Chapter 15

Hermione dropped the book into her lap as Minerva jerked awake, bolting upright…eyes trying to focus on her whereabouts as her right hand came up to her temple while her left cradled her stomach.

"Easy." Hermione whispered.

Without so much as an acknowledgement, Minerva transfigured and her tabby form darted to her personal rooms and not even four seconds later she could hear the very distinct sound of someone vomiting. Hermione immediately threw the cover off, following the wretched noise to see the pitiful sight of Minerva sitting on the floor; head leaning against the vanity, fingers upon the lip of the commode. Sweat rolling down her pale forehead, her breathing labored…and Hermione was surprised to hear her voice, albeit hoarse, break across the air.

"That is far enough, Hermione."

She hadn't cracked open her eyes, hadn't moved…was still sitting with her head propped up along the burly chestnut wood and she had known who was here. It was impressive. Incredibly…had the situation not been so sad. "I'm only here to help." Hermione quietly uttered as she kneeled.

"I'm fine." Came the terse reply, and had Hermione not been looking directly at her; she would have believed her. But…she was and couldn't just walk away after all the woman not even two meters away from her had done for her…for Hogwarts, for Britain.

"You will be." Hermione softly rebuked, drawing the first movement she had seen as an eye cracked open.

Minerva swallowed…in part her pride, as her raspy lilt covered the scant distance between them. "Please…leave me…Hermione. I'll be fine."

Hermione found herself at a crossroads; to do what she asked or to ignore her. And…the student who attended Hogwarts for six years wanted to flee; the woman who had seen far too much suffering this past year…couldn't and wouldn't leave no matter how much of her truly wanted to. "Perhaps…after you've taken a few potions and you've eaten a bit."

Hermione watched as the knuckles in her fingers became momentarily whiter as Minerva went to push herself upright; but quickly altered her direction, as she lunged forward…stomach retching again. Hermione stepped in, pulling her hair out of her face as Minerva emptied the paltry remains of her stomach.

"Please…" Minerva's voice sounding broken as she remained unmoving, fingers white knuckled…sweat dripping off her brow, as she took in labored breaths. "Leave."

Hermione's fingers let go the soft, silky strands; and reached around the woman's slight frame; and flushed the toilet as she answered. "No." She stood, "Do you have any potions in here to stop vomiting and to treat a hangover?" She stepped around Minerva, eyes quickly scanning the shelving.

Minerva let go of the toilet seat, her head resting on the vanity. "The…cabinet behind the mirror."

Hermione's fingers went to pull the mirror from the wall, like the medicine cabinet in her parents' home; but it didn't budge. Frowning, she tried again. "How do I open it?"

"Magic." She breathed raspily as she willed her stomach to remain at bay.

Hermione pulled her wand from her sleeve and cast a vanishing spell and was surprised to see hundreds of bottles littering the shelves. "Which one?"

"Second from the bottom…right side."

At once, she pulled the bottle and read that it was indeed an anti-vomiting potion. "Here." She unscrewed the cap before handing it to Minerva. "And a hangover potion?"

Minerva upended the bottle, hating the bitter tang residue, her stomach already recoiling from the foul taste. "Somewhere on the bottom to the right."

Hermione scanned the names, wondering how often Minerva needed to be treated for a cure of Dragon Pox or growing sinew; but she was the Head of Gryffindor and Deputy…correction, Headmistress of Hogwarts so who knew what she had need to treat over the course of a school year. A cobalt vile had the designated name and she handed it to Minerva.

Upon drinking it, Minerva felt marginally better. At least her head was no longer pounding as loudly as a Centaur's drum, but…she was far from fine. Although, she was not about to tell that to Granger…Hermione, she inwardly corrected as she willed her body to stand and…to her utter dismay, she felt a pair of hands beneath her arms along her back helping her to stand. "I'm not an invalid." Minerva snapped, temper as raw as her stomach.

"No one said you were." Hermione carefully removed her hands, as she cast a glance to the mirror; to see the deep black circles still prevalent beneath green eyes, sunken cheeks and ashen white skin. "How long have you not been sleeping?" She carefully asked, as Minerva splashed some cool water on her face.

Minerva paused, glancing up with a slight narrowing of her eyes to see Hermione's reflection staring at her own as droplets of water ran off her face. With a defeated sigh, she repeated the process. "I honestly don't know the last time I slept the whole of the night." Wandlessly she summoned the small towel to dab her face dry, "Before Albus passed, I suppose."

Hermione had migrated to the door frame, head turned away so as to not make Minerva anymore uncomfortable with what had transpired as she rinsed out her mouth. "And how long have you not been getting any sleep?"

