Minerva laughed, but she closed her eyes, taking the opportunity to nuzzle against his beard. She could feel his wand arm moving and his magic rippling against her as he cast several spells. “No peeking, now!” Albus said as he felt her giggle into his beard.“No, no peeking! But your magic is tickling quite nicely,” she said with another laugh as he cast an additional spell.“Hmmph,” he said in mock disgust. “Here I am, expending my energy trying to create a romantic setting for you, and you’re giggling about my magic tickling you!”Minerva just laughed harder at that and was pleased with his answering chuckle rumbling in his chest. Albus took her by the shoulders and turned her around. “Open your eyes, Minerva, my dear,” he said softly.*snip*Oh this is just delicious..... *sighs contentedly*

Albus blushed darkly. “I hardly had two words out of my mouth, not even intending to tell her anything other than that you had returned to the castle and we had spent some time together, when she said, ‘Finally! I was beginning to despair of you both!’ She evidently had been aware of our feelings and had been trying to get us to do something about it, but being ‘bloody stubborn Gryffindors,’ as she put it, we seemed to be determined to ignore or misinterpret every one of her hints. And I do admit, looking back on it now, that Gertie had tried to get me to talk to her about you, at the very least, and I did turn away every opportunity she presented me, and she had also encouraged me talk to you directly, to spend time with you and such, but again, I did not heed her, not in the way that she had hoped, anyway.”*snip**grins and does a high-five for Gertie* That made me chuckle. Then, three or four years ago, Gertie did some Arithmantic calculations, which she says she has never before done on friends without their knowledge and consent, but she made an exception this time. She said that she didn’t possess enough of the variables to be able to say with very great certainty, but that each calculation she performed pointed to our being ideally matched. One reason she didn’t tell me about this – and I agree with her now, although I wish it weren’t true – is that she believed that if she had, I would have worked even harder at ignoring and diverting my feelings.*snip*That's pretty nifty there... and funny too, Albus being so bloody stubborn and Gertie teling him so.

I just love that she could run back home TO  Albus and not fear rejection or doppleganger Albus, and he surprised her.... sooo much yummies!

All I can say is Minerva is far more patient than I am... I don't think I could have postponed bedroom time for tea, breakfast, lunch or anything else... save for a brief visit to the facilities... and I'm a tad aggrivated with Albus for his disbelief STILL, but so thankful they're finally together and happy and in love, loving each other properly.

“You wrote this,” she said.Albus nodded, his face ashen.Minerva took a step toward him. “Why? Why did you not tell me? Why did you instead say what you did?”Albus swallowed. “I had no hope that you would, or could, accept it. I did not wish to burden you,” Albus said, his voice a near-whisper. “And I did not want your pity for an old fool, a wizard overreaching, entering his dotage . . .”Minerva shook her head, confused, and tears swam in her eyes. “An old fool? The only foolishness was in not revealing the truth. And it was not yours alone.”“Not . . . not mine alone?” he asked, uncertain what he was hearing.“Not yours alone. Although I did try, but it seemed that every effort was met with ambiguity, at best, and rejection, at worst.” Tears flowed down her face. “I told you I love you. Why did you not believe me? Or what did you believe me to be saying? I tried, I did . . . I thought if you might be coming to feel the same, my own . . . my own vulnerability would allow you the occasion to tell me. At least to hint to me . . . and I would see a loving gesture, a romantic one, and would have no idea whether it meant what I thought it did or if it was the product of my own wishful thinking. And you kept turning from me . . . turning away, sometimes even acting as though you didn’t care about me at all.”“You mean that you . . . you can’t mean that you welcome my feelings? That you . . .” Albus asked, his voice constricted.“Why would you think that I wouldn’t?” She took another step toward him. “I don’t understand.”Albus sighed. “I can see myself. I know that I am past my best years, that I have nothing to offer, that it would be unfair to attempt to sway you to feel anything for me beyond friendly affection, even if it weren’t pathetic enough to think I could court you, or any witch.”Minerva felt as though her mouth was hanging open. “I must have lost your train of thought. It sounded as though you were saying you have nothing to offer and that, that you oughtn’t court any witch, let alone me.”Albus nodded.*snip*My favorite part thus far... I can literally see Minerva standing there, so absolutely shocked and ready to hit him upside the head with a frying pan... also think Wilspy needs to flog Albus a bit, just in case.

*slowly begins to breathe again and is thankful that the few hairs left on her head are now safe*Good God... that was the most painful read - raeding - and if they go back to being idiots one more time I'm throwing my laptop across the room and running to Switzerland to hide.

All I can say is "feckin' finally"!

*sighs*This has to be the saddest fic I've yet read... *sighs* I think I've lost hope.

