CXXXII: Melina Marries Her Muggle

CXXXII: Melina Marries Her Muggle

Albus carried Minerva back up the stairs, his right arm around her, the other, under her thighs.

"I would bring you to your rooms, my dear, but I would rather that I were the only one to enjoy this particular vision of you," Albus murmured into her ear.

"Mmm," was the only response that Minerva could manage as the motion as Albus walked up the stairs was stimulating her again, and despite having felt as though she had reached the peak of arousal and surpassed it, and that she was now past being aroused, her body was responding to the sensation of Albus still inside her and her breasts gently rubbing against his beard.

"You are the most beautiful, most passionate, most wonderful woman in the world," Albus whispered. "I could never have dreamed of such a witch, nor dreamed she could love me as you do. I love you, my sweetest, dearest Minerva."

They reached the top of the stairs, and Albus paused to kiss Minerva, lightly at first, then with growing passion. Finally, still kissing her, Albus reached out with his right hand and touched the door, only breaking his kiss to say, "Peppermint pillows," causing Minerva to giggle.

Albus grinned at her. "They really are a superlative sweet, Minerva. You should try them!"

Minerva laughed more at that as the door opened. Albus kissed her cheek softly as he carried her into his bedroom. He stood beside the bed for a moment, just looking at Minerva, then he sat on the edge of the bed. Minerva leaned forward and kissed him.

Running her hands over his back, Minerva said, "I do believe you are wearing too many clothes."

Albus simply smiled and lay back on the bed, bringing Minerva with him. He rolled over onto his side and whispered, "You do, do you?" He kissed her mouth, drawing gently on her lips and teasing her tongue with his own.

He began to move his hips, just a slight movement at first, and was rewarded when Minerva's breathing quickened. He moved more, drawing out of her and pushing back in, repeatedly pumping into her until she broke their kiss with a gasp.

"I think I rather like having you around me like this, Minerva," Albus said, his own breath coming in gasps. "If I am wearing you around me, then it doesn't matter whatever else I might be wearing. Mmm, so wonderful, so good . . ."

Minerva's hands found the front of his robes and she began to unbutton them. When she tried to push them from his shoulders, Albus cooperated by rolling Minerva onto her back and letting her push them down and off. Minerva's eyes shone and she ran her hands down his chest before he leaned in closer to kiss her. As he kissed her and fondled her breasts with one hand, he began to move within her again. Soon, Minerva was grasping at his back and his hair, trying to pull him more deeply within her with her legs, and crying out his name as she came again, and Albus, with a gasp and a few final, vigorous pushes, came, only sighing out and holding Minerva tightly to him.

As Albus caught his breath, Minerva kept her arms around him, and when he made a move to roll off of her, she whispered, "No, please, not yet. Stay – unless you're uncomfortable."

"Not uncomfortable, but aren't I heavy?"

"Mmhm, wonderfully so," Minerva said with a sigh. "But not too heavy."

Albus turned his head and kissed her temple, then relaxed completely. "I love you, my dear Minerva."

"And I love you, Albus," Minerva replied softly. "This was more wonderful than anything I could have imagined." She stroked her fingers through his hair. "Thank you for indulging me."

Albus chuckled. "It was difficult not to, and now I wonder at how I was able to resist for so long." He sighed. "But . . . I wish I could make love to you all night long and that we had nowhere to be in the morning. I had wanted to be able to make this perfect and romantic for you, my love, and although I certainly can't regret it at all, I do wish we were already on our holiday and we could take our leisure with each other. I did so want this to be romantic for you, as perfect as possible."

Minerva smiled. "It was as perfect as possible, Albus. I am very, very satisfied, and in the stairwell . . . you did take your leisure with me there, and to very good effect, I must say."

Smiling, Albus raised up to look at her. "It was easy with you, to make love to you. I simply love to touch you, kiss you, caress you . . . and more. And to feel how much pleasure I can bring you, that in itself is wonderful. I hope I am always able to bring you pleasure, as well as joy and contentment."

"You do, more than I could have dreamed," Minerva said.

