Assassins and Lovers

"The game has begun," Albus said, hearing the Great Hall clock strike midnight from the hidden chamber.

"We should have gotten back to our chambers before now," Minerva said. "How long have we been here? Eight hours?"

"I think so. At least we have detailed plans now."

"It's not as if we've spent the entire eight hours planning."

"No, there was that time we took a two hour break to eat, and then there was chess, then coffee, and then Wizard Risk, and then half an hour of thumb wrestling..."

Minerva blushed to remember his hand squeezing hers. "And let us not forget who won..."

"You're a competitive fiend, Minerva. That's what I l-like about you so much," he trailed off.

"Whoever said 'winning doesn't matter' obviously didn't know what it feels like," she smiled.

"But you and I do. Almost like a couple of Slytherins--but with hearts."

"No one else can beat me at chess."

"I seldom do."

"Often enough to make it interesting."

They still sat across from each other at a small table in their secret hideout, and the room was now dimly lit by the faintly glowing fire.

"I hope so, my dear."

Minerva wished he wouldn't use such intimate terms if he didn't mean them the same way she did. But still, she couldn't help cataloguing it into a mental collection of treasured moments. With the warm light tracing the length of his crooked nose, pink but wrinkled cheeks... He certainly was not a handsome man, but those eyes! Beautiful twinkling blue eyes, resting on her own. He smiled. She looked away.

She wondered if he could ever forget the age difference. Seventy years must seem like a lifetime to Albus... She must seem like a daughter, or a niece. But they were both so old now. Did it matter? For fifty years she'd taught at Hogwarts. She had loved him for the last twenty... Or rather, she had realized she loved him twenty years ago, on a night much like this one, after one of the first faculty chess tournaments. She had been in the final round with Albus. The other games had been disappointingly easy. With everyone else eliminated handily, she'd sat down at the table with Albus. Four hours later, she realized that their ankles were tightly pressed together beneath the table. "Checkmate. . . Minerva? Checkmate!" Then he jumped up and did his victory dance. She smiled to remember how childish he looked. Such a silly man. And so brilliant. He made it feel so easy to act silly herself.

"What's so funny?"

"I was remembering your victory dance."

"Oh, this one?" He jumped out of his seat and demonstrated, just as Minerva realized that their legs had been touching beneath the table tonight, as well. Albus pointed his index fingers in the air above his head and bounced around in a circle.

"Yes, that one, now sit down!"

"Come make me!"

She rolled her eyes and dragged the white-bearded headmaster back to his chair. He put up little resistance to the hand that grabbed his arm. But as he consented to sit down, he suddenly grabbed her arm and started pulling her toward him. She was not unwilling to fall into his lap, but he quickly dropped her arm. "Pardon me. It must be the coffee."

"Espresso makes us behave in strange ways."

"Indeed. Do you think we'll ever make it to bed tonight?"

Minerva twisted around her napkin. "I'm not tired at all."

"Best that we don't leave this place. One never knows if someone might be lurking in the corridors, waiting to kill us both."

"We'd defeat them. But still, best not to kill just yet. That was a brilliant idea, Albus, waiting a few days to let the others kill each other before we begin."

"I'm sure Professor Granger will eliminate Professor Grubbly-Plank quite efficiently. No need for me to go after Granger just yet... As for Hooch, your waiting will give her a day or two to feel comfortable. She's the sort that will be cautious the first day, then she'll loosen up a bit. But our real secret weapon, of course, is not my strategy but your time-turner..."

"Hermione probably still has hers... but maybe she won't think to use it. But then, we won't use it unless it's absolutely necessary. This almost feels like cheating, Albus..."

"Of course not. It's not even a rule. And even if it were, it's not cheating if we don't get caught. And really, even if I end up on the Wanted List, what prefect will come after me?"

"That's horrible, Albus!" She saw that he was grinning. "I can never take you seriously."

"Sometimes you can. Now, the obvious spell for everyone to use is a simple 'Dormio'--we'll have to be on the lookout for that. As soon as you get a chance, bring me that Anti-Sleeping Potion."

"Surely Snape will think of the same thing."

"All the more reason for us to take care. And we'll have to check all doors before we open them... even though I can make myself invisible, some of the more clever faculty members couldn't fail to notice an opening door."

"Excellent suggestions. I fully intend to make use of my Animagus form."

Albus smirked. "Good thing Sirius Black's won't be very useful to him."

Minerva nodded with a grin. "So are we pulling an all-nighter?"

"I imagine we are. What game next? Six Degrees of Godric Gryffindor? Or perhaps strip chess?"

"Incorrigible flirt."

"It's the coffee talking. Ignore this old man."

"Don't I always?"

"You always do."

-----

Hermione Granger was waiting outside Professor Grubbly-Plank's door by sunrise. She stood silently for 45 minutes. As soon as she heard the hinges creak, she armed herself. The door opened. "Dormio!"

Grubbly-Plank collapsed in an awkward stack onto the floor. Hermione took out a quill and wrote "Dead" on her hand. "Enervate!" Grubbly-Plank woke up. "I'm sorry, Professor Grubby-Plank. I had to do it."

"It's okay, dearie. Let's go to breakfast now."

"Excellent."

Hermione waited until Grubbly-Plank was a few steps ahead and reached inside her pocket for her next target. Sprout. This game was far too easy...

-----

Bill Weasley, waiting outside Professor Sinistra's door, was unaware that his tactics were unoriginal. He hid just behind the corner she would pass on the way to breakfast. His heartbeat quickened as he heard footsteps. He pulled out his wand.

Filch.

Bill silently apologized. Filch glared at him and looked as if he wanted to subject Bill to detention--or a few days in the stocks. Shaking his head disapprovingly, he moved on. Mrs. Norris gave him a dirty look as they passed.

And then he nearly missed his opportunity. Sinistra had somehow slipped around the corner without his notice--and without noticing Bill. "Good morning, Professor Sinistra," he said.

"Good m--"

"Dormio!"

She fell to the floor. One down. He put up his wand and checked his pocket. MINERVA MCGONAGALL.

Bill's triumphant smile faded. The game had suddenly become much more challenging.