Minerva was especially excited for her last class today. Advanced Transfigurations would take up the bulk of the afternoon and she wanted to show Professor Dumbledore just how skilled she was in the art. Minerva spent all morning assorting some candies from Honeydukes in a little basket, as a housewarming gift for Albus but also to butter him up before her big ask - Animagus training. It'd been nearly a century since a Hogwarts student learned how to be an Animagus on the campus grounds. It would take hours of one-on-one training every week and Minerva was sure that Albus was a busy man outside of teaching classes. What would the worldly intellectual want with a seventeen year old who barely had left the Highlands? Oh well, Minerva thought. She'd summon up her Gryffindor courage to ask him after class. Minerva charmed the basket of candies to fit under her robes and rushed off to the classroom.
All of the seventh years waited in their seats for Professor Dumbledore to arrive. Minerva and Tom had been the only two students to really interact with him thus far in the semester. Characteristically late, Albus strode into the room five minutes past the lesson's start time, his regal blue robes billowing behind him.
"Good afternoon, class!" he immediately commanded the attention of the classroom with his large stature and booming voice. "My name is Albus Dumbledore and I'm the new Transfigurations Professor. I graduated from Hogwarts ten years ago and fondly remember my time here. I was in Gryffindor - serving as Head Boy and Captain of the quidditch team - so I am especially excited to be the Head of House for Gryffindor now." The Slytherins groaned. "Don't be concerned about favoritism with points for the House Cup, though - I am a very equitable grader." Dumbledore continued. He noticed some of the students looked at him with near-fear, so he decided to do something unorthodox to instil the reputation of a friendly educator. "Well, enough about me - I want to know all of you more. After all, this year you take your NEWTs and go out into the Wizarding World! So for our first lesson, we're going to play a little game. At this point in your education, god willing old Billows still had his mental faculties intact, you should know Conjuring Charms. I want you to each take one of your quills, inkpots, I don't really care what, and conjure it into something that symbolizes what you want to do after graduation. For example … " Albus fixated his want on a piece of chalk at the board in the front of the room. He conjured up a Chudley Cannons jersey. "You see? After graduation I wanted to go pro!"
The class chuckled. Rolanda piped up, "Eh? Why didn't you Professor? Couldn't make the cut?"
Albus shook his head. "Nasty injury in our championship game against Slytherin. I fell 200 feet while trying to block their chaser from scoring. I've never quite walked the same since!"
Minerva was curious. "Well, Professor Dumbledore," (as she knew not to address him by his first name in front of her peers) "what exactly did you do after graduation?"
Dumbledore's brow furrowed as he solemnly answered, "Ah, Miss McGonagall, that's a great question, but one far too complicated and lamentable for me to tell you all now. I've gone on long enough - I want to know you all! Minerva, you're up!" Feeling terrible for bringing up what was clearly sensitive subject for Albus, Minerva aimed to impress him with her conjuring skills. Ahh, what will really impress this man? she wondered, and decided to conjure up a miniature Albus figurine. The entire class gasped at the accuracy and Albus was incredibly surprised. "Me, Miss McGonagall? What do you possibly mean?"
"I want your job and your brilliance! To be the best Transfigurations Master in the country and to teach students would be a dream!"
"Thank you, Minerva," Albus said, forgetting decorum, "I'm truly honored. However I have complete confidence that you'll achieve more in your career than I ever have." Minerva blushed and the rest of the class continued this game of show and tell, enjoying the fact that their professor genuinely cared about his students' futures.
When class finished, Minerva hovered around the front of the room, as lessons were over for the day. Albus looked up from his desk by the window and noticed her awkwardly shuffling about. "Minerva, what's the matter? Can I help you with anything? Please, come, have a seat!" he motioned to the chair next to him.
"Albus, nothing is the matter at all! I was just wondering if I could ask you a very, very big favor." her hands were shaking. Minerva knew Albus would probably say no, as would any other professor, but she truly loathed rejection. She pulled out her basket of candies. "I even brought you something to 'sweeten' the deal!"
Albus threw his head back and laughed. "Oh what do we have here? Lemon drops - my favorite! How did you know? Raspberry truffles, chocolate frogs, AND fizzing whizbees! Minerva, you're not proposing, are you?"
Minerva wondered if she would ever quit blushing around the man and stuttered, "No, no of course not! Nothing like that! It's purely academic. It's just, I…. I've always wanted to be an Animagus. I know that probably sounds improbable, but I assure you that I am quite the capable witch. I would put in the effort, the hours required to learn and I've already done extensive research on the process. But I need a tutor. And I really don't know who else to ask, all the teachers here hate me, my father's a Muggle and I had no contact with the Wizarding World before Hogwarts, I don't have the money to hire a private -"
"Minerva, I'm going to stop you right there." Albus caringly put a hand on her forearm. "I would be more than honored to assist you in this process. But you need to know the physical and mental commitment this is. We will have to meet quite frequently outside of class - and you'll probably be exhausted of me considering you're both my teacher's assistant and student - but if you are still up for it, I would love to teach you."
Minerva was so touched she nearly had tears in her eyes and spontaneously hugged him. "Albus this is genuinely the kindest thing anyone's done for me!" As Albus reciprocated the gesture, his hand at the small of her back, they both realized the intimacy of their situation and broke apart. "I am so sorry!" Minerva awkwardly stuttered and went to grab her bookbag, trying to ignore the shivers she felt when her professor touched her.
