A/N: Yaaay, finally, huh! I know, I know, it's been eons since I last posted on
this story, so sorry, you have my permission to flame me on the horrible lateness.
Cat – a – Strophe!
Chapter 9
"MINERVA ELLYDION MCGONAGALL, WHERE'S MY SHERBET LEMON!"
Now, you may think that all this leads to yet another hilarious chase, where either Minerva or Albus has to run after each other like mad teens with off course hormones…
…If so, you're quite right. For who gets tired of running around like chickens trying to catch one another?
There is only one small tiny problemo for our dear professors…
"Aarrrgh, why can't I run in this damn costume," Minerva screamed in frustration as she trotted some meters ahead of Albus, a bead of sweat trickling down her eyebrow. The whole garment was getting on her nerves, it wasn't easy to move around in, very big, clumsy and hot, and running in it was like trying to run in water, only with a really great current.
"What…are…you…phew…yelling…for?" Obviously Albus had trouble breathing in the thing too.
"I was saying… Ooouuch!" Minerva had tried to run and look behind at the same time, and therefore didn't see the big nasty wood door in front of her. She collapsed like a sack of potatoes on the floor, her arms and legs sticking out to all sides in a very spaghetti-like manner.
Albus quickly ran over to her, bent down, and took her pink bunny-hand.
"Minerva?"
A small groan was all he got as a response.
"Minerva, can you hear me?"
"Who jinxed the light," she mumbled rather incoherently, luckily for Albus he was rather used to his brother's mad ramblings.
"Nobody... you ran straight at the door and collapsed, dear."
After a couple of seconds lying on the floor not really seeing anything but blackness, Minerva finally had her vision back, if not a bit disturbed by a few black spots here and there. She pushed herself into a slight sitting position with her elbow, rubbing her other hand gently at her sore head.
"Ouuuvv," she groaned, trying to cling to Albus as he straightened and stood up. The world spun for while, and she thought she might collapse again. This day would definitely go down as worst possible day in her calendar. Why didn't everything go as planned!
"I saw a muggle menagerie once, with one of these clauns with a painted face and all, I've never seen anyone run into a door so hilariously before, you most surely qualify," Albus giggled.
"Don't make me crucio you, Dumbledore," she warned giving a sickly smile, his stomach started fluttering, he remembered a rather dark section of her personal library.
"Before you so much as touched your wand I would have charmed you, my dear!"
"With your charms?"
"Yes, with my charming ways you would be smiling sweetly at me, fetching my wine for me, admiring how great I truly am…" He looked at her smugly; he did not even have the decency to back down when she lifted a delicate eyebrow.
"With you charms! Pah!"
"Pah yourself! I am better than Prince Charming himself!"
"Albus, for Merlins sake! You couldn't charm a stone, let alone anybody else for that matter!"
"I once read this most exciting book, about charms," he paused deliberately, to let it sink in, as if he was a glorious storyteller and her a little nine year old lass.
"YOU CAN READ!"
"Bah! Anyways, there was this horrible charm to make the victim quite, how shall I say it, submissive, lovepotion ala with a flick of my hand…" he stopped with a devilish glint in his eyes; he had made 'horrible' sound too sweet.
"I know the counterspell," she said with a rueful smile, loving the way his lit eyes wavered. She hoped he wouldn't recognise the lie. He had that dreadful knowing of when you were lying. She schooled her face to calmness and knowledge.
"Do you now?"
"Yes, quite an interesting book, but far by, what shall we say, it lacked a couple of very fascinating spells, charms and jinxes," she hoped he had been snooping around her library, she was certain, and if he had he would have remembered some of the dreadful titles, and worse, their contexts.
"Ah, well, you always were the bookworm, of us two," he stated regally.
"Exactly, so if there's going to be any charming here, let me assure that it will be me, who comes out wearing a smug smile, and your Sherbet lemon in my mouth," before he could respond she was gone in a twirl of pink.
