Caffeine Fixes, and Decisions

Pairings : well that's self explanatory…. ADMM… (a little PPOC)

Summary: Minerva's mum try's to set her up again, in the hope of finding her a husband. Question is who's the hubby-to-be?

Disclaimer: If only, if only…….

A/N: Okay… would you believe that I actually finished this story? I did I truly did, and then you know what… I was sitting in Hyde park in the city, and it hit me… I completely forgot about something I had noted in the 2nd chpt. But not only that I also realised what I wrote was kind of superficial as well… there wasn't really any depth to it…. All it contained was pure fluff.. Well maybe a little bit more… but it had no… substance?

Anyway.. The point is that what I wrote was cannibalized and changed completely.

But oh well, some people have also suggested a few things to me… so I think I might incorporate them into this story because they are really good ideas. Anyway… This chapter and most likely even more so the next chapter, which I am currently working on, are the result of lack of sleep and an induced high, courtesy of sugar.


It was early morning when Minerva awoke. She had been so tired last night that she had thought she would sleep like the dead. She had not though, her mind was active and running in circles even if her body, physically couldn't. Her thoughts mainly centered on today.

This family get together was making her nervous, an emotion that she had not felt since she had first started teaching. The knowledge that Albus already knew what her mother would be like only lessened the nerves slightly. Also what was she going to do with Adian and Poppy? Did she just introduced them and let them do the work, or was she to quietly tell Adain that Poppy loved him before hand?

Deciding that it was all to confusing and that she couldn't think clearly until she had consumed her daily caffeine intake of the morning, she resolved to push it out of her mind until later. Pulling on her normal everyday robes, she could get into something else later; she made her way down to the great hall or breakfast, or to be more specific, coffee.

Albus, however had slept like a log all night and was currently still sleeping. His subconscious was showing him what his conscious could not.

That is, he was dreaming about her, he now recognised the look in her eyes when she first saw him walk into a room. He could understand now the reason behind the slight blushes that coloured her cheeks at random intervals, or when people suggested that they would make a perfect couple.

He awoke to the sound of Fawkes screeching like a cut snake over an owl, which had come to deliver a letter to Albus, and decided to rest for a while on his perch. Muttering about stupid birds he sat up, pulled the sheets back and went to see what the exhausted owl had to say for itself.

Minerva had by now finished drinking her normal 2 cups of coffee and was starting on the third. She was beginning to feel more like her normal, conscious self. Today was obviously a good day, because sometimes it took up 4 cups before she felt even remotely like being able to communicate let alone actually think about anything without mixing things up. She was only just starting to ponder on the situation, or would be situation of today, when Poppy wandered sleepily into the hall through a wooden side door.

She allowed her friend the courtesy of having a cup of coffee before she stared to ask her questions and brainstorm on what they were going to do. Poppy suggested that Minerva simply introduce them, and she would do the rest.

She was still unsure as to if Minerva was correct when she said that he loved her, but it was about time she told him. Even if he didn't reciprocate, then maybe she could move on. Good or Bad, he was going to know before nightfall.

That was how Albus found them and hour and a half later. Sitting close, side-by -side together, discussing different topics.


He walked up to Minerva, happily swung an arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead gently before sitting down in his customary chair next to her. He was completely unaware that the few, groggy students who had arrived to breakfast early, had noticed the exchange between their Headmaster and Deputy and were staring at them as if they were seeing things.

Minerva was a little flustered at the open display, but warmed to know that he was not embarrassed to do so, excused herself from the conversation with Poppy and turned gracefully in her chair to face him.

"Good morning, I trust that you slept well?" she offered in way of greeting. It was then that she noticed the parchment within his clenched hand. She raised her eyebrow elegantly to silently ask a question, she wasn't entirely sure about the expression on his face when he looked back down towards the letter in his hand.

"Sleep? I suppose you could call it that, though a certain raven haired temptress fancied herself as a key player within my dreams and refused to leave."

Smiling inwardly at his jest, she realised once again how much she missed this comradeship within relationships.

"Well that is most unfortunate, I hope you told her that your taken, if not I might have to join you within your dreams to set this temptress straight." she jested back, but her eyebrow was still raised in question, and she knew that he was simply stalling.

Sighing, he resigned himself to tell her, she needed to know and would help him make his decision. Granted he already knew what he really wanted to do, the question was if she wanted him to go.

Standing up and pushing his chair back, he drew Minerva up from her own after tucking the letter into his pocket. Now was not exactly the right place to have this conversation and he led her towards a drawing room off to the side of the hall.

Most people didn't even know that this place existed, he himself had only used it twice before and it was never in the same place twice. He had only known it was there now because it had appeared as he walked past it earlier.

Once they were both within the room, Albus took out the letter once more and started.

