A/N: Thank you all for loving this little thing. It's not as exciting as things usually get and I'm okay wearing the lack of readers for that cos I like it. Minerva's favourite sunrise spot is Stac Pollaidh in the highlands. I'm confident that even the most beautiful pictures you can find on the interwebs would not do it justice.
-0-
Minerva blinked as soft lips landed on hers and for a moment, she froze, but Hermione's words echoed around her head.
"If you want me to stop, I will."
Minerva felt Hermione slow down and in a moment, saw the potential of Hermione's love and sank her hand into the young woman's hair. She kissed her in return and Hermione's groaned, deep in her belly. Minerva was quite sure fireworks were going off behind her eyelids as she caressed Hermione's lips with her own.
"Oh Min," Hermione breathed as Minerva pressed kisses along her jaw. "I love you. So much."
For perhaps the first time, truly, Minerva believed her and pulled her impossibly close while she nibbled gently on Hermione's neck.
"I find myself believing in you, Hermione," she whispered as they separated a little. She rolled them so she could look down at Hermione, who was looking back at her with such heat in her eyes, Minerva shivered. "Believing in your love."
"You should," Hermione muttered, tracing her face. "Because I do. I love you, Minerva. I'm in love with you and I want this. For however long you can give it to me, I want it, with you."
"Hermione," Minerva whispered, hearing the wobble in her voice. "I want everything. I didn't, I wasn't sure," She trailed off but Hermione kissed her softly. "I do want this. For as long as we can have. For as long as you might want me."
"Min," Hermione blinked. "I want you for the rest of my life."
"I -"
The full weight of that statement rested on Minerva's chest and she took a shaking breath.
"I am old, Hermione."
"No," Hermione shook her head. "None of that. You are older than I am, for sure. But we age differently. You know that. I want every single moment I get to have with you until you tire of me."
"I could never tire of you," Minerva whispered, her heart thumping at the admission. "Never."
"I will never tire of you," Hermione answered. She shuffled closer to Minerva and pressed her nose against her neck, kissing the sensitive skin softly.
"I don't know that I am ready to -"
"It's okay," Hermione smiled, kissing her chin anyway. "It's okay if you never want to -"
"Nooo," Minerva muttered, glancing down at Hermione and feeling a rather pleasant hum in her chest. "I definitely want to." Hermione giggled. "But perhaps we should wait, and," she winced. "Well, wait."
"I'm okay with waiting," Hermione smiled. "Is it helpful to know that I'm not inexperienced? I mean, I haven't been with anyone but -"
Minerva's whole body flushed at the admission as her imagination ran riot. Images of Hermione in the throes of passion, her hand disappearing beneath her sheets, made her swallow.
"Min?"
"I -"
"I shouldn't have said that."
"No, it's," she realised what she'd said. "I mean, yes. I -"
"Wow," Hermione chuckled as she leaned up again. "I really did a number on you there, didn't I?" Minerva poked her in the stomach and the easy laughter helped her calm down. "I really affected you that much?"
"Do you wish to discuss this now? Or shall I order us some dinner?"
"We can't do both?"
"Whatever did I do, to deserve such cheek?"
Hermione laughed and rolled off the sofa. She stood, lithely, and Minerva watched her body move beneath the jeans and t-shirt she was wearing. She glanced up at Hermione as the younger woman offered her hand and she grinned at the knowing look.
"You did give me permission."
"I did," Hermione chuckled. "Come on. Feed me, woman."
Minerva snorted and called on a House Elf for their dinner, smiling in thanks when it appeared on the table not a moment later. Hermione tied up her hair and before Minerva could sit, captured her waist and drew her against her body.
"Do I have your permission to look, as well?" she asked, as she pecked Minerva on the lips.
"You do," she demurred.
"Well, I'll apply it retroactively because I've been looking for a long time."
Minerva laughed again and shook her head, pulling Hermione back at the last moment to kiss her a little hotly before she nodded at the table.
"Eat," she ordered. "Then I think we should sleep. We must be up early tomorrow if we want to get where we're going on time."
"Any hints?"
"None," Minerva said hastily.
"Fine," Hermione laughed as she sat.
