Changing into something "low-key Muggle'' was not an easy feat. The separation had been helpful, her thoughts and emotions had calmed, but she felt the panic rising as she stared at her wardrobe. She so rarely went Muggle these days, and after the war and all the damage to her things, she had very little left. She was just on her way to a full-blown panic attack when another knock on the door disturbed her. She dithered for a moment - her hair was wrapped in a towel and she was wearing nothing but a robe but a voice called out and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Min?"

She opened the door and smiled as Hermione slipped inside.

"I'm sorry, I only realised once I was nearly dressed that I have no idea if you even had any Muggle clothes left."

"I was just on my way to a crisis," Minerva said honestly, liking the way Hermione's eyes twinkled at the confession.

"May I help? Or -"

"Yes," Minerva nodded. "Please."

Minerva showed her into her room, remembering at the last second that in her panic she'd pulled half of her wardrobe out.

"I -"

"It's alright," Hermione chuckled. "I did the same."

The blush didn't leave Minerva's throat as Hermione looked over the selection. She was wearing dark jeans and a pretty, floaty top that set off the highlights in her hair. Minerva thought she looked quite beautiful, considering it was "low-key". She did enjoy watching the woman work, though, as she glanced at this and that and then moved some off to the side.

"These are about fifty years out of date," Hermione grinned. "Unless you're planning on going to the Quidditch World Cup, in which case you'll probably fit right in."

Minerva laughed and almost flopped down on the bed with a chuckle.

"What am I aiming for here," she asked. "Perhaps I can transfigure something."

"It depends on how daring you'd like to be."

"Hermione -"

"I'm not asking you to be," Hermione clarified, taking her hand. Minerva blinked at the familiarity, although it was not the first time. It felt different, somehow. "I'm merely asking what you'd feel most comfortable in, outside of robes."

"Trousers," Minerva muttered. "I do not wear dresses as a rule."

"Good," Hermione smiled. "I hope you don't mind that I do, on occasion."

"Of course not," Minerva frowned. "I'm sure you'd be beautiful in -" Her throat caught and Hermione met her eyes for a second before looking back at her clothes.

"I have an idea," Hermione muttered. "Give me a few moments to get what I need and I'll be back in a while, okay? We have time."

"Alright."

Hermione disappeared again and Minerva shook her head at herself. She waved her hand and put her wardrobe back together again and realised she'd been sitting there, in her robe, with nothing on beneath it and blushed darkly. She could not dress until Hermione returned, but she could prevent any disasters by getting as ready as she could be. She went to her dresser and was about to pull out the next pair of knickers in the stack when she paused.

It had been a joke, a few years earlier. She and Poppy had had a few too many wines at lunch and ended up shopping while inebriated. She'd blushed similarly the next day when she saw what she'd purchased, but now...

She swallowed and pulled out the black lacy thing, encased in deep green ribbons, and rubbed her thumb over the band. They weren't her usual fair, by any means, but the very few times she'd been brave enough to wear them, she'd felt pretty. Desirable, even. Throwing caution to the wind, she took the matching set out and fled to the bathroom to put them on and do her makeup.

By the time Hermione returned, Minerva was just about ready to go, once she was dressed.

"Come in," she whispered as Hermione stood there smiling.

Minerva blinked and looked properly as Hermione stepped inside. She'd changed from the jeans and pretty top she'd been wearing into a short, deep black dress, with tiny daisies printed all over, that seemed to dance around her thighs. All the moisture in Minerva's throat fled up as her eyes crept up from the pretty black heels, the strong calves and thighs over a waist that begged for Minerva's hands and then, to the slightly lower than usual neckline before she looked at Hermione's face.

"Okay?" Hermione smirked.

"You look beautiful," Minerva whispered, refusing to deny what she'd done but also not willing to speak of it.

"Thank you," she smiled. "Um, I borrowed these. Some are mine and a few are Ginny's but they'll fit you, they'll need shrinking a little in places, no doubt. You're much skinnier than the two of us," she chuckled. "But you choose, okay?"

Minerva took the armful of clothes and retreated. She dropped the clothes on the bed and nearly rubbed her eyes to try and get some sort of control over her emotions until she remembered her mascara.

"Bloody hell," Minerva whispered. "Okay."

She looked through the selection, smiling at how young some of it would look on her, but frowning at how old a lot of it was as well. The majority would not look out of place in her own wardrobe and she was forced to contemplate that these young women were really not children anymore. Finding some peace in that, Minerva selected what she wanted and pulled it on. Her eyes widened in the mirror as she looked at herself. The jeans were a little loose at the top - Hermione was right; she had always been slight - but the shirt did wonders for making her look just a little bit more blessed than she was. That and the fancy bra, she supposed. She blinked at herself again and then realised she would need shoes. She bit her lip as she considered and then remembered a pair of calf-length boots she'd owned at one time or another and searched for them at the back of her wardrobe.

