A/N: Happy Sunday my loves. It is the weekend of my birthday so I invite you to find some cake and celebrate with me. Adulting is only made bearable when you realise you can buy cake without a reason. So even if you struggle with that, here is also a reason lol Again, this went absolutely not according to plan but it turned out wonderfully and I have enjoyed this little passage which will probably stretch at least 3 chapters... but it will be worth it. Enjoy.

-0-

"Good morning," Hermione smiled as Minerva opened the door still in her house coat.

"Oh!" she blinked with her hand on her head. "Good morning. Are you -" Minerva frowned. "Did I miss something?" She paused. "Again?"

Hermione laughed and reached for her hand before it could start rubbing her forehead.

"No, you haven't missed anything. I'm turning up unannounced." She grinned. "Again."

"Oh," Minerva nodded. "Well then please," she shrugged. "Come in."

"I don't have to?" Hermione asked. Minerva looked, and admittedly felt, quite uncomfortable and she did not want that at all.

"No," she waved it off. "I apologise, I -" she blushed and Hermione looked closer.

"Min, what is it?"

"Nothing," she chuckled. "I'm being silly. Come in."

Hermione did step inside and once Minerva had shut the door, Hermione captured her hand and stopped her from returning.

"I can come back?"

"No," Minerva snorted. "I was," she shrugged. "Am, embarrassed. I'm not dressed, my hair is probably -"

Hermione kissed her softly, just to get her to stop talking and Minerva squeaked for a moment before she relaxed.

"I was babbling, wasn't I." Minerva's cheeks were pink but there was none of the cautiousness in her eyes that had been there a moment ago.

"You were, rather," Hermione smiled. "I've seen you in your pyjamas, and your hair is beautiful. But either way? That's okay. I surprised you. Very early for a Saturday, as well."

"Well, that doesn't matter much anymore. You're here," Minerva nodded. She, this time, took Hermione's hand and squeezed it gently. "Breakfast?"

"Sure," Hermione nodded. "That would be lovely."

Minerva nodded her over to the table and they sat down. They didn't speak for a while but Hermione revelled in the way that their interactions were slowly coming back together, in the way they had been before all this had happened. She could preempt Minerva's need for tea and so poured two cups, making it to Minerva's specifications that she knew by heart. Minerva had buttered some toast, lashing the butter on until it would run all over Hermione's fingers - just the way she loved it. And as she passed over the tea, Hermione spied some fruit and placed the apples and banana on Minerva's plate and saved the pear for her.

"It is still uncomfortable that you like that stuff," Minerva winced.

"What, pear?" Hermione laughed.

"Yes." She shivered and made Hermione snort. "Nasty stuff."

"You're a very weird woman, you know that?" Hermione teased. "You may be the only one on the planet that doesn't like pears."

"Then I am in good company," Minerva quipped.

Hermione laughed and popped a slice of that same fruit in her mouth.

"Delicious."

Minerva's face made her laugh harder.

"I believe it's the texture," Minerva shivered. "Extremely uncomfortable."

Hermione chuckled still as she sipped her tea and both of them sighed as they came to the end of breakfast.

"Not that I haven't enjoyed this," she paused and Hermione watched her fight with herself before she took a deep breath and met Hermione's eyes. "My darling?"

Hermione blushed now, herself, and nodded.

"So, I told you that I would like to take you on a date today?"

"Oh," Minerva blinked. "I had assumed that you meant -"

"Wait, wait, wait," Hermione chuckled, pulling her chair over to Minerva's and taking her hands. "I initially did mean later, it's okay." She interlocked their fingers on one hand and kissed the back of it. Minerva let go of the other and clutched their joined hands together like she was afraid of them parting. "Hey," Hermione whispered. "Talk to me?"

"You need to stop coming to class," Minerva sighed. "You need to not be in any of my classes. Albus will need to teach you or perhaps even -"

"I was asking you out and we're back to school?" Hermione chuckled easily. Minerva baulked and opened her mouth, no doubt, to apologise but Hermione cupped her cheek.

"I will do anything," she met Minerva's eyes. "Anything to make this as easy as it can be for you."

"What about you?" Minerva said petulantly.

