Disclaimer: Yeah, I know. I'm not JKR. ^^

A/N: I'm writing this simply because it came to me.

Any input is welcome, as I honestly have no idea where this is going. :)

Special thanks to Future Starkid Member for being the amazingest beta ever! :) *heart*

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Chapter Two: Drunken Remembrance

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"Goodnight, Albus," Minerva said, voice friendly once more. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Thank you for the tea."

The big oaken doors shut silently as cat-Minerva retreated into the night.

Albus relaxed in his chair, closing his eyes halfway. He thought about the meeting once more and laughed.

Minerva really was the person who knew him best. She had seen right through him. She had been the voice of reason. He was so lucky to have her – and he would never take her for granted again.

But she could never know that. He already had to put up with enough of her sass and attitude. He chuckled again, thinking of how she had handled the situation. Well, at least that was one thing off his plate.

Albus replayed the encounter in his mind. He could see each face and their expressions.

He always enjoyed a good joke, and tonight was priceless. Smiling his trademark grin, Albus drew out three cards from his coveted tarot deck. It was a treasure, considering it came from Sybil Trelawney. Let Minerva scoff – he'd show her his new skill.

As smug as a First Year trying a Third Year spell, Albus studied his cards carefully.

The first card was The Fool. The second card was Two of Cups. The final card was Justice.

Albus chuckled, as he recognized what they meant.

He was the Fool – on more than one level.

He remembered his interview with Sybil Trelawney. Over dinner and several glasses of wine and firewhiskey, they had talked late into the night. Fondly stroking his beard, he chuckled, eyes gleaming in the firelight. Whatever Minerva might say, the cards don't lie.

It made so much sense – the Two of Cups meant his meeting with Sybill. But it could also double as the meeting with Minerva. Two of Cups was a bit ambiguous. It could mean friends, a romantic meeting, a dinner for two, a tête à tête of sorts. It could also mean the beginning of something new.

Justice – ah, yes! For some reason, the woman had Minerva's long, dark hair and her gray-green eyes with that trace of marble, sort of like a cat's eye. Justice, blindfolded, garbed in white flowing robes, stood erect and tall – a fair young maiden. Albus saw Minerva as Justice personified.

Okay, Minerva. You win this round. Albus thought mentally. But only because the cards say so.

Albus grimaced, knowing that he'd have to apologize profusely for his behavior tonight. Not only was it expected, but it was Minerva. You could never have a fight with a woman - especially a stunning, amazingly talented witch like Minerva - and not apologize. Albus's reputation as a gentleman was at stake. He would need to recover and be in Minerva's good graces by tomorrow morning. Preferably before breakfast. Shaking his head, Albus sighed. He knew that every iota of repentance would be greeted with smugness. Minerva was one hell of a woman and she knew how to play the game. But he couldn't give in. He'd win another round soon…

Or so he hoped.

A random thought struck him suddenly. Why did someone like Minerva have no one to share a room with? No one to lean on in times of worry? Why was someone like Minerva single? As beautiful and young as she was, she must have someone.

Albus pondered that question for a bit, before shrugging his shoulders. She was capable of taking care of herself, no doubt. Sarcasm was a well-equipped weapon for her. Just as disarming as his patented Cheshire Cat insane grin. He recalled that many of his staff loved Minerva, as well as several students, former and current. He grinned devilishly as he remembered several confiscated items. Of course, he had kept them. Come to think of it, he could not say why he kept them. He just had.

To take his mind off Minerva, her damn sarcastic attitude, and the possible love lives of his staff, Albus moved to the couch in his office. It was too early to try to sleep – it was only about midnight. At any rate, he wasn't tired. Too early was just another excuse. He mentally chastised himself.

Really, Albus, pull yourself together! Don't let that darn foxy woman get under your skin! Here, he could not tell if he meant Sybil or Minerva. And he didn't want to know. Whatever his mind thought, he'd try his best to keep his thoughts pure.

Merlin's venti skinny mocha chai tea - with foam! Really, all he wanted was a nice, relaxing evening.

He lay down on the couch and thought of his wonderful – erm, he meant interesting – yes, interesting dinner with one Sybil Trelawney.

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Albus had arrived at The Leaky Cauldron already prepared to say no. Sybil was no Seer – he had Seen that during her Hogwarts years.

He laughed privately at the joke. Minerva was so sassy! Count on Minerva to divert all her cynicism and sarcasm from logical targets to Divination. She couldn't stand Divination. Not because she didn't do well in the class, but because she passed with hogwash. She had confided in him that she had fudged all her exam answers just to keep her grade at an Acceptable, instead of a Poor. Albus smiled. He hadn't told Minerva that he had received an Outstanding in Divination.

Minerva had been quick to remind Albus that Sybil had never displayed the prophetic propensities of her great-great-grandmother. Albus was slow to agree with her, though already in his mind he knew Professor Claire would be continuing to teach at Hogwarts. But a night out, under any pretense, was something Albus just couldn't pass up.

Reserving a table at The Leaky Cauldron had been easy. Tom ran the bar, so Albus was a welcome paying customer. And he always paid, as he and Tom were good friends. Then again, who wasn't a good friend with Tom?

Fortunately, that Friday night was not too busy for once. The Leaky Cauldron was cozy, but not overcrowded. No one would overhear their conversation. Well, Albus supposed there would be little conversation anyway – at least, nothing worthwhile for potential eavesdroppers. He would not be hiring Sybil because he didn't need two Divination professors. That was the professional reason. Her talent, or lack of talent, had nothing to do with it. Right. He would try to convince himself of that fact throughout the dinner, in vain.

