CXXXIII: Abiding Love

Note: There is a T-rated version of Resolving a Misunderstanding available on FanFiction.net if you wish to avoid explicit sexual content.

CXXXIII: Abiding Love

Minerva Flooed through to her sitting room first, and Albus followed quickly.

As soon as Albus stepped out onto the carpet, Minerva looked at him, trying to maintain a serious expression, but her eyes sparkled and she said, "So, Professor Dumbledore, you offered your assistance. How do you believe you may be of the most help?"

"Ah, Professor McGonagall, I have a few ideas, which may be best demonstrated," Albus replied with a smile. "Perhaps I might first begin by offering to take your jacket?"

Albus helped Minerva from her suit jacket and placed it neatly on the back of one of her straight-backed wooden chairs.

"I believe it will be easier for me to perform my duties if I remove my own jacket, as well," he said, removing his jacket and placing it on the other chair, but leaving his waistcoat on. "And if you would come and stand here, my dear," he added, indicating a point beside the small table.

Minerva came and stood in front of him, but he took her by the shoulders and turned her so that she was no longer facing him. "Like this, perhaps, my dear Professor," Albus said in a soft, low voice that sent a frisson through her. "Mmm. Very good."

Minerva felt his lips on the back of her neck, and his hands slid from her shoulders, his arms coming around her in a partial embrace, but his hands stopped at her breasts. As Albus's lips moved over the nape of her neck, his hands gently kneaded her breasts through her blouse.

Albus nuzzled the side of her neck then whispered, "Shall I proceed, then, Professor McGonagall?"

"You certainly may, Professor Dumbledore," Minerva answered. Her eyes were closed and a pleasant warmth and tingling had begun to flow and spread throughout her body, but particularly lower in her, where her moisture was growing. His voice, his laughter, and his sheer presence had been stimulating her all morning, and now that they were in the privacy of her rooms, she fought her impatience to have him touch her most sensitive spots, and simply enjoyed the sensations of his lips and fingers caressing her.

As he continued to find new places on her neck to kiss her, Albus moved his hands down her abdomen, caressing her stomach and chest then returning to his gentle massage of her breasts.

"You have the most beautiful breasts, my dear," he said in a low voice as his fingers teased her nipples through the silk blouse. "They are . . . mmm, absolute perfection."

"I am very glad that they meet your approval," Minerva said, trying to maintain an air of nonchalance, but feeling quite breathless.

"Very much," Albus murmured.

Albus moved his kisses lower on her back as his hands stroked downward and he came to kneel behind her. He sat back on his heels as he ran his hands down her legs. He softly caressed the fronts of her legs then the backs of her calves, first cupping them with his palms and then grazing them with his fingers, down to her ankles then up her calves to the backs of her knees, hidden beneath her blue skirt.

Albus swallowed, then said, "Lovely legs, my dear. Very pretty ankles and calves." His fingers caressed her as he spoke, wandering again from her ankles up her legs to just beneath her skirt. "And nice silk stockings," he whispered as his explorations brought his fingertips up her thighs. "A charm, I see," Albus remarked as his fingers found the tops of her stockings and tentatively sought any Muggle undergarment holding them in place.

His fingers continued to caress her legs, now concentrating on the bare skin of Minerva's thighs above the stockings. When his fingers began gentle, teasing touches of her inner thighs, Albus smiled to hear Minerva's intake of breath at the sensation, and he urged her to open her stance as his hands moved higher, approaching but not yet touching her warm crux.

"Mmm," Albus let out a sigh as he straightened, placing his cheek against her. He turned his head and kissed her lower back, then he whispered, "I believe I may be of assistance here."

He brought both hands to her right leg and inserted a finger beneath her stocking, releasing its charm, then he slowly rolled the stocking down her thigh, caressing her skin as he did so. When he reached her knee, he moved both hands up her leg again, this time allowing one of his hands to briefly, teasingly, meet her crux. Albus was again rewarded by a gasp.

"Is everything well, Professor McGonagall?" he asked in a low voice. "Is my assistance satisfactory?"

"Oh, quite," Minerva said. She was now gripping the edge of the table. "Quite satisfactory, indeed."

"I shall attempt to be most thorough," Albus said as he brought his hands to her left leg and began to roll down her other stocking, again caressing her thigh as he did so and stopping at her knee.

"I appreciate care and attention to detail, Professor Dumbledore," Minerva responded. Albus caressed her inner thighs, and she gasped. "Ahhh . . . yes, your care is very much appreciated."

Albus returned to removing Minerva's stockings, slowly rolling down her right one. As he began to bare her leg below the hem of her skirt, he followed the progress of his fingers with his lips, gently and sensuously kissing her calves.

"Oh, gods . . ." Minerva didn't think she could bear this slow, tortuous pace, and yet she didn't want him to change anything he was doing. "Please, proceed as you are, Professor Dumbledore."

"Have I told you," Albus asked, his breath warm on her left calf as he pushed down the stocking on that leg, "that your burr is most pleasing?"

"I don't believe you have mentioned that, no," Minerva answered, trying to think through the haze of sensation that Albus's kisses and caresses were creating in her.

"Oh, most pleasing, my dear Professor," Albus said just before caressing her calf with the tip of his tongue. "It is quite . . . stimulating to hear you say my name as you do."

"Is it, now, Professor Dumbledore?" Minerva asked rhetorically, her voice low.

"Oh, yes. In fact, as we were walking back to the castle, I was most . . . stimulated at the prospect of our afternoon together, and when you said my name, it was even more arousing," Albus said, his hands again wandering up under Minerva's skirt before travelling back down to her ankles.

Albus pushed the stocking all the way down and said, "You may step out of your shoe now, my dear."

He removed first one shoe and stocking for her then the other before beginning to kiss her calves once more. This time, however, he did not stop at the hem of her skirt, but continued up the back of one thigh, then down the other leg, his head under her skirt. His hands went to the waistband, exploring until he found where a hook fastened the skirt on the left side. He unhooked it then slowly drew down the zip, and Minerva's skirt fell to the floor in a pool at her feet. She was wearing no slip, only her knickers, and Albus kissed each side of her buttocks through the thin material, biting her once gently, eliciting another gasp, just before he brought two fingers to her crux to touch her through her knickers. Minerva spread her legs further, leaning forward and holding onto the table.

