Thank-you for the reviews!! They mean so much to me; I'm sorry for not replying to all of them. I have been busy, but it does not mean that I do not value them - kay?

7/3/07. I know this was terribly rushed, and so here is my solution; not so bad, I hope? An epilogue will be up as soon as I possibly can.

Chapter Seven.

The Strongest Magic.

"I object!" The young man's voice rang through the Hall.

The Bride and Groom stared down at him, then Letitia cried, "David!"

Albus drew himself up. "Young man, what do you mean by this?"

"She – we – are engaged to be married." said David defiantly.

Albus looked at the man, surveying him with that piercing blue gaze. "Letitia," he said, turning to his almost-wife, "Does he tell the truth?"

She looked at David with tears in her eyes; the congregation held its breath. "We've known each other since we were small, Albus. He asked me to marry him last year."

"And I meant every word of it." said David sincerely, ignoring Albus, who was starting to realise that something serious was happening here.

Letitia sniffed, "Oh David!" She flung herself into his arms, sobbing delicately onto his shoulder. Albus stared; Minerva didn't want to imagine the emotions that would be tumbling around inside him.

David whispered something into her ear, pulling her golden curls away from her face; she listened than said something back to him.

The two of them stood together, in the isle, and looked up at the speechless Albus. "Alby, I can't go through with this; I thought David and I were finished, but he's come back! You do understand, don't you?"

Albus still stared, not saying a thing. "Say something, Albus!" said Letitia, but David whispered something in her ear and she took his hand. "Goodbye, Albus; it's been good knowing you." And she walked, holding her fiancé's hand, up the isle, leaving behind her a surprised and speechless congregation that had gathered for her wedding. The doors slammed and the Hall was left in stillness.

Minerva was just as shocked as the rest of the guests, but her considerable poise was returning. Albus was still standing up at the alter, not moving and with a devastated look on his face. What was she going to do? An answer came to her immediately.

"Potus sumestry." she whispered. A silver smoke screen shimmered into place, blocking off the alter where Aberforth and Albus were still standing. The women cried out in surprise and the men shot puzzled glances at each other.

Minerva whispered a few instructions to Poppy and Rolanda, then hurried to where Albus was standing behind the screen.

"Albus?" she whispered. He didn't move. "Albus!"

She walked over, taking his arm. "Albus we need to go. You can't stay here forever." She pulled more forcefully on his hand and he followed like a lamb, off the stage and into the Entrance Hall, away from the confused guests in the Great Hall.

Albus still followed her, eyes wide with shock. When they finally reached his chambers, Minerva muttered the password and they were soon in his private quarters.

"Albus ..." she began. He had come out of his shock and was now showing anger in his blue eyes.

"It's all right, Minerva, I am fine." It was said harsh and brittle.

She was not sure she believed that. "Albus, I don't know ..."

"Minerva!" he barked, "I am fine, as I said!"

Clenching her jaw, she did not back down. "You are not fine! I am sure this does not happen to you every day!"

"True, but I would appreciate it if you would leave me now."

Minerva's whole being radiated indignation. "Albus, I will come tomorrow. I–I ... Well, I will come by tomorrow. I am very sorry for your loss." She swept out, outwards all composed, but inwards, wilting. Albus was also bristling with indignation ... well, more emotion really.

She looked back at the door; Albus was watching her, eyes covered, but what worried Minerva most was that his blue gaze, his legendary twinkle, was gone, replaced with the haunted look only betrayed love can bring.

In her rooms, Minerva carefully took of her outfit and hung it in her cupboard, thinking of the wedding. Well, she hadn't expected David to do that, exactly, but at least Letitia had gone. Albus would be heartbroken. He would ... Minerva didn't know what he would do, but she would be there for him. The over-sized vegetable that had been plaguing the castle was gone and she damned if she was going to let Letitia destroy Albus as well!

Chin tilted determinedly, Minerva sat at her desk, grading tests as if her life depended on the scrupulous marking of each one; in reality, it was just a way to distract her mind from Albus' plight.

--

"Sherbert bubbles?" Minerva said tentatively to the gargoyle. It didn't budge. "Oh come on, don't tell me he's changed the password!"

The gargoyle did nothing but stare impudently at her. She sighed in exasperation. "Oh Merlin! Stubborn thing!" Sending the dirtiest look she could muster at the mute thing, she turned on her heel and stormed off.

