After the battle
Hermione carefully opened the white hospital door and peeped into the room occupied by Minerva McGonagall since the war ended three days ago. The elder witch seemed to be asleep and Hermione quietly entered, feeling the need to sit with her for at least a little while. Taking the chair beside the bed, Hermione's eyes scanned the woman lying in bed, her injuries hidden by the covers. Hermione had half a mind to look under them, wanting to find out how bad things were.
An hour of silent watching passed until Hermione decided to leave. She stood up quietly and was about to go when tired green eyes blinked up to her. "Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall whispered, trying to manage a small smile.
Hermione shyly returned the smile, feeling much better to see her mentor awake. "Professor."
Before the young witch could ask how she was, the professor asked, "Are you leaving?"
"I was about to, yes." Hermione saw the brief flicker of sadness on the other woman's face before she nodded.
"If you'd like me to, I can stay a little longer," Hermione offered.
Another small smile appeared on Professor McGonagall's face. "Please."
"How are you feeling, Professor?" Hermione asked, reclaiming her earlier spot and watching the older witch decide what she could answer. "You don't need to answer that. When you need to think about what is safe to tell me, I already know the answer."
"You know me so well, Miss Granger" she replied weakly. How could she tell her former pupil how truly battered and alone she was.
"Hermione, please." It was time to leave the formalities behind. She was no longer a student.
"Hermione. It is good to see you." The tired woman closed her heavy eyes. For months she had hoped to see her bright charge again. To know that she was safe. She had seen her during the last battle, but she didn't know if she'd made it.
"Professor, it is so very good to see you again. Now you have to get well very soon, hmm?" The young witch spoke softly, knowing that she would do everything in her power to help her mentor. Seeing that the Professor didn't open her eyes again, she added, "You are tired. I should let you rest now."
Green eyes connected with her again. "No, please."
Hermione felt a tug at her heart as her mentor so obviously didn't want to be left alone. "Close your eyes, Professor. I'm staying right here with you."
The older woman obeyed and Hermione started talking, carefully avoiding the war, concentrating instead on recalling fond memories she had shared with her mentor over the years, creating an atmosphere of comfort. Minerva was obviously too exhausted to talk, but the expressions on her face showed clearly that she was listening carefully. Every so often, when Hermione stopped talking, she opened her eyes again to see if the girl was still there.
Realizing her mentor needed to make sure her visitor hadn't left, Hermione smiled. "I'm still here."
"Just checking," Minerva admitted weakly, causing a tender smile from the young witch at her bedside.
"Try and sleep, Professor. I promise, I'm not leaving," Hermione tried, but the green eyes fluttered open again. Thinking of a way to reassure her mentor, Hermione reached over to where she suspected the professor's hand lay under the covers.
The elder woman was startled a bit, as she wasn't able to see what Hermione was doing from her position, being too weak to move her head more. When she felt the cold air coming in under the cover and warm fingertips upon her hand, she held onto the young hand as tightly as her weakened condition would allow.
"Better?" Hermione whispered, stroking the back of her mentor's hand with the thumb.
The prospective headmistress nodded and sighed contently.
"Sleep well, Professor," Hermione wished tenderly, being happy that she was here now, happy that she hadn't left earlier.
"Hermione?" the half-sleeping witch asked with closed eyes.
"Yes?" came the soft reply.
"Please call me Minerva." It was highly unusual for her to offer that intimacy to anyone, but it felt good and safe to offer it to Hermione.
The young woman was very touched at the request, knowing that none of her former students were allowed to call her that, not even the order members. She slipped her other hand under the cover as well, carefully holding Minerva's between her own, hoping it would sooth her enough to fall asleep. "It is an honour, Minerva."
XXX
An hour later, maybe two, in any case far too soon for Hermione's liking, Minerva started to moan and become uneasy. When it was obvious that the pain was getting too strong, Hermione squeezed Minerva's hand in her own and started rubbing her arm up and down in soothing strokes. She must have come upon a tender spot, because the older woman opened her eyes, wincing considerably and Hermione shied away immediately.
"Minerva, I'm so sorry. Have I hurt you?" She had never seen her head of house in pain before and it was most unsettling, but Minerva's hand didn't let go of hers, on the contrary, she gripped it harder.
"It is just the pain potion wearing off." She bit her lips to prevent her moaning in pain. Every fibre of her being felt on fire, the multiple severe injuries making themselves known.
Hermione's stomach cramped, having to witness such pain. "Let me get a healer for you."
