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Minerva wrapped her cloak tighter around her, shivering against the strong winds and frigid air as she pushed through the crowded streets of Hogsmeade. There were even more people there than usual because this weekend was the Holiday fair, planned specifically to coincide with the last Hogsmeade weekend before most Hogwarts students headed home for Christmas. She and Poppy had been planning to go together, but she had been caught up in a last-minute meeting with a misbehaving student who had wanted to appeal to her holiday spirit to get out of doing detention over break. Unfortunately for him, being delayed for an outing with her wife had not put Minerva in a forgiving mood.
Now, as she walked through the bustling streets with her head tucked down to avoid the wind, she tried to put her annoyance out of her mind. Her attempts, however, were failing miserably until she felt familiar arms wrap around her waist and pull her out of the crowd.
“There you are,” Poppy said as she placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.
“I’m sorry, the meeting dragged on longer than I’d hoped.”
“It’s alright,” Poppy murmured into the back of Minerva’s head.
They stood there quietly for a minute, just holding each other and enjoying being in each other’s presence until a laughing group of students rushed by them, pulling them out of their trance.
“Let’s look around, shall we?” Minerva surprised Poppy by offering her hand. She would normally refrain from any public displays of affection where students might see them, despite Poppy’s protests.
A grin spreading over Poppy’s face, she took Minerva’s outstretched hand and squeezed it before leading her out into the crowds.
They wove their way among the seemingly endless stalls set up in the middle of the streets, Poppy occasionally pointing something out and Minerva humming in agreement. They passed vendors selling hand-knitted hats and gloves with special warming charms, witches’ hats that changed into Santa hats when you said the magic word, and candles that would flicker in tune with whatever holiday song was playing. But before long, the wind and frigid air had started to wear on them, and they headed for the warmth and protection of the Three Broomsticks.
Ducking through the door, they were hit with a wave of warm air from the roaring fireplace and from the heat of many bodies packed into a small space. The pub was packed, and the quiet roar of many voices permeated the space. Looking around, many of the tables were occupied by groups of Hogwarts students enjoying their last days at school before they went home for break, and Minerva subconsciously loosed her grip on Poppy’s hand.
Sensing Minerva beginning to don her teacher façade, Poppy shifted closer to her wife and squeezed her hand. Too much of their time was spent as Hospital Matron and Professor; today, she just wanted to be Poppy and Min.
“Poppy! Minerva!” Madam Rosmerta waved them over to the bar at the back of the pub, thumping her hand on the bar in front of her to show them there were a couple of seats.
Poppy edged her way through the crowd, keeping a firm hold on Minerva’s hand as the woman followed behind her. Reaching the bar, they both gathered up their cloaks and slid onto the high barstools.
“Gillywater for you, Minerva?” Rosmerta raised a bottle from behind the bar in question.
“No … no thank you, Rosmerta. I need something stronger for the likes of today. Firewhiskey, I think.”
“And for me as well,” Poppy added.
Nodding, Rosmerta reached below the bar and pulled out a slightly dusty bottle, before pouring each woman a glass and sliding it across the bar.
“So, are you two out for the Holiday fair?”
“Yes,” Minerva took a swig of her whiskey. “I see you’ve also spared no expense.” She gestured to the many garlands, lights, and wreaths adorning the inside of the pub.
“Ah well, there is something about this time of year isn’t there. Speaking of which,” Rosmerta glanced up and a wide grin began to spread across her face. “I’ll give you two a minute.” She winked at them and then disappeared into the back room.
Minerva turned to Poppy with a confused expression, but Poppy merely nodded up towards the small, green shrub magically growing from the ceiling above them.
“Mistletoe,” she said after a pause.
Minerva’s eyes darted around quickly, picking out the groups of students sitting at the tables behind them and mentally calculating the likelihood that they would look over and notice her and Poppy.
Suddenly, warm hands were on the back of her neck and lacing into her hair, and she couldn’t quite remember what she’d been so concerned about as Poppy’s lips met hers.
Leaning into the kiss, Minerva let her hands wander over her wife’s shoulders and back, and she thought to herself that this Christmas would surely be the best one yet.