A/n: Wow, I am so grateful for the reviews I received for the first chapter of this story. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me your thoughts and how much you are looking forward to more, I really appreciate it. This chapter deals the excited staff response and only features a little of Minerva and Albus but the discussion is all about them!
Chapter Two: Gossip in the Staff RoomMinerva felt her heart beating in her throat, she cursed her friends and colleagues for putting ideas into her head She rose gracefully from her chair and handed the newspaper back to Xiomara Hooch who grinning stupidly at her, Minerva had to fight the urge to roll her eyes at her friend as she walked past. Even though, Minerva knew she was moving gracefully across the room, her limbs felt somewhat heavy and it felt more of an effort than usual. She passed the happy and expectant faces of her colleagues and smiled softly at them, she was hoping that they were right because she loved Albus from a distance for many long, lonely years.
Albus Dumbledore was holding the door open for her, he didn't fail to realise the looks they were both getting and it amused him greatly. He was sure they had been discussing the article that had appeared in the prophet that morning and if they had, he was glad to see it had, had the desired affect. Once Minerva had reached him and stepped out into the corridor, he shut the door behind them and offered her his arm.
Meanwhile, back in the staff room Xiomara Hooch was out of the chair as soon as the door was shut. She rushed over to the door and opened it slightly, she popped her head out into the corridor and watched as the Headmaster and his deputy linked arms and swept down the corridor, their steps falling into the exact same rhythm as each other.
"They have their arms linked!" she told the room excitedly, her yellow eyes gleaming with excitement.
"They often do that," replied Severus with disinterest "we do that and I certainly do not want to marry you!"
"Thank Merlin for that," she replied, slightly hurt by his comment but deciding it wouldn't ruin her happy mood "I wouldn't want to marry a man like you any how, look at you with lanky hair and pinched in nose."
Severus closed the book he was reading and set it aside, he looked at the Quidditch mistress for a moment before pressing his fingers together. The staff knew from previous experience that he was trying to keep a lid on his temper, the staff also knew that despite the constant bickering between the two Slytherins, they both liked one another more than they let on. The staff often referred to the as the Albus and Minerva of the Slytherin world.
"Minerva did seem rather surprised by the article in the paper though!" pointed out Poppy Pomfrey.
"She was trying to fool us," replied Xiomara as she flounced around the staff room with her arms flapping slightly.
"You look like a ridiculous bird!" pointed out Severus with a smirk.
Xiomara ignored his comment and continued to wander around the staff room, unrolling the paper as she did and looked that the article again.
"It is obviously Minerva," she told the room "who else could it be? They have been dancing around one another for years now and I don't know about you but I was ready to knock their heads together, if they didn't do something about it before this Christmas!"
"I do believe that it has been in the stars for a long time," said Sybil Trelawaney from the darkened corner she was residing in "it was only a matter of time and now it happened. I foresaw all this but I remained quiet because Minerva doesn't respect my gift and has made it clear that she wishes to hear nothing about my inner eye. It is a shame that intelligent people can be so dismissive for things they do not understand!"
The staff remained quiet; most of them were like Minerva and didn't take Sybil seriously. She had been known to make a few correct predictions but they were few and far between, none of them knew why Albus still employed her but they simply accepted her presence like they accepted Peeves.
"They make a lovely couple!" squeaked Filtwick "They compliment one another perfectly."
"I wonder what the wedding will be like?" asked Professor Sprout "I could do the flowers, I have the perfect ones for such an occasion."
"It is bound to be the event of the year," stated Poppy "the decade even!"
"It will be lavish," said Xiomara "guests from all over the world will attend, the merpeople will sing, Minerva will wear cream and Albus midnight blue, unicorns will pull the carriage and they will honeymoon somewhere exotic!"
Severus let out a rare chuckle and shook his head; sometimes it was hard to believe that Xiomara had been friends with the head of Gryffindor for years.
"Xiomara," he told you "you know as well as us that Minerva McGonagall would not want a big wedding. She is private and does not like to show herself up in public."
"It's her wedding day though," snapped Xiomara, glaring at the potions master "every witch wants to be the centre of attention on her wedding day, otherwise what's the point on getting married!"
"Surely love is the good enough reason!" he pointed out, surprising himself with the usage of the word.
"You romantic Sev," she teased, flashing him a grin "the marriage of the most powerful wizard and witch of recent times isn't going to go unnoticed is it, it is going to be a huge event."
Severus knew that Xiomara was right; the marriage wouldn't be allowed to be a quiet, private affair. The Daily Prophet would be all over it, declaring that people had the right to read all about it since it involves the man who defeated Grindelwald. Everyone would expect to be invited even if they didn't know the bride or groom personally. The day wouldn't be about the couple pledging their love for one another, it would be about the food that was on offer, what the bride wore and who caught the bouquet. Knowing Minerva as he did, he knew she wouldn't want any of that because she liked things to be simple and she would only want close friends and family there. They were friends despite the inter-house rivalry; he admired her in some respects though he wouldn't tell her that to her face.
"She won't want a big fancy ceremony!" he told Xiomara, matter of factly.
"Well she will have to have one," replied the Quidditch mistress "that is what happens when you say yes to a man like Albus Dumbledore."
"We don't even know she has said yes!" pointed out Poppy who was trying to dispel the tension that was building up between the potions master and the Quidditch mistress.
"Of course she had," snapped Xiomara "she has loved him for years!"
"He might not even been talking about her!" said Binns, who until now had remained quiet.
"He is hardly going to be talking about Sybil is he!" she snapped, she was getting annoyed with her fellow colleagues and was more angry at Severus who was ruining her excitement.
Sybil opened her mouth to say something but after seeing the furious glint in Xiomara's eyes, she decided against it and decided to retreat back to her tower where she was safe from angry words and ridicule.
"I plan to throw an engagement party for them," she told the staff room "I would be grateful for the support and I am sure they would be touched to know that their friends and colleagues are happy for them and support them fully."
"If they are to be married," said Severus "I know that we will all be happy for them but as yet, nothing has been confirmed and to avoid hurt and embarrassment, the party shouldn't happen till we know the facts!"
"The facts are plain to see Snape," she bit back, using his surname instead of his first name "you just don't want to see them for some reason!"
"Madam Hooch, just because it is in The Daily Prophet does not mean it is a fact," replied Severus as he stood up and made his way over to the door "and besides Minerva hasn't even been named!"
Severus opened the door and stepped out into the corridor, before he closed the door behind him, he heard Xiomara call out "See you at the party tonight!"
Xiomara smiled at the rest of the staff and asked who was going to help her, a raise of hands met her approval and she quickly gave out the tasks for them to do, she was going to give Minerva McGonagall the best party of her life.
TO BE CONTINUED