Disclaimer: JKR owns the characters, and the song is also not mine.

A/N: This one is R for a later chapter!

Chapter One: "These Little Town Blues Are Melting Away..."

Many of Hogwarts female staff members were gathered in the staff room after one of the most trying years in Hogwarts history. Voldemort had just been defeated by the baby wizard, Harry Potter, and all could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The ladies were discussing their vacation plans for the summer, well all but Minerva McGonagall. As usual she had no vacation plans, and would just spend the summer at Hogwarts. She sat staring out the window vaguely listening to the conversation around her.

"Minerva, you have to be taking a vacation this summer," said Rolanda Hooch, who was busy pouring over maps of Africa.

"No I don't have to be taking one, in fact I'm going to be staying here," Minerva answered never moving her gaze from the window.

"Minerva you deserve a break. Take it this summer, and go some where you have always wanted to go," Poppy Pompfrey replied gently looking worriedly over at her friend.

Finally turning to address the group she gave Poppy a small smile, "I'm fine Poppy, and besides I love Hogwarts, it is my home."

Unbeknownst to any of the women the school's Headmaster Albus Dumbledore had just walked up outside the door, but instead of going in decided he would hang back and listen to the conversation.

Rolanda Hooch, never one to hold her tongue, let out a sigh of frustration, "Minerva McGonagall you cannot tell me you don't have any place you want to go! I don't understand you. Just two weeks, or even a few days; just to get away!"

Narrowing her eyes Minerva gave Madam Hooch the most dangerous look she could, but naturally Rolanda ignored it: "C'mon Minerva, if you continue to stick around here all the time you are going to become the old spinster everyone thinks you are."

The tension in the room was tangible as Minerva's lips got the thinnest anyone had ever seen them, and everyone braced themselves for what was to come.

"Why in the hell would I want to go on a vacation?" Minerva yelled. "The last time I checked vacations weren't fun by yourself, Madam Hooch! Then again none of you would know that as you are going with your husband, Poppy's going with Alastor, and the rest of you are going with a significant other of some kind! I don't want to go on a vacation just to have the fact that I'm single thrown back in my face more than it already is. Now if you don't mind I'll stay here, and unless you want to be hexed so badly you can't go on your trip, Rolanda, I would not open the endless black abyss known as your mouth," Minerva fumed as she sat back in her chair turning abruptly to look out the window.

Out in the hall Albus Dumbledore had a sad expression on his face. He'd give anything to have the right to march into the staff room, and take his deputy in his arms. How she seemed to be free befuddled him, because to him she was perfect. So intelligent, witty, funny, beautiful, just everything, and her spirit was unlike any he had ever met. Of course he was also happy because that meant she wasn't taken. Turning back to his office Albus decided that he should take a vacation this summer.

Later in the afternoon Minerva McGonagall walked to her best friend's office in hopes of raising her spirits. Just being in the same room with Albus made her feel better, and she couldn't think of a better way to start the summer than over a chess game with him. As she entered his head was over several papers, and what looked like a map.

"What are you looking at, Albus," Minerva asked as she came around his desk.

"Hello, my dear, just some papers from the travel part of the ministry and a map," he answered not looking up.

Peering over his shoulder Minerva's face fell, "A-are you going somewhere Albus?"

"I thought a vacation would be nice after all that has gone on. I'm thinking of New York City in the United States," he replied pointing to a map.

Minerva's heart stopped as she looked at the map, but after a few minutes she managed to choke out, "Who are you going with, Aberforth?"

"Oh no, I'd never go with Aberforth. A friend if she agrees," was his only response.

Minerva turned toward the window trying desperately to hold her tears at bay, so she never heard Albus get up from his chair. Placing his hands on the outside of her arms Albus leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Would you like to go with me to New York, Minerva?"

Turning quickly in his arms Minerva stared up at Albus in dismay, "Me? You want me to go with you?"

Chuckling Albus leaned forward to kiss the top of her head, which caused Minerva to blush profusely, "Yes, my dear. I would like it very much should you agree to join me."

"I'd love to Albus, now what am I getting myself into," Minerva asked smiling moving back toward the desk.

"Well..."

For the next several hours the two planned parts of their trip: they would be gone for a week, and Albus insisted that they fly the muggle way and take a New York taxi to their hotel. The only thing left to discuss was their actual rooms.

"Minerva we only have rooms left to discuss, now we could share, book two separate rooms, or a suite. The suite would have separate bedrooms, but they are connected by a living area."

Thinking for a minute and over looking the information Minerva suggested the suite, "That way we can have separate bedrooms, but it would be easier to talk about what to do that day, or anything else."