Minerva poured a drink for them both and took a sip before she felt Hermione's eyes on her. She looked up, a question on her lips but Hermione shook her head.
"I love you," she said again. "Just wanted to remind you."
"Hermione -"
"It's okay, that you're not ready or don't want to? None of that will change my feelings and honestly, I'm not saying it for a reply. I just want you to know, alright?"
"Eat," she said gently.
Dinner was lovely, after a bit of an awkward start. The tension grew after Hermione's admission but after Minerva asked about her N.E.W.T.s they spoke as they always did. They spoke long after dinner had been cleared and Minerva poured them a glass of wine, each, finishing off a bottle that needed finishing. By the time Hermione yawned, Minerva was somnolent herself.
"We should get to bed," she muttered.
"Still okay with me joining you?" Hermione asked around a yawn.
Minerva blinked and took the time to consider that she knew Hermione would allow and nodded.
"Yes," she smiled. "I would like that."
"Good," Hermione nodded. "Off we go then."
Hermione got ready for bed in the guest room and Minerva was just coming out of the bathroom when she came back in wearing the skimpiest pair of pyjama shorts she'd ever seen. She froze and though she tried not to, her eyes travelled from Hermione's painted red toenails up her beautiful legs and up to her face. She was smirking.
"You are nothing but trouble, I see," Minerva muttered, sitting down in front of the mirror.
"I do try," Hermione grinned. She dropped her bag beside the bed and walked around to stand behind Minerva and met her eyes in the mirror. "May I?"
"If you can," Minerva chuckled. "There is a lot of hair and it is not for the faint-hearted."
"I'm not faint of heart," Hermione muttered as she leaned down and kissed Minerva's shoulder.
Minerva watched Hermione in the mirror as she got lost in the task at hand. She was undoubtedly slower than Minerva would have been, but there was something about someone playing with your hair that was soothing. Minerva watched herself smile as Hermione smoothed it back and split it into three and started plaiting it. Though Hermione's hair had become slightly less riotous as she had grown, this was a skill that Minerva was sure she hadn't had, prior to this year.
"You have been practising?"
"I have," she chuckled as she gently pulled the strands tighter. She glanced up into Minerva's eyes and Minerva nodded in thanks. She bent a little to make sure the ends were wrapped together and finished it off with a hair band she had around her wrist anyway.
"I usually use a sticking charm," Minerva smiled. "But that is very well done, thank you."
"Ginny will be pleased to know that my hard work paid off. She is quite sick of it."
Minerva laughed and stood, unable to resist wrapping her arms around Hermione and holding her gently. That Hermione had been practising for such a moment made that feeling in her stomach bloom again and she smiled against her shoulder.
"Come to bed," she muttered, pulling Hermione towards it.
They got it, Hermione staying a respectful distance away while Minerva got settled. They lay on their backs looking up at the ceiling until Minerva rolled onto her side.
"I -"
She wasn't sure what she wanted to say, really. She wanted to tell Hermione that it was okay to hold her. That it was okay to pull her into her arms and never let her go but instead, Minerva swallowed and smiled.
"Good night, Hermione."
"'night, Min," she whispered back, looking over and smiling in return.
Minerva tried not to sigh in disappointment, but she wasn't sure she managed it. She rolled over and dimmed the lights with a wave of her hand when she felt it - a soft touch to her middle.
"You can ask me for things, you know."
Hermione's hand slid along her side and over her stomach and Minerva felt it twitch as she breathed out shakily.
"Okay?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," she whispered.
"Good," Hermione chuckled. "Come here, then."
She squeaked as Hermione pulled her back into her body and Minerva bit back a groan as she felt Hermione's body on her's. Her robes had provided a barrier between them but there was no such thing now they were both wearing pyjamas. She closed her eyes as Hermione pressed a kiss against her neck and she arched just a little, against her will, as Hermione's thumb rubbed her stomach.
"Lean up a bit?" She did and Hermione slid her arm beneath her neck and wrapped her arms around her tightly. "That okay?"
Minerva could only nod as she tangled her fingers in the hand on her stomach and tried not to hyperventilate as Hermione splayed the other out between her breasts.
"Sure?"
"Mhmm," she muttered.
