Pins and Needles
Chapter 18: Sorting Heads
The days after their "outing" in the Burrow were characterised by a pronounced absence of any noteworthy developments. So far, no one had batted an eye at learning about their relationship. They both knew that would change as soon as the news travelled beyond their immediate circle of friends, but for now they enjoyed the normalcy they had been afforded.
As per their usual routine, Hermione found herself studying in the library after breakfast one morning. She quickly got through another two chapters of Transfiguration Testimonials. Taxing Taradiddles and Timeless Tales and only looked up when she heard Minerva huff from her desk. She smiled as she watched Minerva go over a long scroll, her brow furrowing further and further as she did so. Watching her work had quickly become one of Hermione's favourite pastimes. As Minerva huffed again, she commented, "I'm going to assume this isn't a list of all of Gryffindor's triumphs in the Quidditch House Cup."
"Very funny." Minerva's smile belied the sarcasm of her words. She grew serious again. "I am revising the curriculum of History of Magic. It would seem that leaving its maintenance up to someone who has not been a part of the living world for over a century has made it a bit … mouldy."
"You don't say." Hermione had to chuckle as she remembered her classmates' sufferings during these lessons. Thinking back to their date night, she went on, "You should include that star story while you're at it. It would make for a nice counterpoint to any attempts of revitalising mudblood rhetorics."
"Good point." Minerva stopped to think for a bit. "I do not see how though. It is just a myth after all."
Hermione shrugged. "Easy enough. Make it the first lesson, along with other myths on magic. I'm no expert, but I'm willing to bet there are some really exciting ones to draw the students in."
"That is a very good idea." Minerva smiled widely. "You will make a wonderful addition to the staff. Not to be too harsh on my esteemed colleagues – or myself, for that matter – but there is such a thing as being too set in your ways." She watched Hermione for a moment who didn't react at all to the statement. "Knut for your thoughts?" Slightly startled, Hermione looked up at her. Minerva continued, "Even though they are certainly worth a lot more than that."
Hermione smirked. "You wouldn't say that if you had any idea of just how jumbled they are right now." She glanced down at her book again, then put it away as she got up from the couch. "I think I might take a little trip to the beach. To try and sort them out."
"I have gone there to do just that more than once myself," Minerva commented. "I am going to assume said sorting will go better with no one else around?"
Hermione nodded, smiling her thanks, before she headed outside.
When she arrived at the bay, she found it even more deserted than when she had last been there with Minerva. The reason for that was plain enough – even though it was a bright day, the early March wind was icy and she soon cast a spell to ward it off. After walking the full length of the beach, she continued to explore the rockier shore that followed until she reached a tiny harbour made of huge slabs of flagstone. She went all the way to the end of the quay reaching out into the sea, then heated one of the stones and proceeded to sit on it and just stare out over the thrashing waves for a long while.
She knew what she had to do. She had known before she even had arrived on the beach. She only wished she did not have to let Minerva down like this. Sighing deeply she finally decided not to put it off any longer and returned home.
Quickly shedding her thick outer garments, she entered the library to find Minerva still sitting at her desk, a pile of finished letters in front of her, currently writing another one. Looking up, Minerva smiled in greeting. Hermione tried to return the smile, but was sure her nervousness was showing off.
"Did you succeed?" Minerva asked.
Hermione nodded. "Are you busy?"
Without hesitating for even a moment, Minerva put her quill down. "Not anymore." She rose and walked over to the couch. After sitting down she looked expectantly at Hermione who had joined her.
"You're not going to like this." Hermione waited another moment, willing herself to continue. "I will have to decline that job offer after all."
Minerva let out a deep breath, easily betraying the tension that had just left her. "Well, honestly, I am relieved that is what this is about."
Hermione did not manage to completely suppress a grin. "Surely, you did not believe I would simply abandon you, did you?" The slight blush creeping up on Minerva's cheeks was so adorable it made her heart melt. Leaning forward Hermione reached out and pulled her in for a gentle but thorough kiss. Breaking the kiss, she then moved her mouth towards Minerva's ear. "Hypocrite," she whispered before sitting back again.
Minerva had the good grace to smile at that. "Touché." She had relaxed visibly. "So, why?"
"I love you, Minerva. More than anyone or anything. I don't ever want to be without you. I feel like all I'll ever need is you." Hermione paused for a moment to make sure her words had sunk in. "But looking at this more rationally – hard as that is to achieve with you around – I do think there is such a thing as being too dependent on one person. I cannot base all of my life on you. And to me that means I need to choose between being with you and taking on that job."
Minerva's expression had become more serious with every word. "You are right," she said when Hermione had finished, shaking her head slightly in disbelief. "And I should have been the one to see this."
"That's bullshit." Hermione's response had been swift and her answer to Minerva's raised eyebrows at her language was a mere shrug. "I mean it. That's not how this is going to work. Just because you're older and more experienced doesn't mean you get to have all the answers all the time." She closed the distance between them again, obviously aiming for another kiss, but stopped her movement a few inches before their lips met to add, "We're in this together. And we're going to figure it out together."
She closed the remaining distance and proceeded to emphasise her words by several long and gentle kisses before making eye contact again. "Tell me there's a way to make logistics work somehow? With me not being at Hogwarts, I mean?"
