Chapter Three

Two months later, the publishing house, Gutenberg Wizarding Press, announced the impending publication of the autobiography of none other than Albus Dumbledore. A thrilling excerpt of the duel against Grindelwald printed in the Prophet fed the growing hunger for the book. Flourish and Blotts had to hire extra staff just to handle the advanced copy requests for the book. The gates of Hogwarts was besieged by media requesting interviews or more snippets from the book.

Having been included in the excerpt, in very glowing terms no less, Minerva found herself in demand for interviews and commentary. It was not a situation much to her liking. At tea one Saturday, she groused and complained in a manner that Albus thought amusing and endearing.

"But why did you have to include me in that excerpt. I wasn't there for the final battle and -"

"My dear, your intelligence work was crucial to the war effort."

"My work was and is classified as you well know."

Dumbledore put his tea cup down. "I thought you knew that the Ministry had recently declassified that material. I requested it in fact."

Minerva was plainly horrified. "You don't mean that!"

"Your experiences in the field during that time has been the basis of decades of field work training for both Aurors and Unspeakables. It is about time that people became aware of your contributions."

"Albus, some of the things I did, I am far from proud of. They were not ... not things that I was raised to ... to do or to be."

Albus took one of her hands in his. "You did extraordinary things, Minerva. You made decisions that saved many, many lives, mine included."

Minerva looked down at her hand engulfed in his. "We all did what had to be done. I simply did my part."

"That may be but I am certain that without your help, I could not have been in the right place, at the right time, to face Grindelwald. I discovered in my research that I never thanked you properly." Albus brought her hand to his lips. He bent to brush his lips against her soft skin before placing a kiss upon it. He looked up to see her wide open eyes watching him. He murmured. "Thank you, Minerva."

Her throat constricted by emotions she dared not acknowledge in his presence, Minerva could only nod.

"Well, I hope that is that," Dumbledore rose to his feet still holding her hand. "I have a few things to attend to."

"Yes, as do I." Minerva replied grateful for any excuse to leave Albus' disturbing presence. Ever since answering the scroll, Minerva had found her emotions bubbling to the surface far more often than she cared for.

"You won't forget about dinner will you, Minerva? You know how I look forward to our Saturday dinner engagements. It helps take my mind off my book, a much welcome reprieve."

"That depends. Where are we dining tonight?"

Albus kissed her hand once more before letting it go. "You said last week that you wanted to try something continental. So tonight it shall be Georges in Amsterdam."

"Georges, I have not been there in ages. I shall be in the front hall at eight sharp." Minerva turned and left unaware of the eyes that followed in her wake.

Four months later, Minerva found herself in the headmaster's office meeting a young woman of thirty with a pleasant face and even disposition. Her name was Alicia Cornwell.

"Now, Alicia, I'm sure you're eager to start with your new duties," Albus began. "Your office is ready and waiting."

"I am more than ready, sir. My family couldn't believe it when I told them I was the new personal assistant to Minerva McGonagall." Alicia did not lack for youthful enthusiasm. "Imagine me! I never thought to actually be working here."

"You are highly qualified, Alicia." Albus chuckled. "Professor McGonagall, as my exceptional deputy, deserves the best."

Minerva liked Alicia very much. For Alicia's sake, she refrained from rolling her eyes heavenward. Yet another excerpt had been printed in the Prophet. This time it had been about Dumbledore's early years as headmaster. Too late Minerva discovered that he had included her work on modernizing the castle from its interior architecture to its accounting system. She had been most vexed with him. Besides a doubling of interview requests, she was now having to deal with agents asking to represent her in publishing her own series of management books. It was all too much to bear. Now with Alicia's hiring, Minerva was more than ready to give Albus a piece of her mind. Minerva summoned a house elf.

When the elf appeared, Minerva said. "Dobby, please show Ms. Cornwell to her new office. It's the new one by mine. Alicia, let's consider today as your settling in day. Go ahead and set your office to your comfort and organization. I shall get you at lunch and after lunch in the hall, we will tour the castle. All right?"

Alicia nodded and followed Dobby out. Her head swivelled from left to right trying to take in all she saw and heard. Minerva waited until the door had clicked shut. Seeing the glint of determined intent in his deputy's eyes, Albus braced himself.

She stared at him silently for a time much as a cat would study a cornered mouse. Albus waited her out. Still not saying a word, she sat on one edge of his desk. Her regard was steady and unrelenting. Albus swallowed finding it difficult to maintain a neutral expression or to avoid shrinking into his chair. She leaned slightly towards him. She whispered one word. "Why?"

The cat wants to play, he thought. Well, so do I. "Isn't it obvious?"

Minerva traced lazy circles on his desk as she replied. "Why do you persist?"

With her gaze downward, she did not notice Albus' eyes roaming, lovingly, along her form. His eyes lingered on Minerva's elegant curve of neck and her striking profile. She was not a stunning beauty but she fascinated him more than any other. "Me? Persist in what, my dear?"

"You persist in disordering my life without my knowledge." Minerva said her next words carefully and with emphasis locking eyes with her friend and superior. "I do not like it."

"Yet, you continually impose order upon chaos. You are driven to do so."

"I am your deputy. The well-ordered running of this institution is my responsibility. Everything and everyone at Hogwarts is my responsibility."

"And you are mine," Albus said simply.

Albus' words took the wind out her sails. His concern and regard shone clearly from his eyes. She walked over to the window and stared out at the lake. Nothing was said between them as they, from long practice, let their argument pass.

She felt him him approach her. He said. "You are taking me to task for seeing to the welfare of someone who has always thought of others more than of herself. Someone has to look after you, why won't you let me?"

"Whether I let you or not, you do it anyway," Minerva replied.

"Is it so disagreeable to you?" Albus leaned in a little, invading her space. "Tell me so I may make adjustments to regain your favor."

Minerva did not answer. The tension caused by their argument seeped out of her body. Inwardly, she yearned to turn around, wrap her arms about his neck, look into his eyes and tell him the truth. In the past few months their friendship had progressed past the familiarity imbued by years of acquaintance to a fledgling sense of the other; she dared not call it intimacy except in the privacy of her heart. She had discovered more and more to love and admire about this man.

Albus pressed closer to her. Softly, for her ear alone, he said. "I am trying, in my inadequate way, to apologize for my seemingly high-handed ways, Minerva. I should have told you about the excerpt. I may be the head of Hogwarts but you are its heart. People need to know that."

Minerva clenched her fists by her side. If not, she would have flung her arms around him then and there. "You should have told me. I was unprepared for the ... the onslaught."

"I am sorry for that. As to the other matter, with my book, I have not been as much of a help to you. I had thought that Alicia would allow you to remove yourself from the more tedious duties of administration." Knowing that their argument was over, Albus teased her. "What can I do to earn your forgiveness, oh deputy of mine?"

Minerva turned around. She gasped at realizing how close they stood. Her hand landed on his chest. "You can start by promising to never surprise me like that again."

Before he lost his nerve, Albus bent down and kissed her on the cheek. "I promise, Minerva."

Minerva stood immobile. Her body felt cold, numb except for the burning spot on her cheek where he had kissed her. It was a kiss between friends. Do not make more of it than that, she admonished herself. Trying to regain her equilibrium, she resorted to teasing him in return. "See that you do, Albus, because I may not be so forgiving next time. Now, if you will excuse, I need to check on Alicia."

Once Minerva had departed, Albus turned to Fawkes and said. "She is a proud, independent woman and I have to tread carefully. Filius had said I needed a challenge. She is certainly that. But we are making progress in the wooing, Fawkes, progress."