A/N: Huge thanks to all those who've stuck with this story! Slight trigger warning on this chapter with flashbacks to torture of a sexual nature. Not super graphic, but non-con nonetheless. As always, looking forward to your hearing your thoughts in the comments, thank you!
Back in the bedchamber now fully dressed with hair in their preferred styles, the relaxed witches held hands facing each other, eyes full of affection, each knowing it was time to go, but neither wanting to move and end their time in this space that was now sacred to them both. Taking the matter out of their hands, Elspeth popped into the room.
"Well, good morns to yous, lasses!" Elspeth exclaimed, clapping her hands.
Hermione once again blushed, but this time raised her chin and smiled, dropping Minerva's hands. "I take it you enjoyed our dust as much as Wazel, Els?"
Elspeth barked out a loud laugh, "Aye, Miss Mione, we hads da best party." Moving her big eyes to Minerva. "It was just like da ole story, Minnies! Except Miss Miones gold instead of da blues. And da Phoenix mates enjoyed it very much, as I'm sure yous heard." She winked. "A few others came. They all left gifts for yous. And I made one meself. I was gunna save it for ya bir'day, Minnie, but seeins it's only a few days away, I wants ya to have it now wit de others." Turning to Hermione and winking again, "And Wazel made a matching one for ya, Miss Mione."
With a snap of her fingers, a tartan lined basket appeared on the bed. Hermione and Minerva turned and gasped at the same time, eyes landing on a pair of very large crimson Phoenix feathers extending out of the brim. Slowly leaning further to see what else was within, neither witch moved to touch anything.
Elspeth exclaimed, "Snap out of it yous! We donnae have alls days, yous needs to get goin'." Snapping her fingers, the basket disappeared, and the contents were now laid in pairs, two rows of three, atop the white quilted bedspread. Hermione choked out a laugh at the bossy elf, eyes widening at the gifts displayed before them.
Minerva's face broke into a smile at her lover's reaction and then looking fondly at Elspeth, "Bless you, Els. I'm finding myself at a loss, as no doubt Hermione is. We heard the Phoenixes of course, but who else came last night exactly?"
Moving over to the other side of the bed, Elspeth pointed to a pair of pendants that appeared to have matching black stones. "Theses are from the Clabbert mates one of whos said he duelled ya when yous was a lass, Minnie! He recognized yous signature and came arunnin wit his mate. Nice folks theys. Good dancers. Da black parts turns red if theres danger nears, just like da spots upon theys heads." Moving to the next, she pointed to two small greenish-black feathers that plumed near the bottom, "Theses is from the Irish Phoenixes, whats theys name, Minnie?"
"Augureys," Minerva supplied quietly, still trying to process that the same Clabbert she had just told Hermione of from her youth had been here and gifted his pustule. Am I dreaming? Have I not woken up yet from last night's rapture? She made a fist and dug her nails into her palm, hard.
"Yes, theys saids these may not do much, but if theys did, yous find out." Elspeth raised her shoulders, shaking her head, "I dunnae, I nevers mets these kinds before. Kinda melancholy types, but theys did enjoy da whisky."
Moving down to the large red feathers, "Yous knows these are from the Phoenixes. Theys said Miss Mione's two marked trees would be good hosts for her to makes yous da wands."
Remembering the circle carving on the tree where Hermione had brought them yesterday, Minerva turned to her lover. Hermione's face was the picture of overwhelm; eyebrows high, mouth agape, hands clasped together, knuckles white. Pulling a chair forward from the nook, Minerva placed it behind her lover and gently pushed her into it, resting her hand upon her shoulder, squeezing gently.
Elspeth, watching, took in Hermione's pallor and called, "Wazel." With a pop he appeared. "Dearie, please bring us the rest of da bottle of scotch, some tea, and those chocolate biscuits ya makes. Miss Mione needs to get her colours back." Wazel glanced at Hermione, nodding as he took in Hermione's pale face and immediately disappeared.
