AN: Thank you dear asouldreams for bouncing ideas with me.

THE TIES THAT BIND

Chapter 13

THE WEDDING PART I

Through The Eyes Of Love

It was fairly early in the morning in Scotland. Cool, but not cold. The smells of summer things perfumed the air in and about McGonagall Manor. The sun had been up an hour or so and the inhabitants of the grand old manor were preparing for a new day.

Unless of course you were the Mistress of said Manor and her fiance. Both women shared the habit of rising early and had been up for several hours already. Minerva was used to the routine, having spent the majority of her seventy-eight years getting up early to get the chores done or if at Hogwarts, to get the lesson plans ready.

Hermione, on the other hand, had only been doing it for a few years and still required several cups of strong coffee to get her going in the mornings. She was sitting in the library sipping her brew and reading one of Merlin's journals.

The journal and several other books had been a gift from Minerva a few days earlier. The young witch had eagerly devoured the new reading material, sitting for hours up on the second level of the amazing library at the work table. Making notes. Pausing and going back to a previous page. Making more notes.

She had an idea for a certain line of research and believed that the information she required would be found in the notes of the man who'd inspired her line of research in the first place. She wasn't going to tell Minerva what this research was just yet. Not until she was sure. In the meantime, she happily sat reading and wondering where her fiance was.

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Oblivious to the musings of her young love, Minerva McGonagall sat in her study going over a parchment from the ministry concerning the budget for the school for the coming term. Mumbling to herself about bureaucracy and stupidity, she didn't notice that the portrait in the room had suddenly changed...

"Whut are ya grumblin' 'bout now?"

Startled, Minerva looked up to see her aunt, Fiona McGonagall staring at her from the painting. Frowning, the older witch held up the parchment and replied, "The ministry and their idea of a budget."

The green eyed portrait nodded in comprehension, "Ya gonna have ta subsidize again then?" She was referring to the past few years where the school budget authorized by the ministry was so low it was laughable. Minerva had dumped a sizeable chunk of galleons into the school accounts. As had Filius Flitwick and Severus Snape when he was alive.

Dumbledore, unfortunately, was long on magic but short on galleons. He may have been the most powerful wizard in the world, but he was terrible at managing his money.

Minerva grunted and nodded, "It appears that way."

The portrait shook her head, her long ebony hair sliding across her shoulders. Leaning towards the edge of the frame, Fiona whispered, "Minnie I need to talk to ya in private."

Minerva looked up, "What? Why?"

Fiona shook her head, "Meet me downstairs at my regular frame." With that, she ducked out of the ocean scene she'd stepped into and disappeared.

Minerva's elegant eyebrows creased into a puzzled frown as she stood and left the room, heading to the main hall where Fiona's official portrait hung.

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"Pssst! Hermione!"

The chestnut haired witch looked up from her study, "Yes?" She looked around trying to figure out who was trying to get her attention.

"Over here!"

She looked over the half wall and down into the first level of the library, "Hello?"

"Come down! There's no portraits up there. I need to talk to you!"

Curious, the young witch made her way down the wrought iron circular stairs to the first floor. With hands on hips, she gazed around the library looking for...

"Over here!"

In the far corner, above the elegantly carved desk, was a portrait of some relative of Minerva's. Hermione couldn't remember his name. He looked rather irked at the individual currently occupying the portrait with him...

Edeen McGonagall.

Minerva's aunt... Fiona's wife. Whereas Fiona was full blown Gryfindor bravado, Edeen was Hufflepuff gentleness and quite determination. Smiling brightly, she made her way over to the painting, "What can I do for you?"

Edeen smiled kindly. She liked this young witch. She was perfect for Minerva. Beautiful, compassionate, kind, gentle and brilliantly intelligent. So full of love. A perfect match for her niece. As the young witch neared, she said, "I need to have a heart to heart talk with you. If you don't mind?"

The un-named man in the portrait suddenly gasped and screamed with wide eyes, "Yer not havin' THAT talk in my painting!" He glared, horrified at Edeen.

