Disclaimer: I own nothing dealing with Harry Potter and all that.

A/N: I just wanted to say thank you very much to all those who have reviewed. And yes, this is also one of my favorite songs, Music of the Night. I love the whole Phantom of the Opera story and the music is just awesome. And this song in particular seemed to fit this story outline really well. Anywho, here we go. On with the story.

Albus entered his room, feeling tired. He suddenly felt every one of his one hundred and sixty-two years. But it wasn't just the fact that it was nearing midnight that made him so tired. It was her-Minerva Katherine McGonagall, his deputy headmistress. She filled his mind nearly every second of every day. Her face was entrancing, her movements graceful, and her voice melodious. When she said his name, he immediately felt weak in the knees. Of all the things he'd done and said in his life, he'd never felt as powerless as when she spoke to him.

It was as if he was the puppet and she was the puppeteer-wherever she pulled him, he would go. He had loved her for so many decades, but never said a word, for if he could have nothing else, he wanted her friendship. But it sure wasn't easy for him to keep it all inside. Especially after he saw her in nothing but a muggle robe. It was all he could do to keep his mind clear and tell her of the trouble.

He quickly changed into his sleeping robes and dropped sleepily into his bed. He closed his eyes and images of her beautiful face played in his minds eye. After several minutes, those images blended easily into a happy dream as Albus fell into a deep, deep sleep.

Albus' dream

In his dream, Albus was walking through the woods, sunlight breaking in beams through the high treetops. Nature's scent swirled merrily around his nose, bringing a smile to his now relaxed face. Birds sang happily while squirrels gathered nuts along the ground, their dance never changing yet ever fresh.

As he made his way through the forest, he could hear his name being called in the distance. It was soft at first, but steadily grew clearer as he moved closer to a clearing. He knew that voice! It was the sweet voice of his dear Minerva, beckoning for him to come closer.

His pace quickened in his haste to see her. He wanted to see her, to touch, smell, and feel her. Soon, he broke into a slow but steady run, pushing back tree branches and dodging numerous bushes until he reached the clearing. There, in the middle of the clearing, stood his deputy headmistress. Her hair was no longer in its usual bun. Instead, it flowed freely down her back, the grey streaks only intensifying her ebony locks. A single white flower decorated the right side, though it paled in comparison to her.

Her lips, Albus thought, shamed that of the red rose. Her skin reminded him of porcelain. In place of her usual emerald green robes were blue ones, which matched his eyes to the shade. They clung tightly to her slim figure, hugging every curve.

But her eyes had bewitched him almost instantly. Her beautiful, piercing green eyes were soft and kind, seeming to speak with a passion beyond comprehension.

"Hello," was all Albus could say. Minerva's smile was warm and affectionate.

"Hello, stranger," she said, holding out her arms to him. He didn't ask questions, nor did he wonder why. It just felt right. He simply walked right into her loving embrace, holding her close to him and smelling her sweet scent. It was the most intoxicating scent he'd ever smelt in his life-a wonderful blend of cinnamon and apples. Oh, how he wished he could just bottle that scent and keep it on his person at all times.

He pulled back to look at her beautiful face again, but was mortified at what he saw. Minerva's face had changed. Instead of the beautiful face that had haunted so many of his dreams, there was now just a skull with little flesh left. Albus couldn't help but let out a small gasp.

"What's wrong, Albus?" the skull hissed. It was Minerva's voice, yes, but it was full of anger and pain. "Don't you love me anymore, ALBUS?" she cried. Albus was scared and hurt by her harsh words. He took a few steps back, right arm in defense.

"Of course I do, Minerva," he said.

"Then why do you cower before me?" shot Minerva, her voice high pitched now.

"Yes, I love you! I love you! I do, I do!" cried Albus. The once beautiful clearing was not dark and full of thorns.

"You do not love me! You lie! Liar, liar, liar!" she cried.

"Yes I do!" shouted Albus. "I love you, I love you. Why won't you believe me?"

"Because, Albus!" A mans voice rang out, and seemed to be coming from everywhere. Albus looked around, frantic. "You are nothing but an old man, incapable of love." Albus kept up his wild search. He knew that voice, why did he know that voice? It sounded so familiar, and yet so strange.

"Who are you and what do you want?" cried Albus, running the entirety of the clearing, searching for that unfamiliar voice. Suddenly, it was all darkness and he stopped, shaking violently.

"You know what I want," drawled the deep voice. A spotlight appeared on his precious Minerva, who was back to her normal state. "Surrender Hogwarts to me and you can be with Minerva!"

"And if I do not?" inquired Albus, keeping his eyes on the only one who had captured his heart. Yes, he loved her and would gladly give up anything and everything just to be with her. But he wasn't about to give up Hogwarts to someone who was obviously an enemy.

"If you do not...." At this, an invisible force pulled Minerva into the air, making her disappear. "... I shall simply eliminate her. Along with everyone else you hold dear."

"No! No!" cried Albus. He cried out to Minerva, though he knew she probably couldn't hear him. "I love you! I love you!"

End Dream

"Albus! Albus!" He awoke with a start as he heard his name being called. As his vision cleared, he saw Minerva, worry painted all over her face.

"Minerva?" he whispered.

"Oh, Albus, you had us all worried," she breathed. It was only then that he looked around and saw Poppy, Severus, Xiomara, and Sylvia, all staring at him worriedly as well.

"Oh, um..." Albus stuttered, wiping the sweat that had accumulated on his face. "I had a dream."

"A dream?" questioned Severus. Albus nodded and proceeded to tell his dream. Well, not the dream in its entirety. He just told of the last part, the part in which the mysterious man (undoubtedly the same one that had invaded Collin's dreams) had threatened to kill him and his loved ones unless he surrendered Hogwarts.

"Oh, Albus," sighed Xiomara. "That is just horrible."

"I can't believe he threatened those I am close to like that," said Albus. "Thank you, Poppy." The medi-witch smiled as she placed a wet towel on his head.

"Yes, we were rather curious about those outbursts," frowned Severus.

"Outbursts?" squeaked Albus.

"Yes," said Sylvia. "You were screaming things like, 'No!' and 'I love you!' Who were you talking about?" At this point, Albus felt the blood drain from his face. What was he going to say? He couldn't admit to have been talking about Minerva.

"Erm, my... my mother," he lied. "In my dream, my mother was still alive."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Albus," sighed Minerva. Taking the cloth and dabbing his face with it. He smiled, glad to have her near him.

"I am fine, Minerva, honestly," he said.

"I think you should come with me to the hospital wing," said Poppy.

"No, no, Poppy," he said. "I shall be fine."

"Then what was the point of hiring me if you won't let me do my job?" she huffed.

"Because I am fine," said Albus. Poppy just rolled her eyes at him.

"Fine, just don't blame me if that sweating causes you to get sick!"

"Well, if there is nothing you need me for, I am going to bed," said Xiomara.

"Right behind you," called Sylvia. Severus bowed and left as well.

"Are you going to bed, Min?" asked Poppy.

"Yes, in a minute," Minerva replied. Poppy smiled her all-knowing smile, nodded, and left. Albus' heart soared when Minerva had decided to stay behind.

"There is no need for you to stay with me, Minerva," he said. Minerva smiled.

"I just want to make sure you get back to sleep, Albus," she said. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Thank you, Minerva. You have once again proved to e a great friend." Minerva smiled again. The touch of his hand on hers made her stomach flip several times in succession. They talked for several more hours until they fell asleep, side by side, in Albus' bed.

To be continued...

A/N2: There, that is the end of chapter two! There is still more to come. Hope you liked it. Later much peoples.