For disclaimer and stuff see the first part. Oh, and feedback is always
welcome and enjoyed.
THANK YOU ALL WHO SENT FB!!! Wow, there were 12 reviews since I posted the first part, which wasn't that long ago, and it seems you want more, so here you go! (hope I wrote up to your expectation.)
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Part 2
Over the next few months Minerva had continued to help teach alongside of Albus, to the joy of both of them, and the pain of Tom. He loved being able to see her as much as he did, but hated knowing she was spending so much time with.him. He even went as far as to list the reasons why she shouldn't get involved with Dumbledore, but instead with him, and right on the top of the list was age. Now it was Christmas break, and most of the students were heading home for the holidays. This was Tom's favorite time of the year, he could be alone with his thought, with his ideas, and possibly, with her.
"Hello, Minerva." She spun around quickly and then relaxed.
"Oh, Tom, you scared me. I didn't know anyone else was in here."
"Well I was looking for you actually."
"Oh, why?" She asked a little confused.
"I was wondering, since we're both staying for the break, if you could help me get a head start on what we'll be doing next in the class." He said confidently.
She smiled, "It's break, Tom, a time to rest. You've been doing great in class, you don't need any extra help." He frowned, that was not the answer he expected. "But if you do want some help, I'm sure I could clear an afternoon to help you, although, like I said, I don't think you need it." He smiled again.
"That's great! How about tomorrow?"
"Oh, I can't do it tomorrow, I'm meeting with Professor Dumbledore to go over some more teaching techniques. But how about Tuesday? I'm not doing anything then."
"Oh, yeah, Tuesday would be great, thanks." He said still smiling, although it was forced. She smiled and then heard a clock chime, "Oh, is it 5 o'clock already? I'm sorry, Tom, I have to go, I promised Professor Dumbledore I'd meet him in his office in 15 minutes. Bye." She said gathering her books and running off.
Tom immediately scowled as soon as she left. "Damn that old man."
15 minutes later
"Minerva! Right on time I see." Dumbledore smiled as she entered his office.
"Hello, Professor, hello, Fawkes!" She said petting the phoenix that was sitting on the nearby table.
"Albus."
"What?" Minerva asked looking up.
He smiled, "We're alone, and working as colleagues right now, so you may call me Albus." Minerva blushed and smiled.
"Thank you, Albus." She said when he handed her a cup of tea.
"Now, shall we start on these tests?" He said taking out a large stack of papers.
She sighed, "We might as well get started now." She took one of the papers.
"Should I count this as wrong? Or give half credit?" She asked him showing him the paper.
"Hmmmm, well the theory isn't quite right, but he does have the spell correct, so give him half credit."
She took the paper back and started to scribble on it with red ink. He meanwhile was looking at her. She was shorter than him, but still tall. Her long dark brown hair was pushed back by a headband, even though she had taken to wearing it up when she taught classes, she thought it made her look more sophisticated. She was beautiful, there was no denying it, in fact, almost every male teacher at Hogwarts admitted it, several even went so far as to say they'd want a relationship with her after she graduates. Indeed, he understood those desires, but unlike the others, he realized that it wouldn't be right. He was more than 5 times her age, her teacher, and head of house, it would be scandalous if they would even attempt a relationship.
"Albus? ALBUS?" Albus shook his head and looked at Minerva, who seemed very worried.
"I'm so sorry, Minerva, I.um, was daydreaming for a second." He said trying to smile.
"I've been calling your name for nearly a minute now, what was so important that you lost focus like that?" She asked, still visibly concerned about him.
"I was thinking about what will happen next year."
"Next year? Oh, that's understandable, I've found myself thinking about that quite a bit lately too." She confessed, although I'm worried about what I'll do without seeing you, you're worried about school and the new or returning students. She thought to herself sadly.
"I wish there was a teaching position open at Hogwarts next year, I have no doubt that you would get the position." He said smiling.
"Me too. I already sent my application to a few other schools, as well as here. Hopefully I'll be offered some type of teaching position, even an assistant position or part time." She said trying to hide the disappointment from her voice.
"I'm sure you'll get tons of acceptance letters." He said putting his hand on hers and squeezing it a bit. "If you don't then they're all fools."
"Did you just call Hogwarts and it's administrators fools?"
