A/N: I don't own any of this. If I did, 1) the actual stories would have gone another way totally, and 2) I wouldn't be posting here. I'd be sitting in my castle, counting my money.

This is my first attempt at posting a fic. Let me know what you think. If it's negative, just be sure it's constructive...I appreciate that! I also wrote this at 3:00am, when I woke up and this hit me. Therefore, I REALLY hope it makes sense. :) I hope you enjoy at least some of it!

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************

It was Friday evening. Up at the Head Table, Albus Dumbledore leaned slightly to his right, positioning himself as closely to the Transfiguration professor's ear as possible…without being too conspicuous, of course.

'Minerva, may I ask you to come to my rooms after dinner?' He whispered, hoping that the answer would be an instantaneous 'yes', thereby not necessitating any further explanation - for now - on his part.

'That's not a problem, Albus,' came the reply. 'But do you really want me to come to your private rooms? Wouldn't a conference in your office be more…appropriate?'

'No, Minerva. I assure you that my rooms would provide a much better atmosphere for what we have to discuss.' He straightened himself up at this point, as if indicating that there was to be no more discussion about the meeting place.

Minerva spent the entire rest of the meal in slightly apprehensive silence, pondering what the meeting was going to be about. Certainly it must be because of her rather out of character behaviour at the staff party the week before. Out of character, yes…but not really so much so perhaps, as anyone who had seen Minerva McGonagall under the influence of alcohol could tell you.

************************************FLASHBACK*****************************************

'Come on Albus,' Minerva demanded, pulling the Deputy Headmaster along the now deserted corridors, towards her room. 'You made me leave that godforsaken party early…now you must pay the penalty.'

'I assure you, Minerva, I am merely looking out for your welfare.' He offered this up to her for what seemed to be the 11,000th time. She had consumed far too many firewhiskey's, and had to be physically pried away from Professor Slughorn. Minerva was determined to dance, and since Albus had turned her down, certainly Horace would be amenable? 'The way that you came on to Horace Slughorn was a disgrace,' he continued bitterly. 'Someone had to get you to leave, before you ended up doing something that you would regret. 'Sluggy' indeed.'

'He didn't seem to mind though, did he?' Minerva shot back angrily. She stopped short in the hallway, and glared up at Dumbledore. 'All I wanted to do was dance, and you turned me down flat. And I'll have you know that Poppy informed me that Rolanda informed HER that Sluggy has quite a crush on me.' She gave a bitter smile. 'Certainly that doesn't bother YOU, does it, Professor Dumbledore?'

Albus took a sharp breath and then began to drag HER down the corridor, buying himself time to compose himself. 'Of course not, Professor McGonagall.' He emphasized her title ever so slightly. 'You are a single witch, able to do whatever you want with WHOMEVER you want. I was just making certain that you didn't DO whatever you want, right there in the staff room.'

Minerva froze slightly. What she was about to say was wrong…terribly wrong. But, fortified by the

firewhiskey, she moved bravely forward. She wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing, after all. 'I wish it WOULD bother you, Albus. But it doesn't.' They had stopped in front of the door to her rooms. 'Just so you know,' she breathed deeply, and pulled her hand out of Albus' larger one, though never moving her eyes from his. 'I love you, Albus Dumbledore. I always have, and I always will. But since I cannot HAVE you…I will move forward with my life as I see fit. I realise that you don't necessarily feel the same way about me, and if you did…it wouldn't work - for obvious reasons.' At that, Albus shifted his eyes guiltily away from hers, and Minerva felt herself turn red. 'But I had to say it. I did, and it's over with. Good night Albus.' Impulsively, she reached her hands up to his face, and turned it to look at hers, before pulling with all her strength, and kissing him deeply on the mouth.

Before Albus could say a word, she had slipped into her rooms, muttered both locking and silencing charms, and run into her bedroom. She swayed slightly before grabbing a potion off her nightstand that would clear her head, help with any semblance of a hangover she would have in the morning, and also give her enough clarity to cause her to mentally berate herself for her actions for the better part of the remaining night and morning, before falling into an extremely fitful sleep.

********************************END FLASHBACK****************************************

Dinner was finally over, and Albus once again leaned over to speak with Minerva. 'I trust that I'll see you in my chambers in 10 minutes then?' He whispered before standing rather abruptly, and excusing himself from the table.