Hermione smiled at the exchange and asked, "Why don't we just go to your frame in the main hall?"

Edeen shook her head, her light brown hair bobbing, "Can't. Minerva took it out to the gazebo."

Chocolate eyes widened, "Why?" She couldn't understand why her sensible fiance would do something so... so...weird.

Edeen sniggered, "Fiona wanted to talk to Minerva someplace private. You have to admit, carrying an enchanted portrait outside is pretty private."

An interesting fact about enchanted portraits was that they could only be entered by other portraits whilst within the confines of a magical structure. Since the gazebo was outside and not considered magical, Minerva and Fiona were guaranteed absolute privacy.

Hermione nodded and asked with a curious smile, "Where would you suggest?"

Edeen scratched her head thoughtfully, then brightened and said, "Mine and Fiona's old bedroom. It has a window overlooking the gardens." With that she ducked out of the un-named man's painting and disappeared. The latter drew a sigh of relief and went back to being important looking.

Hermione snorted, turned on her heel and marched out of the library.

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"How much do ya know 'bout the potion yer gonna be drinkin' on yer weddin' night?" Fiona questioned, her deep green eyes intensely staring into her niece's emerald orbs.

Minerva shrugged and replied, "Well... not much. Just that it will give me the ability to be able to give Hermione a child." She threw back her shoulders proudly and added, "A McGonagall child."

Fiona smiled at her niece's pride, "Aye, but do ya know exactly whut it's gonna do to ya?"

Minerva's shoulders drooped a bit as she shook her head, "Not really, no."

Sighing, Fione crooked her finger and said, "Well come 'ere then. We're gonna have THE TALK."

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Hermione entered a bedroom on the second floor, smiling as she spied Edeen sitting in a portrait of a dark haired girl milking a cow.

Seeing the young witch's curious expression, Edeen shrugged saying, "Fiona liked it, so we bought it. I will admit though..." She paused and looked at the girl busily milking the cow, then said, "She doesn't talk much. Just goes on milking and milking."

Hermione giggled as the milking girl looked up and said tartly, "That's what I'm supposed to be doing!"

Edeen snorted and muttered, "Whatever."

The young witch snickered and asked, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

Edeen McGonagall drew herself up to her full height of just half way up the frame and asked, "You know about fertility potions?"

Grinning, Hermione nodded, "Of course. We studied them at University. I actually brewed one as part of my potions final. Why?"

Edeen nodded, "Well then, knowing about your medical training makes things a wee bit easier." She took a deep breath and stated, "There is a McGonagall family tradition that goes way back to Merlin's time." She paused for a moment and checked to see if dark haired milking girl was listening. When she saw that the girl was busily attending to the cow, she continued, "Apparently a grand-daughter of Merlin was in love with a witch. They married and wanted to start a family. Back then, you started making babies in your teens!"

Edeen was referring to the dark times when magical people were persecuted and killed simply for being magical. The population was so low that young women were encouraged to marry very young and start having babies as early as fourteen. Same sex couples were encouraged to reproduce as well. Thus the invention of fertility potions. Any magical family worth their salt had a family recipe for such a potion. The McGonagall's were no different. Their potion, however, was brewed by the greatest wizard of them all. Merlin himself. His grand-daughter and her wife being the cause of the creation of "The Potion" as it was referred to by members of the clan.

Passed down through the generations, a tradition was born whereas when a same-sex couple wed, the McGonagall half of the union was required to take the potion, endure it's effects and try to sire a child on their partner during their wedding night. The non-McGonagall half of the union was not required to take it, but generally did anyway. The potion would cause instant ovulation in that person. Thus almost guaranteeing conception and the continuation of the McGonagall line for one more generation.

This particular scenario only worked for female same sex couples. Males were a bit different and way more complicated.

Hermione nodded at the portrait, "I understand about the potion. Minerva doesn't want me to get pregnant yet. She wants me to establish my medical practice first." She huffed a bit and added, "I say I can do both!" There was a certain stubborness brewing in Hermione's deep brown eyes.

