A/N: Good morning, my loves. Liverpool is up 3-0 up and all is well in the world! Enjoy!

-0-

Neither of them were sure when it turned from endless desperation to a settled, gentle love, but they both realised it as Minerva was kissing her way over Hermione's body quite a few days later.

"Oh," Hermione leaned up on her elbows. "Wait, do you -"

Minerva paused and looked so comical that Hermione laughed. Minerva huffed at her but then she paused as well.

"Oh," she nodded. "I see what you mean."

Hermione looked critically at her.

"I mean, you don't have to -"

Minerva laughed and pressed on Hermione's chest to push her back down.

"Be a dear and lay back; think of England or something."

Hermione guffawed as she dropped back onto the bed and reached to run her hand over Minerva's head.

Who would have thought the little kitty likes pu -

Minerva didn't dignify her thought with a response except to sink her teeth hard into the inside of Hermione's thigh.

"Ow!" Hermione squealed.

They both laughed before Minerva reminded Hermione what they were doing and Hermione groaned deeply. Minerva used her wicked tongue to great effect and when Hermione came, she did so quietly, with a gasping breath and a sigh. Minerva crawled back up to lay side-by-side and Hermione kissed her softly and tasted herself on her lover's lips.

"I love you, Minerva."

"I love you, mo leannan." She kissed Minerva again until Minerva drew back with a frown. "You don't mind -"

"No, not really," Hermione grinned. "It's kinda sexy."

"Oh," Minerva muttered. "Huh."

Hermione traced an eyebrow and nuzzled her cheek. "Unless you want me not to do it?"

"No, I think I just -" She sighed. "The last person who did that to me, before you, needed to brush -" She hesitated and Hermione soothed her concern. "His teeth afterwards." She made a face. "It made me feel much less, somehow."

"I get that," Hermione whispered. "And no, it doesn't gross me out or anything. It's actually kinda sexy in a way. Because I know you just did that to me." Hermione extrapolated a little. "Likewise if you do not find it sexy, I expect you to tell me okay? I won't be offended. Tell me so I'm sure, okay?"

Minerva kissed her again and settled on her hand.

"I believe my thoughts are similar to yours."

"Well then." Hermione smiled up at her. "Problem solved."

They lay together in silence until Hermione sighed.

"I guess we have to go back, now that we can, right?"

Minerva hummed but didn't reply. Hermione traced her cheek and her eyebrow and down her nose.

"Don't be sad," Hermione whispered as Minerva's thoughts broadcast her feelings. "This is the beginning of our lives together."

"For nine glorious days, I had forgotten there was a war on. I had forgotten there were other people," Minerva sighed and rolled into Hermione's arms. "I had forgotten our lives weren't our own."

Hermione kissed her hair and rubbed her hand up and down her back.

"Together, though, we have the opportunity to end it."

"At what cost, Leannan," Minerva muttered. "What do we have to lose to win this?"

"I do not know, but you know I will not let anything happen to them if I can help it."

"At what cost to you," she whispered. "I do not believe I am willing to pay any cost that involves you, my love."

"We are in this together," Hermione said quietly. "You asked me to promise you something, remember? I intend to keep that promise."

Minerva groaned and pressed her face into Hermione's chest and sighed.

"I do remember," Minerva said quietly. "Though my thoughts have been elsewhere quite recently, it is always on my mind."

"Minerva," Hermione sighed. She traced the scars on her lover's back and tilted her chin. "You, my love, have been in so many scrapes, so many dangerous situations. They're written on your very skin. And I don't want that for you anymore. I don't want you to be the one they call when they need someone to watch their backs. I want you in our home, in our bed, making my toes curl." Minerva chuckled and kissed Hermione's sternum. "Once this war is over, Min, we're going to live like you've never even imagined. And we're going to take life slowly. We're going to savour things." Her cheeks hurt just imagining it and she knew Minerva could see the same things. "I want to wake you up in front of open windows, looking out across the Mediterranean. I want to make love to you to the sound of that ocean, make you scream my name out of the open windows and then feed you grapes from the vines that grow above the town. I want to get lost in the stacks in all the great libraries of Europe and snog behind the history section until we're thrown out. I want to eat our way across the world and make love to you so often that we don't have to worry about how much we've eaten."

