"Well isn't she amazing, our very own star-gazing Serena! By the way, Professor, purple really does flatter you, you know- should wear it more often!" Minerva chuckled despite herself as Sera coloured bright scarlet- a colour which, needless to say, didn't exactly flatter her.
"But anyway, on with the show, now. Our darling Flying Instructor's turn- yes, Lovely Ladies and Gorgeous Gentlemen, here she is, ravishing Rolanda Hooch with… "Dream Weaver"!" Well, if he's trying to make Ro blush, Minerva thought with a smile, then he'll get a run for his money! She had calmed down a bit as she'd remembered the title of the song Ro would sing. "Dream Weaver"- well, it wasn't as if Rolanda could do very much with those lyrics, now could she? As soon as the silver-haired witch opened her mouth, Minerva knew she was terribly mistaken…

"She has just closed her eyes again
Climbed aboard the Hogwarts Express train.
Albus, take away her worries of today
And leave tomorrow behind."

Oh damn- Rolanda was messing up one of her favourite songs. Another one of her favourite songs, Minerva thought sarcastically. And as if her previous, embarrassing attempts to help Minerva "hook the Headmaster", as she so nicely put it, hadn't been enough- it looked as if she d started to even use their damn names now…

"Hogwarts Express, I believe you can guide them through the night
And, Albus, I believe you can reach the morning light!"

I am so sorry, Albus, Minerva prayed, hoping that he'd hear her somehow. She was so very sorry- he had been dragged into this out of nowhere, the students were now giving him, too, odd looks and what if it was all for nothing? What if he had no feelings whatsoever for his so many years younger Deputy- her? And yet, as she slowly, careful not to be noticed, cast a quick look at him, he seemed to be enjoying the hell out of himself- he was smiling, and she knew him well enough to know that it was a genuine smile.

"Fly her high through the starry sky.
Use Floo Powder if you need.
Cross the highways through a Portkey.
Help her to forget today's greed."

It was actually a quite nice version of the song, Minerva caught herself thinking as she felt a small smile creep on her lips. Albus didn't seem to mind- and that was all what mattered to her at the moment. He did really seem to like it- his and her eyes kept locking in an extremely confusing way. And he smiled. He truly smiled.
He smiled at her.

"Minerva, I believe you can guide him through the night
And MORONS, I believe you can reach the morning light!!!'

It was so damn, damn, damn embarrassing, so damn stupid of Ro- and yet it was funny, in a very weird "Rolanda"-kind of way… Albus locked eyes with her again, on that moment, as she was pondering over the truth of Rolanda's last statement- they were morons. In his eyes lay a badly hidden question- and unconsciously, she sent back her undoubted and sincere answer.
Yes, Albus. Yes I love you. Yes I adore you.
Yes, Albus.
I do.

She hardly heard Lee Jordan announcing her last song- it was something about "nice legs", "pretty thing" and "mini skirt", but she was far too "gone" to care. "Eternal Flame" was her last chance to tell Albus what he probably already knew by now. And she'd take her chance- she'd grab her chance with both hands…

"Close your eyes, give me your hand, darlin'"

He was sitting so close. So very, very close to her- and would she dare- would she dare to actually… But even before she could finish her thoughts, her slender, pale fingers were already touching his wrinkled hand.

'Do you feel my heart beating?
Do you understand?
Do you feel the same?"

She felt it- she lost control over her own voice- she'd never meant any words the way she meant this question. The question of her life it was- the answer meant life to her.
Life or death.

"Or am I only dreaming…
Is this burning, an eternal flame?

I believe it's meant to be, darlin'
I watch you when you are sleeping…"

That was the truth, and he knew it, and she knew he knew it. He'd almost caught her, once, sneaking out of his rooms in the middle of the night- in her Animagus form, of course. She couldn't imagine how he could ever have truly recognized her, in the dark- but he wasn't stupid. He must have guessed, he just must have.

"You belong to me.
Do you feel the same?
Am I only dreaming…
Or is this burning, an eternal flame?"

"I love you, Albus." she wanted to yell as, just before she loosened her soft grip on his hand and wanted to pull back, he raised the her fingers to his mouth and pressed a kiss on them. The audience went wild- but Minerva hardly noticed.
She'd taken her decision- and with the last song, she would take his breath away. It was no romantic song, "Fame", nor was it in any way a declaration of love, but it was what she had left.
And she was determined to make the best out of it.
"Lovely ladies and gorgeous gentlemen… all good things come to an end and so will this show, but before we say goodbye to this three damn cuties- though I believe one of them isn't free anymore…" "Jordan!" Minerva yelled, half laughingly, half with disdain.
"… they will sing one more song. Here they are, people- Minnie and her Tabbycats, with… "Fame"!" Minerva knew what she would do. Damn hell, how she knew!

"Darling, look at me,
And tell me what you see!
You ain't seen the best of me yet
Give me a chance,
I'll make you forget the rest

I got more in me And you can set it free I can catch Dark Lords in my hands You don't know who I am!"

She looked straight into his eyes, now- there were tears on her cheeks as she finally, finally, after those years and years and years realized what that strange twinkle hidden deep in those sapphires of his was. It was love. It was love, and it was love for her.

"Cause I ain't a sin!
Min!

I'm gonna live forever
With a broomstick I know how to fly
High

If only we're coming together,
I don't think I will ever die!
Min!

If we ever make it to heaven,
We'll dance, we will whirl, we will spin!
Min!

I'm gonna live forever
Darling, remember my name!

Min!"

It was over, she knew, as a storm of applause like Hogwarts had never known before washed over her and her "tabbycats". It was over, she knew, and for some strange reason, she'd liked it. She'd loved it. She'd adored every single goddamn minute of it.
She enjoyed the applause, though, and the cheers- but only one thing could make her truly smile- and it did. It was the light- almost delirious feeling of being lifted up, off the stage, by two strong, yet wrinkled hands. She didn't have to look up to realize whose arms it were around her. Albus Dumbledore's eyes twinkled like never before, as, impulsively, Minerva pressed her face against his. They had been friends, good friends, best friends for many years, yet she still was confused as he pulled back after sheer moments, a mischievous grin on his face.
"You can't hurry love, Professor McGonagall." But as soon as his hands cupped her face, she knew what she had to say.
"I think we have waited long enough, Headmaster."
And they kissed.