2 July 1982

"I hate this," said Pomona, gratefully taking her packed bag from Minerva. "I feel enormous."

Minerva chuckled at Pomona's grouchiness. "Only a few more weeks to go now," she said, reassuringly. "At least you're on holiday. Now you have the whole summer to get everything ready until the baby arrives."

"Hm," replied Pomona. Minerva's words hadn't seemed to have much of an impact, and Pomona continued to look grumpy. "What are your plans for the summer?"

Minerva shrugged. "I need to send a few more letters out and speak to a few more parents before I leave. Also, we haven't found someone who can cover your classes next year so I still need to help Albus sort that out."

Pomona grimaced. "Sorry," she said, apologetically. "It's only for a few months. I don't think I'll take the whole year."

Minerva imitated blocking her ears. "I'll pretend I didn't hear you say that," she said, smiling. "Otherwise I will be very upset if I end up alone in the staff room for the whole of next year."

Pomona cracked a reluctant smile. "You won't be alone," she said. "You have Filius and Poppy and Albus… You have other friends here. After a few weeks, you'll have forgotten what I look like."

Minerva rolled her eyes as they came to a stop outside the castle gates. "Nonsense," she said, "Besides, I will be seeing a lot of you when I come to visit my goddaughter." She smiled and leaned in to give Pomona a hug. "Also we're having lunch together next week, don't forget."

"I won't," promised Pomona, returning the hug. "Elphinstone is here, by the way," she said, standing up properly and rubbing her stomach.

Minerva looked over her shoulder to see Elphinstone walking up the small pathway to the gate. He waved at them cheerfully.

"I better go before Albert starts to worry," said Pomona, already making her way towards the gate and unlocking it. She waved at Minerva and then stopped briefly to say hello to Elphinstone before continuing her way down the path.

"How is she getting home?" asked Elphinstone, walking over to Minerva and kissing her lightly on the cheek.

"Her husband is waiting for her at the Three Broomsticks," she answered, folding her arms. They watched Pomona trudge down the path until she had disappeared from view behind the trees and bushes. Shaking herself, Minerva straightened her back. "What do you want to do?" she asked him, suddenly. "The students are leaving in half an hour so Albus said we could have lunch indoors after that?"

Elphinstone turned his attention to the castle. "I haven't stepped foot in there since my last day in seventh year." He took a moment to reminisce before looking back at Minerva. "All right, we can do that," he said, "But there's no point going back to Hogsmeade - we would end up leaving five minutes after arriving. Let's go for a walk first."

Choosing to ignore the nervousness Elphinstone seemed to be exuding Minerva agreed and fell into step alongside him.

Elphinstone cleared his throat. "It's a lovely day," he started, conversationally. "Do you have any plans for the summer?"

Minerva shook her head. "Not really. I need to finish some work here," she said, gesturing at the castle, "Then, I'll be staying with my brother for a few weeks. And I'll be visiting Pomona every so often," she added. "You?"

Elphinstone smiled. "It still feels strange thinking about all the free time I have now," he said. "The Minister wants me to come back for a few days and watch over Crouch in his new department. It seems a few people are concerned about his behaviour," he explained. "After that, I'm not sure. It depends on how this goes."

Minerva looked at him questioningly. "On how what goes?"

They came to a stop next to the Black Lake and the large oak tree Minerva had spent months as a student studying next to. Elphinstone smiled and took a deep breath. Before she had a chance to ask him what he was doing, he went down on one knee.

Minerva felt her jaw drop. "Elphinstone," she breathed, her heart hammering hard in her chest.

"Minerva," interrupted Elphinstone. "We have known each other for over 20 years, now. We have worked together, fought together, laughed together and have always remained close despite everything that has happened." He produced a small box from his pocket. "And now several years and proposals later, I would like to ask you one more time if you'll marry me? I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else."

Minerva gaped at him and stood silent for a few moments. Her mouth was already forming the word 'no' however something stopped her. Something about the way Elphinstone was looking at her, what he had just said and the realisation that she did, despite all her attempts to ignore it, have feelings for him made her reconsider.

Dougal was gone – she no longer had to feel guilty for liking someone else. Allowing herself to properly acknowledge and accept this strange new freedom, Minerva made up her mind. She looked back into Elphinstone's hopeful blue eyes.

"Yes," she said, the beginnings of a smile forming.

"Y-you'll marry me?" stammered Elphinstone.

Minerva laughed at the shocked expression on his face. She pulled him up. "Yes," she repeated, "I'll marry you."

Elphinstone's face broke into a huge smile. Forgetting about the ring or the fact that they were standing beside a school, he leaned forward and kissed her. Minerva kissed back, ignoring the ooh's and ah's of staring students as they slowly made their way to the Hogwarts Express.