Minerva was torn between her need to have her friend close by and the much needed pain relief, but Hermione didn't wait for an answer. Instead she stood and seeing the slightly fearful look on her mentor's face, she let her hand cup Minerva's cheek for a brief moment. "Hold on, sweetheart. I'll be right back here with you."
In the few seconds Minerva was alone she couldn't keep the tears at bay, the pain was simply too intense. As promised, Hermione shortly returned with a healer, taking hold of Minerva's hand again.
"Miss McGonagall, how are you feeling? Miss Granger informed me that you need another potion for the pain," the healer stated amiably.
Minerva tried to nod, but failed. "Yes," was all she managed to say.
"Ah, yes, I can see that." The healer took a vial out of her pocket and handed it to Minerva, who managed to take it with her left hand.
The healer started to write in the medical record and Hermione watched Minerva struggle with the vial and the pain. Realizing it was unlikely that the older woman would be able to take the potion without help, Hermione quietly reached over the bed and took the vial from the trembling hand. She carefully lifted Minerva's head and bringing the vial to her lips, aided her in drinking it.
"Thank you," Minerva breathed, grateful for her young charge's thoughtfulness. Hermione smiled gently, taking her hand again, waiting so see what the healer would do next.
"All right, Professor, just let me check your injuries and then I'll leave you in peace until it is time for your dinner and a dreamless sleep potion." She smiled gently at Hermione. "Would you mind waiting outside?"
The young witch certainly had no objection, but the hand that tightened around her own made clear that she should stay. "I'm sorry, but I think Professor McGonagall wants me to stay."
The healer raised an eyebrow, but gave in when her patient insisted, "I do indeed want Miss Granger to stay."
"Fine, fine, let see what we have here," the middle aged healer said, lifting the covers from the Professor's battered body.
Hermione couldn't help the gasp that escaped her mouth quite unbidden. There was not a centimeter not covered by black bruises or bandages or long scars from nasty cuts. It was obvious that not every injuries had been caused by the final battle, although the majority of course were. She must have endured so much at the hands of the Carrows.
Hermione couldn't see the healer clearly, her vision impaired by unshed tears, but she asked "What injuries does she have?"
"Don't worry, Hermione," Minerva tried to interject, but the healer talked freely.
"Oh it took quite a while to patch her up again. A broken hip, two broken ribs, several deep cuts, a torn muscle in the right arm, minor internal bleeding and curses." Minerva groaned when she checked the bandaged ribs and touched the broken hip, but the healer didn't seem to care too much. She just put the cover back and seeing Hermione put her hand over her mouth in shock, she tried to sooth. "She'll be fine. Don't worry. She needs a few weeks of bed rest and then take it slowly for several months and she'll be as good as new."
If that was meant to make Hermione feel better, it certainly didn't work and Minerva saw it.
"I'll see you later," the healer said and Minerva was glad to see her go. Now she could concentrate on Hermione, squeezing her hand. "Hermione."
"Hermione, please look at me," she tried again. She waited until Hermione obeyed and looked into the tear filled eyes. "I've been through worse in my life. "
Not wanting to burden the injured woman with her own emotions, Hermione turned and headed for the window, staring outside without seeing.
"Hermione, please come here," Minerva pleaded. As much as she wanted to, she just couldn't go after the young woman and it pained her more than anything, having to watch Hermione withdraw from her.
When Hermione showed no reaction she said. "Please don't be cruel. I can't come to you so please come back to me."
Knowing that she was being unfair, Hermione wiped her tears and walked back to the bed. She even tried to smile, but failed miserably. When Minerva searched for her hand, Hermione reached out to give her mentor what she wanted. "Hermione, it's all right. I will be fine."
"No. No, it is not all right. You are not all right at all and I can't even imagine what you've been through these past months. How hard you fought back then and in the final battle. It is not all right and I don't think anything will ever be all right again." Tears were streaming down her face and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Minerva tried to move her arm, to wipe Hermione's tears, but it was too painful. "Come here. Make an old woman happy and rest your head here next to mine."
Hermione hesitated, causing Minerva to slightly pull on her hand. "Please, darling."
The endearment seemed to help and the young witch sat down again and carefully placed her head next to her mentor's. Feeling a small kiss upon her hair, she snuggled closer into the elder woman's shoulder.
"I'm still here and I am not going anywhere," she soothed the still crying girl. "A little more time in your company and I shall be up and about in short order. I promise." She felt Hermione nod against her shoulder, just before sleep claimed her senses.
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