"Oh Minerva," Hermione muttered, exhaling the words, "what are you doing to me?" Her body lay limp on the damp sheets. Not even having the energy to lift her neck to look at what her lover was doing to cause this incredible feeling, she could only moan her pleasure.
"I'm memorizin' ya," came Minerva's soft Scottish reply.
"Oh fuck," Hermione's soft inner walls quivered as the whisper touch of either Minerva's tongue or finger, she couldn't be sure which anymore, brushed once again around the inside, ensuring every crevice and fold within her was equally attended. Hermione had lost all sense of time. It felt like hours that she had been subject to this loving stimulation, not enough to push her over the edge, but just enough to leave her hanging off the cliff by three fingers. "You are the most incredible lover, Minerva. I've never felt this way, Oh goddess, I didn't know feeling this way was even possible."
Feeling Minerva smile into her inner thigh and sigh a warm breath across her matted pubic hair, Hermione reached her hand toward her lover and begged, "Come up here, please, love, I need you to kiss me now. Please."
Minerva, not really ready to move, slowly withdrew from her lover's precious passage. I'm not sure I could deny this woman anything she asked of me. Leaving a soft kiss on auburn ringlets, she crawled up her lover's flushed sated body. Lowering her seeping centre over Hermione's and bracing her arms by her lover's chest, she leaned in and invaded the inviting mouth. Minerva was forceful with her tongue, stoking the smouldering embers back into a roaring fire. Their bodies began to undulate first slowly, then more urgently.
"Come with me." Hermione whispered, breaking the kiss, "Touch yourself, love." Grabbing Minerva's right hand with her left, forcing her lover to rebalance herself on her left elbow, she guided their joined hands between their bodies. Hermione started circling her own clit, hard and fast. Minerva seemed to finally catch on and with a growl, grabbed her own mound, scooting to the right of Hermione's busy hand in the well of her lover's hip, and started kneading herself the way she liked.
"Oh, gradh, I love ya. Nnngh, oh, I'm gunna come. Her-mio-ne!" Watching Minerva's neck bow upward as she felt her lover's hand still on her hip, triggered Hermione's long-delayed orgasm. "YES, yes, oh Minerva, I love you too. Fuck, I LOVE YOU!"
Minerva collapsed haphazardly on her lover, barely able to catch her breath as her whole body pulsed. Hermione wrapped her arms and legs around Minerva and nestled her sweaty, panting face in the crook of her arm just above her left breast.
Before they had a chance to fully regulate, there was a knock upon the door. Expelling a long sigh, Minerva reached down, pulling the sheet over their bodies and kissed Hermione's collarbone. "Yes?"
The door opened slowly, and Hermione saw Elspeth's head lean in through the crack. Seeing that they were covered, she walked all the way in.
"I's real sorry, Minnie and Miss Mione, buts Wazel just got back from 'Arry's and there's been an owl. Wazel said 'Arry lost all his colours and wants yous to come."
It took almost a full minute for the weight of the information to penetrate the witches sex-fogged brains. Both of them tensed at the same time.
"I's brought yous pepper-up potions." Smiling mischievously, Elspeth put them on the nightstand next to the two unopened wooden boxes. Turning around, she snapped her fingers. Hearing a squeal and a growl, she started to chuckle. Hermione and Minerva found themselves suddenly standing up side by side, quite nude, behind the cackling elf. Snapping her fingers again, they were instantly fully clothed with not a hair out of place. Turning around once more with a smirk on her face, she found a gobsmacked Hermione and an annoyed Minerva, whose facial expression was the same as when she was a wee lass and Elspeth had regularly pulled the same tricks.
"I hate it when you do that, Els," whined Minerva.
"I knows ya doos, my Minnie, but needs must. Take your potions now and be off with yous." and with a pop, she was gone.
"Elf magic is amazingly efficient," said a still awed Hermione as she grabbed both potions and handed one to Minerva.
"Aye, and incredibly annoying at times." grumbled Minerva who tipped back her pepper-up.
Extending her arm to Hermione, who took it instantly, she paused, gazing into the now clear, determined honey golden eyes of her love, "Thank you, Hermione. This has been one of the more memorable twenty-four hours of my existence and ended up being by far my most favourite." Blushing and beaming simultaneously, Hermione nodded, "I feel the same, Minerva, so I must thank you too." And with a full heart, Minerva held Hermione close and turned on the spot.