"Minerva, there is something that I have to ask you about. Your brother might have told you already that Lloyd Beruna is retiring, and well the council would like it if I took over his position as Minister of Magic. However I don't have to, but… Perhaps it would be easier if I did. What I mean to say is that it might look a little strange if the Headmaster and Deputy have a relationship. I already know that the school board doesn't mind, actually they seemed to know about us long before we did, but if I did take this position it would save you from a great deal of questions."

To say Minerva was speechless was an understatement. Yes she had know that Lloyd was retiring and if she was honest with herself she should have known that Albus would have been a good choice with his close ties and influence within the wizardry world. Yet she hadn't given the situation much though really.

Yet something told her that Albus didn't really want to do this, and was only giving this consideration out of respect for her reputation and privacy. She knew that this would become headline material and would rather it not, but she also knew that it would eventually die down.

"Albus, something tells me that you would rather not take this position. If you really want to take it, then by all means do. But don't do it just for me okay?"

Minerva was completed at a lost as to what happened next. All that she knew was that one moment she had said something and the next she was tightly encircled by Albus' arms with no conscious knowledge of how she got there.

Albus had always know that Minerva was perceptive, but faced with the direct evidence of just how perceptive she was left him astounded. The way that she could pick everything up from only a few words and body language, which could be so deceptive, was down right amazing. Not to mention how she had turned the tables and assured him that it was okay to stay as Headmaster, a position he couldn't ever really imagine leaving without a great deal of regret.

"Minerva you have no idea how much I had hoped you'd say that, I don't really want to leave but I thought you should at least have the option open for you-"

Minerva however was touched by his concern over her questionable reputation, she wasn't picture perfect and knew it, but she had to stop him before he started again. She pulled out of his embrace and looked him pointedly in the eye as she said,

"Albus, I don't want you to leave. In fact if you ever do leave it had better be only for either a holiday or retirement. Whatever ruckus is dug up over our relationship, I don't honestly care about it. It will become old news fast, and die out so quick, you wouldn't believe it ever happened in the first place."

"Ah Minerva, ever the voice of the wise" he stopped to chuckle softly before continuing whilst wrapping his arms around her again, " Where on earth would I be without your wise expertise… I suppose I would not be where I am now, and believe me, where I am now is possibly the best place ever, that is in your arms."

"Well Mister… you had never ever forget that.. (she paused for a dramatic effect), I am responsible then for who you are, and therefore I am your creator and, (another pause) Master."

"Well… I always was a sucker for dictating women, just as long as you don't delegate my punishment away to some one else. I might have to behave myself then…." he said in mock seriousness.

She was enjoying their exchange but it was time to get back to the hall, most of the students would be there now she realised looking at her watch.

"Albus, I do believe that we should start getting back right now, the student body should mostly be there by now."

With that, hand in hand, they walked out the door. They realised with detachment that they had been transported into the north tower. When they closed the door it materialised from view, most likely to appear in some other part of the Castle. With a resigned sigh over the fact that they now had to travel so far to go back to where they had originally started, they began walking.


A/N I just realised the line "never in the same place twice" sounds remarkably like a line from Aladdin and the King of Thieves… have no idea who said it but I'm pretty sure some one did… so I guess I just add this onto my growing tab of 'I don't own this… but I wish I did…'. well, just in case that no-one did say it already… Then I declare IT'S MINE! And anyone who wishes to use it (lol it's a great line admit it) … well, they are most welcome…. Just please, I want to feel important so quote me please? If I knew how to do one of them cool copy write things, I would do one right here and have Cassandra (2005) after it…I know that it looks nothing like it but … use your imagination people its what we are here for!

As always …. Reviews make my day…..

P.S That however doesn't mean that I'm going to bother with pointless flames over petty dislikes of ADMM. Grow up people!


TartanLioness: Never fear, I not going to bite one of my reviewers, which by the way thank you very much for taking the time to do. It seemed a little bit too clichéd for Albus to go into long flowery speeches because of who he is. I wanted something a little different even if it had been done before.

Solatira: Thanks so much.. Your reviews mean a lot to me, so I'm glad you liked it. As for the 20 questions… I can't pinpoint where I put that… but I think its safe to assume that it was metaphorical, mainly because it's just an expression that I use a lot.

Intelligent Witch: Yeah I love it when they are all 'snugly' as well. And as for a schoolies break… You have no idea! I just have to wait however till the end of the year… School Holidays will just have to pacify me for now. Thanks for the review and reminding me that I do have a break in the future… no matter how far away lol.

Esb: well I truly hope that you still love the story after this chpt… thank you so much… your doing wonders for my ego (lol). No really, I hope you enjoy!

Sana: You know you could have just told me! But I'm flattered that you chose to review! I like what you suggested, and I had thought of it myself. The only thing is I'm not sure I could pull it off without her parents sounding childish. They are adults, and Minerva is not a teenager or something. So I guess you'll just have to wait till the next chpt to see what I did with the idea.