A/N: So. This morning the apartment building that I live in caught on fire after lightning hit it. My family and I are fine and as far as we can tell the apartment and our stuff is okay but we're in the wind for an undetermined amount of time until we know more. And I'm feeling very like Hermione - frustrated, even though I am thankful.

So, on that note, have a good day and make sure you have all of your important documents in the same place in something you can grab if you ever need to run in the dead of night. Okay? Good. Love to you all.

-0-

Those words echoed through them both and seemed to sap Minerva's energy as she collapsed against the hearth.

"Minerva!"

She scrambled to Minerva's side and with her newfound strength that she had revelled in, she lifted her from the floor and took her back to the sofa. Even as her heart broke over Minerva's sobs, Hermione held her as tightly as she dared. She did not offer platitudes, she knew none would help, but she held on because when she was so on edge and so upset, Minerva had held onto her.

It was the least she could do for causing this upset.

They didn't speak, and eventually, as she relaxed back onto the back of the sofa, Minerva fell into something similar to sleep. She murmured quietly and her breaths were sometimes twinned with shudders but Hermione rocked them gently through it. Her cheek was pressed against Minerva's forehead, where her lips brushed gently every now and then if Minerva stirred too much. As her back started to pull, Hermione shifted, with Minerva still in her arms and settled down on the sofa with her head at one end and her feet at the other. Minerva naturally stretched out and then snuggled in and settled against Hermione's chest. Her breath blew cool puffs of air against Hermione's throat, tickling that sensitive scar tissue.

Hermione was over the moon. The sheer joy of having Minerva in her arms finally made sense. For so long she had felt that need and not had a reason for it, and had even less of a name for it. But now, it sang to her in the loudest of fashions. The physical pain of her being away from her. The unbridled desperation during the mission; when Minerva had been in the house and Hermione outside- where Minerva was unprotected and worse, alone. The want and need to snuggle up against her, those moments even when she was in agony that she wanted to curl up on Minerva's knee.

So many other things made sense now, too.

The innate ability she seemed to have at finding people's pain and making it feel better. Her intelligence, her drive, her wisdom. Even the bouts of selfishness that she occasionally indulged in. Beyond that, Minerva's behaviour had also exhibited traits that now made sense. Her need to be close, her innate ability to know what Hermione was feeling. Sometimes to even know where she was.

The way that they just fit together as soon as they'd had an excuse to do so.

They had not had a reason at the time, but they knew in their hearts it was true.

The fire flared, lighting the room in green and Hermione covered Minerva's ear against her chest as Albus Dumbledore stepped through the flames. He paused and looked up, a little frown appearing between his eyes but not one that was completely unhappy. She held up a finger and rolled them gently to one side, her strength helping to make sure that Minerva did not shift unnecessarily. She laid her back against the cushions and pulled over her favourite throw. Hermione tucked her in and smoothed back Minerva's hair before she pointed towards the door to Minerva's office. He nodded and followed her through.

"I know," Hermione said, as soon as the door was closed. "And you should have told me."

"I did not know how you would both take it, especially as I had so little information beyond what I had guessed," he argued. She glared at him and he stood his ground for a moment before he sighed and took off his glasses while he rubbed his eyes before he put them back on again and looked at her.

"You should have told me. Of the two of us, it should have been me! And you should have done so weeks ago."

"You are right. I should have, and I apologise." She nodded, seeing the truth of it. He glanced behind her at the closed door. "What did she say?"

"She cried," Hermione whispered. "A lot. But she told me what happened and what you thought and I -" She was the one that paused now. "Know what I am." She glanced up at him. "What we are. Separately and together."

"I know nothing of this, Hermione," he sighed. "I think, in part, that is why I did not tell you. I only heard of the spell in passing - I do not even recall where - added to that, what happened between the two of you and that information has connotations that are so very far-reaching that I don't -."

"You were wrong about the Animagus part," she said gently. "I do not turn into something. I am a dragon," she shrugged. "Not I turn into a dragon, I am a dragon. I do not really understand the difference between the specifics right now, but I know it to be true."

"That answers some questions I had."

"Does it?"

