Funny, that's exactly what Minerva said when I wrote it... *g*Yes, I don't think Tom takes rejection especially well.Thanks for reading!

Ah, the N.E.W.T.s. They don't get the results until summer (that's how the O.W.L.s were, if you recall), so I fear we won't find out how Albus' bet came off until much later.I think Minerva asked him if he still loved her out of anger and a desire to make him say it or to lie to her--I think she knows perfectly well that he still does. She's not entirely white-hatted here; she's pissed off and wants to hurt him. She doesn't press him when he perseverates because she'd achieved her goal simply by asking him.My take is that, when it comes to Minerva, Albus is a coward. She's one of the few people that sees him for who he is--not "The Great Albus Dumbledore" (although I think there are elements of idol-worship in her youthful attachment to him, which I've tried to illustrate) and it both attracts him and frightens him. She's sort of like Aberforth, but with love and understanding that Albus' brother can't muster.Anyway, thanks for sticking with this. I promise to make it worth your while after a few more chapters. (Love the toilet smiley, BTW!)

Ahhhhh...... now that sure makes a lot of sense.... sorry to make you say that outright.... I almost feel like i pressed you... but that does help make sense of the fog that was gathering around my head - at least as far as understanding all this.oh.... no worries, you've got me to the end... regardless of the outcome. *winks*

Thanks for the smilieys--they're adorable!I think Albus wasn't exactly thinking with his brain when he took up with Minerva. We all know smart people (men especially) who do incredibly stupid things when in the throes of lust. (Bill Clinton, anyone?) I think, when the moment overtook him, he simply wasn't thinking very far down the line. When his head cleared, I think he knew on some level that it couldn't continue, but he didn't want to hurt her (and let's face it, he enjoyed it), so he allowed himself to ignore reality, which was fairly easy when they were ensconced in Hogwarts, but a bit harder when outside events began to intrude on the ivory tower.Anyway, I'm glad you didn't find it as painful as it could have been .

Thank you. Part II is in the works and the next chapter should be up in a few days.Yes, Albus was lucky she didn't turn her ire on him. I don't think I would have been so magnanimous.Cheers,Squibstress

Thanks.I needed something to light a fire under Albus' butt--or, in this case, Aberforth's.I just really like Aberforth as a foil for his brother. (And Ciarán Hinds was really hot as Aberforth in the last film, methinks.)

AYE! I was wondering if I was the only one who thought Aberforth was dreamy.... but I suspect I'd be slobbering over any male Dumbledore... me thinks. He is becoming more and more prevalent in my wee fic as well, though I think you write him far better than I do - but I can live with that!

As you know, I have trouble with some of Albus' decisions, too. ;-)Try not to worry too much. A little angst makes the story; otherwise it would be all pron all the time. (Which is a fine thing in itself; have written some of that, too.)

*chuckles* Oh I know... and how can you not have Angst when you have Dumbledore in the mix - that would just be impossible I think... he thinks far too much for everyone's own good, especially his own.

Thanks.I'm happy you like it. It's been fun to write.

Thank you. I had read about the white witch moth some time ago, and it seemed to fit perfectly.Glad you enjoyed it.

Glad you enjoyed it. It was fun to write.

In CoS, Hermione mentions that Flitwick was a duelling champ, so I can't take credit for the idea.I wish I had thought of the tree and fire; I think someone else came up with that brilliant idea first . ;-)I have something up my sleeve for Tom and Minerva's duel, though--don't worry!

*snip*"Indeed," agreed Albus. He lowered his voice to whisper in her ear, "But I very much look forward to celebrating your discovery properly tomorrow evening."Her voice was equally low: "And I hope, Professor, that there will be nothing 'proper' about it." And with that, she was gone, leaving him grinning after her like a fool in love.Oh- I had forgotten about those few, brilliant sentences... woo hoo!

Well, the first half of this chapter was probably my favorite part of this whole story thus far - I laughed and loved how they teased back and forth. That was quite fun.And I was absolutely shocked and could really feel the sheer horror in Minerva and Albus when Abe walked in on them.The second half of this chapter was painful - not that I don't believe it, or don't think you wrote each of them well, but it was painful to read - especially the foreshadowing of what is coming the future.I think you've written Abe extreamly accuratly. Just feel really sorry for Albus and Minerva, right now. Looking forward to more, as usual.

It was a fun chapter to write.I like writing Aberforth; I think he's a fascinating character in canon, and it's a challenge to fill in the blanks a bit for him. He's sort of the anti-Albus.

Aye, he is, I think what scared me most in this chapter was when Abe asks Albus what the hell he's doing - and Albus says "I don't know" it almost made me wonder if Albus WAS using Minerva or if he really does love her.... I so hope he doesn't break her heart, but I hate to impress my opinions on your writing, so I will trust you to take care of these two characters, whome I've grown so fond of.

And just one more gushing review - I think you write your characters brilliantly - I don't agree with everything they do and I may not like the direction everyone takes, regardless, they are so very real to me through your words and I love that you've kept them real - it makes all the details so much more amazing.

Reptiles need love, too. :-)Thanks for reading and reviewing.

But if Minerva wants a wedding, that means I have to write one. I'm not sure I can live thorugh planning another wedding, LOL!Thanks for reading and commenting!

