Dear Reader,

I just realized that I made a mistake with regard to the ball. In an earlier chapter, I said it would be a Christmas ball, but then at the ball I describe leaves blowing around. I've decided that the ball was a Christmas ball, but it hadn't snowed yet and the old fall leaves are still blowing around. So in this chapter it will be early January. I hope everyone had a Happy Christmas!

Hope you enjoy this chappie! Hopefully another will be soon to come.

-LunarLitLover

Preview (for next time): not sure; either another of Grindelwald plotting or one of Minerva talking w/ her friends

Recap: Minerva and Albus are together

Chapter 12: Snow-Covered Hogsmeade

Minerva snuggled farther into Albus's arms as they made they're way down the snow-covered streets of Hogsmeade.

Albus turned his head to smile at her. "So are you ready for this, Minerva?" he whispered into her ear.

Under both cloak and spell for invisibility, the couple had to keep quiet to avoid being heard and detected. Minerva stuck with this principle and leaned in close to whisper back. "For what, Albus?" she breathed seductively into his ear.

"Well, for your-" Both Albus's feet and tongue stopped abruptly. "Minerva!" he hissed anxiously, "Come into this shop!" He indicated a vandalized store that had clearly been a target in Grindelwald's raids. "Hurry!"

After hastily turning into the shop, Albus and Minerva made their way to an undamaged corner.

"What was that about!" Minerva demanded as soon as they were out of earshot. "Why did you go mad and pull me in here!"

"Calm down, Min. Headmaster Dippet was coming towards us. I have no doubt he would have seen us had we kept traveling on our previous course."

The two stepped out of the rubble hand-in-hand as Minerva asked how it could be possible for Headmaster Dippet to see them through all the enchantments.

"Charms and cloaks are things powerful wizards have no trouble seeing through," Albus replied. "And I believe we already agreed that being seen together by a Hogwarts's authority would be most unwise."

Minerva nodded her agreement before changing the subject. "So what am I supposed to be ready for?"

"Oh, well, your Christmas present," Albus answered casually.

"What?" Minerva asked, surprised.

"Well, I didn't have a chance to get it before Christmas, and you were on that ski trip with your family over the holidays, so we're going to get it now."

"Oh, but Albus-"

"No need to thank me, Minerva. Nor to tell me it wasn't necessary. Just close your eyes."

She sighed before obliging. Once she did, though, Albus reached from behind to place his hands over her eyes. He opened the door ahead with his wand and gently pushed her into the warm shop. Which shop it was, though, she had no idea.

Albus gradually slid his hands off her face and gently said in her ear, "You can open your eyes."

Minerva slowly raised her eyelids and opened her eyes to all of the things surrounding her. Once it all came into focus, she gasped. It was a store entirely for aurors, a new one that she'd never been to before.

"It's only just opened," Albus said, grinning; he'd seen the look in Minerva's face. "It's called All Auror Articles."

Minerva twisted in the cloak turning to face Albus, a look of sheer astonishment on her face. "You may have anything you want," he whispered to her. She gave him a rather violent hug before turning to inspect the merchandise.

When no one was looking, she slid out from underneath the invisibility cloak and blended into the crowd. She began to patrol the shop while Albus stood aside in the corner, observing her from under the cloak.

Nearly an hour passed before Minerva was ready to buy. She approached Albus carrying three items: Polmer's Complete Guide to Auror Transfiguration, a foe glass and a traveling potion-making kit (all ingredients included for only five galleons!)

"Is this what you want?" Albus asked her.

"Well, the guide can be my present from you, and I'll just get these other two things for myself…"

"Oh, no you don't, Minerva!" Albus argued. "I'm getting you all of these."

Minerva clutched them tightly to her chest and protested, "No, Albus, I don't think so…it's too much…"

Albus refused to even begin this squabble; he simply flicked his wand and all three items flew into his hand. Minerva jutted her hiph out in objection, but Albus proceeded to the counter, smoothly sliding off the cloak. Once he paid the twenty galleons, he returned to Minerva and promptly threw the cloak over them both.

Minerva was close to tears with gratitude. "Thank you, Albus, thank you," she whispered just before he reached for her face. He caressed her cheeks for a moment before putting his lips to hers. They lingered there for a moment as both parties experienced an unprecedented pure joy and passion.

However, their kiss was cut short when Albus looked up to see Horace Slughorn enter the shop.

Albus pulled away from the embrace immediately. "Minerva," he said, getting her attention. "It's professor Slughorn. We can't let him see us."

By now, Minerva knew better than to argue, and she followed Albus behind a display of wand maintenance supplies.

Albus, however, explained anyway: "Professor Slughorn is a very powerful wizard. He also knows me well and would be able to detect my magical signature in the air. We must leave quickly. But we can't be seen either." Slughorn did indeed have a clear view of the door, and so they crouched behind the display, waiting for the coast to be clear.

They stayed in this position for several minutes as Slughorn hurriedly scrambled about the shop, grabbing several foe glasses, sneakescopes and the like. He seemed quite paranoid and rushed around like a maniac until he began to wait in line. Then he relaxed completely, his body going limp and barely holding his twenty-or-so anti-enemy items.

Minerva did not have time to be puzzled by this strange behavior; Albus yanked her arm to tell her to move. They shuffled across the length of the store and out the exit into the icy street.

Giggling as she slipped on the ice, Minerva slid into Albus's open arms. However he only sighed, "He didn't see us; Horace didn't see us."

Minerva screwed up her face in puzzlement. What does he mean "he didn't see us"? Minerva wondered.When they'd reached the door, Minerva had glanced back at Slughorn.

She would have sworn he'd winked in their direction.