A/N: Even I'm annoyed with how close yet how far we are at this point. Just give in Min!

But we can't... cos she's Min. So keep the faith, we're getting closer to ... well, everything. I'm going to have to do like the whole next book as well, aren't I? Le sigh. If you insist lol

-0-

Minerva let go of Hermione as she was still laughing and watched as she chuckled a little more then sobered.

"Hey," she grinned. Minerva had come to know that grin rather well. Hermione was about to test her resolve.

"Hey, what," she said carefully.

"Ooh you're onto me," Hermione muttered as she pressed against Minerva's front. "We're alone, in a city where we don't really know anybody," she whispered. And despite Minerva's awareness around them, the deserted alleyway she'd Apparated them into was undoubtedly the perfect cover to remain just a while. Her breath hitched as Hermione's hands slid around her sides and into her back pockets.

"Hermione," she whispered, unable to help the breathlessness. She rejoiced in the beautiful smile Hermione gave her before she leaned in. In fairness to Hermione, the young woman paused with only a breath between them and let Minerva decide to proceed.

As if she could help it with such a beautiful creature before her.

Minerva slid her hands up Hermione's back and kissed her as deeply as she dared. The noses that Hermione breathed against her lips made Minerva's hands tighten as they slid up into her hair and it wasn't long before she turned them and pressed the younger woman against the wall. Her knee pressed between Hermione's thighs and she pinned the younger woman while she sank her teeth into her throat.

"Oh god, Min," Hermione groaned. "We -"

Minerva withdrew a little and panted against her shoulder as sanity cleared her head. The younger woman clung to her as they leaned against the wall.

"Oh, I want you so much," Hermione breathed against her temple.

Minerva could only groan at the admission and instead pressed her face into Hermione's neck and breathed her in.

"Tha feum agam ort mar an èadhar a tha mi a 'toirt anail," she whispered, her voice sounding strained even to her own ears.

"Minerva," Hermione groaned. She pulled back, her pupils dark and full as she stared hungrily. "Tell me," she whispered. "Please?"

Minerva stared at her for a long time before she chose the coward's way out and hid her face against Hermione's neck again.

"You don't have to tell me," Hermione whispered. "I told you, we can have things that are just for ourselves." She bit down on Minerva's neck and Minerva's knees went weak. "But you can tell me, if you want to."

Minerva considered it and then spoke those words against Hermione's skin.

"I need you, as the air I breathe."

Hermione cupped her face and kissed her hard. Hermione sucked hard on her bottom lip and Minerva was immediately transported back to her classroom and clenched her fist around Hermione's shirt.

"Stop," Minerva pleaded as she pulled away. "Hermione, please, I can't -"

"God," Hermione groaned before she stepped away completely and leaned on her knees. "Fuck, Minerva, I -"

Minerva didn't have the words to reply and instead, she let herself collapse against the wall and calm down.

"I don't know what came over me," Hermione whispered. "I'm sorry."

Minerva nodded but again, didn't reply. A part of her wanted desperately to tell Hermione to forget York and that they'd go somewhere quiet and get lost in each other. So she stayed silent to make sure she didn't.

"Hey," Hermione whispered.

She cupped Minerva's cheeks with both hands and her thumbs rubbed under her eyes and she realised she was crying.

"I'm sorry, love," Hermione whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"I'm -"

"Galleon," Hermione whispered sadly.

Minerva could feel the tears running unencumbered down her cheeks now and she shook her head.

"I do not know what to feel," she complained quietly. Hermione clicked her tongue and wrapped her arms around her tightly.

"It's okay, I was excitable, I'm sorry, Min. I'm sorry for starting that and putting you in that position."

"Och," Minerva scoffed, angry at herself as she pulled away. "I put you in that position just as much! And the other night," she muttered darkly.

"And I enjoyed it, even though I was disappointed it was not the time. Just as you can be in this moment."

Minerva groaned and snatched her flat cap up off the floor where it had fallen.

"I am so bloody frustrated."

"I know, love. It will get better soon, I promise."

"I am not some randy youth who cannot control their feelings, I am a grown woman, for goodness sake. This is ridiculous." She growled and heard Hermione chuckle. "Tha mi nas fheàrr na seo." Hermione looked at her pointedly and she held out as long as possible until she felt her ire wane. "I am better than this."

"I think expecting you to be better than the thrall of a soulmate is a bit much, Min," Hermione soothed. Minerva was glad for it and she sagged against Hermione's strong body. "We're going to be alright, you know."

"We were supposed to be having a nice day together and we're here in this dank," she growled. "Fucking alley unable to control our feelings."

"I do like it when you swear," Hermione mused which made Minerva snort very indelicately. "But, to be fair, there's a whole lot going on with our feelings. It's okay Min. Both to be overwhelmed and to just want to pack it all in. I won't let you, I won't let us because I know you'd wake up the next morning and regret every moment of it and I won't have that as our first moments of truly being together. I just cannot."

