A/N: Darlings, I am writing as fast as my little fingers can do it and honestly, it's swerving all over the place lol We're just gonna roll with it, right? That's what we do :)
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Hermione was midway through her Astronomy homework two nights later when an origami crane landed in front of her. It flapped its wings demurely and settled on her page and she smiled when she felt the magic in it.
She opened it gently to retain the creases and smiled as she saw the note left by her love.
Meet me by the gates in 15 minutes.
She grinned at Ginny, who was watching from her own homework as Hermione packed up.
"I'm going out," she whispered as she packed up her things.
"Shall I wait up?" Ginny muttered.
"Nah, see you tomorrow."
Hermione ruffled Harry's hair as she went past and squeezed Ginny's shoulder and then slipped out of the Portrait hole.
"Good evening, My Lady."
Hermione blinked and turned to look at the Fat Lady.
"Madam," she said kindly. "Do you know who I am?"
"Of course," she scoffed.
"Do all the Portraits?"
"Of course," she said easily. "Your friend has made sure we are aware, though I do not understand why, it is as plain as the nose on my beautiful face."
"Nobody else is aware, correct?"
The Fat Lady nodded once.
"Keep an eye on them for me," Hermione asked, nodding towards the Common Room. "If they leave, I want to know about it."
The Fat Lady smiled.
"Certainly, My Lady."
Hermione nodded once and left in a rush, clattering down the stairs towards the Entrance Hall. She slipped out of the doors and down the garden paths, only narrowly missing Hagrid as he did his rounds.
"Here," Minerva hissed as Hermione neared her. "Come."
She did not ask where they were going, she simply opened her blocks to make sure it really was Minerva and smiled as a hand shot out to grip hers.
"Deep breath," Minerva muttered as they slipped out of the gates. Almost as soon as it clanged behind them, they were squeezed from all sides and disappeared with a pop.
They popped back into existence in a field beside a small copse of sparsely leafed trees. The sky was clear and full of stars and the air was full of salt. Hermione stepped away and took a deep breath as she turned in a circle to get her bearings. They were near the sea, and according to the stars, somewhere even further North than Hogwarts. Hermione snagged Minerva's hand as she turned to walk away.
"Hey," she grinned as she pulled Minerva back into her arms. "Hello."
Minerva looked away and as Hermione cupped her cheek, she could feel the blush warming it. Hermione merely nuzzled her but refrained from kissing. Minerva seemed to be on a mission and Hermione didn't want to derail that.
"Just wanted to say Hi," she whispered. "We can go and do whatever we're here for now."
"I'm sorry," Minerva sighed. "I should have -"
"It's fine," Hermione grinned, giving into her desire and leaving a lingering kiss on Minerva's forehead.
Minerva suddenly clung to her and Hermione had to take a step back from the force.
"Hey," she muttered. "You okay?"
"Thank you," she whispered in her ear. "For making me face Poppy, for pressing her to," she shrugged. "Take your mark, I suppose."
"Oh," Hermione smiled. "I like that turn of phrase."
"I didn't know how much it was weighing on me." Minerva cupped her cheek and they kissed properly. Hermione smiled against her lips, somehow knowing that tonight, Minerva needed to be the one to instigate it. "You did. Thank you."
"You are most welcome," Hermione grinned. "So," she grinned. "Why are we here?"
Minerva tucked her face into Hermione's neck and kissed the skin there, causing Hermione's hands to tighten in Minerva's coat.
"I found somewhere we might like to keep in our pockets for special occasions?"
"Such as dinner with family, then somewhat of a ceremony?" Hermione chuckled. "A hideaway where we can disappear to so nobody can find us?"
"I admit to having that thought." Minerva shrugged. "I was motivated," she suddenly said. "Oh, please don't think that just because Poppy has -"
"Calm," Hermione chuckled. "Calm down. None of that entered my mind. We spoke about it on Sunday, if you wanted to wait anyway I would have no thoughts on it, and if you had woken on Monday morning and had looked at 12 different places by lunch I would equally have no thoughts either." She cupped Minerva's chin and met her eyes in the moonlight. "I love you."
