Chapter Text
Andromeda let out a sigh as she stepped through the fireplace into the quarters she shared with her wife. Weariness seeped deeply into her bones as the long day bore down on her. So many injuries today due to an explosion at an old Death Eater’s hideout.
It was late. So late she had missed dinner and instead ate the lunch Minerva had packed for her, but had not had a chance to eat earlier in the day. She looked around. Her shoulders slumped even more when she realized Minerva was not reading in her chair as she had been hoping. Meaning Minerva was either out on a nighttime stroll or in her office, grading papers far later than she should be. Andi threw her bag into Minerva's reading chair and secured her wand in the wand holster at her thigh. She left her cloak on, too tired to bother changing out of her work clothes. She left with a final fond look at the home they had made together, consumed by the desire to be held by her wife.
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Andi walked into her wife’s office, having forgone the need for a password back when they were just best friends.
“Minnie?” she sighed when she saw the mountain of paperwork, which was all completed but for whatever reason strewn all along the floor behind the desk, and the empty office.
Normally, this was a good thing. Except it meant she had no ever-loving clue where her wife would be. She walked around to behind the desk and pulled out her wand to conjure the papers into a neat pile. She smiled fondly at Minerva’s neat handwriting on the essays. A picture of her and Minerva sat on the desk. In the picture, she had Minerva bent down in a bow. And since it was her and not a student looking, photograph Andi kissed Minerva. She remembered how shocked Minerva had been to get the photo. Neither had been aware that Narcissa had followed them out with a magical camera when they had left the party.
She looked up at the portraits of the various former Headmasters. “Do any of you know where Minerva is?”
The portrait of Brian Gagwilde spoke up. “She left in her Tabby form. I imagine she is off causing mayhem, given she has been cooped up in this office all day trying to finish the paperwork before you returned.” Andromeda smiled,. feeling some of the stress of the day melt off her shoulders.
“Well then, I'd best be off. Thank you, Brian. Have a good evening, everyone.” There was a chorus of goodnights as all the portraits bid farewell to the witch they all respected. Even more so now that they got to see the love she held for Minerva.
Andromeda began walking the halls of Hogwarts. At first, she came across a house elf who was waxing the wood of a column. “Twinky,” she called out to the elf.
Once she got closer, she saw the deep scratches in the wood and laughed, “Mistress Andi!”
The elf quickly bowed despite Andromeda's protests. “Twinky, I take it Minerva was here?” looking at the scratches.
“Yes, Mistress did not wants Twinky to cut nails. Do it herselfs. Mistress runs that-a-way,” Twinky said, pointing down the corridor, causing another round of laughter at the thought of Twinky trying to rangle Minerva to give her nails a clipping.
“Thank you, Twinky. I will get you an extra set of Crayons when I am in Muggle London next,” she patted the Elf's head and went in the direction she had been pointed towards. She felt lighter now as she saw the chaos her wife had been causing
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Andromeda should have been expecting it; her wife did this every time she had too much paperwork and was stressed. Minerva had been holding a vendetta against Albus ever since the truth of what he put Harry through came out. She went as far as refusing to have his portrait hung in her office as long as she was the Headmistress. Instead, she hung it in the Faculty room, in a far corner where she could avoid it unless he tried to talk to her, which he did every time she had mountains of paperwork. She should have expected this. But she did not. So when Andromeda walked into the Faculty room, she stopped and began madly laughing. She let her laughter before taking a moment to compose herself.
In the far corner where the portrait usually hung was an almost empty frame. On the floor were shredded remnants of canvas, some already being repurposed into a makeshift bed by Mrs. Norris.. Andromeda smiled at the sight, her inner Slytherin happy at the spectacle. Then she heard Filch as he came rumbling into the room.
He took one look at the empty painting, not noticing his cat on the floor, nor Andromeda, who stood off to the side doing her best not to make a sound, “Minerva!” he yelled, causing Andromeda to grin evilly and a small chuckle.
“Filch,” she said in her professional voice, usually reserved for patients just waking up from a head injury, “why are you yelling for my wife?” she asked sweetly. something Filch was not used to, still, causing him to second-guess his raised voice
“That mongrel tore Albus’s painting again!” At that, Andromeda stepped closer and stood to her full height. At 6 feet tall, she practically towered over the hunched form.
