A/N: I genuinely meant to post one on Thursday but then I got sick, probably from the poxy work thing and now we're here. And no, of course, I'm not writing this on Sunday. Why would I do that? :\
-0-
Hermione awoke to a crinkle by her ear and frowned as she tried to find what it was. She blinked and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she peered at the parchment.
Procured. Before breakfast?
She grinned and shoved the covers off and ran to wake Ginny. She grumbled noisily but Hermione was already on her way to getting dressed. It didn't take her long to almost tumble down the stairs and she instructed one of the more eager 1st years to go up and wake Harry and Ron.
"What the hell, Hermione!"
"I promise you it's going to be worth it," she grinned, pulling a very grumpy Ronald through the portrait hole.
"I could have had -"
"No," Harry chuckled. "Seriously mate, it's going to be awesome."
"What!"
Ginny was staring between them trying to figure out what was going on and Hermione almost wanted to apologise to her in advance but she equally wanted to make sure that Ron was the main focus for once. Her insight into how his emotions were so much deeper than he let on made her need to do this for him. She squeezed Ginny's hand and winked when she got a look.
"Good 'morrow younglings," Michael greeted them as they arrived in front of the portrait. "Is she awake, Michael?"
"She is," he grinned. "And waiting for the lot of yeh."
"What is going on," Ron grumbled.
"Something that you're going to enjoy," Harry chuckled. "Come on."
"Good morning," Minerva said jovially as they shuffled into her living room. "Sleep well?"
"I was," Ron mumbled quietly.
Hermione already knew that Minerva had heard it but she didn't comment. She ushered them onto the sofa and poured a cup of tea for everyone before she sat down in her chair and smiled at Hermione until Ron grumbled again.
"Okay, what is going on?"
"Oh, I'm just waiting until you are ready."
"For wha'?"
Minerva chuckled and sat forward.
"You, young man, have done monumental things these last two years and Harry and Hermione came upon an idea that we all quite enjoyed the sound of."
"What?"
"We wanted you to look the part of a Championship Keeper," Harry grinned. "It was Hermione's idea initially, but we chipped in. Gred and Forge, Min," Harry smirked as she tutted for giving up her secret. "Hermione."
"What the bloody hell are you talking ab -"
He blinked as Minerva nodded for Hermione to grab the package that was sitting behind the sofa and she got up gleefully and plopped it onto Ron's lap. The wrapping was pristine, as Hermione expected, but Ron just stared at it as it sat there.
"Go on, Ron," Harry nudged him. "Open it then."
"You -"
Hermione sat back down on the arm of Minerva's chair, no longer afraid of how Minerva might feel about them being seen 'together'. Minerva's arm went around her hips and a thumb snuck under her jumper and rubbed against her skin as Ron peeled off the paper and stared.
"Bloody hell," Ron whispered. "But I -"
"You're worth it," Hermione smiled, reaching down and pressing Minerva's palm against her hip. "We love you, Ron."
His ears went a lovely pink colour as he unveiled his new broom and he could do nothing but smile as he looked it over.
"You probably won't need to preen the sticks on this one for a while," Hermione grinned.
"Bloody hell, I mean, thank you," he said as his voice caught. "I mean it. Thank you."
"Fred and George helped me pick it out," Minerva said softly. "They'll be here on Saturday."
A funny little smile stuck itself to Ron's lips and Hermione met Ginny's eyes. They stared at each other for a long time before she smiled and nodded her own thanks as well. She'd said it before and she'd say it every day until the world was sick of it. The Weasleys had their faults, to be sure, but underneath they were the best people.
"Now," Minerva said gently, clearly not wanting to break the mood, but forced to do so nonetheless. "We must go down to breakfast. Ron, if you want to leave it here, you can pick it up after lunch and take it to Herbology with you?"
"I hear they all get an early mark?" Hermione teased. "Favouritism indeed."
Minerva laughed and pushed Hermione gently so she would stand and make the others follow suit. They went down to breakfast with a spring in their step eager to start the day.
-0-
They'd enjoyed their day and Hermione had even followed them out after class to watch them train on Ron's new broom. She couldn't help but smile at his joyful hoots every time he managed to save a shot he perhaps wouldn't have been able to before.
