Molly/Hermione.
It was the summer between Hermione's third and fourth year, she was spending it at The Burrow which wasn't anything knew especially when her parents decided to vacation abroad, and she didn't want to go. Today she was sitting in the den reading as usual while the boys and Ginny were outside playing quidditch, the book in her hands was The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a muggle novel which she loved dearly.
She had been at the Weasley's home for a few weeks now and she had noticed some tension between Mrs Weasley and Mr Weasley, they had been arguing more and more when the children were out of the house and she could see the wedge beginning to form between them at mealtimes, even though they tried to act like everything was normal.
Noticing Mrs Weasley come down to start on dinner she offered her a smile as the older woman made her way past, in her own way trying to let her know that she was there if she needed someone. Though she was turning sixteen in a few months thanks to her use of the time turner in the previous year, she had added an extra year to her age and was now two years older than her friends, not that they noticed.
After a while she put her bookmark between the pages and placed the book down on the coffee table before heading to the kitchen to see if Mrs Weasley needed help, since none of her children seemed to offer her help, but always gladly let her do all the work without so much as a thank you.
"Mrs. Weasley, would you like some help?" Hermione asked softly as she stood at the edge of the kitchen watching the matriarch peel vegetables, she now noticed that the woman had lost some weight and was looking thinner.
Mrs. Weasley looked up with a smile. "That would be lovely, dear." She didn't usually accept help but with the problems with her marriage some company was welcome. "You can finish peeling these and I will start the lamb." She stated before heading to the other side of the room to clean and season the meat of choice for the night.
Hermione simply nodded and went to work as soon as Mrs Weasley walked away from the task. "I've heard you and Mr. Weasley." She spoke softly. "If you need someone to talk to, I can lend an ear." She added knowing her offer would probably be rejected but something inside told her to at least try.
"We thought everyone was outside, dear." Mrs Weasley stated with a sigh. "You don't need to do that; you are still a child and don't need to be brought into adult situations." It wasn't that she didn't want someone to talk to, but she didn't feel that she should be that open with her youngest two children's best friend. "Thank you though."
The younger witch just nodded with a sad smile before continuing the task of peeling the vegetables. Once she was done, she washed them and put them in a pot that was next the sink. "I'm going to go for a walk by the lake." She told the older woman before leaving the kitchen.
Later that day after an uneventful dinner Hermione decided to hang back and help put the dishes in the kitchen. She took a moment to watch Mrs. Weasley with a small smile, lately she had been realising she wasn't exactly straight, but she wasn't sure if she was bisexual or lesbian, either way she wasn't ready to talk to people about it, though she thought Harry might be the most understanding.
Mrs. Weasley used magic so the dishes would clean themselves and put themselves away when done, so she took a moment to sit down at the table and just take some time to think. She noticed Hermione sticking around and watched the girl, she seemed to help more than her own children and for that she was thankful. "Hermione, dear, why don't you sit down, and we can talk, you seem to be distant from your friends recently." Her voice was soft and welcoming as she smiled at the girl.
Hermione smiled back and nodded before sitting down across from Mrs. Weasley. "There isn't much to talk about…" She lied softly not really looking up at the women she was talking to. "It's just that I'm almost sixteen and I've started thinking about myself and where I'm going in life." Though it was partly true, she knew she wanted to teach one day.
"Sixteen?" Mrs Weasley questioned clearly confused at the girl's age. "I thought you were fourteen like Harry and Ron." She added trying to figure out how a girl two years older than her youngest son could be in the same year as him at school.
The younger girl chuckled and shook her head. "Professor McGonagall gave me a time turner last year to take every class that was offered, I racked up an extra year, so I missed out on my fifteenth birthday." She admitted as her shoulders fell slightly. "I also turned twelve, two weeks into my first year as I was born after the 1st of September."
Mrs. Weasley nodded now understanding the situation, but that also made her realise that in a year this girl would be seventeen and a legal adult in the wizarding world. "That must be hard on you, dear. Being so much older than your friends and classmates, both in age and intellect."
Hermione nodded with a sigh. "It's tough, but I need to be there for Harry and Ron to make sure they don't get themselves killed, if the last three years are anything to go by." She shrugged knowing how many times the two could've died if she wasn't around.
"I understand, it seems sort of like Lily with James and his friends." The matriarch commented remember what she knew of Harry's parents. "You are a good friend to them, but you need someone to lean on as well." She reached across the table and gently squeezed Hermione's hand. "If there is anything you can't talk about with them, you can talk to me." She offered.
"I appreciate that Mrs. Weasley, but I think I need to figure this out on my own." Hermione stated as she pulled her hand away. "It's still frowned upon in the muggle world and with how archaic the wizarding laws are compared to those; I fear I will be pushed aside and forced back into my life before I knew I was a witch… If my parents even accept me." The last part was almost a whisper and she hope that the woman across from her wouldn't figure out what she was talking about.
