Once Professor McGonagall had pointed out a washroom behind a hidden door in her office she left the three to wordlessly form their circle. As soon as their bracelets were glowing brightly Luna opened her eyes again.
"Will she be alright, Minerva, I mean?" Hermione asked quietly.
"She will... I have a feeling she's gone to visit her cottage in Ireland," Luna replied.
"You were amazing tonight, Luna..." Hermione said with awe in her voice.
"We were amazing," Luna corrected, "I couldn't have done anything that I did tonight without your help..."
"You're talking about mine and Hermione's magical connection, aren't you?" Asked Ginny.
Luna looked at Ginny in shock; "You told her!" She snapped and tried to pull her hands away from both of them, "I thought we agreed to tell her together?"
Both her friends held fast to her though until she calmed somewhat, "Luna, I know you're angry... I haven't explained everything... just a little bit."
Hermione confirmed her story, "She said she wanted to wait for you..."
Luna looked back and forth between her friends and then sighed, "Hermione, I know you have questions, but honestly, I'm exhausted... we all are."
"That was intense..." Hermione nodded, "it was almost as if I was there with her."
Luna replied quietly, "And you only felt a part of it..."
Ginny and Hermione moved to enfold Luna in a three way hug.
Hermione leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of Luna's head and asked her quietly, "Are you okay, Luna?"
Luna sighed and relaxed in their arms, "I will be... I just need to rest and," she said as she gently pulled herself from their hug, "I need to put my necklace back on..."
After she had put it back on she looked to her friends and explained, "I just need to be alone with my emotions for a bit and get a good night's sleep." She looked over to the bed and smiled. "She even gave us pajamas, look..."
Sure enough, on top of the bed, lay three pair of comfy looking pajamas. Luna went to change first, leaving Hermione and Ginny sitting on the bed holding hands.
"I can't believe she did this for us..." Hermione commented; "letting us stay together tonight."
"I think Luna let her feel what she wanted...and that we wanted to stay with her," Ginny replied.
"It was wild how they seemed to speak in a short hand...I think if Luna hadn't let us in on Minerva's emotions, I would have been lost half the time."
"Is it just me, or was it really weird, calling her 'Minerva'?" Ginny asked.
"At first, yes, but after what we just shared with her, would've felt wrong to call her anything else..."
Ginny nodded as Luna returned, "You go ahead, Gin," Hermione said.
Luna took Ginny's place beside Hermione and reached for her hand, "I'm sorry I got angry when I thought Ginny had told you..."
"It's okay, Luna..."
"No, it's not…" Luna sighed; "you have a right to know what's going on... or at least what we think is going on."
"Tonight is not the night..." Hermione assured; "we'll talk on the weekend, okay?"
"Thank you, Hermione..."
"You know Luna; I don't think I'll ever be able to look at Minerva the same again..." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Because she wanted to marry a woman?" Luna asked curiously.
"No, I've never seen an adult treat us the way that she did... like equals, like adults... and the story she told?"
Luna nodded her head, "She's spent a lot of time with Empaths... that's why we were able to talk the way we did..."
"It took me awhile to realize what was going on…" Hermione had wanted to say more but left for the washroom when Ginny returned.
"What were you two talking about?" Ginny asked.
"Minerva," Luna answered simply.
"Luna?" Ginny asked quietly, "You were able to do what you can because of us, me and Hermione I mean, weren't you?"
Luna smiled, "Yes... even the wards around this room is strengthened by you two being here." She squeezed Ginny hand, "Let's get into bed..."
As they climbed under the covers Ginny asked, "Why couldn't she see the bracelets though? I mean, I had to push mine under my sleeve… it was so bright it was bugging me," she showed Luna her forearm and the indentation where the bracelet had been.
Hermione walked up and laughed, "You too?" She asked showing her a similar indentations on her own her arm, "How could she not notice?"
"I think," Luna said as she and Ginny laid down, "that maybe we're the only ones that can see it... now that I think about it I've never see anyone notice..." she trailed off as she laid her head on Ginny's shoulder. Ginny automatically began rubbing her back and then motioned for Hermione to join them.