They'd all gone to bed happy and it wasn't until the following day just after lunch that Hermione felt anything other than happiness. In truth, she was restless. She wasn't sure why but as she sat in Arithmancy trying to get the last of her problems down for homework, something was niggling at her. Finally, unable to cope with it any longer, she grabbed her things and slipped from the classroom while Professor Vector was lecturing with her back turned. She ran down the corridor, unsure why, until she slid around the corner from Minerva's classroom. Just as she was deciding whether to knock, the door opened.
Minerva stared at her hard and Hermione shook her head, unable to determine what was bothering her. She watched as Minerva turned back around to her classroom and pulled the door almost shut behind her as she stepped into the corridor and into Hermione's space.
"Calm," she whispered, taking her hands.
Hermione looked down again and saw them aflame, caressing Minerva's and she took a deep breath and put them out.
"I don't know -"
"I know," Minerva whispered. "I feel it too."
"Something -"
"Turn it back on," Minerva whispered as more noise came from the unsupervised classroom. "Darling, I cannot stay with you and I need you to have your wits about you. Turn it back on."
Hermione stared into Minerva's eyes and rolled her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered at the overwhelming feelings and she took a step back.
"Herm -"
"Go," she whispered as she fought off the nausea from the sudden overwhelming feelings. "It's okay. I'll figure it out."
"Call me if you need me," Minerva whispered. "I will drop everything for you."
Hermione smiled as Minerva paused at the door and let it drop as soon as she was inside shouting at her Second Years for the disturbance. She stood and let everything wash over her and desperately tried to work out why she was ready to fight. She checked on the others, finding Albus before she'd managed to track down Harry. She wasn't sure why until she really concentrated.
The fear hit her first and she was off running down the corridors without a thought, towards Harry and the overwhelming feeling of dread. She couldn't concentrate enough on what was happening, only that he needed her. Frustrated at herself, she stepped forward with a roar and came to a stop at the door to a bathroom.
Snape was there, knelt beside Draco who was bleeding from a huge gash in his middle.
"What the -"
"What are you doing here?"
"I -" She couldn't think and she stared down at them as Snape performed spell after spell. "Look, doesn't matter, what do you want me to do?"
"Get Poppy."
She nodded and turned from the room. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened; she was distraught for Harry all at once. But, based on the blood pooling around Draco, she didn't really have time to be concerned for him.
She stood for just a moment and felt the itchy feet she'd had before and stepped forward.
"POPPY!"
The woman bustled out of her office with her hair askew and Hermione smirked at her as she waved her hand over it and it pinned itself up.
"I was doing it, you bloody menace," Poppy chuckled. "What do you need?"
"Something happened to Draco. He's in the boy's bathroom on the third floor, in a pool of blood."
"Bloody hell."
She turned and grabbed her bag and nodded Hermione in and pulled her to the Floo.
"Third Floor Staff Room."
They spun out of the great, but Poppy barely paused as she marched through the doors. As they turned towards the bathroom, Hermione paused and waited. Poppy didn't even notice as she turned away and stepped around the corner.
"What the hell did you do," Hermione said without pause.
Harry was as white as a sheet and his hands were shaking. She put away her annoyance and reached for them, watching as he calmed instantly and pausing as a wave of remorse overcame her.
"What did you do," she repeated.
"I didn't look for him," he whispered quickly. "I didn't, I swear it. I came out of the bathroom and he was there. I asked him to tell me, Hermione, I promise I did." Something about the way he was setting it up made her growl and he stepped back as her hand ignited. "Please, you have to believe me."
"What did you do," she hissed.
"He nearly did. He nearly gave it up, he's so tired, Hermione, I need you to know -"
"Harry!"
"We fought. I don't even remember why, I think he shoved me and then we drew wands, he knocked mine out of my hand and he grabbed my shirt -" Hermione glanced down and saw his shirt askew even now.
"And then what," she whispered, already dreading what was coming.
"I pulled my knife out and -"
"Harry," she hissed. "Are you insane! Where is it?"
"It's -"
"MR POTTER!"
Hermione stepped back and glared at Harry as Professor Snape stormed up to him and took him by the shirt collar. Hermione stepped forward, unable to help it as the Professor nearly shook him. Despite his stupidity, Harry was still hers and she would defend him if necessary.
