Feeling the same way all over again

The owl had a silver band with an 'A' around its leg, indicating that it belonged to the Auror Squad. But the note attached to it's other leg brought a smile to her face.

'Dear Poppy,

It's rather busy here at Morgan's Hollow, but I'm doing everything I can to come over this afternoon. So expect me around three. I'll use the Floo Network.

Alastor'

That meant she had four hours to kill until he came. And they passed extremely slowly. After lunch she fiddled through her room, doing useless things such as rearranging the pillows of the couch countless time.

Since it was Saturday and she didn't expect any visitors in the Hospital wing she had changed her uniform for more comfortable, moss green coloured robes. But with only fifteen minutes to spare, she wondered if she would look smarter in her grey robes.

"Stop it", she said out loud. "He's only coming to have tea, like he has done hundreds of times. Nothing special".

She sat down again, attempting to finally read the page she had been trying to read all afternoon.

At three o' clock exactly the flames in the fireplace roared op high and the spinning form of Alastor appeared. After several seconds he landed safely on the floor.

He was feeling a bit self-conscious. The last past days on Morgan's Hollow had been extremely hectic and he was glad he could take a few hours off to spend with Poppy, but as a result of it he hadn't had the time to change properly. He had managed to change his Auror robes for a clean shirt, but there had been no time left to shave properly.

All his worries disappeared however the minute he saw her. She looked beautiful in green and her half-long, curly hair fell loose around her shoulders.

"Hello Alastor", she said, moving closer to him.

"Hi Poppy", he greeted warmly, pulling her in a hug. He wasn't an overly affectionate person. Usually he preferred to keep a bit of a distance, but with her was it so different. After all those years of silently loving her he took every opportunity he had to hold her or touch her.

She always wished these moments lasted forever. She couldn't feel happier or safer then when he had his arms around her.

But of course the moment was over all too soon and she pulled back to look in his face. As soon as she did she felt her heart skip several beats.

It wasn't so much of a beard. More like a three days stubble. And a hint of a moustache. But he looked… it made him look extremely attractive, she decided.

Suddenly she became aware that she was staring at him and turning quickly to hide the upcoming blush she indicated to the couch. "Please, have a seat".

While she rearranged some logs in the fireplace she tried to get her feelings under control.

Moving back into the living room she looked at him for the second time and felt her stomach doing summersaults again.

Clenching and unclenching her fists carefully she sat down on an opposite chair. He gave her a long, odd stare and she felt her cheeks grow even warmer. Quickly she jumped to her feet again. "What would you like to drink, Alastor?" Did her voice have to sound this breathless?

"Tea is fine if you have any", he replied, looking somewhat puzzled.

"Of course", walking to the lovely silver tea tray her grandparents had given her she took two cups and began to pour tea, inwardly scolding herself. 'Don't be such an idiot! What must he think of you?'

Glancing up once again she saw him watching her with a slightly bemused expression on his face now. Merlin, he looked kissable right now. Who would have thought such a small change of appearance would have such an effect on her?

The moment he said "Poppy, watch out!" in an alarmed voice, she felt the hot liquid streaming over her fingers.

Startled she looked down. The cups, saucers and tray were drenched in tea. Closing her eyes for a second, she wished for the ground to swallow her.

He was standing next to her in the blink of an eye. Carefully he took her wrist between his hands and examined the slightly red fingers. "Does it hurt much?" he asked worried.

"No, it doesn't", she answered, wriggling her fingers. His closeness was not helping.

Pointing her wand at the mess she uttered a cleaning spell and poured two fresh cups of tea, this time concentrating fully on the task at hand.

The both of them sat down again. "So… how do like your stay at Morgan's Hollow so far?" she asked, trying to ignore the itching feeling in her fingers.

"It's fine", he answered, slowly drinking his tea. "Rather busy though. We make long days and besides that… well…", he hesitated for a second.

"Well what?" she asked curiously.

"I've taken up flying again", he confessed.

Her eyes widened. "Really? But…",

"I know… I know…", he interrupted. "Every healer has told me that I shouldn't attempt to fly with this…", he indicated his wooden leg, "but I wanted to give it a try… I'm an Auror, I need to fly".

"And how is it going?" Poppy asked a little worried.

"It's different, but I'm getting the hang of it", Alastor told her. "At first the wooden leg was far too heavy, but now I put a light-weight charm on it and it works fine. I just have to find a different balance".

"Alastor…", she started, but grinned then. "You know exactly what I'm going to say now, don't you?"

He grinned back. "I do. And I will be careful. I promise.

Don't worry, Poppy", he added with a smile.

He smiled often at her and she loved it, but right now his smile had an almost melting effect.

There was something different about her. She was a bit quiet but looked at him a great deal. And there was something in her eyes and in the soft smile that was constantly around her lips.

He really wished he had shaven before he came here. That beard was making him feel highly uncomfortable.

'Must he really do that?' Poppy thought exasperated as she watched him rubbing his chin. She just wanted to throw her common sense out of the nearest window and tell him exactly how she felt. How he made her feel.

'And then have a nice awkward talk about the boundaries of platonic friendship', her mind told her sarcastically. "Don't be silly, Poppy, he will never feel the same way about you'.

The rest of the afternoon past in the same manner, with a lot of stolen glances on both sides, until Alastor regretfully rose from the couch, saying that it was time to leave.

Poppy of course walked him to the fireplace.

"Take care of yourself, Poppy", he said. "And mind the tea".

She hit his shoulder in mock anger. "That was not funny", she said but with a grin at the corners of her mouth.

But her face became serious when she said, "You take care as well, Alastor".

"I will", he promised while placing his hands on her shoulders and bending his head down. The quick kiss landed in her hair and as always he had to fight down the urge to cup her face between his hands and kiss her like he wanted to.

She expected to feel his lips on her forehead or in her hair and she did. But for a brief moment she also felt his chin against her forehead. It felt a bit rough but it wasn't in the least an unpleasant feeling.

Knowing that she was beet red and unable to fight and unable to fight the goofy grin of her face she looked at him one last time. "See you soon, Alastor".

He squeezed her hand before releasing it and threw a handful of Floo Powder in the fire. "Morgan's Hollow", he spoke clearly. And in a flash of green flames he was gone.

Sinking down on the couch she covered her burning cheeks with her hands. "Oh Merlin…", she muttered, her head still filled with images of him.

Humming a silly tune she got to her feet and began to clean the tea set away.

finite

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