A/N: Never fear, I am here. I'm tired, I have heatstroke but I'm definitely here lol

-0-

Another two days had passed and Hermione was nothing but restless. She was so sick of the walls of the Chamber of Secrets; she missed the sun.

"Hey," she said quietly, disturbing Snape's reading by the fire. "I'm sorry to interrupt but I'm going. If my plan works, Min and I might not be back for a few days, okay? Albus said he probably wouldn't be back until the trial, or whatever is over, but if he does come back, send me a message with this."

She handed him a new Galleon and she nodded for him to look closer.

"Very clever," he drawled. It was probably the closest thing to praise she'd ever received from him. "We will be fine, Hermione. You need not trouble yourself, I will keep an eye on Draco. He is," he sighed. "Troubled but it is nothing I cannot handle."

"I would be troubled too if we'd left my mother in the hands of the enemy with no back up."

"As I have told him, Narcissa is a formidable witch. She is -" He cleared his throat. "One of the more powerful magic users I have ever come across. Aside from," he made a vague wave motion with his hand. "Most of us."

"Really?" Hermione blinked. Something about his tone made her pause and she rolled her shoulder and suddenly understood something about Severus Snape that she wasn't sure even he understood. "Then we will move with as much haste as before but trust that she will be fine." He nodded and she let it lie. "If you need us, do the same, okay? I know Draco is exhausted. If you -"

"Why are you still here?" His tone was gentle, but there was a cheeky sort of challenge in his eyes that made her grin. She laughed as she turned away; it was suddenly very clear why her love and this man got on so well.

"Alright, alright. You will -"

"Miss Granger."

She was still laughing as she left the Chamber and climbed back into the Castle.

-0-

She was rather excitable when she turned down the final corridor and happened to spy Filius turning the corner. She called his name and he peered back around comically. He waited for her and they walked together towards Minerva's room, chatting.

"Are you looking forward to next year?"

"Are you kidding," Hermione chuckled. "I'm ecstatic. Do I need to get anything? Plan anything?"

"You should expect to wear robes while teaching," he smiled. "But you will get a contract and a provisions list towards the end of the holidays. She will probably just hand it to you."

Hermione chatted a little more about that and what she should expect until they turned the last corner. Hermione stopped him with a gentle hand.

"I am planning on stealing Minerva for a few days. I know you usually -"

"We are not travelling just yet. Pomona has a lot of repotting to do after the battle, so we will be here for a while."

"Severus is also here," she muttered quietly. "He and Draco Malfoy are," she winced. "Below the castle. I will take you there, in time, but perhaps once we get back. They need the time, I think."

"I do not require -"

"You do," Hermione nodded. "As we are using it as a sort of hub for our people."

"Would I be able to find it?"

"I do not think so," Hermione muttered. "But if you need to, a Patronus would reach him, though I believe he will be up and about otherwise."

"Are you off home?"

"I had wondered," Hermione nodded. "Oh, well I can ask you, can't I!"

"You need to," he chuckled. "Here," he muttered. He withdrew a piece of parchment and wrote an address on it. She looked at it and committed it to memory before she stepped back.

"Did you guys get much done?"

"She didn't get a lot of time, no," he grinned. "But I do not think you'll be disappointed." She frowned at the odd phrasing but the prospect of spending a few uninterrupted days with Minerva made her shrug it off. "Go," he chuckled. "Go and enjoy yourselves. We will be fine here."

"Thank you." She leaned down and kissed his cheek. "We'll do dinner when we come back, yeah?"

"I would like that," he said kindly before she strode away to find her love.

She entered Minerva's rooms without knocking but Minerva didn't even look up from her work.

"Hello darling," Minerva muttered. "How goes the cartography?"

"Done, as far as we can make out. He's concerned there's an attic but we figured if he didn't know about it, it would be unlikely his Mum would be putting Death Eaters up there." Minerva snorted as she made a note on a piece of parchment. "Honestly, I need a wee break from it all."

The attempt at Minerva's accent was passable but not great.

"Och, check you out," Minerva laughed.

"I had to butter you up somehow."

"Butter me -" Minerva looked at her carefully. "Trouble, what have you done?"

"Nothing!" She protested. "Well, not yet anyway," she chuckled. "I wondered if I might suggest a little," she smiled hopefully. "Excursion."

