A/N: Thanks to Always Hopeful, padishahZ and for all their help editing and holding my hand! Thank you so much to all my reviewers. There honestly wouldn't have been more without you! I hope you enjoy!

Happy Reading. OSUSprinks

Chapter Three

On the morning of Verplaca's wedding, Albus watched from his office windows as Minerva walked down the path to the main gates. She was wearing her favorite dress robes and, to be honest, they were his favorite as well. Albus had always found Minerva to be beautiful; but he found the McGonagall tartan most becoming on her. Its dark, forest green highlighted her emerald eyes and creamy pale skin. He had often imagined her wearing those robes, though his dreams offered the soft fabric a closer fit to her amazing figure, with her long black hair out of its usual bun and flowing loosely down her back. In his fantasies, she looked at him with the fierce devotion and loyalty she so often displayed but also with something more. Love.

'Stop fooling yourself, old boy," Albus thought as he watched Minerva step through the main gates and after a moment –'steeling herself, I'll bet'- apparate away. Albus watched the spot she has disappeared from a few moments before turning back to his desk. He chuckled as he looked over the stacks of papers and candy drop wrappers as he thought of the night before.

He'd been called to the ministry for a so-called emergency meeting, which in actuality was nothing more than a slight problem with the seating chart for the upcoming International Assembly of Wizarding Governments being hosted by the British Ministry. It seemed it was not just the Muggle governments of Russia and America that could not get along. Though Albus had seen the solution immediately, it had taken more than a few of his hints for the minister to come to the same conclusion. As he'd apparated to Hogwarts, Albus hoped for better things from the next person in that post.

Albus had entered his office, tired and ready for a cup of cocoa or something stronger, and a few lemon drops in front of the fire. He had found Minerva, sleeves rolled up, old apron wrapped around her, and hair up in a handkerchief, cleaning his office. It had been her ritual since their very first Christmas holiday as Deputy and Headmaster to clean his offices during the break. As she went about his office, dusting shelves, filing stacks of papers, organizing his desk, and taking no notice of him, Albus felt free to watch her and wonder how any man could keep from loving her.

Back in the present, Albus sat down at his already re-cluttered desk. Once again he pondered her words of so many months ago.

"Maybe that is why no one wants me."

Albus still could not understand how Minerva could feel that way. He had attempted to bring up the subject once or twice since that day, but she had always stopped him from pressing the subject. He didn't understand, and it seemed he never would.

Over the course of his day, Albus thought of Minerva often. Though she had tried to conceal how nervous she'd been about attending her niece's wedding festivities, Albus could see right through her. Even at the best of times, Athena was a difficult woman to get along with. Albus knew this would not be the pleasurable day it should be for Minerva, if her sister interfered.

'If only I could be there for her,' Albus thought as he prepared Fawkes' evening treat. He was happy he'd at least thought to ask James Pomfrey to look out for Minerva. Albus knew Minerva and Poppy Stewart –soon to be Pomfrey if Albus' suspicions were correct- were close and that James would look out for his girlfriend's friend. Albus just hoped it had been enough.

"There must be something else I can do for her," he thought aloud as he put Fawkes' bowl containing a mixture of hot cocoa and broken ginger newts in front of the phoenix. Albus pondered as he watched the bird take a swift drink before flying to the corner of the office, landing neatly in the bird bath Minerva had given him last Christmas. As Albus idly looked on, Fawkes began grooming as he chirped a sweet tune.

"Yes. That's a perfect idea, Fawkes," Albus exclaimed as he glanced at his watch. "I should have just enough time," he murmured as he walked out the office door.

Minerva apparated to the massive gates of Hogwarts and walked quickly inside. Normally she took time to enjoy the scenery around her, but not this evening. As she strode across the grounds, Minerva took little notice of the few remaining students who had not returned home for Christmas and were currently building a snowwizard in the early moonlight. Tonight, her only thought was of her private rooms where she intended to take a hot bath and enjoy a hot cup of tea. As she approached the portrait to her private rooms, she tried to remember if she'd replaced her lavender bath salts as she'd meant to during her last trip to town.

"Love can sometimes be magic." Minerva grimaced as she gave her password. She had changed it that morning as a part of her attempt at optimism. The line came from a book of poetry Albus had recently lent her. Love was not something she wanted to think of at that moment. She truly had been happy when she had left Verplaca earlier in the evening, but in the minutes that followed her mood had begun to sink as she thought of her own love life. She was reminding of the rest of the line of poetry.

"I'd like to change my password please," she said to the portrait of the young girl in a pale blue ballerina's outfit. "Magic can sometimes just be an illusion."

"Yes, professor." The young girl curtsied before returning to her dance.

Minerva finally entered her rooms and was stunned as she looked around her. In the center of her former sitting room sat a large beautiful bathtub that seemed more like a small swimming pool in size. On a small table next to the tub sat a selection of her favorite books, a tea pot, which appeared to be steaming, and a small delicate plate of her favorite china holding three ginger newts, the exact number she allowed herself each evening as a snack. The tub was filled with steaming water and soft bubbles. The air was scented with lavender, her favorite fragrance, its source, either the bath bubbles or the dozens of candles floating in the air. The warm glow of the candle light mingled with the low fire bathing the room in gentle shadows. A gramophone had been set up in the corner and Bing Crosby's smooth voice filled the air, joined by the vocal talent of Albus Dumbledore, who stood in the middle of her room with his back to her.