"Professor Dumbledore, you are very adept," Minerva said, gasping again as one of Albus's fingers pressed against the fabric of her knickers and up between her own soft folds.

"I did offer my assistance to you, and I shall endeavour to do my best," Albus said, his voice roughened with his own mounting desire. "I cannot help but notice that your knickers are a bit damp. More than a bit. That cannot be comfortable, wearing damp knickers. Shall I assist you with them?"

"Yes, please, Headmaster," Minerva said.

Albus brought his hands up to her sides and pulled her knickers down around her ankles. He lifted one of her feet and then the other, removing the underwear and the skirt and Levitating them across the room to the sofa.

"You didn't banish them," Minerva remarked with a smile.

"Not this time, no," Albus replied. He still had not told Minerva where he had found her other knickers, just that he had. She had questioned mildly him about it at breakfast, but he had only grown pink and smiled, telling her that she could retrieve them later that day, if she wished.

Albus brought his hands back up her legs, but to Minerva's frustration, he did not approach any of the areas he had newly revealed, except to kiss her buttocks once more. She felt him rise to his feet and stand behind her, his hands moving back to her breasts and then turning her to face him. He kissed her lips lightly.

"Would you care for further aid, Professor McGonagall?"

"That I would," Minerva replied, putting her arms around him and looking up into his eyes. "If, of course, you care to give it, Professor Dumbledore."

Albus chuckled. He placed his hands on her bare buttocks and pulled her toward him, pressing her up against his body. She could feel his erection through his trousers.

"I would certainly care to," Albus replied. "However, I believe that I am somewhat overdressed and encumbered by my clothing."

"Perhaps I might be of some help there," Minerva said with a smirk, bringing her hands around and beginning to unbutton the gold buttons of his waistcoat. She pushed the waistcoat from his shoulders and sent it flying across the room to join her skirt, then she tugged at his tie, loosening it, as she began to kiss his lips lightly. His tie loose, she proceeded to unbutton his shirt and then pull the shirttails from his trousers and push his braces down.

Albus shrugged out of his braces as he returned Minerva's kisses. He reached behind her with both hands and undid his cufflinks, allowing them to simply fall to the floor. Minerva finished loosening his tie and Levitated it over to the sofa, never breaking her kisses or turning her attention from her next task: the removal of Albus's shirt. With his cufflinks gone, it was a quick matter to push the shirt off and send it to join the rest of the clothes, now in a disorderly heap, but then she encountered his vest.

"Off with the vest, please," Minerva ordered.

Albus grinned down at her. "Yes, ma'am."

He pulled the undergarment off over his head, shaking out his hair and beard as he did, and Minerva began to unbutton his trousers with deft fingers. She pushed them down, then knelt and untied the lace on his left shoe, but then impatiently charmed the other lace untied. Minerva held each shoe as Albus stepped out of it and the corresponding trouser leg simultaneously. Kneeling still, she looked up and smiled at the bulge she saw.

"Would you care for some help with your socks and . . . the rest?" she asked with a coy smile.

"That would be most kind of you, my dear Professor," Albus said, gripping the back of the chair beside him as she quickly helped him by removing his socks.

Minerva wanted to take her time with Albus as he had with her, but she didn't think that she could manage it on this occasion. On another one, perhaps, she thought, and she briefly but sensuously kissed both his thighs before running her hands up to his buttocks and massaging them as she stood, gracefully returning to her feet. She kept one hand behind him, slipping it beneath his waistband to continue massaging his buttocks. The other hand she brought around to touch his erection through the fabric, looking at him, her lips slightly parted, as she ran two fingers along his length.

"You are in excellent condition, Professor," she said in a low voice. "Quite impressive."

She slipped her fingers into his y-fronts, the balls of her fingers now rubbing against the soft skin of his penis.

"But these are quite tight," Minerva remarked, withdrawing her fingers from their brief exploration and bringing both hands to the front of his waistband. "I think you might be more comfortable and less encumbered if they were removed."

She pulled the waistband out and then down to reveal Albus's fully erect penis. She let escape a slow breath and licked her lips as she pushed the pants further down, Albus helping and then stepping out of them.

"Is that an improvement, Professor Dumbledore?" Minerva asked as she ran three fingers lightly up his shaft to the head of his penis, pleased to see his cock jump in her hand.

"I am certainly less constrained," Albus said with a smile.

Minerva stood back a little bit to look at him, standing nude before her. She reached out and touched the head of his cock again.

"You have a very . . . proud and splendid member, Professor," Minerva said, in both mock seriousness and genuine admiration. "Quite the cock-of-the-walk," she added with a little grin, "and rightly so." She stroked two fingertips from his balls up his shaft to the head of his penis. "It is quite glorious, and certainly very" – Minerva licked her lips – "very appealing."

Albus swallowed, his grip on the chair so tight, his knuckles were white. "Thank you very much, Professor McGonagall. I am glad that it is pleasing to you."

"Very, very pleasing," Minerva said softly, encircling his erection with her hand and gently stroking upward.

Albus cleared his throat. "But now that I am unencumbered, I believe that I may resume lending my assistance to you, my dear. I would not wish to shirk my duty."

"Yes, you did promise to help me with my Muggle attire, and I am still wearing this blouse," Minerva replied nodding and releasing his cock, but not before brushing her thumb across the head, causing Albus to spasmodically close his eyes and swallow.

Albus unbuttoned Minerva's silk blouse and removed it, then he touched the top button on her chemise, and it and all of the other tiny mother-of-pearl buttons released. He reached under her chemise with both hands at her breasts, then he pushed it off of her.

"I hope that you are more comfortable now that you are out of your Muggle clothes, Professor McGonagall," Albus said as he flicked his fingertips over her nipples. "You look quite comfortable, if I may say so, and your breasts," he added looking down to where he was caressing her creamy skin and rosy nipples, "your breasts look especially perky and relieved to be free of clothing."

