Unprofessional

The staff room was empty apart from Minerva and Poppy, who sat in companionable silence.

Poppy rolled her eyes in mild exasperation, as she glanced up, and noticed that Minerva had her eyes glued to a book. "How many times this term have you sat there with your nose stuck in a book when you could be having fun?"

"I like reading." Minerva said indignantly.

Poppy eyed her friend appraisingly. "I know what you need Minerva, you need a man!"

"I manage perfectly well without one, thank you very much." Minerva said firmly.

"Oh come on Minerva. Wouldn't you like someone to spend those lonely nights with? Someone to kiss you, and hold you, and..."

"Poppy!" Minerva growled warningly.

"Oh you know what I mean Minerva."

"I would prefer not to even contemplate what you mean." Minerva snapped.

"That might work on your students Minerva McGonagall but it won't work on me. Much as you might like to pretend that you need no one, and are satisfied to spend your evenings with your nose buried in a book, I know it isn't true. You're a woman, with womanly desires..."

"Womanly desires!" Minerva snorted in disgust, "Have you been reading those ridiculous romance novels again?"

"Would you like to borrow one? The hero in my latest is just gorgous, smouldering dark eyes and..." Poppy enthused.

"Life is NOT a romance Poppy."

"It could be with the right man to love you as you deserve, and I'm determined to find you one, there must be someone who takes your fancy." Poppy insisted.

"Hmph." Minerva pointedly turned a page of her book, and then another page, but Poppy refused to be put off.

"I know you're not really reading Minerva."

There was a determined silence from Minerva, and her eyes never left the book, but Poppy still refused to be discouraged.

"Now let me see... who would be the ideal man to love you, to romance you, to sweep you off your feet?" Poppy mused.

Only a slight tightening of Minerva's mouth showed that she was paying Poppy any attention at all.

"How about Severus?" Poppy said after a few moments of thought, "He's nearly as intelligent as you, and..."

"He's young enough to be my son!" Minerva's eyes flashed irately at Poppy.

"Filius is older... how about him?" Poppy said hopefully.

"Don't be ridiculous!"

"Ludo Bagman, you have Quidditch in common..."

"That's all we have in common." Minerva said firmly.

"Cornelius Fudge?" Poppy said desperately.

"That fool!" Minerva snorted contemptuously.

Poppy fingered her lips thoughtfully. "I know!" She said in great excitement, "Elphias Doge, you've known him years, and..."

"No." Minerva said dismissively.

Poppy was disappointed to see that not a single flicker of interest passed across her friend's face, she had been so sure that Minerva might at least consider Elphias. "There must be someone you like..." She mused.

For some minutes all was silent as Poppy tried to come up with new suggestions, and Minerva, much to her relief, was able to read uninterrupted.

Suddenly Poppy had a brilliant idea, it was perfect. Why hadn't she thought of him earlier? "I know, Albus Dumbledore, it's absolutely perfect, you're made for each other!"

To Poppy's delight, Minerva's face softened slightly. She knew she was on the right track with this, otherwise why would Minerva have such a tender look in her eyes.

"We're completely incompatible." Minerva stated, after a brief pause.

"Opposites attract, and I've seen the way you look at him."

"I do not!" Minerva protested furiously.

"And that crush you had on him as a schoolgirl..." Poppy continued.

"I told you at the time that you were talking nonsence, that it wasn't true. Really Poppy your imagination..."

"Then why are you blushing?" Poppy asked.

"I've had enough of this nonsencical conversation, I have work to do." Minerva slammed her book down, and glaring at Poppy furiously made for the door. Poppy was not to be put off so easily however, and followed Minerva out of the room, her eyes gleaming triumphantly.

"I'm sure Albus likes you too Minerva, I've seen the way he looks at you, and look how much time you two spend together."

Poppy shot a hopeful look at Minerva, but her friend remained silent, her back rigid as her footsteps increased in speed, so that Poppy almost had to run to keep up.

"I'm sure Albus would love to romance you, I'm sure he'd love to kiss you and hold you..." Poppy almost yelled, so intent on Minerva that she didn't notice who stood there watching, a stunned expression on his face.

"Oof!" Poppy spluttered as she slammed into Minerva's back. "What did you want to go and stop like that for?"

"Oh!" She gasped a moment later, as she realised why Minerva had come to such a sudden halt. For there before them, stood Albus Dumbledore, who judging by the shocked expression on his face had heard everything.

Albus' gaze flitted across the two women, as his mouth opened and closed uncertainly. Poppy had never seen him so lost for words before. Minerva seemed equally stunned, though as Poppy noted her clenched fists, and the red flush of her cheeks, she had a feeling that her friend was going to murder her later.

There was a brief uneasy silence. Then Albus seemed to gather his courage. "Poppy is indeed quite correct my dear, I would love to romance you, if you would permit it..."

Minerva couldn't help but notice how Albus couldn't quite meet her eyes, and how a faint pink flush lit his cheeks. He looked adorable.

"I apologise my dear, I know my desires are unprofessional..." Albus said sadly, his gaze still fixed on the floor.

"How about this for unprofessional?"

While Poppy looked on in stunned delight, Minerva wrapped her arms round Albus' waist, lifted his face to her's, and kissed him full on the lips.

Poppy shot a fond glance at the happy couple as they continued to kiss blissfully, then strolled off down the corridor. "And she says life isn't romance..." She murmured.

Author's Notes

I know that on Pottermore JKR said that Minerva married Elphias, but pft to that! And I'm quite sure Minerva agrees with me! :D

Just an idea I got after looking at my old plot bunnies. Augh, evil red lines, you stupid spellchecker! Albus is not spelt wrongly! :D