A/n: Woot! Chapter 7! Big things happen! Thank you to all of my Followers! Over 100 O.O! You guys are awesome! Special thanks to all of my "Guest" reviewers! You guys are all awesome!
November
It was a few weeks later that Minerva found herself in the room of requirement overseeing several 6th years that had earned themselves detention cleaning the room by starting a brawl in the courtyard. The Room had finally finished burning just a few weeks before and was the perfect opportunity to ensure the boys would find better uses of their time. As she kept her eye on them, Minerva went about picking through the rubble to see if anything had survived the fire. The great stones that made up the walls were blackened and charred. Heaps of what were once items, either broken or hidden, were now turned to naught but ash.
They worked with shovels and brooms all day, cleaning the room by hand. It seemed nothing had escaped the fire unscathed. Minerva was moving what had once been a crate of some kind when the shine of metal caught her eye. Picking it up, she discovered it to be a ring. A beautiful ring. Made of silver, it had an ivy pattern etched delicately around a small yet elegant sapphire that sat flush within the band. It must have been enchanted because there was not one scorch mark on it nor fleck of dust. Not only that but it seemed to call to Minerva in a sweet whisper that she could not refuse. Just try me... see if I fit.
She slowly slipped it onto her left ring finger. The moment it settled on her finger it started whispering again. Hermione... find Hermione... Without a second thought Minerva was making her way out of the Come and Go room. As she passed the boys she dismissed them from detention although she didn't stick around to make sure they left. She made her way quickly to Gryffindor tower. Several people gave her funny looks that she didn't understand... until she looked down. She was covered head to toe in soot and ash.
You must find Hermione. The ring whispered again. So banishing the soot and ash she continued on her quest to find Hermione. She was glad the common room was empty as she made her way through it and up the stairs to Hermione's room. The ring now chanted in her ear. Hermione... Hermione... Hermione... As she reached to knock on Hermione's door, a soft sniffle caught her attention. She had almost turned away when the ring whispered again... Go to her. So she knocked on the door.
"Not now, Gin." came a weepy voice from within.
"It is not Ginny, Hermione... may I come in, please?" Minerva was resisting the urge to just enter the room knowing it would not be a wise choice.
The door cracked open a bit and Hermione's tear stained face looked out at her.
"What do you want, Minerva?" She asked.
"May I come in please?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment before she opened the door and let Minerva in. Minerva entered quickly and shut the door behind her.
"Hermione... I honestly don't know why I'm here." Minerva started. Hermione scoffed. Minerva ignored her and continued.
"I was just down in the Come and Go room and I slipped this ring on and now I'm here." She wasn't sure why but she was smiling like an idiot. It sounded to Hermione like this ring was enchanted she suddenly feared for Minerva. What kind of spells were on this ring?! She grabbed Minerva's hand to inspect said ring only to find... they were stuck.
"This. Minerva. Is a unity ring. They were made to force two people who are fighting to work things out or be forever stuck to each other." Hermione huffed. Surely Minerva knew of such things?
"I couldn't help it Hermione it spoke so sweetly to me." Minerva appeared to still be under a great deal of the ring's influence. Hermione had actually just finished reading about such rings in a book she... borrowed... from the restricted section in the Library. She also only felt a moment of reluctance before raising her free hand and slapping Minerva across the cheek. Hard. Minerva snapped out of the trance and grabbed her face.
"What did you do that for!?" She yelled.
"You were still under the ring's influence... I had to break the trance." Hermione replied trying to hide her smirk. Damn that felt good! Minerva rubbed her cheek and pouted.
"You seem to know and awful lot about these rings so how do we get unstuck." Minerva asked.
"We have to work out our problems." Hermione huffed. Bloody ring.
"Well let's sit down and talk then... no need to stand." Minerva said and she conjured up a nice plush sofa for them to sit on.
An awkward silence hung over them for several minutes, neither one knowing where to begin. Minerva finally spoke in a soft voice.