The tension in Minerva's shoulders left and she sank into Hermione's body.
"I didn't want you to think -"
"Hush, woman," Hermione chuckled. "Why don't you tell me why we're in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night, next to the sea?"
"I had discounted several places because they were too close to town. I would always prefer to be somewhere where I can see people coming."
"Agreed," Hermione nodded. "So where are we, specifically?"
"Eilean Leodhais."
"Minerva," Hermione grinned. "Any time you wish to just slide right into that language, you feel free, alright?"
Minerva's laugh echoed prettily through the night.
"O, tha thu cho èibhinn." Minerva teased her.
"Yep," Hermione muttered as she kissed Minerva's neck in thanks. "Going to have to have someone teach me that!"
"Someone!" Minerva protested.
"Well, I'm waiting, beautiful."
"Alainn," Minerva whispered, tracing Hermione's features. Hermione wasn't sure what she could see in the light but it seemed to be enough. "Beautiful, lovely. O, tha thu cho èibhinn - you are so funny." She grinned. "Eilean Leodhais, The Isle of Lewis."
Hermione sank her hand into Minerva's hair, simultaneously whispering a spell to release it and kissed her deeply. Minerva did not baulk and kissed her back just as hard.
A nearby tree seemed to be the perfect accessory as Hermione pressed Minerva up against it.
"I love you as the air I breathe," Hermione gasped as she breathed. "You control every beat of my heart."
Minerva moaned and kissed her back instead of answering. Their passion eased and Hermione pressed soft kisses over and over until Minerva chuckled and kissed her properly one final time and leaned back against the tree with a sigh.
"How can one person be so good at that," Minerva breathed.
"I was inspired," Hermione chuckled, resting tiredly on Minerva's shoulder. "And what is this about one person? You're pretty incredible, you know."
"You," Minerva said, pushing Hermione's hair back. "Are the incredible one."
Hermione stepped back and tied up her hair to her the wind from whipping it around.
"Sure," Minerva chuckled. "Leave mine, why don't you."
Hermione giggled and captured as much of Minerva's hair as she could before she twisted it up into a loose bun at the base of her skull.
"Better?"
"Hmm," Minerva smirked. "Been practising that as well?"
"You never know when it may come in handy," Hermione shrugged. "Right. We maybe should have been a little more conscious of where we are and for how long," she grinned. "We weren't meeting anyone were we?"
Minerva snorted and reached into her pocket.
"No," Minerva chuckled. "We have the key."
"Good. Let's go see if this is our new home."
"Oh. That is -" Minerva paused before they went on their way. "I hadn't -"
"Oh," Hermione chuckled. "Yes I suppose that is a step in a direction, isn't it."
"I hadn't -"
"Wait a moment," Hermione said, taking hold of Minerva's shoulders. "Let's just -"
They stood looking at each other for a short time before Hermione decided just to speak.
"This doesn't have to be ours. If it would make it better in your mind for it to be yours, I'm not worried about that, Min. I realise that once again we are in a situation that could make it uncomfortable for you and as I have said, time and time again, I am always going to be okay with doing things however we need to, to make this as easy as we can for you."
Minerva stared at her and then pulled her into her arms.
"I want this," she whispered, so quietly Hermione may not have heard had her hearing not been so sensitive. "With you."
"Lead the way, then," Hermione smiled.
Minerva stepped away and held out her hand. Hermione gladly took it and they trekked across the field and out into a quiet country lane.
"Down here to the left," Minerva said quietly. "There are three houses out this way, one is about a mile back this way and though there is one roughly that way," she pointed to where Hermione could hear the waves crashing. "It is down in a gully; well insulated from the sea and thus, everything around it as well. The one we are going to is atop a small hill, overlooking relatively flat land in every direction. It gets more of the wind gusts but," she shrugged. "360-degree views."
"Then I cannot wait to see it; now and in the daylight perhaps in time."
"Exactly," Minerva nodded.
The gate squeaked when they went through it and they huffed a little at the steep incline to the house from the road. Minerva unlocked the door and they stepped inside quietly.
"Shall we -" Hermione muttered as she drew her wand.
