CXXXIV: Sweet Delight

CXXXIV: Sweet Delight

"Minerva?"

Minerva heard Albus calling her from the sitting room, and she hurried from the bedroom where she had been finishing fixing her hair. Merely because they were going on a picnic was no reason for her to look scruffy, after all.

"I didn't think you would mind if I let myself in," Albus said as he recovered from the kiss that Minerva gave him.

"Not at all. I'm glad you did!" Minerva replied with a broad smile. It was good to see him becoming more comfortable with her. "I made tea for us, and there are biscuits. Ginger newts, of course, and some iced lemon shortbread that Poppy introduced me to. I thought you might enjoy those."

The two sat down at the table and Albus smiled. "Very prettily laid table, Minerva," he remarked. Minerva had gone to more effort than she usually would for just serving tea and a few biscuits. "Shall I be mother?" he asked as he reached for the teapot.

"Thank you, Albus," Minerva replied. "I thought that even though we haven't much time, we could still have something nice."

Minerva had charmed the tablecloth with a delicate, subtle design of climbing ivy and yew branches, and she had charmed a little painted red rose on either side of her ordinary white teapot, likewise decorating the plain white teacups. She had thought of all the effort that Albus had gone to over the last days to create special occasions for her, and although she knew that he enjoyed doing it for her, she wanted to return his gestures in some small way.

After Albus had fixed her tea precisely as she liked it, a little milk, no sugar, and his with milk and two teaspoons of sugar, he said, "As I was getting dressed and putting my Muggle clothes away and in the laundry, I had a chuckle thinking about your father and his aversion to trousers."

Minerva laughed. "Yes, and he was most relieved to learn he wouldn't have to wear trousers to the wedding today!"

"Very clever solution, I thought," Albus said with a smile. "And he had no need to make use of the advice I gave him regarding Muggle undergarments, either."

"Yes, well, it was Mother's idea, actually," Minerva said. "She thought that if all the McGonagall men were clad in matching kilts and jackets, it would dress up the wedding some, as well as avoiding the need to get Dad into trousers. Malcolm grumbled a bit that he couldn't wear his favourite jacket, but I think he actually likes the new one that Mother got him. Morgan complained because he doesn't like wearing a kilt. He says it's draughty and he's got knobby knees, but something Fiona told him – and I don't care to speculate what it might have been! – quite changed his attitude. I understand he's been wearing a kilt almost constantly for the last week, ever since his wife talked him into it. Murdoch, of course, was quite easy going about it, although he seems at home in trousers, since he wears them frequently, himself."

"Your three brothers are quite the handsome lads," Albus observed, "though of very different types."

Murdoch could almost be described as brawny, and was certainly quite hearty – tall, broad, and heavily-muscled – and Malcolm, though equally tall and broad-shouldered, was of a slimmer, leaner build. Morgan was the shortest of the three brothers, just an inch taller than Minerva herself, with light brown hair and brown eyes that seemed almost golden in certain lights, and he was the least active of the three, though still lithe and quick-looking. Fiona was almost his height, with fiery red hair and a passionate nature, much more out-going than her husband, but still with a warmth and sweetness that matched Morgan's own. They did hang on to one another in public a bit too much for Minerva's taste, and it must have been torture for them to be seated across from one another at brunch that morning, but Minerva did like her middle brother and his wife. She should have made time to see them that summer, Minerva thought regretfully, but she had been rather absorbed in her own life. Still, she had invited them to her tea, and they had declined, so it wasn't as if she hadn't tried.

"Yes, they all looked rather handsome today, and I thought that Mother was looking quite lovely, too," Minerva said. Fwisky had likely helped Egeria with her hair, as it was in a much more complicated arrangement than she usually managed. She had been wearing an ankle-length pleated skirt of the same tartan as the men's kilts, a white blouse with a wide, ruffled, self-tie down the front with a pearl stick-pin, and a short jacket similar to those the men were wearing, which picked up one of deep greens in the plaid. It was an attractive outfit and not out-of-place at an informal morning wedding. Minerva almost wished she had worn something similar, but perhaps undressing might not have been as enjoyable.

"What is that smile for?" Albus asked, noting the gleam in Minerva's eye.

"I was thinking that I might have worn something like Mother's outfit, but undressing would not have been as enjoyable," Minerva said, smiling more broadly.

Albus grinned. "You appreciated my assistance, then?"

"Very much so," Minerva answered, her eyes sparkling. "That was the only reason I was at all reluctant to go on our picnic. But I am quite looking forward to it now. And I feel as though I need the walk."

Albus was wearing robes of the same colour as the rusty designs in Minerva's robes that day, with a chevron pattern woven into the fabric, creating an impression that the material shimmered as he moved. The collar and cuffs were of a darker rust with a floral design embroidered in gold, and his under-robe was of the same darker colour. The over-robe was slit at the sides, corresponding to the deep pleats of the under-robe. Minerva thought he looked quite handsome, and told him so.

"Thank you, my dear," Albus replied, successfully subduing his blush, but with a pleased smile on his face. "And you, as always, look wonderful. I shall be quite disappointed to see the beginning of the school year and your teaching robes emerging once more."

"Ah, but you will also be able to remove those robes, Albus," Minerva said, "if, of course, you are as adept at removing wizarding clothing as you are Muggle attire!"

Albus grinned. "I may need to practise. Would you mind if we practised frequently?"

"I suppose we could," Minerva agreed with a grin. "But I don't look forward to our busy schedules," she added more soberly. "Actually, I do look forward to it, in a way, but I regret that we will have so much less time together, and that our free time might not always coincide."

Albus reached across the table and took her hand. "We will just have to work on it. It will take some doing, but I am sure we can find time to be together. And it is yet one more reason to look forward to our little holiday!" he said, squeezing her hand.

Minerva smiled. "Yes, it is, isn't it? Ready to leave for our picnic now?"

"Yes – but first," he said, reaching into his pocket, "I do have something of yours to return." He held out her knickers to her.

"Thank you," Minerva said, grinning. "Are you certain you wouldn't want to sleep with them again tonight?" she teased.

Albus did blush at that. "No, no, that is . . . um, that is fine."

They stood and Minerva put her arms around him. "You know, you needn't be embarrassed. I actually slept with your robes once. Not that I had intended to, of course."

