Disclaimers: See chapter 1.
Note: This is a week later than planned, but I had internet issues and lost half my progress. This story is now, for all intents and purposes, complete. I may eventually follow up with an epilogue offering up glimpses, but we'll have to see what the muse allows.
~x~
Wednesday came around quicker than anticipated and Minerva woke to the soft chirping of birds from the partially open window and the sensation of warm, naked skin flush against her back. The heat of Hermione against her as she thrust her hips slightly into her backside was intoxicating and invigorating.
From sharing their first chaste kiss the day after they had reconnected, until now, even with everything that had occurred, had only brought them closer together. In the last two months, they'd formed a routine. They spent their evenings together, eating dinner, and then settling on the sofa to read or watch television and once Isobel was in bed, they talked, duelled or simply spent time furiously necking like a pair of teenagers.
Life was good and since leaving the Manse, they'd settled into Hogwarts comfortably. Isobel loved her new bedroom but was excited to be sorted into her House and join her peers in one of the dormitories. She'd spent the past few days exploring every inch of the castle, looking for shortcuts that would help her move around more easily between classes, bombarding her new Professors with questions about what she would learn that year, or reading in the library.
When Hermione thrust her hips again, Minerva stifled a low moan. The movement thrilled and aroused her, and she was optimistic that Hermione was beginning to heal from the trauma of her past. Their relationship was now essentially what it was before circumstances separated them and their connection had only grown stronger the more Hermione opened up to her. The two of them were truly comfortable and content around each other.
Casting a glance over her shoulder at the younger woman sleeping, with a low groan, Minerva rolled out of bed, and pulling on her dressing gown, she moved to the bathroom to prepare for the day. She needed to move before she grew even more stimulated from the presence of the naked witch lying beside her and forgot her plans for the morning and kept them in bed. Before closing the door of the ensuite behind her, she peered over her shoulder once again to take in the other witch.
Fast asleep, Hermione was as beautiful as she was when she was awake and Minerva adored the way she turned to curl herself around her pillow, her wild hair spread out over her pillows, cheeks flushed and beautifully long eyelashes resting against her skin.
Exhaling a shuddering breath, she closed the door and turned on the shower before removing her dressing gown and tossing it on top of the vanity. The large mirror showed her slim figure and long, tangled hair and she smirked at the sight of the purplish bruise left by her mate on her breast. Stepping into the shower stall quickly, the hot water swept away any lingering sleepiness leaving her feeling more energized and the pressure of the hot spray on her back relaxed her tense muscles.
She turned the tap slightly to adjust the temperature to a more comfortable level and allowed her thoughts to roam to the night before, and the way Hermione had responded to her in their bed.
Combined with the hot shower, the arousal that had seen her leaving her bed heightened. Closing her eyes, she lathered soap in her hands before brushing them over her skin and letting the hot water rinse off the suds.
A sudden blast of cool air showed her that Hermione had opened the glass door and she felt the warm press of skin against her back as strong arms encircled her waist.
"Good morning, love," Hermione whispered. Her morning voice was always slightly husky. "Why did you get up before I could wake up and kiss you?" She asked.
Minerva's hands ceased movement and she slowly turned to peer down at her sleepy mate. Her messy hair was tangled over her shoulders and she had crease marks on one side of her face from the pillows. She took the time to admire her beautiful curves. "I didn't want to disturb you, mo chridhe." She trailed the tips of her fingers against her cheek, feeling irrationally guilty for sneaking out of bed. "You looked so peaceful."
Minerva had continued to allow herself to be more vulnerable over the months they'd spent together, but it was still hard to move past her insecurities. She was still getting used to the fact that their time together wouldn't necessarily end, but easily recognised she wouldn't survive losing the beautiful soul connection with her mate for a second time.
"If you wash my back, I'll wash yours," Hermione suggested.
Minerva chuckled as Hermione gently pushed past her to completely immerse herself in the stream of water. "Oh, I suppose so." She moved closer and took up the soap, lathering her hands with it before stepping closer, her body now inches from Hermione's. She slipped her hands over the soft skin of her back in gentle circles, massaging any knots out of her muscles. Finishing with her back, she switched places with the brunette so the brunt of the water hit her instead. "My turn."
Hermione stayed silent, simply moving her hands over her unhurriedly. Her mind settled and eyes closed as the water washed over her and hands ran over her every inch of her back and sides. She could feel hot breath on the back of her neck and it occasionally made her shudder. Hermione's hands were soft as they caressed her, just the lightest of touches and she could feel the curve of her body pressed against her.
Minerva's eyes closed tighter when Hermione's hands cupped her breasts, running her fingers softly over her nipples and hot lips kissed the side of her neck. She felt the onset of the wetness building at the apex of her thighs, her muscles clenching with every caress of her hands on her breasts. Leaning forward, she put her hands on the shower wall and felt her mate press fully against her.
