"Come on, Cait!"

"I'm sorry, no means no!" she laughed, hastening down the hallway to her class.

"But Peeves!"

"Got you good, I was there. I'm sorry, but I won't settle for anything less romantic than last night! You set the bar very high, and I'm not a girl to lower her standards!"

Caitlyn relished this anticipation. She loved this game; she was having so much fun, her heart felt like it was finally beating for the first time since she was eleven years old. She wanted to play, she wanted to have fun, she wanted to kiss her so bad it ached, she wanted to keep dreaming of her touch, of her taste, of the "what ifs."

"It ain't fair, you know that's impossible!"

"If anything, last night was proof that it is! You only need to watch out for poltergeists next time! Sorry, dove, work awaits! See you at lunch!"

And with that, she disappeared into her classroom, leaving Vi insulting Peeves once more, threatening the ghost with gruesome hypothetical second deaths.

The room was empty, of course. It was, after all, the first Saturday of the Christmas holidays. Some students remained in the castle, as always, but none of them would be caught dead in a classroom if they could avoid it. Still, now that she had fulfilled her duty escorting the parting children down to the train station, Caitlyn was not yet free to do as she pleased: there was filing to do, the room to clean, some papers left to grade, a few detentions to oversee…

Not that she would manage to do anything productive yet, as her head was completely filled with memories of the night before, like a lovestruck teenager.

Caitlyn was a former Auror, and a good one at that. Excellent, even. She could spot a liar miles away, so there was no chance she could lie to herself, not about this. Teenager she was no more, but lovestruck she definitely was.

This was definitely not part of her plans when she had enlisted at Hogwarts, but then again, there really wasn't much of a plan to begin with. And she didn't like to work without a plan! She had no idea how to be in a real relationship that went further than snuggles in dark corners of a bar. No idea how to date a coworker, no idea how to date someone so strong and yet so desperately close to breaking into a thousand pieces, no idea how to handle the situation regarding the school and the children, even less her parents.

We're not even together, she thought. She repeated. Tried to convince herself. All those questions and doubts were pointless. They were not together.

Yet.

Vi always displayed her attraction to her as comedy, banter, or jokes, and yet Caitlyn wouldn't doubt her for a second. Vi wanted her. Somehow, the crazy, cold loner of Ravenclaw eating breakfast with her homework open in front of her had managed to attract the world's most gorgeous smile (and most desirable arms) into her net without doing anything for it but being herself.

None of it felt real, so it didn't require any plans, did it? Just go with the flow. Maybe you'll wake up. Maybe you won't.

What was not a dream, however, but much closer to a nightmare, was the upcoming Christmas dinner back at the Kiramman mansion. Caitlyn had received the owl at breakfast, the handwriting of her father on the envelope. At least it was not her mother. It had made her realize that she had more or less forgotten about her promise to her parents to get back home for the holidays. To her defense, she had been fairly busy, if not to say completely swamped, but she had to admit that she missed dining with her father, and she didn't want to disappoint him. He was, after all, innocent in the eternal confrontation that opposed her to her mother and her ambitions.

She also dreaded announcing that to Vi. She couldn't bear the thought of her being alone in the castle for the holidays, haunted by Peeves and the knowledge of her sister being somewhere out there. She feared the pink-haired woman would do something rash and reckless, as characterized her so much, like digging graves in the night…

But she couldn't invite her to the estate either. She would rather stay at Hogwarts with her and break her father's heart than witness the meeting between Mrs. Lane and Madam Kiramman.

"Vi, I wanted to ask you…" she started between two bites of her roasted chicken. "Do you have any plans for the holidays? Are you going to spend it with Vander?"

The Great Hall seemed incredibly empty without the majority of the children, and a simple word felt like it echoed across the whole castle.

"Huuuum?" she answered with a mouthful of bread covered with gravy sauce. "Why do you ask? Wanna invite me to a little getaway?"

Caitlyn thought about it for a second. Just because she hadn't had this idea earlier didn't mean it wasn't a very tempting one. Just getting away for a few days, just the two of them?

"I'm just making conversation, dear. I'd like to know, but you don't have to tell me if you prefer to keep your privacy."

Vi scoffed.

"Cupcake, your room is next to mine. You slept against my wall. What privacy? But to answer your question, yeah, I'll be going to Vander's after tomorrow. The inn is usually super packed around Christmas, lots of lonely folks going there for Boxing Day. He'll need the extra help."

Then she paused.

"Wanna join?"

Caitlyn almost dropped her fork and gaped.

"Are you inviting me to meet your adoptive father?"

"Yeah, sure! The more the merrier. You're a smart girl; I'm pretty sure you'll figure out how to pour the drinks!"

Caitlyn stuttered a little, surprised and put on the spot.

