On their last evening in Etretat, Minerva invited Jean and Celeste to lunch. She had informed the twins of her engagement to Severus but she felt duty bound to inform Arwen's parents face to face to soften the blow. She had blurted it out unintentionally and held her breath as she waited for their response.
"Is Severus the one that teaches the children Potions?" Celeste asked curiously.
"He is," Minerva answered with a smile.
"He was your student," Celeste asked softly.
Minerva frowned at the question but nodded her head. She wouldn't hold anything back from them. Her children adored their newly gained grandparents and she would make sure she stayed in their good graces. "Severus graduated in May of 1978," she offered. "He is 25 years younger than I am but his soul is much older."
"Age is just a number dear," Jean reassured her with a warm smile. "Is he aware you are still in love with Arwen?"
Minerva's emerald eyes teared up at the mention of Arwen. She did still love Arwen and most likely always would. "He does," she admitted painfully. "It wasn't fair to him to withhold the information. I reminded him again before I accepted his proposal. He respects that."
"Does he know you wear a permanent glamour?" Celeste asked with a raised eyebrow.
Minerva looked at her mother-in-law in shock. "He is aware," she said. "So are the children. I do wonder how you could sense it. Most cannot tell I wear one."
"I can't," Celeste answered with a grin. "Apolline can though. It must be her Veela senses. She wondered why you would glamour yourself."
Minerva shared a look with her children before removing the charm wordlessly. Gasps of suprise errupted from Jean and Celeste as they stared at the witch that appeared much younger than her true age. "I am much more powerful than most people are aware," she stated matter-of-factly. "The first person I told outside of my immediate family was Arwen. I have always kept this secret at my mother's request as she realized how powerful I truly was. She wanted to protect me from those that would use me for their gain."
"I thought you were gorgeous before," Celeste exclaimed as she stared at Minerva in wonder. "I understand your caution and your mother's worry. At this point in your career, everyone knows of the formidable Minerva McGonagall. Maybe you should consider showing the world your true appearance."
"Please let us know when you marry," Jean changed the subject. "We shall like to attend. We might have missed the first wedding but we shall be honored to attend this one."
Hermione cleared her throat to gain everyone's attention. "About that wedding," she said with a Cheshire cat grin. "Robbie and I might have a suprise for you."
Minerva raised her eyebrow up. "What surprise?"
Hermione and Robbie shared a grin before Hermione spoke again. "We may have discovered you have a soul bond with Severus and married him on New Year's Day. We also may have planned a wedding reception for you this evening with Apolline's help. Sirius and Remus will have informed Severus of the marriage, dressed and at the location at 4 today along with some of your friends."
"What," Minerva exclaimed wide-eyed as she stared at her children. "We have a soul bond and it was completed? That was the night we removed the Dark Mark. We didn't say any vows to initiate the start of a bond."
"We don't have any explanation for that. Mother left a soulmate book in my emerald vault with three pages earmarked. The first listed yours and mother's bond as fulfilled. The second page listed you and Severus as having a possible soulbond. I brought the book home with me and I noticed it has been listed as fulfilled in the book," Hermione said in amusement. "Sirius checked for us at the Ministry of Magic records department and you are legally wed. He bribed the attendee to keep the information secret until after the reception. A few reporters shall be there and will write a front page story regarding the marriage. Sirius has managed to handpick the reporters due to the secret location of the reception so we can guarantee a favorable article."
Minerva stared at her children in shock. Severus and I are married. That last night we made love was rather passionate and emotional she mused. "You are both fine with Severus and I being married? Of the knowledge being made public?" she asked her children. "He is not most students favorite teachers. There will probably be teasing from your peers."
"You mean like the teasing we get regarding our father actually being another mother?" Hermione asked with a teasing smile.
"Or the teasing Mya got from the purebloods for being a supposed Mudblood?" asked Robbie with a raised eyebrow.
"Maybe she is referring to the teasing you get about being a squib or that I get for being a know-it-all bookworm in general," Hermione teased with a smile. "Words don't hurt us Màthair. We have a great support system of family and friends."
"Life is too short and we want you happy. Severus makes you happy far more than you realize." Robbie offered with a grin.
"What was on the third page," prompted Celeste as she realized Minerva was still trying to process everything.
"I am listed in the book linked with Harry Potter," the girl finally admitted.
"No suprise on that one dear," Minerva finally said. "He jumped on a fully grown mountain toll's back at the age of 11 for you. The boy has followed you around like a lost pup ever since."
"So Màthair," Robbie interrupted. "We have something for you."
He handed her a wrapped gift from his pocket and wandlessly enlarged it. She smiled and opened it gently. She gasped as she saw Gryffindor red wedding robes. "We figured since you already had white wedding robes, you needed something a bit more bold. Our portkey leaves at 3:45 today. You best get ready. Severus will be waiting on you."
Minerva stared at her children a moment before leaning over and pressing kisses on their foreheads. "Thank you loves," she said emotionally. "I am blessed with you two." With that she rushed out of the room and presumably to hers to get ready for her suprise wedding reception.
Minerva smiled happily as she danced with her new husband. Her Gryffindor red robes hugged her curves and highlighted her porcelain skin. Her dark curls flowed freely down her back reaching past her waist. Celeste had charmed a golden ribbon through it to add a cascading curls effect. Her makeup charms were minimal but she had felt bold and added a deep red to her lips.
She had decided to show the world her natural form and left the glamour off. Severus had smiled happily at her decision. "You need not hide anything about you from me," he had said in his deep baritone. "I love you Minerva and nothing shall ever change that."
Severus had then slipped an emerald and white gold ring with black diamonds outlining it on her ring finger. Before she could say anything about it, he slipped a matched black diamond wedding band behind it. She noted white gold swirled and entwined with the black diamonds. It was a beautiful set.
"Check your pocket," Hermione had said. She did so and found a matching black wedding band with entwined white gold and black diamonds. She flashed her daughter a smile before she slipped it on Severus' ring finger. He had kissed her gently before they prepared to enter their wedding reception.
The wedding reception was held in a rather picturesque French garden. She had discovered Jean and Celeste owned the property and Apolline felt it was best to show the Bellamy Family approved of the match. Afterall, Minerva's children were the Bellamy heirs and she didn't want any mention of discord.
Deep winter colors were used since it was January. Enchanted snowflakes, ice sculptures and glowing flowers decorated the garden in such such a way it took Minerva's breath at first sight. The food was scrumptious and the wedding cake was a delightful forest scene with magical plants (potion ingredients she noted) and magical beings playing about happily through the foilage.
Minerva had smiled as she noted some of the guests. Poppy Pomfrey, Filius Flitwick, Pomona Sprout, and Rolanda Hooch were there. The Tonks family was there as expected, Sirius Black, Harry Potter, Lee Jordan, Remus Lupin and a few select people from the British Ministry of Magic. She noted Apolline had been political and invited several important French Ministry of Magic employees as well.
Minerva and Severus had greeted their guests and had polite small talk before he dragged her to the makeshift dance floor so they could have a moment to themselves. "I find myself overwhelmed you are truly mine," he admitted as he gently kissed her lips.
"Just as I am that you are mine," she replied then teasingly added. "Of course I didn't realize we would be married so quickly after I agreed to married you."
Severus laughed deeply at her comment before he kissed her lovingly. They missed the shocked expressions of their guests at the sound of it. It was rare to see Severus so happy and unbridled! It was heartwarming to witness.