A/N: I know I know 2 chapters in a day! I'm falling in love with this story and can't get enough! So many more ideas are running through my mind with this! But for now here's a little more! Again I claim NOTHING as mine, it's all J.K. Rowlings!
Chap 3.
Minerva straightened her back once more, feeling the cracks rumble down her spine she moaned out. This had caught Harry's attention and he looked over to her with a worried look on his face. She shook her head and started back to work, levitating the large boulders putting them back in place watching as the school helped repair itself. They were nearly finished for the day. Filius Flitwick, Pomona Sprout, Poppy Pomfry and quite a few others were all helping in the repairs. The golden trio included. She was touched at how many had come to help with the repairs.
Looking around at everyone her eyes gazed over the young man that had so recently declared himself. He was doing such good work, using spells he was taught in the classrooms as well as some that weren't. She was amazed at how well he was doing silent magic. The last she had seen he wasn't doing to well with it. Now it was a complete transfiguration, he was confident, more sure of himself and if anything still a bit cocky. But not as much as he was before, the year he was away running a looking for those awful things truly made him who he was today. He looked over from his work and found her gaze on him. Minerva blushed slightly her cheeks becoming a bit pink. She felt the heat that permeated through her skin and lifted her hands to her cheeks. Before she could even utter a word Harry was there with a glass of water.
"You should really sit down Min, you're looking awfully flushed." He waved his wand and transfigured a chair from one of the stone that was lying beside her feet and slowly glided her into it.
"There now take a breather. You've been working twice as hard as the rest of us. We'll soon have dinner and then if you want we can talk a bit." Harry said.
She nodded in acquiescence and sat in the chair and sipped her drink. As he turned to leave she reached out and grabbed his hand. He stopped and looked at their hands.
"Yes Min?"
"Thank you Harry." He smiled and nodded and gently squeezed her hand before letting it go. He turned and went back to work on the corner he was salvaging.
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In the great hall, everyone sat behind circular tables that adorned the hall. As it wasn't school term and many of the people there weren't students Minerva thought it would be best if they sat at round tables each as equals. To her right sat her long time friend Poppy, on her left was Harry. She had just finished a good meal of chicken and rice and she set her napkin beside her plate. Looking around to each of the faces that were at her table she settled in further to her padded chair. It had been another long day and the dinner was truly something that she enjoyed. Harry caught her eye and nodded towards the entryway indicating that if she wanted, he was willing to take her to her quarters. Imperceptibly she nodded before gliding back her chair. As she got up Harry stood as well.
"You both aren't leaving already?" said Hermione.
"I'm sorry Miss Granger but I am. I am tired and have had a long day. I think I'm going to go up and curl up with a nice book. I'm sure you understand."
Hermione nodded and smiled, "I sure can. Nothing like a good book is there? Where are you going Harry?"
Harry looked at a loss for words and was about to speak when Minerva stepped in.
"He's offered to walk me up and I've accepted his offer. I promise not to keep him long."
"Oh no take your time Harry, Ron and I were going to go back to the Burrow for the night. It seems we have a discussion that needs to be worked over." She said this and slapped at Ron's hands as they were wandering in places not suited for the dinner table.
Harry chuckled a bit and nodded.
"Ok. Have fun you two, oh and Ron? Don't do anything I wouldn't do" A wicked flash went through his eyes and Minerva caught it. She shook her head, she was going to have her hands full for sure.
They walked in silence for sometime, Harry keeping pace with her. Looking around making sure no one was around she reached out and grabbed his hand pulling him to a stop.
"Harry, I want to thank you. I haven't had the chance till now, but the flowers were beautiful. I do love them a lot." She bent down and kissed him gently on the cheek her lips lingering a second longer than it was necessary. She breathed in his scent and a feeling of contentment rose within her suddenly. Leaning back she noticed they were right outside of her old classroom. Smiling she tugged gently on his hand and pulled him towards the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance to her newly appointed home.
"Aperio"
The gargoyle jumped to the side to reveal the rising staircase that led to her office. She stepped in not aware that she was still holding Harry's hand she let go once she stood on the rising stair.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hold on for so long."
"Its fine Min, I don't think anyone saw anyhow." His eyes sparkled mischievously.
