Epilogue: . . . and his stupid beard too!

Note: This is a bit long for a traditional epilogue, but Resolving a Misunderstanding is a bit long!

Important Note: There is one small part of the lemon in this chapter that contains some "experimental magic." It might have a very mild "squick factor" for a few people, though it's not intended to. If you are among them, you can just skim ahead!

Epilogue: . . . and his stupid beard too!

Albus went over his mental checklist. He was fairly certain that he had not forgotten anything, although he was unsure of a few of the things he had remembered. He could always change his mind at the last minute, he thought.

Minerva was anticipating a quiet birthday dinner for two in the Headmaster's suite. He did have a quiet birthday dinner planned for her, though not in his suite – he had been planning it for two weeks, though she believed that it was a last-minute idea, that he had forgotten her birthday until the day before. He knew that at least one of his gifts was likely to be met with a less than happy response, but another of them . . . he hoped she would like it, but it might be in questionable taste. Well, it was in questionable taste. But he believed she would enjoy it. They had become freer with each other, though they didn't have nearly as much time alone together as either of them would like.

Albus looked over at the austere table service and smiled. She would certainly believe he had forgotten her birthday when she saw that, but she would be in for quite a surprise! She would likely even believe he had no gift for her, and although Minerva was far from being a materialistic witch, she would be hurt, he believed, if he didn't have at least a token gift for her, some little present that let her know that he had thought of her. His smile broadened. He wouldn't want to keep her disappointed for long, but he did want his surprise for her to have the greatest impact possible.

Minerva had agreed to attend dinner in the Great Hall that evening, but not actually eat very much and save her appetite for a late dinner with him. He had left dinner early, asking her to arrive in his suite at seven-thirty, and now, dressed in the starry robes she had given him for his birthday, he was waiting for her. He had uncorked a bottle of Syrah to allow it to breath. Now it was only a matter of her arrival. He hoped that Minerva wouldn't become distracted or waylaid on her way up. He had enlisted the assistance of both Gertrude and Malcolm, so she should be on time.

He leaned back in his chair and remembered the astonishment he had felt when, a few weeks before, he had finally learned when it was that Minerva had fallen in love with him. He had tried to hide his shock, but he knew he hadn't been entirely successful. The first thought that had sprung to his mind had been that it had been the accident itself that had caused her to believe herself to be in love with him, that she never had been, that it was some kind of an odd and unreproducible binding, and that she had only come to believe herself to be in love with him because the sudden influx of emotion had been so strong and she had been too young to understand it. His heart had clenched with the thought that her love for him might not be real.

In his shock, though, Albus had listened to Minerva as she spoke of the ways she had tried to rid herself of her crush, as she believed it to be or hoped that it was, and when she talked about going into the backroom of the Three Broomsticks to watch the old wizards playing gobstones and chess, and about all of her subsequent mental exercises, she had him laughing.

"I know that I would have fallen in love with you, Albus, even if it hadn't been for that accident," she said, "but it was so sudden. To have gone from loving you and being slightly aware of you as a man – which awareness I was always trying to ignore, being a sensible girl – to suddenly being completely smitten with you, always intensely aware of your presence, and very afraid that you would learn of my feelings for you, it was very difficult for me. I was only seventeen years old, and even if you hadn't been my teacher, I saw the gap between us as utterly unbridgeable. And at that time, it was. I had hope, though, that once I was away from school, my feelings would change, that I would outgrow them or redirect them toward someone more outwardly suitable, but that never happened. Even when I was with Rudolf, I was still in love with you. He asked me to marry him, and the very first thing to enter my mind was your face and the knowledge that I could not live married to another and never to see you.

"When I was far from you, it was as though there was a kind of shadow over me, even when I was with others, even as I enjoyed myself. It was as though there was something missing, something that I had forgotten or left behind. Like thinking one had forgotten to do something important, but unable to remember what it could have been, or believing one had left one's wand somewhere. Just that sense of vague unease and of something missing or lost."

"I am so sorry, Minerva, sorry for all of the years I kept a distance between us, and so very sorry for the pain you experienced, even if there was nothing I could have done about it."

"It was not easy, but it was the way things were. You didn't have an easy time of it, either, Albus."

"No, but it was different for me. I am older, my life was more ordered. My experience was simply different from yours."

"Yes, but then you had Valerianna," Minerva pointed out.

"True, but that was poor judgment on my part, and certainly something I could have avoided or saved myself from if I hadn't been so stubborn," Albus said. He paused, thinking. "It must have been particularly difficult for you after Carson died. You were very upset with me, and I didn't know how to fix it. I couldn't. I could only focus on what I had to do, and I had no idea of your feelings. Which probably was not a bad thing, in retrospect, as it likely would have disquieted me, had I known at the time. I never would have wanted to hurt you, but out of love for you, I probably would have tried to distance myself. So I am glad that I did not know then."

"It was difficult for me, Albus, to feel as though you were rejecting my friendship, as though you thought of me as still a child. I knew that I could not tell you how I felt, though. I thought I never could. The best I hoped for was a true friendship to develop between us. I actually did not even want to tell you now, to let you know how long ago I fell in love with you. It seems so improbable, I'm sure. I feared you might think me mad or obsessed."