"They are very happy," Minerva replied, her eyes half-closed, "as am I."

"I think that after a full morning encased in those Muggle garments, they may require some special attention, however," Albus said in faux seriousness. "Perhaps other areas might, as well. May I proceed and see whether I may bring them further . . . relief?"

"Most certainly, Professor. Whatever you believe best," Minerva replied, her eyes roving his body. "My gods, you are magnificent." She blushed. "That is, I am certain that you are fit for the task at hand, Headmaster. And I trust your judgment."

Albus grinned and backed her up to the little table, then he lifted her up to sit on it. At a discreet gesture from him, the table's legs lengthened until her breasts were even with his head.

"I believe I had best begin here, then," Albus said, bringing his lips to one nipple and circling the other with a teasing fingertip. He suckled and flicked his tongue over her peaked nipple as he teased the other breast with tantalising touches. He pulled back and looked up at Minerva, whose face was now quite flushed and her breathing rapid. "Was that useful? Might it be advantageous for me to continue?"

Minerva nodded. "Yes, please, do!"

Albus began to kiss and suck Minerva's other breast as his thumb flicked across her dampened nipple. Minerva rested some of her weight on her left hand as she watched Albus suckle her breast. She brought her other hand to his head and threaded her fingers through the long hair at his back, her nails digging slightly into the skin of his broad shoulders.

"Mmm, I could do that for hours, my dear Professor," Albus said, drawing back slightly then nuzzling her breast, "but I did promise to provide some attention to other areas, as well. We wouldn't want this to feel neglected, for example." He placed the heel of his right hand against her thatch of hair and slid a finger between her folds, pressing it against her clitoris and moving it back and forth rapidly. Minerva gasped at the suddenness of the sensation.

Albus flicked his tongue out and teased her left nipple just once more before stepping back, removing his hand, and gesturing for the table to rise further. He smiled. "Is this acceptable, my dear Professor? You do have a head for heights, I have noticed," Albus said. "Both in your ordinary form and as your Tabby-self."

"Yes, yes, it's just fine," Minerva said breathlessly.

"Then just lie back," Albus said, pulling her legs toward him and placing them over his shoulders. "Just lie back and relax. Let me continue to be of assistance to you, my dear."

Albus stepped in toward the table, pulling Minerva just a bit closer to the edge. Minerva had lain back when he had instructed her to, but she raised her head to watch as Albus's head approached her crux. His eyes were dilated and focussed on her and on his goal. She saw as he watched himself part her folds; the tip of his tongue appeared as he licked his lips in anticipation.

Albus moved his fingers between her folds, opening them, then he flicked a finger experimentally across her swollen clitoris. Minerva gasped and lay her head back down, arching slightly at the sensation. Next, he ran a single finger down over her clitoris to her opening. He paused and looked up and across her body, seeking her face.

"Is this all right, my dear?" he asked in a whisper. "May I . . . this way, here?"

Minerva would have laughed if she were able. "If you don't continue, Albus, I will have to jump down from the table and insist that you do. But I do like this position," she said. "It is quite inventive, Professor Dumbledore."

"Mmm, and there is that enticing burr again," Albus said. "It is so erotic to hear you say that, it makes me want to do this." He slid his finger into her vagina. "Oh, yes," he said, "yes, so warm and wet . . . you are very wet all over, my dear Professor. So much so that I must do something about it, I believe."

Casting another glance across her body to reassure himself of Minerva's reaction, he began to quickly move his finger in and out of her. "Oh, yes, very, very wet. Definitely in need of greater assistance."

Albus moved both hands to either thigh, then he nuzzled Minerva's crux, inhaling before running the tip of his tongue around the edge of her entrance. He slipped his tongue into her briefly, but then ran it up to her clitoris, making Minerva gasp. First, he kissed and lapped at the insides of her folds, humming and murmuring against her, then he began to lick her clit with a few long strokes of his tongue. His tongue circled her clit and then, with just the tip, he began to flick her nub rapidly.

Minerva couldn't restrain her moans any longer, and she brought her legs behind his head and pulled him in toward her. Albus obliged her desire by increasing the pressure of his tongue on her clitoris and slipping his hand up between her legs and sliding two fingers into her. He felt about inside of her for a moment, then he found a spot and began to press it rhythmically. Minerva shouted and grasped at the air, finally finding the edges of the table and holding on as tightly as she could, arching her back as Albus pleasured her with his tongue and his fingers.

"Oh, gods . . . it's . . . Albus . . . oh, oh . . . oh, gods, Albus!" Minerva almost screamed as she came, and she felt a flow of wetness as Albus lapped and sucked at her, his fingers still pleasuring her. The force of her orgasm seemed to cause the muscles in her limbs to contract as she arched and rose up off the table, barely touching it, and her heels digging in between Albus's shoulder blades. Her orgasm seemed to go on and on, attenuated by Albus's continued licks and thrusts of his fingers as his hand now moved even more rapidly. As she reached the peak of her orgasm, Albus left his hand still, holding the tips of his fingers against the wall of her vagina as his tongue slowed its own circuit.

Minerva collapsed, gasping, her entire body limp, her legs now just hanging over Albus's shoulders. Albus slowly withdrew his hand, then he gently kissed her several times, her clitoris, her folds, her dark hair, and then he held onto her legs and stepped back and out from under them. He brought her legs together and then kissed her knees before easing her further onto the table.

With a whisper and a slight flick of his finger, Albus lowered the table slowly until it was at his waist height. He reached out with both hands and slowly drew them down Minerva's sides and then rested them on her thighs.

Looking down at her with a smile on his face, Albus said softly, "Now, you also requested assistance selecting appropriate clothing for this afternoon's outing."

"Mmm," Minerva murmured, blinking up at him. "We will need to go into the bedroom to do that, Professor Dumbledore. And I do believe that I need to lie down for a little while first. Would you join me? You may need to recuperate some, yourself. And," she said, eying his full erection, "you do appear to be in need of some attention, as well."

"Do you believe so, Professor?" Albus looked down at the focus of Minerva's attention. "He seems quite happy," Albus said with a grin. He looked back up at her with a twinkle in his eye. "It must be your very charming company, my dear."