"Why would I need my life to be any easier?" Hermione challenged. "I got a creature inheritance, I have a new family and a woman who is easily the most beautiful I've ever seen. I'm probably okay."

Minerva laughed loudly and used their joined hands to pull Hermione closer so she could nuzzle her cheek.

"I'm sorry. You mentioned it the other day and I've been thinking about it all the time and I do believe that to prevent anything from ever being said or brought before me, that is what we would have to do."

"Done," Hermione nodded. "I'll miss seeing you in class but honestly, if I get to have you at other times instead, I think I know which I'd prefer."

Minerva blushed darkly and though Hermione hadn't necessarily meant it like that, she was happy to let it sit.

"Would you like to reconvene on the sofa?"

Minerva pulled Hermione up and they sat side by side on the sofa for a little while before Hermione pulled up her leg and turned, wedging her knee just beside Minerva's backside so she could remain as close as possible.

"Okay, we can totally still meet tonight, but I wasn't sure you were totally okay with me taking you for dinner or something?" Hermione said gently. Minerva frowned.

"Oh," she nodded. "I see. Perhaps," she winced. "Perhaps not?"

"That's perfectly fine," Hermione smiled. "And I know that I said that I wanted to take you on a date but -" She bit back a smile at the little upset look Minerva had in her eyes. She'd been looking forward to it, evidently. "Well, I wondered if I picked somewhere that you could take me?"

"Me?" Minerva blinked. "Like where?"

Hermione realised she was doing this badly.

"I'm sorry," Hermione groaned. "Let me start again." Minerva nodded and Hermione took a deep breath and reached for Minerva's hand again. "Min, I know I told you that I would take you on a date tonight and if you want me to, I absolutely will," she smiled as Minerva squeezed her hand. "But," Hermione continued. "When I realised belatedly that it maybe wasn't time for that, I tried to think of somewhere where we might want to go that wasn't quite so formal or in public. I know we have another library visit coming up so that's out and I really thought about it and honestly, there was only one place I could think that I would love to go with you."

"Where?" Minerva blinked.

"Min, I would love it if you would take me up to the Glens you explored as a child." Hermione blushed. "I really think that it would be a lovely outing and as Filius is taking your duty and there's no Hogsmeade today and the weather is finally lovely, I wondered if maybe I might ask you to go with me up there and show me around."

"Oh," Minerva blinked. A small smile crept into the corners of her mouth. "Yes, I suppose so, why not?"

"Only if you want to," Hermione said, sensing a little caution.

"No, no, that's not," she laughed. "It's been a long time and I don't want to embarrass myself."

"You couldn't," Hermione soothed. "You're twice as fit as I am, so you'll be okay if you want to. Likewise, we can do something here instead if that's -"

"No," Minerva nodded. "I would enjoy that immensely, actually."

"Alright," Hermione smiled. "I figured that if I came early enough, you could tell me how soon we need to go and we could just leave?"

"Oh," Minerva blinked. "Yes, probably within the hour. The light can be poor in places and though were are afforded with a little protection as we can apparate there are patches where Apparition is impossible."

"Oh, really?" Hermione blinked. "Why is that?"

"Well, when the -" Minerva paused and laughed as Hermione pulled out a pen. "Hopeless. Go and get ready and meet me back here and I will tell you once we are there."

"Fine," Hermione groaned.

She got up and kissed Minerva's forehead and left with a spring in her step. She'd had the idea while she watched Ginny and Ron argue about the best place to play Quidditch around their home and Ron mentioned that before things got bad and before Ginny was old enough, they used to go further afield to play but they could no longer do that. It was then that Hermione had struck upon the idea and she'd run with it. She already had the small beaded bag that she had now attached around her wrist and tucked in the arm of whatever she was wearing. She'd asked Dobby to make them some sandwiches - enough to feed an army - and they were in there as well. She was completely ready to go once she had changed her clothes and when she'd done that, she waved to the boys and Ginny and left back down the corridors.

Minerva let her in and hugged her impulsively before returning to what she was doing. Hermione couldn't help but grin at her enthusiasm. Minerva glanced at her once or twice but Hermione couldn't quite work out why.

"Am I wearing something I shouldn't be?" Hermione asked. She was wearing cargo trousers and a loose-fitting blouse with a jacket over the top to keep the chill off.

