Chapter 16: Muggle Diner


May 7, 1999
Still The Day After


"Join us for dinner, please." She heard herself say to Minerva, and immediately witnessed Harry's elated face as she felt the pull of the figurative rope around their necks as it strangled them…


Several minutes later, after they parted ways with Kingsley, they met Ron at the building entrance. Hermione did not know what reaction she actually expected from Ron when Harry told him that Minerva was coming with them to dinner, but his delighted reception was definitely unexpected. She had at least expected awkwardness, but then she knew that Minerva was the one to suggest that George visit Hogwarts so often, and how it extraordinarily helped him deal with his twin's death. Hermione supposed that the byproduct of that was the current general openness of the Weasleys around the woman. That despite the usually closed-off disposition of Minerva McGonagall, the Weasleys had braved one wall because of what she did for George.

Harry had suggested that they go to this Muggle diner he passed by one afternoon a few months back while on an errand, which Hermione also knew. Harry went ahead with Minerva, but before Hermione could take Ron for side-along apparation, he stopped her with a question.

"Hermione, nothing happened last night?"

"What do you mean?" Hermione held her breath from Ron's disconcerting inquiry.

"You disappeared last night from Hogwarts, although Harry said you bid him goodbye. Were you okay? Did people's exasperating compliments get to you?"

"Ahhh. It was fine. I was fine." Hermione breathed a silent relief and gave Ron an assuring smile. "I wanted— my bed— you know…" She opted for obfuscation with half-truth.

"Oh okay, that's good… Then let's go? I'm starving." Ron responded and grinned at her.

Hermione pulled the necessary concentration and apparated them. They landed in a deserted alley, about one block away from their destination, to that Muggle diner. Immediately, she assisted Ron with casual muggle clothing. She was about to transfigure hers when she faltered a bit after lifting her head and seeing Minerva.

The woman had already shed her Headmistress' robes and was now in transfigured casual clothes; a long sleeved black top tucked into brown pants, and she saw the black leather boots she magically took off the woman last night.

"Wow, Headmistress! My brothers would never believe how bloody unbelievable you look in muggle clothes." Ron exclaimed with utmost admiration. His next words all the more deserting his vocal filter. "You should shock the students at Hogwarts and I bet you won't have a problem with the noise in the great hall anymore."

Despite finding Ron outrageously bold to comment on the Headmistress' appearance, Hermione was thankful for Ron, who unknowingly provided her a cover and roused her from her gawking. She dragged her eyes away from Minerva, pushing out the distraction, and concentrated on transfiguring her own clothes.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. And you look charming as well. But truly, I never had the inclination to cause anyone a heart attack, most particularly to current and underage students, and be sent to Azkaban for the unintentional disillusionment."

Hermione heard Ron's gasp at the Headmistress' wicked sense of humour, the double entendre with self-mockery. She also heard Harry's double laughter at Minerva's wisecrack and at Ron's reaction. He further rubbed Ron, as he pointedly told him of his reddened face that his mind probably went in the direction that could land him not only in multiple detentions, but possible expulsion if he was still a student.

A spike of illogical jealousy attacked Hermione at the mere notion of Minerva seducing anyone— former or current students, under age or not, intentionally or not…

She kept her own eyes away from the woman and pretended to be unaware of their repartee. Her hands itched to shove the woman into the wall, against which she would snog her senseless, ripping her damn clothes to touch the body she had made love to last night. She bit her lip at the delicious memory of Minerva's mouth on hers… This was madness. Utter madness! She berated herself internally and almost jumped when Harry linked his arm with hers and ushered her towards the diner.

Following with Harry, Hermione reminded herself that the woman with them right now was Minerva McGonagall the Headmistress, the venerated leader of their world... Because despite the almost familial rapport of Harry with the woman, she was certain that that the woman was very different and very far from the beautiful, emotional woman with her last night...

Hermione concentrated on her steps to the diner and could hear Ron bravely scaling more of Minerva's wall. He sheepishly asked if the woman could consider calling him by his first name as she did with his brother George. And asked furthermore, if he would be allowed to call the woman MG like George did.