"I am simply surprised, my dear." He kissed her cheek. "And I wish that you had not suffered as you did. But I suppose it is the way it was meant to be for you, although I do wish I had realised sooner, for both our sakes. Earlier this year – or perhaps even before you came to Hogwarts, although that may have been awkward." He kissed her again. All of those other opportunities for her to fall in love, and those other fine wizards in her life, and yet she came back to him. Just as Wilspy had once said, his Professor Minerva always comes back to him. "I feel blessed that your love for me had been so steady. And I see now why you are so insistent that I believe you will never want to leave me. You can believe nothing else."

On reflection, Albus knew that it could not have been the accident that caused Minerva to love him; that had only been the catalyst of her awareness, and once aware, she was unable to return to her previous innocence. No wonder she had been so reluctant to resume her Animagus training with him – and why she had wondered about his Legilimency, as he later recalled. It saddened him to realise how difficult her feelings for him had been, and how long she had waited for him, even just for a deeper friendship with him. Yet he had maintained a certain distance from her, particularly after he had begun to fall in love with her himself. And when she came to Hogwarts to teach, he had increased that distance. He must have hurt her. He had known that he had, but now, realising that she had been waiting fifteen years for a true opportunity to become closer friends with him, only to see less of him than she had when they had lived so far apart – he could even more clearly understand why she had been so upset and angry that day in Poppy's office.

Remembering that morning and what he had overheard reminded Albus of the first time they had made love, though they had both been too eager to take their time on that occasion. Their passionate needs and desires had overwhelmed them, though he had allowed Minerva to take control and do as she wished. He smiled, remembering how he had suggested that she "fuck Albus Dumbledore." It hadn't been the first time he had used that term in his lifetime, but it was a rare word to cross his lips, and he certainly had never thought he would be whispering it in Minerva's ear. But it had excited her, and she had enthusiastically taken his suggestion. He hoped that the suggestion he had planned for that night would be met with as much enthusiasm. If not, it would be rather embarrassing for him, but not an insurmountable embarrassment. Besides, Minerva liked to have fun, to play, and she was fairly adventurous, though she kept that side of her carefully reserved for specific times and places. Otherwise, she was rather no-nonsense. The students were finding it difficult to believe that carefree and exuberant "Professor Malcolm" was really Professor McGonagall's brother, though the two bore a clear physical family resemblance.

Once Quidditch season started the next weekend and the students saw how enthusiastically she supported her Gryffindors – though with a great deal of intensity, as well – they would see another side to her. But Transfiguration could be a dangerous discipline, and he appreciated Minerva's control over her classes. Of course, Defence Against the Dark Arts was dangerous, as well, and Malcolm didn't tolerate any fooling about, as a few of the students had learned to their displeasure and disappointment. His notions of discipline were as unconventional as his teaching methods, and the few detentions he had had to assign had been carefully crafted to teach the miscreants lessons and not simply to punish. As Malcolm had said with a grin, the dull and tedious detentions he had received as a student had only taught him not to get caught the next time, and the worse punishments had convinced him of its necessity.

Albus felt the tingle from the gargoyle that indicated that Minerva was on her way up. He certainly hoped that it was Minerva. He did not want their evening interrupted. A few minutes later, however, he heard her tread on the stairs up to his suite, and he rose to open the door and greet her.

She had changed from her teaching garb into a pretty set of robes, the under-robe a mossy green with tartan insets, and the over-robe, a long tunic of darker green with rust-coloured trim. She was wearing her amber necklace and the amber earrings he had given her that summer.

"Oh, Minerva, my dear! You look lovely!" Albus said with a smile.

"Thank you. You do, as well, Albus," Minerva replied, admiring the starry robes.

He took her hands and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "Your first birthday as a member of Hogwarts faculty and your first as Head of Gryffindor! The first of many, I hope!"

"Thank you for inviting me for dinner, Albus," she said. "Since it fell on a Friday, I didn't know if I would celebrate it at all. I thought perhaps drinks with a few people over the weekend."

"That would be nice, too," Albus said, nodding in agreement. "I am afraid that our dinner is delayed, but I thought we could have some wine while we wait."

Minerva agreed and went to sit on the sofa. Albus poured their wine, just half filling each glass, and called her over to the table. She raised her eyebrow, but rose and joined him beside the set table. There were no flowers on it, she noticed, and not a hint of decoration anywhere. Still, it had been a last-minute invitation, and it had been a busy week for Albus, no doubt.

He handed her her glass of wine, then he raised his and toasted her. "Slàinte."

Minerva smiled and nodded, raising the glass to her lips.

"Are you not going to return my toast, my dear?" Albus asked, extending his glass toward her.

Minerva touched her glass to his and said, "Slàinte Mhath." At that moment, Albus raised his other hand and grasped her wrist. Minerva felt a disturbing jolt in the pit of her stomach. A moment later, following the uncomfortable sensation of Portkeying, Albus slipped his hand from her wrist to put his arm around her waist, supporting her.

"Happy Birthday, my darling Minerva. And I apologise for the abrupt departure!"

Minerva blinked and looked around her. They were in their island cottage, all of the candles and lamps were lit, the table was beautifully laid, crystal and silver sparkling, and there were flowers in every corner of the room.

"Oh, Albus! It's lovely! I thought you had forgotten!"

"How could I forget your birthday?" Albus asked with a grin. "I have planned it for a while now, but I wanted it to be a surprise. I enlisted Blampa's assistance, and she gave Wilspy a packed bag for you. We will be here until Sunday morning, unless we are recalled by some emergency before then."

