Trying something different in this chapter. Hope you like it
My lips are still tingling from the short kiss I tried to refrain from, I did. But she just looked so beautiful and relaxed and she was so close. Dammit Minerva, her husband isn't even in the ground yet.
"If you can stop beating yourself up for five minutes, I'd like to get some sleep" I hear from Hermione down the hall. I chuckle.
"I'll be right there love" I bank the fire and take a quick look over the letters that have been delivered whilst I was away, nothing urgent, so I place them back on the desk and make my way to my room.
Hermione is already in the bed, she's looking at the ceiling, her thoughts miles away. I take a minute in my en-suite to prepare for bed and then join Hermione. She immediately scoots closer to me and lays her head on my shoulder.
"Thanks, again Min for today, yesterday everything" she mumbles. Her hand settles on my stomach and I take the opportunity to hold her hand and rub my thumb over her palm. She is sleeping peacefully a few minutes later. I take a moment to watch her sleep. Her face has smoothed out, her shoulders are relaxed. If nothing else comes from this, at least I am managing to provide her with some peace. I give her a kiss on the forehead and close my eyes and slip into a deep sleep.
"Minerva get over here" I hear from our kitchen, "coming Dear" I yell back. I make my way from the library in my manor and into the kitchen. Hermione is bent over at the oven, taking something out. As she turns I see the cake she has baked for Roses 18th. It's so elegant and everything Rose would want. As she places it on the table as the centre piece amongst the rest of the buffet she's been preparing all day, I slip my arms around her middle and nuzzle into her neck. I hear a sigh and she rests her hands over mine and leans back into me.
"Looks wonderful love, I'm sure she will appreciate that it's all been prepared the muggle way" I whisper in her ear. The smile that splits her face lights up the room.
"I just hope she likes it Min. 18, dear Merlin, where did the time go? It doesn't seem like 5 minutes ago she was starting Hogwarts" she reminisces.
I turn her around to face me, and cup her face in both my hands
"You worry too much, she is going to love it. All her friends are due in the next hour, the family in half an hour, you've done a splendid job setting this up for her" I take a moment to kiss her lips. I only meant it to be chaste but as with every time I kiss Hermione it always gets out of hand. My tongue probes into her mouth, deepening the kiss. I pull her closer to me and rub my hands up and down her back. I hear a moan from deep in her throat and begin to nibble my way across to her ear. I'm about to whisper what I'm going to do to her when the kitchen door slams open and Hugo walks in
"Guys, please" he exclaims. "We all know you're together and deliriously happy but can you put each other down for 5 minutes? Rose is going to be here any minute and Mom you've still got to get dressed" I pull away from Hermione with a big grin on my face. I peck her lips one last time and then push her towards the door. Hugos right, now isn't the time. Later I remind myself, when everybody has left. As my heart rate slows Hugo comes over to me "so, are you still going to do it today" he asks? As he nabs a bit of cheese and pineapple from the buffet.
"Yes, I got both yours and Rose's permission, so after your sister has cut her birthday cake I will do it then" I say with little conviction.
"Don't worry about it, Min. It will be fine" Hugo assured me. "Let's go greet Rose" he says as he walks out the kitchen.
I follow him into the den of the manor and Hermione walks in a few minutes later, she looks amazing "you look gorgeous love" I tell her. She blushes, as always when I give her a compliment. "You're biased" she says "but thank you" she comes up to stand beside me and I slip my arm around her waist.
Rose is flooing in from her dorm on campus for the weekend to celebrate her birthday with us, the family and a few friends. All of the Weasleys and Potters will be flooing over in about half an hour, so Rose can get herself reacquainted in her room before the party starts. The fire begins to show signs of an intended arrival and a moment later Rose appears.
"Mom, Hugo, Min" she exclaims and hugs us all in turn. "It's so good to see you all"
"Happy Birthday Rose" we all sing.
"I can't believe my baby is 18" Hermione cries and flings her arms around Rose's neck.
