A/N Still in need of a beta if anyone is interested. Thought I had one, but she got away!
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By the amount of light streaming through the window, Albus estimated it to be mid-afternoon when he was woken by Minerva's nuzzling of his neck. For the first time in a long time they had made love that afternoon. It hadn't been nearly as ardent or arduous as their usual lovemaking - Minerva was still too weak for that - but it had been sweet and wonderfully reassuring nonetheless.
Though neither had sought to prolong it, but rather they had both given into their want and need as quickly as was respectable, he was still astounded that she was ready for more so soon. Therefore, when he looked down and discovered she was actually just nuzzling him in her sleep, he was somewhat disappointed, but not at all surprised. The nuzzling in her sleep was a cat habit that sometimes carried over from her animagus form.
It wasn't uncommon for an animagus to have some traits carry over to their human form and nuzzling was something cats were often known to do. It was actually a habit also common to kneazles. Very early in their relationship after having been on the receiving end of a similar experience, Minerva had accused him of being an unregistered cat animagus. He had amusedly informed her that she was wrong on both counts. He was neither unregistered, nor a cat animagus; he was a kneazle animagus and he very well was registered. He just wasn't on the published lists.
Only a few at the Ministry – now all but one deceased – knew that he had trained for the transformation during the dark days of Grindelwald. It was in the seemingly innocuous form of a kneazle that he had finally managed to get close enough to confront and defeat Grindelwald.
After Grindelwald's fall, given the superior utility of the form with the public - and therefore his enemies - unaware of it, Albus had requested his possession of the ability not be made public. That at least was the reason he had given to the head of the aurors, Lyndon Lyonesse, and the others involved. His true motivations were a bit different. With all the publicity and fanfare that had followed his defeat of Grindelwald, it was priceless to have a way to leave the castle without being inundated with people wherever he went. The anonymity to be able to get away from the world – or the image of what the world thought he should be – while still being a part of the world…
Even his own brother had never been told. Aberforth was many things – scheming, conniving – to name a few, but discreet or trustworthy were not amongst his known qualities. No doubt Albus could expect to hear an earful about it from Aberforth once it did become public knowledge. Barring special circumstances, Ministry files were typically declassified after fifty years.
Albus shifted to bring Minerva closer. Of course when she had questioned him, he had told her everything. Why wouldn't he? He trusted her implicitly. As recent events confirmed, she would never betray him or his confidences.