"Atta girl!" Edeen exclaimed clapping, "You are a modern witch. Who says you can't have it all!" The portrait grew serious and nodded her head to the outside, "You know what's going to happen to Minerva don't you?" She was meaning the physical changes that would happen to her niece's body.

The young witch nodded, "I do. We haven't really had an opportunity to talk about it yet."

Edeen waved her arms excitedly, "You're getting married in a few days! When were you planning to talk?" She couldn't believe those two hadn't at least mentioned something... Jeez!

Hermione smiled, "Well I guess now is the time huh?"

Edeen grinned, "You definitely belong in this family." She grew serious for a moment and added, "Down through the generations, it became less and less about getting pregnant and more about the symbolism..." She blushed remembering her wedding night and stated, "You know... about so called "traditional" consumation." She was referring to hetero intercourse. She snickered and said with a laugh, "You got to watch out for that deadly McGonagall aim though... Fiona got me on our wedding night! Nine months later, I had Angus!" She laughed out right with Hermione joining in.

When she'd calmed down a bit, Hermione said with conviction, "I want Minerva's babies. As many as I can have." She scratched her nose and stated, "I'm pretty sure Minerva is ready too. She just doesn't want to seem selfish by demanding that I take the potion too."

Edeen nodded, "There isn't a selfish bone in her body."

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"A What????" Minerva McGonagall stared incredulously at the portrait of her aunt Fiona.

"Ya heard me darlin'. Yer gonna grow one." Fiona understood completely how her niece felt. She too was flabergasted when her mum told her that by taking the potion, she would be able to give Edeen a baby by growing a few extra bits to her anatomy.... down there."

Minerva's deep emerald eyes widened in consternation, "I... uh... erm." She was tongue tied.

Fiona nodded, "I felt the same way, but it's necessary."

Minerva paced back and forth, "Am I going to have two?"

Fiona shrugged, "Dunno. I got one. I remember mum tellin' me 'bout a cousin or somethin' that ended up with two. Big ones too." She grinned saying, "She and her partner ended up having a whole house full of bairns!"

Minerva stopped pacing and whirled around, "Are they going to be like... uh.. a man's?" She felt a furious blush race across her body. Seeing Fiona's expression, she claified, "You know, uh.. um.. large and hairy?"

Fiona threw her head back, ebony hair flowing, and cackled wildly.

Minerva frowned in confusion. She wanted children with Hermione, but... Merlin! She gazed up at her aunt, her emerald eyes glimmering with shock, embarrassment, a wee bit of confusion and a myriad of other emotions.

Fiona saw Minerva's expression and felt her heart go out to the witch, "Ah there now darlin'. Twill be alright. You'll see. Their not gonna look like the kind a male has... no. They'll be small, 'bout the size of a pea I'd say. They'll get a wee bit larger when ya do the deed though." She felt a rueful smile make it's way across her handsome face, "Yer jus' gonna have to deal with the extras, that's all. You won't even notice. When ya go through everyday, they'll stay tucked up inside. When ya get aroused, they'll expand a wee bit. That's all. When ya take the potion again, they'll drop and do their job... like they're supposed to." She tried to sound reassuring.

Minerva's eyes widened, "They? So I'm going to have two then?"

Fiona shook her head, "Dunno. Maybe, maybe not. Look, ya fell in love with a witch. Ya want bairns right?" She continued when she saw her niece nod, "Well then, this is the only way if ya want those bairns to be of your blood too. Isn't that the point?" She took a breath and added, "Oh yes, ya might want to consider taking the potion the night before the weddin'."

Minerva looked up, "Why?"

Remembering her own experience, Fiona sighed and stated, "Cuz it's gonna hurt like bloody hell when yer new bits start growing in."

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Hermione sat on the steps of the main hall waiting for Minerva. Based on her conversation with Edeen, she figured the older witch was going to be slightly... vexed perhaps? She didn't know that Dawn had been watching her from the doorway of the family room. The young woman having decided to spend the week before her sister's wedding at the manor. Giving her mother and Rolanda Hooch some time to be alone was a nice benefit too.