But Hermione hesitated, "Luna... where would you like me to sleep?" At Luna's bemused expression she explained; "We can both hold you if you like?"
Luna thought a moment and then replied; "Thank you, Hermione, but I think it best you sleep on Ginny's other side as I tend to roll over in the night."
As Ginny waited for Hermione to join them she whispered to Luna, "Thank you," and gently kissed her on the forehead.
Hermione laid her head gently on Ginny's shoulder and felt her arm draw her close. Ginny turned and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and sighed. She wasn't looking forward to tomorrow night when she wouldn't have an excuse to fall asleep with Hermione in her arms.
Ginny felt Hermione reach across her to hold onto some part of Luna, "You both know I love you, right?" Hermione said quietly.
Luna squeezed her hand and replied, "We love you too, Hermione."
…
Luna fell asleep first and rolled away from Ginny. Hermione propped herself up an elbow so she could look at Ginny, "Can't sleep?"
Ginny gently pulled her arm out from under Luna's head and turned on her side to face Hermione, "I can't get it out of my head..."
Hermione lay down and then gently reached to wipe a tear from Ginny's face, "How close we came to losing her?" She asked and Ginny nodded. "I know... even before I knew the whole story... that's all I could think about... all holidays..."
Ginny reached over and wiped the tears from Hermione's face and then moved her hand to the back of her neck and pulled her head to her chest. She placed her top leg on top of Hermione and drew her close. She knew she'd done the right thing when she felt Hermione reposition her leg between her own and draw her in even closer as her arm wrapped around her back.
She felt Hermione sigh as she started to rub her back. "Gin?" She asked as she looked up to her, "Are you going to be okay without your Dreamcatcher?"
Ginny was momentarily caught off guard as Hermione's lips were dangerously close to her own. "Like I'm going to sleep with you in my arms like this," she thought ruefully as she gently guided Hermione's head back to her chest. "I'll be okay..." she said softly, "As long as you're here."
"I'm going to miss you when I have to sleep alone again," Hermione sighed.
Ginny had almost laughed before she answered, "Me too... I haven't slept alone since the holidays started; it's going to feel weird." She felt Luna curl up behind her back to back, "I guess we're stuck like this, unless you'd rather face the other way?" She asked, half hoping she would and half hoping she wouldn't. As much as she liked holding Hermione this way, with such a level of intimacy, she wasn't sure how much longer she could hide what she was feeling.
She felt Hermione pull her closer and then breath in deeply, "I'm okay like this, for now, if you are," she said with a sigh.
"Nope," Ginny thought, "Not sleeping tonight."
Hermione lay in Ginny's arms, thinking of her mentor's story. She wondered again if she'd ever be able to look at her Professor ever again in the same light. Minerva McGonagall was always the picture of composure and tonight, she had let her guard down around the three girls and treated like them were equals.
Luna's display of her powers amazed her. She had done some reading on Empath's and knew that Minerva was right about the extent of her abilities. It had been strange, feeling someone else's emotions, and she wondered how Luna had managed to deal with it all this time. Her feeling of love and admiration grew for Luna and she felt extremely proud to be able to call her her friend.
Sighing deeply she whispered to Ginny, "I'm going to turn around now. As comfortable as I am I don't think I can fall asleep like this," she looked up at Ginny, "Will you still hold me though?"
Ginny nodded, and as they untangled their limbs, she thought she never wanted to let her go.
Once Hermione had turned her back to Ginny and laid her head on her arm, she reached for Ginny's hand and pulled it to her chest. Sighing she said softly with wonder, "Why does this feel so good? You holding me, I mean?"
Ginny pulled her closer and thought, "If you don't know yet, my love, then I'm certainly not ready to tell you." She felt the familiar tugging around her heart and wondered if Hermione felt it as well.
Ginny was just drifting off after she felt Hermione fall asleep when she felt Luna shaking behind her. She knew Luna's nightmares well and pulled herself away from Hermione gently to comfort her.
