It was the eve of Ron and Hermione's wedding. Minerva looked around and found a lone chair at the back of the reception hall. She approached the vacant seat and sat to watch the others dancing. A small smile graced her lips as she saw her former cubs dancing. Ron holding Hermione while she laid her head on his chest as he guided them through a slow dance. It was then that she truly realized two things: how beautiful Hermione had become and what a wonderful dancer Ronald had grown into. Minerva let her gaze wander and saw Harry and Ginny also dancing in a similar way. A small tear appeared in her eye as she thought back to their time at Hogwarts. Minerva remembered the golden trio as they grew and her eyes brimmed with tears as she realized how much she missed these wonderful children. Minerva lowered her head and blinked away the tears.
Minerva raised her head once again to the dance floor just as Ron pulled away from Hermione. He approached his old Professor and without any sign of nerves or discomfort said perhaps the sweetest thing Minerva had ever heard, "May I have this dance Professor?" Minerva was slightly taken aback.
"Oh no Mr. Weasley I insist you spend this time with your wife."
"Please professor, for old times sake".
Minerva didn't quite understand his last comment but agreed all the same to dance the waltz with the young man. It wasn't until they reached the dance floor that Minerva understood. She thought back to Mr. Weasley's fourth year when she had volunteered him to demonstrate the waltz to his fellow Gryffindor's in preparation for the Yule Ball.
Normally Minerva was a strong, confident, and poised dancer but when these memories came back to her, her emotions flooded over. She placed her chin on young Mr. Weasley's shoulder and allowed the tears to fall.
Ron continued guide them in the waltz until he felt tears soaking through his dress robes. He pulled back to see his former Professor with tears in her eyes. "Oh Professor I'm so sorry, I know I'm not the best dancer", he became increasingly uneasy as her tears continued to fall.
"Mr. Weasley," she said as she dried her tears, "you have become quite the wonderful dancer. You have brought back a memory that I thought was forgotten. If I may Ronald, now that you are married and mature it only seems right that you know. Along with Miss Granger and Mr. Potter, I always felt a strong connection to you three. It could be said that I love you like children. I've always been very proud of you..."
Minerva took this moment to look up to Ronald's face and was surprised to now see tears in his eyes. She affectionately wiped them away from the young man's cheek. She allowed her hand to rest upon his cheek for a short moment, then stood up a little straighter and continued to follow the boy's movements as he led her through the dance.
When the song ended she pulled back and held him at arms length, "Just like old times, Mr. Weasley".
Ron once again saw tears threatening to brim over the elderly witches eyes, but chose not to comment. Minerva placed a small kiss upon the boy's cheek and turned to walk away. All the while with a small smile upon her lips.