A/N: Wow. I apologize for being really bad with updating. I am incredibly sorry about that, but I am grateful for the reviews and your continued interest in the story. Hope you enjoy it and that it lives up to expectations (or doesn't fall too far from your expectations).
Chapter 1: The Dark Forest
He asked her. He, Dougal McGregor, asked her, Minerva McGonagall. He actually asked her, and she still couldn't believe it. She was walking back on the lonely country road to the manse when the giddiness overtook her again. She twirled in a circle, arms outstretched and holding on to her tartan shawl so it wouldn't go flying off. Her smile just couldn't seem to leave her face. Minerva looked over the empty fields of heather towards the setting sun. Maybe she should have stayed a while longer with Dougal like he suggested; it would have been a wonderful ending to such a perfect day. She shook her head at herself; since when was she such a romantic? He had pleaded with her to stay, and she had almost given in, but she knew her parents wouldn't want her coming home so late.
Her excitement started to die a little. She hadn't thought of her parents at all. They probably hadn't realized that her relationship with Dougal was serious enough to warrant an engagement. She wasn't even sure if they liked him. Her father was courteous to him, but he was the minister, he was supposed to be genial with his congregation. Then again, every time she brought up Dougal and his ambitions for the family farm, Robert McGonagall would usually turn his attention to something else. And her mother would usually smile, nod her head, and generally act supportive, but Minerva now wondered if it was an act to hide the fact that she didn't think they would last.
The sun, or what little of it could be seen over the treetops, was casting long shadows on the ground by this time. Her steps had slowed perceptibly as she approached the manse, her new train of thought having unsettled her. What if they didn't approve of the marriage? Could she still go through with it knowing that she'd be defying her parents? Or maybe she should heed them; after all, they'd had a long marriage so they should know whether or not she could handle it. Oh Merlin, their marriage, she thought with a sudden horror. Their marriage was built on lies. There was love she knew, but sometimes she wasn't sure about the trust. That's when it clicked in her mind. Minerva would have to do the same to Dougal. She would have to lie, any children they might have would have to lie, and all she could do was hope that he never found out.
Minerva hadn't even noticed that she had started running, trying to choke back her sobs and hold in her tears. She felt like a small child again trying to run from the bogeyman, but now she was trying to run from her thoughts, from reality trying to destroy her dreams. Running full-tilt towards the forest where she spent most of her happiest childhood memories and often sheltered from her worst, Minerva forgot that her parents would be none too pleased at her coming home after dark. All she knew was that the farther and faster she ran, the less likely that the thoughts could catch her again.
The low-hanging branches would catch at her dress and tug on her loose bun as she made her headlong rush into the depths of the forest. When her strength began to flag and her lungs burn, she came to a stop in a small clearing and assessed the damages. Her hair was in complete disarray and her arms and face had small scratches on them. As she lifted up her arms to fix her hair and maybe untangle a few twigs and leaves, she dropped them down again in defeat. Damn, when did she lose her shawl? She turned around in a slow circle to get her bearings. Well, the shawl was nowhere in the vicinity, and she wasn't really sure where this vicinity was exactly. Merlin save her, she was lost and alone in the forest at night and no one even knew she was here. Her father would certainly have some choice words for her, if she managed to find her way back.
She turned back the way she came, maybe she could follow the path of broken twigs and trampled underbrush to get out. Oh Godric, were those eyes in the bushes!? Minerva stood frozen in place, green eyes wide with fear staring at the eerie blue eyes staring back. They almost seemed hauntingly familiar while at the same time completely unnatural. She let out a deep breath (when had she started holding it?) and tried to calm herself and take control of the situation. It wouldn't do to lose her head in the forest. She inwardly grimaced at her poor choice of words; figuratively lose my head, figuratively, she told herself. Minerva slowly reached towards her wand (Idiot, you could have used the four-point spell. Oh, shut it.), trying not to make any sudden movements. With any luck, she could cast a Protego charm and hope it was enough to keep the creature from giving immediate chase.
That's when the eyes got bigger, coming closer. Or at least one of them did. What the Hades kind of animals lived in the forest, she thought, her confusion replacing her fear. And then it floated into the clearing, a single glowing orb of blue light, its companion still in the bushes. Minerva relaxed marginally, what could a ball of light do to her? But what was it? Her mind quickly went through the last seven years of Defense Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures classes trying to figure out what they were. Just as the second light came bobbing into the clearing, her memories hit upon the answer, but not from Hogwarts, from much earlier.
"Will o' the Wisps," she whispered in a mix of disbelief and reverence.
