Disclaimer: I do not own anything dealing with Harry Potter and I highly doubt that I shall anytime soon.

A/N: Thank you all for your reviews and for your patience. I fear I have been neglecting my fanfiction more and more as of late and it is, regrettably, unavoidable. But I promise to keep to my two week rule. I shall update no more than two weeks after the last update and that is a promise for as long as I can keep it.

Chapter Three: Must Find A Bride…

Albus Dumbledore smiled as he made his way towards the apparition point. He had just left a very stunned young woman by the name of Minerva McGonagall standing in the middle of the street, looking somewhat confused after her very long speech about the arrogant Albus Dumbledore. True, she had not known who she was talking to, and she likely never would, but it had been quite intriguing for him to hear. He was so used to people building him up that to have this young woman, who was obviously just in her twenties, deflating the ego she so brazenly suggested he had caused him to feel somewhat humbled. She was certainly a breath of fresh air compared to all those he usually came in contact with.

Once he had apparated to Hogwarts and began his slow ascent towards the entrance, he began to mentally prepare himself for the berating he was sure to receive from Armondo once he was found. Armondo was retiring soon and Albus was to be the new headmaster. So, Albus was to be 'groomed', as it were, to replace his mentor. But could Armondo really blame him? He was very popular and he never had the chance to just be alone, even if it were in a crowd.

He sighed as he felt his disguise begin to fade and his usual appearance take its place. He rubbed his now whiskered cheek and sighed. Well, it was fun while it lasted. Now, he would have to face reality and act like Albus Dumbledore once again. Oh how he was beginning to loathe that title. Before, he had loved being himself and was never afraid to be anything but himself. But then he became famous and people began to objectify him. Oh how he hated to be objectified.

He opened the huge double doors of Hogwarts castle and walked in. Ah, he loved the summer time. As much as he loved the castle during the school year, he also loved the slow, gentle lull of the hot, summer months. Three full months free of worrying that some student will get injured or that a spell will go array. He also loved the time alone to think. Although he did love the challenge of teaching young minds, he also enjoyed being alone and simply thinking. Picnics next to the great lake were always a joy to embrace. However, he had noticed lately that those picnics were becoming more and more lonely. If only he had someone special to share those times with.

He made his way towards his private rooms. Perhaps he could freshen up with a shower before he was forced to face the headmaster.

"Albus!" Or, perhaps not. He sighed and closed his eyes. Then, he opened them and turned around, producing a fake smile.

"Ah, Armondo. I was beginning to think I might not see you today," he said. Armando smiled and made his way to Albus' side.

"Yes, I feared the same thing about you," he replied, quirking a brow. Albus laughed.

"So I take it my great escape to the real world had not gone unnoticed, then?" Armando smiled despite himself.

"No, it was not," he replied. "How did you blend in this time?"

"A simple transfiguration potion."

"Polyjuice potion?" Albus laughed.

"Nothing so elaborate. Just a simple potion that is similar to the Polyjuice Potion, and yet not quite. It allowed me to transform into someone else without it being a specific person." Armando nodded while eyeing Albus warily.

"Well, I am glad I found you anyhow, Albus," he said. "Come, I need to speak with you privately in my office." He motioned with his finger to have Albus follow him and he did, with a heavy sigh. He knew what was coming and he was not looking forward to it.

Ooooooooooo

Armando looked at the man sitting across from him. The man in question sat rather uncomfortably in his chair, shifting uncontrollably under the intense gaze of his mentor and friend. He fiddled with his beard like a teenager might fiddle with his clothing. The former sighed once again as he leaned forward onto his desk.

"Look, Albus, I know we've had this talk time and time again, but I feel as though this is most important at this time. After all, I will be retiring by December, and you will thus take over and run Hogwarts"

"I do not see what my status in this school has to do with my marital status," Albus replied rather angrily. He had not meant to be so short with the man whom he considered family, but he could not help himself. He was simply fed up with everyone trying to marry him off to the first woman who came along, claiming to love him when he knew she did not.

"Well, I suppose it is not so horrible, and yet… And yet I know that the ministry can be a pain in the arse, if you'll excuse my language, towards those who are unmarried. Do not ask me why they feel the need to interfere with Hogwarts- Perhaps it is because Hogwarts is such a prestigious school. Besides, you should not be a single man. You have much love to give."

"So I have been told," Albus frowned. He rubbed his face with both his hands and heaved a heavy sigh. He stood and paced Armando's office. "It is not as though I do not wish to be married. I do, for many reasons. But I cannot simply be pushed into an arrangement. I want to meet a woman, court her, and then marry her, if I feel strongly enough for her."

"As it should be," Armando agreed, nodding his head. He, too, stood and made his way around his desk, sitting on the edge. "I do have your best interests at heart, my boy. I just don't like to see you lonely." Albus turned and smiled ironically at the man.

