A/N: Yay! I finally finished another chapter. It feels like so long since I last updated. I admit I have been a bit preoccupied lately. Like Minerva, I was trying to get through the first trimester of pregnancy. Thank the gods I didn't have as much morning sickness as she did. ;-) I'm much more comfortable now. (Well, if you don't count the fact that none of my pants fit anymore!) As for the story, I think there will be just one more chapter and an epilogue. Thanks to everyone for patiently waiting for my updates and for reading them! You guys are great.

-April : -)

Chapter 9

Over the next month, Albus and Minerva divided their time between Hogwarts and the Dumbledore family estate. They went to Hogwarts on the weekends and Minerva did her best to keep a low profile even though there were hardly any others around. She had regular check ups with Madam O'Connell and since Albus insisted on going with her, they told her of their involvement with each other and of their impending marriage. The kindly medi-witch was very happy for them and wished them the best. The only other person at Hogwarts who also knew what was going on was William Kettleburn, purely on accident, of course. He happened to walk in on the two of them snogging each other senseless in Albus' office. He was rather embarrassed, but after they explained to him what was going on between them, he offered his congratulations. Both he and Brenna agreed to keep their relationship a secret.

Minerva hadn't heard much from her family aside from a short note from her brother and a rather nasty letter from her sister. Meditrina had taken her mother and grandfather's stance on the issue. She wrote that she was 'highly disappointed in the brazen and careless behavior of someone with so much intelligence' and that she 'should be ashamed' of what she's caused their family. Her brother was much more kind and told her that their father was trying everything he could to turn their mother around. She appreciated his efforts, but in her heart she knew that her mother was too stubborn to forgive her now. Maybe someday, but not this soon.

Aside from the excitement and anxiety of her pregnancy, Minerva had their wedding to keep her mind off of her familial woes. Albus and her had agreed on a small wedding with only a handful of friends and family in attendance. They sent off an owl to the high priest and priestess of Madame Blanchard's coven in France to tell them of their intention to wed and of their upcoming addition. They were so overjoyed for Albus and Minerva that they offered to come back to Britain and perform a handfasting. Such was their topic of discussion over dinner one night.

"What if we do both?" asked Minerva.

Albus looked up from his plate. "You mean like a mixture?" Minerva nodded. "That sounds perfect."

"We still need to pick a date. I would like to get married before I get too big. I've only gained a few pounds, but I feel so huge!" Minerva complained.

He chuckled slightly. "My dear, you're with child, it's a natural process. No matter what your size, you will still be the most beautiful and desirable woman I have ever encountered. What date did you have in mind?"

"Three weeks from this Saturday."

Albus raised an eyebrow. "You've thought this through, I see. I have no problem with it. Just tell me where I need to be."

Minerva shook her head in feigned annoyance. "Albus Dumbledore, you know full well that we're getting married at your house."

"I know, my love. I just enjoy getting a rise out of you."

She glanced up at him seductively and smiled. "Likewise."

A lone figure stood at the gates of Hogwarts, staring at the large castle. He was as still as the night, daring not to go beyond the magical barriers set by the one man whom he felt stood in his way. He supposed the honorable thing to do would be to call him out and face him in a duel, but there's no satisfaction in that. He wanted the old man to suffer. He wanted those who loved him to suffer.

"This isn't over, Dumbledore. You may have thwarted my plans this time, but just wait for what I have in store for you now." The man turned to his right and bent down to the ground. A red fox sat on his haunches at the man's feet. "You know what to do." The fox nodded once, took a folded piece of parchment from the man's hand, and disappeared into the underbrush.

He took one last lingering look at the school and adjusted his long coat before vanishing into the air with a loud pop.

Just as Albus had finished dressing for the day, there came a knock at his door. The sight of the groundskeeper met him when he answered it.

"Good morning, Professor Dumbledore. Sorry to bother you this early, but I found this right outside the main entrance. It's addressed to you." He handed Albus what appeared to be a letter.

"Thank you, Jacob." Albus shut the door and regarded the letter with curiosity. The penmanship seemed familiar, but he couldn't place it. Without further hesitation, he broke the wax seal and unfolded it. His face betrayed no emotion as he read the contents.

'Professor Dumbledore,

I must say that I was rather impressed by your solution to my puzzle. I hear you quite enjoyed yourself. Please accept my congratulations to you and your lovely young lady on your upcoming nuptials. Just think, Dumbledore, if it weren't for me, none of this would be happening. Not that I am unhappy to have played matchmaker, of course. You have my word that I will not interfere with your wedding, but know that this is not over between us. Someday, wizards and witches everywhere will follow one visionary, me. Enjoy it while it lasts, Dumbledore.

G'

He didn't know how long he had been standing there, staring at the parchment in his hands, but it must have been quite a while. How did he find out about their wedding, Albus thought to himself. He heard Minerva approach slowly from behind.

"Albus, are you alright? Did something happen?" she asked, panic evident in her voice.

Albus turned and handed her the letter. "You had better read this for yourself, my dear."

