Authors Note: I have no idea if this is finished or not, I could possibly be persuaded to write one more chapter. Special thanks to Tigertales for prodding me to get this done. Sorry it took so long!
Hermione had gone from watching the clocks; to pacing around the lab both annoying and amusing Richard, eventually she shut herself in her office. Loosing herself in her work, trying hard to ignore the fact that, in a few hours she would be seeing Minerva again. Trying hard not to think about that kiss, despite the fact it had been really brief, really platonic – it had been electric.
Her watch beeped signalling that she had to check on her potion, she gritted her teeth willing herself to concentrate. Experimental potion brewing was a dangerous art, one that she couldn't practice with her mind on other things.
Minerva was also pacing in her office.
After the last few years, waiting should have been second nature to her but these last few hours were intolerable. She had arranged cover for the evening, picked out her clothes for their date. She couldn't concentrate on her work or anything, there were a number of things she should have been doing but all she could do was pace like a caged tiger.
Normally on time for everything Minerva found herself outside the front door of Hermione's building about 20 minutes early. She took the opportunity to look up and down the street; it was a fairly expensive area of London, lots of well-dressed muggles bustling about. Business must be very good.
The door opened at her touch, Minerva walked into a brightly lit elegant foyer. She glanced at the empty receptionists' desk, a further door beyond it. Taking a deep breath she stepped into Hermione's domain. Most research places she had ever been in were dungeons, either literally or dark windowless cells – this was entirely different.
Rather than a series of cluttered secretive rooms, there was one huge open room, brightly lit with pristine countertops and workstations. Her gaze found Hermione at a huge cauldron in the centre of the room, pouring something carefully into the mixture, stirring cautiously. Secretly Minerva had always loved to watch her work, the frown of concentration between her brows, the lip pressed between her teeth, brown eyes intent on her task.
She leant on the nearest workstation, watching Hermione work.
After a few minutes the young brunette turned down the heat, straightened up and bent backwards stretching her tired back muscles with a groan. Minerva felt her mouth go dry, she swallowed hard, trying to control her reactions - now that they had decided to explore the feelings between them, she couldn't let sex get in the way. Out of the corner of her eye Hermione caught a glimpse of green.
When that chocolate gaze turned on her Minerva knew she was busted. "You're early." Hermione walked towards her.
"I couldn't restrain myself."
Hermione's grin broadened, "I must confess to a little excitement myself."
Minerva's voice was coy, "Only a little?" She pouted at her young lover.
"Stop pouting." Hermione's grin changed to a smirk at the prospect of Minerva McGonagall pouting. "Okay – a lot of excitement. Would you like a tour?"
"I would, yes. It's...very tidy."
With a nod Hermione smiled, "Well almost." With a wave of her hand she removed the glamour around Richard's desk. It was piled high with detritus; papers scattered everywhere, dirty cups and empty ingredient packets spilling onto the floor. The two women exchanged disgusted glances before Hermione replaced the glamour.
"I won't let him set a bad example. I don't like clutter."
"So I can see."
Hermione opened some cabinets below a much tidier workstation, showing Minerva the next supplies contained within. Even small cauldrons were stored in cupboards.
"Severus would have loved this. He was always begging for the funds to make improvements."
The young woman laughed, "Actually I think he liked it in the dungeons."
She led Minerva towards the back of the room, "You'll notice that there are no walls in this area. I don't like the secretive environment that many research facilities promote, that actually leads to more problems in the long term. Potential employees are required to sign a contract that clearly defines the consequences of breaking that trust."
"Something like you did to Miss Edgecombe?"
"More like a term in Azkaban... So far the threat has been sufficient."
"I can see why."
They walked into an area that was a little different, full of small rooms with glass walls. "This is our experimental Transfiguration and Charms area. We have a testing area around the back."
"Very impressive Hermione."
"I just need to grab my bag and we'll go." She indicated the spiral staircase in the corner, "Want to come see my office?"
"Oh wow."
"I thought you'd like it."
The office was circular but had glass walls, allowing Hermione to look down into every part of the facility. The young woman tapped the wall with her hand, "A useful muggle invention – one way glass – it allows me to see out but they can't see in, from the outside it looks like a mirror."
"Useful."
"Very. I'm working on a way to do the same thing with magic, although with the walls appearing more normal."
