Chapter 2: Reacquainted

Sixteen years passed, during which Albus saw Minerva no more than twice a year, each time by chance at the Ministry of Magic, always very briefly. She was still beautiful, with arresting eyes, and she was always warmly friendly towards Albus. Still, he was content with their irregular meetings, neither seeking her out nor avoiding her. Pleased with each chance encounter, but never confident enough to pursue her.

Through the grapevine, he had heard that she dated many men, but never more than twice; he had no idea whether this was true, but it was interesting. Albus avoided ever asking about Minerva, so each tidbit he heard was a surprise gift.

Professor Acitest continued talking about retiring, but only talking, and there were no openings on the teaching staff until the sudden and tragic death of Professor Hooper of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Flitwick sniffed, "She taught the students about so many dangerous dark creatures for so long that I stopped worrying about it."

"At least none of the students died," Headmaster Dippet commented. "But how am I going to get anyone to teach a class that killed a professor?"

"I'll teach it," Albus offered. "I've always wanted to."

"Excellent idea," Flitwick agreed. Turning to Dippet, he added, "And you should try to get McGonagall for Transfiguration."

"Really?" Dippet asked, surprised.

"Definitely," Acitest confirmed.

"Do you agree, Dumbledore?"

"Headmaster, I'll defer to my colleagues who taught her."

"Professor Dumbledore," Headmaster Dippet called as they headed into dinner on December first. "I want you to meet our newest teacher, Professor McGonagall."

Albus had barely allowed his eyes to flicker towards Minerva and her cat entourage while Dippet was speaking, but when he finished, Albus offered his hand and his full attention to her. "Good evening, Professor McGonagall, and welcome back to Hogwarts. It's a pleasure to see you again." She had a firm and confident handshake, and Albus wondered whether it was just his wishful imagination that she held his hand a couple seconds longer than necessary. As his own mind and body were wandering, he mused that he was probably misperceiving her action.

Minerva's eyes seemed to look through his eyes and into his soul as she smiled and shook his hand. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. I'm flattered that you remember me after our brief acquaintance on the train."

"Please, call me Albus."

"If you'll call me Minerva."

He smiled and nodded. "I confess the impression was cemented in my mind when I returned to Hogwarts and heard of how well you, Sam, and Tommy had done on your exams. Very impressive."

"Thank you," Minerva replied with a blush. "Learning comes naturally to me. I don't know whether teaching will. Perhaps you, as the next newest teacher at Hogwarts, would be so kind as to give me some advice."

"Of course, though there are far more experienced teachers you might consult."

"Perhaps I will, but you may best remember what it is like to begin teaching." Albus nodded and Minerva continued, "I planned to take a walk after dinner to reacquaint myself with the grounds. Perhaps you would join me and tell me what it's most important for a new teacher to know."

"I would be pleased to take a walk and offer you what little insight I can." One cat stood with its front paws on Albus's leg, briefly distracting his attention from Minerva. "Sophie?" The cat launched itself upward and Albus put his arms out just in time to catch.

Minerva laughed. "Yes, Sophie's getting up in years. And these are Drupe, Sivie, and Relie. All of you cats should go find my things now." Sophie jumped down and all the cats left, and Albus enjoyed watching Minerva fondly watch her cats.

Throughout their exchange, Albus had been so focused on savoring every word and expression and motion of Minerva that he had forgotten that Dippet was there with them, but now Dippet broke the spell. "You should ask Professor Dumbledore to show you the forest, too, though perhaps not tonight. He's made rather a study of the forest since coming to teach here."

"That sounds fascinating." Minerva's attention had only briefly turned from Albus to Dippet. "Perhaps on the weekend."

"Yes," Albus agreed. "I imagine that picking up classes in the middle of the term will keep you quite busy this week. Which reminds me that I left my notes on what each class has covered and the homework they have due on your desk."

"Thank you."

"Why don't we go in," Dippet suggested. "And the two of you can discuss these things after introductions, during dinner."

Albus was pleased that this was the first of many meals that Minerva spent talking with him, and the first of what became daily chats walking on the grounds. Their walks in the woods also became regular weekend features, and Albus was glad that his sixteen years of experience there had taught him enough to share for years.

He felt a bit guilty that she was not spending as much time getting to know the rest of the staff, but it seemed that when he did try to involve others in their conversations, she was more interested in talking to him, anyway. And she smiled more at him than with anyone else, which also gave him hope that perhaps she had feelings for him. Still, he was in no mood to rush things, quite content to relish her smiles and twinkling eyes as they learned about each other through words, gestures, and expressions, never touching after that first handshake.

Most of the children were gone for the Christmas holiday, but Minerva had said nothing about being away, so Albus was surprised when she was late for breakfast on the twenty-fourth. When she did arrive, she appeared upset.

