28 August 1952

Minerva walked towards Dougal's front door and knocked, not for the first time that week. A loud barking erupted from inside the house and she smiled broadly albeit a little nervously when Dougal opened the door.

"Minerva, I'm glad you could make it!" he exclaimed before kissing her on the cheek. Minerva blushed as he held her hand and squeezed her fingers affectionately. As she attempted to remove her shoes, he stopped her. "Do you mind if we take a walk before dinner? It won't take long," he added hurriedly.

"All right."

Dougal guided her outside and shut the front door behind him. He seemed nervous but excited at the same time and Minerva had difficulty deciphering his behaviour.

"I'm sorry about this," said Dougal, his voice only slightly shaking, "but it won't take long I promise."

Just as Minerva was about to speak and ask him where they were going, Dougal stopped next to a pile of rocks, which stood in the middle of the garden. She looked confusedly up at him and was about to say something when he spoke again.

"Minerva, these past few months with you have been – the best of my life. You are a remarkable, beautiful and clever person and–and I wouldn't want to spend my life with anyone else," he smiled anxiously at her and passed a hand nervously through his hair. Before Minerva had even the time to understand what he was getting at, or even to speak, he was already down on one knee. "Minerva McGonagall, will you marry me?"

With a flourish, he produced a small silver ring from a box in his pocket. The ring glittered in the moonlight and Minerva felt her breath catch in her throat; how could she accept when she knew she would be leaving for the Ministry in a week's time?

"Dougal I…" Minerva paused and Dougal suddenly looked worried. Casting his eyes down on the ground as though waiting for a blow, he no longer looked excited and instead lowered his arms ever so slightly. "Yes!"

His eyes widened in shock as though that was the opposite of what he had expected to hear. "Yes?"

Minerva laughed and she felt tears run down her cheeks. "Yes."

Her mind fuzzy with joy as Dougal slipped the silver ring on her hand. Minerva could not remember a time she had ever felt so happy.