"But my House, I have no arrangements –"

"You do not believe I would leave that detail unattended, do you? Malcolm will be staying in your rooms tonight and tomorrow night – I do hope you don't mind, my dear, but that seemed most sensible – and Gertrude will be available in my stead. Everything at Hogwarts should run quite smoothly without us for a day," Albus told her.

"But Gryffindor has the Quidditch pitch reserved for practice tomorrow. I thought I would be there –"

"If you truly wish to return for that, of course you may," Albus said.

"No, no . . . they will do fine without my presence, I'm sure," Minerva said quickly. Whatever possessed her to even mention that, she didn't know. Just the surprise to realise that all of her plans for the weekend were suddenly changed.

Minerva's wine had spilled during their journey, despite the glass being only half-filled, but Albus waved his wand, and the red wine stain on the front of her robes disappeared. As he had been aware of the pending Portkey, his own wine hadn't spilled, but he opened another bottle for them both and refilled Minerva's glass.

"Happy Birthday, Minerva!" he said, raising his glass. "I was hoping to be able to surprise you at least half as well as you surprised me this summer."

"I was very surprised," Minerva replied smiling happily. "And this is a wonderful present. The best you could give me. All of this time to ourselves!"

Albus put his glass down and took Minerva's from her and set it down next to his. "It's not just the time to ourselves, you know, Minerva . . . although I must start our celebration properly."

He caressed her cheek as he put one arm around her waist and drew her closer to him. He looked down into her eyes and said, "Happy birthday, and thank you, my dear, for sharing your life with me. I am very, very lucky."

Albus bent his head and kissed her softly, Minerva's arms tightening around him. Albus broke the kiss, then placed his lips lightly on her forehead before saying, "As much as I would like to prolong this moment, our main course is fish, and although Wilspy's charms are holding it nicely, I would like your birthday dinner to be served at its best."

He held her chair for her, then went into the kitchen and brought out their entrees.

"It looks lovely, Albus."

"I am sorry that I did not prepare it myself, but I hope you will enjoy it. It is haddock broiled with lime, olive oil, garlic, and crushed fennel seed, truffle risotto, and Swiss chard sauteed with malt vinegar and toasted walnuts, with," he said, producing a block of blue-veined cheese, "Stilton to crumble over the top of the greens."

"It all smells wonderful!" Minerva said.

Albus opened a bottle of Chardonnay and poured it into new glasses, banishing their used ones to the kitchen, then sat across from her and raised his glass.

"To you, Minerva! Happy Birthday and Many Happy Returns!"

"Thank you, Albus," Minerva said, "and I look forward to spending many more birthdays with you."

After their meal, Albus brought out a cake; it was a moist chocolate cake filled with a rich vanilla custard and drizzled with both dark chocolate and white icing, a circle of lit red and gold candles around the perimeter. Albus smiled, then sang "Happy Birthday" to her, recalling the surprise birthday dinner that Minerva had prepared for him and the way that she had sung to him.

"And now, blow out your candles, my dear!"

Minerva took in a breath, then paused. She looked up at Albus. "I don't know what to wish for! I have all I could possibly want."

"And may it always continue so, my love," Albus said softly, his eyes shining in the candlelight.

Minerva laughed and blew out all the candles in one go. "How many are there? Not thirty-three."

"No, it was the number that fit comfortably around the cake and looked the prettiest," Albus said. "I hope that is all right with you! I still remember that each of the candles on my cake had a specific meaning – these all signify simply that I love you."

"That is all I need," Minerva replied with a smile.

"Now, my dear," Albus said as they finished the cake, "I have a few little presents for you. I have a sense you may not like the first one, but it was important to me."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheaf of parchments tied in a red ribbon and handed them to Minerva. "This is for you to look at tonight, then I will return it to safe-keeping."

Puzzled, Minerva untied the ribbon and unfolded the parchments. One look at the first words on the first page, and she set them down on the table and looked up at him, a slight frown on her face. "Why must you bring up such a subject tonight?"

"I have no intention of expiring any time soon, but one never knows what accident may befall any of us. It was important to me to do this for you," Albus replied.

"Do I have to read it tonight?"

"No, there is no need for you to read it at all. Simply know that if I should die, other than a few specific bequests, all of my property passes to you. Wilspy will return to my brother, unless he agrees to allow me to have her pass with my estate. I have not approached him about that, and it is something that can be added later by codicil," Albus said.

"Everything?" Minerva said.

"It is not as much as it may seem, put like that, but I did specify all real property, both within and outside of Britain, so that although this island is not recorded anywhere, if there is ever any dispute as to your right to it – though there should be none, and your control over the blood wards should ensure that – this will confirm my wishes."

"But what of Aberforth?"

"He had half of my mother's estate and a sizable bequest from my Uncle Christopher and another when our Aunt Beatrice died, and the cottage in the Dales is without any mortgage. I have left him a few very specific family items. There is also a specific bequest to Gertrude, and a few other small items to some other old friends, as well as a small gift to St. Mungo's. I am sure that as time goes on, I will change some of the specific bequests, but the bulk and residue of my estate, modest though it may be, shall pass to you as primary beneficiary."

Minerva was silent for a moment. "Thank you, Albus. I am not certain whether this is precisely a birthday present, but I do appreciate the thought."

