Roxanne sat with Albus at the Great Hall, across from one another. The huge hall was empty and only the two of them were present. It reminded them of their youth when they would hang out similarly despite their different houses.
Just like then, they sat across from one another with a nice cup of tea in front of them. The years might have aged them physically but being in the presence of one another, simply made them feel so much younger.
They chuckled and smiled as they talked, catching up with what they were up to.
"Wait, wait. So Aberforth has his own Inn?" Roxanne asked after Albus spent some time filling her up on his and his brother's life.
He gave a nod. "He is still very grumpy but he does a good job as an Innkeeper" he explained, causing her to chuckle.
"To be honest, I can see it," she said with a smile. "He is the kind of Inn keepers that if you cause any trouble, they will hex and then kick you out"
Albus could not help but chuckle in amusement. His younger brother did have a character that often resulted in him solving things with duelling or fighting.
Quite a volatile character, it was a miracle sometimes that he was still alive.
"And you..." Albus started. "Former head healer at St. Mungos. I never had you capable of following your father's footsteps. I could see you as a teacher instead"
She glanced at her cup with the faintest hue on her cheeks as she smiled. "Yeah, I didn't to but the opportunity came and it somehow clicked"
He gave a nod in understanding. "I should have realised that it was you on the papers before you got rewarded. No one else has your golden heart and would be willing to risk everything to save a medical tent"
She glanced at him, seeing the honesty and care in his blue eyes. While she was always his number one supporter growing up, sometimes she forgot that he supported her too
And the way he spoke of her achievement, made her truly feel proud of that moment. For she took a big risk using a shield to protect the medical tent during an attack, risking exposure to muggles.
She never truly cared at that moment, for the wounded patients under her care were all she had in mind and it was all that was important to her.
"Thank you, Albus," she said after a moment of silence.
He extended his hand and gently placed it on top of hers, giving a comforting squeeze. "Stay a few more days, Roxanne. The castle is empty and no one will find out"
She was hesitant at first but the more she looked into his eyes, the more she realised how much she had missed them and him. She gave a nod of her head, agreeing to his request.
On one of the following nights that she spent in Hogwarts, Roxanne and Albus decided to enjoy their time together.
Albus had visited his brother and taken some of his special butterbeer along with him. Aberforth made his drink and he could often increase the amount of alcohol in it.
It was a perfect idea for the adults that wished to gain and feel something more from the common wizarding drink.
Roxanne and Albus drank more than they should have while getting carried away talking about funny or embarrassing moments of their past.
During that particular night, both let all their defences go. Choosing to temporarily lock away their dark past, they focused on having fun and for a while; it was as if they were teenagers again.
Roxanne giggled, already tipsy from the alcoholic drink. She sat at the edge of Albus' desk, both having chosen to drink in the Transfiguration classroom.
"I remember that day...oh the embarrassment" she chuckled, remembering the time they had to face a boggart for their defence against the dark arts class.
Albus chuckled as he sat next to her. "Would you believe me if I told you that I had seen worse fears?" He said, making her turn her head to look at him with a silly smile. He took it as a sign to continue. "I used to have this brilliant student. He loved magical creatures and fieldwork but hated studying. Wasn't even that surprised when the Bogart took the form of a desk"
She could not help but laugh, the alcohol affecting her for good. "A desk? Poor kid, he must have hated the more theoretical classes" she added, finally, her natural radiant smile was back on her face.
Albus had missed seeing it. It was his reminder that everything would be okay and it was his guide during some dark times in his teenage life. Her smile was always contagious and filled with light and energy.
It always reminded him to smile and try to see things the other way, the more optimistic way. He had missed that smile all those years away ad he did feel guilty after seeing that the adult her, no longer possessed it.
He expected it, after all they had been through and he even started to think that he would never see it again. Yet, he was proven wrong that night.