Pulling the door to Grimmauld open, Hermione motioned for Minerva to go first, "Mi lady," she said with a smirk. Taken off guard, Minerva blushed and barked out a laugh. Eyes travelling from her lover's face down her lithe form, Minerva whispered provocatively, "Indeed," and moved forward, pulling a blush from Hermione in turn. And the point goes to Minerva! Okay, get it together, Hermione. Owl. Serious business. Focus.
Entering the kitchen, they found Wazel, Kreacher, and Harry sitting round the table sipping coffee, eating chocolate biscuits, and staring at a square of parchment in the middle of the table. Minerva strode up, nodding to each as they looked at her while reaching for the paper. It jumped into her outstretched hand. Bringing it up, she held it out so she and Hermione could read it at the same time.
"Impossible," whispered Hermione, thoughts already racing. Right?
Minerva held the parchment up close to her glasses, then flipped it over and did the same inspection.
"Hermione, do you still have the note from yesterday on you?"
"Um," sticking her hand in the pocket of her robes, she found the folded parchment and handed it over.
After performing the same inspection, she shook her head. Moving to claim one of the seats with a bowl of curry and some rolls under an elven stasis charm, Minerva sat heavily, eyes squinted and lips thinned in concentration as she placed both parchments next to her bowl.
All eyes were on her as she popped the stasis charm, lifted her spoon, and before dipping into the curry, she looked at Kreacher. "Kreacher, when the Blacks lived here, was it common to receive owls?"
Kreacher watched as Minerva took her first bite of curry, then answered slowly in his gravelly voice, "Not until Master Sirius took control."
Her nostrils assaulted by the delicious smell of her favourite curry, Hermione realised her hunger and took her seat next to Minerva, popping the charm over her bowl, "What are you thinking, Minerva?" She asked while glancing from Harry to Kreacher, adding, "Thanks for lunch, you two." before eating a spoonful.
Minerva nodded in agreement. "Aye, thank you, it's delicious. Harry, do you mind if I inspect the wards here?"
"Be my guest," Harry said, lifting his shoulders, again impressed by how nothing seemed to shake Minerva's cool, collected demeanour. I hope I can achieve that some day. I feel like I'm moments away from crawling under the table. He can't be alive, right? And we couldn't have missed a horcrux?! Looking at Hermione, she too looked outwardly calm, but after spending so much time together he saw subtle tells of how rattled she actually was. Sensing his gaze, Hermione's eyes met his, the same questions silently exchanging between them.
Minerva put down her spoon and closed her eyes, pulling the wards of Grimmauld to her. Harry and Kreacher felt the pull stronger than Hermione, as if little cords were attached to the back of their heads, chest, and gut were being held in someone's hand and yanked slightly. Minerva, not interested in the magical signatures, reached past the glowing matrices to feel and inspect along the corporeal boundary charm. Appearing as a lattice graphed structure within Euclidean space, she could twist and turn the whole construct of Grimmauld with just a thought. Remembering how yesterday, with her enhanced animagus senses, she heard and smelt the owl at least a minute before it arrived in the kitchen; she spun the 3D Grimmauld to look at the roof area. There! A tiny fissure in the charm rested right over the chimney leading to Sirius' bedchamber. Zooming in to further examine, she saw it wasn't a hole per se, more like a cleverly made revolving door. Pushing it slightly, she saw the iconic ledge and view from the BT Post Office tower in London. Sirius, you gifted wizard. You couldn't keep well enough alone, could you? She didn't blame him, really. After spending years in solitary confinement in Azkaban, and still being a wanted criminal, it seemed only natural to crave the freedom of communication.
Opening her eyes while releasing the wards, she glanced around the room. Seeing two eager faces about to speak, she lifted her hand to hold back any questions while she collected her thoughts. Smiling, she shook her head and looked at Harry. "It seems as though your Godfather created an owlway from the Post Office tower to his bedroom." Heading off the oncoming questions, she continued, "Think of it as a cross between a muggle PO Box and cat flap. When at Grimmauld, those within the wards have their owl frequency signatures transmitted as if by antennae to the tower ledge. Once an owl arrives, it is permitted entry via a charmed owlway directly into the chimney leading to Sirius' room. From there, the owl finds the actual signature within the warded structure."
