The First Kiss
Chapter 4
By: Snarky Granger
AN: I am sooo sorry for the long delay in between chapters. I was marbleandtoast but had to change my penname because I had lost Marble and my desire at the time to write but I am back! On with the new chapter!
Hermione pulls back from her hug and gives Minerva a smile. "Thank you, M-M-Minerva," stammers Hermione. "I was not feeling completely loved by Ronald because he hardly complimented me. The reason I was crying so hard was the fact that I caught him with Lavender Brown and I overheard him tell her that he was in love with her and not with me." Minerva's emerald eyes flash in anger. Hermione's heart warms at the sight of Minerva's anger towards Ron. "I just wished that he was at least honest with me in the beginning instead of dragging my heart through the mud." Minerva pulls Hermione forward to give her another comforting hug. "Thanks, Minerva."
"Oh Hermione, I can't believe he would do something that stupid but then again that young man wasn't always that bright," Minerva states tersely. Minerva took a quick deep breath and then says, "Why don't you freshen up and meet me out on the loveseat? We will finish our tea before going down to the dance." Hermione nods in agreement. Minerva steps out of the bathroom and closes the door behind her to give Hermione some moments to pull herself together.
While Minerva walks back to the loveseat to wait for Hermione to come out, Hermione was sitting on the toilet seat cover to regroup. I can't believe that I kissed Minerva. Or even better yet, that she kissed me back. I had always adored her as a friend/mentor. I just don't know if I can do more even though that kiss was WAY better than anyone else's. I will think about this after the dance. I need to be relaxed before I can think about something this important. Okay, time to pull myself together and have some fun! Hermione gets up and looks at the mirror and spells away the smudges and lightly touches up her makeup. She smiles once into the mirror after reapplying the lipstick. She nods to herself and opens the door to rejoin Minerva for a spot of tea before joining her class for the final time as a graduate of Hogwarts.
While Hermione was fixing herself and giving herself a pep talk, Minerva was sitting there and thinking about what just happened in the last half hour. Oh my… Not only did Hermione break up with Mr. Weasley… she gave me a kiss in which I reciprocated. I don't want to rush into anything. I want her to have a sound mind when or if we decide to continue this line of thought. I always did think she was beautiful. Sigh. Tabby, one step at a time. Minerva's head snaps up at the sound of Hermione's heels. Minerva smiles at the simple beauty of Hermione. "You look like a true Gryffindor, Hermione," exclaims Minerva with a beautiful smile.
Hermione looks down blushing. "Thanks," she replies softly, "You look smashing yourself." Minerva nods in thanks. Hermione takes a seat next to her and grabs her tea cup to sip some of the tea to help fortify her spirits.
"Hermione?" asks Minerva as she lays a hand on her knee. She waits until Hermione looks at her in the eye. "I want to talk to you for a second before we go down to the Great Hall." Hermione nods. "I want to pursue this only if you feel comfortable. Meaning I would rather you go home first and take the time to think this through. If you just want to stay friends, which is fine with me. If you want to pursue whatever it is between us, just let me know somehow. OK?"
Hermione lets go a huge sigh of relief and replies, "Thank you, Minerva. I was hoping to get some time to myself to ponder this over. One way or another we will still be friends because you were there for me when I needed you. So thank you." Hermione leans over and gives her a tight hug, which Minerva readily accepts. Hermione puts her tea cup down and stands up with her hand out and a smile on her face, "Shall we go down?"
"Yes! Let's go and show Ron that you are stronger without him!" Minerva states with a beautiful smile that reached her eyes. She pats Hermione's hand with affection before letting go. "Shall we have some fun?"
Minerva and Hermione walk out of the Headmistress's office and slowly walk down to the Great Hall. As they are walking in silence enjoying each other's company, they start to notice that the portraits are chattering amongst themselves and the students that are walking by are scurrying past the pair giggling and chattering. The two ladies were hearing snip bits like 'Hermione nearly destroyed the common room', 'Golden Trio fighting again', and 'did she get into trouble with the Headmistress'.
Hermione stopped just before the corner that would lead down to the Grand Staircase to the main entrance. "OH MY MERLIN! I can't do this. The whole school knows already and is probably having a laugh at my expense," Hermione says in an outrage.
"HERMIONE! There you are!"
The two women turn around someone calling out for younger one. It turns out to be Ginny Weasley with Harry Potter in tow. "We have been looking for you all over the place," says Ginny as she gives Hermione a hug. "I want you to listen to me. Forget about my stupid brother and his slag."
"GINERVA!" exclaims Headmistress McGonagall.
"GINNY!" Harry and Hermione breathe out in shock.
"What?" Ginny says shaking her head. "It's true and you, my friend, deserve better than that. You are lucky that I was able to fix 'Lav-Lav' dress."
"Wait? What happened to Miss Brown's dress? You didn't tell me this part, Miss Granger," asks Minerva.
"Oh! When Ron said that she was defenseless against me with my wand, I accioed it. How was I supposed to know that she stuck it down the middle of her dress?" Hermione states while starting to giggle at the image. "Harry got Ginny here to take her upstairs to help her with her dress since she had a hard time holding it together." Hermione snickers.
"Miss Granger! That isn't funny," admonished Minerva even though she had a hard time keeping a straight face with the image in her mind. She looks at Hermione's big smile and just bursts out laughing and Harry and Ginny laugh right along with them. When Minerva catches her breath, she turns to Harry and says, "Thank you, Mister Potter for stepping in and helping Miss Granger in her time of need. I heard that you did admirably well as always."
"You are welcome, Headmistress," Harry says with a big smile. He always enjoyed getting praise from her. "Would you mind if I dropped in from time to time for a chat?"
Minerva smiles at Harry and states, "Not at all, Harry, as long as you call me Minerva. You, as well, Ginny, when we are alone, of course." Ginny nods in understanding. "I already told Hermione to do that. I will withhold from Ronald at the moment since it will take all my willpower not to hex that boy."
Harry and Ginny laugh at Ron's expense. Harry turns to say something to Hermione and actually notices what she is wearing. He gives her a wolf whistle, which makes her blush. "Damn, Hermione I knew that you were beautiful for the Yule Ball but now you are absolutely stunning. Ron is a complete idiot."
Hermione gives him a big hug and shyly says, "Thanks, Harry. You look great as always. You and Ginny look smashing together. Damn, three of my favorite people are wearing green and I love green!" Everyone laughs at her last remark. "Let's go have some fun!" Hermione slips an arm through Minerva's to help each other down the grand staircase while Ginny slips her through Harry's offered arm and smiles at him while they go down.
AN: Thanks to CherriiMarina for looking this over for me and dragoon811 for allowing me to bounce ideas off of you. :D