"Her core isn't the problem," He said looking pointedly at Minerva.
Poppy noticed his gaze and canceled the spell on Hermione and cast it on Minerva, a second gasp escaping her lips as she raised her hand, failing to muffle it.
"What is it?" Hermione croaked out, as she watched the two look at Minerva with concern on one face and horror on the other.
"Minerva, could you levitate that vial over there?" Severus pointed to the empty bottle as he cast his spell on her so he could also view the results of what this simple first year spell would do to the woman's core. Her eyebrows bunched up in confusion, but did as he asked, levitating the vial easily till Poppy told her to stop after 30 seconds.
"What is wrong with my magical core you two?" Minerva asked, frustrated, for she couldn't understand just why they were looking at her like they were, for she felt just fine, albeit a little tired, but that was understandable after all the magic she had just done earlier on top of the long battle yesterday and the little sleep she got last night thanks to the younger woman right next to her, though that one she was more than happy to be the cause of her exhaustion the next day anytime.
"Your magical core is severely compromised. When you use magic your core cracks, even from a simple 1st year spell which it shouldn't. Normally a core will crack if the witch or wizard strains their magic farther than they should, but it will heal once they stop doing magic. The Killing Curse and other dark magic spells are the only other things that will crack a core and not fully heal, but it's still minor enough that it does not do much to the stability of the core. Bellatrix and the Dark Lord are the only two people I know that had cracked their cores enough that they were unstable but we obviously know that it also affected their sanity. Your core is treating the 1st year spell like it was a dark curse and when you were putting up shields, it was cracking so much that is why I stopped you."
Minerva's head spun with this new information. "Why did you check my core in the first place?"
"When I watched you and Tonks work I noticed that both of you were panting the same and you looked slightly tired, which although she is a powerful witch, she is nowhere near the same caliber as power as I've seen you at, and thus you shouldn't have been struggling nearly as much as she. Then I thought about how you seemed this past year or two more tired the days you taught more practical theory than lecture. I decided it wouldn't hurt to check your core quickly and that's when I discovered the problem."
"When you say severely compromised you mean?" Hermione asked.
Poppy fended this question, "Pending how much magic Minerva uses, she could have 1-2 years or less before her core becomes too unstable and tears her apart or she becomes a squib. But because of her power I would say the former is more likely than the later."
"Then she'll stop using magic." Hermione stated. Minerva's head whipped to Hermione.
"What?"
"If using magic is destabilizing your core then you'll stop using magic."
"It's not like I can flip a switch and stop using magic. That's like asking me to stop breathing."
"It's possible, hard probably for you at first, but possible."
"I refuse!" Minerva exclaimed furiously as she pulled away from Hermione, standing up. "I will not stop using something that is a part of me."
"Even if it kills you!" Hermione exclaimed back, sitting up quickly causing her to slightly cry out in pain that shot up her back. Poppy yelled at her to get back down which she complied even if the nurse hadn't said so. Minerva's anger quickly diffused to worry as she drew closer to Hermione, placing a hand on her shoulder that was quickly pushed away. "Don't," she mumbled as Poppy waved her wand to check to see if anything cracked. "Don't act like you care when you obviously don't care about what I feel and care more about your stupid magic instead of the possible long loving life you can have with me if you give it up."
"Hermione please understand…" Minerva desperately tried to plead her case but Severus interrupted her.
"Oh stop before you both hurt the other beyond repair, both physically," he said looking pointedly at Hermione "and emotionally. There is a way, I believe, that we can fix Minerva's core but it will take some time for me to create the potion. And it will have some side effects, though I know not what."
"Will it kill her?" Hermione asked.
"No, I do not believe so."
"How long will it take to make it?" Minerva asked.
"A week at most. Now I'm not positive it will work so I suggest you use this week Minerva as a trial run. Try not to use unnecessary magic and if you need to, keep it to as little as possible."
"But Hogwarts needs to be rebuilt…"
"Minerva!" Hermione exclaimed but a tight hand on her shoulder from Poppy kept her from sitting up, "Hogwarts can wait a week. He's not asking you to wait a month."
"But Hermione…"
"Merlin's hairy balls, Minerva," Severus exclaimed, drawing shocked looks from the three women, "Stop being so stubborn and just listen to reason for once. It's not going to kill you to do this for a week and then after the potion you can knock yourself out with rebuilding Hogwarts. And if you refuse, I will order you, as the Headmaster of this school until the Ministry is sorted out, to not do anything."
Minerva huffed something under her breath before nodding her head. Poppy finally decided to chime in. "Now if this little drama is over, I suggest you use your head Minerva and not upset this poor girl anymore at least for the next two hours."
"But I thought you said I only needed to be still for an hour?"
"That was true until you moved. You didn't crack anything but you did prolong the strengthening process. I suggest you take a nap to pass the time." She looked at Minerva. "In fact both of you should take a nap. You both look like you need more sleep." She turned to Severus, "Go get started on that blasted potion while I get these two settled." He nodded before turning around and left. She noticed Minerva hadn't moved. "On the bed Minerva, go on."
"I don't want to accidently hurt or jostle her," she said looking at Hermione.
Poppy sighed. "Oh for heaven's sake, just sleep facing her and move as close as possible and instead of wrapping your arm around her waist wrap it around her hip." Minerva nodded and moved to the bed, inching closer till she was able to have her head up against Hermione's and her arm around her lover's hip. Hermione moved her leg and draped it over Minerva before intertwining them. She placed a kiss on Hermione's forehead as Poppy placed a blanket over them. She dimmed the lights low and then started to leave. Before she fully exited the room she turned back to the women. "I will come and wake you two up in two hours, please try to not move Hermione." But her words fell on deaf ears as both women were fast asleep.
