A/N: So sorry! Please excuse me for not updating sooner. We all know how life goes and none of us is having a very normal year.
This chapter is dedicated to Refreshingly_Original who reminded me I am actually a writer and still have stuff to write lol So thanks RO 3 We all owe you one.

Enjoy!

See disclaimer, Chapter 1

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It had taken Harry most of the week to get back into the rhythm of teaching. Minerva was regularly busy catching up on her duties as Headmistress and in that week they'd managed to steal a few moments here and there for a quick kiss but it was not enough. It was Hermione, as usual, who had told him to stop being an idiot.

"You are allowed to visit her, you know," she scoffed after a rather lengthy session of Harry bemoaning how much he missed her. "You're pathetic, really."

"Oh shut up," Harry grumbled. "I don't want to get in the way.

"You won't be in the way, Harry. You're her partner, not a student. Not a child. Go. Be with her. Help her with her work so it's done sooner. How do you function as a human? Honestly."

"Shut up," Harry groaned but stood anyway. "Oh. No," he paused. "Wait a minute. What's going on with you and Evan then?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, you," Harry looked at her pointedly. "I might not have been paying the most attention for a while but I am not an idiot."

"I know you're not."

"So?"

"So what? We're -"

"Dating?"

"Hanging out."

"Hermione, I'm dating Minerva McGonagall. You don't have to pretend that you're -"

"Harry. I'm not sleeping with him, if that's what you're asking."

"That wasn't -" He realised suddenly that he may have overstepped and moved towards her with a look of contrition. "I'm sorry. It's not any of my business. I just," he sighed and hugged her. "Want to make sure you're being taken care of. I need to know if I have to go have a word with him."

"You ass." she chuckled. "No, you don't. And don't you bloody dare!"

"But," he considered Minerva's advice from the night they went to the Theatre. "He is good to you? Kind? Does he value you?"

"Look at you," Hermione blushed. "Being all emotionally stable."

"So you do like him?"

"He is so different to Ron," Hermione whispered. "He reminds me of you, to be honest. Interested. Involved. He remembers what I tell him and he asks me about it. Ron," she sighed. "Ron never did that. I think he tried at the beginning but," she shrugged.

"Have the kids met him?"

"No," she bit her lip. "Do you think he should?"

"Hermione," he smiled. "What do you think?"

"I do like him," she whispered. "A lot. But I don't want to share him."

She laughed, hen covered her mouth and Harry drew her into his arms again.

"Bit of a reversal of roles here, isn't it."

She pressed her head into his shoulder.

"I don't know what I'm doing. I haven't dated, ever. We just ended up together."

"Me neither," he chuckled. "But Min and I are doing alright. Just keep," he grinned into her hair. "What did you say you were doing? Hanging out? And see where it goes."

She poked him in the ribs just as a knock sounded at the door.

"I know that's not my woman," he chuckled. "Expecting someone?"

"Oh my god, do you think he -"

"Relax. As if anyone can hear anything outside these rooms. I'm going to go and see Min, like you suggested. Ask him out for a drink on the weekend. I'll take the kids. Min too if she's free, probably."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I've missed them. I might take them bowling."

"I love you," she whispered. "I'm so happy you're happy."

"Just gotta get you caught up now too. It's weird being ahead of you. I don't like it."

She stepped away and poked her tongue out and opened the door, greeting Evan effusively when she saw him.

"Hey," Harry smiled as Even looked up and saw him. "I'm on my way out. You guys have a good time."

Harry left without fanfare, smiling at the thought of them together when his name being called down the corridor behind him stopped him. He turned to see Evan jogging down the corridor.

"Um. I -"

"Evan?" he grinned, cutting the guy off. "It's fine, I think it's great."

"Wait," Evan said, frowning. "You know? I mean," he blushed. "How did you -"

"I'm not one to tell secrets but if you spoke to her about it, I think you would not be disappointed with the outcome."

"Really?"

"I feel compelled to warn you that if you break her heart, I may have to kill you, but," he grinned. "She'd be really pissed if I did. So," Harry shrugged. "Just don't hurt her, yeah?"

"I couldn't," Evan whispered a look on his face, not unlike the look Harry had seen on his own face a time or two. "She's -"

"She is," Harry smiled. "Take it easy yeah?"

"Thanks, Harry."

Harry sauntered over to Minerva's rooms with a spring in his step, requesting entry with a happy smile.

"Hello love," Minerva said, getting up from her desk. "What are you doing here?"

"Hermione, as usual, has informed me that I'm being an idiot. I do not have to be summoned to join you and you do not have to summon me to the same. So," he shrugged. "I'm here to help in whatever way possible, then I thought we'd go to dinner together and maybe if I can persuade you, a sleep-over."

"I say," Minerva's lips twitched. "A sleepover. Are you going to braid my hair and tell me scary stories?"

"Not scary stories, think we've lived enough of those, hmm?" he muttered, taking a deep breath as she sunk into his arms. "If you're lucky though, I might pull your hair."

"Cheeky sod," Minerva smirked. "It sounds like a fabulous idea. You have no marking to do?"

"Oh my love," he chuckled. "I avoid marking by making all my lessons practicals." She stared at him in horror until he winked.

"You ass."

"Thank you," he whispered, finally giving in and leaning in for a kiss. She attempted to continue talking but gave in as his tongue tickled her top lip. She moaned and capitulated.

