4.2. After Dougal / Elphinstone

Her continued love for Dougal had not meant that she had resumed the ways of a maiden. On the contrary, in her London days and to some extent also at Hogwarts, Minerva had an active and enjoyable sex life, with partners of both sexes. The only ones she took home to her family home were a few of the eager young men who had passed through her bed, to some extent to assure Dougal via the ensuing local gossip that she was so over him and did not mind his marriage at all. While her parents quietly disapproved, each for different reasons, and her brothers either weren't there or didn't care, her grandmother continued to kindly accept any boys Minerva brought to her family home, however briefly her acquaintance with them might be, as Minerva's new beaux. Even when Elphinstone Urquart, her former boss, had visited one summer on a trip to Scotland, Granny McGonagall, by then an increasingly feeble and deaf 75-year old, who did not partake in conversations much anymore except when asked about her youth, piped up to welcome Minerva's latest beau. Minerva had blushed furiously but Elphinstone, always the gentleman and obviously quite smitten with Minerva, had politely kissed the old lady's hand and said in his booming voice, “Alas, dear lady, just her former boss and not one of her beaux.” He had then kindly sat with the old woman and exchanged stories of the olden days until it was time to leave. Minerva decided there and then that while her heart belonged to Dougal, Elphinstone was a fine wizard and a good man and he would make some lucky witch a great husband if he ever stopped that nonsensical pursuit of her own affections.

Of course he didn't. They became friends and in later years even had the occasional tryst after Elphinstone had assured her that he respected her feelings and would not intrude upon them. Their first time together was the result of Minerva's instinctual habit to pick up or pull loose threads or dangling ribbons, which normally she had well in hand when confronted with strangers, colleagues or pupils. She had been invited to Elph's retirement do in the Ministry, which had turned out to also be the occasion on which he was awarded an Order of Merlin, 3rd class, for services rendered. It was one of the better parties of this kind. Drinks had flown freely, and a good time was had by all. Elphinstone asked a few of his closer friends back into the room which would cease to be his office the next day. Bereft of any furniture but an old sofa and a desk stacked with more bottles than really should have fit on it, the room was ideal for that kind of after-party party. More drinks were had, more speeches were held and more jokes were told until the early hours of the next day. She was the last guest and was about to take her leave from her friend, when she spotted what seemed to be a loose red thread or ribbon trying to escape from the black bow tie he wore and she could not resist pulling. Elphinstone grinned at her astonishment when not only the thread came off but the bow, the shirt, the trews, the dress robe and even his silk stockings and suspenders, which all vanished, with the exception of his vest and underpants. The latter's shape immediately began to reveal how he felt about being almost naked standing so close to her. “Magic thread,” he murmured, his face reddening and the bulge in his underpants becoming bigger, “Returns hired dress robe and formal outfit to Twilfitt and Tatting's. Have never bought my own. Underwear mine though.”

"Underwear mine, though" -- ahahaha! I love your Elphinstone (and I like Granny, too). The magic threads are inspired.

Yes, he's quite the English gentleman. I am glad, too, she had at least one supportive relative in her life, who accepted her as she was.