The truth was, she was wondering why the hell she'd said they should wait. A knee slid behind her own and she closed her eyes and bit her lip as Hermione kissed her shoulder, nudging her collar away to find the skin.
"Goodnight, Minerva," she whispered again. Her arms squeezed gently and she breathed out against Minerva's neck and soon without any words from Minerva at all, she felt the soft, even breaths of Hermione falling asleep.
She groaned as she breathed out, keeping it as quiet as she could. Her body was on edge, but she could feel the wine and the warmth battling it as she lay there, listening to Hermione sleep.
Giving in, she closed her eyes.
-0-
A noise startled her awake and she groaned at the alarm she'd set. They hadn't moved much during the night except for Hermione's hand was cupping Minerva's breast gently and her thigh had pushed between her two. She breathed out shakily as Hermione's hand twitched and Minerva uttered a moan that she could not contain.
"Hermione," she muttered, pulling the woman's hand from her breast. "Hermione?"
Hermione hummed against her ear and her thigh twitched against Minerva and she bit her lip to stop herself from moaning properly.
"Hermione."
"What!" she muttered, freezing as she woke up. "Shit, sorry Min."
"It's alright," she managed, letting Hermione move away. "You were asleep."
"You deserve more than just to be pawed at," Hermione mumbled. "Oh," she yawned. "Sorry. Are you alright?"
"Do you always wake up alert?"
"No," Hermione chuckled. "Being wrapped around a beautiful woman is apparently quite good for you."
Minerva rolled her eyes and rolled over so she could look at Hermione properly. She was tired, Minerva could see it pulling at her eyes and she reached forward and traced those lines.
"We don't have to go out this morning," she said gently. "You are tired."
"I am tired," Hermione shrugged. "But I would like to go out this morning?"
"You are sure?"
"I am," Hermione smiled.
"Alright then. By my calculations, we have," she glanced at her watch. "About half an hour to get dressed and leave the grounds so we can apparate."
"Can we do it in that?"
"I can," she chuckled. "Can you?"
Hermione laughed and leaned forward. Minerva did moan as Hermione's lips pressed against her's and a hand wandered beneath her pyjama shirt to caress her belly.
"I'll get on with it then."
Minerva watched as Hermione rolled out of bed and grabbed her bag. She did try not to look at the swell of her backside as she did but she was caught when Hermione turned and caught her.
"I did say you could."
"You will be the death of me, no doubt," Minerva chuckled, blushing hotly.
Hermione leaned on the bed and kissed Minerva deeply before straightening with a smirk on her face. "What a way to go."
Minerva laughed as she left the room and got up herself. She showered quickly, forgoing her hair and leaving it plaited and dressed comfortably, kicking herself for forgetting to tell Hermione. She left her hair and knocked on the guest room door.
"Hmm?" Hermione asked, wearing nothing but a towel. Minerva's throat went dry.
"You are a cruel woman, Hermione Granger," Minerva muttered as she looked at the floor.
"I don't mean to be," Hermione chuckled, closing the door and peering around it instead. "Sorry."
"You are not," Minerva smirked. "You will need sensible shoes, and something warm."
"A clue," Hermione smiled. Minerva was about to walk away when Hermione beckoned her closer.
"What -"
Hermione grabbed her arm and pulled her close enough to kiss and she laughed against Hermione's lips.
"Do hurry up, darling, we're going to be late."
"Darling," Hermione smiled gently. "I like that."
"You are that," Minerva soothed. "But hurry up."
Hermione laughed and closed the door, leaving Minerva to pull out her cloak and a spare for Hermione, refusing to meet either Severus' or Albus' eyes as she did so.
"It's alright Min," Albus said softly. We vacated for the evening."
"Nothing happened," she muttered. "You needn't have."
"We will again," he said.
She looked up and saw that Severus had not returned. She glanced at the corridor and then back at Albus.
"Enjoy yourself," he smiled. "Live it up, as it were."
She smiled as he disappeared and Hermione stepped out of the corridor.
"Was that Dumbledore?"
"It was," Minerva smiled. "He was just telling me to enjoy my time with you."
"Oh," she smiled. "Good. Where are we going then?"
