Chapter Text
As Poppy smoothed out her green pinafore and tied back her hair with a ribbon to match, Minnie entered the room with two mugs. One was pink with the word 'Princess' on it and the other proudly displayed the words: 'Queen Bitch' which had been messily painted on by a younger Remus after feeling inspired by Bowie's profound lyrics.
Minnie had a soft smile on her lips as she took a seat on the bed, eyes fixated on Poppy who caught her eye in the yellow-framed, floor length mirror. Shyly, Poppy smiled, "What?"
"You are so beautiful." Minnie replied simply.
Poppy could've melted into a sticky, gooey puddle on the spot. It didn't seem to matter how many times she was complimented by her lover, it would never fail to give her butterflies.
"Thank you."
"It was truly the most clichéd thing I could have said, and for that I apologise sincerely." Her Scottish accent was prominent as she spoke.
"Don't be daft!" Poppy spun around and tilted her head fondly, "You could say I look absolutely horrendous and I'd still worship you."
A rosy blush clouded across Minnie's face as she absorbed the words, "I would never!" She sounded almost scandalised.
Cheekily, Poppy cocked an eyebrow, "Oh yes?" and took a few steps closer.
"With utmost certainty, in fact, if I ever did you must tell me to pack my bags or beg at your feet for a measly apology!" She sounded as if she was joking, but she would've done.
"Don't be so ridiculous!" she was getting closer still until their knees were pressing against eachother.
"Well, I'm not you!" She joked and leaned forwards and up.
"How dare you," she murmured practically against your lips.
Quietly, "You love it."
Smiling, "Yes, I really do."
Their lips met in a well practiced dance, moving in perfect harmony. It never failed to feel like complete magic and utter bliss.
And they both used real magic on a daily basis.
They both leaned back, smiling at eachother, completely wrapped up in the moment and their company.
"Here you go, love," Minnie held out the mug with 'princess' on it.
"Thanks." she replied with a fond eye-roll.
Smiling, she lifted her own mug in a form of mock salute. Then, she pushed a hand into her leg, "Right!" and stood up, "I'll leave you to do what you need to, breakfast will be ready in twenty!" she left after kissing her cheek and placing a lingering hand on her upper arm.
Sometimes, Poppy thought that she should be embarrassed of how she could blush like a schoolgirl after having simple interactions with her love. Even calling her, 'her love' sent a pleasant shiver crawling like gentle fingertips up her spine.
One the side table, she set down the tea (that was sweetened with two teaspoons of sugar) and set the crumpled light blue bedsheets in order.
Then, she sat at the vintage, cream vanity and applied some light makeup. It was nothing fancy, although to spice it up a little, she'd allowed herself the liberty of smudging some brown kohl eyeliner around her eyes.
After just over twenty minutes had passed, she began to make her way down the creamy staircase, basking in the warm light that swam through the open windows and shone through the air, dust particles obvious.
She passed through the small living room, where she stopped to adjust the crocheted, orange throw on their rusty red sofa, before entering the kitchen to the sight of a tired Remus nursing a cup of tea at the table (his mug was red and housed the words 'I love my mum' which had been purchased (in a charity shop (just like all the others)) as a homage to both of them) and Minnie at the stove cooking up some eggs and sausages.
The air was full with the smell of freshly baked bread, which Poppy had only just begun to notice.
"Smells lovely dear." she said as she pressed a kiss to the top of Remus' head, before moving to behind Minnie, where she wrapped her arms around her waist and burrowed her face into the top of her back.
"Thank you, but it's nothing special." Poppy knew that at this precise moment in time Minerva Jade McGonagall was sporting a lovely red blush from the complement of her extraordinary cooking.
"I'm sure it is," she murmured into her back.
"Is there anyway you could be all romantic somewhere else?" Remus remarked sassily.
Poppy turned to face him, "Oi, you little homophobe!"
Shaking his head Remus retorted, "I'm so sorry that I, a homosexual myself, have offended your ways!"
