Albus had quickly gotten back to work - he didn't want to burden Minerva for much longer, knowing how important her NEWTs were. While his health wasn't exactly at its peak level, he and Minerva quickly resumed animagus training. Finally, on December 1st, Minerva experienced her first successful transfiguration. On the icy lake, using all her concentration and skill while Albus observed, Minerva sprung onto all fours as a tabby cat. As Minerva lept about and played with the tassels of Albus's royal blue robes, he roared with laughter. "Minerva, you would be a cat! My kitten…" She rubbed up on his leg and rolled on the ground, having too much fun with her newfound persona. Soon it was time to transfigure back. Minerva was pleased with herself and Albus was incredibly proud.
"As both your mentor and lover, this calls for celebration, my dear. I just wish I could take you somewhere public." Albus had an idea. What if he could sneak them out? He was in charge of the wards, after all. And it was a Sunday afternoon. No one would be missing either of them. My dear, let's head back into the castle. Get dressed in your nicest muggle attire. I'm apparating us into the city."
Minerva's eyes widened. A country girl from the Highlands, she only went into London when traveling to school. She'd grown up marveling at the fashion, the museums, the history of London and dreamed of renting a flat there for a spell after graduation. For Albus to take her into the city was a dream. "I'll pick you up in front of the gates at half past five, my dear." She squeezed his hand goodbye, as they were in sight of the castle, and rushed to prepare for their date.
In the dormitory, Minerva gloated to her friends about this date night as they helped her get ready. Pomona charmed her long, raven hair into curls and Rolanda laid out a smart ensemble for her. Fashion forward pumps, a navy pencil dress with a tie neck, and wrist gloves set the tone of the evening.
"Oh, Min! I wish Alastor would take me somewhere!" Pomona whinged.
"How the hell could he?" Rolanda scoffed. "He's a 17 year old kid! We can't even leave the castle grounds!"
"Minerva, you better order the most expensive thing on the menu! And plenty of champagne as well!" Pomona pleaded.
"Girls, I think you overestimate Albus's wealth! He's a teacher at Hogwarts! We can't even get the ghosts exterminated out of our bathrooms for gods sake! And when's the last time this drafty old castle ever got a paint job?"
"You have a point. We just want you to enjoy your first real date!" Rolanda reassured Minerva.
"Oh I will. I'd do anything with this man, anywhere, and have a time of it."
"Our Min is IN LOVE!" Pomona shouted.
Minerva looked around and shushed her friend. The girls didn't notice, but Peeves the poltergeist had been hiding in the corner of the dormitory this whole time.
Albus met her in front of the castle, slender box in hand. He looked dapper in a smart tuxedo.
"Hey, you. What's this - for me?" Minerva looked in surprise at the contents of the box - a long strand of freshwater pearls."
"An opera necklace since we're going to the opera, my dear. I scored us tickets to "La boheme."
Minerva almost swooned. A real opera. As a child, she'd always wanted to go into the city to watch the opera or philharmonic, maybe catch a play at the West End. But her parents never really had the time or money. And now, as a young adult witch, to be going to her first opera was a dream. "Albus - you shouldn't have! I cannot believe you got me a real pearl necklace!"
Albus, ever so childish, could not stop laughing at that, Minerva just looked on in confusion. "Oh- it's nothing! I'm glad you don't know what that means," he winked. "But first, dinner my dear. I got us reservations at Bill's, one of the nicest restaurants near the Royal Opera House." He fastened her pearls for her, took her arm, and they appeared at the restaurant.
Minerva felt so free, walking around Muggle London with her love. No one knew them here, they looked like any other happy couple strolling about the city that night. The two had a bottle of wine at dinner and Minerva was certainly feeling it. She asked Albus to dance at the restaurant with her, live big band playing, and he happily obliged. They swept the floor to the swing music - anyone observing would've thought the two were the most graceful pair, both tall with sharp, striking features. While they stuck out in the muggle world due to their youthful beauty associated with the slower rate of aging, they also fit right in among the other young folks. Minerva dreamed about staying in this place forever, able to live openly with Albus.
Later, "La boheme" didn't disappoint. Minerva felt like a child in constant awe. How could the singers project their voices hundreds of feet with no magic? It was truly absurd. Albus watched intently as well, one arm around Minerva and other hand nursing a cocktail. This night must've cost him a small fortune. But anything was worth it for Minerva. The opera, while well over three hours, seemed to fly by and it was nearing midnight as they left the opera house.
Minerva yawned and put her head on Albus's shoulder. "I think it's time we get you back to Hogwarts. School night and all."
