Present:

Minerva had had an early meeting with Professor Dumbledore – now she was heading back to her quarters for a late breakfast. Harry had still been asleep when she left – she was hoping to have breakfast together with him.

When she arrived in her quarters she could hear the water running in the bathroom. She smiled and prepared them a nice breakfast. Just when she finished, Harry showed up.

'Good Morning, Minerva. Sorry, I slept late.'

She smiled at him. 'No worries, I had an early meeting anyway. And now I am starving. Sit down, please.'

They enjoyed their breakfast and Minerva was relieved that Harry seemed to be back to normal. His coughing during the night had lessened considerably as well.

'I have a bit of spare-time ahead and will only have to work in the afternoon. Hagrid has offered to take you to Diagonal Alley in the afternoon so you can do your shopping for the next school term. Would you like to do that?'

'Yes, sure. Sounds like a nice plan for the day. I need a few new books I think so this will be perfect.' Harry was looking forward to the trip.

'Can we watch another memory together after breakfast? I enjoyed that a lot whenever we did this.' He asked a bit insecure.

Minerva nodded approvingly. 'Sure. I also liked it – and so far we had good ones together, fortunately.'

They finished their breakfast soon after and snuggled up to each other on the sofa again. Minerva adjusted the pensieve and they dived in.

Memory XXXXII:

A very young Minerva McGonagall was standing in the living room of McGonagall Manor – a little suitcase in her hand.

An elder lady who looked like an old version of Minerva was hugging her tightly. She wore an elegant dress which a huge flower pattern and had her white hair up in a tight bun. The lady kissed Minerva on the cheek and patted her shoulder.

'Have a nice trip, my dear – I will see you again in about a week. Give my love to Arabella and enjoy her birthday party.'

Minerva grimaced. 'A muggle party cannot be that exciting, Granny!'

Her grandmother smiled at her. 'Who knows, maybe you will be in for a surprise. It will be a different party at least and you will get to know new people. And don't be too impatient with poor Arabella – it is not her fault that she is a squib.'

Minerva sighed. 'I know. But I already miss my wizard friends…'

Nevertheless, she turned to the fireplace and left the Manor after giving her grandmother one last hug.

The memory jumped forward and Harry found himself in a house which was clearly a muggle home.

Minerva and a young Arabella Figg were sitting at a table. The house was still in complete disorder – the remains of a party scattered everywhere. The girls looked tired and a bit hung over. Both had a cup of coffee in front of them, Minerva held her head and moaned slightly.

'Gosh, Arabella, what did you put in those drinks?' Minerva muttered languishingly.

'I did not mix them – that was Mike's special cocktail recipe.'

'Aha.' Minerva took a muggle pill for her headache and kept staring into her coffee for a while. When the pill started working she finally got a bit more lively again.

'Speaking of Mike… I liked his friend David – he was very handsome and charming. You don't happen to know where he is living? He told me when he left but I cannot remember due to these terrible drinks.' Minerva looked at her cousin hopefully.

'Oh, you mean David O'Rourke. He is very handsome indeed – but also very shy I hear. I don't know where he lives but he has his own little bookshop. You cannot miss it – it is right next to the post office in the centre.' Arabella mumbled. 'Sorry, Min, I still don't feel so good. I will lie down again. Let's clean this mess tonight.'

Minerva nodded and stared after her leaving cousin. Then she finished her coffee and decided to buy a new book.

The memory got foggy once more when it jumped forward.

Minerva was entering a little bookshop and looked around. She immediately spotted David who was just advising another customer. He nodded at her briefly and Minerva started to look through the book shelves.

Being an eager reader she soon got captured by the variety the little shop offered. So many muggle books she had never heard of before. She slightly jumped when David was all of a sudden standing next to her.

'May I help you?' he smiled at her.

Minerva blushed slightly. 'Oh, hello David. Nice to see you so soon again. I didn't know you were working here… I thought I could do with a new book since Arabella is not the most entertaining company today.' She grinned at the handsome young man.

