AN: Thank you to Miranda for her gracious technical advice. Thank you to Butterfly for just being you. This chapter is dedicated to Ashton. Sorry about the slow update. Had a bit of a health issue.

THE JOB AT HAND

Hermione felt strong, yet gentle hands slowly make their way from their place on her lower abdomen. Those strong hands had lately found themselves settled over the exact place where the Grand Sire and his herd had touched her. It was comforting to the young witch, as she snuggled into her lover each night. When the caresses and kisses had finally settled to an occasional peck, she would turn in Minerva's arms and spoon herself against the older witch. When she felt those strong arms wrap around her, holding her tight. When she felt a tender kiss on the soft silky skin of her bare shoulder. Only then would she allow herself to drift into blissful slumber. Knowing that behind her, Minerva McGonagall was finally at peace as well.

Now, as the sun peaked it's way through the deep red curtains of their bedroom, she felt those hands wander up her belly. Soft, lazy touches. A gentle reassurance that her lover was here. Hermione smiled. Her lover was here. She was here. Here at McGonagall Manor. Here in Minerva's bedroom which somewhere along the line had become THEIR bedroom. She had become the Lady of the Manor in the eyes of the elves and the portraits. In Minerva's eyes as well. She had seen it last night when Izer and Livvy had wished a goodnight to the Mistress and the Lady. Not the Miss mind you...

The Lady.

It had warmed her soul. The look in Minerva's eyes was precious. A memory she would treasure always. The look in those sparkling emerald eyes had been pure, unfettered love and devotion.

Hermione grinned as she felt a playful tweak on her nipple, "Something you want Ms. McGonagall?" She heard a deep chuckle just behind her ear. Then she felt herself rolled over onto her back and the delicious weight of her fiance gently rest in the cradle between her thighs. Warm emerald gazed into soft chocolate. "Good morning my love." The young witch whispered slowly running her hands over the stongly muscled, yet delightfully soft shoulders of her love. "Mmmmmmm." Minerva moaned, leaning down to place butterfly kisses on Hermione's neck. "Ohhh I wish we could stay like this..." The older witch mumbled, taking Hermione's earlobe between her teeth. The young witch arched against her lover, a soft sigh escaping her plump and ready lips. She grasped Minerva's head in her hands and brought them face to face where she proceeded to lavish her lover with hot, wet kisses. "Why can't we stay just like this?" Hermione queried suggestively, kissing Minerva again. Invading the older witch's mouth with her devilish tongue. Minerva growled deeply and thrust her hips against the randy young witch, "Ohhh Merlin... Kitten."

A loud banging on the bedroom door interupted the lovers, "ARE YOU TWO GONNA STOP PLAYING AND GET THAT BLOODY BOAT HOUSE PAINTED OR WHAT!!" The unmistakable voice of Dawn Granger threw the perverbial ice water over the two witches.

"Wingardium Leviosa Dawn Granger!" The crisp, clipped tones of Professor Minerva McGonagall ordered. The expression on her face, however, was pure Minerva... Vengeful glee. Hermione sat up beside her lover, who's wand was still pointed at the door. "What did you do?" She asked, dark eyes widening. Minerva just grinned.

"AAAHHHHH! That's not fair!" Dawn Granger found herself dangling upside down in mid-air.

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Jean Granger could not stop laughing at her youngest child's predicament. Sometimes that girl was just too cheeky for her own good. She'd managed to drag her floating daughter down to the first floor, where they stood in the entry hall wondering what to do next.

"Ticked off Minerva did she?"

Jean glanced around looking to see who'd addressed her. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to see...

A portrait of a woman with long black hair and striking green eyes... smiling at her. "Uhhh." The muggle mumbled. "Just say hello mum!" Dawn ordered from her position floating above her mother. Jean started, embarassed at her poor manners, "Oh, please forgive me..." She couldn't believe she was apologizing to a painting, "Yes, I do believe Minerva is a bit vexed." Fiona McGonagall let out a hearty laugh, "That's puttin' it mildly." She walked to the edge of her portrait and rested her hands on the golden frame. "What did ya do?"

The sounds of laughter echoing from above interupted the conversation as Harry, Ginny and Ron started down the grand starircase. Seeing Dawn's situation, Ron giggled madly, "What did you do?" More laughter was heard as Arthur and Molly followed by Dumbledore also started down the stairs. They were dressed for a day at the loch. Harry and Ron sported identical baggy knee length swim shorts. Harry's were red with white stripes down the side and Ron's were solid Irish Green. Both men wore t-shirts as well. Harry's was solid black and Ron's was Yellow with "Chudley Cannons" emblazoned across the chest. Ginny had a short beach wrap around her. It was covering a purple bikini. She just didn't want her parents to know... yet. She had an ornery grin decorating her pretty face.

