minerva will eventually be paired up...in a very torrid relationship I may add. *pssst, i like that word a lot! torrid* Yepsies, they be in Egypt by the end of the chapter, yay. Poppy and SEverus? Well...we'll see them sooner or later to. But i warn thee...it may be a few chapters! Why don't u just scroll down, and find out for yourself?
Jestana- Oooooh, Poppy and Severus! They're confrontation w/ Minerva and Albus will be sooo MUCH fun! 'Twill take a while perhaps, but it shall be long anticipated!
Child-Of-the-Dawn - Sev bad boy? Haha...he's a guy, that's what guys do! [evil laugh] just wait and see what comes next! Ahh, and the turban and robes? I needed SOME kind of joke in that, glad you liked it!
PrincessWitch- You must wait no more! The chapter is here, now onward and into the void of words!
*******************************************************************************************
Chapter four: Minerva's Secrets
The summer had come, thank Merlin it had come! No more papers to grade, no more students to nag, and what was best of all...Egypt with Albus was soon. So soon, Minerva almost forgot to breathe from excitement. "Tomorrow," she muttered to herself.
She took out a small bag to put her paraphernalia in, and opened her lingerie drawer. 'Am I getting my hopes up too much?' She thought, as she picked up a white, most unorthodox nightgown. 'After all, he is my…boss. But then why on Earth would he ask me? Again Min, you're thinking too much. He probably is just messing with my emotions, just like every other time.' She stared closer, 'Why can't I just tell him? Say that he's the person I think about day and night, and the person I've cried tears over and over because I know I can't have him? Why, out of every person in the world, out of every thing that I can do, why is this the one thing that I can't…when I want so badly to? It's just not fair.'
She threw the gown into the bag, and pulled out a more modest one. 'Maybe Poppy was right. Maybe I have made a statement by not getting involved yet. I mean, I'm thirty-two, and still a virgin. I suppose that in itself says something about me. One, I ruined my life too much when I was younger, two, I'm too ugly to find someone, three, I think too much to just do something, or four, there's only that one person out there…but I'm tired of waiting. If it's not him, then who? Oh Merlin! What is making me think that he'd even do it with me?'
The gown flew halfway across the room in her exasperation. 'What if he really is toying with my emotions? He's devious enough for it, I thought I'd done a good job hiding my feelings, but he's probably figured it out anyway.'
She bit her lip, and stared around the room. It looked so empty. It looked redundant; like the photos you saw in a catalogue for home furnishing. Then she looked back down at her lingerie drawer.
'No, he wouldn't do that. He's the sweetest man I've ever known. He's wonderful. I don't think I feel this way because of some girlish crush I had on him during my last year at school.' She smiled to herself, and began scavenging through her clothes again.
"You know what Minerva? If you're ever going to attempt this, now is as good of a time as any."
************************************************
Albus walked noiselessly through his two bit apartment. He hadn't any reason for a real home, not really that he couldn't afford it; he just never had a purpose for it. He was the only one living there, so why go through the extra hassle, only for a home he would never use more than three months of the year?
He shifted quietly towards the only part that he really ever stood by, or even used; his fireplace. He watched as the warm fire crackled merrily. 'Just one more day,' he thought slowly. He smiled to himself, feeling eerily confident. He'd never felt so sure in his life that she was the one. Now, however, it was as obvious as the flames that he watched. He'd be smooth about it, making sure Severus was right in stating that she liked him as well, and then he'd proclaim his love. He'd tell her how much she meant to him; hopefully, she'd commit to it, just like he was willing to do the same. Of course, a lot can happen in ten days.
*************************************************
Minerva woke up, and the sunlight streamed in through her room, onto her face. It was a beautiful day, too beautiful for words. And best of all…Albus was…infront of her?
She pulled her bed-sheets closer to her, and stared up at him with wide eyes. "Albus? What are you doing here?!" Her breathing began to quicken, he was there, and she was wearing what? Her hair was down, her skin probably looked completely hideous, and her breathing, 'Oh please say I wasn't snoring!'