Albus watched her scurry away and waved goodbye as she exited the room. He couldn't deny the stirrings he felt in his stomach when in such close proximity to the girl. No - a woman! he reminded himself, trying to absolve all guilt about the situation. She was completely of age and there was nothing wrong about his noting the way she smelled, like a mixture of lilac and sunscreen, a reminder of a summer day. There was nothing wrong about him noticing her long legs as she flew about the quidditch pitch, her genuine grin when joking with her friends in the Great Hall, her long, silky hair that she would push back when interacting with the first year students. No, Albus was simply observing, he had zero feelings beyond a professional interest in the woman. As the door swung shut Albus yelled out, I'll see you for your first lesson this weekend! Saturday morning - meet me at the lake at 9 am sharp!"
It was Saturday morning, abnormally cool for mid-September, and Minerva shivered by the lake. She'd arrived promptly at 9, just as Albus said, but he was nowhere to be found. Minerva worried her awkward hug may have scared him away. The rest of the week of lessons had been fine, with Minerva grading assignments while Albus taught the first years and Minerva answering all of the questions Albus asked in her own class. However, they hadn't really spoken one-on-one to each other, and Minerva didn't want their budding friendship to disappear all because her silly crush might have been exposed.
Yes, Minerva had to admit to herself that she did find Albus attractive. This was only because the dating pool at Hogwarts was more like a puddle. The boys her age didn't care about classes the way she did, or they oozed snakiness like Tom Riddle. And beyond his brilliant mind and witty humor, Albus was a HOT 28-year-old. Maybe she had a thing for gingers. Either way, she certainly could hide the crush and knew it was completely absurd. But were her feelings really that one sided? Did Albus not feel that spark when he and Minerva touched? Was she imagining the way he would glance at her from the High Table, then quickly look away once she glanced back?
Minerva was shook from her thoughts as she felt a crack of light behind her. "Boo!" Albus shouted as he cast a miniature lightning spell behind her. Minerva shrieked and turned to face him, lightly pushing him away.
"Albus, you TERRIFIED me!" She couldn't be mad though, half laughing and half crying along with him.
"Well I had to wake you up somehow! Animagus training is going to be hard work! Let's dive in - shall we?"
Minerva and Albus spent the next few hours going over the basics, from the Animagus Registry and its importance, to what potential animals she might become, to safety tips when attempting the transformation. They sat on a blanket by the lake and chatted away. While it was a productive lesson, it also dove into the personal between the two.
"Albus, I've been meaning to ask, if this isn't too sensitive, but what were you alluding to when I asked about your post-Hogwarts, and I guess pre-Hogwarts career."
Albus took a breath. "I trust you Minerva and to be honest, you're my favorite person at this school so far, including both professors and students. So I need this to stay between us. In fact, it is of utmost importance, to both my health and the safety of the wizarding world. I do need to tell you the truth about my career, however, because we work together so closely that it won't be able to stay secret through the year I am afraid."
Minerva's eyes widened as she realized the severity of the situation. "Of course, Albus. You can trust me 100%. I would never want to put your life in danger."
"Very well. For the last decade I've spent my life as part of the Resistance. I know this global Wizarding War has felt fairly minor in the lives of most witches and wizards here at Hogwarts. But I've been fighting in Germany against an evil force, an evil man and his followers, who believe in the blood supremacy of wizards over muggles. I won't go into details but I know the man personally, and shamefully, I agreed with him for a time. I am here now at Hogwarts partially for safety - this war is growing increasingly volatile and I need a day job in order to maintain a cover in case it gets out that I am a member of the Resistance against this man. I also genuinely love Transfigurations and always wanted to teach, so this job is truly the dream. While I spent the last decade day and night fighting these dark witches and wizards, Acolytes as they are called, now I'm doing more undercover intel. However, there will be times where I am called to fight. Armando knows this. No one besides him and you now. This is a big ask, but you might have to substitute in teaching the lower level courses in case I am called away to war. Minerva, I am counting on you. The Resistance is as well."
Minerva swallowed, her mind swirling with everything Albus just unloaded on her. The Resistance? His shame? His living in constant danger? But she also felt honored that she was his favorite. Looking deep into his blue eyes, Minerva replied, "Albus, thank you for your honesty. I believe in you and in any mission you are fighting for. It is my duty and honor to help out in any way possible."
The two sat for a few moments, looking out on the lake. Minerva shivered again, still freezing cold, and Albus offered her his sweater, which she kindly accepted. It was nearly noon and time for the two to head back to the castle. After sharing such a deeply personal moment, they walked in silence. Albus mentioned, "Minerva, I almost forgot. You were wonderful at lessons today. Next weekend we will dive into the practical aspects, I swear!"
She laughed, "Thank God! I was worried we'd be reading about Ministry of Magic regulations for the entire semester! As they reached the front door, Minerva bid him goodbye to rush to the common room before lunch. She wanted to tell her friends about everything so badly, from her crush to Albus's undercover role, but knew she could not. Realizing that she never returned his sweater, she folded it up and placed it in her trunk, promising to return it before class on Monday. It would be hard to give up though - it smelled like a deep, rich chocolate. He must've eaten those truffles!