"I, uh," Hermione started, finding her mouth indeed quite dry, she swallowed. "Thank you, Elspeth. I'm just, well," looking up into Minerva's open emerald eyes, reading the same bewilderment she felt, but laced with a touch of concern for her. "These gifts are incredible. I mean, even one of those things is beyond anything I've ever received. It's like...it's like, we got married or something and missed the party." Eyes lighting up, it was Minerva's turn to laugh, the deep, resplendent kind. Hermione smiled, insides glowing at the memory of hearing it with her ear pressed to her lover's bare chest. Minerva bent down and captured her lover's lips in a deep kiss. Bringing her hand to cup her cheek, she turned her face to whisper in her ear, "I love you, lass. Perhaps if our projection happens again, we can go out and join them. If you'd like?" Warmth spread through Hermione at her words. Again. Minerva felt the cheek beneath her hand heat up and she kissed her way softly in a trail back down to her mouth, recapturing the parted lips for a long, slow, grounding exchange.
Wazel popped next to them with a tray and nearly dropped it, bringing it loudly down onto the table. "Glads ya broughts four glasses, Wazel!" Elspeth declared. "These twos is heatin ups the place."
The witches smiled into their kiss, breaking it with three gentle pecks. Hermione turned and gave Wazel a full smile. Ah ha! Seems like I've finally bested one of the McGonagall elves.
"Miss Mione's got her colours backs I sees." Wazel said, returning the smile with a twinkle in his eye. Chuckling, Minerva turned to the tray, pouring the whisky and handing him a glass, "Aye, Wazel, and thank you for this. Echoing Els, I think we could all use a drink." Minerva continued to pour and Hermione passed one to Elspeth, who was looking quite pink, before picking up her own. Minerva raised her glass, meeting each set of eyes before lingering on Hermione's, she spoke, "To love and generosity freely given and graciously received."
"I's drinks to thats" "Aye" "Cheers" and they sipped. Elspeth marched back over to the bed, clearly eager to continue the proclamation of the remaining three magical offerings. Hermione, now standing arm in arm with Minerva, chuckled at the determination of the elder elf as they moved to be in front of the bed once more.
Taking another swallow of scotch, Elspeth continued, pointing at a pair of wooden-looking items, "Theses are from the Centaur lasses, Aine and Niamh's theys names. Oh, I hopes you meets them next time." Revealing that she had heard Minerva's suggestion to Hermione, "They reminded me an' Wazel of yous, din'theys Wazel?"
Wazel nodded enthusiastically, "Aye, theys very much in loves and your dusts had theys prancin all abouts makin tree magic, it was great fun."
Both witches blushed at the idea of being compared to prancing Centaurides. "What are they, Elspeth?" Minerva asked, trying to move past the moment by looking pointedly at the objects, which were pocked like lotus pods but in the shape of oversized bracelets.
"Ahs, yes, these is what theys calls tree-shifts." Lifting one up, she looked at it closely, moving it as if to catch the light a certain way. "This ones is yours Minnie, it's gots a green sheen to its, the other is golden." Placing it back down reverently, she looked intently at Minerva, "It was somethin' for the storybooks, it was, to see them makes these. Theys called da tree Elders and theys came! Da matriarchs of da Oak, Ash, Alder, Pine & Willow marched outs of nowheres from alls directions. I never knews about Tree Elders before, did you Minnie?"
Minerva was now the one who felt on weak legs and taking a step back from the bed, put her glass down and sat in the chair Hermione had recently occupied, reaching for one of Wazel's cookies. Tree Elders, here? There hasn't been a record of them moving about since the days of Hera & Helianna. What does this mean?
Sensing her lover needed a minute, Hermione piped in, "Two summers ago I read a story, written more as a fable, that told of the sentience of trees and how the Mother Tree knew through the root system the health of her seedlings and could send nutrients if required. I found it particularly interesting and was delighted to find that one of the later editions was prefaced by a Canadian witch who had studied the theory within the old Redwood forest in California and found it to be scientifically sound. She noted that additional research found that humans share fifty percent of our DNA with trees, and most trees read nine times the magical energy signature of a common magical person within the familial root system. All to say, although I wasn't aware that Mother Trees could simply walk around at will, I'm not particularly surprised."
Catching her breath, Hermione looked around the room. All eyes were upon her and they all held the same expression of shock mixed with respect. She gave a crooked smile and with a deep breath moved to grab the other chair. Knowing from the colour of Minerva's face she needed more time, Hermione pulled her wand, conjuring two more chairs. "Els, Wazel, why don't we all sit for a moment and enjoy these delicious looking biscuits and you can tell us more about the Centauress Tree Elder magic and their gifts?"