Albus looked surprised and very confused. "How is that?"

"Your birthday, remember? You left your rose and gold robes here? I held onto them and, well, they smelled like you, so I lay down with them and held them close," Minerva confided. "I had been disappointed in your response to my profession of love, and it comforted me to hold on to them and breath in your scent. I must have just fallen asleep with them. I don't even recall doing it, or even getting into bed that night. When I woke up the next morning, I was still holding them close. I cast a freshening charm so that my foolishness wouldn't be evident."

Albus squeezed her more tightly. "I am sorry . . . I responded the only way I knew how at the time. I didn't mean to hurt you. Ever. I love you."

"I know, and I understand," Minerva said. "Now let's be off – where's the picnic basket?"

"Wilspy will bring it when I call her," Albus replied, taking Minerva's hand. "I am looking forward to this. I am glad it is agreeable to you."

Minerva smiled up at him. "Anything to spend more undisturbed time alone with you, my sweet Albus. And that is a lovely spot."

It was almost four-thirty when they reached their picnic spot on the mountain. They barely took a moment to enjoy the view before they sat down on their blanket and cushions, and Albus set up their meal, which could hardly be called lunch any longer, it was so late.

After they had eaten their fill of bread, cheese, cold chicken, tomatoes, and some spicy deviled eggs, Albus pulled a small, oddly-shaped, long-handled, covered pot from the picnic basket.

"What's that?"

Albus glanced up at her and grinned. "You don't recognise this?" he asked, seeming pleased with himself.

Minerva shook her head. "Looks like a peculiar kind of cauldron to me," she said, trying to swallow the last of her Wensleydale with a sip of her Sylvaner.

Albus laughed. He drew two long rods from the basket, each with a tiny, two-pronged fork at the end, as Minerva looked on with interest. Perhaps they were going to do some sort of Alchemy, she thought, and when she voiced this speculation, Albus just laughed again.

"No, not Alchemy. Something more enjoyable even than that," he said. "You really don't know? Wonderful!" His pleasure at surprising Minerva was evident in his smile. "You will enjoy this, I believe, my dear."

The next thing he pulled from the basket was an oval china bowl with a lid on it. He removed the lid to reveal strawberries and smallish cubes of what appeared to be pound cake. Albus waved his hand over the pot, then removed the lid with a flourish.

"Voila!" he said.

Minerva could smell chocolate and some kind of liqueur. She leaned forward to look into the pot. It was three-quarters full of smooth, warm, melted chocolate.

"Fondue," Albus explained. "You take one of these, put a strawberry or a bit of cake on the end, and dip it in the melted chocolate."

Albus put a strawberry on the end of one of the long forks and dipped it into the chocolate, swirling it slightly as he lifted it out. He held it toward Minerva, who leaned forward and ate the strawberry directly from the skewer. Her eyes closed, and she chewed slowly and appreciatively.

"That is wonderful, Albus," Minerva said with a satisfied sigh. "Is there Cointreau in it?"

Albus nodded. "Yes, mainly Cointreau and dark chocolate. Honeydukes, of course," he added with a grin.

Minerva picked up the other skewer and put a cube of cake on it, dipped it into the chocolate, then offered it to Albus, who smiled before he closed his mouth around the delicious morsel.

They fed each other strawberries and cake, dipping them in the warm fondue, until every berry and every crumb of cake had been eaten. Albus put the pot back into the basket and cleared away the remnants of their picnic with a sweep of his wand. He moved closer to Minerva and pulled her over into his embrace.

"That was lovely, Albus. Thank you so very much," Minerva said, kissing his cheek.

"You are most welcome," Albus replied. "I hoped you would enjoy it."

"Mmm, I did, very, but now I am quite sleepy," she said.

"Then we can take a bit of a kip. We're in no hurry today, after all." Albus waved his wand and conjured a soft tartan afghan, covering them with it. "Comfortable?"

Minerva nodded. She was resting her head on his chest, his arms were around her, she was holding him; she couldn't be more comfortable. "It's perfect."

Almost an hour later, Minerva stretched as she opened her eyes and blinked sleepily. It was clearly quite a bit later than when she had fallen asleep, but remembering what Albus had said about them not having to hurry, she didn't check the time, but only rose up on one arm to look down at Albus's face. He was asleep, his lips slightly parted, his breathing slow and even. She usually found it difficult to fall asleep with someone else present – it had taken her some time to become used to sleeping with Rudolf when she first moved in with him – but it wasn't difficult at all with Albus. It simply seemed natural to fall asleep with him, and equally natural to awaken in his arms. She wondered when he would decide that they could spend the night together. Not that night, certainly, not with the duel with Malcolm in the morning. Probably Sunday, she thought with a slight sigh, when they were on holiday. But she could wait two more nights. She had waited more than fifteen years to be with him, after all, something she had believed to be completely impossible when she had first realised that she was in love with him.

It was wonderful to be so close to him, to be able to watch him sleep like this without worrying that he would wake up and find her staring at him. She loved looking at him, she loved it almost as much as she loved to touch him. And how she loved to touch him. Minerva's heart beat faster as she remembered how his penis had reacted to her touch that morning, and how he had enjoyed her pleasuring him orally, despite his initial protest.

His lips were looking very enticing, and finally, Minerva could not restrain herself. Although she wanted to let him sleep, she wanted to kiss him even more. She approached his lips slowly and kissed them softly, then as Albus began to waken, she took his lower lip between hers and sucked it gently. With pleasure, she felt his arms embrace her as he pulled her on top of him, returning her kisses now.

Minerva kissed him languidly but sensuously, and remembering how it had felt when he had unexpectedly begun to suck her tongue as he was thrusting his fingers within her, she closed her lips around his exploring tongue and sucked it gently but rapidly, as he had done. Albus's hands gripped her at the sudden sensation. Not wanting to overdo a good thing, Minerva returned to her kisses, swirling her tongue lightly around his. Albus moaned and opened his mouth further. Minerva tickled his palate with the tip of her tongue as she pressed herself against him, pleased to feel how full and firm his erection was.

She kissed his lips lightly a few more times, then she pulled away just enough to look down into his bright eyes.

"Nice nap?" Minerva asked with a smile.

"Very, but a much nicer awakening," Albus said. One of his hands was still caressing her back, and it slipped down to her buttocks, the tips of his fingers seeking the curves hidden beneath Minerva's robes.