"Good! Now that that is taken care of, I wish to give you your next gift, a happier one, I hope," he said, reaching into his pocket again, this time pulling out a small box wrapped in gold paper tied with a green tartan ribbon.

Minerva unwrapped the present, carefully releasing the Sticking Charms and placing the paper and ribbon on the table beside her plate. She opened the small hinged box and took in a sharp breath.

"It's beautiful, Albus," she said softly, removing the opal brooch from its box and looking at it in the candlelight, admiring the play of colour within its depths.

"I thought as it's your birthstone . . . and I thought that one was particularly pretty," Albus replied.

"It is. It's one of the nicest opals I've seen – and quite large, too," she said, smiling as she touched the oval stone's smooth surface. The brooch was a single large black opal in a gold setting, a narrow band of gold surrounded by a narrow band of mother-of-pearl, and then another band of gold. "I like the setting. I've never seen anything quite like it."

"I thought it might be something you could wear with your teaching robes, if you like."

"I will, most certainly." Minerva rose and bent to kiss his cheek. "It is wonderful. Truly beautiful. Thank you, Albus. And I do appreciate the first present, as well, you know. I just was surprised, particularly by the timing. It was nothing I would have expected or even thought of."

"There is one more present, but that is for later, upstairs," Albus said, smiling, but blushing as well.

Minerva thought it quite cute that he might still blush at the thought of making love with her, and she bent and kissed his lips tenderly. "I hope it is not too much later. It has been a long week, after all. Perhaps . . . early to bed?"

"That would be very nice, although I have some Madeira I thought we might share, and I brought the music box – or Wilspy brought it on ahead, I should say. I thought a drink, a dance, a snuggle by the fire . . . we could even keep the next part of your present for tomorrow." He grinned up at her. "I want you well-rested for it!"

"But it's been days since we've made love –" Minerva began, ready to say she wasn't at all too tired for that.

"Oh, I most certainly think that our snuggle might lead to more than a snuggle. It's just that your next gift . . . it's a bit different," Albus explained. "Can I keep you in suspense a while longer, my dear?"

"Well, as you have done very well with your surprises so far, if you think we should wait for the next one, I will try not to be too terribly impatient! And I do think that the rest of your plan for the evening sounds lovely," Minerva replied.

"We shall see how the evening proceeds, then," Albus said, "and whether I can wait, too!"

Albus stood, kissed Minerva, then walked over to the fireplace. After lighting a fire in the grate with just a flick of his finger, he raised the lid of the musical box, which Wilspy had set on the chimneypiece. Minerva smiled to hear "In the Mood" emitting from the Charmed box.

"So that is why you borrowed it last week – you sly old phoenix!" Minerva exclaimed. Albus had claimed that he was having trouble sleeping without her on those nights he spent in the Headmaster's suite, and he thought that listening to restful music might help him. He obviously had borrowed it in order to have more music added to its charms – music he knew she enjoyed dancing to.

"I didn't lie to you, my dear! I was having trouble sleeping without you, and listening to soothing music might have been helpful. I never said I was actually going to take advantage or it," he replied with a grin.

"You should be a Slytherin, Albus!"

Albus laughed. "I will take that as a compliment – though I think that Gertrude would say that I lack the subtlety of a true Slytherin." He held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

Minerva took his hand. "You may. In fact, I believe my dance card may have a few openings on it this evening."

He smiled. "I believe I should like to reserve every one of them, my dear."

After dancing to several Big Band numbers and then snuggling on the couch, each with a glass of Madeira to sip, Albus's kisses and caresses became more ardent, and finally, as he began to bare her breasts to his touch, he whispered, "Let's go up to bed now, shall we?"

Minerva agreed quite happily, and laughed as he picked her up in his arms. She kissed his cheek, then said with a smile, "You needn't carry me, Albus! I am not that tired, nor have I had very much to drink."

"Indulge me, my dearest," Albus said as he carried her around the sofa.

"But if you hurt your back, we may find our little holiday somewhat less enjoyable – you, in particular," Minerva replied.

"Oh, I believe I can manage." He grinned puckishly. "Provided, of course, that you do watch your diet!"

"Albus Dumbledore! Are you suggesting that I am anything less than fit?"

"No more so than you are implying that about me, my dear!" he replied with a chuckle. "You do know I find you to be perfection itself."

"Mmm . . . yes, I do, and I know that you were teasing, but your back –"

"Is fine," Albus said as he started up the stairs. "And if it weren't, that would simply mean that I could put myself in your hands for some tender loving care, and I am sure that your care would be very loving, indeed! There are certain activities that are very nice when I am lying flat on my back, after all."

"Yes, there are. Perhaps we should practise them," Minerva said, her eyes sparkling.

"An excellent suggestion," Albus replied. He waved his hand and the bedroom door opened, the lamps lighting as it did.

As he carried her into the room, Minerva's gaze moved from his face to the room, and her eyes widened. "The bed! You added the headboard and footboard."

"Yes, I did. More correctly, I had Wilspy do it. I know that we won't be here long this visit, Minerva, but I thought it might be time to begin creating those new memories you spoke of," Albus replied. "Would you help me with that?"

Minerva smiled. "It will be my pleasure, Albus."

