Title: Isn't It Ironic

Author: TartanLioness

Summary: This story was inspired by the lines 'Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you when you think everything's okay and everything's going right. Life has a funny way of helping you out when you think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up in your face' from Alanis Morissette's song Ironic.

Rating: 13+

With a deep sigh of exhaustion, Albus Dumbledore made his way from his personal library to his living room. He stopped abruptly when he saw his Deputy's sleeping form on his couch. With a small smile he went to her side and shook her gently.

"Minerva. Minerva, wake up."

Her eyes opened slightly and she looked at him groggily.

"Albus? What time is it?"

"A little past midnight. Minerva, what are you doing here?"

"MIDNIGHT! Albus, I've been here since dinner ended! Have you been in your library all this time!"

"Yes, I have and I believe I've found another… I believe I'm getting closer to…" Albus didn't say any more and Minerva gave a frustrated sigh.

"For goodness' sake, Albus, I'm your best friend, your second, your confidante. You know you can trust me and yet you won't tell me what you're working so hard on."

"I am sorry, Minerva," he said, with an apologetic smile. "I'm just trying to protect you. I will be gone tomorrow evening for just a few hours. And I will take Harry with me."

"Harry! But Albus, he's just a lad!"

"I think it is time, Minerva."

"Can't I go with you, too? I… I would feel better if… " she tried.

"No, Minerva, you can't come with us," Albus interrupted. "I need you to patrol the corridors while I'm gone. Hogwarts needs you, Minerva, and… and I couldn't bear it if you were hurt because of me."

"And I, Albus, cannot bear the thought that you could get hurt and I wasn't there to help you!"

"Please, Minerva, don't make me give you an order."

"Please, Albus, don't give me an order I won't obey!"

Two clever minds, two stubborn hearts, two pairs of eyes, locked together in a silent battle. Finally Minerva broke the gaze with a sigh.

"Be careful," she said quietly.

"Min, dear, I'm sorry but I don't want you to get hurt."

"I know. I just… Albus, how would you feel if I told you to stay at home and you didn't know where I was going?"

"I… I know, Min, but please, I can't put you in danger! I…"

"I am your best friend, Albus. You know I can take care of myself. I am your best friend," said Minerva, her voice containing the same hurt that shone in her eyes.

"Yes, my best friend but also the one person I've ever truly loved!" His eyes filled with shock and regret for what he had just revealed. Minerva's face expressed shock as well but no regret. A smile spread on her face. Albus began to smile as well, hesitantly.

Minerva gathered Albus' hands in hers and kissed them before stepping closer to him. His arms went around her waist and he held her close to him.

"Be careful," she whispered and kissed him on the lips. "Make sure you come back to me."

"I shall do my very best, my love."

They parted a while later and all the way back to her chambers, Minerva just couldn't get their kiss out of her mind. She couldn't quite believe it had actually happened, after all these years. It hadn't been awkward, nor incredibly passionate. But inside, she felt warm and happy and she was certain they would make it through it all.

When she heard the usual knock on her door the next morning, she quickly opened to let Albus in.

"Good morning, my darling," he said. Without a word, Minerva pulled him to her and kissed him.

"Good morning," she then said.

"I take it; you do not regret what happened between us yesterday?" Albus looked rather nervous as he asked this.

"No, dearest," Minerva replied honestly. "Never. I love you, Albus. I have for many years."

Albus smiled and caressed her cheek before kissing her.

"And I love you, Tabby."

Minerva McGonagall made her way to the Hospital Wing with a worried expression. She couldn't grasp how the Death Eaters had entered the castle but there were more important matters at hand.

"Albus, where are you!" she muttered to herself, both worried and annoyed. The grazes on her face were stinging and her hair was coming out of its bun.

"Molly and Arthur are on their way," she said as she entered the Hospital Wing. She glanced briefly at her long-time friend Poppy Pomfrey, whose cheeks were pink with tears. Then she turned to Harry.

"Harry, what happened? According to Hagrid you were with Professor Dumbledore when he – when it happened. He says Professor Snape was involved in some –" She was interrupted by Harry.

"Snape killed Dumbledore." It was said so matter-of-factly and yet, Minerva could see the pain in his eyes. Then the words registered in her mind. Dead. Albus was dead.

She swayed alarmingly and was extremely thankful when Poppy pushed a chair under her. She could feel herself shaking and she said weakly as she let herself fall into the chair, "Snape…We all wondered… but he trusted… always… Snape… I can't believe it…"

She could feel the tears in her eyes and for once she didn't care. She pulled out her tartan-edged handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. 'Albus gave this handkerchief to me. Oh Merlin… Albus…'

She discussed the matter of Snape with the rest of them, hardly knowing what she was saying. Her mind felt numb and she felt completely empty inside. 'How could I be so stupid! Why did I send Filius to fetch Snape? Maybe, if I hadn't alerted him, he wouldn't have known! It's all my fault!' she thought. When she repeated her thoughts out loud though she was firmly contradicted by Remus Lupin.

The discussion continued but Minerva drew into herself, speaking every once in a while but never really participating.

It was late when Minerva left Albus' old office. Her ripped robes, the grazes on her face and her messy hair was all but forgotten, all she could think about was that Albus would no longer come back. Just when she had found happiness, it was ripped away from her. Just when she knew she had his love, he had been taken away from her.

She reached Albus' chambers in a daze-like state. She felt like she was surrounded by a fog of uncertainty, insecurity and helplessness. Throwing herself on Albus' bed, she finally let go of all her emotions, sobbing into the pillow, pounding it with clenched fists. Drained of her anger, she fell asleep fully clothed, crying into the pillow that smelled so wonderfully of the man she had loved for fifty years.

TBC...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!