Neither Hermione nor Minerva slept well that night, both realizing that they overreacted and thinking about how the other would feel in the morning. Only Albus had a restful and pleasant night, dreaming of sherbet lemons and hot chocolate.
Minerva was the first to get up very early while it was still dark outside, deciding that her time could be better spent preparing breakfast. Knowing she would have trouble getting to the kitchen in her condition she sighed in frustration and grabbed the walking stick she had placed under the bed. She had refused to use it at Hogwarts two month ago, against Poppy's strict advice and her husband's wishes, but after nights like this when she felt her hurting chest more than usual and when she was tired and feeling sad and weak like now, she knew she had no choice.
Albus was the first to join her in the kitchen, wearing dark blue pyjamas with blinking stars on it. He saw the abandoned walking stick immediately, concern flickering in his eyes, bur he knew better than asking his wife right now, so he simply kissed her forehead gently and sat across from her.
It was only a few seconds later when Hermione entered the room. "Good morning professors."
"Good morning Hermione. I trust you slept well" Albus greeted cheeringly.
The young woman bit a 'do I look like I slept well' back and smiled shyly at Minerva, indicating that she was not angry anymore.
The older woman released the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and smiled back.
Seeing her professor's reaction, Hermione sat down, feeling much better than she had a few moments ago.
Albus regarded the scene before him carefully, satisfied with the progress 'his girls' were making. "Hermione, now that you're spending Christmas with us, I think you should call us by our given names."
The young woman's eyes widened in shock. "Oh well, of course… I mean," she looked at Minerva, silently asking for permission. Seeing her teachers encouraging nodding she blushed and added "it would be an honour. Thank you."
"Wonderful, now tuck in my dear. Breakfast is the most important meal, did you know that?" The older man filled Hermione's plate as if she was a construction worker.
"Really Albus? Living together with you gave me the impression it is dessert." Minerva smiled sweetly at her husband. Her mood was improving dramatically.
"What makes you think that, love? As if I'd have a sweet tooth! " He tried very hard to look as innocent as he could.
From that point conversation flowed easily and Albus had a good feeling when he told the ladies that he would be at Hogwarts until later that afternoon.
He made his wife promise that she would rest and Hermione said she would be busy in her room for a few hours.
And rest Minerva did. When Hermione headed for her room, she allowed Albus to guide her to the couch in the living room and drifted off to sleep almost immediately after she felt her husband's lips on her forehead.
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When Hermione entered the living room a few hours later she saw Minerva restlessly napping on the couch, muttering in what seemed to be very uneasy dreams. The young woman quietly walked over to her professor, frowning when she noticed the sweat on the other woman's brow. She grabbed a blanked, covered the older witch carefully and knelt down beside her, gently taking Minerva's hand in hers, whispering soothing words of comfort. "Shhh… It's all right. I'm here, you're not alone. Shhh…everything's fine. You're having a bad dream".
Her presence seemed to calm the sleeping woman and Hermione laid her hand back, summoned her book and a cushion and got comfortable with her back leaning against the couch. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling strangely comforted by the older woman's closeness, before she started reading her book.
Minerva slowly awoke an hour later not feeling very rested. She remembered having a few dreams she could very well have done without it. Opening her eyes she saw Hermione sitting on the carpet with her back leaning against the big couch, sunk in a book, and noticed that she was covered with a blanket now. The older witch smiled to herself, observing the cute dimples that only appear on the girls face when she was concentrating very hard. Thoughtlessly she reached out, tugging a strand of the brown curly hair behind Hermione's ear, breaking the young woman's concentration, and startling her a bit.
"Hey, you're awake," she said smiling at the older woman.
"Hmhmm." Minerva still toyed with the girl's hair absentmindedly. "Why are you sitting on the floor?
"I like sitting on the floor." Hermione had no intention of reminding Minerva of the dreams she had and decided against telling her the whole truth.
"You'll catch a cold." The older witch looked at the still sitting girl with concern in her eyes.
Hermione smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine."
"It's not comfortable." Minerva didn't want the girl to endure any inconvenient positions on the floor just because of her.
"I think it is." Hermione began to wonder if the still tired looking witch was so determined because she wasn't comfortable with her being so close.
"Don't be ridiculous, Hermione." Minerva knew she sounded harsher than she had intended and regretted her outburst immediately.
The young woman was sure now she had overstepped the boundaries and moved to get up.
Minerva mentally cursed herself when she read in the young woman's eyes what she was thinking now and grabbed the girl's wrist before she could entirely move away from her.
"Hermione, please don't. That's not what I meant. I enjoy having you here with me. I just don't want you to be uncomfortable because of me." From her laying position she pulled at the girl's wrist gently, hoping Hermione would sit down again.
After a moment of hesitation the young witch obeyed and knelt down again, her look downcast.
Minerva sighed and cupped Hermione's cheek with her right hand, stroking it with her thumb lovingly. "Oh darling. I can't do anything right now, can I?"
The young woman closed her eyes as she leaned into the touch and laid her hand over Minerva's. "I'm sorry, Minerva. It's not your fault. I'm just a little on edge at the moment."
Hermione brought their hands down to a more comfortable position and covered the older woman's hand she was still holding in her own, with her other hand.
Minerva smiled gently at the gesture and squeezed the young witches' fingers slightly. "Hermione, would you tell me why you're not with your parents?"
Minerva hoped dearly Hermione wouldn't turn away from her now and held the girl's hand more tightly as if to prevent her from running away, but Hermione just regarded her quietly for a few moments, before she spoke again.
"Yes, I would if you tell me how you really feel." Her voice was very serious.
"I'm fine." Minerva replied as she always did when she was asked about her health.
"No, you're not. I saw the walking stick. I know you hate using it and you certainly wouldn't if you were fine."
Minerva wanted to tell her that she wouldn't allow her or any other person to extort her, but instead of shouting at the girl she just nodded. "That's only fair, isn't it? All right then. You first."
Thank you my dear beta!
