Snape worked diligently, as per usual, on a special potion for a lady who desired to overcome her shyness and make herself known to the love of her life.
Typically he would refrain from making these types of potions, but the young lady was offering him a very hefty amount of coins and who could deny such a pretty sum of gold?
Once finished, he poured the potion in a clear vile and held it up to the glow of the candlelight to better inspect the silver liquid. A sudden noise outside his classroom distracted him momentarily from the potion. His brief moment of distraction allowed for peeves, who had been biding his time in the shadows, to swoop in and snatch the potion from Snape's hand.
"Stinky, snakey, Severus Snapey, what deadly potion is this?" the blasted entity sang as it swept from his classroom.
"Peeves give me the potion or so help me I'll-" Snape didn't have a chance to finish because Peeves was already out the door and down the hall. Snape chased after him yelling out his name.
Minerva McGonagall, in a flourish of emerald fabric, swept from the Great Hall and made her way to her room. Her brisk pace and severe appearance helped clear a path as she made her way down the hall. The students pushed themselves against the walls for fear of catching her attention.
As she reached her door, Peeves rounded the corner and saw the perfect target.
Before Snape could reach him, peeves swooped down and drained the contents of vile all over Minerva.
"Peeves!" Minerva screamed in anguish as peeves laughed. "You insufferable poltergeist!" Peeves ducked and rounded the corner passing right through Snape, barely missing Minerva's hex. Snape peeped into the hall in time to see McGonagall, red-faced, stepping into her room soaked with his potion.
Peeves threw Snape the empty vile and flew away searching for others to bother. Snape clutched the empty vile against his chest, briefly feeling his pounding heart against his closed fist before he pushed himself away from the wall.
Once back in his lab he rummaged through his books for any other information on the potion.
Note:
This potion is to rid its taker of his or her shyness and in the process give them courage.
Severus was well aware of the effects, but he worried about Minerva's reaction to the ingredients.
WARNING:
Do not give full dosage to an animagus! If the witch or wizard is an animagus, the effect of the potion will change. Not only will shyness be removed from the taker but he/she will act differently than they usually do and their animagus instincts will dictate what they do.
Severus snapped the book shut, debating the possible outcomes and consequences. With the potion, Minerva might finally admit her feelings for a certain headmaster. Which would mean he'd be free from their pinning looks. On the other hand, things could go terribly wrong and he would find himself at the end of Minerva's wand.
Snape shrugged as he began to gather the ingredients he needed to make another potion. Only time would tell.
Forgoing the stack of essays on her desk, Minerva removed her outer robes. When the removal of the extra layer of clothing did little alleviate the hot temperature of her skin, Minerva flicked wand at her tub. As the tub filled with water, she undressed completely relishing the feel of the cool air against her skin.
Minerva gave a sigh of relief as she settled her body in the cool water. She remained in the water for a long time after the temperature of her body returned to normal. Tomorrow night, she thought with a sigh, is the night of that damned ball Dumbledore has decided the throw. Minerva loathed the fact that her presence was mandatory. If she didn't go Dumbledore swore her would pull endless prank on her.
The next Saturday morning every boy and girl woke up early to prepare for the dance, even the professors woke up earlier. Everyone woke up early except Minerva, she stayed in bed, which surprised everyone except for Snape he knew that she was now under the potions control. He watched as Dumbledore played with his breakfast concern clear in his expression.
Minerva finally emerged from her slumber at 7:30. She stretched her toes and limbs contently. A giddy feeling spread warmly throughout her body. She felt strange and she liked it.
Everyone was at the ball already dancing and having a good time, even Snape had relaxed and was dancing with Rolanda. Well almost everyone was having a good time, Dumbledore's smile faltered with every minute Minerva failed to appear. His concern was rapidly eating away at his patience. Just as he was about to leave in search of her the doors to the great hall sprung open at precisely 8:30.