She stared at him, waiting for an answer. "I believe you were to meet me an hour ago at my apartment. I waited a while, but you didn't show up. I thought you may have been having a little trouble. Of course, sleep trouble wasn't exactly what I had in mind."
"What time is it?" She whispered.
"Nine fifteen. I don't think I've ever heard of you sleeping in longer than seven thirty in all my life. Even on the weekends at school you're early for breakfast."
"Oh I'm such an idiot," she blushed, "I thought we weren't leaving until this evening. How incredibly stupid of me…I'm sorry."
Albus stared, she looked mortified. He smiled to himself, mortified, but beautiful. He hadn't been expecting her to still be in bed, no, he was expecting her to be hurrying around the house getting ready to reveal her hot temper when she wasn't able to handle all of her luggage. He was expecting her to be brushing her hair out, or making some last minute packing; but no, she was still in bed. Though he had to admit, her thinking they were leaving at night was rather outrageously funny. Due to the fact however, that SEVERUS was the one who was supposed to send the letter, it was no surprise.
"Don't be sorry, go ahead and take your time getting ready. I'll be downstairs waiting for you," he got up from his crouching position next to the bed, and walked towards the door. "Oh," he turned around to face her, "and Min, it would be nice if you made mistakes like these more often."
Albus walked slowly down the stairs. What had he been thinking? He'd actually gone up there, looked at that beautiful woman sleeping like an angel, and still had the guts to tell her to mess up more. Though he couldn't help but smile at himself, she hadn't seemed to mind. She had seemed shocked yes, but she didn't scream at the top of her lungs for him to get out; actually, he could almost believe he'd seen her smile when he said that last line. Today was going to be a beautiful day.
He found a seat on the couch, which stood infront of her fireplace. The room was nice, though a little impersonal perhaps. He only saw maybe two pictures, they were on the mantel. He walked closer so as to get a better look. Naturally, one was with her family. It was just her and her parents; she had never had any brother or sisters. He stared closer at the little pale child, with black, curly locks of hair. Her eyes; they were still as beautiful as now, that same tint of blue.
The child kept on turning around, and hugging her father. Albus gave an inward sigh; Minerva had never said anything about her parents before. He wasn't sure what became of them, nor the little girl that hugged them every three seconds. It most definitely was Minerva, but that childish essence that was in the picture, no longer seemed to be possessed by her in her thirties. He wondered to himself how she had become so impersonal over the years. True enough, she did seem to open up slightly to him, she'd told him more than she'd told anyone else, at least out of the staff. Perhaps that is what intrigued him so much about her. He had to learn about her; live, learn and love.
He stared a few more seconds at the picture, and then looked next to it. 'Odd,' he quirked his head, 'who is this she's with?' He took the gold framed picture off the mantel, and stared. She was holding hands with this man. He shook his head, 'Yes, she looks a bit old to be in school.' Minerva kept on looking up at him with that smile of hers. She seemed happy enough in this picture…but there was something slightly fictitious about how she looked at him. Her eyes didn't seem to meet the man's that was looking down. She looked almost as if she'd been looking past him, behind him, infront of him; like she was waiting for something.
He made a mental note to ask Minerva who it was when she came down, seeing as how he'd never seen this light haired, brown eyed, broad shouldered man before. It was his intent to find out, and ask where he was now; who he had been to her.
He sat back down on the couch, but didn't take his eyes off of the picture. How could he not? With those two simple pictures, it became clear to him, he didn't know anything about her, not anything important. He didn't know where her parents were, he didn't know what real childhood she had. He didn't know if she'd ever had someone to love before. He didn't know anything about her, nothing before Hogwarts, and hardly anything after, except for what she was willing to reveal. He turned his head…'what she is willing to reveal.'
He sat in thought upon the couch, barely realizing how quickly the time was passing before him. He was so deep in his train of thought; he didn't even hear Minerva come down the wooden stairs. In a flash, a mass of white stood infront of him, and his gaze seemed to follow from the bottom of her weak ankles, up to the curve of her chest, to her glowing face. His breath caught slightly at the sight of her.
