A/N: To make up for the week without an update, I'm going to do another one. Maybe that's one good thing about not having a car… you suddenly have hours of free time to write! Enjoy everyone, and thank you for your endless support.

When Minerva threw the Floo into the fire, she decided it would be wise to transport the children to their own rooms in the event Hermione was still asleep.

When they arrived back at Hogwarts, Rose and Hugo dashed into their rooms to drop of their bags and take out their boxes from Minerva.

As soon as they were done they dashed back into the den area and jumped on the sofa beside Minerva.

"Can you look at my butterflies?"

"Yes, and then we'll look at Hugo's stars, alright?"

Rose nodded in agreement. She carefully lifted the lid and the butterflies flew out. Rose and Hugo giggled and squealed in excitement, their legs swinging and hands clapping in delight.

"Now watch this." Minerva said. She raised her wand and gave it two flicks.

Instantly the butterflies began moving, and they formed the perfect letters: ROSEin Minerva's distinct handwriting.

"ME!" Hugo cried, tugging at Minerva's robe.

Minerva kissed his head, "As you wish." And with another flick they formed HUGO.

Hugo laughed in delight. "Do sumfin else!" He cried. "Yeah!" came Rose's agreement.

Minerva laughed and flicked her wand again, and the butterflies began making brilliant shapes… first a star, then a circle with patterns on the inside, then a flower.

"Now watch the blue one." Minerva whispered.

Instantly the blue butterfly started leading the group into complicated twists and turns.

"It looks like a roller coaster!" Rose exclaimed.

"A what?" Minerva asked.

"A roller coaster… a ride?" Rose gave Minerva a funny look, like she ought to understand what she was saying.

Ah,aMuggleinvention... Minerva connected the link. "Forgive me, my darling Rose, I am getting old."

Rose gave Minerva a stern look very similar to that of her mother's. "You are not old."

Minerva laughed and pulled the girl into a hug, "Well thank you, my darling. Now, you try."

Rose's eyes went wide with surprise and a hint of fear. "I can't do magic!"

Minerva wrapped one arm around Rose's small frame, the other placed the wand in her small hand. "You can. You have magic inside you."

"Really?"

"Yes. Now, gently flick your wrist, like this."

Minerva placed her hand on top of Rose's and flicked her wrist. Instantly the butterflies changed into a heart.

"It's a love!" Rose exclaimed.

"It's a heart." Minerva gently corrected.

Rose shook her head. "No it's not. When I flicked my wrist, in my mind I thought 'I love you,' cause I love you, Minerva! So it made a love!"

Minerva wrapped Rose into a tight hug. "Thank you, my darling. That means the world."

Hugo tapped her arm. "Stars?"

Minerva nodded. "Rose, if you would be so kind…"

Rose turned and opened the box. "My butterflies come home." And in an instant the butterflies zoomed back into the small box.

"Alright, Hugo, you're turn. But first, let's lay on the floor, shall we?"

They both nodded vigorously in agreement and Minerva transfigured the coffee table into a large mattress so they could lie on top of it.

When they were all settled- Rose and Hugo both tucked securely on either side of Minerva- Hugo opened his box of stars.

Minerva flicked her wrist and the fireplace extinguished, and the room went dark. The stars arranged themselves, and when they had reached their proper position they began to sparkle and shine.

The faint lines of the zodiac symbols began to appear, and Minerva pointed them out to them.

"There is Aries in the corner there- see the horns?… and on that side is Pisces the fish… "

Rose and Hugo looked up with glassy eyes, absorbing the constellations.

"Now, we three are very similar. Do you know why, my darlings?"

Both of them shook their head.

"We are all Leos- the Lion." She flicked her wand so that the stars making the Leo would illuminate brightest.

"Do you know why Leos are so special?"

They shook their heads again.

"Godric Gryffindor was a Leo, too. That's why the Gryffindor house is a Lion. Godric was a fearless leader and a brilliant wizard."

"Like yous?" Hugo asked.

Minerva smiled and kissed his head. "Thank you, my lad, but I am nothing like Godric. I am only Headmistress."

"Mama tinks yous is." Hugo replied.

Minerva's heart melted. "I think your mother's wonderful too."

Rose sat up. "Then stay with us! Make Mommy happy again! We like you!"

Hugo sat up too. "I likes yous!"

Minerva picked up the box and flicked her wrist so that the stars disappeared. She wrapped her arms around the two children. "I like both of you very much, too. And don't worry- I won't be going anywhere."

"Good." Rose stated.

Minerva felt and heard Hugo's stomach rumbling. Chuckling she asked, "Are we hungry, my dears?"

They both nodded.

"Alright, then let's eat lunch, shall we?"

"Can we have Mommy too?" Rose asked.

Minerva nodded, "Yes, I'll get her."

They stood up and Minerva transfigured the mattress back into the table.

"Sadie!" Minerva called out. Instantly the elf appeared and Rose and Hugo dashed over to deliver a warm hug.