"Mm," he murmured, resting his forehead on hers. "I've missed you."

"I too have missed you, my darling," she whispered. "I am sorry that -"

"Hush," Harry smiled. "Hermione is right. I'm not a child. I can choose to come and see my girlfriend whenever I like."

"I'm afraid I'm not much of a girl anymore," she chuckled.

"Lover?"

"I do like that," she whispered.

"Good. Sit down, lover, show me what I'm doing."

She laughed and drew up a chair to the desk, quite literally, and they sat together working in tandem until the bell for dinner rang.

"Bloody hell," Harry groaned as he stood. "You need a secretary."

"Now that is an idea," she chuckled. "Maybe I should look into that."

"God, I bet Percy would be perfect for it. He's just left the Ministry after being passed over for promotion again. I think people remember how clingy he was to Fudge. Memories are long."

"Has he really?"

Harry noticed the look in her eyes and smiled gently.

"Come on," he laughed. "Food first, world domination second."

"Men and their stomachs, no consideration for world domination."

Their laughter rang out down the corridor as they made their way through the castle.

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After a night of gentle lovemaking and the reinforcement of their love for each other, Harry woke before Minerva and slipped out of bed. He stood for a moment watching her sleep before he realised what he was doing and shook himself out of his stupor. He pulled on a pair of shorts and a singlet and laced up his runners and stretched a little as he considered leaving a note.

Hermione had managed to figure out how to get their phones to charge in the castle, but she had never figured out how to get a signal through the protective bubble. Instead, the phones sat quietly on their respective side-tables waiting. Every few days they went outside the castle walls to check their messages and make any calls they needed to. It wasn't too annoying, but they did take it in turns. So far, Harry had been out there every day, waiting for the phone call from the jewellers, but as yet, it remained silent.

If there wasn't a message from them today, he would call.

He leaned over her and kissed Minerva gently, making sure to not wake her so early. He did leave a note and left on his run around the grounds.

He stopped at the gates and nipped outside, smiling as his phone sprang to life. He listened to a message from George, who had thought phones were the greatest muggle invention ever when Hermione had taught him how to use one, before grinning excessively when he heard the woman in the second message tell him his ring was ready to pick up. He called back and left his own message telling them he'd be in by that evening and then banished it back to his room.

He ran a little faster that morning and as he rounded the first corner he let out a yell of happiness that started a few Grinylows back into the shallows with growls of annoyance.

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Minerva stretched languidly and reached over to caress Harry, only to find the spot where he should have been quite cool. She wasn't particularly worried when she saw that his runners were missing and she lay back down, curling around his pillow and breathing deeply. She smiled as she remembered the previous evening and groaned as her body clenched at the memory. Lost in the memories, she jumped as someone ran a finger along her bare spine.

"Good morning lover."

She smiled at his husky voice.

"Good morning yourself," she whispered, rolling and letting him see her. The sheet she'd been under had fallen to her waist and she grinned at his wide eyes.

"I stink and I need a shower, but you are beautiful."

"Why thank you," she demurred. "The shower is big enough for both of us isn't it?" she asked cheekily.

He pulled her up and kissed her hotly. He wasn't kidding, she could smell a combination of sweat and outdoors and that uniquely Harry smell.

"You are delicious," she muttered as he manoeuvred her into the bathroom.

"You're biased," he grinned as he turned on the water and pulled off his shirt.

"Not so much," she muttered, pushing him under the water and kissing him hard.

They made love under the water over and over until common sense took over. Sharing long looks of love and gentle kisses, they calmed and Harry did what he'd promised and helped her wash her hair.

As per usual, a little later, he was watching her dress with a soft smile on his face. As she rolled her stockings up her legs, she looked up and caught his eyes. And, as per usual, he shrugged when she caught him.

"I love you," he said suddenly. "More than anything. More than I've ever loved anyone."

She smiled gently and abandoned the rest of her clothes in favour of joining him on his lap.

"I didn't know love could be like this," she whispered against his lips. "I find I am quite in love with you too."

"I need to pop out tonight," he said absently. "And Evan and Hermione are probably going for a drink on the weekend so I said that I," he kissed her collarbone. "We - would watch the kids. That okay?"

"Of course," she nodded, already looked forward to it. "Where are you going tonight?"

"I have to meet George," he shrugged.

"Send him my love?"

"Of course," he chuckled. "I wondered if you wanted to go bowling with us, the kids and me, on the weekend?"

"I don't think I've been bowling since I was a teenager," she laughed, getting lost in that memory for a moment. "I'd love to."

"Good," he smiled. "We need to get dressed. Which I'm sadder about than you can know."

"Harry," she scoffed, shaking her head. "You're incorrigible."

"I can't help it if you are," he thought of the word. "Scintillating."

"Scintillating?" she exclaimed. "Come now."

"I'm serious," he grinned, his fingers tickling her bare stomach. "If they knew what you were hiding under those robes, they'd treat you much differently."

She slapped his shoulder and stood, dressed without further ado and turned back to him when she was done.

"Have a good day, my love."

"And you," he smiled. "I'll try to be back before dinner."

"I will make your apologies if you are not."

"I love you," he muttered, kissing her one last time. She closed her eyes and made it last as long as possible.

"I love you."