She looked ten years younger without that bun in her hair and that radiant smile on her face. She looked absolutely gorgeous, as attractive as ever, oh yes, most definitely as desirable as ever. "M-Minerva?"
"I'm sorry it took so long. I needed to wash my hair."
He nodded his head, afraid if he said something, his jaw would drop down to the floor.
"Are we ready to go then?" She said shyly.
"Aha," he whispered, barely opening his mouth. He swallowed hard; it would be challenging to keep his intentions if she wore things like that daily on the trip. Of course, she wasn't wearing anything special by muggle standards. He HAD told her to try to dress muggle…but that was quite overdoing it. The white made her skin look as pale as ever, which reminded him deeply of moonlight. The cut of the dress made her curves as apparent as day, and considering the fact that they'd been hidden behind robes for years on end, it just teased his mind more. What perhaps, was the most genial, was the way her mass of dark hair met up with the low of her back, making him wonder deeply how he'd ever missed the fact that she had to have a lot of hair to make that bun everyday.
"Albus, what are you staring at?"
He looked up at her face. "Is it a crime to be staring at my deputy? My eyes need to adjust to the muggle clothes you are wearing. Which, I may say, look absolutely exquisite on you."
"Well thank you," she grinned impishly, "but you've made me feel like I'm on display. It's not a very comfortable feeling."
'Display'. "Oh, I'm sorry Min. I didn't mean to make you feel like that. It's just you've never worn something like that during the school year, it just caught me off guard," he looked up at her, and she nodded, he took that as a point to say what he meant to ask first thing, "May I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Well, while you were getting ready I was looking around the room, forgive my impertinence, but I couldn't help but notice the photographs you have on your mantel. Would it be alright if I were to inquire about them?"
"The pictures on the mantelpiece? Well, that sort of depends what you wish to know; but you may ask."
He looked at her skeptically, 'that depends? Oh Min, now I know you're hiding things from me.' "I would assume that girl in the picture with the older woman and gentleman was you?"
"Yes, I was six in that picture."
"And those were your parents?"
"Yes," her gaze seemed to become diverted to the floor, "they were."
"Were?"
"I don't see them anymore. They're completely devoid from my life."
"I'm sorry Min," he reached up to grab her hand, she pulled back, "you looked happy in that picture."
"It's amazing what time can change," she had a contemptuous look on her face, obviously wishing not to speak anymore about it as well.
"And what about the other picture? Who is the man you're with?"
Her head turned towards the mantel, then back to him. "He was just a boy I knew; friend of the families, 'world's most important' egotistical type person. He wasn't really anything but a friend to me."
"In the picture, you looked different. Almost as if you were looking behind him, you didn't look like you were meeting his eye. And you were holding his hand."
"Ah Albus, the redundancy of this is more than I care to talk about. His name is Timothy Fudge, and was a friend of mine, that's all that matters. Can we start on our way now?"
He shook his head. He'd probably already taken the conversation too far. He had always known her as being closed up; she never was one for communication if possible; which may explain her stiffness when teaching. But deep down, he'd seen her a number of times as being full of life, and happy. He liked to think it was always just with him, but that, perhaps, was hoping for too much. She'd made it quite clear she didn't want this subject to come up again, and he had no intent on it anytime soon.
"Where are your bags?"
"I've only got one. I put a spell on it so I wouldn't have to make a mess with three or four of them. It's upstairs on my bed. I'll go and get it."
He watched as she walked slowly up the stairs. 'If there is one thing that I shall accomplish this trip, it's what that guy in the picture did to her. There has to be a reason she's so bitter to everyone…I think he may have something to do with it.' His gaze turned towards the mantel. There had to be something there, there just had to be.
Minerva came down quickly enough, with one small duffel bag. Needless to say, the smile had gone away from her face, and a vague expression had taken its place. Albus sighed; she was very intelligent sometimes, other times, he couldn't help but shake off the idea that she was hiding. Hiding from what, he did not know, but it was there, he knew. Whatever she was running away from, was right infront of her, and him.
