A moment later she felt his mouth brush softly against hers, teasing for a second then pressing closer. The kiss deepened, grew stronger, and sensation flooded Minerva's body. She'd been alone too long, had forgotten what it felt like to be kissed and touched and loved. The tension that had crept unnoticed into her muscles over the last few months suddenly dissipated. She moaned softly as his hands tangled in her hair, pulling it loose from the tight confines of her bun so that it tumbled to her shoulders in soft waves. Instinctively she sought the warmth of his body against hers and her arms slipped unbidden around his waist.

When she pulled away it was heavy reluctance.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked softly.

She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.

"Minerva?" he asked a moment later.

"Yes?"

"Are you purring?"

Minerva frowned and jabbed him sharply in the ribs. Typical Remus. Just when things were starting to get serious he couldn't resist a quip. And things were starting to get serious. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been this aroused. Certainly it hadn't been after just one kiss.

"Did you slip something into my tea?" she asked suspiciously.

Remus grinned. "No," he said loftily. "I'm just a very good kisser."

When she rolled her eyes he added more tenderly: "and I really like you."

You really like me?

What was that supposed to mean?

Minerva raised an eyebrow curiously.

"I really, really like you," Remus continued. "Probably too much, in fact."

She started to speak, to say that enough was enough, that they had gone too far and he needed to stop now before they did something awful that they'd both regret forever.

But is that really what you want?

Of course it wasn't. Before she knew it he was kissing her again, his lips brushing over her cheek and along her jawbone until they found her mouth. His hands found their way to her neck, slipping beneath the collar of the shirt he'd lent her to gently squeeze and massage her shoulders.

"Sorry," he murmered. "But you have this effect on me."

"Don't be sorry," she whispered, shifting her position so that she could face him properly. All trace of humour had left his hazel eyes. Now they gazed at her with nothing more than honest desire. Arousal surged through her veins: she could no longer resist him.

"May I…?"

She nodded in silent acquiescence and he unbuttoned her shirt, revealing at last her underwear. The pale pink satin basque was a perfect fit, framing her surprisingly shapely curves and leaving very little to the imagination. The top was trimmed with delicate lace, the back was tied tightly with narrow ribbons.

As he traced his hands over the smooth fabric she felt a sudden pressure on her hip and twisted in his embrace to see a sheepish smile on his face.

"So my underwear does turn you on…" she whispered.

Remus traced a finger down from her neck, over her smooth ivory skin.

"You turn me on," he replied huskily. "Always you."

She felt his hand slip below the hem of her skirt, then a warm erotic weight on her thigh as he fingered the tops of her stockings with obvious delight on his face.

What were you expecting, Remus?, she wondered. Sensible white cotton?

She'd always had a passion for exotic underwear. It delighted her to have this secret, to know that those around her would see her in high necked, sensible robes and never guess at what lay beneath them. The bottom drawer of her dresser held satin and silk and lace in a myriad of rainbow hues: tasteful, well made lingerie. It made her feel more alive, more feminine in a job where she was expected to be strict and staid and even uptight but never desirable. And Remus' eyes – and body – were telling her she was having just the effect she'd wanted.

Giving up all pretence at self control she drew him close to kiss him, ready to surrender. Ready to let go. Ready to-

And then there was a sudden bang as the door of the wardrobe flew open. Bright light streamed in from the staff room. Hastily Minerva leapt back and Remus groaned again but this time with dismay rather than desire. Minerva blinked furiously against the sudden influx of light, struggling to see who it was that had interrupted them.

There did not seem to be anyone there.

Until Severus Snape cleared his throat loudly and she realised he was stood just behind the door.

"I have absolutely no desire to see – or even hear – what the two of you have been up to," he hissed. "But I would like to remind you, Minerva, that Lupin is here on the Order's business. Not, you may be surprised to learn, to cavort about with you in a closet but to retrieve urgent, vital information for Albus. Lupin, I strongly suggest you take advantage of the fact that the rest of the faculty are at dinner and retrieve that information immediately. And then leave."

His speech finished, Snape's footsteps receded rapidly and moments later the door slammed behind him and the two almost-lovers were alone once more.

"We'd better move," Minerva said reluctantly. "Severus is right, though I hate to admit it. We've got a lot to do."

"Yeah," Remus muttered. "Can we start with a cold shower?"

"It's for the best," she said softly. "You know it is."

"I know. I just wanted to be able to tell Sirius that I seduced the strict, serious Professor McGonagall in a wardrobe during a staff meeting."

Minerva punched his arm in mock anger even though she couldn't help but laugh. How could he have managed to turn her world so completely upside down in less than an hour and yet still be able to joke about it? If only she didn't have to say goodbye to him again so soon.

"It's a pity you have to go," she said sadly.

Remus smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Then maybe I should stay."

"You can't," she reminded him. "Dumbledore needs you back in London."

He gave her an unfathomable look.

"Of course. You're absolutely right, Professor McGonagall. Foolish of me to think otherwise."

They climbed out of the wardrobe and gathered the last of their clothing in thoughtful silence. Minerva felt like her head was spinning. Really it was lucky that Severus had interrupted them before they'd gone too far. Cheap, tawdry sex in a wardrobe was about as far from romance as you could possibly get and would certainly have been sufficient ammunition for Dolores to have her sacked. She'd nearly risked her job and her reputation for a brief moment of mindless gratification. And yet…

I didn't want him to stop.

It struck her at that moment that something wasn't quite right.

And then she realised.

I'm not sorry.

When they'd emerged into the harsh, bright light of the common room, she'd felt no shame. She was a highly private person and normally would have been mortified at the mere thought of carrying on the way she had this evening. She should have been red faced and stuttering, apologising profusely to the man she'd behaved so lewdly in front of and begging him not to reveal what had happened to anyone else. Instead she waited in companionable silence as he pulled his travelling cloak back on and fastened it tightly to cover his naked chest. Instead of a barrier between them there was now a even stronger bond.

"Ready?"

She hesitated briefly. Then her decision was made.

We're not colleagues any more.

Placing her hands on his shoulders she lifted her mouth to his and kissed him hard.

"I think Albus can wait until tomorrow, don't you?" she said.