Epilogue

Hermione gave her key to Griphook, and after a few seconds, the door to the vault cracked open and he began making his way to the cart.

"I expect to see young Rose next time," Griphook stated before stepping into the teetering cart.

"She'll be devastated to learn I came here without her." Hermione waved and turned back to the vault, pausing for a moment before entering. She had come here many times, read most of the texts within; had numerous exchanges with Merlin, although she hadn't had one without Minerva present since she had sought his counsel almost four years prior.

Four years.

A lot had happened. She had completed her initial mastery in potions and charms; and she was working on her second level mastery in the potions in addition to beginning at Hogwarts this year. Ron had tried to reconcile with her before Rose's birth, hoping that she'd reconsider and their relations remained mildly strained to this day; although Harry and Ginny had helped to rebuild their friendship. She had hope that at some point in the near future, they'd finally be able to move on or at least he'd be able to.

She was living between Hogwarts and the Manor; as was Rose. Rose…was three going on ten, with a temper like her wife's but she lacked any and all restraint that Minerva had obviously learned. Although, as tenacious as Rose's temper was; it didn't hold a candle to her mother's stubbornness. The poor lass could hardly get away with anything between she and Minerva; but Merlin knew she did try.

Minerva…her thoughts coalesced onto the reason why she was here. Her lover of almost four years, and wife of two months. She walked through the vault and felt a tingle of magic; and she smiled as Merlin's familiar shape took form and he looked slightly befuddled at seeing 'just' her. However, his puzzlement didn't last long as his brow quirked.

"Have you told her yet?"

"No," Hermione replied, "I only found out yesterday and wanted some time to process it first."

"Why the hesitation?"

"We didn't plan on having another child," Hermione said leaning back against a table, trying to ignore how hot her cheeks were becoming, because while they hadn't planned on having another child; they hadn't really taken any precautions on their honeymoon despite the volume of times they had made love. She cleared her throat, wishing the image of her wife writhing beneath her was as easily banished; lest she need to subtly dry her underwear, "And while I know she'll be supportive, having a second child will complicate our lives even further but I don't know how I'll be able to remain at Hogwarts for the first two years of the child's life. And I can't ask Minerva to leave Hogwarts, as she's the Headmistress…"

oxox

Hermione bid Merlin farewell. She still wasn't completely convinced that Minerva was ready to retire from Hogwarts; but at his urging she was going to suggest it to her this evening and see if she'd be willing to raise the children.

And…well…according to Merlin; Minerva had never intended to remain at Hogwarts for as long as she had. And…with the school running as smooth as it was, now was as good of time to retire as any.

She felt the cart jerk as it began to go around the bend, her eyes momentarily darting up and landing on Minerva's…her's…the family's vault and the one beside it.

"When Merlin said he is tied to me, he is accurate."

"How? There are dozens of generations between you."

"A blood curse." Minerva replied, taking the breath from Hermione's argument. "As long as a descendent of his is alive, he shall live."

"Is there no way to free him from the curse? To finally put him to rest?"

"He isn't dead and won't die unless all of his descendants die. And as for lifting the curse, one of his descendants would have to exchange their life for his."

"But to do that, wouldn't you have to know where his body lies?"

"In the vault next door," Minerva quietly replied.

"K or M?"

Minerva's mouth quirked, "M, for McGonagall, or mystery or Merlin or…perhaps for marry me."

"I…what?" Hermione asked too shocked to fully absorb what she'd just been asked.

"I love you," Minerva said simply, "and I want to be with you forever and always; and I'd be truly privileged if you'd permit me the honor of being able to call you – wife."

Xoxo

a/n: A special thank you to all of those who have continued reading despite the inconsistent updates; this has been a refreshing break for me to work on versus some of my other, more involved HG/MM stories. And would sincerely appreciate your thoughts regarding this story's Hermione & Minerva's characterizations in comparison to JKR's.

I hope you enjoyed!