A/N: I couldn't let it end soo mushy, so here I am again. This is the end – for real. It was a lot of fun writing it and I have to admit – it was remarkably easy (although I didn't think so halfway through this chappy, lol).

And to all of you: thank you so much for reading reviewing and telling me you like it. It has been warming my heart and brightening my days. And thanks for your sympathy – sometimes all I need is a little group hug. *huggles you all back*

MK: I'm glad to be of service. There is just never enough 'aaawwww'-stuff out there.

PrincessWitch: Congratulations on finishing your paper – mine is finished too and I can go onto the next one. Read your story – tried to review, but tptb didn't let me. Like it so far, but don't do a MM/SS – puuuleeeeaaaase.

LinZe: Okay, I love you too – kinda. Disown you? Ooops.

VoyICJ: Dear beta, I put you in even though you're basking in the sun of the Caribbean. Have fun.

Laura: Well, I don't really have a pic, but if you want something similar, watch the movie "El Cid" – the wedding dress (without the cloak) Sophia Loren is wearing in the beginning – while waiting in her chambers for her groom to arrive – comes pretty close. Should I find a picture, I'll mail you.

Nuff said, off we go…   

Epilogue:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was covered in snow. The grounds look like they are straight out of a fairytale, thought the witch who stood at the window looking out into the winter night. Behind her a fire was crackling warmly.

Minerva McGonagall-Dumbledore sighed. Her husband should be back soon. After all, they celebrated their anniversary today. So many years and it still seemed like yesterday that they had gotten married. Married life had been good. So many things had happened to them – the best and the worst that could ever happen to a couple – but their love had never suffered. They were still as happy and in love as they had been on their wedding day.

"What is does that old cliché say? A penny for your thoughts." A voice broke into her thoughts. She whirled around and there he was. More than fifty years and still her heart sped up when he was near.

Albus Dumbledore stood just inside the room and smiled brightly at his wife. It was rare that he could sneak up on her, but if he managed, it was all the more fun. And the way she stood near the window just now - with her hair down (as she wore it in private), cheeks flushed from surprise and her right hand clutching to her heart, letting her engagement ring sparkle – she was just as beautiful and enchanting as she had been in her youth. And he was still in love with her.

His smile turning sheepish he raised the two steaming mugs in his hands. "I thought, since I was so late, I might as well bring something to toast with."

His wife just rolled her eyes. Trust this man to bring hot chocolate to celebrate. Other people would drink wine or even champagne, but no – her crazy husband would bring chocolate. More than fifty years and he still insisted on keeping this habit. She chuckled silently at the memory of their wedding night, when he had shoved away the champagne that had been a gift from their French friends and instead came up with that treat.

Outwardly she just shook her head as she sat down on the rug in front of the fire with her back to the sofa. Albus smiled and settled down next to his wife, handing her one mug and putting an arm around her shoulders.

"So, to what do we toast, Albus?"

"The usual, I presume, my dear. To us, to love, to the family and old friends." They clinked their mugs and took a swig.

"And to you Lanney, my baby, wherever you are." Minerva chimed in her expression turning sober. Albus pulled her into a hug. Their little Lanney, the brightest and darkest memory of their marriage. It had been so long ago, but it still hurt.

To lighten the dark mood that began to settle, he said. "You know, my dear, I still can't believe that neither Peri or Uray thought it childish to play that shoe-switching game. Or that you were not surprised about it."

Minerva smiled at the memory. When they had come down the morning after their wedding, the whole Inn had been in uproar, because all shoes had been bewitched to dance around at the ceiling. Alastor Moody had had a fit and threatened to curse the culprit, who turned out to be her siblings. "How could I have surprised? We did that every year at home. It was our traditional way to celebrate St.-Nicolas-Day and to annoy our father. Besides," her smile turned sheepish, "I was just glad that they didn't play a joke on us. I was really worried they would."

Albus shook his head "If their joke would have been anything like the one you played on Peri and Andy at their wedding I am very glad about that too."

Her face was an image of innocence. "Well, it is a tradition to play a prank on the wedding couple. After all, the whole family joined in." She pointed out.

"Then perhaps, I should be glad that your family didn't know about our marriage until years later…"

"Yes, maybe you should." she laughed. Then she became serious again "Albus, I know that you always felt a little bit guilty about the fact that we had to keep our marriage secret. And I know that it hurt you greatly to have my father treating you like dirt, because he thought you unwilling to make me an honourable woman, but I wouldn't have wanted to change a thing." Minerva put her hand to his cheek and he covered her hand with his. "Everything I told Uray on our wedding day was true. I knew exactly what I got myself into. I knew that I would be in danger, because I was your wife. And I knew all too well that we had to keep our relationship and our marriage a secret. I accepted this, before we ever became involved. I loved you and I wanted you – I still do. That's why I was willing to take everything."

Albus didn't know what to answer. How could it be that she knew his most secret doubts so well? How could she know that those thoughts had been haunting him the whole day? He had always thought Peri was the seer in that family. So instead of voicing his thoughts, he just turned his face and pressed a tender kiss to her palm.

They looked into each other's eyes for a long time – surroundings and time forgotten. Then Minerva interrupted the moment saying slyly "So, since this is our anniversary and I have already confessed again my undying love for you, how about we leave this little place here and start celebrating properly?" Her grin became more and more pointed.

Dumbledore grinned back and kissed her "How can I refuse such an offer? However, before we go through with your, ahem, interesting proposal, I'd say we get a bit into the spirit of the season."

"Spirit of the season? Albus, what, for Merlin's sake, do you mean?" his wife exclaimed curiously as he dragged her to a standing position.

"If your siblings could pull that trick off, why shouldn't we too?"

"Albus, you must be joking. That trick was childish and ridiculous back then." Minerva stood there with her fists on her hips, which was somewhat difficult since her husband was still holding onto her right hand. "I won't go around in Hogwarts, stealing shoes and charming them to dance at the ceiling."

Her husband merely smiled broadly as he dragged her towards the door. "Of course, you will, dearest. Best is, we start with Severus." Upon seeing his wife in a huff, he added with a sly grin "Don't forget, we can always blame it on Peeves…" With that he opened the door and stepped out.

Minerva still desperately struggling to get out of his grasp exclaimed, "Albus, no. No, I don't want to do that. This is stupid. Completely ridiculous.", but he wouldn't budge. Thus she indignantly exclaimed "Albus Dumbledore, you are completely insane."

"Yes," he answered, "but you love me anyway."

And then his laughter was the last thing to be heard, before the door closed completely.

The End

Done. Done. done. I'm doohoohoone…..*dancing happily around*…..

A/N: Lanney? Who the h*ll is Lanney? – You want to find out? Tune in for the sequel/add-in coming next on this channel. lol