Ron's pleasant disbelief was apparent when the older woman gave her consent. Although Minerva cited her strict condition that Ron refrain from doing so when they were in the presence of governors and current Hogwarts students as the woman had a reputation to uphold on being 'The Mean-Strict Headmistress'.

Ron responded that he would never dream of tarnishing the 'severe' reputation of 'The Headmistress' and added in a banter that Minerva was 'allowed' to call him by his first name regardless of who was around. Hermione heard Minerva's short but deep chuckle. This had her delving further into Harry's arm as thoughts assaulted her of how she desired to call Minerva 'darling' every damn moment, and out loud, for everyone to damn hear it…

After they sat down in a booth, Hermione tried so hard, but failed not to look at the woman across from her who was currently looking down at the menu. Minerva had her glasses on and her hair still confined in a bun, although the usual strictness was notably absent, with a small section on the loose. That slightest alteration together with the muggle clothes had remarkably softened the woman's look, almost eliminating the familiar strict Headmistress; no wonder Ron's jaw dropped at seeing Minerva this way. She almost chuckled at the thought of how Ron's legs would completely fail him if he saw Minerva's true appearance. One that Hermione could not seem to un-see anymore, despite the full de-glamour charm the woman was wearing. All she could see was the real and bare face of the woman... One that had been with her last year and last night... One who was passionate, tender, vulnerable— and raw... One without the slightest evidence of the public persona... Just pure Minerva.

"Do you know already what you want to have?" Minerva asked after green eyes raised, met her brown ones, and then indicated to her unopened menu.

You. Just you…

Unbidden thoughts had Hermione clenching her right hand under the table because she was very close to banishing the pins to let Minerva's luxurious black hair fall, and have her fingers run through them as she did last night. The woman's black top was also not helping as it only highlighted the exposed elegant neck which Hermione at one point clawed when they were pushing each other over the edge last night...

"We'll order for Hermione." Ron, who was seated beside her, answered Minerva. "Otherwise she'll just order toast and soup. It is how we make sure that at least once a month she eats excessively." Again, thank Merlin that Ron's words nudged her back into reality and broke her gawking and dangerous thoughts.

"Because she only has coffee, tea, and orange juice in her flat," Harry piped in.

"Really Harry? Only…?" Hermione protested.

"Sorry Mione, just yesterday morning you told me so. And that's mostly how it is when I come over to your flat, especially when you are deep into studying and working, which is almost always." Harry responded.

Out of nowhere, Hermione wanted to shout at them and tell them that it was not because of her studying and working… That it was mostly due to the choking feeling she got when sometimes in the middle of lifting a spoon while eating, all she could see was the time when she and Minerva shared a plate…

"We already told you many times how we can pick-up whatever you need when we do our shopping if you just tell us. You know I always accompany mom, and so it's a non-issue. Do you want to do it tomorrow? I can go with you, Mione." Ron butted in.

"I already offered, mate, but she says she'll do it herself. But maybe we could drag her if—"

"Harry! Ron! I will, okay?" Hermione infuriatedly interjected, then added in a mumble, "As if everybody is in their right mind this week for their actions to prioritise such a chore…"

Hermione found herself quite annoyed at the turn of their conversation. And how, in her mind, it breathed life to the notion that if she couldn't take care of herself, then she couldn't take care of Minerva… And then she immediately regretted what she had said; naturally she knew her best friends' true intention. She also heard what she might have implied, and she smacked herself mentally… She as good as said that she had been acting out of her mind this week— last night included.

"That was very dumb of me, I'm sorry." She sighed contritely. "Guys, I promise to do it tomorrow and not neglect it thereafter." She looked at her two best friends' eyes with sincerity and they promptly dismissed her apology. The two even made a show at getting back to the menu in front of them, and she knew the issue had been closed.

When she turned to Minerva who had taken off her glasses, green eyes bore on her and she immediately knew where the woman was heading. Together, they mentally dove back into one of their late conversations last night… while wrapped in each other's arms… before sleep had taken over.

'Minerva, you have to eat better. We don't need a scale to know that you've lost a lot of weight; I could feel your ribs almost protruding. I don't want you to get sick. So please stop working during mealtimes.'