Albus kissed her lips lightly, and very gently disengaged himself from her. He grinned. "Time to be rid of the boots, I believe, my dear."

Minerva reluctantly let go of him as he rolled off of her and sat up. His robes were in a pool at the side of the bed, and he pulled off his boots and socks and dropped them beside his clothes.

He lay back down beside Minerva and ran his hand along her side. When Albus's hand reached her robes, which were bunched about her waist, he said, "This can't be comfortable. All the way on or all the way off?"

"Off, I should think!" Minerva said with a smile.

"Mmm. Allow me, then," Albus said in a low voice, his hand again travelling up her side and taking a detour to her breast.

He rolled toward her and gently kissed her breast, then, as he began to gently lick, nip, and suck her nipple, he brought both hands to her waist and found the few hooks that kept the skirts tight around her. With their release, he pushed her robes down and Minerva toed off her shoes. Albus briefly kissed and fondled her other breast before kissing his way down her body. He pushed the robes down and onto the floor to join his. His access now completely unobstructed, Albus knelt beside the bed and slowly began to roll down one of Minerva's stockings, kissing her leg as he went, then did the same with her other stocking. He kissed his way back up her legs, first kissing one side and then the other, until he reached her hips. Albus settled back up on the bed beside Minerva and pulled her to him, sighing as he held her in his arms.

"I keep wondering whether I will wake up to discover this is a dream, but it is too wonderful to be a dream," Minerva said, kissing his shoulder then his cheek. "And you are so tremendously real and warm."

Albus kissed Minerva lightly then said, "We would be warmer if we got into bed. If you would like to, that is. For a while, anyway."

"Mm, yes," Minerva said.

Albus took her hand and sat up with her, kissing her lips and seeming to forget why they had sat up, kissing her repeatedly. Minerva moved to sit on his lap, encircling him with her legs, and pressing herself against Albus's growing erection. Albus continued to kiss her, then reached between them to fondle her right breast; with his right hand, he cast a spell to pull the covers back from the bed. Minerva began to slide against his penis, causing Albus to break their kiss and gasp.

"Oh, Minerva, that's . . . oh . . ."

Minerva continued to move against him, and they kissed each other in any spot they could reach. Albus kissed Minerva's ear, then moved his tongue in a spiral around it before taking her earlobe between his lips. Minerva reached between them and began to caress the head of his penis as she continued to slide her warm, wet clitoris against him.

"Minerva, oh, gods . . . I want you again," Albus breathed into her ear.

"What do you want, Albus? Please tell me. I want to hear it. Please say it," Minerva whispered, "as you did before. Those words, please . . ."

Albus swallowed then kissed her ear lightly before whispering, "Fuck Albus Dumbledore."

"Oh, that sounds . . . that sounds so erotic when you whisper it like that," Minerva said softly.

"Will you, then?" Albus whispered. "Will you?"

Minerva pushed Albus back against the bed, then she kissed his lips, drawing his tongue into her mouth as she began to slide back and forth on his cock. Albus moaned as she reached between them and guided his penis to her entrance then very slowly surrounded him, pushing back against his cock until he was fully sheathed within her. Minerva rotated her hips first in one direction then in the other, flexing her muscles, tightening around him, to massage his erection. Albus broke away from her kiss to gasp at the sensation.

"You like this?" Minerva whispered.

"Yes . . . ahh, gods . . . yes," Albus managed to reply, his voice hoarse with desire.

Minerva sat up on his cock, looking down at where their bodies joined and then up at Albus's face. She began to move back and forth, rising slightly each time, and coming down with her clit rubbing on his pelvis.

"You feel so wonderful in me, Albus, so good, so full," Minerva gasped as she began to move faster. She closed her eyes, concentrating completely on the sensation of his erection as it stimulated her, Albus's hands at her hips.

"Ah, yes, Minerva, yes, come . . . come . . ." Albus urged as he watched Minerva's face and saw her expression change as her passion grew.