Eyes widening, Harry grinned broadly, feeling a swell in his chest at his godfathers' antics, "Brilliant!"
"Is it secure? I mean, say someone is a winged or small animagus, could they access the owlway and bypass the wards?" Hermione piped in, wiping her mouth with her napkin and tilting her head toward Minerva.
Minerva met the eyes of her love and wished she could do what she wanted and kiss her senseless. Never had she been involved with a witch whose mind was as sharp as Hermione's, and it was extremely attractive. Restrain yourself, Minerva, for Merlin's sake. You're like a cat in heat.
Seeing the sharp look of desire flare in her lover's eyes, Hermione felt heat rising from her neckline, blushing up her face. Needing to do something lest she give in to her libido, she broke the gaze, lifting out of her seat, and reached for the water pitcher in the centre of the table. "Accio water goblet," catching and pouring one glass, she handed it to Minerva with a coy half-smile before repeating the action for herself.
Minerva, grateful that Hermione still had her wits about her, drank the whole glass down, placing it back on the table and cleared her throat, "That is a great question, Hermione, and no, the portal would not be revealed to any magical signature stronger than that of an owl." Feeling composed once again she continued, "Owlways were common during the war with Grindelwald, but fell out of fashion and knowledge after such a long period of peace; particularly due to the fact that they are very difficult to install correctly. Only those with an advanced understanding of warding structures can accomplish such a complex manipulation of corporeal magic." Looking back to Harry, "It's clear from the creation of the Marauder's Map that Sirius, Remus, and your father took a keen interest in the study. Hogwarts' wards are older and stronger than even that of the Ministry. That they would be able to create such an artefact speaks to a thorough understanding of the fabric of the wards themselves. I can say that Albus was baffled that such an item could be produced, let alone by students, and questioned his own ability to conjure such a real-time, accurate picture of the whole of Hogwarts." Looking off in the distance, she smiled softly, "He even tried duplicating the document once and was confounded when Hogwarts wouldn't comply." Eyes shifting back to Hermione's, "All to say, I have no doubt in Sirius' ability to create a secure owlway."
Harry took another sip of coffee and felt a weight drop from his shoulders, "Okay then, so is it fair to say that if we have an owlway that can accept any sender's owl, we don't necessarily have a mole?" His face was the picture of desperate hope and not for the first time Minerva wished she could have spared him some of the trauma in his life. I'll never forgive you for that, Albus. I could have done more to help him if you hadn't kept so many goddamn secrets.
Picking up the note that was scrawled in a perfect intimation of her dead friend's writing, she nodded. "I do believe so, Harry." Glancing back up at him, "I think we should call an Order meeting to take place tonight at Hogwarts. Before the meeting begins, I'd like you to seek out Ronald and Luna individually and see if they've seen or heard from Mister MacMillan lately. Watch their reactions, but don't push if you think they are lying. Say you're thinking of inviting him to join the Order and let me know what they say to that, if anything." Harry nodded, his mouth in a pinched frown at the mention of Ernie.
Turning to the two attentive house-elves, "As always, feel free to decline this request, but if you are willing, I'd feel much better if you two could accompany us to Hogwarts and remain close but unseen at the meeting." Looking at Wazel, "Should things take an unexpected turn, bring Hermione to the Manor." Now glancing at Kreacher, "And if you could bring Harry back here please, Kreacher." They both nodded solemnly, understanding her request.
"What?!" "Now, wait just a second." Harry and Hermione's protests collided.
Raising her hand, they both fell silent, subconsciously still trained from when they were her students. Eyes full of warmth, she glanced between them, "I admire you both more than you'll ever realise or likely accept. Your ability and courage are not in question here. But trust me on this, fighting someone who you consider a friend or family or even something more is gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, and exceedingly difficult to manage in the moment and though I have no doubt both of you would be entirely capable, I'll do whatever I can to spare you the experience. Please let me."
Hermione visibly deflated, but her ire was still sparked, "But what of you? I wouldn't want to leave you to fight alone!"