He thought for a minute and then laughed, "Yes, I guess I did. Well it's true, any man would be a fool not to want you." He stopped laughing when he realized what he said, and hoped she didn't realize it either, but she did. Minerva looked down and tried to stop the blush that was threatening to rise to her cheeks.
Did he say what I think he said? What did he mean, does he have feelings for me? These and many similar questions were racing through her mind when she felt him take his hand off of hers and got up.
"I'm sorry, Minerva, I don't know why I said that, I meant to say that any school would be a fool not to want you. It was a slip of the tongue, please forgive me." He said quickly with his back towards her. He didn't want to see her when she realized that he, her teacher, mentor, and a man 80 years older than her, had romantic feelings for her.
"A slip of the tongue." She repeated more to herself than to him, "Just a slip of the tongue, not true at all." She muttered to herself. "It was an accident, a slip of the tongue, no harm done." She spoke loud enough for him to hear.
He turned at looked at her, her face was still down, but she hadn't tried to leave.
"Perhaps we should postpone grading these papers until tomorrow." He suggested, "You should get some rest after the long semester anyway, you've been working far to hard."
She looked up at him and nodded, "Yes, I'll just go now. Goodnight." She said and closed the door to his office behind her.
"Dammit." He cursed himself collapsing into a chair. "Why did I have to say that?"
Fawkes screeched next to him and nipped at his fingers. Albus smiled at the bird.
"I know Fawkes, I know, but I can't let her know, no matter what you may think." The Phoenix obviously took that as an insult as he flew to his perch and turned his back to Albus, who laughed a little. "Oh, don't do that. Even if you were right, it wouldn't work, she's still my student you know."
Minerva meanwhile had ran all the way back to the Gryffindor common room, upstairs to her room, and collapsed on the bed crying.
"Why do I do this to myself? He's my teacher, a very famous and respected man, what would he ever see in me? Of course it was a slip of the tongue, he could never actually think of me in any way other than his student." She told herself over and over again until she heard the door open.
"Minerva? Are you alright?" Came a strong, but soft voice.
"I'm fine, Hanna, thank you." Hanna Hooch (ok I didn't know her first name so I made it up, and keep in mind, I don't own her either.), the only other 7th year Gryffindor girl to stay for Christmas, and one of Minerva's best friends sat down on Minerva's bed and started to rub her back.
"Come on Min, you're crying, and I've never seen you cry before, so talk." Then Hanna grinned, "Unless of course you want me to tell the whole school that the Head Girl was crying, I doubt you'd want anyone to know that, especially a certain auburn haired Transfiguration's teacher."
"Like he would care, I'm just another student to him." Minerva said bitterly. Hanna immediately stood up.
"What did he do?!?!" Hanna had known about Minerva's crush, and never, even when Minerva was upset over something he had done, had she talked about him like that. "If he hurt you, I swear, teacher or no, I'll ring."
"Hanna don't, please." Minerva said quickly sitting up and grabbing hold of the other girls arm. "It's my fault, not his."
Hanna sat down, "What happened?"
"We were correcting paper, and he sort of zoned out, and then we started on the subject of what would happen next year."
"Uh huh?"
"And about my applications to schools other than Hogwarts, and he made a comment. He meant to say any school would be a fool not to want me, but instead he said any man would be a fool not to want me."
Hanna gasped, "That's great! I mean, isn't it? Wouldn't that me he might have feelings for you?"
"That's what I was thinking, but then he turned away and started to apologize, and said it was a slip of the tongue, an accident, and that he didn't mean it." She started to cry again, "For those few seconds I was in heaven, I fooled myself into thinking he might actually like me, but I was just fooling myself. It hurt when he took it back and apologized, he was almost cold, it was like I was floating and then fell to earth like a thousand cauldrons."
"Shhh, it's ok. He could have just been trying to cover up. You know, he really meant it, but it would be inappropriate, so he took it back."
"No, I was fooling myself, like I have been for the past 4 years."
"Four years?"
"Ok, seven years. I just, I really like him, Hanna, I don't mean school girl crush like, I mean, every guy I've tried to date I end up comparing to him, and they never can compare to him."
"Minerva, you don't actually mean."
"I think I love him, Hanna. I can't teach anymore. I can't be around him every day like that." Minerva said getting up and wiping away her tears.
"You can't quit, Minerva."
"And why not?"
