Dear Readers,

Sorry thatI forgot author's notes on the last chapter. I will try not to forget again. And the next chapter is ready and will be posted soon, depending on the number of reviews. But please enjoy this one.

-LunarLitLover

Recap: Albus and Minerva got hot and steamy on Valentine's day and Albus also gave her a heart necklace that can store immaterial things

Preview (for next time): Grindelwald inspects the goblin troops and prepares to deploy them to the Ministry within the week

Chapter 17: How Serious? How Far?

Albus hunched over his desk, intently occupied with what sat on top of it.

Which was Minerva.

It was dinnertime. Classes had just let out. Despite the light and the hustle and bustle of the hour, the couple could not stand another moment apart. Minerva had come to Albus's office following the end of her classes, and the snogging had started immediately. Of course, the likelihood of being caught was much higher at this busy hour, but they had locked the door. Nevertheless, they were sacrificing security for a quenching of desire.

Except that being together didn't really quench the passion. It heightened it.

Minerva lay across the mound of papers on Albus's desk. Many of them were wrinkled and folded. But he didn't care. All he cared about was Minerva's tongue in his mouth and his in her's.

Minerva's arms encircled Albus's neck and she pulled him father down to the table, closer to her. His sweaty palms attempted to brace himself against the table, but he was pushing most of his bodyweight on Minerva, intent to quell his need. The pressure was immense, and Minerva's breasts were screaming for relief. She responded to the pain by kissing Albus more vigorously.

His mouth released hers but returned immediately, this time wider and more famished. Both were panting and gasping consistently. Minerva ran her fingers though Albus hair before removing them to unfasten the catch on her cloak. This left her in a short plaid skirt, and a sleeveless, v-neck sweater with a white button-up blouse under it. The warming spring air allowed her to wear such things, and she was grateful to it for relieving some of the heat from her and Albus.

Her hands unbuttoned the first few buttons that were above the sweater before returning her hands to Albus's neck. The brief respite from snogging had left Albus even more delirious and he plunged his tongue farther into the cavity of Minerva's mouth. Her response was to rap both legs around Albus's middle, leaving her groin completely exposed, due to the length of her skirt.

Albus pressed her into the table hard, then harder. Once Minerva let out a gasp, he lifted her off the table, still holding her as tightly as before. Every millimeter of their bodies that could possibly be touching was. All parts of their mouths were connected. Their torsos were together, as well as their legs. Minerva's groin was against Albus's, as well.

Minerva arched back in pleasurable pain. Her body nearly folded back; although her legs and pelvis stayed grounded in place, her entire upper body bent back. Her stomach peaked out above her skirt and her breasts stretched under her two shirts. Her arms also reached, nearly touching the floor. But Minerva soon returned to Albus's embrace.

She kissed his neck sensually and panted in a whisper into his ear, "I…never knew…that I…was a gymnast…"

"I…figured…that you were…but I thought….I was…too old…for this…" Albus responded, also gasping for air.

Minerva grinned, "Bollocks."

Albus ran his fingers up Minerva's leg before resorting to her upper inner thigh. However, yet again, there was a garment in the way. As required by Hogwarts rules, all skirts above the knee had to be worn with stockings. Minerva was wearing some, although thin, and they continued all the way up to her waist. Albus was finished fooling around with useless clothing. He grabbed a bit of the thin sheer in his hand and pulled. The stockings ripped instantly, providing a way for Albus to get to the bare skin on Minerva's upper leg.

However, only now did Albus realize that the ripping had caused Minerva's leg to break open, as well. A trickle of red blood ran down her leg. Albus, immediately concerned, reached for his wand for a quick fix. Minerva shook her head and immediately reclaimed Albus's hand. Yet, in his moment of hesitation, Minerva had managed to remove her top layer of clothing. The sweater was tossed in the corner, leaving Minerva in a tight, half-way unbuttoned white blouse. The sweat from the heat had wet her shirt so profusely that her white lacy bra showed clearly though the thin shirt.

Albus slid his hands up her shirt, and used them at first to encircle and caress her waist. That didn't last long though. Minerva rapped her legs tighter around Albus and he kissed her more vigorously as he slid his long-fingered hands farther up her shirt. He reached her breasts and rubbed his hands up and down the bra. Pulling away, Albus looked in Minerva's eyes for conformation. Although the lump in her throat prevented her from speaking, she used her wide eyes to look back at Albus and nodded.

