A/N: What happens when I say I'll get it done soon? It doesn't get done soon...Sorry!
It was months before Minerva could sleep through the night and through it all Hermione was by her side, patient, kind loving, everything Minerva needed when she needed it. All without complaint. And Minerva loved her all the more for it. It was because of this that Minerva decided tonight was the night. She would become Hermione's queen. Officially.
"Hermione?" she called nervously. The girl could hear the seriousness in Minerva voice as she stood in the doorway of the bedroom, fidgeting. So, Hermione put down her tea, banished the books and turned her attention to Minerva, her face open and concerned. What is it Min? Is something wrong?
Minerva shook her head, and with a deep breath announced, "I'm ready."
Hermione stilled, shocked, W-What?
Minerva smiled and nodded. Walking towards the shocked king, she pulled her up and removed her glasses, the room darkening as she did so. Cupping Hermione's face, she kissed her gently. "I'm ready, my king."
Hermione whimpered at those words. Never had Minerva called her by her title and to hear it… she placed her hands on Minerva's waist. Are you certain, Minerva? I…I mean you… it
Minerva placed a finger over her lips which oddly worked. "I want this, Hermione. I want you."
Ahh… O-okay. If you're sure….
Minerva chuckled, "I am. Though, I'm not sure I've ever seen you so flustered." Hermione smiled at that and shook out of her stupor to deliver a kiss to the woman before pulling her down to the bed.
Let's talk about what it means to be queen. Now… during times of peace, our only job is to handle any unruly children and over see any ceremonies: weddings, births, holidays, rare executions. I also would like to try to rejoin with our brothers and sisters all over the world. You and I will travel everywhere. You won't believe who you'll see love.
Minerva frowned, "What about the school? I can't just leave them Hermione."
You don't have to if you don't want to. Not right away, at least. But Minerva you will be queen of an entire people…you can't be headmistress as well. You will run yourself ragged.
Minerva's eyes widened, "I…Hermione…what…" She shook her head. "No. And if I choose to never complete this ritual?"
Hermione frowned and her eyes flashed with hurt,
Then I suppose I will be forced to accept you value your school over me, and continue to rule, alone. I will not see you unless there is a problem involving the school. But Minerva…I really don't want that. I love you.
Minerva stood angrily, "Obviously not! Otherwise you would find some compromise with me instead of trying to force me to run away with you and your friends! "
Hermione's brows furrowed confused,
My initial offer was a compromise! I'm well aware that you could leave the school immediately if you wanted, but I know you Minerva. Or at least I thought I did. If you wanted, you could leave this school in Filius's capable hands and fly away with me tonight! But I know how you care for this school, so instead, I thought we could spend time here, handling minor business until you were ready to leave the school and only then would we travel. But here you are telling me you would never leave your precious school for 'my friends'? You mean the people who voluntarily came to your rescue? Those friends, Minerva?
Hermione stood as well. Minerva waved her off, "Of course they have my gratitude, but surely we can just marry? Why must I go through this ritual and travel with you? Certainly you are capable of handling your business alone."
Hermione stood,
Fine! Keep your precious school, Headmistress McGonagall. I would not dare tie myself to someone who care for her fucking job more than she does her people!
Minerva glared, "They are not MY people, Hermione."
Hermione shook her head, the look on her face pure rage and heartbreak
It seems I was wrong about you. You most certainly are NOT fit to be my queen.
With that, she changed and flew out of the window. Minerva watched her go with tears in her eyes. Certainly there was no way she could give up her school to do what? Preside over ceremonies and kiss babies? Spend the rest of her days with the younger woman?
She shook her head. There are far more important things to do. She moved to her desk and began doing paperwork.
How could Hermione have ever asked her to leave this?
A tear fell onto her paper and Minerva ignored it.
This is where she belonged. She looked at the pile of paperwork at her desk,
"Right here." She said, the tears falling faster.
Foolishness, really.