"Oh daring," Minerva laughed. A tear fell from her eyes onto Hermione's stomach as they stared at each other. "I cannot even imagine -"

"I want to have your babies, Min." Minerva sobbed a little and covered her mouth. "Tiny little ratbags with unruly jet-black hair and a wicked sense of humour." Hermione held Minerva's face in her hands as she stared into her eyes and showed her all the plans she had dreamt up in the last week or so. "Too smart for me to keep up with, but who fight each other to get out of my arms and into yours; to snuggle up to their Mumma every night before they go to sleep. I want all of that with you. And I plan to have it. So we're going to win this war and then we're going to disappear, here to our home, entertain our friends, make love whenever we like, have babies and jet -" She made a face. "Apparate off around the world on a whim."

"What about work?" Minerva laughed incredulously around her tears.

"What about work," Hermione grinned. "As if Albus isn't going to give you a whole year off if you were to ask." A sliver of fear crept into Minerva's mind. "Or!" she pivoted. "He can have you one weekend out of the month and your mate can have the other three. How's that for a bargain."

Minerva laughed and went quiet. She kept laughing on and off as she imagined a free life.

"Leannan, it is surely too glorious to be true."

"It's exactly what is going to happen," Hermione promised."So hold onto that, okay?" Hermione asked. She pressed her hand over Minerva's heart. "Hold onto it here and keep it safe. That is what we're fighting for. For our family and for our future."

Minerva fell quiet and Hermione let her. She dragged her fingers through her hair while they lay with each other's thoughts for a while.

"May I change the subject for a while?" Hermione asked. Minerva grunted but didn't speak. "I will tell you something unrelated that I've been meaning to?"

"Hmm?" Minerva managed while she was drawing runes onto Hermione's ribs with her index finger. It tickled but Minerva seemed unaffected by Hermione's squirming.

"Well, actually, I'm beginning to rethink that decision as I assess our circumstances."

"Oh yes?" Minerva asked with a smirk.

Hermione rolled onto her arm and smiled at Minerva's tiny frown.

"So impatient in moments," Hermione smiled. Her smile turned sultry as she remembered some of their moments together. "Not all the time though." Minerva's cheeks flushed. "I never did get out the silk sheets, did I?" Hermione grinned.

Minerva pushed her back again and kissed her hard. Hermione grinned against Minerva's lips and squealed when Minerva pinched her nipple gently.

"Ow," she chuckled as she rubbed the poor thing. "I'm less into that now we're through with that whole thing."

"Sorry, sweetheart," Minerva winced.

"You can kiss it better and we'll call it even," Hermione grinned.

"Nothing but bloody Trouble," Minerva muttered as she wrapped her tongue around Hermione's nipple with a smirk. Hermione sighed with a smile. "What were you going to tell me?"

"Oh," Hermione chuckled. "It was about Severus."

Minerva's head popped up and her hands stilled as they crept towards Hermione's centre along her thigh. She removed them with a grimace and Hermione chuckled.

"Sorry, love."

"What about him?"

"He's fallen for a woman that he can't have." She made a face. "Again."

"What!"

Minerva was suddenly terrified and Hermione quickly corrected her thoughts.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Hermione waved her away. "Not you, silly. He loves you but not like that." She bit down gently on Minerva's side. "Also, you think I'd let him?" Minerva snorted but didn't comment. "No," she sighed. "I think he's falling, or fallen, for Mrs Malfoy."

A look of understanding came over Minerva's face and a memory of Mrs Narcissa Malfoy at a Ministry Ball popped into Minerva's head. Hermione's eyes widened as Minerva's memory catalogued her whole, beautiful, body as she stepped down the ballroom steps.

"Oh," Hermione teased. "I see." Minerva blushed but Hermione was undeterred. "You sure you weren't into women before me?"

Minerva had to have known the comment was coming and immediately started tickling Hermione. Hermione squealed but Minerva only let her suffer for a little while before they collapsed together, back in each other's arms.

"I do not know Narcissa well, though she was a very good student at the time. She married Lucius straight out of school. They were promised early." Hermione felt the revolt. "Archaic nonsense."

"She's very pretty," Hermione muttered. "You know," she grinned at Minerva's pink cheeks. "Objectively."

"She is beautiful, no doubt about it." Minerva cupped Hermione's face and smirked at her. "Not like you, though." Minerva turned serious. "I know that Lucius was responsible, somewhat, for Severus' membership in the Death Eaters," she continued quietly. "He is Draco's godfather as well. I would not be surprised if he and Narcissa are close."

"Well, I didn't want you to get back and maybe pick something up from him and freak out."

