Disclaimer: One day, one flipping day, i WILL own it ALL. But until that day comes i don't own anything...(Sob)

A/N: Hello, i'm back! My beta has found a way around her email problem for the time being so i don't need to appologise for all the spelling mistakes! WOOT! So thank you to bigkihap! You rock! And thank you to everyone who has reviewed! You also rock!

Bex

lee: I'm glad you like my story! I know it's silly but it amused me lol Thank you for pointing those mistakes out!

Sarah: WOOT! you reviewed! I'm glad you loved it and i loved the seagull bit too! It's my favourite bit so far!

miss mcGonagle: Thank you for you're review! I'm happy you liked it! I hope i didn't keep you waiting too long!

foci: Thank you again for the review!I think Aberforth can apparate just not very well. Hence the walking over the sand dune lol I sat there and giggled all the way through writing that seagull part! It's the best bit so far lol And i'm honored you put me on your fav. authors list!

Leviathan Ashes: Thank you for the review! And i agree with you lol It's fun making them do silly things!

Always Hopefull: I'm glad you liked the story! Thank you for the review!

AlesiaG: Lol, we shall see about the goats! Thank you for the review!

Rikki8879: Glad you liked the story! Thanks for the review!

Leta McGotor: LOL! I loved you're review! It made me chuckle! I might see if i can squeeze that at the end somewhere lol! I'm happy you liked it!

Chapter 3

"Fine, if you can not simply admit to me being the best of the both of us, then indeed war it is. Just slip me the place, date and the time and we shall take this elsewhere. But in the meantime," Aberforth replied smugly "Ladies, if you would care to accompany me to a lovely restaurant I know in Edinburgh. There we shall taste the delights of the season and celebrate my triumph."

"Oh I would love to Aberforth, that is of course if Poppy would let me go?" Minerva replied slyly to her friend at her side.

"Of course. How could I resist?" giggled Poppy.

"Excellent," replied Aberforth and bowed to both women.

"Thank you for letting me borrow you're cloak Albus, I shall see you later?" Minerva said politely.

"That's quite alright. Excuse me ladies, I have a meeting to go to," Albus replied and apperated to the edge of Hogsmeade.

Albus sat upright in his old mahogany chair by the fireplace with his finger stroking his bottom lip. The last conversation held between himself, Aberforth, Poppy and Minerva kept circling around his head like a hover fly around a lampshade. The departure of Saturday's competition had not ended well, partly because his own brother had won the sandcastle competition and partly because he walked off and dinned his best friend. Minerva had seemed quite taken to Aberforth especially when he had asked her and Poppy out to dinner. At the thought of Aberforth seeing Minerva made Albus dig his nails into the arm of the chair. Aberforth knew Minerva was off limits, so why was he doing this to him? To prove he was the best brother of the two? Is that why Minerva is cantering off with his brother? Because Aberforth is better than he is? 'Well if that certainly is the case, Aberforth, your going to get a run for his money.' Albus thought stubbornly as he stoked the fire even higher with his poker. But what to do about this competition? It could not be to build another sandcastle, he had had quite enough of that for one day. What was the last thing that Aberforth had not beaten him to? 'Of course!' thought Albus as a small smile crept onto his face. 'But when should I propose it to him?' Albus slowly lifted himself out of the chair he had been sitting in for most of the afternoon and walked over to his 'Twirlers best bits' quidditch calendar that Rolanda had given him for Christmas.

"Next Saturday night should be perfect," Albus muttered to himself. "That way I can recover for the week after. But who on earth should I get to watch?"

Filius was no good because he had requested that weekend off to see his eldest granddaughter in the duelling championships. He certainly could not have Minerva or Poppy there just in case he lost and his brother rubbed it in his face again by taking Minerva on another date. Albus stared at the staff's requested weekends off list on his notice board next to his calendar. 'Severus isn't doing anything maybe he can help out...'