"They already look completely different here in this room, which now reminds me so much of you. On Sunday after my lunch with Aberforth, I popped over very briefly to see them when Wilspy was finished, and they seemed changed simply by being in the room with the bed in which we had made love," Albus said, setting Minerva down to sit on the bed.

"The room seems cosier with the bed matching the rest of the furniture, too," Minerva said. "And the flowers are beautiful." There were roses on Minerva's vanity, a smaller bouquet of mixed flowers on the dresser, and a very large, colourful arrangement on the bench beside the wardrobe.

"Wilspy brought those over early this morning immediately after I had arranged them and put a freshness charm on them." He gazed down into her eyes. "I wanted your birthday to be special, this one particularly so, as it was the first we will celebrate together – truly together."

"It has been very special, Albus, especially since we were able to come here to the island for it – and that was a surprise, not only that we were having dinner here and staying the night, but that you had made arrangements for us to be away until Sunday. That is a wonderful gift," Minerva said as she raised his hands to kiss each one. "Thank you, Albus."

"Do you know what else today is, my dear?"

"The first Friday of October," Minerva replied. "Other than that, no, I can't think what it might be."

"It is three months to the day that I discovered how unhappy you were with me, when I heard you complain to Poppy about my behaviour toward you."

"Is it really? Somehow, it seems much longer ago than that. So much has happened in the meantime." She smiled up at him. "So much has changed between us."

"Indeed." Albus caressed her face. "You were very angry with me that day. Quite rightly so." He brushed his lips over her forehead. "I had provoked you terribly." He kissed her cheek. "I remember quite well how shocked I was to hear you, to hear what you said." His hands were at her breasts, parting her robes, and his lips moved over hers, pulling her lower lip between them. "And then later," he whispered, moving his mouth over to her ear as his thumbs caressed her nipples, "later, those same words became very exciting." His tongue traced the outline of her ear. "So exciting to think of you fucking Albus Dumbledore."

Minerva had begun to unfasten the front of his robes, and now her hand had found his cock, fully erect, and her arousal grew.

"Oh, gods, Albus, I want you now, now," she gasped as he began to kiss her throat.

"Mmm. But do you remember what else you said that morning?" he asked as he drew back to look down at her face. "And do you remember what I told you when I explained why I was late? About Aberforth's potion?"

Minerva nodded, unsure why he was digressing into irrelevancy. She wanted to make love to him, not rehash their misunderstanding. It had been cleared up and was over.

"I also mentioned another potion of Aberforth's, one made with powdered goat-horn that had some unfortunate side-effects." He caressed her face. He had already gone so far, he thought, he would continue and see what her reaction was. "He never could seem to counteract that side-effect, and it was one that seemed quite undesirable." Albus cleared his throat. "I took a little time over the last couple of weeks and tinkered with his formula. I have preserved the primary side-effect while eliminating any of the potion's other effects."

Minerva furrowed her brow. "Why on earth would you want to do that?" She tried to remember what he had said about the failed potion. Something to do with a wizard's vitality, but she had scarcely been in a state at the time to make note of precisely what he had said about the potion.

Albus stepped back away from her. He bent and removed his shoes and socks, then he sent his robes sailing across the room to fold themselves over the back of the rocking chair.

Minerva licked her lips. "You look gorgeous, Albus," she said as her eye travelled over his body. "Absolutely edible."

Albus smiled, blushing. "I hope you always find me so, my dear. My final surprise for you, for your birthday." He took a deep breath. "I will let you see it for yourself."

He walked over to the dresser and picked up a small brown bottle. He uncorked it.

"Do you remember what else you said, Minerva? You said, fuck Albus Dumbledore, and his stupid beard, too. You have done the first." He grinned slightly. "Very well, too. And here is your surprise."

Albus lifted the bottle to his lips and drank down the potion. Minerva blinked. The hair of his beard was coming together, seemingly moulded by an unseen force. She blinked again. His beard was now an erect phallus jutting out from his chin. It was bizarre. Minerva's eyes moved from Albus's erect penis to the phallus that had once been his beard – or still was his beard, she supposed. Her mouth opened, but she couldn't say anything.

Albus reddened. "It was an idea. Something that popped into my mind some time ago. It was foolish of me. I knew it was in questionable taste. It's something that is better remaining a fantasy." He reached behind him for another bottle. "I have an antidote –"

"No, no, don't." Minerva stood and approached Albus. "It is very odd and it was definitely a surprise." She reached out and touched the beard phallus. It was firm but not hard, somewhat spongy when she squeezed it experimentally. She looked up at him. "Can you feel that?"

"No. It is still just like my beard. Originally, the side effect did this and it created a number of, um, similar protuberances from the head, as well. I eliminated the others," Albus said.

"It looks just like your erection," Minerva said, though when she looked down, she saw that his erection had flagged with his uncertainty and nervousness. She looked up and her eyes met his. "You want me to fuck your beard."

"If you want to, but only if you want to."

"Wouldn't I hurt you?" Minerva asked, thinking about riding his phallus energetically and wondering if it wouldn't hurt his neck or head. The thought of riding it made her throbbing grow, however.

"I have thought of that," Albus replied. "A couple of charms, including one on my pillow, and I should be fine." He swallowed. "Do you want to fuck my beard, Minerva?"

"But what about you? If you can't feel anything, it might be unpleasant."

