Disclaimer: We would like this to stay a splinch-free zone so please remember that the world, life and characters of Harry Potter belong solely to JKR. We are merely borrowing them to satisfy the muse that guides us.

Beware-If flames are sent our floo powder is ready.

A/N: We hope all of our readers are having a Happy Holiday Season! Thank you to those who took the time to write a review. We LOVE to check our email and see one waiting for us. We thought it was time to give you a little more information as to the direction of the story. Worthy Undertakings is approximately 17 chapters so far. With each chapter we post, we look it over for mistakes and any tidbits we have thought to add to make things more clear to our LOVELY readers. Of course, Albus and Minerva are working things out and getting to know each other. Never fear! Things will get more personal between them as time goes on. In addition, we are always passing the story back and forth for additions to the end. And what will the end be you ask...well, you will just have to read to find out. But we promise it will be well worth the wait.

~Crumbling Defenses~

Stopping on the top step leading up to the massive doors, Albus turned to look Minerva in the eyes. Smiling nervously, she, too, turned to stare at his face that was highlighted by the last rays of the sun. "Minerva, I know this may sound very improper and, correct me if I'm overstepping my bounds, but would you care to join me in a game of chess after dinner tonight?"

"I would be honored to take you up on your offer. And please don't think you are presuming too much. I sincerely look forward to defeating you and your men." A coy smile played about her lips as she answered him without her usual hesitation. "After all, nothing lasts forever."

"Now, now, my dear colleague. I wouldn't get too attached to the idea of winning. As I've told you before, I've never lost a game since I started teaching and I don't intend to start now. But I promise you, it will be a test of tact and pure cunning ability."

The Sunday evening meal at Hogwarts was always relaxed and the students said they saw more of their favorite foods on this day than any other day of the week. It was during this meal that the entire Great Hall was filled with loud chatter and laughter. The Head Table was usually the exception but not this particular day. Albus and Minerva had arranged to change the seating plan so that they might continue their discussion of lesson plans. At least that is the excuse they used in an effort to make their request seem plausible and reasonable. It was, however, surprising to learn that their discussion did not include any hint of Hogwarts business, but of more personal things such as family and life experiences.

After dinner was over and the students were sent to their common rooms, Albus approached Minerva and escorted her to his office. He had briefly considered inviting her into his living quarters, the sitting room in particular, but decided against the idea since the portraits on the walls loved to gossip as much as the students. Yes, the safest place for them to play this game was in his transfiguration office. Two plush chairs were conjured and a table was transfigured between them.

"Accio chessboard." After a few seconds had passed, Albus' chess set came flying through the air and landed gently in his lap. He lovingly lifted the lid on the polished mahogany box and started to remove the carved marble pieces. The board was made of two types of wood intricately pieced together. One was a deep rich red and the other a pale blonde.

"Albus, this is probably the most beautiful chessboard I have ever seen. Where did you get it?" Explaining that it had been handed down to him by his grandfather, who by the way taught him the finer points of the game, Albus couldn't help but notice the light shining from Minerva's warm eyes. He had seen this look before, but it was usually on the faces of children receiving presents at Christmas or birthdays.

The pieces moved to their designated starting points and began shouting threats at each other as they went. Minerva's eyes never left the board until everyone was in place and Albus had cleared his throat.

 "Minerva, I realize that we have just consumed a sumptuous meal, but would you humor a wizard with an insatiable sweet tooth?" Wrinkling her brow in amusement, she hesitated before slowly nodding in agreement.

"Excellent! I was hoping that you would let me make you a cup of my famous hot chocolate. The secret recipe has been handed down for generations and I find it helps me concentrate." Immediately, two steaming mugs of the light brown liquid appeared and the intoxicating scent filled the room. Sneaking a glance at Minerva's face as she tasted the warm drink, Albus was pleased with what he saw.

One sip of his special brew and she had closed her eyes. The warmth and texture caused her normally tense muscles to relax and a serene expression slid over her face. Breathing deeply she allowed the scent of the drink to take her back to her carefree childhood, if only for a moment in time. Opening her eyes, she quickly snapped back into reality and made her first chess move of the night.

As the game proceeded, it was give and take for several hours. The chess pieces that were normally used by Albus' opponents were in a jolly mood. Never had anyone with such skill at the game been on their side. The jesting between the players on the board increased as the game progressed and some of their comments caused Minerva immense pleasure.

At last, Minerva made a move with her knight that Albus had not seen coming his way. Straightening up in his chair and realizing for the first time that his opponent might actually beat him, he took several minutes to contemplate his next move. It seemed that every conceivable position would allow Minerva to attack and take possession of yet another member of his defenses.

His pieces had become nervous. After all, their record showed no losses for a couple of decades and they certainly didn't want to start now. Pieces of advice were thrown at Albus from the board and he hushed them with one word. He had allowed them to break his concentration. That might have been his mistake or perhaps it happened when he looked across the table.

Minerva was studying the board with an intensity he often saw when she taught her classes, and a curly tendril of hair had fallen forward and was resting on her collarbone. With thoughts now swirling around in his head, some of the game and some of his worthy challenger, he made his fatal move. He never saw the game-ending move until Minerva proudly smiled and yelled "Checkmate!"

