A/N - So, it is after midnight and inspiration strikes! Luckily, I don't really have anything to do today. Other than turn in an article for Econ. For those of you who have read it and are concerned about it, YES! Between Her Mother and Her Lover is still an active story! I am in the middle of the next chapter for that one as we speak, but do not take that as a sign that it will be up anytime soon. My main focus is To Start Anew, and will remain that way until I see this story to the end. That being said, there will be times where I have to take a break from this one and will choose to work on other things. I promise that one will be continued. Patience is a virtue.
Now, concerning those of you who are still worried about Minerva, no, as you will see in this chapter, Rolanda is not going to go chew her up and spit her out. You will have to read and find out what happens. Minerva doesn't keep the "shit end of the stick" (you know who you are) for very long. I know things suck for her right now, but trust me. I won't leave her behind as this story moves on. Feel better now? No? Well, have a cookie, because it's time for the next chapter.
-O-O-
Rolanda stalked through the hallways of Hogwarts, her step determined, but her mind calm. She knew she should be upset with Minerva for what Hermione had told her, but she couldn't bring herself to be angry, or even jealous. If she were to stop and analyze her feelings, then she would probably have admitted to herself that the thought of Minerva, her ex lover, kissing Hermione, her current girlfriend, was more than intriguing. It turned her on. The hallways were quiet, and her heavy boots made a steady thump on the stone floors, the only sound in the otherwise silent corridor.
Before she knew it, she was knocking on the door to Minerva's private rooms and the door was opening to reveal an extremely disheveled witch, with puffy green eyes, rimmed in red, and tear stained cheeks. Rolanda, for her part, didn't hesitate in wrapping the ebony haired woman up in strong arms, and kicking the door closed behind them. They stood like that, with Minerva sobbing into her shirt, for a very long time before sinking to the ground against the door. She couldn't even try to put herself in Minerva's shoes. She had no idea how the woman felt, but she was willing to hold her while she cried. She was willing to be the strength that this fragile woman needed.
"I'm sorry," Minerva whispered some time later, her voice hoarse.
"What for?"
"I am sure that you had other plans for the day besides spending the last two hours with me crying all over you." The Headmistress refused to meet her gaze.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you."
"Hermione told you, didn't she?"
Rolanda placed her hand under Minerva's chin and directed her gaze towards her. "Yes she did, but you should know, I hate seeing you like this. I can't be angry with you for falling in love with Hermione. I can't, because I know how easy it is. What I am struggling with, is my need to be here for both of you. I hate seeing you so broken by what Hermione and I are doing, without knowing a way to fix it. Tell me, is there anything that I can do to make this easier for you?"
Minerva snorted, "Not unless you are willing to share your girlfriend, and possibly have your girlfriend share you." Her words were sarcastic, but the idea struck Rolanda as brilliant.
She pulled Minerva up with her, leading her over to the sofa where she sat, leaned back against the arm, with the Headmistress pulled between her legs, lying against her chest. "I don't know what to do for you. I never stopped caring about you, Tabby Cat. I never wanted you to hurt like this."
"I feel like, not only have I lost Hermione, but I have also lost you as well. You were my confidante about all things. It feels wrong to come to you to cry about how much I miss the two of you though. And I do miss you, both of you."
"I understand. I don't mind holding you when it gets to be too much, though." She whispered into the dark hair beneath her chin. A plan was forming in her mind. Perhaps a way that all three of them could be happy. She would have to talk to Hermione about it first though. And there was no telling how she would react to the suggestion. After she figured that out, she would bring the idea to Minerva. No point in getting the green-eyed witch's hopes up before she even knew whether it was a possibility.
"Then stay," came a strangled whisper. "Just for a few hours, please. Just stay."
"Of course I will."
-O-O-
It was nearly dark and Hermione hadn't heard anything from Rolanda. She assumed that the older witch would be home in time for bed, if she wasn't dealing with anything urgent at the school. She hoped everything was ok.
She found herself wandering aimlessly through the manor, inspecting rooms and shaking her head at some of the strange objects that she had never seen before. Some she recognized from books she had read, others she didn't, none of them she touched. She had been wandering around for a solid hour, when she came across the one room that she had never hoped to see again.
The flooring had been changed. There was no longer a stain on the wooden surface where Hermione's own blood had soaked the floor, but everything else in this room was exactly as she remembered it, exactly as her nightmare reminded her it looked, every single night. She didn't know what she was doing when she pulled her wand and cast the first spell. Everything inside her felt like it was going to explode if she didn't let out the anger and hurt. First it was the vase that exploded. The the sofa caught fire. Random objects flew into walls and the floor began to sizzle. Gone. she wanted this room gone. It's not your house! STOP! Her mind screamed and pleaded with her to cease the madness, but she couldn't. There was so much emotion built up inside her. So much rage that demanded to be released, that she couldn't rein herself in. and so she let her magic go. Let her emotions control her and let herself destroy everything in the room.
