A/N: Sorry for the hour. I'm out of sorts and sometimes it's a struggle to do anything when you're out of sorts but here we are. Honestly, Voldemort is gonna have to do something soon cos I'm bored of trying to find things for them to do on this long school holiday lol Any suggestions, I welcome them :P Lots of love.

-0-

Minerva jerked awake, with the memory of her body trembling in the forefront of her mind. Hermione was immediately on her feet and came back with a damp cloth and a glass of water.

"Here," she said gently. "Drink."

Minerva didn't have the wherewithal to argue and did as she was told. The water felt good on her sore throat and she moaned quietly as Hermione cleaned her up.

"Are you okay?"

The question was posed so gently that she smiled and beckoned Hermione into her arms. She came willingly and Minerva let her head drop back onto her pillow as she attempted to run her fingers through Hermione's knotted hair.

"That was -" Usually Hermione would butt in with a witty comment but she was quiet as Minerva searched for the words. The tendrils of Hermione's thoughts and feelings echoed through her like a whisp of a dream. "Darling? Are you alright?"

"I am a little worried that that was, too, too much."

"For me?" Minerva asked gently.

"I don't know. I think it scared me, but I wasn't in control and I promised you, way back in the beginning that I would never -"

"You were in control," Minerva soothed. She rolled them and lay facing her love while Hermione pulled up the covers. She coaxed Hermione back into her arms and sighed as she buried her face beneath Minerva's chin. "Listen to me, Leannan," she said gently. "Not once did I feel as if you were out of control. Not for a single moment. We were wild," she chuckled and was gratified to hear Hermione's little laugh as well. "But not out of control. You stopped when I indicated that I would like you to; even as subtly as I did. You made sure you were taking care of me even in those wild moments. And then," she cupped Hermione's face and met her eyes. "You threw yourself into caring for me afterwards." Hermione grinned sheepishly. "Disregarding your own self in the process."

"I needed to make sure you were okay."

"I am okay," Minerva smiled. "Are you? Aside from when we were on that hill, you never got to, I mean, I didn't -"

"I um -" She pulled a face and Minerva searched it for an explanation. She saw the vision that flashed across their minds before Hermione had to say it.

"Oh!" Minerva blinked. "Well." She warmed at the thought and her hand tightened on Hermione's waist. "That is rather good thinking, darling. I really must pay more attention to what we have in that little stash."

"It was a little selfish," Hermione blushed. Minerva didn't say so, but she actually thought it rather sexy. Judging by the wonder in Hermione's eyes, she'd caught that thought.

"Alright, seeing as apparently our thoughts are for each other again, would you join me for a bath?"

"Yes," Hermione whispered.

Minerva kissed her softly and watched as she got up.

"I know that's your favourite bit," Hermione teased quietly as she backed into the bathroom.

"I admit I do not think I will ever tire of it, Leannan. Now, buck up, will you? I am perfectly fine and so are you, otherwise you would have told me, right?"

Hermione nodded and smiled as she closed the bathroom door. In the quiet, Minerva was the one to sigh and she fell back on the bed. She rolled her eyes at herself and chuckled at the ridiculous things she got up to before she was interrupted by Hermione's bare leg curling around the door.

"Come on then, lover."

Minerva marvelled at the way her life had turned around even as she got up to join her love.

-0-

"Good afternoon."

Minerva paused, midstep, as Lucia smiled up at her from her seat at the table. Minerva righted herself and cleared her throat before Lucia laughed.

"There is no need to hide from us, young one."

"I am not," Minerva argued, halfheartedly. "I -" She winced and Lucia frowned at her.

"What is it?"

"Despite our conversation and this new thing we are navigating, it rather feels like I've been caught by my mother and I am -" Her frown deepened. "Uncomfortable with that. I have been a grown woman for a very long time and I do not like that."

"Then how about you stop thinking of me like an old maid and simply be my friend?" Lucia challenged. "You spoke of someone who was -" She made a face. "Is your friend? Why am I different?"

"Poppy" Lucia nodded. "Well, because I went to school with her as a bairn. And because you look like my mother, because you look like me."

"Well." She pulled at her long hair. "Perhaps you might help me change that?"

"What?"

"It was customary for my hair to be as yours is. I believe it is not so, here?"

