"Darling?"

"In here love," Kate called.

Minerva had told her that she had to run an errand. She wasn't looking forward to the telling off she'd likely get once she revealed what she was really doing.

"Hi," Minerva sighed. Her thoughts cleared as her eyes roamed over her wife in the bath. "Have I told you how beautiful you are today?"

"Oh-oh, what do you want? Or," she said, then more seriously. "What have you done?"

Minerva chuckled and knelt beside the bath trailing her hands in the water. If her fingertips grazed Kate's bare skin, then all the better.

"So," she said gently. "I received an odd letter today."

"By owl?"

"No," she muttered. "It appeared on my desk, between my morning classes. Here," she said. "Read it, tell me what you think."

Kate dried her hands and took the letter and read it, frowning at its content.

"That's odd."

"Quite."

"So you're thinking that someone clearly saw us the other night?"

"I cannot help but be certain of it now. But who?" She shrugged. "And why would they choose this? My conclusion was that it was one of the newer staff members, but they've all sworn up and down that it wasn't them."

"They're not likely to admit it, are they, love," Kate rolled her eyes. "They're as scared of you as the students are sometimes." Minerva snorted. "So when are we going for reconnaissance?"

"Well, I -" Minerva blushed.

"Minerva!"

"I wanted to make sure. I needed to make sure before I took you within 40 miles." Kate looked slightly mollified as Minerva dropped her gaze. "I would do anything to protect you, you knot that."

"Not at the expense of yourself," Kate huffed.

"I'm sorry," Minerva said genuinely. She knew it would upset Kate and she'd done it anyway. "If it's any consolation, it turns out that the restaurant is exactly what the letter said it is. And it's run by a fabulous gay man who married a Hufflepuff from about ten years ago."

"No way," Kate scoffed. "What are the odds."

"Small," Minerva smiled, tracing a meandering water droplet. "So we have a table for eight o'clock," Minerva shrugged. "Tonight."

"Ooh," Kate grinned, her anger at Minerva's independence forgotten. "Well then, I'd best shave a bit faster."

Minerva chuckled and leaned over for a kiss that lasted a bit longer than she'd intended, but not as long as she'd have liked.

"Don't distract me! I'm on a timer here."

"Kate, darling, I don't care if you go in a paper bag,"

"But I do, and if I make you crazy while we eat dinner out, then all the better."

Minerva rolled her eyes and leaned back in for another kiss.

"You already make me crazy, my beautiful wife."

Kate smiled smugly and kissed Minerva, her tongue making promises Minerva had no time for.

"Witch," Minerva growled as she pulled away.

Kate's musical laughter only made her smile wider as she folded the letter carefully and put it back in her pocket. Kate's words had done exactly what they were intended to do and set off Minerva's comparative streak. She went to her wardrobe in search of something to wear that would mirror Kate's teasing. The black dress she'd last worn to the Theater would do; she had as fond a memory of the night after their outing as she had of the outing itself.

Now prepared, she went back to her desk, finished the few letters she had left and informed Filius that she would be out of the castle for most of the evening. He sent back a note that most would have believed him too polite to have written, but it made her laugh all the same. Most of all, in the moments between, Minerva pondered the mystery letter-writer and wondered whether it really mattered who they were.

-0-

The restaurant looked even lovelier in the night. Matthew met them at the door and ushered them immediately behind the screens between the restaurant and the kitchen.

"I realised how rude I was this afternoon," Matt said easily. "I never asked what you'd like for me to call you?"

"Minerva is fine, Matthew," she chuckled.

"And this gorgeous creature," he said, smirking at her sideways. "Must be your lovely wife!"

"Oh," she said, shaking herself out of her stupor. "Yes, my apologies. Kate Maxwell-McGonagall."

"It's an honour! You look absolutely bewitching."

"Likewise," Kate smiled. "And thank you."

She really was bewitching and Minerva knew just how lucky she was to be married to her.

"Please follow me."

Minerva glanced at Kate, who shrugged but didn't look uncomfortable. They followed him into a little room at the back of the restaurant. He presented it to them with a flourish of his hand and a cheeky smile.

"Complimentary, private dining, designed by yours truly and aided by," he dried his voice. "Just a little magic from my husband. Who doesn't know who it's for, only that they're a proper VIP."

"It's beautiful," Kate smiled. "Thank you."

Minerva pulled Kate's chair out for her and then sat down herself and only allowed the frown to show, once Matthew had disappeared.

"Relax," Kate smiled, her hand warm on Minerva's thigh. "He's harmless."

"I am not concerned about him," she conceded a smile. "He is delightful. I am concerned that I am being continually reminded that someone knows."

"So what," Kate whispered, taking her hand and kissing the palm. "Does this feel malicious?"

"No," Minerva agreed reluctantly. "But -"

"Let's just enjoy it, love."

After her first glass of wine and some gentle conversation with her wife, Minerva did manage to start enjoying herself. A young woman, who was quiet and attentive without being overbearing, brought them menus and seemed to appear at the door at exactly the right time whenever they needed something. Matt rejoined them before they could order and insisted they order the Tasting Menu. A few seconds of Kate's big, brown, pleading eyes looking up at her was all it took for Minerva to agree. After the first dish was served, Kate shifted her chair beside Minerva's and they spent most of their time offering delicious morsels to each other. It was utterly resplendent.

The restaurant sounded busy but not overbearing, every time the door opened and Minerva decided after the third plate that they would definitely be visiting again if her wife was amenable. Kate looked truly beautiful in the candlelight and after they'd finished feeding each other spoonfuls of the most decadent chocolate moose, they ordered coffees to finish.