*sobs* Even sadder... and I feel so bad for Quin, feel like Minerva is really pushing his kindness and friendship begging for physical affection when he doesn't want to compromise their relationship... *flogs Albus and Minerva*These two are going to be the death of me, this is sooooo bloody sad!

*brutally flogs Albus*

This chapter is so sad...

Ooooh, so much fun in this chapter... first off, I have to say - Thank you for introducing Grandmother Tyree - been waiting to meet her for a long, long while... second, DRAGONS! Did I mention I loved DRAGONS? OOOH, give me DRAGONS! I looove DRAGONS!We kind of had a mini-triwizard tournament, yes? And we had our little temptation of DRAGONS!Lets see - Blampa was adorable, Albus was sexy as hell, Malcolm was inspiring if arrogant, Minerva and Gertrude were interesting and naturally worried - I love the - Albus, Dragons, really? - hahaThe duel was fun and inventive, I loved the transfiguration spell that Minerva invented and then Malcolm's sunflowers.... but what was best of all was Malcolm's fireball and his total underestimitation of Albus and his affinity to fire - and how Albus surprised him and won the duel - that last paragraph is just freaking solid gold!This chapter was just FANTASTIC! And so perfect after two hot, heavy, emotional and steamy, intensly passionate chapters - you've got such great natural pace for story telling!Even Hagrid is in this, though he's not being fantastic, but still! Just awesomesauce!

I like reading about the Animagus-training, both about the progress and the excercises which are to be done. They share a nice emotional dinner, deepening their friendship, which is an important scene, I feel. (Important in the sense that a friendship with such a deep meaning, should have a chance to be a life-long friendship. So, after this scene, and some others of course too, it is only more than logic that they will stay in touch after her school is finished. The Animagus training and the warding could have remained a sort of work-relation. though this is one of the strongest indications for a much deeper friendship. Sigh, forgive me to be so elaborate about it.)I noticed that you deal with the differences between the houses in a much more balanced way than in canon. There Griffyndor is the hero-house, no doubt the best and the Slytherins are a very nasty bunch. With you they all seem to have their strong and their weak points and the relation between the houses is also more friendly and jokingly. The nature of the houses has a similarity with those of JK, but the extremity has vanished and I really applaud that! Carson seems a nice boy. And there we have tom Riddle (it's a relief that he is so much in the back-ground here) Thanks for yet another great chapter!

How vulnerable she has become: wondering if she has intentionally got the most annoying house-elf of Hogwarts. Poor Min!  And that while I think Blampa is so cute. I'm happy that Minerva is Minerva and uses her brain to try to improve things and her approach to Blampa is funny to read. Blampa is a very eager little student. Lovely. ...using several cooling-charms so that she can use Albus' Afghan, to find a bit of comfort in that dreadful fear of losing his friendship...and reflecting, with a lot of self-knowledge, on her love for him...beautiful!   "she scorned herself for her need, but capitulated to it, nonetheless." awww.The background of the war is interesting, also because it played a role in the growth and the depth of her feelings for Albus.  Haha, Minerva has less qualms about transfiguring Albus' hand than her own. Though Albus  is the true teaching Master and helps her get through her dead point. They have to be so close and so intensely feel each other...anybody would start to feel a bit "physical". So no wonder that it's yet another spark to ignite Minerva's feelings. Though Albus seems te have himself admirably under control. Again a chapter that held a lot and read like a train. i'm enjoying myself all the time     

Tension mounting...makes it hard to review...want to move ahead:-) Or in other words: you've made it really gripping. Part two was wonderful, but part three, in the "present", promises developments in their relation - positive or negative, that remains to be seen - which should be highly interesting from a more adult point of view. Minerva's internal struggle was so real, nearly torturing herself and suffering fro spiralling thoughts and insecurity. Interesting also to read about Minerva's thoughts about Gertrude and the conversation between them. Great chapter again and I'm highly anticipating the follow-up Thanks Ma'am

Lovely all these small jokes between Albus and Minerva. Your tone is so good, because it is light - warm and humoristic - and what you write is meaningful at the same time and that makes it so very readable. Sleeping in the library...pun intended by Albus, I have it. Checking on her before breakfast: these are the small small things that prove him to be such a caring person over and over again. I love the mature decision, well founded, that Minerva takes about the warding. And then his wonderful response, that her value goes way beyond the warding, which he further stresses by giving Minerva that very rare book for her coming of age. As beautiful as the chapter was till now, but the really magical scene for me, is that of how Minerva realizes that she is in love with Albus. I have no words to express how beautifully you have written the raging of her feelings and how you have captured the essence of falling in love, and in Minerva's case afterwards the awful awareness that that love will never become true. I am blown away! And when I try to go in the depth of that scene, trying to feel what happens to her (and you have made that easy for me) , I can't help but get very emotional. Sublime!

