A Winters Tale

Chapter 18 Though this be madness, yet there is method in it

Chapter 18: Though this be madness, yet there is method in�t

"Hermione?" called Albus Dumbledore. He was all business, coming up the stairs in a light blue velvet robe, matching the sky on this cold, but friendly afternoon in March, reading a letter by it. Now he tugged it in the hem of his sleeve and asked "Are you unwell again, poor darling?" while he stepped through the mirror in the bedroom where he jumped, stammered "I'm sorry" and turned to the wall.

Hermione, pushing the strap of Ginny's bra under the neck holder of the robe she'd lend her girlfriend, laughed. "You can turn again, Albus. Ginny's quite presentable."

Ginny Weasley, tugging on the rather generous cleavage of the robe, smiled and said a bit shyly: "Good afternoon, Headmaster. I'm just ready and going ..."

"You won't!" Hermione contradicted her promptly. "We're not ready yet - and as I know my husband he's already in a hurry again ..."

"Hermione is right as mostly" Albus had turned and smiled at Ginny. "Only I'd say you look more than presentable, but ravishing."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Ginny blushed a bit. "Hermione was so nice to offer me one of her robes for the party Saturday - and I look forward to it." She made a little turn so that the long skirt of the robe was whirling around her legs.

Albus laid his hand on Hermione's back. "You see? Virginia likes my idea."

Hermione stretched on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. "Ask her again after the party, Albus. I'll make her wear the high heels she punished me with last time."

Albus looked at her over the rim of his spectacles. "You won't wear high heels, will you?"

Hermione smiled and brushed a hair from the collar of his robe. "That depends on you, dear. If you promise to dance with me at least three times, I'll wear sensible shoes. If not, I'll have to dance with Severus - and he likes women looking in his eyes during dancing."

"This I didn't know," Albus smiled.

"That comes from never dancing with him," said Hermione seriously, but with a twinkle in her eyes which almost matched his.

"I think I'd rather ask Miss Weasley for a dance on Saturday," Albus laughed. "Or must I ask Harry for permission first?"

Ginny blushed again. "No, sir, I don't think so," she said. "And I'd like to dance with you."

"Chauvinist!" Hermione was blunter. "When will you learn that modern women don't need their men's permission for a dance?"

"I'm working on it, Hermione." Albus pulled his wizard's watch out, looked at it and sighed. 'I have to go - and I'm afraid I'll be late again." Looking seriously in Hermione's eyes, he added: "You'll look after yourself, won't you? Don't eat a sandwich over your books, but go down for dinner - and don't study all night! I want to find you in bed and asleep when I come back."

"But Albus!" Hermione protested. "I don't have time for dinner in the hall. It's only six weeks until I have to do my NEWTs and ..."

"You could have done them the year before," he interrupted her. "So it's dinner in the hall and early sleep." He gently stroked her cheek and turned to Ginny who'd busied herself with cuddling Hermione's cat Crookshanks, laying in his cradle at the foot of the bed. "Miss Weasley, I trust you to support me in looking after Hermione?"

"Of course, Headmaster," Ginny answered promptly. "I'll get her to dinner with me."

"That's a good girl!" Albus praised her, kissing Hermione on the tip of her nose before he turned to the door. "Have a nice evening!"