"No, not anymore," Minerva shrugged. "My friend Roland has short hair, likewise Severus' is rather long at the moment. You are free to do as you please."

"Well then, perhaps we will explore that a little later?"

"Of course," Minerva smiled. Something about the interaction felt new and she smiled as she boiled the kettle again. "I realise there are a lot of things to learn, in coming here?"

"Some," Lucia agreed. "Amalle is a little overwhelmed by everything, but I relish the challenge, as you know."

Minerva snorted as she got two mugs down.

"Hey," Hermione greeted her as she joined them.

"Hello Hermione," Lucia smiled. "Productive morning?"

"You would not believe," she teased as she sat down. "Have you ever met a dragon?"

"I cannot say that I have."

"Perhaps you could come with us next time."

"Leannan," Minerva chided. Having them both here was one thing. Dragging them on dangerous missions throughout the countryside was something else.

"Nonsense," Lucia smiled. "We would love to."

Minerva shook her head and sighed, though it was disguised by the kettle. She felt Hermione reach out in her mind, but she did not respond. It would be alright, regardless, she just wasn't sure that it was appropriate.

"I was just telling Min that I might change my look."

"Oh?" Hermione asked as Minerva passed her tea.

She tuned out and let them talk. Hermione adored Lucia and while she certainly held no animosity, her own relationship with the two newcomers had settled, but not reset.

Thoughts of everything they had to do flooded her head at the first quiet moment for a little while. She wanted to check up on Albus and make sure he wasn't doing anything mischievous. By all accounts, all of the young ones were with Molly and no doubt they were fine but she wanted to lay eyes on them as well. She would leave Remus and his kin to him but they would need to go back to the Castle soon anyways.

They still did not know where the locket was and the idea of a lost Horcrux wandering around unbeknownst to the rest of the Wizarding World was rather dire. Mundungus Fletcher had always been a scoundrel but never a bad character. He had rather reminded her of a magpie as a boy. He'd picked up anything that was shiny and then his enterprising nature had forced him to wheel and deal until he made a profit.

So no doubt it was somewhere in Knockturn Alley commanding a pretty Galleon but she was not beyond buying it back from wherever it had ended up.

That was if they could find him.

Sometimes she wished her brother was still alive. Rab had been a fastidious organiser, even more than herself, and she sometimes missed his simple system of cataloguing things. He often sat on the end of her bed and helped her sort her books into a better system, or read her a list of words that belonged together because they had some sort of likeness, or none at all. She missed his dogged need for order.

"Min?"

She blinked and looked up at Lucia and Hermione, who were staring at her across the table.

"Hmm?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes?" she blinked. "Why?"

"You were so sad for a moment," Lucia muttered.

"I thought you couldn't -"

"I can feel that much emotion, darling."

"I was thinking of my brother, actually."

"Will?"

"No, actually, Rab. Robert. My youngest brother. He was a magnificently organised person and I just wondered if he had lived longer, whether he might have helped me order my brain a little better." She shrugged as the other two looked at her and then chuckled as the tension broke.

"I dunno Min, your mind is a wild place. Even the librarians of Alexandria would have a hard time sorting that lot."

"I beg your pardon," Minerva protested as Hermione laughed. "Cheek of the woman."

"I have heard great tales of the library's in the far off lands. Are they available to visit?"

"Unfortunately, they did not survive. There was a fire or a flood of some proportion and they are lost to this future forever. Many have tried to find them, but all have been unsuccessful."

"I wonder if I could," Lucia mused. "I once had a map of the route and I studied it endlessly. I was going to visit just before I was matched with Amalle. We said we would go once we were settled but it never eventuated."

"Archaeologist might be a little on the nose as a career for you both," Minerva chuckled. "But if you could, the world would know your name for the rest of time."

"Perhaps we will simply point someone else in the direction of it then."

Minerva smiled into her mug as Hermione stretched out.

"I thought maybe we'd go back to Hogwarts later today? Perhaps for a visit? Or we can find somewhere for you to stay while we're there and check out what you need and come home before moving there?"

"Of course," Lucia nodded. "We are at your mercy. I am surely aware that we have disturbed your solitude and do not wish to impose on it longer than is necessary."