So many interesting things in this chapter: the secrecy, so much so that even the house-elfs are confined and that they need to picnic in a rather remote spot, in absolute privacy. Also the animagus-gap in the wards, again deepening your ward-theory. And Albus fearing that Minerva is uncomfortable with him followed by Minerva's reassurance to him. And there is much more. Though most of all I feel that this was a pretty romantic chapter about two people who are not romantically involved. But to me it is clear: there is no where to go for them in future, without each other. And doesn't that look promising for us, readers?! I know I have been talking over and over again about this subject, but it pinches me every chapter. I can't help myself. SorryAnd as always: it was again so very well written and a great read! Thanks Lady MMADfan

I’m glad Minerva didn’t have to apparate to the flats Quin wanted to show Melina. That would have been a bit much for her I’m afraid…poor Minerva!!!Looks like Quin did have a flat…well more like a house but still…for Melina and Brennan. I’m really glad they’re getting some place they like and that will accommodate their family, when they choose to have children. I assume they’re going to take him up on his offer of the flat. They’d be foolish not to accept it since he’s being so helpful and making sure Brennan is a part of the deal as well.Hmm, so Minerva is about ready to discuss her “situation” with Quin. This should be interesting. I’m sure he’ll offer some sage advice but it will be up to Minerva as to whether or not she accepts it.

I was very sad and disappointed in Albus' response to Minerva's lunch invitation. It seems that if he doesn't have things on his terms, he's very uncomfortable and unwilling to indulge Minerva. I'm sure you've got an example tucked away in this story to disprove my observation but at the moment, I can't think of any. So far, it's been Albus who has arranged lunches, breakfasts, dinners, etc and only when Minerva surprises Albus (case in point her tipsy visit to his office, etc) do we see things on Minerva's terms. She had him to breakfast once in her rooms but that was right after they had mended the first misunderstanding so that was sort of to be expected.Still, I had hoped that he would show a little more regret at not being able to accept her invitation and it sounds as if Minerva is feeling the same way. Hopefully, she can meet with Poppy and that will open up the opportunity to look at all sorts of events from another perspective. It would be great to see her catching a glimpose of things Albus says and does in her presence. Awwww.The flat hunting didn't sound very productive at first but once Quin shows them the places he has to offer, I'm sure Melina will find something she'll like. I'm sure Quin's flat will be much better than what the other gentleman had to offer...eeek.One thing I've noticed in this chapter...the first letter sent from Albus was signed "Sincerely" and it highly disappointed Minerva but each of the other letters sent between them was signed "YOURS!" It's as if Albus sent the first letter and after realizing his lack of regret and her disappointment, he loosened up a bit and let a few of his true feelings shine though. Too bad he didn't tell her what he's really feeling....tee hee.

Gracious Me! If Minerva doesn’t get the picture from her mother by now, she’s certainly walking around with a large set of blinders on and not willing to really assess her situation. The talk about Minerva’s magical staunching was absolutely wonderful and I love the detail you went to in order to describe the scenarios and just how special Albus’ actions were. Even if he didn’t know it at the time, I think his heart already recognized Minerva’s as his mate and he acted in her best interests. The love he felt for her then was most certainly different than it is now, but it’s wonderful to see that it existed even back in her school days in a very primitive and innocent form.So Gertie is coming to tea. Now this should be interesting. I wonder what sort of discussions these two will have. Thankfully there will be no Valerianna to wage war against Minerva or to upstage her quiet tea party. I’m very much looking forward to seeing how the prim and proper Gertie behaves when surrounded by down to earth people like Minerva’s parents and other family members.

Hmm, should've waited until tomorrow to read this chapter. I'm with Minerva ... not a cheery thought to send me off to bed. Sigh. I think Egeria has some good advice, both for Minerva and Melina, though.

Sounds like Minerva's party is coming together quickly and I hope it goes over well with those she's inviting.Quin sure does have a lot of interests. I'd say he's well rounded in making money and connections. haha

I do believe for a bit that Minerva could be a bit bitter ... well, not bitter but jealous or something along those lines in regards to Melina and her happiness. Just a smack of cheek there, I suppose.And I love all the info about the mated wands. Nice work!

Minerva's father is such a sweetie. Bless his heart, he's trying to get Minerva to see, in his own way, that Albus is interested in her as more than a colleague and friend but without coming right out and saying it. I'm glad he's helping her learn more about the mated wands, too.

I have to agree with Wilspy here ... silly, silly wizard. How could Minerva make use of Albus AND HIS BEARD if he shaved??? Glad it was just a Glamour and it was easily corrected. Wilspy had me cracking up with her comments. She's a sweetie.