As they sat down on the couch Albus reached over and took Minerva's hand within his own. In response Minerva moved so close to Albus she was literally pressed up against his side. An eerie silence had fallen over the room as the couple had entered and made themselves comfortable. Minerva was about to speak to break the silence when almost every member of her family spoke at once.

"So, three months? Where did you go on your first date? Are you getting married? "What does the school say?" "Did you know that Minerva has only brought one other man home?" "Minerva, Sean should be coming by tomorrow." "Albus has Minerva told you about Sean?" "Has she mentioned us?" "Are you just dating, seeing only each other, lovers, what?"

Albus' head was spinning, and he had never felt so sorry for Minerva nor had he understood her as well as he did at that moment. Her guarded walls and her intensely personal self were all because of these people. He now knew why she stayed at Hogwarts every day she could, summer included.

"Excuse me, excuse me, EXCUSE ME," Albus screamed and finally the room fell silent.

"We understand that you have lots of questions, but we cannot answer them if you all shout at the same time." Albus was looking at the group over his half-moon spectacles, and was giving them the best "teacher" look he could muster.

"Ok, I'll go first," said a woman younger than Minerva, "Are you just dating, or is this something serious?"

Albus replied, "Something serious, Ms..."

"I'm Athena's mother, just call be Natalie. No Miss."

"Are you getting married," asked a rather fierce looking man, "oh, and I'm one of her uncles, William."

"Ah, well William we have not discussed that yet. We are still getting to know each other on a more personal level. If we do I promise you will be the first to know."

Minerva was looking at Albus in awe. Not only was he remaining so calm, but he was taking all their questions. She just settled back into the sofa, and decided that if Albus needed her help she would jump in but until then she would just listen.

Sara was next, "Where did you go on your first date?"

"I asked Minerva out just for dinner, but I did not tell her where dinner would be."

Before Albus could finish Minerva jumped in, "It was very romantic. He took me to Tuscany, and we had dinner just as the sun was setting." Albus looked to Minerva quickly, and then smiled. Minerva smiled back. The questioning kept up for half an hour more, before Minerva and Albus could escape.

"Natalie, do you know where Athena went? I promised I would go find her when we were finished," Minerva asked.

"I think she went outside."

Minerva stood up with her hand still in Albus', and they walked outside.

"Oh Albus, I am so sorry. You have no idea how having you here as helped me, and I owe you."

"It's nothing Minerva, but I do have a question for you. Is dinner in Tuscany your idea of a first date," Albus asked his eyes twinkling madly.

Minerva blushed, and looked to the ground: "Well, let's just say I think it would be the perfect first date." Albus stored this information in his memory for future use. "Minerva, who is Sean?"

Albus noticed that Minerva had tightened her grip on his hand before answering, "Every single family function has him showing up to ask my hand in marriage. I do everything, Albus, to get him to go away but he never does. He follows me around, and he tries to touch me and he tried to kiss me last year. Well, I'm not sure he will do that again because he had two very red cheeks where I had slapped him, but I know he will still follow me around. The last time I was here I had to use magic. He made me so mad!" Minerva was huffing now, and her cheeks were red with fury.

Stopping their movements Albus asked, "My dear what did he do?"

"I was reading to Athena in the library and he came in there telling me that he was more important than Athena and that he couldn't understand how I could spend so much time with a child. Athena was in tears, Albus. I'm warning you if he says one word to Athena, he'll regret the day he ever met me."

"Well, my dear, he won't get near you if I have anything to do with it and if he says anything to Athena let me know."

For the second time that day Minerva leaned up and kissed Albus on the cheek, and then threw her arms around his neck holding on tight. Albus was in heaven, because she was in his arms.

"Aunt Min, Aunt Min," yelled Athena as she came racing toward the couple. Albus liked Athena, but he was beginning to wonder if the child was jealous because she had this ability to keep interrupting his moments with Minerva. Minerva looked up, but did not leave Albus' embrace until Athena was right beside of her.

"What is it, Athena?"

"Sean is coming Aunt Min. He is just beyond that hill," the child exclaimed out of breath.

Minerva hugged her niece, and said "I won't let him be mean to you again, sweetheart. Thank you for the warning."

Suddenly Minerva had an idea, and she stood up quickly. "Athena I want you to go inside, please." Athena was about to protest, but Minerva gave her a look that booked no argument. "I love you, little one, but I need you to go inside right now."

When she was gone Minerva turned to Albus. "I have an idea. I think Sean would get the idea if he saw us in a rather...um...interesting situation." Before she could say another word they heard Sean yell, "Minerva, darling, is that you?"

Minerva stepped up to Albus, her nose millimeters from his. She whispered, "Kiss me." Albus hadn't heard, "What?"

Minerva replied putting her arms around his neck, "Kiss me." Albus was shocked, but he couldn't say no to her. His arms went around her waist and he lowered his lips to kiss her. His intention was to keep the pressure light, but then her lips were so incredibly soft.

Minerva couldn't believe it. He was kissing her! Yes, she had basically thrown herself at him, but he was kissing her. Forgetting all about Sean she focused solely on kissing Albus. Soon the kiss moved past the friendly stage, and when Minerva parted her lips practically begging Albus to deepen the kiss he couldn't resist. The kiss became more and more intense by the second as their tongues battled fiercely, and Albus had moved his hands to her hair undoing the bun and running his fingers through it. Minerva couldn't help it, as soon as his fingers started to run through her hair she moaned. Before the kiss could progress further they were pulled out of their little reverie by the sound of Sean's voice: "WHO ARE YOU, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?"

Albus lifted his lips from Minerva's and turned to look at Sean never letting Minerva go.

"I am Albus Dumbledore, and as to what we were doing I don't think I need to answer that question."

Minerva looked to Sean and said, "Hello Sean." Then returning her attention back to Albus she leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Perhaps we should finish this upstairs, darling, before we are interrupted again." Albus smiled, and nodding to Sean led Minerva back into the house and up to their room.

Once inside Minerva removed herself from Albus, "Thank you, Albus. I know that was embarrassing."

"Not at all my dear." Not really sure of where to go from there, Minerva left Albus to calm down and to find Athena.

Albus wondered if tonight was going to be a little awkward.