Smiling softly, Minerva cupped her fiery lover's cheek, rubbing her thumb over the flushed cheekbone, "How about we bring Filius up to speed before the meeting? He and I have stores of veritaserum that we used on each other when Severus seemed to be getting more information than we thought possible. He should be willing to be questioned. Once cleared, he'll be on alert as well and can respond to any threat by my side. Lass, please trust me on this. It's likely not even going to come to pass, but if it should, I would be more focused if I knew you were safe and awaiting my arrival at home."
More focused? Seeing the unguarded love laced with something that looked like fear in Minerva's eyes, Hermione took a deep breath. She is afraid she'll be distracted having me there. We're going to have to talk about this. Glancing at Harry, she could tell that if she protested, he would too. I don't know if he could handle a betrayal right now, he's still struggling with PTSD from the battle.
Bringing Minerva's hand from her cheek to her lips she kissed her knuckles three times. "Okay, this time I'll agree." Minerva knew that Hermione's acquiescence was more about protecting Harry than her own wishes, but unwilling to look a gift horse in the mouth, she smiled. "Thank you, Hermione."
Harry sat back in his chair, mostly relieved. Wazel got up from his seat, "I's gunna go checkins with Elsie. Minnie, just calls me when ya wanna go to Hogwarts. Tanks yous for lunch 'Arry and Kreacher!" And with a pop he was gone. Kreacher snapped his fingers and Wazel's dishes left the table. Getting down from his chair, he looked to Harry, "I'm going to get some rest, meet you here for tea, Harry?" Smiling fondly at his friend, Harry nodded, "Yeah, sounds good, Kreacher. Rest well." Turning to the witches, Kreacher bowed deeply then disappeared.
"Are Ron and Luna the only suspects?" Harry asked, looking between the two witches as they sat with their hands joined on the table. Minerva squeezed Hermione's hand gently, trying to transmit her support. Hermione sighed. "We also want to talk to Fleur." Glancing at Minerva before addressing Harry, "She may have anticipated our romantic involvement and we want to be sure she's not harbouring any resentment."
Harry nodded, "That makes sense. I never thought she was as ambivalent about your split as you thought, Moine, and she has seemed a bit off lately. I just assumed it was the stress of her and Charlie's recent skirmishes with the rogue dragons and being away from Bill for weeks at a time."
A silence settled over the table as Minerva and Hermione finished their curry. Once finished, Harry poured them some coffee and as they sipped, one by one, each pair of eyes landed on the second parchment. Hermione picked it up, examining it closely for the first time. Wishing she could avoid putting Harry through the memory, but not knowing where else to start, "Harry, when you saw Dumbledore at the in-between King's Cross, did you see him leave? Or did he say he had been there the whole time since he died? Or how he got there if not?"
Harry looked down, examining his nails, and shook his head. Feeling his throat close, he swallowed. Lifting his head and looking at Minerva through unshed tears, "Do you think he's come back, Minerva?"
Releasing Hermione's hand, Minerva stood and walked around to Harry. Pulling him out of his chair into a solid embrace, she felt him start to tremble. "Let it out, lad, it's okay. Sometimes crying is the only way to move forward." Harry began to sob in earnest, burying his head in the crook of her neck. Walking backward pulling Harry with her, she sat on the edge of the table, taking more of his weight. Feeling her robes become saturated with Harry's tears, she squeezed tighter. Eyes filling with her own tears, Minerva blinked rapidly, "Lad, I wish I had a concrete answer for you. My gut says that he has not returned to the land of the living, but where Albus is concerned, I learned early on never to predict his actions or underestimate his ability." Smiling slightly, "I want to believe that if he had returned, he'd have added a bit more to the message." Harry choked on a laugh, "Yeah, right." he muttered, smiling into her shoulder. Taking a deep breath and standing upright, he wiped his eyes. Seeing Hermione had moved to sit next to Minerva, he reached out his hand. She took it and pulled him into another big hug. "I love you, Harry, we're going to get through this, okay?" "Yeah, love you too, Mione."
Breaking apart, Harry moved to get himself a glass of water. After taking a few sips, he motioned that they all retake their seats. "The thought of us missing a horcrux is almost too unbearable to imagine, but I keep replaying Slughorn's memory in my mind and Riddle did ask about splitting his soul seven times. Only six horcruxes were destroyed, not counting the piece that was within me, as he wasn't aware of it. Did we mistakenly assume that the remainder of his soul in his body was the seventh piece?"