She started to blush and she turned away from him walking towards the door as it opened on its own. She walked in deciding it best not to talk to Harry in her office but instead in her sitting room. Not stopping at her desk Harry followed her up the stair and to the second door on the left. She motioned towards the dark red sofa by the fireplace.
"Please have a seat, I'll be right there I just want to freshen up a bit."
She walked from the sitting room to her bedroom, there she pulled out a bottle of firewiskey and two glasses. She looked in the mirror and pushed back a fly away hair that had escaped her bun. If she was going to do this, she was going to do this right. She walked back into her sitting room to find Harry sitting in the couch his feet propped up on the coffee table in front of him his arms spread out on the back of the couch his head resting comfortably on the cushion. She stopped in the doorway just to look at him.
His short sleeved t-shirt was a bit snug around him revealing toned abs, his shoulders were broad and muscular. He had blossomed in the year away. He was still slight and skinny, the perfect build for a seeker as always, she thought. His hair was sticking up in places but still looked perfect. She glanced over his face, he truly did have Lily's eyes and in a flash they were directed right towards her. She pulled up her arms to show the firewiskey.
"A bit of a night cap?"
He nodded holding out his hands.
"Sounds perfect." He said, taking the bottle and glasses out of Minerva's hands. Setting each glass down carefully he poured each a generous amount. Handing one to Minerva and sitting back and taking the other. Minerva came to the couch and sat down next to Harry. Turning to him she raised her glass, he returned the gesture as they both took a nice long swallow. Feeling its warmth flow through her she gathered up her Gryffindor courage and decided to tell Harry what she thought.
"Harry, I have been giving some thought to what you had told me last night. And I'll be honest, I'm a bit scared at the revelation. I never thought that anyone would harbor feelings for me. BUT, I am willing to try. I will warn you that I am set in my ways about a lot of things but there are some things that I'm willing to change. Like this for instance." She reached out and grabbed his hand, setting down her glass and covered his hand with her other. Lazily she pressed circles against the back of his hand. It felt nice to hold someone's hand again. She looked into his eyes and could see that he was restraining himself, and lost at the urge of pulling up his other hand to cup her cheek. Gently she leaned into his hand. Still looking at him she smiled softly feeling him working his way into those walls she held up.
"Min I can understand your reluctance. But this is something beyond what I have words for. What I feel is stronger than some school crush, I feel drawn to you Minerva like a magnetic pull, one that I'm not willing to fight. You are so beautiful." He leaned in and gently kissed her on the cheek. Closing her eyes at the contact she knew what he meant at the magnetic pull, for she felt it too. She just wasn't sure at what it was. Lifting a hand she returned the caress over his cheek and guided his lips towards hers. Gently she brushed her lips over the younger mans, feeling for the first time in a long time breaths mingling together. Harry traced his tongue over her bottom lip asking for entrance she gradually opened and felt his warm tongue sweep through her mouth her own dancing around his tasting him feeling his warm breath with her own. He was sweet, and it made Minerva heady. She deepened the kiss as a soft moan escaped from her. Hearing this she pulled back to look at him. Surprised at herself she smiled softly he looked at her his eyes heavily lidded as he bit his kissed swollen lip. Perhaps she did have some feeling for the young man after all. She leaned in again and as the two met they kissed in feverish heights. Harry reached up and pulled out the pins that held up her long graying hair. Shaking her head she let the tresses fall over her shoulders, he reached out and spread his fingers through them pulling them over her shoulders so he could see it's full length.
"I was wrong before, you're not beautiful, you're gorgeous." He leaned in for another kiss but Minerva pulled back. Confused he looked back at her.
"Harry, I…" she hesitated not sure if she wanted to show him this side of her yet or not.
"I'm not all of that. I am a simple and plain woman and well I'm old."
"Min, I've told you before that I don't care about age. When I look at you, I see a woman that's brilliant, brave, and absolutely gorgeous. I don't see age." She looked down. "Or its effects. I see the woman you are beneath all of that the YOUNG woman that I'm sure needs to be loved."
She looked at him as tears formed in her blue green eyes. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever told her, and he was right. There was a woman under all the wrinkles that time has brought that DID need to be loved. She just didn't know how much before now.