"Who says I'm lonely?" he asked. Armando quirked a brow.

"Aren't you?" he asked. Albus turned away from him. Armando walked up and placed his hand upon Albus' shoulder. "I can see that you are. I know what it is like to wander through this life and on this earth all alone, wishing for that one special person whom you can share your life, thoughts, and secret desires to. I only wish for your happiness, my friend." There were several moments of silence before Albus thought to respond.

"Thank you for your concern, my friend," he finally responded, turning to face him. He clapped his hand upon Armando's shoulder, mimicking the latter's actions. "I know you only want the best for me, but please respect my wishes. I would like to take my own time." Armando nodded.

"Very well," he replied. "Perhaps you might start next Saturday." He made his way back towards the desk, leaving a befuddled Albus in his wake.

"Next Saturday?" he asked. Armando did not sit, but merely looked at Albus and smiled.

"Yes, Albus, next Saturday." When Albus continued to looked bewildered, he decided to elaborate. "The ministry ball." Albus felt his heart beat several times against his chest before it finally fell into the pit of his stomach. He had forgotten about that. Each year, usually a month or so before school started, the ministry held its annual ball. "All of the wizarding worlds finest will be there. And, perhaps, a daughter or two." Albus was not sure what to make of Armando's sly smile.

"I should have known…" Albus could not stop the chuckle from coming forth past his lips. Well, he thought. Perhaps it was time to settle down after all.

Ooooooooooo

Minerva entered her house, still stunned by everything that had happened. She was not sure why, but that man just made her feel… odd. She was not quite sure why, but she just could not stop thinking about that man. Why? She had never thought so much about a man, especially someone she had just met.

"Oh, Minerva, there you are." Minerva pursed her lips as her step mother came walking to the front entry way. "I thought I would have to wait forever for those eggs." Minerva had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. 'Well if I had some help, perhaps I could have been back sooner,' she thought to herself. Instead, she merely handed her step mother the bag with the baking supplies she had asked for. "And did you get the things Lucinda asked for?"

"When have I not?" Minerva asked cheekily. Eleanor quirked her brow at Minerva.

"You better be careful with what you say, Minerva," she said. "I can have you thrown out at any time. I don't because you're family. But family, like fish, begin to smell very quickly." Minerva bit her tongue to stop all the comments she had on the tip of her tongue, the first of which was to compare fish with certain family.

"Where is it? MINERVA!" Lucinda ran downstairs and stared at Minerva, her arms folded. "What have you done with my shoes?" Lucinda had grown to be a beautiful young woman with platinum blonde hair and a very gracious figure. Her eyes were striking blue and she was what dreams were made of. Even Minerva could not deny her beauty. But instead, Minerva usually preferred to refer to her (if only in secret) as the 'girl from the blonde jokes'. Griselda had also grown beautiful as well, though she was a little more round that Lucinda, as well as a tad shorter.

"I have not touched your shoes," Minerva said in an acidic tone as she handed her step sister the bag of things she had gotten for her from Hogsmeade.

"Am I supposed to believe that?" Lucinda asked angrily, paying no attention to the bag in her hand.

"Believe what you will, but I do not have them," Minerva replied.

"Then where are they?" she asked.

"I borrowed them." Lucinda looked around and saw her sister upon the steps. "I put them back in your closet."

"Oh," Lucinda replied airily. "Well, don't do that. Ask next time." With that, she walked past the stairs, brushing past her sister. "I shall be in my room looking over my Wonderful Wizards of the World magazine and see how Albus ranks this month." Without another word, she walked into her bedroom and shut the door. Eleanor brushed past Minerva and mumbled something about cooking dinner, though Minerva knew house elves would most certainly be involved. Minerva looked at Griselda, who was still standing midway up the stairs. They stared and shrugged.

"It's horrid being invisible, isn't it?" Griselda asked. Minerva nodded sadly, though she refused to let tears fall.

"You ever wake up in the morning, hoping things will be different, but then, upon realizing it is the same as it has ever been, you think, 'This is not my life,'?" Griselda nodded.

"Every day of my life." She walked down the steps and placed her hand upon Minerva's shoulder. They smiled. "Do not get life get you down, Minerva."

"I won't," Minerva smiled back. Griselda began to walk away, then hesitated. She turned back and looked at Minerva. "Minerva, do you… I mean, do you suppose you would like to come to my room tonight? It would be kind of nice to have some company that does not include my mother's incessant droning of Lucinda, or Lucinda speaking day and night of Albus bloody Dumbledore." Minerva smiled a true smile. This has never happened before. She nodded.

"Yes, I would like that. And I promise… No discussing Albus bloody Dumbledore."

A/N2: Okay, so sorry for the shortness of this chapter… But I promise the next one shall be longer…. Scout's honor… Read long and prosper… Always Hopeful