"You need this," Minerva said, clipping the cloak around her shoulders. "And then we will walk down to the South Gate and Apparate from there."
"Lead on," Hermione nodded.
They walked through the quiet Castle in silence but it did not feel awkward. As they reached the doors, Hermione's hand slipped into hers and Minerva did not shy away from it. She readjusted and ran her thumb over Hermione's as they walked. As they cleared the gate, she turned expectantly to Hermione.
"Ready?"
"Yes," Hermione smiled.
"When we land, hold onto me. It will be a bit of a shock, alright?"
Hermione stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Minerva's waist and rested her head against her shoulder.
"This okay?"
"Yes," Minerva breathed. She wrapped her arms around the younger woman and Apparated them away.
"Oh my -" Hermione breathed. It was cold and Minerva muttered a warming charm over both of them before she stepped away. "Minerva, this is -"
"Okay?"
"Okay? Min, this is incredible."
"I'm glad you think so," Minerva said quietly. "It is one of my favourite places on earth."
"Wow," Hermione blinked. "I bet it looks incredible in the light."
"If you wait just a little while," Minerva smiled as Hermione turned back towards her. "You will see."
"Oh," Hermione blinked. "Minerva!"
She chuckled a little self-consciously as she sat in her favourite spot and patted the rock beside her. Hermione snuggled into her body and Minerva welcomed it. They sat quietly, lost in their thoughts until Minerva saw it starting.
"Look," she whispered.
The sun, like a giant jewel, seemed to glisten against the horizon. As it rose, the light danced with the shadows across what felt like the whole world until she heard Hermione gasp and shards of light erupted across the whole valley.
"Oh Minerva," she gasped.
It remained one of the most magical things that Minerva had seen in her lifetime and she was so pleased that she had thought to bring Hermione here to see it. It had been her saving grace, sneaking out of the Castle now and then and remembering that the sun rose and set the very same. When Hermione turned to her and she looked up, she faltered, seeing the tears on Hermione's face.
"Darling?"
"That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen," she whispered. "Thank you," she said gently. "Thank you for sharing that with me."
"I was happy to. And I am happy you enjoyed it."
Hermione kissed her hard and Minerva felt how cold her nose was and the tears on her face and kissed her back. They got lost in their love while the sun shone around them until Hermione pulled back with a laugh.
"You are so incredible," Hermione whispered. "I love you so much."
"I love you," Minerva whispered hesitantly. She almost didn't, she almost waited but as Hermione's tear tracks shone in the light and her eyes blazed with love and Minerva's heart thumped against her rib cage, there was no way that Minerva could stop herself.
"You do?" Hermione breathed.
"I do," Minerva whispered, cupping her cheek. "I love you, Hermione."
Hermione grinned and they kissed again until Minerva heard something.
"Is that your stomach," she laughed.
"I'm hungry," Hermione laughed. "I can't help it."
"Well," Minerva sighed, feeling lighter than she had in years. "I'd best feed you if I'm going to be keeping you around for a while?"
"A long while?" Hermione teased.
"I suppose so," Minerva feined. "If I must."
She turned to clamber down from where they were perched, pretending to ignore Hermione's protests until she turned and helped her down too.
"You don't really think I'd leave you up here so you?" she chuckled.
"You'd better not," Hermione laughed, half-tackling Minerva as she dropped down beside her. "Where to next?"
"Breakfast," Minerva smiled. "I know of a place."
She prepared to Apparate them away to the little bistro she knew of in the town closest to Stac Pollaidh, but Hermione interpreted and turned her face towards her.
"I love you," she whispered. "Thank you for bringing me here. I cannot wait to find all of your other secret places."
Minerva stared at her and saw the light dancing in Hermione's eyes and threw her head back and laughed.
"You are incorrigible," Minerva laughed. "My darling."
"I will do anything to make you laugh, love."
"I like that," Minerva nodded when Hermione looked at her for acceptance. "Your love."
"My love."
"Come along, darling," Minerva chuckled. "Now I'm getting hungry as well."
Hermione nodded and stepped into Minerva's space where she wrapped her arms around her. Minerva luxuriated in her love's arms for a moment before she left her mountain and began the first day of the rest of her life.