"Young lady would did you do?" Molly quizzed as she stepped up beside Jean. She was wearing a pink... something. Frilly with white daisies adorning a bathing dress? Jean smothered a grin and glanced up at her daughter who did no such thing, she let out a loud guffaw.. "Ha-ha-ha..." Molly frowned and looked down at herself. Yes she was a bit plump, not too bad. At least Arthur didn't think so... She looked at her husband clad in identical colors and style as her son and asked, "Do I look alright?"

"You look delicious love."

The group looked up to see Rolanda Hooch descending from the second floor. Harry's eyes widened as he took in a truely beautiful woman. Dumbledore let out a whistle. Grinning, Hooch trotted the rest of the way. She was wearing baggy quiddich practice shorts and a bikini top exposing a surprisingly curvacious yet muscular figure. She stepped over to where Jean was standing. The muggle woman was looking at her with a slightly unfocused expression. Rolanda took in Jean's attire. A blue beach wrap, open in the front to reveal a modest black one piece swim suit. "You look very nice." The flying instructor said softly, her hawk-like eyes appreciating what she was seeing. Jean blushed and looked up at her daughter who was grinning madly. "Oh just be quite you brat." Chuckling, Hooch took in Dawn's situation and asked the question of the hour, "What did you do?"

"Something she should not have done!"

The group looked up to see Hermione and Minerva descending the stairs. Mouths dropped in open admiration and surprised awe. Hermione was wearing tight, cut-off denim short-shorts and a red bikini bra. "Wow..." Harry muttered only to be elbowed by Ginny. Dumbledore let out another wolf whistle, "This show just keeps getting better and better!" Hermione was gorgeous. Shapely hips, long legs, flat belly, cute belly-button and ample, rounded breasts. "Ohhhh my oh my.." Hooch mumbled only just realizing how heart-stoppingly beautiful Hermione Granger really was. All that lusciousness was reserved for only one person though...

Albus could not believe how striking Minerva was... "Holy Merlin woman... you are.. are.. Yowza!" A dark eyebrow raised skeptically and a sharp remark was heard, startling everyone into chuckles, "This from a man who looks like a cross between Santa Claus and a walking advertisment for gay pride." She was referring to his rainbow colored body suit.

Minerva was wearing snug dark blue gym shorts that came down to just over the tops of her well defined muscular thighs and showed off her long, sleek legs. She was also wearing a white tank top that emphasized an incredibly fit and toned set of shoulders and arms.

"Damn Harry, the Professor has bigger biceps than you!" Ron joked. Molly Weasley just stared... "Good God. I shall never upset her again!" Hooch grinned, "That's what forty years of quiddich will do for you!" Minerva smirked at her friend's remark and at the expressions of the gathered group's collective faces.

"There is nothing "Stick" about you!" Came a tiny voice from above. Dawn was flabergasted. Minerva looked good. Fantastic even. "I hope I look that good when I'm seventy-seven." Minerva waved her wand and Dawn gently dropped to the floor. "Thank you Minerva." That came from Jean who was very happy to have her daughter back with her feet planted firmly on the ground. The older witch nodded as Hermione stepped over to her sister, "Don't do that again." She warned. Dawn nodded vigorously, "Yes mam! Not again, not ever!" The young woman hid behind her mother. Peeking at Minerva over Jean's shoulder. Dumbledore stepped over to his best friend and asked quietly, "What exactly did she do?" Narrowing her eyes to cat-like slits, she glared at her "little sister" and muttered, "It wasn't what she did, it was what she interupted." Dumbledore giggled as full understanding flooded his mind. Minerva hissed at him as she moved over to Hermione.

The young witch stood in the center of the group with her hands on her lovely hips, "We've arranged for brunch to be served down by the loch. There's a patio with a bar-b-que and a nice gazebo that connects with the dock." She motioned everyone to the door, "Shall we?"

As the group left, Fiona McGonagall stated what everyone was thinking. "Even half naked she truely IS the Lady of the Manor."

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Harry Potter discreetly flexed his bicep muscles. Ron's joke rankled his male ego just a bit. He was standing behind the boat house where no one could see him... or so he thought.