"Ex -" Minerva frowned. "Where? Why?"

"Because your work is done, and Albus can do his own when he gets back. Or we can."

"But Hermione," Minerva protested. "We have just come through a battle. And if I do not do this -"

"The Ministry has fallen, Min. They're not taking reports from you in the middle of that. In fact, to do so might even hurt us."

Minerva stared indignantly.

"Darling," Hermione laughed at the snark. "I'm not going to hand deliver it to him, am I? But, if we allow things to fall into chaos now, there will be more pieces to pick up at the end of it. And you should be resting! You look tired, love. And I really don't want you to be -" Hermione felt a little smirk appear at the corner of her mouth and Minerva's eyes widened as she saw it. Her hand pressed against her chest and a look of recognition crossed her features. She clearly remembered the look. "Oh," she said flatly. It wasn't quite what Hermione was expecting and she adjusted. What she couldn't help, however, was the confusion. "Leannan," she said quietly. "It is not that I -" She paused. "I mean."

"Hey," Hermione said quickly. "Whoa, slow down. It's okay."

"No, it is not." She groaned as she threw her quill onto the desk. "I want so much to give in, but they are down there!"

Hermione blinked and realised that Minerva had forgotten they had an ace up their sleeves.

"You are such a silly goose," Hermione whispered as she bent to kiss the back of Minerva's neck.

"What? Why!" She huffed. "Is it silly to want something sacred to be -"

"Minerva," Hermione whispered salaciously as she kissed up and down her long neck. Minerva's hands gripped her desk. The white knuckles pleased Hermione as much as the silence did. "You've forgotten."

"What?"

"Let me take you home."

"Hermione, I do not know -"

She stood up and turned around and just as she was about to unload both barrels at Hermione, she paused in the face of Hermione's cheeky grin and all the bluster faded.

"I hadn't forgotten," she insisted. Hermione laughed. "I hadn't! Sweetheart, we have no furniture!"

"We can borrow the mattress of my four-poster," Hermione giggled. "Or yours, seeing as we're here! That's all we need right?" Minerva blushed deeply but Hermione was determined. "Or," she acquiesced. "We can go and buy one but let's go and have a look, at least? Maybe spend some time together. Now that we can?"

"No, I mean, yes. Well, we don't have to -"

"You are suddenly very nervous," Hermione said softly, disengaging for the moment. She sat on the edge of Minerva's desk and watched her carefully. "Tell me what's going on."

"There is nothing to stop us now," Minerva whispered. "Before, it seemed like a dream that I was destined to wake up from." Hermione pulled her in between her knees. "Now, you are now no longer a student and I am no longer your teacher. It is -" She swallowed. "Suddenly very close."

"I know I came in here like I did," Hermione said softly as she wrapped her arms and legs around Minerva and held her tightly. "But we do not have to do this now. We can wait. My thought was that it would be nice to leave the castle for a while, but if you're not ready -"

"You are ready," Minerva mumbled.

"I -" Hermione looked at her carefully. "Minerva," she rebuked softly. "You do not have to accommodate me. I think you are the most beautiful, sexiest woman I've ever seen and I cannot wait -" She felt her cheeks heat up. "To make you scream my name." Minerva cheeks followed and she pulled back to stare. "But if you are not ready yet, then tell me that and we will wait. No part of me wants this unless you are absolutely with me."

"I am being silly."

"No," she soothed. "It is alright to be nervous."

"Will you -" Minerva stared hard at her and Hermione had to really work to figure out what she wanted. She offered her hand but Minerva shook her head and used Hermione's wrist to bring that hand to her neck.

"You want me to?" Hermione blinked as she rubbed the tendon with her thumb. "You sure?"

"Just for a little while," she breathed. "I feel like I cannot see any peace. With all this paperwork and -" She blushed. "I confess, I have been thinking about it more and more. My heart is beating out of my chest and I don't know -"

Hermione pulled Minerva closer and kissed her softly. Minerva's hands clenched on her shoulders and Hermione soothed her trepidation by holding her close and wrapping her legs tighter around her.

"Breathe with me," she whispered. "I have you, mo ghaol. I have you right here, with me."

