Disclaimer: I own nothing, but if I did, I still might be writing fanfics. LOL!

A/N: Well, I am very happy to be starting another Harry Potter story. You might know by now that I am Always Hopeful and I absolutely lurve the MM/AD coupling, but just in case you didn't, let me bring you up to speed. I'm Always Hopeful and I absolutely lurve this coupling. LOL! I joke like that a lot. After the recent success of "Something's Wrong", I thought I might do another one. I hope you like this fic.

Chapter One: Depression…

It was nearing midnight, and the Hogs Head was nearly empty. The only ones present were Madam Rosemerta and a lone figure, who sat in the corner. The man who sat there looked nothing like the man whom everyone knew and loved. Instead, he looked like a man who had nothing going for him, a man who spent every evening in a drunken stupor. He looked like just a lonely shell of the great man everyone knew; no, he did not look like the man who was the defeater of Grindlewald, and the current headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Albus Dumbledore sat, staring at the bottom of his empty fire whisky glass. His eyes were misty as he stared blankly, thinking longingly of his beloved Minerva. He saw her face everywhere he looked, and he just could not get that vision of beauty out of his head. When he looked at the bottom of his glass, he saw her smiling back at him. When he stared into the flames of the fire nearby, he saw her face, dancing amongst the flames. Even in his dreams, she would not let him be.

For the past three months, Voldemort no longer existed. Harry Potter, in a most triumphant moment, had pulled back his wand and called the fatal spell which brought about the joyous downfall of the most feared wizard of the time. And with his downfall came great rejoicing among the wizarding community. They were safe now. How long they would be safe, no one could say. But they knew that, at least for this generation, they were all safe from harm.

During the last months of school, Albus had had time to reflect on things which had occurred. And when he sat alone in his home in London, which was where he spent his time during the summer holidays, he had a revelation. He had always known that he had harbored certain feelings for his Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall. Ever since she came back to Hogwarts to teach, he had felt drawn to her keen intellect, her radiant beauty, and her quick wit. She was always someone he could depend on, someone whom he looked forward to seeing every morning and hated to part with every evening. He just loved her so much.

What shocked him, however, was when he lay awake in his bed late one night, and he thought of how the war had ended. There was a lot of luck, as well as skill, which had guided the young Harry Potter to his triumph. Had he made one wrong move, Voldemort would have surely killed him, and turned the entire wizarding community into an unbearable place to be. And he would have certainly killed all those who stood in his way. Many fine witches and wizards had fallen during the final battle, bringing about such grief to all those concerned. Bill and Charlie Weasly had perished, as did Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan, Cho Chang, Millicent Boulstrode, Pansy Parkinson, and Oliver Wood. All were fine young men and women who had come together for the good of the cause. Even young Draco Malfoy had helped, though he had not died. Instead, he landed himself in St. Mungo's with third degree burns from a spell gone array.

What scared Albus, however, was that Minerva had barely escaped with her life. She had been one of the lucky few to have done so. When a flying spell was hurtling through the air, it almost hit her, right in the chest, as the four stunners had two years earlier. If she had been a second slower at putting up her protective shield, she would have perished with the rest. And the thought of her dying was just all too painful for Albus to imagine.

So, he had made a promise to himself, then and there, that he would go directly to Minerva the next morning, just as the sun was coming up, and profess his love for her. He didn't even care if she returned his feelings. As long as he was able to speak his mind, and follow his heart, he knew he could do anything. Unfortunately, he did not have the chance to let her know how he felt. For bright and early, the next morning, he found Minerva knocking on his bedroom door.

/Flashback/

When Albus opened the door, he was very much surprised to see Minerva standing there before him, a smile on her beautiful face.

"Hello, Albus," she smiled.

"Why, hello there, Minerva," he greeted her warmly. He stepped aside for her to enter. She did, and then looked around at him.

"Albus, I have some news," she said. "And it is really exciting. I didn't want to disturb you so early in the morning, but I knew you'd be up, and I just couldn't hold it in any longer." Minerva seemed to say this all in one breathe and it made Albus chuckled.

