Minerva returned to her suite in the castle, to find her cousin reading the paper. Olivia smiled and put down what she was reading. "So how did the weekend go with Jack?"

"Wipe that smile off your face Olivia…I can't believe you did that to me!"

"Was he bad?"

"Bad?"

"As in not a good companion, or lover dear cousin. Come on…it has been ages and he is devastatingly handsome and charm…that man could bottle it. Seems to ooze from his pores…argh…now I miss James."

Minerva chuckled. "Serves you right for setting me up like that!"

"Did you and he…"

"I am mad at you and maybe I don't want to say."

"Fine, be a stubborn old witch about it! I can just call and ask Jack you know."

"Oh and I can imagine the stories he will come up with! Fine! We talked, walked in the woods and enjoyed a meal."

"And then?"

"We went to bed…separately."

"Min…come on you can't be serious. Who the hell are you waiting for? Snape? Dumbledore? There is no one else in your life! And as you pointed out to me, we have an entirely new one to lead now."

"You wanted me to just cave to his advances after one date so to speak."

"Well, people don't wait anymore and I think you have done enough waiting in your lifetime. Jack is wonderful and it is not like it has to lead to marriage. Hell I don't think Jack will ever marry."

"He did once… they had a daughter and he had to watch the love of his life grow old and die. Actually he left her because it was too painful for her to watch herself age and not him. His bravado and courage aside he has to live with watching everything he knows and loves grow old and die."

"I know…I can't imagine and I hope I do not outlive my children now because of this change. Jack is a good man and he is interested in you. Perhaps he feels that in this magical world he may find an answer to the riddle of his immortal existence and enjoy his time with you while he does it."

"We did speak of that and yes he does believe that, or maybe that there is a way to extend my life even further when the time comes. Those Wilson brothers have given Jack hope that he can make me immortal or greatly extend my life."

"Jack does think very highly of you, if he wants you to become immortal just so you can spend an eternity in his arms."

"I told him he would tire of me eventually."

"Really…what did he say?"

"He said impossible…and that I was the most intriguing woman he has ever met not to mention the most uptight." Olivia dissolved into laughter and Minerva chuckled along with her.

"So Minerva you resisted his charms for Friday evening but how about all day Saturday and today?"

"You would have to keep digging wouldn't you?"

"It is what I do for a living and this mystery is too good to allow you to hide behind technicalities."

Minerva suddenly busied herself with unpacking using her wand to put things away.

"Minerva? What happened?"

"Nothing…happened."

"Why are you avoiding my questions then?"

"Olivia…I don't…I am not comfortable with…"

Olivia looked suddenly tense and grabbed her cousin's arms forcing her to face her as she asked. "Minerva…Jack didn't force you to do anything did he?"

Minerva shook her head, "no…nothing like that…he would never do that."

"Good…so if you're worried about embarrassing yourself around me, don't be ridiculous. If it is just that you are shy I will ask some leading questions and you nod your head and give yes or no answers. I do not expect explicit details… alright?"

"Fine…if it will make you leave me alone eventually. You really should not be hounding the woman who is planning your wedding in a few scant weeks."

"I know but I have always been a bully and it has served me well at my job as you can imagine. First question; did you and Jack hug?"

"Yes."

"Did you kiss him?"

"Yes."

"Did he kiss you first?"

"Yes."

"Did you accept that kiss."

"Yes."

"I knew it! So he wore you down eventually and you kissed him of your own volition at some point in the last two days?"

"Yes…know it all."

"That I am and I'm paid very well for it thank you. Did you do more than kiss?"

A silent pause expanded around the two cousins. "Minerva…yes or no?"

Still silent, Minerva found a spot on the floor by her shoe, far more interesting than her cousin at that moment.

"YOU DID!"

Olivia watched as Minerva's cheeks flushed red, and she continued to laugh at her uptight cousin. "Good…I'm glad. I volunteered this information to you when I had my first weekend with James."

"Olivia…I don't think it will go anywhere…"

"How can you say that Minerva. Jack will continue to see you for as long as you want him. I don't believe that he is the type to just leave you now and he is still going to be part of the wedding."

"Yes and we will just have to see if there is anything to continue after that."

"Yes and I hope for you Minerva that is does. Remember you have had a painful gift of youth given to you…use it wisely. I am planning to with James and you can with Jack or another warlock that strikes your fancy."

