Chapter 20
Weeks pass without incident. You spend your time with Severus and Nova between returning to teaching classes, relishing in the normalcy you had been missing for weeks. Every spare moment you have is spent with Daisy planning for the wedding.
“Do you think this is more of a blush, or is this one more blush?” She asks, pushing a set of napkins in front of you on the table at Madame Rosmerta’s.
You look between them before chuckling, shaking your head.
“I honestly have no idea,” You laugh. “They look exactly the same to me.”
Daisy laughs too, sighing as she leans back in her chair.
“Oh good.” She breathes. “I thought it was just me.”
You get up from the table, stretching and sighing as you rub your eyes with your hands.
“I’ve got to get back to the school,” You tell her reluctantly. “I’m exhausted.”
Daisy nods, standing and stretching too.
“I should get back to Charlie anyway.” She says, reaching out to hug you. “Do you think we’ll have time to get all of this done before the wedding?”
You laugh, hugging her back and nodding.
“It’s only January,” You tell her with a chuckle, “I think we have time to pick napkins before the end of May.”
Daisy laughs again, nodding her head as she exhales.
“Well that’s good to hear.” She says with a grin, looping her arm through yours as you step out onto the sidewalk. “Kiss that baby girl on the head for me.”
Daisy squeezes your hand as she lets go of your arm, parting ways with you as you make your way back to Hogwarts. The sun has set, and the cold winter air bites at your cheeks as you walk back towards the school. You pull your jacket closer to your body, shivering in the darkness as Hogwarts comes into view.
You step quicker as you near the front doors, looking up at the light in the window of your apartment and smiling to yourself at the thought of being home with Severus and Nova, only to run right into Professor McGonagall.
“Oh!” She says, stumbling as you crash into her. “In a hurry dear?”
You steady her quickly, blushing with embarrassment as you look at her.
“I am so sorry!” You exclaim. “I was in my own little world I guess.”
McGonagall laughs, nodding her head.
“I’m afraid I was too.” She replies. “I have been quite preoccupied with my latest endeavor.”
You laugh, falling in step beside her as you both walk towards the stairs.
“And what endeavor is that?” You ask.
She sighs as you start your ascent.
“I’ve been tasked with cleaning out the storerooms below the school.” She says as you walk. “And while it is interesting, it is also quite a bit more work than I was anticipating.”
You look at her as you stop at the landing.
“Oh, well I would be more than happy to help you!” You tell her, setting a hand on her shoulder. “I can come first thing tomorrow, Severus can cover my first years.”
McGonagall smiles, her wise eyes twinkling in the dim light of the candles.
“Would you?” She asks enthusiastically. “That would be greatly appreciated.”
You tell her yes, gathering all of the important details before wishing her goodnight and finally returning to the apartment.
“So, have you had your fill of wedding planning yet?” Severus says as you enter the room, immediately wrapping his arms around you and pulling you close.
You laugh lowly, nuzzling into his shirt and closing your eyes.
“About all I can take to be honest.” You answer. “But, she’s my best friend, so this is my life until May.”
Severus chuckles darkly, pressing his lips against your hair.
“Very true.” He says, reaching to tilt your chin up to face him. “I missed you.”
You smile up at him, sliding your hands up his chest to cup his face.
“And I missed you.” You reply, moving to your tiptoes to kiss him gently.
He smiles as he kisses you back, pulling you closer by your hips.
“Oh!” You say as you pull away from the kiss. “Before I forget, can you cover my classes tomorrow? I ran into Professor McGonagall on my way up and she needs help with cleaning out some storerooms.”
Severus nods, laughing as he leads you to the small vanity, sitting you on the stool gently before undoing the bun in your hair.
“Sure, I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to see me.” He replies with a smirk. “And you know, you’re a professor too, you can call her Minerva.”
You laugh, shaking your head as he brushes his fingers through your hair.
“No.” You reply, taking off your earrings and setting them in the small dish under the mirror. “That’s too weird.”
Severus laughs too, shaking his head as he brushes his fingers against your neck gently before moving to the dresser to gather your pajamas.
