Oh you wonderful, WONDERFUL people! You're reviews were great, and I'm sorry time does not permit me to write you notes back! I would if I could, promise! Hope this is a good enough update for you…the big moment is coming I can assure you!
Chapter Eleven: change of events
"Come here baby," he reached out her hand, and Minerva walked willingly into her father's lap. "Don't worry baby girl. Mommy will be back soon. She just went out for a little while."
"But daddy, mommy's been gone for a way long time."
"She'll be back. Mommy just needs to sort a few things out."
"Why?"
"Well baby girl, things are…different with adults. Mommy and daddy haven't been getting along really well lately. She just left for a few days until she feels less trapped. Daddy has been making her feel bad lately."
"But daddy! You couldn't make anyone feel bad. You're a good daddy. Mommy loves you."
"Minerva…" there were tears in his eyes. He was trying so hard to act strong for his child. "baby," he hugged her warmly, "mommy and daddy may not be living in the same home anymore. Mommy's fallen in love with someone other than your daddy."
"Why would she do that?"
He was beginning to choke, from lack of air, or perhaps because his heart was compressing and decompressing a million times a minute. It was such a simple question…with a not so simple answer. "Mommy and daddy just don't understand eachother anymore. She went and found someone else that she could love."
"But she loves you."
He took in a deep breath. Maybe there was still hope. Maybe his wife did love him. Maybe it was just a fling, yes, a fling. One time thing. He would persuade her to come back. "Yes, she does. And daddy is going to get her to come back here for you."
"Love you daddy."
"You'll always be my baby girl, baby." He kissed the tip of her head.
Minerva awoke with a smile on her face. It had been years since she was able to dream about her father, even more years since she'd even thought about her mother. Her smile drifted away from her face, and felt a sob rise up. She'd wanted nothing more than her family then, that day her father told her the news. Of course, the news only lasted a few months; even then Minerva didn't understand the magnitude of what her father had told her about her mother.
The clock read 4:15. It was early, too early to be awake while on vacation. She threw the covers over her head, and closed her eyes.
*~*~
Poppy rolled over gently, and kissed her lover good morning. He grinned ever so slightly, and wrapped his arms around her flesh. "What right do you have to be waking me up at 10 a.m.?"
"The same one I have to screw you at one in the morning." Poppy lifted herself up, and brought her body closer to his with a wide grin on her face. His body was…something else to say the least. Merlin he was addicting! Between his voice, and his well toned body, this man that was infront of her, was highly addicting.
"Are you trying to make me want to screw you again, or are you just playing with my mind?" He whispered, in her ear. His hands traced along her body in a gentle circle. His lips touched her neck, and she felt the warm sensation flow down her spine. She was done for, simple as that.
"You know," she smiled, "we could go for another record."
"Must we keep count?" His lips disconnected with her neck, and met with her mouth. She closed her eyes, and let herself be pushed back against the pillow. She could feel the fire heating up between them, just like it had from the beginning. It felt so right to be with him, so perfect. "Mmmmmm," she exhaled.
"I can do it," he smiled from only a few centimeters away, "I can uh…disrupt your flower, as you call it, again. It could be loads of fun. Then after that, we can get drunk and do it a million times over." He kissed her soundlessly, and she couldn't help but smile. She had fallen in love. This was her love; she could feel it.
"Well then stop tempting me you idiot and do it."
He raised an eyebrow, "Idiot?"
She smiled, and pushed herself against him while seizing his lips with hers.
*~*~
Albus watched as Minerva brushed her long, black hair. She couldn't see him in the mirror, he didn't think. She looked pretty today; there was something different about her though. It was more confidence he thought, than actual beauty. There was something to the way she was smiling, as if she had just been hit with a shovel on the head. He wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't the look on his face right now. He knew that look. He felt it too; he'd seen it as well. There was no need to guess what it was.
Her dress today was something else. He could never have imagined the highly strict and secretive Minerva McGonagall to have been wearing something like that a week ago. There was an elegant slit along the hem on her side. The cream color of the dress just made her dark hair and pale skin stick out more. He couldn't stop himself from thinking about her. There wasn't any chance of them getting together; obviously the entire virginity thing meant something to her. Yet she constantly clogged up his mind, left him in a trance. He smiled at himself. Was there any chance that there was some veela blood in her?
