Disclaimer: Nope not me, but JKR.

Chapter One

Minerva McGonagall was grading papers in her classroom late one night, when Albus Dumbledore walked in.

"Minerva, it is midnight. You need your sleep just like anyone else. Why are you still up" he asked concerned. Minerva had been pushing herself so hard lately, and he was afraid she would land herself in the hospital wing soon.

"Albus don't start in on me. I'm fine, and these need to be graded. I'm almost done. Just one more."

Albus had steadily made his way behind her, and Minerva was too focused on the parchment in front of her to notice until she felt his soft long fingers begin to gently knead her tight shoulders.

"Albus, what are you doing?"

"Helping you to relax, my dear, now finish that essay so I may escort you to your chambers."

"You don't have to do that Albus," Minerva replied sleepily. She had her eyes closed now, and was, truthfully, thoroughly enjoying his little treat.

"Come, my dear, let's get you to bed. You can do that one essay tomorrow morning," he replied coming around to the side of her chair to help her to her feet.

"Oh, I suppose just this once. Albus, are you going to tuck me in as well, and tell me a bed-time story," she teased in mockery of his nurturing ways.

"Only after I dress you for bed," he replied with a wink.

"Albus Dumbledore! How dare you suggest such a thing! I am a lady, and you, sir or should I say rogue, will have to court me, and then marry me before that happens."

Looping her arm through his he said, "Well I'll just have to give that some thought then." This caught Minerva completely off guard, and it left her without any witty replies, for which Albus was grateful. As they began to walk out of the door, one of the floorboards flew up in front of them revealing a staircase.

"Um, my dear, did you know this was here?" Albus asked turning to look at Minerva.

Minerva just stared at the staircase, "No, Albus. You mean you didn't?"

He just shook his head, "Well perhaps we should investigate."

"Do you think that wise, Albus?"

"Well, it will be fun! C'mon we may need both of our wands for sufficient light, it appears to be rather dark."

Albus grabbed Minerva's hand and went down the stairs before her. He was right it was incredibly dark, but as soon as they had embarked from the staircase the floorboard shut, and the hall became lit by candles on the walls. Albus and Minerva looked at each other and back to the hall, and Albus instinctively stepped closer to Minerva and held her hand tighter.

"Albus look at the walls!" Minerva said enthusiastically, "they have pictures on them."

The corridor stretched on beyond their eyesight, and the walls of the hall were covered in pictures. They were still muggle portraits of a woman, a man, and a boy at various stages of life and each was taken in a different place signifying a different event.

Albus stepped away from Minerva to closely examine one of the pictures, and Minerva couldn't contain a smile. She loved watching him when he was so focused on something. First he would twirl the end of his beard, 'oh he is doing it' she thought, then he'd begin to tap his foot, 'there it goes', and then her favorite: he'd start to hum. Though annoying after hours of humming it was soothing in its own way. As he began humming Minerva approached.

"Albus, earth to Albus. What are you so interested in?"

"Minerva, do you know what Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw looked like?"

"Yes, vaguely, but why do you..." then it hit her. "But Albus why would they have pictures of themselves down here, and with a little boy? Weren't they married to other people?"

"Well, yes. Arranged marriages of course, but they were married to other people. At the founding of the school Rowena had been married for three years I believe, and Godric for 15. He was a good twenty or so years older than her. All four founders stayed at Hogwarts, even during the summer, so..."

"An affair could have been easily hidden and maintained," Minerva finished before him.

"Yes, my dear, very easy. Not to mention that your classroom was the very one Rowena taught in over a thousand years ago. I wonder where this leads," he mused.

"Probably your bedroom if they were really involved." Minerva replied as a dull flush started to creep its way up her cheeks at the knowledge that a secret passageway in her classroom led to Albus' private quarters."

Albus took a sideways glance at Minerva, and began to wring his hands before suggesting that they continue down the hallway. The pictures on the wall were very interesting, and each increasingly confirmed their suspicions. As they saw the little boy grow up he looked more and more like Godric, but had Rowena's eyes.

"Albus, do you have any idea how scandalous this is? I mean they lived a completely different life here at Hogwarts, with a child. Do you think they raised the child here? Look at them, they look so happy."

"Indeed, it is rather scandalous Tabby. I suggest we keep this to ourselves and that we turn back and go to bed. We have been down here for two hours already, and we can finish exploring another night."

Trying to suppress a yawn Minerva just nodded. As soon as they reached the stairs the floorboard flew open, and allowed them to exit the corridor.

While walking to Minerva's room Albus asked, "I wonder why it let us through. It has never done it before."

"I don't know, Albus. Why don't we meet in my room tomorrow night, and see where it leads?"

"Alright, my dear. You get some sleep, and I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast. Sweet dreams, Minerva."

"You too, Albus. Night."

Albus didn't go to sleep that night; instead he paced his private quarters looking for the entrance to the corridor, but finally gave up at 5 when he was unable to find anything. He was definitely looking forward to finding more out about the school's most popular founders.