"Freak out?" Minerva chuckled. "I hardly think -"

"I know, but you have to take it seriously. It is a really really awful skill in some moments," Hermione sighed. "So I definitely wanted to warn you. He's good at Occlumency but not that good. I've picked up plenty from him without him knowing."

"Well," Minerva sighed. "Thank you for the warning."

"Mhmm. Well, that's my news, from however long ago that was. And we probably do need to think about getting back. Albus said he planned to go to Malfoy Manor the second week of the holidays. That's this week, I think. They wouldn't have gone without us, right?"

"No," Minerva shook her head. "Though the lack of communication is good, in part. It would definitely mean that nothing untoward has occurred in the meantime. Come on then," Minerva sighed. "Are you showering, or me?"

"My darling Minerva," Hermione mused as she kissed down Minerva's neck. "Don't you know, saving water is the key to saving the future."

"Oh, well why didn't you say something," Minerva rolled onto her and reciprocated long, slow kisses down her neck. "If I'd have known before, we could have showered together earlier and ended the whole damn war!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and they kissed properly. Their lips lingered though the kiss ended naturally, knowing that their time at 'home' was done for the moment, but the future was more than a little uncertain.

"Together?" Hermione whispered.

"Always," Minerva smiled as she cupped Hermione's cheek. "Until we are nothing left but space dust and magic."

Hermione was charmed as her words were returned back to her and she pecked Minerva's lips again before she rose.

"Come on," she grumbled. "It'll take an hour to wash all that hair, best get to it. Especially as I have plans to take another hour of your time for other things."

She laughed at Minerva's splutters all the way into the bathroom.

-0-

Minerva sighed as they stared up at the Castle from the road outside. Hermione's hand squeezed hers where they were tangled together and she turned to smile tightly at the younger woman.

"It's going to be alright," Hermione muttered. "It really is."

"I'm not going to enjoy the comments," she muttered. "No matter how well-meaning they are."

"Who's going to comment?" Hermione asked, as she glanced around. "No-one'd dare."

"Probably not, which means I get to pick up everybody's feelings until I can figure out how to turn it off."

"Let's get inside; we can figure it out on the walk up."

Minerva shook herself and looked up and down the road up to Hogwarts as she picked up Hermione's worry.

"Good point."

They stepped through the gates and both of them sighed.

"So," Hermione chuckled as they both looked back. "That's interesting."

"Quite," Minerva mused. You will have to keep an eye on me, darling.

Hermione grinned at her.

You think I'd ever let you out of my sight, woman?

Minerva snorted and they tangled their little fingers as they bumped into each other. They'd already discussed how they could not publicise their relationship but they really had laughed as they'd looked in the mirror at all their, very visible, marks. Minerva glanced at her as Hermione smiled and asked the question with her eyes.

"Just thinking about you," Hermione grinned.

Minerva frowned and then her eyes widened as she saw Hermione's memory of giving her the brand new bruise on the base of her neck, earlier in the shower.

"Hermione!" Minerva hissed as she blushed deeply.

Babe.

Hermione laughed at the look she got.

"You know that only you can read my thoughts, right?" Hermione chuckled. "Which means," she smirked. "I can think about anything I like."

Minerva swore at her in her head while a vision of Minerva's bowed back against the shower tiles and Minerva groaned. Hermione laughed as they paused in the shade of the castle.

I love you.

"Oh my darling," Minerva breathed. How I love you.

I want to kiss you.

We cannot, Leannan. Just in case.

Remember that I want to, okay? So much. So, so, much.

Minerva smiled demurely and they separated to walk the last section of pathway into the castle. The doors opened without a word for them and Minerva made a noise of amazement.

"That has never happened before," she muttered.

Welcome home, love.

Minerva chuckled quietly as they looked up the stairs.

"I meant to tell you," Hermione said as they started the climb. "Filius said he was going to get the name of a portrait master."

"Oh?"

"I," Hermione blushed. "I thought we'd get Michael to watch over the house now and then."

Minerva stopped, midstep and looked at her. Despite them being able to read each other's minds, Hermione let her stare. She had so much happiness, she wasn't sure where it started and where it ended and it began to get a little overwhelming.

"Unless you think that's a terrible idea -"

Minerva waved her hand and Disillusioned then both. She grabbed Hermione's shirt and kissed her solidly.