Hermione learned from Harry, who learned from Neville that Minerva was almost always missing from the hall, most especially during dinner.

'I will… I promise…' Minerva softly responded while snuggling under her chin, but lifted herself to kiss her. 'But you have to do the same, darling. You're also awfully thin...'

'I know… I will...' Hermione murmured in between kisses. 'Let's both try to do better about it.'

A server arrived to get their orders and it broke their eye contact and roused them from memory. Minerva briefly turned to Harry and said, "Harry, please order for me as well. I think I could use a day of excessiveness."

"Really? That's great, because honestly Minerva, you do need more than a day of it," Harry merrily retorted and started placing their orders.

Emeralds returned and focused back on her brown ones in silent communication of how the older witch was making the effort in what they had promised each other. Hermione held the gaze and somehow conveyed the same thing, while Harry and Ron fired off dish after dish to the server. When Minerva's eyes widened a bit at the amount of food already ordered and yet the boys proceeded to order more, Hermione let out a smirk.

"We could have just ordered the kitchen," Minerva deadpanned after the server left their table. The quip had her two best friends guffawing, and she herself chuckled.

"Don't worry, you'll be amazed how the food will disappear with Ron with us." Harry jested, and Ron turned as red as his hair and muttered about observing proper dining etiquette with the Headmistress with them. But then, they couldn't blame him when after 5 hours, they couldn't leave, as they still had food on the table.

They all laughed, and when eventually it died down, an apparent relaxed atmosphere descended while they waited for their food. Then the three started talking about Quidditch while Hermione just listened to their enthusiastic chat. Harry asked Minerva to tell them of her Quidditch days and some of the most notable games she had watched live, whether between international or national teams. Even when the food started arriving, the wizarding sport still dominated their table. From time to time Harry and Ron would tease Hermione about her complete knowledge on Quidditch history and various written articles on it, but would not play one game with them.

For almost two hours whilst some plates were cleared, several random topics were covered (mostly hosted by Harry), Hermione was shocked when Ron brought up the topic of his work, along with the news that he was planning to tender his resignation.

"I mean, not right now, but maybe before November…" Ron said. Hermione vaguely felt the heavy silence that arrived and replaced the merriment just a second ago.

"Um, you don't like the work, mate?" Harry tentatively asked.

"I do. I do most of the time, but not the way you do, Harry. I know that you embrace every single minute of being an Auror. It's not the same to me." Ron slowly admitted. "At first, I thought it was some sort of after-war fatigue or something… And then I realised it's the feeling of always on a mission that I don't like… I… I don't want to deal with that for the rest of my life… or say for the next 10 years." He carefully explained, outwardly shifted in his seat at the intensity of the topic.

"Do you know what you want to do?" Harry beat her with the question that she was about to ask.

"Well… Last Christmas, George started talking seriously about getting back on his feet, including having a proper livelihood. He knows he can't just make sidelines forever. He wants to get back to the abandoned plans of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. He said he's ready to pick up what he— what he and Fred originally wanted to do in life. And then the more he talked about it— the more it occurred to me that I actually want to join him."

"Ron—" Hermione paused and only continued when she was sure that she had the full attention of her red-haired best friend. "Are you considering that because of George? Or is it something you really, really want to do…? You know what I am asking, right?"

Hermione knew that it was important that she pointed out practical matters. As much as she knew that Ron was expecting their support, she needed to inject critical thinking for him. But she made sure to place genuine concern with her delicate inquiries to prevent the wrong impression of just being skeptical.

"Yeah… I questioned if I was just trying to be Fred's substitute… But honestly, it's not that…" Ron sighed and slightly cleared his throat when he carried on with the truth. "When the war ended, I just… I realised how I wanted to spend as much time as possible with mom, dad, and my siblings, even bloody Percy…! You know... sort of make up for the time we were on the run... And that actually led me into thinking about what I wanted to do in my life. And working at the ministry is just not it."

"Gin told me something last week," Harry begun blurting, "That you've asked her if I would be angry or disappointed if you wanted to do something else and leave the Ministry... Come on mate, why would you think that?"

"Honestly, Harry… I did NOT want you to think or feel that I was again abandoning—"

"Ron—" Hermione started to protest but she was cut-off.

