Merlin, Alice loved mornings.

She was sitting on the kitchen counter, next to the sink, in only a cream-coloured tank top and red panties, stroking her cat’s head.

Harvey was a grey tabby that she had found on the street. She loved him like a child.

She loved her apartment above her family’s store in Diagon Alley, too. The shop had been in the Fortescue family for generations. It was called Fortescue’s Forgotten. It was like a thrift muggle store of sorts, filled to the brim of magical artifacts and knicknacks.

So, it had understandably gained a reputation as the most haunted building in Diagon Alley.

There were things like old jewelry, silverware and plates, frames, record players, wardrobes, whatever Wizarding pawned off before the Aurors could get at it.

Luckily, the redhead had befriended Mad-Eye Moody during her time at Hogwarts. Because of his secret fondness for Alice and for her family’s shop, he let it remain unchecked.

She took a sip of the herbal tea that was warming her hands- something floral you had picked up from the Apothecary on the corner. You walked in, already dressed in a tight-fitting white button-up, dark wash bell-bottom jeans, a green cardigan, and beaded dangle earrings- the ones that had come in that were made with the clock part of a different watch in each earring.

You bent down to pat Harvey when he jumped off the counter, earning a soft meow.

You looked breathtaking, as usual.

With a smile, you walked over to plant a kiss on her lips. By some miracle, you had showered and done your hair and makeup and gotten dressed by 6:32am.

Alice slid off the counter as you got out some eggs for yourself, and cut up some strawberries for her oatmeal. You popped two slices of bread in the toaster- one to be lathered in strawberry jam for her and one to be spread sparingly with butter and drizzled with honey for you.

“So, who’s opening the shop today, ladybug?” You asked, beginning to make yourself a mug of tea. You prepared your toast and eggs as it steeped.

“You. I’ve gotta run over to the bakery this morning. It’s Harry’s first birthday and I commuted us to hosting.” The halfblood replied, taking her oatmeal and toast from your hands.

The chatter that followed was nonsensical and broken into little proclamations of love and poetry and song.

But that was always what the breakfast table was like with Alice- warm, happy and filling. There was no yelling here, only disagreements gently talked through.

Merlin. Who cared that there was a war on right now? You got to wake up to her face and to love her.

She might not have had much money to offer, but the love she had was enough.