A/N: Yet another thing that did not go according to plan! I may have to go to twice a week from now on cos I am really struggling to keep up with chapters. I hope that's okay with everyone. If I do Wednesday and Sunday, would that be cool? I realise today is neither of those days but I didn't post yesterday and that's unfair to y'all.

So yes. From now on, I will see you Sunday and Wednesday and perhaps finally we might get something ;) Thank you to all those who have read this little ditty. Eventually, we'll get to the end lol

-0-

Minerva's week seemed to fly by until she was interrupted on her Saturday night by a flare from the fire and a big, deep booming voice disrupting her concentration.

"Are yer avoiding us, lass?"

She blinked and looked up.

"What on earth are you doing here?!"

"Seeing my big sister," William chuckled as he stepped out of the fire. "What do yer think!"

She got up and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. Her eyes prickled with tears as she heard Poppy arrive as well.

"I thought, as you were avoiding me, I might as well bring him here."

"Oh, I wasn't -"

"Oh, you were," Poppy laughed as she kissed Minerva's temple. "Hello, love."

She looked at them both for some kind of explanation but when one was not forthcoming, she couldn't help but start to panic.

"Are the children, I mean are they -"

"Easy," Will said gently. "Everything is fine. We just wanted to see you."

"But -"

"Ahem," Minerva blinked as she heard Michael announce his presence. "Apologies," he said softly. "But Hermione is at the door."

"What?"

"She," he hesitated and looked at her guests. "Seems to think you are in need of assistance."

"Of for the love of -"

She looked pointedly at Poppy and went to the door.

"Bring her in," she heard Poppy call. "It's high time she met Will anyway."

Minerva stopped on the other side of the portrait and took a series of deep breaths. She wasn't feeling any calmer as she clicked it open and pulled Hermione inside with a squeak.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked. Her hands tugged her this way and that, inspecting her for damage. Though she bristled at the notion, Minerva also couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm fine," she soothed, taking Hermione's hands. "But I need to warn you -"

"Don't make her stand on ceremony, Minerva," Poppy's voice called. "Get in here young lady."

"Ah," Hermione snorted. "I see."

"Will is here as well. I'm sorry, I didn't make time to -"

"Don't worry," Hermione said softly. Minerva ached as she looked into Hermione's eyes. "About either. If it's any consolation, I would love to meet your brother. I promise I'll be on my best behaviour."

"It's not you I'm worried about," Minerva mumbled as she pulled Hermione into her living room.

"There you are," Poppy chuckled. "Hello to you as well."

"Hi," she said. Minerva rather thought it was more kind than Poppy deserved as Hermione met Poppy's offer of a hug with one of her own. Minerva stared at her brother as he took in the newcomer. She felt her hands clenching as panic clawed at her throat.

"Will," she muttered. "This is Hermione, Hermione, Will."

"Pleasure to meet you," Hermione smiled.

"You don't look like a dragon."

Her stomach turned over and she erupted at her sister-in-law.

"POPPY!"

The room descended into a sort of quiet chaos as she railed against all the feelings roiling in her gut. She was burning with embarrassment and though she knew that while the information had only been shared between two people that loved her, it had still been shared and that knowledge and the anger was getting the better of her.

"Hey," Hermione said softly as she slid her hand into Minerva's. The abrupt change made Minerva falter and she looked at their joined hands and then up at Hermione's face. "It's alright," Hermione said softly. "Husbands and wives will always share secrets. I would be more worried if they hadn't shared it. And it's just them, Min. Just us. It's alright." William made a conciliatory noise to her left, but Minerva was arrested by Hermione's eyes. She was plagued by embarrassment and shame but could see nothing but love and understanding in Hermione's eyes. "It's okay," she whispered. Like Minerva was the only person on the planet. "I'm not worried. Besides," she chuckled, trying to ease the tension. "I can always offer them this?"

She drew her knife and spun it in her hand as Minerva had taught her. Minerva stared at it for a long time and then back up at Hermione.

"I don't know -"

"I know," Hermione whispered. "I can take care of it if you want me to. Otherwise, just let them be. I have no issue with it."

"But I do," Minerva hissed as she glared at Poppy.

"Min," William complained. "I'm your brother."

"And so much of what I have told your wife," she spat. "Was nothing to do with my brother."

"Hey now," William said, as he stood.

"Whoa," Hermione interrupted and spun Minerva around so she was facing away from the others. "Whoa whoa whoa."

She drew Minerva into her arms and held her tightly and blocked out the other two. Minerva was trembling as Hermione's hand rubbed up and down her back and eventually squeezed her shoulders. Minerva breathed into Hermione's neck with her eyes squeezed so tightly her ears rang.

"If you think it will help," she whispered. She hoped Hermione understood both what she was saying and what she was offering. "I cannot shake this. I am so angry with -"

Hermione very slowly reached up and squeezed the back of Minerva's neck as gently and as briefly as she could. Minerva's breath shuddered and her whole body felt like it disappeared for a single moment. She felt Hermione's grip tighten around her waist as she lost all the tension that had built. Hermione's hand was hot on the back of her neck where she left it but she still waited as Minerva took a few deep breaths.

