Chapter Text
“I’ll have you know we usually do our own celebrations,” Rolanda chidded, pushing past Horace, into his room. He had always liked the boldness of the woman and watching her friend group file in after her reminded him of who was really in charge “This better be comparable to our usual start of term celebrations.”
“I hope the scenery will do,” he said, gesturing to the set dining room table.
“As long as there’s drinks, she’s happy,” Pomona added, following behind Rolanda with Filius and Poppy.
Horace smiled and looked at the staff sitting around his dining room table. So many faces were familiar, but a few were new. He took a seat next to Minerva, patting her hand. “It’s so nice to see you, my dear.”
She smiled and held up her glass to clink with him. “Same to you, Horace. I’ve missed your dinner parties. I’m afraid we’ve lost some of our class since you’ve left,” she smirked. “Your beginning of year celebrations have turned into some seventh year binge drinking parties in our rooms.”
From the other side of Minerva, Horace laughed as Rolanda held up a toothpick full of cheese. “And you know what, I like those just the way they are. I expect an after-party to our usual standards. We need some binge drinking after last term.”
“I’ll agree with you this one time,” Poppy said. Horace wondered what had gotten into the normally pristine witch he’d worked with years ago. The past few days, he’d notice that she seemed a little looser in her old age; he enjoyed the idea of it. She still looked good, well, when she wasn’t wearing her full healer’s garb. He hated the hat, but his old friend looked rather beautiful. When she’d first joined staff, he’d always had a bit of a crush on her. The knot in his stomach confirmed it never faded.
“So what’s the best change you’ve noticed since being back?” Filius asked, taking a seat across from Horace and breaking him out of his stare.
“Peeves seems a bit calmer than last time I was here,” Horace answered.
“I think he’s a little tired from dealing with Umbridge last year,” Pomona replied. “And depressed the Weasley twins are gone. They were his partners in crime. He’ll be back up and running in no time. I can’t say that he’s changed too much.”
“They graduated already?” Horace asked. “Merlin, I’m older than I thought.”
“Not quite,” Minerva cut in. “They are pursuing a business venture, so they will not be returning for their last year.”
“They were about to get kicked out,” Rolanda clarified.
“They were doing a service to the school,” Minerva said in her normal, proud tone.
“I would agree with that statement,” Filius said, popping a grape in his mouth.
“I’m not denying that,” Rolanda said. “They tortured the shit out of Umbridge,” she said, facing Horace. “They had to leave. But, I hear their joke shop is doing well.”
“It is,” Minerva said.
“Well, then, what’s the worst change you’ve noticed since being back?” Filius asked.
Horace chuckled, “Well, having Death Eaters on staff certainly was a shock to me.” Horace felt his cheeks redden when the room fell completely silent. He hadn’t expected the joke to go overly so poorly with who he thought were his friends. “Oh come now, certainly you all can take a joke? I heard the rumors of Snape changing sides. I appreciated him as a boy, he was in my club, but he chose his path. I was just shocked to hear even with the Dark Lord's return he's still on staff.”
Horace looked to the closest of his colleagues for support, Minerva, to see her face was sheet white. What could possibly have gotten into the Gryffindor? “Well, Horace, we all trust Severus very much,” Poppy spoke up, ending the silence.
“I do as well; I was just making a joke. This seemed like the right crowd.” His face was red, and he finished off his whisky in a single sip.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Horace,” Minerva said, getting up and leaving without so much as a goodbye.
Silence fell again until Minerva was out of the room, the door slamming shut behind her. Horace couldn't understand what had been so terrible. It was no secret Severus had been a Death Eater, and it wasn't like the man was there. “They're together, Horace,” Filius said from across the table.
“What's that?”
“Minerva and Severus.”
Horace didn't think he could possibly be hearing Filius right, that the most loyal Gryffindor he knew was bedding a former Death Eater. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“No,” Poppy said gently. “They've been together, what, over a decade now?”
“My old friend Minerva? That Minerva?”
“Yes,” Poppy said.
“And she's very protective of him,” Rolanda added. “That reaction was a shock.”
“I hope she's alright,” Pomona said. “In any other circumstance, she'd bite your head off.”
“I didn't mean any disrespect,” Horace said, feeling a mix of guilt and confusion. “I love Minerva dearly. Always did.”
“She'll come around,” Filius said, popping another grape in his mouth. “Give her some space.”
And so the party continued until Horace and Poppy were left alone. He was thankful she didn't leave with her friends, and he invited her to the armchair across from his, lighting the fire for them. “I hope everyone, save Minerva, enjoyed themselves.”