Albus readily agreed to her suggestion, and promised to send their information to the ministry that evening.

Over the next few days Minerva was busy getting ready for their trip. She had spent an entire day looking for more muggle clothes to wear, and had even decided to wear her hair in something different than a bun.

Monday morning she met Albus in his office, and they set out for the ministry. The first part of their trip would be the most frustrating as they had to go through the ministry, and then the muggle airports. At four in the afternoon they were seated on the plane, and ready for take off. At first concerned about how they would sit still for eight solid hours Minerva and Albus found multiple ways to amuse themselves.

Albus had fun playing with the gadgets around his chair, and he had looked through all the reading material provided for him in ten minutes. Turning to Minerva they kept up a steady conversation until dinner arrived. Minerva prodded the food with disgust written all over her face. Taking one bite she gagged as she tried to swallow.

"This stuff is awful, and it certainly isn't food," she complained.

Taking a bite of his food Albus had to agree, but he did comment that the dessert was quite good.

"When all your teeth rot don't come to me Albus Dumbledore," Minerva replied trying to repress a smile.

"But you understand me the best, my dear. I'm afraid I must come to you."

Minerva quickly looked at her tray, and then to the window hoping Albus hadn't seen the blush spreading onto her cheeks. As the night wore on they decided to try and get some sleep, but as soon as Albus put the sleep mask over his eyes there was no way Minerva was going to get to sleep. She tried, unsuccessfully, to hide her laughter by a cough but in no time she had tears in her eyes she was laughing so hard.

Lifting one side of the mask to raise an eyebrow at her Albus inquired as to what was so funny.

"I-I'm sorry A-albus, but you look so funny in that thing. I can't help it," Minerva answered stifling her laughter as best she could.

Albus looked put out that she was laughing at him, and he removed the mask pouting. Minerva covered her mouth again at his face. 'He looks so cute,' she thought to herself. Reaching her hand out to cup his face she whispered, "I'm sorry, Albus. It was just quite funny. I'm sure I would look silly in them as well."

The moment her hand had touched his face Albus had completely forgiven her, and would probably have become his slave had she requested it of him. Turning to her he lifted her hand to his lips in a silent act of forgiveness.

"I doubt it, my dear. You would make a paper bag look good." Their eyes connected after he said this and Minerva was vaguely aware that he still held her hand. The mood was broken however when the stewardess arrived telling them only two more hours until they arrived in New York.

Quickly looking away from each other Minerva suggested they try and get some sleep since they would arrive in New York in the morning, stateside time. Each managed to get about an hour and half of sleep before they awoke. Minerva grabbed Albus' hand as the city came into few and drew him over her to look out the window.

Too focused on the skyline neither realized just how close they were as they gazed upon the city.

"That's the Statue of Liberty, my dear," Albus pointed out.

"I can see why so many love the sight of her, Albus."

"Indeed, my dear."

Finally able to get off the plane Minerva never thought she would be so happy to have room to walk around. Customs was quicker than they had expected, and in no time they were seated in a taxi heading toward their hotel on 39th street.

Minerva had never been so scared in her life as she was in that taxi cab. The first turn she gripped Albus' arm tightly as she leaned into him.

"Can't he go any slower and oh Merlin," Minerva screeched as the driver jutted in and out of traffic.

Albus didn't mind the ride so much, because Minerva was so close she could have been in his lap. "He knows what he's doing, my dear. It will be over soon."

"I'm not sure he does know what he's doing and Albus..." she leaned into to whisper, "What language is he speaking?"

Chuckling at her question he answered in a soft voice, "A Middle East variety I believe, but I'm not sure to which country he would have heritage, my dear."

Nodding her head Minerva buried her head in Albus' shoulder for the rest of the ride. A brave woman Minerva simply preferred to put her life her own hands, or Albus'. She couldn't wait until the ride was over. Thirty minutes later they had finally arrived at the hotel, and Albus reluctantly relinquished his hold on Minerva.

Once situated in their room Albus met Minerva in the living area, "Well, my dear, what should we do first today?"

"I'm not sure, Albus. Do you have your map?"

"Yes, Minerva, I have the map, my muggle American money, and the hotel keys."

"Why don't you give me the keys, and I can put them in my purse. Just to make sure we don't loose them."

Thinking that sounded wise Albus handed her the keys. "Minerva, why don't we just go explore some. I'm told we are quite close to Times Square, a tourist attraction, and we could walk up and down that. It is only a few blocks away.

"That sounds perfect, Albus. Let's go."

With that the two Professors dressed in Muggle clothes set out to wander the streets of New York City not prepared for what they were about to see.