Minerva began to come, gasping and calling out, aware only of Albus and of her orgasm as her vagina contracted around him. Albus, unable to restrain himself any longer, moved his hands to Minerva's back and quickly flipped her over. As she still came around his erection, Albus closed her legs with his own; she was tight around him, and he pumped, harder and harder, unable to speak except to gasp Minerva's name, and as Minerva's orgasm finally began to fade, he pushed deep into her and released, shuddering and holding onto her.

"Minerva, Minerva, my love, my delight, my sweet, sweet delight," he gasped. "I love you so . . . I love you so, my sweet delight."

"Albus, Albus . . . mmm, my darling Albus," Minerva moaned softly.

They lay in the quiet for a while, catching their breath, as Minerva caressed Albus's back. She felt utterly sated, warm, and complete, and perfectly happy to have him resting on top of her as he was.

Albus, gradually returning to himself, blinked his eyes open. "Minerva?" he said softly.

"Mmmm . . ." Minerva was gently running her hands over his back.

"I . . . I hope that I haven't been . . . I don't want you to find me crude," Albus said hesitantly.

"I am the one who wanted to hear you say what you did," Minerva replied, yawning. "Mm. That was very, very nice."

"And I wasn't too rough?" Albus asked.

"No, not at all. And there can be a place for a little bit of . . . vigour, too," Minerva said. "Not roughness, but . . . a lot of energy." She giggled softly. "And you do have a lot of energy."

"Oh, good . . . you know, despite . . . well, despite my years, and my, um, earlier experience, I am not used to talking about this sort of thing in a relationship," Albus said, "but I want to . . . I want you to feel you can tell me what you like, or if I do something that you don't like."

"All right . . . I liked this very much. Everything you have done tonight," Minerva said. "And I want you to feel the same, Albus. I want to know when you enjoy something, or if there's something that you don't like. For example, if you don't like saying those words, that's all right. I liked it. Coming from your lips, they sound . . . well . . ." Minerva could feel herself blush. "They sound rather naughty, which can be arousing. Not all of the time, obviously, but . . . but if you don't feel comfortable with it, then that's all right."

"No, I don't mind. But I don't usually . . . I don't want you to think I disrespect you when I say something like that," Albus said. "I love you, and I want making love to you to make you feel loved. I never want you to feel bad because of something I might do or say."

Minerva turned her head and kissed him. "I won't. I am sure you will always make me feel loved, Albus. If there's ever anything I don't like, or that doesn't feel good, whether in general or just in that moment because of my mood, I will tell you, but I don't think you'd ever make me feel disrespected or unloved. Your love for me is very evident in everything you say and do." Minerva thought a moment. "You know . . . if there's ever anything you'd like to do or to try, but you're nervous about it, just tell me, or we can just try it. If either of us doesn't like it, we can just say that it's something that's better off remaining a fantasy. How does that sound?"

Albus nodded and slowly rolled off of her. He cast a mild cleansing charm on them both then, with a wave of his hand, he drew the covers up over them. Minerva snuggled up against him.

"I like that idea . . . Have you . . . well, this may sound egotistical of me," Albus said hesitantly.

"What?" Minerva asked, thinking that he hardly had the largest ego of any wizard she'd met, and he could still use a little more self-confidence in bed.

"Nothing," Albus replied, his eyes closed.

"Please tell me, Albus," Minerva asked gently.

"Have you ever . . . you mentioned fantasy. Have you ever had one? About me?" Albus asked.

Minerva laughed. "I tried very hard not to because I didn't want to torment myself, but unlike you, I was not very successful in keeping myself from imagining what it might be like to make love to you. And so, yes, I have had fantasies and dreams about you. Some of the fantasies are not possible, anyway, but that's sometimes the nature of a fantasy."

"Really? What sort of fantasy wouldn't be possible?" Albus asked, intrigued, and his curiosity overcoming his embarrassment.

"Oh, just . . . you know . . ." Now it was Minerva's turn to be slightly uncomfortable.

"Now I'm quite curious," Albus said. "Sex on a broom?" he asked.

"No!" Minerva replied. She looked at him. "Why? Do you have fantasies about having sex on a broom?"

