Chapter 4: A Shoe-In

Minerva ran along the train looking for a free compartment and ran into someone, causing her to fall down. She looked up and gasped as she tried not to smile when she saw whom she had collided with.

"Professor D-", she gaped, "H-h-hello."

"Miss McGonagall?", Albus looked at Minerva with extreme confusion as he offered his hand to help her up, "Not to be rude, but what are you doing here?"

"Applying for the transfiguration position", she continued, "but apparently you're still filling it. I must've read the ad wrong", Minerva said as she took Albus' hand.

"On the contrary, I am looking for a transfiguration teacher. I have not had a real teacher for that course, we have tried to have other teachers cover the position, but it seems that no one simply has the time anymore, so I finally put an ad in The Daily Prophet hoping to get a teacher. Because since Headmaster Dippet retired and I have taken over the school."

"Oh."

"You're a shoe-in, don't worry", he winked as he spoke to her.

"Just let me tell you, I want to get the job on talent, not on 'connections', and I will make sure of that", Minerva looked hard at her former professor to let him know that she meant business.

"As you wish", Albus remembered their night together those many years ago and tried not to blush as Minerva walked away from him.

Albus walked into his compartment and sat down. He tried not to think about Minerva, but found his mind wandering back to her every few minutes. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Come in", Albus smiled as he spoke, knowing not who was about to walk in.

"There are no other compartments left, do you mind?", Albus nodded at her and motioned for Minerva to come in, as she did after shutting the door.

She's probably married, Albus thought to himself and looked at her left hand, No ring, maybe you still have a chance, old boy. Minerva had sat next to him and was looking out the window when Albus' eyes became locked on her.

She felt a hand on her knee and looked at Albus. He squeezed her knee and gave her a friendly smile, never actually moving his hand away. Minerva looked at his hand and then back to his face. She layed her head on Albus' shoulder to establish that she wanted to be friends.

Being a man, Albus took this gesture wrong, very wrong, and pulled Minerva onto his lap. Trying not to be rude, Minerva simply stood up and walked the short distance to the window and stared out it.

"I'm sorry", Albus looked at his feet, "I guess I cant read women anymore, can I?"

"Is that what you're trying to do? Read me?"

"Miss McGonagall, no--I-i…", he looked up at her back and then back down to his feet.

Minerva turned to him and put two fingers under his chin and lifted his face to look at her. Their faces were inches apart and Minerva spoke.

"I am not offended Prof-", she was interrupted by Albus pulling himself up, grabbing her by the waist and kissing her.

Minerva was as good as petrified. Her back stiffened, her eyes flew open wide and her arms went rigid, but she did not move away. When she finally relaxed his lips were still against hers and she responded by putting her hands on his shoulders and slowly started to kiss him back, that is until she realized what she was doing.

She pulled away and Albus let her go, as she turned away from him and then turned back to face him. The silence hit Minerva almost as if someone had just said that Honeydukes had discontinued the sale of Ginger Newts, her favorite candy. Albus had left and she was alone. Minerva sat in his seat, that was still warm, and awaited his return. She remembered that lone night in the Gryffindor common room and all of her old feelings for her former professor came rushing back.

She ventured out into the hallway of the train to look to Albus, Minerva walked up and down the train, but he was nowhere to be found.

Eventually the future Hogwarts transfiguration teacher gave up and went back to her and Albus' compartment and sat back down in his spot.

Albus came back, closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening the compartment door and speaking.

"Minerva, I'm s-"

She held her hand up to silence him and smiled while motioning for Albus to sit and he did.

"Let's put that little thing behind us and be friends, Professor. If you're willing to than so am I.", Minerva held her hand out, wondering if he would shake it.

Albus shook her hand and spoke, "I agree fully Miss McGonagall. And please, call me Albus."

"Only if you will call me Minerva, Albus", she smiled and tried not to blush at the sound of his name on her lips.

(A/N: Are you going to review and make my day?? If you review then I'll update!! Deal?? Okay!!)