She watched him walk away, and sighed once again. I wonder if he'll at least let me keep my position, she thought. Certainly Albus couldn't dismiss her for something she had done while under the influence…could he? At least it hadn't been done in front of the staff. And really, my behaviour prior to that was no worse than the time at the last staff function that Rolanda decided to fly around the Quidditch pitch wearing nothing but her undergarments! At least the students have all gone home for the end of term. Fortified by that thought, she made her way through the castle towards the Deputy Headmaster's chambers.

Minerva gave the password, and watched as a section of the wall slid slowly open. Pushing through without waiting for it to open completely, she found herself suddenly at Dumbledore's door. Her courage left her for a moment, but after closing her eyes and talking herself into it, her courage suddenly returned to her, and she gave three brisk knocks. The door opened automatically, and she found herself in a beautifully decorated room of deepest red and dark wood. 'Albus?' She called softly. 'Here, Minerva.' Came the reply, as Albus stepped through a door at the far side of the room that she knew led to his bedroom.

'You said that you needed to speak to me?' She prompted. 'Yes, I did indeed. Please come and sit down.' He had made his way to a rather comfortable looking couch, and patted the seat next to him. 'You and I need to talk. Quite seriously, actually.' Minerva sat tentatively next to Albus, and though she found it difficult, she somehow managed to look him directly in the face. Blue eyes met green, and she thought she saw a brief spark of something there, though it quickly faded. 'I guess you know that I needed to speak with you about what happened when we…the other night,' he amended. 'Look Albus, I'm terribly sorry. You know how I get when I drink too much alcohol. It's the curse of all the McGonagall's. We make total asses out of ourselves.' Minerva turned red as she thought back once again on her behaviour. 'Minerva, I cannot stress to you how inappropriate your actions were. Should someone have seen us, it would have been very bad. I don't know what would have happened to you, but you do realize that I would most likely have been dismissed.'

'God, Albus…you wouldn't have been dismissed! You didn't even DO anything!' She protested.

'Would you have wanted me to, Minerva? Honestly?' His gaze never left her face, though his expression was quite unreadable.

'Honestly?' She thought for a moment before replying. Shut your mouth, Minerva, she thought. If you answer honestly, the answer is 'yes'…but it's still wrong! Ignoring the voice in her head, Minerva plowed ahead. 'I suppose so, Albus. Yes. Though what it is that I would want you to do, I'm sure I don't know.'

'Would it bother you to know,' Albus said softly, 'that I would very much have LIKED to have done something? Though truthfully,' he smiled wryly and continued, 'you didn't exactly give me the chance to, did you?' 'No, I suppose not. But Albus…what are you getting at?' Minerva asked quietly. 'You know very well that you and I can't…it's just not right.'

'What I'm 'getting at', is that I want…I would like very much for you to become my lover, Minerva.' Albus' dark blue eyes got even darker, and she found herself feeling as if she were drowning in them.

Had he misread her? Had she really just been intoxicated, and not meant a word of what she had said? Albus drew himself away from her, but continued to look directly into her eyes. 'Minerva, if I've misunderstood your actions, then you need say no more. I want you to know that no matter what we do…or DON'T do…you will still be my friend, first and foremost. You will always have my friendship.'

'I know that, Albus. And you shall always have mine as well. But even YOU have to admit…there are more than a few complications that come along with that offer. First of all, I have a question for you,' she pressed on, trying to get everything out before she lost her nerve. 'Why now…why all of a sudden?'

'Well my dear, I can't say that this is QUITE as sudden as you think. I fear that I first found myself attracted to you when you were about 16 years old-'

'Pedophile,' she smirked, interrupting him.

Albus had to laugh at that. 'Hardly a pedophile, Minerva. You were technically of age-'

'Technically being the operative word, of course.'

'You were no normal teenager anyway. And it's not as if I acted on those feelings, is it? I think my feelings deepened a few years ago, when you consented to become a member of the staff here. For the obvious reasons, I still couldn't act on those emotions; but that is not to say that they weren't there.'

'All right Albus…I'll buy that. But why ME of all people? I've seen the myriad owls that you get from women…there must be SCORES of them. Certainly you could have your choice of any woman that you wanted! Ones that wouldn't care that you're…' She stopped here, not wanting to say the word that followed. In her heart, she knew how she wanted him to respond to her query, and in this, she was not disappointed. 'I don't WANT those women, Minerva. I only want you. I have ALWAYS only wanted you.'