She stuck her tongue out but didn't complain as they apparated back. It had been a perfect evening but she did have to TA his class bright and early the next morning. Kissing him goodbye outside the castle gates, Minerva went back to her rooms a few minutes before Albus to avoid any suspicion. Before falling asleep, she thought about putting the memories of this night in a pensive to always have them, but decided she'd have Albus for the rest of her life.
As end-of-semester finals were quickly approaching, Minerva and Albus found it hard to get any alone time. They'd put animagus training on hold for the semester. While the war seemed to be at an uneasy truce, Albus was gone every weekend in meetings with other leadership against Grindelwald. Minerva had been on duty with Tom nearly every night this week. She and Albus missed each other - they saw each other in class every day but they hadn't even shared a kiss in over a week. In truly juvenile fashion, Minerva slyly placed a note on Albus's desk after the seventh-year NEWTs class, on her way out with the other students. "Meet me in the dungeons tonight, 10 pm. xx Minerva" it said in invisible ink, charmed so only Albus could read it. His eyes twinkled mischievously.
All through dinner, the two exchanged heated glances with each other from their respective tables. Minerva honestly didn't know what she was asking Albus of tonight, but just wanted to sneak away and see him somewhere they wouldn't be caught. After the last close encounter with Dippet, she knew she couldn't just go to his rooms willy-nilly anymore. After dinner, waiting around in the commons room felt like an eternity as well. Minerva didn't tell her friends where she was off to, but slipped away as the clock struck ten.
Walking briskly through the corridor, Minerva nearly shrieked when she felt Albus's arm pull her into an embrace. She felt the familiar touch of his beard, his lips against hers, and threaded her fingers through his long auburn waves. Their kiss was gentle, but with urgency, and when Minerva pulled away, she saw the twinkle in Albus's eyes. They stood like that for a few moments, gazing at each other with a strong longing. All of the sudden, their bliss was cut short. Peeves shrieked from the ceiling,
"Dumbles, Dumbles - look who's in troubles
He and Miss McGonagall took some tumbles
It's no wonder she got perfect marks
She and Albus were fumbling around in the dark!
Silly Alby, whisked his student off to London,
Now I catch them in the dungeon!"
"SILENCE! You ghastly terror - enough! I will not have you slander me or Miss McGonagall in this way!" Albus hadn't ever roared so loudly. Then he recalled Peeves' last line, how could he possibly know of their romantic interlude off campus? "Wait, Peeves, how did you know about the London trip?"
"Ohhh Peeves has been a bad boy but so has Dumbles's little girlfriend! Miss McGonagall, smartest witch of her age, told her friends! Peeves overheard the whole conversation in the girls room!"
Minerva slunk awkwardly in the doorway of the potions classroom and swallowed. She knew she'd lost Albus's trust. "Minerva," he asked softly, but with urgency and anger, "is this true? Have you told people?"
She was a teenage witch. He was her first real boyfriend. How could she not? Yet Minerva knew any arguments she made would seem infantile. She needed to acknowledge Albus's anger and accept it, and hope to move on from there. Yet, as adult-like she tried to be about the situation, the second she opened her mouth she started crying like a child. "Albus please don't be mad! You don't understand! We can trust them!" She rushed towards him and clung to his robes.
Albus pulled away. "Minerva. I've made a mistake. I cannot be with anyone who doesn't understand the urgency, the secrecy of this situation. Beyond us, beyond what it means for my teaching career, the wizarding world is at stake!" Softly, he added, "I don't think it's wise for us to keep seeing each other."
Her heart dropped. She loved the man, after all. She knew she was wrong to have told her friends but if he knew how trustworthy they were… plus it was unfair to place this blame squarely on her. The two could've been caught at really any time. "Albus, reconsider, please! How can we just go back to like how things were before? You know parts of me, you know more of my story than anyone else in the world! I've supported you through the war! To end it all because of a silly rumor? The damage is already done by this point!"
Albus maintained his steely resolve. "What happened between us was a mistake, Miss McGonagall. A complete lack of judgement on my part. I completely understand if you do not wish to TA for me any longer. Regrettably, I am the only Transfigurations professor here, but I expect you at least have the maturity to deal with me once a week." He softened, "And I know you didn't mean harm, you wouldn't mean to harm me ever. Therefore am I correct in assuming you won't take our affair to the headmaster or any other professors?"
Minerva swallowed, nodded, and rushed away before he could see her cry anymore. How could Albus turn so cruel in a matter of minutes? She was utterly devastated.