The room went collectively silent as everyone's mouth dropped to the floor when Minerva McGonagall sashayed into the room. She wore a long sky blue dress that hugged her curves and showed off the womanly body that no one knew she possessed. In place of her usual hairstyle, she wore her raven locks, tinged with silver in curls that cascaded down her back.
Her usual stern face and straight demeanor were replaced by a twinkle in her eyes, a lazy smile and a catlike walk that had all the professors entranced.
Dumbledore was dumbfounded by her drastic change of appearance and couldn't help but stare at her; she was simply stunning. Snape was just as surprised and nearly choked on his pumpkin juice.
Minerva made her way to Dumbledore and almost laughed at the look he had on his face. "Albus darling, are you alright?"
"I'm fine my dear, are you alright?"
"I feel purrfect." Minerva purred as she eyed the dance floor.
Albus was about to tell her something else when one of the 6th years bravely asked her to dance. Before he could say a word, she accepted and was whisked away.
Snape neared a very confused Dumbledore and shuddered to think what he might do to him when he found out or worse what Minerva would do.
"Dumbledore there is something that I must inform you of," Snape said in a low voice.
"What is it, Professor?" Dumbledore asked, not once losing sight of Minerva twirling on the dance floor.
"Well..." Snape told the entire story to him, and before he could say anything else, Dumbledore took off and grabbed a giggling Minerva by the hand took her out of the dance hall.
Dumbledore took her quickly to his office and shut the door.
"Albus! Why did you take me away from the party I was having a wonderful time."
"Minerva I took you from the dance so that you wouldn't do anything you'd regret."
"What do you mean I'm perfectly fine?"
"No my dear I'm afraid you're not, you see you're the effects of a rather potent potion that makes you act... differently than you usually act."
Albus was standing right in front of Minerva when she took a step closer to him and purred. "Is that the only reason you brought me up here Albus or did you have something else in mind?"
Albus kept walking backward until he hit the desk resting against the wall. Minerva grabbed his hands and slid them around her waist. She wrapped one arm around his neck and with her free hand, she ran it up and down his chest.
"Minerva you are not yourself, please stop," Dumbledore stuttered.
"Do you want me to stop?"
Albus didn't want her to stop he loved having her in his arms, but he knew it wasn't right, so he nodded his head. Minerva eyed him with emerald eyes and said ok. Albus was about to relax when Minerva grabbed his face.
"But first this," Minerva whispered. Taking advantage of Albus's confusion she pressed her mouth against his and kissed him into oblivion.
As much as he resisted her, he finally gave in and deepened the kiss. Wordlessly she transfigured the desk into a chair and pushed him onto it, momentarily breaking the kiss she sat down hard on his lap and resumed the kiss once more.
Again he tried to resist but failed. He couldn't push away the women he had loved for the longest of time when he finally had her in his arms. When they finally separated for air she gracefully jumped off his lap and made her way to the door, she opened the door and turned back with a smile on her face. "Goodnight Albus." With that last sentence, she swayed her hips out the door. Albus was left in utter confusion and with an unforgettable memory.
On her way back to her room, Minerva ran into an uncharacteristically apologetic Snape. He surprised her by doing a very un-Snape like thing; he began to apologize. "Minerva I'm very sorry it was all peeves fault, I saw you leave with Dumbledore I'm sorry if you did anything that you..."
"Snape darling," Minerva interrupted with a smirk, "don't mumble it's very unbecoming and don't worry," she smiled, "I didn't do anything I didn't want to do. Besides, nothing happened."
"How did you do it? The potion should be stronger because of your animagus instincts."
"That's the thing, dear," she said as she pecked him on his lips and smiled. "cats love to play with what they hunt."
After she left Snape overcame his shock long enough to laugh. He could only imagine the state she must have left poor Albus.
Back in her room Minerva sat in front of her mirror and smiled. Thanks to the potion she had finally done what she had wanted to do for years, and she knew that Albus wouldn't say anything because he was a gentleman. Even though it made her sad to think he only saw her as a friend at least she had the memory of tonight.