"I know, I know, Mione… I know we resolved that." Ron vented and rushingly expounded, "But remember, after our NEWTs, when we were not that tired and lost anymore, we talked about how we were going to contribute to changing the Ministry for the better…? We said that we must do what we can so that we don't find ourselves in another war in ten years?"

"It did not mean we would completely disregard our personal lives, Ron." Harry passionately cut it. "Of course, working in the Ministry was the direct way. But it was not, and is not, the only way. And most of all, it didn't mean we are barred from somehow going after personal happiness while doing so."

Harry's words jolted Hermione's pulse at how reality may not always be as ideal as that. She wanted to hug Harry for his ever idealistic self. She wanted to believe what she knew he truly believed in… But the fact was that she was sitting in front of the woman she loved so much, but commitment, responsibilities, and bigger than themselves complications had restrained her from openly loving Minerva. This had her feeling the hard cramping of her heart that was riddled with both hope and distrust…

"I know, mate. I realised that." Ron replied. "But it's not as if I am going to Hogwarts to mold youngsters into better wizards and witches. Or open a muggle exhibition or something. You know my worries are valid…" Hermione heard Ron's anxiousness and she understood it.

"You've really thought about this? You see yourself doing this, seriously?" Harry resignedly asked.

"Yeah..." Ron nodded knowingly. "George and I have started throwing in ideas about how to go about the business, our living arrangements, other details we need to consider, and others we still need to study… Even so, it felt that everything clicked… You know how lazy I am with details, right? But suddenly, I could not stop myself planning these things. And yes, I think— no, I know that I can actually do it for 10 years or 50 years…" Ron stated stongly and finished his case saying, "It's how you are with Auror work, Harry… Or Hermione on her way to be the Minister…"

Hermione knew that Ron was serious, this side of him not often displayed but she knew about him had her convinced. And as soon as he finished his declaration, she wanted to immediately back him up.

"You have my support, Ron." She kissed his cheek and gave him a tight embrace. "Full support." She asserted before she added, "And I am not going after Mr. Shacklebolt's job."

"Yeah, really? You're not disappointed, Mione?" Ron asked her.

Hermione couldn't help but grin at his very disbelieving reaction. "Merlin, you are making plans, willing to study, and seeing more than the plate of food in front of you right now! How could I be disappointed with that?" She beamed at him with a light jab to ease the obvious emotional charge coming off of him, and it successfully made him chuckle.

"Of course mine as well, mate." Harry asked as he reached across the table and lightly slapped one of Ron's forearms.

"I wanted to tell you both since last month." Ron breathed in relief, as he threw one arm on Hermione and hugged her closed again. "But this one" he indicated to her, "…was having her exams and I did not want to cause distractions in case it was a stupid idea."

"You could have told me first to ease your worry." Harry affirmed to convey his devotion to Ron. "And then we could have held it off Hermione!"

"I know, but I needed her logic to tell me if it was stupid!" Ron laughingly stated.

"Hey. I am not as scarce with logic," Harry protested at the implication, "I would have told you if it was stupid,"

"Nah, you wouldn't tell him, Harry," Hermione contradicted and the corner of her mouth quirked up. "You'd be quietly distressed about it. And then brood. And then I'd notice. Then it would bug me if I didn't deal with it… So I'd then deal with you… Deal with Ron… And bugger off with my final exams!"

"I object to that!" Harry complained in a serious tone but his eyes already sparkled in laughter.

"Sorry, Harry. Mione is absolutely correct! As always!" Ron added impishly, and that had him chortling with Hermione, at Harry's expense.

Harry mockingly got offended and reached across and shoved them both harmlessly. "Bugger you two!" Then he turned to the older witch beside him whose emeralds twinkled in amusement, and then he playfully solicited, "Minerva, defend me please…!"

"I'm sorry Harry, but I'm too old to know that when it's two-thirds of a trio, it is better not to oppose. But don't worry dear, if you need cheering when you brood, I'll send you purchased merchandise from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."

