A.N. Just a short one for ya'll

Twilight came early to that part of the world now that summer was gone. The onset of darkness and the wind made the island very cold in the evening and it was the chilly air that awoke the two women.

Hermione was first conscious of the fact that she was laying on something very uncomfortable and that her body itched. She reached down to scratch her leg and discovered that her skin was coated with sand. Opening her eyes blearily she saw that she was lying beside Minerva on the rocky beach – which explained why she felt uncomfortable.

The older woman shivered and awoke. There was an odd gritty feeling in her mouth and she discovered that she was lying face down in a patch of sand. She sat up suddenly and tried to spit out the offending particles.

Hermione stood with difficulty and walked over to their rain bucket to get Minerva a drink. She returned to her lover without even saying a word. The animagus swilled her mouth out gratefully before trying to stand. "Aaaaaah!"

"Minerva, what's wrong?"

"Nothing..."

"You don't cry out for no reason."

"I... I am merely somewhat sore."

Hermione's concerned expression turned into a violent blush. "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened. I never meant to hurt you."

"I know you did not, I am not hurt but it has been a long time since I... The soreness will be gone by tomorrow." A gentle hand caressed Hermione's face, brushing the sand off of pretty features. "Scourigfy."

The spell was slightly too effective, not only removing the sand and dirt from their skin but also served as an efficient exfoliation. Minerva turned to lead Hermione into the cabin but as she did so, she noticed a series of puncture wounds on the younger womans shoulder. Bleeding wounds that had been caused by her own claws.

"I believe that I should be the one apologising."

"What for darling?" Minerva's fingers grazed the raw flesh, making her young lover wince. "Oh... that."

"How can you be so matter of fact?"

"Let's talk inside Minerva, I'm naked and cold."

Emerald eyes trailed over goose pimpled skin and erect nipples in a hungry way that had nothing to do with heat. "I can see that."

"Aw quit it." The young woman grabbed Minerva's hand and pulled her into their room. "Besides you should see the nail marks I left on your back."

They curled up on the bed in each others arms, neither could be bothered going back outside to fetch the blanket – so they lay together sharing their body heat. A few gentle kisses were exchanged before they relaxed against the pillows. "Minerva... what happened earlier?"

The older witch gave a chuckle. "What you did was a variation on the engorgement charm. It is... for obvious reasons not in the magical textbooks that we recommend at Hogwarts."

"I didn't know about that. I have absolutely no idea what I did, was just concentrating on you at the time."

Another chuckle followed in amusement at the flush that was rushing up Hermione's face.

"Minerva..?"

"Hmmm?"

"Have you ever..." Hermione's question was made clear when she ran a gentle finger across the tip of the older womans clit, making her squirm.

"No. I always wanted to but none of my partners wanted... that." Minerva smirked thoughtfully turning naughty, inquisitive eyes to meet Hermione's chocolate gaze. "How would you feel about it?"

Surprise showed on pretty features, "Well... uh... ok."

"Ok?" The older witch enquired in a low sensual tone. An unexpected but very human rush of desire shot through the two women. They were both too tired and sore to indulge in it so they settled for a few cuddles.

"I think that we are going to get teased tomorrow..."

"Mmmm hmm." Minerva was almost asleep once again, "Why not worry about that tomorrow?" She yawned, exposing slightly pointed teeth before burrowing back into the younger womans arms.

A week later

Hermione yawned, she really wanted to go to bed and get away from the increasingly maudlin talk around the campfire. Considering their situation it was a wonder that this didn't happen more often. Unofficially she and Minerva were the leaders of their little exiled group, as such she could not leave while morale was so low.

Conversation had started as they guessed about what Voldemort was doing on the outside but it had now changed into remembering the friends and family who had been lost at the battle of Hogwarts. They had all lost a great deal but no one more than George.

Tears were running down the young mans face. "And the crazy thing is that I've got nothing left. All of my close family are dead, the only ones left alive hate us."

"Who?" Hermione queried having met most of the Weasley clan at various gatherings over the years.

"My cousins on my mother's side, they subscribe to all of that pure-blood bullshit and call us blood-traitors. In fact they've probably burnt down our house and salted the ground by now."

Luna brushed the tears from his cheeks while everyone else just stared at him. "What do you mean George?" It was Rosmerta who took pity on him.

"Well my parents are dead, my brothers and my sister..."

Hermione's mind suddenly flashed back to Ginny running towards Harry's dead body, before turning her wand on the mass of death eaters. Her friend had died while touching the body of the man she loved. That was some consolation but not much when compared to the senseless death of the girl and the murder of her father only a few moments later.

"Everyone probably thinks that we're dead too. So Mum's family were next in line to inherit."

"You are wrong George." This time it was Minerva who spoke. "There is a great deal of misconception about wizarding wills. Most people write a will in the muggle way but it is actually not necessary. A network of spells exists that detect the specific wishes of a witch or wizard, which is more often than you think – different than what is written down."

"How do you so much about it?"

"I worked in the Department of Magical Law for some time prior to my teaching career."

The only face that didn't show surprise was Hermione's, who had already known that snippet of Minerva's life.

"So what does happen?"

"In your situation, the spells would detect that you are next in line to inherit and that you still live. With the exception of The Ministry itself, no one could claim your property."

"So The Burrow is still safe? It isn't much but it's all I have."

"Yes."

Hermione got up from the fire with a very strange look on her face, something sad and conflicted but largely unreadable. Minerva called her name softly but got no response. The young witch felt herself pulled into the embrace of her lover."What is wrong?"

The brunette shook her head, lost in thought. She leant her cheek on Minerva's shoulder for a few minutes. "And..." She had trouble speaking and cleared her throat. "And what of Harry's property?"

Minerva frowned, not understanding why this subject was upsetting her love. "I suppose that given Harry's turbulent relationship with his blood relations that he would have intended his property to pass to Ronald or Ginevra Weasley... or yourself."

"So if it passed to Ron and he died, then George would have it?"

"Probably not, given that they all died within a few hours – I believe that it would pass to the next person on Harry Potter's 'list'."

"To me." It wasn't a question and Hermione's voice was a whisper. She pulled herself from Minerva's arms and began to pace.

The older witch sat down with the other equally clueless inhabitants of the island and just stared at the young woman who was talking to herself as she walked back and forth.

Hermione turned back to face the fire and the five sets of eyes that were watching her every move. Her features were pale in the reflected light from the fire and bloodless lips parted as she uttered a single word in a loud voice imbued with power. "Kreacher..."