Elspeth blinked. She's takin care of my Minnies while preservin her prides. And without protest, she moved to sit on one of Hermione's chairs. Minerva smiled at her lover, silently thanking her for stepping in and holding the space while she refound her inner balance. Wazel happily poured everyone a cup of tea before taking his seat and grabbing a chocolate biscuit for himself.
Elspeth ate half a cookie and sipped her tea before continuing, "I likes that name, Miss Mione, Mother Trees, theys certainly felt like that, fierce yet gentles at da same times. It was really quite enchanting, seein them gatherin together in theys circle, theys roots windin around each otherses in the center. Then da lasses chanted this low mantra while runnin rounds them until all the dusts around the trees was greens like Minnies, then they came and snipped the joined root and fashioned it into thats," pointing to the object she had just showed. "Then they did it agains with a different mantra and Miss Miones golds came and they snipped again and made the other. Gave me the goose pimples, that did, righ'Wazel?"
Wazel wiggled his ears while swallowing his biscuit, his short legs waving back and forth off the floor. After clearing his throat, "Aye, da trees shook and waved as the Centauresses clipped them, then after a bit, theys left the same ways theys came. I feels right special to have seen it."
Minerva got up to retrieve the items while racking her brain for any prior knowledge of a tree-shift. Coming up empty, she quickly identified the one that was intended for her and handed Hermione the other who took it cautiously as she returned to her seat, "Did they tell you what a tree-shift does or what they're for, Elspeth?"
"Aye, Minnie." Elspeth nodded, grinning, "You's puts it on your arm, up high, and it'll close those holes once it senses what root systems are beneath ya. Then if you point your magic towards it, they says, it'll transfigure ya into a tree of that system. It's what the lasses do to avoid detection. It's whys most peoples never see em."
Hermione, too overwhelmed to filter herself, exclaimed, "Holy shit, no way!" Examining her bracelet with new fascination. "How do you reverse it?"
"Theys said, you just let the trees know to let yous go." She said with a lift of her shoulders. "Theys didn't seem too concerned abouts it."
Hermione, holding her tree-shift at eye-level, squealed and started muttering, "All my life I've dreamed of talking to trees. I mean, I did talk to trees all the time actually, one willow in particular, but what I mean to say is, I've always wanted them to respond. I can't wait to see if this allows for that. Oh wow, what an amazing gift. I mean don't get me wrong, all the gifts are amazing and we still have two..." Looking up and noticing the amusement upon each of their faces at her babble, she faltered, lowering the shift. "Um right." Smiling at Minerva sheepishly.
Merlin, she's adorable when she gets going. Minerva broke into a grin and couldn't hold back a chuckle, which seemed to tip the whole table into giggling.
Wiping a stray tear, Elspeth "Miss Mione, you reminds me of Minnies late brother, Argus, donnae she Wazel? He'd gets hisself goin when talkin about somethin new."
"Aye, yous and he's would have liked each other, right Minnie? Wazel smiled at Minerva.
With a fond smile on her face as she looked at her lover, "Aye, I do believe so. You and Argus would have never been bored in each other's company, I'm sure." Sensing Hermione's question, she provided the salient points, "Argus was killed the same night as Harry's parents, protecting the Longbottoms from Bellatrix. He was five years my junior and we were very close. His husband Leander and I remain so."
Resisting the urge to cringe at hearing the witch's name that still haunted the recesses of her mind, Hermione raised her chin and her whisky and smiled, "To another valiant McGonagall, may his memory be a blessing. I look forward to meeting him across the veil." Glasses clinked, and they took a sip in serene silence.
Elspeth hopped off her chair and retrieved the next pair of items. "Wazel, come bring ours over toos, dearie" Wazel hopped down and fetched the two wooden boxes. Both returning to their chairs, Elspeth handed Minerva and Hermione each something that looked very much like a large pearl, just not as opaque. "Dis is crystallised Unicorns tears. Theys cried many last nights, theys was so moved by yous magic love dusts and seeing the Mother Trees, we all gots to have some. The Clabbert mates helped crystallise these for yous."
