Chapter 10: Promotion
July 1903
"And so Merlin left Arthur to join his true love Nimue in the land of magic," Katherine read as she gently shut the old leather book.
"But mummy what happened after that?" Melody asked sitting up excitedly.
"Oh that I'll have to tell another time," Katherine smiled cupping her daughter's chin.
"But I want to know now," Melody pouted.
"But we have to get ready for daddy and your siblings to come home for supper," Katherine stated as she stood and put the book back on the shelf.
"Oh yes I forgot! I have to go feed the kittens!" Melody exclaimed as she ran off. Katherine chuckled shaking her head.
Melody came into the kitchen from feeding her mother's kittens and saw her pulling a roast out of the oven humming. Melody smiled brightly recognizing the tune as her own lullaby.
As Katherine sat the roast on the counter top she felt to tiny arms wrap around her thin waist. She smiled down at her youngest child stroking the dark curls.
"You are my world my darling. What a wonderful world I see. You are the song I'm singing; you're my beautiful Melody," Katherine sang softly as she wrapped her arms around the girl spinning around the kitchen. Melody laughed her eyes shining brightly as she was safe in her mother's arms.
"Well well what have we here?" a voice chuckled.
Katherine stopped spinning and smiled seductively. Melody grinned seeing her father in the doorway.
"Hi daddy," Melody smiled.
"Hello little cub might I steal you from your mother for a hug?" Albus asked.
Melody nodded leaving her mother's arms and catapulting into her father's arms kissing his whiskery cheek. She felt just as safe there. Truthfully all five Dumbledore children agreed they couldn't have wished for better parents.
"I wasn't expecting you before the twins dear," Katherine replied coming over and kissing his lips as Melody stayed in his arms.
"Well Dippit let me come home early…I have news," Albus stated his eyes twinkling.
"What is it?" Katherine asked.
"Howard retired you know and Armando has been looking for his replacement," Albus began.
"Yes…Albus are you…"
"I'm the new Deputy Headmaster," Albus beamed brightly.
"Oh Albus that's wonderful!" Katherine squealed jumping into his arms and kissing him.
Albus laughed excitedly as he danced around the kitchen with his wife and daughter no music being played. "He must have got the promotion," AJ laughed.
"Surely," Ivan nodded.
The two boys and their sister were watching their parents smiling. Ivan and Isabella had been out running errands for their mother while Albus Jr. and Anastasia had been at work. Ana was a secretary at the Ministry of Magic and AJ was the seeker to the up and coming Quidditch Team the Chudley Cannons.
"So are we celebrating tonight?" Isabella asked coming in further.
"Yes we are. Go set the table with the good china," Katherine nodded, "AJ going into my lab to the wine stock."
AJ saluted disappearing down the stairs while Bella hurried to set the dining room table.
Late that night after all the kids had gone to bed Katherine sat in her bed reading through a medical text for work. Albus came in from the bathroom and climbed in the bed.
"How about you stop that for the evening. I'd like to do some celebrating…alone….with my wife" Albus said huskily as he kissed and nibbled on Katherine's neck. He tossed her book on the floor and pulled her down further in the bed as his hand traveled a well worn path.
"I know just what kind of celebrating you want to do," Katherine smirked as the door to their bedroom locked and a silencing spell was placed.
Albus looked down at her darkened emerald eyes his own dark with love and desire. "You're wandless magic gets better all the time," he whispered.
"Mmm everything about us gets better with the times," Katherine stated pulling him down and capturing him in a searing kiss.
For the rest of the night and on into early morning not many words were passed between the Deputy Headmaster and his wife.
Of course nine months later Albus would get a rather unexpected gift from his wife in the form of a son; Alexander Percival.