Minerva's gaze swept the room, noting the bookshelves full of reference materials. The desk with straight backed chairs, a sofa and coffee table on the other side of the room. Her gaze found what looked like a partially completed manuscript on Hermione's blotter. "You're writing a book?" Her voice was incredulous, Hermione was still young and such an achievement was certainly impressive.
Hermione flipped the pile of pages over, allowing her former professor to see the title page. Not only was she writing a book on Transfiguration but if the title was correct, it would turn the world of Advanced Transfiguration on its head.
"That will be a controversial theory."
"It's not a theory."
"You've proven it?"
"Yes." Hermione grabbed her bag, "I'll make sure you get a copy. Where are you taking me?"
"You'll see."
Magically Hermione secured the building before stepping closer to the older woman and took the hand that Minerva held out. She could smell Minerva's skin, feel electricity arc at the simple touch making her knees feel weak. Looking into rapidly darkening green eyes, she wanted nothing more in that moment than to throw her onto the sofa and......
The familiar feeling of apparation distracted her from the base thoughts that she had been having.
"I thought we agreed... slow."
"Yeah." Hermione breathed, dropping her lovers hand and breaking the intense eye contact. Noticing that they were in a cobbled alley behind some buildings, she glanced around for a moment before looking up at Minerva, still warm and tingling from their previous contact.
Minerva reached out and took Hermione's hand again. Brown eyes widened a little, flicking between their joined skin and Minerva's green eyes with some trepidation. "Relax Hermione, I'm not going to jump you, sometimes a touch is just a touch." With that she led Hermione out of the alley and into a bustling square.
Hermione looked around in wonder at the ancient stone buildings around them, the brightly dressed people around them, talking loudly in a language Hermione vaguely recognised as Italian. "When you said you were taking me out for Italian, I didn't realise you meant in Italy."
Minerva just grinned at her, opening a door and entering the restaurant. Hermione knew enough Italian to realise that the words the older woman exchanged with the hostess were extremely fluent. Once they were seated at a table in the far corner, Hermione asked her about it. Minerva waited until the waitress poured them both a glass of wine and left before responding.
"After the destruction of both the Grindlewald war and the muggle world war, much of mainland Europe was lying in ruins. The Ministry asked for volunteers to help repair the magical damage, I was twenty and eager for a challenge. I didn't know quite how much of a challenge it would be until I got here. I lived here for almost three years."
Hermione asked Minerva a few questions about her experiences, just enjoying the company, loving to look at Minerva's skin and eyes in the candlelight. When they couldn't avoid breaking eye contact any longer they both picked up their menus, "I might need a little help with this." Minerva grinned leaning over to translate the menu for Hermione.
The younger woman was struggling to concentrate, Minerva's leg was pressing against hers under the table, that husky whisper in her ear... Both served to make Hermione's hands shake as she struggled to hold the menu still. Minerva noticed the reaction and brushed her lips across Hermione's cheek before pulling back.
They ordered dinner and over what Hermione had to admit was wonderful food; they discussed everything that had happened to them over the last few years. Most of their recent encounters had not been conducive to having conversations or any type of discussion and they were just enjoying spending time together both aware of the sparks flying between them but not acting on them.
They were still deep in a conversation when the restaurant staff began to close up. Both of them were still loving the communication, the occasional flirt, the honesty with which they were both speaking. Neither wanted the evening to end.
"I'd like to take you for coffee or something but everything's closing."
Hermione inhaled deeply, "Why don't you take me home and I'll make you a coffee?"
Intent emerald green eyes locked onto hers for a long moment, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"We're going to have to be alone sometime anyway, besides my parents bought me a wonderful coffee machine for Christmas."
"I'm sold."
Having paid the bill and with no muggles around Minerva took Hermione's hand and allowed the younger woman to apparate them to her home. They appeared in her dark front garden, still holding Minerva's hand Hermione led her to the front door but dropped it as they got to the doorstep, more than a little hesitant about crossing the threshold while touching the older woman.
She walked into the kitchen switching on the lights as she did so. Unsurprisingly to Minerva, the kitchen was well-appointed with modern muggle fittings and appliances. What did surprise her was the stack of boxes in the corner, some opened and partially unpacked, some not. "That would irritate me."
Hermione grabbed a box of coffee out of the cupboard, "It does but I only moved in last week and things have been a little hectic. What kind of coffee do you want?"