"Well, for goodness sake, Minerva, what on earth is the news? Don't just let me stand here, wondering what it could possibly be that causes you to be so happy." Albus smiled at the look on Minerva's face. She looked like a kid in a candy store.

"Albus, I'm engaged," she said.

The words seemed to hit Albus like a ton of bricks. Whatever he was expecting, he had not been expecting news like this. He felt as if someone had taken his heart, beat it up, gave it to Buckbeak, who, in turn, stomped all over it, and then gave it to Fluffy, who tore it all apart as if it had been a giant chew toy. But he kept the smile on his face.

"Engaged?" he breathed, trying to keep his voice sounding as normal as possible. "Wow, Minerva that is indeed VERY big news." He pulled her into a tight embrace, all the while feeling his heart break into a million pieces. "I am so happy for you, my dear." LIAR! LIAR! LIAR, cried his mind. But he said nothing. Instead, he kept up a pretty good show, for a man who suddenly lost all that was dear to him.

"Thank you, Albus," she said. She pulled back and looked at him. "I was hoping for your approval. I know that might sound strange, but you are my dearest friend and most trusted one, at that. And that is why I want you to meet him, tomorrow. We've been friends for nearly five years now, and we know each other very well. We'll be having lunch at around one o' clock, and I want you to join us, to see what you think of him." Albus couldn't believe it. Why didn't she just add salt to the wound she had inflicted on him and get it over with?

"Of course, Minerva, I will meet him," he said. "But honestly, Minerva, you don't need my approval on any man you wish to marry."

"Yes I do, Albus," she said. "I know I'll marry him anyway, but it's always good to know what my best friend thinks of him. I'll see you tomorrow then? I would stay here, but it is Friday, and there is still quite a bit I must get done before the summer holidays really start." Albus smiled a sad smile.

"Of course, my dear," he said. "Until tomorrow then." With that, Minerva quickly left.

/Flashback/

That was early that day, and now, several hours later, Albus found himself trying to drown his sorrows in a bottle of fire whisky. How could she be getting married? Did this man even know her at all, like Minerva had claimed? She had, indeed, mentioned Dameon Spragg several times during the past five years, but never had she shown any sign that she was interested in furthering that friendship into something more.

"I hate to cut into your thoughts, Albus, but I'm closing up shop," said Rosemerta as she walked over to the dark table where Albus now sat. The man looked up at her and smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry, Rosie," he said sorrowfully. "I did not even notice the time." Rosemerta looked at him sadly, then sat down. She placed a hand over his and looked into his eyes.

"Listen, Albus, I know this is none of my business, so excuse me if I seem too bold. But if you love Minerva so much, why don't you just tell her? She's already marrying some other guy, so what can it hurt?"

"A lot, Rosie," snapped Albus. She pulled her hand back as if he had just slapped it. He then sighed and looked back down at the glass. "I am sorry, I'm just not really sure that that would be the best course of action, that's all." Rosemerta continued to look at him sadly.

"Well, all I know is you won't find the answer to your problems at the bottom of an empty whisky glass." With that, she stood and went behind the bar. Albus' eyes followed her for a moment, and then made a firm decision. Rosemerta was right, and he knew that now. He left the money he owed her and quickly stood to leave the bar. He knew he would have to find out more about this man Minerva planned to marry. No, he would never lie or make anything up. Minerva's trust meant too much for him to do that. But he would find some way to win Minerva over and to make sure that she would not marry anyone other than himself. He wasn't quite sure how he would do it, but he knew he had to. For his happiness, he had to do it.

To Be Continued…

A/N2: Well, there is chapter one. I hope you guys liked it. What will happen next? You will just have to stick around and see. I will update as soon as I possibly can. If I can get ten reviews, I'll make the updates sooner. LOL! Don't worry, I won't make you wait too long, I hope! OH YEAH! I PASSED MY DRIVING TEST! WAHOO! I'm seventeen, almost eighteen, and just getting my drivers license. Is that a bad thing? Always Hopeful