"No, you're fine," Minerva smiled. She cleared her throat when she realised what she'd said. "Beautiful, I mean -"

"Minerva," Hermione laughed. "Calm down. What's wrong?"

"You will need water, and provisions," she motioned down to the things she'd set out on the sofa. "You will -"

Hermione pulled her bag out and opened the top. Minerva glanced at it for a moment then got up and peered into it.

"Oh," she grinned. "You are so clever, my darling."

"It would have come to you eventually," Hermione snorted. She wrapped her arms around Minerva's shoulders and hung on. Minerva made a small noise of surprise and then hugged her back. They did not move for some minutes as she breathed into each other's shoulders.

"We really must be going."

"I know," Hermione whispered. "But I do so love this."

Minerva pulled away and they stared at each other for a long time before Minerva blinked and pecked Hermione's lips, just long enough to feel deeper than a cursory thing.

"I understand," Minerva whispered.

Hermione beamed while she waited for Minerva to enlarge her bag and fix it to her own arm under her coat and declare themselves ready. She sent a note to Albus from her desk and then as she stood, Hermione was mesmerised by how soft she looked. She had arguably seen more of Minerva's depth and breadth than anyone save perhaps Albus, but the more she saw, the harder she fell in love.

"What?"

"You're beautiful," Hermione chuckled innocently. "I was just looking."

Minerva scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Come along then. Floo to The Hag's Head and I'll apparate us from there."

Hermione nodded and when they popped back into existence in the wilds of the North, Hermione's breath caught in her throat. She gaped as she looked around.

"Minerva," she whispered. "I cannot believe this is real."

"Neither could I, as a girl," Minerva sighed beside her. "It has drawn me through so many difficult times and I wanted to share it with you."

"How can anyone feel difficulties when you are literally within the heavens."

Minerva's head fell and Hermione was suddenly very worried she'd just said something wrong.

"Min?"

A tear meandered its way down her cheek and Hermione was suddenly very very worried.

"No," Minerva suddenly realised as Hermione pulled her in. "No, it's fine," she shuddered but didn't let go as she wrapped herself around Hermione tightly.

"Min, you're -"

"Those are almost the exact words my father said to me the last time we were up here together."

"Oh, Min." Hermione's heart broke. "I'm so sorry."

"No," Minerva shook her head and shifted to wipe her tears. "It's truly fine, I just," she took a deep breath and stepped back. "It's okay. It just surprised me."

Hermione felt terrible and reached for her hand, taking a deep breath as the pain of so much loss joined her own pain of accidentally hurting the love of her life.

"No, you don't have to -"

Hermione tried to let go, but Minerva tightened her grip despite her words. She breathed out and turned to look at her.

"This was a good idea," Minerva sighed. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Hermione smiled. "Where's best to go first?"

"If you'll permit me, we can apparate to a good starting place and start there?"

Hermione cupped her cheek and kissed her softly, leaving their lips brushing against hers as she agreed. They popped out of existence together.

-0-

The path was well trodden and it was easy to follow in Minerva's footsteps as they made their way through the bluebells.

"I love these," Hermione smiled as they paused at the top of a rise. "They're so beautiful."

"My grandmother would call them fuath-mhuc," Minerva chuckled.

"What does that mean?"

"Hated by pigs or thereabouts," Minerva chuckled. "I think they upset their stomachs."

"You're going to have to teach me that," Hermione wrapped her arm around Minerva's middle. "Just in case you start talking about me."

Minerva snorted and wrapped a corresponding arm around Hermione as well.

"I wouldn't," she laughed.

"Oh, perhaps one day you might."

She hadn't set out to sound so flirty but Minerva's lips twitched and she looked sideways at Hermione for a moment before looking back out over the green.

"A good point." She blushed. "Come along."

Hermione gaped at the playfulness that she hadn't seen for so long and almost tripped as she rushed to catch up to Minerva's long strides.

At times, they walked quietly beside each other or one by one and at times, Minerva would remark on something and they would engage in such varied conversation that Hermione's heart thrummed happily. They laughed more than they'd done in so long and they argued good-naturedly and spoke about things that Hermione would never think Minerva so knowledgeable about.

"So," Minerva said after a short silence. "I believe I've waited long enough," Minerva said expectantly.

