Chapter 36

Minerva's brow furrowed as the door handle turned, hand already moving to her wand when Hermione's distinct outline stepped through. "Hey," Hermione said at seeing Minerva, "I…uh, sorry I didn't notice you leave St. Mungos earlier."

"I'm actually surprised you came back here versus spending the evening with your friends."

Hermione carefully closed the door behind her, "I…" she met Minerva's gaze, "love being around Ron, Harry, Ginny and the rest of the Weasley's, but I need some space for a little while too. Space without someone hounding me to talk about what happened, and to believe that everything is suddenly been put right. That is, if that's still alright?" She suddenly felt concern that Minerva would ask her to leave, "Me being here?"

Minerva felt a sliver of light break through the darkness that had almost shrouded her heart, "Yes." Minerva answered while quietly adding, "It's probably good for me too." She forced the words to be a little a louder, "For me not to be alone."

"Well then," Hermione strode into the living room trying to ignore the emotionally charged room, "now that that is settled," she smiled while moving to the far edge of the chesterfield, "Helena stated she'd be reversing the charm in the morning, and that she and the staff would know if it was successful after two days."

"Helena is confident that there won't be any negative effects from the reversal."

"Do you…" Hermione fought back the worry as she asked, "know her? Helena?" She expanded, "Is she a good healer?"

A rich laugh slipped off Minerva's lips, "Yes, I do know her. And have for a longtime. She's a talented healer who knows her limitations. If she stated that there shan't be any side effects with the reversal, you can rest easy Hermione. Your parents shall be fine come Tuesday."

Hermione let her lip slip from her teeth's grip as she nodded, "How do you know Helena?"

"She a friend whom I've known since our days at Hogwarts; though do to trying to remain able to treat those coming to St. Mungos we have not seen much of the other for the past three years. As she had to ensure remaining distant to any perceived members of the Order; lest she not be able to treat all those that came into the hospital."

"I don't see how remaining neutral would be assistive, rather their ambivalence towards Voldemort enabled him to…"

"If she hadn't acted as she did," Minerva interrupted, "I'd have died the night of Umbridge's attack as Voldemort's healers would not have saved me. She did, and ensured my room was warded to prevent a second attack, almost costing her her own life the following morning. It wasn't all black and white regarding who was on whose side; and never shall be."

"Except the Death Eaters, which I saw," Hermione leaned back, "in this morning's prophet two were killed last night in a skirmish just outside Edinburgh," her voice trailing off as she finished upon seeing a wave of sorrow wash over Minerva's face, "leaving five left." Brown eyes scanned over Minerva's features and felt her breath hitch, "Oh, my God; the other person who died…you knew him." She watched Minerva's eyes momentarily drop as her jaw rippled, "The letter last night…someone was informing you…" Hermione watched as Minerva seemed to shrink into herself as she quietly finished asking the harrowing question, "who was he…to you?"

Several seconds passed before Minerva finally lifted her gaze back to Hermione, and then slowly she stood and seemed to glide across the expanse until she was standing beside the window that overlooked the grounds.

Hermione watched Minerva stop, face silhouetted against the evening's light; and she felt the sudden need to somehow restore the hope that her question had sapped from the room. Standing, she moved around the chesterfield and quietly stepped behind Minerva, noticing that her hands were trembling as she hesitantly reached out – fingers shaking as she took another step closer and laid them along Minerva's waist. "I'm here." She breathed as she fought her own nervousness and wrapped her arms completely around Minerva, hugging her from behind. She ignored the way Minerva's body had gone rigid or the way she momentarily seemed to try and wrench away; and didn't relinquish her hold on Minerva as she breathed, "I've got you." She pulled Minerva closer to her as she softly repeated, "I've got you." And finally, Hermione felt the tension begin to leave Minerva's body as she eased into her embrace. And Hermione closed her eyes on her own tears as Minerva rasped a reply in return.

"I know."

xoxo

a/n: For those who are still reading, thank you :) and hope you are enjoying!