Minerva lay silently in bed staring out at the starlit sky. The last week had been lovely. Minerva had been free to go out with Aberforth to dine and sight see. She had not been cooped up like an impatient lioness about to be moved to a new zoo. Her host, Aberforth had been quite the gentleman, paying for her dinner, taking her to the theatre and showing her the best places in Scotland. Minerva only wished that Albus were more adventurous like his brother. She gave a secret smile to herself as she remembered what Aberforth had kissed her like on the third date. They had been flirting all week, ever since the sandcastle competition, and now Minerva was having a great time. The past couple of months had taught her that life should be lived to the fullest and she had done nothing but work for years, not leaving enough time to go out and enjoy life with the rest of her friends and staff. But that was before Minerva had been shot down by four stunners, that was before Aberforth had shown her a different life to lead and love. Albus had cared for Minerva when she was ill or unable to do things for herself and she was very grateful for it, but now his brother had shown her how to escape from the life of paperwork and encouraged her to have fun. Minerva sighed as she lent forward to close the window slightly to stop the cool breeze from giving her goose pimples. She glanced over to the picture of herself and Albus laughing as his long beard was blown up her nose by the wind. Albus. The wonderful caring man, everybody's hero. 'If only you had had enough time for fun,' Minerva thought as she rested her head in her arm that was propped on the windowsill. 'Maybe I could have shown you the way to have fun if I had not been so wrapped up in work.' The thought of Albus bought her back to the memory of what he had acted like towards her since she had started to see Aberforth. He had been withdrawn and irritable with everybody on the staff. Surely it could not have been whether it was to do with losing a sandcastle competition? Minerva could not find any other reason for it. Or maybe he is just too tied up in his work? 'Yes that must be it,' Minerva thought as she yawned and lay back down onto her pillow to sleep.
Albus made his way down the silent corridor to the dungeons where Severus spent the best part of his life. He pondered on how to tell the potion's master of his proposed plan to outdo his brother. Albus hoped Severus would agree to this as he turned and knocked confidently on the old oak door that lead into Severus' private quarters.

"Enter," a cold voice came from within the room and Albus walked in to find Rolanda and Severus sprawled across the fur rug next to the fireplace. The fire itself was roaring as Severus threw another log from a bucket not far from the stone walls of the fireplace.

"Hello Albus," Rolanda greeted warmly as Severus got up and offered the headmaster a seat on the black silk couch, which curved around the fireplace.

"Good evening, please sit down." Severus greeted all the cold from his voice had gone when he realised it was the headmaster. "Would you like a glass of Chardonnay?"

"Only if you are having some," Albus replied as the younger man picked another wineglass off the rack and topped Rolanda's and his own up to the top. Making his way back to the rug on the floor after passing the glass to Albus he looked up expectantly at the headmaster.

"I have come to ask a favour of you. Are you doing anything next Saturday?" Albus said gently to him.

"Nothing, I planned to spend it marking the whole day to catch up on all the homework I have been putting off because of the raids. Why?" Severus answered with concern, slowly snaking his arm around Rolanda's small waist.

"Don't worry its not too important," Albus said quickly as he saw worry flicker through the younger mans beetle-black eyes. "I was wondering if you would mind giving up two hours of you're time in the evening because of a competition my brother and I are having."

Severus relaxed and smirked at the thought of a competition between the two brothers. He had seen the last competition they had had; both of them had been in a 'unusual charms' duel to see who was the best. Albus had walked away winning with big bullhorns, a long chain of daisies instead of a beard and pair of shoes that sang 'Auld Land Syne'. Aberforth too had walked away with long multicoloured spiky hair, unicorn horn, a nose that twitched every thirty seconds and his feet had been charmed to hop after every step they took. Since the competition had been at Aberforth's house, all of his furniture had been charmed to raspberry, giggle, sigh and scream whenever anyone touched it. The best one of all had been when an Ephius Dodge, an old friend of Albus', had dropped by the next day. He excused himself to go to the toilet and when he walked through the door, the toilet let out a loud piercing shriek and started to raspberry loudly. All three of them had been in fits of laughter.

"What is it this time?" Severus asked looking amused.

"An unusual drink competition. With a little alcohol in the mix," smiled Albus and Rolanda giggled.

"Could I come?" she asked between giggles.

"Of course, in fact you can help Severus mix up all types of unusual drinks. Nothing disgusting though," Albus grinned at them both.

"Sure, what time and where?" asked Severus.

"Eight at Aberforth's house. Is that suitable?" Albus told them both and drained his glass.

"That's fine, I should be done by then. If i'm not there, Rolanda will take over."

Rolanda smiled and kissed him gently on the cheek.

"Thank you both of you, I shall see you at breakfast tomorrow then? Or are you not getting up?" Albus said as he got up from the couch and walked over to the table near the wine rack.

"Depends if I want a lay in," replied Severus lazily as he lay back over the rug. Albus chuckled.

"Well I shall see you at lunch at any rate, goodnight." Albus waved at them both and walked out the old wooden door.

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