"I don't like it," Minerva muttered as she came back to herself. "But I recognise the use."

"Okay?"

Minerva nodded and Hermione stepped back. Minerva turned to regard her brother and sister-in-law.

"How much do you know?" Minerva asked Will, ignoring Poppy completely.

"Min -" Poppy interrupted. Minerva turned to her and just saw the tail end of a silent conversation between her and Hermione. She glared, nonetheless. Poppy continued. "I'm sorry. I recognise that I should have warned you that I shared some of what you are going through with Will. I," she sighed. "I am sorry."

Minerva looked at her hard and then looked at the floor.

"This is Hermione," she said quietly, sticking her hand out behind her and summoning Hermione to her side. "I don't know what she has told you," she continued, shuddering as Hermione's hand slipped back into hers. "But she is just, Hermione."

She had tried to keep it simple, but when Hermione's arms wrapped around her middle and she relaxed back against her without even meaning to, it was clear that whatever they were going to discuss would be taking place candidly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Will said again. He didn't offer his hand and Hermione didn't either, instead, leaving her arms wrapped tightly around Minerva's middle.

"Sit," Minerva said finally. "I'll bring you a drink."

She patted Hermione's hands and went over to the small bar she kept in her room for these sorts of occasions and busied herself with getting a drink for them all. She poured herself a glass of whisky and took it like a shot before she found the strength to make her hands stop shaking.

She didn't want this. She didn't want to feel shame over this. Deep in her heart of hearts and now that she'd had the time to examine things, she could now admit to herself (especially after she had been kissed so beautifully) that she loved Hermione more than she could safely say she had loved anyone before. But, the level of feelings was so deep that it terrified her and more than that, every time she met a newcomer's eyes she saw her mother's scorn in them.

She hated it.

"Let me help," Poppy said quietly as she came up beside her.

Minerva didn't move. She didn't want to say something that would hurt but she was so angry she couldn't stand it.

"You are right to be angry," Poppy muttered. "I should not have told him before asking you. Especially knowing how much trouble you have had," Minerva glanced at her. "Are having."

She looked away again.

"Min," Poppy said, cautiously reaching out and covering her hand. "I'm sorry."

"I heard you," Minerva crooked. "But that does not mean I must forgive you."

"He is only happy for you," Poppy tried but Minerva wasn't having any of it.

"It is my story to tell. Not yours. Not ever yours. You are so concerned with -" Something made Minerva pause and she looked over at Hermione, who was staring at her intently. A wave of something soft washed over her and she sighed and dropped her empty glass on the table.

"Fine," she muttered. "You are forgiven."

"Don't do that."

"What is the alternative," Minerva asked a little petulantly. "That I do not forgive you?" She tutted and joined Hermione on the sofa. Poppy did not follow.

She desperately wished she could have settled in Hermione's lap and that feeling alone was enough to make her scoot just a little further away before she realised that she couldn't stand that and scooted back. Hermione, as ever, was so very patient with her and welcomed her under her arm when she returned.

"Breathe," she whispered as she pulled Minerva closer and once again tightened her grip.

"I'd ask how it's all going but," William said quietly. "I see it's a work in progress."

"Fuck off," she muttered.

"Minerva," Hermione said softly. "They love you."

"Fine," she hissed, pushing Hermione's hands off her. "You want to know how it's going, William?" His eyes widened as she stood. "Every time I look at her I see Ma's face, sneering at me. Every time I notice her looking at me, I feel like I'm doing something wrong."

"Min -"

"Every time she tries to tell me she loves me -" Will's mouth dropped open. "All I can hear is mother, telling me I am not worthy of anyone's love."

"Minerva!"

She broke down. All the shame and the feelings and the noise inside her head broke over her like a wave as she collapsed into Hermione's arms. She clung to her as William's big hands stroked her head and Poppy's hand took her hand. She sobbed against Hermione's shoulder, apologising over and over again until Hermione pulled back and cupped her face.

"Take a deep breath."

She couldn't. She was broken inside and couldn't even do that; it was unending.

"I'm going to stop this, okay?" Hermione waited for the longest time, but Minerva couldn't breathe properly and she begged her with her eyes as she struggled to draw in a big enough breath.

"I'll get a potion," Will muttered.

"No," Hermione said softly. "It's okay, she won't need it. Step back a bit."

They did as she said and Hermione managed to manoeuvre them to the floor where she sat with Minerva in her arms like a babe.

"Breathe," she whispered. "Breathe with me."

She took Minerva's hand and pressed it against her chest and ran her other hand up to the back of Minerva's neck. Though she had done nothing but hate the feeling of Hermione taking her power, at that moment she wanted nothing more than to cease to exist. She didn't know what to do or think or feel. She just wanted it to stop.

And then it did.

She floated endlessly in the nothing. There was no pain, or thoughts of fear. There was nothing but Hermione, holding her, the heat of her body burning the palm of her hand. She took a big, shuddering breath and Hermione let go of her neck, but pulled her tighter under her chin. A part of her wondered what the spectacle had looked like, but then Hermione's hand squeezed ever so gently once more and she was gone again.