"Little ones! Sadies missed yous this mornings!"

"We missded yous toos!" Hugo exclaimed.

"Sadie, could be so kind as to bring up lunch for the children, Hermione and me? But first please watch the children for a few minutes while I go get her."

Sadie nodded, "Yes mistress."

"Be back my darlings!" Minerva waved and with a pop, she apparated into her office.

Hermione was sleeping on the sofa, her mug empty on the table,

Minerva sat gently beside her and gently rubbed her back. She whispered into her ear, "Hermione, my love…"

Hermione groaned and rolled over, her eyes barely parting. "Time…?" She asked groggily.

"Lunch, my darling."

Hermione sat up. Her eyes jerked open, "Oh my god, the kids."

Minerva placed a hand on Hermione's thigh. "All taken care of, don't worry."

Hermione closed her eyes and lay back down. "How long have I been out?"

"A couple of hours, but you needed it."

"Did they behave for you?"

"They were perfect. Just like you."

Hermione scoffed and started to turn away, but Minerva had placed her hands on her shoulders and brought their lips together.

Hermione wrapped her arms around Minerva's thin waist as long graceful fingers intertwined with Hermione's chestnut hair.

Minerva increased the tempo of the kiss, gently running her tongue across Hermione's lips.

She moaned into the kiss and arched up into Minerva's body, pressing their hips together creating sparks of pleasure down their spines.

Minerva ran one hand up her thigh, pushing her legs apart so that she could press herself against Hermione's most sensitive area.

Hermione moaned and began grinding herself against Minerva's toned thigh, creating friction and heat against her core.

When air became a need they parted, both eyes dark with desire and passion.

"Minerva…" Hermione whispered, and her lips were again covered.

Their tongues tasted each other, their hands were taking in every inch of skin… every muscle, every curve, every line…

Minerva felt her core begin to grow hot with a wanton desire, and she stopped the kiss.

"Not now…. My darling, not like this."

Hermione gazed into Minerva's eyes with a deep, lusty passion. "But I want you."

Minerva gave her a quick kiss. "And I you, but I want you properly. On my bed, after a romantic dinner, the only light coming from candles… Not on my sofa after your nap."

Hermione laughed and kissed Minerva, easing herself up into a sitting position. "Fine, fine. So what shall we do instead?"

"We have a lunch date with Rose and Hugo, they're waiting in your rooms now with Sadie."

"Oh, great, just give me a moment?"

Minerva nodded and walked over to her desk. She had a few letters that had to be taken care of, but nothing she thought couldn't wait for a few more hours.

Hermione walked into the bathroom and gave her hair a quick brush through. She started to change out of the robe Minerva had lent her, but she found herself wishing she didn't have to take it off.

It smelled like her, and every time she inhaled she felt like she was safe and at home. She pressed the soft cotton into her face, wishing she could memorize the scent and carry it with her so she'd never have to be…

"Are you trying to eat my robe? I assure you, whatever is being served for lunch is much better."

Hermione blushed, "I was… I just…"

Minerva strode across the bathroom and wrapped Hermione in a hug. "I think you want exactly what I want now."

"Which is?"

"To have something of the other… something tangible to know that you are not alone. "

Hermione smiled against Minerva. "You know me so well."

"I do."

Hermione withdrew and handed Minerva her robe. She started to feel awkward standing in just her camisole and underwear, but Minerva had already turned around and walked out.

Hermione appeared a few minutes later to find Minerva carrying a carton of cigarettes.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm starting a fire." Minerva stated.

"I thought I told you…" But her words were cut off as Minerva dumped the entire box into the fireplace, the flames instantly shooting up with the new kindling.

Minerva wiped her hands and turned to Hermione. "I think my lips will be too busy kissing you to smoke, don't you think?"

Hermione dashed over and threw her arms around her. "I love you."

"I love you too. Now, lunch?"

Hermione nodded and Minerva apparated them back to her rooms.

"Mommy!" "Mama!"

Rose and Hugo bounded forward and wrapped Hermione's legs into fierce hugs.

"Hi darlings! Have you behaved?"

They both nodded. "Yes! And Minerva played with us and taught us stuff!"

Hugo nodded in agreement with his sister. "I likes Erva!"

Hermione smiled and whispered, "I like her, too."

Rose leaned in a whispered back, "Can we keeps her?"

Hermione pursed her lips in a mock thinking pose. "I think we can do that."

"YAYYYYYY!" Rose and Hugo dashed over and wrapped Minerva into a hug. "Now yous stay heres wid us furever!" Hugo exclaimed.

"Only if you eat your vegetables at lunch."

Hugo and Rose made faces, as if weighing whether or not it was worth it. Deciding it was, they both nodded and sat down at the table.

Minerva grabbed Hermione's hand, intertwining their fingers, assuring her in the most naïve and honest way that she wasn't going anywhere.