Mrs Weasley listened as the girl spoke, trying to figure out what she was talking about, then the only thing she could think of popped into her mind. "Is this about sexuality, dear?" She was careful as she said it not wanting to scare the young woman off.
Hermione slumped and looked down at the table before nodding. She wasn't ready to say it out loud but if someone knew than maybe it might be easier on her.
"It's okay, Hermione. There are a few lesbians that you already know, Professor McGonagall being one." She stated softly hoping that if Hermione knew there were others in this world able to make a living it would help her accept herself more. "And bisexuals, like myself." She added.
The last part made Hermione look up shocked. "You're bisexual?" She questioned not quite believing it. "I'm not sure if I am bisexual or lesbian, but I know I like girls." She confessed looking back down again. "I'm worried it will change my friendships, like with Ginny… I see her as a sister but what if she thinks I like her more than that and it gets weird?"
Mrs. Weasley nodded understanding what the young woman was going through. "Is there anyone who has caught your attention?"
Hermione shook her head. "Not really, but I have noticed that I seem to watch girls at school more than I watch the boys and often wonder what it would be like to kiss a girl, not that I've ever kissed a guy either, but I've never had that thought about boys…" She paused realising that if she didn't notice boys that way, she was probably a lesbian. "My parents are going to hate me." She stated putting her head in her hands.
The older witch stood up and moved to sit down next to the young woman and pulled her into a hug. "I can't control your parents, Hermione, but you will always be welcome here." She promised with a small smile as she ran her hand through the brown locks. "And I'm sure your professor would be happy to talk to you about this when you go back to school as well."
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." She whispered. "I'm glad someone knows and accepts me, If I tell my parents and they aren't accepting, can I send you an owl to come get me?" She asked softly.
"Of course, dear." Mrs. Weasley hoped that the girl's parents would be accepting of her, but she also knew how parents could have their child slide planned only to find out that's not where the child is going. "Now how about you get some rest, and I will see you in the morning?"
Hermione nodded and thanked her again before heading up the stairs to the room she shared with Ginny and slipped into the travel cot. That night she dreamt of both Mrs. Weasley and her professor. Though part of her understood why, they were both beautiful women in her eyes, both in heart and mind, though the other part of her hated it, because one was her best friend's mother.
The next morning, she woke up not feeling rested at all and made her way down to breakfast, she sat down and didn't speak to anyone while she ate before picking up her book and headed outside to read away from everyone.
She didn't know how long she had been reading when someone sat down beside her. "You are quiet today." The person said softly not wanting to startle the girl.
Hermione looked up and smiled. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley." She greeted. "I'm sorry, with everyone talking about the new school year and talking about quidditch, there isn't much room for conversation I want to be in right now."
The red head nodded and looked out over the fields. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay and to bring you some tea." She stated placing down a try between them. "You looked like you didn't get much sleep."
Offering a grateful smiled she poured herself a cup and took a sip. "I had a dream last night that I wish I didn't have, it wasn't a nightmare or anything, just not what I wish to be thinking about."
"What was it about?" The older woman questioned softly with a curious look.
Hermione sighed. "I had a dream about Professor McGonagall… I kissed her in my dream." She admitted softly before looking away to mumble. "I also kissed you."
Mrs Weasley nodded though she couldn't understand the last part. "She is a beautiful woman; I admit I had a crush on her when I was a student." She smiled softly.
This made Hermione look up with a sad smile. "I like her mind, but I don't like her in that way." She sighed again. "I think because you told me she wasn't straight my mind thought it would be okay to dream about her in that way."
"I can understand that." The older woman gently touched the young woman's arm, this caused brown eyes to collide with blue and Hermione saw something in Mrs. Weasley she didn't before causing her to stand up and race back inside, her book and the tea forgotten as she raced to Ginny's room and closed the door behind her.
The rest of the summer Hermione tried to avoid Mrs. Weasley as much as she could but the dreams no longer included her professor now it was only the mother of her friend and she knew she was in trouble. At the platform once everyone had gotten on the train, she turned to the matriarch and gave her a gentle hug. "I'll miss you." She whispered before running off to get on the train before the woman could respond.
Molly stood there after Hermione ran off, frozen. 'She would miss me?' She thought to herself looking for the young woman through the windows as the train pulled off blue meet brown and she offered a small smile. 'I think I'll miss her too.' She admitted to herself with a sigh.
The rest of the day Molly was thinking about Hermione and the way she avoided her only to tell her that she would miss her right before leaving. She thought back to the talks they had earlier that summer and realised that the girl was starting to have feelings for her, a married woman who is mother to her friends. She sighed.
During the first few weeks the children were at school things with Arthur had gotten worse and they had finally agreed to get divorced because they were fighting every day and it wasn't getting better no matter what they tried. Molly agreed to keep the Burrow and Arthur would find himself a place somewhere else. She had owled Minerva so that she could go to the school and tell the children face to face, they were upset but seemed to understand.
