Vindictus closed and locked his office door, so that no one could enter while he was away. He pulled his robes tightly about him and walked at a fast pace towards the Castle.

Several wooden crates were stacked neatly in one corner of the room and Vindictus stared at how empty it looked. His office furniture that he'd brought with him had been moved earlier in the day, and he had just finished packing the last of his belongings. He had already arranged for the crates to be moved and shipped to his London address.

Am I doing the right thing? Am I?

He gave the office one last look and knew he needed to head back to the castle for the End-of-Term Feast. If he didn't, they'd still find him standing there when school resumed in September.

Sigh.

A lump formed in his throat.

Why is this so hard?

Sniffle.

Vindictus walked towards the door and turned the door knob. As he pulled the door open, it groaned on its hinges as if it were saddened by the departure of the office's occupant after 18 years. He stepped across the threshold and pulled the door shut behind him.

Eighteen glorious years of teaching at Hogwarts was now behind him.