"Shall we go then?" She spoke gently.
"Yes, to my apartment, then to Cairo. Shall we just apparate?"
"I believe so."
"You know where it is, I would assume?"
"What sort of an idiot do you take me for?" She smirked, "see you in about twenty seconds."
Before Albus even had a chance, she disappeared. 'Why does she tease me like that? I swear sometimes, she knows more about myself than I do.' He rolled his eyes, and apparated as quick as a flash. Naturally, she was already there, and taking a few glances around the room.
She made a tempting smile, "What took you so long?"
'She was just messing with me,' he sighed. "I had to think of my opening line once you saw how awful this apartment looks."
She walked slowly around the couch, and then looked at him. "No, it looks fine to me. Besides," she grinned, "you're a male, and males aren't expected to have that wonderful of an apartment anyhow."
"I suppose not," he returned the smile. "Well, I'd better get my bag, and we shall be on our way." Albus walked into his bedroom, taking a glance at her before he went inside. The bag was simply on his bed; he just grabbed the burgundy bag, and walked right back through the doorway.
As was expected, she too, was looking around, and staring at the pictures that were in his apartment. Although his were about eight times more than she had, a smile was on her lips. She looked up at him when he entered. "Sorry," she spoke softly, "forgive my impertinence, but I felt rather obligated to look at your pictures," she raised an eyebrow attentively.
"Are you trying to tell me Minerva, that it isn't alright to look through people's personal things?"
"Indeed I am. So shall we leave then?"
"I suppose so, unless you have any questions about the pictures."
"Oh no. They're all rather self explanatory."
"Very well, then let us go. Cairo, here we come."
*********************************************************************************
Minerva and Albus both walked slowly towards the counter. The hotel looked rather nice, considering there had been some battles in Egypt within the past few years. Quite honestly, everything looked just as if any other hotel may, granted, perhaps a little bit more unconventional than what they were used to, but the scenery was beautiful. There was indeed a pool behind the hotel, and the water looked reasonably clean. The palm trees around the grounds were newly planted.
The war had only ended a year ago; and everything looked like it ought to. Everyone seemed to be making an effort to make everything the way it had been, or the way it should be anyhow.
Albus spoke quietly to the Arabic cashier. "We're here for a room. I believe the name is under Albus Dumbledore."
The man looked up at him. Naturally, he had to know SOME English, if he were to take that job. He nodded his head, and looked at a list of names that we upon the roll of parchment infront of him. He pointed at the name DUMBLEDORE, and Albus nodded. Next to the name were some signs, Albus took them to be symbolic for the rooms. The cashier nodded, and muttered in a deep voice, "pay."
Albus removed a bag that had been around his neck for quite some time. He handed it to the cashier, and opened the bag. The cashier seemed to be counting to himself. He took nearly fifty bills from the bag, and handed it back to Albus. "Here is change," he stated, and handed Albus the rest of the money that was in the bag. Then he came around the desk, and took a quick glance at Minerva, then led them towards some stairs.
Both the two of them followed and they went down several short corridors, before the man stopped, and took out a key. He pointed at the door, "room." He stated, and gave Albus the source of opening the door; then left back towards the register.
"Not very friendly is he do you think?" Minerva asked quietly.
"I don't think he understands much English. More or less words that won't matter to him."
"I suppose not," Minerva stared at the door, then back up at Albus. "Albus?"
"Yes Min?"
"There's only one door."
"Uh…y-e-a-h," he said slowly, stretching his jaw out far wider than he ought to, "there is only going to be one door."
"What do you mean?" She said sternly.
"We're sharing a room."
"I thought you said our rooms were right next to eachother."
"No, what I said was that our beds are near eachother. Not rooms."
He stared at her, she was fighting very hard to keep her composure, he could tell. She was breathing through her nostrils, and staring at the ground. She closed her eyes, and clenched her fists. "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." She opened her eyes, and stared at Albus. "So you're saying that we're staying in the same room this whole trip?"
"Uh…yes. There is supposed to be more than one bed. You don't have to worry."