"I mean, I… I… I would love to, but my parents are expecting me for Christmas and Boxing Day, and…"

"Then you can come after Boxing Day! It's always completely full until after New Year's Eve. Even one day would make a world of difference for him. And me!"

"Are you sure he wouldn't mind? Shouldn't you check with him first?"

Vi only smiled brightly at her.

"I think he would rather cut off his own arm than refuse me bringing a friend. He's that kind of man."

Caitlyn already felt welcomed and tried her best to ignore the little sting in her heart. Her father had always been what she considered to be a good man, but even his hospitality would be put to the test if Caitlyn ever brought a stranger into his house to help him with work without prior consultation. And she didn't want to think about her mother, who'd rather be caught dead than welcome anyone she hadn't personally invited with three weeks' notice.

"I'm sure he will love you," she added, making it even worse. "But he will probably use you to tease me to death. I haven't brought anyone home since I was seventeen."

Many questions swirled in Caitlyn's mind. Who was that person? A girl? Girlfriend? Does she think of me as a friend only? Shouldn't that be enough?

"That's one more than me," she ended up admitting. "Not including Jayce, but it was usually on my mother's invitation rather than mine."

Vi's eyebrow cocked up.

"Jayce? Jayce Talis?"

Caitlyn perceived the judgment behind the question.

"Yes, Jayce Talis. He's a friend of the family. And a friend of mine. I thought I mentioned him already."

"Yeah, you did. I just never thought it was Mister Hotshot himself. Haven't seen his name in the papers in a few weeks though. Did he make his choice? Replace Dumbledore or replace the Minister of Magic?"

The young professor chuckled despite herself. Her childhood friend was indeed frequently mentioned to replace one or the other, if not even both at the same time. His discoveries, the spells he invented, the potions he improved—he was the tabloids' favorite topic, and both his genius and sense of diplomacy supported the allegations that he would, one day or the other, fulfill these glorious destinies the papers had in store for him.

But Cait knew better.

"If you knew him like I do, you would know he has no interest in either. He enjoys his… tinkering way too much. I even think you two might appreciate each other."

Vi's face grew slightly darker for a split second.

"Sounds like the kind of man Powder would have loved to talk with."

Caitlyn gently patted her friend on the shoulder, trying to whisper, "I know, I know. Don't worry, you're not alone," with this simple gesture.

"I'm pretty sure he would have been the most thrilled of the two."

Silence settled for a quick second.

"I would gladly join you and meet Vander, Vi. I am already looking forward to it."

Ripping herself from Vi's company was always a painful experience for Caitlyn, no matter how complicated the topic of their discussions might be. Every time it felt worse than the previous, and it was only another proof, if she ever needed one, that she would give her left eye just to be allowed to be next to her.

She was utterly doomed, and she loved it. She also loved the anticipation—going to Vander's for something as exhilaratingly new as serving drinks. Seeing Vi's family home. Diving into her memories. She believed deeply that this was the sort of experience and feelings she should have lived through when she was fourteen. The eagerness that was eating her from inside and made her feel so alive was completely different from the drive she felt on a professional level—the need to prove herself and to forge her own path. It didn't feel like a battle, only like a strong wind she could just let herself be carried by.

She still had to work. That also made her feel like she was fourteen, wanting to do anything except work, except those damn papers and lessons and homework—even if she was the one to assign the said work this time.

"Caity! It's so good to see you!"

Despite the cold wind, her father rushed outside the mansion to pull her into a tight embrace, an unusual display of affection, even for him.

"Father. It's only been a few months; I hadn't disappeared to the ends of the earth."

The man smiled at her. For some reason, he looked a bit younger than usual, despite a few more white hairs in his mustache and beard.

"You used to come home every weekend for the past decade, Caity. Think what you will, but we did miss you very much!"

"Really?" She tried to keep her tone light and playful, but her question was serious nonetheless. "Did Mother miss criticizing my every move at every supper?"

Tobias sighed.

"I know why you would think that, but she was always so very scared for you. You wouldn't believe how not having to worry about receiving a visit from the Head of Aurors changed her."

"Huh?"

The teacher could barely believe it. She entered her family home, still processing this surprising information.

"Caitlyn!"

Her mother's figure appeared from the top of the stairs above her. The entrance of Kiramman's Mansion was as glorious and vain as one could have expected. White marble everywhere, lined up with gold and blue stones, decorated with dozens of crystal chandeliers, and portraits of former matrons or patriarchs of the family, all glaring down on the last heir of their name. But for once, maybe for what Caitlyn felt like the first time in her life, her mother's face had a different expression than theirs.

No judgment.

"Mother?"

