30th August 1959

Minerva weaved her way through the many people gathered inside the Scottish Manse until she reached Elphinstone who was standing at the end of the room. He was dressed smartly in brown dress robes that Minerva had not seen him wear before.

"Thank you for coming," she said gratefully, leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek.

Elphinstone smiled. "Thank you for inviting me," he replied. "It truly was a beautiful service."

Minerva nodded as she folded her hands behind her back and stood beside him, watching both Robert and his bride danced their first dance as a married couple. "It was," she agreed. "I am glad it didn't rain seeing as it all happened outside," she added.

Elphinstone nodded just as the song finally ended and the music changed. More people joined the dance floor, including Minerva's mother and father.

"Care to dance?"

Minerva turned to see Elphinstone extending his arm and offering her his hand.

"I am not the best dancer," Minerva said automatically.

"You can't be worse than I am, Minerva," he answered, his hand still outstretched.

Minerva smiled and so did he. Finally, she put her hand in his and Elphinstone guided her onto the dance floor. They danced for several songs happily enjoying each others' company until Elphinstone opened his mouth to speak.

"I know I've asked you before, Minerva," he started, looking as hopeful as he had a year ago when he had asked her to marry him for the first time, "and I hope you will reconsider my proposal?"

Minerva looked up into his soft brown eyes. She liked Elphinstone, a lot. She enjoyed spending time with him and was grateful that their friendship had come so far and had gone on for so long. But despite her great fondness for him, she could not find it in her to accept his proposal. Dougal was still in the forefront of her mind, and she still had not truly got over her relationship with him.

Judging by the disappointment shown on her dance partner's face, Minerva guessed that Elphinstone already knew the answer to his question.

"I'm sorry Elphinstone," she said, as the music began to quiet.

Elphinstone tried to shrug and looked away, as they slowly came to a stop. "I understand," he said finally, his disappointment clear in his voice despite his valiant attempts to conceal it. "It was really nice seeing you, Minerva," he added, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Minerva smiled and Elphinstone left the dancefloor - Minerva doing the same but going in the opposite direction. Making her back through the crowd, Minerva found an emptier space by the drinks table. Pouring herself a glass of water, she sipped her drink and watched the various guests at the wedding chat and dance.

"Full of muggles this place, huh?"

Minerva moved her head to see who had spoken. "Mr Winickus," she greeted, rather coldly.

"Rufus, please," he corrected her, extending his hand for Minerva to shake. "Nice of your brother to invite me," he continued.

"Indeed."

Winickus, clearly unaffected by Minerva's clear unenthusiasm, leaned back so that he was resting on the drinks table and smiled. "I'll always remember you being the first Professor to give me my first T. I didn't even think it possible," he commented conversationally.

"Well, the important thing is that it didn't happen again," Minerva replied.

"No, and I'm very glad for it," he chuckled again. "I wonder why Robert even bothered to invite this lot?" he added after a while. He gestured at all the muggles dancing in the Scottish Manse's entrance hall.

"They are very good friends of my father and Robert as it so happens," Minerva said, her knuckles whitening as she clenched the plastic cup between her fingers.

"Oh yes, I forgot your father is a muggle," said Rufus, chuckling humorously. "And your mother gave up her powers so that she could live as a muggle?" he continued more forcefully. "My mother knew her from school and told me what happened. How embarrassing for your family."

Minerva pursed her lips tightly.

"She was disowned as well, wasn't she?"

This time, unable to help herself, Minerva set down her cup sharply onto the table. "I believe that is none of your concern, Mr Winickus," she said coldly. "And if you do not refrain from commenting on my family in this way, I shall be forced to ask you to leave."

"I would have left hours ago if my wife hadn't insisted on staying," he said, all traces of humour and cheeriness gone. "She's a pureblood," he added unnecessarily, pointing out a young woman in the crowd who was slowly making her way towards them. "Much better compared to the filth you interact with."

"I would like you to leave, now," snarled Minerva, using all of her inner strength to stop herself from unsheathing her wand and cursing the boy, still sneering at her.

"Tut-tut. Rude as well traitorous, you may as well be a mudblood—"

"I suggest you be careful how you throw around that word," Minerva interrupted. "As I might accidentally let the information of our little encounter slip to the Head of the Auror Department," she added, and Winickus' eyes flew straight away to Elphinstone who was speaking animatedly with Robert. "With the recent attacks against muggles and muggle-borns, you could end up in some serious trouble. And, if I do get another whiff of you uttering that horrible word," threatened Minerva, "I will ensure that you do get into serious trouble."

Winickus pale slightly however, he did not reply. Instead, he merely tightened his grip on his wife's arm and left the house, leaving Minerva at the drinks table feeling angrier than she had in a while.

Desperately needed some air, Minerva turned around too and made her way through the house and into the garden. She walked to the back wall and sat down on it, wrapping her arms around herself to warm herself from the cold breeze. The thought of Elphinstone's face when she had again put down his proposal continued to burn in her mind and Winickus's words were still troubling her. She had noticed that muggle hatred as well a muggleborn dislike had started to get more serious over the years, however, to hear such an offensive word used in her house against her father, her mother and their friends was more than insulting.

Minerva sighed and looked up at the inky canopy of the night sky freckled with little glowing white orbs. She tried to embrace the cool breeze, which left the leaves on the trees rustle in a satisfying sort of way, to help her calm down.

"Tired?"

Minerva jumped and turned around to see her father walking up towards her. "I just needed some air," she replied smiling a little as he settled down next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Minerva leaned her head against his arm.

"It has been nice having you here for the past few weeks," he said. "You need to come and visit more often."

Minerva smiled softly. "I'll try my best," she promised.

"I'm glad. When is it that you are leaving?"

"Tomorrow. School starts in two days and I need to get some things ready."

Robert squeezed her shoulder gently. "I am so proud of you Minerva," he said suddenly. "You do know that don't you? I am so proud of you, Malcolm and Robert. So proud…" he trailed off and kissed the top of her head before giving her another small one-armed hug.

Minerva put her head on his shoulder and the two of them sat together for a while after that. "I love you, Dad," she said.

"I love you too, sweetheart."