AN: Here comes the angst... Y'all have been so sweet, thanks for all the kind words. The heart wrenching song "My Immortal" by Evanescence is featured.
CLUB GLAMOUR
Chapter 11
Dazed emerald eyes cracked open while lungs desperately tried to pull in oxygen. The older witch became aware that her lover was gasping as loudly as she was.
The sex had been incredible.
But now...
'Red' knew exactly who those beautiful brown eyes belonged to, who she'd just had the best sex in her long life with. Who she was in love with...
Hermione Granger.
Running a trembling hand through her thoroughly mussed bed hair, she muttered, "I need to use the loo."
"Through the living room, down the hallway. First door on the right." It was the first words from the younger witch. There was a tremble in her speech. A hesitation. After all, she'd just had sex with the Headmistress of Hogwarts, with the one woman that she dreamed she'd never have.
The blonde woman felt the mattress dip a bit, then relax as the tall red head got up. Brown eyes watched as the slim, athletic body of her lover was quickly covered by a transfigured dressing gown from pair of slacks. Tartan print.
Figures.
The older woman quickly left the room and headed towards her destination. This time she paid a wee bit more attention to her surroundings. Warm comfy furniture, a plethora of books, neat desk, fireplace with photos spread across the mantle. The tickle in her bladder reminded her of where she was supposed to be, so she shook her head and continued onto her destination.
Quite some time had elapsed since her lover had left the warmth of their bed, so 'Blondie' decided to investigate. Transfiguring herself a robe from the dress she'd worn the night before, she ran a hand through her hair and opened the door.
Sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace was her lover. Clasped in elegant hands was a photograph. A wizarding photo showing a beautiful young witch with chestnut hair curling in soft waves. Twinkling chocolate eyes peered up at a tall, ebony haired witch wearing rectangular spectacles. Silky ebony tresses had been pulled back into a bun. There was an answering twinkle in emerald eyes that peered down at the younger witch.
'Blondie' pulled her wristband off, twirling it between her two index fingers as she whispered in her own voice, "That was taken on the last day of term. The day before graduation."
Not looking up, the red head answered softly, "I know. I was saddened to see you go, but I knew that great things lay before you. Like this for example." A long trembling finger lightly traced her wristband, then moved over the image in the photograph before it was placed on the coffee table in front of her. Swallowing convulsively, the red head looked up. Her emerald eyes widened at seeing that her young lover had removed her glamour.
"Are you ok?" Hermione could see such anguish brewing in those mesmerizing deep green orbs.
The taller witch sighed and slowly removed her own wristband. "No, I am not." Tossing the dark green band onto the table next to the photo, she stood and whispered hoarsely in a pronounced Scottish brogue, "I am not ok."
Hermione took a tentative step towards the woman she loved with her whole heart, "What's wrong?"
Emerald eyes flamed, "What is wrong you ask?" She snorted, "You even need to ask?" She rubbed two hands tiredly over her face, "This is wrong Hermione. It cannot happen!"
"It already has."
"I know and I am sorry it did."
"Why?" There was heartbreak in the young woman's voice and it tore at Minerva's soul.
"We cannot happen Hermione. Surely you must realize the implications?"
A yellow wristband joined the other on the coffee table, "I hate to burst your bubble Minerva, but THIS has already happened."
"It cannot happen again." The older witch whispered fighting the tears that were threatening to fall. She summoned her remaining clothes whist transfiguring her dressing gown into a travelling robe. Ebony hair was magically bound into a familiar bun until finally standing before Hermione was the Headmistress of Hogwarts.
"But I love you." A small, broken whisper sounded once more piercing the heart of the older witch.
Tear filled emerald gazed into heartbroken watery chocolate, "This cannot be. Sometimes love just is not enough. I am truly sorry." With that, the tall ebony haired witch opened the door to the flat and exited.
The wizarding wireless in the bedroom chose that moment to begin playing a song pulling the young woman's attention for just a moment...
"I'm so tired of being here"
Hermione turned back to look up at the closed door as tears began to flow freely down her soft cheeks.
"Suppressed by all my childish fears."
On the other side of the door, Minerva McGonagall lightly rested her forehead against the wooden barrier as tears rolled down her face as well. Gasping as the ache in her heart grew, she whispered, "I love you too." And promptly apparated.
"And if you have to leave."
Hearing the clap of apparation, Hermione slowly sunk to her knees.
"I wish that you would just leave."
Chocolate eyes fastened themselves onto the wristbands lying together on the coffee table.
"Cause your presence still lingers here,
and it won't leave me alone."
The young witch crawled to the glass top table and reached for the bands only to stop and look at small hands that shook uncontrollably.
"This pain is just too real."
Standing, Hermione gazed about the room searching for something. Sitting on a table in the corner, next to a cabinet that held all manner of glassware were several bottles.
"There's just too much that time cannot erase."
Shaking hands grasped the bottle of firewhiskey and brought it to trembling lips. The vitriolic liquid was not sipped as was proper, oh no. It was guzzled.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears,
when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your tears.
And I held your hand through all of these years,
but you still have...
All of me."
An empty bottle was tossed to the floor. Shattering as it impacted. Another bottle was grasped, opened and brought to lips that now bled from being bitten to suppress more tears.