Sitting back with a sigh, Minerva wrapped her arm around Kate and kissed her hair.

"You look beautiful," she whispered.

"You do as well," Kate smiled up at her. "I've enjoyed this."

They had polished off a bottle of wine but did not take the offer of a second. The longer they had sat together, enjoying the mystery treat, the easier it was for Minerva to think.

"I have wronged you," she muttered into Kate's hair just as their waitress dropped off the coffee. "Thank you," Minerva smiled at the girl. She nuzzled Kate's neck as she sat up to retrieve her cup. "We should be doing this every weekend."

"If we did this every weekend, love," she sighed. "We'd get bored of it and it wouldn't be as special as it is." Minerva hummed, but she wasn't convinced.

"I'll do better Katherine," Minerva frowned. "I promise."

"Minerva," Kate said gently, looking at her properly. "I don't need you to do better. You are so loving and so attentive and the perfect wife." Minerva snorted. "What I want, more than anything, is for you to relax and enjoy what we have, and stop worrying so much. If I have an issue with something, I will tell you."

Minerva finished her coffee, avoiding Kate's eyes.

"I just -"

"Just relax love. There's nothing to worry about. For once, we have true peace and we can be ourselves whenever we want to be." Minerva smiled at her, overcome with just how much she loved Kate's entire being. "Well," Kate added, glancing at the table. "Not whenever we like," she chuckled. "We'd go broke, I shouldn't wonder."

"Speaking of," Minerva laughed as Kate finished her coffee. "Do you want anything else?"

"Not here," Kate smirked. She'd been running her bare foot up Mineva's calf for the last ten minutes and it was driving Minerva mad.

"The bill, then?"

Kate grinned at her and Minerva waved for the waitress the next time she poked her head in.

"May we have the bill, please?"

"Oh, I thought you knew," she said with a frown. "Your meal and drinks are complimentary tonight."

"I'm sorry?" Minerva asked, letting go of Kate to sit up properly. "I don't understand?"

"Um, Matt, he -" she frowned. "I'll just get him."

Kate looked impressed, but Mineva was bothered by that. According to her calculations, the bill could easily come to hundreds of pounds. Matthew poked his head in the door and smiled.

"Genevieve has just told me that you weren't aware that your meal and drinks were on the house," he said happily. "It's all been taken care of, so please don't concern yourselves."

"That is ridiculous," Minerva muttered. "You're out," she glanced at the table. "Surely, three hundred pounds!"

"Your benefactor has made sure nobody lost anything."

"My -"

"One doesn't argue with her," he chuckled. "I know what she's like and we know what she's done, right?" Minerva stared at him until he realised what he'd let slip and he groaned. "Oh balls," he muttered. Kate snorted. "I never was good at this cloak and dagger rubbish," he frowned then sighed deeply. "If it is any consolation, she did make me swear to keep you both a secret, and I will," he said genuinely. "I know what my husband is like. And according to The Prophet, she's terrifying when she wants to be. I don't want to be on the end of her wand."

Minerva stared at him and all of a sudden, she knew.

"Oh my god," she muttered, putting her hand to her face. "I am a monumental idiot."

"What?" Kate asked. She'd been staring between them but she turned at the unusual outburst.

"She was here," Minerva asked, looking up at Matthew. "Yesterday? About eleven?"

"Yeah," he grinned. "She was here."

Minerva realised what must have happened and she blushed four shades deeper than she'd ever done before.

"What is it?" Kate asked, turning to face her.

"I know who did this, and how," she groaned. "And why."

"She seemed happy for you, if it's any consolation. I'm not sure why she didn't just tell you."

"Oh," Minerva groaned. "I do. Matthew, if you insist that she's paid for this, will you allow me to do the same? Table for three, this time? Probably on the weekend? In the general dining area?"

He grinned.

"You're always welcome here, Minerva McGonagall. Family is always welcome. I've known her since she was a kid; her parents brought her here all the time but this is different, if you know what I mean."

She nodded in understanding and he backed out of the room, explaining they could Apparate from the room when they were ready and saying his goodbyes to Kate as he did.

"Okay," Kate said eagerly, turning towards her as soon as the door was closed. "What just happened?"

"We are never arranging to make love in my classroom again," Minerva groaned.

"What?"

"Hermione."

Kate looked at her and Mineva almost laughed at the moment she realised what Minerva meant.

"Oh my God!" she laughed, blushing deeply. "Oh my God!"

"That might have turned out differently," Minerva muttered.

"Oh my," she blushed darker. "You think she -"

"I think she was in the classroom," Minerva groaned.

"Oh no," Kate nearly squealed. They stared at each other for a long minute before Kate laughed again. "Oh, but love," Kate said, taking her hand. "This is excellent! She knows!"

"She does," Minerva nodded, thinking about the girl with a smile. She laughed again and shook her head at the bizarre turn of events. "But that means," she groaned. "It makes how I dealt with her sneaking out even worse!"

"She clearly didn't think so," Kate soothed. "She probably giggled about it later," she smiled.

"That does not make me feel better," Minerva quipped.

"Well, do you think you can tell her properly? Now she's done the hard work for us?"

"Yes," Minerva nodded. "And I must." She sighed. "It is time, though it is no less terrifying, somehow."

"I think," Kate said gently, wrapping her arms around Minerva before they turned on the spot. "That if you hold tight to the one truth that we both know above all else? Everything will seem much less terrifying."

"And what is that," Minerva hummed as she kissed Kate's neck.

"That she loves you. And that we love her."

Minerva pulled Kate tightly against her body and Apparated them away.