A/N: Well, here it is, almost a year since I started posting. But those who wait and all that crap. Hope you'll like it.

Disclamier: Miss Rowling owns Harry Potter. I own an obsession with Minerva.

---

The Rose Never Weakens

Chapter 3, Dream Revealed

The first thing Minerva saw when she opened her eyes was Hermione's beautiful smile. Realizing she must have dozed off, she slowly sat up and blinked to the sunlight.

Hermione's smile grew even wider.

"I never imagined how beautiful you are when you're asleep", she stated with an amused chuckle.

It wasn't until then that Minerva remembered.

She had just worked up the courage to tell Hermione about her dream, when the young attractive woman suddenly had grabbed her and started kissing her. And before she knew it, she had Hermione's delicate weight on her and they were making out in the grass of the hillside overlooking the loch.

Minerva rubbed her face in her hands.

"You too", she smiled with a mischievous grin.

Tilting her head, Hermione regarded the older woman.

"How do you know what I look like when I'm asleep?" she queried.

Smiling even wider, Minerva raised her hand to caress Hermione's cheek.

"Because I checked up on you last night, my sweet. Just as I gently have treaded through the Gryffindor dormitories so many nights before last."

My sweet, Hermione thought to herself, she thinks I'm sweet! Then she realized what Minerva just had said.

"You checked up on me?" she asked, almost dumbfounded. "Why?"

Smiling, Minerva allowed herself to draw her fingers through Hermione's hair.

"Do I really need a reason for checking that you really are here? That I'm not alone anymore?"

Hermione immediately took both of Minerva's hands in hers.

"Minerva, I am here," she said eagerly. "And being here with you, knowing you return my feelings…" her voice trailed off and for a moment she just sat there, thoughts running trough her head. When she spoke again, it was with the same eager tone.

"I love you, and now that I'm finally allowed to do just that, I'm not going to let the chance slip away". Softening her tone a bit, she added: "I'll never leave you."

The sudden squeeze she got from Minerva's hands told her that her suspicions had been right.

"That's what you're afraid of, isn't it?" she simply stated. "That you will lose me."

Minerva suddenly felt a lump in her throat. Not trusting her voice, all she could do was nod sadly.

With a silent sigh, Hermione shifted her position and looked a Minerva.

"Ok" she said. "What makes you think I will leave you?"

The sudden bluntness caught Minerva off guard. Looking out over the mythic loch, she took a deep breath.

"Because I had a … somewhat unsettling dream last night," she finally admitted.

"What about?" Hermione straightforwardly asked.

Feeling restless, Minerva rose and with folded arms she stood gazing out over the loch.

"It was about the future. And in that future you would decide to spend you life with someone else, because what you feel for me now…" Minerva's words where caught in her throat. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to finish.

"Because what you feel for me now is only a stupid teenage crush". Subconsciously, Minerva realized she had quoted her own dream. Consciously, she closed her eyes and fought the tears.

Hermione watched the display with mixed feelings. One of them was panic. How in Merlin's name was she supposed to react to this, let alone respond?

After what felt like an eternity, Minerva heard Hermione rising and standing next to her.

"I can't promise you what will happen in the future" Hermione said, watching the lake. "There is no magic in this world that can, even though Sybil Trelawney might disagree with you."

Minerva couldn't stop herself from chuckling.

Still not looking at Minerva, Hermione took the older woman's hand in her and continued.

"But I can tell you what I wish. And what I wish is to be with you for the rest of my life". Smiling a bit she added;" When I close my eyes, I see what I want in the future."

"And what do you want?" Minerva almost rasped. Damn, she was a grown woman and was supposed to be able to control herself. But for some reason, love makes people behave strange, no matter what age you are.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione started telling Minerva about the things she had spent so many nights fantasizing about.

"I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to have breakfast with you on the patio of the house I want us to hopefully own one day. I want to have romantic dinners with you, with soft music, candle lights and roses all over the table. And I want to whisper sweet words to you in the dark of the night as you fall asleep in my arms."

Both women looked at each other, and on cue, bot women embraced.

"Do you ever think of the age difference between us?" Minerva managed to ask.

"Constantly."

"You do?!"

The total look of panic Minerva displayed almost made Hermione laugh.

"Yes of course" Hermione gave her love a reassuring smile. "I know just how much older you are, and I feel such a pride and admiration for how strong, vital and most of all; beautiful you are today."

Smiling at Minerva's sudden blush, Hermione continued.

"And I know your impressive strength may not last long, but I intend to make that time count. And when age takes over your body I hope to be the one standing by you, protecting you, holding on to you with everything I have…"

Hermione's words faded when tears silently started spilling from Minerva's eyes and a gentle sob was caught in the older woman's throat. As Hermione reached up to wipe the tears from Minerva's cheeks, she was caught in a tight embrace by a gently weeping Minerva. For by now, the older witch couldn't rein herself anymore.

Through the tears and tender sobs, a single sentence was heard.

"I love you so much Hermione!"

----

So what should happen next? I have a few ideas, anyone who wants me to continue?

Only one way to let me know...