Authors Note: AAAAAAAHHH! I FORGOT A DISCLAIMER!!! I do not in any way shape or form claim to or pretend to own these characters or this story. The Harry Potter franchise belongs to J.. NOT ME! This is a double disclaimer because I made a beginner's mistake and forgot to add one in Chapter 1. FORGIVE ME! Also, I'm sorry this is a short chapter. I was going to make it longer but it would appear that my mind has shut down. The next chapter will be at least 1000 words, I promise. Thank you to my one reviewer! Your review made me very excited! Thanks. Okay. I'm done carrying on. Enjoy!

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Minerva McGonagall lifted her voluminous black skirts and started down the stairs to the Great Hall with the rest of her fellow students, but her thoughts were elsewhere. "Elsewhere" being with a certain professor whom she fancied no matter how wrong she knew it was, and no matter how hard she tried to deny it. Running her hand along the banister of one of the many staircases of Hogwarts, she started to replay one of her favorite fantasies in her mind.

"Damnit!" she thought as she fell once again, and saw her books fly out of her arms. "How do you miss that trick step every single time, Min?" You'd think after tripping multiple times she would have learned to watch out, but no. And now she was going to be late for Charms. Again.

"Minerva?"

"Oh please, no." Minerva prayed to anyone who was listening. The last thing she needed was for Professor Dumbledore to find her looking disheveled, disorganized, and thoroughly embarrassed. Which was exactly how she looked now, with her quills, parchment, and books scattered all over the staircase. She turned around quickly, and found that nobody had answered her silent pleading.

"What happened?" Professor Dumbledore asked, staring at her with a rather bemused expression.

"Why does he have to be so gorgeous?" she thought to herself. "Why couldn't my Transfiguration professor have been a 90 year old witch who was partially deaf? Why, in the bloody name of Merlin, did my Professor have to be a strapping 30-something man perfectly chiseled jawline? Why does his nose have to be endearingly crooked, adding a bad-boy element to his completely brilliant persona? And why, oh why, does my completely off-limits Professor have the most beautiful blue eyes that I have ever seen?

He was still staring at her. Minerva realized she had been staring for far longer than was acceptable and immediately averted her eyes and rushed out an answer.

"Uh, trick step, Sir. Er, Professor."

"Ah. Well, Not to worry, I'll help you pick up and send a note to… what is your next class?"

"Charms, Sir."

"Yes, of course. I'll send a note to Professor Travis explaining the circumstances. I'm sure he'll excuse your absence."

"Thank you Sir."

"Always ready to help, Minerva."

She tried to ignore the tingles that shot down her spine when he said her name, and climbed up a few stairs to retrieve her Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook. She turned around and was startled to see him holding all her supplies in a neat pile. "How did… of course. Levitation. Why didn't I think of that? Stupid, stupid." She thought to herself.

"Thank you Professor." She reached out to take the stack of supplies from him. Inhaling strongly when their fingers touched for the briefest of moments, she glanced up to see her mentor's reaction. She saw a curious expression in his eyes, and the next thing she knew he dropped the books, grabbed her face, and was kissing her. Adrenaline coursed through her and her breath hitched in her throat. She felt heated as he backed her against the banister, grasping her hair in his hands…

"Min? Hello! Earth to Minerva McGonagall!" Gwen was snapping her fingers in front of Minerva's face.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry. I must have zoned out for a moment."

"I'd say so!" Gwen called over her shoulder as she ran down a few steps to catch up with Annabelle. Minerva tried desperately to hide her grin. Poppy was looking at her amusedly.

"You can't hide that flush from me, Min. I've known you for far too long."

"Poppy darling, you've known me for six years, the same as every other student in our grade. And I have no idea what you're on about." said Minerva with what was now a full-fledged smile.

"Oh don't give me that line! " Poppy retorted. She laughed. "You're planning something, and I want to know what!"

"No, Poppy, cooking up a scheme is something you would do. I don't have any plans. I'm thinking I'll just play it by ear, hmm?"

Poppy flashed a smile that lit up her whole face and said, "I knew there was a reason you were my best friend! Lets just leave it at this: I have a strong feeling that after tonight, your feelings won't be unrequited anymore." She gave her friend a hug that squeezed the air out of her lungs and laughed, looking for the first time that night that she might actually might have a great time at the Spring Gala.