Chapter 6

After days and days in hiding, Michael Grady was nearly going mad. He had schemed and plotted his revenge against Minerva and Albus a thousand times, each time finding a flaw in his seemingly master plan. Feeling particularly edgy, he decided to slightly alter his appearance and head into town for a stroll and perhaps a bite to eat. It was then that he stumbled across a rather intriguing bit of news regarding Minerva.

"So you see, Titian, I would like a nice table overlooking the loch. The best you have and spare no expense."

"She must be special for you to go to so much trouble for one evening." Titian had known Albus since their days in Hogwarts together and in all that time he had never known his friend to go to such great lengths for a woman. Sure he had been on his share of dates and outings with women, but there was something different, something special about this particular one and it showed in those famous blue eyes.

"Oh she is, my friend. She's the kind of woman legends are made of. She…"

"Legends you say? That's some woman, then. Are you sure you can handle her?" Titian gave his friend a teasing jab in the ribs. "Sounds like she's a bit of a spitfire and you're not the young man who left school ages ago."

"Ah, but that's just it. She can't be tamed nor would I dream of trying. She's amazingly beautiful and incredibly powerful in her own rite. But she has this rare ability to turn my world upside down with just a simple smile, a look, a touch."

"A kiss?" The esteemed owner of the restaurant walked over to the best table in the house and extended his hand towards the waters dancing below. "It would seem that this woman, whomever she may be, has bewitched you in a way I've never seen before. And who am I to refuse the opportunity to meet such an incredible woman? Care to tell me her name?"

"Minerva…like the goddess." Albus smiled to himself, thinking how appropriate her name was for her, at least in his eyes. "I can't thank you enough. We'll be here Saturday around seven. Make sure the best chef you have is working that night. I really want this to be perfect. I want to show her what it's like to be cherished and wooed from the heart."

Michael sat in a nearby corner eating a meager sandwich and salad from the lunch menu. He couldn't help but overhear the conversation between the owner of the restaurant and Albus, his nemesis, and he took in all the details with great enthusiasm. A wicked smile curled upon his lips as he digested the new information and dreamed up a new way to create trouble in paradise for his Minerva and the man who was trying to take his place by her side.

Late Friday night Michael waited in the shadows of the shop across the street from the restaurant. It had closed a few hours earlier and he had watched as first the wait staff had gone home and then the owner. The only people left was the kitchen staff, probably staying late to make sure everything was in place for Albus' visit the following day. He rolled the plan over in his head once again looking for any holes, any ways which he could get caught. He decided after several minutes that it was indeed as brilliant as he presumed it was when it first came to him.

Michael started to chuckle as he thought about the outcome of his plan. The eerie sound tumbled down the deserted street. As all became quiet once again, the door to the restaurant opened. A tall, scrawny boy who looked to be in his early twenties came out followed by a more distinguished looking wizard. The older wizard pointed at the boy after he had locked the door and cast a few wards.

"Don't be late tomorrow Sean or Titian will have both our heads. Tomorrow must be perfect! Remember your shift starts at three and not a minute later."

The boy nodded his head and skulked off in the opposite direction of his boss. He shoved his hands in his pockets with his wand nowhere to be seen. Michael could here him muttering to himself and smirked. This would be easier than even he anticipated. He followed the slouching boy always making sure to stay out of sight. As they exited the main part of town just a couple of minutes later, Sean took a sharp left and made his way to some small houses that were always up for rent in the less desirable section of Hogsmeade.

Finally deciding to make his move, Michael stepped out of the dark shadows and pointed his wand at the boy's back. A flash of light was the only disturbance as Sean's body crumbled to the ground. Michael quickly made his way to the boy's side and once satisfied with his stunning spell's effectiveness, he levitated his body to a hiding place in the woods.

Minerva sighed and threw her hands up in utter disgust. She had tried on several sets of robes for this evening and nothing seemed to look appropriate for her date with Albus. All he had told her was that they were going out to dinner and perhaps a little adventure afterwards but no matter how hard she tried he was giving no additional information, which both frustrated and excited her. She couldn't help but feel giddy about her date with him. Never before had she been treated so wonderfully by a man who had made every effort to take into account her feelings and preferences on every aspect of their relationship. Albus had always been there for her and now she knew why. It was love, pure and simple, the kind that blossomed from friendship into something so much more meaningful and deeper than anyone could fathom.

