New Year, New Start!
A/N: Thank you to Ang, who is my beta reader, and also a huge thank you to all of you who reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter Four: Handmade ChocolateAlbus had stayed up most of the night thinking about what he could do for Minerva. The idea had hit him at about four in the morning and he had quickly scribbled the idea down on a piece of parchment so he wouldn't forget it by the morning. He had been surprised that Minerva had been so open with him during their chess game. He had expected to be told to mind his own business and get on with playing the game, which he'd once again lost, much to Minerva's amusement.
He had thought about placing a single rose on her pillow for when she woke up in the morning but he reasoned that she would know it was from him. And he wasn't sure he wanted her to know that just yet. He wanted to woo her secretly and see if she could work out who it was. He was sure that she would mention the gifts to him and he wanted to know what she thought about them.
He didn't actually get any sleep that night. His head was full of ideas about her surprise. He had decided to make her some handmade chocolates with little notes inside, quoting love sonnets. He had already thought of some quotes and decided which chocolates to put them into. He couldn't wait to get started.
The morning came quickly and Albus hurriedly made his way down to the kitchens. He spoke to the willing house elves, which gave him everything he needed to make his own chocolates. They asked no questions as to why he needed them but they did ask to help. Albus had to politely decline their offer, which didn't go down to well. Albus made his way back to his rooms, hoping not to be caught by anyone, especially Minerva.
Fawkes greeted him as he walked back into his office and set the ingredients out on the desk. He would have to melt the chocolate and flavor it then pour it in molds and decorate them. Later, he would wrap the notes around the chocolate and cover them up in gold paper.
Albus looked around for something to melt the chocolate in and found nothing. He walked over to his store cupboard and pulled out a small silver cauldron, which had been a gift from someone years ago. It had never been used and Albus didn't even remember who had given it to him. He broke the chocolate up and placed it into the cauldron before putting it over the heat. He stirred it for a while and then wrinkled up his nose at the smell. The chocolate was burning and creating a foul smell and Albus quickly took the cauldron off the fire and peered inside. The chocolate was all black and ruined.
"I don't think that is supposed to happen!" Albus said out loud.
"Of course it isn't," came a voice from the wall. "Whoever heard of putting chocolate in a cauldron?"
"Yes, thank you for input Armando," replied Albus looking up at the portrait of the former Headmaster of Hogwarts. "Well, what do you suggest?"
"Albus, for an intelligent man you have no common sense," Armando told him. "You are a wizard, for Merlin's sake! Use your wand."
"I want them to be handmade," pointed out Albus.
"Oh they will be," replied Armando. "You need to use your hand to flick your wand."
Albus sighed inwardly. That wasn't what he had meant but he had to finally admit defeat. He didn't have the right implements, time or the patience to make them completely from scratch. But he had put a lot of effort into the notes and the box the chocolates were to go inside.
Albus mumbled a few charms under his breath and a new batch of properly melted chocolate appeared beside him. He looked down at it and smiled…the perfect consistency. He poured the thick, brown creamy liquid into the heart molds he had found in the kitchen. While he waited for them set he set about writing the little notes.
A while later he blew gently on the ink before setting the little piece of parchment down. He was very pleased with his efforts. He touched the chocolates to see if they were set and smiled when he found that they were ready to wrap. He pulled the ten small heart shaped chocolates out of their moulds and places them individually on the gold paper.
The first note he placed on one of the chocolates was one of his favorite quotes. It seemed the perfect one to start off with. 'Age cannot wither her nor custom stale her infinite variety'
The second note made him smile as he wrapped it around the chocolate. 'Anytime not spent with you is time wasted.'
He wrapped up three more chocolates and placed them in the dark blue velvet box with red silk cushioning the chocolates. He had been tempted to try one himself but he had mentally scolded himself for thinking such things and helped himself to one of his sherbet lemons instead.
He read the next note and smiled as he read it out loud. "Last night I looked up and matched each star with a reason why I love you; I was doing great, until I ran out of stars." He looked over at Fawkes who had his head under his wing and chuckled. "I know it's soppy Fawkes, old chap, but it is how I feel."
He finished wrapping all the chocolates up and placed them all into the box before shutting the lid. He decided he would use a school owl to take them to her and he had already chosen the one he wanted. All he had to do was go down to the school owlery and send them to her.
TO BE CONTINUED!
A/N2: These are the quotes again and who wrote them…
Anytime not spent with you is time wasted. By Torquato Tasso
Last night I looked up and matched each star with a reason why I love you; I was doing great, until I ran out of stars. By Unknown
Age cannot wither her nor custom stale her infinite variety.... Anthony and Cleopatra (William Shakesphere)