In Grimmauld Place there was a silence, but it was different to the silence that had fallen when they had watched earlier parts of the story. It was a warm, comfortable silence and it focussed on the couple sitting together, hand-in-hand, and smiling affectionately at each other.
Finally Dumbledore looked around them with a beaming smile, McGonagall's hand still in his. "Well you know us now," he told them softly. "You know the secrets that can save or destroy us. And you know how important Minerva has been to our world, even if she isn't on the chocolate frog cards! But, most of all, I hope you also see how important love is to our battle, and how little Voldemort appreciates that."
Everyone in the room nodded and exchanged looks. Molly and Arthur held each other's hands tightly.
"And unity," McGonagall added suddenly, her eyes finding Sirius, "The Sorting Hat gave something of a warning at this year's feast. A call for unity between all houses."
Sirius nodded, but did not meet her eyes.
Dumbledore reached into his pocket and pulled out an empty paper bag. He looked at it disappointedly and reached into another pocket, finding another empty bag.
"Minerva?" he said hopefully.
A grin twisted her lips as she reached into the pocket of her robes and pulled out a full bag of sweets. Dumbledore's eyes lit up at the sight of them and he reached out a hand. She paused, holding them just out of his reach.
"Did you have dinner before you came here?" she asked firmly.
"There wasn't time," replied Dumbledore, "I had other matters to attend to."
She rolled her eyes and stuffed the sweets back into her pocket, much to the amusement of the room. "Albus Dumbledore, you cannot live on sweets alone."
"Minerva."
"You need to eat." She was Professor McGonagall now, stern and forceful.
"Minerva, dear," Molly interrupted softly. "You haven't eaten this evening either."
Dumbledore's face broke into a grin of triumph, "Aha," he said.
McGonagall gave Molly a few seconds of her sternest look before turning it on Dumbledore. "I was distressed," she told him sharply, "You are a child."
"Well," he smiled, "Whatever the reason, I only really see one solution." He got to his feet and held out a hand to her, "Will you have dinner with me, my dear? We can discuss how to handle our new favourite professor over the meal."
She let him wait just a moment before she answered, "With pleasure," a faint smile breaking through her stern expression.
Then she took his hand and got to her feet. With her other hand she produced the bag of sweets and tossed them towards Fred and George, who caught them easily.
"Thanks, Professor!"
Dumbledore looked round in mock hurt, but McGonagall just rolled her eyes and slipped her arm through his. As they left the room together, arm in arm, Harry couldn't help but wonder how he had never noticed it before. It was so unquestionably obvious. Dumbledore and McGonagall simply belonged together. It was their love that had conquered Grindelwald, and it was love that would get them through Umbridge and Fudge and Voldemort. It was together that they were the greatest sorcerers of the age.
FIN
Thank you very much to everyone who has read and reviewed and stuck with this story to the end! If you can leave a final review on your way out I'd be very grateful.