A hearty chuckle found it's way to his ears causing him to blush and whirl around. Standing behind him was Rolanda Hooch. Grinning, she said, "Don't worry about it Love. She's played quiddich for forty years and... she's an active animagus. A cat mind you. Think about all the activity a cat on the prowl goes through." She smiled seeing Harry's mind focusing on her words, then added, "It's a bloody wonder she doesn't look muscle bound. She gets an enormous amount of physical exercise every day." She grinned mischieviously and leaned in whispering, "In addition to all that extra exertion she gets with Hermione..." Harry broke into laughter at Hooch's comment. He laughed so hard it brought tears to his eyes, "I never would've pegged the professor as a..." Hooch grinned and offered, " An active lover?" Harry nodded. Hooch smiled and glanced over to where Hermione was laying out next to Ginny Weasley catching some sun. "Hermione's quite the motivation."

Hermione had been surreptiously listening to their conversation. Grinning, she raised her head saying as she lowered her sunglasses, "Motivation indeed." Harry blushed and Rolanda chuckled as the younger witch rose to her feet and made her way over to them. Both Harry and Hooch noticed how deeply tanned Hermione had become. "Wow Hermione, you're so dark!" Harry exclaimed. Hermione snorted, "That's the one decent thing my dad did for me. He has mediterreanean genes. I don't burn, I tan." Poking Rolanda's pale shoulder, she noticed how red she'd gotten, "You should get some sun screen on before you burn worse than you already have." Winking, she added, "Ask my mum to put it on your back and shoulders." Hooch blushed deeply as Harry grinned. Having said that to Hooch, gave Hermione an idea, "Where's Minerva?" Harry pointed to the loch. "She's on the water side painting the edges closest to the loch." Hermione frowned, "Is she in the water?" Harry shook his head, "No, she pulled a small skiff out of the boat house." The young witch nodded and walked to the dock rail. Leaning over, she spied her partner's skiff at the edge of the boat house. "Minerva?"

Minerva McGonagall had been busily painting the lower edges of the wooden structure that housed Keegan's prized teek powerboat. There was a small sailboat that belonged to Angus housed inside as well. The skiff, she was standing in, had been in the family for generations. She, herself had taken it out punting many times as she grew up. It had been a few years though since the last time. As she slathered the magical paint over the aged boards, she wondered what everyone else was up to.

"Minerva?" She heard her partner call. "Yes?" Hermione's lovely head peeped around the rail side of the boat house. It was situated in such a way as two sides were attached to the dock. One side being the actual dock itself and one side being a small extension that had been built onto the dock specifically for the building. The other two sides were waterside. The first thing Minerva noticed was just how dark Hermione had gotten. "Merlin woman, you are as dark as a coffee bean!" Hermione grinned and pointed at her partner's pale skin, "Yes and you are getting sunburn. Come up here." She motioned for her partner to come up to the dock. Raising and eyebrow at the younger witch's order, Minerva sighed. Being the whipped witch that she was, she obeyed her younger lover's request... much to her chagrin.

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"Blimey Dad, I never realized just how rich the professor really is." Ron Weasley noted as he dipped his paint brush in his can of paint. Arthur Weasley nodded with a smile. "You'd never know it though. Minerva is not extravagant with her money. Not like the Malfoy's. The mention of the Malfoy's brought a frown to Ron's usually jovial face. Snorting, he said, "They'll never have her class!" Arthur nodded in agreement as he added more paint to the large door he was painting. That same door burst open mightily. "Whoa!" He exclaimed backing away, so not to be hit.

"Oops, sorry." Minerva said contritely. If she hadn't been so aggravated, she might've been a bit more careful. "Woman! You are getting so bossy!" She grumbled as she closed the door with a heave. Arthur and Ron glanced at each other, then back at Minerva. Hermione whipped around the corner saying huffily, "Fine. Burn then. But don't go whining to me when you can't snuggle because it hurts too much to move."

Hermione was right.

"Damn it!" Minerva growled. Arthur and Ron burst into delighted chuckles watching the two women snipe at each other. Both men followed at a discreet distance as Minerva followed Hermione down the dock towards shore.

"Where are you going for bloody sake?" Minerva groused, her voice rising slightly. Hermione whirled around, "I have to fetch the tanning lotion don't I?" She stood with her hands on her shapely hips, looking absolutely delicious. Minerva raised an eyebrow, knowing she was being stubborn, but not willing to let Hermione win... just yet. "Take off your shirt." The young witch ordered, as she turned back and headed to where her mother and Molly Weasley were sitting at a lovely patio set chatting over iced tea.