“You will not insult my wife. Is that understood?” at his nervous nodding, Andromeda continued, “Furthermore, it would appear Mrs Norris is currently sitting in the scraps. That would point to her ripping the painting, would it not?” Eventually, after a bit more arguing. Such as stating that Minerva has been so busy she would not have had the time to shred the painting, Filch relented. Yet he still refused to scold Mrs Norris for her possible role in this.
Andromeda left Filch to pick up the painting so he could repair it. Proud of herself for still having her Slytherin ways about her, she turned towards one of the portraits which had obviously been listening in on the argument, “Can you tell me where my wife left?”
The portrait of Emeric Switch nodded, “After she finished with Albus, who may I say should have been expecting what happened when he told her to think of the children if she overworked herself.” Andromeda mentally rolled her eyes. She could hear Albus say that to Minerva. It made her disappointed knowing she had missed the grand telling off Minerva would have delivered before shredding the painting.
Emeric pointed behind Andromeda., “She stalked off in that direction, muttering something in Gaelic.” Andromeda thanked the wizard and began walking in the direction her wife was last seen.
Before she got very far, a Tabby Patronus came bounding into view. It rubbed against her ankles before speaking in Minerva’s Scottish accent, “Hello, Love. I am in the Faculty bathroom waiting for you when you get home.” Andromeda smiled as the Patronus evaporated. Invigorated, she took the shortest possible way to Minerva. excited to see her.
When Andromeda opened the door to the bathroom, she was met with the warm scent of vanilla and lavender. The bathroom was bathed in warm light from an array of candles lit around the room. Minerva sat on the edge of the pool sized bathtub, dressed only in a bathrobe. her feet in the water.
When she turned to see who had walked in, her face broke out into a wide smile. “Oh, mo ghrá!” She rose from the floor and met Andromeda in the middle.
Andi finally got the embrace she had been wanting since she had arrived home. “I missed you,” Andi said, wrapping her arms around Minerva.
“I missed you, too. I am sorry the incident kept you all night,” Minerva said, rubbing her hands along Andromeda’s back.
They stayed hugging for a minute until Minerva, unable to keep her lips to herself, began kissing Andromeda’s neck. She slowly worked her way up, kissing from behind her ear along her jaw to Andromeda’s lips, smirking into the kisses as Andromeda let out an obscene moan. Andromeda turned to kiss Minerva back with just as much passion. Andromeda let her hands roam under the bathrobe, whining when Minerva pulled back “Minnieee,” Andi said with a pout, causing Minerva to laugh.
“Sweetheart, I merely want to help you relax. Let's get you out of these dreadful clothes, and then we can see about continuing this in the water, Hmm?” Andromeda relented at the look Minerva gave her. Clearly, this was not up for discussion.
Soon, after more kissing and whining from Andromeda, they were both in the hot water. Minerva kneaded at Andi’s shoulders, “You aren’t as tense as I was expecting. Was it easier than you feared?” Minerva asked, referring to their quick conversation over what was supposed to have been Andi’s lunch break.
“No, it was an absolutely abysmal day. But following the chaos you left from your office to here was a lovely adventure,” she said, chuckling, breaking off into a groan when Minerva hit a particular spot.
“I did not cause any chaos!” Minerva tried to defend herself.
Andromeda turned around and raised an eyebrow at her wife enjoying the faint blush on Minerva’s face, “Sweetheart, you knocked all your paperwork to the floor, which I cleaned up for you. Twinky is still fixing the Claw marks you left in your favorite pillar. And I had to convince Argus that it was Mrs. Norris, not you, who shredded Dumbledore's painting.” Minerva at least had the decency to look bashful about what she had done.
“In my defence, he deserved it. That utter amadán dared to tell me I needed to think of the children. Like he ever put a single innocent child before his grand plans.” Minerva then broke off into a colorful mixture of English and Gaelic curse words.
Andromeda smiled and kissed her on the lips. effectively silencing her. “Enough of that. He's not worth your time, love.” Andromeda said. cupping Minerva's cheek and smiling lovingly at her.
Minerva let out a sigh and opened her arms, allowing Andromeda to burrow into her neck, where they both smiled into the embrace. Andromeda was feeling better than she had all day, safe in the arms of the woman she loved.
She looked up at Minerva, “I do believe you said something about continuing where we left off? I am sure it would help us both relax,” Andromeda said suggestively, making Minerva laugh.
“Is tú mo chuisle,” Minerva said in her deep accent. Andromeda smiled and returned the endearing term with one of her own, “Ma moitié,” as they kissed once more. Both knew there was nowhere nor no one they would rather be with