Stunned at his first defeat in decades, Albus stared at the board. Her players were hooting and yelling giving each other hugs for their victory. Lifting his eyes to hers, he saw merriment and mirth radiating from her entire body. She had managed to beat the unbeatable Albus Dumbledore and he couldn't help but be happy too. For the first time, he realized how it made him feel to hear her laughter and to see her happy. He was just about to suggest round two when the clock chimed one o'clock in the morning.

"Good gracious, Professor…is that the correct time? I have an early morning class to teach and I must look over my lesson plans before then!" Quickly rising from the chair, Minerva offered to help him put away the game, but he declined her offer. Walking her to the door, he thanked her for a lovely day. Reaching down to capture her hand in his, he locked his crystal blue eyes with her vivid green ones and gently placed a single kiss on the back of her hand. Flustered and embarrassed, she promised to join him for breakfast and strode quickly back to her own chambers.

Once within the safety of her own rooms, Minerva allowed herself to really reflect on what had just happened. She felt sure that he was only being nice but the touch of his lips on the back of her hand had caused an almost forgotten sensation to warm her entire body, much as the hot chocolate had done earlier. Reaching into her pocket, she retrieved the chocolate frog card and was surprised to see his face still smiling back at her. She had always heard that the witch or wizard disappeared from these cards once the owner had a chance to see the photo. However, this card seemed to be different because she had looked at his picture more than once today and his image was still there.

Dressing for bed, Minerva replayed the entire day over in her mind, much as she had done the previous night. Before settling down into the soft bedding, she did something that reminded her of one of her students. She took the card from her desk and placed it on her nightstand. Staring at it as she relived the way his hand had touched hers and the feelings that simple act had created, she drifted off to sleep.

Albus, however, was having some trouble falling asleep. He was still somewhat in shock that he had lost the chess match but Minerva's pleasure in her own abilities made it all worthwhile. He did make a mental note to himself to concentrate more on the game and less on the enchanting woman across from him in the future. It was at this point, Albus realized how much he had grown to care for Minerva and how he could not see his life without her friendship. She was a radiant person, full of life. But for some reason he could not fathom, she had locked up her fun-loving side within herself. Albus made a promise before easing into sleep that he would help show Minerva how enjoyable life could be and maybe, in the process, he could convince her that he was a worthy candidate for her affections.

The next morning, Armando Dippet chuckled to himself at breakfast. Who would have thought that things could change so fast between those two? He had to give himself some credit. After all, he was the one that forced them to confront their problems and now they were getting along famously. He saw the confused looks on many of the teacher's faces…especially the younger male teachers in his employ. Minerva fairly sparkled with life this morning and the only explanation was Albus. He couldn't wait for the full report from those two on Friday.

It was already Monday afternoon and Minerva was looking forward to the end of the day. She was busy grading papers from the past weekend's homework assignment and still had to plan the next day's activities. She wasn't usually so disorganized but spending the weekend with Albus had muddled her schedule. Teaching in a different style had caused her rhythm to falter. But she had managed to keep it together in front of the students and only collapsed into an exhausted heap during her infrequent breaks. As her red inked quill sped across the feet of parchment in front of her, she reflected on the weekend and her budding feelings for Albus Dumbledore. She finished the last scroll and had just stood up to stretch when an unfamiliar owl flew through the door and landed on the perch she kept in her office for just such an occasion. She handed the petite bird a treat as she untied the note and package attached to its' leg. The seal was from Dervish and Banges and Minerva quickly read the letter.

Dear Professor McGonagall,

Your remembrall was a rather odd case. It seems that a spell was put on the item, which caused it to glow unnecessarily. We applied a spell-cleansing wax to restore proper function and you should have no further problems.

Depending on whether you received the remembrall as a gift or whether it was purchased directly, I would ask the person or store about the item and its' history if you are inclined to find out more.

Thank you for your continued patronage and please let us know if we can be of further service.

Best regards,

Dervish & Banges

Minerva unwrapped the package and rolled the remembrall around in her hand. It was hard to believe that someone had cast a spell on her remembrall. She had received it as a gift when she was very young. It had been a saving grace during her school years when she was so busy with her classes. Many times she had been so wrapped up in reading in the library that the remembrall sitting in her hand was the only thing that allowed her to have any form of a social life. Of course, she never forgot to go to classes but social visits and quidditch matches didn't stick in her brain as well. And considering her love of all things quidditch, that was saying a lot.

The next day, Minerva was supervising her class as they attempted to transfigure the feathers in front of them into a broom. They would then take the brooms to their charms and potions classes and learn the rudimentary skills to make the brooms fly. The brooms would not be fast or go very high but the students always seemed to love this lesson and it taught them a great deal about being precise. Minerva had to admit that it was one of her better ideas. She was gratified when the other professors had agreed to her lesson plan proposal. Normally this portion of the lesson would be done in their Transfiguration class but Minerva had been given the honor since it had been her inspiration that had led to it in the first place.

She loved teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts but if she was honest, she loved teaching Transfiguration more. She smiled to herself thinking that when Albus had suggested she teach the first lesson creating the brooms, she had almost refused simply because it had been his suggestion. However, her better sense had won and she had gracefully accepted. It was the one time since she had begun her career at Hogwarts that she had been happy with her old Head of House.

It was just as class was wrapping up that the idea came to her. Rushing to her office, she threw floo powder into the fireplace and called out.