Stealing a glance at the clock by her bed, Minerva jumped up in a startled rush. She only had half an hour to get ready. Deciding to finish her hair and what little make-up she used, she raced to the bathroom, leaving behind her robes decision for a little later.

Back in his own rooms, Albus was whistling a jolly tune to himself as he combed his beard and dabbed a little cologne onto his hands then his cheeks. He gave his reflection a wink, thinking that in a very short while he would be standing at the threshold of Minerva's door ready to embark on a new chapter in their friendship. For so long now, he had longed to court her and show her just how romantic life could be and now was his chance.

With a spring in his step, Albus made his way back into his bedroom to finally dress for the occasion. Deciding what to wear hadn't been a difficult task at all. Recently, he had ordered a new set of plum colored robes with silver lining around the sleeves and the hem and Minerva had been in his office when they arrived. As soon as he pulled them from the box, her eyes had lit up and she had practically gushed over the color and the designs on the sleeves. Since then, he had waited for a special occasion at which to wear them and nothing was as special to him as this first date with her, making them the obvious choice of attire.

Earlier in the day he had stopped by the greenhouse to gather a bunch of flowers of all varieties and assembled them into a bouquet. Thinking of how much Minerva loved her beloved Scotland and her family heritage, he conjured a silky ribbon with her family tartan and tied the stems of the flowers together. Picking them up from the vase filled with water, he cast a nourishment spell on the flowers so that they would stay beautiful much longer than a normal arrangement and set off to Minerva's rooms.

Minerva looked at her reflection in the mirror, finally happy with what she saw in the glass. At the last minute, she had remembered a set of robes tucked away in the back of her wardrobe, ones she had never worn before since they seemed much too flamboyant for her everyday attire. But tonight was different. Tonight she wanted to knock Albus Dumbledore's socks off, not that she really needed to go out of her way to grab his attention. A familiar knock on her door caused her heart to beat faster. Albus had arrived and he was not a minute early or late. Even in courting her, he was perfection.

Minerva sprayed a wisp of her favorite perfume on her neck and wrists and darted to answer the door. When she opened it, her eyes lit up at the sight of the handsome wizard standing there with the prettiest bunch of flowers she had seen in quite some time. Michael never believed in spending money on flowers or little tokens of affection, saying it was merely a waste of his hard earned galleons since the flowers would die, the candies would be eaten and any trinkets would merely collect dust.

"Albus, they're beautiful," she exclaimed. "And you certainly make a handsome date tonight. Those robes look splendid on you. I knew they would."

Albus' eyes twinkled happily, knowing that he had already brought some small amount of joy to Minerva's face this evening. "And might I say how ravishing you look? That color suits you perfectly, my dear," he said leaning forward to press a soft kiss to her cheek. "And your perfume is intoxicating. I don't believe you wear that often, do you?" She shook her head. Michael was not overly fond of perfumes either, or so he said, so she had rarely been given a chance to wear the fragrance.

After much deliberation and frustration, Minerva had settled on a set of dark blue robes which molded perfectly to her body. They were so blue in fact that they almost looked purplish black if caught in just the right light. The fabric was a special blend of material that seemed to shimmer as the soft light danced around the fringes, only adding to the overall appeal of the attire. With Minerva's long, dark hair loosely flowing around her shoulders and down her back, she looked stunning and the happiness in her heart shone easily in her emerald eyes.

After the initial compliments had been exchanged and Minerva had seen that her flowers were put into a vase of water beside her bed, they walked arm and arm into Hogsmeade village leisurely. Albus had planned everything down to the very last detail, leaving nothing to chance. And as they strolled towards the restaurant, their conversation was lighthearted and playful, something they had grown to appreciate in their long friendship.