Without a word, or break in her caressing, Hermione's hands started to make their way down her chest, stroking gently over her stomach and down to her inner thighs. Her hands slowly massaged her thighs and Minerva adjusted her stance, spreading them further to the questing hands. Hermione ran her fingers up between her outer folds before moving them down and slipping two deep inside her, the palm of her hand sat in the perfect spot.
The feeling of being filled was pure bliss and when Hermione started to grind her palm slowly but with enough pressure building up to perfect rhythm, while her fingers swept against her every one of her sensitive spots, Minerva could feel herself slowly climbing towards the pinnacle of pleasure.
The tension built and her muscles tightened their grip on her fingers and as her arms shook from the pressure of keeping herself upright she knew she would only last a few more seconds. As if sensing it, Hermione pressed herself closer and quickened the pace until Minerva toppled over the edge.
"I'm cumming—" Minerva cried.
"You're so beautiful, love," Hermione whispered as she removed her fingers and stepped back. "And you always taste so good."
Turning and leaning against the shower wall, Minerva eyed the younger witch as she popped her fingers into her mouth and hummed.
~x~
Flooing into the Leaky Cauldron, Minerva waited patiently for Hermione and Isobel's arrival and was pleased when they arrived quickly.
Moving out of the pub into Muggle London, they continued down Charing Cross Road.
Isobel looked over her shoulder and frowned when she realised no one was paying attention to the small, dingy pub they'd just left. "Mathàir, how do you stop non-magical people from seeing the Leaky Cauldron and getting into Diagon Alley?"
Minerva grinned. "It's concealed to look like a broken-down old shop."
"Is Kings Cross far?" Isobel asked, skipping to keep up with her stride,
"It's about two miles," Minerva explained. "We'll get a taxi outside Charing Cross Station."
"Can't you just apparate us?" Isobel asked with another frown.
"No, mo nighean." She glanced down at her daughter. "As you can see, we need to blend in with the comings and goings at the train station." Minerva smiled. "Which is why I am not wearing my usual robes."
Isobel grabbed her hand and grinned up at her. "You look good, màthair. Just like a regular mum."
Isobel had explained that she wasn't going to Kings Cross with the Headmistress, but with her mam and màthair so Minerva dressed accordingly, and for comfort, in her favourite boots, black jeans and a plain white shirt, her hair was braided down her back rather than up in its usual tight bun.
Hermione snorted out a slight laugh and her shoulders shook. Minerva also found amusement in her daughter's observation. "Just like a regular mum?" She questioned pulling Isobel against her side and slowing to join the queue at the taxi rank. "Is that what I am, regular?"
Isobel blushed at the teasing. "Nah, you're kinda irregular." She blushed harder. "I—I mean, well—you don't conform to the usual stereotypes." She paused. "Then again, neither does mam." She grinned. "You're pretty cool for old people."
"I'll give you old." Minerva pulled Isobel close and dug her fingers gently into her sides making her squeal.
~x~
Their arrival at Platform 9 and 3/4 had the witches and wizards present gaping at them. Ignoring it, Minerva pushed through the crowds until she spotted a large blonde man standing beside a nervous-looking short blonde woman, with a hand resting on a little girl's shoulder.
The little girl, slightly chubby and with her blonde hair in pigtails, looked around in awe, a large trunk and a small owl in a cage at her feet.
"Dudley, it's so good to see you again," Minerva called out, catching the man's attention.
"Headmistress." Dudley smiled. "I didn't expect to see you here today." He admitted. "And wearing jeans of all things."
Minerva gestured at Isobel. "Like many parents, I wanted to see my child off and she was quite insistent that I had to be a regular mum for a change."
Hermione chuckled from beside her. "Little heathen."
"This is Daisy." Dudley introduced his daughter. "And my partner, Julia."
"It is a pleasure to meet you both." Minerva nodded at them.
"And with the Headmistress is her partner, Hermione and their daughter, Isobel," Dudley said.
Hermione and Julia nodded politely while Isobel gazed at Daisy and offered her a shy smile. "Hiya."
"Hey," Daisy blushed and ducked her head.
"She's a little nervous," Julia explained lightly. "We all are." She admitted.
"I realise it's a big step," Minerva stated. "But we'll take good care of her and she can always come to me or her Head of House if she needs anything."
"I like your owl," Isobel stated to the other girl, trying to coax her into a conversation. "Màthair got me a Pygmy Puff since we already have Archimedes, plus she's at Hogwarts anyway." Seeing Daisy raise her eyes, she pulled the green fluffy creature from her pocket and grinned. "They're usually pink or purple, which is gross, so mam turned him green for me." She held the creature out. "You can hold him if you want, just don't freak out if he licks your nostril. He likes to eat snot."