"That's not why," Hermione chided gently. "But if we can figure out perhaps where you feel most comfortable. In time, perhaps you may even expand your magic, as we know it's a bit different for you, but that is all in time. For now, perhaps a preemptive visit and then you can decide?"

"Certainly."

-0-

Minerva greeted Severus and Narcissa as they arrived in the Chamber. Hermione smiled at them but didn't comment. She watched as they turned to the visitors and pause. They glanced back at she and Minerva and then at the newcomers before they seemed to shake themselves and stepped forward to shake hands.

"Introduce us?"

"Sure," Hermione smiled as she nodded to Severus and Narcissa. "Lucia, Amalle, this is Severus Snape and Narcissa -" She didn't add the last name and Narcissa smiled at her in thanks. Hands were shaken and Lucia paused with Narcissa's hand in hers.

"You are Draconvir?"

"I -" She shrugged. "We are not certain."

Lucia turned back to Hermione.

"This is who you inquired of?"

"Yes," Hermione smiled. "This is that Narcissa, as if there are more of them." A few people chuckled but Lucia frowned.

"I can feel that you are Draconvir but not totally. I wonder, if it wasn't because of your son and his magic. I understand he is rather accomplished?"

"He is," Minerva nodded. "His magic is not insignificant."

"I would perhaps posit, then, that it was him that caused this in you and not the other way around. His father was Draconvir?"

"Yes, a very long time ago."

"It matters not," Lucia smiled. She patted the back of Narcissa's hand and let go. "That solves that mystery then."

Hermione grinned and shrugged. If Lucia was certain she would be too.

"Have you ever seen that happen?" Minerva asked quietly.

"I have not." Lucia glanced at Amalle but they shook their head as well. "But that is what it feels like. I have met with so many different Draconvir that this is obviously not as you or I or Hermione and Amalle."

"Then we shall accept that answer and be done with it," Severus said definitively. "Can we ask?"

"You can," Minerva chuckled. "They are not from here. Our mentors, if you will. For reasons that are none of your business, they have come here permanently to stay and will be joining us."

"The resemblance is uncanny!"

"We are pretty much identical in a lot of ways," Hermione smiled. "It's both useful and uncomfortable at times." The others laughed a little but Severus only nodded and then started speaking again.

"Can we do anything?"

"No," Hermione waved him off. "We're just here to see about a room for Lucia and Amalle. Just to explore their options. Although," she chuckled as she glanced at Amalle. "Perhaps above ground might be better?"

"I admit," they said quietly. "Confined spaces are not my favourite."

"I could charm some window spaces to make it seem as though we are above ground?" Severus offered. "Minerva would have to help, but I'm sure we could."

"We could," Minerva nodded. "I do not know why we haven't thought of that before now, to be honest. Alec does not relish the idea either."

"Perhaps if you could do that, and I will simply remain here for a while and if it gets too much?"

"Then we will go back," Hermione smiled. "It will be alright."

"Fine," they nodded. "I will be here. I trust Lucia to know what I do and do not like."

"Did you just make a joke?" Hermione laughed.

"I have been known to, once or twice."

Hermione laughed and watched as Minerva walked off to the side of the room with Severus.

"I will take my leave," Narcissa bowed her head. "It was a pleasure to meet you."

"Please do not leave on our account," Lucia said gently. "Amalle, I am sure, would love some company if you are up for it?"

"Your speech is different and yet, the same."

"Meeting Minerva and Hermione has allowed us to learn the vernacular, but we are not from this era, as it were."

"Wait," Narcissa paused and held Hermione's arm. "They are not from this timeline? You didn't mean -"

"Nope," Hermione grinned as she confirmed.

"I have so many questions!"

"Then stay, speak to my Amalle. They will answer what they know."

Narcissa paused at the wording and a look of comprehension came over her face.

"I have known others who prefer that, I will make sure to remember."

"Thank you," Lucia smiled. "Now, Hermione," she said affectionately. "Show me what you have to offer and we will see what we like."

Hermione grinned and took her hand. She dragged her over to the room that they had admittedly put Dedalus in when they had brought him home.

"I -" Hermione winced. "I need to confess. One of our people died and for a short while, we laid him here before we laid him to rest. If that bothers you at all, we do not have to see this room?"

