Ceilidh

A/n: Final chapter everyone. Thank you so much for all your kind reviews through out this stroy. I have had so much fun writing this story and I am so glad that it' gone down so well

Chapter Ten: Dance the night away

Minerva couldn't help but smile as Albus led her on to the dance floor. She was never one for showing off but tonight she wanted to show him off and rub Bonnie's nose right into it. She felt him move behind her and then reach over and hold her right hand over her shoulder and their other hands out in front of her. Albus was humming along with the music and waited for the couples to move.

Minerva's brother clapped his hands together and the couples on the dance floor started to move. They took four steps forward and pivoted, Albus did a perfect pivot so perfect that he was amazed and lost count of his footing so they were two steps behind the other couples. Minerva giggled softly and smiled at him. She was proud of him and the kilt made him look even sexier than usual. They moved together in the opposite direction before dropping their left hands and raising their right hands above Minerva's head, Minerva then pivoted under and they slipped into a comfortable polka dance before repeating the moves again.

"I did it!" declared Albus with triumph. "I did a pivot without falling flat on my face."

"Oh Albus," whispered Minerva into his ear as they continued to dance "you are a wonderful man and you have the best legs in a kilt for miles around."

"I must say that wearing a kilt," he replied "gives one a feeling of freedom!"

Minerva laughed and planted a soft kiss on his cheek as the music died down and the couples began to walk off the dance floor. Minerva took Albus by the hand and led him over to the refreshment table. They helped themselves to two glasses of McGonagalls Ceilidh Warmer while Uncle Hamish helped himself to another bottle of firewhiskey. Minerva knew that in half an hour's time, Hamish would be missing and no search party would be called together because he, like always, would be fast asleep in the upstairs bath clutching his bottle of whiskey as if it were a newborn baby.

"My darling girl," came the voice of her father from behind her "are you going to introduce us?"

Minerva turned around and smiled at her mother and father. Her father looked slightly rosy cheeked and cheerful. Albus held Minerva's hand protectively. This was the first time he had met Minerva's parents and he was slightly nervous about it. Nothing usually fazed him but this terrified him because he so wanted to be accepted by her family.

"Mother, Father I would like to introduce Albus." Minerva introduced. "Albus, this is my Mother and Father, Cecile and Maxim McGonagall."

Albus extended his arm and shook Maxim McGonagall's hand before kissing Cecile's in greeting. Minerva's mother giggled and then hiccupped. Minerva could tell that her mother had already consumed a few glasses of Ceilidh warmer.

"Pleased to meet you Albus," said Maxim. "It is quite a honour to do so for you must be special to steal my little girls' heart the way you have."

Minerva blushed at her father's words. She was long past the stage of being his little girl but that never stopped him from referring to her as that. He had always been overly protective of her and she had put that down to her being the youngest of his children but also his only daughter. She could see that he was looking Albus up and down and if Albus had been a man easily intimidated, he would have ran from the building if he had seen the way Maxim was looking at him. Her mother on the other hand was simply beaming at Albus, quite impressed that her daughter could catch such a man with a noble reputation.

"Albus," said Cecile, putting on her best voice "you danced the Gay Gordans well for a beginner."

"I have been taking lessons from Minerva," admitted Albus. "She is a wonderful teacher and at times, I can't think how she puts up with me."

"Because she loves you, my boy!" said Maxim, who was nodding his head.

Albus looked at Minerva's father and then back at Minerva, his blue eyes twinkling brightly. It had been a very long time since he had been called a boy and he found it rather amusing that Maxim McGonagall, who was two years older than him, was calling him a boy.

"It is very clear from the way she looks at you," continued Cecile who was fighting back hot tears of happiness. She was glad Minerva had finally found someone worthy of her love.

"I believe you are in love with her as well," said Maxim seriously. "I am glad but I will ask you not to hurt her."

"Father!" moaned Minerva, who couldn't believe her father was about to give Albus the talk about not hurting his daughter.

"Min," replied her father as he raised his hand up to silence her "I am just laying down some ground rules for it is my job as your father to do so. Albus, do not hurt my wee petal otherwise I will not be happy and I do have a mean streak in me. Enough about that. Would you like another drink?"

"Mr. McGonagall," began Albus.

"Maxim please," he cut in with a smile.

"Maxim," said Albus, starting again "I can assure you that I will do nothing to hurt Minerva. I love her dearly and only want to make her happy."

"That is all I am asking!" replied Maxim as he winked at Minerva, who had turned an attractive shade of red.