Minerva reached out with a lazy fingertip and touched the edge of his crown, her own grin growing to see his cock twitch in response. "He is quite lively," she said, "and very alert."

Minerva rolled over onto her side as she grasped his cock. "Feels quite good, too," she murmured, watching herself stroke him. She looked up at Albus to see him transfixed by the sight of her hand on him. "How do you think it feels, Headmaster?"

Albus cleared his throat. "Oh, um, well. Quite well, yes."

Minerva grasped him more firmly and pulled, causing him to take a few steps around toward her, but not close enough, to her way of thinking. "Over here, Professor Dumbledore, please," she said, steering him closer to her head. "I would like to examine this more closely."

Her visual examination, as she put it, was cursory, as she explored his cock and then his balls with her fingertips. She wished she had her wand, but as she didn't, she asked Albus to lower the table another few inches.

"Perfect," she said, when he had done that and she was now at eye-level with his erection. More happily for her, however, she was now able not only to explore him with her hand and eye, but also with her mouth and tongue.

Minerva moved her head closer to the edge of the table and placed a gentle kiss on the tip of his penis. She heard him gasp slightly, and she resisted the urge to look up at him and seek his approval. Instead, she kissed the head of his cock again, then flicked out her tongue and licked at the droplet that had beaded on it. The tip of her tongue circled the edge of crown, and then she licked across it, first in one direction then the other. She closed her lips around him and gently sucked, flicking her tongue across his slit.

Albus took in a jerking breath, then whispered, "Minerva . . . oh, my dear . . . you needn't . . . just because I –"

Minerva pulled back just long enough to say, "Shhh!" then she immediately resumed, lowering her mouth to fully surround him and reaching around behind him, squeezing his buttocks, and pulling him closer. The head of his penis hit the back of her throat, but she was prepared and swallowed around him. Albus gasped again at the new sensation and gripped her shoulders.

Minerva hummed as she drew up along his cock, raising her head and pressing her tongue against him. She closed her lips tightly around him as she raised and lowered her head, and she swirled her tongue around his crown as she came up.

Finally, Albus gasped, and he said, "Enough . . . enough for now. Please." He urged her head back up, and Minerva looked up at him. His eyes were closed and he was breathing hard.

Minerva smiled, then she leaned forward and kissed him once more gently at the base of his penis. Raising herself up on one elbow, she said, "I do believe you are in very good condition, indeed, Professor Dumbledore. The Muggle underwear does not seemed to have had any deleterious effects on your lovely assets." She fondled his balls then held them cupped in her hand. "But I do believe that we should perform further tests to see whether my initial assessment is accurate," she said, smiling up at him.

"I would very much approve of that, my dear Professor," Albus said, reaching down and placing one warm hand around hers, but not removing it from its gentle cradling. He leaned over and kissed her upturned face. "I love you, Minerva McGonagall. I love you dearly," he breathed and kissed her lips again.

"I love you, Albus Dumbledore," Minerva whispered back. "I love you forever."

Albus put his arms around her and lifted her off the table, holding her close and breathing in her scent.

"You mentioned something about a little lie-down, my dear. Shall we?" Albus suggested.

Minerva smiled. "Yes, let's."

She took his hand and led him into her bedroom. She pulled back the covers on the bed. "Do you have a preferred side?" she asked.

"The side next to you, my love," Albus said softly.

Minerva turned and looked up at him, seeming to search his face. "How did I ever become the fortunate witch? It doesn't seem possible."

"Fortunate witch?" Albus asked her, genuinely puzzled.

"To have your love," Minerva said, reaching up and caressing his face. "I don't understand it at all. I should be doomed. I should be doomed to always seeing you, loving you, and never having you, never having your love. I believed it impossible."

"No, no, my dear," Albus said, shaking his head. "You are too beautiful and too wonderful to ever be doomed, and it would be a tragedy if you were. And I do love you. I would have tried to have been happy for you if you had loved another, if you had desired some other wizard, and you do deserve to be happy. But I am very glad that you love me as you do." Albus kissed her gently.

Minerva pulled him down onto the bed with her. "On the right, then," she said.

Albus's eyebrows rose in question.

"My right side, to be closer to your heart," Minerva clarified.

Albus smiled and moved over, making room for her to curl up next to him, then he pulled the covers up over them both. Minerva rested her head on his chest, then turned and kissed him through his beard. Sighing, she said, "Must we go anywhere this afternoon, Albus?"

"Well, it isn't a matter of necessity, but I do believe you will enjoy it. And we do have to eat," Albus replied.

"We could call for food here," Minerva pointed out.

"Yes . . . but I did rather have this in mind for a while, particularly over the last few days," Albus said. "But if you would prefer not to . . ."

"I don't know what I would prefer, as I don't know what you have planned," Minerva replied.

"True, and although I did want it to be a bit of a surprise, it isn't a very big one, anyway, so I suppose I can tell you now," Albus said. "I had thought that we could go back to that spot on the mountain, the one across from the school, and have a picnic lunch. If you would like to. I thought we could spend the rest of the afternoon there . . . and we would be away from any prying eyes and out of reach of any staff members who might think they would like to pop in and have a chat with one or the other of us."

"Then let's do that, Professor Dumbledore," Minerva said. "But after our nap."

She raised up and looked down at him. "You really are very thoughtful and romantic. Thank you. I hope you know how much I appreciate it."

Her hand found his penis again, only slightly relaxed, and at her touch, Albus made a low sound in his throat.

"You like this, when I touch you like this?" Minerva asked softly as she stroked his cock.

"Very much . . . and what you did before, that was bloody marvellous – I'm sorry, my dear," he said, turning his head to look at her, but she just grinned at him.

"I'm glad it was bloody marvellous," Minerva said teasingly. "I enjoyed it, myself, especially since I certainly hoped you were enjoying it."

"I didn't use a charm that time, but it was a near thing, Minerva – I shall have to become more adept at practising my self-control, I can see that," Albus said, grinning back at her.

