"Good evening, Albus, '' greeted Madam Rosmerta, landlady of The Three Broomsticks, cheerfully the visitor who fell out of the fireplace in her bedchamber, landing just in front of her feet on the thick, woolen carpet.
"Merlin's beard!" he complained, at this moment looking not very dignified and making a face like a boy who'd just lose his lollipop. "Your fireplace really is too small! Couldn't you get yourself a bigger one where one could make an entrance without becoming a mess every time?"
Rosmerta laughed. She'd heard this often enough and so she replied amused: "Dear Albus, may I remind you that I've got a huge fireplace?" She pointed with her finger to the floor which was just over the hall of her pub.
"Would you like me to come through the public floo?" Albus got on his feet, stretched his back with a little sigh and started to knock ashes and soot from his dark blue robe.
"No, love, I wouldn't," answered Rosmerta and rose to kiss his check. It would ruin your reputation as the venerable headmaster, spoil my chances to become charmed by our dear minister of magic and - worst of all! - rob me of the chance to see the great Albus Dumbledore on his knees in front of me.
"Wicked woman!" Albus stroked tenderly over Rosmerta's still dark hair and let himself then sink in one of her pushy chairs.
"Isn't this why you love me?" Rosmerta teased him, seating herself down on the arm of his chair.
Albus laid an arm around her and lean his head on her soft breasts."�s o�s one of the reasons, Rosmerta", he said, enjoying her fingers, playing lightly in his hair.
"I know. The other is your fess ess of my butterbeer. Shall I get you one?"she asked, lifting his chin with her hand so that she could look in his eyes.I've made chocolate cake for you - and you look as if this were just what the healer has ordered. Shall I get you a huge slice?"
"I'd love both - butterbeer and cake." Albus opened the buttons of his high collar, took the glasses from his nose, put them down on the table next to him and closed his eyes. "I've had dinner with your admirer," he said.
Rosmerta, already on her feet and on her way to the door, looked back over her shoulder, smiling. "Which one? You know I have masses of admirers, swarming all over the place."
"As you deserve, my girl, as you deserve,"Albus smiled back, but became immediately serious again. "I was with Fudge."
"Poor darling!" Rosmerta said sympathetically. "Give me a moment, then I'll be back with butterbeer and the cake. It will restore you in no time, trust me."
Albus sighed and sank deeper in the comfortable chair. For a few seconds he allowed himself to doze, warmed by the fire and the coziness of the room which was so entirely Rosmerta - bright and generous and peaceful. But then he braced himself again, once again stretching his back. This evening he couldn't simply relax in this chair - at least not before he'd told Rosmerta what he had to tell. For what she was and for everything she'd given him over the years she deserved none less as absolute honesty.
Yet he felt tired to the bones, tired and in a way discouraged he hadn't been in a long time. It hadn't been only a long, but a hell of a day. He'd only slept for two hours in the night, then he was already up again, seeing Minerva for a very early breakfast and deciding with her that she was to talk with Hermione Granger first - and as soon as possible. A walk to the dungeons where his potion master resided had come next, but there at least he'd got away easier as he'd reckoned. Severus had not been in such a bad mood as Albus had feared, he'd even had shown something like sympathy for his superior and friend. Probably he was becoming softer with the years - or was it only that he too had been too exhausted for an argument about the idea Albus had submitted to him? Severus had agreed to it too easily for Albus taste. He liked his potion master sharp-minded and even sharp-tongued - seeing him only nod and talking about how to do it instead of debating why to do it showed a kind of resignation and acceptance in fate which did not suit Severus' character. Albus had been prepared for persuading Severus, for convincing him and even for begging him on behalf of their friendship, so only asking and getting the promise of ort ort irritated him and in walking away from Severus Albus had once again felt as if he'd failed the boy he considered not only his friend, but his son. He was sure he should have talked with him not only about the plan, but about Severus' state of mind too, but he couldn't have done so because he was to attend a meeting of the Wizengamot in the ministry. By walking to the apparition point in front of the Hogwarts gate Albus had already knew, that he'd fail in his attempt to convince the members in setting their feet down against the new marriage law. Nevertheless he had tried - he still hoped he could win the wizards council one by one and so with time manage to get the thing done.
