By your pupils you'll be taught
(The title is a line from the song "Getting to know you" from the movie "The King and I", beautifully interpreted by Julie Andrews.)
It was late afternoon when Minerva McGonagall was finally allowed to leave St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
Even though she had known that there would be nobody there to pick her up there was a slight pang of disappointment. But Albus was busy at Hogwarts. That Umbridge woman was about to be removed from their school and Minerva hoped to spend her summer holidays in peace and quiet in order to regain her strength. She hated to admit it but the four Stunners had strained her powers a lot.
Sighing she picked up her suitcase and gripped the walking stick she still needed, heading towards the nearest Apparation site to return to Hogwarts.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were on their way to their dormitories when they met their headmaster Albus Dumbledore. He seemed to look right through them at something behind their backs. And he had a most peculiar expression on his face.
The three of them turned to find out what brought that expression to Dumbledore's face.
"Minerva.", said Dumbledore softly. Harry, Ron and Hermione turned around. And there she was. Even though she had to use a walking stick Professor McGonagall seemed to be her old self again.
Looking back at Dumbledore realization dawned on Hermione's face.
"You should tell her, you know?" she said quietly before poking the boys in the ribs to follow her. With another glance at their headmaster the three Gryffindors left, Ron and Harry still pondering what Dumbledore should tell their head of house.
For a split second Dumbledore looked at Hermione. And suddenly he knew the girl was right. He had come so close to losing Minerva without her knowing what she meant to him. Too close in fact.
The boys still hadn't figured out what Hermione had been talking about to Dumbledore and were asking her in hushed voices. But instead of giving them an answer she ushered them towards their common room with a sigh. Sometimes the two of them were just blind.
When Minerva approached Albus she was the twinkle in his eyes. And the tears. Quickly she ordered two students to bring her suitcase to her office.
"Hello Albus." she said quietly.
"Welcome back, Minerva." With a warm smile he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.
"Hello Professor McGonagall.!" A group of first year Gryffindors approached her, clearly happy to have her back.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I must ask you to grant Professor McGonagall a break before she will attend the end of term feast with us. And I assure you that you will have plenty of time to say hello then." Smiling Albus guided Minerva through the crowd that had gathered around them. In an instant they had left the noisy entrance hall and entered Minerva's office.
"Thank you, Albus. I must admit that I am a bit tired." Minerva sighed.
"Very well then. I shall leave you now." Albus sent her a last longing look and was about to turn around and leave when she called him.
"Oh Albus! Don't be silly. I am not too tired for you." Smiling she patted the place on the couch next to her.
Surprise and relief showing clearly on his face, Albus sat down. All of a sudden he seemed to be at a loss of words.
Minerva sensed that he wanted to tell her something but didn't know how.
"I missed you, Albus." She admitted softly.
Dumbledore who had sat staring at his fingers until now looked up at her.
"And I missed you."
He took her hands into his, tears in his blue eyes.
"Oh Minerva, I thought I'd lost you. I never told you … never could. But that's over now. I want to tell you and everyone else…"
"I love you." Minerva interrupted him smiling.
"Is that what you want to tell me?" She looked at him enquiringly.
"Yes, my love. That is what I have wanted to tell you for years." Albus finally admitted.
"I love you, Minerva."
"And I love you, Albus." With tears of joy streaming down her face Minerva bent to kiss him. When their lips finally met there seemed to be a glow going out from them. It was some very ancient magic which only happens when two people truly made for each other bond.
When Albus and Minerva broke apart for air the world seemed to be a lot brighter and even the prospect of fighting Voldemort again was less frightening. They had found true love.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Minerva snuggled up comfortably beside him.
"Well … I guess I was afraid. But fortunately little Miss Granger gave me a push in the right direction today." Albus smiled and kissed her on top of her head.
"She did what?" Minerva looked at him a little startled.
"She said I should tell you. And she was right." Albus caressed her cheek, glad that he had followed his student's advice.
Sighing, Minerva settled back in his arms. So Miss Granger had figured out their little secret. Even before they had figured it out themselves.
"But actually I don't want to talk about Miss Granger right now." Albus whispered in her ear.
"Neither do I. I'm so glad we have finally found each other." Minerva sighed. She knew they had wasted a lot of precious time by not admitting their feelings for each other. But then again she had feared that Albus might not return her love so she hadn't told him either. Now she didn't even understand how she could ever have doubted it.
Some time later Albus finally rose from his seat next to Minerva. They had talked about a lot of things during the last hours. Now it was well past midnight and he thought it might be better to return to his own chambers.
"I shall leave you now for tonight, my love." Albus lowered his head once more and captured Minerva's soft lips with his. She moaned lightly when he deepened the kiss.
When they broke apart she looked at him with her eyes full of love and desire.
"No, Albus. Please stay. We have already wasted so much time. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, starting tonight." She took his hand with both of hers.
With an amused twinkle in his eyes Albus took his wand out of his robes.
"Very well, my darling. But you will allow me to make some arrangements." With a complicated wave of his wand and some muttered incantations a new door appeared at the back of Minerva's bedroom.
"A connecting door." Minerva stated. Even though she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Albus she knew that it was probably wiser to keep up the appearance of them being just close friends.
"Yes, love. This way we will be able to spend every night with each other without the students noticing." Albus is twinkled with mischief as he said so. Even though he appreciated Miss Granger noticing his love for Minerva and telling him to admit it he didn't want anyone else to know. At least not yet.
A slight blush crept upon Minerva's cheeks when Albus said that. But she was truly happy for the first time in … she couldn't even remember when she had last felt that happy.
After they had snuggled up in bed together they talked a little while longer, enjoying the sensation of just holding each other and exchanging tender caresses.
Finally they fell asleep, peacefully and happily, knowing that the world would look much brighter tomorrow.
Finite Incantatem