"Because they'll ask you why. You're grades aren't suffering, you love that class, the kids behave, the experience is good, and you still get the same amount of sleep as you did before. If you don't give them a reason they'll ask Professor Dumbledore, and he'll know what was wrong, and he'll try and talk you out of it anyway. And if you did quit you'd still see him during regular class time. And, in case you've forgotten, isn't he helping you to become an Animagi?"
"Oh, what am I going to do, Hanna? I can't quit that!"
"Be strong. You're the strongest person I know, Min, and you can deal with him. Besides, you have a few more months, just think of how much practice that will be towards your teaching ability."
"I just don't know if I can stand to be alone with him now."
"You did it before."
"Yeah, but I still thought I had a chance."
"You still might, remember, even if he did have feelings for you, he couldn't show them, I mean, think of what the rest of the school, or the parents would think. It would be horrible for his reputation."
"True, but he's done some questionable things in the past, but he still did them despite what other people thought."
"Min, just calm down, it'll be ok."
"Thanks, Hanna. Oh, and by the way, stop calling me Min, you know I hate it."
Hanna grinned, "How about Minnie?"
"No."
"Ok, ok, Minerva it is." Minerva smiled and laughed a little.
"Thanks. I think I'll go to bed now."
"It's 7 o'clock!"
"Well what do you suggest I do?"
"Well.oh, I know, how about we take some books out of the restricted section? We always have fun finding new ways to intimidate the guys." Since Minerva had become Professor Dumbledore's assistant she had been allowed to go in the restricted section whenever she wanted, and she was allowed to bring one or two people with her, just incase she needed help with research.
"You just want to see if Professor Chambers is there." Professor Chambers was the current Potions professor. He was young, about 35, which is young compared to someone like Dumbledore, wavy brownish red hair, and cool hazel eyes. He was only a temporary teacher that would only be there for 2 or 3 more years, and was usually found in the restricted section in his free time.
"It's possible." She said grinning.
Minerva sighed, "Fine, lets go." She said getting up and they headed downstairs and out of the common room. When they finally reached the library the first thing Hanna noticed was Professor Chambers.
"See ya!" She whispered to Minerva, who laughed and headed to research the Animagi transformation more.
End of Part 2
I know, it's kinda going slow, but I'm trying to get it to a point when they can actually admit their feelings for each other, but I want to get their history together in first. So do you all like it?
THANK YOU ALL WHO SENT FB!!! Wow, there were 12 reviews since I posted the first part, which wasn't that long ago, and it seems you want more, so here you go! (hope I wrote up to your expectation.)
- - - - -
Part 2
Over the next few months Minerva had continued to help teach alongside of Albus, to the joy of both of them, and the pain of Tom. He loved being able to see her as much as he did, but hated knowing she was spending so much time with.him. He even went as far as to list the reasons why she shouldn't get involved with Dumbledore, but instead with him, and right on the top of the list was age. Now it was Christmas break, and most of the students were heading home for the holidays. This was Tom's favorite time of the year, he could be alone with his thought, with his ideas, and possibly, with her.
"Hello, Minerva." She spun around quickly and then relaxed.
"Oh, Tom, you scared me. I didn't know anyone else was in here."
"Well I was looking for you actually."
"Oh, why?" She asked a little confused.
"I was wondering, since we're both staying for the break, if you could help me get a head start on what we'll be doing next in the class." He said confidently.
She smiled, "It's break, Tom, a time to rest. You've been doing great in class, you don't need any extra help." He frowned, that was not the answer he expected. "But if you do want some help, I'm sure I could clear an afternoon to help you, although, like I said, I don't think you need it." He smiled again.
"That's great! How about tomorrow?"
"Oh, I can't do it tomorrow, I'm meeting with Professor Dumbledore to go over some more teaching techniques. But how about Tuesday? I'm not doing anything then."
"Oh, yeah, Tuesday would be great, thanks." He said still smiling, although it was forced. She smiled and then heard a clock chime, "Oh, is it 5 o'clock already? I'm sorry, Tom, I have to go, I promised Professor Dumbledore I'd meet him in his office in 15 minutes. Bye." She said gathering her books and running off.
Tom immediately scowled as soon as she left. "Damn that old man."
15 minutes later
"Minerva! Right on time I see." Dumbledore smiled as she entered his office.
"Hello, Professor, hello, Fawkes!" She said petting the phoenix that was sitting on the nearby table.
"Albus."
"What?" Minerva asked looking up.