"Mmm, although the charm does sound convenient, it can't be comfortable to use," Minerva said, thinking that she certainly wouldn't want to use a charm to keep herself from having an orgasm.

"Well, that particular charm is not terribly comfortable, admittedly, but it can be very useful, as you could tell last night," Albus said, closing his eyes and enjoying the sensation of Minerva's casual caresses. "There is another one, though . . . if you . . . that is, if you might . . . if it's one that you would approve of. It's not a particularly common spell."

"What is it?" Minerva asked, sitting up a bit further and resting her hand across his penis. This sounded interesting.

"It's, um, it's cast on the um, on my . . . on me," Albus said.

"Here?" Minerva asked, giving his penis a squeeze.

Albus nodded. "Precisely."

"It's not one of those artificial erection spells, is it?" Minerva asked. She doubted very much that Albus would need one of those, and if he ever did, then sex just wouldn't be in the cards that day. The notion of having sex with an artificially stimulated man didn't appeal to her. It was one thing for couples in which there was a physical malady of some sort, but otherwise . . . if it were just so that they could have sex when he couldn't become aroused – even if it was because they had just had intercourse and he wanted to recover more quickly – it wasn't an idea she liked. Minerva preferred knowing that Albus was getting some pleasure from it and from her, and from what she knew of such spells, they were not very enjoyable, although they could allow the wizard to have some additional stamina. Additional stamina didn't seem anything that Albus needed, and she liked seeing how he reacted to her presence and her touch. Casting a spell on his penis just didn't seem the same to her. "I don't think that would be very necessary. And it doesn't seem like anything you would enjoy."

Albus seemed to blush. "Actually, it is something I would enjoy, but only if it appeals to you, my dear. But it's not one of those spells."

"What is it, then?"

Albus just stared at the ceiling for a moment, then he said, "Rather ridiculous, isn't it, that I can make love to you as I did, and yet . . . I can't bring myself to explain what this spell does."

Minerva kissed his cheek. "No, not ridiculous. Rather sweet." Remembering her vow to be patient with him, and perfectly pleased with the results of her patience to that point, she would continue being patient, she thought – even if she had, at the end, seduced him rather shamelessly last night. But if Albus hadn't been equally ready to make love to her, Minerva was sure that he could have found some way around it if he had really wanted to.

She smiled down at him. "When you are ready, you can perhaps demonstrate the spell for me. I am sure that if it is something that you will enjoy, I would, too."

Minerva realised as she said this that she was placing rather a lot of faith in Albus not having some peculiar fetish. Perhaps it would enlarge his penis – another thing that he definitely did not need – or do something peculiar to its shape or texture. She had read of such spells, after all, but she wanted his penis to, well, feel like his penis when it was in her, and not have unnatural contours or additional bits that were supposedly stimulating. It rather turned her stomach, in fact. She had seen a wizard's magazine once that had advertised such a spell, with a full colour moving photograph demonstrating the results of the spell, before, during, and after, and it had put her off sex for days after. Rudolf couldn't understand her sudden lack of desire, but had just put it down to a witch's moodiness.

Although she wouldn't mind trying something a little bit . . . unusual with Albus if it was something he was interested in doing, Minerva would prefer to be forewarned and to know that she could change her mind if it turned out to be something that was far less than arousing for her. But rather than worry about that at the moment, she bent and kissed him, moving to lie on top of him. Albus's arms went around her as he returned her kisses. Perhaps she could make him more comfortable talking about sex with her, she thought.

Looking down into his eyes, Minerva smiled softly and said, "You know, there have been a few things you have done that I have especially enjoyed, Professor Dumbledore – one thing in particular for which you seem to have an impressive talent, in fact, and then there was something else you did last night that, well, I have never felt anything quite like it before."

"Is that so, Professor McGonagall?" Albus said, his eyes sparkling. "Would you care to share with me what those things might be, so that I am sure to repeat the performance in the future – and hoping that I am able to live up to your expectations!"

Minerva kissed his lips lightly, then she said, looking steadily into his eyes, "I love the way you use your tongue, Professor Dumbledore. You have a most talented tongue. Even thinking about it, the way that you use your tongue and mouth, makes me quite aroused."

"Does it indeed, Professor?" Albus asked. He moved one hand down her back. "I shall have to test the veracity of that last statement," he said as he reached between her legs and slipped his fingers down to her folds. "Mmm, yes, quite aroused. And you like it when I lick you here?" he whispered, touching her clitoris.

"Very, very much," Minerva said, closing her eyes and trying to control her breathing.

"And when I put my tongue here?" he asked very softly as he ran his finger around her entrance.

Minerva swallowed and nodded. "Yes, that too."

"And when I lick you from here," Albus said, inserting his finger in her vagina and then drawing it out and over her clitoris, "to here, you like that as well?"

"Mmhm, yes," Minerva said, resisting the urge to push against his finger.

"And what was it I did last night that you liked? That you hadn't felt before?" he asked hoarsely.

"In the stairwell, as you were fingering me, you began to suck my tongue," Minerva whispered. "It was entirely unexpected and . . . very arousing the way that you did it."

"Was it really?" Albus asked. He smiled. "I am glad that it was satisfactory."

"It was very satisfying, Professor Dumbledore, not merely satisfactory." She looked down at him. "You have no idea how very satisfying."

"I am very glad. I found it very satisfying, myself," he answered with a smile. "And I do love seeing you so excited."

Albus had continued to move his finger in and out of her, almost languidly, and gently teasing her clitoris. Minerva could feel how very aroused he was, and she was equally aroused, and certainly more than ready to continue what they had begun in the sitting room.

"So, Professor Dumbledore, you enjoy touching me and tonguing me, but I must ask, do you enjoy fucking me, too?" Minerva whispered, but enunciating very clearly. She liked to hear him say things like that, and she hoped that he didn't find the language too crude coming from her. He did seem sensitive about things like that, and worried about being crude himself.

Albus's eyes seemed to grow larger for just a moment, then, still smiling, he said, "Could you repeat the question, Professor McGonagall?"

"Do you enjoy fucking me, Professor Dumbledore?" she asked, still whispering and yet excited by her own question and the words she had used.