Minerva took a deep breath as Hermione did. They breathed, in and out, in and out until Hermione smoothed her hand up Minerva's spine and squeezed her neck gently.

Minerva moaned, just barely and rested all her weight against Hermione. Hermione held on as she let go, kissed Minerva's neck where it was bare for her, then squeezed again.

"Breathe, mo ghaol," Hermione whispered. "Everything is okay."

Minerva's eyes were bright when she gave out a long exhale and stood. They stared for a while before something changed in Minerva's eyes.

"Tha mi ag iarraidh cho mòr, tha e goirt. Tha gaol agam ort mar teine."

"Min -"

"I want you so much it hurts," Minerva whispered, letting the need fill her voice. "I love you like fire."

Hermione kissed her, hard, and pulled her back between her thighs. Her hands no longer had to be controlled and she trailed her finger down the seam of Minerva's robes without pause and pulled them open.

Minerva pulled her head away and groaned as Hermione slid her hands between the space and under her shirt, finding hot skin that made her hands tingle.

"Leannan," Minerva gasped as Hermione got bolder. She cupped Minerva's breast through her clothes and ran her thumb over her heaving chest. "Wait," she suddenly said. "Wait, please."

Hermione growled, without meaning to, and pulled away breathing hard. She stared at Minerva's messy visage and swallowed.

"I'm -"

Minerva kissed her and as she pulled back, she had a wicked gleam in her eye.

"Galleon," she chuckled.

Hermione threw her head back and laughed before she curled around Minerva's body with a sigh.

"I am sorry that I got carried away here." She smoothed back Minerva's hair. "I cannot find myself being sorry for getting carried away in the first place, though."

Minerva chuckled and kissed her softly before she patted Hermione's thighs to release her and she stepped back.

"I find I have some time," Minerva said airily as she did her robes back up. "Perhaps you and I might go home for a while. Spend some time, buy some furniture," she quipped.

"I would love that," Hermione grinned as she played along.

Minerva nodded and packed up her parchments into a pile then bound them together. She gathered another pile and did the same before popping them in a bag she conjured from a teacup.

"Have I ever told you how sexy it is when you do that?"

Minerva paused midcast and looked at her.

"Do what?" she blinked.

"Magic," Hermione grinned. "I imagine it's old hat for you now, but sometimes," Hermione sighed. "Sometimes the way you do magic has me in awe."

"Only sometimes?" Minerva teased.

"You know what I mean."

"I do," Minerva smiled. She pressed a kiss to Hermione's forehead and glanced at her bedroom.

"Go," she chuckled. "It's fine. I'll wait for you."

Hermione dropped down on the sofa and smiled up at Michael when he noticed her looking.

"Feasgar math, my Lady."

"Go on then," she chuckled. "What does that mean?"

"Good afternoon," he winked.

She snorted and fell back against the sofa.

"I'm sorry I shouted at you," she muttered, still looking up at him. "I was frustrated."

"Oh, lass," he sighed and sat down on the ground. "I understand completely. For the first time in a long time, I was so very aware of being what I am. I wished for nothing more than to step off this canvas and join you."

"I'm sorry."

"Och," He waved it away. "Nothing like a bit o' self-realisation, is there."

"Min doesn't know it yet, but I wanted to tell you so you understood." Michael leaned forward to look at her carefully. "Filius is going to get me the name of a Portrait Master. You will have one at home." She smiled as he stood up in shock. "With us."

He was speechless and Hermione smiled when he nodded once and disappeared out of frame. It was how Minerva found her not a few moments later.

"Oh, are you -"

"I am ready when you are, beautiful." As she often did, Minerva blushed at the descriptor.

"I need to read you in. We should probably Apparate straight there," she mused. "Unless, I mean, are we -"

"I bumped into Filius on the way here," she grinned. "He is not going away just yet and he also gave me the place we Apparate to and told me you'd let me in on the rest?" A little look of recognition crossed Minerva's face. "And look, I have no plans, except to spend the time with you," Hermione clarified. "I am tired, but if you want to go bed shopping first, we can?"

"Let's go home first, then we can make a plan of action with the things we need above all else. Albus will not be back for a few days," Minerva bit her lip. "And yes, seeing as everyone else has gone home but Filius, we could stay for a little while?"

