A/N: It's been a long week fam and it's only Monday. No, it's Tuesday. See, it's been a long week. Anyway, I am frantically writing so slow your reading down, alright? Lol

Love to you all. Take care of yourselves, you are precious and I need you.

-0-

Minerva's soft request, when it came, for Hermione to stay behind after class filled her with conflicted feelings. She waited for the classroom to empty and closed the door behind the last student before she turned to meet Minerva by her desk.

"Are you well?" Minerva asked. "I have not seen you in class for two days."

Those two days had been spent rabidly cleaning the new tunnel she'd found in the Chamber of Secrets. She'd worked until she dropped the first night and then stood up and did it again.

Anything to chase the thoughts away.

"I'm fine," Hermione muttered. "Just had some thoughts to work through." Minerva's eyebrow crept up her forehead and Hermione knew she would not get away with being vague. "Namely my behaviour on Monday. I am sorry, again, for what I did."

"Well," Minerva nodded. "Yes. It was rather out of order. I know you say you trust me to take care of myself but at the same time, I understand in part."

"I will work at it," Hermione promised. "Sometimes it's hard to figure out why I feel the way I do until it's too late."

"You will either do it, or you will not," Minerva said absently. "I, um." She rubbed at the top of her desk while Hermione waited. "I actually wondered if you wanted to," Minerva paused. "Have tea with me? I." Another pause. "Know of a place?"

"What?"

"Um, tea, with me?"

"Outside?"

"Yes."

"Oh," Hermione smiled as excitement bubbled up in her chest. "Then yes, I'd love to."

"I will tell Fi -" she paused. "Severus, to take over for the evening."

Hermione paused at the correction and frowned as she remembered noting Professor Snape's increasingly dogged appearance.

"I actually need to talk to Albus about him," she muttered as they heard a group go by the door. "Something is going on there that I don't like."

"Severus is harmless if broody."

"No," Hermione muttered, lost in her thoughts. "It's more than that."

"I don't think you should be concerning yourself with Severus. He has a lot of duties."

"I know all about him," Hermione frowned at Minerva's insistence. "I'm just saying there's something there that we should be aware of.

"But I don't think -"

"It's fine," Hermione waved her off. She wanted to get back to going out for tea with her. She'd talk to Albus later. "Did you have a time in mind? What day?"

"Do not wave me off like I do not have an opinion on this?"

"I wasn't," Hermione groaned and tried not to sigh. She was tired, she was emotionally uncomfortable and once again, she was starving. "I was simply saying that I would talk to Albus about it."

"So it is not enough to talk to me about it?"

"What?" Hermione laughed unkindly. "You don't want to know. You barely want to know me. Since this whole thing started, you haven't raised a finger to help."

"I -" Minerva blinked at her and Hermione realised she'd said that out loud.

"I," Hermione dropped to one of the chairs and put her head in her hands. "I didn't mean that, I'm sorry. I know you're trying."

"I have had other things to deal with."

"So have I," Hermione mumbled. "Namely, you."

The little voice inside her was screaming at her to just shut up, but as she looked up at Minerva, she realised it was folly to believe she wouldn't have heard it.

"You said you would be fine with whatever I chose!"

"I am," Hermione argued.

"And yet you are being petulant."

"What?"

"You are acting like a child while you are trying to tell me to treat you like an adult."

The last of her patience snapped.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

Minerva blustered.

"If you don't mind, you will -"

"Oh, Minerva give it a rest. I am doing my best, okay? I'm so terribly sorry I can't be perfect every day."

"I will be heard in this."

"I have heard you, I hear you, every day. You do nothing but complain, over and over about me and what has happened to me, and I do nothing but understand and agree and you still think I'm trying to get in your pants and fuck you against your will."

Minerva took a step towards her and Hermione stood in defence. Minerva's arm didn't rise, but Hermione's did and she took the back of Minerva's neck in her hand and squeezed softly. All the fight went out of Minerva and she stilled. Hermione blinked and let go, almost pushing Minerva away as she realised what she'd done.

"I didn't -" she looked at her hand. "I'm so -"

Minerva's hands were shaking and she stared with so much hurt in her eyes that Hermione turned and fled. She clattered through the castle and back down the steps to the Chamber of Secrets closing the door behind her. As she sank into darkness, she sat with her back to the wall and cried.

