Albus and the Sleeping Beauty
Part Three: To Sleep For A Hundred Years

Albus sat up and thought for a moment. Why had that not worked? He sighed. Inwardly he hoped again that Minerva would not kill him upon awakening, and then he placed his hand on her left side and leaned over her again. As slowly as before, he pressed his lips to hers with a little more force this time.

'This is awkward,' he thought, and just as he was about to pull away… she pressed back. Her lips parted ever so slightly and he continued to kiss her. Her body was responding. He reluctantly tore his mouth from hers, and watched her. "Minerva?" he whispered, but there was no response. She was still under Voldemort's spell.

"Figures," said Albus aloud, "Tom finally learns that there are some things worse than death, and he hits Minerva with one."

The enchantment was considered by many to be worse than death because of the fact that (according to the Ancient Spells and Theories section of History of Magic) a kiss often failed to wake the afflicted person, thus they would sleep for the whole hundred years, and wake to find that loved ones (parents, children, lovers, friends) had long since died, and they were alone in a world so different from the one they'd left. But Albus would not let this happen to Minerva. A year without her was difficult enough; he could not fathom having to endure a century (if he should live that long).

He kissed her again, and again she began to respond without waking. Her lips parted, and cautiously his tongue found its way to hers. Their kiss grew in intensity, and it was clear that she was indeed responsive to his actions. Her body pressed close to his, and he shivered with anticipation and nervous when her hands started to move, ever so slowly, up his chest and around him, her fingers losing themselves in his hair. He heard her moan quietly into his mouth, and he pulled back to examine her. To his surprise and contentment, her eyes opened slowly, and hazily she said, "Why on earth did you stop? This is the best dream I've had all year."

Albus grinned and took her hands in his. "Are you fully awake now, Minerva, dear?" he asked, and she shook her head.

"I mustn't be. You're very dead," she replied dreamily, but with an air of sadness. Her eyes began to close.

"Please, Minerva, look at me," said Albus, bringing his right hand up to stroke her cheek. "I am very much alive."

Her hand found his, and her eyes widened. "You have fixed your hand?"

"It was not easy," he explained, "and it does not function entirely normally, but yes, it looks and feels fine again."

She began to close her eyes again. "Amazing how death can cure a man so real…"

Albus shook her gently to keep her awake. "Minerva? I'm not dead, Min. You saw me on the battlefield. Tabby-kitten?"

Slowly her shining green eyes opened again, and met his twinkling blue eyes. She sat up suddenly, confused and embarrassed.

"What in the name of Merlin is going on?" she demanded to know, and he placed his hands gently on her shoulders to steady and calm her.

Albus tried to smile reassuringly, but he was incredibly worried about the woman in front of him. Would she believe his explanation? And, more importantly, would she accept it? "Do you remember the…what do you last remember?"

"On the field…I remember… Ron Weasley was in pain, hit with…something. And Hermione Granger…she performed an Unforgivable. My goodness, is she okay? Are they okay? You…you were there! I remember…I always remember you." There were tears in Minerva's eyes, and Albus secretly would have given anything to kiss them away, but he did not.

"Miss Granger is fine, Minerva. There were some injuries of the students… And one… one casualty. Ernie Macmillan."

Minerva McGonagall wiped her eyes and urged Albus Dumbledore to continue.

"Fred Weasley, Susan Bones and Luna Lovegood were all in need of immediate attention. Charlie Weasley was injured, but not terribly, and Fleur murdered Fenrir Greyback, and werewolf who attacked Bill last year in the castle. Everyone else is physically alright. Everyone on our side, I mean." He stopped to take a deep breath. "Tom Riddle is dead."

"I see," she said, still in shock. "And you, Albus? How have you managed it? Back from the dead? Hagrid! Hagrid will want to know!"

"I will tell Hagrid. And I can show you." He stood and took her hand. He led her to the Pensieve in his office and put the memory in it, him explaining everything to Harry, Neville, the Weasleys, the Minister, the Aurors and Remus.

She watched, silently, until they were back in his office.

"I am so, so sorry, Minerva," Albus said, holding her hands.

She smiled slightly. "I understand. And while I know I should be angry with you for putting me, and Harry, through this awful year, I cannot help but be grateful that you are alive. I've been dreaming of a moment like this since…since it happened. I would have murdered Snape tonight. If you hadn't told me not to."

"You've been dreaming about me?" he asked teasingly, and she blushed. "Albus!"

"It's alright, Minerva," he assured her, taking a step closer to her and boldly putting his arm around her waist. "I have been dreaming of you too."

Then, just as it often happened in both of their dreams, they held each other close, as his lips met hers. She lightly nipped at his lower lip, and passionately he responded, snogging her nearly senseless.

Her tongue met his as fifty years of wanting and fantasy and need were poured into their embrace. She pushed her body flush against his and he growled, further deepening their kiss. When they had both run out of air, they pulled apart, and simply stared at each other for a moment.

"I love you, Minerva McGonagall," said Albus, his arms still tightly wound around her small waist.

She rested her head momentarily on his chest and sighed happily. "I love you too, Albus Dumbledore."

They stayed like that for over a minute, until Albus broke the silence by asking, "What do we do now, Tabby-kitten?"

Feeling brave, Minerva responded, "I think we've been waiting long enough, Albus. I would be honored if you were to…court me…but in the meantime…" She kissed him briefly on the lips and he added kisses to her jaw line and neck.

He then stopped and chuckled. "So, do you want to play a game of chess?"

Minerva laughed. "Why? Too tired, old man?"

Albus raised an eyebrow. "Hardly!" he announced, and in one swift move he had lifted her up, one arm under hr legs, all in a terribly romantic fashion, and they kissed again.

He carried her back to the bedroom and placed her gently on top of the covers.

"Do me a favor, Albus," asked Minerva, and Albus nodded.

"Anything."

She closed her eyes. "Wake me up again? I want to enjoy it this time."