"What do you have?"
She started looking at the little plastic containers, "Um cappuccino, latte, espresso, mocha, hot chocolate, black coffee."
"What are you having?"
"A cappuccino." Minerva watched curiously as Hermione put the small plastic container in the top of the machine, pressed a button, sliding a mug underneath and some strange smelling frothy coffee filled the mug in a minute. Hermione smiled up at Minerva's perplexed expression, knowing that the witch was a little confused by muggle inventions, she held out the mug, "Want to try it?"
The older woman raised the mug to her lips for a cautious sip. "Not bad." She offered it back to Hermione, who shook her head and made another for herself.
"The living room is even worse, I'll tell you that now." Hermione led the way through another doorway and into her living room. Waving her wand she cleared the sofa and coffee table of boxes and packing materials, stacking them in a corner. "I have a few days off next week, if I can resist the urge to go into work I'll finish my unpacking then."
Hermione put her mug on the table and sat next to Minerva on the sofa, well aware that they were touching at the hip and shoulder. Their conversation turned gradually more intimate, Minerva reached out and ran her fingers gently across the back of Hermione's hand.
Smiling brown eyes looked up and met hers, searching for something in green depths. Hermione turned her hand over, feeling her palm tingle as Minerva continued the caress. Their fingers meshed together as Hermione brought her free hand up to Minerva's face. She ran a finger along the older womans jaw line, across her cheekbone, her eyebrow, forehead, down her nose, fleetingly brushing across her lips before cupping her chin.
"Hermione." Minerva practically purred in response to Hermione's tender exploration.
The young woman's hand slid round to the nape of Minerva's neck, slowly, gently pulling her into a kiss – allowing her lover time to back away or say something. Neither witch could hold back a soft moan when their lips met. They both pulled back after a moment, eyes asking questions of the other before leaning back in for another kiss.
Starting off tender, almost hesitant, Hermione could feel Minerva's lips moving against her own, enjoying the sensations of contact but needing something deeper. Her tongue lovingly reacquainted itself with the taste of Minerva's lips, begging entrance to her mouth. Entrance which the older witch gladly granted, playfully greeting Hermione's eager tongue with her own. Minerva's hands rose up to cup Hermione's face in a moment of aching tenderness, caressing the soft skin cheek. Before Hermione lost the ability to think, the thought crossed her mind that this was what their first kiss should have been like.
Breathless now they parted, dark brown eyes gazing lovingly into dark green ones, smiling joyfully Minerva rested her head for a moment on her young loves shoulder. She could feel Hermione's fingers affectionately smoothing her hair, caressing her neck, her shoulder. "You ok?" The younger womans voice was a little breathless, a little deeper than normal but still caring.
"Yes!"
"Good." Hermione lifted Minerva's chin, "Look at me." Minerva's almost black eyes looked up into hers.
"You are so beautiful." The lips that claimed hers were more passionate than before, full of fire and longing. Hermione moaned her appreciation into Minerva's mouth, her hands tangling in the older woman's hair, sucking gently on her tongue.
Hermione broke the kiss with a soft nip to Minerva's lower lip. "Want to see how untidy my bedroom is?"
"Hermione?"
A cat-ate-the-canary grin crossed Hermione's face, she stood up pulling Minerva with her. "I'm asking you to make love to me Minerva." Her voice was soft, filled with tenderness and want – there was no hesitation, no nervousness.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." Hermione led Minerva by the hand to her bedroom.
"This isn't untidy." Minerva's voice held a mock accusatory note, "Were you planning on seducing me all along?"
Hermione's answering chuckle was more than a little naughty, "Maybe..."
"Maybe?" Teasing eyes met hers, growing closer, leaning in for another kiss. Their lips crashed together, passionate, eager, wanting – not needing words to express how they were feeling in that moment, the culmination of more than two years want and need. Fingers began to explore whatever they could reach, stirring their passion further.
Hermione pulled away again, causing Minerva to whimper in abandonment. Her naughty chuckle made another appearance; she led the older woman to her bed, gently pushing her into a sitting position. "Hermione?"
"Relax." Hermione kissed Minerva's throat lightly, feeling her shiver in response to the light touch. She slid her hands underneath the light jacket that Minerva was wearing, sliding the garment off of her shoulders, her fingers running down the bare skin of the older womans arms as she gently pulled it off. Nimble fingers began to caress Hermione's face in return, tangling in brown curls, pulling her even closer.