She had long since left her spot infront of the mirror before he actually noticed that he was staring at an empty room. Blinking a few times, he walked towards the mirror, and combed his own hair while judging his own appearance. He could never have been ready for this week. With all the body toning he'd taken time to do, only to look good for his infatuation, nothing could have gotten him ready.
Minerva entered the room after a few minutes, and leaned seductively up against the threshold with a foot along the wall. He tried not to notice her, tried to act as if she was invisible. But her smile got him, just like it always does.
"Alright Miss Minerva, what are you smiling about?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Could I say something?" she grinned innocently up at him while batting her long lashes.
"You can say anything m' dear." He turned to face her.
"I like you better with facial hair," she smiled, "you look," she bit her lip and rolled her words, obviously she was trying to find the right word. A few minutes passed, and she smiled. "Alluring," she raised an eyebrow, "you look very alluring."
He swallowed, that wasn't the word he was expecting. Obviously she was expecting something equally as…flirtatious?
He'd done this a million times with a million other women. But the cat got his tongue so to speak. He blinked, and opened his mouth. That couldn't work; he couldn't just say anything to this woman. Thank Merlin actions were more effective that words. He walked what little distance he had to, and lifted her chin softly. She looked up at him with her big blue eyes, and a smile.
He smiled back. She'd been expecting him to react like that, the little witch. He drew back, and grinned. "You know, I was planning on kissing you, but I don't have to."
"I was planning on telling you another secret," she raised an eyebrow, "but I don't have to."
He rolled his eyes. There were some things that would never get old. "We'll do a trade. You tell me the secret, and I suck the breath right out of you."
"You first," she smiled. "Then I'll tell you."
She leaned up to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned down, and kissed her soft, totally and completely kissable lips. He held her gently at first at arms length, but by the end of the kiss, his body was pushed upon hers along the wall. He let go, and took in a deep breath. True to his word, they had sucked the breath out of eachother.
"I think I'm getting carried away," he whispered.
"I've been waiting my whole life to get carried away Albus. You don't have to apologize."
"I think I do." He traced a hand along her soft cheek. He'd wanted her from the second moment he'd laid eyes on her. He still wanted her, God he wanted her. She was a tease, and irresistibly beautiful tease. Why was she doing this to him purposely? No woman just comes up to a man, when he knows there's no chance of anything more than kissing, and taunts him until he can't stand it anymore. No woman except Minerva McGonagall.
No, she mouthed, and pulled him back down towards her. She pushed her lips to his, and he was lost in his own little world. She was so warm, so hot. He explored her mouth slowly, thoroughly. She moaned slightly in the process, and wrapped her arms tighter around. There was no way out, no possible way out anymore. He wasn't surprised by the way his body reacted to her kiss; he wasn't even surprised by the look on her face at the realization. His lips departed from hers, but his body stayed, it kept her pinned against the wall.
They both caught their breath, and he stared at her, daring her to tell him that it was a mistake for them to be there. No look of hatred, or abuse crossed her face, infact her face was red. He wasn't sure whether it was a blush or her reaction during their lip lock. He waited for a response quietly. Only seconds passed before she spoke, and it was dreamy, breathless. "I love you."
He smiled, and kissed her cheek properly. He was getting way too close, way too soon. He released his body from hers, and whispered softly in her ears, "I love you too, Minerva McGonagall."
Silence set between them, but it was durable, almost even sweet. He smiled at her, she smiled at him. "What do you say we go down for a late breakfast?"
"Yes," she smiled, "I've got things to tell you."
*~*~
The two of them sat outside with a single plateful of the usual breakfast treats beside the pool. Their feet were both inside it, and every now and then there was an amused splashing about, followed by fits of small laughter.