"Thinking about it excites me," Albus said in a low voice, "and thinking about what my tongue could be doing while you fucked my beard, that does too. Quite a nice position for bringing you two of your favourite pleasures at the same time. And you know how I like to watch you come when I lick you." He smiled as he saw Minerva's growing excitement, her skin flushing and her eyes darkening. He began to finish opening her robes. "I love to see you come, to see you lose control to your pleasure, and I love it when you come with a gush and I can drink from you." Her robes were open. He slipped his hand into the crotch of her knickers. "You are very wet and ready."

Minerva shrugged off her robes and stepped out of them and her shoes at the same time. She quickly removed her knickers, and Albus reached out and began to rub her clit with one finger as she dropped her chemise to the floor.

"I want to fuck your beard, Albus Dumbledore," Minerva said, reaching out and taking hold of his cock. "But I want to fuck you properly, too."

"I am sure you have the stamina to do both if you wish," Albus said with a grin.

"Isn't there anyway that you could have your cock feel what I'm doing to your beard?" Minerva asked.

Albus thought a moment, then he nodded. "Yes, I can think of a spell that I can use to transfer the effect from my beard to my penis. If I do that, I will want to use the other spell, too."

"Mmm, yes, do that. Not only do I have the stamina, Albus, but I do think that I may be almost insatiable tonight, and I want to feast on you." She reached out and touched his beard and laughed. "I must say, though, that this is rather an obstacle to kissing you."

"Then allow me to kiss you," Albus said, taking her hands and pulling her toward the bed. "Let me kiss you where you enjoy it so much."

Albus took his penis in his hand and cast two spells in quick succession.

"Now, stroke my beard, Minerva."

With one tentative finger, she stroked the side of his beard, ending at the tip of the phallus, then circling it. Albus closed his eyes and nodded.

"The spell worked," he said. "That was very interesting."

Albus lay down in the centre of the bed. He adjusted a pillow under his head and muttered another spell.

Minerva looked down at him and stroked his beard again. "I am still afraid of hurting you," she said.

"I will stop you if you do, but I am sure it will be fine," Albus said. "Fuck my beard, Minerva. Just fuck me hard."

Minerva sat beside him uncertainly.

"Just straddle me as you normally would and hold onto the headboard, then ride me and take your pleasure."

Minerva did as he suggested, holding onto the headboard with one hand. With some nervousness, she took hold of the phallus and guided it into her as she slowly lowered herself. She looked down and saw Albus's bright eyes. She took the entire phallus into her vagina and moaned as she felt Albus's tongue flick out.

"Oh, gods, Albus," she said with a gasp, wanting to move on him, but wanting also to feel his tongue pleasuring her clitoris as the phallus filled her.

She compromised by rocking slightly back and forth, meeting his tongue as the phallus shifted with her movement. Soon, she could not restrain herself, and she began to raise and lower herself on the phallus, meeting his tongue on each downstroke, grasping the headboard with both hands. She looked down into his face, and he seemed to be in no hurry for her to stop. His hands were on her buttocks, providing her with some guidance and squeezing in time with her movement on his face. She began to move back and forth over his tongue, the phallus stimulating her inside as his tongue pleasured her clit.

Albus gripped her buttocks harder, and he muttered, "Talk, talk, Minerva," then his words were lost in her folds.

"Fuck Dumbledore's beard, you said," Minerva said breathlessly, "so I'm fucking your beard. You know I love to fuck your cock. And you like it when I do, I know you like it. You probably think about it all the time, how I want you and how I want to fuck you and your gorgeous cock. You like thinking about teasing me, driving me mad with desire, and now I need you so much, I'm fucking your beard as you lick me. Such a naughty wizard, wanting me to fuck your beard, making me want to fuck your beard!" Minerva's voice had become more breathless as she spoke, riding him harder and faster, and now she let out a long cry as she began to come with a gush. "Gods, yes, Albus, I'm coming, I'm coming!"

Albus held her still and lapped at her as she came in his mouth.

Minerva rested her head against her forearm, leaning against the wall above the headboard as she tried to catch her breath. She heard Albus try to say something, so she shifted slightly.

"More, Minerva, more."

"You want more?" Minerva pushed back from the wall and looked down at his smiling eyes.

"Once isn't enough with that spell you had me cast," he said, his words whispering against her sensitive clitoris.

Minerva smirked. "I can give you more if you really think you can take it, Dumbledore."

"Test me."

She began to rise up, but then she stopped. "Would it hurt you if I were to face the other direction?"

"No, don't think so," came the mumbled reply. It was difficult to speak when he couldn't properly move his jaw.

"Stop me if it's uncomfortable."

Minerva turned, keeping the beard phallus inside her. She flexed her vagina around it and was pleased to see Albus's penis twitch in response. She lowered her head, closing her mouth around the head of his cock and then slowly taking him more deeply into her, all the while flexing her muscles around the phallus. She sucked and licked and swallowed around him, continuing to tighten and relax her vagina around the phallus. She could hear Albus gasping, then his grip on her legs tightened, and she could feel his cock pulsing in her mouth as she swallowed around him, cupping his balls in one hand.

Albus hadn't released the spell on his penis creating a dry orgasm, and his cock was still erect when Minerva sat up and licked her lips. She felt his hands on her thighs, urging her off him, and she carefully slid off of the phallus and sat to one side.

Albus Summoned the antidote from the dresser and caught it with his right hand. He pushed up on one elbow and blinked at the bottle. Minerva smiled and took the bottle from him, uncorked it, then handed it back. Albus swallowed the potion, making a face.