Little did the happy couple know just how close they were to the dangers lurking nearby. Michael had managed to slip into the kitchen at Titian's restaurant and was quietly biding his time waiting on Albus and Minerva to enter. He had worked through this plot so many times his mind had gone numb. He had calculated every move, every step, every possible outcome and to him, they were all to his advantage. All he needed to do was remain calm and try not to draw attention to himself before the appointed time. It wouldn't be long before he was being sought after by everyone in Hogsmeade and possibly London but by the time they found him, Minerva would be history and he would be long gone to parts unknown, leaving the arrogant Albus Dumbledore to wallow in pity, guilt, and abject sorrow.

When he saw Minerva enter the restaurant, his breath caught in his throat. Suddenly, he remembered just how lucky he had been to share her life, her home and even her bed. Memories of quiet nights spent together as well as passionate days flooded his mind as he stared at the woman he had once loved beyond all others. The way her robes clung to her shapely figure caused his mouth to go suddenly dry and he felt a long forgotten twinge at the base of his spine as it began to radiate to other parts of his body. A wicked smile curled upon his lips. If he was careful, he might just have time to enjoy her delights once more before the final deed was done and he had to leave her body behind. Yes, he thought, one last taste of Minerva's sweet treasure and something else for Albus to mourn when he learned the truth of her final moments.

As soon as Titian saw Albus and Minerva enter, he made his way towards them and promptly introduced himself to the lovely lady on Albus' arm. "I must say, old chap, she's much too good for you and you'd better hold on tightly to this one," he teased while jabbing Albus' in the ribs.

"Oh I intend to hold on to her with all my might. I worked too hard to win her love and trust and I'll not let anything or anyone come between us. Now if you don't mind, I believe you have a table waiting for us in a very secluded corner where we can relax and enjoy the wonderful food and atmosphere."

"Indeed I do. Best table in the house but I have bad news. Seems the chef you requested didn't show up for work today and he hasn't been seen since last night when he left. But not to worry, I hired someone just this morning. He's new in the area so I'll let you give me your honest opinion after the meal."

"If there's one thing Albus knows, it's good food so I'm sure he won't hesitate to give you his honest opinion," Minerva added teasingly. "And as long as the chef can make a decadent dessert with lots of chocolate, he'll receive nothing but rave reviews from our connoisseur of all things sweet." Minerva smiled at Titian as she slid her leg along Albus' calf beneath the table in a seductive and rather bold move.

"Indeed. You seem to know young Albus here rather well and you still agreed to come out with him in public. This must be love," he joked as he started to walk away, chuckling to himself. "I'll send Hyacinth over with a bottle of our finest wine…compliments of the house," he called back to them.

When Titian was a safe distance from the table, Albus leaned across and kissed Minerva softly on the lips. "Mmm, best appetizer on the menu," he added as he returned to his seat and moved his leg against hers. "I could go home right now and never once think of dinner."

"Ah, but the longer you wait for it, the better it will be. Anticipation is half the fun of getting something, is it not?" Minerva's tone had turned husky, something which started a fire deep within Albus' body. Her voice was low and held so much promise of an evening filled with passion and love.

"Agreed but why should one wait on the best part of the meal? Shouldn't you start with the crème de la crème and work your way backwards?" He took her hand in his and used this thumb to begin rubbing sensual circles along her palm. "One can always make time for real food but the food for the heart and soul is spontaneous and unpredictable. It must be cherished and protected, nurtured and explored, encouraged to grow while forming deep, lasting roots."

His voice has started out playful with a tinge of seriousness but by the last syllable, there was no mistaking the sexual tension between them. Minerva was finding it hard to tear her eyes away from his, yet knowing if she didn't they would never make it through dinner. The pad of his thumb working tirelessly on her palm was setting every nerve in her body on edge, something she knew only he could do. She was just about to reply when a lovely waitress, a few years younger than Minerva, approached their table with two glasses and a bottle of wine.

"Albie, dear. Where have you been?" she asked as she slid up next to him and used her hip to bump into him. "I thought you were going to owl me with the time and place for our next little…ahem…escapade? I waited for days and days, hoping you'd floo or owl. You know how frisky I get after having a taste of you. You left much too quickly last time and I wasn't nearly finished with you."

Hyacinth set the wine bottle and glasses on the table, completely ignoring Albus' dinner companion. She took Albus' face in her hands and was about to lean forward in the hopes of obtaining a kiss when he grabbed both of her wrists and pushed her away.