"Oh, very much, my dear Professor, if I understood the question correctly," Albus said, a playful grin on his face. "And I must say, I do understand why you enjoyed hearing me say those words last night. They sound rather titillating coming from your lips, Professor McGonagall, my severe Scottish Transfiguration mistress and very respectable Head of Gryffindor House."

"I'm glad you enjoy fucking me, because I like it when you do," Minerva said, pleased that he was entering into the spirit of her play.

"You like it when I do what, Professor?" Albus asked, feigning puzzlement.

Minerva leaned in close and whispered into his ear, "I like it when you fuck me. I like it when you have your cock in me and are thrusting inside of me. I like to come when you fuck me."

"Do you really?" Albus whispered, his fingers now moving faster. "Do you like it when I lie on top of you and fuck you?"

"Yes, I do."

"And did you like it when I fucked you against the wall?" he whispered. "When I took you against the cold stone wall?"

"Yes," Minerva said, swallowing. "Yes, I liked it when you fucked me against the wall."

"And you told me that you had a fantasy that we were behind Greenhouse Three and I took you there," Albus said. "When you told me that, did you mean that I fucked you against the wall there?"

"Yes, yes, that's what I meant," Minerva said. She couldn't restrain herself and she wiggled against his hand. "Oh, gods, Albus . . . just . . . do it now."

"Do what? Tell me, Professor McGonagall. What do you want me to do?" Albus whispered.

"I want you to fuck me now," Minerva whispered.

"Can you say that more loudly?" Albus asked, now fully engaged in Minerva's game.

"Fuck me now, Headmaster Dumbledore," Minerva said.

Albus flipped her over. He looked down at her, a mischievous grin on his face. "I thought you'd never ask."

Albus positioned himself above her, the head of his cock at her clitoris. He took his penis in his hand and rubbed the tip of his cock against her. "You are very ready, I believe. And I know that I am."

He found her entrance and he pushed in, but only with the head of his cock. He withdrew completely, then repeated the same movement, stretching and stimulating Minerva's opening. Minerva tilted her hips.

"Patience, patience, Professor McGonagall," Albus whispered, then repeating the same shallow entry, again pulling out completely before reentering her. He did this several times, and Minerva's breathing began to come in gasps.

When she was moaning and grasping at anything within reach, Albus suddenly entered her fully. Minerva let out a shout and he began to thrust, as hard and fast as he had been slow and tantalising before. When she arched her back, Albus paused to pull her toward him as he rose onto his knees and sat back on his heels. With not even a whispered spell, Minerva felt a charmed cushion of air supporting her from beneath as Albus resumed pumping within her from his new position. Whatever he was doing, Minerva didn't care, as she started to come, beginning with shivers and tremors and going on to an explosion of an orgasm that seemed to encompass her entire body with wave after wave of pleasure. She heard her own voice calling Albus's name, and then his calling out in answer to hers, and she felt him thrust hard into her and pull her toward him as he came.

Minerva lay back in a haze, exhausted and sated. She felt the charm beneath her gently release, slowly lowering her to the bed, and Albus lay down beside her, one arm across her, his breathing still ragged. As she regained her own breathing, she looked over at him with some concern. His arm was still around her, but he was lying partially on his stomach, his face turned away from her. She remembered her concern from earlier in the summer that he was too old for such activity. She no longer believed that, if she ever had done and not simply used it as a way of avoiding the thought that he might be sexually involved with another witch, such as Gertrude, but it could still be the case that Albus was pushing himself too much, exerting himself too hard, and tiring himself. He was over eighty years older than she, after all.

Minerva reached out a hand and gently ran it over his back. He was sweating, as would any man after that exertion, and his heart was pounding, though no more so than her own, and she could feel his pulse slowing as he lay there quietly, but his breathing still seemed somewhat laboured. She rolled over onto her side to be closer to him, and she kissed the top of his shoulder, the closest bit of skin to her lips.

"You all right, love?" she asked softly.

Albus nodded. She heard him take a breath then clear his throat.

"I'm fine, my dear." He turned his head toward her. "Really, I am," he said softly.

Minerva saw tears glittering still on his eyelashes, and she looked at him in wonderment. With gentle fingertips, she caressed his cheek and felt they were damp. She did not know what to say or what to ask. A few times, Rudolf had shed tears as he came, but they were brief and short-lived, a product of the intense emotion of the moment.

"What is it, then?" she asked finally.

Albus closed his eyes for a moment, and when he reopened them, his bright blue eyes looked directly into hers. "It is you, your beauty, your youth . . . and that I do not deserve you, nor do I deserve such joy and happiness. And also . . ."

"Yes?" Minerva asked, wanting to hear everything.

"And the thought that . . . it is hard to capture in words . . . the thought that that was just a fleeting moment in my life. That this time with you is fleeting. And that I could eventually lose you, that there is no such thing as forever," Albus said softly. He did not tell her that for a moment, just for a moment, he believed it to be a certainty that he would lose her. It seemed to go hand-in-hand with not deserving her and not deserving the happiness he had been experiencing with her.

Minerva shook her head and continued to caress his face. "Every moment is fleeting, but when I am with you and I come, there is a moment when I feel as though that moment contains eternity, and in that eternity abides my love for you. And my love for you, Albus, is not fleeting. I do love you. I love you forever." She kissed his lips. "And you cannot lose me, especially not now. You have held my heart for so long, even when I rather desperately wished that you did not. Now you cannot lose me, not really. Even if something were to happen to me, if I were to die in some bizarre accident or were to contract a fatal illness, you still would not really lose me. Because I have given you my heart, Albus, I have given you my heart. I hope that you can accept that. I believe what you wrote in your poem, Albus, that your love for me will not fade with time but will only grow. Believe the same of me. Please."

Albus leaned over and kissed her. "I do now, with you here. But that does not change the fact that I still believe myself undeserving of it and that something will happen to . . . to make it right, to make things even, that you will be taken away from me somehow because that is what I deserve, and not this happiness."

