A/N: Thank you for your kind messages and your engagement with this story. We're finally back to the prologue! (I've italicized the last bit at the beginning for you to jog your memory.) For reference, the last chapter took place June 1966.

For the disclaimer, please see the prologue.

Chapter Sixty-One: July 1966, Pt. I

"Oh, the nerve of that man," Minerva muttered. She smoothed her hands down her robes to calm herself, but failed miserably when she realized that her heart was beating faster than it had in ten years. As much as she didn't want to admit it, her body loved the feel of having him near her. Pushing the thought out of her brain that her heart still beat only for him, Minerva shook her head. She was Minerva McGonagall, and her son was about to get married. With that thought now firmly on her mind, Minerva walked on in search of Dalton, her own feelings be damned.

Minerva entered her quarters again and sighed. "Hi, darling."

"Ma?" Dalton asked anxiously upon seeing a noticeably nervous Minerva. "Did something happen? Is Athena all right?"

Minerva smiled. "She's perfect."

"Then why do you look like something happened?" Dalton's eyes narrowed. "Did Albus say something to you?"

"No," Minerva lied smoothly. "No, he did not. Why, did he say something to you?"

"He apologized," Dalton admitted, "for what he said before our graduation. You know, about us not taking our baby's safety seriously."

Minerva snorted. "As he should. That was a horrible thing for him to say to you."

"It was." Dalton nodded in agreement. "He said he wanted to put that behind us before we legally became family."

"I take it he already apologized to Athena, then."

"This morning." Dalton looked at his mother more closely. "Ma, you really don't look okay. Are you sure nothing happened? Is it—is it the wedding? Is the thought of me getting married making you sick?"

She laughed heartily. "The thought of you getting married no longer makes me want to faint, dear."

"Then what is it?" Dalton pressed.

"I took a tumble on my way back, and Albus caught me. That's all," Minerva said firmly. "It simply gave me a fright."

Albus' words had given her more of a fright than the fall, but she would spare her son those details.

"What kind of tumble, Ma? Are you okay? Do we need to get Poppy?" Dalton's worried voice broke through her thoughts.

"I'm fine. My heel merely caught on the carpet, and I slipped while walking. That's it. I didn't even hit the ground. Instead, my ribs hit Albus' arm. Stop worrying about me, and instead worry about your wedding, hmm?"

Dalton grinned. "Yeah, that might be a good idea. You said Athena was ready?"

"I said she was perfect." Minerva busied herself by running a hand over Dalton's shoulder, brushing off a non-existent piece of lint. "I feel the need to give you a big, motherly speech full of marriage advice, but Merlin knows you don't need that."

"Try me." Dalton leaned back against the table. "You don't often talk about being married to Dad."

Minerva felt herself smile. "Your father was a wonderful partner. Aidan was kind—not just to me, but to everyone. He was my best friend, and even when he wasn't happy with me, or when I had disappointed him, he still let me know that he loved me." She looked at her son. "That's perhaps the most important advice I can give. You two will upset and disappoint each other, but you need to remember the love. The love comes first, always."

"I doubt you disappointed him, Ma," Dalton scoffed.

"Oh, there were a few times," Minerva admitted. "I told him that I was bonded to someone else later than I should have, which caused problems. Or.." she sighed. "I probably shouldn't tell you this."

"Which means you're going to tell me." Dalton looked down at the watch he wore. It had been Aidan's favourite, and both Minerva and Dalton had cried when she had given it to him. "We have some time."

"I found out that, due to my bond, I couldn't have more children with your father," Minerva said, sighing. For some reason, it felt good to talk about now that more than fifteen years had passed. "I was upset, and I ran away."

"You ran away?"

"I did. I'm not proud of it, but I hid away for, oh, I don't know, two weeks. Your father was sick with worry, and you were sent away to be with Uncle Callum while Poppy looked after him."

"Wow." Dalton raised his eyebrows. "I don't know what I'd do if any of that happened."

"I do," Minerva said gently. "You'd be just like Aidan: you'd be worried, but you love Athena enough to know that she'll always come back to you."

"How did Dad find you if he was sick?" Dalton asked.

"Actually, Albus found me," Minerva revealed quietly. "He found me at my sister's grave."