"Yahoo, our first patron! And none other than the great MG!" Ron half-shouted happily, loud enough that the two people seated nearest to their table glanced at them. Then as suddenly, Ron got serious and hesitated momentarily, but decidedly ploughed through with what he wanted to say next. "Ummm… MG, are you going to get mad at us when Hogwarts students cause you a headache with our merchandise?"

"Oh Ronald, it will be no fun for the professors if they don't hand out detentions here and there…" Minerva winked at Ron.

Hermione's heart swelled after she heard in just a short dialogue how Minerva had smartly expressed her support for Ron. Harry's beaming smile told her of how proud he was of Minerva; like she had zero idea how great the woman was. And Ron's blue eyes glistened a bit at the unforeseen touching motion from the older witch. He cleared his throat before he said in his utmost sincere voice his appreciation. "MG, you're the best."

'She is... She is undoubtedly the best.' Hermione thought.

"So I won't see you everyday anymore at the Ministry?" Harry asked with half concealed nostalgia.

"It's still several months from now, Harry. Our plan is that George organises things first. Besides, the several salaries I could save to add to our funds won't hurt. The number says we are good to start, but we are both trying our math again and again just to be sure."

"Do you need another pair of eyes to check them?" Hermione offered.

"Thanks Mione, I was really planning to ask you but like I said, I knew you were revising for your masteries and then with the commemoration and all, it did not seem to be a good time. Plus, I even told Harry how you seemed to be sleeping even less the last two weeks when you've just topped your exams."

"I promise, this coming week is a good time. Bring them to me."

"Alright, thank you, really… We are just being cautious because although we have enough funds to start, we don't have much legroom if there were to be unexpected delays. And no, guys, I won't accept money from my best friends, so don't offer! And I do appreciate the intention very, very, very much."

Hermione bit her lip, as indeed she was about to make a suggestion that her unused Golden Trio stint reward be added to their business capital. Her present salary plus the small amount of trust fund her parents had set long before the war had provided her more than enough to sustain her living and masteries expenses. So she could really contribute her reward money if Ron would only accept it.

Diagonally across her, she caught Harry's expression and understood how her olive-eyed best friend wanted to offer too. Hermione knew that Harry was left with considerable wealth by his parents and was definitely a hundred times more capable than her to help out. When Harry looked at her in a more conflicting countenance, she shrugged her shoulders in response because somehow, she did understand Ron's refusal. But then again, Harry was Harry and just as she had guessed, he could not help himself but try.

"Ron, let me help. You know it wouldn't be—

"You already did, Harry, more than enough. Part of our funds is the triwizard prize you gave."

"Shhhh… Don't teeell… Why do you know? I wanted it not to be told..." Harry softly lamented at the revelation.

"George said so. But he did not want me to use all of my Golden Trio prize money so he had to let me in on it that they...he had funds from you… And I didn't think you'd mind that they knew." Ron pointed out concernedly as he waved his hand to indicate Hermione and Minerva. "I'm sorry for telling on you. But I did plan to say something to you."

"I already knew, Harry." Hermione gently stated.

"What?" Harry gasped.

"The twins never explicitly told me. But back when we were staying at Grimmauld that Holiday, they asked me to do some calculations and somehow they deliberately dropped enough clues for me to work out that the funds were from you. I think they wanted to indirectly tell me that you approved; I should as well... You know their strange logic!"

The three of them chuckled at what she had said and she knew that they all felt a stab as they were reminded of Fred's loss... She ventured her eyes to the witch across from her, who had remained mostly silent, clearly to be less invasive when Ron opened up about his work and his plans.

The woman had a thoughtful expression on her face before emeralds shifted to her from looking at Harry and Ron's direction. Right then, Hermione knew that the woman had come to a deeper knowledge and appreciation of the boys. It included a revelation of how the public would never truly grasp the essence of their friendship regardless of the many write-ups about them. That whatever they went through together could not simply be categorised with the phrase 'The Golden Trio'… Minerva communicated all of this with an admiring smile and Hermione returned it with her own...

"Ron, I also have something to tell you." Hermione started after she took a sip of her drink, "about work too."

"You've been promoted to Department Head?"

"What?" Hermione gasped at Ron's accurate surmise.

"That or you've transferred to MLE in a senior post."