"You deserve better than this, mo leannan," Minerva grumbled.

"Sometimes, you should let this leannan tell you what she deserves and a good snog in an alley is perfectly alright with me, for now."

Minerva laughed and pulled her into her arms.

"I forgot to tell you," she whispered. Minerva kissed her forehead long and gently and rested her own against it. "I had a visit from Amalle. I will recount the whole thing, but they did suggest that as our bond gets stronger, so too would our desire."

"Bit behind the 8-ball there, aren't they," Hermione chuckled. Her hands went into Minerva's hair and she kissed her softly.

"Thank you for being the strong one in moments that I cannot be."

"Thank you for reminding me to be an adult in these adult situations, rather than a petulant child."

"You are not a child," Minerva said softly.

"Yeah, but I'd like to stamp my foot and demand something so I feel like one on occasion."

Minerva chuckled and pulled on her hat. She offered her arm and after a moment, Hermione used it to lean on to press a kiss to her cheek.

"I love you, Minerva. Remember that even if we get to the end of this year, and you still aren't sure, I'm okay with waiting. I'm not saying it wouldn't be hard, but I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to -"

Minerva kissed her to stop her talking.

"I want this with you." Hermione looked at her and Minerva gave in. "Tha mi ag iarraidh seo còmhla riut, a ghràidh."

"A ghràidh? That's new, what does that mean?"

Minerva blushed and sighed. She should have known Hermione would start picking up things before she was ready to admit them.

"On its own, it means less than what I mean all together." Minerva wrapped her arm in Hermione's and nodded her forward. As they walked, Minerva tried to figure out how she was going to explain it as simply as possible, without giving too much away knowing that Hermione would not drop it until she was satisfied.

"What did you mean to say, then?" Hermione asked as they walked out of the alley into the sunshine-kissed high street. Minerva looked up and down the street before turning back to Hermione. "A ghràidh means what?"

"My dear," Minerva said softly. "In certain contexts."

"Then what do you mean, if not that?"

Minerva took a deep breath and watched her feet on the cobbles while they walked slowly.

"I mean mo ghaol."

Hermione stopped her and faced her, light dancing in her eyes as she stared straight into Minerva's.

"My love."

Minerva, despite being annoyed that she was rumbled, still smiled proudly.

"Mo ghaol."

Hermione pressed her nose against Minerva's cheek before she stepped beside her and tangled their hands together, holding Minerva's with both of hers.

"Mo ghaol," Hermione whispered. "Mine."

Minerva sighed and squeezed her hand.

"Yours," she muttered.

They wandered down the road until they came to a small tea shop.

"Shall we?"

They ordered and sat in a corner facing the door at Minerva's behest, they talked quietly about nothing in particular until their tea was delivered and they nibbled on the sweets that they'd picked to go with it.

"So," Minerva sighed as she took a sip of her tea. "Oh," she muttered. "That's good."

"They just cannot get it right at home, can they."

"They cannot," she chuckled. "Tell me about Nymphadora."

"Ah," Hermione chuckled. "She has the hots for Remus." Minerva's eyes widened comically but Hermione wasn't finished. "Well, actually, she's head over heels in love with him."

"Merlin, what is she going to do? She can't leave yet, surely?"

"Leave?" Hermione chuckled. It made Minerva feel small and she shifted in her seat to help the sudden little bit of unease. "Oh, I just did something I didn't mean to," she said quickly. "I apologise."

"No, it's silly," Minerva chuckled. "Sometimes I am confronted by the fact that you are much wiser than most."

"I hurt you?"

"No," Minerva insisted. "Just," she sighed and gave in. Again. "Rankled me a little."

"I am sorry, I shan't do it again."

"It's fine," she muttered, waving Hermione off. "Nymphadora."

"Right. So that night she came to us, she was heartbroken because Remus let her down gently. And like me, couldn't understand it - she has all this love to give and it would be better if Remus just lets her love him but he won't." Minerva's eyebrow crept up her forehead and she chuckled at the blush on Hermione's cheeks.

"It wasn't quite that simple, mo leannan."

"It was pretty much just that," Hermione argued with a giggle. "But, I talked it over with her and suggested she try again, with a better understanding of how to win over a stubborn," she glanced at Minerva carefully. "Scared, lover." Minerva snorted and finished off her cake. "The rub is," Hermione continued with a wicked grin. "Remus loves her, I'm sure of it and so is she. But, I'm pretty sure Remus is more than a little in love with Sirius and he with him. So," she shrugged. "I suggested she spend some time beforehand deciding whether she'd be okay with that or something like that and then decide what to do from there."

Minerva's mouth was open in shock as she stared at her young love. She blinked and snapped it shut and blinked some more as she tried to wrap her head around it.