"I'm sorry I left you that night, Hermione. I should have stayed and at least talked to you."
"Yes, you should have. That is what upsets me the most about this entire thing Minerva. You never gave me a choice. You took my choice away in a very selfish manner. I have never felt more alone or used than that moment when I realized you were gone." Hermione tried very hard to keep her tears from falling but it was all in vain. She turned away so Minerva wouldn't see her cry. Minerva's heart broke as she came to understand how much she had really hurt Hermione.
"I really thought that I was doing what was best for you at the time. I see now how selfish I have been not taking your thoughts into account. I just felt like I had taken advantage of you. The battle had just ended, you were emotional, friends had died and you were alive and you wanted to cling to that life in any way you could. I know how you felt because I was just like that when I was your age and the war had just ended. I felt I should have known better then to sweep you off your feet the second the fighting stopped. And when I awoke in your arms... the thought that I had not only taken advantage of you but had compromised your future... I panicked and I ran and for that..." She reached out and cupped Hermione's chin gently forcing her to look into her eyes. "I will be forever sorry." she finished.
And in that moment, their hands became unstuck. Hermione cupped Minerva's face and pulled her closer for a slow sweet kiss. When they pulled apart Minerva cleared her throat.
"Hermione... we still cannot do this. I cannot sleep with someone who is still my student." She said sadly.
"I know that Minerva. But I'm not asking you to sleep with me. I'm asking you to kiss me." And she did... for the next several minutes. Regrettably, Minerva had to end their time together.
"I want you to come to dinner in my quarters. Next week." Minerva stated.
"Minerva, are you asking me out on a date?" Hermione grinned.
"I do believe I am. 8pm on Thursday sound good?" Hermione nodded.
"It's a date." she said with a smile.
"See you then." Minerva said and she made her way back to her own quarters.
When Minerva had left, Hermione sat mulling over their conversation. She wasn't sure why she hadn't told Minerva about their son. It just seemed like the conversation had been heavy enough without that added to it. Maybe once they had talked over dinner a few times she would tell her. Hermione was just unsure of how things would go and she didn't want the baby to effect Minerva's feelings towards her. After all, she didn't want Minerva to be involved with her simply because she was having her baby... that would be unfair to all three of them.
Poppy watched as Minerva left Gryffindor tower with a smile. "Ha! I knew that ring would work!" She thought to herself with a satisfied smirk.
OOOoooOOOoOOOoOooOOoOOoOOo
When Poppy had been informed of their date she had to try very hard not to smirk. She was really very surprised the ring plan had worked at all let alone in less than an hour's time. But so far so good. Minerva and Hermione were having dinner tonight and she was bloody happy it was tonight because if she had to hear about it one more time she would scream.
She was currently sitting in Minerva's bedroom 'helping' Min pick out an outfit. Although she wasn't really helping because Minerva had vetoed every single one of her suggestions. So she was just sitting on Minerva's bed not saying a word and drinking glasses of wine.
"I think I'm going to go casual..." Minerva murmured. Poppy rolled her eyes this was the fourth time Minerva had picked casual.
"Or maybe just my everyday robes..." That was it. Poppy got up and marched over to the wardrobe. She grabbed a pair of black slacks and teal V-neck sweater.
"Here! Put this on!" Poppy ordered as she shoved the outfit into Minerva's hands. Minerva almost said something but thought better of it and dressed quickly.
"See? It's perfect. No leave your hair down." Poppy said, stopping Minerva from putting it up in a bun.
"Well my job here is done. Have fun tonight!" She said grinning.
"Yeah, yeah get out of here." Minerva said shooing her from the room. Poppy quickly made her getaway while she could after all... Minerva still had to set the table and the candle or no candle decision would have driven her mad!
Minerva had just settled on yes candles when Hermione knocked on her door. Minerva straightened out her clothes and answered the door. Whatever she had planned to say fled her mind the moment she had laid her eyes on Hermione. Hermione wore a dark black off the shoulder dress. It clung to every curve of her body and showed off her legs by stopping a few inches above the knee.
