Chapter 11

Minerva steeled herself as blue eyes met hers, and she momentarily delayed the inevitable by dropping her own eyes and twirling the glass within her fingers, "Yes, I did see her before you ask."

"And?" Helena motioned the server for her usual drink.

Minerva re-met Helena's gaze, "She's happy." Minerva simply replied.

Helena's lips pinched, "Bullshit, and don't start in on what you wish to be, tell me what really happened."

"Nothing, Helena." Minerva stated in earnest, "I was at the Burrow visiting Molly and Arthur when she, along with Ronald and Harry and Ginerva arrived. I exchanged pleasantries with the small group and as I was leaving, Hermione ensured I remained long enough to hear that she was going to be returning to Oxford as she had changed her master."

Helena felt her own shoulder's sag at the knowledge, because Minerva had believed and hoped that Hermione, despite their recent lack of friendship, would still pursue a mastery in transfiguration – as she was the most adept person Minerva had seen in the field in close to forty years. "To what?"

"Charms." Minerva cleared her throat, "And Arithmancy."

"Talk about a 180," Helena took her drink from the server, "thank you." She smiled in acknowledgement before returning her gaze back to Minerva, "She may yet change her mind."

"No," Minerva's voice laced with defeat, "she made it quite clear to Ginerva and Harry both that she was pursing Charms along with Arithmancy." Minerva could feel tears pooling along the corners of her eyes as she finally permitted herself to feel the pain the last of the words Hermione had spoken regarding the topic, "As she," she forced a partial, watery smile, "didn't feel transfiguration would further her aspirations."

"What did you say?"

Minerva subtly brushed the tears away, "That I was certain that no matter the discipline of her choosing, she would undoubtedly do well."

"And?"

"Ginerva agreed and went so far as stating how much she previously desired a mastery in Transfiguration. Which, she agreed, but stated that recent circumstances had caused her to change her mind and she didn't feel that was the best career path for her."

"Is there anything…"

"No." Minerva interrupted whilst shaking her head, "There is nothing to be done, Helena. I should not have accepted that particular wager for innumerable reasons. Which, those reasons have continued to surface in continual fashion since that evening a year ago. She is now married, and I have at best a strained relationship with a woman I had hoped as time passed to at least develop a friendship and garner an insightful colleague." She downed the remainder of her drink, "And you wonder why I never let those I meet, get to know me." She sighed, "Lesson learned."

"You should have told me you cared for her."

"It wouldn't have mattered, as I wouldn't have pursued her. She was too young and I…" she lifted her glass singling to server her desire to have another drink, "too set in my ways."

"If I had to do it over again…"

"Don't," Minerva said with a shake of her head, "nimgaze. It's unbecoming and certainly not why I'm here."

Helena felt the corners of her lips quirk upwards, "Then we are to have another wager?"

Minerva's emerald eyes crinkled in a wary smile, "After I've had another drink, then yes. As I've been…missing your funds in my account."

Helena chuckled, "I know that isn't true."

"Well, then perhaps it's time for me to move on and your wagers are the best option for the interim."

xoxo

Helena narrowed her eyes as a woman…and at seeing who the woman was sliding into the seat across from her, she inwardly groaned. "Good evening Hermione."

"As your eyes were glued elsewhere, am I to presume that Minerva is here?"

Helena's eyes flickered to the bar and saw that Hermione had arrived with Ginny, "She'll be here shortly, so if you wish to avoid her I'd suggest leaving."

Brown eyes measured blue ones, "I don't believe you," she finally breathed and as she began scanning the dimly lit room for signs of Minerva. "She's here."

"No," Helena countered, despite the contrary. Because while Minerva was there, Hermione would never recognize her, "she isn't. I came early and either way, what does it matter?"

Hermione swallowed, because what was she to say? That it did matter? That she couldn't imagine soft, delectable lips covering another's…and she felt her indignation leave because she had no rights over Minerva. Minerva was a free woman, and she wasn't. She was married, and with a sigh met blue eyes, "I suppose it doesn't."

"Have a good night, Hermione."

Hermione stopped getting out of the seat, "I never meant to hurt her."

"Nor she you," Helena countered, "as I've never known her not to go through with a wager. Ever. Nor has she divulged to another sole who any of her aliases are except those who helped to create them. She cared for you and still does a great deal, and while she'll never say it; do know it, and for her sake, please make a moderate attempt to stop blaming her – as you are both where you are because of both of your decisions. Neither is solely at fault." She shifted, eyes moving past Hermione to see long blond locks fall across the man's face, "Now," she could see the faint lines of a hand moving upward before she brought her gaze back, "I believe you have a friend waiting for you, and I shall shortly…"

Hermione turned her gaze to where Helena had been gazing and felt her pulse immediately skip a beat as a woman drew a deep kiss to a halt, gently pulling back from a man's lips. And…Hermione mumbled farewell as she stood, eyes fixed upon the woman sitting on the man's lap as they shared whispered words. She couldn't hear, but easily imagined Alexandria's soft laugh as the woman's head tipped back in laughter before standing and moving away from the table. Her lithe figure maneuvering with assuredness between the tables, chairs and patrons and as she approached the door – the woman stopped and her eyes met Hermione's. Any doubt that the woman by the doorway wasn't Minerva vanished, but before she could do anything other than stare at the marvel of a woman; she was gone.

She felt the tug upon her arm, and Ginny gave her an earful about being gone forever as she tried to keep an eye upon the door. However, when her eyes traveled to the table Helena had been sitting expecting to see the blond, the only thing greeting her vision was an empty table, along with an equally empty glass and a handful of coin for payment.

Xoxo

a/n: you wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have angst in my story.