Out Of My Mind

"Why is everything so confusing
Maybe I'm just out of my mind
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Yeah."

So this was how kissing a student felt, Albus vaguely recollected as he gently tightened his grip around her slim waist. But for him, she wasn't "a student" anymore- she'd never been "just a student" to him, that tall girl with her radiant, intelligent green eyes and her thick, black hair.

She was a miracle, every inch a miracle, of that, too, he was convinced.

Her sweet wet little face felt like paradise on his, and as her tongue suddenly found its way into his mouth, he felt dizzy like he'd never felt dizzy before. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, though- quite the contrary, actually...

He could hardly hide his disappointment as, after what felt like a sheer moment, he felt her lips stiffen under his, and then it happened. She pulled back from his arms and turned away. It didn't take him very long to find out she was crying. Her slender shoulders shook uncontrollably beneath her thin cloak, her head bowed in apparent defeat.

"I- I am sorry..." he muttered, all of a sudden feeling very guilty. What if she didn't love him back? What if he'd jumped on conclusions, because- after all, how could a young, beautiful girl like her ever fall in love with him, her Professor, boring and, in her eyes, ancient? It was a dream- the kiss had been a dream, and that it would always stay. With nothing more than a short, suppressed sigh as a token of his unhappiness, Albus took a step towards Minerva, careful not to touch her. He'd probably hurt her more than enough already...

"Minerva, I am sorry. I know I shouldn't have taken advantage of you, I really do. We'll go downstairs and never speak about it again, I am sorry, I'll leave you alone from now on, it's just..."

He could not possibly say he didn't feel anything for her. The words simply wouldn't leave his lips. It would be a lie, more than a lie even. Not acknowledging his feelings for her wouldn't destroy them. It would destroy him, but never his feelings... never.

At these words, she turned to him, though, and he couldn't but feel surprised as she fell into his arms and clung to him as if she was never going to let go.

"Don't go!" were her muffled words, as she hid her face in his robes.

"Don"t go! Don't go away! Don't leave me!"

She was almost hysterical, he knew, and as two dark green eyes filled with sadness locked with his, he tenderly stroked her long, black tresses and nodded.

"I'll never leave you, Minerva, if you don't want me to..."

She closed her eyes as her cheek came to rest against his, then muttered, her hoarse voice shaking

"People who I love always leave. In the end, they do. They really do. Mom did, dad did, Maia did. Even... even Ro..."

Albus pulled her a bit closer to him as she cried in his beard.

"Rolanda Hooch hasn't forgotten you. The news of your mother's death has just reached her. She's written three letters to you already, they're waiting for you, and she's coming over tomorrow. And as for me..."

"Yes?"

"Do you mean what you just said?"

They both knew what he was talking about- "people who I love", and his inclusion in that statement- and they both knew, unconsciously, what her answer would be.

"Yes. I do. With all my heart."

"Do you- can you ever... can you ever love me?"

And all of a sudden, the old Minerva, with her wit, her sarcasm, her courage, was back. With a sudden, unique smile and a tender pat on his cheek, she mouthed

"Albus Dumbledore, you know very well that I have loved you since I was fourteen..."

When their lips met again in a gentle kiss, they both knew it was forever and for always, this time, and when she, again, pulled back, it wasn't but for a few millimetres. She was still smiling, but her eyes shone seriously as her breath, slowly, touched his face and made him shiver.

"It's a damn cold night, Albus, to try and figure out your life. I'm asking you this... please..."

She hesitated for a second, but as his wrinkled hand tenderly touched her flustered cheek, the question came- the question that would change both their lives.

"Won't you take me by the hand, Albus... please... take me somewhere new. I know you don't even know me that well, I know you can't possibly answer this right now, but I'm asking you..."

As a smile broke through on the Transfiguration Professor's lips, though, Minerva knew she couldn't finish her sentence, and when his lips, briefly, softly, touched hers again, she knew it- she knew this was paradise, and she knew this was him...

"Minerva, I know enough to respond with all my heart indeed. You are my heart. And perhaps- perhaps I don't know who you are, but I know one thing..."

She blinked, a silent question in her emerald eyes, but as his mouth met hers, she honestly, sincerely knew what he was about to say.

"I'm with you."

=====The End=====