She remembered them from her mother's stories; they were the benevolent cousins of hinkypunks and were infinitely more useful. While they led travelers further into the bogs and marshes with their lanterns, will o' the wisps led lost souls to their fate with their pulsating blue glow that vaguely resembled flames. All doubts fled her mind, the will o' the wisps were here to decide her fate, of that she was sure. She reached out to the closest one but it quickly floated several meters away from her. Just as she started to walk towards the second it floated even farther than the first. Minerva smiled to herself, this was all the confirmation she needed; they were going to help her. Wiping the half-dried tear tracks from her face she followed the blue orbs leading her deeper into the darkening forest.
After a few minutes passed she slowed her walking to a more reasonable pace to accommodate the underbrush on the path that was little more than a deer trail. She pondered where the will o' the wisps were leading her since she'd never been this deep in the forest before and whether she would understand its significance to her fate. Her mind inundated itself with possibilities. Maybe they'd take her to the McGregor farm or they might be less heavy-handed with their decision and lead her to a village to show she must live the muggle life. Different scenarios played out in her head for the will o' the wisps to choose love but somehow she could not imagine a single one for magic. At first she triumphantly thought to herself that they would lead her home for magic before she came to the abrupt conclusion (as she had an abrupt fall over a log) that that seemed more akin to McGregor due to her stifled home environment.
Paying more attention to her surroundings so as not to stumble again, Minerva cast out for more pleasant thoughts to make the time pass without making her anymore anxious. Her mind soon settled on the stories she was raised on. The long journeys of the Hogwarts Founders before they decided to build the castle and start the school; Morgan le Fey; Bowman Wright's revolution of quidditch; the Lady of the Lake and Avalon; the Three Brothers. And finally, Merlin, the greatest wizard of all time and the greatest point of contention her father had with her childhood stories. She no longer noted the passage of time as she thought fondly of her memories while she absentmindedly ducked under branches, climbed over moss-covered boulders, and jumped over trickling creeks. Minerva noticed that her path became easier and stopped, confused by the starry sky showing through the thinning branches; it felt like an eternity had passed but it looked like it had been little more than an hour. Seeing the bobbing blue orbs ahead of her, she walked swiftly towards them thinking she was at the forest's edge and her journey's end. Instead she found herself at the edge of a clearing where she stopped again shocked by the sight in front of her.
She stared at the looming stones set in a great circle, barely giving thought to the will o' the wisps that had continued unheedingly into the center of the circle. Still in awe she forced herself to catch up to her companions. They floated away from her almost as though to give her center stage and a better view. Minerva gazed around herself turning in a slow circle trying to soak in the history of her land and the magic of lost legends that seemed to thrum in the air; she could practically hear it singing to her. She could feel it filling her, the happiness and the relief of a completed pilgrimage. That's when Minerva came to the realization that throughout her journey while she felt that every path led to McGregor she continued, looking for the one path to magic. And the only time she had peace of mind was when she was thinking of what her mother playfully called the "stories of their people." She twirled around in a quick circle with her arms outstretched, elated that it was over. Minerva looked to the pulsating blue lights that began to drift towards her. She tentatively reached out to the first one but it blinked out of existence, and somehow she wasn't surprised by that. With a brief smile she turned to the second and pronounced, "Magic. I choose magic." The soft blue orb seemed to glow brighter as it came towards her and then right into her. She could feel the magic as it seemed to flow through her veins and pump through her heart while her adrenaline crescendoed all in a split second. Minerva opened her eyes from the receding ecstasy and glanced down at her chest where the light had entered and saw it fading. Looking up and finding herself in a different area of the woods, she noticed the will o' the wisp that she felt certain was the one that disappeared. Gathering her skirts, she ran towards the ball of light that pulsated so cheerfully it made her spirits soar. As she drew closer the will o' the wisp faded into the ether and left her looking past the forest's edge towards her childhood home.
Minerva began her trek across the field to reach the path that led to her house. She was happy, contemplating all the preparations she'd have to make for living in London, but with each step her euphoria seemed to come down from its lofty heights. Soon she was standing in front of her doorstep feeling ill at ease; her decision was made, how could she still be unsure about it?
"Oh dear," she muttered sadly, "I have to tell Dougal."
And with that thought, she entered her home for the night, dreading what she would have to do tomorrow: break the heart of the man she loved so she wouldn't have to lock away her wand.
A/N: I wasn't too sure about a couple parts, whether they were too vague or just not properly described. Let me know what you think so far, and thank you for taking the time to read my story!