"Darn woman!" She had done it again, making conversation, and then just disappearing. If she wanted it that way, he could be sneaky too, chuckling he also disappeared in a twirl of pink.
Neither of the two had remembered their pink bunny costumes, had simply forgotten them for a time, even though a simple flick, and their normal everyday robes would be back on.
He landed on soft grass, fields of green rolling away into the horizon, lined with a few trees here and there. The sun was not that high up yet, its pale light pleasant, but not warm. He looked around; struggling not to trip over himself and fall, the costume was too clumsy for him. Spotting the tangled forest behind him, he had a vague feeling she would be in there somewhere. Would it be a trap? Or didn't she think he could track her anywhere? He counted on the first; she was too smart otherwise, so with caution, he trotted into the trees.
Mostly he walked in the shade of the big oaks, pine and birch, but occasionally a beam of sun would warm his face for a mere second or more. The deeper he went, the more the place seemed desolate, even the cheering chatter from birds couldn't help the feeling of an ancient deserted place. So deep in thought, in looking everywhere at once, he stumbled suddenly, and fell.
"Merlin!"
He looked over his shoulder, and saw a small stone boulder; he definitely hadn't thought was there. Weird place! He stood up, dusted the dirt from his pink fluffy knees, spat at the ground. If he wasn't mistaking, he had probably just swallowed a bucket of dirt. Looking back again, the boulder was gone… What! But instead of the small stone, there lay a silvery wrapped square. He bent down and picked it up. What!
"Minerva, you sly fox! I know you're out there! Show yourself!" No one answered, except for a bit of fluttering of wings. He grinned, unwrapped the little silvery thing, and popped the candy in his mouth. A sweet and at the same time sour taste filled his mouth with joy, and he reminded himself to ask her, where she had found a coffee candy.
Moving on, he knew she was waiting for him somewhere, and he was doing exactly as she wanted. But hey, she was giving away sweets; maybe she would give him the Sherbet Lemon, he reckoned.
Walking with a bounce in his steps, he started humming a toneless song, quite the merry one.
And then out of nowhere something hit him on the top of his head, he spun around, his bunny ears bouncing back and forth. Nothing there. Rather annoyed he turned around and noticed the candy before his feet. He picked it up, studied it a bit, unwrapped it, and without further care put it into his mouth.
It tasted of new spring, the fresh mint mingling with something spicy. His lips curled upwards in a delightful smile – That Woman! She would both smile and berate you at the same time, while expecting you to listen closely to every word she was lecturing. Sly, she was. Whatever she was planning, he was both looking forward to, and dreading it.
After a two dozen paces a bright light appeared out of nowhere, just two inches from his nose, startled he threw his arms up for protection, forgetting his wizard talents for a small second, but before reaching his wand, it was gone. And in its stead hung a candy.
He grinned shyly; he should have expected something, especially after the two other sweets.
Picking it up, he started walking again, his face an entire smile; he popped the greenish candy in his mouth.
And nearly choked on it, but spat it out on the ground hastily.
"AAargh! What a flaming foul tasting…" he succumbed to a series of low muttered curses, directed at the candy and a certain woman, a certain jobless woman. What was she thinking, spoiling a candy, and his mood, in such a vile way!
"Tsk, tsk! Such language, Albus Dumbledore. One should think your mother taught you better!"
Lifting his head to the sound of her voice, his nose brushed against hers, and he looked into a pair of amused emerald eyes.
"I speak as I like!"
"I heard!"
Was that laughter in her voice? No it couldn't be! What was so funny? He legs started trembling, just slightly, and he couldn't really focus, was that really Minerva laughing in the distance? Blackness started creeping around him, ruining his sight at the edges. A sudden dreadful stone seemed to bounce up and down in the pit of his stomach, what had she done?
"What have you done, you wicked woman? I swear when I get my hands…" Further he didn't get as he collapsed and was swept away in blackness and emptiness. One thought remained though, remained with that sweet laughter of hers.
