"Perfect." With that said, he entered her doors for the second time that evening.

Minerva's breath caught in her chest. As soon as he touched her, she felt the long-forgotten memories of days past when they had been a young married couple. Due to their duties to Hogwarts School and their conflicting schedules, they never really had intimate moments alone to themselves save for the occasional pat on the hand that Albus gave Minerva in the presence of students. They had been forced to keep their marriage a secret, for their sake, and those around them.

Now Albus had come to Minerva at last; his heartbeat was her heartbeat, his lips were simultaneously hers. Twenty years of longing finally poured through as they held each other and loved each other. No words were necessary…what they had to say to each other could be just as effectively shown to each other.

Minerva finally drew a breath and pressed a slender finger to Albus' lips.

"Al—Albus, I need to get out, now. I…never realized how painful it is to make love in a bathtub. My towel is…where is it, Albus?"

"Here," Albus wrapped the red tartan around their bodies together and returned to kissing her lips passionately. Somehow, they managed not to trip as they made it to Minerva's queen-sized bed. Albus ended their embrace and propped on one elbow to look down at Minerva with love.

"Tell me, dearest. Are you happy?"

"I always am, Albus, whenever…whenever I'm with you. I've missed you so. I'm sorry I was cross with you at the beginning. Thank you for remembering my birthday."

"Quite understandable. You're forgiven, love. Oh, that reminds me…I have a second present for you."

Minerva sat up, alert as a child. "Oh, really? I thought your coming here was the second present.

Albus laughed softly, pecking her gently on the lips.

"My love, you seem to have forgotten that you are…severely lacking in dress. Now wait here for me."

Albus rose gracefully and didn't seem to notice that he, too, was not quite as dressed as he should have been. A robe was draped casually over his shoulders—Minerva quickly looked around and found a similar robe for herself. She slipped it on and tightly knotted it around her waist. Albus came soon after with emerald colored dress robes and…black lacy lingerie. Minerva winced at the sight; Albus grinned mischievously.

"I looked through your bureau and thought my present merited extra recognition. Today is a special day, my darling. I want you to even lovelier than you normally are. Now do try it on, please?

Minerva had opened her mouth indignantly to protest his snooping through her lingerie, but she nodded tersely. She felt especially nervous dressing in an outfit so lovingly picked out for her by him. She gathered the robes to her chest and quickly went to her bathroom. Ten minutes later, she hesitantly stepped out…looking breathtaking.

Albus was waiting for her in her sitting room and he widened his beaming smile when he saw her. His heart soared as he saw her tentative smile shine softly at him. Crossing the room with a brisk stride, Albus enveloped her in his embrace. Minerva held on to Albus, feeling her world rest at peace. Albus stepped back to admire her figure, so slim and lovely still. Hooking a finger quickly into her scoop-neck collar, he peeked inside.

Minerva pulled away at that, her scowl prominent but her eyes twinkling.

"What, may I ask, are you doing, Al?"

"Just checking," Albus replied, with more of a smile.

Minerva backed away from him, her confidence melting away suddenly. She remembered the thin scar that had been permanently etched over her heart by Voldemort himself when he dueled her during the First Wizarding War. The curse had barely left her alive, and left its mark with, in her opinion, an ugly scar. She didn't like anyone to see it, and much less Albus, because she wanted to be beautiful for him.

Albus' smile faded when he saw her eyes suddenly cloud with painful memories. He gently lifted his palm to her downcast face and kissed her lips.

"I'm sorry if I offended you, Minerva."

"It's…quite…all right, Albus. Don't worry about it." Minerva replied in a constricted voice. She clutched the dress robes over her scar and slowly sank to the chaise armchair. Albus looked stricken. Moving slowly to stand behind her, he carefully placed a hand on her shoulder. When she did not shrug him off, he gently began massaging the taut muscles in her neck.

"Thank you, Albus. For…for everything." Minerva leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes. Albus leaned forward and kissed her once more, perhaps for the final time today.

Both of them sought to make their moment together last; Albus committed to his memory the wonderful feel of Minerva's velvet lips against his, so soft and yielding. Minerva cradled his face in her cool palms, stroking every line of his face.

Then, it was time for them to go to the feast. As Albus bowed gallantly and offered Minerva his arm, she took it with a slightly sad smile.

"Albus, remember that now is the time for us to go together as Headmaster and Deputy…and not as…husband and wife."

"Yes, I know, my darling. But since we're still not in earshot of our students, I shall say that you, my dearest, look ravishing. Oh, of course, credit to my expert designer eye, and…"

Minerva jabbed him playfully in the ribs as she giggled.

"Hush, Al. It isn't wise to say such things now." She tilted her face up and brushed her soft lips once again against his.

"Minerva, your kiss still tastes like chocolate. I shall have to thank Mr. Potter and his friends for that…"

"After I've given them their detention, love."

AN: Well, we have come to the end of this story, my dear readers. I hope you've enjoyed it. On a side note, I originally wasn't going to write a sixth chapter, but…well, I guess I did. It's kind of…sad, in a way, I guess you could say. Anyway, Accio Reviews and please let me know if I should continue writing MMAD stories!