He slid his tongue into her mouth before sliding his hands up her bra. She clung tighter to him as he mapped the uncharted territory. Albus caressed his hands over every part of her breasts, learning each crevasse by heart. He applied pressure to the region and Minerva moaned. Albus squeezed and she let out a high-pitched sound. Then, harder, Albus-

Knock. Knock.

Someone was at the door. Albus and Minerva glanced at each other in surprise before Albus cleared his throat and requested a moment.

However, the voice of Slughorn replied, "This can't wait, Albus."

Minerva jumped off of Albus and grabbed her sweater. She heard "Alohomora!" outside of the door and managed todive under Albus's desk just as the door swung open. She knew Albus was still sweaty, and panting, but there was nothing for it with such short notice.

She could almost feel Horace Slughorn's eyes scan the room. At that moment Minerva herself saw that part of her shredded stocking was sticking out form behind the desk. However, to move it now would be a dead giveaway that there was someone else in the room. There was nothing more Minerva could do now except be quiet and trust Albus to handle the situation.

"What's that?" Slughorn asked.

"Oh, that?" Albus responded. "Well, I needed a new cloak, so I ordered one from Madame Malkin's."

"But that's a woman's cloak."

"I know," Albus replied calmly. "They sent me the wrong order."

Minerva looked up to see her cloak on the table above her. Brilliant, Minerva. Simply brilliant. And you're supposed to be a top student.

"Hmm," Slughorn did not sound convinced. "Well anyways, Albus, I need to talk to you."

"Of course, Horace. Anything for you. Just set the date and time."

"How about now."

"Now?" Albus sounded surprised. "Well, I suppose, but make it quick, please, because I'm expecting a student for tutoring."

"It will only take a minute, Albus."

Albus waited patiently.

"Albus, you would call us friends, wouldn't you? Good enough to cover for each other and those who can trust each other?"

"I would say so, Horace."

"I agree. You know what I'm involved in, Albus…and because of it, I have a great many friends, including many…well, goblin ones. They have told me what you are up to. I know you have covered for me, and I'm doing the same for you now. I don't know how deep in you are, but be careful. Resistance is dangerous. So is Grindelwald. I won't tell anyone of it, but I beg you to get out before you get yourself hurt or captured."

"I really haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about, Horace," Albus responded.

"Very well then, Albus. I shall not speak of it again to you or anyone else. I understand that secrecy is of the utmost importance."

---

"It was strange," Minerva continued to tell her four seventh year roommates, tending the infected cut on her leg at the same time. "Slughorn was certain he knew something about Albus, but Albus refused to talk about it to both him and me. I think that he just doesn't want to tell anyone about his resistance work against Grindelwald."

"Maybe, Min," Samantha agreed, "But we've exhausted this subject. And none of us girls want to hear of it anyway. We want to here about the snog session with Albus."

Minerva blushed as the other three seventh year girls nodded.

"No," Minerva replied, but Samantha jumped on her bed and began tickling her immediately. "Alright! Alright! I'll tell you." Minerva proceeded to explain the day's event and when she was finished, her audience was all open-mouthed.

"And to think she used to be a straight-laced girl," Samantha said to the other girls. They again nodded their agreement.

Then one asked, "How serious is this? Do you care about him? This is your seventh year; you'll be leaving in a few months. What then?"

Minerva shrugged, "I don't know what will happen. All I know is that now I want to be with him. However strange this sounds, our relationship means a lot to me. I certainly care about him."

"And does he care for you? How do you know he's not using you? You're so young for him." another asked.

"He gave her a bloody necklace worth a fortune and stays clean-shaven for her! What more can you ask of a guy?" Samantha put in.

"But how far would you go with him?" the first girl asked. "Would you shag him?"

Minerva simply blushed and looked down. The girls were sure she wasn't going to answer when she replied, "I…I think…that I…would."

The room gasped.

"But that's a great risk, Minerva, with him being a teacher and all," one girl said.

Minerva prepared her response, smiling and remembering all those who had given her the same advice months ago. Then she replied, "Taking chances is the only way to truly live life,"