A Hidden Love

Author's note: I hope you like it! Please review when you're finished reading it. And thanks to Si for being my beta! You're the best sister's friend ever!

"Hello, Minerva," said Dolores Umbridge in her falsely sweet voice as she passed Professor McGonagall in the long corridor leading to the staff room.

Minerva only nodded in response. It was well known among the students since the start of term feast that McGonagall and Umbridge hated each other more then any other teachers. Today was no different. No matter how hard the two professors tried to hide it in front of the students, the whole school somehow knew.

Minerva continued down the corridor toward the staff room, barely audibly whispering "That foolish, backward, pathetic, horrible, bi- hello Albus," she said louder and a bit more cheerful, trying to hide her anger.

"Hello Minerva," he said. "What do you seem so upset about?"

"Nothing, really," said Minerva. Albus always had a way of knowing how she was feeling, even when no one else could tell.

"Are you sure?" he asked. His concern melted her heart.

"Yes. I'll be fine. It's just Dolores again. Nothing to worry about." Minerva reassured him.

"I apologize, Min. I wish I could help, but she's working for Fudge, and firing her would be impossible," said Albus. "Just try to get along with her until the end of term."

"I'll try, Albus, I'll try," she said before turning to continue down the hall. But before she could go any farther, Albus touched her arm caringly and looked deep into her eyes, searching for something. She stared back into the sparkling ocean of blue of his eyes, not letting the stern expression that always lurked across her face fade. As he looked away and walked on toward his office, she let a thin small grin crossed her face.

* * *

"You sure look happy," said Pomona Sprout as Minerva walked into the staff room a minute later.

"What?" said Minerva, almost too innocently, quickly returning her face into its usual sternness.

"Now you look more like the straitlaced Professor McGonagall the students fear," said Severus Snape bitterly.

She glared at him.

"So, Minerva, what makes you so cheery today?" asked Pomona.

"Nothing," said Minerva, taking her usual chair near the fireplace.

"Come on, I haven't seen you smile like that in ages. Now really, what is so magnificent that it could make even Minerva McGonagall smile?" Pomona continued.

"I bet I know," said tiny Professor Filius Flitwick as he strode into the staff room. "I just passed another certain someone with the same radiant smile on his face."

"Ooh," said Pomona with sudden understanding. "Is that certain someone the Headmaster of our school?" she teased.

"Now really, this is nonsense. You're acting like children. I have absolutely no idea what you two are talking about," Minerva defended herself.

"This makes me sick," said Severus.

"You're so insensitive sometimes. You just don't understand love, do you, Severus?" asked Pomona.

"I'm telling you, there's no love to understand here," said Minerva.

"So Minerva," Filius started, "what about Dumbledore?"

"What about him?" she asked.

"What's going on with the two of you?" he asked

"Our relationship dose not exceed friendship," Minerva said sternly, her mouth forming its infamous thin line.

"Not yet that is," Pomona mumbled to Filius, just so Minerva could hear her.

"It's not even a question. Even if anything wanted to happen, it couldn't. I'm the Deputy Headmistress and he's the Headmaster. It could never work. We are just friends, nothing more," Minerva said with a note of finality in her voice.

"But you might feel differently under different circumstances?" asked Pomona hopefully.

"I- well- maybe under very different circumstances, but that doesn't matter. Nothing could ever happen with 'The High Inquisitor Dolores Jane Umbridge' around," Minerva ended in a mocking voice as the door of the staff room opened.

"Hello, Minerva."

Without turning around, Minerva knew that horrible falsely sweet voice. "Did I hear someone call my name?" asked Dolores Umbridge.

With her back still turned to Umbridge, Minerva's face went pale with anger. She cursed under her breath.

"What was that Minerva?" Dolores asked as she wobbled over and took a seat opposite Minerva.

"Nothing," she said standing up. She cast Pomona a look that pleaded 'help'.

"Umm..." Pomona started. "Minerva, could you help me with a few new, umm, mandrakes we just got in yesterday?"

Without answering, Minerva followed her out of the staff room.

"Thanks," Minerva whispered as they entered the corridor and went their separate ways.

* * *

Albus sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He dug in his robes for something and pulled out a small, worn picture. Setting it in the palm of his hand, he gazed at for a long moment.

"Long day, Dumbledore?" asked the portrait of an old witch on his wall.

"Yes, Derwent, it has been a very long day," he answered her.

"Why don't you just talk to her?" asked another portrait.

"I can't, Cragg," he answered her. "With Dolores around, I feel that I am loosing my grip on this school more and more everyday."

"Well, don't loose Minerva too," said the portrait of the Cragg.

"I don't really have her, so I can't loose her," said Albus, almost sadly.

"She's your friend, at least, so don't give up and just say something about it to her," said a portrait of a younger looking wizard.

"I'll try," was all that he could answer.

* * *

"Oh, hello, Albus," said Minerva late one night as he strode into her office. "I wasn't expecting you to come this late."

"Neither was I," he answered cryptically.

Minerva closed the book she was reading. Albus studied her face. It seemed the beauty in her sharp, green eyes was brought out by the red glow of the fire.

"What are you reading?" he asked her.

"Just rereading a novel I read years ago," she answered.

"Well, it must be good if you are reading it again," he replied.

"Not really. I just ran out of books again and already read all of the good ones twice."

He nodded. "I wish I read as much as you do," he said. "Every time I see you, you're reading. Much can be learned by reading."

"Yes," she agreed, "but more can be learned by doing things, not just reading about them."

He smiled at her cleverness. They sat in silence for another minute or so, and finally Minerva spoke again.

"So what is it that you came to see me about?" she asked.

The headmaster opened his mouth to talk, then closed it again. Now, Albus, now is your chance, he though.

"I was wondering," he said slowly, "if on this Saturday evening you would join me for dinner in Hogsmeade."

Minerva smiled and then replied simply, "I would be delighted."

Albus let out a sigh of relief. "Good, then," he started, his eyes twinkling, "Well, I'll leave you to your book." He turned, gently closing the door behind him.

Minerva sat by herself for a moment until she finally picked up her book and leaned back to start reading. Her small black cat, Artemis, jumped up onto her lap and pawed at the cover, which read in elegant green and blue letters, A Hidden Love.