"You used to captivate me by your resonating light."
Fire burned in a belly that was filling with liquor. Eyes that once sparked with fire and intelligence were slowly dimming.
"Now I'm bound by the life you left behind."
Another bottle was emptied and shattered on the floor.
Deep in the heart of Scotland a majestic castle stood. Stones gleamed brightly with the magic that flowed throughout. Turrets and towers and spires provided a grandeur unrivalled in the entire wizarding world.
At the top of the tallest tower, a window provided an unimpeded vista of the land surrounding Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry.
Standing in the window was a solitary figure. Tall, slender with an elegant mien. Some would say that the witch in question was the picture of stoicism.
But not today.
A wizarding wireless sat in the office of the headmistress. It normally played classical tunes to soothe the temper of said headmistress.
But not today.
A song played that tore the woman's soul into agonized shreds...
"Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams."
Tears dripped onto tartan emerald robes.
"Your voice it chased away all the sanity in me."
"What is it Tabby?" The concerned voice of Albus Dumbledore quietly echoed in the cavernous chamber that was once his office.
"These wounds won't seem to heal."
The Headmistress turned to stare at all the portraits that were gazing at her.
"The pain is just too real."
Without warning an anguished roar escaped the lips of Minerva McGonagall as she fell to her knees sobbing.
"There's just too much that time cannot erase."
Albus glanced at the portrait of Severus Snape. Tears burned bright in the black eyes that gazed back into his own.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears.
When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears.
And I held your hand through all these years.
But you still have...
All of me."
Shattered glass littered the flat. Books were strewn everywhere. Furniture had been shoved and overturned. The lovely glass top coffee table was now in a thousand twinkling pieces in front of a fire that burned blue with a half full bottle of firewhiskey that had been violently thrown into the flames.
"But I've tried to tell myself that you're gone."
Another bottle was nearing the end of consumption. Hermione had lost count of how many she'd had so far and frankly she didn't give a shit. As long as it took away the pain. Her vision was beginning to blur a bit. Shaking her head, her gaze fell to the bloody footprints that littered the floor of her home.
"How'd they get there?" She muttered as she took another deep gulp. Numbly walking into the kitchen, she didn't notice that the footprints trailed after her.
"But though you're still with me, I've been alone all along."
"Ain't it the fuckin' truth." Came a grumbled slur from the kitchen as another empty bottle came sailing out into the living room. This one crashed against the far wall. A stain darkened the cheery paint as glass tinkled to the floor. The remaining firewhiskey that had created the stain, now ran in straight lines down the wall looking so much like a blood.
A scar of war. A wound from a battle of the soul.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears.
When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears.
And I held your hand through all of these years.
But you still have...
All of me."
"SHUT UP!" Hermione screamed as she charged into the bedroom.
She pulled her wand and screamed, "INCENDIO!" causing the wireless to burst into flames. Levitating the burning remains of her radio, she sent it flying into the fireplace.
"She'll never be mine!" She wailed sinking to the floor in a sodden heap of tears, whiskey and blood.
"Tabby?" Dumbledore queried
No response.
"Tabby.. please?"
No response except a quiet sigh.
"Dammit Minerva suck it up!" Severus scolded. "You are the Headmistress of this school. Act like it!"
A growl sounded from the emerald heap on the floor.
"Sorry excuse of an educator you turned out to be." Phineas Nigellus sniped.
"Fuck you!" Came a hiss as the emerald heap rose.
An ebony wand was pulled from a sleeve as murderous red-rimmed emerald eyes blazed, "Fuck all of you!"
Orange bolts of power jetted out of the tip of her wand as Minerva's anger and heartache caused a maelstrom of destruction in her office. Trinkets shattered, parchments whirled and shredded themselves. Portraits found themselves twirled about in a tornado of power.
"I can never have what I want! It's always been about what is best for this bloody school!"
The stones of the walls themselves began to shake.
"Tabby! Tabby please!" Dumbledore cried as he felt his portrait begin to shake.
Whirling around, maddened green eyes fastened on him, "You! It is your fault! You never had a lover here because you were so afraid of what others would say! Afraid of what the staff would think or the trouble that parents would brew. It is your fault!" She screamed as his portrait flew up to join the others.
Her shoulders began to shake as sobs burst forth, "You were the example that I have tried to follow. But I cannot..." She fell to her knees once again and an anguished cry flew from her lips, "I love her but because of you, I cannot have her!"
Snape's accusing eyes landed on Dumbledore's troubled blue ones, "After all what would people think?" Came the classic Snape-ism.
The portraits felt themselves slowly settling back to their respective places as elf magic asserted itself. A small speckled elf named "Dot" stepped further into the room. Drawn to the Heasmistress' office by the unusual turbulence in the castle's magic that seemed to be focussed here. Waving her hand, she repaired the carnage.
The sound of heart wrenching sobs caught the large ears of the creature and she moved to find the source.
Spying her Headmistress on the floor, the tiny creature gently levitated Minerva and moved her into her private chambers, "Come you's needs to sleep. We's fixes the broken hearts tomorrow."
-to be continued
AN: Thank you Tan for beta'ing me as when the fingers start to fly, spelling flies out the window.