Chapter 1: We Survivors
"Come in," Minerva McGonagall whispered without averting her gaze from the pile of papers before her on the desk. She didn't even need to look up to be aware of whom was at her door. Minerva didn't get disappointed, as Hermione Granger happily bounced into the office and basically skipped over to her.
Minerva quietly lowered her quill and raised her eyes to meet Hermione's seriously. Of course she already could have guessed that this would need to happen sooner maybe rather than later. That, however, didn't really make it any easier for the much older Headmistress… She internally dreaded the girl's reaction on what was just inevitable to be said. She couldn't have something like earlier that week happen again, though. She had had immense delight, but… She couldn't, for both her and Hermione's sake.
"Professor?" Hermione's voice came, upon seeing the seriousness in the Gryffindor's teal green eyes. She didn't like this... not in the least.
"Miss Granger…" she began, slowly raising herself from the comfortable high chair. This made the girl's heart momentarily fail. 'Miss Granger'? This immediately had the younger Gryffindor's thoughts run in mere directions, but most particularly did it remind her of these typical break-up scenes in Muggle books or rather movies.
She only noticed Minerva 's nearness when slowly raising her head and seeing the much older witch before her, with just a couple of inches between them. Hermione wouldn't give her the chance to break her pupil's heart, effectively silencing her even before she had said more, by pushing her lips upon the Headmistress' thin, softer ones. Hermione demandingly kissed her, lips moving against hers with every little bit of passion she could actually muster, as her fingers lovingly roved over her sides.
Minerva momentarily gave into the caress, enjoying the feel of Hermione near and the touch of her well-defined full lips upon hers. Innumerous thoughts coursed across her, though. This couldn't happen again. It couldn't. Thus Minerva very suddenly pulled away from the younger girl's lips and thoughtfully steadied her, as she almost toppled over from the suddenness of the Headmistress' actions.
"Miss Granger," Minerva repeated, both of her hands remaining lingering onto the pupil's shoulders. "We cannot do this anymore. I'm your headmistress. You're one of the pupils at the school I lead."
"Minerva…" she interrupted, rapidly thudding in despair.
She unconsciously squeezed the younger girl's shoulders before going on, "We have gone too far. We cannot do this anymore, and certainly not until you have left here. It would jeopardize the…"
Hermione nodded, quietly moving away from her lover. Minerva's hands slid from her shoulders to her sides again, and Hermione slowly reached up to weave her arms across her chest. A layer of gooseflesh rose onto her skin upon realizing what Minerva McGonagall meant. Of course. She should have kept in mind how Minerva only wanted the best for everyone, but most of all for Hogwarts. It sounded quite unlikely to her that Minerva would ever begin something with a pupil, even after these had left the school… Even if she had already taught most of the existing British Wizarding world. She would still consider all as pupils and thus not as appropriate to have relationships with. How could she ever have been so short-sighted?
"Hermione," Minerva whispered, this time using the girl's first name. "A lot has befallen upon us since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and especially last year, and that made me realize more than ever that what's worthwhile in life. A lot of good witches… and wizards have been lost, which left scars upon those who survived, like you and me." Hermione didn't need to hear more to know she at least meant Dumbledore. "We'll never really be the same again as before, and it gives us some peace to share this with others who survived. We need each other to go through with everything. We need it to be reminded of the fact that we aren't alone in having to build up everything again, but I'm not sure whether it would be that good of an idea if…"
"Who's going to save you?" Hermione whispered. Albus wasn't there anymore.
Minerva swallowed, taken aback. "Excuse me?"
"Who's going to save you?" Hermione repeated, slowly nearing her again and taking both of her hands into hers, before meeting her eyes. She quietly watched the older Headmistress searching for anything suitable to say.
"I'm old," she whispered, after a while of silence.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione uttered. "You're not old, and you're just as worthy of finding happiness as anyone else that has survived this," she whispered, before sighing. "Of course I do get why you are concerned about being with me right now, but if that alone is the reason, I'll wait."
"Miss Granger…" Minerva's voice came. Hermione slowly released the much older witch upon hearing herself being addressed like any other meaningless pupil again. "I don't usually allow any pupils to capture me the way you did and do," she admitted. "I have to get used to this. I really have to figure if…" she said, slowly shaking her head. She hadn't really been this honest about her feelings with anyone before. It just felt natural in the company of Hermione Granger, though… but it didn't make the battle in her head less difficult or exhausting.
Hermione nodded. "It won't change the way that I feel about you, though," she whispered, slowly letting her fingers stroke over the much older witch's cheek. She almost immediately felt the Headmistress leaning into the touch, eyes slowly fluttering shut. "I'll be waiting." Even though the loneliness is killing me inside.