Minerva set her mouth in a rather grim line. 'Really? Only me, huh? Somehow, I doubt that. However. Moving on; I'm going to assume that the Ministry frowns on staff members being involved. How would you get around THAT, exactly?' Albus found it necessary to laugh once again. 'It's not really frowned upon, my dear. Actually, as long as it doesn't interfere with our working relationship, they rather leave it up to the individuals to act as they see fit. I can't tell you how many Headmasters and Headmistresses were involved with members of the staff. Then, too, I'm only the Deputy at this point; I can't see how it would matter.' He fixed her with another intense gaze. 'Now I'M going to assume something. I'm going to assume that none of those things that you mentioned is your real issue, is it? The real issue is-'

'The fact that you're married, yes. And to Armando's daughter, no less. You commented earlier about my 'inappropriate behaviour'…about what would have happened if someone had seen us. But what do you suppose would happen if Armando, our BOSS, found out that you were cheating on his daughter with me? Do you honestly think that would go over well? Or that either you OR I would be able to keep our job?' Minerva found that no matter what she said, she didn't really want to discuss this point, for Albus was quite right. This WAS her real issue, and no matter what she felt for Albus - or he for her - in her heart she knew that it wouldn't be right.

Albus reached out and took Minerva's hand, and began rubbing slow circles on her palm with his thumb. 'Minerva, I was practically FORCED into marrying Arabella…I don't know if you ever knew that. Not many people did. Bella had been after me for quite some time, and I have to admit that at first, her attentions were quite flattering. But then she became rather tiresome; I couldn't even have a halfway intelligent conversation with her, because she was so vapid. Stupidly, instead of explaining to her that we had grown apart, I did the cowardly thing and pulled away emotionally, which upset her greatly. She had her father's ear, and convinced him that I wanted to marry her, but that I was hesitant to do so, because I was afraid to do anything to jeopardize my position at the school. When he broached the subject of marriage, I balked, and insisted that I had no such intentions towards his daughter. Armando…was very much offended, and advised me that I had led his daughter on terribly. He made me feel horrible about it, and advised me that I was not going to be allowed to renege on my 'promise'; that I was to make good on it. He almost had me believing that I HAD acted in such a manner. At that time, I thought perhaps that it would be easier to just marry her and get it over with. Armando would get off my back, Arabella would be happy, and I…I would perhaps find SOME sort of happiness with her eventually. After all, you had not yet come to the school, so how could I EVER have known just how completely I would love someone? Not just be satisfied to live a life of hopefully pleasant indifference with another person. Please Minerva…all I ask is that you give this, give US, a chance. I know what I'm asking of you but…' Albus swallowed hard against the lump that was forming in his throat. 'I'm a weak man, my dear. I just want the opportunity to love someone truly, and have them love me back the same way.'

'That's all very well, Albus,' Minerva replied, extricating her hand from his. 'But it doesn't change the fact that you're married - even if you aren't happy.' She looked at him, tears filling her eyes, and she noticed that same thing mirrored in his own. 'Just…give me a chance to think on it, all right? I need time to think.' She insisted, her voice growing slightly hoarse from holding back her tears. 'Absolutely, Minerva. Take as much time as you need. Just don't…don't say 'no'…not right away.'

Silently, Minerva nodded. 'Very well. I suppose I had better get back to my own chambers; I expect Arabella will be returning soon, and I don't think she'd appreciate my visit here tonight.' 'Minerva, Arabella won't be back until Tuesday evening. That leaves us open to do whatever it is that we choose. I have one last request for you. Stay with me tonight…please?' 'Albus, really, this is ridiculous!' Minerva got up and began pacing the room. 'Although I'm CONSIDERING your offer - almost against my better judgment, to be truthful - I am not going to make love with you until I give it serious thought!' 'My dear, you misunderstand,' Albus replied. 'I am not asking you to have any sort of intimate relations with me tonight…not in that way, anyway. I merely want the chance to fall asleep, holding the woman of my dreams in my arms. That's all.' Albus rose slowly up from the couch, and held his hand out to Minerva. 'Please.' He repeated.

Minerva was to reflect later that this moment was really the beginning of something. Whether it was of the end, or of an exciting new relationship, she wasn't certain. But this thought was not even crossing her mind at present, and she took Albus' hand firmly in hers, letting him lead her through the door across the room, and into his bed.