The first semester of school was hard. Many were still scared, vigilant, on the verge of tears or crying when they figured no one saw them. The professors, both old and new still carried heavy scars following the war and they tried their hardest to provide their students a safe environment and empathise with everything they were feeling while in the background also tried to help each other when they felt the walls of the school ready to collapse on them due to the heavy feelings they were experiencing.

They never believed it was going to be easy, far from it, however they had a duty to fulfil and also they needed to ensure everyone returned to a normal routine as soon as possible.

It was a part of the healing process, never a thing someone wanted to go through, but the majority knew it needed to be done. Some of them faked it and hid their feelings well. Others were against it, resented the very idea that everything could go back to normal when in May the fights were happening and now in September they are trying to make life happen, or better yet force it from the look of things. Others however welcomed this sense of a normal life. They needed it and could not wait to get away and focus on something else other than death and its long lasting mark.

For Talbott it played somewhere in between everything. Some days were better, easier to get by and he actually managed to wake up in a good mood. On other days he was visibly tired and easily irritated, nightmares haunting his sleep. It was in those times when he felt completely alone, no matter how many students he had in his class, or how many people surrounded him. And it was on those days when he knew that despite being able to do better, to think better, he just did not have the power and will to do so.

But he talked to McGonagall more than before, actually spending time together with her and as it helped him in the past, it was helping him in those trying times as well. And she did not have advice for him just where the children were involved, she expanded on it and one particular line stuck with him right before they left for the Christmas holidays "Don't be alone. Go see friends, don't shut people down Talbott. You need to start forming connections, real human connections." And he knew she was right.

So he did actually meet up with Andre and a few other former school mates in order to have a drink and hang out. He already knew Talia was not going to in England as she sent him a letter telling him she will be taking France by storm once more however this time it will be with Charlie and Felix and she already had a lengthy list of things to do and stuff to buy.

So the holidays passed as quickly as they came around that year.

Once back at Hogwarts, McGonagall had an announcement for the students. She welcomed them back and hoped they had a relaxing holiday. But what surprised them and staff alike was an announcement of a different sort "I wanted to tell you that I have heard you, all of you. I know that times have changed and are continuing to change. You all are still scared and the future had always been uncertain. In light of that I have decided to create an extra curricular class for those of you willing to learn self defense. It is important you know how to act in certain situation." Murmurs filled the Great Hall several confused eyes looking at her "This has already been discussed with your families and the majority have agreed with this approach. So without further delay the Ministry will be sending Aurors, hit witches and trainers in order to help with this program. It will be one week every month and this month the first volunteer is Auror Talia Crane."

The doors to the hall opened, Talia stepping inside, confidence radiating off her, hair bouncing with each step she took, head held high, a proud smile on her face as she looked at McGonagall nodding her head towards her as she walked in front, turning to wave at the students, who looked both terrified and excited.

Turning around she looked at Talbott, him shaking his head as he chuckled, whispering under his breath "Fuck."

After the first day of introducing the students that enrolled to a few basic moves, Talia wandered the halls, stopping by the Transfiguration classroom. Knocking softly, Talbott's voice invited her in "Evening professor."

"Please don't call me that, you're not my student." He answered lifting his eyes from some papers. Placing his quill aside, he leaned back in his chair "How can I help?"

Fingertips travelled across the surface of several desks, Talia initially ignoring the fact that a question was addressed her way. His eyes followed every move she made, their eyes locking when she turned around to look at him from the back of the classroom "I read them."

Leaning forward, he rested his forearms against his desk, fingers interlocking "I see."

She continued to walk around, a smile shaping her lips "You really are an idiot. So much pain, so many emotions hidden and for what? For dust to collect over them in a locker inside the Ministry. Can you do something for me?" His brows shot up, however he nodded, somewhat reluctant "Stand up for me."

"What?"

Letting out a low chuckle, she started making her way to his desk "Don't make me repeat myself."

Rolling his eyes he sat up, hands rising, palms up "Alright, now what?"

Talia walked in front of him, fingers unbuttoning his suit, Talbott taking a step back, Talia following in his footsteps as she stepped forward. Her hands reached inside the interior of his jacket, skilled fingers removing the Phoenix pin he kept hidden next to his heart. The shaky exhale he let out broke her heart, as if she tore from him an existential piece, his eyes uncertain, lost as he looked between her hand and her face "You don't need it anymore."

He knew it was not his, so he just clenched his jaw and nodded despite hating it. He did not like the fact that she took it, not one bit. But after all said and done it was only fair for her to be the one to take it off him.

Reaching inside her pocket, she pulled out his mother's necklace, Talia placing it around his neck, giving it back to him, Talbott closing his eyes "What is all this?"

"Just giving it back to you. It was never mine to begin with."

Opening his eyes, he found in him the courage to look back at her "No, what is actually happening? What are you doing?"

She tilted her head slightly, fingers lifting to caress his cheek "Wanted to see if there was still something there." Giving him back the pin, she closed his fist around it "You looked like you lost everything when I took it off. Do you really need a physical reminder of me?"

"Yes." Her eyes searched his as he continued to speak "I do, I do because it's the only thing I still have. And I know it's not right and I shouldn't but I do. I need it."

She swallowed thickly, a trembled breath leaving her chest "What if you had me?"

He felt as if she sucked all the air out of the classroom, Talbott's heart rhythm picking up, so fast and filled with hope, one he wanted to push down until he made sense of her words "Talia what are you saying?"

"I spent hours reading all your letters. Of how much pain and regret there was in your heart. But in between those and your stupid jealousy, there were also all our memories and talk about how you wanted the future to look like. About love and a chance at something good." Cupping his cheeks, she smiled "And I want that, I want all that love, I want that future with you. I want you. I love you."

"Despite what I've done?" his chest was heaving as he was out of breath.

"Yes, despite it all."

Closing the space separating them, he kissed her, making certain this was real and not a figment of his imagination playing tricks on him. But she was there, she was warm and still made his mind soar and heart flutter with just a kiss. It felt as if he was kissing her for the first time and he swore that if somehow someone managed to turn back time and he would open his eyes to see themselves inside the very same class in the middle of the night, he would do things differently. He would do right by her, try and do better.

But no one turned back the hands of time, they were in the present, looking into each other's eyes, willing to try one last time.

Talia Crane continued to work as an Auror, fighting against the dark forces and new enemies that threatened England.

Talbott Winger continued to teach at the Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry as the Transfiguration professor, shaping generations of children.

They eventually got married a few years after the war, Talia taking on the Winger name. They had one child, a boy.

The future is never set in stone, fact that Talia and Talbott knew well enough. But they tried and continued to try to make something of it, to make it better and to stand together for as long as they could, until time had other plans.