The water this morning did not look nearly as clean as it was. It wasn't very logical for the water to be cleaned everyday; it was at the height of sophistication for there to be a pool at all, let alone for it to be cleansed of dirt regularly. It was quite often for Egyptians to be referred to as "heathens", even now. But even they weren't without facilities to use for cooling off.
Today Minerva stared out at the water, slightly murky in its exploitation, and was completely entranced by the slow ripples that fell from the movement of her feet. It was amazing, that she for the first time in her life, could not quite figure out what to do. She knew the problem, yet she could not approach it in the way that she would normally have done. Everything was new to her, everything.
How was she to tell him? Would he think her a coward; an idiot? What if she wasn't able to tell him? What if it's all a lie, what if he doesn't love her, what if—
"You alright Min?"
Her head snapped up, and she looked into his clearly blue eyes. She was being ridiculous. He'd know the truth soon enough. He'd just take her in his arms, and say that he loved her. She blinked, and finally smiled. "I—I'm ready to tell you what I," she paused and thought slowly, "neglected to tell you at the beginning of this trip; a—about the pictures and everything."
His back straightened ever so slightly, and his eyes became even softer. She felt her heart melt at the seams. "I'm listening," he said softly.
She closed her eyes, and took in a deep breath. "Well, I suppose it would be best for me to start with the fact that my mother had several infidelities while I was a child," she made a quick glance at Albus and then continued, "Of course at the time, not only would it not have made sense to me, but I wouldn't have thought any less of my mum. You know how children are," she smiled, "I was always so convinced that 'mommy and daddy' loved eachother. They always seemed so happy when they were around me. Needless to say, my parents couldn't have been further away from happy. My mother and father were taking a separation at the time of his death."
Albus stared, and mouthed the words oh god. His expression had gone from attentive to…empathetic. He gazed at her closely, she hated to be looked at, it's all she'd ever have been to those curious enough; or impertinent enough for that matter. He took her hand, and squeezed it. "You can't tell me your mother didn't come back."
"Oh no," Minerva bowed her head, "she came back. "She tried to act like a mother I suppose, try to make me understand that daddy wasn't coming back. She wasn't so great at it," she frowned, "By the time a year had passed since his death, I'd met probably about twenty different men that my mum had considered to be suitors. I was horrified at the thought of someone taking the spot of my father," she looked at Albus, then turned her gaze back towards the pool, "I…well I wasn't the most cooperative with them. I started pulling pranks, using magic to get the better of them. They all left, and I was left with my mother."
"I would uh…take it that didn't go over so well."
"Well…with just my mother and it was alright. We sort of made a family, I guess. We got a little closer, but I was so young then, she could have told me she missed being a family, and I would believe her."
"So your mother left you with your father…then came back after he died."
"Yes. It was…no child should have to go through anything like that. My mother…she lied to me her whole life. She always wanted in, just so she would have a reason to get out."
Albus nodded. "So what happens next?"
Minerva took in a deep breath, and closed her eyes softly, "She got tired of having no love life I suppose. I was sent off to a finishing school, to learn some 'manners' which I was apparently lacking. I came back a few years later to go to Hogwarts while my mother flaunted about London looking for a more suitable companion. Of course," she shook her head, "I resented it from the start, but I was more cooperative if I were to meet them, or ever receive word. I merely smiled and played the part of happy innocent daughter."
"And what of these…suitors?"
"I suppose I was too much of a disappointment for them to be my step father. The letters eventually stopped coming, I became a nothing."
Minerva shut her eyes, willing the depression and vulgar feeling in the pit of her stomach to leave. This hurt so badly, just to relive her childhood. She'd long since buried all of this, and let her life be hers and hers alone. She couldn't do that anymore, the hiding stage was officially over. She took in a deep, deep inhalation, and released it slowly. She looked at Albus with watery eyes. He put his gentle finger beneath her soft chin, and traced a finger along her lips. "You're not a nothing. You're an everything," he whispered soothingly, "you're an everything to me. You don't have to tell it all to me now, Min. We've got a few days yet."
She swallowed, and shook her head 'no'. "Tonight?" she whispered softly, "I'll finish tonight." She rubbed her eyes clean, and the unshed tears were no longer visible.
