Ceilidh

A/n: Many thanks to my beta reader Ang and also a huge thank you to all that reviewed the previous chapter. I am glad you like it.

Chapter 2: Informing Albus

Albus was studying Fawkes intently. He had been sure that he had seen a grey feather amongst the array of bright reds and oranges. Albus had teased his dear friend and now Fawkes was sulking in a corner with his back to the Headmaster. Not even a sherbet lemon could stir him from the solitude of his corner. Albus simply stared at the back of Fawkes and thought to himself that he must have been mistaken. A phoenix would never get a grey feather. Phoenixes didn't even reach the stage where they would go grey because they would also be reborn when they reached a certain stage in their life. Albus shook his head and popped another sherbet lemon into his mouth. If Fawkes wasn't interested in the sweet then Albus sure was and he didn't want to see his favorite sweet go to waste.

Minerva strode into his office and noticed straight away that Fawkes was not happy with his master. She looked towards Albus as she made her way over to the corner and carefully patted the phoenix on the back.

"What did you say to him?" asked Minerva, looking over at Albus who was sucking contently on a sweet.

"What make you think it has anything to do with me?" replied Albus.

"He has his back to you which is something he only does when you have upset him!" she said as she patted the downhearted phoenix again.

Albus gave a defeated sigh and explained to Minerva what he had seen. He tried to tell her that he had been mistaken but she simply glared at him and rooted around in her robe pockets for something to give Fawkes. She pulled out a ginger newt and handed it to the phoenix, which took it gratefully and then cooed softly as Minerva walked away from him.

"Albus, you really should consider his feelings," she said as she sat down. "After all it is nearly his burning day and you know that he gets overly sensitive."

"I didn't think he would get so upset about it," replied Albus in a whisper. "What do I do now?"

"Just leave him alone before you say anything else to upset him," Minerva told him softly.

Albus glanced over at his familiar and sighed. He hadn't truly meant to hurt his feelings. He had just been making an observation and he hadn't really thought Fawkes would understand what he was going on about. In recent years, Fawkes had become more and more sensitive towards his renewal and Albus always seemed to put his foot in it. Last time Albus had moved his perch from the nearby window to a spot near the fire so the phoenix would be away from the draft. But Fawkes hadn't been happy and had refused to even coo at him once for four days.

His mind was diverted back to Minerva when he saw her looking at him with a soft smile on her face. He loved that little quaint smile of hers. It was the smile that she reserved only for him and it told him that she was happy and contented. He looked into her emerald green eyes and saw that she had something to tell him. Minerva had the most expressive eyes of anyone he knew. He could tell what mood she was in by looking into her eyes. He had only really discovered this when they had admitted their feelings for another.

"A knut for them?" he asked.

"If you give me a sickle then I'll think about it!" was her quick reply.

"I'll make it a galleon," he answered as he rooted around in his robe pocket and pulled out a gold coin, which he gave to her.

Minerva took the coin and ran her thumb over the engraved side before placing it in her pocket. She knew he was waiting for her to say something and she had no need to be nervous for she already knew his answer. What she was more unnerving about it was her families' reaction to her finally bringing a man to the Ceilidh. Though nobody said anything, she had been the pity in their eyes when the couples dances were played. This year would be different but she also wondered what they would say to him about her. Her family was filled with jokers and you had to know them before you understood their dry wit. Minerva had inherited her dry wit from her father's side but hers was mild compared to some of her uncles and it worried her that Albus may go off the idea of courting her after he had met the family.

"Minerva," said Albus breaking into her thoughts "do you want me to guess?"

"Sorry," she apologized softly. "I received a letter from my father this morning."

"Not bad news I hope,." Albus said with concern as he reached over and held her hand.

Minerva shook her head and squeezed his hand. She loved that he was so considerate of her at times and she knew he was always there when she needed him. She knew deep down that Albus wasn't the type of man to be put off by ones family.

"It is an invitation to our Ceilidh," she explained. "We are both invited and I just wondered if you would like to come."

"I would love to Minerva," he replied, flashing her a bright smile. "I always wanted to attend a Ceilidh. What is it exactly?"

"Its an informal dance where traditional Scottish dances are danced," she told him, his eyes twinkle brightly as she mentioned the word dance. Albus loved dances and even though he couldn't dance, he would throw himself into having a good time.

"Oh, I always wanted to try Scottish country dancing," he exclaimed with excitement.

"Albus, this is slightly different to Scottish country dancing. Tthe Ceilidh is informal and a way to have fun without following the rules to the formal traditional dances."

"That sounds like a lot of fun," said Albus "and I get to meet the rest of your family."

Minerva nodded and then sighed. She had to now tell him that he had to learn a few dances for the night. She knew that he wouldn't mind but she wasn't sure her feet could take the stamping on.

"I'll have to teach you a few traditional dances though," she told him. "There will be three dances that we will be expected to dance to throughout the night."

"Well," he answered, rubbing his hands "when do my lessons start, Professor?"

"Tonight," she told as she got up from her chair and began to make her way to the door "and try and make up with Fawkes my dear."

To be continued!