A/N: This is the third chapter... It's been a very loong time since I've updated, I know, and I'm terribly sorry, but I couldn't figure out how to upload the stupid chapter...Ok, here's the thing!

Chapter 3: Staff--The Good, Bad, and the Ugly

That was close, thought Minerva. Way too close. Maybe it'll be better if I take some fresh air... She walked to the Quidditch stadium with her trusty Comet. Minerva took off with flying grace. She practiced her moves, all the twists, turns, and spirals as she felt the cool, familiar air brush past her cheeks. But she realized she wasn't alone. Minerva say two little figures on the ground below. She zoomed down until she touched the grass.

"Wow, Minerva! I can see that you haven't laid back on your Chaser moves!" Hooch commented.

"Amelia! So nice to see you here! Al-- Professor, did you hire her too?" Minerva inquired, hoping no one noticed her little slip-up.

Albus's face changed for a second. "Yes, just a minute before I sent you an owl."

"Oh, isn't this great? Minerva, we could catch up with each other and our Quidditch games!"

"Ladies, I'd hate to interrupt, but our meeting started already."

They walked briskly back into the castle, Hooch and Minerva side by side while Dumbledore quietly looked at his newfound 'special' professor. The two went into the staffroom, greeted by the other teachers.

"Let's get started," Albus said. "First of all, let's welcome our new teachers, Minerva McGonagall and Amelia Hooch!"

The professors politely applauded. Then, Albus introduced them. "This is Professor Binns," referring to an old, quite batter man whose eyes always drooped, "History of Magic, Professor Vector, Arithmancy, Professor Slughorn, Potions," he went down the list until...

"Oh, Merlin! I'm so late! I'm sorry, Albus, I didn't mean to..." a woman busted into the room. She tiptoed and kissed the Headmaster squarely on the lips. Most of the professors acted as if nothing happened, but Minerva took a sharp intake of breath--Hooch starred at her "unnoticeable" act.

"That's alright, Penelope, darling.. Last but not least, Professor Lilycove, Herbology--also my fiancee."

Say what? Minerva thought. And here was the man trying to put me through hell just thinking about that..thing, and he's getting his ass married! "Excuse me, " she finally uttered (after few attempts of voicing her thoughts...). The idle teachers snapped out of their stare streams. "I need to, er, I still have some things to take care of in my room. If you'll excuse me please." She hurriedly stormed out of the staffroom withought another word.

"Horace, please lead the meeting--I forgot to hand Minerva some paperwork."

Hooch caught on. "I have to got too... Need to do Quidditch inventory."

"Oh, come on, please st--" the Potions Master cried as the door slammed for the umpteenth time.

Minerva ran, oh she really ran, to the other side of the castle. Hooch, knowing her secret passages, followed with the Headmaster at her tail. She opened her friend's door to find Minerva seating by her bed, her face to the ceiling, silently mouthing her unspoken contradictions.

"Of all the nerve...That man...Ugh!" she sighed. "But it doesn't matter. He hired me, and I'm staying. No matter the circumstances.

Amelia smiled secretively. "Is there something wrong, Minerva?"

"Er...No, I'm fine... I just forgot to do something, that's all..."

"Now, now, Minerva. Do you like him or not?"

She was shocked. "What? I have no likes for Albus whatsoever! What the hell made you suggest that!"

"Judging from the redness of your cheeks when you said the Headmaster's name..."

"I was not blushing! It must be the warmth in here, is all... Besides, who in their right mind would fall for a taken man, let alone a head of a school?"

You, thought Amelia. "I have to go now..." She whistled her broom went to the window. "I'll see you," she hopped on the broom and left.

Just then, the door flew open. "Minerva, is there something wrong?"

She had her back facing the door while she looked out the window. "What is it with people lately? I'm fine and that's all there is to it!" She turned around and gasped at the figure. "I apologize, Headmaster, please..."

Albus put his hand up. "No, it's alright, I didn't knock." He walked towards Minerva. "You and I need to talk."

"About what? Curriculum? Classes? The kind of textbook? Conference times? Detention?" Minerva hated beating around the bush, but she had to.

"Why did you run away from the staff room? Was it because of the sudden 'disarray' in you room or is it just that you find my fiancee so ugly?"

"Well, it's the fi-- wait, hold on a second here," Minerva stood straight up, as if to show her control over the situation... "What's it to you if I just had to walk out of a meeting? And you picked, a-a fine woman to marry--you don't need my opinion at all."

"Nevertheless, Minerva..." Albus continued, treading slowly towards her. "I've never heard this much of an outburst from any woman that I've kissed. Then again, you're the only woman I kissed that saw Penelope. Are you jealous?"

"I-I..." Minerva stuttered. She was stuck to the edge of her desk, petrified to Albus's touch beneath her ear. He came closer--they felt both their hot breaths against their skin. Minerva's lips quivered until Albus stopped it with his own. She reluctantly parted her mouth while he caressed it lovinglly. Albus moved to her jawline and nibbled along her left ear. At her lightest push, he pulled away.

"Don't answer just yet. Nothing is final. Think about it," Albus whispered. He turned around and walked out of her bedroom. Don't go... thought Minerva truthfully. o

a/n: was it worth waiting for? is it long enough this time?