A/N - So sorry it has taken me so long to update! It has been a very busy month. I hope that you enjoy this one. :)

July 2014

Minerva levitated the last of the books into the open carton on her desk. She sealed the box and then shrunk it along with the others, tucking it into the small bag that sat beside it. She looked around the room at the now empty bookshelves and felt a clenching in her chest. It was time, this she knew, but it still didn't make it any easier to leave the place that had been her home for more than 50 years. Sighing, she checked the drawers of her desk one last time, although she knew that she had already removed everything.

It was odd to be leaving a place she had spent well more than half her life. Still, most of her old friends were gone now. Horace had only remained for another year after the war. Pomona and Poppy had retired five years ago and Filius had left two years previous. Severus and Albus were gone of course, as was poor Charity Burbage. Argus had finally had enough of Peeves and Irma had followed quickly after him. Minerva had her suspicions as to those two, but she had never pried.

Minerva had hired nearly an entirely new staff in the last five years; Rolanda, Hagrid and Septima were the only three that remained. Aurora had finally married her long-term beau and moved to the States, while Sybill had decided that her inner eye would be much more relaxed and open in the South of France than amongst all the hustle of the castle. Minerva had even been able to finally convince Professor Binns to move on and allow someone younger and actually alive to take of the History of Magic post.

"Minerva," she heard from behind her and she turned to look up at Albus' portrait.

"Albus," she replied, then returned Severus' nod.

"Are you quite sure you need to retire, my dear?" Albus asked. "After all, you are still much younger than I was when I was Headmaster. You have not even yet reached a century." Minerva saw Severus smirk and she nearly laughed aloud.

"Albus, we all know why you remained at your post for such a long time," she said. "Thankfully I do not have to deal with the likes of Tom Riddle. I'm sure Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley have any other potential dark wizards well in hand."

"Still, the children," Albus began to protest, but Minerva held up a hand to forestall him.

"I have spent more than half my life in this castle as a student, teacher and headmistress," she said. "It is time old friend." Her eyes were misty when she said it and if portraits could cry, she was quite sure that Albus' would have been as well.

"About time someone else from my house was appointed Headmaster," Phineas said snidely. "We have been far too underrepresented. Even if he is almost too soft to be a Slytherin." Geoffrey Hawkings, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher since the war ended, had been unanimously chosen by the Board of Governors to take over as Headmaster. Minerva was not displeased with the appointment. He was quite competent and even fair, for a Slytherin anyway.

"Our house would do well to follow Professor Hawkings example, Phineas," Severus drawled. "You and I were no role models."

"Severus," Minerva admonished. "I know for a fact that you saved many a student from making the same mistakes you did during your time as Head of Slytherin."

"Not enough, Minerva," Severus replied, his eyes looking off into the distance. "Never enough." Minerva shook her head. He was still berating himself from the grave.

"Now Severus my boy," Albus chimed in. "Do not be so hard on yourself. Some is better than none, after all." Severus merely rolled his eyes.

"Speak for yourself, Severus," Phineas said. "I have no regrets as to my time here." It was Minerva's turn to roll her eyes and she hid a grin as many of the other portraits followed suit. Soon they were all arguing amongst themselves as to who was the best Headmaster or Headmistress the school had known.

Minerva moved about the office, running a hand over her desk, touching a cupboard or two, taking a look once more out the window that overlooked the Black Lake. She lingered there for a few moments, memories of her time as a student, as well as a teacher swept through her mind. The lake was where she had finally accepted one of Elphinstone's many marriage proposals and the two had been married on its shores shortly thereafter.

The giant squid chose that moment to surface and Minerva chuckled at his antics before turning back towards the office. She walked back to her desk and picked up her bag and put it over her arm. She looked up again at Albus and Severus' portraits and smiled.

"I shall miss the two of you," she said, tears glazing her eyes this time.

"And I you, my dear," Albus replied. Severus merely inclined his head, but Minerva was not surprised. He did not like emotional displays, he never had, and she was happy to know that he was not about to change now.

"I suppose I shall have to visit the Ministry now and then, if I ever want to talk to you," she said, looking solely at Albus now.

"Then I suppose I shall have to visit my portrait there more often," Albus replied, familiar twinkle in his eye. Minerva laughed over a sob. She didn't think it was going to be this hard.

"Good-bye Albus," she finally said, then turned and walked out the door before she lost her nerve. Riding down the spiral staircase for the last time, she stopped at the gargoyle at the bottom.

"The new Headmaster is Geoffrey Hawkings," she told the statue. "He shall set the new password when he arrives, but until then, 'farewell' seems appropriate." Minerva knew that no one would enter the office save the house-elves before the new Headmaster took his place there, so there was really no need to leave a password. Still it felt right somehow that she should.

She made her way across the grounds, grateful that she had said her good-byes to Hagrid earlier in the day. She did not think she could handle yet another display from him. It was difficult enough as it was.

When she reached the gates, Minerva turned and looked at the majesty that was Hogwarts Castle. The sun shone high in the sky and a light breeze fluttered the few strands of hair that had escaped from her bun. She raised a hand to her brow, shading her eyes and looked up at the spire of Gryffindor tower.

"Good-bye my old friend," she whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek. And then, Minerva McGonagall exited the gates of Hogwarts for the last time. Forcing herself not to look back one last time, she turned and disapparted.