"It does," he nodded. "Though again, I must apologise for how long it has taken me to find time to meet with you. I am overwrought with frustration. I have found next to nothing about the spell but I find what you have said to make sense to me based on the minute understanding I have gleaned in the search. The marks on our wrists don't make sense for you to be an Animagus, nor the innate healing ability you seem to have. Minerva's forehead for one, after you woke up? Poppy? And I believe you have unburdened me more than once now, and I would thank you for it." She reached out and held his hand and watched the lines on his forehead disappear. "Do you feel that?"

"No," she smiled. "It must channel through me somehow, but I am not totally privy to it unless I concentrate, I think. Like Madam Pomfrey, I suppose. At the time I did not understand, it was only after, when I concentrated on her, that I understood."

"I wonder if that is normal for your kind."

"My kind! I don't even know what that means," she sighed. "Are there more of me?"

"There might be," he nodded. "A healer that could do exceptional healing magic with very little effort would make mention, I feel. I shall start researching that."

"What was that," she asked, as something flashed in his eyes. "Whatever thought you just had was powerful."

He stared at her for a long time before he chuckled.

"Those natural Occlumency blocks make more sense now, as well." She laughed and then stopped, realising what he had said and then laughed again as he smiled. "I will tell you. You must know by now that I understand that there are parts of this that no longer make sense and the more eyes on it the better, especially with whatever understanding you possess innately, but not just yet. I want to make sure that you and Minerva are healed and stable before I introduce yet more stress onto you."

"We do not have the time!"

"We do," he soothed. "I promise. There is time for this. There is nothing so pressing for us here that we cannot take this moment. You need that." He glanced at the door again. "She needs that."

"She is -"

"I know," he whispered. He took her hand this time and she stared at him. "She is my dearest friend in all the world. She is stubborn to a fault, and she is full of anger and hurt, but Hermione she is the loveliest, brightest, most wonderful woman I have ever met. Please don't let her push you away."

"She is mine," Hermione whispered. "She could not push me away."

He smiled at her and she grinned even as she blushed a little.

"I must spend some time at the Ministry over the next few days. Scrimigeor has already started making waves and though I have less sway than I did, I believe it prudent to spend some time shoring up alliances where I can and dissuading ideas of grandeur. But I fear that if I do that, she will not budge. She will have all the excuse not to spend time with you, to discuss that and I would give you as long as you can, Hermione."

"I don't wish to force her into anything she doesn't want," Hermione whispered. "The thought of not being with her is terrifying but I don't ever want to force her. I wouldn't ever want that. I realise, now, that I might possibly have always loved her - whether that is separate from this or not, I do not know." She wasn't sure why she was telling him all of this, but it felt alright that she was. "Honestly? I don't really even care. But I would die before I hurt her, physically or otherwise."

"I know," he smiled, squeezing her shoulder. "And I see it now, too. That is why it will all work itself out in time. I believe that, Hermione. Have faith in yourselves."

"Our marks match, did you notice?" Hermione whispered. "They are the same. Harry's and Ginny's do as well."

"Yes," he smiled. "I did notice that when you showed me."

Something sent a shiver through her and she paused, trying to figure out what it was.

"She's awake," Hermione muttered eventually.

"You can sense that?"

"I think so. I need to go."

"I will leave via this door," he smiled. "I will delay my leaving in case I need to take her class tomorrow if you wish to spend it together, otherwise I will see you both at breakfast and I will depart after."

"Albus," Hermione asked as he walked away, deliberately using his name.

"Hm?"

"It's your tastes that run in differing circles, isn't it? She's never -"

"It is," he smiled sadly. "And no, not as far as I'm aware, although there are things that even we do not share. If it helps, I don't, for one minute, believe she would ever be opposed."

"Whoever he was, he hurt you," Hermione said absently. "I can see that now."

"He hurt a great number of people, Hermione," he whispered, pain literally pouring off him for her to feel. "He only broke my heart."

She nodded, putting that mystery on the back burner as he left. She took a deep breath before and went back into Minerva's room and shut the door on the world behind her.

"You were gone."

Minerva was snuggled under the blanket, tucked into the corner of her sofa and hugging her knees to her chest.

"Albus came by to check on you. I was catching him up on a few things."

"I -"

Minerva closed her mouth and swallowed whatever words she'd planned on saying.

"I don't have to stay," Hermione said, against her own will and against everything she wanted.

"That is the most ridiculous part of it all," Minerva chuckled morosely. "I do not wish for you to go."

"I am not that much changed, Min," Hermione whispered, staying by the door. "I am slightly different in parts, but the core of me is the same."

