Chapter 47

It had been late when they finished connecting the last refrigerator, but Minerva's gentle question sliced through the whole of Hermione's fatigue as a surge of adrenaline spiked through her and she had consented to conduct the spellwork to remove the third curse.

That had been twenty minutes ago.

And despite the momentary surge of adrenaline, it was fading. At the second time she caught herself about to doze off, Hermione stood and rolled her neck back and forth while moving over to the window that overlooked the grounds.

The coming full moon cast beautiful iridescent rays upon the ravaged grounds, and after a few more minutes, Hermione turned around a frown beginning to curl her lips at Minerva's lack of appearance.

Swallowing her own apprehension, she moved to the elder woman's door. And with a slight tap against the wood called out, "Minerva?"

"My apologies, I shall be out momentarily."

Hermione turned and opted to head to the loo to splash some water on her face, and wipe the grime from the repairs in the kitchen. Two minutes later, she re-entered the living area and was surprised to see Minerva sitting in the chesterfield having obviously showered and donning an evening robe.

Green eyes turned to her, a look of chagrin passing over angular features, "I'm sorry, Hermione, I mistook our conversation in that you were going to shower prior to…" she began to stand, backing away, "we can do this tomorrow in the morning."

Hermione easily detected Minerva's unease, "I'd prefer to finish this tonight, take a warm shower and then have a nice cup of tea before starting again in the morning." Her eyes swept over Minerva's hesitant countenance, "Unless you'd prefer to wait until the morning?"

Minerva ground her back teeth in a vain effort to show any more discomfort she had regarding what was about to transpire, "Tonight shall be fine if you are certain you are not too tired."

Hermione reached out, handing the small tin to Minerva, "Tonight it is."

Minerva took the tin and with a steadying breath, slowly turned her back to Hermione as she undid the belt to her robe.

Hermione watched as Minerva slowly slipped her left arm from her robe and Hermione dropped her eyes, "Do you believe we'll have the kitchens repaired before the professors begin to return Monday?"

Minerva paused in opening of the tin, a gentle smile momentarily spreading across her face at Hermione's thoughtfulness in trying to start a mundane, albeit pertinent conversation to move her thoughts off of what she was doing. "I am comfortable with where they are at this juncture, the overall structure is solid, whereas there are several areas in the castle that I'd like to shore up before others begin repairs." She took a deep breath and with gritted teeth, began applying the ointment upon the last of the cursed flesh.

"Then where would you like to begin tomorrow?" Hermione asked while lifting her head to see Minerva's eyes closed while tears streamed down the side of her face. "Minerva…are you…"

"Just…" Minerva's voice breaking, "please remain." She finally managed as she tried to school her breathing, and with a shaky hand dipped it back in the tin, only to gasp as pain shot through her breast.

Hermione remained unmoving as Minerva attempted a second time to apply the salve, but at the heartfelt gasp, she moved forward. She stretched out her hand and took the tin from the edge of the chesterfield, "I…need you to trust me."

"Hermione, I am not…" The word comfortable passed between them as Hermione stepped around Minerva but kept her eyes trained on Minerva's face.

"Trust me." Hermione imploringly breathed and waited until Minerva's pain riddled eyes met hers. "And let me apply the salve so I can remove the curse."

Minerva took a half breath, lips drawing into a thin line before with a slight nod, she closed her eyes and waited as Hermione dipped her fingers into the salve and stepped back. She let her eyes drop and felt her breath catch at ferocity of the damage to Minerva's whole left breast. The nipple area was sunken and the red spidering was along the whole circumference reaching her collarbone, disappearing beneath her robe to her other breast, almost past her ribs and wrapping around to her back. "This curse looks to have been far worse than the other two."

"The one along my eye was a refraction of one that slipped through my shield as was the one along my back."

Hermione stilled her nerves as she reached out, "I'm going to touch the area." And Hermione could feel Minerva's body tense before she laid a finger on her, and as gently as she could, she began to spread the lineament across the marred flesh. She tried not to notice the tears streaming off Minerva's cheeks, "Almost…"

Minerva's hand darted out grasping Hermione's as clear emerald eyes snapped open, "…w…ait." Her voice was breathless, chest heaving as she took in a pain riddled breath, "I need just a few seconds."

"Okay."

Minerva released Hermione's hand, jaw rippling as warm fingers passed over the center of her breast and finished.

"And…" she took a step back, "three, two…" she innately adjusted the wand within her hand as she stated, "one." The familiar olive wisp spiraled forward and Hermione watched as Minerva's face instantly eased and in the next moment; the deformed breast with red, angry spidering veins had been replaced with whole, milky skin and a dusty pink nipple.

Xoxo

a/n: :)