Sorry about the humongously long wait, I've had extreme writers block but the recent sunny weather has brought back my inspiration and I've finally been able to write this. By the way, I'm changing the rating to M because some of the future chapters might get a bit mature (this isn't one of them) but don't worry, I'll put a warning up when it gets to one of those chapters, is that ok? Please review/message, feedback makes me feel loved!

There's more than one kind of love...

Minerva McGonagall had always had a 'thing' for bearded men. The longer a man's beard, the more attractive she found him. Of course, the moment she she first met Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, she fell in love. There was one fatal problem however, one that stopped her from asking him how he felt about her, Albus Dumbledore was, in fact gay. Minerva knew this, the fact wouldn't stop bugging her but she still loved him, she couldn't bear to not be with him. She decided she needed some help. She went to her secret stash of potions.

She ran a finger along each of the potions, reading the labels until she found the one she was looking for. One that would make the drinker fall in love with a cat. She uncorked the stopper and inhaled the scent of catnip and mint, infused with something warmer, it was an indescribable smell...it conjured up pictures like drinking hot chocolate on a winter's night or snuggling up with a water bottle after a long, freezing cold walk in the middle of December. She smiled as she set the vial down, lost in her thoughts for a moment, before re-picking up the potion and slipping of down to the kitchens, to spike Albus' afternoon cup of tea.

Dumbledore watched a house elf apparate into the room with his tea, place it on a table and then disapparate. He sighed, it had been a long week but it was far from over, he had a staff meeting scheduled for that evening and being the headmaster, he had to attend. He reached forward and grabbed the handle of the tea cup, picking it up he took a sip...and almost spat it back out again. It tasted...off...a sort of...minty taste...yes, minty and...something else...something he couldn't place. He shook his head and brushed it off as his mind playing tricks on him, he then downed the lot. As soon as he'd drunk the strangely-tasting cup of tea, he felt light and airy inside and he also had a sudden urge to go for a walk...he stood up and exited his office.

Minerva turned a corner and took on her cat form. Padding along the corridor, she mused over her plan. She planned to cross Albus' path, whom she knew would go for a walk (one of the potion's side-effects), the moment he saw her, he'd fall in love...her plan could not fail. Unless...unless another cat crossed his path first...but she didn't want to think about that, she wanted to stay positive.

Dumbledore sighed happily as he strolled along the corridors of Hogwarts, feeling happier than he'd felt in a long time. All of his worries and doubts seemed to have been erased, a permanent smile plastered across his face. The corridors seemed more beautiful then they'd ever had done, the air seemed cleaner, fresher some how, he felt like nothing could go wrong. Up ahead of him was a patch of sunlight, escaping inside from a near-by window, in the centre of the patch seemed to be something small and furry. As he walked closer he saw that it was in fact a sleeping tabby cat, a rather beautiful looking one at that. Dumbledore smiled, bent down and began to stroke the cat's glistening fur.

Minerva spotted Dumbledore. He was crouched down...stroking something...a cat...Filch's cat to be precise...Mrs Norris. She stopped short and stared in disbelief as her perfect plan fell to pieces around her. He couldn't have found another cat! Not before her! Mrs Norris had ruined everything, Minerva let out a quiet hiss.

Mrs Norris started awake. Her ears pricked up, was that a hiss? She looked around in alarm and saw the other cat...the human-cat, staring at her in disgust. What had she done? Had she dropped another mouse in the human-cat's office? She couldn't remember doing so...She suddenly became aware of the fact that she was being gently stroked by somebody. She turned and saw the important human, the one with the long tuft of fur sprouting from his face, stroking the fur on her back. Why was he stroking her, he'd never even looked at her before, she wasn't even aware that he knew she existed. She turned her head again, the human-cat was still staring at her in that unfriendly manner, maybe the important human had something to do with it. She was very confused.

Dumbledore observed the cat's head movements, the cat seemed to be rather confused. Could cats even feel confusion? He didn't know. The cat's fur felt silky and fine beneath his fingers, it truly was a very marvellous cat. The cat looked at him again and he reached out and scratched it under the chin, the cat began to purr.

Minerva seethed as she heard Mrs Norris purring. How dare she! She began to feel very jealous of the school caretaker's cat.

Mrs Norris purred, she loved a good chin rub. She was used to only Filch giving them to her, it was nice to have someone else give her one for a change. Most people avoided her, especially misbehaving students. She only wanted a fuss, it wasn't her fault Filch usually followed her wherever she went.

Dumbledore began to feel a great sense of affection for the small tabby cat. He began to feel love...not romantic love, or the kind of love that you feel for a friend or family member but the kind of love reserved for a pet. The kind of love that is felt for big or small furred, feathered or even scaled companions. That kind of love that stays with you forever no matter what, even long after the pet is gone. It was that kind of love he felt for Mrs Norris.