Minerva rinsed her mouth out again before answering, not inclined to divulge anymore than she already had. "Hermione," She carefully turned around, fingers holding the edge of her vanity as she met the younger woman's steadfast gaze. "I do appreciate your…assistance, however, I will be fine."

"As you've stated, multiple times." Hermione felt her resolve cracking as she wanted to turn, flee and forgo the rest of the conversation; but…her feet remained unmoving as her throat clenched and heart beat faster as the last of her thoughts slipped heavily from her lips. "But, somehow, I don't think that is quite true."

Long seconds slipped by as murky emerald eyes defiantly stared back, trying to partially mask the depths of her fatigue, pain and loneliness…if only for five more minutes, and she would be alone. Better not to trust, than to find herself…equally as isolated as she was now but with the fresh loss of another friend. "I do apologize for my state upon your arrival, and I thank you for your assistance, but I am fine. And you are free to leave and apologize for any inconvenience I caused."

She was so formal. So…Headmistress McGonagall…that Hermione could no longer justify her remaining, even though she knew she should. Something was out of place, but she didn't know the woman before her well enough. And…she wondered if anyone knew her well enough, especially after Dumbledore's death. "If you need anything, please let me know."

Minerva felt a burst of relief spread through her, despite her wavering vision and strength. She merely had to maintain for minutes at best. Summoning in the depths of her person, she found the tenacity to remain upright. "Thank you." Minerva forced herself to move forward and out of her bathroom, fingers lightly brushing along the wall and then door frame to help her keep her balance if necessary. "Perhaps if you are available in two weeks when we begin rebuilding…"

Hermione nodded, "I already was planning on it." She turned her head to the side, noting that the elder woman's face had grown paler in the ten steps they had taken, and she stopped. "Why do you push people away?" She asked before she even realized what she was doing.

If the situation had been different, their respective expressions of shock at her question would have been priceless. Minerva's…out of the brashness of the young woman's question; Hermione's…that the question had been given form from her lips. Both women momentarily stood there, undulated shock leeching off both their faces. However, Minerva, due to her countless years as a Professor and surviving three wars…had left her with the skill to recover with the speed of her animagus and…with seeming ease she replied. "I do not push people away, Hermione." She softly continued, "However, I do like my privacy."

In for a knut…in for a galleon…Hermione decided, as she dove ahead. "And after I leave, who will you seek out? That wasn't one too many drinks, Minerva…" She stepped incrementally closer to her, cadence soft but unyielding. "That was one too many bottles. From the circles lining your eyes, the paler of your skin, the slightness of your frame and the lack of spark in both your voice and eyes…you need a respite and time with friends because whatever has happened this year; has taken a toll upon you."

"Assuredly a respite is needed, however…that is not an option." Murky green eyes became laced with sorrow, "Now, if you will forgive me, I am tired and…" She didn't bother try and continue to walk Hermione from her chambers as the potions, adrenaline, alcohol and fatigue coalesced…she veered towards her bed. "Please see yourself out." She pulled the blanket back, only to feel someone else's presence behind her. "Hermione…" She went to turn but felt a hand stay her movements.

"You'll want to change before you lie down, you'll feel better."

Minerva didn't turn around, "I plan to."

Hermione went to interject, she didn't see how Minerva was going to change clothes as no others were present, but Minerva eased into onto the mattress and she felt herself blush as she realized what Minerva meant…as the long lines of her back could clearly be seen. She had banished her top and who knew what else, as Minerva pulled the covers up, hiding all but the back of her shoulders from view. There were so many things that she wanted to ask, wanted to push on about, wanted her to answer…but now was not the time, so she pushed her own wants aside for the moment. "Do you need anything else?" She softly inquired to her back.

Minerva gripped the pillow under her right arm tighter, answering a bit too honestly, but at the moment she didn't care. She was too tired. "Just one night of sleep, without hearing their screams or seeing their faces…"

"I can stay…" Hermione began.

"I'll be fine." Minerva tiredly interjected, the first vestiges of sleep already lining her voice. "Always…am."

Hermione opened her mouth, but just felt her jaw drop farther open at the heartfelt, quiet…albeit probably still mildly drunk statement was brokenly spoken aloud.

"Even…when burying half of world, my students…friends…family…walk away…not a scratch. But…took my students lives…for my own… Not a - sc..tch." Her breathing began leveling off as the last of her words died away, "No – . Have ta thank Herm..ne. Cares…ta much…b…..ful…eyes."

Xoxo

I know…I know. I thought, silly me, that work had slowed down. I couldn't have been more wrong. Hence, the lack of updates. However, the moderately good news is that I do have almost half of the next chapter of Bonding written and am actually off today. So…you may even get an update on that by the end of the weekend too.

As always, hope you enjoyed & thanks for taking time to leave me a note.