"No, but I understand it is a common fantasy, and I think it would be rather difficult and dangerous, if not impossible," Albus answered.

Minerva looked at him and smiled affectionately. She couldn't very well ask him to be open about what he would like if she were unwilling to share even a simple fantasy. "All right, don't laugh – or you may laugh, if you like, but don't laugh too hard – but I had a fantasy that you took me against the wall back behind Greenhouse Three while there were people wandering about the gardens and we could have been discovered at any moment."

Albus's eyebrows rose. "Really? When was this?" he asked, sure that it had to have been sometime in the last few days.

"It was while you were on holiday, and I had come back to the school early, but you weren't here," Minerva said. "I was just remembering some of the lovely time we had spent together recently, and I thought of our walk near the greenhouses, and one thought led to another."

"Sometime I would like to hear this fantasy of yours," Albus said in a low voice, caressing her breast. "If you would like to share it, of course."

Minerva smiled. "I will do that – if you will also share one of yours about me," she said.

"Oh, well, I have tried not to think about you that way, you know," Albus said. "I did have a dream once, though. I knew I was dreaming but couldn't bring myself to wake up."

"I don't blame you," Minerva said. "You must have been very frustrated. Or I hope you were, at least a little. Because you were attracted to me, I mean."

"Very – I was very attracted to you, and I lived in fear that I would betray my attraction."

"Hence our misunderstanding last week," Minerva said. "But come now, I told you what my fantasy was. What was your dream? And don't tell me you can't remember it."

"I do remember it, very clearly. I dreamed we were in my office and I didn't let you leave. And I, um, we did it standing up, up against the door," Albus said, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"My goodness! That does sound intriguing – and like something that we might actually be able to accomplish at some time," Minerva said with a grin.

Albus returned her smile. "There are portraits there, my dear."

"Oh, portraits! I don't care about portraits. Not much. Unless they started talking to us while we were in the middle of something – that would be very disconcerting," Minerva said with a little laugh.

Albus chuckled. "It would be! Can you imagine if they started to give us advice?"

Minerva laughed. "Well, they are there to advise the Headmaster, after all. Perhaps Dilys might have a few ideas on how to satisfy a witch!"

They both laughed, then Albus said, "Actually, according to Dilys, Eliphelet was quite a ladies' man when he was Headmaster. Or he believed himself to be. He apparently would have relations with any witch who was in the least bit willing, and make passes at others. But I didn't get the feeling that Dilys was particularly impressed by his performance. Or his lack of discrimination."

"Lack of discrimination?" Minerva asked. "Oh, do tell!"

"Well, she said – and I think this is what gave rise to the dream I had – that he would have had Dustern on the settee and followed it up with raising Perlecta's skirts and taking her against the door," Albus said, trying not to feel embarrassed.

"Oh, my!" Minerva laughed. "They certainly are different types – and the thought of Dustern! I shouldn't be uncharitable, but she is not particularly attractive."

"No, I never found her so. Although when I first began teaching here, before we began having our differences, I had the impression that she found me . . . um, I don't know, appealing, I suppose," Albus said, feeling as though he were sounding egotistical.

"I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if she did," Minerva said, nodding. "In fact, not only does it make sense simply because you are an extremely attractive wizard, but it also would explain the depth of her dislike for you. It seemed to go beyond mere professional differences, and yet I never got the sense that you had some kind of personal falling out. But if she had been attracted to you and you didn't respond to her" – Minerva shrugged – "that could lead her to feel more resentment toward you when you did have differences of opinion."

"Possibly. That hadn't occurred to me," Albus said. He turned his head and kissed her softly. "I love you, my dear, I love you and I can scarcely believe how very blessed I am that you love me as you do."

"For a long time, I had been resigned to loving you and never being with you," Minerva said, "so I feel as though I have been blessed, as well."

Albus caressed her, and when she yawned, he said, "I do not like saying this, my dear, but I do believe it is time for us to dress and for me to walk you to your rooms. It must be midnight, at least."

Minerva stiffened. "Back to my rooms . . . I can't stay? You don't want me to stay?"

