A/N: I'm sorry if my story thus far has contained more wiccan/pagan elements than you were expecting. I just thought it would fit in with the plot. It wasn't my intention to push my beliefs onto others, if that's how any of it came off. Also, the idea of the ritual being performed with masks is from Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon. Now, with that said, I hope everyone brought their own salt and tequila because I'm just providing the lemons! (I hope I kept it within the R rating.)
Chapter 4 Minerva was rather shocked at her shameless behavior. Not only had she actually agreed to this escapade, it seemed she was rather enjoying herself. Perhaps it was something the high priest or priestess did? That's it, she thought, they cast some sort of lust spell upon me! The thought died almost as soon it popped into her head. She did have to admit that there was something alluring and exciting about being incognito. This man had no idea who she was, giving her the freedom to act completely out of character. Though for some reason she felt drawn to this mysterious wizard and her feelings of desire were genuine.
Minerva drank in the sight of his now exposed flesh and smiled. He was not by any means perfect, but his body was lean and muscular with a bit of softness around his midsection. He sank down beside her on the grass and began to run his fingertips lightly over her skin. He followed an unseen trail up her arm, across her collarbone, and up her throat. The tips of his fingers traced her lips and she kissed them softly. Returning to their previous occupation, his fingers made their back down to her collar, slowly venturing between her breasts and over her stomach, tickling her slightly. He bent down and kissed her with an unbridled passion that startled the both of them. Minerva automatically remembered the kiss she shared with Albus, her own imagination subsituting her unknown lover with her former teacher. She didn't know whether her own burning need was on account of this man or her fantasy of Albus. As he covered her neck in feathery kisses, Minerva found herself blissfully not caring either way.
She brought his face back up to her own and claimed his lips, illiciting a moan as she felt him take one of her breasts in his hand. Minerva had been with only one other man and compared to that experience this was something completely new. She didn't even know such feelings were possible! Minerva, in a rush of boldness, playfully pushed him onto his back and nipped lightly at his neck. She entagled her fingers in the sprinkling of brown hair that covered his chest as she ran her hands down his body. She wanted to explore every inch of him. They were told they had until sunrise to complete the Rite and at this rate they'd be able to complete it twice! During her inspection of the lower regions of his body, Minerva noticed a peculiar looking scar above his left knee. It looked almost like a map. She thought briefly that he was restraining himself quite well, as she teasingly caressed his stomach, arms and legs. His self-control cracked, however, as she placed a kiss on his right thigh.
Albus dug his hands into the grass to keep himself from distracting her from her happy examination of his person, but the moment her soft moist lips touched the sensitive skin of his upper thigh, the carnal lust that had been building inside him since she disrobed took over. He moved so fast that he startled her. She fell backwards and he pounced on her like a predator. His hands and lips wanted to be everywhere at once. Albus didn't think he could stand it any longer. He left a trail of hot wet kisses from just behind her ear down to her breasts. He tasted each of them in turn causing her breathing to become ragged.
Travelling further down her body she squirmed as his beard scraped along her stomach. He glanced up the expanse of her naked figure and saw, not the masked woman with red hair, but the young auror who had haunted his fantasies for years. A flicker of light caught his attention and he saw the silver headband that sat above the mask reflecting the candles that surrounded them. Minerva was gone again for the moment. Moving even lower, he dove into the sweet oblivion of her most intimate place. The sharp intake of air and her nails digging their way into his flesh told him that she wasn't quite prepared for such tactics.
Sweet Merlin! Minerva was drowning in a sea of sensations unlike she'd ever felt before and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. An unfamiliar feeling began in her lower regions and like a caged animal, it screamed for freedom. She was being driven towards the edge of a cliff, gaining momentum with each breath until finally she was close enough to see the nothingness beyond. Minerva tensed as the release her body craved was granted. She leapt off the cliff and instead of plummeting downward, Minerva rose higher and higher until she was floating among the stars. It took her several minutes to come back down to Earth.
The man moved to cover her body with his and kissed her hungrily. He was by no means finished with her. She could feel his very evident desire against her leg and she shivered in anticipation. He shifted slightly and took her with one swift thrust. Somewhere outside on the grounds, unbeknownst to both of them, the large balefires that were lit by the coven flared up, their flames turning from orange to white.
'Joined together, two become one.'
The moon and sun. The chalice and the athame. The Goddess and the God. Magical energy swirled around them as they moved in rhythm with the pulse of the castle and of the very earth. Minerva once again felt the build-up of pleasure; not exactly the same as the first, but just as enjoyable. A sheen of perspiration formed on his body and she watched as the candlelight shimmered against his skin. Time held no meaning for her. Minerva simply existed in this one moment of suspended passion. His movements became more frantic, pushing them both closer to the point of no return. His moans became louder, sending shivers up and down her spine.