While all this was going on, Harry had walked back with Remus and Tonks to their room in the back hallway. When they entered Harry spotted Andromeda sitting down in a reclining chair with Teddy in her arms. "So why are you guys in one of the rooms back here?"
"Poppy had to heal a few of our more major scratches and allowed us to stay back her till we're ready to head back home. Though with all the damage to Hogwarts, we may just ask Minerva if she minds if we just stay here and help rebuild." Remus replied as he watch Tonks walk over and take Teddy in her arms and cooed at him. She walked back over to Harry and Remus. "There was something we would like to ask you Harry. Would you do us the honor of being Teddy's godfather?"
Harry looked at him wide eyed, and asked stuttering, "Are… are you sure?"
Tonks nodded, smiling. "We can't think of anyone else we would rather have as his godfather."
"Uh yeah, I mean yes… yes I will be Teddy's godfather," his grin widened.
"Well Teddy," Remus said to his son, "would you like to go to your godfather Harry?"
Harry, still wide-eyed, nodded his head and held his arms out, gently taking Teddy from Tonks arms and cooed at him softly. "Hi there Teddy, I'm your godfather, Harry." He looked back up at Remus and Tonks. "Have you guys chosen a godmother for him? I know it's not as popular as a godfather but…"
"We have actually. We were thinking of asking Hermione." Tonks said.
"Do you think she'll agree?" Remus asked.
"Oh she most definitely will." He handed the baby back to Tonks who walked back over to her mother. Harry turned back to Remus. "I'm glad the two of you made it," He said smiling lightly before pulling Remus into a hug which the older man gladly accepted.
"I'm glad you vanquished the devil himself, giving us all a chance to live in a better world." They pulled apart and Remus asked. "So, what exactly happened when you went into the forest?"
"That's a story for another time, but I did get the chance to see my parents and Sirius one last time."
Remus's eyes widened as he summoned chairs for them to sit in. "What? How?"
"The resurrection stone. It gives the holder the chance to see the dead, to converse with them. They all gave me a message for you. Mom said hi and she is so glad to see you married. Dad said way to go Moony, now make sure your son keeps the Marauder tradition going here . And Sirius said he's happy for you but if you hurt his cousin he will haunt you till the day you die."
Remus laughed at the last one as a tear escaped his eye, "Yeah, that sounds like the gang. I'm glad you were able to get some closure Harry. Especially after Sirius's death."
Harry nodded. "When I asked him if dying hurt he said it was quick and painless, like falling asleep only faster."
They were silent before Remus spoke up. "Severus didn't go too much into detail, but why did Hermione need her back rebroken in the first place?"
"We were captured while on the run and sent to Malfoy manor. Bellatrix decided she would torture Hermione for information, she being the brain of our group along with her blood status. Hermione had said she had used Cruciatus curse multiple times and then had physically beaten her body along with carving Mudblood into her arm. When we escaped we made it too Bill and Fleur's place and they were able to heal most of her injuries but didn't see the fractures in Hermione's back which healed improperly."
"Merlin, how did she escape with her mind? How badly injured was she?"
Harry shook his head, sorrow lining his face. "I've never seen someone with as many broken bones as she had. The only good thing was that she had little to none internal bleeding and none of her ribs were broken, mostly her legs, arms, and shoulders. It took both Bill and Fleur four hours to heal her. I wish we would have been able to get a healer who would have caught her back problem. Her screams today were just as bad as the day she was tortured yet they hurt me worse only because I had nothing to distract myself from them like I did when I was trying to figure out how to get us out of there." He didn't bother to add that it was also worse because he had been holding her down, keeping her from escaping the pain her body tried so hard to get away from, even though it was to help her in the long run.
"Well she'll be up and running around before you know it." They were silent before Remus spoke up again. "I won't deny but I'm surprised that Hermione is with Minerva and not Ron."
"Why do people think they would be together? I love them both but I think Hermione and Ron would kill each other if they were married, they're so different. Plus while we were on the run, Hermione mentioned that she was gay. The only reason why she dated guys was because she thought I wouldn't accept her or anyone else would. I told her that she was stupid, that she's my sister and best friend and as long as she was happy that was all I cared about, damn what others think. When she told me that she thought she was falling for Minerva, I told her the first chance she got to tell her in person to do it. After all this I've learned that every moment is precious and don't waste time thinking what if. If it's meant to be it'll be, if not, then not. Life is about taking risks because if you don't, you may never get the chance to do it again. I'm just glad Minerva returned her feelings."
"You're a good friend Harry. I just hope you remain good friends if things with Ron and her go south." Remus said.
"She's the good friend, I'm just lucky to have her. I love Ron like a brother but if I had to choose between the two, I will pick Hermione. No matter what has happened in the past, even when I was horrid to her, Hermione stuck by me. I thank the gods that I have her as a friend and sister, because if I didn't love Ginny as much as I do and Hermione wasn't gay and in love with Minerva, I would definitely be thinking of spending the rest of my life with her."
"I'm glad you found a friend like her Harry." They talked about other things, Remus telling stories about the Marauders growing up.
AN: Hope you enjoyed! Tell me what you think by reviewing please! There's nothing I love more than getting reviews, well other than writing that is. :)