There was nothing left standing but piles of ash and ruined wooden floors when she finally regained control over herself. She turned, and froze when her eyes met the icy grey orbs of none other than Lucius Malfoy. She hung her head in shame. There was no repairing the damage she had cause this room. It was ruined.
"Well, I was thinking about doing some remodeling anyway." He remarked softly. "What happened?"
"I don't know." She whispered back.
"Yes, you do, Hermione. You need to say it. Out loud. You need to scream it, and cry and rant and scream it all over again. You need to let yourself fall apart, so you can start putting yourself back together."
"You think I haven't fallen apart? That I haven't spent the last year crying about it?" she snapped.
"No, I think you have spent the last year trying so hard to hold yourself together, to be strong and not let anyone in, that you are starting to break. So say it."
"He raped me. She tortured me. I lost my virginity to a bastard who didn't even know my name. There, happy now?" she asked bitterly.
"That's not good enough. Not nearly. Come on, Hermione. You can do better than that."
"He raped me." she said a little firmer this time. "And your psychotic sister-in-law tortured me."
"Try again."
"HE RAPED ME, OK? THAT BASTARD TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME WITHOUT THINKING TWICE AND I HATE HIM FOR IT! I WISH I KNEW WHERE HE WAS SO I COULD KILL HIM WITH MY BARE HANDS!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. She buried her face in her hands and began to sob in earnest, letting everything out and this time, not holding back for anyone. She didn't notice Draco and Narcissa come in, nor did she notice when Lucius waved them away.
She started to sag, her knees giving way as the weight of everything that she had been holding in seemed to lift slightly, as if she was no longer carrying it by herself. She never hit the ground. Lucius had strode over, pulling her tightly against his chest and letting her cry. Using him as her support, she let go. She didn't even try to hold on anymore. Lucius accepted her weight against him and leaned down, carefully scooping her into his arms and walking out of the now destroyed room with his precious cargo cradled gently against his chest. He took he straight to her room, and sat with her, on her bed, allowing her to cry herself out against him.
When Hermione finally managed to calm down, she realized she was clinging to Lucius like a life-line. Her throat was dry and her chest hurt from the force of her crying. Without prompting, a glass of water was pressed into her hand, and strong hands helped her sit up on her own. "Thank you." she croaked. She had to admit, she felt marginally better and her fear of the elder Malfoy had evaporated.
"You are most welcome. I think my son and my wife are about to have a fit at your door, though." He motioned towards the two, who stood in the door, watching the display with worried eyes.
When Hermione looked up and acknowledged them both, it didn't take more than a second for Draco to hurry across the room and settle on the bed next to his father and his best friend. "Don't scare me like that." He growled, wrapping both arms around her shoulders.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare anyone. I am sorry about the room, as well. I don't think there is anything repairable in there."
"It is of no consequence my dear." Narcissa knelt before the young woman who was very quickly stealing her way into her heart. "Do you feel better? Now that you know the room is destroyed, do you think you might sleep a little better?"
"Yes, but I think that is mostly thanks to Lucius." she whispered, looking down into the glass in her hands.
"Anytime, little one. I think we will leave you to your rest now though. I am sure Rolanda will be home soon. We can talk about this more in the morning." Lucius ushered his wife and child from the room. He stopped before he walked out himself, turning back to her.
"Hermione, if it helps, Christophe Greyhelm is dead."
"What? How? When?" Hermione stared back, her eyes wide and relief flooding her system.
"He died about ten minutes after you and your friends escaped. I killed him myself. That is one body that the Ministry will never find." He turned and walked out of the room.
Hermione flopped back on the bed, thinking about everything that had happened today. She had spent most of her day in the library, her nose buried in a book about ancient runes and their healing abilities when combined with certain medicinal plants. That alone had taken up most of her afternoon and she hadn't even finished it. Dinner had been pleasant, with all the parties laughing about some story that Lucius had told about the stupidity of his latest client. All in all, she supposed she had had a rather pleasant day. A smile broke out across her lips as she thought of Rolanda. She wondered when she would be home.
-O-O-
"Rolanda! Wake up!" Minerva shot up from her position on her former lover's chest and realizing that it was dark in the room and began to panic slightly. Hermione was going to be furious.
"Wha's wrong?" came the sleepy reply.
"We fell asleep Rolanda. You need to get back to Hermione."
That got a response. Rolanda rocketed up from where she had been reclined and looked around. "Oh no. I was only supposed to be gone for a couple of hours." she climbed off the sofa and strode determinedly towards the door. "I am sorry, Tabby Cat, but I have to go."