I will keep hoping anyway! :)

I will keep hoping anyway! :)

Okay - now that I've had time to digest this...I like how you relay Albus' fears... I think you do a good job showing his "mortal" emotions - these snippets we have of the man that he is, the doubts, fears and all that comes with positions of power and anyone who has a concious - you do that brilliantly - you give Dumbledore a much more realistic feeling of humanity that we often see - he can hurt, fear, anguish and worry like any of us - and that is important to be able to relate to him as a fellow human being.Next - I love how Minerva took charge and forced him to understand that sharing a life with someone meant sharing everything - including, information - and at the very least, trust - if there is no trust, there is no real realationship - at least, not for long. I am very glad she stood her ground and made the decision not to be brushed aside/hidden/sheltered any longer - I've never been comfortable that Minerva McGonagall could ever be a blind supporter - she's far too brilliant - and Rowling didn't really go into detail about how much Dumbledore shared with McGonagall - I expect far more than was written, but we get the impression that he was very secretive, even with her - and despite them not being in a relationship (romantic) via canon - I can't believe that she, as his second and perhaps one of the best friends he had, would not be trusted with a great deal of information - anyway - here you show us that Albus does respect and trust her enough to share more with her than he does with most of his allies - and I really appreciate that - to me, if he did not share that, he would be insulting both her loyalty, as well as her intelligence.And the marriage proposal... holy.... - that was certainly out of left field - and I'm as stunned as Minerva is! Was that a panic response or was he really considering asking her - relatively soonish? I'm just curious - you know me, I'm far too curious. *winks*

I think the canon Albus clearly has problems with trust and with sharing information--maybe stemming from his experience with Grindelwald-- and I wanted to set that up a bit with this story. I think he does believe that he is somehow harmful to the people he loves; he learned at a very young age that, despite his power, he cannot protect them--the attack on his sister, his father's crime and imprisionment, his mother's death--all compounded by the death of his sister. So I think the person he trusts least is himself.He clearly understands the danger represented by Tom Riddle--he's seen the like before. Given Riddle's past attention to Minerva, I imagine him panicking at seeing Riddle and his cronies presenting themselves so close to her.And sorry about the fluff-less proposal. Yes, it was a panic response to the proposition that she really was going to leave him. I don't think it's even clear to him if he was going to propose eventually--I don't think he thought about it--but he has finally come to understand how important she is to him, and in the moment, it was the only way he could think of to demonstrate that he had no intention of leaving her.As we saw in the first part of the story, the wise Albus Dumbledore becomes rather foolish when it comes to Minerva.

*chuckles* Seems Minerva has a strange, nearly hypnotic affect on our dear Headmaster... does she not? And, as for Squibby AU - several others as well! Tee hee... she's got some pull!I ilke that even the author is stunned by Albus' snap decision! These characters do that sometimes, don't they? Surprise us like that?You know... now that you directly point out how foolish Albus is in relation to Minerva... I wonder if that's a paradox of his wisdom... he can't afford to be unwise with most of the world, and certainly not with the school and all of his potential enemies... does it not show infinate wisdom that he chooses to let his guard down with Minerva? Of all people, she is the least likely to betray him, or even, betray anyone - she's got intelligence and wisdom enough for a whole Quidditch team... so I'm not entirely sure its not "unwise" for Albus to be the fool with her - of all people, she'd be the best candidate - and you can't be in charge and control 100% of the time - lest you go insane - so here our wise Albus gives himself a reprieve with her - and releasing (if only subconciously) his firm grip on the world - if only for short snippits - with his beloved.

*chuckles* Seems Minerva has a strange, nearly hypnotic affect on our dear Headmaster... does she not? And, as for Squibby AU - several others as well! Tee hee... she's got some pull!I ilke that even the author is stunned by Albus' snap decision! These characters do that sometimes, don't they? Surprise us like that?You know... now that you directly point out how foolish Albus is in relation to Minerva... I wonder if that's a paradox of his wisdom... he can't afford to be unwise with most of the world, and certainly not with the school and all of his potential enemies... does it not show infinate wisdom that he chooses to let his guard down with Minerva? Of all people, she is the least likely to betray him, or even, betray anyone - she's got intelligence and wisdom enough for a whole Quidditch team... so I'm not entirely sure its not "unwise" for Albus to be the fool with her - of all people, she'd be the best candidate - and you can't be in charge and control 100% of the time - lest you go insane - so here our wise Albus gives himself a reprieve with her - and releasing (if only subconciously) his firm grip on the world - if only for short snippits - with his beloved.

Oh that Filthy little snot-rag of humanity... that disgusting piece of smegma that is Tom Riddle... how he infuriates me. Not only is he ruining Minvera and Albus' vacation, but conspiring to do.... what ever it is smegma-filth do.

He infuriates me, too."Smegma-filth". Hee, hee.

*snip*Of the many coded phrases that eventually became part of the private lexicon Albus and Minerva would build in their years together, "playing chess" was by far the most pleasant.And THAT line is the perfect cherry atop this ice cream sundae!

Well that was very illuminating! Poor, sweet, dear Albus... for all his imperfections and failings, to listen to him pour out his heart, thinking all the while that Minerva would leave him for his past... well that was painful to read and I am so glad he finally got to a point where he could tell her, make himself truly vulnerable and "Mother Minerva" took over and, hopefully, soothed away some of the fear and misery he was feeling.Beautiful chapter.

No, I never would have believed it would take me this bloody long to get through this tale. And I'm astounded--and grateful--to "yarn-heads" like you who seem to enjoy reading it as much as I do writing it.And of course you can have a Thorfinn (or an Albus, or an Alastor) when I become the Ruler of All Things (once my mother gives up the post.)

Oh that was good ... I'm guessing your mom doesn't read fanfic! HAHA! I've got to remember that one!

No, I never would have believed it would take me this bloody long to get through this tale. And I'm astounded--and grateful--to "yarn-heads" like you who seem to enjoy reading it as much as I do writing it.And of course you can have a Thorfinn (or an Albus, or an Alastor) when I become the Ruler of All Things (once my mother gives up the post.)

Oh that was good ... I'm guessing your mom doesn't read fanfic! HAHA! I've got to remember that one!