Albus felt that he no longer had control over his body. He had long since turned possession of it over to the primal beast that lurks deep within all men. He could feel the magic on his skin as it began to crack and sizzle in the atmosphere of the room. Years from now he would remember the smell of the grass, the sound of her breathing, and the flicker of the candles all in perfect detail. She was whimpering softly now and he knew she was as close as he was to release. Still holding the same rhythm and beyond any care, Albus failed to notice that his hair was growing longer and changing color. All his attention was focused on the woman writhing beneath him with her eyes shut and mouth slightly open. His glamour was fading. Albus' long auburn had returned. The changes taking place to his head caused the mask to shift and the ties that held it loosened. The woman chose that moment to open her eyes.
It barely registered to her that his hair was different. She was moaning in time with him, unable to stop herself. Minerva watched in fascination as his eyes turned from their previous hazel to light blue before he closed them. I know those eyes, she thought, but that's impossible. But the mask he wore gave way and it fell from his face, revealing the wizard underneath.
"Albus?" she whispered.
His eyes opened and met hers in surprise. "Minerva?" he sighed.
Before either could react further Minerva gripped his arms as she once again ascended to the heavens in rapture with Albus following close behind. Brilliant white light engulfed them, shooting outwards. It melted every candle in the room and passed through the walls to reach the borders of the school. Those who remained at Hogwarts felt the magic pass through them, renewing their life energy and giving them hope.
Still joined, Albus mumbled an incantation and the room was once again filled with floating candles. "Please take off the mask, Minerva," he said, his voice betraying his exhaustion.
"M-m-my name isn't Minerva," she tried to lie. He reached down to pick up a strand of her hair and held it in front of her face. To her horror it was black, not red. Defeated, she reached behind her head and discarded the mask. It dawned on Minerva that she was naked and pinned beneath Albus, the very man she had imagined early on in this game. She blushed a thousand shades of crimson. He moved to lay beside her. Minerva instinctively tried to cover herself, but gave up seeing the uselessness of such actions. You've just had the most wonderful and fulfilling sexual experience of your life with him, she thought, what's the use now?
"I don't quite know what to say, Minerva," Albus said softly.
"Do you think it worked?" She hoped to avoid the inevitable talk about what just happened, at least until she could gather her bearings a bit more.
"We will just have to wait it out. The doors will only open at sunrise." He paused to play with a lock of her hair. "Minerva, I know I am probably the last man you expected to be beneath the mask especially after the other night. I hope you will not think ill of me."
His voice held a touch of sadness, causing a tear to slide down her cheek and into the grass below. "I could never hate you, Albus. I'm just so overwhelmed by all this. I didn't think I was ready for a kiss, let alone..this." Minerva felt an urge to wrap her arms around him.
"There is something I need to say. My dear, you have come to mean so much to me. Ever since your sixth year, you have held a special place in my heart." Albus took a deep breath. "I suppose what I'm trying to tell you is that I lo--"
His words were lost as Minerva covered his mouth with hers, kissing him with the same intensity as when they were strangers to each other. She didn't want to hear him say those words. She had long suspected that his feelings ran deeper than platonic, but she wasn't ready to hear them spoken out loud. Minerva didn't feel ready for the implications of such a declaration. Even though her own feelings were less clouded now and she recognized that she had always been in love with him, there were other obstacles standing in her way. But until the sun rose, she didn't have to think of those things. Albus returned her kiss with fervor and his previous train of thought was lost in a haze of renewed need. Breaking away from him, Minerva stared deep into his twinkling eyes.
"We do have several more hours until daylight breaks," she said suggestively. She leaned down and whispered softly into his ear, "Make love to me."
Albus awoke to the sound of birds singing outside and covered in a purple robe. He smiled at the sound. It had been quite some time since he last heard the chirpping of birds or the sound of any animal at Hogwarts for that matter. He shrugged off the garment and turned to see if Minerva was still asleep, he found no one. Albus sat up quickly and looked around the ballroom. He was alone. All that remained of her was the ivory mask and the taste of her flesh upon his lips. He put on the robe that she transfigured for him no doubt and left the room. Albus made his way to the nearest window and was filled with happiness at the sight of Hogwarts bursting with life once again. The grass and trees were green again and he could see the giant squid swimming just beneath the surface of the lake. With renewed vigor, he headed off in the direction of Minerva's rooms. He never made it that far as he was accosted by several other professors.
"Have you been outside, Albus?" asked young Kettleburn enthusiastically. "It worked!! Whatever Madame Blanchard's coven did, it worked!!"
In order to protect the secrecy of his involvement in their ritual, Albus was forced to join the impromptu celebration. He would have to wait to see Minerva again.
A/N: In response to Griselda La Fey's review of chap 2 – Yes, I wrote the poem as well. I'm glad you like it. :-) Sorry I didn't answer sooner.
So, tell me what you think of my first lemon, please?