"For what?" Hermione blinked. They'd spoken about so many things that she genuinely didn't know what Minerva was talking about.

"The Pensieve?" Minerva said carefully. "We left you to discuss with Albus but we never really got into the details."

"Ah," Hermione nodded. "Yes."

"You weren't going to say anything?" Minerva blinked.

"No," Hermione chuckled. "That's not what I'm saying."

She stopped Minerva as they were walking and kissed her. Minerva's hands gripped Hermione's coat as she stepped into her body and held Hermione's head still. Hermione was in heaven.

"I love you," Hermione whispered as they parted. "I love you more than I can bare."

"We will bare it together then," Minerva teased.

Hermione pulled her in and hugged her tightly before she stepped back after stealing another kiss.

"If you keep doing that," Minerva muttered as she reciprocated. "We shall get nowhere."

"Surely it's about the journey and not the destination."

Minerva threw her head back and laughed. They disturbed a pheasant off to their right and watched it in flight before they continued on, side by side while they had the space to do so on the path.

"Based on what Slughorn said," Hermione sighed. "We believe that it's extremely possible he made at least 6 Horcruxes."

Minerva stopped and stared.

"Six!"

"Yeah," Hermione sighed.

"We've only taken out two! How are we supposed to find the other four?"

"At least," Hermione nodded. "Albus has been looking at Tom's past. His interactions, people he manipulated. It's," she sighed. "A lot of work but we stumbled upon something the other night that has pointed us to what they are even if we're unsure of where they are."

"Like what?"

"Well, they aren't just things," Hermione explained as they started walking again. "They are things that mean things to him. Truly personal things."

"Makes sense," Minerva muttered as they tiptoed over a muddy patch. "I believe I would prefer that sort of thing to mean something to me, had I ever had that thought."

"Agreed. Harry, especially, made that connection and concluded we were right."

"So what are we looking for then?"

"After taking into account what he's already used - the diary and the ring."

"I need to speak to you about that," Minerva muttered as they stopped for a breather. "Oh, look at that."

Hermione blinked and looked up. She realised that she'd spent so long talking she hadn't really been paying attention and she regretted it now. Her sharp intake of breath made Minerva smile and Minerva's hand slid into Hermione's for a while.

"It's truly beautiful."

"My favourite view of all time," Minerva chuckled. There was a moment of pause before she turned and looked at Hermione carefully. "Well," she amended. "One of."

Hermione, this time, blushed and she leaned against Minerva. She sighed and let her head drop onto Minerva's shoulder.

"Think we can just stay here forever?" Hermione suggested quietly.

"Oh I think I might like that one day," Minerva said, surprising Hermione.

"Really?" Hermione smiled. "I assumed you'd want to stay at Hogwarts?"

"Beyond my career as a teacher?" Minerva asked.

"I -" Hermione looked at her carefully and saw some apprehension. "Min, what are we talking about."

"I -" She swallowed. "I have never allowed myself a moment to think about life," she paused. "Beyond."

Hermione felt like someone had sucker-punched her and she stared.

"Oh, Min," she whispered. "Shall we," she looked around and found a good spot. "Here, come sit with me."

"Hermione, I don't -"

"Please?"

She turned her best, most pathetic face towards Minerva who laughed and ran her thumb over Hermione's chin.

"I'll be helpless against that then, good to note."

Hermione laughed as well and settled against a little rock face just peeking out of the grass.

"Come 'ere," Hermione beckoned, patting the ground beneath her thighs.

"I havenae sat on the ground as many times as ah have wi' you," Minerva tutted as she sat down with a harrumph.

"You love it really," Hermione whispered against her ear as she pulled her back against her body.

They both sighed and settled against each other quietly. Hermione bent her knees up to help Minerva with something to lean on and Minerva wrapped an arm around her bent thigh and rubbed her thumb against the skin where her jeans had ridden up. Hermione kissed Minerva's neck and held Minerva tightly for a moment before letting go and leaving her hands flat on her stomach.

"You wanna talk about it?" Hermione asked quietly.

"No," she said just a little petulantly.

Hermione chuckled.

"I think it's okay to see a future you hadn't expected. I think it's equally okay to see a future you hadn't expected and decide that as lovely as it might seem on paper, it is not for you."