Sybil was fashionably late, dressed in so many layers of fabric that Albus felt a bit claustrophobic. Who'd have known that someone could have forty-nine and a half yards of fabric, mostly shawls, wrapped around their person? At least twenty necklaces adorned Sybil's not so very attractive figure. Really, a nice plain black dress with minimal jewelry would have been very becoming on her curvy body.

And that shade of blue – oh! It was an insult to the fashion world. Even Albus, whose fashion often made Minerva quirk her eyebrows in disdain, knew enough to avoid that particular electric blue.

Albus grinned again.

Oh, Minerva, look at what you're missing! He thought, maliciously.

"Hello, Sybil. So nice to see you again," Albus said, trying his best to be professional.

Sybil's voice was hoarse and raspy. It was a very uninviting voice and put Albus off his tea, as the saying goes.

She replied, "Hello, Professor Dumbledore. So good to see you tonight."

Before she sat down, Albus caught a nasty whiff of fruity incensed perfume – yuck!

Albus made a mental note to avoid telling Minerva that he had smelled Sybil's perfume. While Minerva was so much younger than him, (their age difference was shameful!), Albus would never give Minerva that kind of ammunition. Her snarky comments could start false rumors, especially if whispered over the breakfast table. And adding Divination into the equation meant he wouldn't hear the end of it until - well, maybe forever! He knew Minerva could never like him, but a Fool could hope – couldn't he?

Sybil sat down with an unladylike "plop". The sound was a bit loud, causing people to turn their heads to stare at the abomination – er, potential Seer – that now sat across from Albus.

Without ceremony, Sybil reached across the table and took Albus's hand. Albus was about to protest, but then he realized this was part of the interview… Wasn't it?

"Hmm, I see. Yes, it all makes sense now," Sybil muttered. "I see – I see great things for you!"

Albus looked quizzically at Sybil over his half-moon glasses. "Do you really? Do tell."

Sybil ignored his mocking tone. Eager to prove her worth, she went on in the same enthusiastic manner.

"I can tell you will do great things. Many people will look to you to make a decision. You will be hard-pressed, but you will have to do what you believe is right. Only then will others have choice. You are standing at a cross-road. You must choose soon, for each path is only open for so long. If you pass it by, then you are stuck. You will never find the same road again."

Sybil looked up at Albus, acting like a child of five looking up to her parents for support.

Albus placed his other hand on top of Sybil's.

"My dear," he said, trying his best to keep his composure. "Thank you for that piece of advice. Now, about the post."

Sybil squealed excitedly. "I am so glad you liked your fortune! Too often I get customers who are nasty and mean." She sighed plaintively. "They don't understand. But I know you do."

Sybil gave Albus a piercing stare. Albus returned her gaze with his calm blue eyes.

Turning her mouse brown eyes back to her firewhiskey, Sybil continued, "So, do I get the job?"

Maybe it was a bit too eager. She saw Albus look down at the table.

"Oh, I see. Shall I do another reading for you? I can do tarot cards, you know. And crystal balls. I can use the stars – but, oh, that's rather dull at the moment." Sybil pointed to the window. "The heavens are hiding at the moment. Any results will be rather vague for the time being."

Sybil smiled at Albus, as though she had said the wittiest, smartest thing since Merlin's idea of Excalibur.

Albus sighed. "How about we order something to eat?"

He thought that maybe this meeting was a mistake, after all. Right now, anything to get this git of a woman to shut up would be heavenly! He tried to suppress his chuckle, though he had a niggling sensation that he was grinning.

He really should have someone sift through the applications first. Then maybe people like Sybill would be sorted out.

Oh! He remembered that he had asked Minerva's opinion and she had automatically discarded Sybil's application. Right. He should have listened. Another tidbit he would NEVER tell Minerva. EVER. Otherwise, she'd have so much to lord over him. And Merlin knows he could not afford to tell Minerva she was right THREE times in one day!

He quickly calculated how much catnip, gillywater, and ginger newts he would need to buy. According to his calculations, Minerva's desk should be swamped in tartan tins by morning. Damn! She would be a smug kitty cat for awhile. He didn't need to be a seer to know that.

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Albus was fast asleep by the time he recalled the desserts – crème brulée and apple pie. Sybil had started drinking sherry by that point. Albus was ashamed to recall that he was seriously drunk. He had even leaned forward to whisper conspiratorially to Sybil. He groaned at the recollection that he had told Sybil he was a fool for not listening to her tarot cards.

It was definitely a good thing that Horace had found him. Minerva had her hands full with the First Years. She did not need to have to deal with him - not when he was like that.

Good old Horace had helped Albus to his feet, brought him back to Hogwarts and dosed him with sober up and hangover potions. Whatever people may say about Horace's teaching style, he was a true Potions Master and a loyal friend.

Horace Slughorn, Head of Slytherin, had even brought Albus to his rooms and had been kind enough to get a house elf to help him change into more presentable robes. Trust Horace to have good fashion sense.

And not a moment later...

Albus was snoring loudly as the house elf Benjy covered his sleeping form with a blanket. The house elf then altered the fire so the glare lessened, but the warmth remained. Benjy smiled, happy to have completed Professor McGonagall's orders successfully. Next to Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid, Professor McGonagall was the most respected Hogwarts staff member. According to elf standards.

With a quiet pop, the elf disappeared. Albus smiled, lost in a dream. He dreamed a tabby was purring contentedly, looking like the cat who got the cream. He chuckled in his dream.

The portraits woke up to snores. Disgruntled, they glared at Albus's snoring form on the couch.

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A/N: So yeah, a bit different. But like I said, this fic is not Minerva-centric. Or maybe I didn't say. *shrug*

Well, now you know ;)

Again, any errors are mine. I changed the end a bit so as to lead into the next chapter. Well, maybe. No promises ^^

Any suggestions are gladly encouraged - this fic can go in whatever direction. :D