Pomona stood from the table along with the other heads of houses, smiling to Minerva as they searched for their Head Boys and Girls. They always gave their students a well wish before they took the new students to their common rooms. As she stepped away from her place at the table, she followed behind Severus as he moved towards his Slytherins. Something in the normally pale man's face didn't look right, and she reached out and grabbed his arm. "Severus?"

Growing stiff at her touch, he turned around with a shocked expression across his face. "What?" he asked, his voice biting.

"You just looked…overwhelmed."

Severus pulled from her grip, his lip trembling slightly. "Don't you have something else to do besides fuss over me?" he snapped, walking quickly away.

Pomona stood in her place for a moment and watched him make his way towards his Slytherins, a hand on each of his head students' shoulder. Severus was never the most pleasant, but over the years he had grown much more pleasant- coming along with Minerva to many of their social outings and making few, but humorous comments over the years. She had grown to like him well enough and to know him well enough to know when something didn't look right. Knowing his demeanor, she knew that it was best to let his nastiness go and not take it personally. But he truly didn't look right, and she felt an urge to check on him. She wished that after all the years that he would see that Minerva wasn't the only person who cared about him. Even at arm's length, he had become someone she and many others had grown to care for.

Knowing that worrying about it wouldn't change his openness to speak with her, she made her way to her own students. With the excitement of the first years and the eagerness of their head students to get them moving, the hall emptied quickly. Gordan Lowell and Mary Douglas, her head students, were more than on top of their duties, both equally excited to get to know the first years. Pomona had been honored to pick them, knowing that their bubbly personalities would be welcoming for the all new students. "We've got them, Professor," Mary replied with a smile when Pomona asked if they needed help.

Hugging them both, Pomona watched them lead the group of younger students along with the other houses. A hand on her shoulder tore her eyes away from her students. Minerva stood beside her, smiling slightly. "Should be an interesting group. One of my Gryffindors already lost their pet toad. Didn't take me long to figure out who it was," she chuckled.

"Don't tell me it was Longbottom?" Pomona asked.

"It looks like his grandmother wasn't too far off," Minerva confirmed.

"I think he's going to find something that he excels in."

"Oh, he's one of mine. I have no doubt in that."

"A proud mama and her cubs," Filius pipped in, coming to join the other two heads.

Minerva smiled, but her eyes were suddenly looking away from them both. Pomona followed her gaze to see Severus sliding out the door behind the head table. "Is Severus alright?"

"What?" Minerva asked, looking dazed.

"Is Severus alright?" Pomona repeated.

"It's been a long day for him," Minerva replied. "That's all." Her voice wasn't convincing. It was full of concern.

"Maybe you should be along," Filius suggested, placing a hand on her arm.

Minerva took her glasses off, rubbed her eyes, and then slowly put them back on. She suddenly looked tired. "I don't know what to do…" she said softly. Filius looked at Pomona with a raised eyebrow. In all the years the two had been lovers, Minerva had never discussed their relationship with anyone, especially not to let on that something was wrong. The two were fiercly private people, and all the staff knew to leave it that way. They had all overhead conversations between them, of course, they all lived in the same castle, but Minerva had never volunteer information about their private life. Pomona didn't know what to say.

"Looks like he could use you tonight," Filius added.

"I think he needs some space," Minerva said so quietly, Pomona wasn't sure she was supposed to hear it. "I should get going. Albus may have some last-minute things he needs done." Hugging them both, the head of Gryffindor was soon out the door into the crowd of students.

Turning to Filius, Pomona saw his expression was just as puzzled as hers. "Do you think they had a fight? She never says anything about him."

"I don't know," he admitted. "But Severus has seemed so unlike himself lately."

"I like them," Pomona admitted. "As the years have gone on…I really truly do. If it's going to end between them…"

Filius smiled, sitting on one of the benches now that the hall had emptied except for a few straggling older students who were catching up with each other. "I hope not. I think it's something with Severus, something he is dealing with that's putting strain on them."

Pomona sat beside him, the commotion of the day suddenly hitting her. Sitting felt good, especially with no students in ear shot. All summer, the staff all spoke about missing the students, but the moment they arrived, the exhaustion hit. It was good exhaustion, but exhaustion nonetheless. "I get worried when things don't seem like they're going well."

"They need each other," Filius said.

"I think so too." Silence fell between the two friends for a moment. "It's funny."

"Hm?"

Laughing to herself, Pomona explained, "Minerva and I have been friends for years…and I know she's had lovers, but this never ceases to blow my mind."

"They say opposites attract," Filius smiled.

There was a pause until Pomona spoke again, speaking her thoughts aloud more than to him. "We can't do anything to help."

Filius took her hand and squeezed it. "No, I'm afraid we have to let them sort things out."

Pomona nodded. "I wish we could."

"Those two are closed books. The fact that Minerva let on anything was wrong worries me. But, alas, we must let them sort this out on their own."

"I need a drink," Pomona muttered.

"Classes start in the morning," Filius laughed.

"Your point?"
"I'll have Ro come to my rooms with a bottle in an hour."

"Should we invite Minerva?"

"No," Filius said firmly. "Let's give the two of them some space." He kissed her cheek and then stood. "I'll see you in an hour."

Watching him make his way out of the Great Hall, she sighed. She hoped that Minerva and Severus could sort themselves out. It was a long year ahead.