"It's ok. I do understand. Tell her I am sorry I kept you so long."
"I will." Rolanda wrapped Minerva up in her arms one more time. "Things will work out, I promise."
Minerva stepped away with a watery smile. "You should get back to the Hogshead. She needs you."
"She isn't staying at the Hogshead anymore. I thought she would have told you the other day. She is staying with the Malfoys. You are right though. I need to go."
Minerva's heart sank as she watched one of the most important women in her life, leave her again. She knew that things would never be the same. She couldn't have either of the two women she wanted and that wasn't likely to change any time soon, if at all.
Why was Hermione staying with the Malfoys? She wasn't stupid. She knew that whatever had happened to the young witch had taken place within Malfoy Manor. So what could have cause her to go back there? It surely couldn't be good for her to be in a house that reminded her constantly of those horrible nightmares. Should she try and talk to the young woman? Perhaps, make her see sense about how detrimental it was for her to be around those that caused such horrible memories? Yes, that is exactly what she was going to do. Her worry for Hermione only grew, but she knew that there was nothing to be done about it at that moment, and so, walked into her bedroom and readied herself for sleep.
-O-O-
The next day came and Hermione woke slowly in the circle of her girlfriend's arms. She smiled and pressed a kiss to her nose. It was then that she realized that for the first time since Minerva left, she didn't remember waking up screaming, or even having the nightmare at all. She didn't remember hearing Rolanda come in either.
Rolanda stirred when she felt lips press against her nose. She smiled when Hermione pushed her head beneath her chin and the golden eyed witch tightened her arms around her. "Good morning, my Mia." she whispered, dropping a kiss to her hair.
"Morning, Ro." She grumbled. She wished she knew what had happened between her girlfriend and Minerva the day before, but she didn't want to pry. She just hoped that Minerva wasn't buried on the grounds of Hogwarts somewhere.
"Hermione, I-I actually need to talk to you. About yesterday."
Oh Merlin, poor Minerva was buried on the grounds of Hogwarts somewhere. "Okay, is everything alright?"
Roland sat up and raked her fingers through her hair. "Maybe, I don't know." She felt Hermione slide up behind her, on her knees, wrapping both arms around her neck.
"What happened, Ro?"
"When I got to Hogwarts, Minerva was in pretty bad shape. I hugged her, held her while she cried. We ended up falling asleep on her sofa." Rolanda leaned her head back against her girlfriend's shoulder.
"Alright? I don't see what the problem is. Draco has done the same for me. So has Narcissa. Hell, even Lucius did last night. I don't like the thought of her in pain, though. Especially because of me."
"It's not just you, Mia."
"What do you mean?"
The older witch sighed. "Minerva and I, some years back, were a couple. We were together for several years. She, before you and I got together, she wanted to rekindle that romance."
"OH! But then Minerva-"
"Isn't just hurt by you being with me. It hurts that I am with you, as well. She can't have either of us and she isn't taking it well."
"That's completely understandable. I just wish that there was something we could do. I don't know how to help her, Ro."
"Do you love her?"
Those words were like ice in Hermione's veins. She pulled away from her girlfriend's back and sat against the headboard, her knees drawn up to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs. Yes. She knew the answer to that question immediately. How could she tell Rolanda that though? Would she understand that Hermione had never, and would never cheat on her?
Her answer must have been displayed all over her face, because shock rang through her system when she heard the words, "I do too," whispered in her ear as a heavy arm fell across her shoulders.
"What should we do?" Hermione asked.
"That, is entirely up to you, Mia. We have options."
Hermione's mind worked quickly pulling and tossing aside idea for how to make them all happy, when she happened across the perfect thought. "You mean, all three-"
"Yes. It has happened before. While it isn't common, it also isn't really frowned upon in the wizarding world. But, as I told you, it is entirely up to you. I turned Minerva down when she asked to try again, for you. I wouldn't leave you like that then, and I won't leave you now. This choice is yours to make. I haven't even mentioned it to Minerva yet."
"What if, what if I wanted to try? How would it work? Would you be alright with it?"
"If I wasn't alright with it, Mia, I would have said as much already. I love Minerva, You love Minerva, and Minerva loves both of us. The details we can work out together, but you have to decide if it is something you want."
"Kiss me?" Hermione whispered suddenly. She was happily obliged. While their tongues tangled together, and the hands roamed, desire rose between them. This time though, was slow. Hermione arched against Ro when fingers carefully lifted her nightgown.
