Between Two Brothers.

A/n: I am so sorry for keeping you all waiting for this chapter, things have been so manic. Hope I am forgiven.

Chapter Sixteen: An Interest in Boys

Minerva was still sat in the same position Albus had left her in hours earlier, her mind kept wandering back to the way he kissed her hand and how he had looked at her. She was consumed by thoughts of him, days before she would have been annoyed that he had been invading her thoughts but now, she rather liked it.

She was unaware of the door opening and Grace coming in, with her bags, which had never been unpacked. Grace looked at Minerva with surprise and wondered why she wasn't at work. Minerva was never off work, even if she had a limb hanging off, Minerva would still be working.

"Min!" asked Grace walking over to her friend.

Minerva jumped slightly when she felt a hand rest upon her shoulder; she turned and faced the person who had disturbed her daydream. She was surprised to find Grace standing behind her.

"Gracie?" she asked. "What are you doing back?"

"Long story," Grace replied as she flaked down beside Minerva and held her hand "but the gist is, I looked at him and decided he wasn't for me anymore. I am happy and don't need to talk about it at the moment but I want to know why you are at home and not behind your desk with your head buried in books."

Minerva looked at Grace and decided it was probably best not to ask any questions about the break up. Grace knew her own mind and usually her heart and mind were of the same mind unlike Minerva who generally followed her mind to prevent heartache. Minerva knew Grace well enough to know that she was happy with her decision and that she wouldn't dwell on the what if's.

"Are you sure you are okay?" asked Minerva just in case Grace was putting on a front.

"Oh Merlin yes, he was far to serious Min," answered Grace "I need laughter and adventure in my life not dull and serious."

"I'm serious." pointed out Minerva

"But you are not dull with it," answered Grace with a smile "he just wasn't the man for me Min. I am single and on the look out for available, fun loving men but enough about me, why are you not at work."

Minerva recounted the story of her brief morning at work, starting with the mundane information that Grace wasn't remotely interested in. Minerva watched with half a smile as Grace's eye lit up when she began to tell her about the incident with Albus Dumbledore. Grace burst out laughing when she was told that Minerva had broken the distinguished wizard's nose. Minerva had to admit that looking back at it, it did sound rather funny despite the broken nose.

"Oh Min," laughed Grace "you certainly know how to get people back for making you look a fool in public. Remind me not to show you up in public."

"Grace, I didn't do it on purpose." Minerva protested.

Minerva panicked slightly, did Albus think she had done it on purpose because of what had happened in town a few days ago. Minerva was not a spiteful person; she would never do something like that to get her own back. She was one of those people, who rather sort problems out face-to-face rather than hide behind excuses and other things.

"Min, I was joking," reassured Grace "Anyone who knows you, knows you wouldn't get your own back like that."

Minerva relaxed a bit but Grace had planted the seed in her mind now, Minerva knew she wouldn't be able to put it out of her mind till she spoke to Albus about it. Grace pushed her of more information and squealed loudly when she heard that Albus Dumbledore had come back to her cottage.

"Oh Min," she gasped, placing her hand over her mouth "I left it in such a mess."

"I told him it was yours," replied Minerva

"Oh why did you do that?" Grace asked, "What must he think of me? Why did you have to tell him it was me?"

Minerva smiled and stood up to stretch her legs, she had been sat in the same position for a while now and felt the urge to get the blood circulating again. Grace reached up and pulled her back down next to me, demanding answers to her rapid questions.

"Grace I am hardly going to admit to a mess that is not mine," she told her friend "especially to Albus Dumbledore."

"I thought you didn't care what he thought of you!" replied Grace.

Minerva went silent and turned away from her friends inquisitive glare, Minerva hadn't wanted anyone to see her after Albus had left because she knew she was behaving like a love struck teenager though she couldn't possibly love Albus after knowing him for a matter of minutes. She had seen Grace with the look she was probably wearing now and had always rolled her eyes at her friend; Grace had told that when it happened to her, she would understand. Minerva thoroughly understood now and she felt rather naked in front of her best friend.

"Why Minerva," asked Grace with a grin that would outshine a Cheshire cat "have you developed an interest in boys?"

"Grace!" shrieked Minerva with a shake of her head "Don't say it like that. You make me sound like I have never had one."

"You haven't all the years I have known you." Grace teased.

Minerva glared at Grace, she had been interested in the opposite sex before but she just wasn't as brazen as Grace was about it. Minerva had preferred to put her studies before boyfriends, she wanted to make a career for herself and then think about men.

"I am happy for you Minerva," said Grace, who could see that her comments had hurt her best friend "I was only pulling your leg. So are you seeing him again?"

"Well he said," replied Minerva "he would send Fawkes, his phoenix with a note about meeting up again."

"Well that's good!" said Grace.

"But it's been ages since he left and there is no sign of Fawkes or a letter." Minerva complained.

Grace raised an eyebrow at her friend, she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Minerva 'I will not lose my head over a boy' McGonagall was worrying about not hearing from a man a few hours after he had left.

"Min," said Grace, laying a hand on Minerva's knee "he has probably got tired up with something. I am sure you will hear from him soon. Patience."

"I am not going to hear from him Grace," stated Minerva firmly "I broke his nose for Merlin's sake. I am going to have a soak in the bath and read. I'll be down later."

"Min," tried Grace again "don't get blue about it. It's only been a few hours."

Minerva smiled at Grace, she was grateful for the kind words but at the moment, they weren't helping. She nodded gently before making her way out of the living room and up to the bathroom. She was sure she wouldn't hear from Albus Dumbledore again.