Blessings and Heartache.

A/n: I don't condone violence but I certainly feel that Albus needs a good bonk on the head to make him realise what he has done. He might even get it in this chapter, you will have to read on and see.

Many thanks to those who left reviews of the last chapter, I appreciate and I am glad that you are enjoying the story. In answer to a question raised, I hadn't really thought of an age for Minerva in this story but as you have asked, I place her at the age she is in latter books by JK. I want to keep her as she is but add things (AD/MM) which JK hasn't. It has been said that muggle terms that witches and wizards age differently to muggles, Minerva is probably an middle-aged woman and all Maggie Smith fans will understand when I say 'She is in her prime'. Hope that answer's your question about my potterverse!

Once again, I haven't had this chapter beta read so if there are any major problems, let me know and I'll correct them. Many thanks in advance and I hope you enjoy the chapter! Look forward to hearing your thoughts ECT!

Chapter Five: From the beak of a phoenix

Albus Dumbledore was sat in a high-backed wing chair looking into the fire, his fingers were pressed up against his temples as he replayed the scene that had happened a few hours before. Once his deputy head had stormed out of his office, confusion had set in and Albus was at a loss of explanations to her reasoning behind it. Had given up on understanding women and their moods a long time ago because he could never seem to get it right and he knew when it was time to throw the towel in. He was sure that men were not meant to understand their female counterparts; they just needed to pretend to understand to get on in life. His father had told him when he was younger that even if men did read a woman right, the woman would deny it and say that something else was the matter.

Knowing Minerva as he did, he knew that she would not be happy when she read the article in The Daily Prophet. He had tried to get hold of her before the papers had arrived at the school but the owl he had given the letter to hadn't delivered it to Minerva because he kept coming back to the office and expecting treats. Albus had nearly lost his temper with the school owl; he couldn't understand why the owl was being so disobedient and not delivering the letter, as it should have. He had made a mental note to speak with Hagrid about the owl's behaviour. He had tried to contact Minerva through floo but she hadn't been in her rooms or in her office when had tried, after some careful thought he had decided to look for her on foot. He had stumbled across her in the staff room and couldn't help but smile at his employees face when he asked to see her. He knew that they had been school gossip for years and he also knew that the staff were far worse at gossiping that their pupils.

He hadn't been able to read the expression on Minerva's face when he had asked her to accompany him back to his office, usually her eyes would give her away but not this time. He had never seen that look in her eye before so hadn't known where she stood on that matter. He had dearly hoped she had seen the funny side to it because for years now they had laughed about the rumours and the gossip that followed them around. They had often done things on purpose when they knew they were being watched, it brought them both amusement. He had to admit that the amusement on his part had been put on to make things easier for himself; the rumours and gossip had been partly true. His feelings for his best friend were certainly more than he let on; he was in love with her. He had been for many years now and his feelings grew stronger with each passing year, he had managed to control them and settle for the friendship she gave him. It hadn't always been easy to settle for that, there were times when he wanted to pull her to him and kiss her passionately. Her friendship at time didn't seem enough but it was all she was offering, she might offer him more but he couldn't risk revealing himself only to get slapped in the face.

He sat back in his chair and looked at Fawkes once again, the phoenix was nesting on his perch and had one eye open, staring at Albus.

"What did I do wrong old friend?" asked Albus, he knew that his familiar could not answer him directly but Fawkes often let him know how he felt about certain things.

Fawkes screeched loudly and fluffed out his wings, Albus understood that Fawkes seemed to be just annoyed with him as Minerva was and that didn't bode well. Though he had gathered that Fawkes wasn't impressed by his behaviour, he had no idea what he had said or done to make Minerva snap at him and then sweep out of his office.

"Was it something I said?" asked Albus.

Fawkes cocked his head to the side and cooed. Albus stared at his brightly coloured creature and played with a sherbet lemon wrapper, all he had done was tell Minerva about the article in the paper. She might have been annoyed because he hadn't found her before the article was printed, he could understand that but he had tried to get hold of her before the paper was delivered.

Albus shook his head and sighed, he didn't even know what processed him to mention something as personal as the love of his life to reporter. They had been talking about the new changes that the Ministry of Magic were putting into action concerning muggles and then he had suddenly mentioned something about loved ones, the reporter had picked up on that instantly and the interview no longer became about the ministry. His brain hadn't engaged with his mouth as he spoke, spilling out things that weren't meant to be heard by anyone especially in such a manner. He had meant all the words he had said, for saying them, he actually felt better. He felt like a weight had been lifted from his weary shoulders and for a small amount of time, he felt free. He had only plummeted back down to earth when Rita had announced that this story would make front page news and would cause a scandal, he realised that Minerva would read the words and know it was about her. He couldn't have her find out like that, it was improper and not how he wanted to confess at all. Thinking quickly on his feet, he came up with the idea that what he said was simply a joke and didn't expect anyone to take it as seriously as they did. He would say that he was conducting a social experiment to see how rumours spread; he would say that he was trying to teach all his pupils what damage rumours could cause. It seemed like the perfect get out clause.

"I don't understand why she would take umbridge at a joke," he said out loud "as far as she is concerned, it's a joke with no meaning at all. She can't be that annoyed with me because I didn't tell her straight away!"

Albus failed to notice Fawkes rolling his eyes before nestling his head under his wing; the phoenix quickly fell asleep and left the headmaster to his musings. Albus hadn't expected this reaction to his news at all, he had expected her to laugh and then throw down the gauntlet of a game of chess. He had expected her to behave like this, if he had told her the truth and said that she was the woman he was talking about. He also would have expected a slap across the face, if he had told her that he loved her more than anything in the his world.

Albus Dumbledore, the esteemed Headmaster of Hogwarts was completely clueless when it came to Minerva McGonagall. He had no idea what he had done and no idea how to make it up to her. He would have to leave her alone for a bit to cool down and then perhaps then, he could find out what had upset her so.

TBC