"I have seen death, little one," Lucia said softly. "I am not afraid of it. Neither is Amalle. His soul is at peace and not in this room."

"We are not quite as pragmatic," Hermione winced. "Death is something we, in this time, do not deal with well."

"It comes with time." She looked around; it wasn't very big, but it was spacey enough and there was a significant bathroom attached as there was in Hermione and Minerva's own room. "Is there one that we might see in addition?"

"Sure," Hermione smiled. "I'm pretty sure there's something spare out in the corridor as long as you don't mind being down there and not in here."

Lucia shrugged and they went back out into the corridor and Lucia marvelled at the space.

"This is as if it is real, right until you come to touch it!"

"Magic is pretty amazing here," Hermione smiled. "I grew up as a normal, muggle child and now I am this new thing. Sometimes I still pinch myself." Lucia's face was a picture of confusion. "Muggle is the name the Wizarding World uses for a person who has no magic. Some people mean it as a slur, but I do not, as I am born from it."

Lucia made a noise but didn't comment.

Hermione took her down the corridor that so far had not been used and found a delightful little place with a front patio and a bright, white front.

"Oh!"

Hermione smiled at the quiet exclamation and waved Lucia inside. She opened the door for her but did not follow her inside. She stood by the front door and met Lucia's smile when she reappeared.

"Yeah I think so too," she grinned before Lucia could speak. "Let's go get your person and you guys can check it out together. I'm sure Min can charm the windows. Or our friend Filius - he is the charms teacher here."

"Hermione, I do not know how to thank you. Both for welcoming us with open arms and for simply letting us be who we are."

"It's easy," Hermione shrugged. "We love you."

Lucia pulled her in and kissed her hair and they walked back to the Hub, as Hermione had started calling it in her head.

"I think we've found the one," Hermione chuckled. "The Castle has made a few extras down the opposite corridor."

"Come, Amalle, you will love it."

Hermione watched them go, marvelling at how at ease Lucia seemed in their space and smiled. She turned back to the others who had taken up various positions on the sofas.

"What's happening then? Anything?"

"No," Severus cleared his throat. "Nothing at all."

"Alright then," she smiled. "Draco at Molly's?"

"Yes," Narcissa smiled. "He requested some time with your friends. They are kind to him where others might not be."

"My friends are kind," Hermione smiled. "We will not leave them here just yet, I do not think. Not unless they want to stay, but will it be alright if you have some company?"

"I would welcome it," Narcissa smiled. "Despite living in that house for so long, I relished the opportunities where I saw people. It is quite a lonely existence, otherwise."

"Not anymore," Severus said gently.

"No," she squeezed his hand on her knee. "Not anymore."

"Alright then, we're going to go and see if Albus is about and drop in on Filius. We might leave them here, for now?"

"Of course, we will be nothing but hospitable," Narcissa smiled.

"I know you will, dear," Minerva soothed. "Now, darling?"

"Coming," Hermione sing-songed as she slipped her hand into Minerva and they left.

By the time they were in the Castle itself, Hermione was feeling rather hopeful about everything.

"Do you want to split up and see Albus and I'll see if Filius is here? I remember vaguely that Michael said he was leaving for three weeks but I have no idea when that was."

"We can do. Come and find me if he is not in."

"Enjoy the catch up. You might ask him whether we're doing anything about the lost Horcrux?"

"I have that in mind to be the first thing."

"I knew I loved you for a reason," Hermione muttered as she kissed Minerva softly.

"One of a few reasons, I suppose?"

Hermione laughed and got off the moving staircases when she needed to, letting Minerva stay on until it shifted to where she needed it. The walk to Filius' rooms was not a long one but as she suspected, he was not in. She huffed and decided that she might not, actually, go and see Albus. For once, she had no grudge with him, she was just unsettled.

She, once again, had a feeling that something was coming and she did not know what it was or how to combat it. Sighing to herself, she went down the hall to Minerva's rooms - their rooms - and smiled as Michael let her in. She pulled a book off the shelves and curled up under Minerva's throw, relishing in the first quiet, selfish, moment she'd had since they had been joined. She grinned to herself and ordered a cup of tea and turned the pages greedily. With any luck, nobody would want or need her until she'd finished at least half. Beyond that, she would have to see.