Snape looked at her carefully and she stared back at him. She remembered at the last second that his Occlumency was arguably the best but it was too late to bother. She was sure he was not inside her mind and after a moment or two, Snape stood a little calmer with a little frown between his eyes. She made note of that as she stepped back.
Minerva was here.
"Severus?" She blinked and ignored Hermione and looked straight at Harry.
The tops of her ears were turning red like they did when she was about to lose her temper and Hermione stared at her until she glanced over. Hermione took a deep breath and blinked at her. Minerva did not react but she took a deep breath and met Snape's eyes.
"Would you care to tell me why you are manhandling my student, Severus?"
"You should be asking how your student has left mine with a grave bodily injury?"
"What?"
"He has sliced him open."
"He," Minerva blinked and looked at Harry sharply. "What?"
"See for yourself," Snape said, sounding bored.
Minerva paused for half a second to meet Hermione's eyes again before she stepped forward and stood at the door to the bathroom. Hermione could feel the despair from her and closed her eyes.
"Mr Potter," her most dangerous voice asked quietly. "What, in Merlin's name, has happened."
"I -" He looked at Hermione for help but she looked away. Frankly, she was appalled and horrified and more than a little angry. He yanked his shoulder away from Snape but the man's grip was like iron. "He and I fought. He drew his wand on me and I drew mine."
Minerva stared at him and Hermione could feel her helplessness. She wished desperately that Minerva could feel what Hermione felt as she tried to wish Minerva some calm.
"Severus -"
"As he damaged my student, I will eke out his punishment."
She felt all of the despair off Minerva and somehow, Hermione knew what he was going to say next.
"He will serve detention with me."
Harry seemed to flag but Hermione stared at him and wished he was just a little more quick of the mark. Detention was one thing - it was the when that Hermione, and Minerva, knew would be the problem.
"I think Saturday afternoon will be the perfect time."
"What!"
"Silence," Minerva snapped. Harry closed his mouth with a snap as he realised his fate. The heartbreak made Hermione's eyes water. "You will serve detention with Professor Snape at his behest."
It hurt her to say that and Hermione sank back against the wall while they all stared at each other.
"I -" he sighed. "I didn't mean to -"
"Nevertheless, you will meet me before the Quidditch Final and you will serve your detention with me."
Harry's head dropped and he nodded as Snape pushed him as he let go.
"Severus," Minerva muttered. "I will handle it, thank you."
"I am curious," Snape muttered. "What spell you used?"
"I don't even know," Harry whispered. "He went to grab my wand as he sent a stunning spell at me and I just -" He shrugged and Hermione was rather impressed at the ease with which the lie rolled off his tongue.
"Fine," Snape muttered. "Minerva."
He bowed just slightly and Hermione was reminded that the man was a git but he respected Minerva enough to be the most civil to her of any of the staff. He left them standing in the corridor as Poppy levitated Draco from the bathroom and along the corridor. She didn't look at any of them but Hermione saw her hand take Minerva's for a moment before she moved on, leaving the three of them standing quietly in the corridor.
"Get out of my sight," Minerva hissed finally.
"Professor," Harry whispered. "Min -"
"Go. Now," Hermione muttered. "Right now."
"I," he hesitated and Hermione glared at him but he held his ground. "While he's not around you should check that place out."
She rolled her eyes as he slunk away leaving Hermione staring at her love in the quiet corridor.
"I cannot -"
"I have more information than you. Draco took his wand, and he reacted with his knife -"
Minerva stared at her in horror.
"I said -"
"I know you did," Hermione soothed. "I know."
"I don't have time for this. I'm going to -"
"Meet me tonight," Hermione whispered as the classes around them finished and started to empty. "In your classroom. Duel me."
Minerva stared at her carefully and Hermione smiled as she felt the temptation. Minerva chuckled and stepped closer, leaning slightly against Hermione for a long moment as the doors opened around the corners.
"I love you," Hermione whispered. Her hands had remained warm and she traced one down the small of Minerva's back and slightly over her ass, making Minerva stand straighter and glare at her.
"Trouble."
"See you later."
"Alright."
Hermione watched her walk away and groaned to herself as the hundreds of students piled into the corridor and overwhelmed her senses. She pressed herself as close to the wall as possible as she rolled her shoulder and eased away the feelings. It left her feeling empty but peaceful and she stepped into the flow and went off to her next class with a heavy feeling in her heart.