"Oh," Hermione moaned as Minerva took ownership of her face. That noise that seemed to be released from deep in Hermione's throat was one of Minerva's favourite noises. Those strong hands on her hips pressed her back against the bannister as Hermione gave it right back.

"Tha gaol agam ort mar teine," she gasped when she had the chance.

"Agus thusa, mo ghaol."

"Well make a proper Scotswoman out of you yet," Minerva mused. The little smile on Hermione's face made it clear she hadn't been able to hide how proud she was.

They rested together until the stairs moved beneath them and they clung to the bannisters at the sudden shift. That beautiful little smirk appeared on Hermione's face.

"You move me," Hermione joked.

Minerva threw her head back and laughed as she waved her hands and they reappeared as the stairs came to a stop at the landing that they needed. They wandered up to her quarters in relative silence. They were both lost in their thoughts but neither commented on them as they turned the corner and saw a Michael waiting for them.

"Will yeh look'at wha' the cat dragged in."

"Good afternoon," Minerva managed while she fought a smile.

"Yer a sight fer sore eyes, lemme tell yeh. I," He scratched the back of his neck. "Bit's been going on, yeh see."

"We've missed you too, Michael."

He looked pleased as punch at Hermione's words as they went in. Minerva stopped at the door and gaped at the pile of letters on her desk.

"You'd think someone would have checked!" She groaned into her hands and Hermione chuckled.

"There goes all the relaxation we achieved, then. Michael, what's going on?"

"There is a plan afoot," he nodded. "The planning goes about as well as you'd think, though."

"Bloody hell." Hermione groaned. "Are they in the Castle?"

"No. I believe Mr Malfoy knows where they are, though."

"They're making a plan to assault Malfoy Manor and they've left the actual Malfoy here?" Hermione sounded frustrated and Minerva could relate, given the nonsense she was currently trying to find the bottom of. "Honestly, sometimes Albus is utterly mental." Minerva snorted but had to quickly snatch up a pile of letters before it fell on the floor. "Min?"

She was only half paying attention and she waved Hermione off.

"Go, darling. You can catch me up later. I need to make a start on this."

"'kay," Hermione smiled. "I love you," she said quietly. Minerva was so deeply engrossed in her correspondence and it was only when she heard the door open that she realised Hermione had spoken.

"Wait!"

Hermione turned and looked at her, a little startled.

"I'm sorry, I was miles away. I love you, darling." Minerva kissed her slowly in apology. And just because she wanted to. "Only go to Grimmauld Place if they're there. If they're somewhere else, stay here, okay?"

"I'll be fine, Min," Hermione muttered. "It's okay."

"Hermione," she said sternly, feeling a little rebellion in her love. "Do not leave unless it is to Grimmauld."

"Ooh," Hermione teased. "Are you pulling rank on me?"

Minerva glared at her. She took a deep breath and tried to let her own frustration go.

"I'm serious, Hermione."

"I know you are," Hermione shrugged. "And so am I. I will be fine."

Minerva held her gaze for a long time. She had scores of letters to deal with, probably stupid requests from their puppet government trying to get information on who they all were and how they could infiltrate them and she did not have time for such childish games. Just as Hermione frowned at her for her thoughts, she threw up her hands and gave into the frustration she'd been trying to avoid.

"Fine." Fuck off then.

"Hey!" Hermione gaped at her. Minerva's stomach dropped. She closed her eyes and wished she could disappear. "What the hell was that?" The hurt in Hermione's voice and in her soul was crushing and she busied her hands to prevent herself from reaching for her but she remained mute as Hermione demanded the opposite. "Min, I asked you -"

"I -" Minerva growled into her hands. She was so stupid at times. "Sweetheart, I didn't mean that -"

"You clearly did. Telling me just to -" Her voice wobbled and Minerva felt her anger at being so hurt. It did nothing to help her own guilt. "Fuck off then, is not really how I expected this to go."

"I know," Minerva said seriously. "I know what I said, what I thought, but I -" She was full of remorse but Hermione still stepped back when Minerva offered her hands. She wanted them to go back just ten minutes; she'd never wished anything as strongly, but Hermione remained before her with pain coursing through her from Minerva's own words. She understood Hermione's reticence and even though it hurt to do so, Minerva withdrew her offer and leaned on the edge of her desk. Hermione's whole body was screaming uncomfortable and she tried to accommodate that without being needy. Failing the option of using a Time Turner to her own advantage, she wanted to wrap Hermione up in her arms and whisk her away again. Where it was safe, and where she could beg for forgiveness in peace.