"Good, now go and lay the table!" Minnie pressed with a poorly hidden grin.
Yawning, Remus followed her orders and laid out the cutlery neatly on the ash wood table as Minnie continued to bustle about.
"When did you decide to make bread?" Poppy enquired, now pouring herself a new cup of tea.
Minnie shrugged bashfully, "I just thought it would be nice, a nice addition to the picnic."
Poppy smiled, "I'm sure it will be delightful my love."
"Ew, you two are so in love it makes me sick." Remus commented cheekily.
Minnie swatted him with a red and white checked tea towel, "Watch it you."
In response, he stuck out his tongue and scrunched his nose up like a bratty child who'd just had the final say in a petty argument.
"Just sit down and eat your breakfast," Minnie tutted as she scraped the scrambled egg of the frying pan and put them on a yellow plate.
Poppy took the plate to the table as Minnie gathered the sausages onto their own plate, placing them on the table too, before attending to the freshly baked bread.
Grabbing the light blue butter dish (which had painted daisies on the side) Poppy took her own seat at the table, shuffling to get as comfortable as possible as she reached over to grab one of the warm bread rolls, cutting it down the middle and lathering butter upon it.
"I thought that much butter wouldn't be good for you." Remus asked, scooping scrambled egg onto his own (unbuttered) roll.
Poppy side eyed him, "It's fine, it'd only be harmful in large quantities."
"O-kay.."
"Oh shut up."
He grinned and went to grab a sausage with his bare hand, which he was quickly scolded for and used his fork instead.
Remus had ketchup on his, and brown sauce. Minnie had only brown sauce. And Poppy; nothing at all. The only thing they all had in common was the use of salt and pepper.
Once they had all finished ("that was absolutely delightful, Minnie, thank you.") Remus and Minnie went to brush their teeth ("You should really brush them before breakfast, you know!") as Poppy was left to clean up.
Minnie had come back down the stairs first, "Remus will be down in just a tic, he's just deciding on a book to read."
"Why not the one he's currently reading?"
"He's already finished it, apparently."
"Merlin," she leaned forwards slightly, facing Minnie, "but he only started it yesterday."
"Well you know how he is." Minnie said with a raised eyebrow and a fond smile.
"I should like to say I do." After a short pause, "Do you think he has enough social life?" she said as she leaned even further forward, worried.
Minnie laughed slightly, smoothing out the crease of worry that had developed on Poppy's brow with her spindly fingers, always so delicate and gentle, "He's fine, he has plenty of social life, he just loves to read."
"Yeah... yeah, you're right, of course you're right." Poppy said, attempting to reassure herself, "Right?"
Minnie chuckled and took Poppy into her arms, tucking her into the safest corner of the world there was.
"He's fine."
"Who's fine?" Remus asked as he came down the stairs, jumping down the last two steps.
"No one dear." Minnie said, Poppy still engulfed in the hug.
"O-kay..." Remus said, slowly as he eyed them suspiciously.
"Have you decided on a book?" Minnie asked, releasing Poppy from her grasp and smoothing out the other's pinafore gently.
"Yep!" He popped the 'p' and rocked back on his heels.
She raised her eyebrow at him expectantly, "And?"
"Oh! Murder on the Orient Express." he answered, holding the cover of the book to face them.
"Christie, nice!" Minnie said, forever approving of a good mystery book.
The works of the likes of Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle etcetera, held a very special place in her heart, and her copy of 'Murder on The Orient Express' was 'well-loved' and, so 'well-loved,' that its spine was broken, the cover was falling off, the pages yellowed and most of them creased. Some pages were even falling out! And it had that traditional old book smell.
"Indeed it is." Remus grinned, before cheekily adding, "When did you get this again? 200BC?"
Minnie's mouth dropped open in shock, "You cheeky bugger!"
His teeth gleamed as his grin widened and he tried his best RP accent, "I shan't stand for this abusive language! I simply won't have it!"
"Oh you're a fine one to talk, Mr '200BC!'" she scoffed at him, gesturing widely.