-0-

Minerva stumbled into Poppy's office, still reeling from what had happened and slumped onto the sofa. Poppy took one look at her when she came in and rushed to her side, taking her hand and wrapping an arm around her.

"What happened?" Minerva shook her head. She could not fathom the words to explain so Poppy held her until Minerva felt her equilibrium return. "Minerva," Poppy snapped. Minerva jumped. "What happened?"

"We argued."

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" She paused and started inspecting Minerva for damage. "Is Hermione alright?"

"Yes," Minerva mumbled. She dodged Poppy's hands. "She did something that she's only done once before and then she ran away."

"You're going to need to explain in a little more detail."

Minerva took a deep breath and told Poppy what had happened word for word.

"Oh, well you were both spoiling for a fight then," she said succinctly. "And you told her that she was being unfair all the while you are."

"What?" Minerva stood, looking horrified. "Who's bloody side are you on?"

"I am on nobody's side, Minerva. But I have always told you the truth. She is right in some regards. You are doing the best you can, I know you are, but the comeuppance from that is that you are solely focused on yourself. She was in the wrong, doing whatever it was that she did, but she is also right."

"I cannae believe you would forsake me like that!"

"Forsake you, Minerva," Poppy groaned. "You are not listening again."

Minerva didn't want to. She turned around petulantly and leant on the windowsill, with her head on the glass. It soothed some of her anger.

"Why am I like this?" Minerva whispered against the glass. "I used to tell her everything, and now -" She closed her eyes. "I cannot even invite her out for tea without it devolving."

"Because your life has been one of pain, Minerva," Poppy soothed gently. "And now, you cannot for one minute imagine that someone might love you for no other reason than yourself. Add that to all the other issues that I know you're struggling with," Poppy shrugged. "I'm not surprised."

Minerva looked up at her as she slumped against the window, sitting now, on the sill.

"Wow," she muttered, wiping her tears. "Thanks a lot."

"I'm only telling the truth, love," Poppy whispered as she brushed the hair back off Minerva's face. "I love you, you know that. I have grown up with you. I have loved your brother for most of our lives. I know all the family secrets, I know the pain, Min, so please listen when I say this."

Minerva met her eyes.

"You are loved. And you are deserving of love. And you should have it. This woman, who you are trying so hard to put off, loves you with every bone in her body and instead of being amazed and astonished, you are fighting her over every instance. You have already admitted to me that you like her company, that you think she is desirable."

"Poppy," Minerva protested.

"No," Poppy insisted. "You have. And you cannot take it back because I can see it in you when you look at her. You crave her and it is only your stupid stubborn streak that keeps you from running up to her and snogging her stupid."

Minerva stood, her hands clenched by her side and she glared. She could feel her bottom lip wobble as she stared at her best friend and she stormed out, slamming the office door as she did.

She did not know where she was going, she simply stalked through the hallways and out of the doors. She had no idea who saw her and she cared even less. It was like she could not draw breath and she needed the open air to help her. Instead of waiting and letting her temper cool, she stormed forward straight into the Forbidden Forest. She did not want anyone to see her. She did not want to be seen or heard as she dropped to her knees in the dark gloom and screamed at the world. Her hair came loose and she gripped it and pulled at the roots. She wanted it to hurt so she could feel something else, something normal for once but she sobbed into her hands as all the fight left her again.

"Minerva," a soft voice came from behind her.

She scrambled up to her feet, stumbling slightly in the rush, but a strong arm reached out to help her. As she blinked away the tears, she saw it was a centaur. Firenze, their new Divination teacher, stood stoically and held her arm gently but firmly so she could find her feet.

"Are you hurt?"

"No," she muttered, trying to control her breathing. She wiped away her tears and pushed at her hair, though it would undoubtedly be a mess. She opened her mouth to thank him when the thunderous rush of hooves descended on them.

"Back," Firenze said quickly. He pushed her gently into the trees. "Get back. Do not speak."

In the scuffle of what seemed like a hundred hooves descending on them, Minerva was pushed aside. She tripped on a root and fell to the ground. She winced as pain shot up her arm.

"Outsider." They spat. "Traitor."

