Brighton Pier wasn't much sunnier than Scotland had been and Hermione chuckled as they winced at the stiff breeze coming off the ocean.
"You will have a birthday in the middle of Autumn," she chuckled, nudging Minerva's hip with her own.
For the first time all day, Minera chuckled and a little light appeared in her eyes. Hermione counted that as a win. They both slipped on their jackets and Hermione glanced up and down the street before stepping out. Minerva followed close behind and stood looking as well.
"Are you hungry now? Or would you prefer a short walk to whet your appetite? The pizza place is open all day, so there's no rush or anything?"
"A walk," Minerva said, clearing her throat as it caught. "I think."
"Good," Hermione smiled.
She let Minerva start walking and then stepped a little closer and linked their arms. Minerva paused for half a second and then continued in step. They didn't talk for a long while before they happened upon a shop down the way selling some truly hideous clothes.
"I bet a wizard owns that shop," Hermione grinned. Minerva looked in the window, then at Hermione and then back at the window. They walked a little further and Hermione had almost given up hope of a reaction when Minerva stopped and snorted.
They looked at each other and Hermione noticed that the tops of Minerva's cheeks were quite rosy and her eyes were dancing with mirth.
"Hermione," she chuckled.
The way Minerva said her name sometimes made her insides somersault and they did so again. It was so nice to hear it after all this time and she beamed, sliding her hand down Minerva's arm and tangling their fingers together without a word. Minerva paused for a moment and then followed.
Apparently, it was up to Hermione to push gently until she was told to stop.
"Ooh," Hermione smiled. "Do you want a coffee?"
"I," Minera baulked. "Yes?"
"Latte? Cappuccino?"
"I don't know," Minerva shrugged. "It has been a while."
"I'll surprise you then," Hermione smiled. "Do you want to stay out here or come in?"
There was a frisson of something across Minerva's face and Hermione realised she was pandering a little.
"Sorry," she said gently before Minerva could speak. "I'm going in here, you do what you like, alright? Genuinely no pressure from me."
She left Minerva where she was, smiling at the girl behind the counter and ordering two coffees and a freshly made croissant in case the cupcake wasn't to her liking. Despite knowing Minerva was fine, she still kept an eye on her through the window. The woman was Muggle-born and the smartest person she knew, but she also wasn't feeling herself. The last thing Hermione wanted was for Minerva to disappear on her, or even worse, get startled by something and cause a scene.
She took out her phone while she watched Minerva wander next door and look in the windows. She seemed fine if a bit on edge and Hermione decided that she would be fine on her own for a moment.
She pushed the speed dial and waited.
"Hey." Harry always mumbled when he answered the phone.
"I have two minutes. Minerva has been living you-know-where and they destroyed it. I need you to go there with our closest people and help her out."
"What?"
"I'm in a coffee shop so I can't -"
She left it open and he made a noise.
"Is she with you?"
"She's outside."
"So you want me, to go to Minerva McGonagall's room, at Hogwarts and see if," he snorted. "What, I can fix it up for her?"
"Exactly."
"Hermione."
"She's at the bottom of the tower, Harry. And when I say everything. I mean everything, Harry."
"She's living there?"
"It's all she's got "
"If she Transfigures me into a toad, you'd better turn me back."
"You know I will," Hermione chuckled. "Filius will be down for it. And maybe Ron & Gin? I don't think George will be up for it, I also don't want to be responsible for all the jokes he'd leave around. It's definitely not the time for that. But I haven't seen any of them since last week so you can make that call. Madam Pomfrey and I didn't get along when I saw her but she might do it for you and her. Though I think they've had a falling out. Their addresses are in my book on the sideboard."
"That's not many people, Hermione," he muttered. She could hear him grabbing his keys.
"I know, but I'm not stupid. I don't want everyone up in her business. Just," she sighed. "You didn't see her. And there's just so much I don't think she knows where to start."
