More Minerva and Elphinstone because I love them both :P

Written using a prompt provided by the golden snitch forum: write a story about love and loss (Maybe I'm pushing it just a little bit...)

Also, read and review if you can :)

4 July 1982

Minerva tapped her foot anxiously on the ground as Elphinstone locked up and closed the blinds of his small London house.

"Don't say anything about the wedding," she said when he came back into the living room. "And don't mention that we're not living together," she added, pointing her finger at him. "Oh, and don't bring up Quidditch under any circumstances. Once they start they'll never stop-"

"Minerva," Elphinstone walked over and put his hands on her shoulders, "Relax."

Minerva folded her arms. "I am relaxed," she said.

Elphinstone raised an eyebrow. "Are you?"

Minerva tutted and bat his arms away. "Yes," she said resolutely. "I just want to make sure that we're on the same page."

Elphinstone tried to suppress a smile. "We're on the same page," he reassured her.

Minerva began double-checking the locks and windows again. When she finally stopped, she turned to look at him from the other side of the room.

"I'm not used to seeing you in muggle clothing," she said, a small smile creeping up the corners of her mouth. "Maybe you should change back into the jacket you were wearing before?"

Elphinstone chuckled and rolled his eyes. "I've never seen you this nervous," he said, picking up the floo powder. "I'm not changing again, Minerva. Come on, let's go. We've delayed long enough now. Your family will be wondering where we are."

Minerva made an impatient sound with her tongue. "Fine, let's go." She took the floo powder from him and stepped into the fireplace. "But that jacket with those shoes just looks odd," she pointed out before dropping the powder into the fire and disappearing.

Closing her eyes tightly, she waited for the unpleasant sensation of spinning and twisting into nothingness subsided. She had barely stepped out of the fireplace when a cacophony of sound erupted around her.

"Congratulations!" squealed Helen, nearly mowing down her sister-in-law as she gave her a tight and uncomfortable hug.

Minerva felt herself sway backwards from the force of Helen's body against hers. If it had not been for Elphinstone's steadying hand on her back, she would have fallen straight back into the ashes of the fireplace she had just appeared from.

"Let her get out first, Helen,' said Malcolm, laughing at his wife.

Helen ignored him. "So, can I see it?" she said excitedly, her hands already clasped around Minerva's.

Minerva blushed as Helen examined the ring wrapped neatly around her fourth finger. Despite feeling slightly embarrassed at all this attention, she could not help but smile as Helen inspected the silver band.

"It's beautiful," said Helen, turning to face Elphinstone. "It's going to be hard to find a wedding ring that will outdo this one."

Elphinstone chuckled and put his hands in his pockets. "I'll try my best."

Helen smiled and patted Minerva's hand. "You've done well with this one," she told her. "Malcolm, boil some water, will you?"

Malcolm got up from his chair and went into the kitchen.

Helen gestured for the other two to sit down. Then, settling down in a seat, as well, she looked excitedly at Minerva and Elphinstone who were sitting next to each other on the sofa.

"So," she said, beaming, "What are your plans now?"

"Well, we'll stay for dinner but then we really must get back-"

Helen rolled her eyes at Minerva. "Not for today, silly," she interrupted, "I mean after, you know, the wedding, the honeymoon, et cetera, et cetera." She looked around suddenly, "Where has Malcolm got to?"

Minerva took this opportunity to stand up. "I'll get him," she said, sweeping out of the room before Helen had the chance to call her back.

She found Malcolm standing in front of the kettle. He was tapping his index and forefinger on the counter as he waited for the hissing of the water to die down.

"I know I could use magic," he said, hearing the creaking of the floorboards as Minerva entered the room, "But if Mum comes in and sees me by accident…" The rest of his sentence trailed away and he turned to face his sister. "Did you know she still hasn't taken out her wand from that box?"

Minerva nodded. "Yes, I did know that."

Malcolm shook his head as the switch on the kettle flicked up. "Dad died years ago," he said, pouring the water into the teacups.

"I know," said Minerva, leaning against the countertop next to her brother, "But she loved him, Malcolm. No matter what we say, she won't use magic again. We just need to respect her decision, now. There's no point reminding her of-"

"Us?"

Minerva sighed. "Of the world she left behind," she finished, firmly.

"But this can't go on forever," said Malcolm after a while, "Mum's not young anymore. Did you know she won't go to St Mungo's if she gets ill? She told me last week."

Minerva helped Malcolm arrange the tea things on a tray. So this was what was bothering him.

"I did know that," she said sighing, "And it frustrates me as well. But none of what we say is going to change her mind."