"Are we alone? Really alone and private, Albus?" Minerva asked.

He grinned. "Yes, I believe so, although I could ensure that for you, if you wish. Do you have something specific in mind, my dear?"

Minerva tried unsuccessfully to suppress her own grin. "Why would you think that?"

She kissed him once more softly, then rolled off of him and stood beside him on the blanket.

"You might want to begin ensuring that right now, Albus," she said in a low voice, bringing her hands to the front of her bodice and its charmed hooks.

Albus didn't take his eyes from Minerva as he found his wand and quickly cast a few spells. He watched as she released the charm and the front of her gown opened. She did not further remove her robe, but did touch the waistband to loosen the skirts around her. She was wearing another chemise that day with tiny mother-of-pearl buttons. She slowly unbuttoned each one as Albus watched, pleased to see his eyes darkening with desire.

Still clothed, she opened the chemise to bare her breasts, then she toed off her shoes and raised her skirts on her left side. Lifting her knee and bending forward, her breasts freed from her clothing, Minerva began to roll down her left stocking. She removed it, then, straightening briefly, dropped it on the blanket beside her shoes. She removed her right stocking in the same manner, very aware that Albus could not decide whether he preferred to focus on her breasts or on her leg, but she believed that her breasts caught most of his attention.

Having removed her stockings, Minerva next shrugged out of the bodice of her gown. It was a bit chilly, and she took a moment to lazily Summon her wand and cast a Warming Charm on the air around her. She put down her wand, then pushed off her skirts. Now only in knickers and her open chemise, which just came to her hips, Minerva crossed her arms and ran her hands down from her shoulders, as if she were cold, then she brought her hands to her waist, placing her palms on her bare stomach, and she slid her fingers beneath the waistband of her knickers. Hooking her thumbs over the outside of the waistband, she ran her hands around to her hips and slowly pushed the knickers down and off, stepping out of them gracefully. They were fairly plain, as knickers went, off-white, but they had a lacy panel in the front, so they were a bit nicer than some she owned.

Minerva smiled and held out her knickers to Albus, who, as if moving in a dream, reached out and took them from her hand.

For the first time since telling Albus that he should ensure their privacy, Minerva spoke. "For under your pillow, Albus – and whatever other use you may have for them," she said with a playful smile. She had been very aroused before she had begun undressing for him, and she was quite certain that her knickers no longer seemed at all freshly laundered.

To Minerva's delight, Albus, not taking his eyes from her, brought the knickers to his face, took in a deep breath, then he kissed their crotch lightly before putting them down.

She raised an eyebrow. "So, you like my knickers?"

"I would rather kiss what they enclosed, but until then . . ." Albus said in a low voice.

Minerva smiled and stepped right beside him so that he lay back to look up at her. She took hold of the plackets of her chemise, as if undecided whether to rebutton it or remove it altogether, then she pulled it all of the way open and pushed it off behind her.

"You are very beautiful, my dear Minerva," Albus said softly, looking up at her and reaching out a hand and caressing her leg. "Very, very beautiful, and very attractive."

Minerva didn't say anything in response, but bent at the knees and crouched beside him. She pulled back the afghan and tossed it aside. It disappeared as she did so, but without sparing the conjured blanket a thought, Minerva began to unfasten the few hooks at the waist of Albus's over robe. She parted it then looked in consternation at his under-robe. It certainly fit him too closely to simply pull on over his head, but she saw no fastenings. It must button or hook in the back, she decided with a sigh. What a bother!

Albus grinned at her expression. "My left shoulder," he said softly.

"What?"

"The seam at the left shoulder. Just run a finger along it and . . . imagine what you would like to happen," he said with a smile.

Minerva did as he said, forming the intent that his robes unfasten. As her finger touched the seam, it opened up neatly, and when she reached the end, it didn't stop there, but proceeded to open along the length of one side of his chest and all the way down to the hem. Minerva pulled back the front of the robe, baring Albus to the sky and her eyes. She brushed his beard neatly back across his chest and smiled to see the ends touch the tip of his erection. She ran her hand lightly down his beard once more, and when she reached the end, she began to caress and tease the head of his penis with the tips of her fingers.

"He is quite lively again," Minerva remarked, circling the edge of his crown with one fingertip. "But he must wait just a little bit longer. He will get all of the attention he deserves, however. I promise." Minerva bent and kissed the tip of his penis lightly, then she moved down to his feet.

Fortunately, his short boots were not the puzzle that his under-robe had been, and she pulled them off quickly, not even needing a charm to assist her, then she pulled off his calf-high socks, these gold with bright golden flecks woven through them. She smiled.

"No Esmerelda today?" Minerva asked as she removed his socks.

"Not today," Albus answered seriously. "I didn't believe they went with these robes."

Minerva laughed slightly. She massaged his feet briefly, then his calves. As she massaged his lower legs, she leaned forward and let her breasts brush the tops of his legs. She moved further up, spreading her legs and straddling him as she began to massage this thighs, front and back, again leaning forward and allowing her breasts to brush against him as she reached beneath him and rubbed the backs of his legs.

After massaging the muscles in Albus's legs, Minerva began to stroke his skin gently and then caress it very lightly. She leaned forward and kissed the base of his penis, then the shaft, then the head, before sitting up and moving further forward. She caressed Albus's abdomen and chest, then she found his nipples with her fingers and circled and teased them. She could tell by the expression on Albus's face that he was enjoying her attention, so she moved up just a bit more and began to kiss him, first his stomach, then his chest, then moving aside his beard, she lay flat against him, trapping his penis between them, and flicked her tongue over his nipple. Some wizards, she had found, were self-conscious about taking pleasure in having any part of their body stimulated but their penis. Fortunately, Rudolf had not been one of them, and Minerva had learned that there were many points of pleasure on a man's body, and it seemed that Albus was not shy about it either, much to Minerva's delight. As she began to caress him with her tongue, Albus gasped, then he reached up with one hand, placing it on her back and holding her there. She took that to mean that he did not want her to stop, so she did not. After running her tongue around his nipple once more, she moved to the other side and began to flick her tongue over his other nipple. As she did that, she rocked from side to side, providing more gentle stimulation to Albus's erection.

