Valentine's Day 1993

Albus stifled a sigh as he saw Gilderoy Lockhart sauntering towards him. After a long late night of hard work, and with a slight headache from over sleeping and missing breakfast, he really didn't want to listen to yet another one of Gilderoy's stories. Briefly he contemplated running, but Gilderoy was a pleasant enough fellow after all, even if he was prone to exagerate a little. And there was of course the benefit that he infuriated Severus, which was always amusing. So Albus quelled his desire to vanish rapidly in the opposite direction, and set his face into a merry beam as Gilderoy approached.

Before he could even wish Gilderoy a very good morning indeed, Gilderoy had begun to tell Albus yet another one of his stories, in which Gilderoy had valourously achieved feats which even Albus himself would have found difficult.

Albus listened with half his attention, nodded politely at all the right points, and mused upon whether or not sherbert lemons on toast were a suitable breakfast. He had just decided they weren't, and was happily contemplating marshmallows and chocolate on toast instead, when he heard Gilderoy mention Minerva's name.

"I beg your pardon, my dear Gilderoy, but what was that you said about Minerva?" Albus asked, as he fixed Gilderoy with his full attention.

Gilderoy positively swelled with delight as he noticed how intensely interested the Headmaster was in what he had to say, of course it was scarcely surprising, Dumbledore must admire his exploits immensely. "Oh let's not talk about that, after all I told you all about it once already," Gilderoy answered dismissively, "I'm sure you'd really much rather hear about the time I defeated an entire horde of trolls singlehandedly..."

There was a distinct flash in Albus' eyes, as he held up his hand, a distinct note of command in his tone, as he said, "Thank you Gilderoy, but I would far rather that you repeat what you just said about Minerva. I'm afraid I have a slight headache and my attention may have wandered briefly, I do apologise, but if you wouldn't mind repeating yourself." The normal gentleness had returned to Albus' voice by now, and his eyes twinkled just as benignly and brightly as ever, though their gaze was still piercing.

Albus listened intently as Gilderoy described how he had decorated the walls of the Great Hall with gorgous pink flowers, how he had caused adorable pink confetti to cascade from the ceiling, and how he had got dwarves dressed as cupid to parade into the hall.

"You should have seen it Headmaster, Minerva loved it, why she could barely stop smiling!" Gilderoy finished at last.

Albus' blue eyes twinkled brightly as he listened, he had been contemplating a quiet dinner for two, with wine and roses, but Gilderoy's idea sounded so much more spectacular. Minerva was bound to be thrilled if he added some little touches of his own, to what Gilderoy had already done. Pausing only to thank Gilderoy profusely, Albus almost pranced down the passage, his mind alive with plans.

The school day was nearly over, and Albus hummed happily, as he put the finishing touches to the setting for a romantic meal for two. Minerva would soon be here, and she would certainly be impressed with his efforts this Valentine's day.

Albus had been inspired by Gilderoy's genius. The decoration of the Great Hall had been a masterful idea in Albus' view, and so he'd decided to add a few little touches of his own. Such as decorating Minerva's classroom in a similar manner, the floating cherubs that constantly fluttered around had been a particularly nice touch, and it was so cute how they shot little love arrows from their bows. But the idea he was proudest of, had been the giant singing and dancing cookies.

Albus sighed regretfully as he lit the two tall candles at the centre of the table. If only he had been at breakfast this morning, and had seen it for himself, Minerva must have been so impressed. Perhaps she'd even been a little disappointed when she'd discovered it was Gilderoy's work, and not his. Still he'd set all that right now. Why he scarcely needed to mention that he'd got his ideas from Gilderoy, and had been planning a far more sedate Valentine's day.

Albus' eyes shone in anticipation, as he straightened the red roses, that stood in a crystal vase at the centre of the table. A final flick of his wand, and soft violin music began to play, as candles floated gently in the air. Albus beamed, and settled back in his oversized armchair to await Minerva.

Albus' eyes brightened as he heard Minerva's footsteps. He frowned in mild confusion at how irate her knock sounded, then flinched as his door crashed open, and Minerva erupted into the room, her eyes blazing furiously.

"Honestly that blasted Lockhart! Not content with decorating the Great Hall, he then decides to inflict his idiocy on my classroom of all places! Knee deep in pink confetti, not to mention the revolting colour he turned my walls! Wretched cherubs shooting arrows everywhere and fluttering around! And as if that wasn't enough, my class was constantly invaded by streams of giant dancing cookies which insisted on serenading me! If I get my hands on that blasted Lockhart I shall hex him into the middle of next month!" Minerva glared fiercely around her, as though she suspected Albus of hiding Lockhart in his chambers, then added, "Well at least you didn't do anything ridiculous this year!"

"No... of course not, my dear..." Albus muttered as he shifted uneasily in his seat. "It was all Gilderoy, all of it..." He added unconvincingly, as he tried to ignore the pang of guilt at blaming Gilderoy, but if Minerva ever found out it was him she'd kill him, slowly and painfully.

