Eventually, the dinner ended, and their discussion changed after he explained the big plan to her. But now, the hour was getting late, and Roxanne barely had to check the clock on the wall to know she had to leave.
She needed to inform Albus if she wished to be on schedule and prepare him for tomorrow night's biggest wave Gellert had caused so far.
"Thank you for the dinner, Gellert, and for trusting me," she started and placed the folded napkin next to her plate. "I am afraid it is getting late, and I would like to get a few more hours of sleep," she said.
"Of course," he said, standing up and leading her towards the door.
Roxanne was a foot ahead of him, and she could feel his presence, following right behind her like a haunting and dangerous shadow that threatened to harm anyone who dared to stand in her way. It was an odd combination of feelings, making her feel slightly on edge but also warm, at the passively caring side of the Dark Wizard.
She placed her hand on the doorknob, twisted it, and was about to open the door when he moved. His palm was flat against the wooden door, and he leaned forward, using his weight to keep the door closed and prevent her from leaving.
The unexpected move surprised her and she turned to face him, only to realize just how close they were to one another. With barely a tiny gap between their bodies, she could almost sense his breath reaching her lips while their eyes locked with one another.
Gellert pulled his hand back but could not move from where he stood. His breathing was steady, and there was this resurfacing darkness in his eyes upon seeing her like that, trapped between him and the door, fully open for the take.
With a gentle move, he placed his fingers against her warm cheek and gently traced lines on the skin, causing goosebumps to appear. He trailed a path towards the edge of her lip, and with his thumb, he gently wiped away a small wine stain she had.
All this time, his eyes never felt hers and his moves were done with the utmost confidence and seduction, not once missing a beat.
It was done slowly, and Roxanne found herself almost forgetting to exhale at the sudden physical contact. She did not look away but also did not move, finding her body rooted on the spot. Of course, that did not mean she did not yearn to lean on his fingers and take a step closer, but she fought it, afraid of how things would go if she dared to wake up her feeling for him.
Feelings that never truly went away, no matter what she told herself and others.
She felt her lips dry from being parted for so long and gently passed her tongue over them without much thought.
It immediately got his attention, his eyes falling on them as the temptations grew along with the sexual tension both had for one another all those years.
Gellert could still remember how sweet her lips tasted, even if he was no longer a teenager, and he was curious if they still did the same... if she shared the feelings he once confessed to him that she had.
Slowly, he leaned forward, holding back his urge to press her against the door and take her right there and then, being always the one manhandling his lovers, whether that be Roxanne or Albus.
She did not fight him or try to move. Instead, her lips parted just a little bit more, and she seemed to welcome him.
Eventually, he closed the gap between them and let himself be reminded of her lips' sweet taste. The edge of her mouth still held his hand while the other moved to hold her waist, ensuring she would not be able to pull back.
Her hands moved to rest on his chest, trying to hold a futile effort to keep him at bay. She obediently followed his lead, dormant feelings being awoken like the spark that ignited a strong flame. Any logical part of her mind was temporarily silenced, and she fought hard not to give in to her urges.
Eventually, both pulled back to allow lungs to re-enter their lungs but did not move from their position. Their faces were so close, their noses touching, but none had made the next move, not yet.
"Roxanne", he breathed out her name in a tone that made her legs feel weak.
Thankfully for her, the wall at the clock was heard; pointers indicate that it was exactly midnight and the day had officially ended.
The wrong sudden sound seemed to snap her from whatever trance she was in, and she gently cleared her throat before taking half a step back. She did not have any more space to go, but she passed the message loud and clear.
"It is late. We both should get some rest," she said, her gaze cast downwards in fear that she would not be able to finish that sentence if she dared look into his eyes again.
If he was disappointed, he did not show it. He remained gentle with his moves, taking two steps back and releasing her waist. "Of course. I bid you a pleasant night."
Without another word, Roxanne turned and opened the door. He did not try to stop her and merely watched her as she left his office, heading for her room at the most normal and stable pace she could; her thoughts and emotions curled to clash with one another at the line she almost crossed.
Roxanne returned to her room and cast the magical lock spell she had invented, ensuring she would have her privacy. She took a few moments to pace up and down, her mind relieving the small but addictive scene of the kiss.
I need to get a hold of myself, she thought and placed her hands over her face, gently pulling them down in an attempt to regain her composure.
Eventually, after what felt like hours but were mere minutes, she grabbed the phoenix feather and sat on her bed. It was about time to meet with Albus; she had already made him wait long enough.
The familiar ethereal room quickly appeared around her, and she soon found herself in a blurry replica of Albus's classroom. He had his back on her, but he quickly turned upon sensing her.
"Roxxie", he called her by her nickname, a smile on his lips while he marched her way.
It had been days since they last spoke, and he would lie if he said he had not missed her presence and sweet smile. Of course, he was worried about her, but he had done his best to trust her and control his thoughts, proving that he had made the right choice.
Immediately, the two of them hugged, the feeling so much needed and real that they felt as if they were present with one another and not miles away, separated by country borders.
"I am sorry I took so long to get in touch," she apologized, resting her chin on his shoulder as her arms remained tight around his body.