It was only as they stood, what felt like miles apart, did she remember that Hermione could hear and feel everything she could and she groaned to herself. She watched while Hermione took a deep breath and wished she had that much grace. Hermione glanced at her and then rolled her neck and turned back to look at Minerva. She tried to wipe a tear away as it trailed down her cheek before Hermione saw it, but knew she hadn't succeeded. Instead, she butted in before Hermione could speak.

"I am so sorry, sweetheart," Minerva whispered. "I did not mean it. I -" She shrugged helplessly. "You deserve better, but please believe that it was born of frustration, not a wish for what I said to come true. I want the opposite, I want to just go back -"

"I know," Hermione said quietly. "I did hear."

"Then please, believe me, I did not mean it in the slightest." Minerva's chin wobbled and she clamped her jaw hard to stop it showing again. "Please!"

The tension between them seemed to pull taught and then ease a little as Hermione scrubbed at her eyes.

"That hurt," she muttered.

"I know," Minerva whispered. "I know it did. I'm so sorry. I was frustrated, I am frustrated. I should not have taken it out on you. I should have stopped and spoken to you about it. Tha mi cho duilich, Leannan."

Hermione nodded. There was an echo of hurt that lingered as Minerva took her face in her hands and kissed her softly.

"I love you, Hermione." Minerva whispered it against her lips and spoke it in their minds in as many languages as she could. "We have just spent nine glorious days beside each other, hidden from the world and now we are back, I must let you go? Worse still, I must let you go so far away from me? I don't want you to be anywhere but here by my side. If I had my way, I would have you here with me; safe and sound, for the rest of your life. And though that is my deepest wish, I also know that is not possible. But," she said softly as she cupped Hermione's chin. "I do not, cannot, have you running off around the country looking for the Order. Not now. Not now the enemy knows of you and especially not now I've found you. You are the Order, darling. They will come to you, this meeting is not important for you to attend."

Please don't go. Please stay. There was a long pause as the desperation shone through their bond and Minerva stared into her eyes. With me?

Hermione looked at her for a long time before she gave in.

"Fine," Hermione nodded.

"Thank you, Leannan. Again, I -"

"Just," Hermione sighed. "Let it go." Minerva stared at her and she continued. "I should not be mad at you for your thoughts."

"But you can be hurt by them," Minerva said wretchedly. "And that gives me more pain than I could ever have imagined."

"Okay," Hermione nodded. Minerva was in a right state as they stared at each other awkwardly before Hermione spoke again. "So I'm going to go and see Draco. And once I figure out where the rest are, if they are at Grimmauld then -" She left it open and Minerva made a face. She pulled her courage and her dignity back together and stepped into Hermione's space.

"That would be the furthest apart we've been since the beginning," Minerva muttered as she settled her cheek against Hermione's. "The actual beginning. We do not know what is going to happen. I just need to know that you're safe."

"I will be -"

"But I will not be with you. I want to be, but I -" She waved at the literal mountain of letters on her desk. "I should have known he wouldn't check."

"I will tell him," Hermione muttered. "Because this isn't fair."

"It is how it has always been, love," Minerva mused. "It never bothered me before because I had so little else to do. Now though." She trailed off and sighed, though she knew Hermione felt and saw her unspoken thoughts. "Go. Let me know where they are before you make a decision, alright?"

"Okay," Hermione nodded. "I -" She paused and nodded. "Min?" she said gently. Minerva turned, hopefully. "I'll be back in a bit, I'm not just going to leave, okay?"

She nodded and watched, forlorn, as Hermione turned and walked out of the room. Minerva let out a deep breath once Michael swung the portrait closed.

"So," he said quietly. "You ken what she's thinking?"

Minerva gave him a look and he chuckled and rested on his sword.

"It's going well," she sneered.

He laughed but Minerva couldn't join in. In one moment, she'd betrayed their time away and hurt Hermione deeply by a flippant, errant thought.

"Oh you are in fer it," he chuckled. "Yer going t'have to watch yehself now."

"I believe that is my first lesson, yes," Minerva grimaced. "I must start on this. Keep an eye on her, will you?"

"As ever, my Lady." He bowed and followed Hermione.

Minerva realised she was on her own for the first time in what felt like a long few weeks and she sighed. She had made a major misstep but she resolved to be better.

"I must," Minerva muttered. "I must do better."

She nodded to herself and sat at her desk tearing the first two letters in half and getting started on the rest.