Minerva McGonagall stood atop the Astronomy Tower for what was sure to be the very last time. She looked out over the grounds, bristling at the thought of leaving it all behind. Graduation was the next day, and she could hardly imagine what her life would be like without the castle, Hogsmeade, and of course… Him. He was her mentor and friend as far as he knew, but she knew him to be so much more: he was, plain as sparks following a Blast Ended Skrewt, the man she loved. Sighing at her heart wrenching predicament, she left the tower to venture one last farewell stroll through his hallway.
"Miss McGonagall! You are perfectly aware, I am sure, that it is well past your bedtime," he said, catching her off guard as he came out of his classroom door. He smiled down at her, marveling at the way her normally brown eyes glinted green in the direct light of the full moon shining through a nicely placed window. She is so beautiful. Stop it, Albus. She's your student, not to mention a third of your age.
"Hello sir. I was simply giving the castle a little… erm… farewell stroll, so to speak," she begged her body not to react, but she could already feel a warm blush creeping to her cheeks.
"I hardly think this is farewell, Miss McGonagall. At least, I hope not. I've just finished grading your N.E.W.T. exam and I must say your performance was very impressive. This is supposed to be a secret, but Headmaster Dippet is retiring at the close of next term. I am all set to be his replacement, and I was hoping you would be mine. You'd need to stay at Hogwarts as my understudy for the summer, of course," smiling hopefully, Dumbledore looked at her slyly out of the corner of his eyes.
"Certainly! I mean, I'll need to go back to Scotland to take care of a few things but-" she stopped short. "You've already taken care of that, haven't you?" she couldn't help but ask, seeing the playful twinkle in his cerulean eyes.
"Yes. I hope you don't mind me taking that liberty."
"Not at all, Professor. I would hate to face my mother so soon anyway."
"I fear I completely understand. I once felt the very same way about my father after he did something awful. Anyhow, I must bid you good night, Miss McGonagall."
As he walked away, she winced inwardly. For whatever he or her Aunt Agnes thought, her mother knew the truth. Minerva couldn't face her because she knew that Minerva was not innocent at all. Oh, she had covered what had happened with Bilius well, but her mother would always know.
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Minerva barely noticed the graduation ceremony as it whirled around her the next day. In retrospect, the only moment of it she could clearly recall was when she had gone to shake his hand, and his fingers had remained wrapped around hers for just a fraction of a second too long.
That afternoon she waved Poppy and Rolanda, her two best and only friends (other than Professor Dumbledore, of course) off on the train with tears in her eyes. Her melancholy mood dissolved quickly however when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. "It is not goodbye, my dear. Merely a temporary parting."
They strolled happily back to the castle together, the conversation taking a very different tone as they reached the gates of the school. "We won't really begin training until the end of the summer, so you don't have to stay here if you would prefer to pay your family a visit. Headmaster Dippett and I are the only others staying for the summer, and I fear that two old bachelors like ourselves would fight terribly over a pretty young woman such as yourself," he told her, chuckling.
"You aren't old. The Headmaster, yes. But not you."
"I'm twenty five years your senior, Minerva."
"That very well may be, but you certainly don't look it," she smiled teasingly up at him.
"One of the many benefits of being an accomplished wizard, I suppose," he laughed, and she felt her breath hitch. His laugh was like melancholy music, the kind that lifted your spirit and broke your hear all at the same time.
"You said I was pretty," the statement rolled off her tongue like anything else would have, but Albus could almost hear the cogs turning in her raven head.
"I didn't mean to upset you."
"You didn't. Anyway, I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay."
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A month turned into two, and then quickly to three, and before Minerva could say "Accio Lost Time" the summer was nearing it's close. She'd been spending all her time lately in the library or by the lake, practicing spells and reading up on magical teaching techniques. She'd hardly spent any time with her beloved Professor, but not for lack of wanting to. If he wasn't busy, then she was, and if they could find a few moments to discuss chess or transfiguration or any number of things, the ministry would whisk him away with an excuse of some dark wizard they needed help wrangling.
One night, they were finally able to have a quiet dinner with no interruptions. Minerva was convinced she had found the perfect opportunity to confront her feelings for him. The Headmaster had gone to meet a friend in London, and they were all alone in the castle (with the exception of course, of the elves and ghosts).
"Wonderful chicken don't you think, Miss McGonagall?"
"Erm, yes. Quite tender, really. Professor, I need to tell you something," she could feel her palms begin to sweat and her mouth go dry.
"Tell away, dear girl."
"I, erm, well I- I… That is to say… Oh bloody hell! I'm in love with you, Professor Dumbledore!" She winced, but he just stared plainly back at her, and then began to laugh. Tears welled in her eyes, and blinking them away burned horribly, so she soon let them slide.
"Oh, don't cry. I just find it humorous that in the process of confessing your love to me you found it necessary to call me Professor. Anyway, it's old news, Minerva," He put quite a bit of emphasis on her name, which he had never used before. "I've been aware of your feelings for quite some time."
"What!? If you've known then-"
"Why haven't I told you? Because I feared this day might come, but I also wanted to see you find the inner strength it would take to say this."
"You've feared it?" More tears, she thought, defeated.
"You are a very beautiful, very young woman. I am an old bachelor, set in his lonesome ways. I was your teacher, technically I still am. I am very flattered, Minerva, but I could not return your feelings even if I wanted to."
She gasped shakily, fighting to fill her suddenly deflated lungs. She couldn't stop the tears now. Neither of them expected to hear the door to the Teacher's Lounge (for that was where they dined with such a small party) open, but it did.
"Miss McGonagall? Are you alright?" A very confused Armando Dippett stood in the doorway.
"Fine, thank you," she replied, her voice quavering. She stood suddenly and pushed past him into the corridor.
"Albus… What on earth have you done to the poor girl?" The Headmaster still was not sure what to think.
"I fear, Armando, that I may have broken her heart."
A/N: Oh yes, this is no simple romance. It's more of a Lady GaGa affair, if you get my drift!