Looking at Hermione with a very intent yet caring gaze, she spoke softly, "Theys said dis will help heal your wound, Miss Mione, at least on the surfaces."
Hermione felt flayed open. Eyes filling with tears, she blinked, quickly brushing them before they fell. No, no please, I don't want to talk about this now. Fuck, I just put her out of my mind, will she never leave?! Closing her eyes, she took three steady breaths, pulling the pain, the shame, the fear, the loneliness toward her on the inhales. On the last exhale she blew it all out into the box she visualised to hold it and slammed it shut. Opening her eyes, piercing Elspeth, she asked sharply, "How did they know about that? No one knew, save Harry."
Minerva felt her heart plummet, watching how the pain and vulnerability etched on her lover's face transformed into something cold and controlled. Wound indeed. And looks like she hasn't dealt with it, beyond mastering the art of compartmentalization. Oh love, what happened to you out there? She reached across the table and without touching, offered her palm face up next to Hermione.
Seeing Elspeth's eyes widen and Minerva's offered hand, Hermione came back to herself, softening her voice, "I apologise, Els, I know you are only the messenger and I am grateful, truly. I just wasn't prepared for that to come up." Dropping her eyes, she worried the pearl in her fingers before clutching it in her right hand and taking Minerva's with the left, she seemed to come to a decision. But before she could open her mouth to speak, Elspeth spoke softly, "They only mentioned theys been keepin an eye on yous while ya visits Fairy Forest. Theys didn't say nothins about any of it beyond that, Miss Mione." Clearing her throat, Elspeth looked from Wazel to Minerva back to Hermione, "Yous donts have to say nothins, Miss Mione, buts we's yous family now and I wants to help if I can. Whenever ya ready. Even if it's just listenin to lighten your loads a bit, ya knows? Donnae let it eats at ya fir too long, loves."
The tears flowed freely down her face now, not bothering to wipe them, Hermione gripped Minerva's hand hard, trying to at least not completely break down, but not sure how when the elf before her with a few kind words left her bereft of any control. Family. I'm not alone. I'm safe. I'm so tired of hiding this.
Not trusting herself to say anything, she took her hand that still held the pearl over to her left arm and without letting go of Minerva's hand she pulled back the sleeves of her cloak and robes, revealing her forearm. All eyes moved to her arm, which looked perfectly healthy and intact. Hermione waited for Minerva to meet her eyes. When emerald eyes full of love and patience and acceptance met hers, she took a deep breath. Directing her magic, she blew along her forearm from elbow to wrist, releasing the corporeal shield charm she had spent days perfecting underneath a tree with a circle etched in the bark. Angry red scars started to appear scrawling out MUDBLOOD in uneven messy letters. Beneath the sharp lines was another word, swollen with softer edges, thick and raised and pink, lifting the scars where the two met, DYKE.
The words themselves carried no power over Hermione. Both were true, and she had never been ashamed of either aspect of her identity, ever. It was the torture itself, and how in order to withstand the pain of being carved, she had moved the sensation over to a not yet examined part of herself that could find pleasure in it.
Bellatrix, hearing the change in her moan, snapped her eyes to meet Hermione's, "Oh hey honey, you like this don't you? You dirty mudblood dyke." Sniffing her way down her body, she hummed, "Mmm yes, you do." Releasing a manic laugh that turned into a moan, she leaned down and while still making eye contact, licked up Hermione's bloody cuts, before muttering something and with the tip of her tongue writing the second word. Hermione squirmed beneath her, extremely aroused and hating herself for it. Bellatrix crawled up and whispered earnestly in her ear, "Pity. Under different circumstances, I think we really would've had something special." Then capturing her mouth, she licked Hermione's tongue, coating it with her own blood. Hermione violently came with her eyes shut, feeling a chasm of loathing swallow her whole, as her body betrayed her.
