Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the song used - 'Cosmic Love' by Florence + the Machine. The characters' are J.K. Rowling's and the song is Florence + the Machine's. Please don't sue me.
A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes.
The night sky always left an impression in Hermione's mind, regardless of how often she would take time out of her week to simply gaze up at the stars. She found that the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts provided the best, unobstructed view of the sky and its twinkling studs.
The Astronomy Tower itself was a remarkable structure, witness to battles, the blossoming of relationships, and much more.
It was where Dumbledore fell.
It was where - nearly five years ago and in the midst of the final battle against Voldemort - Hermione had admitted her love to Minerva.
I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it's left me blind.
"Oh, Minerva," Hermione sighed, quickly wiping away the newest batch of tears.
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
She had risked it all for Minerva: her reputation, her career, her heart…. all of it.
She had left the security of her lukewarm relationship with Ronald Weasley to feel the warm, wet, and wonderful embrace of Minerva's lips.
Minerva made her feel alive, and all worries evaporated when Minerva was with her.
The relationship did have its occasional 'ups and downs,' but Minerva and Hermione - both remarkably stubborn and proud women - would handle each situation with care and sensitivity.
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart
But, Hermione supposed, her feelings were not enough - she was not enough for Minerva.
And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat.
I tried to find the sound
She thought that she'd convinced Minerva to let go of her misgivings, to let her heart rule supreme over her mind - for once.
But then it stopped, and I was in the darkness,
But, Hermione was wrong
Her own heart and mind betrayed her to a lovesick mistake, blinded her from seeing what Minerva really wanted from her.
Hermione was nothing but a distraction to the great Minerva McGonagall.
So darkness I became.
With this thought, she let her emotions overtake her resolve, and a floodgate was opened. A deluge of tears smeared what little makeup Hermione wore and ran down her cheeks, finding a home in Hermione's riotous curls.
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart
"Hermione?"
I took the stars from our eyes, and then I made a map
And knew that somehow I could find my way back
Hermione looked up, startled from her thoughts, and saw the person who had created so much misery in her heart.
It was Minerva.
Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too
"Hermione," Minerva began, "I didn't write the lett-"
"Well, who did it?" Hermione screamed, her voice cracking from raw emotion and tears, "Who wrote the damn thing if it wasn't you, Minerva bloody McGonagall?"
"I don't know, Hermione," Minerva continued, her Scottish brogue even more pronounced in Hermione's mind, "But I do know that I love you and that I never want to be without you. I know that want to spend the rest of my waking days with you. And if you leave me, I know that it will kill me."
Hermione did not respond.
"Forgive me, Hermione. I am a foolish, old woman with maudlin notions. I will go now."
Minerva turned to leave.
So I stayed in the darkness with you
"You are not old."
Minerva froze, her hand about to turn the doorknob.
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
"You, Minerva bloody McGonagall, are a sexy beast who can turn me on in a heartbeat."
"Hermione!"
"I'm not finished, Minerva. You're also an intelligent, considerate, and enchanting woman who understands my thirst for knowledge. You see who I am, and you don't try to change me," Hermione declared, a smile forming on her face, "My only regret is that I didn't think to check that it was really you who wrote the damned letter and that I doubted you."
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart
Hermione closed the distance between Minerva and herself, meeting Minerva's lips with her own in a crash of passion.
The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
Minerva and Hermione later found out that Ron wrote the letter with the help of a Quick-Quotes Quill and Harry's Invisibility Cloak. He had stolen it from Harry when Harry himself had refused to help Ron carry out his plans to restart his 'relationship' with Hermione.
After a few well-placed hexes and some strong words, Ron would never bother Minerva and Hermione again.
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
Now, they could focus on what really mattered to them: each other.
In the shadow of your heart
The End
A/N: I'm going to go work on the prequel to 'Bluebird' now, and that will be the last installment of this songfic series.
Hopefully, I'll begin my development of this plot I have in mind. I might even write a story with multiple chapters. : )
We'll see what happens.
Thanks for reading!
- Cherry