"I have no idea what you're talking about! I have never…we've never. What's gotten into you?" he all but bellowed at the young woman still trying to slither into his lap. "Minerva, I swear…I've never so much as laid a finger on her. We've never shared…well, what she's suggesting."

"Don't lie Albus. You know as well as I that you were insatiable that night….begging me to never stop. Calling my name as you lost all control. Promising me the world and all its' riches."

Minerva could feel the anger bubbling up inside her. Hyacinth reminded her of the woman with whom Michael had spent his latest romp and it brought all of those feelings rushing to the surface. Fortunately for her and for Albus, she could see the surprise and absolute horror in Albus' eyes at what the woman was suggesting. Also having the privilege of knowing Albus as she did, she was confident that he would never treat a woman in such a manner as was being suggested.

"HOW DARE YOU? HOW DARE YOU EVEN SUGGEST SUCH A THING…" she began to rant as Albus jumped to his feet. By this time, everyone in the restaurant was staring intently at the commotion and craning their necks to see what was happening.

Michael was lurking in the background, smirking to himself as he watched his master plan unfold. He had not counted on Minerva jumping so quickly to Albus' defense, though in hindsight it should have been glaringly obvious. Still, his concentration never wavered enough to break the Imperious curse he had placed on Hyacinth.

With everyone else gawking at the scene unfolding and the loud shouts and protests coming from the once romantic table in the corner, Michael began to make his move. As Hyacinth lunged forward and forcefully tried to kiss Albus, he managed to snake his arm around Minerva's waist and activate the portkey he had planted in his pocket. By the time Albus had pushed Hyacinth to the floor, Minerva was gone and onlookers began shouting that someone had taken her away by portkey.

Immediately Albus' heart sank. There could be no question as to the culprit and there wasn't a moment to lose. Titian promised to take care of Hyacinth while Albus summoned his phoenix to him and hastily contacted Armando Dippet and the Ministry officials.

"Tell them Michael Grady has her and I am not coming back without her, even if it means killing him in the process. He had to have placed the Imperious curse on Hyacinth. I don't believe she would ever do something like this on her own so don't let the aurors take her to Azkaban. She's to go to the Ministry and wait!" Titian nodded his head in agreement as he grappled with the events rapidly unfolding before his very eyes.

In a burst of orange and red flames, the phoenix appeared and Albus cast the incantation which would take him straight to Minerva. With one last look at his friend, he suddenly disappeared and was whisked away to an abandoned house in the outskirts of Hogsmeade.

Albus knew the house well. It had been vacant for some time and the villagers had often talked of removing it and placing a garden in this very spot. It was far enough out of town that no one would bother him and it would serve as the perfect hideout for someone who did not wish to be found quickly. As he neared the shack, he could hear Minerva's voice, yelling at the top of her lungs at her captor.

"Sick…demented…obnoxious…egotistical…son of a…" Minerva spat out a list of expletives as she struggled to free her hands from the magical binding keeping her from hexing him into a million bits.

"ENOUGH! You've made me suffer for too many days. Now it's your turn to repay me and trust me, it will be rewarding for me and unfortunate for you. I hope your beloved Dumbledore will appreciate the way I leave your body." His chilling voice fell on Albus' ears, causing a rage like none other he had experienced to flood his entire being. "Yes, I wonder how he'll feel when he sees that we shared one last intimate coupling before you became violent and I was forced to defend myself?"

"He'll hunt you down and kill you with his bare hands…if I don't do it first," she spat back vehemently. "You thought you were so much better than Albus. Hell, you're not even half the man he is. You had your chance with me and what did you do? You squandered it with another woman…many women probably. And you know what…you did me a favor! I might have actually married you and been forced to live with your barbaric behavior. And to think I actually gave myself to you. It disgusts me…"

"Oh that's rich coming from you. You never loved me. It was always HIM! I heard you whisper his name in your sleep. I saw the way you looked at each other. And talk of disgusting…Minerva he's old enough to be your grandfather yet you would easily warm his sheets and give your glorious young body to him. That's beyond nauseating to me. What could he ever give you that someone young and attractive like me couldn't?"

