AN: Okay, right off the bat: DISCLAIMER- JKR OWNS EVERYTHING. Now that that's through, it has been far too long my friends! I'm so sorry that this is as late as it is, but I've started school. You know how it is. Also, I'm only allowed on the computer on the weekends now too. So updates are going to be less frequent. Sorry! Stick with me, I swear I'll update as much as I can. On another note, I have no idea how long this fic is going to end up! I have grown really attached to Minerva as a character, and I want to explore her some more… this fic may end up being massively long! But we'll see where it goes. So here's a nice long chapter to make up for the wait. As always, R&R please! That would make me VERY excited! :]
"Traitor." breathed Minerva McGonagall as she stared indignantly after the retreating red fabric of her supposed best friend's ball gown. Poppy had completely bailed on her. Poppy was her closest her companion. Her partner in crime. They had always called each other soul sisters, ever since they had first met. Their meeting was one of Minerva's fondest memories.
Minerva had been brought up by a wizard family. Not pure blood by any means, as her grandmother had been muggle-born, but Minerva still knew her way around a wand. However, Poppy's father, the wizard of her family, had died when Poppy was only 4 years old. Her non-magical mother had raised Poppy on her own, and never let on that Poppy was anything other than a normal child. So when Poppy received her Hogwarts letter, she and her mother didn't know what to do. Minerva's family had found them looking utterly confused outside the Leaky Cauldron, and had offered to show them the ropes. The two families had made their way into the bustling streets of Diagon Alley. Most wizarding families avoided Diagon Alley just before the start of the school term if they could, as it was packed to bursting capacity, noisy, and dirty from all the people and animals that passed through the street. However, Minerva had always loved Diagon Alley just before school. It showed the best that the wizarding world had to offer. All of the shop windows were lit up and colorful, showing their finest dress robes, quills, books, brooms, and other magical items. All of the noise in the short dingy Alley was excited and joyful. They had passed through the back wall of the Leaky Cauldron and emerged onto the crowded Alley, and Minerva had felt an immediate connection with Poppy when she saw the huge smile on her face. The two girls had been inseparable ever since.
'Till tonight, anyway. Poppy had taken Annabelle and run off to Gryffindor Tower, leaving Minerva completely alone to fend off her emotions. She was 100% sure she would have rather gone through the stress of her O.W.L. exams again than be in the situation she now found herself. She was alone, with her very attractive, intelligent, quirky, charming, kind-hearted, and likeable yet mysterious, powerful, intriguing, tempting, and (who was she kidding) sexy Transfiguration Professor in a romantically lit courtyard. It was a situation that had a very good chance of ending very, very badly. She shook her head, smothered the small spark of hope that jumped in her chest and shushed the voice in the back of her mind that whispered, "But it could end very, very well too."
"No." She thought to herself fiercely. "This can only end badly. Just walk away Min. Make an excuse. Just like always." But then Annabelle's earlier words echoed through her head.
"Maybe a little bit of a rebellious side is what you need Min! You know, to liven things up a bit."
Her mind started to race. "Really," she thought to herself, "What do I have to lose?" She didn't think that there was a rule against flirting with a Professor. And when was the last time she had had a little fun? "It won't go anywhere anyway." She thought to herself, but a small part of her was reasoning, What if it did? She didn't know if there was a rule against students and Professors having a relationship, but if there was they could always keep it quiet. It wouldn't be hard. But then she doubted that. If a student had a relationship with a professor, the whole school would know in a week at the least! "It's Hogwarts for Cirque's sake, everyone knows everything." She thought to herself. "Especially juicy gossip. But then, what do I care?" she thought. "I don't care what anybody thinks." Unfortunately, she knew this thought was a lie the moment it passed through her mind. "Still," she reasoned, "The benefits outweigh the risks. By far." All of her thinking had taken only a few brief moments, and so she took a deep breath, steeled her nerves, and turned around to face her Professor.
All the breath rushed out of her lungs. She had never seen him looking so… tempting. He was resting his weight against his enchanted tree, his arms folded across his chest, bathed in soft pulsing light. She couldn't help but notice how perfectly his dress robes fit him, subtly emphasizing his long, lean physique, and auburn hair looked slightly tousled, as if he'd just run his hands through it while pondering an idea that would undoubtedly revolutionize one of the branches of magic. He was sporting an amused smile, and Minerva got the feeling that he knew exactly what trick Poppy had pulled. And while all of these elements certainly added to Minerva's infatuation, she found herself not paying them too much attention. Instead she felt drawn to his eyes as if they were magnets, holding her eyes in place and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't look away. Though, if she was to be honest, she wasn't trying too hard. Who would ever want to stop looking into those captivating blue eyes, so unreadable? And why was life so unfair, that Albus Dumbledore could always tell what was on her mind, yet she couldn't even begin to fathom what was going through his mind as he stared at her?