"I am just glad you are okay", he confessed, causing her smile to drop.
She did not comment and merely looked ahead at the blurry end of the classroom, feeling guilty about what took place not so long ago between her and Gellert.
There was no jealousy in the past, and all three of them shared one another, sometimes mixed. No one was left to complain, and no one was truly bothered by their unusual open relationship.
However, things had changed.
She was supposed to be there to go undercover, not to revive her teenagehood love for the revolutionary man the world was up against. She was supposed to be there to help Albus, with whom she was the closest, romantically and physically.
She was not even sure if his feelings for Gellert ever subsided or if he locked them away just as she had done to protect themselves from the pain of loss they suffered all those years ago.
Eventually, they pulled back, and Roxanne wasted no time summarising Gellert's plan for the Rally, which was less than 24 hours away.
By the way, Albus frowned. It was obvious he did not like the sound of that. It complicated a lot of things, and it also meant he had a very narrow window of opportunity to act and hopefully put an end to it before it could officially start.
"Albus?" She called out his name, her hand gently placed on his chest.
Her voice made him focus on the present, his gaze softening upon the missed sight of her beautiful face and caring amber eyes. "You did an amazing work, Roxie. Thank you," he said, gently kissing her forehead, his beard faintly tickling her skin.
"Told you I got this," she said, her smile returning at the caring move.
He smirked. "And I never doubted you, never did and never will", he confessed, making her heart skip a beat at his words and the blind trust that he had in her. Trust that no one else could get from him, not to the degree she did. "How have you been handling it so far?"
She parted her lips, pushing back any thoughts about the kiss and being glad Albus could not read minds. "Good, it has been rather calm lately", she said, lying about her complicated and resurfacing feelings that Gellert had started to bring back. "I did meet your former student, Newt Scamander", she continued, changing the subject. "You were not lying when you were talking about him."
Just remembering his innocence, Roxanne could not help but smile. He was a sweet young man with a very bright future and a very big heart when it came to magical creatures. He was one of a kind, and she was glad she had met him, even though the conditions were not what she would have liked.
Albus smiled. "He is. It is a reason why I trust him so much. I know his heart and loyalty are in the right place. He is a rare man to have around, as you have realised, I am sure."
Roxanne kept smiling, glad that Albus had people she could rely on and trust. She knew he needed these kinds of people in his life, after spending all those years running from his dark past and keeping up a wall to those who tried to come closer.
She gently grabbed his hands and noticed odd, smooth metallic cuffs around his wrist. She frowned. "What are those?"
"Oh, just a gift from the ministry," he said, turning her attention fully to him. They asked me to join their fight against Gellert, facing him alone, but I declined. They did not take it kindly and wanted to ensure I was not secretly working for him."
Roxanne lowered her head and glanced at their hands, trying not to focus on the handcuffs.
She knew Albus could never tell them of the special promise he made with blood, binding himself to Gellert in a way she had done as well. Back then, they did not have any second thoughts about it, and one might even wonder if they did now.
She knew, though, that no one could really tell anything because it would be a disaster if such a secret came out. She also remembered the faint glimpses of the silver chain she spotted around Gellert's neck, the pact carefully having tied itself around him all those years ago when the ritual and promise were made.
Albus released his hand and placed it beneath her chin, gently lifting her head up so he could look again at her beautiful eyes. "Don't worry about them, Roxanne. A way will be found," he reassured her.
The hand moved from her chin to cup her cheek before he brought his forehead forward, placing it against hers.
The sweet move made her smile, and she savoured the moment, always glad to have him by her side. His confidence that they would make this through was the only thing that kept her standing despite the odds that seemed to pile against them.
"I do have to ask though. Why haven't you removed them yet?" She asked, knowing he was more than capable of removing them as if they were nothing.
The Ministry had no idea just how talented and powerful Albus Dumbledore was. All three of them were talented and powerful, especially when they were paired.
Albus chuckled. "I thought I would play their game for now. Don't worry, Roxie. I will remove them when it's time," he reassured her, tilting his head to the side before he placed his lips upon hers.
Roxanne welcomed the sweet move, smiling as she leaned on his hand, still pressed against her cheek.
Albus always kissed gently, his pace slow but meaningful. Each kiss stole her breath away. His hands always carefully held her to keep her close but never harmed her or forced her to remain there.
Conversely, Gellert was always more dominant with his kisses, more controlling and hungry. His moves were rougher, and he brought a thrill deep within her when he would grab her body and press her against himself or items, trapping her as he continued to bruise her lips with his demanding kisses.
She pulled back first, her mind as conflicted as her heart at that moment, but she hid everything behind a fake smile—one good enough to even trick Albus into seeing right through it.
"I better go. It's late."
He kissed her forehead again. "Go rest, Roxie and don't worry. Things will change rather soon."
She did not comment, unsure how to feel about those words. It was unknown what plan he would devise and if Gellert would be stopped tomorrow night.
All she did was nod and cancel the spell. She needed time to think and also to breathe, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to hide her true thoughts and expressions behind fake masks.