They were a bit dusty but not damaged and she grinned as she pulled them on over the jeans and zipped them up, giving them a bit of a polish with her wand after she shrunk the jeans. She looked at her hair again, deciding that she would prefer to wear it as it was - a low plait that stretched down her back and contemplated her life as she took hold of the door handle. A part of her was railing against what she was doing, but she had decided in the last hour that she wasn't going to listen to it. No matter what occurred while they were out, Minerva was going to have some fun. It wasn't as if she had been out many places in the last ten or so years. She was overdue for a good time.

She took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Wow," Hermione whispered as Minerva stepped out into the hall. She paused and glanced at Hermione but didn't comment.

She'd chosen the black jeans, and tightened them to match the same style Hermione was wearing previously. And then, on top, a midnight blue shirt, open at the collar and sleeves rolled up to show her forearms. She watched Hermione swallow thickly as her eyes travelled over Minerva's body. The boots, she knew, were divine; soft brown leather, brilliantly polished and knee-highs to bring everything together.

"Okay?"

"I'm so sorry," Hermione blinked. "You are breathtaking."

"Hermione," Minerva snorted a little indelicately. She paused and turned back to close the door, expecting one of those quantifying statements that everyone had made about her, her whole life, but it never came. A throat cleared behind them and Hermione stood, shaking her head.

"Min, I'm sorry. I zoned out. I can't -" She took a deep breath. "You look incredible."

Minerva realised she was being serious and blushed.

"Well," she said, almost huffed. "Thank you."

"Right," Hermione blinked. "If you are ready? I thought we could Floo to Hogsmeade and then Apparate to Oxford?"

"Oxford?" Minerva blinked.

"Yes," Hermione grinned. "I'll explain when we get there if you don't mind? Though if you'd prefer to know now, I can reveal all?"

Minerva remembered Hermione's words from earlier about being brave. She already trusted Hermione with her life and so, she did so.

"No." Minerva shook her head. "It's alright."

"Cool," Hermione grinned. "So Hog's Head?"

"Indeed," Minerva nodded. "Oh, I haven't let Filius -"

"Um," Hermione blushed now. "I took the liberty. I happened to bump into him on my way back. He said not to worry, he'll take care of everything and to enjoy ourselves."

Minerva frowned and wondered whether she should check with him or take the woman at her word.

"Obviously, I'm not saying don't check with him," Hermione said quickly. "That's not what I meant, I'm sorry. I just -"

"No," Minerva said, waving absently. "You are right. I do not need to check if he knows."

Hermione offered the Floo pot to Minerva and smiled as she spoke the address and was whisked away.

"Albus -"

"Go on Min. I will find Filius to confirm. Have the most wonderful time."

She glanced around the room, once more, then took a deep breath and followed.

-0-

"I'm not going to lie," Hermione breathed as she removed the soot from Minerva's clothes. "I wasn't sure that you'd follow."

"I agreed to this, Hermione," she muttered as they left with a wave to Aberforth. No doubt he'd question her later.

"Ok," Hermione smiled, once they were outside. "Trust me?"

Minerva hesitated, even though the answer was simple. Hermione's smile didn't falter like Minerva thought it might and she stared up at the younger woman.

"Either you're trying to hurt me," she said quietly. "Or you are lost in your thoughts. I'm clinging to the latter."

"I'm sorry," Minerva muttered. "Hermione -"

"I will never force this," Hermione stepped away. Minerva couldn't help but stare at her silhouette in the waning light. "I don't want this if you're doing it out of some misguided attempt to placate me."

Minerva stared at her.

"Hermione -"

"Minerva," Hermione said instead. "Do you trust me?"

"You know I do."

"Then why the hesitation?" Hermione asked. "Why pause when I ask. Trust is not turned on or off. You either do or you don't?"

"It is me, that I am unsure of," Minerva snapped, wincing at how it sounded. She glanced again at the younger woman and remembered that she was a tactile person, whereas Minerva was not. Breathing in her courage, Minerva stepped forward and took Hermione's hand. "Hermione," she said contritely. "I am so far out of my depth that I am going to do things and say things that," she swallowed. "That may not make any sense at all to you. But please believe me when I tell you that I would not be doing this if I did not want to. And," she said even softer. "I'm not doing this just because you asked. I agreed to this because I wanted to." They stared into each other's eyes for what felt like a long time. "Because I want to."

"Alright," she whispered. "This isn't meant to be hard," she muttered, her thumb making a maddening pattern on the inside of Minerva's wrist. "I didn't want to make it difficult."

"I have not been asked out for longer than you've been alive," Minerva said. Hermione grinned. "To say I am out of practice would be an understatement."

"I don't believe that for a second. And if it's true then the Wizarding World is more fucked up than I originally thought."

"Hermione," she chuckled, blushing even in the dark.

"Alright," Hermione said, not apologising for the word. "Let me ask you one more time. Min?" Minerva swallowed. "Will you go out with me?" She smiled. "Tonight. And see how it goes?"

"Yes," Minerva answered quickly. "I would like that."

"Awesome," Hermione grinned. "Okay. May I apparate you to the venue? We should still be on time."

"You may," Minerva nodded. Hermione pulled her in with her hand that was still clutching the younger woman's. She hadn't even noticed, but she sighed against Hermione's shoulder as her arms wrapped around her.