Rolanda, carefully laid her young witch back on the bed, sliding her nightgown off and throwing it to the floor as they went. Her mouth traveled a slow, languid path from Hermione's mouth, to her jaw, her neck, her shoulder, across the upper part of her chest, to the hollow of her throat where her pulse fluttered wildly. She felt Hermione's legs spread and wedged her hips between them. They were both wound so tightly, having come so close before, that Rolanda knew it wouldn't take long before both of them were exploding. She slid, very slowly down Hermione's body, listening to the sounds that the young woman made and paying attention to all of the places that that made her squirm or moan. She committed each spot to memory. She didn't linger long at the breasts, peaked by gorgeous dusk colored nipples that were proudly erect in her lover's aroused state. Instead, she slid down, licking, nipping, and kissing her way to the waistband of Hermione's underwear.
Hermione was having a hard time breathing. Her chest heaved and her fists were clenched in the fabric of her luxurious sheets. She kept her eyes closed and focus solely on the sensations being created in her body. Ro was incredible. She knew, without prompting where her most sensitive spots were and the older woman was playing her body like a fiddle, and she was more than happy to let her. When she felt her lover pause, and hot breath on her lower stomach, she glanced down.
Golden eyes met chocolate brown as the older witch ran her tongue in one long stroke of the younger witch's core, over the barrier of her plain cotton panties. Brown eyes snapped closed on a load moan as her back came off the bed and her hands flew to meet the strong ones gripping her hips.
"Look at me." Rolanda whispered, her nose pressing against Hermione's clit and tongue working over the wet spot in the fabric before her. She had never smelled anything so intoxicating as this. "Look at me, Mia. Watch me."
Hermione did as she was told, watching Rolanda. Wave after wave of pleasure rocketed through her and pushed her along a cliff. She stood on the brink, fighting to stay on land.
"Let go, my love. Let go."
And that was all it took. Stars burst behind her eyelids as she threw her head back and she was flying. Thousands of colors, sounds and and so much pleasure tore through her all at once. She was sure that she was lost forever.
Rolanda, for her part, was enthralled watching what she was sure was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. Watching her young lover fall apart in her orgasm was almost enough to bring Rolanda her desperately needed release as well. She crawled up the bed slowly, settling herself over hermione and brushing her damp sweaty hair away from her face. She watch as the young woman slowly came back to Earth and leaned up, kissing the mouth that had given her so much, only moments ago. Only to pull away and whisper, "What should I do? I have never done this before, Ro."
"It's alright, you don't need to do anything for me." Rolanda kissed her neck, letting her head rest against the soft bare shoulder.
"I want to."
Those words were her undoing. She maneuvered them both so that Hermione's knee was raised off the mattress and she was straddling her thigh. The first touch of Hermione's bare thigh against her throbbing center had Rolanda biting gently on shoulder beneath her face to keep from screaming.
Realizing quickly what it was that the older woman needed, Hermione gently thrust her leg against the hot, wet, join of her lover's legs. She relished in the noises that were coming from Ro's throat and whimpered with every gentle bite to her shoulder. Her pants a moans came in quick succession, and before Hermione knew what was happening Ro bit down hard on her neck and a muffled scream reached her ears. The body in her arms shuddered and rocked. The young witch simply held on, dragging her hands softly over her lover's back in soothing strokes.
Rolanda released Hermione's neck and kissed the angry red bruise she found she had left. The brunette hummed her appreciation for the gesture. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." The elder of the two whispered.
"You didn't hurt me, Ro."
"Mia, I bit you." she leaned up and looked down into shining chocolate eyes.
"Yes, and I didn't stop you. I actually quite enjoyed that."
"Good to know. I-" knock knock knock. "I am going to kill him."
"You have a visitor, Mia." Draco's voice floated through the room.
"Tell them to wait. I'll be out in a bit." Hermione shouted.
Rolanda flopped down next to her lover on the bed. With one hand, she held Hermione's, the other, she dragged through her hair. "I need a smoke." She said to no one in particular.
"I do too." The young witch commented as she stood and began to dress for the day.
"I didn't know you smoked." she rolled and eyed the young, mostly nude, body before her.
"I did while we were on the run. It was hard to find a place to have a fag when I was at Hogwarts. I didn't want the Headmistress to catch me."
Rolanda laughed. If she had known that Hermione had wanted to smoke while she had been at school, she would have let her smoke on the pitch, where the flying instructor normally took her own smoke breaks. Leaning over the side of the bed, she picked up her jacket and tossed one to her, taking one for herself. "You go," she said to the now completely dressed young witch. "I'll catch up with you in a minute."
A/N - Holy Crap! This is a long update. Hope you guys enjoy it! This piece has been a long time coming. As has the next chapter. Which I am actively working on now! Hopefully it will be up in a week or so. Let me know what you think. As always, if you read, please drop me a review. I love to hear your thoughts! All mistakes are my own, thought the characters are not!