Sorry this update wasn't incredibly timely, but I did my best. I actually had quite a bit of writer's block with this one, which is odd for the romance chapters like this. But even through the writer's block, I bring you a long, and hopefully satisfying chapter. Please be proud of me for this; it was hard work and took me the better half of the day to write. The next chap might be very short, depending on how much I want to include in it. Oh, and just so you know, this chapter is a bit intense and sexual, so be warned; it's not too explicit, but I feel like I should warn you anyway.
-LunarLitLover
Preview for next time: The next day (I'll say no more – expect that the two plot lines finally completely connect)
Recap: Minerva and Albus have been separated because they got in trouble with the headmaster, who told them that if they cross the line again, they may be chucked out. Minerva didn't want to sacrifice her future and Albus's so she told him he wasn't worth the risk. Following the break up, Minerva hasn't given school or anything else much thought and is slipping. She went to see Albus once to apologize but he was gone. Grindelwald also took over the Ministry of Magic and intends to make his rule legal by bribing/blackmailing the Committee and using torture of some kind against the Minister of Magic, Charles Reese.
Chapter 22: Royal, Loyal Love
Minerva lay sleeping in the library again. It was Sunday evening, so she had been able to spend, more or less, the entire weekend there. After Albus's departure, she'd found nothing more to do than brood.
Sam woke her again, for the hundredth time in the last week, but this time not to direct her to a class. "Min! Minerva! Wake up! Something's happened!"
Minerva woke, as always, with a start. "What is it Sam? Did something happen to Albus?"
"No, no. But, oh, Minerva…I can't believe it! How could this happen!"
"Sam, calm down. Samantha!" Minerva said, trying to calm her, in a reversal of roles.
Sam took a deep breath. "It's Grindelwald. He's taken over the Ministry."
Minerva stood bolt upright. "What!"
"Yes, Minerva. Last night he invaded the Ministry and surrounding areas with thousands of goblins and some wizards. I hear the resistance movement is trying to regain territory but aren't succeeding; all of the Committee members and the Minister himself have been taken."
Minerva didn't hear the end of Sam's summary. Instead her thoughts were drifting. She gasped, "Albus!"
Minerva ran for it, just as she had two days ago, leaving Sam standing alone in the library.
---
Upon reaching Albus's office, Minerva burst in, not even considering knocking.
But when she saw who was inside, she stopped on the spot. Her heart jumped in her throat; although she'd hoped for this, she hadn't expected it.
Albus was sitting there behind his desk.
"Albus!" Minerva gasped in surprise and happiness.
He looked up to see Minerva standing in the doorway; she was close to tears of relief. He, too, looked very surprised; he had certainly not expected to see her.
"Minerva? What are you doing here?" Albus said seeming genuinely pleased to see her. However, unpleasant memories of the last week seemed to have rushed back, for his tone changed and became harsher. "Is there something you need? If not, I'll return to my work." His bright blue eyes bore into hers, daring her to bring up their controversial dispute.
Albus's brash tone did not have any effect on Minerva; she was too relieved to seehim safe and sound. "Oh, Albus!" she said again. "I was so worried…with Grindelwald's takeover…I'm just so happy to see that you're here and…well…safe."
Albus was again surprised, but he recovered and replied with a biting response. "Why do you care where and how I am?"
Minerva was stunned into silence; she had all but forgotten their argument from the week before. However, she attempted a response, "Albus, I…I don't know what to say…I came to see you last week…but you weren't here…I…"
"Minerva, let's not go through this again. You have made your choice, and nothing in the world is going to change your mind."
Minerva winced, obviously hurt, and began to tear. "Albus, that doesn't sound anything like you. And besides, that's not true."
Albus's eyes flashed like Minerva had never seen before. "Oh, really, Minerva? You think there is something that is more important than your career? Oh, pray, tell me what it is; I have yet to see it."
The water from Minerva's eyes began to fall down her cheeks. "Oh, Albus! I came here while you were gone, to…to tell you…to tell you that I was…that I was…"
Albus's manner had changed completely now that Minerva was crying. The anger and bitterness left his eyes and he rose from his chair to join Minerva. His bright blue eyes, now filled with compassion and hope, looked into Minerva's gray ones. "That you were what Minerva?" he asked softly.