"Alright, girls, that's enough." Poppy just had to get in on the fun.
"He's a wee cheeky bugger that one."
Pressing a hand to his heart, Remus feigned offense and sounding scolded, exclaimed, "Minnie!"
"I agree," Poppy chimed as Remus' offense became real, "But that is no excuse for being rude."
"What the actual f-"
"Language," Minnie butted in firmly.
"-Flibbertigibbet, is what I was going to say. Poppy, I thought you actually like me, why are you siding with her?"
"Because you were being a cheeky bugger," Remus stood in disbelief, "Now go and get your shoes on."
Sighing in defeat, Remus trudged over to the shoe rack and, placing his book down on the floor next to it, extracted his Dr Martins and excruciatingly slowly pulled them on and tied the laces up.
"Oh you idiot." Minnie scolded as she saw how slowly he was doing it, and walked away, so as not to grab his shoes and place them on him as if he was a petulant child throwing a fit.
"Wipe that smirk off your face!" Her shrill cry came from the kitchen.
And his smirk was replaced by a mouthed, 'how does she always know?'
"I am your mother, I know everything."
The tips of his ears became slightly pinker as he looked at Poppy, who was leant against the wall by the shoe rack and cost hangers, trying not to smile.
"Does she know how to mind read or something."
"Oh most definitely." Then she walked away, only just catching a small 'right' fall from Remus' lips.
A few minutes later, Minnie and Poppy both reappeared though the arch shaped doorway, Minnie holding a picnic basket, and smiled at Remus, who was sat on the floor, nose dug into his book like a hungry dog sniffing for treats in someone's pocket.
Minnie and Poppy exchanged a look over their bookish son, and the latter of the two leant over and whispered into Minnie's ear, "Whoever gains his attention first doesn't have to carry the picnic blanket."
"You're so on."
The game being hers, Poppy started, "Remus?"
Of course, he didn't look up.
"We are ready to go, dear!" Minnie tried.
This is when it would start to get obscure.
"The bananas are raining so we need to peel the weather forecast."
"Sounds good." Remus said, never peeling his eyes away from his book.
"Surely that counts," Poppy whispered triumphantly.
"He wasn't engaged, he was just replying."
"That's still attention!"
"Hardly!"
"Fine have it your way then."
"I will, thank you very much."
Poppy babbled in mockery, and received a pointy elbow to the side, "Ow!"
"Oh shush, it didn't hurt," of course it didn't actually hurt, she wasn't weak.
Then Minnie said, louder, "Potatoes are in the cheese, and cheddar is crocheting a knitting needle."
Poppy swallowed down a laugh.
"All the lonely people are coming from the trees."
Minnie let a giggle slip past her lips, "What does that even mean?"
"Sh!" She said through giggles.
"David Bowie is in the window!"
Remus' head shot up like a rabbit that had just sensed a fox, "Did someone say Bowie?"
"That's not fair! Bowie always works!"
"Well then you should use it next time." Minnie said, sticking out her tongue and thrusting out the blanket.
Poppy snatched it from her as Remus sat there in bewilderment, "Come on love, it's time to go!"
"What about Bowie?"
The two women exchanged another silent look and smiled, two Cheshire cats commuting to create an awful creation.
"Don't worry."
"But why did you say Bowie? Why would you say Bowie if there's nothing about him here?"
"It's okay, Remus." Poppy tried calming him with.
"No! It's not!" He scrambled to his feet, "You can't say Bowie without telling me the context of you saying it, it's weird and uncouth, and you just- don't do that!"
Poppy gulped back laughter and Minnie hid her smile behind an elegantly placed hand.
"You're awful, both of you."
"How dare you! We are both perfectly respectable women, thank you very much." Minnie chastised.
Remus made a face at them, which earned him a sterner (though still jokey) face back.
"Are we going on this bleeding picnic or not? I've only been waiting seventy years!" Remus impatiently said, looking as though he might stamp his foot; ever the toddler throwing a tantrum.