Minerva nodded and motioned for her to continue, having got her wand out as well. Hermione performed the spells to reveal hidden things, people and enemies and found none.
"A normal Muggle home then," she chuckled.
Minerva lit her wand with soft light and went to the windows to draw the blinds. Only when they were both sure they had as many of them covered as possible, did Hermione find the light switch.
The entrance hall was big enough to be comfortable and as they stepped around a corner, Minerva stopped her and nodded towards a gap in the wall.
"Through there," she smiled.
"Oh," she whispered as the room was illuminated. "Oh, Min."
They stood at the arched entrance to a grand room in what Hermione assumed was an otherwise unassuming farmhouse. They were both quiet as they took in the empty room that in another home might have been a combined living and dining room that turned the corner into a kitchen down the way. But what drew them both, however, was the wall that seemed to stretch the length of the whole house. Without even uttering a word, they immediately knew what to do with it.
Hermione jumped as Minerva's arms wrapped around her middle but she was charmed as they stood together. She slid her fingers between Minerva's resting on her stomach and leaned back into her a little.
"I was thinking of a wall of books," Minerva said quietly, using their joined hands to point. Hermione could hear the smile in her voice. "A soft sofa overlooking the sea? We would not need a formal dining room in this place, I do not think."
Hermione glanced over and saw the huge windows behind the dark blinds and saw what Minerva was suggesting like a movie in her head. Quiet nights wrapped up around each other, moments of quiet love on stormy days when the sea was angry and the sky, dark.
"This is it, isn't it? Do we need to see anything else?"
"You tell me," Minerva mused, her lips soft against Hermione's nape where her hair would usually sit. She shivered at the feeling and decided she might wear her hair up more often.
"I guess we had better make sure there isn't some sort of terrible thing that will cancel out how perfect this room is, hadn't we?"
"I'm quite sure there isn't," Minerva chuckled. "But yes, perhaps we should. Because there's something else I would love for you to see."
Hermione held Minerva's hand as she was shown around.
"Wait," she said as she understood the words. "You've already been here?"
"I admit I had a quick look earlier today. I did not spend more than 10 minutes but I wanted to look properly with you."
Hermione stopped where she was and looked.
"You did? With me?"
Minerva faced up and looked into her eyes. Hermione could feel the nervousness but also the small tendrils of love blossoming within Minerva's soul.
"I want this, with you."
That sentence, repeated over and over was helping Hermione believe and she hugged Minerva impetuously before she stepped away again.
"Ok, going somewhere on your own, without telling anybody aside," Hermione chuckled. Minerva rolled her eyes but waited as Hermione finished. "Show me everything."
The kitchen was lovely; the overflow into the dining room/long room enough for a sizable table and Hermione whispered quietly that it would be perfect to house the five of them for dinner. Minerva blushed and squeezed her hand. They walked down a corridor, seeing a bathroom, two bedrooms and a boot room with a laundry at the back of the house, no doubt intended for those coming in off the land. Finally, Minerva pulled her into the room that stuck out on one side of the main house.
"I am sure this was added later, but I am not unhappy with their vision."
Hermione gasped.
One whole wall of windows allowed the moonlight to stream in, and over the land was the angry sea that she could just about hear thanks to her added powers.
The room was sizable with a large ensuite and wardrobe and Hermione turned slowly to take it all in.
"Min," Hermione whispered. "If we're doing this together, what do you need me to do, because I want this."
Minerva chuckled.
"If you would allow me to purchase this, quietly and within the Muggle world, perhaps we can find something for you to invest in, to make a little more for you to keep?"
"Are you -"
"I have plenty of money, lo -" Hermione met her eyes and Minerva swallowed and then took a deep breath. "I have plenty of money, love. It is alright."
"But -" Hermione huffed as Minerva cupped her cheek. "Okay, now I feel as young as I am."
Minerva chuckled and kissed her forehead softly.
"It was bound to happen at some point, darling. Listen to me, though, okay?" Hermione sighed against Minerva's shoulder and rubbed her cheek against it as she sought more comfort than she'd ever needed. "This is a turnabout, isn't it," Minerva chuckled. "Now," she said gently. "Are you listening?"