Albus slid a hand between Minerva's legs, seeking her crux, but she closed them against him and shook her head slightly. She knew what she wanted to do next, and she wouldn't be able to think if he began to touch her there.

Suddenly remembering what Albus had said of his fears that she might someday shy from his touch, and as unlikely as it seemed that he could misinterpret her gesture under these circumstances, Minerva raised her head, looking up at him, and said softly, "Patience, Albus, my darling, patience!"

"As you wish," Albus said, a smile in his voice.

Minerva smiled at him and moved off him, kneeling at his side. Her smile grew as she saw Albus's penis, large and erect. She closed her fingers around his shaft and began to stroke him, allowing her thumb to brush over the head of his penis with each down stroke of her hand, and squeezing very gently as she reached his base. Albus's mouth was open and he was gasping, his hand clenching the blanket beneath him. Minerva didn't want him to come just yet, so she slowed her movement, then stopped, but still held onto him. She leaned over and very gently began to tickle his balls with the tip of her tongue, and was rewarded by an immediate guttural cry from Albus. She took one side into her mouth, warming and very gently licking it, then she did the same with the other side, careful to provide pleasant, arousing caresses and not uncomfortable over-stimulation.

Cupping his balls in one hand, she licked the base of his cock as she moved her hand up. She followed her hand with her tongue and lips, kissing and flicking as she went. When she reach the head of his penis, she again gripped him low on his shaft and closed her lips around the head, licking and flicking the very soft, sensitive skin before lowering her head and embracing his penis with her mouth, the very tip at the back of her throat.

Minerva hummed, allowing the vibration of her voice to stimulate him, then she gently sucked as she slowly drew back up over his penis. She did this twice more slowly, then began to move faster. Albus now gripped one of her legs with his left hand, and she felt his grasp tighten as he moaned lowly again.

"Wait, please . . . wait, Minerva," Albus said hoarsely. He was pulling on her leg. "This way, here, Minerva, please . . ."

Minerva stopped and looked back at him, but she held onto his penis.

"Like this, on me, across me," Albus said hoarsely, urging her right leg over him.

Minerva straddled him as he wished, then she lowered her mouth around him again. She felt Albus's hands on her thighs as he pulled her back, then one hand was on her buttocks and he was urging her down and she felt his tongue parting her folds and seeking her clitoris. Minerva gasped around his cock and sped up her movement, but as Albus pleasured her, her mind clouded and her vision faded. She rose up, straightening and bracing herself against his chest, and called out, gasping. Albus continued to lick and flick her nub, straying occasionally to lick her opening and insert his tongue there. As he increased the pressure of his flicking tongue on her clit, Minerva called out his name again as she began to come. With barely a conscious thought as she came, rubbing herself against his tongue as he continued pleasuring her, she bent again and lowered her mouth around his cock and began to lick and swallow around him.

Suddenly Albus pushed her off of him, and before she knew what was happening, she was on her back and Albus was over her, kissing her mouth and face and seeking her entrance with his cock. He looked down into her eyes and thrust hard into her. Minerva was still coming, and as he thrust again, pumping into her, she embraced him with her arms and legs, and her orgasm reached its own climax. He pushed one more time deep into her, closing his eyes, holding his breath, with his mouth open in a voiceless cry as he came.

Albus almost collapsed on top of Minerva, his chest heaving. He turned his head and kissed her cheek as he tried to catch his breath.

"Oh, Minerva . . . Minerva, my love and my light, my sweet, sweet delight," he whispered, kissing her again. He allowed his weight to rest on top of her, remembering dazedly that she had seemed to like to feel him lying on top of her.

"Gods, Albus, that was . . . fabulous," Minerva said, sighing. She thought, incongruously, it seemed to her, that she was very glad that Valerianna had been such a fool and had never let him make love to her, or she never would have allowed him to leave her bed.

"You are wonderful, my darling," Albus said, "so very wonderful. Everything you did . . . I hope you don't mind that I interrupted you, but I very much wanted to pleasure you." He raised up a little to look at her. "You are so very loving and passionate . . . I just . . . I love you. I love you, Minerva."

Albus was still partially clothed, Minerva having only fully exposed him to her touches but not having removed his robes, so as it began to rain, large, heavy drops, he gathered her in his robes with him as he sat up and Summoned his wand. Minerva snuggled close to his chest, her arms encircling him beneath his robes, and she felt his magic flow through him powerfully and beautifully as he waved his wand. Looking around her, Minerva smiled to see that he had conjured a large red and white striped tent, quite large enough for them to stand up in, about ten feet by ten feet. With another wave of his wand, he conjured four large lanterns, all lit, in the four corners of the tent. Fortunately, the tent encompassed their picnic basket, his shoes, and Minerva's clothes, but the ground was still bare. Minerva watched as Albus Levitated their belongings with a wave of his left hand while casting another spell with his wand held in his right. She blinked to see such coordination. Their picnic blanket grew and spread to create a floor for their cozy tent. Albus cast one more spell with his wand to warm the tent more before putting down the wand and turning his head to kiss Minerva's lips.

He smiled at her. "Fortunate timing that we have – I am glad that didn't happen five minutes earlier!"

Minerva laughed. "That would have put a damper on things, wouldn't it? But that was marvellous, Albus! You are amazing. Always amazing."

"Yes, well, it wasn't difficult, particularly with you and your wand so close at hand, even though you weren't casting simultaneously." Albus stopped and Summoned Minerva's robe, looked at it, shook his head, put it back down, and removed his own over-robe, instead. He draped it over Minerva's shoulders and wrapped it around her loosely. "Comfortable?" he asked. "Good. That reminds me, though," he said as he rearranged some cushions behind him and pulled Minerva further onto his lap, leaning back with her, lounging against the pillows. "Could I ask you to leave your wand in your rooms tomorrow morning? That is presuming that you will be observing the duel, of course."

"Yes, certainly. That hadn't occurred to me," Minerva said.

"I believe I have a sufficient natural edge over Malcolm as it is," Albus explained, "but if your wand were nearby, casting would be much easier for me and take even less of my energy than normal. Hardly fair to him, especially as he is unaware of this particular advantage."

"Of course. He did say something interesting to me the other day, though," Minerva replied. "He said that when he first met you, there seemed something familiar about your magic, and that he realised that your magic felt similar to mine. And this must have been at least fifteen or sixteen years ago, I imagine."