Minerva watched as his beard slowly returned to its normal state, though somewhat tangled and rather damp. She Summoned her wand and it flew to her from the pocket of her robes. A quick wave, and his beard was clean, fluffy, and tangle-free. She set her wand on the night stand and lay down beside him, one hand around his erection.

Minerva kissed Albus's cheek. "That was very interesting, but we still have this," she said, squeezing his cock.

"I didn't think to release the spell. I was somewhat distracted – more so than usual," Albus said somewhat apologetically.

"I am actually glad," Minerva replied with a grin, stroking his penis. "I told you I was insatiable tonight."

He turned his head and kissed her lips, rolling over onto his side and putting an arm around her. He pulled her close, and Minerva relished the sensation of his beard against her breasts. She put her left leg over his hips, shifting so that she could rub the head of his cock against her folds and stimulate her clitoris.

Albus moaned slightly into her mouth then broke away to take a breath. "You are insatiable tonight."

His hand slid from her back to her buttocks and then his fingers sought her crux. His hand met hers still encircling his cock.

"I know what you want, Professor McGonagall. You want my cock in here." He slid a finger inside her. "That's what you want, isn't it, Professor? You want to fuck the Headmaster's cock."

"I want to fuck your cock?" Minerva asked as she stroked him and rubbed him against her clitoris. "I think that's what you want. You want me to fuck you and you want me to make you come. You want to feel me surrounding your cock when you come. But before you can have that, you need to admit it, admit that you want me to fuck you. You want me to take you, you want me to want you, and you want me to fuck you. You would love to have me beg to fuck you, wouldn't you, Dumbledore?" She continued rubbing the head of his cock against her as she began to rock her hips.

Albus withdrew his finger, but then inserted two, letting Minerva's movements control her stimulation.

"I know you want me, Professor. I have my fingers up you and I can feel how much you want me."

Minerva closed her eyes and gasped as she began to come, rubbing herself more firmly against his penis. Albus, recognising her orgasm, began to thrust his fingers inside of her.

"Yes, come, come for me, come, yes, come," he murmured.

Minerva shuddered as her orgasm burst through her. "Gods, Albus, so good, so good!"

She kissed him hard, drawing his tongue into her mouth, swirling it with her own, then sucking it lightly before breaking away to gasp. She slid the head of Albus's cock from her clitoris into her entrance, but only the head, keeping her hand around him.

"Tell me what you want, Dumbledore, tell me," Minerva said, moving her hips so that the head of his cock entered and exited shallowly. She rocked and squeezed her fist in rhythm. "Tell me what you want."

"Fuck Albus Dumbledore," he said hoarsely.

"What do you want?" she asked, continuing her slow movement over the head of his cock.

"Gods, fuck me," he said with a moan.

"With pleasure," she replied, letting go of his penis as she slid over him.

She rolled Albus onto his back and began to move back and forth on his cock. Albus ran his hands up her sides, reaching for her breasts, and she bent so that he could fondle her breasts as she rode him.

"I'm going to come, Minerva, I'm going to come," he gasped. "Do you want me to release the spell?"

"Not yet, not yet, you said I was insatiable, and I am not sated," she said, watching his face as his orgasm overcame him.

She lay flat on top of him, closing her legs. For his comfort, she remained still, though she did flex her vagina around him. He didn't require any recovery time, as such, since the spell kept him from losing his erection, but she had the sense that even with the spell, he was highly sensitive immediately after his orgasm and would appreciate a moment's rest.

Albus spread his legs and bent his knees so that Minerva was lying with her legs between his, his cock held tightly inside her. Minerva pushed up on her hands, looking down at him. His eyes were closed.

"I love you, Albus," she whispered. "In every way, so very much."

He looked up at her and smiled, then he raised his hand and caressed her cheek. "I love you, too." He paused with his hand cupping her face. "I cannot express how much I love you."

"Show me. Show me some of your love," Minerva said.

Albus drew her down into a kiss as he rolled them onto their sides. He straightened his outer leg as she raised hers and put it over his hip. As he kissed her, he began to move, gently at first, then with more vigour until he finally rolled Minerva onto her back. He urged her to bend her legs and raise her knees to her chest as he pumped harder and faster. He brought one of his hands to her buttocks and lifted her, uttering a spell that placed a cushion of air beneath her hips. He thrust his cock into her and withdrew, thrust and withdrew, thrust and withdrew. One hand caressed her stomach then moved to fondle her clitoris.

"That's good, Albus, that is so good," Minerva said, moaning and rocking her hips to meet his pumping cock.

She raised one leg and placed an ankle on his shoulder, twisting slightly and moaning as his cock repeatedly hit her sweet spot and his thumb flicked her clitoris. Albus watched Minerva's face as her eyes closed and her mouth opened, gasping as she began to come.

"Gods, yes, Albus, yes, yes!" Her words became unintelligible moans as throbbing warmth and electric pleasure pulsed through her body. Tears came to her eyes as her orgasm went on and on and she felt for a moment as though she had fallen into an eternity of ecstasy.

As Minerva peaked, Albus ended the spell on himself, and after a few more thrusts, he gasped as he began to come, this time his orgasm accompanied by a powerful ejaculation. He held himself still as his cock pulsed and he released deep inside her.