Neither Minerva nor Hermione spoke right away. After several minutes, Minerva's eyes narrowed, "You mentioned seeing a shrivelled fetal-looking Voldermort at the Limbo King's Cross. Did Albus say anything about him?"
Harry nodded, "He said something like, 'he's beyond any of our help.' But if I was able to return from Limbo, I don't see why Voldermort wouldn't be able to if he still has a piece of his soul still here somewhere and can reform himself like he did last time." Shivering at the memory and sighing deeply, he put his head in his hands.
Hermione, sensing Harry needed a break, decided to change the course of the conversation into the realm of possibility they had not yet discussed but still needed to, "If we suspend the theory that this note is really from Albus and the message true, I'd like to explore who we think could be behind these forgeries. The fact we got a note yesterday perfectly scripted in my own hand makes me think both of these notes could have come from the same person who is trying to divide the Order and terrorize us with doubt of Voldermort's demise."
Giving in this time, Minerva leaned in, taking Hermione off guard, and kissed her. Hermione's eyebrows shot up in surprise before melting into the kiss. Smiling into her lover's lips, Minerva broke the kiss. "I love yer mind, Hermione." she said in a rough voice. Heart swelling beyond what she thought possible, Hermione looked into her lover's eyes and saw the honesty of her words.
"It is the best, isn't it?" chimed in an amused Harry. Minerva's face lit up at Harry's quip, barking out a laugh. Hermione blushed and couldn't help but laugh along with them, shaking her head. Looking first at Minerva, "Well, thank you" then to Harry, "both. I'm quite flattered." Wanting to move the attention away from herself, she redirected, "Now who could have forged my goddamn writing, because it pisses me off!?" A fresh round of laughter ensued before the quiet of contemplation settled over the table.
"What about Umbridge?" offered Harry. "She's had it out for us since the beginning, not to mention she's downright evil. She was able to wear a horcrux for months and it only made her stronger."
Nodding, Minerva agreed, "She would have had access to both Hermione's and Albus' handwriting from her time at Hogwarts." With a smirk, she added " I think she's worthy of Suspect Number One, wouldn't you say, Harry?" Grinning broadly at Minerva's levity, "Indeed, Professor, uhh, Minerva."
Hermione smiled at their banter, "What about Rita Skeeter? I mean she's certainly benefited from the war with her divisive, fear-mongering journalism and the twisted Dumbledore and Harry tell-alls. I've never been able to tell where she derives her motivation other than sowing chaos, really. And this is very much in line, if her will is to cast doubt within the Order, both about loyalty and the success of vanquishing Voldermort. I don't know, thoughts?"
"Aye, I was thinking of her myself." Minerva's mouth pursed in a sour expression. "She likes to postulate that she's a dim-witted witch, but as you discovered with her being a secret animagus, her magical ability is not to be underestimated."
"Is there anything we can do to trace the owls or examine the ink or parchment to give us any clues?" Harry asked, looking at Minerva. "I watched a lot of Muggle detective television shows growing up and the private investigator or chief inspector always had clever ways of tracing things like that."
Minerva smiled at the thought of a young Harry watching Poirot at the Dursleys. "There may be something like that we can do. Good thinking, Harry. Have either of you heard of the affinity charm that once placed on an object it can sense when a sister object is nearby, composed of the same source of ingredients?"
"Filum Cogniato!" Hermione answered excitedly. "I've only used it on socks, but that's a great idea." Pulling her wand, she cast the spell on both pieces of parchment, each briefly lifting and illuminating before returning to their inert state. Not five seconds later, the first parchment flew, chirping out of the kitchen, prompting three mouths to drop open. Harry was out the door first, chasing the note as it zoomed up the stairs and meeting a closed door, dove down and slipped in the crack. Harry opened the door and saw the note nestle itself atop a pile of parchment upon Hermione's desk. "Damn," he muttered as he heard Hermione and Minerva arrive behind him. Both witches following Harry's gaze to the note still glowing, happily settling in with it's kin. "Damn," Hermione echoed. "For shame," Minerva whispered.
