As soon as they entered the doorway of The Burrow, they were bombarded. A chorus of congratulations as they were surrounded by people, and an array of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes zoomed through the room, causing many bumped heads and awkward one-armed hugs.
"So!" George bellowed as he grabbed Hermione in a crushing headlock. "As an official sponsor, do I get a sneak preview?"
"Excuse me, as an official husband, I think that I should be in with the first look!"
As the troupe of women, plus George, Ron, Harry, Arthur, Neville and Luna finally made it to the living room and accio-ed a glass of champagne each, Molly turned to her son.
"No sneaky peaks for anyone until Friday, the grand launch!" she turned to her husband and added with a sneaky wink. "Except for you. Maybe later."
This time, Ginny's groan was magnified tenfold as Ron and George joined in.
"What about me?" Harry whispered in her ear. Ginny eyed her mother and seized her chance.
"Oh Harry," she giggled loudly, preening against him. "It's nothing you haven't seen before, sweetie!"
The room spluttered into silence. Ron and George were staring death at Harry, who had turned as pale as his arch nemesis had been. Molly rounded on the pair faster than Harry had ever seen anyone move.
"What. Did. She. Say?" she asked, each word becoming more silent, yet crystal clear.
Harry held up his hands; Hermione was amused to see his knees shaking.
"Mrs. Weasley, honestly I...she...we...I mean...shit!" the last word came out as a mere squeak, and after exchanging an amused grin with Rolanda, Ginny finally decided to let him off the hook.
"Joke, mum! Now you know how it's felt to be me the last day or so!"
Harry almost fell to his knees in relief as Ron and George rolled their eyes and turned away. It took a few longer seconds before Molly swatted her daughter none too gently.
"Ginevra Weasley, you shall be the death of me!" the look she gave Harry was back to its normal affectionate self, but he realised that in future he wouldn't ever need to remind himself to not overly touch Ginny in front of any of them. Especially seeing as Mr. Weasley still had something of a dubious scowl on his face.
Hermione, taking pity on him, cleared her throat.
"Everyone, I just want to say now, while it's just us, that I really am so grateful to you all for saying yes in the first place...it's been one of the best experiences of my life, being with all of you...I can honestly say that I wouldn't know what to do without any of you. Thank you."
Everyone raised their glasses, silent for a moment; Molly looking at Hermione and Ginny, pride evidently pouring from her; Hermione smiling gently, catching everyone's eyes, finally resting on Minerva's.
"Thank you, Hermione." Minerva said softly, and the rest of the women held their breath as Hermione went to move towards Minerva.
"AHEM!"
Hermione and Minerva jumped, the moment of whatever it could have been gone. Hermione laughed as six pairs of irritated eyes (Sybil was intently studying her champagne) rounded on George.
"Crikey, I haven't even opened my mouth yet!" he said jokingly as Ginny whacked him in the stomach.
"Men!" Pomona huffed. "Flippin' oblivious, the lot of 'em!"
"I'm sorry, George." Hermione laughed, once again raising her glass. "To Mr. George Weasley, proprietor of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, secondary sponsor and advertiser of The Calendar Witches!"
"Thank you, thank you." He took a bow as his mother rolled her eyes. "Now why the bloody hell did you hit me?" he turned to Ginny, who looked between Minerva and Hermione.
"Felt like." she said, smiling.
"Women!" he huffed. "Never understand 'em!"
As the day wore on, more alcohol was consumed, and Molly's marvellous cooking sampled continuously, Rolanda having been banished to the garden to 'create havoc with the gnomes' whilst Molly occupied the kitchen, the conversation got more excitable.
Sybil and Luna were ensconced in a corner; they had already discussed the pros and cons of Nargles, and Luna was now describing the intricacies of her latest adornment, a string of suspiciously tomato-shaped objects around her neck, in the same calm, aloof manner that she'd always used. Hermione smiled as she watched them, her fondness of Luna having grown exponentially throughout the last year, although the girl was still evidently full of surprises. She had never quite gotten over her dislike of Sybil Trelawney, but it had faded to more of a general annoyance, a feeling that she seemed to evoke in almost everyone who knew her, so Hermione had let go of her guilt.
"I believe I have reached a new level of fondness for Miss Lovegood. Anyone who can keep Sybil enraptured in conversation enough to stay away from the whiskey has my unending respect."
Hermione turned to smile at Minerva.
"Even if they are discussing Crumpled Snorckack horns and the divine qualities of humpa-ringed protectulons. More commonly known as tomato vines."
Minerva quirked an eyebrow at the pair.
"Yes, well...I didn't say I'd understand it, merely appreciate it."
"You should appreciate her." Hermione said, suddenly serious. "I know she comes across as...well...a bit loopy, to be frank, but she notices things that often no one else does. Important things. Feelings. And she gives friendship without asking for anything in return. She's happy because she doesn't think she is owed anything by anyone, so she's free. Free enough to make her own choices without influence."
Minerva studied Hermione's face, her eyes sparkling with passion. Well, passion and champagne.
"I know. She certainly is an exceptional individual." Minerva replied softly, no trace of sarcasm in her voice. She took a deep breath before continuing. "And what about you, Hermione? Are you free enough to make your own choices without influence?"
Minerva's face and body betrayed nothing, but in her eyes Hermione could see the trace of anxiousness.
