New Year, New Start
A/N: Many thanks to my beta reader; Ang who was a great help when I hit a blank. Thank you to all my reviewers.
Chapter Two: Seeking Advice on Wooing.
Albus had discovered that making a New Years resolution was the easy part. Actually keeping it was the difficulty, especially since he had no idea how to actually tell her his feelings. It had been more years than he cared to remember since he had courted a woman and was very out of practice when it came to wooing. He had to admit that in the past, he hadn't needed to woo because his name would do that for him though he did find that uncomfortable at times. But it was different with Minerva. She already knew him and the mere mention of his name would not make her offer herself to him. He wouldn't want it to be that way anyhow.
He played with the end of his beard as he tried to think about possible ideas to woo her. After half an hour he was still no further to finding the perfect way to tell her his heart. It had to be something special, something romantic and something to do her justice. He decided that a man-to-man talk would be of use and decided to head down to Hogsmeade to speak with his brother. Aberforth Dumbledore was a man of the world or so he liked to tell his brother and any other person who bothered to listen. Albus was sure that he would have some useful advice to give him but he was never sure with his dear brother.
Albus made his way into Hogsmeade a little while later and was greeted by many people wishing him a happy new year, Albus silently hoped that the upcoming year would be happy but he wasn't so sure about that. He made his way to the Hog's Head. His beloved younger brother owned the run down pub and split his time between it and his goats.
Albus entered the pub and saw that it was empty, which was usual for this time of day as most of Aberforth's regulars came in after dark to drink and conduct their business. Aberforth Dumbledore was stood behind the bar, shining his prized pictures of Bubbles, his favourite goat.
"Abe," greeted Albus as he took a seat at the bar "are you busy?"
"As you can see dear brother," answered Aberforth, not even glancing up from what he was doing "I am trying to run a over packed bar, single handily."
"Ah I did notice that," Albus replied with a chuckle as he glanced around the empty bar. "I see you have a bar full of wizards under invisibility cloaks!"
Aberforth roared in laughter and playfully punched Albus on the arm. He set down his prized picture of Bubbles and set about to pouring his brother and himself a drink.
"So what brings you into my dark and dirty world?" asked Aberforth as he handed Albus a dirty glass filled with firewhiskey.
"I came to see you!" answered Albus as he examined the dirt on the glass.
"A bit of dirt didn't kill anyone!" announced Aberforth as he watched his older brother examine the glass. "So tell me, why are you here?"
Albus placed his glass down and looked at his brother as he tried to find the words to say. In the end he decided to just get to the point.
"I need advice on wooing," he declared.
"Oh my big brother is growing up," teased Aberforth. "And he's asking me for advice. Mother would be so proud!"
"Yes, yes shut up now," replied Albus. "So are you going to be any help at all?"
"Ask me anything!" said Aberforth. "I am a fountain of knowledge."
Albus rolled his eyes and sighed. How was he supposed to have a grown up conversation when Aberforth was already messing about? Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to ask him for advice but he was here now and what did he have to lose?
"Wooing?" answered Albus.
"I don't know much about the language of owls Albus," Aberforth answered as he looked over at his older brother.
"Abe, you know I am not talking about owls," said Albus with a sigh. "I want to ask someone out on a date. What should I do?"
As the words fell out of his mouth, he wished that they hadn't. His brother was looking at him with wide eyes and a twinkle to rival his own. What in the name of Merlin had made him seek advice from his younger brother?
"Well to be honest, I usually give her some hay and a nice place to live," replied Aberforth with a smile.
Albus knew that he shouldn't have wasted his time going to ask his slightly odd brother about women. He should have realized that nothing sensible ever came out of his brother's mouth. Albus wanted to talk about women but his brother had goats on the brain, like usual.
"Thank you for your wise words dear brother," said Albus rising to his feet. "But I am talking about Minerva McGonagall here and not a goat!"
Before Aberforth had chance to reply, Albus had made his way quickly out of the pub and was making his way back to Hogwarts. As he walked along the street, he noticed Arthur Weasley and thanked the gods. Arthur would know something about wooing, for he was married with children.
"Arthur!" Albus called out as he made his way across the street to the younger wizard.
"Albus," replied Arthur with a wide welcoming smile. "Nice to see you out and about."
"It is a lovely day," said Albus stepping closer to Arthur and lowered his head so that he could speak in a hushed tone. "I will come straight to the point. How did you woo Molly?"
Arthur Weasley pulled back with surprise. Of all the things he thought Albus Dumbledore was going to say, that had certainly not been one of them. He looked up at the wizard who he admired greatly and looked up to with flushed red cheeks.
"I offered her some Bertie Botts Beans," he finally said. "I was fifteen at the time, Albus, and things were different."
Albus nodded and sighed. He should have remembered that Arthur and Molly had been childhood sweethearts and that wooing hadn't been called for as Hogwarts offered balls, quidditch games and Hogsmeade trips that counted as dates to the student population.
He could hardly offer Minerva a Bertie Botts bean. She would hex him into the next decade if she got a foul tasting one and Albus didn't like the beans himself so there was no way he would inflict them on anyone else. Albus thanked a dazed Arthur Weasley and continued on his way up to the school. As he walked along the stony path, an idea popped into his head. To find out how to woo Minerva, he would simply ask her. But he had to be subtle enough not to raise suspicion in her mind. He had to make her think he was simply curious. All he had to do now was talk to Minerva. How hard could that be?
To Be Continued.