A/N: I think some of the events may be out of order, but it won't seriously detract from the flow of the story. I hope… As always, hope you enjoy and review!
Minerva took her husband's arm and glided with him to the outside of the Great Hall. She cringed when she saw the lurid pinkness of the banisters and edged away from the gaudy decoration. Albus smiled and turned her so she was facing him. He made sure they were quite alone before wrapping her in his arms and leaning closer to her.
"Your cheeks are pink, Minerva. Are you blushing?"
"We are here, Albus…not…don't…now."
"Darling," Albus murmured, very quietly. "do you not know that Valentine's Day is the day for lovers?"
"Er…yes, but…"
"You are my white queen."
Minerva stared into his piercing blue eyes; her emerald green ones were starting to crinkle in amusement. She placed her palms on his chest and distanced herself a little more.
"Don't flirt with me."
"I thought you liked it…"
"Not when you're cheeky."
Albus smiled and took her cool hand in his. They walked the rest of the way to the Headmaster's office and ascended the swirling staircase. Just before Minerva opened the door, Albus swooped down and gathered Minerva into his arms. Minerva let out a very un-characteristic squeal and giggled before the door shut.
/-/-/
"Filius, my dear man, do you know where Minerva has gone?" Lockhart was meanwhile inquiring about Minerva's whereabouts. Professor Flitwick merely looked at Lockhart disparagingly before he shook his head and moved away. Lockhart sighed. He really had hoped Minerva would stay for the entire meal, but she apparently had gone away with the Headmaster.
Back in the Headmaster's office, Minerva was laughing happily, delighted that she had won her third match from Albus. Albus was also having a wonderful time; he loved hearing his Minerva's enchanting laugh.
"This has been the best Valentine's Day ever, Al. I hadn't thought today would be like this at all."
"Wait, my dear. I have something for you."
Minerva watched as Albus swept over to his cabinets. He pulled out a small box and returned to her side. Minerva took it, looking eagerly at what was inside. Albus grinned and charmed the box open. Inside, there were two small animals, a phoenix and a kitten. Minerva gasped; it was so sweet of Albus to give her a gift.
"Oh my darling…even after those lovely roses…"
"I still can find ways to flatter you everyday…" Albus murmured, taking her slender hands in his. He remained kneeling at her feet; Minerva smiled brightly at him, smiling her special smile that he so loved. She leaned closer. Albus closed his eyes, breathing in her faint heather and lily perfume.
Their lips were just a centimetre apart from melting together when someone knocked quite insistently on the door. Minerva jerked her hands away from Albus and stood up. Albus also rose to his feet.
"Enter," Albus replied with a touch of irritation in his voice.
/-/-/
Severus' thin frame filled the doorway. Minerva tried not to show her shock except a slight widening of her eyes gave her away. He sneered and looked between Albus and Minerva. Roses filled a nearby vase; Albus looked rather flushed.
"I'm so sorry to disturb you, Headmaster," Snape started, "but Professor Lockart insisted on coming to get Minerva. Seems as though he's quite smitten with you, Minerva…how very feline-like your charm is…"
Minerva glared at Severus and Lockhart, the latter of whom smiled at her.
"Minerva, my dear, the students are missing you. Perhaps I could escort you…?"
"Thank you, Gilderoy, but no. As I am perfectly capable of walking myself down to the Great Hall, I see no need for you to fuss over me. Really, you have been…quite attentive today."
Professor Lockhart evidently considered her acerbic remark a flattering compliment. He gave a little bow and retreated, flashing his dazzling smile at Minerva.
"Just until the end of the day, Minnie, my dear! Then I'm afraid…" The swirling staircase cut his response short and Minerva breathed through her flared nostrils. The golden dunderhead. Was. INSUFFERABLE.
"Severus, I thank you for coming," Albus eventually said, to break the nasty silence that permeated his office. "There are a few things that I must discuss with you."