"I do want you to stay, Minerva, I do, truly, but . . . I have had this notion, this . . . desire for the ideal first time making love with you. And this was wonderful, as was Tuesday, in your sitting room, and I wouldn't wish that we had waited for a perfect moment, but . . . can you understand when I say that I want our first night together to be particularly special? That I want it to be romantic and wonderful, with no demands awaiting us in the morning? Tomorrow, we have to be up and out of the castle early. Hardly conducive to, well, to waking you the way I would like to. Can you understand that?"

Minerva, who had initially felt the beginnings of resentment and hurt bubbling in her, melted at his words. "Yes," she said softly. "I do not want to leave, but I can understand." She raised her head and looked at him and at his worried expression. "And I will look forward to that night, that special night, and I hope that I will not need to wait long for it." She kissed him softly, then added. "Let's get dressed, then, and you can walk me back."

Albus visibly relaxed, and he smiled at her. "You are more wonderful with every passing day, Minerva. You know that, don't you?"

"Mm, as long as you recognise that!" she joked, pushing the warm covers off of Albus. "Cast us a nice warming charm. I don't want to get cold when I'm dressing."

Albus chuckled and Summoned his wand, then he cast a warming charm that encompassed the entire room. He swung his legs around and got out of bed. "You may wish to use the loo, so I'll warm it there, as well," he said as he crossed the room.

Minerva smiled. "You are very considerate. Thank you, Albus!"

Reluctantly, despite her agreement with his proposal, Minerva forced herself from the bed and found her robes, her stockings, and her shoes. Because the robes had three layers to them and it had been a warm day, she hadn't worn a chemise. She looked around, then shook out her robes. No knickers.

"Albus!" she called.

Albus came out of the loo, apparently having taken advantage of his brief trip, and said, "Yes, my dear?"

"Where are my knickers?"

Albus stopped stock-still in the centre of the room, a blank expression on his face. "You know . . . I am not sure. I simply banished them without much thought."

"Oh. Well, I don't really need them," Minerva said, "but I do hope you didn't accidentally banish them to the staff room, or some such place."

"I am sure they will turn up," Albus replied. "They are probably in the laundry somewhere."

"I hope so," Minerva said, doing up the charmed hooks on the skirts of her over-robe and then lacing the bodice of her under-robe.

She sat to draw on her stockings, and Albus quickly averted his gaze and Summoned his own robes. Minerva looked up at him.

"Everything all right, Albus?"

"Fine, my dear, but you have the most attractive ankles and calves – I do not want to become distracted. I need to keep my mind on the current mission," Albus said, blushing as he slipped his own robes on and buttoned them manually.

Minerva smiled. He found her ankles and calves attractive. He really was too sweet sometimes. "And what would that 'mission' be?" she asked teasingly.

"Getting you back to your rooms without ravishing you on the way there," Albus said, looking over at her and giving her a shy little grin.

"We shall have to try that variation sometime, though," Minerva said with a laugh.

Albus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I am desperately trying not to imagine what that might be like, my dear. Please do not test me!" he said with a chuckle.

"Very well, I'll be good – for now! But I do look forward to that. Until then, my mind will be filled with dreams and fantasies of how you might ravish me, you know!"

"And you will have to share those with me," Albus said, coming over to her and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Now, the first decision is whether to take the backstairs or to go down through the office and then take another way back up to your rooms."

"As much as I would like to prolong our time together, Albus, I do not wish to encounter anyone else at the moment," she replied, "and I think that would be best accomplished by taking the backstairs."

Albus agreed, and when they reached the bottom of the stairs, he turned to her, smiling. "What would you have done if I had said I wanted you to use a Glamour?"

"I would have been utterly shocked," Minerva said with a laugh.

"You really are a little vixen, you know that, don't you, my dear?" Albus asked teasingly.

Minerva shrugged slightly, still smiling. "I did try."

"I hope that it is a side of you that we will see again," Albus replied. "It was quite enticing."

"I will exercise my imagination, then," Minerva said, putting her arms around him.

Albus kissed her softly, then held her in his arms for a moment. "We had better go, my dear," he whispered.