"Are you going to invite me in... or just stand in the doorway and stare at me all night?" Hermione said with a smirk.
"Of course come in." Minerva said moving out of the way.
"You look beautiful, Minerva." Hermione said blushing slightly when she thought of the last time she'd seen Minerva with her hair down.
Hermione had never been in Minerva's quarters but they reflected a great deal of the real Minerva. The sitting room had a small table for two set up near the fireplace, almost every inch of wall was covered by bookshelves all except one spot of bare wall which held a tapestry of the McGonagall family tree. Hermione ran her fingers lightly over the names recognizing a few, shocked by some as well.
"I didn't know you were related to Rowena Ravenclaw." Hermione said.
"Yes I am a descendant of her sister, Agatha." Minerva replied.
"Interesting." Minerva's house elf chose this moment to pop into the room. With a snap of his fingers the table was covered in platters of food that both smelled and looked wonderful.
"Mistress Minerva, yous dinners is served."
"Thank you, Gilly." Gilly bowed deeply and with another pop he was gone. Hermione's mouth watered at the meal before her. They kept the conversation casual as they ate, and when they discussed how Hermione's classes where going they made sure to avoid Transfiguration completely. By the time Gilly brought their dessert Minerva was entertaining Hermione with stories of her and Poppy's school days.
"I promise it's true!" Minerva said between laughs.
"Poppy Pomfrey had a crush on Albus Dumbledore?!" Hermione was almost crying with laughter.
"Yes! She used to doodle 'Mrs. Albus Dumbledore' on bits of parchment and she practically drooled over him in class. When she had found out he was gay she cried for a month!" Hermione was gasping for air between laughs.
"How did she find out he was gay?"
"Well... she had decided to seduce him but she caught him snogging our charms professor in a classroom instead. The best part was she was wearing a very skimpy nightdress." Minerva snickered. Hermione really felt sorry for Poppy but she just couldn't keep herself from laughing.
"Poor Poppy." Hermione said having to wipe tears from her eyes. The clock suddenly struck ten causing them both to frown slightly, neither wanted the night to end.
"I'd better go..." Hermione said as she stood. Minerva nodded and escorted her to the door.
"I had a lovely time, Minerva. Thank you." Hermione kissed her sweetly. Minerva cupped her face and gently caressed her cheek.
"Maybe we can do it again sometime soon?" She asked. Hermione flashed her a grin.
"Perhaps..." She said coyly. "Goodnight, Minerva."
"Goodnight, Hermione." And with that the evening was over. Hermione made her way back to Gryffindor tower with a smile on her face and a spring in her step. She opened her door to find Ginny sitting on the sofa, legs and arms crossed, looking very much like an eighteen year old version of her mother.
"Where have you been all evening?" Ginny asked in a very Molly like voice.
"Somewhere." Hermione replied.
"Who were you with? Where you out on a date?" Ginny questioned.
"Yes I was and no I'm not telling you."
"Was it with the baby's father?"
"Maybe. Why do you want to know anyways?" Hermione asked.
"I just want to make sure you're okay... both of you." Ginny confessed. She was already quite attached to the little guy.
"We're fine, Ginny." Hermione reassured her. "Here come feel. He's kicking again." Hermione dropped her glamours and guided Ginny's hand to the top of her stomach. Hermione loved it when Ginny was able to feel him kick. Her face would light up with the biggest grin and her eyes would get all misty.
"Have you thought of a name yet?" Ginny asked as she chased little feet around Hermione's belly.
"Mm not yet... I think I'm going to tell the father, Gin." Ginny looked up suddenly. "Really? When?" Hermione thought about it for a moment.
"Christmas... I'll tell his father on Christmas."
A/n: You happy now? They kissed and made up (sorta) lol Hope you liked it! Good job to those who guessed what was going to happen! lol Leave me a review and lemme know what you think!
