A/N: I know I'm mixing up the time a little, as she doesn't talk about Elphinstone until after she had been teaching for a few years, but this is my take on Minerva's life, so this made the most sense to me.

Minerva ran through the halls of Hogwarts, her vision blurred with tears. I was such a fool, she thought bitterly. He doesn't love me, why would he? He has his pick of the most beautiful witches around, why would he pick me? Plain, poor, ordinary me?

By the time she reached the castle gates, her tears had stopped. She exited the castle grounds, apparating back to her flat in London. As she went to the bathroom to remove the traces of her tears, she quickly locked away her broken heart. I'll continue with my job at the Ministry, she decided resignedly as she washed the tears off of her face. Elphinstone will be pleased, she thought sardonically. He's been falling over me since he first saw me, but I was blinded by my love for Albus. I'm already in my twenties, and I've always wanted a family. Maybe I should give him a chance. I care for him, even if I don't love him. She left the bathroom and went to the kitchen, sitting at the table with a quill, parchment, & ink. What to write… That problem was solved as a barn owl swooped into the room, landing gracefully on the table. Untying the letter from the owl's leg, she realized that the letter was from Elphinstone. Grinning, she gave the owl a treat before settling back down to read the letter.

Dear Minerva,

How did your interview go? Did you get the post? I also wanted to know if you wanted to meet in Hogsmede for a drink tomorrow. I have something rather important that I want to ask you, and I can't wait any longer. Send your owl back with your answer.

Yours,

Elphinstone

I wonder what he wants to talk about, Minerva thought as she quickly wrote back, telling him she would answer all of his questions when they met tomorrow, about noon by the Hogshead. She then called Athena, her beautiful snowy owl that replaced Raven when she died, and sent her letter to Eplphinstone. Before she could decide what to do next, a phoenix appeared in the middle of the table in a ball of fire. Righting her glasses, which had become crooked when she jumped, she examined the bird, and more importantly, the letter in its beak. That looks like Fawkes, Albus's phoenix. She stroked the bird's head as she took the parchment, which had her name in familiar loopy writing. Why is Albus writing to me, she wondered nervously. Maybe he is angry because I turned him into a rat, even though he deserved it for reading my mind.

To Miss Minerva Mcgonagall,

It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been hired as the Transfiguration professor, and head of Gryffindor house at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft & Wizardry. As it is summer, you still have a few months to get settled in the castle before school begins. If you would be willing, it would be best if you could come to Hogwarts two days hence, so that we can discuss what needs to be done. If you accept, please send Fawkes back with a letter, as it will save your owl a flight.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore.

P.S. I hardly think that I need to write my full name, as well as my titles, in this letter, as it would be a waste of parchment.

Minerva shook her head as she finished the letter. He's always been a bit odd, she thought fondly, but hiring me even after I attacked him is very peculiar. Unless… No! He just needs a Gryffindor to replace him, nothing more. Taking up her quill once more, saying that she accepted the job, and that she would be at Hogwarts at eight in two days' time. She handed the letter to the phoenix, stroking his feathery head once more before saying, "Deliver that to your master please." Fawkes trilled happily, before disappearing once more into flames. When the flames disappeared, the phoenix had gone. Albus always was rather flashy, Minerva thought wryly as she put the kettle on for tea, deciding that the afternoon would be best spent in her library, curled up with a book. Tomorrow she would meet with Elphinstone, before getting her things together for when she went to Hogwarts.