Well, here it is, the final chapter. Enjoy it. Then leave a review. No seriously, I hope you like it. I will be writng a brief epilogue in the near future so you will know Aberforth's fate, also so I can thank everyone who leaves a comment for this chapter. I have written a AD/MM oneshot that needs a little tweaking, but I hope to post it in a few weeks when I return home from my travels.
Natsuyori: bows to the audience Thank you, I try.
TartanLioness: Yes, poor Min, poor Albus...
Warozaka: My apologies again for the gender mistake, everyone, warozaka is a guy. It would be kind of funny is Severus were to intercede on Minerva's behalf, yet somehow I think he know better than to step into such dangerous waters.
kidarock: I'm glad you like this story. I still cringe when I reread it!
Albus was not present at lunch, which was fortunate; Minerva was having enough trouble biting back her tears as most of the staff continued to whisper to one another, all of them avoiding her gaze. Snape and Flitwick were the only two who seemed to be above the gossip, but both of them were seated too far away for her to speak with them.
Lunch being a lonely affair, Minerva ate quickly and left the Great Hall. Still not sure how to approach Albus, she took a detour to the Gryffindor common room to buy herself some time. The raucous party going on inside the common room could be heard in the hallway outside.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall," said the Fat Lady. Minerva noticed she was holding a Gryffindor flag.
Minerva gave the password, ("ticklish newts"), and climbed through the portrait hole. She emerged just in time to see Seamus Finnigan finish a break dance routine surrounded by a crowd of cheering Gryffindors, most of them girls. Minerva paused a moment, slightly amused, then spotted Harry Potter and Ron Weasley standing next to a table piled high with snacks and made her way over to them.
"Congratulations, you two," she said, "I'm very proud of both of you.'
"Thanks, Professor," said Harry. Ron's ears went red.
Minerva spent a few more minutes congratulating the other members of the Quidditch team and was hugged more than once by several of the overly hyper students. She was on her way out through the portrait hole when she overheard Ginny Weasley talking to Hermione Granger.
"…wonder what was up with Dumbledore, I mean, he wasn't even smiling when he handed us the Cup."
Minerva felt like crying. This day was definitely not going as planned. First she had committed the huge a horrifying blunder of mistaking Aberforth for his brother, kissing him, and having Albus walk in and witness the whole thing. Now Albus was mad at her, the staff was only halfheartedly concealing their gossip, and even the students were aware that something was not quite right.
Trying desperately not to give in to the tears threatening to engulf her, Minerva hurried toward the Headmaster's office for the second time that day.
"Sugared plums!"
Nothing happened.
"Sugared plum?"
Still nothing.
"Lemon drops? Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans? Pepper Imps?" Minerva named every sweet, wizard and muggle, that she could think of. "Cadbury? Ginger Newts? Pumpkin Pasties? Oh for heaven sakes, open up!"
The tears that had been pricking at the corners of her eyes vanished as the renowned temper of Minerva McGonagall flared to life.
"Open the bloody door, you miserable old man!"
To her great surprise and inner distress, the gargoyles leapt aside and permitted her entrance.
Climbing the stairs as quickly as she could, Minerva arrived at the top and reached for the doorknob while trying to catch her breath. The door was locked.
This is just getting silly, thought Minerva as she reached for her wand.
"Alohamora."
The door remained locked.
"Damn it, Albus, let me in!" Minerva's voice became louder and more commanding with every word. "Albus Percivial Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Open. This. Door. Immediately."
Click.
Minerva stormed in the moment she heard the door unlock. Albus was sitting behind his desk; the pained look in his eyes was quickly replaced by anger as she drew closer to the desk.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded. "Haven't you caused enough trouble within these walls? Must you return to rub it in my face?"
"Don't be stupid, Albus," snapped Minerva, her impatience with the man increasing by the minute, why was he making things so difficult?
"Oh, I have been," said Albus, rising to his feet and walking around the desk so that they were merely inches apart. "But not any more. For now I see you for what you really are. If you want my brother, have him, but stay away from me, you've played with my heart long enough! Get out! Out of my office and out of my life."
The blue eyes that Minerva had found herself lost in so many times before were now ablaze with anger. Minerva was about to respond with a furious reply when the full meaning of his words hit her.
He loved her. He loved her and thought she had known this all along. Suddenly, everything that had happened that day came crushing down on her; the kiss, her embarrassment, his simultaneous declaration of love and betrayal, everything.
Minerva then did the only thing she could do short of internal combustion; she laughed. Once she started, she found it quite difficult to stop. She was laughing so hard that tears leaked from her eyes and she collapsed into the armchair in front of his desk.
She loved him, had for years, and had assumed that today he was just disgusted by her behavior. He loved her, apparently had for quite some time, and thought that she knew this and that she had a thing for his brother. The thought of being in love with Aberforth Dumbledore was so ridiculous that she laughed even harder.
Looking up at Albus standing above her, she thought he looked rather dignified. But the heartbroken pain etched into his features sent needles into her heart and ended her laughter at once. A solitary tear was winding its way down Albus' long, crooked nose. With an aching heart, Minerva rose to her feet.
"I have loved you for thirty years and I will continue to do so for the rest of eternity," said Minerva softly, several tears running down her cheeks as well. "Believe me when I say that I would rather die a thousand deaths than to deliberately cause you pain."
"Then how, in the name of Merlin, can you explain what happened this morning?" He asked her, his voice so soft that it was barely audible.
Minerva closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, knowing how stupid this was going to sound.
"I thought it was you," she muttered.
"What?"
"I thought," she stopped and glared at him as her temper rose again, fueled by her embarrassment. "I came up here this morning to tell you that I love you and that goat brained brother of yours buried his face in the pillow and played along! I gave him a little kiss and then he pulled me up onto the bed."
Albus was staring at her in surprise, his eyes wide.
"Minerva, I-"
"Don't 'Minerva' me!" she snapped, all the mortification she had experienced that day swarming back to her. "Do you have any idea what I've gone through all day? The embarrassment I've felt? Being cut down by you in front of the entire staff? I couldn't even enjoy the Quidditch match because every time I looked at you I could see the pain and anger in your face!"
Albus stepped forward abruptly and pulled her into his arms. Minerva cried out her frustration into his shoulder while he spoke in a voice filled with relief.
"When I saw you and Aberforth together this morning I thought…oh, Min, I'm so sorry. All these years I hoped you felt the same way and yet I was so afraid you didn't so when I saw you today…"
Minerva was shaking, but not with sobs; she was laughing again.
"Oh, Albus. You're an old fool, you know that?"
For the first time all day, he gave a genuine smile. The twinkle that appeared in his eyes caused Minerva heart to soar; she had missed that twinkle.
"So I've been told," he replied. Still smiling, he lowered his lips, gently brushing them against hers.
"I love you," she whispered, her warm breath tickling his lips.
"And I you," he answered, lips still grazing hers, causing her to shiver.
Minerva wrapped her arms around his neck, more than aware of the places where their bodies touched. Albus ran his hands down her back and pulled her even closer. Minerva smelled the mint scented shampoo he used on his hair and beard. She pressed her lips more firmly to his. Soon, the kiss deepened; Minerva thought she could taste chocolate on his tongue as it passed over hers. She found herself clinging tighter to him; the kiss was starting to make her feel weak.
The last coherent thought that Minerva was able to manage for quite some time was that this Dumbledore knew how to kiss. She considered mentioning this to Albus, but as soon as the thought had appeared it was driven from her mind by the sheer bliss of being kissed by Albus Dumbledore, the man she loved.