David laughed. 'I bet she isn't. I am surprised you look quite okay yourself this morning.'

Minerva grimaced. 'Only with the help of pills I am afraid. Your friend mixes some evil drinks.'

'I know. I refuse them for years now.' David smiled a warm smile at Minerva which made her legs go weak. 'So what kind of book do you fancy?'

'Hm, I don't mind really. I love reading in general. Any recommendations?'

'Let's see. How about a Jane Austen novel? Usually, my female clients like them a lot. Sense and Sensibility would be my first choice here.' He went to one of the shelves and grabbed a nice looking book unerringly.

Minerva did not even look at it – she was captured by his warm brown eyes. 'I will take it. Thank you!'

'Alright.' She followed him to the cash desk and was reluctant to leave.

'I was wondering whether you would want to join me for a coffee or tea later in the afternoon? Minerva asked shyly.

David seemed positively surprised by her move forward. 'Yes, that would be nice actually. I will close at 5 pm today. Why don't you come back and we go for a short walk and stop at a café?'

Minerva beamed at him. 'That would be lovely. I will be back then. See you later.' She left the shop lighthearted and returned to Arabella's home with a stupid grin on her face.

Again, the memory jumped forward.

Minerva and David were sitting on a bench in a park and were kissing soundly. They were completely oblivious to their surroundings. David's hands were buried in Minerva's hair which was falling loosely over her shoulders and looked quite dishevelled. Minerva's hands were wandering frantically over his back – trying to pull him even closer. With one hand she moved under his shirt which made him groan and pull back slightly.

His eyes were clouded with desire 'Let's go to my flat, Minerva, please! I cannot promise to behave decent in public any longer. You drive me crazy.' He pulled her in for another deep kiss which made them both pant.

Minerva got up and pulled him with her. 'Yes, let's go! I cannot wait any longer.'

The memory jumped once more.

Minerva and David lay in bed and looked completely sated. Both had a very satisfied look on their face. Minvera snuggled deeply into his arms and kissed his chest. David stroked her back and looked at her tenderly. He kissed her soundly and lost himself in her emerald eyes when they pulled back.

'Marry me?' he asked her with so much emotion in his voice that it hurt.

'Yes! Yes! Yes!' Minerva smiled at him and had tears of joy welling up in her eyes.

Another jump in the memory.

David and Minerva were sitting in front of the fireplace in David's flat. David had an arm around Minerva's shoulder while her hand was on his leg. They were kissing but Minerva all of a sudden pulled back.

'David I have to confess something before you marry me.' She said with determination.

He looked at her with an amused smile. 'What? Are you the mother of 10 kids already?'

She slapped him on the leg. 'No. Idiot!' she smiled. 'Although, this would probably be easier for you to deal with.' She seemed unsure how to go on so that David turned her face towards his.

'Whatever it is – I will still love you with all my heart.'

She swallowed and nodded at him. 'David, I just don't know how to say it so I just go straight out with it. I am a witch.'

He looked at her bewildered and then laughed out loud. 'Minerva, that's a great joke! I always suspected you have a twisted sense of humour!'

'No, David. Just look at me, please. And promise not to be scared! I will explain everything to you in detail.' She got her wand out of her handbag and murmured a spell. David's beer turned into a bunch of flowers in front of him.

He stared at the bouquet of red roses and then at Minerva. He was clearly fighting for words for a moment and Minerva's expression was full of tension. She kept her breath and looked at him pleadingly.

'I am all ears, Minerva! Tell me the story of your life.' He managed to get out finally.

Minerva sighed relieved that he would take it better than she had feared. She grabbed both his hands and looked him in the eyes. Then she started telling him everything which had happened in her life so far.

There was yet another jump forward.

Minerva and David arrived by car in front of McGonagall Manor. Minerva had obviously decided to go slow on him and travel the muggle way.

Hand in hand they went to the front door where Minerva's grandmother was expecting them. She hugged and kissed Minerva before she turned her attention to David and eyed him with curiosity.

