Visions in the Night Sky
Chapter 9: Stress and Relaxation
The rest of March passed without much incident. Spring classes always seemed to bring out the restlessness of the students, which neither potions professor dealt with well. After one particularly stressful day in April, Merewen reclined back into the chair opposite her husband's desk and rubbed her temples with her fingertips as she growled in frustration.
"You know, some students are just not cut out for this stuff. I'm starting to wonder if some of these kids have any magic in their blood at all!" Merewen grumbled through gritted teeth.
"Nigel Longbottom?" Severus offered.
"No," Merewen stated flatly, "But thanks for reminding me of that one too. I was referring to Riana Hallowell." Severus cringed. If the Longbottom brothers managed to mess things up, little Riana Hallowell could mess things up much worse. That week, she had not only managed to botch her own potion, but that of everyone in her row in class. Chaos had ensued and Merewen hadn't even flinched as she sent Riana to see Professor Dumbledore.
"I knew that there was a reason that that child was a Hufflepuff," Severus sneered.
"It's like the harder she tries the more she screws up!" Merewen cried.
"You do realize you're going to wind up tutoring her," Severus reminded her. Merewen rolled her eyes and sat forward, resting her head on the desk.
"And listen to her whiny, stuttering voice for another hour every day? Do I have to?" Merewen whimpered. Severus cracked a small smile.
"That's just your prenatal hormones talking, my dear. You love to tutor and help the students become better so that they may appreciate the delicate art and exact science that is potion making," Severus said, quoting both his beginning of the year speech and hers.
"Yeah, yeah, bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death. I listened to that speech every fall for the first four years of my Hogwarts career," Merewen moaned. Severus gave her a look of amused surprise. He put down his quill and helped her up out of the chair.
"Come now, it won't do for both of us to be bitter. That's my job," Severus said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Merewen gave him a dirty look.
"You're incorrigible," she admonished.
"I know," he smirked in return. "Let's go for a walk before dinner. Perhaps that will clear our minds for the evening."
"Fresh air!" Merewen sighed. She tucked her hand into the crook of Severus' arm and they left the dungeon, eager to get a good circuit of the school grounds in before dinner.
As they left the castle, Albus and Minerva looked down at them from their tower bedroom. Albus had Minerva securely in his arms and was dancing with her to the sounds emanating from a muggle record player.
"Were we ever that young, Albus?" Minerva asked, stroking his beard with her hand.
"When have we not been?" Albus quipped. Minerva laughed. She let Albus hold her closer and kiss her, making Minerva's heart flutter. Minutes later, Severus and Merewen were skipping stones on the lake, and Albus and Minerva were proverbially having their dessert before their dinner. At dinner, both couples glowed.
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