"I am," Hermione sighed.
"Good. There is no point beating about the bush, or lying about our -" She hesitated then all at once seemed to find the correct word. "Our truth," Minerva said gently. "I am an old woman and you," she glanced at Hermione. "Are not. Obviously, I have had many," she chuckled. "Many years of earning money but, I have also had very little to spend it on. The Professors of Hogwarts are all quite wealthy for two reasons: we have no expenses to speak of and our remuneration is well above average. Why do you think we stay so long?"
Hermione chuckled.
"I did wonder."
"So take a deep breath and as you often tell me? Let that go." Hermione did as she was asked and nodded. "This is the perfect house for us to hide in our back pocket. For whatever we want, in time we could even rent it out to someone, but," she kissed Hermione's nose. "It is rather perfect for us just to use."
"It is," Hermione breathed. "And I have no business saying this, but I want this so badly with you."
Minerva smiled and they came together without further speaking. Hermione's stomach was twisted in knots as Minerva's quiet noises and soft kisses made her heart thump rapidly. Their hands wandered a little more bravely than they often did and Hermione moaned as Minerva's hand squeezed her ass.
"I'm -"
"Please don't apologise," Hermione gasped as Minerva let go, almost immediately. "Don't, I can't -"
It was her time now to shed and tear and Minerva gathered her into her arms and held her tightly.
"We are a pair," Minerva chuckled as they calmed.
"I must be hormonal," Hermione snorted. "I hate crying, ordinarily."
"Oh lord, why had that not occurred to me," Minerva chuckled. "Do we have to stop for some ice cream?"
"Minerva!" Hermione laughed, nudging her shoulder gently.
"Come on, love," Minerva said softly, running her finger down Hermione's nose. "Let me buy you some ice cream before we go home."
"I love this house, Min."
"I know you do," Minerva nodded. "I do as well."
"I suppose, at some point, we're going to have to find time to fix it up a little, aren't we? We can't really have people coming in and out of it."
"No, we cannot, but between us and Albus, I'm sure we'll be fine for the short term."
"We need a Secret Keeper, right?"
"Yes," Minerva nodded. "We shall have to think on that. Unless you just want us to be it?"
"It would be safer if it was just me. I don't like the idea of endangering someone else, although I recognise that having just one could lead to disaster."
"Well, I do not like the idea of you shouldering that on your own anyway, but we will think on it. I will put in an offer tomorrow and we shall see how we go."
"Is it very expensive?"
"Not really," Minerva snorted. "One of the beauties of being so far out."
"Will you let me know what happens?"
"Of course, I will," Minerva smiled. "It is your house as well, remember? Now let us go, so we can get you some ice cream and you can get to bed at a reasonable hour. We are getting closer to the business end of term and I know you; you will need your sleep."
"I love you, Minerva," Hermione whispered as she stepped into the woman's space and held on. "So so much."
"I know, Trouble," Minerva whispered. "And I want this, with you. More than I think you understand."
Hermione tucked her head into Minerva's neck and let her apparate them away.
The memories of their late-night jaunt and their quiet words over ice cream while sitting on a bench on a deserted high street kept her spirits up as much as possible. But by the time classes ended the following day, Hermione was feeling something she hadn't felt in quite a while.
She was exhausted.
Ginny remarked on how she looked and Hermione nodded up to her dorm instead of pretending.
"I'm not going to dinner," she muttered. "I'm going for a nap. I'll get something later, okay? Wake me if anything happens."
"You think it will?" Ginny asked with wide eyes.
"No," Hermione shrugged. "But it would be just my luck to need a nap and something happens while I'm asleep, wouldn't it."
Ginny laughed.
"Yeah, that would probably be our luck."
"Promise you'll wake me?"
"Yep! The boys have a bunch of homework to do, so I guess we'll just be doing that after dinner."
"Cool. Good luck then. Practise your defensive spells if you remember. Night."
"Night!"
Hermione trudged up to bed and fell into it, without even attempting to undress. She shuffled herself under the covers and pulled a pillow into her arms to curl around. It was a poor substitute for Minerva but she was so tired she could not even articulate those thoughts. She fell asleep almost immediately.