Showing Off

Summary: ADMM. Minerva and Albus try to impress each other.

Disclaimer: I have no rights to Harry Potter. This story is written merely for recreational purposes and no copyright infringement is intended. In addition, parts of this are somewhat cliché. Ye be warned

Why on earth did I say that? Albus thought desperately. I never should have… Oh Merlin! He was terrified that he might have gone and ruined whatever chances he had with Minerva, although his estimation of said chances had always been somewhat lacking. She must think of me as an arrogant lout. I was just trying to think of a witty response and instead I said… Oh, Merlin, please let her not be offended!

Minerva did not say anything. She merely stared at him with her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide.

Hurriedly Albus tried to come up with an explanation, any kind of innocuous reason why he might have said that. However, all reasonable explanations for his idiotic remark seemed to have fled.

Finally, Minerva stood up. Briskly she strode to the door. Albus tried to call after her, to stop her leaving, but his voice lodged in his throat.

However, instead of exiting the room, Minerva sharply and firmly shut the door and locked them both in. Next, she strode to the windows and drew the blinds shut.

Minerva walked back over to Albus and stood in front of him. Slowly, she brought her hands to rest on his shoulder. She was visibly breathing hard and her face appeared flushed.

"Prove it." She told him, shakily.

Minerva could not believe her ears. What were they doing? She understood her own motivation, however ill advised it might be, but she knew Albus did not even like her. Why would he flirt like this with someone he did not like? Was he playing with her feelings? He had always been so kind to her. Now, she had locked herself into the situation. She felt miserable.

Minerva looked at her shoes and wondered what was going to happen, more than a little afraid, but Albus simply took her chin in his hand a turned her face towards him, so he could look into her eyes.

Gently, he brushed the back of his other hand against the side of her face. The gesture was reminiscent of pushing an errant strand of hair back into place, though her hair remained tightly bound. Either way, the gesture was affectionate and sweet.

"Pushing back my hair only works when it's not in this infernal bun Albus." Minerva snapped, nerves getting the better of her.

Before she could absorb the rudeness of what she had just said, Albus had undone her hair. Casually, he tossed her hairpins to the ground, and she shivered with nerves.

Once again, Albus gently turned up Minerva's chin and brushed back her hair with infinite tenderness. He smiled at her reassuringly, and hesitantly she managed to smile back. Then, he brought his head down.

Now Minerva was well experienced in the area of kissing, or she had been when she was younger. She had no reason to doubt her ability. As a teacher, she felt she had learned to regard such goings on with a sort of healthy cynicism. However, this was nothing like she had ever experienced.

Her heart was racing and her chest constricted. She felt lightheaded and dizzy and… Oh Merlin!. She had never felt sensations like this so strongly before.

Fuzzily, Minerva noticed that Albus had not been joking about his snogging skill, as her knees buckled and she fell into Albus' chest.

A moment later, when she could breathe again. Minerva took stock of her situation. Albus had her head cradled against him and was stroking her hair. "Merlin." She managed to gasp.

"It's Albus," He answered with cheer.

"Where did you learn? … Never mind, bad question," She muttered.

"Any good?" Albus asked her.

"You could say that." She stammered, still not completely in control of her breath.

"Minerva, would you like to go to dinner tomorrow night?' Albus asked her softly.

"You do things backwards," She muttered.

"What was that?" He asked a hint of nervousness apparent in his voice.

"I mean yes," she answered, laughing. "Yes, Yes!"

"Wonderful," He answered, his eyes full of affection.

They embraced, wrapping their arms tightly around each other as if they would never let go.

"Well, Mr. Best-Kisser. You have won the title. You have the girl. The happy ending is yours. " Minerva said in a mock Lee Jordan voice "What are you going to do now?"

"Kiss you some more." Albus answered in a low voice, lowering his head again.

Meanwhile, in the office of the headmaster. Ms. Fleming and Mr. Lee were waiting impatiently. It had been almost a full hour, and the headmaster showed no sign of coming to discipline them. They had waited in stubborn silence for the entire time, but were fast becoming bored and short-tempered.

Ms. Fleming paced nervously, while Mr. Lee occupied himself watching Fawkes, who seemed to be in an unusually good mood for some reason. The phoenix was almost strutting with joy, as he preened on his perch.

"Well, do you think he's coming?" Mr. Lee finally asked, wondering what could have kept the headmaster so long. The absence was grating and made him feel slighted.

"He's probably off taking points from some other arrogant jerk." Ms. Fleming snapped, glaring at her former boyfriend with malignant anger.

"I am not an arrogant jerk." Retorted Mr. Lee hurriedly. "And besides, you hexed me! I did not do anything to you. "

"You provoked me, and you deserved it. In fact, you deserved much worse." Ms. Fleming answered, furious, almost drawing her wand again, but deciding against it.

"I did not." Mr. Lee answered heatedly.

"You did too." Ms. Fleming answered sharply.

"Did not."

"Did too."

…

Ten minutes later, when they had both grown bored with arguing, Mr. Lee said, "Seriously, what could be taking him so long?"

"He's the headmaster you idiot," Ms. Fleming answered, "What do you think he's doing?"

"How should I know?"

Ms. Fleming pondered that for a moment, "Well whatever it is, it's sure to be deathly dull."

If they only knew.

The End