"I'll get it started then," Harry muttered. "It's okay. Give me some warning when you get back."
"I'll try, but there's no signal inside the rooms" she muttered.
"Oh, she's gonna kill me."
"She won't," Hermione soothed. "She'll know it was my fault. The plan is to get a coffee, have a wander, and then eat some pizza. That's all I've got so plan for a few hours then leave." The girl motioned that her coffees were ready. "Shit, Harry, I have to go. Love you, good luck!"
Minerva walked in just as the young woman gave Hermione the coffees and pastry. Hermione thanked her and they walked over the road to a small picnic table on the promenade.
"I -" Minerva started once they'd sat in silence for a while. "I'm sorry, I'm not very good company today."
"Nonsense," Hermione said gently, reaching across the table and touching Minerva's hand. It was cool to the touch so she whispered a warming charm. "I'm here for you. You aren't required to entertain me, Minerva. I can entertain you if you like, but I feel like you maybe won't appreciate that today."
Minerva nodded and squeezed Hermione's hand then wrapped it around her paper cup.
"Do you like your coffee at least?" Hermione asked.
"I do," Minerva smiled. "Thank you."
It wasn't awkward, per se, but every time Hermione thought to ask something, she realised there could be memories attached to the answers that she didn't want to dredge up. And when she considered telling Minerva a bit about what she'd been doing, she realised she'd have to acknowledge the fact that her parents were gone.
"Perhaps this was folly," Minerva mumbled, draining her cup.
"No," Hermione said, taking her hand again as she made to get up. "It isn't. We're just out of practice."
"Miss -"
"Minerva," Hermione said with a frown. "I haven't been that in a long time."
Minerva sat back down again and rubbed her forehead.
"Are you going to come back?"
"That very much depends, doesn't it," Hermione said easily, but lightly. She wasn't going to hide her feelings, but this was Minerva McGonagall and Minerva had always appreciated the truth. "I'm open to either, although neither decision will affect," she contemplated the wording. "Anything."
"I cannot -"
"You could," Hermione shrugged. "If you wanted to." Minerva stared. "Did I imagine it?"
There was a very long moment of silence as Minerva looked into her eyes. Hermione smiled as she sighed in defeat and reached over the table again.
"You didn't," Minerva whispered, barely loud enough over the whipping wind.
"Those moments kept me going," Hermione admitted. "When I thought I would never be happy again."
Minerva's eyes closed and Hermione let go of her hand and went around the table.
"Min?" she whispered, sitting down beside her. "Let me help?"
"I'm broken, Hermione. I cannot allow you to -"
"You think I'm less broken?" Hermione soothed, tentatively reaching out and brushing the backs of her fingers across Minerva's ruddy cheek.
"You are so young."
"Not really," Hermione grinned as Minerva looked at her. "Okay, a little. But we know all this. It didn't matter then?"
"I didn't know that is what we were doing then," Minerva huffed.
"What were we doing?" Hermione asked quietly.
Minerva shrugged and Hermione let her. Instead, she picked Minerva's hands up in hers and pressed a soft kiss to both palms.
"Shared pain hurts a little less, you know."
Minerva made a non-committal noise and let her head fall forward against Hermione's.
"I have missed you," Minerva muttered, while tears gathered in her eyes. "I was so angry when you didn't return." She paused. "I was so scared."
"I know," Hermione soothed, her fingertips brushing back a few strands of hair that had come loose from Minerva's bun. "But now I am back, and we are all safe. And all we have to do now is heal."
Minerva's shaking hand reached up and cupped Hermione's cheek, keeping her there.
"But I am still so angry."
"That is okay," Hermione whispered. "You are allowed to be. Even at me. Even if it goes on the back burner and then comes back again later." Minerva sighed and Hermione felt brave enough to wrap her arms around the woman and pull her in. "You're worth the wait, Minerva McGonagall," Hermione said in her ear. "You take as much time as you need."