Minerva had not laughed as much as she had that night, for a very long time. The good mood it had conjured stuck around all week and she caught herself humming while doing her marking, late Thursday evening, in the staffroom.

"So," Filius said, disturbing her quiet Thursday evening. "How are you?"

She laughed and looked at him sideways.

"Just fine," she said happily. "And you?"

"Minerva," he said with a chuckle. "You know what I'm asking."

"I haven't the foggiest."

"Min -" Filius groaned. "How was your date?"

"I -" She considered him. "Why did you think it was a date?"

"Because you've been dancing around each other for a year and I've never seen you happier," he groaned. "Spill, woman."

"Hermione didn't -"

"She said that you'd be unavailable for the evening, but it wasn't your duty anyway so I thought nothing of it until I bumped into you on Sunday. The big grin on your face and the humming you've taken up is a clue."

Despite the embarrassment, something settled in her gut that had been bothering her at the back of her mind. Hermione hadn't crowed about it or revealed her secrets. She had done what she had since Minerva had found herself side by side with Hermione in the Great Hall mid-battle. She had protected Minerva with everything she had.

"Min?"

"My apologies. I -"

"Was thinking about how lovely she looked?" Minerva blushed, cursing her fair skin. Filius suddenly looked serious. "Min, I'm only teasing, please don't -"

"It's fine," she sighed. "I -"

"I imagine it feels a little uncomfortable to suddenly be the centre of attention when you've spent the majority of your life hiding in the shadow of someone else?"

Minerva stared but found no malice in his eyes, only understanding. She rather thought she had overlooked him as a friend for all these years.

"Filius, I have never," she paused. "I am sorry, my friend. For not -" She took a deep breath. "For not being a good friend to you. Though it was perhaps my loss and not yours."

"Tosh," he chuckled as he sat beside her and handed her a drink she hadn't seen him pour. "There was a lot going on and it was fine with me. Between the worry and the school and home? I may not have had the time for you either."

He meant it as a joke and she took it as one, reaching over and squeezing his hand.

"It was glorious," she whispered, feeling the fear building in her throat.

"Tell me, if you wish?"

"She," Minerva chuckled and sipped her drink. "After the war, when she disappeared between mending the castle and the Ministry and what have you?" He nodded. They had remarked on it at the time but the boys seemed unphased by her absence, so they'd taken their cues from them. "She was volunteering at a primary school near her parent's home. Teaching children with difficulties to read and write, catching up those who had fallen behind. She took me there, to watch a musical the drama department had put on. The lead was one of her students."

"You're joking," he laughed. "Really?"

"Yes," Minerva smiled. "You doubt her?"

"Not at all, it's just," he chuckled. "How the tables have turned. What did you think?"

"I thought it was magnificent," she whispered. "The way they flocked to her. Students and parents stopped her to thank her and she soaked it up like she'd been doing it as long as you and I."

"She's after your job," he chuckled.

"I would give it to her," Minerva whispered, suddenly serious. "In one evening, Filius, she filled me with so much joy and hope and happiness, I do not know how to repay her."

"You needed hope, dear one?" he asked quietly.

She sighed and took another sip, pushing her marking away and sitting back beside him.

"She caught me on a day that had not gone well. The Board meeting ran long, which made me late for my 7th years and then there was the incident in the Courtyard afterwards and," she paused and considered whether she wanted to tell him. He looked at her as if he knew her struggle and smiled anyway. "I heard two students discussing my continued employment on my way home. How I was too old and their thoughts on me returning soon."

"Minerva," he scoffed. "Surely you didn't take it to heart."

"I did," she admitted. "Because they were thoughts that echoed my own, realistically. How does one follow on from Albus Dumbledore and succeed."

"Min," he said gently. "Quite easily, considering that Albus was never meant for the role, really. You did most of it anyway. He was the Head in name only, the strings and pulleys were operated by you and you should acknowledge that, if only in your own heart."

She didn't respond, but she heard him and squeezed his hand again.

"How was the musical," he said after a time. She did like that about him, he was so very easy to talk to.

"It was marvellous," Minerva blushed. "My favourite. And the children were amazing and somehow that made it better than being at the West End." He grinned.

"I have in mind you weren't back until late?" A twinkle appeared in his eyes that reminded her a little of Albus. "Dinner?"

She laughed and finished her drink, waving off a second in favour of settling into the corner of the sofa.

"She took us to a little pub, outside of Oxford proper. There too, they greeted her like a friend and I cannot lie and say anything other than we ate and chatted until they closed. The food was divine, the company -"

"More so," Filius grinned. "And a second date?"

Minerva's stomach flopped uncomfortably. She had told Hermione that it was not a means to an end, and she'd meant it. But even though her fears were loud, she recognised how much fun she had had.

"Min?"

"We didn't discuss it. I have not agreed to one," she muttered.

"What?" Filius squeaked. "Whyever not?"

"I -"

Why not indeed. She listed all the reasons in her head. The age gap, the difference in positions in life, the long hours she would work, the lack of -

"Min?"

She closed her eyes and then looked at him.

"I cannot."

"And why not," he asked gently. "Why can you not pursue love with this woman?"

Minerva baulked at his question, so carefully worded but so brilliantly so.

"I -"

"Her age, perhaps?" Filius offered her the out.

"In parts," she whispered. "She is a student, a -" She paused. "Did you know she took her N.E.W.T.s?"

"What?" he blinked. "No, I had no idea. But, well then, she can hardly be called a student, then, not really," he said. "She may not be quite where you are in life, but it won't take her long, I don't think. Although if all she wanted to do was teach younglings to read and write I doubt you would be disappointed with her?"

"No!" Her vehemence shocked them both and she stared at her hands. "I would never be disappointed with anything she did."

"She is a woman?"

He said it so very carefully that Minerva couldn't help the chuckle.

"There have been a few women in my life, Filius."

"Minerva McGonagall, our very own dark horse." She snorted and shook her head. "None made breakfast in the morning, then?"

"Filius!" Minerva laughed, the blush on her cheeks was warm. He grinned at her cheekily but she shook her head. "None made breakfast, no. And I did not offer, either."

He chuckled but she left it at that. She wasn't a nun, not at all, but love and lust were two very different things.

"Why so much fear then?"

"She was a child, not so long ago, Filius, surely you can see that?" She swallowed and looked at her hands again. "And I am not nearly close to that."

"You're afraid of what people will say? Or," he said softly, covering her hands and forcing her eyes back to his. "You are afraid of what she will say?"

A tear rolled down her cheek. The answer was both, really. She would eventually live with what others would say, but it was what Hermione might say as their relationship progressed that would destroy her.

"You think she would comment on you, on your age, negatively?"

"It seems ridiculous when you put it like that," she muttered.

"Do you, though?"

"No," she huffed. "And yes. Many truer words said in jest still hurt, Filius. I watched my mother and father snipe at each other until they died. I do not ever want -"

"Has she ever done that to you?"

Minerva blew out a long breath.

"No."

"Any indication that she might?"

"No, but -"

"Minerva," he chastised gently. "You are inventing issues to prevent yourself from dealing with your emotions."

She blinked at him and he chuckled.

"Pomona has been reading some Muggle Self-help books. She reads out the passages that she finds interesting.

Minerva laughed and took his hand properly as she got herself under control.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For your counsel, my friend."

"So," he said, elongating the 'o' like he had done as he sat down initially. "Where are you going to take her?"

She laughed and shook her head.

"I have no idea."