He smiled, "We're alone, and working as colleagues right now, so you may call me Albus." Minerva blushed and smiled.
"Thank you, Albus." She said when he handed her a cup of tea.
"Now, shall we start on these tests?" He said taking out a large stack of papers.
She sighed, "We might as well get started now." She took one of the papers.
"Should I count this as wrong? Or give half credit?" She asked him showing him the paper.
"Hmmmm, well the theory isn't quite right, but he does have the spell correct, so give him half credit."
She took the paper back and started to scribble on it with red ink. He meanwhile was looking at her. She was shorter than him, but still tall. Her long dark brown hair was pushed back by a headband, even though she had taken to wearing it up when she taught classes, she thought it made her look more sophisticated. She was beautiful, there was no denying it, in fact, almost every male teacher at Hogwarts admitted it, several even went so far as to say they'd want a relationship with her after she graduates. Indeed, he understood those desires, but unlike the others, he realized that it wouldn't be right. He was more than 5 times her age, her teacher, and head of house, it would be scandalous if they would even attempt a relationship.
"Albus? ALBUS?" Albus shook his head and looked at Minerva, who seemed very worried.
"I'm so sorry, Minerva, I.um, was daydreaming for a second." He said trying to smile.
"I've been calling your name for nearly a minute now, what was so important that you lost focus like that?" She asked, still visibly concerned about him.
"I was thinking about what will happen next year."
"Next year? Oh, that's understandable, I've found myself thinking about that quite a bit lately too." She confessed, although I'm worried about what I'll do without seeing you, you're worried about school and the new or returning students. She thought to herself sadly.
"I wish there was a teaching position open at Hogwarts next year, I have no doubt that you would get the position." He said smiling.
"Me too. I already sent my application to a few other schools, as well as here. Hopefully I'll be offered some type of teaching position, even an assistant position or part time." She said trying to hide the disappointment from her voice.
"I'm sure you'll get tons of acceptance letters." He said putting his hand on hers and squeezing it a bit. "If you don't then they're all fools."
"Did you just call Hogwarts and it's administrators fools?"
He thought for a minute and then laughed, "Yes, I guess I did. Well it's true, any man would be a fool not to want you." He stopped laughing when he realized what he said, and hoped she didn't realize it either, but she did. Minerva looked down and tried to stop the blush that was threatening to rise to her cheeks.
Did he say what I think he said? What did he mean, does he have feelings for me? These and many similar questions were racing through her mind when she felt him take his hand off of hers and got up.
"I'm sorry, Minerva, I don't know why I said that, I meant to say that any school would be a fool not to want you. It was a slip of the tongue, please forgive me." He said quickly with his back towards her. He didn't want to see her when she realized that he, her teacher, mentor, and a man 80 years older than her, had romantic feelings for her.
"A slip of the tongue." She repeated more to herself than to him, "Just a slip of the tongue, not true at all." She muttered to herself. "It was an accident, a slip of the tongue, no harm done." She spoke loud enough for him to hear.
He turned at looked at her, her face was still down, but she hadn't tried to leave.
"Perhaps we should postpone grading these papers until tomorrow." He suggested, "You should get some rest after the long semester anyway, you've been working far to hard."
She looked up at him and nodded, "Yes, I'll just go now. Goodnight." She said and closed the door to his office behind her.
"Dammit." He cursed himself collapsing into a chair. "Why did I have to say that?"
Fawkes screeched next to him and nipped at his fingers. Albus smiled at the bird.
"I know Fawkes, I know, but I can't let her know, no matter what you may think." The Phoenix obviously took that as an insult as he flew to his perch and turned his back to Albus, who laughed a little. "Oh, don't do that. Even if you were right, it wouldn't work, she's still my student you know."
Minerva meanwhile had ran all the way back to the Gryffindor common room, upstairs to her room, and collapsed on the bed crying.
"Why do I do this to myself? He's my teacher, a very famous and respected man, what would he ever see in me? Of course it was a slip of the tongue, he could never actually think of me in any way other than his student." She told herself over and over again until she heard the door open.
"Minerva? Are you alright?" Came a strong, but soft voice.
"I'm fine, Hanna, thank you." Hanna Hooch (ok I didn't know her first name so I made it up, and keep in mind, I don't own her either.), the only other 7th year Gryffindor girl to stay for Christmas, and one of Minerva's best friends sat down on Minerva's bed and started to rub her back.
