Ceilidh

Chapter Seven: Preparations

Albus Dumbledore stood in the center of his private living room looking at the grandfather clock. Two weeks of preparation for the night ahead had been completed and Albus had been working so hard to learn the dances. Tonight was the night where he would meet Minerva's family and take part in her family's Ceilidh. Two weeks ago, it had seemed like a great idea but now it seemed far from a great.

He was still having trouble with his pivoting and he had totally forgotten some of the steps from the Gay Gordon's dance. As the hours ticked away, Albus Dumbledore began to get cold feet and he wondered if Minerva would let him off the hook. He was going to make a fool out of himself publicly. Some would say that he would be used to that by now but that was not the case. The Daily Prophet tried to discredit him because they were in collaboration with the ministry. He wanted to make a good impression at the Ceilidh. He was meeting the family of the woman he loved and he would need their permission and acceptance to continue his relationship with their daughter.

Half of him wanted to pull out of the Ceilidh, tell Minerva had he did his back again but he knew that she would march him down to see Poppy or not believe him. He also knew how important this evening was for his Minerva. It was the first time she had taken a partner home and he knew that he must be special and that he owed her for letting him love her. He turned to the portrait of Armando Dippet and sought his opinion.

"If you can't be a fool in front of the woman you love," said the previous headmaster "who can you?"

"I want to make a good impression Armando," said Albus as he sat down.

"You don't need to Albus," explained Armando. "The only person you need to impress is Minerva and you have already done that."

"But…." Albus began before being interrupted by his former employer.

"But nothing Albus! Just enjoy yourself in the company of that wonderful witch and her family. I am positive that you will not make a spectacle of yourself. It's a Ceilidh! Drinks will be on tap and there will be many drunk uncles trying to do the Highland fling that they won't even notice you."

"You are probably right!" agreed Albus.

"I am right Albus!" replied Armando with a hint of superiority in his voice.

Albus knew his friend and former employer was right but it didn't get rid of the doubts that were in his mind. Maybe he should speak with Minerva. She would understand but then he would be letting her down and he couldn't do that. She was always there for him. She would never let him down. She would go to the muggle cinema even though she never really enjoyed it because she would always end up with irritable legs halfway through the film. She had allowed herself to be dragged around a muggle candy factory by him for four hours and hadn't complained once. He would have to get over his nerves and go to the Ceilidh. If he made a fool of himself, then so be it.

Albus had finally got into the right state of mind. The soft Ceilidh band music floated through his living room as he practiced his dances over and over again without Minerva. He had managed the hang of The Highland Barn Dance but the Gay Gordon's and the Military Two step were still giving him problems. But he didn't think he would be able to stumble through the dances without anyone noticing.

He worked up quite a sweat as he had danced around his room. He needed a bath and stiff drink to get him prepared for the night ahead. The hotness of the bath water gave Albus the relaxation he craved and he closed his eyes with a contented sigh. His began to wonder what he would wear for the night. He had some tartan robes that he had transfigured for their dance lessons but they were quite bright. He decided to wait till Minerva arrived. He would see what she was wearing and then find something that would compliment her outfit.

"Albus?" came the voice of the woman he had just been thinking of.

"I'm in the bathroom, love!" he called out to her.

"I do hope you aren't descent!" she said with a playful giggle.

"Naked as the day as I was born," he answered.

She walked into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bathtub. She smiled down at him before reaching forward and running her fingers through his slightly wet hair.

"Do you love and adore me?" she questioned.

"You know I do sweetheart!" he answered. He wondered why she had asked him such a question and it seemed out of the blue.

"Would you do anything for me?" she asked him.

"You know I would!" he replied.

"Good," she answered with a smile. "Be a darling and wear what I have put on your bed to the Ceilidh without any arguments."

Albus didn't know what he was agreeing to but something in her eyes made him agree without even questioning her. She always had that effect on him and he didn't mind one bit.

"I'll see you soon then darling," she told him as she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his.

"You're going already?" he asked sadly.

"I need to go and get dressed," she told him with a smile. "I'll be back soon darling and I love you."

She rose from the edge of the bathtub and then disappeared out of the bathroom, leaving Albus to his thoughts. Albus wondered what she had laid out on his bed for him to wear. He hoped it was something colorful and comfortable. He soaked for a bit longer in the bath before deciding that he really needed to get out and get ready. He got out of the bath and cast a drying spell on his body and hair. He walked through to his bedroom and suddenly stopped as his eyes caught sight of what she wanted him to wear.

On his bed lay, a white Jacobite Shirt with leather ties at the top of the shirt as well as a kilt with leather straps on the side. The tartan was red, green and blue cheque with a touch of yellow. There was also a dark leather sporran that would attach itself to the thistle belt. He looked at the kilt and thought that Minerva must be playing a joke on him. She had to be because she couldn't expect him to wear a skirt.

To be continued