MMAD One Shots

20. An Unexpected Journey I. A Wasted Life

"Do you really think they have a life?"

"Of course, Ronald!" Hermione squeaked as a reply. "They might be professors but that does not mean they are not people like you and me!"

"Hermione, they don't seem to be normal people..." Said Ron. The girl rolled her eyes.

"What makes you think that?!"

"I mean, they're always teaching at Hogwarts..."

"That's their job! They also have vacations like everyone else."

"Yeah... But most of them always stay here while we're gone just planning the next school year. Maybe two or three go away to visit their families, but... come on, they're not like the rest of us! Take Professor McGonagall for example. An old and weary woman who has been teaching all her dull life. She doesn't have a husband... or any children..."

"She is just our professor, we don't know her though."

"I highly doubt she ever had a boyfriend. I bet she's a virg—"

"RONALD!"

"What? It's true!"

"It is non of your business what we professors do or do not do in our free time and less in our personal and private lives, Mr. Weasley." Both Ron and Hermione paled as they heard McGonagall's sharp voice behind their backs "I strongly recommend you two to better go back to your dormitories quietly and do not talk about these private matters in an empty hall at night. I will not hesitate to take points from Gryffindor if I find any of you in circumstances like these again."

"O-of course not, professor... We're leaving now." Said Hermione grabbing Ron's arm quickly. The red haired young man tried to protest but finally agreed to follow her as soon as he got to see McGonagall's sparkling eyes. They were filled with such a new dangerous fury that to run away from her suddenly did not sound like a bad idea at all.

Once they disappeared the woman let out a deep sigh and leaned her back on the cold wall. It was the fourth time she had heard comments like that one on that day.

"She's not pretty at all."

"She never had kids."

"She never got to marry anyone."

"She's too old."

Why did students always talk about her private life even when they knew she was there, listening? Didn't they consider the fact that she was also a human with weaknesses and feelings? She might be the strictest professor they had, but she was too a person just like them. And she indeed had dreams and regrets.

After all, if she analyzed things, what her students said behind her backs was not that far from reality. She was a lonely old woman who did not have any single special thing in her life. Her parents had died when she was a young girl, she had just two boyfriends in her whole life and she never got to love any of them; she never had kids on her own even though she loved children and, of course, she did not get to marry. She had dedicated her life fully to Hogwarts and Hogwarts only. She wasn't unhappy after all, she enjoyed teaching more than anything else and had good colleagues there, but if she thought about her complete existence carefully she actually did not have anything or anyone quite special next to her. She didn't have someone to share her thoughts with or to just sit to talk after a long day of work. She had no one to take care of or worry about, and she was quite sure no one worried about her or her safety either. She had colleagues and students in her life... but nothing else. She was quite sure no one would miss her when she finally had to leave earth forever.

"Tabby?" She heard a light voice and opened her weary green eyes instantly. A quite tall figure went out of the corridor's darkness and materialized in front of her. A slight sparkle lit her eyes up as she realized to whom that shadow belonged.

"What are you doing here, Albus?" She asked. Albus Dumbledore smiled warmly at her and also leaned his back against the hall's wall. Minerva squinted at him and smiled lightly. The headmaster's presence always calmed her.

"You see, I decided to go to the kitchens for a piece of cake, as it is usual..."

"So it is usual for you to get up at three in the morning just to go to the kitchens for cake?"

"Chocolate cake, and yes. Cake is glorious, my dear." Minerva couldn't help but chuckle. He joined and closed his eyes as he enjoyed the sound of her light laugh. In his opinion, it was a rare and marvelous melody that he loved deeply and that he never got to listen to often.

"And despite of the years, you're still the same." She smiled. Albus opened his eyes and looked down at her. To his surprise she had decided to close her eyes as well.

"I would never like to change."

He smiled again as he thought she looked prettier than usual. Even when she was wearing her normal plaid dressing gown for him she looked splendid. Her thick black hair was free from its usual bun —only for that night— and it fell freely down her back; her factions were slightly relaxed and a soft pink dyed her cheeks. He remained watching her silently until she slowly started opening her eyes. He had to look away as soon as he realized he had been staring at her for at least five solid minutes.

"That's good." She whispered, looking up at him. "And well... why don't you go for your cake then?"

"Because... you are here."

"And?"

"It would be quite rude to leave such a gorgeous woman in an empty hall with no company at this late in the night, don't you think?" He dared to say. Minerva's cheeks quickly kindled and turned from a soft pink to an intense red. Albus chuckled.

"Do you really think that?" She asked. Albus nodded his head and extended an arm to her. She arched an eyebrow.

"Of course. Now, would you like to come with me, professor gorgeous McGonagall? I'm sure you will not be able to eat cake at this time, but surely you won't say no to a cup of tea, will you?" Minerva's cheeks were burning highly again. She chuckled one more time and took his arm.

"I suppose I cannot decline that offer, no." She responded. He smiled.

"Good." Once her fingers touched his arm his skin bristled. She always could make him feel incredibly odd things when she was next to him, and that night certainly was not the exception. Finally they would spend the rest of the night together as the good friends they were. It was pretty late and they finally would be alone, so the moment that Albus had been waiting for quite a long while seemed to had arrived. "Shall we?" Minerva nodded and squeezed his arm. He looked down and smiled at her.

'This is going to be tougher that I thought...' He said to himself as they walked towards the kitchens together.

He had finally decided to tell her about his feelings for her.

'It's now or never.'

To Be Continued...

~Paula. 🐼

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