Ron Weasley had floo'd in earlier to see his girlfriend before he had to pop off to work.

Dawn and Ron had been having a quiet conversation when she'd heard Minerva in the entry hall removing a portrait from the wall. Both young people had watched in puzzlement as the older witch had marched to the kitchen and out the back door with the portrait tucked under her arm.

Shrugging, they'd gone back inside only to hear Hermione come down the winding mahogany staircase mumbling to herself. Raising her eyebrows, the youngest Granger walked back into the family room and over to the grand piano that Minerva had presented her with last night. To say she'd been stunned by such a gesture would've been an understatement. Apparently Rolanda had told her soon-to-be big sister about her talent for music.

"Play something for me?"

She looked up from her musings into the loving blue eyes of her boyfriend. Ron had been somewhat subdued since the trip to the Caribbean. Like he had something on his mind. Dawn had tried to draw him out, but he would quickly change the subject. The young woman smiled as she sat on the piano bench, "What would you like to hear?"

The red haired man shrugged, "Play something you like." He stood next to the black Baldwin and grinned winningly.

Dawn Granger's mocha colored eyes twinkled as she answered, "There is a song that I think is pretty close to how I feel about you..." She paused and looked out the door to where Hermione was sitting. She saw that Minerva was back and placing Fiona's portrait on the wall. Smiling, she added, "I think it works for them too." She looked down at the keyboard and began to play a short introduction, then began to sing...

"Please don't let this feeling end,
it's everything I am.
Everything I want to be. I can see what's mine now,
finding out what's true.
Since I found you.
Looking through the eyes of love..."

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Minerva turned from her aunt's portrait and gazed into the face of her wife-to-be. A young woman who had come to mean everything to the older witch. An amazing creature who was willing to spend the rest of her life with the older witch.

"I love you.. you know?"

Hermione nodded, her gleaming chestnut curls bobbing.

Dawn's voice drifted into the entry hall causing the two women to pause and listen.

"...Now I can take the time,
I can see my life,
As it comes up shining now.
Reaching out to touch you.
I can feel so much.
Since I found you.
Looking through the eyes of love..."

Edden joined Fiona in the portrait, watching Minerva gather Hermione in her arms.

"...And now I do believe,
that even in the storm we'll find some light.
Knowing you're beside me,
I'm alright..."

Portraits from all over the house crowded into frames, watching with full hearts as the future of the clan stood in the entry hall swaying slowly in each other's arms.

"...Please don't let this feeling end,
it might not come again.
And I want to remember."

The house elves stood at the back of the hall watching the Mistress and the Miss.

"...How it feels to touch you.
How I feel so much.
Since I found you.
Looking through the eyes of love..."

Soft, thin lips descended onto plump fuller ones in a tender kiss. Reaffirming a love for the ages.

"...And now I do believe,
that even in the storm we'll find some light.
Knowing you're beside me,
I'm alright..."

Hermione smiled up at her love and whispered, "We'll get through this."

Minerva knew that Hermione was right. With the young woman by her side, there wasn't anything they couldn't work their way through.

"...Now I can take the time.
I can see my life,
as it comes up shining now..."

"I think we should talk." Minerva stated, gently caressing her fiance's cheek.

"...Reaching out to touch you.
I can feel so much.
Since I found you.
Looking through the eyes of love."

Hermione took Minerva's hand in her's and said, "Let's take a walk."

Nodding, the older witch followed her future wife out the front door.

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Ron Weasley gazed down at the young woman he had fallen so hard for. His clear blue eyes glimmered with tears that he refused to allow to fall.

Dawn Granger smiled gently at the sweet man towering over her. Perhaps he was the one after all...

"I love you." They whispered together.

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-to be continued

AN: "Through the eyes of love" from the 1979 movie "Ice Castles". Written by Marvin Hamlisch & Carole Bayer Sager and preformed by the amazing Melissa Manchester. Check it out. It's one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.