"But Mr. Weasley -"
"Call me Ron, Minerva."
He knew she was no longer his professor, but Minerva couldn't help but notice his blatant use of her first name. She decided to brush it off; she was particularly fond of the boy, after all.
"Ron - I thought you fancied Miss Granger? And, you do know, it's very scandalous. I'm afraid your mother won't approve."
"Minerva. Hermione is nothing compared to you. Your radiance and long, flowing hair..." He paused. McGonagall had hardly - well, never, not that Ron could remember - let her hair down. He briefly thought it must be one of the great tragedies of the world; perhaps even one worthy of Shakespeare. "Well, your radiance anyway - outshines Hermione's by a mile. Blimey, more than a mile, it must be..."
Minerva sighed. She was used to this flattery by students; well, she had been in her early years. However, Ron was a special case. Ever since he'd gotten past her chessboard on the way to the sorcerer's stone, she'd known he was destined for greatness - or anyway, as close to greatness as the best friend of Harry Potter could get.
"...and anyway, sod my mother." He sighed. "I love you, Minerva."
Minerva flinched. It was still strange to hear those words from anyone, particularly students, although that Sirius Black had been quite fiesty as well.
"Here, have this. I haven't exactly had time to charm you, we only got back to Hogwarts recently, but in page 467 of Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, it says to do this." He tossed her a box. She caught it as he continued walking.
Looking at Ron's back, Minerva opened it. It was a ring. She fainted.
--
When she came to, Minerva was lying on a sofa in the Room of Requirement, with a gaggle of students surrounding her.
"Ron! Ron, she's awake." Hermione seemed concerned enough, but she also seemed angry. Minerva presumed she had heard the story behind the incident.
"Oh, thank goodness. I was so worried about you," Ron babbled on as Hermione stalked off, accompanied by Ginny.
"So do you have an answer? You know," he waved the box in front of her.
"Well..." Minerva thought. You only live once, after all. "Yes, I suppose."
Ron's face lit up. Harry looked like he was going to be ill and Minerva could hear Hermione running from the room, presumably crying. Minerva was frightened to notice that she didn't much care. Lupin walked in carrying a plate. "Pancakes, Minerva?"
Minerva shook her head. Her brain seemed to stop and even her thoughts seemed to be stuttering inside her mind. "Remus! You - you were -"
Lupin's smiling face turned into Molly Weasley's. "Pancakes, Minerva?"
Minerva shook her head, waking up. "Pancakes?"
Molly looked at her. "Oh, you're hungry?" She laughed. "I suppose you must be, after last night. He defeated You-Know-Who! Harry defeated You-Know-Who!" She laughed again, smiling broadly. "Well, breakfast is ready if you'll come in the kitchen. Everyone else is up." Molly bustled out of the room as Minerva remembered. She had come back here after Voldemort's defeat, tired and without a place to stay - Hogwarts was in grave need of repair - and she instantly regretted it.
Walking into the kitchen, she immediately saw Ron. He smiled at her. Merlin's pants, she thought, it's going to be a long day.