"Mom!" Rose whines good naturedly "Honestly, anybody would think you haven't seen me for weeks" she winked at me over her mothers shoulder.
Hermione eventually lets Rose go so she can go get ready for the party herself.
A few hours later the party is in full swing, my hands are starting to get all sweaty as it is almost time for me to ask Hermione. Rose has just cut her birthday cake, and she has given me the signal that she is going to be getting everybody outside to watch the fireworks George has bought over. Which should leave me alone with Hermione long enough to do what I've had planned for what feels like years.
Rose has just finished ushering all the guests out into the garden, and I snagged Hermione's hand before she could join them, she looked up at me questioningly.
"Min, what are you doing?" She asks
"Hermione, the last 8 years have been the happiest of my life, being with you and helping you raise Rose and Hugo has filled me with more love than I probably deserve, I think it's time, we took our relationship to the next level" I say and slowly lower myself to one knee. I pull the box from my inner pocket and look into Hermione's eyes, there are tears glistening, and her hand is over her mouth.
"Hermione, Love, will you do me the greatest honour of becoming my wife?"
My eyes shoot open. My heart is pounding as hard as it was in the dream. Hermione is still asleep next to me, our hands are still entwined. Oh I can only hope that our future is as good as I dreamt just now. I can still remember how it felt to hold Hermione, to kiss her lips, to have her look at me with love in her gaze. I'll do everything I can to make that dream our reality. I release her hand and rise from the bed. I take a look at the time and decide it's not too early to start the day.
I grab a robe and make my way into my en-suite to start the day. As I leave the room a few minutes later I spare a glance over at the bed. Hermione is now lying with her arms wrapped around my pillow, facing away from the door. As tempted as I am to stay and watch her sleep longer, I leave and make my way into my office.
It's a little after 6am, so it's too early to have a response from Kingsley or Griphook yet, but I am expecting a letter from both sometime later this afternoon.
I notice the letters I skimmed through yesterday evening, and decide I may as well make a start on them, and also inform the writers that they are to direct any Hogwarts related business to Filius from now on. I have my official interview with the head of The Prophet at 3pm so everyone will know I'm retiring soon enough. It will be the front page of this evening's paper, no doubt.
An hour or so later, Rose makes her way into my office. She still looks sleepy, as she yawns and looks over at me.
"Morning, Sunshine" I greet.
"Morning Min" she replies.
"Ready for some breakfast" I enquire
"Hmm, not yet not awake enough" she mumbles as she sits across from me.
I'm just finishing up the last of my correspondence, and I can feel Rose watching me.
"Sleep well?" I ask to try and distract her
"Yes, thanks." She goes quiet for a few minutes and then "What are you doing?"
"I'm just finishing up a few letters with regards to Hogwarts business although it won't be my job after today" I tell her
"Why?" She asks, looking at me thoughtfully.
"Well, I'm retiring," I inform her. "As of this evening I will no longer be the Headmistress of Hogwarts" I sign the letter I've just finished and look up at Rose.
She's staring at me wide eyed, "but, but" she stutters, "but, Mom said Hogwarts wouldn't be the same without you. Where are you going? What are you going to do instead" she says in a rush.
I rise from my seat and make my way to where Rose is sitting and place my hand on her shoulder.
"Rose, It's time I left, I can't stay here forever. The school is finally in a position where I CAN leave, and it won't make that much of a difference to the way it runs. As for where I'm going. I have a Manor in the Highlands, not far from a Loch, and I intend to stay there for a while to find myself again, to become just Minerva and not Professor Mcgonagall as I have been for the last 60 years or so. You are just as welcome there as you are here, I promise" I say as I run my fingers through her hair.
"But you can't leave" I hear from a voice behind me.
"Hugo, my wee laddie" I turn around to him and he runs at me, and places his arms around my waist.
"You can't leave Minerva, we need you" he mumbles. Tears fill my eyes at the emotion I can sense from the children,
"I'm not abandoning you both, or your mother. I just won't be living and working here any more." Rose storms off into the hall, Hugo has a vice grip around my waist.
Well that went well I think to myself.