Minerva watched as Firenze held his ground, taking the blows of some of the younger centaurs as they went by. He stood regally as they scorned him and she shed a quiet tear for him.

"How dare you show your face here, coward." Their leader said; the one Minerva knew was called Bane.

"You confuse my empathy for weakness, Bane," Firenze said softly. "You know nothing. You forsake the stars and allow your blood to rule your head."

There was murmuring through the Herd but Firenze seemed unphased.

"You have chosen their ilk to rule you and you are now banished. You are not welcome here."

"Stop it!" Minerva said, getting to her feet. "You should be -"

She was thrown to the floor again, the pain really making itself known now. A solid rump turned around to kick her and she closed her eyes, wondering whether this would be where she died.

Just as she took a deep breath, a roar reverberated through her bones. She blinked and looked up, not needing her eyes to know who or what it was that was approaching. Hermione stepped through the trees. Her eyes glowed white, her hair blew in the breeze that Minerva could not feel while her hands clenched over and over as she moved forward and stood over Minerva and glared menacingly at the Centaur Herd.

They scattered. Only a few of the older ones stayed and even they looked extremely nervous. Hermione used the moment to pull Minerva from the ground, looking over her once before she turned to meet the Herd head-on. The fight from earlier was forgotten as Minerva slumped against Hermione's back. There was a moment when Hermione paused, letting her settle against her before she stood tall.

"You will not touch her."

The tone was so cold, Minerva shivered. The remaining Herd flitted about nervously as Bane stepped forward.

"We did not know she was your intended," he offered. He bowed, very shallowly and Minerva was reminded of what Filius had said. Clearly, Centaurs weren't quite beneath whatever Hermione was, or Bane was just exactly what she'd pegged him for. "I beg your forgiveness."

He didn't sound very contrite but Minerva no longer had the energy to figure any of it out. She shivered endlessly and there was pain shooting up her leg and through her wrist.

"What do you know of my kind," Hermione asked carefully. Her tone, however, demanded answers.

"It is not for us to speak," Bane hissed. He signalled to the rest of the herd to leave and they thundered away, leaving them staring at one another until he scoffed. "Whelp."

His offsiders pulled him away from her as she started forward.

"Hermione!"

Her voice startled Hermione out of her anger and Minerva winced when Hermione quickly turned and caught her before she could fall. They stared at each other and Minerva watched, completely fascinated, by the way Hermione's eyes burned fire. Firenze was the one that broke the tension between them.

"Take her inside," he said quietly to Hermione. "The forest is no place for you both tonight."

"Professor," Hermione started.

"Mars is on the rise," he muttered.

"I know that," she huffed. If she had been feeling better, Minerva would have laughed. "We're at war. What use are the stars if they do not help us?"

Minerva reached cautiously for her arm and Hermione allowed her to hold on. As Hermione stood waiting for Firenze to consult the sky, she let Minerva lean against her side with a groan. Firenze looked at them pensively.

"Eltanin shines bright," he muttered. "It has not for an age. Since before my Sires were born. Thuban is prominent," he met Hermione's eyes. "And will yet shine brighter as its twin draws near."

Minerva watched them watching each other and tried not to lean too heavily on Hermione or her ankle. Her subtle shifting alerted Hermione to her distress and she turned and looked at her.

"Are you hurt?"

Minerva tried not to answer, but as she stood, her ankle gave way and Hermione made a noise in her throat. Minerva was caught by two strong arms and swung up into them.

"I have you," Hermione muttered. "Stay calm."

Minerva gripped Hermione's neck with her good arm as she was carried from the forest and across the grounds.

-0-

Hermione couldn't speak as she carried Minerva up the stairs and along the corridor to her rooms. The fear thrumming through her replayed that vision over and over. The moment that a roar was wrenched from her throat as she saw big gleaming hooves line her love up and attempt to stuff out her light. She would not allow it.

She hadn't meant to follow her. Something made her do it though, something made her get up and walk outside where she just caught a glimpse of Minerva disappearing through the trees. She heard the scream and curled over her stomach at the pain in it, but she waited.

She hesitated.

And now, she wished she had not.

