Show Me Your Colours

I've never had much care for Divination. The subject is entirely useless, if you ask me. I don't know why Professor Dippet continues it.

Instead of listening I'm poring over a booklet on Animagi. I've always wanted to learn and now I've got a chance to start. Rolanda said I probably won't have time for that as well as my schoolwork. Psh.

We've got two weeks to make up our minds and let Professor Dumbledore know who's interested. He said he doesn't want to hear any acceptances for the first week because it's not a decision to be rushed. Huh. I made up my mind in the classroom, but when I tried to tell him afterwards he waved me off politely, telling me he knew how enthusiastic I was but to take more time with my decision.

I may have a crush the size of Everest on the man, but he really annoys me sometimes.

"Mina, you okay?"

Go away, Rolanda. I'm busy.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Where was I? Oh, yes. Dumbledore.

Um, maybe I should stay away from thinking about that subject. It's got me in enough trouble already. And I made a resolution this year to stop thinking about him.

OK, maybe it didn't work.

Damn.

I don't think he knows. At least, I hope he doesn't know. If he does ... well, at least he doesn't show that he knows. Would he treat me any differently if he knew? Oh Merlin, look at me, I'm obsessive. I was trying to get away from that. Ugh.

I think I have a backlog of thoughts about him because I forced myself to think of other things this past holiday. Normally it's not too hard. My family are a good distraction. Well, actually they're a bad distraction, but at the moment anything that takes my mind off H-I-M is a good distraction, even if it hurts.

Ouch. Now I've got my family and Dumbledore on my mind. Not good.

Thank Merlin. The bell.

-----

I love Arithmancy. It's taxing enough to take your mind off anything. Even my family. Even Dumbledore. Even ...

Tom Riddle?

"Hey, McGonagall!"

What's he want?

A group of fifth-years glare at me as he rushes up, out of breath, chest heaving under his school uniform. I can't help but feel an unsettling but not quite unwelcome jolt as he pushes his hair out of his stormy grey eyes. Honestly, I've never really felt anything but vague, fleeting attraction for anyone but you-know-who. I think maybe this is passing those boundaries ...

No, that's good. Good. Get that into your head, Minerva.

I suppose I can't sit around pining for my teacher for the rest of my life. "Yes, Tom?"

Something appears to spark in him that I'm calling him by his first name. "Minerva." Okay, I'm getting a little nervous here. Tom, now having caught his breath, puts an arm round my shoulders - Now I'm really nervous - and begins to lead me down the corridor.

"How are you?" he asks calmly, as if we're life-long friends. How does he do that?

"Um ..." Great, now my voice is going squeaky. "Okay."

He leads me down the steps and down the Transfiguration corridor. "Looking forward to the Animagi course?"

That grabs my attention. "What?"

He laughs. "Minerva, you're sweet when you play daft, but it's too obvious. Everyone knows you'll be picked for the course this year."

"Don't patronise me, Tom." Just because my heart is going bang-bang-bang doesn't mean I'm going to let him walk all over me. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Really? And I thought you were supposed to be the smart one."

"Tom -"

"Maybe we could discuss it somewhere less public?" He pauses in the middle of the corridor, turning to face me. "Hogsmeade, perhaps? Next weekend? The Hog's Head?"

I'm not saying I've never got attention from boys before. Just that the attention I have got - up till recently - has been pretty fleeting. Since the beginning of term more boys have been coming up to me and talking to me, but I suppose I just wasn't interested. Now, however ...

I am interested, and I'm scared.

"I'm not sure, Tom." Part of me wants to say yes, the other part no. I'm caught in confusion. What do I do, what do I do, what do I do???

OK, Minerva. Calm down. Deep breaths.

Oh help. That's Professor Dumbledore's office.

Tom notices my moment of realisation. "Ah."

He moves closer. He's barely inches away from me now. The girls from upstairs are grouped a few feet away, obviously waiting for him to kiss me. Enviously waiting. I still don't know what to say ...

"Minerva." My breath hitches. He's so close. His voice is much lower, soft and silky. Even I'm having trouble making out what he's saying.

"I completely understand, you know," he murmurs.

What's he talking about? "Understand what?"

Tom looks meaningfully in the direction of Professor Dumbledore's door, then back at me. I swallow.

"You find red hair attractive, Minerva?"

Oh Merlin, he knows. He knows.

I seem to have lost my voice. "Tom -" I croak. Highly unattractive. "Don't -"

"Meet you in the Great Hall then?" he says in a normal voice.

"OK," I whisper.

And he kisses me. It's barely a brush on the cheek, but it's something.

For a moment I think I hear a door closing softly. But it must have been my imagination.

TBC ...