"I knew it was a mistake to come out on a Hogsmeade weekend," Via sighed as the sixth group of students walked away after their peer into the pram.
Clarissa grinned. "Well, it's been raining for three days straight – Mummy needed to get out before she went stir crazy, didn't she, Merlin?" She smiled down at their baby son, who kicked violently at his blankets.
Via bent down to tuck the blankets more firmly around him and then the three of them walked on down the main street, the pram wheels splashing in the puddles. Via steered the pram off up a side street when she saw yet another group of students approaching. She knew Clarissa, who'd been on maternity leave since Merlin was born, enjoyed checking in with her students, but by the weekend, Via was more than ready to forget about school and spend two whole days devoted to her wife and son.
"I forgot Madam Puddifoots was up this lane," Via sighed. "And on Valentine's weekend, of all things! Let's go back."
"No way – I need a longer walk than this!"Clarissa protested. "Don't be such a baby."
They carried on up the lane toward the garishly decorated tearoom at the top. Just as they reached it, Merlin started crying. Via reached in and lifted him out, holding him and rocking him, but the little boy refused to be comforted. After a few minutes, Via handed Merlin over to Clarissa. "Maybe you've got the magic touch today," she said.
Clarissa held Merlin upright, his head on her shoulder. As she swayed gently from side to side and rubbed his back, the baby's howls subsided.
"Look who it is," Via said, noticing the couple right in the Madam Puddifoot's window.
Oscar Peakes and Liam Coote were sat opposite each other, holding hands and seemingly oblivious to everything and everyone else.
"Young love," Clarissa agreed. "I'm glad Oscar was able to come out."
"Every time I've come out has been embarrassing," Via said reminiscently. "When I came out to my friends it felt kind of forced because they were joking about it before... my parents thought I was going to tell them I was in serious trouble at school, and they were so happy and relieved my mum cried all over me..."
"Not to mention our marriage being announced to a Great Hall full of over a thousand students," Clarissa agreed. "Yeah, coming out's embarrassing... I wouldn't trade it, though."
"Me neither," Via agreed. She bestowed a kiss on Merlin's tiny cheek and then another on Clarissa's. "C'mon, let's get you guys home."
After charming the now empty pram to follow them home, Via put her arm around Clarissa's waist. With a final glance back at the two boys in the tearoom window, the three of them headed for home.
A/N ~ Well, there you go! I hoped you liked it! I'm just about to write this Valentine's Day in Year 5 from Mia's perspective, so I'm not sure if any of these guys will feature in it - we'll see! As always, I love to read reviews! See you in a few years if/when I finish Year 5! ~ Nat