"Olivia!"

"I told you…we are allowed to adapt to the current conventions in dating and relationships. The power of your sexuality does not need containing… just because of your preconceived notions of propriety Minerva. I am not advocating for you to do this but to understand that you can. It should be for you to decide and if you enjoy it, then no one has a right to say anything about it."

"I'm tired and am going to bed…goodnight Olivia."

Olivia smiled at her cousin. "Goodnight Min and I am glad you told me and that you crossed that line with Jack."

"I knew you would be."

"But I want more details later."

"I knew you would…I am going to have a bath, why don't you make some tea and meet me in my room."

Olivia hopped up and ran to the small kitchen area, as Minerva turned to the stairs to go have a bath shaking her head at Olivia's exuberance.

Minerva smiled, there was something infectious about being around the youngsters here at Hogwarts. Olivia had been affected by it and now it finally seeped through Minerva's tough exterior.

Jack had something to do with that…and as he says age was but a number but no true reflection on the maturity or heart of the person.

Olivia got the water ready to boil, but waited to give Min time to enjoy her bath. Olivia prepared a snack, excited about Minerva's new-found love life. Who would have thought at this time in their lives they would both find someone who cared about them so deeply.

Olivia had no doubt that Jack was smitten with Min. She intrigued him on a different level than normal human women, and it was not just that she was a witch and Olivia's cousin. This would be good for her cousin.

Olivia knew, as did Minerva, that in all practicality it will not last. Jack would work away, and then as the years would go by and his visits would be fewer and fewer. However, Minerva knew this and had obviously accepted that this would happen.

Still…it would be fun while it lasted. Bond may break her heart with another woman also. Bond could find another Vesper on a mission, or get killed. Hopefully, he could accept a desk or training job, but Olivia was not about to force him.

James Bond loved being a 00, and the nation needed men like him. Whatever happened she had made a vow to herself to love him as much as possible for the time they are together. Minerva would hopefully do the same with Jack.

Olivia made the tea, placed it on a tray and carried it to Minerva's room. Her cousin came out ready for bed and smiled at the snacks.

"You really want to know the details don't you." Minerva chuckled.

"Of course I do…I am so happy that you have found someone to elevate all that pent-up sexual need dear cousin."

Minerva hit Olivia's shoulder, and then helped herself to tea and biscuits.

"You are becoming as immature as the students Olivia."

"Ha…I think that is a compliment to my newfound youth and happiness Min."

"Yes but look at the hell you had to go through to find it."

"All adventures have some risk and although this has been thrust upon me, and now you. I am willing to forget the pain of my rebirth and live differently than before."

"Are you going to stop being M?"

"I have not decided yet. I need to see how the staff and government accept me in my current guise. I feel like I've been dressed up for Halloween and never stopped the act."

"I know…it feels so different. Everything is different, sights, sounds and interactions with peers. They took a while to adapt to me like this. And then to throw my annoying cousin into the mix…they think our family is completely mad now."

"Thanks a lot for that Min…I am not that much different from when I was 40 am I?"

"You are less driven, because you already achieved the position you worked so hard for and have done now for years. You did throw yourself into teaching with abandon and the children love you for it."

"Good I'm glad…and I will miss the teaching horribly. Now stop stalling and tell me about you and Jack."

"Well there is not much to tell. We woke up Saturday, had breakfast and went for a really long walk. We talked and talked about our lives…our loves and how we came to the here and now. Jack was hungry so we went to the pub for lunch and I suggested another walk. Jack said I was stalling from going back to the house and he was right. I had butterflies fluttering in my stomach. The anxiety was intense and I could not stop my palms from sweating."

"That is every sign of a crush Min and completely natural. How do you think I felt when you left me with James that weekend."

"I know and I thought of that at the time, and we went back to the house and had a game of cards. Jack insisted we have some of the wine he bought and I accused him of trying to get me drunk. We had two pints with lunch and I was already half to the wind."

Olivia laughed, "I bet…so then what?"

"Jack poured the wine and I lit the fire and we sat in uncomfortable silence for a spell and then he asked me to do some magic for him and I did…"

"Then…what? Come on I'm dying to know!"

"It was the look of wonder on his face as I performed the simple spells one would to entrance a child."

"Jack is rather child like."

"Yes he is. I ended the spell and he kissed me…it was gentle and nice. It ended and he thanked me for showing him some of my power."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Come on Min…there is more…tell me."