"Come on Min, you're crying, and I've never seen you cry before, so talk." Then Hanna grinned, "Unless of course you want me to tell the whole school that the Head Girl was crying, I doubt you'd want anyone to know that, especially a certain auburn haired Transfiguration's teacher."
"Like he would care, I'm just another student to him." Minerva said bitterly. Hanna immediately stood up.
"What did he do?!?!" Hanna had known about Minerva's crush, and never, even when Minerva was upset over something he had done, had she talked about him like that. "If he hurt you, I swear, teacher or no, I'll ring."
"Hanna don't, please." Minerva said quickly sitting up and grabbing hold of the other girls arm. "It's my fault, not his."
Hanna sat down, "What happened?"
"We were correcting paper, and he sort of zoned out, and then we started on the subject of what would happen next year."
"Uh huh?"
"And about my applications to schools other than Hogwarts, and he made a comment. He meant to say any school would be a fool not to want me, but instead he said any man would be a fool not to want me."
Hanna gasped, "That's great! I mean, isn't it? Wouldn't that me he might have feelings for you?"
"That's what I was thinking, but then he turned away and started to apologize, and said it was a slip of the tongue, an accident, and that he didn't mean it." She started to cry again, "For those few seconds I was in heaven, I fooled myself into thinking he might actually like me, but I was just fooling myself. It hurt when he took it back and apologized, he was almost cold, it was like I was floating and then fell to earth like a thousand cauldrons."
"Shhh, it's ok. He could have just been trying to cover up. You know, he really meant it, but it would be inappropriate, so he took it back."
"No, I was fooling myself, like I have been for the past 4 years."
"Four years?"
"Ok, seven years. I just, I really like him, Hanna, I don't mean school girl crush like, I mean, every guy I've tried to date I end up comparing to him, and they never can compare to him."
"Minerva, you don't actually mean."
"I think I love him, Hanna. I can't teach anymore. I can't be around him every day like that." Minerva said getting up and wiping away her tears.
"You can't quit, Minerva."
"And why not?"
"Because they'll ask you why. You're grades aren't suffering, you love that class, the kids behave, the experience is good, and you still get the same amount of sleep as you did before. If you don't give them a reason they'll ask Professor Dumbledore, and he'll know what was wrong, and he'll try and talk you out of it anyway. And if you did quit you'd still see him during regular class time. And, in case you've forgotten, isn't he helping you to become an Animagi?"
"Oh, what am I going to do, Hanna? I can't quit that!"
"Be strong. You're the strongest person I know, Min, and you can deal with him. Besides, you have a few more months, just think of how much practice that will be towards your teaching ability."
"I just don't know if I can stand to be alone with him now."
"You did it before."
"Yeah, but I still thought I had a chance."
"You still might, remember, even if he did have feelings for you, he couldn't show them, I mean, think of what the rest of the school, or the parents would think. It would be horrible for his reputation."
"True, but he's done some questionable things in the past, but he still did them despite what other people thought."
"Min, just calm down, it'll be ok."
"Thanks, Hanna. Oh, and by the way, stop calling me Min, you know I hate it."
Hanna grinned, "How about Minnie?"
"No."
"Ok, ok, Minerva it is." Minerva smiled and laughed a little.
"Thanks. I think I'll go to bed now."
"It's 7 o'clock!"
"Well what do you suggest I do?"
"Well.oh, I know, how about we take some books out of the restricted section? We always have fun finding new ways to intimidate the guys." Since Minerva had become Professor Dumbledore's assistant she had been allowed to go in the restricted section whenever she wanted, and she was allowed to bring one or two people with her, just incase she needed help with research.
"You just want to see if Professor Chambers is there." Professor Chambers was the current Potions professor. He was young, about 35, which is young compared to someone like Dumbledore, wavy brownish red hair, and cool hazel eyes. He was only a temporary teacher that would only be there for 2 or 3 more years, and was usually found in the restricted section in his free time.
"It's possible." She said grinning.
Minerva sighed, "Fine, lets go." She said getting up and they headed downstairs and out of the common room. When they finally reached the library the first thing Hanna noticed was Professor Chambers.
"See ya!" She whispered to Minerva, who laughed and headed to research the Animagi transformation more.
End of Part 2
I know, it's kinda going slow, but I'm trying to get it to a point when they can actually admit their feelings for each other, but I want to get their history together in first. So do you all like it?