"Of course. Minerva, aren't you going to return to the Great Hall?" Severus smirked, seeing Minerva clench her trembling hands.
"Y-yes, I am just going. Good day, Severus…Albus."
/-/-/
As Minerva walked through the third floor corridor, she noticed a large queue of students milling around what looked like a prone body. She lengthened her stride and came upon the anxious students. They scattered when they saw her infamous glare smoldering down at them, though in reality, her scowl was due to worry. What she saw made her heart clench in fear.
Colin Creevey was lying spread-eagled upon the cold stone floor. His pale hands clutched his camera stiffly. Minerva bent down, oblivious to the chatter that rose unintelligibly around her. Her long fingers touched his cold skin, as cold as death, she noted, and she tried removing the camera from the vise-like grip. Finally jerking out of her dazed mind, she sent Ginny, who looked as shocked as she did, to go get Albus. Ginny took off, light on her feet, and Minerva shooed off the rest of the students.
Minerva remained kneeling at the small boy's side. As she stared into the boy's wide, fear-filled eyes, her keen eyes took in his rigid posture. Something was strange…was he…?
/-/-/-/-/
"Minerva!" Albus' great, sweeping form came hurrying to her. Minerva rose unsteadily and clutched her husband's arm. But she immediately let him go after seeing Severus and Lockhart glide over as well. She trained her eyes on the prone boy at the floor and addressed her fellow colleagues in a monotone.
"Mr. Creevey was found by a group of students, Headmaster. Apparently, he did not know that Mr. Potter was released from the hospital wing a few days ago; he was going to visit Potter in the hospital. He was carrying his camera…no doubt to capture another picture of something…gruesome."
Albus did not answer Minerva immediately; his nose was barely an inch from Colin's camera. Snape watched impassively while Lockhart babbled on.
"It was definitely a curse that killed him; poor, poor boy. Probably the Transmogrifian curse—I've seen it done many times, so unlucky I wasn't there. I know the very countercurse that would have saved him…"
Lockhart's comments were punctuated by Minerva's ragged breathing and Severus' muttered incantations. Albus finally straightened up from examining Colin and faced the other two teachers.
"Colin is not dead, Gilderoy," he said softly. ("Ah! I thought so!") "He has been Petrified."
"But, Albus," Minerva whispered, "surely…who?"
Albus surveyed her gravely and between their eyes passed a channel of mutual disbelief.
"The question is not of who, Minerva…but of how…"
As the moonlight fell upon Minerva's face, Albus could see her puzzled expression staring right back at his own.
/-/-/-/-/
"If I might speak…Headmaster?" Severus drawled smoothly. "I myself have my own hypotheses. You see…Mr. Creevey was on his way to see Mr. Potter, was he not? Perhaps it would be more…prudent to ask Mr. Potter if he has any…recollection of the incident."
Minerva started angrily. "Potter was nowhere near the scene, Severus! As you know already, having had him imprisoned in detention!" Her eyes snapped flames and she stood her ground. Severus curled his lip and bored his eyes into hers. Minerva's chest was heaving with the effort of keeping her temper in check. Albus discreetly brushed his hand on her arm in warning. Lockhart was effectively ignored.
"No second year could have been able to pull off such advanced Dark Magic, Severus," Albus spoke firmly."
Severus' face turned a nasty brick red. "Why don't you prove it, Dumbledore?" he spat.
Albus faced him calmly. "Time will prove itself, Severus. In the meantime…innocent until proven guilty."
Lockhart meanwhile attempted to draw attention to himself and stood up proudly.
"Headmaster, you needn't worry, I can whip up a Mandrake restorative potion in no time and give it to Mr. Creevey. I will go…"
"Excuse me," Severus bit out icily. "But I do believe I am the Potions master here at Hogwarts."
Lockhart's smile faded a little. "Of—of course, Professor Snape."
"Thank you, Gilderoy, you may attend to your cherubs now." Minerva spoke with a tone of finality that seemed to emanate a chill.