"Really? That is interesting. I thought, given his talent with wards and curse-breaking, that he must be sensitive to magical signatures, but it is particularly interesting that he should notice that similarity," Albus said, holding her closer when she jumped as thunder cracked very close to them.

Minerva liked storms, generally, and the wind never bothered her, but being out in the midst of thunder and lightning, that high on a mountain, with the lightning striking so close – that did not appeal to her at all. It reminded her of her miserable time alone in the damp cold cave when she was young and caught in the violent storm on the cliffs near her home, so she certainly had no objection to Albus holding her close.

Shutting her eyes, she nestled closer to Albus, and tried to focus on their conversation. "Malcolm actually said that your magic is richer and more powerful, but that it was still similar."

"It was good that you practised with him, then," Albus said, his voice low in her ear. "It should help him a bit with me tomorrow."

Minerva laughed. "I would think you would want every advantage you could have in a duel, Albus."

"Oh, if it were something serious, of course I would, and I would withhold no tricks and cast as strongly as strategy demanded, but this isn't that sort of duel. Besides, I want to take a true measure of your brother's talents. I don't wish to overwhelm him in defeat or cause him humiliation, particularly not in front of you and Gertrude. If I truly wished, I could probably defeat him easily within minutes, perhaps a bit longer if he were prepared for such a ruthless attack. But there would be no point in that, would there?"

Minerva shook her head slightly. "No, I suppose not. As you say, it would only embarrass him, perhaps hurt his self-confidence. And everyone already knows you are powerful."

Albus chuckled at that, and he kissed her. "You say very encouraging words, my dear."

"Well, it's true. And you surely can't be oblivious to the fact that you probably have three times the magical reserves of an ordinary wizard," Minerva said. "And on top of that, you are very talented, skilled, brilliant, and imaginative. Your level of power and genius were what made me think that you were so far beyond my reach."

"That is . . . inconsequential," Albus said. "At least when it comes to my relationship with you, my dear. It's not as though you were dull-witted, after all. And although I enjoy your magical talent, and I am pleased to see how well you use it, it wouldn't matter to me if you were the magically weakest witch in the world. You are good, beautiful, kind, intelligent, caring, amusing, compassionate, attractive, and a host of other wonderful qualities too numerous for a mere mortal to name in one breath. And I adore you."

"And you don't mind that being so close to all this thunder and lightning makes me jump and cower?" Minerva asked, having done just that as he was speaking.

Albus chuckled. "Not at all, especially if said jumping and cowering brings you closer to me!" he said. "However, perhaps I can do something to reassure you."

He reached out with his right hand and his wand leapt into it. Minerva could feel his magic flowing as he described an arc with his wand, beginning and ending with a flourish. He set down the wand again and put his arm back around her.

"Now, no lightning can strike the tent. I doubt that it would, anyway, but this will guarantee that it won't," Albus said.

Minerva could feel his magic vibrating as though he were still casting a spell. "What is that?"she asked. "It feels as though you are still casting."

"Yes, it would. I could have cast a simple charm to deflect the lightning, but this is a stronger shield, and it will continue to draw on my magic until I either end the spell or fall asleep or lose consciousness for some reason – if you decide to Stun me into complete submission and have your wicked way with me, for example," he added with a grin.

Minerva laughed. "I would love to have my wicked way with you, Albus, but I don't think it would be much fun if you were Stunned!"

"Oh, one of those artificial erection spells that you mentioned yesterday would probably help," Albus said with an uncharacteristic smirk. "And there are probably other ways you could take your pleasure with me if you wished."

"Well, even if I were to succeed in Stunning you – which I rather doubt is possible – I still can't imagine it would be enjoyable, even with one of those spells. It would be rather . . . repulsive, actually." Hastily, she added, "Sex with you is far from repulsive, and your body is marvellous, as I hope you realise, but with you Stunned and just lying there . . . maybe some other witch would find it pleasurable since, after all, you do have a very, very nice cock," she added, bringing her hand down to stroke that bit of anatomy, "but I wouldn't find it so at all. I like having you alert and aware, and to know that I am bringing you pleasure. Not to mention that I like to feel attractive, myself, which would be impossible if you were just lying there unconscious."

"You are very attractive yourself, Minerva. It was extremely arousing to watch you undress for me," Albus said, his voice almost a whisper. "It was difficult for me lie there and not touch you as you . . . as you did what you did. I love to see you aroused and I love to touch you in all your most secret and sensitive places."

"You are very good at that, too, especially what you do with your tongue, as I mentioned this morning," Minerva replied. "But I was enjoying bringing you pleasure. I love to touch you everywhere, to kiss you, to feel your warm, solid body. And if you had touched me, I would not have been able to focus on what I was doing, and I enjoyed that very much, though in a different way."

"Mmm. It was . . . it was very pleasurable. And what you were doing when I interrupted you, I liked that very much," Albus said.

"I am glad. Were there things about what I did that you didn't like or that you found uncomfortable?" Minerva asked.

"No . . . although . . ." Albus hesitated.

"Yes?"

"I especially liked feeling you swallow," he whispered. "That was very different and very arousing."

Minerva smiled broadly. "Good, I'm glad that you like that. Sometime, I'd like to do that and really swallow you, you know."

Albus was blushing, and his blush grew. "Yes, well . . . that would be nice. But I so like to, to come in you, you know. But I would like that other sometime, if you would like to try it."

"Mmmhm, I certainly would," Minerva said, resting her head back against his chest.

It didn't seem that the storm had let up much at all, but Minerva felt perfectly secure with Albus there, and she could feel the gentle, steady hum of his magic. She thought she could almost fall asleep again.

They were quiet for a while, listening to the rain hitting the tent and the occasional roll of thunder, then Albus said, "Do you mind if I ask you something very personal?"

Minerva chuckled. "After what we have done together, what could be more personal? Ask me anything you wish."

"I don't feel it's any of my business, and I shouldn't ask . . . and really, it wouldn't matter what your answer was, not really. But I am curious –"

"Would you please just ask, Albus? If for some reason, I don't want to answer, I will tell you that," Minerva said.

"It is just – and again, I don't mean to pry – but, that is, I was curious . . . I have assumed that you have had other lovers," Albus said.

"Yes," Minerva replied, "I have."

"Many?"