Minerva shook her head grumpily, but pulled her tank top off exposing her creamy skin to the sun... and two Weasley's.

"Merlin!"

"Wicked!"

The older witch was wearing a dark blue gym bra that matched her shorts. It was made to be worn during a workout and thus the two men weren't really seeing one of her "dainties". She turned to face the two men giving them a full view of Minerva McGonagall like they'd never seen before. Full breasts enclosed in a brief, but modest bra. Flat stomach, tight and packed abdominals. Powerful shoulders, toned arms that were showing evidence of sunburn. "Hermione's right." Arthur said, pulling himself out of his stare. "You're burning." Minerva looked down at the difference in color between her pale stomach and her red arms saying, "Oh bloody hell."

Hermione was right.

"Shit." She bitched, stomping after her partner. Arthur and Ron looked at each other and laughed.

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Jean Granger raised an inquisitive eyebrow as she witnessed the small spat between her daughter and Minerva. "Uh oh." She muttered nodding at her conversation partner. "Molly Weasley followed Jean's gaze down the dock. Hermione was gliding towards them looking so much like the Goddess of Fertility and behind her, a storm brewing, as the Goddess of War marched after her. As the two women got closer, Jean smiled as she listened to their conversation...

"I just don't want you to get burned that's all. Why are you being so cross?"

"I'm not cross!"

"Yes, you are!"

"NO I AM NOT!"

"Fine, whatever..."

"!!"

Jean chuckled and Molly flat out howled her laughter. Sooooo the golden couple were like every other couple in the world. They got on each other's nerves too! As Hermione stepped over to the table where the tanning lotion was, Jean took in Minerva's impressive physique. A shrill wolf whistle sounded from behind them where Albus Dumbledore sat spreading more of the lotion across Rolanda Hooch's back. Jean had offered to assist the flying instructor, but for some reason, Rolanda had blushed and asked Albus.

Minerva shot her best friend a death glare. "Hush you old nutter!" Hermione giggled behind her hand as Molly and Jean chortled merrily. Hermione approached her partner and lay a gentle hand on the powerful, but tense shoulder. "Sit down and I'll spread this over your back." Minerva frowned at her partner and simply stood there. Hermione shrugged her shoulders and muttered, "Fine. Do it yourself." With that she headed back towards the boat house.

Minerva growled deep in her throat and sank down on a chaise lounge. She felt a soft hand on her shoulder and whipped her head around into the gaze of unfamiliar chocolate brown eyes.

Jean's eyes.

"What's wrong?" Hermione's mother whispered gently. "I am so bloody whipped! That's what's wrong!" She roared. She heard soft laughter behind her as Albus said, "Oh but what a lovely witch to be whipped by." The small group gazed down to the end of the dock, where the young witch in question had propped a ladder against the boat house and was climbing up to paint along the under side of the roof overhang. She was dangerously close to the edge of the dock. It was a ten foot drop into the loch. A bit higher considering where Hermione was standing.

"She doesn't know how to swim." Jean muttered, her eyes closely watching her daughter. Minerva turned to the older Granger, "What??" Jean shook her head sadly, "John never thought it was necessary because we didn't live near water." Hooch snorted in disgust, "That's bloody brilliant logic!" Jean didn't reply, her eyes glued to her daughter. Minerva turned back to watch her beloved.

The young witch was muttering about a certain stubborn, pig-headed animagus as she reached out to cover one worn patch of unpainted wood. It was just beyond her reach, so she leaned out... stretching.

The group at the dock watched as the young witch reached out... stretching. Minerva stood watching warily, she began slowly moving towards her love. Jean, her eyes wide also stood. Hooch moved beside her. Dumbledore looked at Molly and both of them stood...

Stretching... reaching... Hermione leaned out too far and suddenly lost her balance.

"NO!!" Screamed her mother.

Minerva was off like a shot... running.

Harry, Ron, Dawn and Ginny looked up from where they'd been painting the wall opposite where Hermione was. They heard a bumping sound, a gasp and in the distance, Jean Granger screaming.

Hermione slipped off the ladder hitting her head on the dock rail. Knocked unconscious, she fell into the cold, deep water and sank out of sight.

In the distance, Shivon let out a mournful wail...

-To Be Continued

AN: Tell me what you think y'all. Remember, be nice. This old Tiger's fur isn't as thick as it used to be.