A/N – So, I recently made yet another move. I now live in Georgia in another itty bity town that no one has ever heard of. Yay… -_- Anyway, sorry it's been so long, I really have no excuses for the delay in this. I can't even blame writer's block really. Just haven't had the 'want to' to get it done I guess. Hopefully more to come soon after this is over. Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews to this story and to all of those who have stuck it out with me and my long breaks between chapters.

-O-O-

Ro was seated on Minerva's sofa in front of a roaring fire. The ebony haired woman had stepped into the small kitchen in her rooms to fix the tea that they had agreed to during breakfast that morning. She had mentioned that they needed to have a conversation and now the Quidditch instructor was wringing her hands trying to figure out what they needed to speak about. She was supposed to meet Hermione in 2 hours to talk about their derby lessons and how to continue them now that the younger witch was out of school. They had taken a couple of weeks of to get back into a schedule for themselves and find out when they had the free time to work with. Now they just needed to discuss their openings. She sighed in anticipation as the Headmistress stepped from the adjoining room.

"You needn't act like I am leading you to your doom, Rolanda," Minerva sighed as well as she sat down beside her longtime friend. "I don't even know how to start this conversation."

"I always found that the blunter was the better, even if it did manage to piss off several people along the way." Ro grinned as she thought about her many confrontations, loud confrontations, with ministry employees.

"Well then bluntly it is. I can't keep going to the Hog's Head with you and staying with Hermione." Minerva looked at her friend.

"WHAT?" She demanded, outraged. "You promised her you wouldn't abandon her, and now you are going to turn your back on her?" she stood and paced in front of the fire.

"NO! I'm not turning my back on her Rolanda. But you know as well as I do that I am in love with her. She chose you. I can't keep living under this fantasy that she might choose me. On top of that you are her girlfriend, it's not fair for me to always be there when the two of you are together." Minerva couldn't help but stand and walk to the window. "I love her, and I can't have her. I'm not going to try and take her from you. That's why I have to back off."

"Minerva she needs us both. Yes, she is my girlfriend but you are her best friend. She needs you just as much as she needs me. Are you really going to walk away from her?" Ro watched the woman wrap her arms around herself.

"I don't have a choice. I can't keep doing it Rolanda." There were noticeable shivers running up and down the woman's spine.

Ro had no idea what to do. She stood there staring at her friend, torn between being angry at her for leaving Hermione and sorry for what she was going through. The strange thing that occurred to her was that she felt no jealousy when Minerva mentioned being in love with the younger witch. That thought puzzled her more than anything. Making a quick decision she walked over to where her friend stood, only a hairs breadth away from pressing against her back and placed both hands on her arms.

"I don't think I have the strength to see her today." Minerva whispered. The silver haired witch could see the pain and indecision in her face. There was clearly a war going on between the woman's head and her heart.

"I'll talk to her," Ro whispered. Her arms slid around Minerva's shoulders. "She is not going to take it very easily, but I'll do what I can." Minerva nodded. In the reflection of the window Rolanda could see tears running down her face. Not sure what else to do, she turned her friend around and pulled her into a tight hug.

Minerva felt strong arms close around her and leaned into the embrace as sobs wracked her body.

-O-O-

Hermione wandered the Quidditch pitch that afternoon, waiting for Ro to meet her as they had agreed earlier in the week. The silver haired woman and Minerva spent 3-4 nights down at the Hog's Head with her for the last 3 weeks. On the night's they weren't there the dreams always came back. Always the same. Rotating through the people she cared about, or had once cared about. The cooking lessons with Aberforth were getting better. At least his concoctions no longer made people vomit. He even managed to make palatable spaghetti a few nights ago. Hermione had rather enjoyed sitting down to dinner with the older man that night. They had laughed until tears ran down their faces about different antics of each other's school years. Over all, the young woman had had a rather great couple of weeks.

The day was a rather bleak one. The clouds blanketed the sky, though no rain fell. The temperature was chilly and the wind was going to make brushing her wild hair later a challenge and a half. She shivered beneath her coat, hoping that when her girlfriend showed they could go to her rooms and sit in front of the fire to warm up. She had been to Rolanda's rooms many times since they had become friends and was rather comfortable there. The flying instructor had even offered to let her move in with her, rather than stay down at the Hog's Head. Hermione had politely refused, stating she wasn't really ready for that. The young witch wrapped her arms securely around herself trying to keep warm and kept walking.

Ro watched as the young woman rounded beneath the hoops at the north end of the pitch. She stared at her from above, where she was mounted on her broom. Her mind was at war with her heart. She had just come from Minerva's room, where they had tea after lunch. Now she had to discuss what the older two women had talked about during their meeting. She sighed as she angled her broom towards the ground and her girlfriend. It was going to be a long night.

A/N – And that's it for this one. More to come soon! Read and Review and maybe I can get the next one out faster! Love you guys!