"That I was…sorry!" she sniffled. "And I really am, Albus! I really am! I…I came to see you…but you weren't…weren't here..."
"Why did you come then?" Albus asked, almost urgently, taking her hands in his. "What made you want to apologize?"
"Well…Sam talked to me…" Minerva took a gasp between each phrase. "I realized that…that…that you were…are…"
"I am what Minerva?" Albus asked, more anxious than she'd even seen him.
"That you are worth the risk."
Now it was Albus's turn for shocked silence.
"And…I came to…to tell you," Minerva continued, looking down and still shedding tears. "But you weren't…weren't here…and I thought…that…that I'd never see you again." She finally looked up into his eyes, but then hastily looked down again.
"Oh, Minerva," Albus's eyes filled with emotion as he cupped her face. He lifted her chin so she would face him again, and he ran his thumb over her cheek. "That's all I needed to hear."
She smiled up at him warmly.
Albus continued, "Minerva, you need to know that I'm sorry too. I was harsh. Your career is important, both to you and to me."
Minerva tilted her head in confusion. My career is important to him too?
"Minerva, if you want to lie low and take a break until term is out, I'll understand."
Minerva was awed. "You'd do that for me?"
Albus nodded.
"Why?" Minerva asked, obviously still confused.
"Because you're worth it to me, Minerva. And because I love you."
Minerva's mouth fell open. "You…you…you love me?"
"Yes," Albus responded confidently. "So, goodbye for now, Minerva. I'll see you at the end of the year." He kissed her hand lightly, as a chivalrous knight would, and turned to walk back to his desk.
"No," Minerva said, quite unsure of what she was about to say, but sure, deep down, that it was right. "Wait."
Slowly, Albus turned back around to face her.
Boldly, Minerva strode towards him, continuing to voice her revelation. "I'm not going to put our relationship on hold, Albus. We're going to be together for the whole rest of the year."
Albus, grinning knowingly, came forward until he was an inch from Minerva. "Why?" he breathed quietly.
She grinned, too, feeling the happiest she'd ever felt. "Because you're worth it to me, Albus. And because I love you."
At this admittance, Minerva's body immediately relaxed. It was as if it had been hiding this secret for so long, and was now relieved to be able to release it. But not only Minerva's body was affected. Her heart also felt an elated joy, unprecedented by nothing Minerva had ever felt before; she was the happiest she ever felt in her entire life.
Albus grinned so broadly at these words that Minerva feared it would split his face apart. However, her smile was just as wide. Albus, in his bliss, picked up Minerva by the waist and spun her around. She laughed with joy as her dark hair flew out and then back into her face. As Albus set her back down, she placed her loose hair behind her ears. But she wasn't able to finish minding her hair; instead, Albus put his mouth to hers for the first time in what seemed like ages.
The relief, joy and exhilaration of the moment coursed through both Minerva and Albus's veins as their mouths joined and their tongues mingled together in the most liberating and enjoyable experience that both of them had ever had. Minerva's tongue dove farther into Albus's mouth in an unsuccessful attempt to quell her desire and passion. Albus responded by wrapping his arms tighter around her, as if he never wanted to let her go. Minerva's mind was on break and she had no second thoughts when she pulled Albus's shirt over his head.
They continued to snog more passionately than ever as they proceeded to the back of the room where another door was situated. They had trouble opening the door for Albus's hands had traveled up Minerva's shirt and were busy amusing themselves. Minerva, basking in the incredible sensation, also had occupied hands; they were wrapped around Albus's neck and also grappling up and down his bare back. To open the door, Minerva eventually had to let go of Albus with one hand and twist the doorknob. But she didn't have time to relocate her hand because Albus's passion caused him to drive her back hard into the door. Minerva was not at all injured or even angered by this; on the contrary, she took a hold of Albus's hair in order to pull him closer into her.