Daisy laughed and took the Pygmy Puff. "What's he called?" She asked as she stroked her cheek over the fur then giggled when a long tongue entered her ear.
"Oran," Isobel told her with a shrug. "Màthair suggested it, and it was better than my initial thought to call him Bludger."
Minerva glanced at her watch. "You should get on the train now and I'll see you when you arrive later this evening."
"Oh! Is it that time already?" Isobel looked around nervously. "I haven't seen Victoire yet." She muttered.
"I'm sure she's here somewhere." Hermione smiled softly as she hunkered down to Isobel's level and pulled out her purse. "Here's some money for the trolley. Just don't eat too many sweets and make yourself sick. You don't want to miss your Sorting and the feast."
Daisy turned to her parents and hugged them. "I'll send you an owl tonight." She told them before pulling away and turning to Isobel. "Do you want to sit with me, Isobel?"
"Yeah, that would be good," Isobel said, clearly relieved. "But if we're going to be friends, you should call me Izzy." She took the blonde girl's hand and tugged her towards the train. "Come on, Daisy."
Minerva felt an arm wind around her waist and Hermione rested her head against her shoulder. Glancing to the side, she watched as Dudley pulled Julia close, almost mirroring them.
They all watched as their children clambered on board the gleaming red and black steam train, before turning slightly to smile and wave at them.
"They'll be okay, won't they?" Dudley muttered,
"Aye, they'll be fine," Minerva told him.
"This is just a new adventure for them." Hermione grinned. "And I'm pretty sure they won't get anywhere close to the number of shenanigans Harry and I did, and we came out of it okay."
"But—" Julia started. "—Harry dealt with things that no child should."
"Our world is at peace now. I promise, there's nothing to fear." Minerva reassured. "They'll simply learn what they need to make a life for themselves in the magical world or outside it if that's what they prefer."
She spotted Fleur and Bill rushing Victoire towards the train. They were only just on time. Bill lifted the large trunk on the train and blew his daughter a kiss while Fleur held her hand, even after she climbed on board.
When the train hissed and doors slammed closed, it started to move slowly and she and Hermione followed the movement and saw their small auburn-haired girl waving to them from an open window. Stood close, they waved back until the train was out of sight.
~x~
The Great Hall was full of students sitting at the four long House tables, but an anticipatory hush had fallen over the room when the first years entered and a stool was placed down on the raised dais in front of their table ready for the Sorting.
From her position in the centre of the table, dressed in her usual green robes, Minerva watched intently as half a dozen children were called forward by Professor Flitwick and then sorted. In all honesty, she couldn't remember if she'd ever been as eager for a Sorting ceremony to begin.
"Dursley, Daisy." Professor Flitwick squeaked.
The little blonde girl she'd met that morning sat nervously on the stool and just as the hat touched her head, it announced its result. "Gryffindor." A cheer rose from the Gryffindor table and Neville, as the new head of Gryffindor House, clapped enthusiastically while she made her way to a seat.
Minerva smiled. She'd said Daisy was a Gryffindor, while Hermione had insisted she was a Hufflepuff.
More children were sorted and joined their Houses and Victoire made history as the first Weasley to not be sorted into Gryffindor when the hat announced her to be a Ravenclaw.
When Professor Flitwick hesitated over the last name on his list. "Wilk—erm—" He glanced towards her nervously and then to Isobel who shook her head quickly. "Granger-McGonagall, Isobel."
Minerva was stunned. Since they ran through it alphabetically, they had passed the G's already, with the newest Goyle going straight into Slytherin. She hadn't even thought of asking Isobel what name she'd prefer to be known as while at Hogwarts, if she had the list the names were read from and other records the school harboured after accidental magic was reported, could have been amended.
The name caused a whisper to flutter through the room, and Minerva braced herself, her elbows on the table, leaning slightly towards her daughter. Isobel moved forward and sat gingerly on the stool then Professor Flitwick placed the hat on her head.
Minerva leaned closer still, hoping that beyond anything it would be a quick process. She remembered her Sorting, when the hat deliberated for more than five minutes, outlining the pros and cons of going into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, before making his final decision.
Hermione hadn't truly been a Hatstall since it only took four minutes, but it was close. She'd asked about it and was told the hat argued with her that Ravenclaw would be a better fit before it agreed to sort her into Gryffindor as she wanted.
Using all of her enhanced senses, she tried to concentrate on the hat's low mutterings.
"Mm, what an interesting mind. A fine mix, I must say. Granger and McGonagall, there's plenty of loyalty and quite a lot of courage as well, oh, and such an intelligent mind. But where to put you? While I'm sure you'd do well in any of the four Houses, you're a lot like your mother's and difficult to place." The hat chuckled darkly. "Perhaps I should just place you in Gryffindor, but something is stopping me." The hat muttered. "I see you're against being housed in Slytherin, eh? I suppose I can see why you don't want to go there, but you'd be an asset, you're achievement-oriented, ambitious and have the potential to be a strong leader, but alas, you're also far too humble and lack the usual self-preservation, so a Slytherin you are not."