“A nice change of pace,” Poppy said.
“You seem a little changed,” Horace said, admiring her eyes in the shadows. The crush he'd had had never faded, even as they had both aged.
“In what way?”
“More relaxed. Far more relaxed than the woman I used to spend summers brewing potions with.”
She laughed. “You can blame Rolanda.”
“We grew close during those summers,” Horace smiled. “I missed those the most.”
“I'll admit I felt a little lost after you left,” she replied. His stomach knotted a little. He felt like a schoolboy. “Your replacement wasn't quite as hospitable,” she said, holding up the glass. They'd always ended their brewing sessions with a glass of wine and a game of cards. Horace wondered how he'd never tried with her all those nights they'd had alone. Merlin, the woman was smart. He missed hearing her muse about the newest developments in healing, something he knew nobody else took the time to listen to. But, she was bold and fierce, and that had always intimidated him the way it did the students.
“I do love to host,” he said. “Especially you.” Horace felt a touch of jealousy that Poppy’s summer evenings were now being spent with a man who had walked a dark path. “I hope Snape hasn't been too much of a bore. A smart man, but not personable. Wasn't even as a boy.”
“I've grown to really care for him.”
“My dear, now that we're alone, you must explain to me what in Merlin's name is going on between Snape and Minerva.” Horace had been dying to know all evening.
“There's much to tell, but all I can say is they have been involved for years. They're very much in love.”
“Love?”
“Love, Horace.”
“But he's so much younger and Minerva is well, she practically bleeds red and gold.”
“I know,” Poppy said, talking so casually about the most ridiculous thing Horace had ever heard. “Believe me, I was completely opposed to it.”
“How could you have ever come around to the very idea of her and him…”
“I've watched them for years, and when I tell you they are amazing for each other, it's an understatement.”
“Amazing how?”
Poppy smiled. “She brings him out of his shell. He keeps her calm in her most stressed moments. Merlin, if he hadn't been in her life, she would have killed Umbridge last year. And, they have already weathered so much. I was against the very thought of it until Minerva's brother died. And, Severus was there. I could see the care he had for her.”
Horace couldn't get past the shock to take in what Poppy was explaining. He knew it had to be genuine because Poppy was in no way a romantic minded woman. “I heard what happened to Minerva last year.”
“I was with Severus when he found out, and believe me, Horace, that man loves her.”
He shook his head. “I feel dreadful for what I said.”
“It's nothing she hasn't heard before. My concern is why she didn't get angry. You know that Scottish temper.”
He laughed, remembering many Quidditch arguments they had had over the years. “Been on the receiving end of it myself.”
“An apology should do,” Poppy replied.
“I must ask,” Horace said. “What's it like spending your time with Snape? We used to have a good time, but I can't imagine it's the same.”
“Not the same,” Poppy replied with a smile. “He's much more efficient than you were. No distractions. But, we've grown close in our own way over the years. We pass the time.”
“Yes, well it sounds he has a place to be after.”
“They really are lovely, Horace. If Minerva doesn't hex you, you may find you enjoy spending time with them.”
Horace sighed. “I'll take your word for it. Merlin’s Beard, I never thought Minerva would partner with anyone. I knew her as a new teacher, and even then she was all work.”
“She's a little more fun now.”
He smiled, at least thankful Minerva was happy, even if the source was an odd one. “I did always want her to have more than work.”
Poppy put her glass down on the table between them. “It's late, Horace. And Merlin knows what the students will get into on their first day.”
“Thank you for staying,” Horace said, standing up to offer his hand. Poppy took it and smiled. “You deserve more than just work,” he said, surprised at his own boldness.
He saw the witch's cheeks redden. “It would be nice, but war is coming. I can't become attached now. We've lost too much already.” Poppy kissed his cheek. “If I was to become attached to someone, you know, after all these years it would have been you.”
Horace felt a deep satisfaction rush over him. “Do you mean that?”
“Of course,” she said, chuckling. She rarely laughed; when she did, he'd always felt a deep satisfaction from it. “I honestly thought it was an unspoken truth all these years.”
“I had no idea,” he admitted.
“I can't become attached to someone. I love my life, and while it can get a bit lonely, the pain that comes from a relationship is too much. If we'd come to terms with the situation when we were 50 years younger, perhaps.”
Horace felt a mix of happiness and sadness at the same time. At least his feelings had been reciprocated. “I understand. If you ever need an ear…”
“Welcome back,” Poppy said, smiling and leaving for the night.