What was Albus thinking, changing the password? She had said she was goinhg back theh next day! He should have let her in! Maybe he was the stubborn one. Ah well. She'd give it another week; then she'd start shouting.

--

Minerva, tapping her wand against her side nervously, waited for the gargoyle to stop chuntering.

"Lovely day you know, I'm sure the Giant Squid will be enjoying the sunshine, you know." The thing went on and on and finally Minerva broke.

"Let me in now, or you will regret the day the Founders put you in charge of the Headmasters' rooms!" she stormed. If a stone gargoyle could look scared, this one did. It slid away to reveal the moving staricase. Feeling triumphant, she climbed tha stairs, nervous at what she would find.

Albus was sitting in an armchair that was ridiculously over-stuffed, head in hands. His living room had the distinct feeling of not being looked after well. He did not look up, but sat still, head hanging."Hello Minerva. I see he let you in."

"Yes, he did, after I threatened him with something even Filch couldn't have come up with." Normally,. this would have raised a smile, but instead a great shuddering breath was all she got.

"I have wanted to apologise for all the rash things I said to you last week.

"Forgiven," she said immediately, looking around Albus' rooms. It was amazing how messy it had become in a week; Albus himself had a sort of starved look.

"When was the last time you ate?" she asked.

"Yesterday ... day before ... not sure." he muttered into his hands. Minerva was filled with pity.

She sat next to him, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Albus, you have to eat something." He seemed to ignore her.

"How could she?" he asked suddenly, apparently of thin air. "He could she just leave me and run off ...?"

"Oh, Albus ..." Minerva hugged him tightly, and, like a child, he leaned into her embrace. "I don't know why she did it. I didn't understand a lot of things about her – she was hard for me to understand."

"I thought I loved her ... but now ... now I'm not so sure. She was just standing in the The Leaky Cauldron, all golden and beautiful. I was blind but for her, Minerva; and I didn't notice you getting ill, or taking on all my work; I might not have noticed the castle falling down around my ears."

Minerva sighed, holding him to her. "She didn't deserve you, Albus; that's my personal opinion, and it was always that, ever since she first came to the castle."

"I should have listened to you; I can't remember you ever giving me the wrong advice." said Albus; now he was hugging her, stroking her hair. "I, however, can manage the whole of the wizarding community, but not my own life."

Minerva smiled into his beard, streaked with auburn still. "Next time you meet someone, make sure she's more than a pretty face. That's the best advice I can give you."

He had gone oddly quiet. "Albus?" she asked, alarmed.

"You mean someone who has been around for a very long time, someone who cares for me, and is capable and clever? Someone ... someone that I have loved for a very long time, but not realised?" He asked softly, but intently.

Minerva's heart faltered; she could detect a hidden meaning behind his words, but she answered strongly and with a clear voice, "yes, someone like that."

"Someone like you, Minerva." She tensed in his arms. "I-I have been terribly stupid. I was blind and careless; I love you Minerva, I realised that sometime this last week. Would you accept an old man's love?"

Tears formed in Minerva's grey eyes. "Of course, Albus of course!" She buried her face in his neck, feeling his beard on her skin. He tightened his arm around her slim waist, resting his forehead on hers. She met his eyes.

"I'm not beautiful, Albus."

"You are Minerva; have you never looked in the mirror? Never asked yourself why so many men ask you to dance? Why ... why Letitia was so jealous of you?"

Laughing, she caught his lips. They kissed for an eternal time, where the ticking of Albus' grandfather clock stopped, where all things froze in position. When they finally broke apart, they were gasping.

"Sealed with a kiss," said Albus quietly, his perpetual twinkle back in place. Minerva laughed again, as breathless as Albus, and smiled.

"I love you, forever, Albus. Forever, I promise."

"And the same goes for me, my love."

They kissed again, like two moths around a light. That night, a love was born so intense, so fierce, that even the strongest magic could not defeat it. Had anyone been around that room that night, they would have known, that against all odds, love was indeed the strongest magic.

--

Finite.

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Done! Can you believe?! My first multi chapter fic ever completed. I may do an epilogue, but until then, this story is finished!! Thanks to everyone who reviewed and gave me so much support and joy. Love you all!