Like with Ron, her feet had started to get hot and as Hermione's enhanced hearing picked up the sound of hooves, she knew Minerva was in trouble. She stepped forward and came out into the clearing in the next step. She didn't dare examine it then, not while Minerva was in danger.

Now though, she had a few moments. Michael saw them coming and swung open but still, Minerva said nothing. Hermione's heart was still racing as she placed Minerva on the sofa and undid the laces on her boot. Minerva started to protest but when Hermione looked up at her, Minerva bit her lip.

"Let me see," Hermione whispered.

Minerva sat back with her wrist cradled in her arm as Hermione pulled off her boot and then her sock. Minerva gasped as warm hands encircled the joint and as Hermione's warm hands encapsulated it, she moaned just a little.

"Ow." She squirmed but Hermione refused to let go. "Stop, make it -"

"Breathe," Hermione said softly, pressing on her shoulder to keep her still. "It's alright. It will feel better in a moment."

Minerva stopped and slumped back onto the sofa and cried silent tears as Hermione held her ankle. Hermione watched her as her hand did the work. She could see the moment the pain eased when the little frown between Minerva's eyebrows twitched. Her hands cooled and she gently manipulated the joint back and forth, watching for any sign of discomfort. She massaged Mineva's foot for a moment and hid her smile at the small intake of breath before she released it back to the sofa.

"Better?"

"Yes," Minerva croaked.

Hermione shuffled forward to Minerva's side and gently reached for her wrist. This one, she could already tell was a little worse and as she held it, she could already tell it was broken. She cradled it gently and met Minerva's eyes.

"This will probably hurt a little."

"Do your worst," Minerva muttered.

Hermione let her hands guide her and she held on around Minerva's slender wrist and the other palm to palm. Minerva refused to look at her so Hermione sighed and kissed the back of her hand.

She did look up then and found Hermione's eyes staring back at her.

"Ready?"

Minerva almost squealed as Hermione allowed her hands to heat. She had no idea what she was doing but the pain cracked Minerva's voice and Hermione leaned over her.

"It's alright," she whispered in her ear, leaning her shoulder on Minerva's chest to keep her still. "I have you. Breathe, Min. Just breathe."

Minerva did. Eventually. Her hand had grabbed hold of Hermione's jumper and she clung to it for dear life. Hermione whispered into her ear until she felt the fist holding her jumper let go a little before she sat back on her knees.

Her hands glowed white and she watched for a while before looking back at Minerva.

"I hurt you," Hermione whispered. "By making you believe that I would control you. And I did not mean to. I was not in control at that moment, like I was not in control the last time." Her eyes hardened. "I will not lose control again. There is nothing further from the truth for me. I would never seek to control you or force you to do something," she dropped her head, full of guilt. "Despite my actions at that moment."

Minerva groaned but sat up a little.

"I -" Her voice caught and she coughed. Hermione handed her a glass of water that seemed to appear just within reach. "I was unfair to you. And I made it seem like I would." She shook her head. "I see now, in hindsight, that my movement might have conveyed false intentions. For that." She looked at Hermione carefully. "I apologise."

Hermione nodded and kept working. They fell back into silence as both were consumed by thoughts. Minerva's wrist was taking a little longer but judging by the light creeping into Minerva's eyes, it was subsiding.

"I want you to know that I followed you, not because I didn't think you could take care of yourself," Hermione whispered. "But because if something happened that resulted in you not being alright, I would have never forgiven myself."

Minerva nodded and laid back against the pillows. The silence, for the first time, was not totally uncomfortable. Hermione simply sat on the floor next to Minerva's ribs and waited while her magic worked. As she felt it waning, Minerva started to clench and unclench her fingers so Hermione let go. As Minerva pulled it away, she could not help but capture that hand again and press a kiss to the palm.

"I'm so sorry, Minerva," Hermione whispered as she stood. "You should sleep now, though. You'll feel better in the morning."

Minerva opened her mouth to speak as Hermione stood and she waited for a beat to see if she would say anything but when Minerva remained mute, Hermione's shoulders slumped and she left the room.

"Hermione?" Minerva's voice carried into the entrance and she turned back immediately.

"Yes?"

"Sleep well."

It was said so awkwardly, but with such a gentle tone that Hermione couldn't help but stand up tall and smile. Perhaps, by the morning, they would be back on the right track.