Note: Here's the next bit, let me know what you think.
The fight outside Minerva's cottage had been long and bloody, a number of order members had been killed but they had done some damage to Voldemort's plans, killing or capturing several of his higher ranking followers. Hermione and a number of others had been badly injured, recuperating in St Mungos. For the first time members of the order outnumbered the regular patients, keeping the staff on their toes in more ways than one.
Confined to a hospital bed Hermione was mentally climbing the walls. Not only was she bored out of her mind, Minerva was out there somewhere alone. She was by far the most patient of her friends but waiting was getting intolerable. She smiled at the thought of the older witch, lost in her thoughts she didn't hear the door open or quiet footsteps moving towards her bedside.
"Thinking pleasant thoughts?"
"I was thinking about you actually." Minerva could see the smile broaden under the mass of bandages across the young witches face.
"I hear that you are giving your healers a hard time." The older witch sat on the hospital bed next to her young love.
"I learnt from the best."
"How do you know what I'm like with healers?"
Hermione reached out blindly for her former mentors' hand, wanting desperately to see the expression on her face. "What happened with the death eaters we captured?"
"Interrogation. We discovered that they were after you, as they saw you as the brains behind Harry Potter."
Hermione couldn't see the expression on Minerva's face or the concern as her eyes raked over the younger witches body, she did however feel Minerva's hand tighten around hers. She decided to change the subject.
"I'm sorry we didn't get more chance to...talk."
"I am too Hermione." She sighed heavily.
"What?"
"We never should have gotten separated during the fight, I could have..."
"Minerva, I could have gotten hurt right next to you. It happened, there is no point trying to blame yourself."
"It is my fault, you were assigned to work with me for your own protection."
"My own protection be damned, we were assigned together the same way as everyone else – safety in numbers, that's it."
"I still should have..."
"NO!" Hermione sat up and only fumbling a little pulled Minerva into her arms. "I'm more than capable of looking after myself, I've been helping Harry fight 'you know who' since first year, I have more actual experience than some order members and a greater knowledge of magic than most."
"I know." Minerva's voice was cracking even on the two words.
"Minerva are you crying?"
"No." The answer came out slightly choked.
Hermione followed the lines of Minerva's body up to her face, feeling wetness on her fingertips. Leaning her head forward she kissed the tears on both sides of her face. "It's not your fault."
"Hermione..." The sound of someone clearing their throat behind them interrupted the heart to heart. Minerva's instinct was to jump away from Hermione but she stifled it and turned to face the interloper, keeping Hermione pulled into her side, pressing her lips into her hair.
"Good morning Hermione, Minerva." Both women were happy that Poppy's voice didn't show surprise or any emotion after finding them in each others arms.
"Poppy." Both women acknowledged.
"Minerva I need to discuss a few things with Hermione, can you wait outside please?"
"No, I want her to stay."
"Ok. Now Hermione your test results are back. As you know we cured most of your injuries, you'll feel sore for a few days but nothing too bad. Your sight however is as muggles say 'another story'. We don't know what curse or combinations of curses were used and we have tried every possible cure – there is nothing we can do."
Hermione nodded before burying her head in Minerva's neck, despite herself thrilling as the older womans arms wrapped tightly around her. Stroking the brunette hair soothingly Minerva addressed Poppy,"Do you know if it will be permanent?"
"At this stage, no. I think it will be temporary but there is no way to know for sure, I'm sorry."
Poppy left having witnessed what most people would not dream possible, Minerva McGonagall wrapped around a former student, both comforting and being comforted. Tears falling down both their faces as they kissed briefly; totally ignoring her presence, both trying to find solace in their pain.