"Minerva," she began quietly, taking her arm and shepherding her to a quieter corner of the living room. "I am alive in part because of you...because of Harry, Ron, Neville, Luna...Dobby, Fred, Tonks...everyone who sacrificed and risked their lives throughout Voldermort's rise and power. So are you. I remember that and am thankful for it every day, but that knowledge would not force me into decisions out of a sense of gratitude or guilt. I know I was your student, Minerva, and I know that must make you feel a trace of guilt, or awkwardness. But I'm not looking to pursue a relationship with you out of some warped sense of loyalty, or because I'm thankful and feel obligated, or because I'm afraid of moving on. I think you're utterly and completely beautiful, inside and out, and every time I see you my heart beats faster and I think I fall in love with you just a little bit more every time. That said, if you don't believe me, or if you can't move past...the past...then I understand, and I respect you and what I hope is our friendship enough to not pursue it. My choice is my own, Minerva. As is yours."
Despite the calm tone that she'd managed to maintain, Hermione inwardly trembled. Then Minerva smiled softly at her, green eyes shining with warmth.
"Hermione...I..."
"GAH! Just kiss her already!"
Minerva spun around, and almost blanched at what seemed like a sea of expectant faces, every pair of eyes screaming 'YES!' at Rolanda's shouted comment. Luna looked on smiling vacantly, as if she'd known all along, even before they'd known themselves, and had no idea why there was so much fuss.
The men; Harry, Arthur, George, Ron and Neville, seemed all at once bemused and perplexed.
"Kiss her?" Ron hissed. "Why the bloody he-ohm."
The air left his lungs as Hermione took Minerva's hand and pulled her in to brush her lips against her own. Then their eyes met and they crashed together in the most searingly hot kiss that all the occupants of the room, save Rolanda, had ever seen.
A loud chorus of wolf-whistles finally broke them apart, grinning giddily, blushing profusely and breathing heavily.
"Molly," Arthur leaned in to get closer to his wife. "A little something you forgot to tell me, hmm?"
Molly smiled.
"Oh, Arthur. You know Minerva. Almost took the Imperius curse to get her to let her hair down, once, never mind admit her feelings. I didn't like to jinx the baby steps."
"I'd say that was one giant toddler foot she used there." George interjected. He swatted Ron over the head, causing his already pink ears to darken further. "Whassamatter, brother?" he asked with an evilly innocent tone.
"They...Hermione...McGonagall...Herm...McBloodyGonagall?" Ron's voice became higher and higher, until even Harry had to grin at his friend.
Hermione approached her friends slowly, almost hesitantly. She still held Minerva's hand until Rolanda dragged her off.
"Come on, McBloodyGonagall, let's get you a stiff drink...it might take the edge off the stiffness of other parts, if ya get me!" she winked at Minerva, who even through her continuous blush managed a thoroughly disgusted look.
"You." She said, taking the proffered glass from Poppy. "Are a thoroughly corrupt character, and if my mother were alive, she would not permit me to stay friends with you. As it happens, she's not, so I just want to say thank you, for poking and prodding in all the right places – wait!" Minerva held up her hand, "I'll rephrase that, don't run with it – for giving me the push I needed to 'get over myself.' Even if it was in your own, shall we say inimitable way."
Rolanda grinned. "Inimitable? Another word for 'charming'?"
Pomona snorted. "About as charming as Hagrid after six buckets of homemade mead."
The light bickering continued as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny made their way outside.
Ginny looked from Harry, to Ron, to Hermione, and after a moment, burst out laughing.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" she laughed at Hermione's indignant look. "But you just snogged Minerva McGonagall and now you look like you'd rather be facing a herd of stampeding Hippogriffs than us!"
Harry grinned.
"Well," he said, thinking back over the last few years. "It's not like it's totally surprising is it? I mean, you're like two Snargaluff pods! And if you've been giving each other looks like that, well, I can only say that you don't seem to need any good luck wishes from me! Not that it won't take a little getting used to...you know...I mean...well, you know."
Hermione let out a breath.
"Yes, I know. But thank you."
Ron seemed unable to make a sound. Harry tapped him on the back mock sympathetically.
"I...you...McGonagall?" his squeak was seemingly permanent.
"Minerva and I, yes, hopefully." Hermione answered, staring expectantly at Ron, willing him to understand. He regarded her with his unique brand of facial expressions, before settling on a rather odd mixture of baffled, happy, embarrassed and disgust.
"Well...I mean. Hopefully, then, you'll be happy. You know. As far as...McGonagall. But don't go sharing any details, ok? I don't think I can stretch that far."
Hermione squealed and threw herself into his arms.
"Thank you thank you." She breathed.
Finally smiling, albeit as he rolled his eyes, he hugged back.
"Should I already be acting the jealous partner?"
Minerva's voice came floating from the doorway as she moved to join the gang. Ron turned pale and he hastily dropped his arms. When Minerva quirked her brow, he took a step back, and let out a little noise that Harry assumed was meant to be a 'no' rather than a squeak.
"Good. Because as I recall, I am infinitely more practiced in the art of Transfiguration than you. I would hate for you to have to wait for a princess to come along and kiss you before you turn back into human form."
She took Hermione's hand, and after a moment of watching the horror play over Ron's face, everyone burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, Ronald. It was too easy to resist. Are you coming back in?"
Hermione and Minerva led the way, with Ron hanging back behind Ginny.
"Mental. What have I always told you? Completely barking, that one." He shook his head, his voice as quiet as he could manage, but his face held a look of pure awe.
"I don't know about barking, but one will certainly be purring at some point, I'm sure."
Ron groaned loudly. He really was too easy, Ginny thought with a smirk. This coming year was going to be quite some fun.
How exciting, I cannot WAIT until July...no, not the calendar, the film, part 2!