She pulled Luna onto her back and shook her gently until her eyes opened full of fear and sadness before she began to cry uncontrollably. Without thinking she took Luna's necklace from her neck and laid her hand over Luna's heart as she tried to project all the love she had for her.
Luna's hand came up to hold Ginny's when Ginny felt Hermione moving behind her. She looked back to see Hermione's fear and concern. "Calm yourself... then you can help her, okay?"
Hermione nodded, and then, pulling herself closely behind her, placed her hand on top of Luna's hand which still held Ginny's. They could feel her fear and sadness and both sought to let her know she was safe.
Gradually Luna's breathing slowed and she opened her eyes. Ginny pulled her hand away from her friends and reached up to gently wipe away Luna's tears. "Are you okay, Looney?"
"I had a nightmare..." she said softly.
"Do you want to talk about it, Luna?" Hermione asked softly.
Luna nodded, "But could you get me a glass of water?"
Hermione nodded and went to the bathroom to find one.
"Are you okay, Looney?" When she nodded she wasn't convinced. "You haven't had one that bad in a long time, have you?'
"No," she answered and sat up to take the water from Hermione, "I think I'm a little over-sensitive at the moment," she took a sip of water before continuing; "I think Minerva expected this and that's why she let us stay together tonight."
She sat the water down in her lap and staring at it continued; "I dreamt about what would have happened if you two hadn't showed up when you did... on Halloween, I mean," she said softly as she roughly wiped away at her new tears.
Ginny moved quickly to sit behind Luna and enveloped her in her arms. Hermione then moved next and hugged both girls. Hermione pulled herself away and gently took Luna's face in her hands so that she made her look at her, "We're never going to let that happen to you... understood?"
Luna swallowed hard and nodded. Hermione leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You're not Radha, Luna... What you're able to do? Now that you know what's possible, you'll be okay."
Hermione wasn't sure she'd gotten her point across until she saw Luna smile. "I know Hermione but what if..." Luna started hesitantly.
Ginny interrupted her as she squeezed her tight, "You can't live your life afraid of 'what ifs', Looney."
"You even managed a smile out of Snape..." Hermione smiled, "that's what you need to remember."
Luna laughed a little and Hermione finally let her face go and sat back down beside her, taking Luna's hand as she did.
"Really?" She asked Hermione.
"Yeah," she replied smiling at the memory, "I looked around when everyone started laughing. Even most of the Slytherins were trying not to laugh or smile."
Luna smiled sadly, "I know you're both right... it's just..."
"Scary?" Ginny finished.
Luna nodded and looked back down to her hands.
"You have us Luna and we're not going anywhere, got it?" Hermione said adamantly.
Luna relaxed and leaned back into Ginny.
"You want your necklace back?" Ginny asked.
Luna's hand went to her chest where it normally lay, "I don't even remember taking it off..." she admitted as Ginny handed it to her.
As she looked down sadly at it, Ginny said softly, "I knew I couldn't help you if you had it on..." placing a kiss to Luna's temple she sked; "I did the right thing, right?"
"You did exactly the right thing, Gin, thank you," she replied as she placed the necklace back around her neck and sighed. She handed her glass of water to Hermione. "I'm so tired... shall we try to sleep again?" She asked as she turned to look at Ginny.
Ginny nodded and then, never letting go of Luna, she guided her to sleep in front of her in her arms.
Hermione placed the glass on the floor before curling up behind Ginny to take her into her arms again, she leaned over Ginny and placed a kiss on Luna's temple and then did the same to Ginny.
"We'll all be fine, as long as we stick together," Hermione thought as she reached across Ginny, feeling for Luna, and pulled both girls close.
…
Hermione woke first the next morning to find herself wrapped in Ginny's arms. She gently pulled herself away until she lay on her back, Ginny's arm still under neck, and looked up at the ceiling. If you had told her at the beginning of term that she would find herself waking up in Ginny's arms, on a bed in Professor McGonagall's office, she wouldn't have believed you.
And yet, there she was. She turned on her side to look at Ginny to find her already awake and looking at her. "Did you sleep?" She asked Ginny quietly.
