Later that afternoon, Hermione could clearly see Minerva had something on her mind. They had been taking a walk along the vast moor, and Minerva had pointed out some places where she had played as a young witch, but her words seemed to constantly trail off and she seemed pre-occupied somehow. It was almost as if she was trying to stall for more time.
As they arrived through the gate to "Broom Cottage" Hermione decided she just couldn't take it any longer.
"Minerva" she gently asked. "Is there something on your mind?"
Minerva stopped and looked at her.
"Yes" she smiled, looking almost frightened. She took out her wand and conjured up a blanket for them to sit on in the grass. Realizing she was nervous, she looked at the roses.
"I have been in love three times in my life" she began.
Instantly Hermione froze inside. Oh no… Now Minerva would tell her she knew what it was like to be in love and that it would pass.
She watched as Minerva rose and started tending to one of the rosebushes again.
"The first time" Minerva continued to the bush, "I was about twenty, and I was really head-over-heels about the man".
I knew it, she prefers men!
"But somehow, it just wasn't meant to be. After just a few years we both realized we didn't love each other that way. We split on good terms and I still receive letters from him from time to time."
Minerva cut off a fully grown rose and gently laid it in the grass in front of Hermione, who watched the odd gesture in numb silence.
"As I started teaching, I fell in love a second time. This time, it was a student".
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Oh yes" Minerva smiled at herself, cutting off yet another rose.
"A girl, actually, named Flora Evelyn Howard".
She gently turned the rose in her hand.
"This time however, I never told anyone about how I felt".
She put down the rose next to the other and looked at Hermione.
"It was truly painful and I promised myself never to fall in love again".
"But you did?" Hermione almost whispered.
Nodding slowly, Minerva reached up and cut off a third rose.
"Yes, I did. Again it was a student and again it was a girl".
Hermione was at a loss for words. Suddenly her heart began to pound furiously in her chest.
"Who was it?" she breathed.
"You" Minerva simply stated, putting down the last rose beside the others.
Hermione just stared at her.
"M-me? You're in love with me?"
Minerva nodded smiling.
Hermione felt like she would explode from all the emotions she was experiencing all at once.
She's in love with me.
She's in love with me.
Minerva is in love with me.
She looked at the roses and thought of what they symbolized.
That man, that Flora-person, and me.
I'm one of those roses.
And finally it hit her.
And she flew her arms around Minerva's neck.
Minerva laughed and held Hermione close. As Hermione leaned back Minerva lifted her hand and slowly caressed Hermione's soft cheek.
"Yes my dear Hermione, I do love you. With all my heart."
--
As she watched Minerva walking around the cozy kitchen to prepare a meal, Hermione couldn't believe her luck. This absolutely wonderful woman was in love with her! The thing she barerly had dared to dream of had actually come true.
Suddenly Minerva stopped and just looked at Hermione with a wide smile.
"What are you thinking of, my love? She asked.
Hermione couldn't stop herself from grinning.
"You, of course!"
Laughing, Minerva set the last bowls of food on the table and sat down.
"I know you feel like you're in heaven but even there you have to eat sometimes" she joked.
"How do you know I'm in heaven?" Hermione teased.
Minerva smiled a knowing smile.
"Because I am there too, my sweet" she explained.
The End (for now)