A / N : Thanks for all the great reviews! I have decided to post a day early this week so that you can stop balancing on the edges of your seats :-)
Please let me know if you want me to carry on with this fic or leave it here ... I'm having a few problems writing the next chapter so if you do want to see more, please feel free to send me you ideas. Take care x
Chapter Four
In place of Hermione sat a small silver tabby kitten. She looked up expectantly at Minerva, waiting for her to explode, but it never came, instead a tear splash on her little head as she was picked up.
Minerva stroked the little kitten from nose to tail before turning into her own cat form. She sat down and watched as Hermione tried to catch her flicking tail. Minerva mentally smiled and continued to watch the little kitten, so many thoughts were going through her head, the only reason she was in her cat form was because the tears weren't as noticeable.
Hermione snuggled close to Minerva and closed her eyes. She was so very worried at what Minerva would say that she was happy to stay in her cat form for the rest of the year. Instead, she followed Minerva's lead and transformed back into her human form.
Hermione ended up in Minerva's lap and quickly moved off, wanting to be able to run if Minerva was angry or upset or both. After a long pregnant silence, Minerva spoke.
"I'm so proud Mia."
"Really?"
Minerva nodded. "But I want you to promise me something." She waited for Hermione to nod before carrying on. "I want you to promise that you won't transform unless I'm with you and that you won't walk around the castle like it."
"I promise, but why?"
"Because I don't want to lose you." Minerva looked at Hermione, fear shining bright in her eyes.
"I promise Minerva." Hermione slid closer to Minerva and rested her head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry if I scared you," she whispered.
Minerva wrapped her arms around her love. "There's no need to apologise Mia, I'm always going to be scared or worried; I love you."
"I love you too."
That night Minerva and Hermione had dinner in their chambers, they curled up on the sofa afterwards, Minerva protectively holding Hermione in her arms. Hermione felt so safe that she let the warmth of the blazing fire and the safety of her love's arms sooth her so nothing was in her mind. Minerva smiled and let her mind wander as she held Hermione. She had often dreamed of holding her girl, but she never thought it would ever happen. But the thought of the looming war quickly brought Minerva's mood down and Hermione's soon after.
The rest of the week passed in a blur for Hermione. She went to her lessons but as the work had started to pile up, the time she could spend with Minerva was slowly becoming nothing. Hermione was getting stressed and it was only the first week back. If the circumstances were the same as every other year, then she wouldn't have a problem, but the mood of the castle was gloomy and the one person that could make her feel better was having to do extra work for Dumbledore and wasn't arriving back to their rooms until the early hours of the morning when Hermione was already asleep. She was slowly starting to get cranky. She was getting less sleep every night and she was starting to snap at anyone who tried to speak to her.
Minerva too was getting cranky. She had to run the school, teach her classes and keep her cubs in line all in twenty-four hours. She wanted nothing more than to spend time with Hermione, to sit down with a cup of tea and talk about everything and nothing.
The following two weeks passed in the same manner for Hermione and Minerva. They had to catch glimpses of each other across the Great Hall or classroom every day. That was until Minerva called Hermione to stay behind after class one Monday afternoon.
Once the classroom was empty, Hermione asked; "You wanted to see me, Professor?"
Minerva stood and went over to the window. "I've missed you Mia," she whispered.
"I've missed you too 'Erva." Hermione left her bag on the table and wrapped her arms gently around Minerva's waist. "Want to skip dinner and spend some time with me?"
"I'd love to Hermione, but Albus has gone out again." Minerva sighed and hung her head. "So much for a romantic relationship, I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologise Minerva. I love you and that's all that matters."
"I love you too." Minerva smiled and turned in Hermione's arms and wrapped her arms loosely around her shoulders.
Neither woman knew who closed the gap between them; all they registered was that their lips were brushing against each other lightly. Slowly it grew into something more passionate and tongues duelled. When the need for oxygen became too great, they carefully broke apart, each looking a little ruffled as they rested their foreheads together. Gentle smiles graced their lips.
"What do we do now?" Hermione whispered.
"We attend dinner and then spend the evening together."
"I'd like that." Hermione lightly kissed Minerva again before collecting her bag and heading down to the Great Hall, adjusting her clothing on the way.
Minerva continued to gaze at the door with a silly grin on her face. She had dreamed of that for months, and now it had finally happened. I better start taking her out on dates. She smiled until the other part of her brain kicked in; don't go forgetting about the upcoming war.
Shaking her head, Minerva straightened her clothes and headed to the Great Hall for dinner. Hermione's hand brushed against her own as she passed her in the entrance hall. Minerva opened the large oak doors and everyone followed her in for dinner. Throughout the meal, Hermione and Minerva kept glancing at each other as they talked to their neighbours. Both were on cloud nine and had no intentions of coming down any time soon.
"Hermione, wait!"
"What is it Ginny I have to be somewhere." Hermione turned on her heel, not noticing that Minerva was stood just around the corner listening.
"Have I done something wrong Hermione? You haven't spoken to me since you get that letter from Harry and Ron."
"I've been busy Gin, we all have."
