Blessings and Heartache

A/n: Hello everyone, thank you very much for all your reviews. I am glad you are all enjoying this story and I am also glad that no one saw what happened in the last chapter coming. I will say this though….all is not what it seems. This update isn't exactly the longest update but it gives a bit of the plot, I hope you enjoy this chapter though it does contain angst.

This hasn't been beta read because I am too impatient to post and Ang will still be tucked up in bed at the moment.

Chapter Nine: You have no right!

Minerva looked at the spot where Albus had just been standing in a confused daze, his presence in her rooms had taken her by surprise and she was annoyed that he had taken it upon himself to let himself into her rooms without consulting her. In the past, she wouldn't have minded him doing that but things were different now and he had no right.

"Minerva," said Gray's voice, breaking into her thoughts "who was that?"

She looked at the man stood beside the table and smiled at him; he was certainly more of a morning person than she was. His face was bright and cheerful, his eyes awake and alert and his voice warmed her. She walked towards him and sat down at the table, where he poured her some tea and looked at her.

"No one of great importance Gray," she answered, "you have certainly prepared quite a breakfast spread."

"I tend to find I have quite an appetite after a night such as last night!" he said with a smile

She smiled and nodded her head in agreement; she had woken to find herself very hungry which was unusual for her because usually she had to force herself to eat something in the morning. Breakfast made her think of Albus and what he would do in the Great Hall; Albus would make sure she ate something at breakfast by filling her plate for her while she poured herself some tea. She forced a smile on her face as she watched Gray drop one lump of sugar into her tea and then stirred in the milk for her.

"Was that him?" questioned Gray as he sat down opposite her and helped himself to a syrup pancake.

"Was who what?" asked Minerva as she buttered her toast and refused to look up at Gray.

"The man who has made you question yourself," he answered "the man who has made you sad and feel like a joke?"

Minerva looked up at her companion and shook her head, she didn't want to talk about Albus right now, she wanted to enjoy her breakfast and Gray's company. Gray was obviously a master at reading people's body language and seemed to know the right questions to ask but she didn't want to answer them.

"I take by your silence, I am correct." Gray observed gently.

"Gray please," she finally answered "I don't want to talk about it, he is my boss and that is that."

Gray nodded and continued to eat his breakfast, glancing at her every now and then to see what she was doing. Minerva, despite her appetite was picking at her food with her folk and staring out of the window. Gray reached over and touched her hand gently.

"Do you want me to go?" he asked.

"No," she replied, "please stay. I'll be better company and after all I promised you a tour of the Hogwarts."

They continued their breakfast by talking about books and potion advancement, they spoke of Albus Dumbledore no longer and Minerva was glad for the respite. She enjoyed Gray's company; he was an intelligent with a sense of humour and seemed to like her for her and not for what she could do for him. He was the perfect breakfast companion with his joke telling and gentlemanly ways. After breakfast, Minerva showed Gray around her beloved Hogwarts and they spent nearly two hours in the library.

"I have never seen such a collection Minerva," enthused Gray "must be the finest in the world."

"Nearly," she admitted "I know of a personal collection that surpasses this."

"The man this morning." Gray guessed as he ran his fingers over the spines of the books in the restricted section. "He doesn't strike me a reader."

"He likes to read but I believe he gets tired of getting books for birthdays and Christmases," she answered with a smile "he prefers socks and sweets."

After the library, their next stop was her transfiguration classroom, which he admired and told her that he could imagine her commanding her class's attention in this room. Minerva fought a blush that threatened to appear on her cheeks as he praised her, she wasn't used to this type of attention and she had to admit that it was welcomed. They were walking along the corridor when Albus Dumbledore appeared on the staircase and caught Minerva's eye. She breathed in and reached out for Gray's arms, she slipped her hand through the crook in his arm and struck up a conversation about his work. She didn't know what possessed her to make such a move but she had and now she had to continue it. As they reached where Albus was standing, Minerva inwardly cleared her throat and greeted him formally.

"Good afternoon Professor Dumbledore," she used his title, which was something she rarely did "may I introduce a dear friend of mine, Gray Thomas."

"A pleasure to meet you Mr Thomas," greeted Albus with a curt nod of his head "Professor McGonagall may I have a word?"

Minerva had expected this and so she straightened up, she told Gray to meet her back in her rooms and she would join him shortly. Before he left, she kissed him gently on the cheek and then looked at Albus with wide eyes.

"What can I do for you Headmaster?" she asked.

"I want to talk to you about yesterday and also about your guest," he answered "you should have cleared it with me first."

She looked at him in surprise, he expected her to clear it with him when she brought a guest back with her. She couldn't believe she was hearing this, none of the other staff had to clear it with him when they had guests saying so why she should she have to.

"I wasn't aware of any such rule Headmaster," she replied "I know them like the back if my hand and I can assure you that there is no such rule."

"He could be anyone." He shot back.

"What are you saying Headmaster?" she questioned, her voice raising slightly "You have no right to question me in such a way."

"I have every right," he answered "the safety of the school is paramount."

"For your information," she replied, her hands resting on her hips "he has no hidden agenda towards your beloved school because he agreed to taking veritaserum before coming here. Just because you find me a joke doesn't mean other men see me like that Headmaster."

She looked at him, locking him with a glare that unsettled him slightly. When she received no answer from him, she turned on her heel and swept away from him quickly and didn't look back at him once.

TBC……