"Why would you say that?" Hermione asked in genuine curiosity at Ron's suppositions.

"Don't you read the Daily prophet?" Ron playfully asked her and followed his rhetoric. "Oh right, you stopped when you started being in it most of the time!"

"Don't tell me that the promotion I did not even hear about before today had been written for the public to read?" Hermione fervently disputed Ron's overdone assumption.

"Okay, it wasn't," Ron relented, but went on to voice his reasoning. "But anyone who reads the daily news could make a good guess that when you topped your masteries, the Ministry would be foolish not to promote you."

"It's not a bad thing, Mione," Harry interjected at the frown on her face.

"Besides, the Minister himself has been quoted often enough on how the Ministry is confident to make bold changes especially when there are dedicated and brilliant minds in the Ministry. And several times, he singled-out your name and how you represent the progressive future of our society as evidenced by your work as early as now." Ron added.

"It sounds as if I have been favoured..."

"Duh, Mione! With your masteries' top marks and work output, you should be rightly favoured. To do otherwise is actually unfair. Harry's right, it's not a bad thing." Ron stated with a factual tone and then asked back his early question. "So which is it Mione, Department headship or MLE transfer?"

"It's headship at the Regulation and Control… But I did not even realise—"

"Of course not! We knew that you wouldn't and we knew that because we've known you since we were 11." Ron exclaimed brightly.

"Yeah, Mione. And we also know that you don't know how others are starting to know because we've known you since we were 11." Harry supplemented in equal enjoyment.

"Right, you two totally made sense! Everyone can understand exactly what you just said…!" Hermione laced her tone with light sarcasm, but underneath she felt uncertain as she could gauge that her best friends are about to tell her of something grave.

Being with these two boys for years had made her proficient in reading them when they were switching into their serious selves despite their use of buoyant tones. And she was not at ease with them doing so right now, not when Minerva was with them.

"Okay… how about we say— people are now seeing how truly brilliant you are." Ron faced her completedly and started to expound. "And as war testimonies are slowly being released to the public, they are realising how your brilliance helped win the war. And how your brilliance would help bring a brighter future now that the war is over… I could not tell you how many times Percy told me that he had heard such things from so and so at the department of so and so…" Ron described quite proudly.

"Ron, that's unwarranted praise." Hermione objected and borrowed another line from Minerva's usual dismissal of commendation. "Besides, people just like to exaggerate…"

"Apart from the Golden Brain, you did not think people would eventually see the Golden heart of the Golden girl?"

"Harry, stop." Hermione's head whipped towards him. "You are romancing it, we all know we simply had no choice!" Her disputing tone just got stronger with Harry's statement.

Hermione watched her best friends exchange knowing looks and saw how they were as uncertain as her with their discussion. She deliberately held herself from darting her eyes to emeralds, lest it only lead her to open her damn emotions. She was attempting to come up with how to change their discourse when Ron and Harry pushed forward with their current direction.

"Harry did not have a choice…" Ron retorted quietly but clearly. "Evil marked him to die, quite literally."

"Ron and the Weasleys, and many good wizarding families did not have a choice because their only world was plunged into darkness. They didn't have anywhere else to go..." Harry said in a follow-through and he was not quite finished, "Minerva had no choice but to literally incarcerate herself at Hogwarts… Do you know how much curses and disrespect she got from the Carrows at that time?

"Harry…" Minerva softly interjected but Harry was on a roll.

"That while she is more powerful than them thrice combined, she held back! She had no choice but to endure, endure the abuses in order to be there for staff and students, for Hogwarts..." Harry fervently contended. "Most of us had no choice. But you had a choice, Hermione."

"I didn't." Hermione felt pain at the knowledge that Minerva suffered at death-eaters' hands at Hogwarts.

"You had a window, Hermione," Harry continued with his declaration with the apparent intention to make her accept what they were telling her. "You could have escaped to the muggle world and lay low and be with your parents and protect them and not sacrifice your relationship with them. Like what most muggle-borne people did. One way or another, the war would have ended and maybe would not have reached the muggle world and you'd be left unscratched... Yet you did not take it..."

"I would never, most especially when I knew you were going after the Horcruxes."

