The teacher's lounge was almost empty. Rolanda was present, sitting in a chair, apparently reading a book, and in the other corner of the room, Albus Dumbledore sat, staring at some parchments, clearly without even reading them.

Rolanda felt as a wild animal chasing its prey… in fact, she had just caught her prey…

With a smile, she realized that Albus probably was a tad frightened of her. She was… well, a bit "mad"- as Minerva tended to put it- but she was an extremely practical person. And Albus- Albus was a genius, and thus one of the most unpractical persons imaginable. But he was really wise and intelligent and things- yet Rolanda couldn't see him leading the school without Minerva beside him. Minerva, for whose happiness Rolanda was fighting at the moment.

"Albus," she began, without looking up from her book.

Albus looked up and sent her a questioning look.

"Yes, Rolanda?"

Still seeming quite uninterested, Rolanda continued

"Well, I know we have the Valentine's ball in a week, but I don't know who's playing... and…"

Albus' eyes twinkled

"And you'd like to practice your dancing skills? Well, then I have to disappoint you, my dear- the Wacky Wizzies are playing and I as well do not know what sort of music it'll be. I think it'll be a quite varied evening."

"Oh." Rolanda replied, and- strange, but true, and it didn't occur to her often!- for a moment she didn't know what to say next… Hesitatingly, she turned a page of her book, until Albus suddenly asked- with a badly-hidden twinge of curiosity

"By the way, do you perhaps have a "date" for the ball, Rolanda."

The yellowy-eyed woman grinned. This was all going perfectly her way. Such a dear Albus was… Yet, for a very small moment she feared Albus would actually ask her out for the ball. Not that he… Of course he didn't… and of course she didn't as well… But what if?- Rolanda thought. That would be the worst thing imaginable. Yet, she smiled.

"Well, a date… no, but I am going with Severus."

Albus wobbled his eyebrows in a totally non-jealous way, Rolanda realized with the slightest feeling of disappointment. She had again overestimated her own vamp-charms…

"You and Severus? Are you…"

Soundly, Rolanda closed her book. Oh no, she was the one to go gossipy here, not Albus!

"No. I don't love him, he doesn't love me, but we get along quite well. You know that I still love my Andy…"

Albus sighed and realized he'd said something stupid.

"Yes, I know. I am sorry, Rolanda."

But the woman grinned again, remembering her mission.

"It's okay, Albus. But, by the way, with whom are you going?"

Her piercing gaze made the man lower his eyes. Shyly. But… Albus Dumbledore, the great Albus Dumbledore… shy? That surely was an extraordinary thing.

"I don't know…" he then muttered, hardly audible.

"Oh." Rolanda chattered lightly, apparently not noticing his shyness. "Minerva hasn't got anyone yet either. She is of course totally like "I don't care", but I think she does care. Perhaps "someone" should really ask her. I mean- she's quite a darling, you know."

Albus had obviously totally missed the "softly" stressed word "someone", and nodded silently.

"Yes. She is quite a darling. In fact, she really is a darling."

And suddenly, as she saw the soft blushes on the Headmaster's cheeks, Rolanda had had it. She had so totally HAD it! These two intelligent, BRILLIANT creatures who'd fought every evil imaginable… were totally incapable to see the bleeding obvious…

"Then WHY don't you ask her?" Rolanda exclaimed.

Albus looked up in surprise, to stare right into her hawky and clearly very agitated eyes.

"Yes, then WHY don't you ask her? You bloody love the woman, Albus Dumbledore! You –bloody- would give your –bloody- life for –bloody- her! Bloody, bloody, bloody hell! Go and ask her…" And on the risk of losing her job, she added

"you old coot! Go and ask "my dear" Minerva Tabbycat McGonagall to accompany you to that bloody dance! And FINALLY MAKE A MOVE!"

Still raging, Rolanda ran away, leaving a very bedazzled and confused Headmaster behind. Yet, Albus wasn't angry. Rolanda Hooch, he knew, had- though quite frankly- spoken the truth. Perhaps he really had to ask Minerva. Even if she didn't feel anything for him… they could still go as friends, couldn't they? Albus nodded. Yes. Perhaps the flipping Flying Instructor had really been right.

A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

And as the door went open…

There stood a pale, tall, surprised-looking and more-beautiful-than-ever Minerva McGonagall…