A/N – Thanks to all my supporters. This story would have died a long time ago without you. I love you all!

-O-O-

The morning of graduation dawned far too bright for Hermione's liking. Once again she hadn't slept very well. The nightmares continued to plague her rest. She crawled her way off the bed and dragged herself into the bathroom. The counters were, as usual, cluttered with make-up, hairbrushes, lotions, and other assorted items that all of the other girls used. Hermione simply cast a detangling charm on her hair then pulled the top half back and secured it with a clip.

Walking back into the rooms the grabbed the little black dress that she had the night before. She unzipped it and slid it over her body, then slowly dragged the zipper back up with the help of a little wandless magic. Her hair was a simple few bobby pins strategically placed to make her curls cascade properly. She wore light make-up and taller high heels than most would have expected of her. Her movements were silent as she crept through the room and pulled herself together. She knew in her head that Minerva and Ro had promised not to leave her after graduation, but she couldn't help the fear in her heart that they wouldn't be able to keep that promise.

Her cap and gown hung from the bed right next to where she had hung her dress. Grabbing both she stalked from the room, down to the common room and out the portrait hole. It was still slightly too early for most anyone to be awake beside the teachers. Slowly, her heels clacking against the stone, Hermione made her way to the Room of Requirement where she spent every morning. This time though she wasn't going for practice or dancing. This time she was going for the sole purpose of meeting her best friend so that they could talk and then head to breakfast before the ceremony started later. The ceremony was being held out on the Quidditch pitch and it was tradition for the graduates to walk in pairs onto the grass to take their seats. She was walking with Draco. For the first time in many a decade there would be a Gryffindor and a Slytherin walking into graduation arm in arm. Ginny was walking with Luna.

The quiet tap tap tap of her heels as she wandered was the only sound to breach the heavy silence as she moved towards the wall that would become a door. As she slowly dragged the door open and closed behind her she realized that there were windows to one side of the room now to let a morning breeze into the room. Hermione walked over slowly and leaned her shoulder against the widow frame, laying her cap and gown on the sill and folding her arms around her midsection to watch the sunrise.

She smiled at the sound of the steady thump thump of heavy boots coming across the floor towards only minutes after she had arrived. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. She felt Rolanda press a gentle, reassuring kiss into her hair. No words were needed between them at this point. Ro knew she was scared of losing herself and Minerva. She also knew that this was one of those times where actions spoke louder than words. Hermione wouldn't believe words. They would have to prove to her through their actions that they weren't going to leave the younger witch alone with her memories and her nightmares.

Hermione leaned back into the warmth that Rolanda's embrace offered. She didn't know whether this would be the last time in the older woman's arms or not, but right now she couldn't bring herself to care. It was always like this with Ro. The outside world didn't exist when the two of them were together, and standing there watching the sunrise over with Quidditch pitch with her, was right where she wanted to be.

Ro smiled when she felt Hermione relax into her arms. Her plans for this evening were going to take the young woman by surprise she was sure but she was looking forward to every minute. She had planned everything very carefully and couldn't wait to see all of it come to fruition.

"Minerva wanted to see me before breakfast." Hermione stated plainly and quietly.

"Ok, do you want me to go with you?" Rolanda asked just as quiet.

"Would you mind? I don't think I can be alone today." Hermione turned in the circle of her best friend's arms and laid her head on her shoulder.

"Well I can't walk you into graduation but I can go with you to meet Draco, and then meet you after the ceremony, and we can spend the rest of the day together so that you don't have to be alone at all." Ro nuzzled the back of Hermione's neck and inhaled her scent.

"Minerva wants to walk with me to meet Draco. Will you go too, please?" Hermione's voice was slightly muffled by the fabric of Ro's shirt.

"Absolutely, but if we are supposed to meet her before breakfast then I suppose we should get out of here." They disentangled themselves from each other and the older witch got her first glimpse of Hermione's full ensemble. "Wow," she whispered, "You look incredible, Mia. Absolutely beautiful."

Hermione blushed prettily and picked up her Cap and Gown ready to walk from the room but Rolanda caught her arm and pulled her back against her chest. The older witch's mouth slanted against her own and Hermione felt like her head was about to explode. She returned the kiss whole heartedly, opening her mouth to the invasion of Ro's tongue when it brushed across her lower lip, allowing her own to wrestle with the muscle.

The young woman's graduation attire slid to the ground as her arms went up around her best friend's neck. How long had she wished for this? How long had she yearned to have this woman want her like this? She wasn't going to turn and run when she was finally getting her wish.

For her part Rolanda's brain had gone supernova at the first touch of her tongue against Hermione's. She knew that the young witch was still in a fragile state of mind but she couldn't help herself. She had wanted her too badly for too long and her Mia looked absolutely gorgeous in her current state. She couldn't think of a more beautiful sight on the planet. Until she pulled away and looked down at her face, flushed with desire, lips swollen and eyes half shut. She brought her hands up and placed them very gently on Hermione's cheeks. She kissed her eyes, her forehead, the tip of her nose, then kissed her mouth again. Her lips felt like heaven and sin at the same time and Rolanda knew she would never be able to get enough. He lips left Hermione's to trail across her cheek to her jaw. When she inhaled the perfume that the young witch had dabbed behind her ears she knew that if they didn't stop now they would be late for the ceremony.

"After tonight," she whispered to the woman in her arms, "you will no longer be a student here, Hermione. We have to talk about this. I have to know that you want this too, because I don't think I will be able to let you go later if you decide this was all just for now."

"We will talk." Came her answer. "I do want this Ro, but whether or not I want this we need to talk. We have to figure this out and now is not a good time. We have to go meet with Minerva and if we are late she will demand to know why. I don't want the world to blow this out of proportion before we have the chance to let it grow. Please, say you are ok with keeping this between us for a while?"

"Of course. You live a very public life, Hermione. Whether you like it or not everything you do will be subject to public opinion and in order to allow this time to flourish we are going to have to keep it quiet. I will wait as long as you want. When you are ready to be public about our relationship let me know. I will stand by you through it all."

"Thank you." With a small smile Hermione pulled away, picked up her belongings off the floor and took Ro's hand, leading her out the door.

-O-O-

A/N – There you have it guys. Let me know what you think. As always reviews are more than welcome so are private messages. Both are greatly appreciated! So please, please, please read and review!