Chapter Three

Minerva made her way along the corridor. She was meeting Albus in their special place. She lifted up the hem of her robes as she climbed the staircase. She came to a stop before looking around herself to make sure no one was about. She placed her hand on the statue of Cupid and whispered the passwords "A Lover's Kiss". The statue of Cupid jumped aside revealing a door made of the dark mahogany. She stepped forward and pushed the door open and was met by the warmth of a roaring fire and the smell of hot chocolate. She closed the door behind her and scanned the room for Albus. Her eyes fell upon on him sitting in a chair with his feet resting upon the small coffee table. She sighed to herself; she had told him not to do that.

"Albus!" she called out as she approached him.

"Minerva," he said as he quickly got to his feet. "How did it go, darling?"

Albus held out his arms and Minerva walked straight into them. She snuggled against him as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. He allowed himself to sink back into the chair with Minerva still cradled in his arms. He kissed her softly on the forehead as he whispered comforting words in her ear.

"He still expects me to marry him!" she blurted out suddenly.

"After all these years?" questioned Albus. "Surely not."

"He says I must keep to my word," explained Minerva sadly, "and marry him. I told him that I won't but he doesn't seem to listen to me."

"Would you like me to have a word?" asked Albus before planting another kiss on her forehead. "I am amazed that he still thinks you will marry him after all these years. You didn't make a promise to him. Your families arranged the match."

"I love you, Albus, and I'm marrying you in two weeks time," said Minerva looking into his piercing blue eyes. "Daniel will have to accept that. I never loved him and it was a marriage forced upon me years ago."

"Ssshhh my love. Don't get yourself worked up," reassured Albus. "I'll go and speak to him tomorrow."

"Please don't, Albus," replied Minerva. "Let's just concentrate on us and ignore him. He will get the message and give up."

Minerva moved around in his arms so that she was facing him. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him lightly. Only hours ago she had been the happiest woman alive. She had been preparing her wedding to the man she loved and now her world had been turned upside down.

She wished Daniel had been dead! She felt bad about wishing something like that on him but given the circumstances no one could really blame her. Albus had been so calm about his return. She had half expected him to jump in and stamp his mark on the conversation but he hadn't. Albus was supporting her and giving her advice but part of her wished that he would make Daniel disappear.

She felt his arms tighten around her and she relaxed into his arms. If anyone could take her mind off Daniel, Albus could. He ran his fingers down her arm until he reached her hand where her engagement ring was hidden from view.

"I'm glad you love your ring," he murmured into her ear. "It matches your eyes."

"It is a beautiful ring," she agreed as the ring became visible to them both. "Do you think your grandmother would have approved of me wearing it?"

"She would have loved you, Tabby," he answered, using his pet name for her.

They remained in their secret hideaway for another hour before they decided that they had better show themselves in the Great Hall for the staff dinner. They walked out into the empty hallway and started to walk towards the Great Hall when they heard a familiar voice call out to them. They turned around and saw Minerva's father walking briskly towards them both, his walking stick clunking against the stone floor.

"Minerva," he said as he embraced his youngest daughter, "is it true?"

"If you are talking about the return of Daniel, then it is true, Father," replied Minerva sadly.

"Oh my wee petal," said Maxim McGonagall. "This news could not have come at a worse time! Oh Albus, do forgive my rudeness. Hello old friend. Is there somewhere we can talk?"

"My office," suggested Albus as he embraced Minerva's father, his old friend. "This way."

Maxim McGonagall clutched on to his daughter's hand as they made their way towards the Headmaster's office. What he had to tell Minerva and Albus would break both their hearts as well as his own. He loved Albus as a son now and he was so happy when Albus had asked him for his permission to marry Minerva. He wished that he didn't have to break the news he had come to tell but it had to be done. Sooner rather than later. They reached the office and Albus and Minerva sat together on the couch while Maxim sat in a high-backed wing chair facing them. Minerva noticed the grave looking expression her father was wearing and it worried her no end.

"Would you like a drink, Maxim?" asked Albus.

"I think I need a firewhiskey or two!" replied Maxim seriously.

"Father," said Minerva fixing her father with a serious stare, "what is going on?"

Albus handed Maxim a glass of firewhiskey and he had also poured out a glass for both himself and Minerva. He had sensed they may need it.

"Oh petal, it breaks my heart to tell you this," began Maxim before taking a sip of his drink. "I hate to do this when you are so happy but I have to tell you this. You both know how highly I regard you, Albus. You are like a son to me as well as being my friend. I was so happy when you both became a couple."

"Please Father," pleaded Minerva, "don't say what I think you are going to say. I will not marry Daniel, please don't ask me this."

"Petal," continued Maxim after downing his firewhiskey, "you have to marry Daniel."

Minerva broke down in tears and she clung on to Albus, who held her securely in his arms.

"Maxim," asked Albus, who was trying hard to keep hold of his emotions, "surely the arrangement is void now."

"In usual circumstances it would be," admitted Maxim sadly. "But this is not a usual arrangement."

Minerva slipped from Albus' arms and knelt in front of her father. She took hold of both his hands and stared into his dark emerald eyes. She was pleading him to tell her more.

"Daniel's father suggested we put a bind on you both," explained Maxim as he looked into his daughter's eyes. "A charm was placed upon you both and it can only be broken if you both decide against the marriage. When the charm was placed upon you, the wedding was going ahead and when Daniel was reported dead, the charm was broken, or so we assumed. I am so sorry, my darling, but it will be dangerous for you to marry Albus. If you marry Albus without being released from your duty, Albus will die!"