Minerva nodded and let him open the door for them. It seemed to take no time at all for them to reach her rooms. They instantly noticed something different: the Silent Knight had his helmet off, and he was seated, leaning up against a tree, holding an apple in his hand and seeming to examine it. It had one bite from it. When he saw them, he pushed himself up to his feet.

"My lady," he said, bowing, his long, straw-blond hair falling over his eyes. "How may I serve you?"

"You don't have your helmet on," Minerva remarked, surprised.

"Would you like me to put it back on, my lady?" he asked deferentially. "It is the first time in several hundred years that I have removed it."

"No, it is fine – why haven't you removed it in hundreds of years? Or, more to the point, why have you removed it tonight?" Minerva asked.

"Ah, that is a very long story, but I do feel the geas lighten. It is held by a mere thread, my lady, and I could tell you my tale now, if you wish to hear it," the Knight said.

"We would like to hear it sometime soon," Minerva said, "but it is late now. Perhaps tomorrow, or the day after?"

The Knight nodded. "As you wish, my lady. If my geas is entirely lifted, I do not know what may happen, however. But perhaps that shall still give us the time for the tale to be told. Do you wish to enter, my lady?"

"Yes, we would, thank you," Minerva answered. She turned to Albus. "Come in just for a moment?"

Albus followed her into her sitting room and she closed the door behind them.

"With more people in the castle, I didn't want to say good-night to you out in the corridor," Minerva explained.

"Or kiss me good-night?" Albus asked before leaning forward and brushing his lips over hers. "I had a wonderful evening. I wish we didn't need to leave in the morning. Would you like to have breakfast with me? Something quick? We should leave no later than eight-thirty."

"That means it will be a short night for you again," Minerva said. "I'm sorry."

"I am not. I will sleep very well tonight." He leaned forward and kissed her again. "So, breakfast?"

"Yes, seven-thirty?" she asked.

"Good. I will see you then." Albus reached behind himself for the doorknob, gave Minerva one more kiss, then whispered. "Good night, my sweet, sweet delight."

Minerva was smiling as he left. She didn't know whether she would sleep that night, she was so very happy, so filled with a sense of joy and contentment, but she got ready for bed in her usual manner. She set her wizarding alarm clock for six forty-five, and when she got into bed, she fell deeply asleep, dreaming of Albus.

Minerva stepped out onto the damp pavement, waiting for Albus. The marriage ceremony had been brief and to the point, though the gentleman performing the wedding had been quite pleasant, almost jovial, and Melina, in her pretty white lace and silk dress, was every bit the beautiful and joyful bride. Brennan, dressed in his best charcoal grey suit, a red carnation in his buttonhole, was nervous and had dropped the ring when his best man, a Muggle named Geoff, handed it to him. Minerva could see every witch and wizard in the room twitch as they restrained the automatic urge to utter an Accio. But the ring had rolled beneath Albus's chair, and he easily bent and retrieved it for them, handing it to Brennan with a wink and a smile that put the younger man at ease, almost as if by magic.

Albus was dressed in the same suit he had worn to deliver Pretnick's letter, but had a white boutonniere and tie with Gryffindor red and gold diagonal stripes, rather than the bow tie he normally wore with his Muggle attire, and his Glamour had shortened his beard only slightly and brought his hair up to just brush his shoulders. After the wedding, Albus had taken Brennan, Melina, and Murdoch into a small room near the registry office, having spoken to the registrar of marriages and told him something vague about estate planning and inheritances and needing to speak with the bride and groom alone for a few minutes. Albus had said that it wouldn't take long and had whisked Melina, Brennan, and Murdoch into the room to remove the heavy binding he had placed on Melina and Brennan the month before and to replace it with a light marriage binding. In principle, he had told Minerva over breakfast, he didn't really approve of marriage bindings – most of the traditional ones anyway – but this would be the lightest binding, the only one actually possible to cast on a mixed marriage, and it would ease the couple's way with the Ministry. As a part of his wedding present, he had given Melina a Portkey that would bring them to the atrium of the Ministry so that they could register their marriage later that afternoon.