“And my students will love you, you’re a great teacher.” You tell him, grinning as you take the pajamas from him. “I liked having you, anyway.”
Severus raises his eyebrows as you take off your sweater, dropping it to the floor at his feet.
“I do recall you having a certain fondness for me.” He replies with a sly smile. “I suppose I am pretty charismatic.”
You laugh, rolling your eyes as you step out of your pants. Severus watches your every movement as you put your nightgown over your head and put your arms through the holes.
“I guess I shouldn’t hope they like you as much as I did.” You mutter, wrapping your arms around his waist and pulling him back down into another kiss. “That would be awkward.”
Severus laughs lowly, leaning away to blow out the candles before lying in bed and pulling you down beside him. He kisses you deeply before pulling away to tuck you in. You twist to look in the crib beside the bed, smiling at Nova as she sleeps soundly.
“I’m so happy things have been so… normal.” You whisper in the dark, turning back to snuggle up with Severus.
He holds you close, and you feel him nod.
“As am I.” He whispers back. “Sleep my love, all is well.”
You nod again, closing your eyes as you inhale his comforting scent.
“I love you.” You whisper. “Very much.”
He runs his fingers along your spine softly under the covers.
“And I love you.” He replies. “More than you know.”
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
You wake early, sneaking out of bed to dress in comfortable clothes and tie your hair into a braid falling down your back. You lean down to kiss Nova on the forehead before leaving, doing the same to Severus before disappearing through the fireplace to the potions classroom below.
You set everything up for your class before going down the hall to meet Professor McGonagall at the end of the dungeons. She unlocks a hatch on the floor, and you follow her down a dark and creaky spiral staircase.
“There is stuff down here from heaven’s know how long ago,” McGonagall says as they finally reach the floor. “All we have to do is chart what is here on these scrolls, and then Dumbledore will look over it all and decide what to keep and what to get rid of.”
You nod, taking a blank scroll and quill from her.
“You can do this room, I’ll head down the hall.” She says with a smile, thanking you for your help once more before she disappears down the dimly lit hallway.
You begin to sort through the boxes and crates, logging every item as you go. You find old textbooks, ancient looking pots and dishes, some paintings of wizards long gone, and so many other items that seem to be long forgotten.
A sudden bang from behind you sends you reeling, and you turn on your heels to face the large wardrobe before you. Slowly, you creep toward it, opening the heavy doors and peering inside.
The air in the wardrobe seems colder, the coolness of it brushes your skin with a rush of chills. A strange object catches your eye, and you reach for it immediately. You grasp it, pulling it from the wardrobe and into the light.
It’s a small, ornate, hand mirror. It’s heavy against your palm, and you trace over the intricately carved runes surrounding the mirror and handle with your thumb. The metal is unnaturally cold, and you can’t help but stare into the glass at your reflection.
It almost seems to be alive, buzzing and hissing under your grasp, yet you feel compelled to keep holding onto it.
“(Y/N)!” Someone calls distantly. “(Y/N)!”
You snap out of your trance, turning to face Professor McGonagall again, concealing the mirror behind your back.
“Ready to head back up?” She asks, smiling at you with tired eyes. “You look like you’ve gotten quite a bit logged.”
You shrug, your eyebrows furrowing together as you shake your head again, trying to clear the strange fog in your mind.
“Already?” You ask, still holding the mirror tightly behind your back. “How long have we been down here?”
McGonagall shrugs, shifting her weight.
“I’d say it’s nearly lunch, if not slightly after.” She answers, nodding her head in a gesture for you to follow as she walks to the base of the stairs.
You take a deep breath, unsure of how you lost track of the time so badly. You begin to follow her, still holding the mirror behind your back.
“Oh, I’ll take that,” McGonagall says, turning back to look at you with an outstretched palm.
Your blood runs cold as you tighten your grip on the handle of the mirror, suddenly defensive of its strange magic.
“Dumbledore asked me to bring him the scrolls so he can start to get an idea of what’s down here.” She says as she steps directly in front of you.
You sigh with relief, smiling tightly as you place the scroll into her outstretched hand. You follow her up the stairs a moment later, and though you aren't sure why you do it, you slip the mirror under your shirt.