"A second before the snatchers incapacitated us, you managed one last spell, but you used it to cast a stinging jinx on me that disguised and protected me and saved my life. You had a choice to cast it onto yourself… It could have spared you from them, from Bellatrix…"

To her utmost shock, Harry reached for her scarred arm and bore his somber olive eyes on her. Her breath got caught and her heart erupted at the fact that Harry knew of her concealed mud blood scar.

"Har—Harry… I just knew from the start that you were to end it all… if you got to continue and save all of us then what happened to me is inconsequential. I was just using my head…"

"Then your head must have told you many times how you had a choice. How from the very start, you had the option to seek safety thousands of miles away… from immediate danger…"

"I would never choose that. I would never— I would never run away— leave our world."

'And even if I foolishly did, I would come right back because I'd be then realising that I am in love with one witch… I would have marched back to Hogwarts if only to stand beside her and die protecting her…'

Hermione's heart and mind silently declared violently. Every fiber in her knew that she would never choose self preservation if on the other side was where Minerva was. There was no doubt. None.

"We know that, love…" Harry quietly affirmed. "And we're simply telling you how people are finally catching up with such a truth… along with the fact that you're really brilliant, and becoming MORE SO each day. And how it is becoming obvious how you're doing your best to fight for the betterment of our world." Harry clasped her hand and reached to place a soft kiss on it.

"I am not stuck in war, Harry." Hermione professed.

"That's not what Harry meant, and you know it." Ron's one arm draped around her and adoringly pulled her close. "You're just a Miss-know-it-all who wants to make sure we don't have another war in a thousand years or so...!" Ron kissed her cheek and Hermione couldn't help but laugh at his antics and harmlessly punched him in the chest.

"And thank Merlin for that," exclaimed Harry. "I really do not want to be the boy who lived and lived and lived again…!"

Harry's banter had her laughing more before her heart plunged into a deeper breadth of emotional drill at Harry's succeeding words...

"And Minerva would surely love you to keep Hogwarts war-free for the rest of our lives and the next…"

...Minerva would surely love you...

The words just ricocheted in Hermione's mind.

"Indeed." Minerva supplied in.

And Hermione's heart swell with abandon. She met emerald eyes and she could not stop the silent message her brown eyes conveyed to the woman she loved above all—

'Is that what it would take...? Because I'll do everything for you… Everything…'

But a sad smile from thin lips equally accepted and rejected her offer in wordless message—

'Not for me... but that is how it goes darling… that is your path… part of who we are darling… part of who we are expected to be…'

They held each other's eyes for a moment longer, and then Hermione mentally bolted from Minerva's ensnaring conviction and physically turned to Harry and Ron, "Did you order dessert for me, or remember just yours as always?" She asked with over-exaggeration to end that segment of their discussion and cover the dejection that descended on her.

"Ouch. It was just one time, boss!" Ron replied laughingly, " And of course, we've learned our lesson not to forget your ever-boring favorite choice of vanilla ice cream..."

Harry called the server for their dessert and their table returned to mundane topics. An unspoken agreement reigned in that they were done with war and very serious work related talk. Another hour lapsed before they finally exited the Muggle diner with Harry complaining that Minerva had tricked them, because the woman had managed to settle the entire bill without their knowing.

"I invited you, Minerva," Harry grumbled.

"Come on Harry, let it go. You can get the next dinner, my dear" Minerva placatingly answered Harry.

"How do you even have muggle money on you?" Harry asked Minerva and then suspiciously added, "They're not transfigured paper napkins, are they?"

Minerva's laughter rang and Hermione's similar question in her head vanished at the beautiful laughing face of the older witch. Hermione dug both her hands into her pockets to prevent herself from grabbing the woman and begging her to be with her tonight and forever more…

"I promise you, they're not." Minerva touched Harry's shoulder in assurance. "But I need to leave now."

"You can't spare more? We normally take a walk around for just an hour, then I can accompany you back to Hogwarts," Harry asked and offered.

"Headmistress duties are calling, Harry…" Minerva gently replied and Harry accepted in resignated sigh.

"Thank you MG. Not just for dinner… But you know…" Ron spoke in his usual ineloquence.