"A Muggle marriage is always valid in the wizarding world," Albus had explained, "whether it's registered or not. It can be registered at any time or never. But since Brennan is a Muggle, it is important for Melina – and for Brennan – that he be recognised as a member of a wizarding family, so they should register it immediately."

Minerva was waiting, therefore, for Albus and for her brother, her niece, and her niece's new husband. She looked up to the sky. It was threatening rain again, and Albus had their umbrella. He had Transfigured one for them before they Apparated to Edinburgh, saying an Impervius Charm just wouldn't do amongst Muggles. She wished now that she had taken her parents up on their offer to wait with her, but she had sent them on to the restaurant, saying that at least someone of the family should be there when the other guests began to arrive.

She wiggled her toes. She really had to see whether she could find a more comfortable pair of Muggle shoes. Or just put a charm on them. That might be most sensible. She, too, was wearing the same suit that she had worn to deliver Pretnick's relatives, and although she found it less than comfortable, Albus had expressed his appreciation for it. Minerva was beginning to believe that he would find her attractive in a potato sack. She smirked to herself. Of course, a potato sack would be very revealing, quite short, in fact. They might have some fun with that . . .

It began to rain, and Minerva went back up the stairs and into the building, entering just as Albus and the others were coming toward her.

"It's raining," Minerva said, resisting the urge to take Albus's arm. "Good that we have the umbrella."

"I'll run out and bring the car around," Brennan said. "I'll be just a minute."

"Car?" Murdoch said.

"Yes, but it's quite all right, Dad – Brennan will be driving, not me!" Melina said.

"Here, take the umbrella," Albus said, holding it out to him.

"Ta!"

As they waited for Brennan to come back with the car, Melina said, "Geoff had wanted to drive us, but we told him and Jenny we preferred to have them go on to the restaurant and make certain that everything was ready for our arrival. Geoff found it puzzling that we wouldn't be going along, but I told them there was family business that we needed to take care of. I'm afraid that Jenny told him you were my uncle, Professor, so if he, or anyone else, mentions it –"

"Ah, I will be quite the genial uncle for you, then, my dear," Albus said. "And perhaps that might finally encourage you to call me 'Albus'?"

Melina grinned at him. "I could try. Maybe I could start by calling you 'Uncle Albus,'" she said.

"How is he supposed to be related?" Minerva asked, feeling slightly unsettled. "It is rather peculiar."

"Oh, a lot of people call relatives 'uncle' or 'cousin' when it would be too hard to call them by whatever they really are – can you imagine introducing someone by saying, 'this is my second cousin, once-removed, on my mother's side'?" Melina giggled giddily. "You can just be a vague sort of relative like that. Maybe by marriage or something. Anyway, I doubt anyone will ask. If they do, just say something about the family tree being complicated, or something."

Albus laughed, then Murdoch called out from where he stood by the door, telling them that Brennan had arrived with the automobile.

Minerva was displeased when she saw that Albus would not be seated beside her, but then Egeria showed her that he was to sit across from her. Of course, Melina and Jenny couldn't have known that she would have wanted to sit next to him, but Egeria had, and she told Minerva that she had changed the place cards around when she and Merwyn had arrived to bring Albus to sit closer to Minerva. Melina and Jenny's aim had been to distribute the witches and wizards among the Muggles in the hopes that they would remember not to discuss anything of the wizarding world if each one was seated beside at least one Muggle.

Albus found his place and smiled and winked at Minerva as he sat down across from her. She grinned back at him. Soon, Minerva was sipping her mimosa and chatting with Brennan's brother's wife, a pleasant middle-aged woman, while Albus discussed internal combustion engines with her husband, Daniel. Albus seemed to know something about the Muggle contraptions, somewhat to Minerva's surprise. Daniel was apparently a mechanic and loved to discuss his work.

As she listened to Sarah, Daniel's wife, discuss their three children, one of whom was starting at university that year, Minerva kept looking at Albus out of the corner of her eye. She knew that he had special plans for them that afternoon, and she guessed that they were weather-dependent, since he had said that he hoped the rain would be gone from Hogwarts by the afternoon. He certainly did enjoy surprising her and romancing her, Minerva thought. She wished she could reach across the table and take his hand as Egeria had just taken Merwyn's hand.

