Chapter 38

Hermione gently reached forward, touching the area along her temple where the hex had struck her. "Can you feel this?"

"No." Minerva breathed in reply.

She moved her fingers into the edge of her hair, "Here?"

"No."

She shifted her fingers again, "Here?"

"No," Minerva reached up with her left hand, wrapping fingers around Hermione's hand, "as I said, I lost most of the sensation along the left side of my face." She pulled Hermione around to her and motioned to the chesterfield, "And my hand." She nodded to the hand holding Hermione's, "I cannot feel your touch. I only feel the pressure, and as for my eye, I can still see forms and shadows, just not with the same clarity. Thankfully, my animagus traits have offset the loss of vision in my left eye."

"Then no one…"

"No," Minerva quickly interjected as she met Hermione's gaze, "no one knows. Not even Filius can see through the concealment charms as they are laced with a transfiguration spell."

"And the transfiguration spell is what keeps even when you sleep?"

"This is only the second time that I've removed the spell on my face."

Realization sparked in mocha eyes, "You were struck with the same spell on your waist?"

"To the left of my breast and on my shoulder."

"And do you keep those covered too?"

"Anytime I leave Hogwarts."

"Don't…" Hermione's gaze fell to her arm and the tattoo that had been crafted from the hex cast by Bellatrix, "hide it from me." She lifted her eyes back to Minerva, "Please."

"I...am not comfortable with seeing it, let alone asking another too."

"I wasn't either," she breathed into the still room, "but you made it so I was." Her eyes scanned deeply into Minerva's face, "Let me do the same for you."

Xoxo

Hermione was surprised the following morning when she stepped into the living room to see Minerva sitting there with a lighter set of robes, appearing to be made of linen that matched the same unmistakable deep rich emerald green of her teaching robes; yet these robes were missing sleeves, having obviously been made without them.

But her previous surprise was nothing in comparison to her realizing that Minerva was sitting there, without concealment charms.

"Please," Minerva paused in taking another swallow of coffee, "don't stare, it's…difficult enough without you looking."

"I'm not looking," Hermione assured as she sat down, "rather honored that you trust me enough to leave the charms off."

"As I said last night," she took a sip of her coffee, "I shall try, Hermione." She sighed, "But I can't make any guarantees."

"No one can," Hermione began pouring herself a cup of coffee, "and if someone did," she stopped pouring, glancing up, "I don't know if I'd trust them."

Oxox

a/n: Inch by inch closer...

Sorry for recent grammatical errors- that's what I get for writing and proofing at odd hours and being thoroughly exhausted while doing so - not an excuse by any means, and I appreciate the gentle prodding to let me know. I cleaned up some of the errors from the last few updates and will endeavor to do better. I've been asked how I've had time to update so many chapters of this and not Bonding - a quick comparison - this chapter and including the last 9 others of HLFM do not equate to 6000 words. An average Bonding chapter is closer to 7500 words with over 40% of the chapters have in excess of 10,000 words and five individuals chapters over 14,000 words (one of them just at chapter 126 which is 29 single space pages in Times font 12). So instead of you receiving one update to Bonding (and in comparison a somewhat shorter update than usual) - you've received 13 updates to HLFM and another few more chapters waiting for you. As always hope you are continuing to enjoy.