Forever In Your Company

XoxoX

The day's classes went by far too fast for Hermione's liking. Not only did the day go by too fast, Hermione had also been too lost in thought trying to figure out what else had transpired last night to really pay attention to anything. Thankfully none of her students had blown anything up today, and the only incident was Olivia Poellan spilling her potion on her robes which resulted in minor burns only. Thank Merlin.

As she walked towards Minerva's office she felt the nervousness that had been building though out the day increase ten-fold. Too soon she was at the Headmistresses office, too soon was she walking up those spiral stairs. Her palms began to sweat slightly as she raised one hand to knock upon the huge door.

"Enter." The Scottish voice called out, beckoning Hermione to come within.

A smile played upon Minerva's face as she enter, it was infectious and Hermione found herself smiling like a giddy child even though her stomach was filled with a storm of butterflies. "Hello Minerva."

"Hermione I am so glad you could make it, I was beginning to wonder if something had happen to make you late."

Hermione glanced down at her wrist-watch; 40 minutes had gone since the end of her classes. She looked up to Minerva to show her shock, "I am so sorry, I didn't realize I had taken that long to get here. Forgive me my mind as been all over the place today."

"It is no problem. Actually I am glad you were a wee late. I had time to attack the ever growing pile of paper work on my desk." Minerva walked toward her. "Now how about we go up to my personal study, I need to get out of this office before I go mad."

"Lead the way."

Hermione followed Minerva in suit up another set of stairs to her private rooms. As she walked behind her she couldn't help but notice how Minerva's hips would sway back and forth with each step she took. It was something Hermione rarely ever saw, and even though her mind was screaming at her to stop she just couldn't take her eyes off of her, nor could she still her imagination of what Minerva's backside would look like unclothed…

"Here we are," she heard Minerva exclaim, pulling her out of the sinful thoughts that were running rampant within her mind.

The two women walked into the room, Minerva went toward her bookshelf while Hermione sat down on the chesterfield.

"I was thinking we could play a game of chess and chat." Minerva brought a small box back with her as she walked towards Hermione.

"That would be lovely. I haven't played in awhile though." Hermione replied as casually as possible. She loved watching Minerva play chess, the look of concentration that she got upon her face was one of the sexiest expressions she had.

"Wonderful!" Minerva's eyes twinkled as she sat down. With a wave of her arm a chess board appeared between them in the air, levitating just above the middle of the couch. Hermione turned slightly and tucked her legs underneath her body.

"You wouldn't happen to have an extra set would you? I'm afraid I have never purchased a wizard chess set before."

Minerva's eyebrow quirked, "Really? I think I know what your Christmas present will be this year…"

Hermione blushed at the thought of Minerva buying her something, "You don't need to get me anything Minerva."

"Nonsense." Minerva waved her objection away before calling for Tinky. "Please bring the tea now Tinky."

The elf smiled, "Of course." With a snap of her knobbley fingers a tea tray appeared on the coffee table. "Do's you be needing anything else Mistress?"

"No, thank you Tinky." Minerva gave the elf a smile before Tinky bowed and disappeared back to the kitchens. Minerva poured both of them a glass of hot tea before asking, "Are you ready to begin?"

Hermione nodded, and in a blink of an eye the chess board was set. Minerva was white and Hermione black.

"Merlin, I am so going to lose…"

Minerva laughed lightly. "How about I take it easy on you then?"

Hermione straighten her back and tilted her chin up. "Do your worst McGonagall."

"How about we make this interesting," Minerva started while twirling a lowly pawn between her forefinger and thumb. "For every piece you claim I will answer a question. Any question. And any piece I claim, I get to do the same to you. How does that sound?"

Hermione pursed her lips slightly as she considered Minerva's proposal. There wasn't much she would lose, besides if Minerva asked something that might reveal too many things she could always just reword her answer so as not to give the whole truth. "Deal."

Minerva stuck out her hand and shook upon the agreement. "Oh by the way seeing as how we are witches dear, you must tell the entire truth…" Hermione swallowed nervously, "Now on with the game. Being white I go first."

It was only two moves in when Minerva had taken her first piece. Smiling she pursed her lips in thought before asking, "In your first year, did you lie to me about wanting to take on that mountain troll by yourself?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows shocked by what Minerva had chosen as her first question. She quickly mumbled a yes before reaching for her tea cup to take a sip as she tried to hide her embarrassment.

"That's what I thought…"Minerva leaned back into the couch. "Why did you lie?"

Hermione glanced down at the board as she pondered her next move, "Didn't you say it was one question per captured piece?" She glanced up quickly and smirked at the older woman.

Minerva fought to hold back a smile, "So I did."

Hermione quickly snatched up one of Minerva's pawns, sacrificing her knight in the process. A foolish move however, she wanted to even the playing field. "I do believe it's my turn to ask you a question." Her mocha eyes bore into emerald ones, "Have you ever been asked by anyone to get married?"

Minerva shifted slightly in her seat; she had hoped Hermione would leave the personal questions until much later in the game, "Once, many years ago."

Hermione's mind immediately wanted to ask who it had been who had asked her.

The game continued on, questions had gone from personal to very random queries. Hermione was failing abysmally, and it was more than obvious Minerva was prolonging this game. The brunette was more than sure that Minerva could've cornered her king ten moves ago. As the final moves came into play Minerva changed tact completely and asked Hermione the question she had been asking herself all day long.

"Hermione… What exactly happened last night?" Minerva's eyes were filled with a myriad number of emotions.

Hermione squirmed under Minerva's gaze. "I'm actually not entirely sure… I can't seem to remember that part of the evening myself."

Minerva's demeanor shifted and Hermione could visually see her distance herself from her as the woman crossed her arms over her chest and stared intently at her tea cup sitting on the table.

"Minerva..." Hermione began nervously. "Do you know what happened?"

"It matters not." Minerva answered crisply. She did not know why but the fact that Hermione could not remember that soft kiss hurt her deeply.

Hermione knit her brows together. "Did I hurt you, or say something…"

"I said it matters not Hermione." Minerva interrupted quickly, "I think that perhaps we should end the game now and take it up again at another time. I have more paper work to complete." With a wave of her arm the chess board and its pieces disappeared as did the more personal side of Minerva, the Headmistress of Hogwarts had returned.

Hermione tried to reach out to her, "Good day Professor. I shall see you at dinner."

A/N: Oh the horror, the agony, the angst! Don't worry loves, there is more to come! I know it's taking awhile for them to get together. But have faith it will be soon.

I want to say thank you so much for the reviews I have gotten so far. They mean a lot to me, definitely brighten my day and boost my ego when I see them C:. So don't stop! I'm selfish and want more xoxox.