The bloody woman drugged me! That bloody witch bloody well knocked me out! He should have bloody known not to eat bloody green candy.
A/N: Well, I must say I'm really in an ecstatic mood, considering all the really wonderful reviews. Thank you so much everyone… And so sorry for the long wait again. I hope this chapter helps a bit, and that you enjoyed it.
Tabby Bee: If I told you what happens, it wouldn't really be that funny, heh heh. I'm glad you liked This is not Happening, thx )
Angeldust-aka-Evilwoman: Thx, I was like thinking of a hilarious suit, and it just popped up, PINK BUNNIES! It had me laughing quite a bit.
TabbyKit: Sure, I couldn't really let the story hang around unfinished, could I! ) I'm very happy it brightened up a sad day, I love making people laugh, thx for all the wonderful reviews and compliments. )
Mugglemin: I'm very good at twisting it, heh heh, I love surprising ends. I really enjoyed my trip to Australia, it was awesome. I'm just a bit sad, I'm already home again, Bah! ) I hope you enjoyed this chapter, thx for the review )
Quill of Minerva:Yaay, another update… though extremely late in coming… Heh heh, I guess it will take another couple of chapters before it'll actually be finished…Ang sents you the stories on your phone, phew! That's amazing, and rather cool, eh! Thx, for the long and lovely review, )
Banana Princess: That's right, Albus does tend to forget, not slow, he just keeps forgetting about his precious candy… heh heh. I'm happy you liked it, hope you liked chapter 9 as well, thx for the review )
Intelligent Witch: Thx, ) I'm glad I you laughed like mad, that's the point, heh heh. Yaay, aussie was great, so sad I'm not there anymore… sniffs I lived in Burrawang, 1 hour and a half from Sydney, it was so fun! Yup, I saw the weird big fat rock in the middle of nowhere… and Great Ocean Road, Cairns, and other cool stuff. I hope you like this chapter, and thanks for the very long wonderful review, made me laugh, you describing how much you laughed… )
Ennui-EAF: A Christmas Story, I can't say I have… But it sounds familiar! ) Thx, )
Portkeys Miss-Mione: IF you still I'm one of the fastest updaters, I'm overwhelmed… Heh heh, I used to be perhaps…) Thx so much for all the divine compliments, I'm blushing now! Well, at least it didn't take a whole year, close to though, bah! )
JoanneM: Hi, well I hope you enjoyed this chapter too, and thank you so much for reviewing, it's really nice with lots of reviews, )
Ellen Arden: Thx, I would really love to see how this ends too, I have no idea yet… )
Augusta: I'm sure he never gives up, to give up is to surrender… ) I hope you like this chapter )
Talons: Any means to regain his sweet, exactly! Lets hope he does regain it before Minerva eats it, heh heh. Thx )
Puppyheart: Thx )
Lady Urguentha: Thx )
Gothic Minerva: J.K definite wouldn't allow that… ) Heh heh, thx, I'm happy I made you laugh.
TartanLioness: A late Merry Christmas to you too, Tar! Can I call you Tar? I don't have arto, sorry, but I have an old dusty account on netdating.dk, ) Thx so much for the review… So how do you like our fine weather in dk? Heh heh )
MooseDeEvita: Well, since I got two lovely reviews I won't sent a hex via e-mail then. ) Thx
Lady-jolly: Thx, I hope you enjoy this chapter )
Rikki8879: Tears of laughter, huh! Phew, I must be awesome! ) I hope you like chapter 9 too, thx.
ADandMM4eva: Long waiting on the update, huh! I'll try to be quicker with the next, heh heh, thx)
Kelenariel Khelekkir: Wow, trice! What a treat, huh! National Talk Like A Pirate Day! Blood and bloody ashes! What's that? Thx for the review, hope you liked this chapter, even with long update, )
Elena: Thz, )
See you, hopefully not so long this time,
Pal