Malcolm clenched his jaw and looked away. His anger was obvious and Minerva could tell that this had been on his mind for quite some time. However, although it frustrated her too, on some level she had always understood their mother more than either of her two brothers. Malcolm and Robert had been too young to understand or notice when they were children. On the other hand, Minerva had been much older and more aware of what was going on behind the scenes. From the frequent times, she had been asked by her mother to help conceal Robert or Malcolm's accidental bursts of magic, or heard her mother and father arguing in their bedroom late at night about Hogwarts and magic - the destruction magic had caused in the McGonagall home became more apparent.

Minerva knew that Isobel loved her husband dearly. However, magic had put a wedge between them both and had altered their relationship irreparably. For Isobel, putting magic behind her and locking her wand away in a box was the solution for keeping her husband and a normal happy marriage. And because of that Minerva could understand why, even now, her mother was disinclined to go back to the previous life she had left behind for her family.

Minerva thought very carefully about what she was going to say. "Malcolm," she said, finally. "I know this is difficult - I don't want it to be this way either. But whatever we say or do, Mum is not going to change her mind," she took a deep breath in and continued in a lighter tone, "At the moment, she is healthy and she is still quite young for a witch. This isn't the time to be thinking about all of that. Witches have a longer lifespan than muggles," she reminded him, "She still has a long way to go before we need to properly discuss this."

Malcolm didn't look convinced. "We have a longer life expectancy partly because of our medicine," he replied, "She's still more susceptible to our illnesses at her age – dragon pox and all that. If she's refusing to go to St Mungo's-"

"I'll talk to her," interrupted Minerva. "But for now, she seems fine, she's well, and you have guests."

Malcolm seemed to be resisting the urge to retort. Biting back his tongue he finally changed his mind and relaxed. "Ah, so you're just here for the tea and biscuits?"

He took a box out of a cupboard and handed it to her.

Glad that they had moved on, Minerva smiled. "You've seen right through me," she said, taking the biscuit tin from him and putting some biscuits on a plate. She placed it on the tray and passed it to her brother. "There we go."

Malcolm smiled faintly and took it. "I'm sorry for bringing this all up," he said, "especially today. We're meant to be celebrating your engagement, not discussing Mum, who is, like you said, fine."

Minerva shook her head. "Don't apologise, Malcolm. I've been thinking a lot about this recently too," she admitted, "I'll speak to Mum. I just don't think she'll listen to me."

Malcolm put the tray down. "Thank you," he said, giving her a tight hug. Then, changing the subject again, he picked up the tray again. "You didn't just come into the kitchen to escape wedding talk, did you?"

Minerva looked away. "Of course not."

Malcolm narrowed his eyes shrewdly. "I don't believe you," he said. "What's bothering you?"

"Nothing," assured Minerva. Malcolm crossed his arms. "Well," she said when her brother made no move to leave the room, "If you must know, I just feel a bit old for a big wedding."

Malcolm chuckled. "You're not old," he said. "For a witch, you're still quite young," he echoed.

Minerva hit him lightly on the shoulder. "Stop it," she said. "Come on, the others will be wondering where we are."

Still smirking Malcolm started to make his way out of the room.

"Don't be embarrassed," he said more seriously as they made their way out into the corridor. "Elphinstone loves you - you both deserve to have a lovely wedding if you want it."

"Even at 45?" she said.

"Oh, now you're just fishing for compliments. You're not old, Minerva - yet." He winked as he passed her and entered the living room, Minerva shaking her head behind him.

"You took your time," said Helen, looking at her husband then at Minerva.

"Kettle problems," lied Minerva. Elphinstone raised his eyebrows at her, and Minerva mouthed she'd tell him later – she didn't want to ruin the atmosphere by bringing up a morbid conversation topic that did not need to be urgently discussed.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and all four of them looked towards the door.

"It must be your Mum," said Helen, patting Malcolm's arm. She got up and headed out of the living room. Malcolm followed her.

Settling down next to Elphinstone, Minerva looked at him. "What did you talk about?" she asked when they were alone.

"The wedding, houses and Quidditch," answered Elphinstone, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Minerva sighed. "Of course you talked about that," she said, smiling. "Come on, let's go say hello."

They both got up from the sofa, Isobel and Helen's voices audible from the hallway.

"It was nice," added Elphinstone from behind her. "I had a nice time talking to your sister," he added, truthfully.

Minerva nodded. "That's good to hear."

Elphinstone smiled. As they approached the doorway, he suddenly leaned forward and took hold of her hand. Before she had time to question him, Elphinstone had pulled her towards him and kissed her square on the lips.

"Wh-"

Elphinstone smiled as they broke apart. "I love you," he said, tenderly brushing some of her hair away from her face.

Minerva relaxed, a warm sensation filling her stomach. The skin where Elphinstone had touched her tingled. She leaned in and kissed him again. "I love you too," she said afterwards.

The moment was interrupted by some chatter in the hallway.

Blushing furiously, Minerva tried to regain composure. "Come on," she said after a while. She took Elphinstone's hand and led him into the hallway to say hello to Isobel.