"Albus?"

Albus spun around to see Minerva standing in the door way to her rooms. Her hair was down. Her hair was actually down and she was wearing those robes. Had it not been for the shock and question in Minerva's beautiful emerald eyes, Albus would have been sure he was dreaming.

"Albus, what…" Minerva trailed off, tears beginning to well in her eyes. She looked from him to the candles to the tub and back to him.

"I..." Albus felt tongue-tied and for once did not know what to say. "I…I'm sorry I invaded your privacy, Minerva. I just wanted to help you relax and Fawkes had this idea." Albus looked down suddenly feeling rather foolish and uncomfortable. For the first time he had looked at the room from her point of idea. At first he had just meant to tidy her room as she so often did for him, and to put on some music and brew her tea, but as usual he had become enthusiastic once he began. He realized now that the room's transformation might seem to be a romantic overture. In his enthusiasm he had forgotten to check his feelings. Did best friends normally do this sort of thing for one another? He didn't know but it was too late to change anything now.

As the silence dragged on, Bring Crosby began singing "Young At Heart," a favorite of theirs. Albus remembered the first time they had heard this song together. It had been one of their Sunday afternoon games of chess, which were invariably followed by time spent drinking tea and chatting. Minerva had brought a new record and introduced him to Bing Crosby. Albus had been amazed at the sound of the crooner's voice. As he'd listened, Albus had watched Minerva, her eyes closed, thoroughly enjoy the music and seemingly melt into the sofa. He'd decided right then and there that he'd have given all of his powers to sing like Bing Crosby if it meant seeing Minerva melt like that for him. When the song "Young At Heart" had played, Minerva had smiled sweetly at him and said, "This always makes me think of you."

Albus had been listening to Bing Crosby and singing along with him ever sense.

The song and the memory that accompanied it reminded him how close he and Minerva truly were. There was no need for him to feel uncomfortable around her for any reason.

"How was the wedding, Minerva?"

She seemed surprised to have the silence broken. "The wedding? It was…well…" Minerva looked up into the bright blue eyes of the man she loved, the man who had gone out of his way to create this beautiful, relaxing environment for her, because he already knew how the wedding had been. 'No,' she thought, 'there is no need for me to lie to Albus.'

"The wedding was wonderful. Verplaca was a very beautiful and very happy bride. She asked me to tell you she said hello. I truly believe she and Corc will do well together. However," Minerva grimaced thinking of Athena's costuming changes, "Before and after the wedding was a different matter. I did have a very nice chat with Poppy's James. Albus…" She trailed off looking around the room once more before looking back at him. "I don't quite know how to thank you for all this."

"Tabby, there's no need to thank me. I was trying to think of a way to help you relax. I knew today would be trying for you and I wanted to help."

Minerva closed the distance between them and hugged him. As she laid her hear on his shoulder and felt his arms go around her, she was reminded of why she loved Albus. He was always so concerned for her well-being and so compassionate to all those around him. At the same time he was so humble that he refused to accept credit and thanks for all the wonderful things he did.

Albus wrapped his arms around Minerva and smiled when she snuggled into him. He dared to run his fingers lightly through her flowing ebony locks before reluctantly letting go of her. "I should get back to Fawkes. Tomorrow is his burning day and you know how he can be."

Minerva smiled and led him to the door. "Thank you again for all this Albus. I think I'll have a good soak before going to bed."

Albus didn't know whether the change in the air between them was due to the changes he'd created in her rooms or something more. He took both her hands in his. "You deserve to relax after your day. Would you be willing to tell me all about it over lunch and a game of chess in my rooms tomorrow?"

"Sounds wonderful," she smiled and blushed slightly as he squeezed her hands. "Goodnight, Albus."

"Goodnight, Minerva dear." Albus leaned down kissing her flushed cheek.

Minerva shut the door behind Albus, locking it. She looked once again at the transformations he had managed in her rooms. Minerva realized that something between them had also changed as they'd said goodnight. She ran her fingers through her hair before removing her robes and sinking into the bathtub. As she took a deep breathe she enjoyed the feel of the hot water, the scent of the candles, the sound of Bing as he began singing another of her favorites, and the thought of Albus Dumbledore preparing the whole experience for her. The look in his eyes as he'd taken her hands and kissed her cheek had shaken Minerva to her core. That their friendship meant nothing more to Albus than just a platonic relationship was a belief she had firmly held since she'd been a student. All it had taken was one look into his magnificent eyes to transform that belief into a hope she thought she had long overcome.

Minerva took a sip of tea, her favorite blend, as Bing crooned softly, "P.S. I love you."

"Unlikely," she said firmly, trying to convince herself. Minerva relaxed back into the water, shaking her head as if to clear any remaining doubt.

A/N: The quote is… "Love can sometimes be magic. But magic can sometimes...just be an illusion." Javan (AKA: Steven Javan Jones) He published after the time of this fic, but frankly I loved the quote too much to care. Sorry about that! Bing Crosby recorded the songs I used between 1950 and 1954. I like to think Minerva would have enjoyed him as much as I do. :)