Albus stared at her, how she stood there in the moonlight, so very slender and fragile, but as always a personality. Yet he noticed the redness of her eyes…

"Minerva." he repeated once more, looking intensely into her eyes. He read things in them which he did not really understand.

"Minerva." What could he say more? The only thing he wanted to say to her was that he loved her. But he could never do that. Perhaps- had he showed his feelings too openly? Was she frightened? Did she realize that he loved her- did she know that she could never return his love?

"I am sorry…" he then spoke suddenly.

Minerva almost smiled. He was sorry? He- was sorry? If anyone had to be sorry…

And then, the angriness came. She suddenly hated herself.

For heaven's sake, was she brave or wasn't she? Was she a Gryffindor or wasn't she?

Oh yes she was. And Albus would realize that very soon.

With a suddenly determined gesture- she was shaking, but she knew what she had to do- Minerva leant forward. Albus did not move.

And then, she softly, very softly, pressed her lips on his, still staring into his eyes. As long as their eyes were locked- as long as their eyes were locked he would not pull back.

Oh god, she prayed, let him not pull back.

And to her great surprise, he didn't. Instead, she felt his arms creep around her waist. Her hands crawled up his chest until they met his cheeks. She pulled him even closer now.

He returned the kiss! He, bloody Albus Dumbledore, bloody returned the kiss!

She would faint. She would certainly faint.

But for some reason- were it perhaps his arms around her?- she didn't. Instead, she opened her mouth and carefully, slowly deepened the kiss.

As his tongue slowly started to dance with hers, Minerva McGonagall knew what paradise was like.

It was like this.

Like kissing Albus Dumbledore under the moonlit sky.

~*~

It was only because of acute oxygen shortage that they reluctantly pulled apart. Well, apart… Just apart enough to breathe…

Minerva was the first one to speak again.

"Albus…"

She had said his name so many times before. But never so tenderly, so lovingly.

He stroked her cheek in response.

"Albus, I love you. Will you ever be able to love me- just a little?"

It was a silly question, but she needed to know it. She needed to hear him say- those words.

The man chuckled, took her hand and pressed his lips on it.

"No, Minerva, I will never be able to love you just a little. I will always love you with all my heart. All my life. Because without you, there is no life."

Minerva couldn't help it. She giggled. She- actually- giggled!

As she noticed his amused look, she pecked him on the lips and explained.

"I finally have to admit the truth in old clichés. For every old cliché appears to be true today. I actually feel the butterflies in my stomach. I will actually always love you. There is actually no life without you… oh, for god's sake, I do so love you!"

She kissed him again, and again and again and bloody, bloody again and again!

Until he suddenly remarked, carefully touching her delicate features with his finger.

"Another cliché, my love. You have eyes like emeralds…"

She smiled and lightly stroked his cheek.

"And you have eyes like sapphires, my lover. We're a couple of gems."

The man smiled, yet suddenly touched her rosy, thin lips again.

"But the only gem I care about," he whispered. "is you."

And as she leant back into his kiss, she vaguely, vaguely heard the last line of the song that had brought them together.

"Forever's gonna start tonight…

Forever's gonna start tonight…"

*The End*

Author note:

This could be the end, but it actually isn't! One more chapter is following, full of needless fluff for all of you who still have non-rotten teeth left!