"Yeah, you?"
"I always seem to sleep well when you're holding me," Hermione replied and blushed.
Ginny reached out her hand and brushed the hair out of Hermione's eyes. Ginny had slept, but not very much. All night she'd just enter a dream only to wake again. She knew part of it was the physical closeness of Hermione but it was also the worry she was feeling for Luna.
She felt Luna stir behind her and then curl up behind her and pulled her in close.
"Good morning to you too, Luna..." Ginny said and felt her friend laugh behind her.
Hermione looked at her watch, "Oh my god... we slept in... it's ten already..."
There was a soft knock on the door and the three girls looked to see Professor McGonagall come in. The teacher watched as the three girls sat up and rubbed their eyes, Hermione looking very worried.
"Hermione, you can relax, I spoke to all your Professors for the day..." Minerva assured her.
"But Professor..." Hermione interrupted.
"Please, Hermione... all three of you actually... when we're in private, please, call me Minerva. As far as I'm concerned, after what we shared last night, well, I think you've earned the right to call me by my first name."
Luna got off the bed and went to stand in front of Minerva, looked down and reached for her hands. Pleased when she felt the older witch take them and looked up to her, "You went to your cottage, didn't you?"
She nodded. "I haven't been back in many years... after telling you my story last night... I guess I needed to feel close to Radha," she replied softly.
Luna looked at her two friends where they still sat on the bed, forever grateful that they were in her life.
"And how are you Luna?" Minerva asked.
"I'm..."
"Raw?" Minerva offered and Luna nodded. "I thought you might be ... that is why I thought it best to arrange for the three of you to have the day off."
Luna smiled up at her and then, letting her hands go, turned to Hermione. "I'll be okay Hermione, if you want to go to class... I'd understand," she could see Hermione was about to object, but she stopped her, "...besides which, no offense, I'd really just like to spend some time with Ginny, if that's okay?"
Hermione hesitated; as much as she would like to spend the day with her two friends, she had a feeling they wanted to talk without her around and she dreaded to think how much work she would have to do if she skipped any more classes.
"How about this," she offered, "I'll go back to class after lunch."
Luna had a feeling that Hermione really didn't want to leave them and so relented and nodded her head and wondered if maybe Hermione was feeling jealous.
Minerva walked over, and with a wave of her wand, breakfast appeared on the bed in front of them. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you wish and I will see you all later," Minerva said and went to leave.
"Minerva?" Luna said just loud enough to get her attention, "If you don't have to be anywhere for a while I'd like it if you joined us for lunch?"
She only nodded and went to sit on the edge of the bed.
Luna went to join her friends, surprised to find herself considering Minerva as a friend, and sat on the bed between Hermione and Ginny. She closed her eyes and took off her necklace and let their emotions wash over her. She reached for friends' hands and then let Minerva know just how much she had now come to mean to all of them.
When Luna opened her eyes again she immediately sought to look into Minerva's.
Minerva smiled and felt the tears run down her cheeks. She looked at Luna and nodded. Luna let her friends feel the full impact of Minerva's love and respect for them.
When she again opened her eyes she looked at each the girls who still held her hands to find them both smiling with tears running down their faces. "Sorry," Luna said quietly, "I should have warned you, but I wanted you all to feel what I feel in this room right now."
She let her friends' hands go and reached for Minerva's. Once they were holdings hands, Luna said quietly. "I've let you feel what I feel but some things still need to be said... what you've done for me, Minerva, and all that you hope to do for me..." she smiled; "I can't tell you how much it means to me," she finished she let her feelings, and only her feelings, wash over Minerva.
She opened her eyes when she felt Minerva let her hands go and then reached to envelop her in a hug. "Luna?" She said quietly after placing a kiss on the top of her head and pulling away from the hug so she could look in her eyes, "No matter how... unusual… this friendship may be, I am proud to consider you, all three of you, as my friends."
Ginny and Hermione moved and soon all three girls were hugging their new friend. When they had parted she continued; "Now, shall we eat? Unlike you, I do have classes to attend to today."