Minerva and Albus spoke with her parents for another ten minutes before being encouraged to mingle with the other guests. Minerva smiled as she watched Albus walk in his kilt. It swung from side to side and she had to admit that his bottom looked shapelier in the kilt compared to his robes and linen trousers he wore underneath. They stood on the sidelines as they watched some of the couples dance The St. Bernard's Waltz. Albus noticed that some of the men in the couples were having a hard time with the dance steps and was amazed when Minerva told him that they had been doing this for years and still didn't get it. Albus couldn't help but feel proud when Minerva praised him for how well he had done in two weeks. He felt on top of the world.

Minerva turned to the side and smiled smugly. Bonnie was on her way over and dragging some poor man behind her. Minerva guessed correctly that the man being dragged behind her cousin was indeed Angus, her cousin's perfect man. He was a tall, lanky man with out of control brown hair and dull green eyes.

"Minnie," cried Bonnie "is this him?"

"If you mean," answered Minerva "is this Albus, then yes it is Bonnie."

"Hello Albus," enthused Bonnie as she smiled brightly at him. "Angus, say hello to Albus."

"Hello!" said Angus, who looked tired and had probably been hen pecked by Bonnie all evening.

Bonnie was staring at Albus and Albus wasn't enjoying the attention. He felt like he was an exhibit and people were paying to see him. Bonnie was giggling away and speaking though no one could understand a word she was saying so they all just smiled and nodded when she stopped for air.

"Angus," said Albus friendly, trying to bring him into the conversation "how is Flourish and Blotts these days? I always wanted to work there, amongst all those books and other items."

"Flourish and Blotts?" exclaimed Bonnie as she turned to glare at Angus.

Angus paled slightly and mumbled something about needing to see a man about a haggis before darting off into the crowd with Bonnie hot on his heels, screaming at him. Albus grimaced after them while Minerva couldn't help but smile. She didn't even really feel sorry for Angus.

"Minerva," said Albus softly "I have something to ask you!"

"No, you don't have to wear the kilt again after tonight!" she replied with a small smile.

"Oh that's a shame as I have grown quite accustomed to it," he replied as he patted the kilt affectionately. "That's not what I wanted to ask you though."

Minerva turned to look at him. She had no idea what he wanted to ask her and still wasn't sure when he suddenly disappeared from view. She looked down and found him on bended knee, looking up at her with sparkling blue eyes.

"Minerva," he began "I never thought perfection existed till I met you. You stole my heart and keep it with you for all these years. My love for you is beyond all words. Nothing I say can match the love my body, my soul holds for you. Please, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Minerva felt her mouth fall open at hearing the words she had wanted to hear for some months now. She fought back the tears that were threatening to fall from her emerald green eyes. She dropped to her knees in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

"Is that a yes?" asked Albus breathlessly when the kissed ended.

"Yes!" she simply answered before kissing him again.

The sound of sniggering registered in the back on her mind as she kissed her new husband to be, she suddenly became an aware of what the girls and woman were gasping at. She broke the kiss and lent forward so she could whisper in his ear.

"Darling," she said, "Can I enquire what you wearing beneath your kilt?"

Albus' eyes twinkled and he looked rather proud of himself, he had wanted to make Minerva over the moon with his effort so he had decided that he might as well go the whole hog.

"I am keeping up with tradition my love," came his reply and Minerva blushed for him "I am wearing nothing beneath my kilt!"

"Oh Albus," she said with a smile "maybe you should have thought about that before you went down on bended knee. I do believe my mother and cousins have seen an eye full!"

Albus blushed brightly as realisation dawned upon him and he was afraid to look around the room. Why hadn't he thought about the consequences of bending down in a kilt? What were people going to think of him? He dearly hoped that no one for The Daily Prophet was in the crowd because they would have a field day with information like this.

Minerva glanced around at her mother and cousins who were all wearing wide grins and resembled a litter of Cheshire cats. Her mother had a twinkle in her eye and she nodded at both Albus and Minerva before going to join Minerva's father who was propping up the drinks table. Minerva was sure that she heard her cousins giggle and say that she would certainly be kept happy in the marriage bed.

"I love you Albus!" she declared, hoping to make him feel at ease.

As the words left her mouth and reached his tears, he felt his whole body relax and he felt a lot better. He had made a fool of himself but it didn't matter to the woman before him and she was all that mattered. He leaned forward; making sure nothing was on display and kissed her.

"Minerva," came a voice magnified through the room "do you mind getting off the dance floor we are trying to have a Ceilidh here tonight?"

Minerva broke the kiss and looked around in the direction of the voice and saw her brother laughing and waving in her direction. She shook her head and smiled again. The Ceilidh this year had been the best ever one she had ever had.

The End!