Chapter 32
Minerva didn't notice Hermione's presence, her mind on the stairwell as she focused the whole of her concentration on repairing the first set of stairs. She had removed the debris three days before, and while she hadn't managed to make any progress yesterday – Hermione had. The entire wall structure to the Great Hall had been repaired as had the wall surrounding the stairwell.
Minerva twisted, flicked and arced her wand as she summoned the whole of her magic to shift the staircase, morph…and as her eyes zeroed in on the dried blood along the edge of the forth step, her concentration shifted and she could feel her spell caving, "AHHHHHHHHHHH," Minerva screamed out as she pushed the spell to hold, the weight of the spell sapping what remained of her lessened reserves, but still it was buckling. Then she felt a flurry of magic sweep past her waist and then join her magic, lifting the staircase upwards as part of the bottom three rows of steps collapsed onto the flagstone.
"Would you rather I hold the stairs or repair the bottom of the stairs?" Hermione asked as she stepped closer to Minerva.
Minerva glanced sideways, a smile passing over her features. "If you are asking, then I'll let you hold the stairs."
Hermione chuckled, "Figures." She quipped, "And good morning to you too."
Minerva didn't reply as she shifted her focus, the broken stone instantly snapping off the floor as she heated the rock and with a series of wand movements, it morphed into place as a bead of sweet dripped down her cheek from her temple, "Can you hold it for another few minutes?"
Hermione didn't trust her voice, the charm having become exceptionally harder without Minerva's assistance but with effort she managed a strained, "Yes."
Minerva had already begun the second transfiguration, molting the stone and as she finished; another spell leapt from her wand and she assisted in lowering the staircase back down. "Thank you, and good morning." Wiping her brow with her arm, she turned to Hermione, "Have you eaten yet?"
Hermione shrugged, "Yes, but not enough chocolate for what obviously awaits the rest of the day."
Oxox
The sun had set hours prior, as it was close to ten when they finished warding the main staircase. Minerva lifted her gaze upwards, loathing the notion of climbing seven flights of steps this evening. "Here," Minerva reached out and took Hermione's hand and with the last of her strength apparated them to her rooms, and fell backward onto her bed, exhausted.
"You'll have to teach me how you apparate within Hogwarts," Hermione jibbed as she sat next to Minerva's form on her bed, "can I get you anything?"
"No," Minerva murmured, "I'm fine."
"If you fall asleep like that, you'll be anything but fine come tomorrow morning." Hermione found her eyes trailing along Minerva's jaw, lips and then pulling them up to see the circles beneath her eyes, "You're still exhausted and probably will be for several weeks before you fully recover; and you need your sleep."
With effort, Minerva sat up blinking tired eyes open to a momentarily blurry image of the young woman badgering her, "I'm up."
"You're sure?"
Minerva absently withdrew her hair pins, "Goodnight, Hermione."
Hermione nodded and stood herself, "Night Minerva." And then began to extinguish the sconces along the wall, only leaving the one by her bed before departing Minerva's room and taking a minute to ward the main room's door. She paused, fingers along the lip of her door; eyes pausing on Minerva's door as her thoughts reverted to the woman behind the barrier. Somewhere during the past several days, having been afforded the privilege of seeing more of Minerva and less of the Hogwarts Professor, her concern had morphed as the nature of their friendship grew – and she couldn't help but feel, worried.
Oxox
Minerva finally paused as she finished sealing a letter to Madame Curry as she glanced to the clock and felt a frown pulling along her lips as she noted that it has close to eleven. She had meant to be done prior to nine, having started in well before the sun's rise; but having neglected the Headship's duties for the past several days had resulted in more work than she had realized awaited her.
Banishing the small stack of letters to the owlery, she stood feeling her lower back catch from having sat so long. "Serves me right," she muttered as she stretched for a moment before moving to the gargoyle, thoughts on where Hermione was working and why she hadn't stopped by as she had asked.
Twenty minutes later, Minerva opened the hasp to her chambers; eyes scanning the area to find it eerily quiet, much like the whole of Hogwarts, save for the soft snores emanating from the room to her left – Hermione's room.
Knowing that the woman beyond had been and was as equally tired as herself, she quietly left her to sleep.
Xoxo
a/n: Happy Saturday.