CHAPTER 9

Tuesday, February 8th, 1995.

Aquila was walking through the halls during her free period. She knew she could use her free time to study but thought a break would do her good. It had been mostly calm over the last month since the ball, everything seemed to have quiet down except for talk about the upcoming task and what that could be. Every now and again she did hear whispers about her relationship with Minerva, but she never confronted anyone about it.

She rounded the corner near the charms classroom and bumped into Hermione, Harry, and Ron. She offered a small smile. "Sorry, I was lost in my own world." She apologised before hearing the red head sneer.

"It's alright, Aquila. How is everything between you and McGonagall?" Hermione had been wondering how the relationship had been as she hadn't seen them together since the night of the ball.

"Everything is fine, Hermione. We are taking it slow, I've had dinner with her three times since that night.. But yeah, we're taking it slow." She responded in kind.

Hearing Ron snicker, Hermione hit his arm and gave him a warning look. "Leave it be, Ron."

At this Aquila gave Hermione a thankful nod. "Thank you, Hermione. I need to go and figure something out for Valentine's Day. I'll be in the library during lunch tomorrow if you want a study partner who actually cares." She offered before leaving the golden trio.

Once the older student was gone, Ron turned to Harry and Hermione, his face scrunched up. "So it's true, old McG is dating a student." He obviously wasn't impressed and felt the situation was wrong on many levels.

"Honestly, Ronald. Don't you ever know when to leave something alone?!" She turned to her friend. "They have been in love since your mother was still in the womb." She sighed and pinched her nose frustrated with her best friends. "When Aquila died and after her father also died, her mother came across a prophecy, it says something along the lines of 'A life cut short will live again, love once lost will bind the dark, the pair old and young will be once more.'"

Ron looked at her like she was crazy, not understanding a word of what she said. "What does that even mean, Hermione?" He questioned.

"It means, Aquila was killed probably around 17 or 18 for falling in love with McGonagall. Her life was cut short, Professor McGonagall lost her love, together their love will help fight the dark, did you not feel the warmth of their love while they were dancing? It filled the entire hall. In this time McGonagall is probably at least 40 years older than Aquila is, old and young will be once more." She explained like it was the move obvious thing on earth.

Harry and Ron looked at each other. "You actually think that prophecy was about Professor McGonagall and Aquila Black, why was once a Malfoy." Harry stated, he had hated the girls younger brother since their first year.

"I do, actually. Anyone with an open mind and eyes can see it." She rolled her eyes. "I suggest you two leave it alone." She warned pointing her finger at them.

Both boys quickly nodded not wanting to be on the wrong end of Hermione's wand.

On the morning of Valentines day, Aquila had been able to sneak into the headmasters office just as breakfast started. She put a timing charm on the gramophone to go through the whole school and changed the record to a song they had once danced too many years ago. The song was due to start half way through breakfast, this gave the girl enough time to get down to the hall to see Minerva's face.

Half an hour went by and the Ravenclaw student was sitting at her house table eating her meal when music started to play, causing her to smile to herself.

'And when I told them how beautiful you are
They didn't believe me. They didn't believe me!'

The teachers looked around trying to figure out where and why the music was playing, knowing few if any of the students would know the song. Once the lyrics started Minerva paused and looked over the students.

'Your lips, your eyes, your curly hair
Are in a class beyond compare

You're the loveliest girl that one could see!'

Aquila chuckled to herself seeing Minerva's reaction out of the corner of her eye.

"Albus, what is going on?" Minerva asked her friend, all he could do was shrug.

'And when I tell them
And I certainly am goin' to tell them
That I'm the man whose wife one day you'll be'

Minerva spotted Aquila in the crowd of students and spotted the grin on her face. "Of course." She rolled her eyes making her friend look at her.

"Of course, what?" He questioned still not understanding what was going on.

"Aquila, she must have charmed your gramophone... This was our song." She clarified with a small smile. "I presume she wanted to do something for me today but didn't want anything obvious."

