Chapter 27
"Now feel," Minerva quietly stated beside Hermione, left hand splayed out and her right one holding her wand. Hermione mimicked her and then a sheer violet light ebbed up from the stone, along their feet before drifting up to their hands.
"Has this always been here?" Hermione asked as the ethereal smoke brushed across her hand, leaving a gentle tingle in its wake.
"To the professors, yes."
"But I'm not…"
"I am. And you have been helping in the repairs," Minerva interrupted, "believing you are a professor or a person in trust."
"Because I'm here with you and helping?"
"Yes."
Hermione turned her head to take in Minerva's face, which at the moment was a picture of tranquil concentration – eyes closed, breaths coming out in a slow, measured fashion as the violet mist danced in front of her. "Is Hogwarts aware?"
"I believe so," Minerva said turning as her eyes opened, "now concentrate," she breathed in a deeper than normal contralto as her eyes pierced Hermione's whom they held for several seconds before Hermione closed her eyes once more. Minutes passed in silence, save for their respective breaths along and Hermione was about to ask what she was to focus on when she heard a slight ruffle. "Remain as you are, Hermione." And Hermione fought her innate curiosity to open her eyes and see what Minerva was doing, but then she heard steps behind her as two arms overlapped hers and she felt a body move against her own. "Now," Minerva had lowered her voice to a scant whisper as she breathed next to her ear, "remain focused on the wards lest they vanish as you open your eyes."
Hermione did as she had been instructed, and saw that the violet was surrounding their hands only. "I…don't understand."
"We are part of the wards. Momentarily tethered enabling us to expand and contract them as needed."
"Then why is it merely surrounding our hands?" Hermione asked.
"Our feet are the conduit connected to the wards, while our hands…"
"Expand or contract." Hermione finished. "And how do we expand the wards?"
"Place your hands atop mine, from the inside."
"What about my wand?"
"Leave it in your hand, and just rest your hand atop mine."
Hermione paused only a moment, and then did as she was told; realizing immediately that while Minerva had moved behind her, with her arms above Hermione's – she hadn't been touching her. Because as soon as Hermione's hand touched Minerva's, she felt an intense charge jolt through first her left and then her right as she placed it atop Minerva's. "Is that…supposed to feel like that?"
"It's the wards connecting us." Minerva breathed in a strained whisper, "Though this is the first time it has been that, strong."
"And when we separate from Hogwarts, will we still be connected?"
"No," Minerva answered, voice returning to normal. "Now, begin by lifting your arm up and…"
oxox
Hermione stepped from the bathroom with her robe tied about her waist into an empty room with a solitary candle burning by her room. She quietly moved to her room, opened the door to find her lamp lite but otherwise it was empty. Casting a glance over her shoulder, she absently banished her clothes to the hamper and then with a wave vanquished the candle in the living room before pushing the door partially close. At once, she let her gaze scan across the tombs of books; and after several minutes, she stopped reading and merely closed her eyes and reached up drawing a thin spinned book from the shelf. Because if she were to read all the titles, she'd never decide which one to start with – there were simply too many she wanted to read.
She opened her eyes to see which book she'd be reading this evening, and she felt her smile from her day widen as she read the title, 'Elemental Transfiguration', by Rowena Ravenclaw.
Pulling the blankets and covers down, she set her book on the table before untying her robe and tossing it on the end of the bed. Adjusting the flame on the lamp, she set her wand on the nightstand and within minutes was devouring the first chapter – to geared up to sleep after the day she'd had, and the book resting in her hands.
At the sound of a strange noise, she paused; listening to see if she heard the sound once more – but after several strained moments, Hermione's eyes moved back to her reading, noting that she was now on page 45. But at a second noise, Hermione sat upright; setting the book down as she grasped her wand while standing and opening the door. As soon as she opened the door, she immediately placed the noise for what they were – soft whimpers coming from Minerva's room. Despite not wanting to intrude, Hermione moved across the expanse and at the next soft cry, she gently pushed open the door to see the shadowy form shifting and then tossing and turning along the covers. Swallowing her own doubt, she quickly covered the distance setting her wand on the nightstand and then gently setting on the edge of the bed…
"…no…" Minerva rasped and Hermione didn't wait a moment longer as she placed her hand on Minerva's shoulder, the effect was immediate. "…lia?" Minerva blinked as she turned over.
"It's Hermione, you were having a bad dream."
"I'm fine." Minerva replied, voice rough from sleep as she went to shift away but felt the weight of the bed shift.
"No you're not." Hermione breathed as she shifted and carefully tucked her arm around Minerva's waist, trying not to feel uncomfortable at what she was doing. "You're exhausted."
"Hermione, I…can't…"
She interrupted Minerva as she breathed into the darkness, "For one night, you can let your guard down." She continued on as she tightened her arm around Minerva's waist, "I'm here." Her voice partially cracked as she continued on, "I'm here."
Xoxo
a/n: :) Good news - spent several hours writing on this story this past weekend, so there will be quite a few more updates coming. I'd very much like to have this story along with Deceiving Appearances and An Accident completed prior to the New Year so I can focus and finish Bonding by mid-next year.