Chapter 5

Albus Dumbledore collapsed violently onto the sofa when he returned home. She had looked so beautiful today, the way her cheeks had turned that dashing shade of pink, the way she strutted down that corridor so full, so in control. It was enough to turn his whole stomach into jelly and make his legs collapse. He soon found himself daydreaming about her again. That was one of the great things about Albus Dumbledore he could tune into dream world when ever he wanted and would always remember what he saw.

He watched intently as the young woman bent closer to him, her delicate lips touching his so softly before the three words he longed to hear rolled of her tongue.
"I love you." She breathed against his lips, it sounded so natural so right. He watched as hands he recognised all to well as his came up and pushed the emerald cloak off her shoulders. He wanted so much to see her this time, to see her naked would be glorious. He watched his rough hands rub her shoulders; he stopped suddenly when the creamy skin became cold and rough under his touch. He waited for his dream self to position his body in the right place to see over Minerva's shoulder. And that's when he noticed it a long pink scar running across the skin just underneath her shoulder. He was about to bend down and examine it more closely when Fawkes crashed through the window and disturbed him.

"Bloody bird…!" Albus hissed under his breath before pulling himself up and staggering sleepily into his bedroom to get ready for another could be date with Minerva McGonagall.
"Good evening Albus." Minerva greeted him with a slight smile; Albus guessed she had been waiting for quite some time.
"Minerva." He answered quite coldly, he had promised himself that tonight he would not flirt with her, he would not try to attract her attention he would stay as silent as possible.
"So here we are again," Minerva whispered softly seemingly more to herself then Albus. "The press will say we're in love if we're not careful."
Albus' head shot up at this, his eyes instantly falling into Minerva's.

"So that's what gets your attention." She whispered again, her thin lips breaking into a rare smile. "Have I done something wrong Albus, you've only been here a few seconds yet you seem quite distant."
Albus had a hard time thinking of what to say next the words Minerva, Gary, me and love popped into his head several times before he came up with an answer.
"It's nothing Minerva; I just received some bad news yesterday." It was partly true he had met Gary yesterday.

"From a lover?" Minerva asked quite boldly, causing Albus' head to shot up right again. Albus just shook his head and returned his eyes to the menu. About a woman I want as a lover he found himself thinking, he wanted so much to say that out load to her but he couldn't.

He rearranged his menu so he could watch her over the tip of it with out her noticing. She looked divine, he wounded if she looked this beautiful whenever she went out to dinner or if it was just for him. He ordered for both of them and felt a hit of panic in his stomach, the waiter had took the menus he had nothing to distract himself with now.
"Durga told me you were asking questions about Gary." Minerva suddenly blurted out, he could tell she wanted to get this part of the conversation out quickly so they could return to normal.
"Oh..." Albus muttered guiltily, it was so hard to control his emotions around this woman.
"Is there a reason do you know Gary?" Minerva asked resting her bony elbow on the table and leaning against her hand.

"No… I had heard a rumour that's all."
"What kind of rumour?" Minerva asked, she was very persistent.
"Just that you and Gray are together… are you?" Albus asked feeling a small bit of hope float around his body maybe Gary had manipulated the minister it seemed far fetched but it was possible.
"Yes…" She answered after a short while, maybe Albus found himself thinking it was just that hope still floating around his body but maybe it wasn't, that yes had definitely not sounded like a woman in love.
"You don't sound totally convinced…" Albus found himself gasping out he had never felt such a hope in him before he found himself preying to Merlin that he was in luck something he hadn't done for many years.
"Albus… if I tell you this you must promise it won't leave this conversation…" Albus nodded violently he wanted to hear this so much.

"Gary was my mother's choice she wants to me to get married and have children, I know both her and Father want me to be happy but they want to see me safe. They think I will be safer with a man in life. Mother brought many suitors to see me and Gary was by far my favourite, we dated he even proposed to me in front of my mother and father where he knew I wouldn't say no. But I… I don't want to be with him anymore, he's just so… so… different. He was odd in the first place I guessed that's why I liked him because he was different but now… I'm stuck with him."

Albus felt like jumping on the table and singing, she wasn't in love with Gary. She didn't want to marry him! He quickly stopped the urge; she had just told him something very personal and didn't want to ruin the sudden bond.

"Can't you just leave?" Albus asked, he didn't understand why such a powerful woman felt so encaged by a simple man.
"You don't understand Albus; he's in my house all time. I've tried leaving him but every time I do he finds me and… he knows things about me I wish no others to hear." She muttered burying her head in her hands.
"Please Albus; I've said too much can we change the conversation." Albus couldn't believe what he was seeing the powerful woman he had seen so many times was almost in tears. He felt his heart twist and snap at the sight of her, he felt himself sink deeper until he was at the same level of despair as she was.

"Minerva, come home with me tonight." Albus muttered, scolding himself for being so forward. He watched as Minerva looked up at him in shock.
"I'll sleep on the sofa," He continued. "Just stay tonight, just one night away from him and you will feel better."
"He knows I'm here!" She whispered.
"Then come with me now, the house elf's will still be awake I'm sure they would be delighted to make us a meal."

"I can't…" She muttered. Albus quickly stood up and noticed how Minerva flinched as he got closer… had she been expecting him to strike her? He held his hand out to her.
"Minerva please, for my comfort if nothing else." Albus could tell she was persuaded, he quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her up and out of the restaurant unaware of the pair of eyes that were still watching them intently

(Hey guys I'm really sorry if this has loads of grammer mistakes in as i've been trying to get a hold of my deta reader for two weeks now but he seems to have vanished So i posted it anyway with out it being deta read hope its not to bad)