Gertrude and Malcolm were, as far as Minerva could tell, the only wizarding couple seated together. Other wizarding couples were seated across from one another, even if they weren't seated entirely apart – although Murdoch and Poppy were at opposite ends of the table, Murdoch across from the best man and Poppy seated across from Quin. But since Murdoch had sat beside Poppy after having presented his daughter to her groom, Minerva didn't think that it meant that they were no longer on good terms. It was odd, though, to see Gertrude and Malcolm seated together, beside one another as they were. Minerva didn't know whether that indicated that Melina thought they were a couple and yet somehow inseparable by the width of the table, or that Melina hadn't a clue that they were together, but had seated them next to each other for some completely different reason.

Minerva took a bite of her quiche, wishing that they could leave soon, but knowing it would hurt Melina's feelings if they were to go early. Albus was laughing at something that Joshua, one of Melina and Brennan's Muggle friends had just said to him, and pleasurable shivers went through Minerva. She really wanted to be alone with Albus. She slipped off one of her court shoes and reached out with her foot, finding Albus's leg easily. When he looked over at her with a startled expression, she just smiled at him and moved her foot over his ankle, her toes under his trouser leg. He blinked, then returned her smile.

It was a relief when the happy couple left the restaurant a half hour later, leaving the guests to their own devices, which meant drinks all around, according to Murdoch. Minerva got up and went over to Murdoch to let him know that she and Albus would be leaving. She bent to speak with him, and he turned.

Grinning up at his sister, Murdoch gave her a wink and said, "So, you and Albus will be off?"

"Yes. I am sorry, but we had plans at Hogwarts –" Minerva began.

"That's just fine, M'nervy! You and Albus go have a good afternoon," Murdoch said cheerfully. "I hope you enjoyed being within a stone's throw of him rather than at opposite ends of the table. Once Mother moved Poppy, she had to move everyone else down one so you and Albus could sit across from each other, so Poppy and I haven't had much opportunity to talk. But Mother assured me it was in good cause!"

Minerva, wondering how much her mother had told Murdoch and how much he may have guessed, returned to Albus and touched his shoulder lightly. He excused himself from the table, offered Minerva his arm, and the two left, stopping only at the coat check to retrieve their umbrella and Albus's homburg.

When they stepped outside, Albus smiled to see the sun shining.

"Ah, very good! Perhaps we will have some luck and the sun will be shining at Hogwarts, as well," he said.

"So, what are we doing this afternoon?" Minerva asked.

"I would like it to be just a bit of a surprise for a little while longer," Albus replied. "It isn't anything very fancy, just something I thought you would enjoy, but it is dependent on our having fine weather this afternoon."

"All right, Albus," Minerva said with a smile. "I am sure I will be pleased, whatever it is you have planned."

"Let's find a nice spot to leave from, then, shall we?"

They Apparated to the gates and began to walk back up to the castle.

"I will be very glad to get out of these Muggle clothes," Minerva remarked, "and into something more comfortable."

Albus grinned at her. "Would you require any assistance in that area, Professor McGonagall?"

She returned his smile and said, "I just might, at that, Professor Dumbledore."

"Well, then, shall I accompany you to your rooms and lend you a hand?" Albus asked.

"Indeed, that would be most appreciated," Minerva replied. "And you might also assist me in selecting something appropriate for this afternoon's outing, if you would be so kind."

"I shall endeavour to be of some help in whatever you may need, my dear Professor," Albus said with a twinkle.

"Let's take the Floo from my office, then, Professor Dumbledore, so that we may embark upon this activity as soon as possible," Minerva said, barely restraining a mirthful grin.

"A very sound suggestion, Professor McGonagall," Albus said, not restraining his own grin and giving her a wink, as well.

The two hastened up the stairs to the large oak doors, eager to reach Minerva's office and her Floo and even more eager to attain the privacy of her suite.