Author's notes: I thought I'd add this chapter to this little pet of mine. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I am not JKR or W.H Auden

We, too, had known golden hours
When body and soul were in tune
Had danced with our true loves
By the light of a full moon

Dear Reader,

The months of Minerva's pregnancy were...difficult. Voldemort was growing steadily stronger, and attacks were almost weekly. Of course, Minerva still wanted to fight, and our first real argument was over her ability to duel when six months pregnant. She raged in typical fashion, and I discovered that my mother's temper had rubbed off on me. Eventually we declared a truce...after Minerva had come back from the fight. She always was stubborn.

However, she did concede that she had to take it easy, and she did for the last three months of her pregnancy. Neither of us could stay angry at the other for any great period of time, and we made up later that day.

Our relationship became public at the graduation ball when she threw caution to the winds, flung her arms around my neck, and kissed me in the centre of the dance floor. The other students were dumb-founded, as were the Order members and parents present, but when I dropped down on one knee and proposed, they saw that we were serious. Bill was the first to give us her blessing, and it was to raucous applause that he hugged Minerva tightly and welcomed her into the family. The papers ran with stories of our 'affair' for two days, but as I had suspected, when Voldemort attacked Diagon Alley for a Summer 'celebration', we were forgotten.

After graduating, I remained at Hogwarts, though I moved into the Headmistress' quarters and took the younger classes DADA which left Minerva more time to relax, though I suspect she devoted that time to stratagems rather than rest. Harry and Hermione left to search for the remaining Horcruxes, and found them surprisingly quickly until all that remained was the seventh portion which resided inside the Dark Lord.

Voldemort was ever present in the back of our minds, and yet I remember the months of March to the beginning of December in 1997 as the happiest of my life. Diana was born on the 5th of November, with a shock of red-hair and Minerva's glittering emerald eyes.

Never, had a prettier babe been born.

November 5 1997 - Excerpt from Ginny Weasley's Diary

I'm an Aunt! Minerva gave birth last night and we saw the baby this morning. She is beautiful; thankfully for her she is the spitting image of Minerva, the only influence Ron seems to have had is in the hair. It's as red as both his and mine.

Her name is Diana Rose McGonagall-Weasley, a bit of a mouthful, but the name Diana suits her to a tee. Already she has a look that could kill. Fred and George were making a lot of noise when she was trying to sleep, and she rolled onto her side and gave them the dirtiest look. Absolutely priceless.

Ron is being ridiculous, talk about a doting father. All Diana has to do is frown as he's at her side, rocking her, walking with her, talking. Minerva has to ask him to give Diana to her when she needs to be fed.

I only hope Neville doesn't get any ideas.

December 26 1997 - Excerpt from the Daily Prophet

THE DARK LORD DEFEATED!

Muggle London Attacked - Death toll in the thousands

In a shocking display of brutality, You-Know-Who waged a battle in the centre of London at midnight during the Muggle Christmas festivities. The Ministry arrived on scene, and the following battle lasted three days, during which over four thousand muggles and one thousand wizard and witches were killed...

Among the dead was Minerva McGonagall, the Leader of the 'Order of the Phoenix' who was instrumental in the demise of You-Know-Who. She has been awarded a post-humous Order of Merlin - First Class. Minerva McGonagall leaves behind a husband and daughter.

Harry Potter, in a heart-wrenching speech given last night, named Minerva McGonagall as a 'heroine of our times' and 'one whose name deserves to go down in history.'

For further informtion: see pages 2 - 9

Dear Reader,

The last battle was bloody, brutal and the loss to both sides was catastrophic. At 12:01 am, Minerva was called to the scene, and she left Diana with Poppy and together we apparated to London. It was absolute chaos, Muggles were screaming and running in all directions. Husbands pushed wives out of the way and visa versa, parents abandoned children; it was sickening.

In the centre of it all was Voldemort, surrounded by at least two hundred Death Eaters. Minerva squeezed my hand tightly, whispered that she loved me, and together we ran toward them, hurling hexes in syncrosy. Harry and Hermione arrived only seconds after, followed by the Ministry and the remainder of the Order. The duel was furious, and Minerva and I stood back-to-back, often taking on three Death Eaters at a time.

She moved like a woman possessed, and together we slowly inched closer to Voldemort. He was plucking off Aurors and Order members like flies, lazily casting the killing curse from the high podium. Minerva threw herself onto the stage, catching him unawares, and the two of them fought with a brilliance that was astounding. I was embroiled in my own battle with Bellatrix Lestrange, and eventually I managed to break through her defences and cast the Killing Curse. She fell, and I ran to Minerva's side to assist.

Voldemort laughed at us both, calling me her 'toy boy' which served to incense Minerva, and the duel became deadlier, both forgoing stunners for decapitation jinxes, Crucio, Medusai and other similarly horrible hexes. Harry broke free eventually, and joined in the battle. I was hit with a 'Sectum Sempra' on both of my legs, which sent me to the ground, leaving Harry and Minerva to battle without me. It was apparent that Minerva was tiring, after all it had barely been a month since she'd given birth, and Voldemort focussed his attentions on her.

The next few moments are etched forever on my memory.

Minerva was spinning away, but the Cruciatus Curse hit her on the back and she fell to her knees, writhing in agony. Voldemort twisted toward her, and cast 'Avada Kedavra' though she somehow managed to avoid it and curled her knees upward. Next, Harry cast the Killing Curse, but Voldemort conjured a bronze shield, causing the curse to rebound back toward him. Minerva was still on her knees, but her eyes followed the green light streaking toward Harry, even as she changed into her animagus form and ran toward him.

I struggled to my feet, also running forward as Harry tried to twist out of the way. Minerva leapt forward across Harry's chest, transforming in mid-air and the curse hit her in the centre of her torso, killing her instantly. Harry's eyes narrowed in absolute hatred as he dived over her body, rolling on the ground and firing his own Killing Curse from his lower vantage point. The green streak went under the bronze shield, hitting Voldemort in the legs, also killing him.

Harry didn't spare his body a second glance as he turned back to Minerva. I was already there, trying to revive her using Muggle methods. I was counting 15-pushes; 2-breaths with a maniacal fervor, even though deep down I knew she was gone. Hermione came beside me, trying to pull me away, but I struck out, my hand connecting with her jaw, sending her flying to the ground.

How long this continued, I don't know but I eventually fell over her body, too exhausted to continue, and held her in my arms, rocking her back-and-forth as I sobbed unashamedly. Around me, the battle was in its final stages as the remaining Death Eaters were captured, but no one could prise me away from Minerva. Finally, Harry just sat next to me, his hand on my shoulder as he held Hermione close to him, merely waiting for the medi-witches and wizards to arrive.

It struck me as ironic that when I looked down at Minerva and found her midnight-black hair falling freely down her back, whilst her eyes were closed and claret-lips curved in a silent smile, she had never looked more beautiful.

Author's notes: One chapter left. Just one! Please review. Cheers. Minniequill