"How did he find you? I know you were all close after the war, but I would think that Dad would know you best."

"You'll have to ask Albus," Minerva said, not quite wanting to invent an excuse. "But you can do that after you get married."

"Right." Dalton grinned. "Is everyone here?"

Minerva nodded. "I believe all of your guests are in position." Albus' words suddenly came back to her, accompanied by a sense of guilt. "Dalton, I'm sorry we couldn't do a big wedding."

"No, it makes sense." Her son shook his head. "No one knows you are our parents, and it would be awful of us to ask you to Glamour yourselves all day because we want to have extra friends there. You told us what the options were, and we knew what we chose. We're happy with this."

"But I even offered up the Manor! A wedding there would have been beautiful, and everyone coming today knows of its existence," Minerva tried.

"Yeah, but Hogwarts is where we grew up," Dalton said. "We fell in love here. Besides, we're staying at the Manor right now, and you shouldn't have your home occupied by a wedding party, no matter how small it is. This feels more like a getaway, at least."

"Well, that seems like as good a line as any to make our own getaway. We can't have Athena beating you down there, now can we?"

Dalton proffered his arm. "Shall we?"

"Let's." Minerva wrapped her hand through his arm so it rested in the crook of his elbow. "I'm glad you still want to walk with your old mother."

They left her quarters. "I told you already today, Ma—you're not old," Dalton said, rolling his eyes. "And we so rarely got to be together as us—Dalton and Minerva, son and mother—in public that it feels nice when we can be together. It's something to cherish."

"Obh obh, now I'm going to cry." True to her word, Minerva sniffled. "Merlin, that made me simultaneously feel touched and guilty."

"I always know it hits when you turn to Gaelic," Dalton replied, chuckling. "That's when the true Minerva McGonagall comes out."

"What am I the rest of the time, pray tell?"

"Professor McGonagall. Or a mom, or a friend, or Deputy Headmistress. It's nice to see you just get to be yourself."

"And I think that it's a rare, special treat for a parent to be able to talk to your children as grown adults. You've truly become someone special to talk to." Minerva squeezed his elbow. "Something you'll experience in around eighteen years yourself, I shouldn't wonder."

"Let's not think that far in advance," Dalton said. Minerva felt him tense a bit. "I'm really worried about this pregnancy. I'm glad Albus could get the paternal clause worked into my contract, but I'm still worried I'm somehow going to get injured, thereby causing injury to Athena and the baby."

"You'll be careful. You know about the dangerous effects bonding can have on pregnancy, so you're in a better position than I was," Minerva supplied, trying to be helpful.

"Didn't you know?"

"I knew that I could be injured, but I didn't realize how dangerous it was until I was pregnant with you. That's how I found out, actually. My ex-partner..." Minerva trailed off, unsure if Albus had ever revealed to Dalton that he had been poisoned. "He got sick, and I fainted. Poppy gave me her official diagnosis when I woke up."

"Blimey. What a way to find out." Dalton grimaced. "I'm so glad you told us, Ma. It's honestly really nice to know that someone else is going through the same thing."

"I'm here for you, darling. Always and forever, you know that. Now," Minerva said, nodding towards the doors, "are you ready?"

"I've never been readier for anything in my life."

Minerva smiled and led Dalton into the lounge they had found and decorated suitably for the occasion. They had chosen the date—July 15—not only because it had given all of the professors in their family to wind down from the end of term, but because the rest of the staff had left for the weekend.

It was the perfect amount of privacy.

"Oh, Dalton. You look so grown up," Lucy gushed, rushing over to give the groom a hug. "I can't believe you kids are getting married."

"That's because they're still kids," Callum joked. He smiled at his nephew. "You're too young for this. And you," he said, glancing at Minerva, "are too old to be the mother of the groom."

"Says the man who will be the father of the bride later this year," Minerva replied, smirking. Iolanthe was set to marry a Potter boy she had met while in Lyon.

"And yet, Minnie, you'll be a grandparent first." Callum grinned.

"Oh, stop." Lucy rolled her eyes and pulled Minerva aside. "I actually think Iolanthe is expecting, too."

"Really?" Minerva's eyes alit with newfound excitement. "Do you really think so? Has she said anything?"