Albus made himself invisible and boldly peered through the broken window pane, surveying the scene before him yet listening intently to the argument between Minerva and Michael.

"He gives me something you never could. He gives me his heart, his love, his devotion. He gives me a sense of self worth and he isn't afraid to let me be myself. He treats me as an equal, a partner, not some plaything to be paraded about upon a whim."

Michael's anger boiled over as he slapped Minerva hard across the face, leaving a visible mark. Never one to give in easily, Minerva merely smirked. "And that's something else you two don't have in common. Albus would NEVER hit a woman…ever! You two are worlds apart…in and out of the bedroom." A bit of malice shown in her eyes. "He's so good in bed. He makes me moan and scream his name by simply touching me. He does things to my body you only dream of doing and it feels so damn good to have him hold me against his naked body. Yes, he might be older than both of us combined, but bloody hell he knows how to make love to a woman. You…you just have sex with them for your own sadistic pleasure, making you a shell of a man. You should take a few tips from him. Hell, it would do you a world of good and I'm sure your whores would appreciate the upgrade in your techniques. They might actually be satisfied…halfway…for a change!"

"You bloody bitch. You want technique? I'll show you who's the better man. You'll beg me to never stop touching you once you've had a taste of a younger man again." Albus saw Michael strut over to Minerva and raise his wand, ultimately slicing through her beautiful gown to reveal her creamy skin, scantily covered by a delicate lace camisole. He raised a hand slowly, drawing out the tension as he neared her chest. Just as he was about to roughly grab her breast, Albus burst into the room and immediately began shouting hexes and spells in the direction of Michael Grady.

Caught completely off guard, he stumbled and stammered about, hoping to deflect the spells until he could effectively cast one at Albus. But Albus was too intent on saving Minerva, too intent on making Michael pay for all the harm he had caused to the most amazing women he had ever known.

Pausing instantaneously to try and release Minerva from her bondage gave Michael enough time to cast the cruciatus curse at Albus. Fighting with all his might against the effects, he refused to let the man hear his painful cries. Instead, he focused his eyes on Minerva and willed himself into another place and another time, when they were together and happy. Wave after painful wave washed over him as Michael held the curse. But just when Albus didn't think he could stand another second, Michael stopped and his shrill laughter pierced the air.

"See Minerva…your lover isn't all that he's cracked up to be, now is he? You should have stayed with the better man but it's better this way. Now he can watch as I take you one last time…as I make you beg for my touch. Then, when I am satisfied, I'll kill you and leave him to explain the rest…perhaps." Turning his attentions back towards Albus, Michael glared at the man struggling to his feet, his wand clutched tightly in his hand.

"Lay one finger on her and I'll kill you with my bare hands." The determination in Albus' voice was clear, as was his intent on protecting Minerva…even if that meant his own death.

"You can't even stand up without the aid of a cane, much less harm me. And they call you a powerful wizard. You're pathetic!"

"Power isn't all in the wand or the skill. It's knowing your opponent and knowing how to outwit him. You…you're an easy one to outwit. You are your own worst enemy, though Minerva and I thank you for that."

Just as Michael was about to cast another Cruciatus on Albus, a brilliant ball of fire appeared in the room, along with a dozen aurors all clinging desperately to the phoenix tale. Michael was surrounded by angry men with wands pointed directly at him.

"I told you that you were easy to outwit." Albus released Minerva's bonds and she flew into his arms, helping him stand and seeking solace in the nearness of him. "Minerva's bracelet…the one I gave her for the dueling club…I charmed it. At any moment in time, Fawkes would know exactly where she could be found. After you tried to attack her the first time, I asked her to wear it daily just in case she should need to defend herself from the likes of you. Thanks to her bracelet and willingness to compromise with me, you are going to Azkaban…for a very long time."

"You could have had it all, Minerva. We could have been great together. I hope you're happy with your old man! I'm sure he'll get all he can from you then dump you by the wayside for someone prettier and younger who can satisfy his carnal needs!"

"Michael Grady you are charged with two Unforgiveables. You will be taken directly to Azkaban prison to await your sentencing. I'm sure the dementors are going to love having a new guest," quipped one eager auror.