The next morning, Minerva entered the great hall for breakfast. Several students fell silent as she entered and she almost walked back out.
Holding her head high, she took her seat at the staff table and the students turned back around. Unfortunately, she was still sat next to a silent Filius. Inhaling, she turned to the man, speaking so only he could hear, "Good morning Filius. I sincerely hope that we can retain at the very least a polite professional relationship." The man only shook his head and bit out, "Bellatrix would like to speak with you, Headmistress."
Minerva sighed, and looked around, trying to recall why she was loathe to give up this job for Hermione. It certainly wasn't the children. She was pulled out of bed by two Ravenclaw students who thought it wise to experiment in the kitchen. There almost was no breakfast to be served. Which was the reason she was eating. She wasn't hungry in the slightest, but as hard as she had worked to ensure it would exist, she decided to at least enjoy the fruit of her labor. She popped a grape into her mouth and grimaced.
Bitter.
Standing, she returned to her office and stood at the window, staring outside at the gloomy weather. It seemed to reflect her mood.
Oh how hard she had tried to find some joy in the job. But there was none. Nowhere. She glanced to her desk full of paperwork and sighed. There was joy in teaching, but she wasn't teaching. Hell, even that failed to stir the passion it used to. She contemplated her life as she stared out the window.
"It rains because of you."
Minerva's head shot around to stare at the unhappy woman slouched in a chair. There was no bow, no respect in her eyes. Minerva found it made her heart hurt.
"What?"
Bellatrix sighed, "It rains because of you Minerva. Because you broke her heart."
Minerva shook her head and barked out a disbelieving laugh, "Are you telling me she now controls the weather?"
Bellatrix glared at her, "I am patient, Minerva, but I am also loyal to my King. A king who you chose to reject. You! You who I nearly died saving! You who I had come to adore as my queen!" She stood out of her chair angrily, a finger raised, "So do not test me today! Perhaps you have forgotten that I could easily snap your neck?"
Minerva clenched her jaw, "I'm sorry."
Bellatrix waved her hand, "Whatever. When you were missing, it thundered, the wind howled. Hell I was struck by lightning so lost in her anger was she. And now? All she does is cry. She sits in the rain Minerva and cries. You broke her heart. You've broken all of our hearts."
Minerva shook her head, "I…"
"What is it about this place that makes you choose it over her? Have you not spent enough time in this building? Have you not given enough to these people during the war?! The school is fine! It doesn't need you! And you certainly don't need it! You have us! So why? Why have you chosen this place, over us?"
Minerva could hear the hurt in the woman's voice, "Bellatrix..."
She moved to stand in front of the woman, "I…I'm sorry. It was a mistake to say the things I said to Hermione. I knew that the moment I let the words fall from my lips, but I was too stubborn to try to stop her from leaving. And then last night…calling for her and getting nothing in return…and then this morning…trying to find joy in this…and then you…"
Minerva blinked back tears, "I was wrong. I have never left this school for very long. Certainly not with no intention to return. I planned to work here until my dying breath and being faced with an alternative...I panicked. And then this morning, I could find no joy in this job. Any joy I have had here, has come from seeing Hermione every night. Where is she Bellatrix?"
Bellatrix searched Minerva's eyes and Minerva tried to convey every emotion she had felt since rejecting Hermione. After a short while, the woman sighed, "She's in the forest. Where she first revealed herself to you."
Minerva nodded, "Would you…" She gestured.
Bellatrix bowed, "Of course, my queen."
Her words only making Minerva that more determined to right her wrong. She stared at the woman who had helped her through everything, life, love...
"We owe you so much…" she whispered.
Bellatrix clawed a path to the forest, "You owe me nothing," she said with a smile, "Go. Fix this."
Minerva nodded and walked through the portal.
A/N: Not very long, but it's something...Next chapter, Minerva becomes queen! Unless for some ungodly reason, I add more angst...
Oh and...
Three updates! -drops mic, exit stage left-