"I like your way of thinking," Hermione grinned. "I spoke to Severus as well. He said he would make sure all was well and Draco was more than fine to hang out with him." She paused and glanced at her. "We do trust them, right?"

"I do," Minerva mused.

"You're -"

"Leannan?" Minerva soothed. "I have spent time with Severus every day since they were released. He would not jeopardise this gift for anything."

"Fine," Hermione chuckled. "I just wanted to make sure."

"Good," Minerva whispered. "Shall we?"

Hermione got up and wrapped her arms around Minerva's waist and kissed her. Minerva's hands were not so still as she cupped Hermione's cheek and pulled her closer.

"Yes," Hermione grinned as she stepped away. "Let's go."

-0-

They popped back into existence together once Minerva had informed her that she and Filius had set up the Apparition point a ways away from the house. It meant they had a bit of a walk but Hermione didn't mind. She tangled their fingers together and they set off over the fields.

The tension between them simmered and between the small glances and excited smiles, Hermione would have been happy enough to simply pull Minerva down onto the ground right here.

She didn't, of course. She wasn't an animal; at least, she did not think she was one. In honesty, the notion had plagued her a little over the week, even after Draco had given her as much information as he could about her kind. It wasn't much, but it was definitely a start.

Dracovir had been a whole race of people that existed in time gone by. He had explained that the books made it seem like they were outsiders in the Magical world and Hermione wondered what had befallen them to take them from the race of people that built Hogwarts, to a lineage marker on someone's family tree.

She would explore it properly, once they retrieved Mrs Malfoy from the Manor and as many books on the subject as possible. They hadn't even formulated a plan. It was a frustrating delay, but she supposed it was a necessary one.

Minerva's hand squeezed hers and she looked over at her son-to-be lover.

"Alright?"

"Aye," she grinned as Minerva laughed. "Just thinking."

"Happy thoughts, I hope?"

"When I am with you, Minerva McGonagall, all my thoughts are happy."

"I know tha' not to be true," she said regretfully. "Not always at least."

Hermione stopped her and pulled her around in front of her.

"Even at our lowest," she said quietly. A crow in the distance echoed around their little patch of heaven and she grinned at the peace. "Even at our very lowest, Min, my thoughts of you were always happy. Sometimes they were hopeful, or frustrated or empathetic, but my thoughts of you have only ever created happiness." She took Minerva's hand and pressed it against her heart. "Right here."

Minerva used that same hand to grab a fistful of Hermione's shirt and pull her closer. They kissed out there in the wild for much longer than was probably prudent until Minerva pulled away breathing hard.

"You are like an Amortentia that I would not ever want to give up," she muttered as she stole another kiss.

"That's a sexy line," Hermione grinned as she leaned back in.

"Oh but 'tis true," Minerva whispered against her lips.

"We had better go inside before we give the sheep something to stare at."

It felt like it had been an age since she'd heard Minerva laugh with abandon but she smiled as Minerva did so now. Their hands naturally tangled back together and they bee-lined for the fence. Hermione stood at it and frowned as she looked around.

"Aren't we -"

"For you, my love," Minerva said softly. Hermione glanced down at what Minerva was offering and smiled as she saw a humble key.

When she took it, however, she realised it was not what it seemed. She blinked as the view in front of her shimmered and their house came into view.

"Whoa."

"We may have been experimenting," Minerva smiled. "In a similar way to what I did with my knife?" Hermione ran her hand around her waist and over her ass. The soft slap to her stomach was well worth it. "The key is the secret. The three of us, until we read Ginny in, are its keepers."

"You turned the spell physical!" Hermione squeaked. "Oh my god, that's genius!"

Minerva smiled proudly and accepted the kiss to her cheek.

"I liked the symbolism," Minerva shrugged. "Now. Do the honours, mo ghaol?"

Hermione opened the gate and motioned Minerva through ahead of her.

She pressed against Minerva's back and unlocked the door and before Minerva could move, she swept her up into her arms and carried her through the door.

"HERMIONE!" she squealed.

"I'm just returning the favour," Hermione chuckled. "It's only fair."

Minerva laughed and curled her arms around Hermione's neck and kissed her, right there in their entryway.

"I love you, mo leannan."

"The gaol agam ort, mo ghaol."