"No, not outwardly," Lucy whispered. "But I talked to her about wedding robes, and she refuses to commit until closer to the date. I think she's worried about her size."

"Lucy, that could be chalked up to anything."

"Yes, but she's also sick as a dog." Lucy frowned. "Charlus can't even leave her alone in the mornings."

"And that leads you to believe that our dear Iolanthe is pregnant?" Minerva raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Call it a mother's intuition," Lucy said, making Minerva laugh. "Besides, it's quite funny to think about. The thought makes Cal's head explode."

"The same thing happened to Albus." Minerva confided in her sister-in-law. "In fact, he fainted."

"He didn't!" Lucy gasped. "Well, he always was prone to overprotection, wasn't he?"

"Over Athena? Yes, but he was a single father," Minerva replied drily.

"Yes, but he was always overprotective of you, too," Lucy responded, looking at Minerva meaningfully. Before Minerva could respond, Lucy pointed at the door. "Look, they're here!"

Minerva turned to see Athena entering the room, Albus on her arm. She looked just as beautiful as she had when Minerva had left Albus' quarters. Minerva glanced at her son, who, quite romantically, seemed to be choking back tears.

No one spoke until Aberforth, of all people, broke the ice. "You look pretty, Athena."

"Thanks, Uncle Abe." Athena grinned. "I really appreciate you coming."

"I wasn't about to miss my only niece's wedding," Aberforth answered, somewhat gruffly. "Now, can we get on with this? It's a Friday, which is one of my busiest nights, you know."

Albus rolled his eyes and opened his mouth as though to retort, but Athena interrupted. "We know. We'll get this show on the road, right, Dalton?"

Dalton nodded. "Absolutely."

Athena gently released her father and strode over to Dalton, leading him to the altar they had fashioned near a window overlooking the lake. "You okay?" she asked him, smirking.

"Never better. Athena, you look—" Dalton stopped. "I'm very lucky."

"Yes, you are," Athena agreed, laughing. "Come on, you need to actually be able to say your vows." She looked around for Albus. "Dad! We need you to officiate!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Albus called. He turned to Minerva. "Can I lead you to your seat?"

Minerva gave him a bemused smile. "If you wish."

Albus took her gently by the hand and helped her sit at the front of the altar. "Enjoy, my dear," he murmured in her ear before slipping away.

"See?" Lucy whispered quietly, leaning in from her seat behind Minerva. "Overprotective."

Minerva leaned over the back of her chair. "Lucy, if you're insinuating something improper at my son's wedding..."

"Not insinuating anything." Lucy held up her hands. "I'm merely stating that he still loves you."

Minerva opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Albus called her attention to the front of the room.

"If I may say so," Albus began, "in my life, I'm expected to deliver many important speeches, but none has ever been so important—nor so meaningful—as this one. It is my absolute pleasure to be presiding over this marriage ceremony today between Dalton Fionnlagh Scrimgeour and my darling, Athena Marigold Dumbledore-Williams."

"Dad," Athena protested, making everyone laugh.

As Albus spoke, his voice was as professional and engaging as it had ever been, layered with an emotional tone that even Minerva had rarely heard from him.

"Merlin, he made Ro cry," Poppy whispered, nudging Minerva.

Minerva looked over, and, sure enough, her stoic friend was sobbing. "What on earth?"

Albus, too, had clearly picked up on the strength of Ro's emotions, and stopped his speech. "Er—"

Dalton turned and looked at Ro. "Aunt Ro?"

"I'm fine." Ro waved her hand. "Don't stop on my account."

Athena and Albus looked at each other. "Well, then," Albus said, "Minerva, would you join me up here, my dear?"

Minerva rose and joined Albus at the front of the room. In a touching decision that had made Minerva cry, Dalton and Athena had wanted both of their parents to perform the magical bonding part of the ceremony.

They had joked that it was performative because they were already soul-bonded, but it had meant the world to Minerva and Albus nonetheless.

"Ready?" Albus looked at Minerva.

She looked at Dalton, whose face was beaming more than she'd ever seen it, and she smiled. "Ready."

As Minerva listened to herself and Albus say the spell in tandem, and she watched the bright gold sparks wrap themselves around Athena and Dalton, she realized she had never felt more at peace.