The matriarch ran down the stairs and almost, almost, crashed into Caitlyn for a hug. She stopped just in time to contain herself and turn it into a polite embrace, but it was already enough for Caitlyn to feel like she had stepped into an alternate dimension.

"It is good to see you, Caitlyn. We have missed you!"

"So Father just told me," she slowly answered, still unsure if she was dealing with her mother or a copycat.

"Well, the last time you were gone for so long without coming home for at least the weekend was your last year at Hogwarts! I found myself quite used to our Saturday supper tradition."

"Do you mean, fighting over my career choice?"

"I meant spending time with my daughter. But come! Lunch is almost ready, and we're all eager to listen to your adventures as a teacher!"

She gently pushed Caitlyn toward the dining room with her right palm between her shoulder blades, almost with her arm around her shoulders.

Cait turned her head back to her father with a horrified look on her face, silently questioning, "What is going on?" and screaming, "Help me!" with her eyes.

Her father only shrugged with a big smile on his lips.

The laugh of Cassandra Kiramman echoed through the marble hallways of the mansion, and each and every portrait in the house turned toward the dining room in shock.

"A Niffler? Really?"

"Not just any Niffler! Professor Kettleburn's favorite!"

Cassandra wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye.
"Oh dear. This Violet seems to be quite the character. I'm glad you made a friend there!"

Caitlyn lowered her gaze to the cup of tea in her hands, a little ashamed. She hadn't, couldn't share the attraction she had for Vi—the little extra bits that had made her relationship with Mrs. Violet Lane a little more than a classic friendship.

She also couldn't believe the woman she was sharing this tea with was the same mother who wouldn't look at her when she had left for Hogwarts a few months prior.
She just couldn't stand this question anymore.

"Mother… I really appreciate this evening, I truly do. And I do not want to ruin it. I am not looking for a fight, but I have to ask… When Headmaster Dumbledore offered me the position, you made it clear you were less than thrilled. What has changed?"

Cassandra sighed deeply and looked away at the fire, burning and crackling in the chimney. Her husband, by her side, lowered the newspaper he was reading and gently chastised.
"Caitlyn, please…"

"No," interrupted Cassandra. "No, dear, it's alright. It is a valid question. Would I prefer that you come work with me at the Ministry and also prepare yourself to take over my mantle at the Wizengamot? Yes, I would indeed."

Caitlyn's jaw tightened.

"But after the funeral of Mrs. Grayson…"

Cait's mind flashed back to the cemetery a few weeks prior. As it should have been, a cold rain was drenching the stones and robes alike. Caitlyn had said a few words above the coffin before moving back next to Vi in the crowd. What had shocked the professor the most was not the number of friends that had gathered to say a last goodbye but the total absence of any Auror who was not already retired… It had been a dark, sad, awful day in all kinds of ways, and anything less would have felt out of place.

"…It made me think. I was always scared for you, Caitlyn, and those criticisms you mention—you might not believe me, but it was more often than not because I wished you wouldn't put yourself into harm's way. And while you were talking about Mrs. Grayson, I realized that if it had been you in a coffin, I would have hated myself for the rest of my days for not having cherished those dinners more."

"You were at the funeral? I didn't see you."

"Your father and I stayed in the back. We didn't know her ourselves; we just knew she meant a lot to you."

"You could have come to talk to me."

Cassandra scoffed.
"We tried. You were already gone."

Caitlyn scratched her head. She had indeed pulled Vi away right after the coffin was lowered into the ground, devoured inside by the need to do something—to keep working rather than dwell in grief.

"Right… Sorry."

"As I was saying, it was an eye-opener. And I also realized how grateful I was that you were now safe within Hogwarts' walls. I supposed that between Dumbledore and McGonagall, there would be no better place for you to be."

The daughter clenched her fists on her thighs.
"Being an Auror was my life's dream, Mother…" she whispered. "I was heartbroken when they pushed me out…"

She understood. Of course, she did. She also wanted her parents to be safe, she wanted Vi to be safe—she had joined the Aurors so everyone could be safe. And yet it enraged her. The only reason her mother was finally happy with her, for her, was because she didn't have to worry anymore. Again, it was all about her and what she wanted.

"I know, darling, but listening to your stories, it feels like you have well landed on your feet. You seem to genuinely appreciate your new career."

"I suppose I do, yes."

"I am also happy to know you are safe," added her father, thinking sharing her mother's opinion would make it more acceptable to Caitlyn.

"Well, I'm happy that I've done one thing right, for once. Now, if you will excuse me, it is getting late, and these past four months have been rather exhausting. I will see you tomorrow."

"Oh. Alright, dear. Sleep well" wished her father.

On her way through the door, she stopped, and this time, she turned back and looked at her mother. If she could make a step forward, even if misguided, so could she.

"Thank you, Mother. I enjoyed tonight."