Something which was bouncing into my head... Now I wrote it I hope it will leave me alone

Marry me ?

You fight good

Minerva was sitting behind her desk. Someone knocked at the door.

"Come in."

Filius appeared carrying an envelope.

"I know my timing is bad but… I'd like to apply for the position of your deputy."

"My deputy?" She repeated not catching the meaning of his word.

"Now that Severus is… well, you know, and that the Minister actually has a brain, you'll be the Headmistress of Hogwart. And I'd like to be your deputy" He explained with patience.

She looked at him in silence for a few seconds.

"Of course" she said finally.

He walked closer to her seat.

"Minerva?"

"I'm sorry Filius. I'm a little overwhelmed"

"Probably. Being safe for the first time in half a century, it feels weird".

Neither of them said a word for a minute or two.

"You fight well." He said suddenly.

"I'm sorry?"

"When you duelled with you-know-who. I didn't know you were that good."

"I'm better when I have nothing to live for anymore. And I hadn't."

"What do you mean?"

"I was the only one left."

He watched her in disbelief. She wasn't really talking to him anymore.

"He killed my daughter and her husband. Then he made my son kill his dad. And he killed my son as well. When I thought that my grandchild was dead too I hadn't anyone left. I didn't care if I was to die. I just wanted to hurt him. To die getting revenge."

Filius close his eyes an instant trying to understand every word she had uttered.

"I didn't know you were married."

"No one knew. What a scandal, the headmaster and his deputy married!"

"You were married to the headmaster? But that mean your son is…"

"Severus. Yes. I had twins. That's why I was so eager to marry Lily and James."

"Is Harry Potter your grandson?" Filius was positively amazed at this point.

"Yes. But he doesn't know anything about it. Nor did his mother or his uncle. He's my only family left now."

"I thought you had sibling…"

"Yes… My brother was thirty years older than me and died two years ago. And my sister thought she could fly without a broom."

"And could she?"

"Of course not. She's been in the graveyard since her first try."

"I'm sorry."

"You couldn't have nown."

They stayed in a comfortable silence.

"Marry me?"

"Pardon?" She looked at him utterly shocked.

"You're alone (I don't think you want to tell Potter the truth about you). I don't want to stay single for the rest of my life. If you don't remarry you'll be mourning for a decade or so and your time will be over, as will mine. The world is now free of the Dark Lord. It would be a shame to stay alone in despair."

"What would Pomona say?"

"Pomona?"

"Yes… Aren't the two of you dating?"

He laughed.

"You have been listening to students' gossip, haven't you?"

She had the modesty to blush.

"I can't say I haven't."

"Well, we aren't. We were, a couple years ago but it didn't last very long… She's dating Horace now."

"It doesn't surprise me actually…"

"So marry me?"

"You really want to, don't you?"

"I wouldn't ask you if I didn't."

"Well then. I guess we can give it a try."