Title: "Love and Distractions"
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: We don't own them…just borrowing them for a bit.
Summary: Albus wants to propose to Minerva but things keep getting in the way. Will he ever be successful? Co written with Ang. from Hogwarts Duo.

A/n: This is a repost of our story. Hope you enjoy.

"Love and Distractions"

Reflection and A Ring

Albus Dumbledore paced up and down his study. He would occasionally stop to look out of the window and then sigh with frustration.

"Where is it?" Albus spoke out loud.

Fawkes who was the only company Albus had in his office, looked up at his master and cooed softly before placing his head under his wing.

Albus had searched high and low for the perfect ring for the love of his life. He hadn't been able to find one that stood out from the hundreds he had seen. In the end, he had designed the ring himself and sent the description away so it could be made. It should have arrived early this morning but it was quickly approaching midday and there was still no sign.

Albus sat down in his chair behind his cluttered desk and reflected on the relationship he had with Minerva McGonagall. They had meet at Hogwarts when she was still a student and he had just been appointed transfiguration professor. He felt an instant draw to her. Nothing happened while she was a student but as soon as she graduated, he had asked her out and to his delight she had accepted. Despite the apparent age gap between them, he found Minerva to be his equal in every way. When he was in his youth, his great-aunt had told him that he would find his soul mate but it may take time. Albus believed that he had found his soul mate in Minerva. He had planned to propose years ago but then Grindelwald happened and Albus decided that he couldn't put Minerva at risk. So their relationship became a secret.

It had been some years since Grindelwald had fallen and Albus had been made Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry just a few weeks ago. Minerva had accepted the deputy head position as well as taking over as Transfiguration professor. She had been teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts up until now. After graduating from Hogwarts with full honors, she had become an auror, but gave it up to teach alongside him once a position became available

He glanced down at his cluttered desk and his gaze fell upon a picture of Minerva, standing in front of a waterfall. Minerva was smiling and waving at Albus, her long thick ebony colored hair flowing in the invisible wind. The Minerva in the picture blew Albus a kiss before disappearing from the picture.

A sound from the window made Albus look up and to his delight he saw a large snowy owl flying towards the office window, carrying a tightly wrapped parcel in its claws. Albus swiftly moved over to the window and waited for the owl to land. The owl landed importantly and hooted at Albus, who quickly tipped it and untied the parcel from its leg. The owl flew away into the distance, not that Albus noticed it going.

Albus opened the elegant box and looked at the ring. It was made of white gold. In the middle, it had an emerald that matched her eyes and it was surrounded by two diamonds. It wasn't an elaborate ring but it was as elegant and beautiful as she was. It had been hard trying to find out her ring size; he had to root around in her jewelry box to find a ring. It happened to be the ring that she wanted to wear that evening and because Albus had taken it without her knowledge, they spent hours searching for it and missed their dinner reservations. Albus closed the box and placed it safely into one of the many pockets in his midnight blue robes.

"Wish me luck old chap," said Albus to Fawkes who was falling asleep on his perch in the far corner of the office.

Fawkes simply cooed again in reply and didn't even look up when Albus exited the room. Albus walked along the corridor and turned sharply around the corner that led to the transfiguration classroom. He knew Minerva would be there because she had told him she wanted to get her lesson plans for the coming year out of the way. He found her seated behind her desk, immersed in her work.

"Can I interrupt you for a moment?" he asked as he walked into the classroom and dropped a kiss on her neck.

"An interruption would be lovely," she replied as she put her quill down and looked up at him.

"I've come to ask if you would visit me tonight," he said.

"I thought I was coming up to see you anyway tonight as we have to discuss the coming school year," she replied.

"Oh yes," he said, a small blush creeping up on his cheeks. "Well, I shall see you tonight, my love, and wear that present I got you last Valentine's Day."

It was Minerva who blushed this time, more brightly than he did before. He bent down and softly brushed his lips against hers before sweeping out of the classroom, leaving her to her lesson plans.