Unforgettable

Departure

The rest of Christmas break turned out to be really nice, but it was over much too soon. Somewhere between spending their evenings playing chess or reading by the fire and visiting tiny towns by the sea where nobody knew them, time had slipped through Minerva's and Albus' fingers.
"I can't believe the next term starts tomorrow." Minerva said with a sigh as she put away some fresh laundry. She had at least half of her things at his apartment now, but for the start of term she would stay at her place, just as the newly appointed head of Gryffindor should and so she had to make it a little more homely.

"Time flies, huh?" Albus was busy wiping dust off her shelves, she hadn't really been to the apartment since the beginning of winter break.
"It does. But the last two weeks have been just wonderful."
"They have. I never thought I'd say this, but being married is absolutely amazing." He grinned and kissed her cheek before he continued dusting.
"I love being married to you. And everything that comes with it. I hope you... come see me tonight so we can continue?"
"My marital duties always come first, dearest." He winked. "Especially the ones that I enjoy." He pulled her into his arms and Mina playfully fought him but to no avail.
"I'll miss staying with you, but as head of house I have to be close to my Gryffindors." Albus sighed and nodded.
"I know, I hadn't really considered that to be honest. But we'll make it work, I shall come to check on you every night."
"Sounds fair. But don't forget about it. And I'll come back to your apartment over the weekend."
"My apartment? You mean our apartment, after all you redecorated it over the holidays, put my books in order and so on." Albus chuckled, of course he wouldn't have it any other way. "And I couldn't forget about my wife, you're unforgettable, darling."
"I'll remind you." She teased.

A bell went off, signalling that it was time for dinner. Noise filled the hallways, as most of the students had returned that day and they were now headed to the Great Hall for their welcome back feast.
Minerva didn't say it out loud but at least partly she was happy that break was over and everyone was back. The castle wasn't supposed to be as quiet as it had been, it needed the activity its inhabitants brought.
Hogwarts just wasn't Hogwarts without the students and hearing them excitedly chatter about their holidays, showing of their gifts and just altogether be happy about being reunited brought her a huge amount of joy and made her oddly emotional at the same time.
"We should go too." Albus said gently, he was hungry as always, even though the food from the kitchens didn't compare to the meals Mina had made for him. Food was definitely one of her love languages.
"I know. Just one more kiss before we pretend that we're just colleagues?"
"I can't say no to you, you know that." They kissed once more, then pulled apart and assumed their positions as "Headmaster" and "Head of Gryffindor".

Albus still insisted on walking her to the Great Hall but from seeing them out and about together, nobody would've guessed that they were anything other than colleagues who held each other in high esteem.
"When are you planning to have that meeting with Miss Wentwood's father, Professor? Just so I know for when to issue his port key."
"Later this week actually, I sent you the papers this afternoon, they should be on your desk."
"Then I just haven't seen them yet, I was helping my wife move some of her things." Albus winked and then opened the back door to the Great Hall for her. It was half hidden behind the teacher's table so the teachers didn't have to walk through the entire hall just to sit down and have some food. Especially on days where things were stressful this was rather practical. They sat down and after Albus had made sure everyone who should be at dinner was there, he gave a little speech, welcoming them back and making some announcements. Business as usual and yet for Minerva, everything had changed. This wasn't the colleague she had a crush on anymore, this was her husband and even though nobody knew, she couldn't be more proud.

When Albus sat back down the feast could finally start and only now Mina noticed just how hungry she was.
She ate the stew and then two plates of roast beef with potatoes and vegetables, as well as three servings of dessert.
"Moving worked upquite an appetite, huh?" Albus teased her quietly. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you're eating for two."
Mina shut him up with one of her iciest glances. That was complete and utter nonsense and he should know better than saying this, especially at the crowded teacher table, because there was nothing the teachers of Hogwarts loved more than gossip. First, she didn't even want to dignify his silliness with an answer but she didn't want anyone to interpret her silence as agreement, so she pointed at his plate where he'd piled up a little bit of every dessert that was on offer.
"Look who's talking." Albus had to laugh.
"You're right, dearest, of course you are, forgive me for being inappropriate." Minerva just smiled and shook her head, sometimes he was too silly for his own good.