"Of course. You are talking to the Headmistress after all." An impish half smile appeared on Minerva's face before she went on, "But aside from that – if you are under the impression that all of the professors have been leading strictly solitary private lives while you were at school, then I am happy to inform you that you are mistaken. You will not be the first regular visitor and you are not going to be the last one either."
Minerva waited for a moment, then shook her head in renewed irritation. "I still think I should have seen it myself."
Hermione grinned and shrugged. "Love makes us blind."
Rolling her eyes, Minerva answered, "Yes, well, there is hardly need for me to prove that." Once again, she grew serious. "Are you quite sure you are making the right choice? Between the two, I mean."
Mirroring Minerva's eye roll, Hermione said, "Let me make this abundantly clear – there is absolutely no way in hell I am going to choose a job over you."
Minerva raised an eyebrow. "It is a pretty rewarding position."
"Minerva …,"
Hermione had tried to cut her off, but Minerva was not to be deterred. "You have not even seen the contract yet. The benefits are–"
She only stopped as Hermione leant forward again to put a finger on her lips to silence her. "Any job," she said, the emphasis leaving no more room for argument. "I am sorry for letting the Headmistress down."
"Better her than me." Minerva paused for a moment, then added a low, "Thank you." As Hermione looked at her in askance, she went on, "For not letting yourself get scared away. Most people would choose to stay close to the safety of the coastline over venturing out onto the open ocean. Or, if they do, they are happy enough to have it be a quick, exciting foray before getting ashore again."
"That's not how the most rewarding discoveries are made." Hermione chuckled. "You really are fond of that metaphor."
Minerva shrugged. "You picked a rather rich one. There are so many ways to expand on it. Waves. Reefs. Ships."
Hermione laughed. "Pirates!" she added, then grimaced. "Not typically known as a source of tender loving care."
Minerva grinned back at her. "Daring. Loyal. Defying convention. I dare say I could make it work."
Hermione laughed again, then added, "I dare say we can."
The rest of the day had been blissfully uneventful. Eventually they both settled down in bed to read, as had become their customary way to end the day. When she looked up, however, Hermione noticed Minerva had let her book sink down into her lap and was sitting there, silently staring at her.
"What?" she asked, her tone puzzled.
Minerva shook her head so lightly that it would have been easy to miss under less intimate circumstances. "Have I told you today how much I love you?"
Hermione felt a light blush creeping onto her cheeks. She had heard Minerva say it plenty of times by now, but it still made her heart flutter every time she did. "You have, actually."
Minerva fixed her intently. "Well then, have I told you just how beautiful you are?
"Not today."
"Then let me rectify this. You are breathtakingly beautiful."
Hermione giggled. "I'm in my pyjamas."
"You could be wearing anything," Minerva continued, unimpressed. "Or nothing at all, for that matter."
"Is that a request?" Hermione asked, as she felt her blush deepen.
Minerva lightly bit her lower lip before answering, "An ambition."
Closing her book, Hermione put it away, before turning towards Minerva again. "Well, keep talking."
Mirroring her movements, Minerva teased, "Whatever happened to flattery not getting me anywhere?"
Hermione shrugged. "That was a pretty outrageous lie to begin with."
Minerva let out a light laugh. "In that case – you are amazingly beautiful, charming, deliriously exciting, funny, gorgeous–"
Having picked up on what Minerva was doing, Hermione laughed softly and leaned over to kiss her, but only managed to give her a brief peck before the other woman pulled back.
"You are breaking my concentration," Minerva chided.
"I should hope so." Lying back down, Hermione pulled Minerva with her so that she came to rest half on top of her. Kissing her again, this time more deeply, she then looked at her expectantly for a few seconds before prodding, "Helpful?"
"Ah. Yes. Thank you." Taking another moment to compose herself, Minerva continued. "Irresistible, just, kind, lion-hearted, marvelous." She had let her hand wander down the young woman's body while speaking. "Naked-to-be," she added and started to gently push up Hermione's shirt, touching bare skin and taking delight in the gasp her actions elicited. "Opinionated, passionate, q–" Her brow furrowed.
"Queer?" Hermione offered.
Minerva chuckled. "Thankfully." She bowed down to bestow another kiss on her lover's lips. Sitting up slightly she grasped the rim of Hermione's shirt with both hands and met her eyes in a silent question. Hermione eagerly complied, raising her upper body far enough that Minerva was able to slip the garment off her before settling back down. Mesmerized, Minerva could not help but just sit there and stare for a moment. "Ravishing," she finally said, when she was able to form words again. "Smart," she said while lying back down herself. Languidly running her free hand over Hermione's belly, she then brushed the underside of first one, then the other of her pert breasts. "And sexy. Tantalizing, understanding, valiant, witty, um …" She hesitated, then shrugged, "... xtremely yummy and … zealous."
When Minerva had finished, Hermione gave her a broad smile and reached up to pull her down for another long and deep kiss. When they broke the kiss, she said, "That kind of talk is going to get you everywhere."
"I was counting on it," Minerva replied before proceeding to take Hermione up on her promise.
Notes:
I'm sorry to disappoint everyone who was hoping for Hogwarts Adventures of the two of them. I had most of this chapter written very early on – Hermione always was supposed to turn that offer down eventually.