Twice more it happened until she felt the tension in her shoulders leave and someone cupped her cheek.

"Take this," Will's voice said gently. "Dreamless sleep."

She swallowed it robotically and tangled her hand in Hermione's hair in the hope that she understood that just for tonight she did not want her to let go.

"I'm here," Hermione said. "I'm not going anywhere."

"We love you," Poppy said. And Minerva, for the first time all night, believed her. Tears started leaking from her eyes and she reached for her best friend and pulled her hand to her cheek. "We love you, Min."

There was a muttered discussion she definitely was not a part of and then a kiss on her hair. With a grunt, Hermione stood and Minerva felt herself floating until the familiar scent of her covers surrounded her.

"Don't go," she whispered around a sob.

"I'm not," Hermione soothed. "I just need to change."

Minerva had never felt as bereft as she did in those few moments when Hermione let go of her. True to her word, however, Hermione came right back. She felt a draft around her ankles as Hermione transfigured her robes into soft pyjamas and then nothing but glorious heat as Hermione pulled her into her chest and rolled just a little. In another life, Minerva would have felt claustrophobic to be pinned beneath someone like that, but in this, she wanted more.

"Breathe," Hermione sighed, breathing out her heat over them both. "Calm."

Minerva scooted impossibly closer and pulled Hermione's arms around her tighter and drifted off into nothing.

-0-

She jerked awake.

"Easy," Hermione said. "Easy."

She froze, feeling Hermione on her back and surrounded by her own covers and, as she looked around, her own room. And just as Hermione was releasing her, she remembered.

"Oh god," she muttered, covering her face in her hands.

"It's alright."

"Is it?" Minerva asked quietly, as she stopped Hermione from going completely. "I was awful."

"You were backed into a corner and ashamed and hurt," Hermione muttered as she moved off but left her hand tangled in Minerva's. "It's alright."

She wasn't sure she believed her, but Minerva didn't want to examine it too hard. Nor did she agree with herself from a few moments ago and she shifted backwards into Hermione's body.

"You can ask me to hold you, you know," Hermione chuckled as she slid her arm under Minerva's neck and wrapped herself around her.

"No, I'm not sure I can," Minerva replied, honestly.

"We can work on that."

They stayed wrapped up together in silence until Minerva sighed.

"I did not mean to spill all of that."

"And do you know what I'm going to say?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," she grumbled.

"You are funny," Hermione squeezed gently.

"I didn't want to tell you all of that."

"I know," Hermione soothed. "But I am so glad you did. So that I know, so that I can stop wondering."

Minerva's heart shattered and she drew a great, shuddering breath.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," she sobbed.

"Oh, I know."

Soft hands made her turn and she wrapped her arms around Hermione's shoulders. She felt so stupid and so young and so out of her depth but even as she did, Hermione soothed her. She wanted so badly to let go of it all. To let go of her mother's scorn and her father's apathy and a whole lifetime of doing things for others and just be Minerva.

"I don't know how to be me," she whispered. It was a terrifying thought and one she could not escape.

"I don't know who I am either," Hermione chuckled. "The good part about it is that I know that the people that love me, love me no matter what I am; no matter who I am."

She was so sick of crying, she pulled away and scrubbed at her face.

"Don't hurt yourself," Hermione soothed, taking her hand and kissing the palms of them. She ran her thumbs under Minerva's eyes and caught her tears. Minerva's stomach flopped over again.

"I -" They stared into each other's eyes and Minerva swallowed her fear. "I want to love you."

"Then let's start there," Hermione smiled. "I'm right here. And I love you, Minerva. I love you without end. And, I don't know if this matters to you but I am in love with you also. I will wait for you as long as I need, please," she cupped Minerva's cheeks with her warm hands. "Please don't ever feel like you need to race to meet me. We have," she chuckled and Minerva couldn't help but smile at the sound. "All of our lives."

She traced Hermione's face and saw the truth of it in those eyes.

"Please keep being patient with me, my darling. I am," she chuckled morosely. "Apparently quite damaged."

"We are, all of us, damaged in one way or the other," Hermione said sagely. "You cannot have the medal for that just yet."

She laughed, despite the situation and in a fit of abandon, kissed Hermione on the mouth. Hermione's fists tightened in her sleep shirt and Minerva moaned, just a little, at the power she felt in the arms surrounding her. Hermione kissed her back, gently, but fiercely, and she sighed against those lips.

"I don't know how I'm ever going to make it up to you," Minerva said as they pulled away. "But I'm going to have to spend my whole life trying."

Hermione beamed, having heard the unspoken meaning behind that simple statement. Minerva basked in the happiness shining from Hermione's face and settled back down into her arms.

"Thank you," Minerva whispered as she yawned and closed her eyes again. She didn't care what time it was, what she was supposed to be doing or where she was supposed to be. She was going to stay here, safe and warm until such time as she was told otherwise. "Thank you."