Minerva shrugged. "Some people would think more than one was many and some people would think the few I have had was hardly anything at all. Of wizards whom I consider my real lovers before you, though, I would say that there were only three who would qualify. And one of them . . . one of them, we didn't even really . . . we weren't very physically intimate, as I was with the others. And there were a few other wizards with whom I was intimate, but whom I do not consider lovers, and I was with none of them long." She hoped this answer would satisfy Albus. She really didn't want to discuss her former lovers with Albus, though she assumed that he had guessed that she and Rudolf had been lovers.

"I see," Albus said, caressing her back somewhat absent-mindedly as he thought about what she had said.

Minerva, her eyes closed, had thought her answer had ended that discussion, and was feeling as though she just might drift asleep despite the storm, when Albus asked another question.

"Rudolf was one of the wizards?"

"Yes, he was. He was a good man. He is a good man. But I wasn't in love with him," Minerva said. "I tried, but . . . I just couldn't."

Minerva felt Albus nod. "What was he like?" he asked.

The discussion apparently wasn't at an end. Minerva opened her eyes. She did want Albus to feel comfortable talking with her about anything, after all.

"He is strong, physically strong, and very, very bright. He thinks a lot, and when he speaks . . . he can be very serious, and you know that he doesn't say anything that he hasn't thought over. But he can also be quite playful, and he has a nice laugh. He is kind, but he doesn't make a show of it. And otherwise . . . he is very tall, a few inches taller than you are, even, broad and muscular, dark-haired, although he was beginning to get some white strands in it when I last saw him. He has – or had – a short, close-trimmed beard and quite short hair, as well. Greyish eyes . . . I don't know, what else would you like to know?" Minerva asked, thinking that it was very difficult to sum up a complex person like Rudolf, with whom she had believed she had a simple relationship that had turned out to actually be as complex as he was.

"What was he like when he was with you?" Albus asked.

"Attentive. Very attentive. And caring. Gentlemanly, always courteous. When we were alone, he was as attentive and courteous as he was in public, but more affectionate. He was a private man, really. I didn't realise for a long time . . . I didn't realise for a long time what a remarkable thing it was that he had brought me into his life as he had," Minerva said softly, regretting again the pain that she had caused Rudolf when she left him.

"He was in love with you," Albus said.

Minerva nodded. "Yes. And I loved him, in a way, but not enough . . . and I couldn't stay with him, as I told you before. I couldn't bear the thought of being away from you."

Albus was quiet for a few more minutes, then he asked, "Who else?"

"Hmm?"

"You said you had three lovers and a few other . . . intimate friends," Albus clarified.

"Oh . . . well, at one time, after school, Carson and I were together for a short time. But he ended it just weeks after we had begun seeing each other. We still were friends, though," Minerva said.

Albus nodded. "He loved you, though. I could see that. And you were the only person to whom he wrote a letter aside from his family."

"Yes, he loved me. But . . . he told me that there was someone else for me, that my heart belonged to someone else, and that he could not make me unhappy and himself, as well, by trying to make something between us work. He wanted me to be happy," Minerva said, her voice breaking and blinking back tears. "Carson was a good lad. He was a good friend to me. And he was the first wizard I was ever with, the first I ever kissed, in fact."

Albus kissed the top of her head. "He had said something about that in his letter. Hoping you would meet him, the wizard you were meant for. And speaking with his gran about you and who your love would be."

Minerva sighed. "Yes, he was hopeful that I would meet the wizard I was meant for, but I didn't believe him when he told me about his gran and all her stories. Then when I met Quin, I learned about the MacAirt gift and that Carson likely had some of it, too."

"And the third?" Albus asked.

Minerva took in a breath. "The third?"

"Yes, you said three lovers and a few intimate friends . . . if you don't want to tell me, that is all right. I understand," Albus said quietly.

Minerva relaxed against him. "It just seems odd to speak of this with you now, that's all, Albus."

"I see. It's all right." Albus fell silent, his eyes closed.

Minerva shut her eyes. Now he would just wonder more, and it also might seem that she didn't trust him. She had told him to ask her anything. She should have refused to give details about any of it, just given him a vague but truthful answer, and left it at that. But now that she had begun, how could she not speak further of it? He wasn't even pressing her for answers, which made her feel worse.

"You remember I said there is someone whom I count as a lover although we weren't physically very intimate at all, truly not at all. That is the third person," Minerva said softly. "Just a very good friend, really. I shouldn't have included him in the count."

Albus didn't say anything at first, only nodded. A few heartbeats later, he asked softly, "Quin? Was Quin this friend?"

Minerva nodded. "He was very good to me and for me, Albus. He helped me to believe that a relationship with you might be possible, that my dreams weren't doomed, that I wasn't destined for misery and a heart of ice and stone as I had thought," Minerva answered softly. "And he . . . he cared for me when I thought that all was lost, when I came to him, hurt and hysterical, he took me in without hesitation. And the entire time, Quin tried to understand what had happened and persisted in trying to encourage me that not all was lost. Even before I left for my parents' house, one of the last things he said to me was not to lose hope in you, in the two of us together. That is why I count him among the other important men in my life, men who were more than just friends to me, if you see what I mean. What he gave me . . . it seems to belittle it somehow to act as though he were just a casual sort of friend."

"I see." Albus kissed the top of her head. "I do see, Minerva. And I shouldn't have asked. I am sorry I made you uncomfortable."

Minerva shrugged. "I did say you could ask me anything. I didn't have to answer you, but once I began . . . I didn't want you to imagine something more, or something different, or worry and wonder . . . I love you, Albus, and I have never been in love with anyone else, and I have never loved anyone more than I love you, or at all in the same way."

"I understand, Minerva. I shouldn't have made you feel ill-at-ease . . . but I was curious about Quin, I must admit truthfully," Albus said. "I believe he . . . I believe he cares for you far more than he is willing to say."

"Perhaps. But he is not in love with me. He clearly feels loyal to me, and to you, and I know that we could count on him for anything. That is love, certainly," Minerva said. "But even were he in love with me, not only would it be of no use, but he knows that, too; he knows it in a way that most people could not. He knows the depth and strength of my love for you, and he is also aware that you love me, as well. But as he told me, he had his Aileen. He does not expect to fall in love again, though I think perhaps he may be open to it, if it should happen."

