A/N: Thank yous and cookie bouquets are due to Hawk and padashahZ for their encouragement and to Always Hopeful for putting up with my lack of spanish skills. :)

Enjoy...

Chapter Five

Minerva gently pawed the door to Albus' bedroom open. She listened to Albus and Fawkes snore, making sure neither realized her presence, before pushing past the door, which closed softly behind her.

The room was decorated in Gryffindor colors, much like her own room, though his was a little more extravagant. Gold fleck accented the burgundy walls. Dark wooden floors felt cool to the touch of Minerva's paws as she crept farther into the room. Albus' bed, made of strong mahogany, was the focal point. Its broad posts reached almost to the tall ceiling. A gold canopy stretched across the posts then floated softly downward toward the bed where Albus laid, cocooned in a scarlet bedspread. Opposite the bed, a large fireplace decorated the wall. Before it, stood two armchairs on a large rug depicting the Hogwarts' crest. The arm chairs stood out from the rest of the room. The first was colored a rich purple and filled with brightly colored, overstuffed pillows; it was obviously Albus' chair. The other chair was far more straight backed than its purple companion. Its deep forest green was complemented by a small pillow, embroidered with a Gryffindor lion, a gift she had made Albus for his birthday a few years before.

Minerva walked closer to the bed, but stopped short when she saw Albus' bureau. The top was cluttered with photos. There was one of his parents, of his brother, and a snapshot of the Flamels, but the rest were of her. Minerva watched her photo-self dance with Albus at several of the school balls and ministry functions they'd both attended over the years. There was a photo of her chatting with Poppy in the staffroom and one of her holding her oldest great-niece as an infant at a party her parents had invited Albus to several years ago. In the center of all these was a large picture of just her smiling into the camera. Minerva couldn't place the photo in her memory but she had never seen herself look happier or more relaxed.

As Minerva pondered the photos and the chair, which she now admitted to herself was a twin to her favorite chair in his study, she stared at Albus. Could it be possible that he did have romantic feelings for her? She'd tried to convince herself earlier that it was unlikely, but looking around his bedroom it was becoming harder to believe. It was as if he had made a place for her in his most intimate part of his rooms; could that mean he wanted to make room for her in the most intimate parts of his life as well?

Albus had opened his eyes moments before and though he had not turned over to see her, he was sure Minerva was in his rooms. He lay there, continuing to snore, hoping it sounded convincing, as he thought about what to do. He didn't know how long she had been in his rooms, but she had most likely seen the pictures and the chair. At night, Albus always dreamed of Minerva in his rooms and his bed. He'd made those additions to his rooms over the years to help extend his fantasy into his waking hours. Now he cursed himself for indulging his fantasy life. What would she think?

Minerva looked around Albus' rooms once more. She realized that, though on a grander scale, her first impression had been right; their bedrooms were very similar. This surprised her at first, but then she realized it was her own fault. When she'd become head of Gryffindor house, she'd made a few adjustments to her new rooms, but had fallen in love with the previous occupants' bedroom décor and not changed any of Albus' design. Perhaps she too had been making room for Albus in that part of her life.

Albus tried to continue snoring but it was becoming more difficult. Sure he would be found out soon, Albus decided to make the first move.

"Minerva?" he called out without turning to see her.

Minerva froze. Obviously he knew that someone was there and that someone was her. Oh why did she do this to herself? She transformed into her human self.

"Albus," she said softly, closing her eyes against her embarrassment at being found in his rooms.

Albus moved then, sitting on the edge of his bed. He drew his dressing gown around him, but not before she got a glimpse of his naked chest.

Minerva was dressed in her favorite tartan robe, tied tightly around her. Albus watched as her eyes moved about the room, looking anywhere but directly at him.

"Minerva," he said again, unsure of what else to say. A thousand questions ran through his mind in an instant. Why was she there? Was something wrong? What did she think of his rooms? Had she noticed the pictures?

Minerva was unsure what she should say. Her eyes flitted about the room as she tried to think of something, anything to say. Finally they rested upon the pictures on top of his bureau.

Albus watched her as her eyes locked onto the photos on his dresser. At least one of his questions had been answered.

"Minerva. I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I hope this won't change our friendship. I truly never meant for you to see those."

For the first time since Minerva entered the room, shining green eyes met sad blue ones. "What do they mean, Albus?"

Albus couldn't believe she hadn't realized yet that he loved her. Should he tell her? No. He couldn't do that. But what other explanation could he offer.

Minerva kept her gaze on Albus. She watched as surprise, confusion, and anxiety took turns flashing across his handsome features before finally settling on determination.

"Minerva…Darling Minerva, I lo-"

She sat up suddenly, her skin damp with sweat, and looked around wildly, barely recognizing her own bedroom.

"A dream, a bloody dream. That's all it was. A dream." Minerva put her head in hands starting to sob. "Why do I do this to myself?" She called out to no one, her voiced raised. "Why?"

In another part of the castle a man awoke from his peaceful slumber. As he sat up and tried to decide what had awakened him, Albus' dream came back to him.

"Oh no, what have I done."

A/N: duckstoavoidvegetablesbeingthrown Sorry to end it like that but seriously Albus has taken control of my keyboard and won't let go. I'll update soon and I promise all will be explained! So put down your tomatoes...please...