*~*~
Albus couldn't take his eyes off of her. She'd tried so hard to be strong for so long. Things were taking their toll. Their mood had since become less light than what it had been that morning, but that didn't stop him from thinking. He hated himself. He'd given her that awful speech about her perplexing him, and now what? Merlin, he thought slowly why didn't I just let it lie?
They walked around the quaint hotel in silence. There just didn't seem to be anything worth saying. He reached over, and slid his fingers through hers. She smiled gratefully, and squeezed his tightly. He raised an eyebrow, "So what is it that you want to do today?"
"Can we…maybe look around the village?"
He nodded, "The village it is my dear."
Seconds later they were both standing infront of a small bartering stand. There were many old and worn signs infront of it that would signify what it was, and if nothing else, the picture of a man trading a dagger for a gun was enough to speak for itself. The two of them looked at eachother with both scared and excited looks.
Albus looked down the dirt passageway that was considered a street. The buildings, worn in by centuries it seemed, reminded him of London with how close they were. There was hardly any space, if any. He turned towards Minerva whose eyes seemed to have lit up from the quick flight of body. "Where to first?"
She grinned at him innocently, "Let's go and explore."
He nodded and took her hand in his; he was getting good at it. They strolled side by side down the narrow street, passing a number of clay-like homes with laundry lines hanging from the tops to across the street. The life in this great city seemed more like that of a small town. It only took Albus seconds to remember what sort of battles may have gone in this city. A once great village had become a village only trying to make it to the next day.
There were several children throwing dirt clods at one another, he noticed as they made their way to the heart of the city. Their spirits certainly hadn't been damaged by this horrific time. However their appearances that showed it more than anything. Their clothes were hardly anything, perhaps because it was so hot, but that didn't cure the fact that it was shreds that they were wearing. All of the young boys were young, no older than seven he guessed. They were skinny, bony skinny. He hadn't seen a child that thin, not ever.
As they moved further and further way from their original landing spot, there became more people visible. Most of them were either bartering or making their products. It was only minutes before he realized that he was at the heart of the city. All around there were people making baskets, blankets, even pots. It was a true market of the cultures.
The people around him were not by any means simply one color, lord knows he couldn't have guessed there would be so many people here. There were people colored every tint, tone, and shade that he had ever seen or read about. There were even a number of pinks out there from far too much sun tanning. This must have been the normal routine in this place, this spot.
He inhaled slowly, and hacked back a cough. Smoke. Too much smoke. He turned back slowly to see a man selling tobacco. He'd never been one to smoke, it completely ruined his respiratory system, the one time he did try, he was nearly sent to the doctor's from the attack he had. He turned towards Minerva, who kept on 'sniffing'. "Something wrong?" he wheezed.
"No, just allergies."
"Oh good, then it's not just me who'll be sent to the doctor. Why don't we go over there," he pointed towards a not so crowded patch of shops. She nodded, and the two of them walked over towards the wards.
They came across a rather empty shop that looked as if it were about to tumble down. Minerva looked at him nervously, but followed him into the small shop. Apparently it was used to make, and sell art; Egyptian art to be exact. There were designs of gods and goddesses from the eras before now along the pots. Beautiful embroidery was everywhere on the decorative rugs, the colors were so incredibly vibrant, even the gold seemed to stand out. There were several paintings of boats on the Nile, slaves working to build a pyramid, also some more real pictures regarding whips and blood. He felt a lurch in his stomach.
He turned his gaze elsewhere. Minerva was looking at a drawing of a cat. Albus couldn't fight the opportunity. He put his hands gently on his shoulder, and bent down cooly, "You know Egyptians worship cats. I understand that you've got a unique talent to be one. Maybe we should convince everyone here to worship you."
"I don't want anyone to worship me." He could hear her inhale slowly, and exhale quickly. He smiled to himself, and squeezed her shoulders tightly.
"So you're saying you want me to treat you like dirt and completely ignore you now?" He hesitated a moment before kissing her softly on the neck, "That I cannot do my dear Minerva." She let out a slight gasp of surprise, it's not like he'd lingered there or anything. He knew she wouldn't have been expecting it. She tasted too sweet for her own good.
