McKevin Manor December 30th 2027

Hardly a manor, the small brick house had been cheerfully named despite its humble appearance. And yet the expansive yard and magically enhanced interior made it much more comfortable than the cozy front suggested.

Horatio and Eglantine McKevin were seated at the breakfast table, each engaged in private reading. For the venerable HoM professor, a muggle newspaper opened to the comics page was keeping him happy and entertained. Eglantine on the other hand was deeply engrossed in a rather well written essay from one of her transfiguration pupils.

"Kitty, don't you think a mystery or even a drama would be better than marking at this hour?" Horatio asked, peering over his spectacles at his wife.

"Hardly." she murmured. Sighing, Horatio laid down his newspaper and rose from the table.

"How were your sardines, love?" he asked, stacking his empty plate under her hardly touched one. Usually it would concern him that she had not eaten enough, especially not for two, much less three. But Eglantine had fallen into a breakfast routine that although it hardly seemed healthy, was a habit nonetheless.

"Lovely, Schatz." she murmured, her eyes still pinned to the parchment. Horatio doubted she had even heard him as the sardines had not been touched...

"Want me to pick up Edwin this afternoon?" he asked, as the boy had spent the last two nights over at his Kiara's house with his "nephews" as he jokingly called them. Officially, they were his nephews and nieces despite the fact one was older than him and the other two were only a few years younger.

"A few more hours of peace would be nice." Eglantine stated, her voice dead serious. Horatio chuckled at his wife's dry humour.

"Yes, it would be. Maybe I should go over as well and leave you three here to read in peace." he leaned over to kiss her forehead. Heading for the sink, he set the dishes down and flicked the faucet on.

"That will not be necessary, Schatz." Eglantine looked up from the paper and slowly rose to her feet. Horatio levitated her cane to her and she took it, grateful for its solid support. Making her way up behind him, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Habe ich jemals erfahren Sie, wie sehr ich alles, was Sie für mich tun?" ((did I ever tell you how much I appreciate everything you do for me?)) She asked in German. Horatio chuckled. It had taken him several years to learn, but being the genius he was, he had mastered the language.

"Ja, aber, fühlen Sie sich frei, mir zu sagen, trotzdem." ((Yes, but feel free to tell me anyway.)) he replied, turning from the sink to face her.

Eglantine smiled seductively and pulled him down for a passionate kiss. The dishes remained unwashed...