Author's Note: This is my first fic! Please review. That would make me very happy and I write more when I'm happy. It doesn't even have to be a good review! I love criticism. This is going to start out as MMAD but end up MM/OC. I hope you like it, sorry if I messed anything up, and without further ado, enjoy!

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Young at Heart

If Mr. Filch were to peer into the West Wing's girls bathroom on the evening of May 26th, he would have been surprised. The normally deserted bathroom was full to bursting with young witches in ball gowns, primping themselves and magically powdering their noses in preparation for a night of festivities. Tonight was the first annual Spring Gala at Hogwarts, and every female student 5th year and up was in the West Wing's girls bathroom. Even the Slytherin girls had turned up, however their sneers went largely unnoticed because of the gay atmosphere in the bathroom. You could practically see the excitement in the air, and all the young women had a new spring in their step.

"Poppy, I need your advice!" called Minerva McGonagall over the shrieks, giggles, and general chatter. She turned to face the mirror she was standing before as her friend reached her side. "Black?" Minerva asked as she swooped her wand across her front and the pink dress she had been wearing turned black, "Or Violet?" She repeated the motion and the black dress turned purple. Poppy giggled. "What? No pink?" she asked in a mock-surprised tone. Minerva smirked at her. "Do I look like a girl who would wear pink?" Poppies glanced at Minerva's sharp features and raven tresses and shrugged. "Maybe someday…" Minerva raised an eyebrow and Poppy burst out laughing. "Okay maybe not. Are you wearing your hair up or down?" Minerva looked confused. "It matters?" Poppy looked shocked that she would ask such a question. "Of course it matters! Min, I've been your best friend for 6 years now! Have I taught you nothing?" Minerva just laughed. "Up I suppose." "Then go with the black."

Minerva waved her wand once more and her dress returned to the black satin. She waved it again and her hair came out of its plait and started to rearrange itself. "Hey Min, we look good!" Minerva glanced up and caught Poppy eyeing them in the mirror. She giggled, but had to admit that her best friend was right. They looked much older than 17. Poppy, in a toga-like dress of scarlet (her signature color), had a crown of her namesake flower woven through her golden tresses, and Minerva in her newly black satin gown had her curls pulled into a simple French twist. "You need something for your hair." Poppy told her. "But—" Minerva started to protest but Poppy cut her off with a wave of her wand and a silver hair comb appeared. "How did you do—" Minerva started, but Poppy cut her off again. "Will you stop asking questions? I swear sometimes the Sorting Hat messed up and you should have been in Ravenclaw. Here." She grabbed the comb from the air and placed it in Minerva's hands. "Please tell me I don't have to tell you how to do this too." "Oh shut up." Minerva muttered, but her eyes were smiling.

"Oh dear. Gwen, let me help you!" Poppy ran off swiftly across the bathroom to help Gwendolyn Mayfield, who shared a dorm with she and Poppy, and was dancing around ridiculously. Minerva thought it looked like she was trying to scratch her back with her wand, but was actually trying to alter the cut of her dress. She watched Poppy help their friend for a moment and turned back to the mirror and fit the comb snugly into her hair. She stepped back and found herself staring at a stranger in the mirror. Or, not a stranger, but a more regal version of herself. Gone was the heavy bag of books that she always carried. Gone were the bags under her eyes from staying up much too late, and gone were the lips that were chapped from pursing in class. Instead was a young woman with her chin held high, her eyes a more intense green than Minerva ever remembered, and a smile gracing her defined features.

"Oh, Min! You look absolutely stunning!" Minerva turned to find Annabelle Levet beaming at her. Annabelle was the other girl who she shared her dorm with. Where Minerva was tall and lanky, Annabelle was short and rather plump. She was a popular girl, as she was extraordinarily funny and pleasant to everyone. "Professor Dumbledore won't be able to keep his eyes off you." She murmured. Minerva shrieked, "ANABELLE!" and blushed ferociously. Annabelle just giggled. "Oh come on, everyone knows you're lusting after him." "I am not lusting after Professor Dumbledore! He's a teacher! That's about as off limits as you can get!" Minerva whispered violently. Annabelle got a devilish glint in her eye and replied, "That doesn't mean it wouldn't be hot." Minerva shrieked again, louder this time. A few girls gave her an amused look. Annabelle laughed. "Oh Min you know I'm just kidding. "Do I?" asked Minerva, still pink in the cheeks. "Of course! You have enough sense to stay away from a teacher. I'm not so sure about him though." She moaned, "Oh Minerva!" and then ran away giggling, barely dodging a mild curse.

"What was that about?" asked Poppy, walking back over with Gwen in tow. Minerva replied, "Annabelle made a few choice comments about myself and Professor Dumbledore." "Oooooh." Poppy replied. "What is that supposed to mean?" Minerva snapped. "Well Min, you are top in his class, always volunteer, sit right in the front…" Poppy gave her an expectant look. "So? I enjoy Transfiguration!" Minerva retorted. Gwen gave her a suspicious look and said, "Mmmhm. And your aspiration to become an Animagus has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you would need private tutelage?" Minerva threw her hands up and said, "I don't need to deal with this harassment." "Okay! Okay touchy!—" Gwen giggled, but realized her mistake and stopped when Minerva started shooting daggers at her. "—We'll change the subject! Do you think any of the boys learned how to dance?" The discussion lasted until the bells in the tower started to chime 8-o-clock, and the noise in the bathroom amplified. It was time.