"What is it?" Roxanne asked him as her chuckle died down but the smile remained. "You are staring again"
Albus offered a soft sweet smile. "I had missed that smile of yours. I am simply trying to memorise it now that I can"
She glanced at he hands, her cheeks getting a nice pink hue. The smile got smaller but there was this joy behind it. After all, she saw, she found it very hard to truly smile like she used to.
Sometimes, she would Stare at the mirror and imagine her younger self. How did she manage to hold that smile and attitude when life was slowly crumbling around her?
Even she didn't have the answer to that.
A gentle hand was placed on her cheek, cupping it in a caring way. The hand didn't have to do anything as she willingly lifted her head and attention to look at Albus while her hand rested against his.
She looked deeply into his eyes, seeing the same passion they shared for one another as teenagers. The same look in his eyes as he sneaked her out of the ballroom and hid them under the stairs.
She still remembered the night of the ball and the kiss those two shared. It felt so fresh in her memory and even now did her body flush in response to just the memory of it.
Her eyes involuntarily went to his lips as she remembered that kiss before she looked into his eyes.
His face came closer to hers and Albus titled it slowly. He was gentle, once again waiting to see if she truly wanted that before he made a move.
Her smile slowly disappeared as she took in the situation. It would not be their first kiss, having shared plenty before they took different ways. But after so long, did they still share the same feelings for one another?
They were not sure, Roxanne especially. Yet as their faces came closer and their breaths almost mingled; she could not help but wonder.
His eyes kept pulling her like how magnets attracted metallic objects and his lips seemed to welcome her as his well-maintained beard almost tickled her skin.
She did the first step, gently bringing her head a little bit forward to seal the gap between them. Her lips fell upon his for a few seconds, a small motion as if giving the 'yes' to a mental question about their feelings.
She gently pulled back ever so slightly, only for him to be the one to close the gap this time. His kiss was soft and gentle, full of love and the slightest of lust. His beard tickled her skin but the new sensation made her stomach turn.
She was no longer a teenage girl kissing her crush. He was no longer the charming boy that became her date. She was a grown woman with more confidence than before and he was a mature man, wise and experienced.
Before he could pull back, she closed her eyes fully and continued the kiss; no longer being able to hold it back and wait. Her one hand moved to the side of his neck, trying to keep him close.
Her response was all Albus needed to continue, their kiss becoming more and more heated with each passing second. His one hand kept holding her cheek as his head tilted more, his tongue gently requesting access.
She parted her lips in acceptance, a smile forming as he took the lead. He leaned more towards her, his other hand moving to land on her thigh and slowly lifting her dark purple dress higher and higher.
The hand that was on her cheek moved to clear the desk before he guided her to lay with her back on it. Not once did he break the kiss until she was laying there and he was holding himself right above her.
They broke the kiss just for a moment to catch their breaths before Albus moved his lips to her neck. The movement caught her off guard but a faint moan quickly told him that she enjoyed it as much as he did.
His hand kept lifting her dress, exposing more of her thighs and she could feel his calloused hand exploring each part, leaving no spot in complaint.
Her eyes remained closed and both her hands moved to be around his neck and back, feeling his attacking a soft spot by the side of her neck that made her see stars.
No matter what, Albus remained gentle and careful. He cared for her and put her first, allowing her to ride her high more than once before he continued. His hands and mouth worked overtime to continue pleasing her until her voice was lost.
Then, they chose to take one another after so many years. Their feelings, their pent-up emotions and their need to be with one another; all surfaced as they continued.
They were all alone to enjoy their time together, to reunite and light up once again the embers within their hearts and souls. They became one once again, this time with no third parties involved.
In that moment of bliss, they forgot everything and just melted in the presence of one another. They felt how perfectly they seemed to complete one another, and while they did not wish for it to end; they knew eventually that they would have to.
But by the next morning, as the two of them lay in each other arms; something had changed for both of them. A new bond had been formed between them and the gap in their relationship after all those years had been amended.
This new bond was what exactly they would need because it would not be long before the very same bond would be tested by the shadows of their past.