"Minerva, are you all right?"

As she sat in her usual place next to him, she shook her head. "I'll be spending a couple of days with my parents after all. They're very upset. Usually they have four or five dozen people over on Christmas, mostly family, but this year one of my cousins is hosting a Christmas party, too. And since it's the first year she has, almost everyone is going there, instead. My folks might have only a dozen people at their house. Who knew it would upset them so much?" She shook her head while rolling her eyes before drinking some of the juice that Albus had poured for her.

"Would you like me to come?" Poppy offered.

"Oh, would you?" Minerva asked hopefully. "They asked me to bring friends from Hogwarts, but I pointed out that some have plans and some must stay here with the students."

"Well, I could certainly come for a few hours on Christmas. Couldn't you, Professor Dumbledore?" Poppy asked.

Minerva turned to him with a brilliant smile, "Yes, please do, Albus."

Albus smiled into her hopeful eyes. "I'd be pleased to."

"I have to go after breakfast today. You're welcome anytime between ten and ten on Christmas, and I'll leave directions for you."

As the three of them continued chatting over breakfast, Albus realized that Minerva clearly had found time to forge a friendship with Poppy, and he was glad.

Albus arrived at about two on Christmas, knowing Poppy had already been there for several hours. He wasn't sure what to expect, but the warm greeting from Minerva's parents was a good sign. "Professor Dumbledore, please come in." He was drawn in by a firm handshake. "Lars and Clio, Minerva's parents. She told us we could expect you."

"Thank you, Lars. Please call me Albus," he said to them both as he shook Clio's hand.

"Albus. Good." Clio had the same brilliant smile as her daughter. "Minerva hasn't been able to say enough nice things about you."

"It's so generous of you to share your time and experience with her. And I'm particularly interested to hear what you've been showing her in the forest."

"Dad." Minerva appeared with a wide smile, shaking her head and taking her father's arm. "He's barely arrived. Why don't you offer him something to drink or introduce him to some of your other guests?" Her eyes had started on her father but had soon strayed to Albus, and in them he recognized the same affection he had long felt for her. This realization caused his friendly smile to broaden as he felt a warmth that he knew meant he was blushing.

For a moment, they stood grinning at each other, oblivious to everything else.

"Minerva!" A witch with gray-streaked black hair escaping from a bun at the base of her neck stuck her head through a doorway. "Help!" But Minerva and her mother were already headed in that direction because of the smoke wisping out of the same doorway.

Lars explained, "That's Clio's sister, Camilla. We try to avoid leaving her alone in the kitchen, for obvious reasons. Actually, she's pretty dangerous left alone in any room. Come on, let's find something to drink."

Albus ended up spending almost the whole afternoon and evening talking with Lars and Minerva's other relatives. She seemed trapped in the kitchen, and the two times he had attempted to spend time with her in there, he had been drenched in sauce and his robes set on fire by Camilla. Minerva's relatives were all very friendly and seemed to go out of their way to impress him. They also slipped a number of times – possibly on purpose – revealing that Minerva had indicated her partiality towards him.

The most time Minerva and Albus spent in the same room that day was when all fourteen people in the house sat down to dinner. She was diagonally across the table from him, and he was pleased that she seemed comfortable smiling and even flirting with him there in front of her family.

Minerva did manage to pull Albus aside for a few moments of privacy after dinner. "What is this?" he asked as she placed a box into his hands.

With a serene smile, she urged, "Open it."

When he did, he saw a shallow stone basin with runes carved around the edge. "A pensieve!"

"You may find it useful someday."

"And in the meantime, I'll have fun playing with it! Thank you!" Albus was still grinning as he carefully put it back in the box and then the box disappeared into one pocket of his robe as he pulled a soft package out of another pocket. "And this is for you."

Her eyes sparkled at him in anticipation before shifting to the present. As she pulled the paper off, he could see she was pleased with the soft emerald green fabric. After turning a corner over to reveal the lining, she turned stunned eyes up to Albus. "An invisibility cloak?"

Albus smiled and nodded, savoring her pleasure.

"Albus, it's gorgeous. And I'm sure it will be useful."

"Happy Christmas, Minerva."

"Happy Christmas."

They were at that point interrupted by the twelve other people in the house moving from dessert in the dining room to tea in the sitting room.

As ten grew near, Albus suggested he should leave several times, but there always seemed to be one other thing first, until at last he was alone in the house with Minerva and her parents. Then he was allowed to bid them good night, shaking hands with Lars and kissing Clio and Minerva's hands, which made Clio laugh and Minerva blush.

Albus left, looking forward to seeing many more smiles and blushes on Minerva's face.