Not Yet: Chapter 2
The chess pieces had been packed away. His white night had defeated her Queen quickly and easily. Clearly, her mind had not been on the game.
They sat in silence across the table from each other for what seemed like an hour but was in fact only five minutes, before Albus decided that it was his turn to suggest a method of relaxation.
"Would you care for some wine?" He asked. She nodded and moved to the sofa. They drank the first glass in silence, and the second with limited, awkward conversation centred on safe topics. When Minerva poured him a third glass, Albus stopped her half way and said matter of factly:
"I'd better not have too much, Minerva, or I might not be able to…" He stopped as the meaning of his words hit him. The thought had just popped out without his permission, and he blushed crimson as he tried to remedy his mistake "…I might fall asleep."
Minerva turned her head away from him and pursed her lips. Her eyes were closed and her shoulders were shaking. Great Merlin! He thought She's going to break into sobs! He moved to her side and laid his hand on her arm. She turned back to him and he saw tears in her eyes. But he also saw mirth and as he sighed a sigh of release, Minerva let out an unladylike snort and began to laugh uncontrollably until she could no longer sit up straight. Albus laughed with her, half embarrassed, half relieved that he was seeing HIS Minerva again, and not the mortified and wretched creature whose company he had been keeping for the past two hours. They laughed as they had not laughed together for months, fighting hard to regain their composure, but failing miserably as soon as they met the other's eye.
Minerva leaned back on the cushion, her eyes half closed, a contented smile on her lips. She's so lovely I could eat her He thought. If things stay like this, perhaps tonight will not be so awful…
He flashed her a wicked smile.
"You know it's very bad for a man's self esteem for a woman to laugh at him over such things!"
Minerva sniggered again and tried to hit him with the cushion she held clasped to her stomach as she laughed. She felt warm inside and almost happy as they joked together, his eyes smiling on her like the sunlight her animagus form craved. This is us she thought. This is how we are. It could almost be right…
"Well then perhaps, Professor Dumbledore, we should get ready for bed now, just in case." She laughed. Where had that come from! she wondered. She blushed a little, but the alcohol had fortified her courage and she did not look away from him. "While the wine is still having a positive effect." she finished.
His smile did not fade, but she saw his eyebrows raise a tiny fraction with surprise. Her courage deserted her and she tried to look away. It had been too soon. Not yet! He caught her chin with his hand.
"I think that that is a very sensible idea, Professor McGonagall." He said gently. "Won't you take the bathroom first?"
She smiled quickly, squeezing his hand lightly as she departed for the bathroom, her tartan dressing gown thrown over her arm, her step quick and sure.