She had also asked if she could talk to Hermione, though she wasn't her child she felt it only fair to tell the girl after what she had realised at the station. When the young woman walked into the office, it was clear that this year was already taking its toll on her, and with the tournament she wasn't surprised. "Hermione, dear. Come sit and we'll talk." Molly smiled as she sat on one of the couches in the headmaster's office.
Hermione smiled seeing Molly, in her mind she had started calling her by her first name when she realised that the red head was the one, she had feelings for and the only person who knew was also in the room. Minerva McGonagall sat at Albus' desk doing the paperwork he should've been doing.
The Gryffindor student made her way over to the couch and sat down next to the red head but far enough away that they were on other ends of the furniture. "I heard from Ron on my way here that you and Mr Weasley are getting divorced." She commented softly. "I'm sorry." She felt bad about the two splitting, but it also gave her young heart hope.
Molly nodded sadly. "We have been fighting as soon as we wake up until we go to bed, since school started, I've been sleeping in Ginny's room." She admitted softly as she watched the young woman. "We've agreed though we still love each other and our children, we have fallen out of love."
Hermione nodded with a sad smile. "That doesn't mean you two won't find love again someday." She commented softly, though she didn't mean they would fall back in love with each other.
"That is what I also wanted to talk to you about." Molly stated. "When you left at the station you said you would miss me, but you had barely spoken two words to me since our talk about your dream."
The brunette sighed and nodded. "The dream wasn't just about her." She stated nodding her head in the direction of the deputy. "You were also part of that dream, not together but in a different scene." She admitted softly.
Molly smiled slightly at this but nodded anyway. "You are still underage, and I'm still the mother of your friends." She was trying to find a reason as to why she couldn't be attracted to the young woman next to her.
"I know, Molly." Hermione stood up. "Thank you for letting me know about your divorce, but I don't need you telling me what I already know." She sighed. "Sorry." She apologised and left the office.
Molly sighed and turned to her friend. "What do I do, Minerva?" She questioned.
Minerva looked up and gave a half smile. "Follow your heart, Molly. She will be of age in a year, if you want to give it go, I will stand behind you."
This caused Molly to offer a thankful smile. "In time." She sighed before heading to the floo to go home.
It was a few months later when Molly learnt that Hermione's parents had been killed in a car accident, and since she was still underage, she had spoken to Minerva about the professor taking custody of the girl, which the older woman happily agreed to, with Hermione's permission, of course.
By Christmas the divorce was granted, and Arthur had moved out causing the Weasley children except for Ron to go home to spend time with their mother. Hermione opted to spend the would be break in Minerva's chambers, sleeping in the spare room that was offered to her after the woman had gotten custody of her. "Minerva?" The student suddenly spoke after staring silently into the first for at least half an hour.
Minerva looked up from her work and moved from her desk to sit in one of the armchairs but stayed quiet.
Hermione sighed but didn't look at her professor. "I was hoping time away from her would make these feelings go away, but I only think about her more." She admitted softly. "I think I'm falling in love."
The older witch moved and sat down next to Hermione and pulled her into a hug. "Love isn't always logical, Hermione. Our hearts rarely listen to our minds." Her voice was soft as she spoke. "You haven't spoken to her since she told you about the divorce, maybe you should reach out, see how she is doing." She suggested.
"She needs to spend time with her children, she has been alone all school year and she needs her family more than I need to see her, hold her, kiss her." Hermione was starting to hate herself for how she was feeling knowing Molly would never feel that way about her. "And she told me that I'm still underage and I'm friends with her kids. She'd never feel the same." She sighed starting to cry as she was held.
Minerva sighed and continued to hold her. "She asks about you in every letter she writes me, I think you'd be surprised if you talk to her." She wanted both to be happy, and she really did think of Hermione as the daughter she never had. "Floo call her." She prompted softly.
Hermione wiped her eyes and nodded taking a few moments to go over to the fireplace and she threw in the powder mentioning the burrow before sticking her head in once the flames were green. "Mrs. Weasley?" She called softly.
Molly had just finished sending the kids to bed when she heard the floo than Hermione's voice, it made her smile as she went to the fireplace. "Hello, dear. Is everything alright?" She asked concerned that something was wrong since they hadn't spoken in months.
Hermione shook her head with a sad smile. "Minerva suggested I talk to you, I know what you said in the office that day and I know that I'm still underage and will be for the next ten months, but I need you to know that I think I'm falling in love with you, Molly… Not talking to you kills me." She admitted softly.
The red head smiled. "I'd like to come see you tomorrow, the kids can keep themselves busy… If it's okay with Minerva."
Minerva smiled at the interaction and nodded at Hermione who turned to look at her for an answer. "She said yes. I should do some homework." Hermione smiled. "I look forward to tomorrow." She finished before hanging up with a beaming smile. "Thank you, Minerva." She stood up and headed to her room and went to sleep with a smile on her face.
The next morning Hermione woke up well rested and ate breakfast with Minerva before stealing a book off the older woman's shelves and started reading it to wait for Molly. Minerva couldn't stay in her Chambers as students were still in the school, but she promised to collect Molly from the gates and bring her to her quarters during lunch.