"I think I must have looked disappointed that the kiss had ended and he smiled at me and pulled me up into his arms…he wanted to dance and asked me to magic up some music for us."

Olivia laughed, "I can picture him saying it…go on."

"We danced for a while and he kissed me again and this time I kissed back."

"You don't have to go into specifics but I want the romance of the beginning…I can picture it and I am so happy for you. Did you make out more or did it escalate and head upstairs?"

Minerva flushed red as she looked at her inquisitive cousin. "I thought you didn't need details?"

"Well I want to know the progression…did he overwhelm your considerable sensibilities then and there in the afternoon or did you calm yourself and wait until after dinner. James and I barely managed to clean up after dinner an hour after you left us that Friday evening."

"Really?"

"Yes…so did you manage to make it upstairs before…"

"Yes we did…didn't you?"

Olivia laughed as she shook her head. "Min…we didn't make it out of the kitchen."

"Oh my…I think that will be in my mind the next time I sit down for a meal."

"Yes…every time I eat there I think of it. Then you and he…"

"Yes and it was amazing…you were right it has been too long and he was very gentle and understanding about that. There are you satisfied because that is about all I am willing to share with you. I know you are far more forthcoming and I wish I could get the picture of you and James in my kitchen out of my mind now."

"Minerva you just need to make some memories of your own in that kitchen and you will soon forget about me and James."

"Maybe we will. Jack is coming back Friday evening."

"That is fine I have far too much to do here to go to the village this weekend and besides James is away until just before the wedding…I keep tabs on him through Tanner."

"Jack would love to see you so why don't you come to the pub on Saturday to meet us for a meal for a break and then come back and work."

"Alright…it's a date. Then I will make myself scarce so you two can break in the kitchen and many other rooms of your cottage. Goodnight Min and pleasant dreams."

"Goodnight Olivia and I want you to know that I will miss you once you go back to London. This has been the best semester of my teaching career because you have been here to share it and learn how to be a witch."

"Me too…I don't feel confident enough to call myself a witch yet. I still feel like a fledgling. Dumbledore is working on distance training me to bring me up to speed and I am going to continue coming here once in awhile to continue. I will manage to graduate eventually."

"You have more than adequately completed the first year in only this short amount of time so I am positive in the next two years you will manage to graduate."

Olivia took the tray and left Minerva's room. Minerva thought about Jack and had to smile. This was the beginning of another great adventure.

The wedding was only days away. December had brought snow and cold to the area as Minerva made the final touches on the plans. Things were already prepared on the wedding site, just near the woods outside town.

Olivia was ending her classes. Sadly for Olivia, her instruction was complete and now she was dealing with the last projects from the children.

Olivia was excited about marrying James. Unfortunately, she had only seen James one weekend since meeting her family months back.

That weekend was amazing. Olivia got absolutely no work done. James barely let her out of the bedroom for food until he left for London.

Dumbledore called for Olivia and Minerva to meet with him in his office. They arrived with concerned looks on their faces. They took the tea offered to them and sat in his office waiting for the reason nervously.

"I am sorry to have to tell you this but the Wilson brothers have escaped with magical help. I know it is only a few days to the wedding and I have personally seen to the sight of the wedding placing protective enchantments over the area. However there is still risk and not just in this world. The two of you are large targets and the wedding is the only open and risky venue that I can think of that will pull these evil men out into the open."

"What do you think we should do?" Olivia asked.

"Go through with the wedding, but we must be watchful."

"Olivia contact MI6 and inform them, incase Ronald and Joseph left our world back for a muggle existence."

Olivia politely excused herself to contact Tanner and let him know. James was out of county until tomorrow, but she sent him a message anyway. Minerva joined her and they headed to the dining hall. "Are you alright Olivia?"

"No…I am far from alright. The homicidal maniac that did this to us is now loose with evil wizards just in time for Ronald to show up to my wedding and object to the vows! I told them that minimum security would not hold them!"

"Olivia there is no way for him to get near you at the wedding with all the wards Dumbledore has in place. We have to trust in our abilities and Bond is a trained killer."

"The impossible is what Ronald Wilson excels at. Look at us! He is going to interfere with my wedding…I can just feel it."

Minerva nodded in agreement. "As Dumbledore said we will be vigilant."

To be continued...