A/N: It's been a minute since I've updated! I don't know if people still have any interest in the story, but if you do- thank you! I'm ending my time in law school, so I'm hoping to have more regular updates as life gets a lot calmer. I miss these two a lot. Enjoy!

"How's it look?"

Albus looked around the unfamiliar room, despite having spent many hours in it. Its newest form resembled their staff room, but with a few notable changes such as newer sofas and a fully stocked ice box. "It looks like Pomona had a hand in the design."

Minerva chuckled softly. "I was referring to its safety. But, she did."

"As safe as the room of requirement can be. If you're asking if she knows about it, I don't think yet. Even if she finds out, the wards should seal her out." Albus watched as Minerva continued to walk around the room, his friend seeming off despite her light tone. "With all the things happening right now, why focus on this?"

"What?"

"I know your fifth years are keeping you busy with career planning. I also know you have been spending quite a bit of quality time calming our staff down. From what I've heard, Sybil took up all of your office hours last week."

"You should have fired her after she started the 'find out your cause of death' club 10 years ago. Then I wouldn't be having this problem," Minerva jabbed, sitting down at one of the tables.

Albus followed suit, sitting across from her. Silence fell over them for a few moments until he summoned a wine bottle and two glasses. "A drink?"

"Mm," Minerva hummed, turning her attention to some parchments that had her student's names on them.

Albus poured it by hand, stopping before handing her the glass. "I'll give it if you answer my question."

"What question?"

"Why the push to get a new staff room?"

"I already told you, Albus. Your staff has been completely overtaken with stress about your ministry friend."

Albus sighed. "I didn't bring her here, Min."

"I wouldn't have known even if you had. I don't know much of anything anymore."

"You have enough on your plate."

"You're keeping me out of your work, out of your life. I understand that He Who Shall Not Be Named is back, but I could help you." She threw down the quill she had picked up.

"And you are," he assured her.

"By doing what?"

"By being here."

"It was once your job to be here too," she snapped. "Or have you forgotten that? Potter is going to get himself killed."

"He will be fine."

"You haven't been here, Albus. You don't know. You don't know anything about this school anymore! You don't know anything that she's doing or how I'm doing..." Her voice trailed off as it cracked, and Minerva grabbed the wine glass, taking a sip.

"Is that what you're angry about?"

"What?"

"Our friendship."

"I'm angry about a lot of things, Albus."

"I understand," he said gently. He looked at his Deputy, his friend, for a long while. He wanted to tell her everything, everything that he was doing, searching for. He wanted to tell her the truth about Harry, about Snape, but her loyalty to Hogwarts was the only thing that would save the children when the inevitable darkness came. The more she was involved with things outside of Hogwarts, the more of a risk he had of losing her. The world couldn't afford it, and he couldn't beat the thought of it. She was too stubborn and strong to take a backseat in a fight.

"You know what I'm angry about? The annual charges for the Godric's Hollow inn that should surely be on my desk tomorrow."

Minerva's face turned red. "You've known?"

"I know you thought I was fooled because you take the invoice the next morning each year, but I've always known."

Minerva uncharacteristically began to laugh. "It's not funny, but I feel quite thick thinking you didn't know." Albus laughed with her.

"It's a nice gesture." Minerva nodded, but said nothing. "Umbridge aside, are you alright?"

Minerva opened her mouth, but quickly shut it. He could see she was debating on telling him the truth; he knew her too well. "No,' she said quietly. Albus waited for her to elaborate, popping a lemon drop he kept in his pocket into his mouth. She'd speak if and when she was ready. And she did. "It's ridiculous, really."

"What?"

"With all this shit going on, with Umbridge, you, the school, Potter, the staff...I am sitting here old enough to be everyone here's grandmother and every year on All Hallows Eve I feel..."

"Jealous?"

"I didn't say that," Minerva retorted. "Jealousy is a child's emotion. I think...foolish."

"Over Lily?"

"I-, I suppose a little."

Albus smiled sadly. Merlin, she loved Severus. Their relationship was a constant reminder of the loss that would soon come. "He will always love her. A person's first love is...hard to let go." Albus swallowed back tears at the last image of Gellert he had. Even as he saw him dragged out of the ministry in chains, something about him still made Albus love him. He knew Minerva could see right through him. "Do you still love Dougal?"

Minerva smiled. "I do. Malcom keeps an eye on his grandchild. But, Albus, Severus is... And we've been doing this... arrangement for over a decade and I am far too old to question these ridiculous ideas." She was at a loss for words, something incredibly rare. And Albus knew only a guard she would let down around a few people. "Tonight is a hard night. I suppose I just never admitted it. I try to ignore it, but, with the current state of things, it seems harder than normal."

"Your relationship is a risk. I've made that clear from the start."

Minerva ran her hands through her hair. "Then why allow it?"

"You were happy. As Headmaster Dippot pointed out, I seem to have a soft spot for you. Ever since I found you crying in your classroom that evening so long ago." Minerva smiled, her face softening.

"You want the real answer?"

"What?" Albus asked, confused.

"Why I rushed on the new staff room. I needed to accomplish something to get through this evening. I always seem to find something to do on All Hallows Eve. I couldn't bother anyone else to ask if they would do something as I usually do. And, Rolanda has insisted on some dinner that the American Muggles call Thanksgiving next month. She wants to plan parties this year; she's very insistent on it to lighten the mood."

Albus rolled his eyes. Rolanda was by far the most entertaining member of the staff, though her antics could push his buttons. "Be careful. I believe there is a decree forbidding staff socializing."

Minerva gestured to the room around them. "Hence the new space."

"Chess?" Albus asked, standing up with the intention to return to his rooms.

"In an hour? I have some marking to finish," she offered, gesturing to her papers.

"It's been many years since I've looked at a Transfigurations essay, let me help."

Minerva smiled. "Reminds me of better days."