'So you are the young man who stole my granddaughter's heart. Welcome to our home, Mr O'Rourke.' She shook his hand and smiled at him.

They went in and sat down at the table to have a decent tea time.

Minerva's grandmother looked at her radiant granddaughter and smiled. 'You seem in a hurry with your wedding date. Anything else you want to tell me before I choke on my tea?'

David looked down uncomfortably and Minerva shook her head in amusement. 'Well, if you ask that bluntly – yes, I am pregnant! But we decided to marry before we learnt about the baby.'

Her grandmother pulled her tight and kissed her on the cheek. 'Congratulations, my dear. I am very happy for you and I am looking forward to getting to know your future husband a bit better during the next days.' She squeezed David's hand after she had released Minerva from her embrace.

'Granny, we would love to live up her in the Highlands. Would you mind sharing the house with us?' Minerva asked hopeful.

'I would love to have you around, my love. And it is your house, anyway – no need to ask. Is David prepared to live in these surroundings?' she asked – not sure about how much he knew about life in a magic family.

He answered the old lady directly. 'Yes, Minerva has told me everything. I am curious how this works out in reality I have to say. So far, it has been like having been told a fairy tale. I guess a lot will change for me from now on but I am ready to explore a whole new world.'

Both women smiled at him and Minerva grabbed his hand gratefully.

'David has even agreed to take on my name.'

'I like the sound of David McGonagall and Minerva has told me that she is from a very old and well respected magic family. Besides, we would like to honour her parents with keeping the name.'

'That is very kind of you.' Minerva's grandmother looked at him touched. 'My love, I think you made a good catch.' She grinned at her granddaughter.

'Granny!' Minerva rolled her eyes and David laughed.

There was another jump in the memory.

Minerva and Albus Dumbledore were walking in a park.

Dumbledore seemed in thoughts and they walked in silence.

'So, when is the wedding?' he finally asked with an unreadable expression.

'In two months. Albus, would you do me the honour and be my best man and walk me down the aisle? I would love you to do that – especially since my parents will not be there.' She looked at him pleadingly.

Dumbledore seemed to struggle with his feelings but nodded at his best friends' request anyway.

'I could never deny you a wish, Min. Not even a tough one.' He sighed and proceeded walking.

Minerva looked at him with confusion but pushed aside any doubts whatsoever. She was just too happy at the moment.

Present:

Harry looked at Minerva who was brushing away some tears. He felt a bit embarrassed after having seen Minerva in such situations. Of course, she must have had a love life as a young person but it was a very different thing to see it instead of thinking of it.

His godmother sniffed slightly. 'Sorry, Harry. It just always makes me sad. I often wonder what kind of girl Claire would have turned out to be. And David was just dealing greatly with all this magic around him all of a sudden. He was a fine man.'

Harry pulled his godmother in a comforting embrace and stroked her back until she had calmed down.

'I am so sorry that you lost them. He seemed very nice. Do you think Professsor Dumbledore was jealous?'

Minerva looked at him surprised. 'Now that you mention it – maybe he was. I was confused about his reaction back then and right now I was too agitated to see David again and all this promising time ahead of us.' She looked so forlorn that Harry again pulled her close.

'I am so glad my parents asked you to become my godmother.' He whispered into her shoulder.

She kissed the top of his head 'Me too, Harry, me too.'

They stayed like this for a while and separated reluctantly when it was time for Minerva to resume her work. She handed Harry the list of books he would have to buy and they left her quarters together.

'Have fun shopping. I will see you tonight.' Minerva hugged him and went her way.

Harry looked after her for a moment and headed to Hagrid's hut then. He was looking forward to this little trip although he enjoyed his godmother's company and those memories. Maybe, one of his friends would be in Diagonal Alley as well.

Author's note:

Bit of Minerva's love story here. The next chapters might be a bit more present time again to bring the story forward. As always I will appreciate your reviews a lot!