What Minerva knew, but had not seen, was that they were standing in Albus's private quarters. All of his personal items were arranged neatly around the room. These items included a moving photo of his brother, Alberforth, his personal pensieve, as well as dozens and dozens of books on various subjects. There was a medium-sized dresser against the closest wall and a small mirror hanging above that. Against the next wall was a squashy armchair that no doubt served as Albus's comfortable thinking chair (his pensieve was resting on an end table next to it). However, the centerpiece of the room was a large four-poster bed. Inside the long, heavy drapes was a mattress that appeared fluffier than the puffiest cloud. The bed was done up in scarlet and gold, obviously in spirit of the house Albus was head of. Even the dozens of pillows on top matched the deccor.
The couple, still intently snogging, made their way to the room's center without too much difficulty. However, this should have been quite a feat with Minerva's hands in Albus's pockets and with Albus's hands caressing Minerva's breasts beneath both her shirt and her bra. Minerva's shirt was too restricting for him, so he removed it in a matter of seconds; after all, he was shirtless, so why shouldn't she join him? Albus took delight in his newfound freedom as Minerva took pleasure from her own excursions. Yet, Albus's hands were not satisfied. He reached down to resort to her lower half.
Minerva, seeing Albus abandon her chest, thought Albus to be bored of it. She tore her hands out of Albus's pockets and her tongue out of his mouth. She looked into his eyes, giving him a look of confusion and submission. His bright blue eyes begged like a young puppy dog's for her to return to him. She obliged, but not before unfastening the clasps on her bra and letting it drop to the floor.
Although Albus said nothing, his glee seemed to scream throughout the room. His hands, his eyes and his mouth all seemed to be drawn to the newly exposed site and he completely released his passion and desire upon it. Minerva yelped and moaned in the joyous agony, not knowing or caring who could hear her through the two rooms and the corridor.
Albus finally pulled himself away from the region, and did as he had planned to do before; resort to the areas below her waist. Minerva let his hands completely explore whatever they wanted, so long as his mouth stayed with hers. And it did, while Albus's hands ran up her skirt and to her bottom.
He then picked up Minerva and she curled her legs around his torso, as they had done so many times before. However, Albus's hands did not stay located on Minerva's backside. He, having full exposure to Minerva's groin, due to the skirt, rubbed his hands up and down that site for the first time. He pushed rather roughly for such a sensitive area, and Minerva jutted her pelvis backwards on instinct. Albus, not wishing to push her farther than she wanted to go, pulled his head back and gave her a questioning look. Her response was a grin and a nod of submission before she pushed her pelvis back into Albus's hand hard.
They enjoyed each other's bodies and their snog for a while longer before Minerva placed Albus's hands on the waistband of her skirt, panties and stockings. He pulled away once more and looked at her questioning. "Is this really what you want, Minerva?" he asked, sincerely caring for his lover. "You know I want this, but I can hold off for a while – or completely – if that's what you want."
"Albus, I want you, and only you, right here, right now, more than I've wanted anything in my entire life," she responded, showing off her bright teeth in a beautiful, sincere smile.
Albus smiled back just as sincerely.
He then slid his tongue back into Minerva's mouth before grabbing all three garments at once. With both hands, he pulled down, and backed away to properly admire the sight. To his utter amazement, he stood facing the most beautiful girl – woman – he'd ever laid eyes on. He pulled farther away from her after the deed was done to allow his eyes to travel the length of her body. He was now able to take in all the flawless, untouched curves of his muse, his lover – his love.
Seeing his delight, Minerva pranced back to him, carefully trying to avoid the discarded clothes lying haphazardly on the floor. Upon reaching him, she pounced, entangling her arms, tongue, legs and hair around him. He lifted her off the ground once more, and turned halfway around so that her back was to the bed. Kissing his goddess with exhilarating pleasure, he laid her gently on the bed, immersed in the pile of pillows, with himself still entangled in her grasp. She found the fastenings for his pants, and quickly undid them. Now all that was left was his undergarment.
However, as Minerva was about to toss the useless pants to the side, Albus stopped her. He removed his wand from them and turned to shut the door with it. The door flew closed, but Albus wasn't finished just yet. Next he changed the color of the bed to a deep, rich purple, which he once had said was for royalty.
Tossing the last few pieces of clothing aside, he took Minerva in his arms and explained, "Purple. For the queen of my heart."
Minerva gave Albus a smile so wide that he knew its edges would touch the stars.