"You mean -"

"Hmm," Hermione chuckled. "It would work for them if they could sort it out."

"But there's, I mean, all of them?" Minerva squeaked. "The three of them?"

"Their love may not make sense to us, but if they can be honest with each other that's really the only thing that matters. Remus is more than enough for two people; if you allow yourself a little lateral thinking, there are two versions of him as it is. I think he will forever love Sirius for what Sirius can do for him in those times when he feels completely alone. But Sirius is not a brilliantly rounded person at times whereas Tonks is more so. What better way for him to be loved completely than by two different people?"

"Hermione!"

"Ooh, your ingrained sensibilities are showing, lover." Minerva bit her tongue to stop herself from retorting. But Hermione smiled at her gently and reached over and held out her hand. "There can't be anything wrong with a little more love in the world, Min. Even if it is the type of love that people might not understand straight off the bat."

"I -" She sighed and considered what Hermione was saying. And then, in stark realisation, understood what Hermione was saying. To someone who did not know them, the outside world, Hermione and herself might look like something bizarre as well. "I understand."

"Do you?"

"Yes," she sassed. "Even though I do not fully comprehend."

"Imagine if there was me and someone else that took your fancy -"

"Hermione," she groaned. "Do not tease me."

"I'm not," Hermione smiled gently. "But, all that emotion for more than one person?" Minerva scoffed.

"I've had enough trouble with just one of you, Hermione."

Hermione laughed and Minerva was reminded why she was falling in love with this woman. She sighed as she took her lover's hand and the feelings left her as Hermione squeezed a little.

"I'm sorry. Again. Besides, I wouldn't share you anyway, so you'd best push that notion from your mind immediately."

Minerva chuckled as she drained her tea.

"Walk?"

"Yes," Hermione grinned.

They ambled up the high street. Minerva's eyes were in a constant swivel and it was making her a little dizzy. Hermione's hot lips pressed against her cheek when they paused to look in a window.

"I am not oblivious, my love," she said gently. Minerva glanced at her and Hermione got that grin on her face again. "Mo ghaol." Minerva tried desperately not to beam, but judging by Hermione's face, she failed. "You do not have to look everywhere all at once."

"Force of habit," Minerva muttered.

"Look at me?"

Minerva did, then glanced at the man coming closer to them before back at Hermione.

"He's not for us," Hermione whispered. "He's bored out of his mind and probably going back to work."

Minerva snorted and pressed their foreheads together once more.

"I'm sorry that I am poor company."

"You aren't," Hermione soothed. "I appreciate your protection, but I want you to know that I am also here to protect us. Together, we do not have to take it all on individually. So," she said gently. "Wanna go in?"

"That canvas is rather spectacular."

Hermione leaned in again as Minerva looked at the piece in the window. It was all blue and green swirls with a golden flash through the middle.

"I see a naked woman, floating in the ocean, what about you?" Minerva's breath caught as she understood what Hermione was doing. That flash of gold hair, that Hermione was no doubt thinking of, shone in the sun as Minerva looked at her and tried not to imagine her naked and floating in the ocean. "We could put it over," she hesitated and Minerva looked at her with a frown.

"Hermione?"

She took a deep breath and smiled.

"We could put it over our bed?"

Minerva kissed her squarely and opened the door to the little shop. The interlude helped her relax and Hermione's assurances that she was also paying attention helped as well.

"So," Hermione said after a few more trips inside shops to look closer. "Amalle?"

"Oh," Minerva cocked. "Yes. Shall we get lunch?"

"Yes," Hermione grinned. "I'm starving."

"Why didn't you say," Minerva protested.

"Because you sustain me."

"Och, you loon," Minerva cackled as she nudged Hermione's shoulder. "Come along then, Trouble, let's get you fed."

They picked a quiet-looking pub that smelled good enough to eat at and settled, once again, in a corner with their backs to the wall.

"You having a drink?" Hermione asked nonchalantly.

"I am not," Minerva chuckled. "Moreso for the fact that I do not want one, rather than I think I should not."

"What does everyone have in their goblets at the top table, anyway. I bet Severus drinks Dandelion and Burdock."

Minerva snorted and covered her mouth with her hand as she laughed.

"Trouble!" Hermione laughed with her. "Oh, I haven't had a good Dandelion and Burdock since my mother died."

"Oh, I'm -"

"One less Galleon from me, darling."

"What!"

"Well, it's only fair that if I am to be financially ruined by my need to apologise, so too must you be."

"Surely only a Sickle for me?" Minerva smiled at her instead of answering and got lost in those beautiful starburst eyes.

"No money could replace your presence in my life, mo ghaol."

Hermione sighed and leaned forward to kiss Minerva quickly, but with feeling. Minerva growled as she felt the other woman's tongue swipe quickly over her bottom lip and she glared good-naturedly as they pulled away.