"Something's different." She suddenly realized. "His eyes. Something's changed." She couldn't put her finger on it exactly, but she knew there was something more going on behind those blue eyes than his usual thoughts. "What is it?" she wondered to herself, racking her brain to remember all the times she had seen the eyes of her Professor. She was comparing everything she could think of. They were darker than usual, more the color of winter's dusk than the baby blue she usually saw, but she knew there was something else. When he taught his classes, the class was always enthralled. His exuberance, and his adoration for his field of magic always kept the class entertained. He would joke, and laugh, and still manage to teach them their lesson plans and more. And when he taught his classes, his eyes always sparkled jovially. But now, the sparkle residing in his eyes was but jovial. Alluring, yes. Mysterious, yes. Sexy beyond belief, yes. But jovial, no. Not in the slightest.
"I believe Miss Pomfrey said you had something you wished to ask of me?" Minerva was startled to hear Albus's voice, and realized that she had probably been alone with her thoughts for the better part of a minute. "What is it about him that makes me tongue-tied?" she quickly thought. "Okay Min, you can do this. Deep breaths. Just stay calm, don't loose control. And don'tbecome too distracted."
"Yes, Professor. You see, my aspiration has long been to become an Animagus. I believe I'm now far enough along in my training that I could accomplish it. However, I need a sponsor and a trainer, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to assist me." She stared at him with baited breath, waiting to be let down.
His smile grew as he pushed off the tree and started to walk towards her. "I'd be delighted! I've been waiting for you to ask, Minerva. I know that you have the talent. I don't think I've ever seen anybody exhibit as much natural ability for Transfiguration as you."
Minerva felt as if she'd been hit with a Stunner. She couldn't move, couldn't speak for complete surprise. "He said my name. I heard it. I know I did. My first name. It definitely came out of his mouth." It was an unstated rule that teachers only called their students by their first name if they were especially interested in them, for one reason or another. Then she was filled with a fierce joy. "He's interested in me. He recognizes my efforts in his class, he knows who I am!" She broke into a beautiful smile. "Thank you sir! You don't know who much this means to me!"
"I'm rather sure that I understand." Albus said, the sparkle in his eye turning into the cheerful shine that Minerva was used to. "I feel like I could hug him!" Minerva thought. She pictured herself running over and tackling him with a hug, and then giggled out loud at the absurdity of it.
"Something amuse you?" he questioned. In any other situation this question would have been accusatory, but now it just sounded something that a friend or colleague would ask. "No sir. It's just that… I feel so happy that I could hug you!" He laughed along with her. Then he opened his arms.
"Professor, are you being serious?" she asked unbelieving, nervous, and thrilled at the same time.
"Of course I'm being serious!" he replied, chuckling deeply. It was a lovely sound, and Minerva instantly felt more at ease. "I do know that it is difficult to resist me. Hugs must be given every now and again, it's a fact of life. I wouldn't be where I am now if it weren't for a few very important hugs... but that's another story for another time." He laughed again, finding himself highly amusing.
"Well then." Minerva didn't know what else to say. But Albus was still standing there with his arms open, completely confident. So she hesitantly stepped forward into his embrace.
"Stop it." Minerva thought to herself. She could feel herself trembling. "What are you, a timid rabbit?" But it was hard not to be overwhelmed. This was more than she had ever dreamed would be possible. She could feel his strong arms wrapped protectively around her, could feel her own pulse racing as if she'd been running all her life, could feel his breath running warm down her neck... She breathed in deeply, inhaling his scent of cedar and cinnamon. "Poppy, I love you forever!" She sent this thought to her friend, hoping with all her might that somehow Poppy could hear her.
All too soon he had withdrawn, and she felt chilled when the air blew where Albus had been so warm. But it didn't matter to her one bit. "Thank you." She thought to whoever had made it possible for her night to be so wonderful.
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, listening to the music form the Great Hall that was carried by the wind out into their courtyard. Minerva glanced up at Albus, and found him smiling. "He felt it too." She realized. There had been something else in their embrace, something that went deeper than companionship. And they both knew it. Now it was just a question of who would act first.
"Professor," Minerva started, feeling color rush to her cheeks, "none of the boys in our year bothered to learn to dance. And it is a ball after all so I was just wondering…" Albus smiled just a bit wider. "You want to dance with me?" Minerva was completely flustered. "Uh, never mind sir. Forget I asked. It's just—" her babbling was cut off by Albus taking her hand. He led her a little further away from the tree that had provided them with light, and put his other hand on her back. Minerva placed her free hand softly on his shoulder.
She looked up into his handsome face, and wished with her whole heart that this moment could last forever. She was blissfully happy, happier than she had been in a very long time. "This is how it should be." She thought. "This, right here and now, is wonderful." And for the first time she acknowledged that she might actually be falling in love with Albus Dumbledore.