With Michael transported to the wizarding prison, Albus and Minerva were left alone in the dismal shack.

"Let's go home, please Albus. You need a soothing potion and I need your arms around me." Minerva held out her hand to Fawkes and asked him to take them back to Hogwarts. Before she could blink twice, they were safely back in Albus' chambers.

"I'm sorry Minerva. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you better. You should never have had to face that man again and certainly not hear those awful things he said to you."

"Stop that right now! You did the right thing. You gave me my independence yet you did all you could to protect me. The things he said…none of them are true. I don't see you as old or unable to satisfy me in any way. You're the only man I'll ever need in my life and I will be faithful to you. I know now that all this time I was with him, it was you I wanted. It was you I fantasized about at night…your face I saw when making love to him."

Albus felt warm tears prickling in his eyes as he listened to her declaration. "I love you too and I swear I will remain faithful to you. You are my world and I'd gladly give my life to spare yours." Despite the after effects of the unforgivable curse, Albus pulled Minerva into his arms, kissing her soundly on the lips. When they pulled apart, Minerva rested her forehead against Albus chest and took a long, deep breath.

"I'll contact the mediwitch and have her send a potion to calm your muscles and relieve the lingering effects. Then we're going to curl up together in bed and spend the rest of our date just holding each other."

"You mean you're sending me to bed without my dessert?" His eyes twinkled furiously as a sly grin formed on his mouth.

"Oh quite the contrary. I am one step ahead of you. If you're a cooperative lad, I'll contact the kitchens and have them send up your favorite chocolate dessert. And when we're done with that, we'll see about other types of desserts," she teased as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him again. Without waiting for him to make a move, Minerva deepened the kiss, letting him know exactly what she had in mind for later.

True, it wasn't an ideal first date but it was certainly memorable. Despite all of Michael's conniving and devious acts, Albus and Minerva found each other, forming a bond which could never be broken.

As they lay together among the tangled sheets of Albus' large bed, Minerva rested her head on his chest while her nimble fingers toyed with the auburn hairs of his chest. They had been laying there for quite some time, enjoying the comfortable silence and letting their bodies recuperate from their strenuous displays of affection but Minerva had something on her mind.

"Albus, have you ever had a dream that seemed so real that you felt you had actually lived it?"

He thought for a moment then smiled. "Once, I had a dream. I was quite a bit younger. In fact, I was still a student at Hogwarts and I dreamed a beautiful raven haired woman appeared out of nowhere. I was the only one who could see her yet she was as real as the castle walls."

Minerva gasped slightly as Albus told her of his vision from his youth.

"I have known it for decades but I was afraid you wouldn't remember the encounter. I recognized you immediately when you entered the school but it would have been highly inappropriate for me to say anything. And I wasn't even sure if you would want to fulfill that part of your destiny, though in my heart, I had hoped that one day perhaps you'd find it in your heart."

"I had the dream the first night I stayed in your rooms…the night I hexed Michael. I thought at first it was only my mind playing tricks on me but there was a familiarity to it and it felt so right…so real. I woke up and I could still feel my cheek tingling from where you kissed it."

"I meant what I said to you that night. I told you I'd wait until you were part of my world and that is exactly what I tried to do. I didn't want to pressure you, in case you didn't remember. You had to come to me because you wanted our futures to blend together. You had to desire the same thing for our lives before I would even impose the past and present upon you."

"I want it, Albus. I want our lives to be forever entwined and to grow together. I can't remember a time when I've felt happier after a dream than I did that next morning. It was beautiful."

"You were beautiful. You ARE beautiful, in ever sense of the word." He leaned down and kissed her softly, starting on her cheek then working all about her face and neck teasingly as the minutes slowly morphed into the wee hours of morning.

A few days later, Michael was sentenced to a lifetime in Azkaban for casting not one but two unforgivable curses at Albus Dumbledore, for kidnapping Minerva McGonagall with malicious intent, and for attacking Armando Dippet.

Meanwhile, Albus and Minerva continued to nurture their love, watching it blossom into a beautiful and irreplaceable bond.

The End.