"I hope he does, but I do understand that he might not wish to look for someone after having had the love he experienced with Aileen," Albus said softly. "I would certainly look no further than you if anything were to happen to you, or to our relationship, even if I were to live another hundred years."

Minerva raised her face and smiled at him. "I am very glad, Albus. That is precisely how I feel about you."

"You mustn't, Minerva," Albus said. "You mustn't. You are young. It may be that nothing untoward will happen between us. I do believe you love me, and I certainly know that I love you, but I am not young – now, shh, just please listen – you are young and I am far from young. Even if nothing else occurs in the interim, I will die long before you, if our lives follow their natural course. I do not want you to be alone and unhappy for all of those years – which I hope will be many for you."

"Albus . . ." Minerva sighed. "Why must you bring this up now, today, when we have had such a lovely time? We have barely had any time to enjoy having discovered each other as we have, and you are talking about dying. I am very well aware of your age, and believe me that it causes me no joy to contemplate the prospect of losing you to death. But you aren't dead yet, nor dying, and there is no reason for us to believe that your death is in any way near. You are perfectly healthy. I don't believe in blindly ignoring eventualities, but this conversation is premature and not very well-timed."

"But still . . . it isn't just death, Minerva," Albus said. "People change. You . . . there are things that you may want, and things in life which you surely deserve, which I cannot offer you, which you will not have if you remain . . . if we remain together. Do not dismiss so readily the notion that there may come a time when, regardless of your feelings for me, you do not long for something else even more, and that longing makes you unhappy to be with me –"

"Stop! Just, just stop, Albus!" Minerva looked up at him in complete consternation. "Perhaps nothing will convince you of the depth and integrity of my love for you, that it is whole and unbreakable, and that without it I am but a half a person, perhaps nothing but the passage of time itself will prove to you what I know. But do not speak like this again. I have done all I can to reassure you and there is nothing else that I can think of to say or do that I have not done except to allow the steadiness of my love to prove itself over time. I cannot bear to hear you speak like this!"

"Perhaps you could be just as happy with someone else, though, Minerva – Quin, for example," Albus said. "I'm not speaking of now, in this moment. And I don't want you to go . . . but you should think of all that a witch of your age might want from life before you hitch your lot to mine. You could be happy with someone different."

"I couldn't be. And what I want from life is being with you. That is what I want. And I don't want Quin or anyone else, and I don't want anything that anyone else might theoretically be able to give me. Do you understand, Albus?"

Albus relaxed. "As long as you are sure . . . I felt it was my duty to point it out to you. I don't want you to go, Minerva. I don't know what I would do now. I don't know how I could return to the way my life was before. I don't believe that I could," Albus said softly. "But if you wanted to leave . . . I would try to let you go without making it difficult for you."

"Oh, Albus! If you ever try to let me go, you shall see me hold to you tighter than ever!" Minerva did just that, holding him closer in her embrace.

Albus chuckled. "Yes, you do that, Minerva. Hold me tightly and keep me . . . keep me, please, even when I ask uncomfortable questions and bring up foolish worries on such a beautiful day with you. I love you, and I never conceived of loving anyone as I love you. And I am grateful that you love me." He kissed her softly.

"Well, if you felt duty-bound to bring up these worries, you have done so, and now you can dismiss them and leave it to me to take care of them. I love you, and that will not change. There is nothing I could want more than to be with you, Albus." Minerva pulled his head toward her and kissed his lips. "Always, Albus," she murmured, "always."

"Always," he answered her. "Yes, always."

Minerva settled against Albus again, breathing out a sigh of happiness and relief. Her eyes closed. She was warm and comfortable. Perhaps she might sleep.

"I have another impertinent question for you," Albus's voice rumbled against her.

Minerva opened her eyes. No nap. But his tone had sounded different – lighter, not as serious.

"Ask away, then, Albus!" she said.

"With all those lovers and, er, other intimates, did you ever make love en plein air as we did?" Albus asked.

"What? No, no, I never did before. Not exactly, no."

"What is 'not exactly'?" he asked with a smile.

"Rudolf borrowed a . . . a chalet, I suppose you might call it, from a friend. It was in the Schwarzwald. There was a room with a roofed balcony. When the doors to the balcony were open, and all the windows, it felt as though one were outdoors, but, um, we never even went out onto the balcony. But there was a lot of fresh air. But it wasn't at all the same." Minerva said. "You have, though." At his surprised expression, she added, "You told me you made love to Dervilia here."

"Oh. Well . . . yes, of course."

"And then there was Maria. I imagine that you were not always under a roof when you were with her. And there may have been others," Minerva said matter-of-factly.

"But this was your first time making love outdoors?" Albus asked, a gleam in his eye.

"Yes. I was hoping to make love to you here. And I wanted to undress for you . . . and bring you pleasure," Minerva answered.

"You certainly did bring me pleasure . . . and I enjoyed watching you undress for me. And give me your knickers, too, of course!" he said with a chuckle. "And although it wasn't the first time, of course, it was very special for me, especially since it was your idea."

Minerva smiled up at him. "I did tell you I would try to exercise my imagination for you, remember!"

"You did, indeed!" He kissed her cheek. "I look forward to seeing where else your imagination might lead us!"

Minerva chuckled at that. "You could exercise your own imagination, too, you know. In fact, you have. This morning was particularly inventive. Although I think that wherever we made love, it would be spectacular. You are unparalleled, you know, Albus." When he laughed and blushed, Minerva said, "I mean that. I have never experienced it the way I do with you; even at it's best, it wasn't like it feels with you. And I'm not just saying that to make you feel good or exaggerating in the slightest."

"Actually . . . it's not as though I have very much recent experience, of course, but there is a quality to our love-making that is different from anyone else I was with," Albus said. He added hesitantly, "And when I . . . um, when I come, it's . . . it's difficult to describe what is different about it, but there is something more emotional, somehow. Not that it isn't naturally emotional . . . but it is different when I am with you. It really is as though you are the witch I was waiting my entire life for."

"I am glad that you had other witches to love you, though. Except for that awful cow, who shall remain nameless, of course. But she didn't love you. But I am glad that while you were waiting for me, you weren't always alone, Albus," Minerva said.

