She greeted everyone as she entered, moving to the front of the room before she spoke, she looked around and faltered a little at the empty chair beside Hermione.

"I -" she swallowed, meeting Hermione's eyes for half a second. "My apologies. Obviously, to those that knew me before today, I look a little different," she got the laugh she expected. "You'll all get over it soon enough, just know that this is my real face and I'll be keeping it that way from now on," Rolanda whistled and she chuckled along with most of the staff she called her friends. "As far as everything else goes, Filius has done an excellent job of getting things ready in my long absence," she bowed her head, smiling genuinely at her friend. "Thank you. Now, I had hoped to introduce three new staff members today but it seems one is missing so I'll do my best, Professor Samantha Carter, who shall be taking Muggle Studies, Professor Granger, many of you know of course," she smiled. "Taking the potions position and in absentia, I shall welcome our new Defence Professor, Professor Harry Potter, who you will no doubt see around the castle," she smiled as a gentle murmur went through the room. "I," she sighed looking at Hermione nodded in agreement at the silent question. "Harry has not been back to the castle since he left it," she said quietly, realising her mistake in leaving him alone the previous night. "There will, no doubt, be a period of adjustment that he will go through, as we all did when we returned," Hemione nodded again. "Should he ever look a little lost, please make sure you contact Miss Granger or me. But I trust you will treat him like the adult and colleague that he is."

It was a clear warning to everyone and she could see Rolanda and Filius' questioning glances at Poppy, who was smiling at her cheekily. She glared good-naturedly at her and carried on. "Professor Granger - Hermione - I'm sure won't mind me saying, has two small children who will be residing with us in the castle, for the majority of the time. Please make sure you keep an eye out for any smaller than usual children in the halls." There were a few smiles. "Oh," she said nearly forgetting. "A few of you may have noticed that Harry is shadowed by my sheepdog. Perhaps, a little unusually, there will be a dog in the castle this year and she will be with him throughout the day. Her name is Jess, she will not bite but she is loath to part with him and he with her. I will no doubt need a new dog by the time it is lambing season after she spends the year being slipped food scraps under the table by 400 children but that is a problem I shall have to tackle in the New Year." Another few chuckles and she was ready to be done. She needed to find Harry desperately. "So that's that. I'm looking forward to the year, renewed and refreshed. If anyone has any problems or last-minute questions, I shall be in my office from 4 until dinner. Students arrive tomorrow at 3. Please ensure you are ready for the Welcoming Feast."

The room grew louder as everyone started talking at once but Minerva couldn't take her eyes of Hermione, who was looking at her pointedly. She had not made it home last night, having fallen asleep at her desk and was only woken when Aurora Sinistra had knocked on the door at 10.

She had not seen Harry since breakfast the day prior when she'd pecked his cheek and rushed off. That had been a mistake. She sighed, turning her head as Hermione joined her, hey little finger touching Minerva's hand.

"You stuffed up."

"I know," she whispered looking contrite. "Where is he?"

"Outside somewhere."

"Thank you," Minerva muttered, squeezing her hand turning to leave.

"Min, dinner?" Rolanda asked, catching her before she managed to get all the way out of the door.

"Yes," she nodded. "Hemione and Harry will be joining us."

"Of course," Rolanda smiled. "I expect the gossip."

"My love life is not gossip Ro," she said gently squeezing the woman's hand. "Ask Poppy, tell her I said to tell you."

"Minerva?"

She ignored her friend and rushed down the halls. She usually liked the noise her boots made on the flagstones but they felt like a death knell as she made her way through the castle to the front doors. She scanned the front lawns for a sign of him, before starting around the back. She covered her eyes with her hand and squinted. Down by the far side of the lake, she could just make them out.

Taking a deep breath she set off, transfiguring her robes for something more practical to lounge in the grass. She had a lot of making up to do.

"Good afternoon," she said carefully, kicking herself at the cavalier greeting.

"Is it?" he asked, not turning. "Good, I'm glad."

He sounded genuine and Minerva was thoroughly confused. He didn't sound upset. But then she stepped around him and looked at him. Her heart broke at the hurt in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, kneeling at his feet. This they knew. Whispered conversations under the sunshine, laying in the grass.

"Don't be," he chuckled sadly, ripping up some grass and watching it blow away. "I knew it would happen. I remember when Albus did the job. I saw you when you did it. I don't," he shrugged. "I don't want to be needy, I guess. I just feel very small here. Young."

"We all do, love," Minerva said, shifting so she was beside him. "I have been teaching for a long time and this castle still makes me feel small."

"I see them," he whispered, looking away. "I see them everywhere. I could tell you where every one of them fell."

"Harry -" Minerva whispered, her heart breaking for him.

"I thought it would be different," he said shakily. "I thought that maybe after being away for so long it would," he shuddered. "It would have gone."

"It will never go, love," Minerva muttered, her hand tucking part of his hair back. He'd got a trim, but after she'd spent enough time playing with it, had kept some length to it. He had it tied up at the back of his head in a small knot. She thought it was the sexiest thing she'd ever seen. "It will never be gone. It will fade, but," she shrugged. "You can never forget."

"They died fighting for me," Harry uttered, making Minerva's heart stutter in her chest.