"Oh, Albus! Of course you deserve happiness, as much as being happy has anything to do with what one may deserve or not – which isn't much, I think. You have the capacity for happiness and joy, and if you have that capacity, you certainly should take advantage of it. There are poor unfortunate souls who have no capacity for happiness, regardless of their lot in life, or they have narrowed and shrunk that capacity down to the size of a thimble through their own miserliness. You haven't done that, Albus, even with the pain you have had in life, you haven't done that." Minerva thought for a moment. "And there are people who may feel pleasure and seek it out, but whose happiness or capacity for true happiness I question. The way you describe Grindelwald, for example. It doesn't sound as though he was ever happy, nor would he have been happy even if every soul on the planet had called him master. He had his pleasures, but I doubt they gave him any happiness or joy. Probably because he didn't love anyone but himself." Minerva smiled at Albus. "You love, though. And of course, loving can result in pain sometimes, but I think it's also where we find happiness, don't you, Albus?"

Albus kissed her lightly. "I do, indeed. And you are right. I don't know, I just had a moment of sudden bleakness when I thought of losing you, and it seemed for a moment that it was only right and just if I were to lose you, but that is nonsensical." He grinned. "You love me, after all, even though I am a foolish old codger sometimes."

Minerva playfully pretended to slap him. "Now those are words I don't want to hear. Forbidden from your vocabulary, at least when speaking of the wizard whom I love and adore!" she scolded.

"Yes, ma'am, Professor McGonagall," Albus said cheekily, his good humour restored. "But I am getting very hungry. The brunch was nice, but that was hours ago. Perhaps we should have some tea and biscuits before we leave on our picnic."

"A good suggestion, but we can't leave as we are, anyway," Minerva pointed out. "And you were going to help me choose something to wear."

"Ah, yes, you won't allow me to shirk my duties, will you?" He rolled over and was about to get out of bed, when he spied Minerva's bedside table. He sat up and looked at it. "The little photograph." He picked up the picture. "You did put the rose there, then," he said, looking at the frame with the dried rose affixed to the corner.

"Yes, I did. Before I had seen your frame, in fact. That is one thing that struck me so strongly when I saw how you had decorated it," Minerva admitted.

"And the two white stones and the nazar," Albus said as he replaced the picture in its position just behind the stones.

"Yes, that's what I was trying to hide from you that day you came into my bedroom to see where I would put my new photograph of the two of us, which, as you can see, is still in its own place on the vanity," Minerva said, gesturing toward the dressing table.

Albus turned more to look at her. "That was a wonderful evening, wasn't it?" he asked softly. "The entire day was. I enjoyed it more than I had any day in very many years, though that probably sounds silly to you."

"No, it doesn't. When we were out that evening, I kept wishing I could allow myself to believe that it was a real date," Minerva replied.

"It was, in a way. And if ever I had believed that it was possible for you to love me and that my own feelings for you were not entirely inappropriate, then that night is when I would have told you of my love, I am sure," Albus said. "Instead, I began to tell you of our wands, which then led to me later telling you . . . about how they came to be in the first place." He thought for a moment. "I think that by telling you all that about myself, by entrusting you with so much of my story, some things which I had never told anyone else, it was my way of becoming as close as possible to you without telling you how much I love you."

"You did tell me that you love me. That night, you did, the night you told me about yourself. You said it without thinking, I believe," Minerva said, smiling at his startled expression. "You told me that you had to hide the people whom you loved from Grindelwald, how you could not think of them so he would not know you loved them. You named me among those you loved."

"I did . . . yes, I suppose I did," Albus said, remembering.

"Of course, I then told myself that you had named others for whom you felt no romantic love, but it still brought me a measure of happiness, particularly since just a couple days earlier, you had told me that you were 'fond' of me," Minerva added. "This seemed to confirm that you still did love me, even if you still only loved me as you had when I was – when I was younger."

"When you were a student, you mean to say," Albus said softly, looking away again.

"Yes," Minerva said simply.

Albus nodded. "Yes, I did love you then, but it is different now. The way I loved you changed."

"I know, Albus. But I am glad of it; not just of how you love me now, but that you loved me then. When my mother told me that you loved me when I was a student, I was glad of it, but I was also sure that your love for me had remained the same as it was, and that made me despair. Each time I felt a reason for hope that you might love me, it was always accompanied by a shadow of despair that told me it wasn't possible. Fortunately, recently I was listening more to the hope than the despair most of the time."

Albus's brain had stopped at one phrase of Minerva's. Ignoring the rest of what she had said, Albus asked, "Your mother told you I loved you?"

"Yes, she said that you loved me when I was a student. That if you hadn't loved me, you couldn't have staunched the drain as you did. She said that she knew then that her faith in you was not misplaced and that you would do whatever was necessary to protect me. She said that your love was perfectly altruistic and unselfish," Minerva said. "Of course, I was happy to hear that, but confused, as well."

"I see . . ." Albus thought for a moment, then said, returning to the present, "I suppose I should get dressed. Let me know if you do want assistance selecting your robes, though, my dear." He looked around. "I do wish I had a dressing gown, though. As comfortable as I was a little while ago, I do not feel comfortable wandering about your suite in my altogether."

Minerva laughed. "Wait a moment, Albus." She sat up and Summoned her wand from the sitting room, and it flew, still in her Muggle handbag, into the bedroom. Minerva took her wand and waved it again, Summoning a fluffy white towel from the bathroom. "Blampa insists on bringing me piles of towels. I always have extra," she explained.

She thought for a moment, then grinned and waved her wand. "Here you go, Albus," Minerva said, handing him his new dressing gown.

Albus laughed and put on his new robe. No longer terry cloth, but of soft woven silk, the dressing gown was ankle length, with vertical stripes of varying widths in red, gold, green, silver, blue, bronze, yellow, and black. The same coloured stripes ran diagonally on the large, billowy sleeves; each sleeve ended with a wide cuff, one in green with black piping and one in red with yellow piping. The wide hem was of bronze with a gold edge, and the shawl collar was bright blue with silver piping. The sash was striped in bronze and black. It was garish, but peculiarly appealing at the same time.

"It is Hogwarts-themed," Minerva explained unnecessarily. "I thought since you were Headmaster, I would use all the colours of the different Houses. It isn't as ugly as I thought it would be," she observed as Albus stood and walked around the bed.

