Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Harry Potter.

Author's Note: The last Minerva chapter! Sad day! But you get to know what Snape is doing skulking around the forest… heh heh heh.

Oh yes, and the line at the end… don't read if you haven't read HBP. Also, let's just pretend that Dumbledore thought that, or that he had a huge suspicion about the umm… things. Ahem.

"You?" They both shouted at the same time. Minerva's charmed heart turned fuchsia while her real one sank down to her knees. She had just fulfilled all of the girls' nightmares: she had lost her heart to Severus Snape.

Well, I might as well go on with it, Minerva thought dejectedly.

"What are you doing out here?" Minerva said with suspicion etched in every note of her voice.

"I could ask you the same," came Snape's oily tones.

"I'm waiting for an answer!" Minerva tapped her toe into the soft earth. The snow had just barely melted, leaving the ground soggy and wet. The trees still dripped a steady rhythm: plink… plink…plink…

To her surprise, Snape ducked his head. It was an uncharacteristic move of him. Snape was never bashful or shy- at least, that was what he showed on the outside. Minerva was never quite sure what was going on in his head and she wasn't sure that she wanted to. Snape was a more mysterious person than she ever had met.

"Well… I was…." He mumbled.

"Out with it!" Minerva said sternly.

"Meeting someone," he finished.

"Meeting someone?" Minerva asked confusedly. "Who?"

"Well, I sent a note asking them to meet me here," Snape explained, trying to regain his composure without revealing too much.

"Asking who Severus?" Minerva requested in a dangerous voice.

"Pomona," Snape whispered. His face turned rather red behind his mane of greasy black hair.

"Pomona!" Minerva shrieked.

"Yes," Severus said testily.

"Did she…. reply?" Minerva asked, trying to keep her voice down. What if Albus heard?

"Well, once. To tell me that she would come," Snape admitted.

"So it wasn't you that sent me the notes?" Minerva cried in relief.

"You got notes?" Severus said in thinly concealed wonder.

"Good-bye," Minerva said shortly, for she had seen a flash of white a ways down the edge.

"Yes," Snape said absently.

Minerva walked quickly, tryingn to get as far away from the star-struck lover. She hoped it wouldn't end too badly. She felt awful for Pomona. Having Severus as a secret admirer! How terrible! But then she was being terrible to Severus too…

"Albus?" she whispered softly, almost too soft to be audibly. "It's me, Minerva."

There was no answer, only the sound of the faint breeze ruffling the leaves. But that wind hadn't been there just a second ago…

"Albus?" she called louder. "Are you there?"

Silence.

He had to be there! He just had to be! Minerva was starting to get frantic. What if it was all a hoax? What if it was a joke? What if he hadn't taken her seriously?

"Minerva?" Albus came walking out with a laugh in his voice. "I'm here."

Minerva let out a long sigh that she hadn't known she was holding. Now it was time for the true test: if he was just joking. She hoped with all her heart that he hadn't been. If Albus had sent the notes in fun, she couldn't bear to think of what would happen?

"Who did you talk to?" Albus asked lightly, though the air was quickly filling up with Minerva's apprehension.

"Oh, that." Minerva blushed. "It was Severus." Albus' eyes twinkled with mirth.

"But I didn't know who he was- standing in the shadows and then we both recognized each other…" Minerva trailed off as she realized that she was babbling.

"So what you brings you to this part of the Forbidden Forest?" Albus teased.

"I was hoping you knew," Minerva whispered, feeling her face heat up.

"Enlighten me," said Albus. His beard swayed slightly, nearly glowing in the rapidly fading light.

"Well," Minerva said, unsure of how to start. "I have been receiving… notes from an unknown person. And… and I sent one back." A smile was tugging on the edges of Albus' mouth; he didn't let it stray too far.

"So the person told me to meet him here, and I came." Minerva finished with a sigh. It felt nice to get the wait of her secret off of her shoulders, but it was nerve-racking when the person she told was the person who may be the one who sent the notes.

"And I think-I hope-that the person… is you," said Minerva in a rush.

"And do you know that? For sure?" Albus wondered.

"No. That's why I hope," Minerva said simply.

"And for your hope I tell you this: silver," said Albus mysteriously.

"It was you!" exclaimed Minerva, clapping her hands like a child. She knew it! And now… and now…

"Yes. And I presume it was you, my dear, who sent me that lovely letter," Albus said lovingly. His eyes caressed her every move.

"You are right, as always." Minerva smiled, her eyes full of a light that had not been there for a long while. The light of new love shone in two pairs of eyes, both emerald and blue. It mixed to form the right shade for both of them- one that would suit the other, no matter what.

Albus strode forward and took Minerva into his arms. For his age, his arms were strong and warm. Minerva felt herself settle into his arms, content to stay there forever. They didn't need a bed or kisses trailing down to forbidden parts to express their love. It would come to that eventually, but for now, it was enough to be close to him.

Albus' beard tickled her a little bit and Minerva giggled. That was surprising; Minerva never giggled. There hadn't been enough to giggle about for a long time. Now was her chance, so she should get it out.

Her giggling was infectious and Albus started to laugh too. Ther laughter mingled and pealed throughout the Forest, bouncing off of trees and startling the creatures within.

"I love you," Minerva said sincerely. It was the truest thing she had ever said.

"I love you," Dumbledore said tenderly, care and devotion etched in every line on his face. The age difference didn't matter, all that mattered was what they felt.

And what they felt now felt strong enough to defeat Voldemort- Horcruxes or not.

Another "Awww!" chapter! The next one will probably be very fluffy too. Just a warning.

Oh yes, there will be an epilogue. I have to wrap up loose ends somehow! Also, there will not be a sequel. Wait. Let me make that stand out more.

THERE WILL NOT BE A SEQUEL!

I think that got your attention. Let's hope so. I can't really make it any bigger, but I would if I could! But I can't. So I won't!

Yes. Okay. Now that that is done with, good-bye lovely, beautiful (I'm guessing there… just kidding!), dear, sparkling, glowing, radiant, devoted, glamorous, faithful (some of you… won't name names…), adorable, pretty, stunning, gorgeous, elegant, stylish, chic, and just plain great reviewers. I think that got your attention too. I love being overdramatic!