A/N - So! Welcome back everybody! Sorry for such a long break! Classes started again and I am currently spending my time listening to lectures and doing lots of homework! On top of everything else there was doctor appointments plus very little sleep plus epic migraines from hell for two days...I spent a couple of days on REALLY BIG painkillers (Thank you Dr. Ellis) and sleeping on the couch! Doc says I have to start keeping a headache journal, because if it starts happening more than 3 times a week, we have to take preventative measures...also known as more drugs. But! Enough about that! Now I am awake, and ready to write again!
To my lovely followers who are worried about Minerva: DON'T PANIC! I promise that Minerva gets the girl, but there is much more of this story to be told! Hermione is still incredibly fragile and needs time to heal, but things will get much better!
As always, my stories are dedicated to my lovely followers and my darling DarkSavior2357 and the lovely AndraKitty, best friend extraordinaire. If you haven't ready it yet, definitely take a look at DarkSavior2357's work. It really is worth the read! ANYWAY! On with the story!
-O-O-
Rolanda stalked through the halls of Malfoy manor, having only just gotten off duty at the school, and wanted nothing more than to curl up around her girlfriend and sleep for a month. Her body felt heavy and exhaustion weighed on her every step. She stepped through the door, into the room that had become her second home and froze. There lying on the bed, was Hermione, her head pillowed in Narcissa's lap and Draco, curled around her from behind. Narcissa, already awake, motioned for Ro to come over.
"She had a nightmare and managed to wake everyone in the house." The blonde said.
"She has them every night." Rolanda answered. "I do my best to help her through them, but even sleeping with her doesn't really keep the nightmares away. It just gives her something to hold on to when she wakes." She sat down on the bed with the others and ran her finger through the bushy brown hair that she loved so much.
Narcissa smiled at her. "You don't have to worry. On the nights that you have Duty at the school, we will look after her."
"Thank you." Rolanda sighed. She smiled down at the two asleep in the bed. Watching Hermione sleep was one of her favorite things to do, when the young woman wasn't overcome with nightmares and terrors. A soft knock on the door frame drew their attention to the entrance to the room, where Lucius stood, dressed in his robes, preparing to leave for a day of meetings in his office.
"How is she doing?" He whispered as he stepped in.
"Fine now. She started to whimper a bit a couple hours ago, but Draco heard her and held on to her until she calmed down again. I don't know what to do for her Lucius." Narcissa whispered.
"There is nothing anyone can do for me." Hermione grumbled. "Except maybe find me a very large, very strong cup of coffee." She sat up, startling Draco, who laid there rubbing his eyes and forehead.
"Someone turn off the sun. It is far too early to be awake." He hissed as he opened his eyes. Narcissa waved her hand and the curtains pulled themselves closed. "Thank you, Mother."
"You are welcome, dear. Since we are all awake, why don't we all head down to the dining hall for some breakfast before Lucius has to leave for the office, hmm? Then we can all go about our day as we see fit." She eyed Draco knowingly, fully aware that her son intended to return to bed once he finished his morning meal.
"Okay. Morning, Father." He groaned as he slid off Hermione's bed.
"Good morning, Draco." Lucius murmured and accepted the hug from his son.
"No, no. There is no 'good' in the mornings until after tea." Draco grumbled, making his way out of the room, followed by his parents, leaving the couple alone.
"Are you ok?" Rolanda asked the young witch.
"Honestly, I've had better nights, but I'm fine." Hermione dragged her hands over her face and let out a long sigh. "I have something I need to tell you though."
Rolanda frowned, looking down at her young girlfriend, watching her fidget with the blanket that Rolanda had gotten her on their trip to Egypt. "Hermione, does this have anything to do with your nightmares? Is whatever is bothering you the reason that they have been worse recently?"
"Yes." The reply was barely a whisper. Rolanda only just registered the noise.
"Tell me, Mia. I promise I will do everything I can to help you." She slid closer to the brunette and wrapped both arms around her.
"I went and saw Minerva last week." The younger woman relaxed back into the strong arms of her witch and inhaled her scent.
"Are you okay? What did she say to you?"
"She-she told me that she is in love with me. She said that's why she couldn't stay with me at night anymore, because it hurt her too badly to be there and know that she couldn't have me." Her words caught in her throat on a sob and she turned, burying her face against a tanned neck.
Rolanda, for her part, growled. Not out of jealousy, which she found odd, but because Minerva had hurt Hermione, again. She also realized, instinctively, that that wasn't the end of the story. "What else, Mia? What did she do?"
"She kissed me."
"I see." Rolanda started to pull away, not sure how to take the news.
"No, please, Ro don't go. I can't-I won't-"
"Hermione-"
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. "Mia, Mother said to let you know that the table is set and breakfast is waiting." Draco's muffled voice said.
"Thank you, I am on my way." Hermione called back.
"Go eat." Rolanda said. "We will talk later."
"Promise?" Hermione eyed her girlfriend.
The only response she got was Rolanda bending to her and pressing them together, their lips meeting on Hermione's gasp. Young fingers buried in silver hair. Strong hands pulled soft thighs to straddle the older lap. The usual flame that simmered between them erupted into a blazing inferno that had both of them panting into each others mouths. Rolanda's hands traveled slowly from their places on her young love's thighs over her backside and up the soft skin along her ribs, dragging her short nightgown with her.
Hermione was shaking, desire pummeling through her, and she knew that no matter how much Rolanda still wanted to wait, still thought she wasn't ready, that things would be going further between them very shortly. "Please." she whispered against soft lips as rough hands, calloused from years of riding a broom and playing quidditch stroked beneath her bare breasts. Thumbs stroked the valley between the mounds, as they broke away for air and Rolanda's lips latched themselves to the younger witch's neck.
"Please, what?" The silver haired woman growled against velvet skin and pulled the intoxicating witch closer to her. She let her hands travel farther down, resting on supple hips and dragging her thumb nails over the skin just above the waistline of the brunette's knickers. Her response was a lengthy moan and a pelvis grinding against her own. She couldn't hold back the soft groan that burst from her chest. It was like ice water being splashed against her chest. "No," she whispered. "Not like this, Mia. Not with everything that has happened. Minerva and you have to get down to breakfast-and it would be a bad idea right now."
Hermione sobered instantly at the mention of the Scottish witch. Still panting heavily, she rested her forehead against Ro's shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For what I told you. I didn't know how she felt about me. I promise you I wouldn't cheat, not ever and-"
"Mia, my love, relax. I know you wouldn't. I'm not angry with you. I need to have a conversation with a certain headmistress, but I promise you, you did nothing wrong."
"But I did. I kissed her back."
"Do you want me to be angry with you?" Ro whispered into her hair, stroking the wild curls back so that she could look down at the face pressed against her skin.
"No. No I don't ever want you to be angry with me but-"
"No, no 'buts'. I need to talk to Minerva, and you need to eat something. I will be back in a few hours, and then maybe, we can lay down together and discuss this more." She felt a nod against her neck and sighed. They had been able to squeeze very little time for each other into the last week, since that day in the Hog's Head, when Draco had interrupted them. She really wanted to hex him. "I may just have to curse your best friend if he doesn't stop interrupting us." She grinned at Hermione's chuckle and pulled away. "I will be back soon. Go eat." With a wave of her hand she summoned the brunette's clothes and stood, carefully depositing the young witch on her bed.
Hermione grinned as she watched her almost lover leave. Today was going to be a good day, and tonight, maybe tonight would be even better.
-O-O-
A/N - There you have it! Newest chapter. Stay tuned, because things are about to get interesting.