They all stood staring for at least a minute before Minerva spoke, "Elspeth." And with a pop, the formidable house-elf arrived within Hermione's room. "Hi Minnie, Miss Mione, 'Arry, I figured yous call soon after speakin wit Wazel. I have some of da gifts wit me. Handing Hermione and Minerva the Clabbert pendants and tree-shifts. I wants to come with yous tonight toos. I've bad feelins."
Minerva was used to Elspeth predicting her needs, but everytime it was a wonder. "Thank you, Els. You read my mind, as always." Pocketing the pendant and bracelet and looking at Harry, "Do you have Marauder's Map handy, Harry? I think we need to start planning our approach." Nodding, Harry started moving out of the room, "Be right back."
Hermione, still holding the pendant and bracelet, sat heavily on her bed. She held the pendant up, feeling it for the first time with the tip of her finger. "Forgive me, but I thought this was a stone at first, but it feels soft, like there's fluid in here."
Minerva moving to sit next to her, "You're correct, these are pustules that adorn Clabberts foreheads. They act as warning signs to their kin that danger is near. They can shed them and regrow them only once in their lifetime." Hermione's eyebrows lifted to their full height as she drew the pendant closer to inspect. "Really? What a gift."
Elspeth smiled, "Aye, lass, as was your dusts to the rest of us. We's felt more kinship and connection withs eachothers and the bigger Alls than we've ever has, and dats why we's all felt compelled to give dese gifts."
Harry burst into the room, "The map is gone. I've looked everywhere."
"Can it not be summoned?" Minerva asked calmly.
"No, it doesn't respond to an 'Accio'."
"Well then, I think we need to pay a visit to Aberforth and see if he's heard any news from Hogwarts or from Albus before we approach the grounds. Kreacher, Wazel."
Both house-elves popped into the room. Hermione noted that this was definitely the most people she had within her quarters at Grimmauld and smiled, thinking affectionately of all of them. If only under different circumstances. Minerva caught the smile on her lover's face and lifted her eyebrow in question. Speaking softly, Hermione answered her unasked question, "I was just thinking that it might be nice to have everyone here over one evening when things settle down. Listen to some music, dance, you know, just hang about as family."
Minerva's face relaxed, the worry lines softening as she smiled fondly, leaning her face toward her love's, "I cannae wait to love ya inna time of peace, gradh." Capturing Hermione's lips, they kissed as if no one was watching, transmitting all the promise and desire of their newfound intimacy.
"A'rights yous," came Elspeth's loud voice, "We's has to focus and yous is very distractin' so save its for laters, eh?"
Hermione threw her head back and laughed as Minerva watched her with an open grin. She is radiant. Turning her head to Elspeth, Minerva chuckled, "Alright, Els, we'll save it." Looking at the others, each deliberately, "I donnae know what we're walking into here, so listen to your gut, if you think something is wrong, speak up. Hermione, I'm gunna affix my Clabbert pustule to my wand. Would you like me to do the same to yours?"
"I was actually thinking I'd charm it in the palm of my left hand, unless you think that unwise?" Minerva tilted her head, considering it. "As long as you donnae think you'll need your second wand, I think it's fine."
"Good point. Okay, let's do wands then. That way Harry can see it, too." Looking at Harry, who was obviously confused, "Harry, if this spot turns red, there's danger okay? I'll explain the details later." Harry raised his shoulders and nodded in acceptance.
Minerva took her and Hermione's wand, laying them on the bed. Placing the pustules near each wand, she started murmuring quietly, moving her hands, one over each set. With a woosh and a flash, the pustules engrained themselves about a centimetre from the tip. Hermione looked at Minerva in wonder, "You definitely need to teach me that, especially if I'm supposed to make Phoenix wands at some point."
"What about Phoenix wands?" Harry asked curiously. Hermione sighed smiling, "It's a long story, Harry, I'll explain it along with the Clabbert pustules when we're done today, alright?"
Sensing a good story indeed, Harry smiled mischievously, "I'm holding you to that, Mione."
Her heart swelling at the lack of anxiety in her best friend's demeanour, she hugged him briefly. Looking back at Minerva, she extended her arm this time, "Shall we do this then?"
Minerva smiled. Addressing the house elves, "Meet us at Hogs Head, if you will." Then, taking her lover's arm, Hermione twisted on the spot.