Even with the threat contained in Grindelwald's letter, Albus and Minerva continued to plan their wedding. Albus made sure that his ancestral home was just as warded as Hogwarts. He made it unplottable and placed anti-apparation shields around both the grounds and the house. Not trusting his word, they didn't want to take the chance of Grindelwald attacking during the ceremony. For such a small wedding, Minerva found the planning of it exhausting. Her father had helped her secure some of her favorite flowers for her to carry, as well as to decorate the site, and her brother, who was by far the most musically inclined of the family, was to play the bagpipes. She was relieved that Albus enjoyed the instrument just as much as she did. After all, you can't marry a Scotswoman and not expect to hear bagpipes at least once.

It seemed like everything was falling into place, except for one small detail. There were now only four days left until the wedding and Minerva still hadn't found a dress. She had gone shopping in Hogsmeade and in Diagon Alley, but had found nothing that met her tastes. She had even gone so far as to try to transfigure one of her dress robes, but she was no fashion designer. Minerva knew what she wanted, but couldn't find it and Albus was certainly no help.

"My dear, you'll be the most beautiful witch in the world no matter what you wear. Don't fret so much over this."

Minerva sighed heavily. "Albus, this will be my first and last wedding. I just want everything to be perfect."

He embraced her and kissed her lovingly on the forehead. "It will, love."

But as the day of the wedding approached, Minerva was in a bind. It was the day before the ceremony and, left with little choice, she had picked out a dress that would just do the job. It wasn't what she truly wanted, but it was lovely and would, no doubt, please Albus. The next time she'd see him, she would be walking down the aisle. The thought made her smile. They were staying at opposite ends of the Dumbledore estate. Her daydream was broken by someone knocking at her door and she was surprised at who she found when she opened it.

"Father! You weren't supposed to be here until tomorrow." Minerva threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"I know, but I brought you something." He took out a small box from his pocket, set it down on a table, and pointed his wand at it. He muttered an incantation and it grew larger. "Well, go on, open it."

Minerva reached out to open it. "Father, you didn't have to buy…" Her voice stopped after she looked inside. A vision of white silk and gold embroidery met her eyes. She gently ran her hand along the dress' neckline and over the bodice; it was so soft. Minerva picked it up to admire it fully, her eyes filling with tears. This was the dress she'd been searching for. The one she'd been dreaming about since childhood. "Where did you get this?"

William moved to stand beside her. "Your mother made it."

Minerva turned her head to face him. She didn't think she'd heard him correctly. "Mother?" Tears were flowing freely now. "But why would she do that?"

"Well, she's your mother, of course. It's tradition for the mother of the bride to make the wedding clothes, remember?"

"I know that, Father. I just didn't think she would, seeing as she hates me so much now."

He placed a comforting hand on his daughter's shoulder. "She doesn't hate you, lass. She just needed some time to cool off. This is her way of saying sorry, I suppose. An olive branch, if you will." Minerva buried her face into his arm and cried both tears of happiness and sadness. "Why don't you try it on?"

Minerva left her father and walked into the bathroom. There was a changing room attached and it had plenty of mirrors. She undressed quickly and slipped the dress over her head. She had to use magic to tie up the bodice, as it laced up the back. It fit perfectly. Her mother had even taken into consideration her thicker stomach. Minerva stared dumbfounded into the mirror. The neckline was squared and bordered with golden brocade. The sleeves were long and flared out at the ends, with the same golden brocade along the bell. The skirt flowed out beautifully, with a small train of fabric trailing behind. The finishing touch was the belt that hung around her hips in the same embroidered pattern as the rest of the borders. She twirled around to see the back of it. Minerva felt like a princess in a fairy tale. She went out to show her father and the moment he saw her, he started to cry himself.

"You look like a queen, my daughter."

"I love it! I still can't believe Mother did this for me."

William wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. "You'll always be her daughter, Minerva. No amount of bitterness or disappointment can change that. She loves you. She's always loved you. Now, you just need one more thing to complete your attire." He pulled out another box from his coat, but he didn't enlarge it. He held it out to her and motioned for her to open it.

Minerva inhaled sharply as she looked at the necklace inside. The pendant was a small circle of thistles made of gold and

hung on a strip of their family tartan. "Father, it's beautiful," she whispered.

"Here, allow me." William removed the necklace from its box and placed it around her neck, tying it securely. Minerva moved to the mirror that hung near the door and gingerly fingered the pendant. The red and green of the tartan certainly stood out, but not overwhelmingly so. Her father had moved to stand behind her and she looked at him through the mirror.

"Thank you for everything, Papa."

William smiled proudly. "You haven't called me that in quite a while. You're very welcome, lass. Now, don't you go forgetting your dear old papa after your married. I intend to spoil my grandchild rotten."

Minerva laughed and turned around to embrace her father once again. "I could never forget you, Father."

A/N: If you would like to see a picture of Minerva's wedding dress and the pendant, they are on my livejournal. There's a link to it in my profile. It's listed as my "homepage."