"You are more assertive," Minerva muttered. "And you growl."

"I do not mean to."

"It makes me feel things I am uncomfortable with," she said, covering her mouth.

"Then I will try not to do it at all," Hermione said, coming around the sofa and kneeling at Minerva's feet. She reached out carefully and placed her hand over one. Minerva had tiny feet and she rubbed her thumb along the arch. "I will never hurt you. I will never force you into something you don't want, Min. Not ever."

Minerva nodded and they stared at each other for a long time before Hermione reached forward and took Minerva's hand and moved slightly so she could put her feet back on the floor.

"I promise," Hermione whispered as their joined hands rested on Minerva's knee. "That no matter what, I will always be there for you. I will always protect you. I would die for you, Min. But all of that?" She waited until Minerva looked at her. "I would have done before all this." Minerva frowned. "I think I might always have felt something for you. And yes, before you protest." Minerva blushed while Hermione laughed sadly. "Perhaps that is because I have always been this way? It would make some things make sense, wouldn't it? The spell only made it apparent, maybe it didn't give this to me, it only activated what was already here? In order for me to survive that spell, my true self came into being. But it doesn't really matter beyond -" She shrugged. "I have always wanted to be close to you. I've always adored you."

"But you are a child," Minerva half-sobbed. "And I am not. I am so much older and I feel -"

"I'm not a child, Min," Hermione interrupted. "Younger, yes. But we already went through this. I can't change my age, but we have been friends," she ducked down and met Minerva's eyes. "Proper friends, for a while now. And yes, since waking up I certainly feel older. I do not know if that's to do with this new thing in me or whether I'm just exhausted but I definitely have a backache."

Minerva snorted and covered her face before she laughed and shook her head, wiping away her tears before cupping Hermione's cheeks.

"You are so dear to me, Hermione, I could not bear it if something were to break that."

"Nothing is going to break us," Hermione promised. "Nothing. Because while you may not be sure of this, I have never been surer. I will wait for you for however long it takes for you to feel comfortable with just being my friend again. Nothing else is ever going to happen unless you expressly want it to," Hermione insisted. "And as for the war? I have faith in our brilliance, together. All of us. All of this weird, little family we've built by accident."

"I'm so tired," Minerva sighed, rubbing her forehead. Hermione took her hand and held it between her own. "I haven't been sleeping well."

"Me neither," Hermione admitted, rubbing her thumb on Minerva's palm. Minerva closed her eyes and Hermione watched her shoulders finally drop.

"Let's take a nap," Hermione smiled. "Dumbledore is going to take your class tomorrow if you need him to, otherwise he'll see us at breakfast. He has to go to the Ministry soon, but he wanted to give us that."

She nodded but Hermione could already see she was too exhausted to care.

"Come on," Hermione whispered as she pulled Minerva to her feet. "Sleep."

Hermione paused at Minerva's door, not willing to tempt the vitriol back into whatever fragile, hopeful thing they were teetering on. Minerva noticed and huffed as she pulled Hermione inside using her sleeve. Hermione smiled while Minerva wasn't looking and waited while she changed. She drew down the covers, arranging Minerva's hair as best she could before tucking her in. Just as she was about to go, a hand shot out and gripped her wrist.

"Stay," Minerva whispered, her eyes tightly closed. "Don't go. I don't understand but just -" She sniffed. "Please don't leave me."

She loosened her own clothes and got in on the other side, trying not to breathe as Minerva's hand reached back for her own. Their fingers entwined and she immediately felt Minerva's tension ease into the soft mattress. She remembered what Professor Dumbledore had said and adjusted her grip.

"I will never leave you, no matter what happens," she whispered.

Minerva shuddered as gripped Hermione's hand like a lifeline as they settled. It was warm and cosy under the covers and Hermione felt like purring at the feel of it altogether. She shuffled forward cautiously and rested their joined hands on Minerva's stomach. After a moment of tension, Minerva shuffled back, just a little bit and pulled Hermione's arm tighter around her. It was all the permission Hermione needed and she slid her free arm under the pillow and used both to pull Minerva back into her arms properly.

"I've got you," she promised. "Sleep," Hermione muttered against Minerva's ear. "Just sleep."

Following her own advice and surrounded by the heat and pure joy of having Minerva in her arms, she fell asleep without another thought.