"Everyone knows," Xiomara Hooch declared nonchalantly as she plopped onto the arm of the armchair Minerva McGonagall was seated in.

"Pardon?" Minerva asked, both confused and concerned. "Everyone knows what?"

"That you're in love!" Poppy Pomfrey answered, taking her cues from Xiomara.

"And who with!" Ponoma Sprout chimed, smiling.

Minerva's eyes widened. This was not how she had pictured their weekly tea. "Excuse me?" she blushed a deep scarlet, oddly befitting her house colors. "I haven't the foggiest of what you three are prattling on about."

"Min, dear," Xiomara laughed, "You don't hide it well." Minerva's eyes flickered to look at the flying instructor whose seat gave her an unfamiliar height advantage. Xiomara gently elbowed Minerva in the shoulder. "Honestly, Min, did you think we wouldn't notice?"

"We are your closest friends, after all!" Poppy said.

"Besides, it's cute!" Ponoma squealed, clapping gleefully.

"Well," Minerva began stiffly in a tone she typically reserved on for her unruliest students, "I believe that is the end of our weekly tea hour." She stood and cleared her throat in a way that left no room to argue.

"Do you think we should have been more subtle?" Ponoma asked as she and Poppy stood and left. Poppy merely answered with a polite "Shush."

"Minerva, sit down," Xiomara demanded.

Minerva glared, "Do not order me around like a child, Xiomara."

"Please? I want to talk to you."

"Minerva sighed and sat down as far away as possible.

Xiomara shook her head at Minerva's stubbornness and walked to her, taking both of her friend's hands into her own lap. "Look at me. I want you to be happy."

Minerva began blushing and started to look away. "Why do you care?" she asked the other woman impatiently.

"Minerva!" Xiomara gasped, deeply hurt. "I care because you are my dearest friend and the most important person in my life! Now, will you please just talk to me?"

Minerva nodded. "It's just that… We've been friends for so long. I was afraid that revealing my feelings would ruin all of that. And I care far too much to risk that."

"Min, feelings such as those are nothing to be ashamed of! At our age, feeling anything like love is a big deal. Our hearts are old and have already withstood so much pain… If you feel these things, you shouldn't hide it and I can't comprehend why you would. You owe it to yourself to try. You deserve happiness, Min."

Minerva stared back, tears filling her eyes, "You're right."

Xiomara stood and kissed Minerva's forehead. "Get some sleep, my friend." With that, she briskly strode out of Minerva's chambers.

"Why? Why am I pushing her into the arms of another?" Xiomara asked herself. "Why can't I tell her how I feel? … I know why… I know it's not me that she loves. Albus will be good to her."

Minerva, meanwhile, sat in the same spot a full quarter of an hour before standing and adopting her cat form and scurrying to Albus Dumbledore's quarters.

"Albus?" she whispered upon her arrival and transformation back into herself. "Albus? Are you decent?"

"Minerva? Is that you, Minerva dear?" Albus asked, popping his head around the door. "What are you doing here so late?"

"Well, you know how late the girls and I have our weekly teas," she answered.

"Yes," he nodded as he yawned, "but that's not what I asked, is it? I asked why you were here."

Minerva shrugged. "I shouldn't have come… It is rather late. I'll talk to you tomorrow morning." She forced a yawn and turned on her heel.

"Minerva…" Albus called. She stopped, knowing that tone from when she had been a student. "Come here."

"Well," she began, turning around and walking to him, "at the weekly tea, Xiomara and the girls informed me that…"

"Yes?"

Minerva blushed again. "Xiomara said that everyone knew I was in love and with whom."

"And?" Albus prompted.

"And I need your guidance, your support."

"Well, I've already given you my advice. I told you when I first noticed. My advice remains the same: Go after the one you love. I'm sure your feelings will be reciprocated," Albus said, his eyes twinkling.

Minerva smiled and hugged him. "Thank you, my dear friend, I shall try." She reverted to her cat form and snuck away.