Minerva stretched her legs out, and Albus slowly lowered himself to lie on top of her, cancelling the cushioning spell beneath her hips as he did so. He let out a long sigh. Minerva gently caressed his back.

"Mmm," she sighed. "I love having you lie like this, to feel your weight on me. Don't know why, but I do."

"I always think I'm too heavy," Albus said sleepily, "but I like it too. You're warm and soft. And it's nice to stay inside of you for a while." He turned his head and kissed her cheek.

"I think I will sleep very well tonight," Minerva said with a yawn, "and we certainly did make good use of our uninterrupted privacy."

"Happy birthday, Minerva, my love."

"Thank you, Albus, and thank you for all of my surprises. It has been a wonderful birthday, especially since I thought you had forgotten it and we were only having a simple dinner in your suite."

"I almost didn't go through with the final surprise. It seemed in very questionable taste. And I thought that if you didn't like it, I would seem . . . disgusting, I suppose."

Minerva chuckled. "It was very bizarre to look at, and a very strange idea at first, but even if I hadn't wanted to take advantage of your offer, I wouldn't have found you disgusting." She gave him a squeeze. "You're far too sexy to be disgusting. Besides, we said we would be honest and open with each other. I'd like to think that if I ever have an idea that you think is better remaining a fantasy, that you would just say so and not find me disgusting."

"That is the point of being open with each other, isn't it," Albus agreed with a nod. He raised up on one hand and looked down into her face. "Are you hungry? Or thirsty?"

"May I gather that you are?"

He grinned. "Dinner was quite a while ago, and we've been rather active. All that dancing," he said with a wink. "I could get us a snack."

"Let's do it together," Minerva suggested.

"All right," Albus said, pecking her on the cheek before rolling off.

He Summoned his wand and cast a cleaning and freshening spell on each of them, then he got up and padded over to the wardrobe.

"Here you are," he said, handing Minerva her dressing gown. "And there should be slippers here, too."

"My green dressing gown," Minerva remarked.

"Yes, I hope that one is acceptable," Albus said. "I didn't think you would need anything warmer, and I like that one on you, so I asked that they pack it for you. I hope you don't mind."

"No, I'm just surprised," she said as she stood, slipped on the dressing gown, and pushed her feet into the slippers Albus had found for her.

"I told you before that I liked it on you, and I meant it." He walked over to her, his own dressing gown draped loosely around him. "Later, I will give you a full demonstration of a few of the reasons I like it on you, but it brings out the colour of your eyes, and," he added, "I can do this."

He slipped his hands into the front of the robe and ran them down over her breasts, the dressing gown parting as he moved his hands lower, the sash loosening when he reached her waist. Albus smiled and leaned forward to kiss her lightly.

"As I said, I will give you a more complete demonstration of this robe's virtues later," he said. "Now, time for that snack!"

Minerva grinned at him as they walked down the stairs. "I am looking forward to that complete demonstration, Albus, so make it a hearty snack!"

"I certainly will, and I might even be able to demonstrate a few of its virtues as we fortify ourselves, if you are adventurous enough!"

"With you, always, Albus," Minerva said. "I love adventures with you."

Albus turned at the foot of the stairs and reached for her, putting his arms through the wide, floaty sleeves of her dressing gown. She felt his hands on her shoulders as he drew her towards him.

"This is just the beginning, my dear," he murmured before kissing her, "just the beginning of a long and wonderful adventure together."

Note: Thank you for reading Resolving a Misunderstanding. I hope it has been an enjoyable experience from beginning to end. Thank you especially to those who have taken the time to review. It's always encouraging to know that people are reading and enjoying your story!

For anyone curious about the actual length of the story, it is 876,746 words (without the extra author's notes and image tags on TPP) and 1428 pages in 11 point Times New Roman in WordPerfect, with each chapter beginning on a new page.

For those of you who think you may miss RaM now that it's complete, if you haven't read the other "RaM-verse" stories, you might look at those.

"The Unsentimental Arithmancer" is a one-shot featuring Albus and Gertrude. It's set in 1917, just after they met. A Holiday with the Headmaster is a highly lemony story set between the RaM chapters "The Silent Knight's Tale" and "Back to Hogwarts." Only Albus and Minerva appear in A Holiday with the Headmaster, and there is a lemon in every chapter. (There is a T-rated version posted elsewhere, if you prefer yours lemon-free!)

An Act of Love is set during HP Year 6 in the Resolving a Misunderstanding universe, and Severus, Hermione, and several other canon characters appear in it, as well as Albus and Minerva. Death's Dominion is a sequel to An Act of Love, but Death's Dominion can be read on its own, too. Death's Dominion is a DH-twister with an alternate HP year six and seven, and focuses primarily on Severus, Minerva, and Albus.

There is also a sequel to Death's Dominion, featuring Albus, Minerva, Severus, and a number of RaM-verse "regulars," called A Long Vernal Season. It's a postwar fic that is also obviously not DH-compliant.

"Now is Perfect" is a RaM-verse one-shot featuring Filius Flitwick, although neither Minerva nor Albus appear in it...Gertrude and Malcolm make a brief appearance, however, as do Poppy, Slughorn, and other canon and RaM-verse characters.

For the complete list of RaM-verse fics, and a suggested reading order, drop by my WordPress blog. (There's a link to it on my TPP author's page.)