"Don't be daft!" Minnie reprimanded, "Of course we are bloomin' going, I've not made all of this food for nothing. And what do you think you're on about, seventy years? Cheeky sod."
"I thought that I should aim for your age," Remus offered, in a way that some may consider cheeky, or just plain rude.
Minnie opted for the latter, "Oh you rude little boy, I've half a mind to leave without you!"
"Oh but Minnie, you could never do that! You love me too much!" He said, fluttering his long eyelashes and putting on his best angle face.
"Not when you say things like that!"
"Excuse you!"
"Excuse yourself, seventy years old! That's about half Dumbledore's age, do I look half Dumbledore's age?!" She cried.
"Well if those grey hairs are anything to go by-"
"OH you awful, awful boy!" Minnie shrieked, definitely not to Poppy's amusement,"The only so-called 'grey hairs' that (by the way) I do not have are caused by you and your despicable friends, causing havoc and pandemonium everywhere you go!"
"Alright! I'm only joking!" Remus said hurriedly, recognising the stern teacher voice that Minnie never failed to use when someone was not complying with the rules, "I didn't mean to offend you or be rude, I was just joking!"
"It's not to be said, Remus, these things can hurt people's feelings!" Poppy chipped in, pressing her fingers to her lips, that were shining with the promise of a smile.
"It's alright, I'm not actually offended, for I know that my hair (other than my beautiful partner's) is the most magnificent around. You just need to learn these things the hard way sometimes Remus."
"What, that your hair is great?"
"Yes, but also respect. It is a key skill in any person's life." she told him, "Now, although I was joking for the most part, some people may actually be offended if you said something like that to them."
Remus sighed, having been told this many times before, "And I know this, I also know that you don't mind it; if I thought you did, I would never had said it, you know this!"
"Of course I do."
"Right! Well now that is sorted, let's get going, shall we?" Poppy interrupted.
"Of course, my dear." And then she placed a kiss on her lips.
"Blurgh, you two are so romantic, it makes me sick."
"Oh you misanthrope, cheer up." Poppy laughed.
"I am not a misanthrope, thank you very much!"
Minnie and Poppy exchanged a look, that wasn't strictly sincere.
"Oh! Charming, thanks." he deadpanned.
"You're welcome," Poppy returned, and held out the blanket, "Now carry this."
Huffing, rolling his eyes and snatching the blanket, Remus took a step towards the door, "Off we go!"
A blanketless Poppy looked far to pleased with herself as Minnie snatched up her wrist, "I don't think that was part of the deal!" she whispered.
"It isn't explicitly against the rules, besides he was being a cheeky monkey and to the love of my life! It's the least he deserved." she said back in a low tone, and shrugged.
Now, Remus was out of the door and waiting impatiently for them, "Enjoying your mothers meeting?"
"Oh yes, perfectly thank you." Minnie replied as she stood in front of the mirror, applying a light pink lipstick to brighten up her lips.
"You know what I'd enjoy?" Remus asked, hand on hip with Poppy fondly rolling her eyes at him.
"Please, enlighten me." Minnie responded as she wiped away excess lipstick that had smudged slightly.
"Leaving!" he emphasised by clapping his hands together.
"Alright, you impatient git, we are coming." She checked her hair (which was Dutch braided down her back (it came out quite long when released from her usual attire of a tight bun)) and smiled at herself in the mirror (or at least that's what she'd say- she was actually smiling at the beauty that stood behind her).
"Only took you seventy years!"
"Well according to you that would be my whole lifetime, are you insinuating that I waited my whole lifetime for this very moment?" Minnie accused, fixing him with a hard stare and raised eyebrow; an infamous look that Remus and his friends had experienced far to often over the three years they'd spent at Hogwarts.
Remus made a face, "Minnie! Don't be so harsh on yourself, you are in the prime of your youth!" He sprung over to her and took her arm, "Just be careful going down the step, yeah? Slowly does it!" he mischievously said as he walked her like one might an elderly person with a fall risk.
"Oh! You cheeky rascal!" Minnie snapped, quickly pulling her arm from where it was interlocked with his.