She nodded her head. "Albus?"
"Y-y-es?"
"If you know anything else about this trip, that I was not informed of, I strongly urge you to tell me now, that way, once I go into the room and scream into my pillow, I'll get it out then, and not have to do it again." She said very calmly, it was her voice that had that hint of eccentricity, but by no means was it her wooden composure.
He swallowed, "No, nothing comes to mind. Shall we um…go in then?"
"Yes, I suppose we shall."
Albus slowly took the key, he was shaking. He was shaking so hard, it almost looked impossible to get the key through the lock. But he managed, and turned it gently. The door pushed open easily, and first sight of the room…it was beautiful.
He thought he'd heard Minerva take in a large 'awwwing' breath. Its theme was no doubt Egypt. There were paintings of hieroglyphics on the wall, and pictures of jewels and cats. The walls were painted gold, not crummy cheap looking gold, but it reminded him slightly of the pyramids and the shrines meant for the dead. They both walked in slowly deeper into the room. They glanced at eachother, and they both went their separate ways through the two other doors inside the room.
Minerva headed towards the master bedroom, where there was a large four poster bed with satin sheets. There was a balcony on the outside of the rooms, and the whole room, much like the front looking on was Egyptian. This room, however, was more represented by the harems that pharaohs had during their reigns as the government. Thin fabric was pinned on the top of the bed, it was brightly colored, and showed the majestic traditional ways of the rulers. 'My Egyptians sure liked bright colors,' she thought quietly.
Albus went the other way, to the right. In the room, was a small dining table, and a regal, giant bath-tub. His eyes lightened up at the sight. It was gold; the bath-tub looked gold. He looked back up, and around the room. This room was decorated by Egyptian children, and a giant picture of an Egyptian town. Children were playing in the water, while the adults carried what water they could in buckets towards their fields. Of course, Albus knew someone obviously was trying to draw others away from what really had happened in Egypt long ago, but it made no difference, the picture was exquisite.
Albus walked out of the room, and towards the center living room. There was a couch, which he took would be where the bed was supposed to be made, and there were drawers beneath it, which had the blankets. Albus smiled. Infront of him was a fireplace. He doubted there was much reason for one in Egypt, though the nights were supposed to be awfully cold, let alone the winter. 'The dream,' he thought quietly to himself, 'the dream, this room…it's from the dream.'
"Albus?"
He turned around as quickly, and saw Minerva, who was currently smiling. "Yes?"
"I believe this will work wonderfully. Even if we do need to share a room, I think this is absolutely perfect. Thank you."
"You're quite welcome Min. Anything you wish to do today; while we still have plenty of daylight?"
"I have a question for you."
"Alright?"
"Why do you stare at me so awkwardly all the time?"
"Awkwardly? How do I stare awkwardly at you?"
"Like you're doing now. Your eyes look hazy, and unfocused. Poppy says you don't look at her like that, and I want to know why you look at ME so strangely."
"Because, you perplex me Minerva McGonagall," he said in one low, drawn out voice.
"How do I do that?"
He looked down on his hands; he may as well tell her what had been going through his head the past hour. "You act serious one moment, then the next your happy, or sad. You seem devoid of every human emotion sometimes I look at you, and other times, you're completely set beside yourself with emotion. You pretend to be happy, but I know you're not. I look at you like that, in the hopes that someday you may reveal to me what vexes you so."
Minerva stepped back, eyes wide. "What if I don't want to tell?"
"Then you don't trust me."
********************************************************************************************
Perhaps a little bit more in-tune w/ their thoughts? Albus wonders who Timothy is, Minerva wonders how much of a scuz ball Albus is for the one room thing, and she still doesn't know about Sev setting them up. What do you think? The makes of some interesting chapters? And then there's the obvious future between the two main characters...how long before they do trust eachother? [evil grin]
Oohhhh, again, such a late chapter! and I thank those of you who have taken the time to wait! Reviews would be nice, actually, they would be saving me at the moment! Please? Please? Please? please? Pwetty pwease? I'll give you all a cookie in my next chapter! 0:-)