"I- um- I prepared a bit of dinner for us, if that's alright with you, my dear?"
She wondered why he was asking her, actually- it had been him who had organized this whole date-thing, hadn't it?- but still she nodded, gifting him with what she didn't know was a radiant smile. The words "my dear" warmed her heart the way they always did, after all, and the hesitant smile on his face was a true one, reflecting the ever-present twinkles of those damn attractive sapphire eyes of his.
"Of course it is, Albus. Why wouldn't it be, after all?"
As the man of her life guided her towards a small table, Minerva was happily surprised when she noticed he had managed to get hold of quite a few of her favourite dishes. Even caviare- a muggle dish, and an expensive one too!- and with a slight smile she shook her head.
"Albus, really- you should not have done this all- I know how expensive it is, and after all there's no need to spoil me like this…"
--
Little did the couple know, though, that only separated from them by a few feet, hidden inside of one of Albus's closets, an exasperated Poppy Pomfrey and Nemesis Aurora found themselves struggling to keep an irritated Rolanda Hooch under control.
"Rolanda, how old are you again? Five?" the Mediwitch hissed as the finger of the Flying Instructor hit her straight into the eye. Rolanda just shook her head, though.
"Can you hear their conversation? For heaven's sake, how old are they? Fourteen?"
--
"I am only too happy to spoil you a little, Minerva- you deserve it."
Now Albus realized very well that that line had most probably sounded like a ridiculous opening line of one of those rather ridiculous muggle romance novels he had once caught his own mother reading. Those novels Minerva certainly did not read.
"I mean, even though we are working together, having one's pretty Deputy entirely for oneself is a rather rare privilege, after all."
This was better, but it still came out entirely wrong. Oh well.
At least he had managed to almost magick a deep, red blush on her cheeks and as she lowered her eyes he could not believe his ears as she spoke up. Where had her self-confidence, her strength, her sternness even, gone?
"I know I am not pretty, Albus. You do not need to tell lies."
--
"I am going to kill them! What are they talking about now? I mean…"
"Rolanda, I think I may feel the need to push my headscarf into your blabbing mouth if you don't shut up now!" hissed a suddenly much more earthy than ever before Nemesis Aurora, before giving the Flight Instructor's arm a rather nasty squeeze. All of a sudden, the rather ridiculous Divination teacher looked more like Minerva herself than even she herself would ever have guessed, and the grey eyes almost shot fire- causing Rolanda to slightly grumble and then push her ear against the closet's keyhole once more.
--
Oh great, so that line had sounded like a desperate wish for a compliment, Minerva angrily thought, biting her lips as if in an attempt to stop saying- in her opinion- absolutely ridiculous things. Her employer and friend merely smiled, though.
"Goodness, Minerva, any man who does not fall in love with you right away is an idiot, and I think you very well know that!"
Wrong judgement. No, she did not know that- and gazing at his face through her dark lashes, she examined his the expression in his eyes. Was he mocking her? No- she could not believe that.
Not only did Albus Dumbledore despite his ever-present sense of humour rarely mock anyone, she also knew that he would never mock anyone if he was sure it would hurt them. And this could and would have very hurtful to her in every single circumstance- save this one. She did not know why she believed that he had meant what he'd said- but for some reason, that she did. The blush on her cheeks now burnt down her neck and shoulders as well- she could feel it- and as she looked up to him, accidentally their gazes locked.
"I was delighted when I received your note, my dear. I- Minerva, I-"
--
"He's hesitating! See, he is still hesitating!"
Poppy Pomfrey sent her friend a stern gaze too, now, but Rolanda would not be stopped this time. Even the faint, just barely audible "Headscarf, headscarf…" mumbles of their colleague were no use- Rolanda was fuming.
"Poppy Annamaria Pomfrey, if you do not do something right away, I will- I will- oh, I don't know what I will- but be damn sure that I will do it!"
Both Poppy and Nemesis rolled her eyes, and as the Divination teacher cast the Meditwitch a begging look, Poppy nodded.
"Mmmh- mmh!"
The headscarf apparently didn't taste too well, but as Poppy raised her wand, Rolanda finally resolved into silence.
The next moment, a small note appeared on the table- right between Albus and Minerva.