"It isn't at all. I expected something quite functional but perfectly sensible, my dear, and you certainly surprised me!" Albus said, eyes twinkling. "Thank you very much!" He bent and kissed her.

"You are welcome! Now you don't even need to get dressed in those Muggle clothes again. You can just Floo through to your office," Minerva said.

"Oh, well, I don't know . . ."

"Why ever not?" Minerva asked, getting out of bed herself. "You just need to get undressed again in order to get ready to go on our picnic. And I don't know about you, but I want a shower now." She really wanted a shower with Albus, but if they did that, they would never go on the picnic that he seemed to look forward to so much. Besides, he probably still wasn't quite ready for that yet.

"Yes, but . . . if there is someone in the office –"

"Who would be in your office?" Minerva asked somewhat impatiently. He did seem to have a talent to make things complicated sometimes, while at other times, he seemed to make everything simplicity itself, even when it wasn't. "Look, I'll throw on my dressing gown and call through. If there is anyone there, I'll say I was calling you, and then you can dress and take your stairs or Floo, whatever you prefer. If there is no one there, you can Floo to your office with no worries."

Albus nodded. "Most sensible, my dear." He did not relish the thought of putting his Muggle attire back on.

"You could even just walk like that to your backstair, if you wanted, Albus," Minerva pointed out as she stood and walked over to her wardrobe. "You could just do your invisibility trick. That way you would avoid anyone who might be in your office and still remain unseen."

"Very good. I am not accustomed to this, I suppose," Albus said. "In fact, that is what I will do. No need to call through, Minerva. I'll just take my backstairs directly to my bedroom."

Minerva opened her wardrobe. "Good. Now . . . I thought I would wear these robes this afternoon, and bring my tartan cape," she said, pulling a set of mossy green robes from her wardrobe. They had designs in rusty brown running through them, and a border of the same rust colour along the hem and cuffs. They were warm, comfortable, and durable. The sun was shining, but it was still damp and somewhat chilly for August, even in the Highlands.

Albus smiled. "Those are very pretty on you, my dear. And quite practical, as well."

Minerva put on a lightweight dressing gown, but didn't close it.

"Shall I meet you up in your sitting room, or down in the front hall?" Minerva asked as they walked into the sitting room.

"I don't know how long either of us will take . . . I could come by and pick you up, and we could have our tea and biscuits before we leave. That way I could, um, bring you your knickers," Albus said with a slightly embarrassed smile.

Minerva grinned at him. "All right. I'll make us tea, then, as soon as I'm out of my shower. But you have to tell me where you found my knickers," she insisted. "I shall surely die of curiosity if you don't!"

Albus blushed. "Last night when I went to bed, I rolled over onto my side, trying to get comfortable, and put my hand under my pillow, as I often do, and I felt something unusual. Your knickers were under my pillow."

Minerva laughed, and Albus joined her. "That is very sweet, Albus." She reached up and kissed him. "So," she said, a teasing grin on her face, "what did you do when you discovered them?"

Albus's blush grew. "Oh, I, um . . . well, I put them back." When Minerva laughed again, he added, "It seemed a safe and sensible place to keep them!"

"Yes, of course it did, Albus." She hugged him, leaning against his chest. "I love you, you know, Albus."

Albus returned her embrace. "I am beginning to get the idea you might have just a wee bit of affection for me," he said with a smile. He kissed Minerva's forehead. "Now I must leave, or we will be picnicking at midnight. It doesn't stay light as long as it did, so we don't want to delay."

"Of course," Minerva answered, smiling up at him. "Although a midnight picnic could be quite romantic."

Albus kissed her lightly before sitting down next to the pile of clothes on the sofa. "I shall remember that," he said as he began to sort out his clothes from hers.

Albus found his socks, and as he pulled them on, they Transfigured into soft slippers with stripes matching those in his new dressing gown.

"Very nice," Minerva said, again impressed by Albus's abilities. She wondered if the day would ever come when she was not impressed by his magical talents and imagination.

He grinned up at her. "It wouldn't do to be wearing a pair of dull slippers with this beautiful robe – I think I may make the Transfiguration permanent, in fact."

"Go right ahead," Minerva said. "You know, I had to ask Blampa to bring me uncharmed towels. When I first tried to Transfigure a towel, I discovered they had an Anti-transfiguration Charm on them. I didn't remember that from when I was a student."

"Oh, yes, there was an incident a couple years ago with some students. A series of some rather unpleasant practical jokes. All of the general Hogwarts linens – towels, sheets, and so forth – now have an Anti-transfiguration Charm on them. Of course, with members of staff, there is no need for it, but most staff don't think to Transfigure their towels and don't even notice it," Albus replied with a smile.

"I wanted to make table linens, as I didn't have any but I didn't want to ask Blampa for Hogwarts napkins and such. It was for our first breakfast together," Minerva explained. "I used some old scarves instead."

"And the table was very pretty, I remember, as were you," Albus said. "You looked so fetching in that yellow frock. It was quite distracting, my dear."

"Really?" Minerva grinned. "I must remember that!"

"Mmm, I had to retire to the loo and cast a Cooling Charm on, um, certain parts of my anatomy. I didn't have my wand with me, and the entire room felt like an icebox," Albus said with a grin.

Minerva's own grin grew. "That is nice to know."

"Mmm, now I'm off to change. I'll be as quick as I can!" Albus said, rising with an armful of clothing and going to her door.

"All right," Minerva replied, walking over to the door with him. "I look forward to it!"

As Minerva was speaking, Albus disappeared. She blinked and focussed on where he had been standing. She couldn't detect a thing, although he was close enough to her that she could feel his magic quite clearly, perhaps even more strongly than she had when he was visible.

"I will see you soon, Minerva," Albus said.

Minerva felt a warm hand on her cheek then his lips on hers, and then the door was open and she sensed that he stepped through. The door closed with a soft click, and Minerva felt alone again. But Albus would be back. She smiled and went into her bathroom to take a very fast shower so that she could have tea ready for him when he returned.