"I know Hermione, but until this week you've been cold towards everyone."
"I'm sorry Gin I am, but I'm still trying to adjust. You don't know how hard it is Gin. You have all your friends and family and parents that are there for you. Who do I have?" Hermione's voice started to wobble.
Ginny hung her head; knowing that she hadn't been a very good friend to Hermione since they had arrived back at school. Thinking on it, Ginny hadn't noticed anyone other than Professor McGonagall spend time with her. "No-one," she whispered guiltily.
"Exactly." Hermione spun on her heel and quickly walked away, leaving Ginny starring at the floor and Minerva starring after her.
Hermione walked as quickly as she could to the spare room in their chambers. It seemed that the slightest of things was dragging her good mood away from her quicker than she could say 'Quidditch'.
"Hermione!" Minerva called when she entered their chambers. "Mia!" Minerva continued to shout as she went through the rooms and checked each one, there was no sign of Hermione in any of them, not even the spare room.
Thinking fast, Minerva transformed into her feline form and found Hermione's scent, she followed it and found Hermione in her feline form curled up in the corner of the walk-in wardrobe, shivering. Minerva gently picked her up after transforming back and taking her into the living room. She sat on the floor and held Hermione close to her, a lone tear trickled down her cheek and splashed on Hermione's head. The little kitten looked up and blinked before closing her eyes. Hermione wasn't in the mood to talk, she just wanted to think.
"I know you feel like no-body's there for you Hermione, but I am. I know I haven't been around much lately, but I do love you ... with everything that I am. I promise you I'm going to start spending more time with you. Paying more attention to you rather than the job. Please forgive me Hermione, I haven't exactly been the best partner as of late." A few tears slipped down her cheeks and splashed again on Hermione.
Hermione looked up again and watched as tear after tear slipped down her loves face. She decided that she would transform back. So, she moved to the side of her lover and transformed back into her human form, not knowing what to say, she gently pulled Minerva into her arms and whispered lovingly to her, reassuring her that she was there, that she had always been there.
"I'm sorry Hermione, I really am."
"It's not your fault Minerva. You can't help the fact that the Headmaster leaves at the blink of an eye and you have to do everything."
"I still should have made time for you."
"And I could have made time for you." Hermione sighed. "I've not been myself lately Erva. The slightest word or action will bring my good mood crashing to the ground like it did today. I've not been sleeping very well, if at all. I'm tired and I'm cranky and I just want you to hold me."
"Then that is what I shall do. Tonight you will have my full attention."
"What if someone needs you?"
"Unless it is a dire emergency, then it can wait."
Hermione nodded. "I love you Erva."
"And I love you too Mia." Minerva placed a soft kiss to her forehead as she rested her head on her shoulder.
That night, Hermione and Minerva sat on the sofa in front of the blazing fire, they were silent at first, having to get comfortable around each other again, then conversation flowed easily between them. They talked about the upcoming year and what would happen when Hermione eventually finished her schooling at Hogwarts.
"I'd like to be a teacher, as you know from our career meeting in my fifth year, but I'd like to go into Potions first and then Transfiguration, instead of just Transfiguration."
Minerva nodded. "You'd have to be an apprentice from at the very least two years."
"I was thinking of asking you and Professor Snape."
"It's worth a try with Severus and you're more than welcome to work under me."
Hermione giggled, she had caught onto Minerva's double meaning. She may be of age, but unlike the other two in the trio, Hermione was yet to explore that area of life.
When Hermione had calmed down, Minerva started to speak; "Hermione, there's a week break coming up and I was wondering if you would like to spend it with me?"
"I don't know. I kinda want to spend some time with Ginny and the others here. Ginny's right with what she said earlier, I haven't been a very good friend as of late."
"We've all been busy sweetheart, you can't blame yourself. Plus, any good friend would forgive you for something that isn't your fault and would understand, or at least try to understand what you're going through."
Hermione nodded. "I know. I just want to have a few friends that I can sit by in class or spend time with while you're teaching. But it's so hard. My mood changes so quick and I have to be in sight of a member of staff at all times. I hate having a price on my head. I hate feeling so alone and I hate having to look over my shoulder every five minutes, even when I'm in the walls of the castle."
"I understand Mia, I really do. I was a little older than you when I had a price put on my head. I had to spend all my spare time with Albus and I had to spend every single second of the school day with Popp and Rolanda. I know It's hard, but it does get easier as you get older. I still have that price on my head, when I'm out I still look over my shoulder, not as often as what I used to, but I still do it."
"How did you start to get over it?"
"I had my friends and my school work. I started researching topics that i found interesting and I even starting writing my own articles. I submersed myself into the things that make me happy, and now I can add one more thing to that list."
"What?"
"Who," Minerva whispered and pressed a light kiss to Hermione's lips.
Hermione smiled against Minerva's lips and sighed. "I wish we could spend more nights like this."
"So do I." Minerva stood and held Hermione's hand. "Come to bed with me?"
Hermione smiled shyly and stood. Minerva led her to the bedroom. Together, they curled under the duvet and slept. Hermione was safely encased in Minerva's arms throughout the night.
To Be Continued ?