Albus approached Ro as they watched the newlyweds dance. "Were you truly all right during the ceremony?"

"Oh, I don't know," Ro said, clearly embarrassed. "That was very unlike me."

"I know," Albus replied gently. "That's why I'm asking."

"I suppose it's just that they're old." Ro sighed. "And I'm happy for them, you know? They have their whole lives ahead of them, and they look so happy. But..."

"But you wanted a wedding with your family there," Albus finished, his voice soft.

While Poppy and Ro's ceremony had been beautiful, the fact that Ro's family believed her dead meant they weren't in attendance.

Ro nodded. "I feel so stupid. It's a dumb thing to want and feel bad about, especially at my age. Besides, I'm happy they can have this experience."

"It's not stupid to want your family back together. I understand that more than most."

"Then why are you letting Min get away?" In an instant, Ro was back to her normal, impish self, wearing a smirk. "Hmm?"

Albus just looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"You still love her, and I'd be damned if she didn't feel the same way. I'm not telling you to do anything, necessarily. But I do think you should tell her." Ro nodded in Minerva's direction, where she was happily talking to Callum. "Tell her before you lose the chance."

"What if I asked her to dance first?" Albus chuckled. "That seems like a reasonable first step."

"And a safe one." Ro smiled affectionately at the man who had managed to give her a life she never thought she'd have. "Go."

Albus rolled his eyes but complied, weaving his way through to Minerva. "Callum, Minerva."

"Hi, Albus." Minerva's eyes were bright. "We were just talking about the various methods that Callum can use to keep an eye on our adult children as they begin their work."

"Well, I certainly won't complain about that," Albus said, smiling. He looked at Minerva and was about to speak, but she beat him to it.

"What's that strange look on your face about?" Minerva frowned. "What did Ro say to you?"

Albus shook his head, clearing it, then said, "Well, in her own, unique way, she dared me to ask you to dance, my dear."

Minerva cocked her head to one side. "I wasn't aware you required a dare for that."

"So much for a Gryffindor," Callum chuckled. "Go, Min. I'll go talk to Ro. See if she really did dare him." He winked and walked away.

"Shall we?" Albus asked, holding out his hand.

Minerva took it and allowed him to spin her into his arms. "I may not mind dancing with you in my quarters, Albus, but that doesn't mean I'm partial to the experience in public."

"Even at your son's wedding?"

"The small crowd may make it worse," Minerva admitted. "I don't enjoy the attention. You know that."

"Oh, I beg to differ, my dear. You like attention—but only when it comes with something you feel confident in," Albus teased.

"You're right there," Minerva said, sighing. She let herself relax in his hold. "Do you know what Dalton told me this morning?"

"What would that be?"

"Apparently, his classmates call me, and I quote, 'the hottest professor around'," Minerva answered. She released a small groan as Albus chuckled. "Don't encourage it, Albus. I'll need to take this braid and wrap it around my head in a tight bun."

"Even if you do that, you'll still be the hottest professor around in my eyes," Albus whispered softly.

She stopped dancing and stared at him. "Did you really mean what you said earlier, in the hallway? That this would have been our wedding?"

Albus looked at her, thinking. "Honestly?"

"Yes, Albus. I would prefer the truth." Minerva searched his eyes. "What have you not told me?"

He inhaled sharply. "My dear, I had a ring in my pocket at your convocation. Had you not ended things with me, I was planning on proposing."

"Oh, my." A hand flew to her cheek, which was rapidly turning red. "Oh."

"Should I not have told you?" Albus asked hesitantly.

"I...I'm not sure," Minerva murmured. She stepped back. "I need a moment."

"Min—"

"Give me a moment, and then come and talk to me in my quarters, all right?" Minerva squeezed his hand. "I just need a moment."

Albus watched as she walked toward Dalton and Athena, clearly saying her goodbyes.

"What happened?" Ro asked, sidling up to Albus.

"I told her," Albus said softly, his eyes never leaving Minerva. "Well, sort of. I told her that I had planned on proposing."

"Jesus, Albus. I meant you should tell her how you feel, not uproot her life." Ro looked at him, shocked. "Although I almost admire you for going for broke. True Gryffindor, you are."

