A/N: Sorry it's been so long since I updated, but I needed to figure out where this is going.
Minerva quickly walked down the streets of Hogsmede, still pondering what Elphinstone could possibly want to meet her about. Probably just wondering if he'll be able to convince me to return to work; I'll have to dash that dream I'm afraid.
Minerva smoothed imaginary wrinkles out of her emerald green dress. She'd always loved the color and it looked good on her. It clung to her curves, revealing that she wasn't the stick insect her robes portrayed. Her hair was up in a loose bun, with a few loose curls framing her face. Her eyes gleamed behind her glasses, and people took just as much notice of her now as they did when she was a first year. The was something about her, an air of absolute confidence, that led people to stare at the Gryffindor with Ravenclaw wit. Of course, Minerva didn't notice their attention, too absorbed in her planning.
She arrived at the Hogshead just as the clock struck noon. Looking around, she spotted Elphinstone coming up the path and she smiled warmly at him. Greetings were exchanged before Elphinstone suggested they go inside the Hogshead for a drink. Minerva acquiesced, although she did wonder why he chose the shabby pub over the popular Three Broomsticks.
They entered quickly, Elphinstone going up and ordering them both a firewhiskey while Minerva found a table and performed a cleaning charm on it. When Elphinstone returned with the drinks, she arched one eyebrow curiously.
"It's a bit early for that, isn't it Urquart?" she asked, accepting the drink nonetheless as she sat down.
"Not for what I have in mind Min," Elphinstone replied, feeling the box inside his pocket and taking a nervous sip of his drink.
"What did you have in mind?" Minerva asked, looking from his nervous face to the firewhiskey in her hand. In a way, she was grateful for the drink. She had a feeling she would need it.
"I was going to take you to Madame Puddifoot's in front of everybody, but I know how much you hate a scene Min. Nobody comes in here much, especially not this early, so you don't have to worry about anyone seeing before you decide and pressuring you one way or the other."
"What on Earth are you talking about Elphinstone?" Minerva barked, confused and a little annoyed at his shortening of her name. I despise being called 'Min', she thought as she took a sip of the whiskey, relishing the burn as it helped to chase away unsavory thoughts, namely those about a certain twinkly-eyed man who she had recently turned into a rat.
With wide eyes, Minerva watched Elphinstone slide down on one knee, fishing a little black box from his pocket. He opened it, revealing a simple gold ring dotted with pink stones. Rose zircon, Minerva thought, used as the secondary birthstone for October as opal isn't able to easily be made into rings. Elphinstone's voice broke her out of her musings.
"Minerva, I love you. I've loved you since I first saw you, telling off that uppity intern in the Department because she'd insulted you. You're brave, beautiful, intelligent, kind, compassionate…I can go on. You are important to me Minerva, and I don't want to lose you. Will you marry me?"
Minerva just sat there, stunned, looking from Elphinstone to the rings, then back. I know I said I'd give him a chance, but marriage? Already? I know much about him, but he really knows nothing about me. And what about Albus? I still love him, even if he has no feelings for me. Is it right for me to pine away like this, never considering another just because of Albus. I love the insufferable man, but he doesn't love me. Elphinstone doesn't either, not really. He loves the idea of me. He thinks I would make a good wife for him, and maybe I would, but can I marry a man I don't love?
While Minerva tried to untangle her conflicting thoughts, neither she nor Elphinstone noticed Aberforth slip out of the room, heading to the back to send a message to his brother. He knew that Albus loved Minerva, and he had a hunch that Minerva loved him. While he didn't much care what happened to Albus anymore, he didn't want the young woman to through herself into a loveless marriage just because it seemed like the only option. Maybe if Albus sees how close he is to losing her, maybe he'll finally pull his head out of his arse and admit that he loves her. Merlin help me, but if my brother starts a bar fight over that girl then he going to replace everything that he breaks.