Remus grinned impishly as he trotted down the step and, swinging the picnic blanket, raced down to the end of the garden coming to a stop at the gate.
Minnie smiled affectionately after him, "I suppose we'd better get going, hm?" she said as she held out her free hand towards her better half.
"Indeed," she replied as she took said hand and nuzzled up to her side.
"What are you doing?" Minnie asked affectionately.
"Generating power." Poppy simply replied, inhaling the flowery scent of the other's perfume.
Chuckling lovingly, she responded, "What? I give you power?"
Poppy just looked up at her, meeting her gentle hazel eyes (though in this light they looked more green) with her own blue ones and reached her face close to hers, pressing their noses together so that those gorgeous eyes sort of blurred into one, which made her giggle.
"What?" Minnie whispered, smiling softly and scrunching up her nose like a bunny rabbit which made Poppy giggle more, "What is it?" Her voice was getting quieter now.
Sweetly, Poppy shook her head slightly and tried to unblur the lines that made the eyes one, to make them two different stars once again.
"Go on, tell me." her voice was now the ghost of a whisper.
"I love you so much, so s-" she broke it off with a wet laugh, breaking eye contact which Minnie quickly chased after.
Taking her chin gently, with just her index finger and her thumb, she asked softly, "What's brought this on?" And upon receiving no reply, "hm?"
Minnie looked and felt worried, this wasn't at all like Poppy.
"I- I just," she cleared her throat, "I feel so h-happy. Whenever I'm with you I'm the happiest I've ever been; all the fights, and hardships they- they give us more time together and it makes me feel happy, you and Remus, but especially you, are my happiness."
She paused for breath.
* * *
"I love every moment with you, but I wish people could know that. I wish we didn't have to hide who we are, to have it considered a sin." Poppy confessed, as if she felt dirty just for saying it.
After some quiet deliberation, Minnie spoke, "I have never lived anyone, anyone, the way I have loved you. And, I have never had a religion, but maybe you are because I will worship you till the day I die. But, if loving you is a sin... if it makes me a monster,"
Here, she smiled.
"If it makes me a monster, I will take my own claws and dig them into myself, just so I can bleed the love others need, that I can only feel because of you, because I love you. And if that's a sin, my love, I will burn and scream and suffer just to know that the only thing I sinned for was love, not hate or something terrible."
Her teeth shone like stars.
"I am just a woman, I cannot change the Gods or the stars, or the planets or whatever else is out there, I can only be myself. And even if it kills me, at least I died loving you with my whole existence, and even if everything else I ever did is meaningless, at least that wasn't."
Poppy took a shaky breath, then pulled her closer and breathed, "I love you, thank you, I- I love you."
And simply Minnie replied, "I know." and kissed her, it was her life's purpose really.
The kiss was magic, beautiful, Minnie didn't know what had come over Poppy, but she did know that every word she had spoken about her was true.
When they broke apart, cheeks rosy and lips bright, eyes glowing positively, Minnie asked, "What was that about, my love?"
"I'm just silly really," she wiped at her glossy eyes, "I just wish that people could know about our love, that we could act like this, with Remus, act like his mum's everywhere, without judgement. Without people wondering which of us was the mum and the other the friend or aunt of something."
"Me too." Minnie confessed, "In another lifetime, I'm sure."
"Yeah," Poppy nodded.
"We don't need to go on the picnic if you're not up to it?" She offered gently.
"No, I'm fine, I can't think of anything better than a picnic right now."
* * *
"Okay, well the boy will be waiting." she said cheerily.
"Oh the little scamp, he's probably been getting up to all sorts of mischief whilst we've been having a deep psychological breakdown!"
"Indeed, cheeky bugger, come on, let's go find out." Minnie said as she grasped Poppy's hand and together they marched out of the door, shutting it behind them.
"Are you ready, Remus? We have a picnic to attend to!"
Remus, despite his claims of boredom, seemed perfectly content sat on the fence, enjoying his book.