"Perhaps. Or, if that were the case, perhaps I would have told her years ago."

"So, what happens now?" Ro looked at Albus. "Why aren't you leaving together?"

Albus quirked a brow. "Besides the fact that that would look horribly suspect? She wanted some time, Ro. I'm going to respect that."

"Or you could just go after her," Ro suggested. "You've waited, what, nearly twenty years? I don't think ten minutes are going to change anything."

Albus decided that Ro had a point, and went to say his own goodbyes to his daughter and new son-in-law.

"You two will be heading to the Manor tonight, is that right?" Albus asked, looking between them. They had originally planned on going away for a few days, but Athena hadn't been feeling well, and both had decided it would be best to stay at home, where they were comfortable.

"Yes, that's the plan. Dad, was Min all right?" Athena looked at her father curiously. "She seemed a bit flushed. Did something happen while you two were dancing?"

"Nothing in particular, no." Albus shook his head in denial. "I was going to go check on her now, actually."

"Please do," Dalton said. "Let us know if she needs anything, okay? I'm worried about her."

"I'll get you if it's anything serious." Given that Albus knew exactly why Minerva was upset, it was an easy enough promise for him to make. "Have a wonderful evening. Congratulations again."

"Thank you for everything, Dad," Athena whispered, giving Albus a hug. "I love you."

"And I love you," Albus said. "Now, I should really go and find Minerva."

Albus excused himself and headed to Minerva's quarters. He knocked on the portrait and let himself in, knowing that she was expecting him.

Sure enough, Minerva whirled around, and Albus was horrified to see that she had been crying.

"Are those good tears or bad tears?" Albus asked, dreading the answer.

"I don't know!" Minerva snapped. "You just dropped an absolute bombshell on me, Albus. Without any warning whatsoever!"

"Does it change anything?"

"About what?" Minerva barked. "It doesn't change the past, clearly."

"No, but does it change how you feel?"

"Again, Albus, about what?"

Albus stepped towards her. "About me."

She looked at him like he was raving mad. "It doesn't change how I feel about you, Albus. It makes me feel terrible about how I ended things. It makes me think about how our lives would have been different if I had let you calm me down that night—and then I feel guilty for thinking that!"

"Why?" He stepped forward again.

"I feel guilty because I loved Aidan and my life with him, and I wouldn't change anything that gave me Dalton. Or that brought Athena into my life," she added.

"Two things can be true at the same time," Albus said softly. "You can be happy about all that has happened in your life, and still love me."

"Love you?" Minerva asked incredulously. "What are you going on about?"

"I love you," Albus said simply. He stopped walking a few feet away from her. "I never stopped, to be truthful. But now, our kids are raised—"

"—They married each other—"

"—And Ro has convinced me to speak my mind—"

"—I'll kill her."

Albus stopped, amused. "May I finish?"

"Yes," Minerva muttered. "I'm sorry."

"Minerva, I love you," Albus said, continuing as though he had never stopped talking. "I never knew how to tell you, or when or if you were feeling ready to date after Aidan. And then, that one night when we recommenced our tryst, I thought that might have been our time. But, it was clear we still were at separate places in our lives.

"Now? Our kids are grown and raised. I'm not as interested in having a child now; not nearly so much that it would tear us apart again. And if we were to have another scare, I'd handle it better. I've grown, in large part, because of you. I genuinely believe that—finally—we're at the same place personally.

"So, now," Albus finished, slightly nervous, "the only question is whether you love me, too."

"Oh, Albus, you know I do," Minerva whispered. "I wouldn't have slept with you ten years ago if I didn't. I wouldn't have been able to be as close to you as we are if I didn't."

"This is marvellous news!" Albus exclaimed, bouncing on his toes. "We can date! We can go on a proper date!"

"I believe you once told me that I should never date a fellow professor, Albus."

Albus felt heartbroken for a moment before he saw the smirk on her face. He felt his mouth curl into a smile. "Ah, but my dear, dear Minerva, we are not professors. I am the Headmaster, and you are my Deputy."

Never before had something sounded so romantic to Minerva, and she jumped into his arms like she was twenty again, crashing her lips against his.