They popped into existence and Minerva was immediately aware of the noise in their vicinity.

"It's okay," she whispered, keeping her arms around her for just a while before she let them drop. "Just the crowds."

Minerva stepped back and blinked as she looked around. They were behind a building but as she turned and looked, they seemed to be within a complex of some sort.

"Come on," Hermione chuckled. "It'll make more sense in a moment."

Hermione's hand felt sure in hers and she followed where the younger woman lead. They walked around a building and along a pathway beside a lovely mowed green. She kept up, pausing only as a group of small children, much smaller than they got at Hogwarts, ran past her and the front of the building came into view.

"Trust me?" Hermione asked gently.

Minerva blinked and looked again. They were at a school. A school much bigger than Hogwarts and clearly Muggle, but a school nonetheless. There were crowds of adults and children alike outside a big building that had a hand-drawn banner above the door.

"Miss GRANGER!"

Minerva's hand dropped Hermione's quickly as two young women ran up to her and engulfed her in a hug. Hermione laughed and spun them around.

"Hi!" she said happily. "How are you both? How's Mum?"

Minerva wracked her brains, trying to remember if there had been talk of Hermione's parents having more children after her. It immediately catapulted her into the memories of Hermione's revelation about where her parents were and she was once again overcome with grief.

"Min?"

She looked up, finding all three staring at her.

"My apologies. I missed -"

"This is Katie and Annabel," she smiled. "My two little rapscallions."

"Your -"

Hermione chuckled when she heard how it sounded.

"Alright, not my two. My two favourites."

"Miss Granger was our teacher."

Minerva blinked.

"I beg your pardon?"

"She took us for catch-up last year," the younger one said. "Mum was sick and we had to go to our Gran's but she's home now and thanks to Miss Granger, we can go back to our regular classes."

"She -"

"Why don't you two go and make sure your Mum gets in okay. I'll see you guys afterwards, alright?"

They scampered off, leaving Hermione staring at Minerva with what looked like hope in her eyes.

"You're going to have to explain it to me slowly," she said honestly. "I've not followed any of that."

"After the war," Hermione muttered. "I needed something that was so far removed from it, there was no chance of me stumbling into something that would upset me. My parents lived about four streets down the way and I used to walk past here on the way to the shops. I went to a private school, you see, and took the bus. I didn't come here, even though it was the closest."

"Hermione -"

"I asked them if there was something I could do. Something I could do to be of use. It turns out the Principal was one of the teachers I had at my school and knew me well enough to know that I'd be an asset no matter what they stuck me in, so," she shrugged. "I helped some of the kids, who had fallen behind, catch back up. One of them, Maggie, did really well and rejoined her class last year before the lessons with me had finished and the rest," she shrugged again. "All but one went back to their classes, just when I came back. Maggie dropped a poster through my letterbox and it seemed like kismet. She got the lead in the very musical you had already mentioned. And," Hermione said quickly. "She's really good, it's not like a pantomime or anything -"

"Wait," Minerva said softly. "You -" she thought back. "This is where you disappeared to, after?"

"Yes," Hermione shrugged. "I needed to be of use. And treated like a normal human being." Whatever feelings Minerva had found the strength to suppress came to light in the bottom of her stomach. She stared at Hermione as if she'd never seen her before and smiled at the worry in her eyes. "I won't force you to stay," she started but Minerva wouldn't have it. She stepped forward and placed her finger on Hermione's lips.

"You," Minerva whispered absently. "Are the most intriguingly beautiful creature I've ever met." She wasn't lying either. "I am looking forward to it."

"Truly?"

"Yes," Minerva smiled. "Shall we go in?"

Hermione beamed at her and Minerva got lost in thought as she was led inside. Their fingers tangled together easily as they showed their tickets and were seated by a rather proud child who beamed when Hermione remembered his name. Minerva had never been as proud of a person as she was at that moment and as they settled, she recognised a similar dynamic between Hermione and a few of the parents that noticed her and her own position and the parents of Hogwarts. It was such a bizarre turnaround that she just sat, feeling genuinely happy for Hermione and the impact she'd made on these people.

"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered in her ear, pulling Minerva from her thoughts.

"I am not," she smiled. "I was just thinking about our role-reversal and quite like it. I only have a rudimentary understanding of what you have done here, Hermione, but I understand the impact and am so proud of you, of the person you have become. You spoke earlier of the hope you have for my work," Minerva cupped her cheek and wiped away a lone tear. "Well, it will be nothing compared to what you achieve, I am sure."

"No," Hermione whispered. "I don't want or need a competition. Similar, but different."

Minerva acquiesced as the lights turned off and back on a few times and Hermione stared at her anyway. Minerva's breath caught as she leaned forward and just as Minerva was about to say something, Hermione veered off to the side and pressed a kiss to Minerva's cheek and lingered near her ear.

"I love you," Hermione whispered.

Minerva didn't reply but as Hermione sat back and settled, Minerva glanced down at her hands and then without commenting, reached over and slid her fingers between Hermione's. She had no idea what she was doing, but Hermione picked up her hand and kissed it softly and settled it gently in her other one as the lights dimmed and the first child stepped out on stage.