"Albus," she whispered, "what did you do that for?"
"Sometimes a man just can't help himself. I think all of this culture is starting to clog my brain."
"I would hardly call it culture," she smiled wickedly, "more like heat. You really should have brought some clothes other than robes. You're sweating like a pig."
He looked down at himself. She wasn't lying. He groaned slowly, he'd done some pretty dumb things in his life, this was just plain stupid. "So what do you suggest I do Miss high and mighty?"
"Shopping would be a good start."
Minutes later Minerva had dragged him to another store where there was a number of well interesting sets of clothing. The store looked old, older than even the other building; he couldn't even look up without getting that sort of crash and burn feeling in his stomach. The material in itself looked worthless let alone the quality of it. The colors were interesting, varying from bright oranges to the dullest of gray, he swallowed. Am I really nuts enough to let her pick out my wardrobe?
She walked back over towards him with a set of muggle clothes. He sighed, Apparently so. What she held out to him was a robe, though much more adapted towards the heat of Egypt. The material was in itself probably half the weight of what he was wearing now and instead of having a belt to hold the clothes in place, a rope was there. Oddly enough, it looked slightly appealing to try on. He was sweating even worse now what with all the people around.
He exhaled slowly, "I suppose you want me to play suitor and try this on?"
"No," she smiled, "I want you to play man who can't dress properly and try these on." She batted an eye slowly, and made a rather amused face.
"Never again will I play games with women. Never again," he rolled his eyes. "Do you suppose they have some place to put this on?"
She looked around, and her smile faded. "I don't suppose they'd have much here."
"That's fine. We can buy it, and then just go back to our hotel. If nothing else, it'll keep me cooler for today. I just might even buy one or two of these. We've got what…four days left?"
"Yes," she frowned, "this is going too fast."
He nodded, "That it is Min, that it is."
*~*~
They spent the rest of the day at the market, saw the small shops, and came back with a number of art and clothes. Egypt was a wonderful place, hot, but wonderful. Minerva stared at him. He'd been modeling for the past half hour. She giggled slightly, no doubt had she gone overboard with the shopping. Though she had to admit to herself…he looked good.
He walked out grudgingly, wearing a more military like uniform. She put her hand to her mouth to hide the laughter. God this was funny. The muggle shorts went all the way down to his knobby knees, and the tan shirt made him look abnormally overweight.
"Stop laughing at me Minerva McGonagall. You know, if you didn't look good in just about anything, I'd fix you up with something so ugly, not even Poppy would think of wearing."
She smiled innocently, "I look good in a lot of things that you haven't had a chance to see me in yet," she blinked. "I've got a free showing tonight."
"Don't mess with my mind woman. It's already hard enough to ignore you."
Seductively, almost with too much ease, she walked towards her love and wrapped her arms around his neck. Slowly she began whispering. "You know, you don't have to ignore me. I'm not an idiot. I know what you had in your mind when you came here. I'm not going to pretend like I wasn't expecting you to make a move."
"Well I have decided to act like a good boy. No more morning snogging sessions."
She peered into his beautiful eyes. He was trying to hard to be gentlemanlike. She had to tell him soon; any later than tonight, and it would simply be too late. "Did it ever occur to you my dear Professor Dumbledore that you weren't the only one kissing this morning?"
"No," he blinked, "it was I who started it."
"And it was you who finished it too," Minerva traced a finger slowly across his mouth. "I've never felt like this before Albus. I've been engaged, almost married, and I have never felt like this. Do you know what that's like?" She whispered, the room was quiet, too incredibly quiet, it was almost even unearthly.
He stepped back, and looked at her oddly. "Engaged?"
"Yes," she sighed, "To Timothy Fudge."
His eyes widened. He looked dumbstruck. Had he really not seen this coming?
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You will all be happy to know that I have already started typing the second chapter, and am hoping that it'll be on time! I have a softball game that I have to be there in about…TWENTY MINUTES! Wish me luck! Just thought I'd give you all an update. R&R please!