"What of you?"

"What about me?" Hermione shrugged carefully. "If you're talking about me and you, together, beyond Hogwarts?" Minerva made a noise. "Then whatever you want to do, we will figure out how to make it work. There's very little you could suggest that I would not bend over backwards to make sure you had the opportunity to Min."

"But you are so young, surely it is you -"

"Minerva," Hermione said reproachfully. "Don't do that. Please try to let go of that. Just because you've been on earth longer than I have doesn't mean you should be doomed to live the rest of your life quietly. If you want to teach forever? Then do that. If you want to teach until nearly forever and then take up some sort of dragon taming, then we can do that too." Minerva laughed and let her head drop back on Hermione's shoulder.

"I dinnae think I'll be up for that love."

"Well, look, the option is open for you," Hermione chuckled.

Minerva's hand slid along Hermione's and their fingers tangled together while they sat until Hermione noticed a rather ominous-looking cloud overhead.

"How do you feel about that then," Hermione nodded towards it and Minerva hummed.

"Looks short. We could find somewhere to take shelter for a while and eat a few sandwiches?"

"I do love a woman who loves her sandwiches," Hermione joked.

Minerva laughed and leaned sideways looking at her with such a look that Hermione kissed her again. Minerva's hand reached back and held her where she was. It wasn't until Hermione realised that she could feel something cold on the back of her neck that she realised how long they'd been distracted.

"Oh," Hermione whispered with a shiver. "Oops, we got distracted," she chuckled as she looked up. "We're about to get rained on."

"Oh bother," Minerva said, her face pink but her eyes alight. "Um," she looked around and chewed her lip for a while before she nodded. "Come, we'll need to get a little lower. The top of a mountain is not where one should get caught in a storm."

She got up and helped Hermione up, though she didn't really need it but they didn't let go of each other's hand while they walked. As the little droplets got more frequent, Hermione chuckled at Minerva's glare at the cloud above until a massive clap of thunder made them both jump.

"Let's go," Hermione squeaked, pushing Minerva on and following in her wake.

"There," Minerva had to almost yell as another clap of thunder echoed overhead.

Hermione couldn't see where she was pointing but she followed by default as Minerva practically ran into a small cave underneath an outcrop of dark rock.

"Hells bells," Minerva muttered as they stood dripping and breathing heavily. "Darling, I'm so -" Hermione laughed. And then laughed more at the affronted look Minerva gave her before laughing just because of the ridiculous things they got themselves into. After a while, even Minerva couldn't quite keep her face straight and she laughed as well. "Bloody hell," she continued to mutter as she shook off her arms and pulled her clothes off her shoulders. They'd managed to miss the worst of it but they were still a little damp.

"Come here," Hermione chuckled.

She pulled down Minerva's bun and plaited it roughly but securely to help it dry a little. Minerva gave her a look and Hermione blushed herself.

"I've been practising," she admitted. "Ginny is sick of me pulling on her hair."

Minerva smiled and pulled Hermione's hands over her shoulders and leaned back into her.

"Despite the excitement," Minerva said, where Hermione could hear the smile in her voice. "I have enjoyed this immensely."

"I have too," Hermione kissed her neck. "Thanks for bringing me."

"Thanks for bringing me."

Hermione let that sit for a while before her stomach gave her away.

"Goodness," Minerva chuckled as she turned. "Dragon indeed."

Hermione laughed suddenly and very loudly and they paused as it echoed down into the cave.

"Alright, fun's over," Hermione chuckled. "I'm starving. Want to start a fire while I," she pulled her bag from inside her sleeve. "Get started on lunch?"

She was only half paying attention when Minerva made a noise of astonishment and Hermione looked up to see Minerva drawing her wand. Without even needing a reason, Hermione drew hers too.

"What's going on?" she said, her senses on full alert, though she could sense no danger.

"I believe," she flicked her wand at a pile of relatively dry twigs she'd gathered from the entrance to the cave. "Bother."

"What?"

"I cannot do magic in this cave."

"What?"

Hermione blinked and looked down at her wand, pointing it at a leaf and trying to set it on fire. She blinked when nothing happened.

"What the hell? What is going on?"

"I believe we're stuck here with no magic."