Albus nodded and grabbed her hand to squeeze it briefly. "I might have to borrow it for the next celebration." He chuckled. At this point Poppy looked over from her end of the table with a knowing smile.

Aquila looked up as she was getting ready to leave, brown eyes catching green. She brought her locket to her lips and kissed it gently, causing a warmth from the locket Minerva was wearing. She gave a smile and nod before leaving.

Minerva's hand came up to where her locket sat under her robes when she felt the warmth. 'I didn't know about that charm.' She thought to herself proud of what the younger witch had achieved.

The rest of the day seemed to have gone smoothly for the two women. Students were pleasant in class; few detentions were handed out by Minerva. At Lunch Aquila decided to retrieve her record but didn't count on the headmaster eating lunch in his office.

"Professor." She greeted with a smile.

"Ah, Miss Black. Great work this morning." He responded with a knowing smile looking over his glasses.

"I don't know what you are talking about, sir." She casually lied not wanting to get into trouble for breaking into the headmaster's office.

Albus gestured towards a seat by his desk for Aquila to sit down, which she did without question. "I am not upset with you, Miss Black."

This made the girl look up shocked. "But I broke into your office to give Minerva something."

He nodded, his smile still on his features. "I know, but as I said I'm not mad and you're not in trouble." He reassured. "Minerva figured it out at breakfast, it was beautiful."

Aquila looked up at him and smiled back. "I didn't want to send her an owl, or anything because everyone would figure it out and I guessed only the teachers would know the song." She explained softly. "One day I hope to dance with her again and that song playing in the background."

"That is a lovely idea, Miss Black!" He exclaimed excitedly as he clapped his hands together. "I know you have just over two and a half years left of your schooling, perhaps I can borrow it during your graduation celebration?" He offered softly.

This got Aquila just as excited as him. "I would love that, Professor! Thank you." The young witch was beaming at the idea.

Her fifth year was now almost completed, the final task for the tournament had been cancelled due to Barty Crouch Jr. was found to be using Polyjuice potion to become Alastor Moody. Voldemort was defeated by Harry and Dumbledore. (No Horcrux's in this version). The other schools had returned home, and life at Hogwarts was getting back to normal. There was now only a two weeks left before Aquila had to get the train back home. It was her last Hogsmeade trip of the school year as well and she invited Minerva to lunch at The Three Broomsticks.

The young witch sat at a table for two with a jug of butterbeer, playing with a napkin nervously as her lover walked through the door. This was their first public date and Aquila was nervous. As Minerva got to the table the younger witch stood up to hug her and kiss her cheek. "Thank you for coming." She whispered as she held out a chair.

Minerva smiled as she sat down and waited for the other to sit down before responding. "At first I was against it, but as I thought about it, I couldn't refuse." This sentiment made Aquila smile beam.

"I realise it's nothing fancy, or drowned in huge gestures-" She was cut off as the older witch held her hand up.

"Quil… It doesn't need to be grand gestures or fancy, it's enough that it's just us, together." She reminded softly. "Please, remember that." Aquila nodded as tears filled her eyes, Minerva reached over the table and held her hand.

After eating their lunch, Aquila paid as they decided to walk back to the school together. Hand in hand they walked before the older witch stopped them a few feet away from the gate.

"I waited over forty years to dance with you again." Her voice was unusually soft, not a hint of her professor front to be found. Aquila stepped closer and caressed her cheek with a small smile.

"Now you have the rest of your life to dance with me." She teased before kissing her softly which her love happily responded wrapping her arms around the younger woman, not meaning for it to get as deep as it did. They slowly pulled apart giggling like they were both school girls. "Since the ball, this has been the best year of this life so far."

Minerva chuckled at this and reached for her hand again. "This has been the best year in a very long time."

A/N: The song is "They Wouldn't Believe me" version by Johnny Mercer. I don't own anything.