Chapter 6

Hermione sighed, pulling two sickles from the inside of her robe to throw them on the table. She should have known that it had been too good to be true. She had been correct when speaking with Minerva; Alexandria was unlike anyone else she had met. Or rather, she was unlike anyone she had had the opportunity to get to know. Because, Minerva was someone who she would get along with fabulously; but there was too much between them. It wasn't the age difference so much but having been her Professor Minerva seemed to have an unwillingness to open up to Hermione.

Ohhh, she had tried to get to know Minerva after she had graduated, but it became obvious that their relationship was set in a similar subset and not one of friendship. Hermione had not been able to find a way to change that dynamic despite many afternoons of tea and evenings learning to play chess. After over a year she tried less and less until she found she was spending more time with Ron and less time at the castle.

"My apologies," a thick Scottish accent rippled across the air, "I was…" she fought down her own discomfort as she finished and Hermione turned to meet her gaze, "delayed." She noticed the two sickles on the counter, "Such little faith, my dear." She withdrew a chair across from Hermione, "To think that I would not show this afternoon."

Hermione met emerald eyes, "I figured you were like so many of the others who have tried to befriend me…"

"I told you prior, my dear that I am not like the others."

Hermione felt a smile pull at her lips, "We'll see."

"Hmmm…" Minerva rumbled, eyes a light with curiosity, "I suppose we will."

Xoxo

Hermione's raucous laugh was the third time within the past two hours and Minerva couldn't help but smile in return, enjoying the way Hermione's laugh rippled across her skin.

"I haven't laughed this much in I can't begin to tell you how long."

"Nor have I." Minerva honestly relayed, a smile pulling at her lips.

Hermione shifted, trying not to feel insecure; her smile faltering slightly despite the joy still shinning from her eyes, "Do you have plans this evening for dinner?"

The jubilance Minerva felt prior to Hermione's statement evaporated in a split second, and despite her best efforts, she knew her smile had already left her face. "Hermione, I…." she sighed, while reaching across the table taking Hermione's hand within her own, "have thoroughly enjoyed our time together but you just recently left your boyfriend and…"

Hermione shook her head, "You aren't a rebound, Alexandria."

"Truly?" Minerva stood up, stepping around the table to stand before Hermione, "Dinner." Her voice dropping, "A few more glasses of wine." She leaned closer, and could see the erratic pulse beat along the side of Hermione's neck, "Perhaps dancing." She could taste Hermione's breath, "Followed by a long," her voice becoming hoarse as she leaned incrementally closer, "sensual, heated…" her lips were practically brushing Hermione's, "kiss." Green eyes peered longingly into brown ones, "Which I'd willingly do if there was a mere chance at being with you, but," Minerva pulled herself back, hands resting along the back of Hermione's chair and the table enabling her to meet Hermione's gaze while her own pulse pounded in her ears, "you are already taken, my dear. You love Ron. And he loves you. And at some point, you'll return to him."

Hermione's gaze dropped to Alexandria's lips, "You're wrong." She rasped before pulling her eyes back to Alexandria's.

"Perhaps," she breathed, "but…until you've decided what you want, I…" she pushed herself fully upright and away from Hermione, "shall thank you for the drink, and look forward to bumping into you again at some point in the future."

Hermione stood, bolting across the tavern as Minerva exited and reached - fingers grasping Alexandria's wrist as they stepped into the alley as evening's sunset splayed in the distance. "I know what I want." Her left hand pulling Alexandria's waist closer to her, eyes fastened upon rosy lips before her right one snaked into red locks, "The question is whether or not you were flirting just to flirt or if there was truly more behind it."

Minerva felt Hermione's warmth along her own, the shallow breaths, and despite knowing she should leave and that she needed to leave…she found herself doing what she shouldn't; and momentarily following her instincts. She leaned in…right hand threading into chestnut hair and without compunction captured Hermione's lips with her own.

They were soft. Malleable. Delicious. And Minerva forced herself to pull away, eliciting a moan from Hermione's lips as lidded eyes pulled open to meet hers. "I'm sorry, Hermione." Minerva breathed, "But, I cannea do this."

"Alexandria…" Hermione swallowed as Alexandria stepped away, "don't leave…"

A forlorn look passed over aristocratic features, "I must as I…have already overstayed my welcome."

"Alex…"

"Thank you for a most…memorable drink." The ghost of a smile passed over her lips, "My fondest wishes, Hermione." And before Hermione could move or think about stopping her, she apparated away.

Xoxo

a/n: Another morsel...