Ron shook Minerva's hand and half embraced the witch in his awkward way. It was contrary to how Harry familiarly kissed Minerva on the cheek and thanked the woman for spending time with them, while he promised to disturb her in her castle soon. When Harry stepped back, Hermione found herself without a clue on how to act… afraid that she'd give it away the moment she got physically close to the older woman. But Minerva swiftly moved into her space and gave her an embrace, but immediately dislodged her hold and created a distance between them.

"Good night. Please take good care." Minerva bid them good-bye, and in a second, disappeared.

As always, the three of them walked random streets. Ron would point out muggle equipment or devices and Harry and her would explain to him their nature and usage. But as they roamed the streets of London tonight, Hermione's thoughts were on one woman who apparated to Hogwarts…

When Harry let out a yawn 45 minutes later, Hermione suggested that they go home. At her flat, she mechanically went about taking a bath and generally got ready for bed, picking a book to distract herself from thinking about yesterday and today.

When she went to her kitchen to get herself a glass of water, her forehead furrowed. Something was not the same… She tried to remember the state of her flat before she left yesterday for Hogwarts. She knew something was different, and yet she did not feel remotely in danger.

She opened her cupboards and her eyes widened at what she found there— full stocks. She quickly went to her fridge and it was equally stacked— of various food items. Hermione found herself laughing out loud when her eyes landed on the huge carton of vanilla flavored ice cream. Then she saw the note plastered to one side and reached for it.

...

Dearest,

I promise I have never intruded in your home except now. And I won't do it again. I just could not resist after I left you with the boys...

Hermione… I know you want more, but the truth is— we can't afford more…

Please, please do take care of yourself.

...

Hermione's earlier laughter completely died and the written words blurred as her eyes flooded with tears. She knew she had no one to blame but herself. She had let herself rip her heart furthermore because of her actions last night… because she could not help herself but to follow Minerva to the lake… because she could not help herself but to urge Minerva to come home with her… because she could not help herself but to hopelessly love the woman who would not accept her love.

She lost her hold on her emotions and thoughts about today's reality… Of how cold her bed had been when she had woken up with Minerva gone… Of how emerald eyes had spoken rejection to her at Kingsley's office earlier while the Minister spoke of her promotion... And of how silent words of rejection had been repeated when they were at the diner as the boys spoke of their future…

This is part of the whys, darling… Part of the tangled complications between who we are…

But that is how it goes, darling… that is your path… part of who we are, darling… part of who we are expected to be…'

For some reason, today's rejection was far more hurtful than the vitriol words spat at her by Minerva last year. Because while, 'I fucked you and it was a mistake' was brutal, she always knew in her heart that it was not meant the way it sounded… that the lash-out was a lie.

But now the truth couldn't be clearer.

What they had that night of May 7— was not truly a mistake. That was one truth... That Minerva had allowed herself to be taken home last night was a testament of how the woman equally wanted her, then and now. Furthermore, it did not escape Hermione that Minerva had taken to telling her last night that she wanted to make love to her, and made love to her repeatedly… clearly demonstrating that it was not just a fuck between them. Both last year and last night…

Another truth was that Minerva cared about her. The woman had even shed herself in remorse for causing her to splinch. Entirely owning the fault in wretched tremors while in her arms...

Another truth was that Minerva even cared about her damn eating habits, to invade her flat and fill-up her kitchen tonight. That the woman cared to know where she actually lived...

More truth— the woman had been invading her life quite significantly concerning her pursuit of higher learning. That the woman made moves for her to find Charms and Transfiguration masters who she needed, all without her knowing. That it did not matter that she had avoided Minerva for an entire year because the woman accepted them as self-punishment and yet created options and provided support for her future.

One hard truth— Minerva McGonagall still said NO… explicitly with written words of— Can't afford more… Minerva can't afford to be with her… can't afford to love her back.

And one last truth— tonight, Hermione would go to bed still loving Minerva, more than ever…

.

.

.


End of Chapter 16

Year 1999 – Muggle Diner


Tell me if you just want Hermione to just get on with her life and forget Minerva? Or lets smack Minerva to wake up and love Hermione back? :)