"Trouble."

"Anyway," Hermione chuckled. "Amalle."

"Oh," Minerva nodded. "Yes. I," she thought back. "Gosh. Yes, I asked them a few general questions. They are not, as you thought, anyone close to the head of whatever their group is. They're rather thought of as weirdos," she made a face. "Like us." Hermione laughed and they paused as their food came out. "That came about because I asked them about my knife. They confirmed what Filius said about the steel." Hermione's eyebrows shot up. "And that the handle design, at least on mine, was one of theirs, but they had not seen them so it is possible whoever designed them had not done so yet or they were not for general viewing."

"Fascinating," Hermione blinked. "I do hate time. It is such a bizarre comprehension."

"I quite agree," Minerva chuckled, "No wonder Sybil is loopy." Hermione coughed as she choked on her chip and Minerva laughed as she patted her back and passed her a glass of water. "Sorry, darling. Alright?"

"You call me Trouble," she laughed as she cleared her throat. "You're a menace."

"Well," she chuckled. "They spoke about a bond," Minerva muttered. This was the part that had been quietly rolling around her head since the words were spoken. "About completing it. I mentioned it earlier but the fire," she dropped her voice. "The fire is something that happens as we," she tried to remember. "Get closer to completing it?"

Hermione stared at her and nodded. Something about the way her eyes flashed made Minerva think she understood a little more than she was letting on but she equally did not want to derail the rest of the information.

"They also said that as the fighting draws closer, the reasons there are always two," she traced Hermione's face. "Is so that we can balance each other. You will have an insatiable need to help people. And I must help you temper that so that you do not hurt yourself."

"Like Katie?"

"Yes," Minerva chuckled. "I thought that at the time as well."

"That makes so much sense though. I needed to take her hand. I knew in my head it was stupid but it was this necessity that I could not fight."

"Apparently it is different if we had completed the bond? I know because they asked and changed their answer after I answered them." Hermione hummed. "Do you think we need to do anything towards that?" Hermione looked at her carefully and Minerva felt something niggling at her. "Oh," she said dramatically as she blushed deeply. Hermione chuckled. "Right."

"That'll be fun, then," Hermione grinned.

Minerva laughed and then sat back tiredly. Once again there was so much running through her mind she just needed a moment. Hermione's hand was hot on her thigh.

"I know it is a lot," she said gently. "But it will be okay. We'll get through it together, okay?"

"Oh darling," she whispered, suddenly terrified of what was to come. "You've no' seen what ah have seen."

"I know," Hermione whispered as she pressed up against her. "I know I haven't, but I will protect you and you will protect me. Together we will do everything in our considerable power to fight this."

Minerva reached up and was more than a little shaken to see her hand trembling.

"Where's this coming from?" Hermione whispered, moving her chair closer. "Min, what is it?"

"I cannae fight another war, Hermione," she muttered. "I dinnae have it in me."

"You do," Hermione promised. "You do. Because you have me and I believe in you, my love. Mo ghaol. I believe in you. Together we can do anything." Minerva sighed and let their heads rest together. "It will be alright," Hermione said again. "I promise you, it will be alright."

"And what of Albus? What of Severus and Draco?" Her heart seemed to be beating out of her throat. "And why am I letting this invade my day with you."

"Because we are at war," Hermione soothed. "And this seems like folly to be here and to feel 'normal' with all this other shit going on but we can be normal for a bit, even in this war. Isn't that what you told me?"

Minerva stared at her plate and then blinked hard when the young girl came to pick them up. She smiled as best she could as she thanked her for the food and heard Hermione ask for the bill. Even despite herself, she looked sideways at her.

"Well," Hermione sassed. "Do you have a Muggle credit card on you?"

"I'll have you know, lass, I've got three."

"Ooh," Hermione giggled. "Well, you can get the next one; you owe me anyway," Hermione whispered, leaving a kiss under her ear as she pulled away.

Minerva snorted and finished her drink while they waited before she escaped back into the sunshine with Hermione's hand firmly in hers.

"We're going to be okay, you know," Hermione promised her as they stood together in the street. Hermione cupped her face as she glanced around and forced her still. Their eyes met and Minerva felt all manner of flutterings in her belly while Hermione smiled at her. "Breathe. We are fine. And we are going to enjoy the rest of our day together and tomorrow we'll go back to fighting, alright?"

"I -" Minerva choked up and lost the words right there in her throat.

"I know," Hermione smiled softly. "Oh mo ghaol, I know."

Minerva blinked away a few tears, at the words and at the feelings desperate to explode out of her and nodded. She wiped her face and took a deep breath as she stood straighter.

"Right, where would you like to go next then, love?"

"Anywhere," Hermione smiled as she slipped her hand into Minerva's and squeezed it gently. "As long as I am with you."