Minerva, as ever, was charmed and she nodded for Hermione to put her down. She did so and stepped back to take off her jumper.

"Are we a no-shoe household?" Hermione asked as she toed off her shoes anyway.

"Honestly I have never thought about it. The floors are cold enough that in the living area at Hogwarts, that I wear my boots. But we can be. What do you think?"

"I think so," she smiled. "We always were, at least."

"I do not really understand how it works, but the seller put underfloor heating in about three years ago, whatever that means?"

"Ooh goody," Hermione clapped and immediately felt childish. She gripped her hands in front of her and tried to fight the blush.

"Darling." Minerva's smile dropped. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Hermione muttered. "It was nothing."

Minerva finished pulling off her boot and limped comically over to Hermione. She stood in front of her, showing Hermione her real height.

"How tall are you without shoes?" Hermione muttered, trying to distract her, but Minerva would not be moved. She cupped Hermione's face and searched her features into Hermione sighed.

"I just suddenly felt like a kid," Hermione whispered.

"Darling," Minerva soothed. "Let me tell you a secret," she whispered, kissing Hermione's nose. Without her shoes, Minerva was only half a head taller than her. "When you picked me up, and I squealed? I felt rather childish too. It happens in life, my love."

"Yeah but -"

Minerva kissed her, tracing her lip with her tongue in a way that made Hermione gasp. Minerva seized the opportunity and as their tongues tangled with one another, Hermione slid her fingers into Minerva's hair and pressed their bodies as close together as she could. As they parted, Hermione stared at Minerva as she smiled, rubbing Hermione's lip with her thumb.

"As we have so belaboured the point, my love," Minerva whispered. "I would not kiss a child. I would not sleep curled up beside a child. I would not bathe with one. I," she breathed. "I would not covet a child's body like I covet yours. I love you. I'm only sorry it took me so long to come to that conclusion."

"Don't," Hermione breathed. "Not after that."

Minerva kissed her softly again and stepped away to take off her other boot. Hermione made her way into the house and through into what would become their living room.

"Okay, now we're here," she chuckled. "I do kinda wish we'd thought to get some furniture, I'd really love a cup of tea and a sit -"

She paused at the door to what would be their sitting room and stared.

"Um, Min?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Did you -"

"Dè air an talamh!"

"Yeah," Hermione chuckled. "That."

"Darling, I didn't -"

"Look," Hermione chuckled.

She pointed to a beautiful inlaid coffee table where a bottle and two red roses sat with a beautiful red bow on it. Minerva stepped around the deep grey sofas that looked as though they would allow them to sink into them for years and years to come. She plucked a card from between the roses and the bottle and opened the envelope.

"My dearest friends," she read. "When we truly understood that someone had captured the beautifully elusive heart of Minerva McGonagall, we decided to show you both just how much you mean to us." Minerva let out a breath and looked up at the ceiling while she pressed against her eyes.

"Here," Hermione said softly as she joined her. "Let me."

Minerva would never be what many would call a cuddly person but she tucked herself into Hermione's body and pulled Hermione's arm around her so she could kiss it while she read over the note.

"It is not just from me," Hermione read. "But from all of us that consider you a friend. You have spent your life taking care of us. Now, we return the favour."

"Oh," Minerva chuckled as she wiped her tears. "They are -"

"So," Hermione whispered as she pressed a long kiss to Minerva's forehead. "What are the odds that he's furnished our whole house?"

"Oh, they are high whenever Filius is involved," Minerva chuckled. Hermione reached for the bottle and found another card stuck to the side.

"For our two darling friends." Hermione laughed. "There's a postscript. To be opened in September."

"That's Poppy's handwriting," Minerva smiled. She ran her finger over the writing. "I admit to being a little overwhelmed."

"I am not surprised," Hermione smiled as she leaned her arms on Minerva's shoulders and brushed her hair back. "May I?"

Minerva blinked.

"What?"

Hermione breathed out a spell and a cascade of Minerva's hair fell over her fingers like water.

"I love you," Hermione sighed. "I love the way you love. How deeply you love."

"Mo leannan," Minerva whispered. "Would you like to tour our house with me?"

Hermione beamed.

"Lead the way, love."

Minerva reached for her hand and kissed the palm before she clutched it with both hands.