Your eyes do not deceive you! This is an actual, factual update for Lines!
I'm in the middle of a personal crisis, which has taken a good deal of my time and energy away from writing. I'm trying to get back on the saddle, but I ask that you bare with me as I try and find my muse again. Your support means more to me than you know!
As most of the work to be done at the cottage was cosmetic, Hermione had wasted no time at all cleaning it up enough to move into. The kitchen, while in dire need of updating, was suitable for use, and what would become their bedroom had been cleaned, painted, and less than forty eight hours after purchase, Minerva was taking an hour out of her busy day at Hogwarts to choose paint colors and furniture. After a relatively brief argument, Hermione had gotten Minerva to agree to give care of Hogwarts over to Filius for the night, so they could spend the night in the cottage together. Tomorrow, and through the rest of the week, they'd stay up at Hogwarts at night, and then this weekend, they would officially move in.
By then, Minerva speculated, Hermione and her group of friends would probably have gotten most of the primary living space cleaned up, painted, and so on, and then Saturday morning they'd go out together and shop for furniture. By that night, the place would look something akin to a home. It did puzzle Minerva that her young bride cared at all about her opinion regarding the furnishings for the cottage. After they divorced, the cottage would remain Hermione's, so in reality, her personal tastes should be dominantly reflected. She did hope for a little of herself to become a part of what would temporarily become their home, if only so her future children, as they grew up there, would not feel utterly cut off from their McGonagall side whilst in Hermione's care.
Minerva looked up from her desk in the Head's office to see the sun setting over the black lake. Hermione, who had spent today working at the muggle Ministry, would be here soon, and after they joined the rest of the staff and student body that made up Hogwarts, they would retire down to the cottage together.
"Minerva?"
Speaking of the devil… "I'm nearly ready to go down to dinner," the Headmistress replied, barely glancing up. She could hardly bare to look at Hermione now. The more she got to know her former protege, the more she could feel herself beginning to care for the younger woman in a way nothing like she'd cared for her before. Hermione's constant consideration for her wants and needs was beginning to break down the walls of what Amelia had once called Fortress McGonagall. Alas, two children post now, Hermione would undoubtedly seek divorce, and Minerva could not afford to have her heart broken as the brunette walked out of her life. With two children together, Hermione couldn't technically cut her off completely, but the older woman imagined that the efforts to keep the peace would lessen.
"Okay," Hermione replied softly. "I'll meet you downstairs then?"
"Very well," Minerva agreed politely. This time, she didn't look up at all, instead keeping all her focus on finishing the draft for this month's school budget.
Hermione and Minerva had walked down to the cottage together, discussing names for their new home. Despite herself, Hermione was realizing that given time, she could see herself falling in love with her stoic wife, and while she wasn't prepared to admit this out-loud, she was making some effort into building a foundation of respect, trust, and consideration with Minerva. The older witch did not seem particularly receptive to said effort, but Hermione didn't find that at all daunting. In fact, it almost made the growing attraction stronger - she'd always loved a good challenge.
"What about Granger Cottage?" Minerva suggested.
"Seems a bit odd, as it will be a house full of McGonagalls," Hermione replied.
"Well we already have McGonagall Manor," the older witch countered. "I just thought perhaps you'd want one of our properties to bear your name."
"After what my parents said to me," Hermione said sadly, "I can't say I was too torn up about changing my surname."
"Ah…" Minerva said. "Sorry…"
"It's fine."
"I just want you to be happy…" the older witch said tenderly.
Hermione remained quiet for a while, the crunch of twigs breaking under their feet the only sound to be heard until the brunette offered another suggestion. "How about Phoenix Cottage?"
Minerva's eyebrow rose in question. "Reasoning?"
"An ode to Albus, for starters...without whom we'd have probably never met," Hermione began. "As well as a symbol of how the took away both of our families, and through the ashes we're rising again."
"I like it," Minerva agreed with a curt nod.
The pair fell back into silence until they had reached the newly dubbed Phoenix Cottage and stepped over the threshold. "Welcome home," Hermione said, doing a twirl in the entryway. She watched for Minerva's expression; for her reaction to all the hard work that she, Harry, Ron, along with Ginny, Lavender, Arthur, Bill, and even Draco had put into the place.
Minerva's eyes widened. Whatever she had expected, this was not it. Hermione imagined that her wife had assumed only the barest of repairs would have been made in the last few days, but with a good team, they had managed to get the entire place finished, sans furnishings. The cracks in the walls had been sealed, and fresh white paint covered what had been bare wall, after the previous owner had stipped old wallpaper away. The paint color could be charmed to suit their desires later. The floors in every room, which had been concrete slabs, were now covered in cherry wood, polished and waxed till they shone, despite the low light of the evening. The kitchen, which had been outdated, had new hardwood cabinets with stainless steel hardware to match the new appliances.
Hermione followed as her wife silently conducted a self guided tour. A small family room adjoined the kitchen, which Arthur had added a magical fireplace to so that they'd have the option of using the Floo Network. Just off that room was a half bathroom, which had been a large closet when they had purchased the property. The smallest bedroom had been already furnished as Hermione's personal office, to which Minerva gave a nod of approval upon seeing the wall to wall bookshelves and large, cherry desk that matched the floors. The other two bedrooms were bare, though in one of them Hermione noticed that Ginny had left some shopping catalogues on the floor; catalogues for baby furniture. The flinch that Minerva gave told Hermione that she too had seen the bassinet on the cover.
Settled between the two bedrooms was a full sized bathroom, and while it was not very large, it did have a tub and a large enough counter space to accommodate the sink basin and the need of space for their future childrens' personal care products. After checking to see that the plumbing was in working order, which it was, Minerva moved down the hallway, and peeked into a couple of closets on the way to what was the master suit.
"Here we are…" Hermione mused, decidedly tired of the silence.
"You and your friends have done an incredible job," Minerva stated kindly. "The cottage looks amazing."
"Thank you," Hermione replied. "Now…"
She moved around Minerva, and swung the door to their bedroom open, ushering her wife to go inside. If the older woman had been impressed by the rest of the house, the room moved her more so. She leaned on the doorframe for a moment taking in the cherry floors, the king-sized, cherry bedroom set that they had picked out together, and the deep red canopy adorning the bed. While the linens were gold, the curtains on the windows matched the canopy. Hermione had gone so far as creating a small reading nook, with two comfortable looking armchairs and a large bookshelf, hoping that this room would become their personal sanctuary - a place where they could just be two women, for better or worse, with no expectations and no prying ears or eyes.
"It's breathtaking," Minerva finally said, eying the candle sconces at various places on the walls, giving the room a decidedly romantic feel.
"You said the other day that you kept your rooms at Hogwarts decorated with your family colors, so you didn't seem biased as Headmistress," Hermione commented. "So, I thought that here at the cottage, our bedroom could be decidedly Gryffindor."
The thoughtfulness earned Hermione a genuine smile for the first time in days. "Thank you, dearest."
Hermione moved toward her wife and wrapped her slim arms around the elder witch's waist. "You know," she murmured, pressing a kiss on Minerva's exposed neck, "I've been thinking…"
"Humm…?"
"I know we've not always seen eye to eye," Hermione continued, "nor do I expect we'll ever agree on some things…"
Her hands snaked up Minerva's torso as she spoke, until her fingers were brushing the underside of the older woman's covered breasts.
"Uhuh?" came a relaxed query.
"But…" Hermione admitted softly. "I think… I think I could love you."
Minerva stiffened for a moment, and then relaxed again. She turned slowly, and pulled Hermione into a gentle kiss. "And I, you…" she whispered.
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