Minerva was at a complete loss for words at the display before her. Bellatrix. Goddamn that woman to the tenth level of Hades. Looking back up to Hermione's face, her eyes filled with tears. The look of catatonic resignation was not something she had ever seen on this vibrant person's face. Oh love, you've been carrying this alone. Well, not anymore. Reaching over with her free hand, she cupped Hermione's chin and forced her to meet her gaze. "I love you, Hermione Granger. And I know that I can't change or heal what happened to you despite wanting to with my whole being, but will you let me put the Unicorn tears on these scars, love?" Her own tears spilling down her own cheeks, "May I do that for you, gradh?"
Hermione choked back a sob and nodded into her lover's hand, tightly closing her eyes, not knowing what to expect. Releasing Hermione's chin, Minerva retrieved her pearl from the table and gently placed it in the centre of the markings, cupping her hand around it. She felt it dissolve and as the moisture slid to the edges of her cupped hand. She began to gently rub it back and forth, up and down the length of marred skin.
A cascading coolness fanned out from the middle of her arm and Hermione opened her eyes to watch Minerva gently move the silky moisture around the old wound. The words she had resigned herself to hide for the rest of her life began to fade. Once swollen skin began to pale, releasing the perpetually trapped inflammation. A swell of gratitude and relief filled Hermione. Closing her eyes, she pictured the Unicorns and Clabberts preparing this cure, wanting to help her. Thank you, thank you. Opening her eyes, she glanced at Elspeth and Wazel who looked back at her lovingly without a trace of pity. Finding Minerva's eyes, she whispered, voice cracking, "Thank you."
Seeing the raw turmoil swirl in the golden brown eyes, spurred Minerva into action. Keeping her palm resting on Hermione's forearm, she tilted her head toward Elspeth and Wazel. "Would you mind giving me and Hermione the room for a moment? And Wazel, could you inform Kreacher that we are still here and Harry needn't worry." Both nodding, they hopped down from their chairs, Wazel disappearing with the tray.
Elspeth snapped her fingers and the gifts on the bed, table, and from within Hermione's hand returned to the basket which now sat on her recently vacated chair. She took the wooden boxes that contained her and Wazel's gifts and put them on the nightstand. "You can open these yerselves when yous ready. No explanation is necessary, loves." With a wink and a small smile, she popped out of sight.
Minerva stood and began removing her cloak. She folded it over the back of her chair then started removing her robes, slowly, the muggle way. Hermione, watching, was still too emotionally overwhelmed to move or say anything. Unbuttoning the last layer, a deep green silk shirt, Minerva moved to her knees in front of her lover. Their positions, not unlike they were hours ago. Letting her shirt hang open, she gathered Hermione's hands and kissed both sets of knuckles three times. "How about we lie down together and I hold ya, lass? Would you like that?"
Nodding, Hermione stood, pulling her lover from the floor. Minerva unfastened Hermione's cloak with the same deliberate care and focus as she had her own. As she peeled each layer off her lover, she felt Hermione start to relax. Finally, removing both their shirts, she led them to the bed. Turning it down, she crawled in and reached for Hermione to join her beneath the covers.
Nestling into Minerva's warm embrace, head tucked into her shoulder, she let herself fully surrender to the moment. Her mind and heart a yo-yo, between accepting the love and care extended to her and still feeling undeserving of it. What if she can't love me after she knows? The thought of losing the older witch's hard won respect felt like a gut punch and she whimpered, eyes refilling with tears.
Minerva caressed Hermione's hair and face in a slow, repetitive pattern. Thinking back to the days after the battle, she remembered how Hermione had asked if she could stay at Hogwarts as she didn't really have anywhere else to go. Thinking it odd, but not wanting to question her, Minerva had agreed. The first week had been a blur, but she remembered how Hermione had thrown herself into the cleanup and repairs every morning, often before anyone had woken. Then every midday she'd walk down to the gates and not return until the evening meal. Minerva had assumed she was visiting the Weasleys, but now she was sure she had been going off by herself to Fairy Forest to tend her wound. Once Harry took full possession of Grimmauld and reset all the wards, Hermione had moved in with him. Harry may know about her arm, but I doubt even he knows what truly happened. She's hiding something.
Recalling her knowledge of Bellatrix, she sifted through the years, the person she had known as a thriving, whip smart if not arrogant student, hungry to learn much like the witch in her arms, to the twisted, sadistic witch she became. It was one of the harder losses as a professor. Minerva had seen such potential in the woman, enjoying her mind very much, before the fascination with the dark arts had poisoned and the lust for power consumed her.