Hermione obediently returned her lips to the soft skin of Minerva's throat, tasting the sweetness of the skin, brushing her tongue across the sensitive area where she could feel her pulse thundering under her lips. Minerva moaned as her temperature shot through the roof, her fingers clutching at Hermione's shoulders now. Desperate to feel the warmth of Hermione's skin under her fingertips, she found the zip at the back of her dress, sliding it down a few inches. "May I?"
"Please do." Hermione's words were slightly muffled, slurred against the skin she was worshipping.
Minerva pulled her a little closer, wanting to cheer when she managed to pull it all the way down in a slightly jerky motion. "I guess I... figured out how zips work."
A little breathless now Hermione laughed along with her, "Knew you had it in ya." She detangled herself from Minerva's arms, standing up, beginning to shimmy out of her dress – her eyes locked on the almost black ones that were devouring her body, feeling immensely powerful, immensely desirable.
"Merlin, Hermione. You're gorgeous." Burgundy lacy underwear complimented her skin tone, revealing her curves, hinting at so much more. The last time Minerva had seen her pretty much naked Hermione had been a lot thinner, her body was now that of a beautiful mature young woman. "Come here."
With a smile Hermione stepped out of the dress that was pooled at her feet and into Minerva's outstretched arms. Minerva moaned as her hands found the expanse of the younger womans naked back, a moan that was swallowed by eager lips and a deliciously naughty tongue. Feeling deft fingers begin to unbutton the back of her own dress, caressing the skin that was revealed.
Minerva broke the kiss, pulling back just enough for Hermione to remove her dress, revealing her own underwear. Feeling as the younger womans fingers trailed down her sides, making a maddeningly slow exploration of her body. Dark brown eyes fixating on Minerva's breasts, hidden behind lacy cotton, rising and falling with her rapid breathing, erect nipples straining at their confinement. "You're the one who's gorgeous."
With a gentle push Minerva found the backs of her knees touching the bed, allowing the insistent pressure from Hermione's hands to push her onto the firm mattress. Hermione looked down at her for a long moment, knowing that the past few years had led them to this point. Loving green eyes looked up at her from the bed, with a smile, "Care to join me?"
Hermione slid onto the bed on her side, running her hand gently across Minerva's stomach, leaning forward to trace the older womans collarbone with her lips. Using her hands, lips and tongue Hermione began to explore Minerva's body. Sucking passionately on an aroused nipple through its lacy covering, her free hand proceeded to remove the last of Minerva's clothing.
Entirely naked now Minerva moaned at the sensation as Hermione kissed and nipped her way down her body, worshipping the older womans body, ever so slowly moving ever closer to her goal. Her lips tracing the curve of one hip, while her hand caressed the other, feeling as Minerva shifted her thighs, rubbing them together.
"A little horny are we?"
"Can't... think... why."
"Hmmm, maybe I need to remind you." Hermione slid a hand between the older woman's thighs, needing no encouragement Minerva opened herself entirely to the young witch. Teasing fingers began to trace patterns on her outer thigh, while teasing lips began to make their way up the inside – tasting the arousal that coated Minerva's inner thighs. Hermione moaned, "You taste wonderful."
Minerva cried out as a devilish tongue flicked across her eager bud, returning a moment later to lap at her soaking wet folds. Eager, wanting, she bucked her hips, needing more than teasing touches from the younger witch. She whispered Hermione's name, crying out again as eager lips wrapped around her swollen excited flesh, alternating between sucking and caressing with her tongue.
Teasing Minerva with her fingers, she waited until the older woman was desperate and arching her hips before thrusting inside her. "Hermione!" Finding a rhythm in time with Minerva's wildly bucking hips, Hermione proceeded to give her exactly what she needed – angling her fingers upwards she grazed Minerva's sweet spot with every thrust. Hearing Minerva's cries become louder Hermione thrust a little harder and deeper feeling muscles contract around her fingers, watched as she arched her back before falling back to the bed with a loud cry.
"Oh Gods, Hermione. I love you." She panted as Hermione slid up the bed, encircling the trembling woman in her arms, kissing the tears from her cheeks. "I love you too Minerva."