Minerva sensed the student body and her colleague were growing restless and wondered how long Isobel had been sitting with the hat on her head. Glancing at her watch, she realised it had been over three minutes already. She gazed at Isobel and noticed her growing unease.
"Where to put you?" The hat mused before falling silent. Another minute passed before the hat started to mutter once more. "Your loyalty to your family and the love you feel for them is unparalleled so Hufflepuff would suit you admirably. But then there's your thirst for knowledge, a true Ravenclaw attribute. It seems you lack the impulsivity that most Gryffindors have, but I can see you'd still fit in well there. Decisions, decisions."
Minerva glanced down at her watch again and inhaled sharply. Six long minutes had passed by which meant that Isobel had broken every Hogwarts record as a Hatstall.
"Oh, I see you can be impulsive. Tsk tsk, nicking your mum's bank card to find your other mother, that's unexpected. Well, in that case—GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled unexpectedly.
Once again there was an uproar. The Gryffindor table erupted into cheering and banging the table under their fists when Isobel grinned happily and taking the hat off rushed away to the table and slipped into a seat beside Daisy Dursley.
As Professor Flitwick took the hat and stool away, Minerva rose from her seat and gestured for quiet. Once the hall had grown silent, she spoke. "Good evening and welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our feast, I would like to offer up a few words." She smiled down at the waiting students as they groaned. "A healthy life needs open-mindedness, a good sense of humour, and the ability to love, so take the time to learn as much as you can, laugh hard and loud and love with all of your heart. Thank you!" She clapped her hands and sat down as food magically appeared on the tables.
~x~
Entering her chambers, Minerva quickly unfastened her robes and sighed. The Sorting and the feast following it had seemed to take forever to get through.
Moving through her rooms, she entered the bedroom and found Hermione waiting for her. "Well?" She demanded, placing the book she'd been reading face down on her lap.
"It took over six minutes for our wee bairn to be sorted into her house." Minerva rubbed her tired eyes.
"And?" Hermione asked impatiently.
Minerva sat on the edge of the bed and eased her feet out of her heeled boots. "Gryffindor." She turned to smile at her mate. "I don't usually listen to the infernal mutterings of that old hat, but I was invested this time."
"But over six minutes?" Hermione frowned. "Are you sure the hat made the right choice?"
"Aye, lass, I am. Slytherin was vetoed entirely and then she was considered for the other houses before the choice was made." Minerva slipped her robes off and threw them on a chair at the side of her dresser, leaving her in a blouse and trousers. She slid back to rest against the headboard and crossed her ankles. "She was the last one on the list since the school records had her listed as Isobel Wilkins." She sighed. "She must have asked Filius to use Granger-McGonagall."
"Oh," Hermione seemed unsurprised. "Well, it's not the first time she's called herself that." She shrugged.
"I suppose." Minerva sighed. "I need to do a quick patrol, but I'll be back soon." She shifted to her Animagus and headbutted Hermione's shoulder before leaping from the bed and running from the room.
Using the small, secret passageway from her quarters, she bounded quickly through the castle, scanning the area for children out of bed after curfew. Spotting a pair of yellow eyes glistening in the dark, she hissed and the creature moved into the light of the sconces on the wall and growled. Recognising Crookshanks, she padded close and rubbed her nose against his in an apology. They took off together, continuing to run through the castle.
Eventually returning to her rooms, where she promptly returned to her usual form and walked sedately, if a little out of breath, back to her bedroom, the half-Kneazle followed. She found Hermione had fallen asleep, a book opened on her chest. Crookshanks leapt onto the bed, and padded towards Hermione and realising she was asleep, curled up on Minerva's pillow.
Letting out a sigh of frustration, Minerva continued to get ready for bed, before staring down at the cat. Deciding to bite the bullet, she picked him up, causing him to open one eye and hiss. "That is my spot." She settled beside the brunette, placing Crookshanks on her stomach and her fingers rubbed the fur around his ears, occasionally tugging them as she'd seen Hermione do until he lay down and started purring. Relaxing further into her pillows, she looked down at the half-Kneazle. "You know, my wee laddie, we deserve this second chance at love."
As if agreeing, Crookshanks yawned. "Reoowwl."
Closing her eyes, she focussed on Hermione's breathing and Crookshanks's purring and allowed it to pull her towards sleep. "This time, I reckon it's gonna be magical." She whispered into the darkness.
~Fin~
Final Author's Note: I want to thank everyone for their continued support. The comments received have been what kept me posting and prompted me to try and finish in a timely manner.