Her mind landed on one particular memory, running into Bellatrix whilst she was out in London with Patricia, her lover at the time. "Is that you, Minerva McGonagall?" Bellatrix, no older than twenty-five, called down the bar. When Minerva had spun around to meet her eyes, she smiled, "Well, well, looks like Lucius owes me 20 galleons, he does. I knew you weren't such a prude." Winking, her grin widened. Minerva gave her a long look before glancing at the woman who was attached to the woman's side. "Yes, well, Miss Lestrange, looks like we are more alike than either of us imagined." Shedding herself of the clingy woman, Bellatrix got into Minerva's personal space, leaning to whisper in her ear, "Aye, I bet you like it rough, yeah? Bound and gagged, mmm? How about we ditch these bitches and see exactly how alike we are, Professor? What do you say, Gryffindor? Are you brave enough to take me?
A light bulb went off in Minerva's mind. How did Bellatrix know about Hermione's sexual preference? Did Bellatrix rape her?! So help me god, I'll bring her back from the dead and kill her again.
"Hermione, love." Minerva murmured into her lover's hair. "I want you to know that no matter what Bellatrix did to you, I would never think anything less of you, gradh. I'm so very sorry you were hurt, love. You are so strong. You survived. I'm so proud of you for surviving, lass."
Feeling flayed open again, Hermione completely broke down, curling into a ball within her lover's arms, she cried all the tears she never allowed herself to, wailing her pain and shame and self loathing into the room.
"I've got you, love. I've got you. Let it all out, lass. I love you, Hermione." Minerva said over and over, still caressing gently, every once-and-a-while clearing her lover's cheeks of the gathered tears.
Hearing Minerva whisper words of love, Hermione bent her head up to meet her eyes pleadingly, "I don't know if I'll ever be able to talk about it, but I want you to know. Can you just look?"
"Are you sure, lass? It'll be like you're there, too."
Fresh tears streaming down her face, "I've already been there once today, going back one more time won't matter and... and I need to know. I need to know if you can still love me or if I'm just truly broken. Please, will you just look? Please?"
Kissing her forehead, Minerva positioned the fingers of her left hand along Hermione's temples and fell into the memory Hermione was holding open for her. With her right arm she squeezed her lover tightly as she witnessed the scene unfold, needing the contact to reassure herself that Hermione was truly safe in her arms. Watching the anguish on Hermione's face as she clearly orgasmed after Bellatrix had kissed her, tore her open. Oh love, you're not broken. You were robbed.
Slipping back into the room and the present moment, the silence was loud. Hermione, trembling, was the most vulnerable she could ever remember being as she awaited her lover's judgement. Minerva shifted so that she could move herself to be at eye level with Hermione. Not thinking words would be the best way to start, she slid her head to capture Hermione's lips, licking gently, asking for admittance. Hermione choked out a sob before opening her mouth and kissed back tentatively, still feeling off balance. Minerva took her time, gently teasing her lover's tongue to engage. Hermione shifted, uncurling herself, she wrapped her legs around Minerva's, desperately seeking as much contact as possible as hope began to blossom in her chest with each loving kiss. Smiling into their embrace, Minerva wrapped her arms around Hermione and scooted her lover to be on top of her. "Hermione, I love you. And you are not broken, lass. Bellatrix robbed you of the opportunity to discover an aspect of yourself in a loving, healthy way. There is nothing to be ashamed of, love. And when you're ready, I'm open to exploring those facets with you." Sensing her lover was still working on accepting what she was saying, she went for some levity, "You must not forget, love, I actually have claws."
That did the trick. Hermione's face transformed from disbelief to pure joy, beaming as she sat up. She threw her head back and laughed. It was like the world had been lifted from her shoulders. Looking down at the self-satisfied smile upon her lover's face, she laughed again. Leaning down and pecking kisses along the smug expression, "Will you make love to me, my kitten?"
Minerva choked out a surprised laugh, beaming back at her lover. "Aye, cheeky lass, it would be my pleasure." She sat up and kissed Hermione as she twisted them down to the bed, bringing Hermione beneath her. She's going to be okay. We're going to be okay.
