A/N This was written for the first round of the Fanfiction Tournaments edition March 2015 (Hogwarts Professors).

"And if you have completed the second step…"

There was a knock on the door of the classroom and Minerva frowned. She really disliked disruptions while she was teaching; everyone – teacher and student – should know that by now. They'd better not be disturbing her class for something trivial.

The door opened and revealed Albus. He looked serious.

"Could you step out of the classroom, Minerva?"

She knew he of all people wouldn't ask her such a thing if it wasn't for something serious. Something has happened to my father, was her first thought. Robert McGonagall was eighty-eight, and recently his health had deteriorated considerably.

"Right. Class, carry on, I'll be back in a moment."

Her fourth-year students looked from her to Albus with curiosity in their eyes, but no one dared speak a word. She was sure the whispering would start the moment she stepped into the hallway.

She walked with firm steps towards Albus and closed the door.

"What is it, Albus? Is it… is it my father?" she asked, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Albus shook his head.

"No, my dear. It's your husband."

A cold hand gripped her heart. "Elphin? Is he…"

"He got bitten by a Venomous Tentacula. He isn't dead, but I'll be honest with you. He is severely injured. The Healers at St Mungo's are doing everything they can, but…"

"It doesn't look good," she replied in a whisper. Her throat had gotten dry. She knew the damage a Venomous Tentacula could do. Pomona had explained her all about this plant many years ago, and since then she made it a point to never get too close to them. "How long…"

"The way things are looking now, they estimate an hour, two maximum."

Minerva searched for the wall. She needed something to support her.

"Use my fireplace," Albus said. "You're cleared from teaching as long as you need, I'll take over your classes."

"Yes…yes, I'll do that," she stammered. Mechanically, her legs started to carry her towards Albus' office.

"Minerva."

She halted.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say, but…"

She nodded. "I understand. I… thank you, Albus."

She didn't know how she managed to get to Albus' office. There were tears in her eyes, but she didn't want to be seen crying by her students. And if Elphinstone was still alive, she didn't want his last image of her to be one where her face was tearstained. She steadied her shaking body when she stood in the fireplace. She needed to focus to do this right. She took a hand of Floo powder and called: "Saint Mungo's!"

Minerva whirled through the network and came to a halt in another fireplace. She swiped the soot of her and stepped out, where she was greeted by a Mediwitch.

"Can I help you?"

"Elphinstone Urquart. Where is he? I'm his wife," she managed.

The Mediwitch shot her a sympathetic look that got on Minerva's nerves. That look never meant good news.

"I'll take you to him."

She followed the Mediwitch, not paying attention to where she was going. They rounded a corner, and another one and she honestly couldn't tell if they were turning left or right.

"Here he is," the Mediwitch said. "He's in a bad condition."

Minerva entered the hospital room, her heart beating in her chest. She approached the bed, upon which Elphinstone was perched. He was almost as pale as his bed sheets, and she knew in that instant that she was going to loose him. Her husband, her best friend…

Elphin heard her footsteps and with great trouble opened his eyes. "Nerva," he exclaimed weakly.

She was frightened by the frailness of his voice. "Shhh, don't speak," she said. "I'm here." She took his hand in hers and gently squeezed it. "I'm here," she repeated.

For a while, they sat in silence. They had never needed many words to communicate.

"Nerva," Elphinstone began at last feebly. "I… I always loved you. From that moment you walked into my office, I never stopped loving you."

"I know. I'm sorry I didn't love you sooner."

He squeezed her hand. "I always knew you'd come around eventually," he whispered. They shared a look in which she read the love that Elphinstone had always held for her. Then the sparkle in his eyes died out and they glazed over.

Minerva put her head on his chest and wept.

She didn't know how long she'd been lying like that when a Healer came in and gently shook her shoulder. "Mrs Urquart?"

She didn't correct her.

"You've been here for an hour. I'm very sorry, but we need to start making… preparations."

She noticed the hesitation in the Healer's voice and knew that she couldn't lay like this forever. She nodded and let the Healer help her get up.

"I want to offer you my sincere condolences," the Healer said sympathetically." Is there anyone you'd want us to Floo call for you?"

First, she shook her head. Then she changed her mind. "Pomona. Pomona Sprout. She works at Hogwarts."

The Healer presented her with a cup of tea. "I'll be back," she said softly.

Minerva just sat in her chair, staring into the damping mug of tea.

"Minerva?"

She looked up at the familiar voice. Before she knew it, Pomona was by her side, hugging her tight. "I'm so sorry," her friend said.

"I just can't believe it. It's taken me so long to finally accept his proposal, and then we were only allowed such a short marital life together…"

"I know, dear, I know."

Pomona hold her tight and didn't say much else, for which Minerva was grateful. Right now, just her presence was sufficient. She still couldn't believe that she had just lost her soul mate. I'll never stop loving you, she told her husband in her mind. I may have been late to admit it, but you've always had a special place in my heart, and I'll never stop loving you.