Albus eyed Minerva warily, as she strode back and forth across the room, growling Scottish swear words about Gilderoy, and describing in excruciating detail what she'd like to do to him. So long as she continued to believe that Gilderoy was responsible for everything he was safe.

"My poor darling... would you like me to fire him for you?" Albus soothed, as he turned sky blue eyes on his wife, eyes full of innocence and charm.

"Don't toy with me Albus! You know very well you're far too soft hearted to fire anyone!"

"Then perhaps I could turn his chambers some quite hideous colour for you..." Albus offered.

"I believe we've had quite enough of that type of nonsence, thank you." Minerva answered stiffly.

At last with a combination of charm, and his extra special for emergencies only twinkle, Albus managed to persuade Minerva to take her seat at the lovingly prepared table for two. Within minutes Minerva seemed to have forgotten all about the days events, as she sipped her favourite wine, and graced him with the smile she saved for him alone.

Several times during their meal Albus had the distinct impression that Minerva was eyeing him oddly, almost as though she were appraising him. It almost reminded him of the way she eyed the Weasley twins, when she suspected them of some prank or another. Albus shifted nervously in his chair as he felt Minerva's gaze on him once more. Why on earth had he listened to Gilderoy?

As the evening wore on Albus relaxed. Minerva seemed perfectly happy, and doubtless his impression that she suspected him of involvment in decorating her classroom, and the giant cookies was just a foolish notion of his. After all, how could she possibly know?

Albus' blue eyes danced lightly across his wife, she looked so lovely with her dark hair loose and flowing down her back. A casual flick of his wand, and the violin music changed to Minerva's special song, the song that she was unable to resist. The music surged in the room, growing subtly louder, and Albus turned hopeful blue eyes on his wife. To his delight he saw the clear signs of the desired response.

Within minutes they were lying on the soft rug in front of the fire, with half their clothes off. Violin music played in the background, candles floated just below the ceiling, seeming almost to sway gently with the music, and the fire flickered softly in the hearth bathing Albus and Minerva's skin in a warm glow, as they lay together on the rug.

Albus' gaze flitted appreciatively across his wife's body, as she stretched beside him. There was something almost feline in her elegant movement. The drift of his eyes slowed as he drank in every detail of her, how her skin shone like silk, how perfect every inch of her was. Passion flashed in his blue eyes, as he leaned over her, resting on one elbow. A final admiring gaze at her body, and he leaned down to kiss her.

Before he knew what was happening, Minerva's eyes had flashed at him, her hand had pushed hard against his chest, and Albus was sprawled flat on his back. Minerva's hand on his chest pressed him down, holding him there, as she hovered over him, emerald eyes glinting triumphantly. "And now Albus Dumbledore, I believe I have you just where I want you..."

There was a distinct note of a growl in her tone, as her fingers drifted through the silver hairs on his chest, her nails brushing lightly against his skin, in a way that was both tender and vaguely threatening. He really was in a particularly vunerable position. One he found both exciting and a little frightening.

As Albus saw the flash in Minerva's green eyes, he had the feeling that she was delighting in having him exactly where she wanted him, that she enjoyed the power she wielded at this moment. The idea made his pulse race, his heart pound.

The fire in Minerva's eyes intensified, "And now Albus, I wish to discuss something with you..."

"Yes, my love?" Albus answered softly, as he felt a tingle of excitement run through him, as he saw the flash in his wife's eyes, heard the slight note of fierceness in her voice.

The pressure from Minerva's hand increased very slightly, as fiery emerald eyes bored into him. "If you ever turn my classroom pink, or indeed any other hideous colour ever again, I shall be forced to... make my displeasure known!"

"How did you... I mean, it was Lockhart..." Albus gasped.

"We both know it was not." Minerva's fingers trailed through his chest hairs, which were now twined around her fingers. "Do I make myself clear, Albus?"

Albus winced as he felt the faintest of tugs on his chest hair. God, she was sexy when she was like this. The distinct note of a growl in her voice, the veiled threat in her eyes, the sudden switch from tender to fiercesome - he was the luckiest man in the world to have won her heart. Even if it was a little frightening being in such a vunerable position as this.

"And Albus do not even contemplate trying to come up with any other tricks to play on me." Again the merest of tugs on his chest hair, the touch of her nails light against his skin.

Oh the danger in her voice! The veiled threat in her tone! Such heady delight! It was sorely tempting, but for now at least he was willing to surrender, and enjoy the surrendering. "I'm your's my darling, do with me as you will." Albus turned hopeful blue eyes on his wife, a moment of blissful anticipation, and then she kissed him fiercily till the breath was almost gone from his lungs.

Author's Notes

Whew at last this chapter is done, this is probably the most explicit I've ever written them, the idea just sprang to mind really. So, how was it?

I am now in hiding in case Minerva disapproves of me writing this. ;)