"No," she crooned, pulling him into her arms. "No darling. They died fighting for all of us. You are not responsible for their deaths love, any more than I am."

"You -"

"Why do you think I gave this up," she smiled, kissing his closed eyes. "This was my home too," she shrugged. "For many," a chuckle. "Many more years than it was yours." Harry laughed, sniffing as he snuggled into her arms. "And he hurt it, damaged it so deeply. That hurt me, in here," she took his hand and laid it on her heart, smiling when he kept it there, his thumb rubbing gently. "I couldn't bear to look at it and feel that in my heart. So I ran, like we all did."

"That's what Hermione said," Harry muttered.

"I have found," Minerva muttered, pulling him down and settling against his chest. It was her favourite place to be. "That if Hermione says something, it is usually wise to heed her."

"I find that about the both of you, to be honest," Harry muttered.

They fell silent and Minerva enjoyed luxuriating in the sun with her lover's heart thumping gently under her ear. He sighed deeply and she smiled, pressing a kiss to his chest.

"Can we make sure we see each other," Harry whispered, twirling her hair in his fingers, she had so far avoided her customary bun. "I know you're going to be busy at times but -"

"I promise," Minerva said, looking up at him. "I have never done this job with someone waiting for me to come home. It is a new feeling, but I will not forget," she smiled. "How could I?"

"I know," he nodded. "But maybe a note or something? If you're going to be late or," he shrugged.

"I will," she smiled. "Although honestly I fell asleep at my desk and Aurora woke me this morning when she came to see me. But you are always welcome, wherever I am, love."

"Maybe I will have to come and fetch you, every evening," he smirked. "Maybe I'll send Jess," he laughed. "Maybe I'll sit in the corner tapping my foot."

"I don't have to have that office, you know," Minerva offered. "I could bring work home with me?" Harry chuckled and let his head go back to leaning on his arm.

"Well," he considered. "Then I'd never get you in bed then," Harry smirked, groaning as she slapped his belly.

"How would you feel about having dinner at the Three Broomsticks tonight?" she asked quietly. "With Filius, Pomona, Rolanda and Poppy? Hermione as well, if she's free? We have a standing reservation in the private room at the back."

"Like," he bit his lip and she ran her thumb over it. "Together?"

"Yes," Minerva nodded. "They are my dearest friends. Fillius and Pomona have been married for a long time. Longer than William and Poppy even."

"Huh," Harry nodded. "Okay. What about Rosmerta?"

"She is seemingly gossipy, but she rarely spills a true secret. We'll be okay."

"Okay."

"Are you certain?"

"Yeah," he smiled and meant it. "Like you said, they're your people."

"They are," Minerva smiled. "But you are too."

"No, I'd like to. If I'm going to be your -" he considered a word but couldn't find one. "Yours," she smiled at the choice. "I want to know your friends."

"Good," she whispered, sighing and falling silent. Her fingers crept between his shirt buttons, he'd ditched the robes by the castle wall, and she felt goosebumps on his skin where she tickled lightly.

"Don't suppose we could make out could we," he said cheekily and she was pleased to see the sparkle back in his beautiful eyes.

"We could," Minerva muttered, shifting up his body and kissing him deeply. "There is nobody around and the students are not back until tomorrow."

"And if we get caught?" he said, sliding his arm beneath her neck and rolling her on top of him.

"I'm Headmistress McGonagall," Minerva smiled against his lips. "Who's going to tell me what to do?"

They kissed for barely a few seconds before -

"For goodness sake you two." Harry threw his head back and laughed as Jess barked a greeting to Hermione, standing with her hand on her hip looking disapprovingly at them. "Can I not leave you alone for half an hour?"

"There's that answer then," Harry quipped still laughing.

"That's a bit unfair isn't it?" Minerva smiled, leaning on her hand and winking at Hermione. "I've only been here for about that long."

"Try an hour and a half," Hermione smiled, settling on the grass beside them and scratching behind Jess' ears. "Figured you might need a bit of time, although Carter was looking for you. I told her I'd let you know but to otherwise do what she could."

"She'll be fine," Minerva muttered. "Thank you," she smiled, settling again.

They sat quietly for a time, looking out over the lake in the sunshine. Harry realised that this was what life was all about. The peace that had begun to settle those first few days in the glen and finally settled properly as he was sitting there, beside his lover and his best friend.

"Are we ready for this?"

"I'm ready if you are," Hermione said quietly. "I'm looking forward to it actually. And I'm also looking forward to letting you both look after my kids while I go have some fun, to be honest."

Minerva laughed as Harry nodded, falling silent again.

"I guess I'm ready," he whispered. "I don't know how to teach," he shrugged. "But -"

"You do," Hermione said gently. "You taught us. Best Defence teacher we ever had."

Minerva chuckled from her position but didn't interrupt.

"Besides, we newbies need to stick together, we wouldn't want - " she paused mid-sentence, laughing at something the others weren't privy to.

"'Mione?"

"I was about to joke that 'we wouldn't want the Headmistress to take advantage of us' but then," she chuckled. "Maybe you would."

Harry laughed and laughed and it was so contagious Minerva couldn't help but join in. Soon they were all three laughing quietly as the sun set, a new chapter in their lives beginning.