"I was for many, many years, however," Albus said thoughtfully. "It was partially in reaction to what I had done . . . the way I had tried to escape my problems. I had allowed myself to be used and had used others, and I thought . . . I thought I was enjoying myself, but it never felt good, not really. Maria was the great exception from that period of my life. I don't know . . . I don't know as I would ever have been able to think of sex without feeling disgusted with myself if I hadn't found her – or she, me – so soon after that time in my life."

"You said it was partially in reaction to that that you stayed alone for so many years. What else was it, do you think?" Minerva asked.

"Partly, too, that I wanted to devote myself to my work. And of the witches I had known when I was younger, most were married, at least of any that I might have had any interest in at all. A few others . . . were not married, but word had spread about my earlier behaviour, and although it had been for a relatively brief time and there had been a few years intervening between that and my return to Britain, it still made it inadvisable for me to spend time with respectable witches whose reputations might be sullied by their association with me. And then, in later years, when all seemed forgotten and no one would have cared about what had happened in previous decades, I had simply become used to my life as it was. It was pleasant, peaceful, productive, and I had my friendships." Albus shrugged. "By the time I began to consider broadening my social life, so to speak, it was not an easy thing to do, to find someone appropriate, and then I was called to work at Hogwarts; yet even before that, I began to put thoughts of my personal life out of my mind as it became evident what a threat Grindelwald was becoming. So . . . I could not focus on finding a witch to court, let alone think of drawing one into the life I believed I was headed toward. I did not expect to work at Hogwarts, of course, but I did think that I would eventually be called upon to help with the Grindelwald situation. And I believed it possible I would die fighting against him. It wouldn't have been fair to have become seriously involved with a witch at that point, even if it would not have been a distraction, or even if I had the time to pursue a relationship of that sort. So by the late twenties, I was again resigned to a solitary life, and when I was called upon to do my duty, I was as prepared and unencumbered as I could be."

"I suppose that was for the best, although I am sorry that you were so alone," Minerva said.

"I was alone, but rarely lonely, really. I think I only began to feel lonely after I had begun to fall in love with you, oddly enough," Albus said, kissing her hair. "I had not really wanted for anything in my life until I found myself wanting you, I suppose," he added with a smile. "Not that I would admit it to myself for a very long time, of course."

"That is a pity, but I am glad you did, and that you admitted it to me, as well," Minerva replied. "It was becoming very frustrating, loving you . . . no, not loving you, that wasn't it. I was very happy that our friendship was growing, but I felt frustrated at not being able to share with you the depth of my feelings for you. And, of course, I was frustrated that I was unable to express my physical affection for you."

"Yes, I can certainly appreciate that aspect of your frustration, my dear!" Albus said with a playful smile. "But it sounds as though you . . . attempted to deal with it."

At Minerva's puzzled look, Albus said, reminding her, "Your fantasy of my taking you behind Greenhouse Three."

The light dawned, and Minerva smiled. "Oh, yes! That wasn't the only one, but that was certainly one of the more . . . adventurous fantasies I had."

"Tell me, Minerva," Albus whispered. "Tell me your fantasy."

Minerva blushed. She had said that she wanted them to be able to talk about sex freely. Sharing her fantasy with him would certainly help there.

She nodded and placed her head against him, one hand caressing his beard and chest. "I fantasised that you and I were on a walk in the gardens. It was a beautiful day, and we were alone. I had taken your hand as we walked, and I was becoming stimulated by your presence and your voice. We were behind Greenhouse Three when we heard voices, and we ducked into the alcove so that we would not be seen, so that we could continue to have our privacy. You put a finger to my lips, keeping me from saying anything, then you looked down into my eyes, and you suddenly realised my feelings and you saw that I desired you." Minerva swallowed.

"Yes? And then what did we do?" Albus asked.

"You caressed my face, my lips, my throat . . . then you kissed me very softly. You didn't stop with that kiss, though, and your continued kisses became more and more passionate. You pressed against me and I could feel your arousal, and my own arousal grew. I wanted you, but we could hear the people in the garden, walking and talking nearby. You took my hand and held it over my head, and when I tried to pull you closer to me, you took that hand and held it there, too." Minerva's breathing quickened as she remembered her fantasy and felt Albus's naked chest against her bare breasts. "You, um, you held my hands there with one of your own as you continued to kiss me, and with the other hand, you began to caress my body, exploring it and stimulating me. You reached into my clothes and touched my breast, then you pulled my robes away, and bared me to your touch. We could still hear the others in the garden, and yet you opened my robes so that you could see and feel my bare breast. And when you wanted to expose my other breast, you simply tore them from me easily." Minerva could feel Albus's cock twitch against her leg as she spoke and she moved her hand lower to caress him. "You left my hands above my head, and I didn't move them as you began to caress and cup my breasts, looking at them and touching my nipples. Then you . . . you kissed my throat and I moaned, despite the others in the garden, so you held your finger to my lips again. You smiled when I licked it, and I brought it into my mouth and sucked. You, um, you pressed against me again, and I could feel how excited you were, so I continued to suckle your fingertip. You were so aroused that you pulled my robes open further. For some reason, I wasn't wearing any knickers in my fantasy, and so when you opened the buttons at the front of your robe, your erection emerged, and I put my legs around you as you lifted me up and entered me."

As she had been speaking, Albus's hand had found her crux, and he was now rubbing her clitoris. She wriggle against him and increased the speed with which she stroked his erection.

"You drove into me, even though we could hear people in the garden, just around the corner, and they could have found us at any moment, and seen you fucking me there. But you didn't care, you kissed me to silence my moans, and you pumped and thrust and I came, barely managing to stay quiet. And all the time we heard the others nearby. And you kept pumping your cock in me until you came, too. You came as people were walking past, and they could have seen how you were fucking me, but they didn't. And we were safe and stayed quiet until they left."

Albus pushed Minerva back onto the blanket and kissed her mouth. He rose up as she opened her legs to him, and he thrust into her.

"Gods, Minerva, I love you, I love you so, Minerva, my love," he murmured as he pumped into her, over and over again.

Minerva's legs were around him and she moved beneath him, meeting him as he thrust, and then she was coming, moving and coming and calling his name, and Albus let go and released within her, still speaking of his love.

"Minerva, my love, my sweet love, my sweet delight . . . you are my delight," he said as he held onto her, kissing her hair and her skin. "You, my love, always . . ."