A/N: I'm sorry. I genuinely did get heatstroke the other day but today I had to go back to work so I'm a bit all over the shop. Good new is, I'm still plugging away at it so we're gonna all be totally fine 3 Thank you all.
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Minerva had never felt such butterflies in her belly as she pulled on Hermione's hand and led her between the furniture. They meandered through the long room, marvelling at the beautiful little touches Filius had left them and then, a magnificent set of dark wood shelves that lined the walls exactly as they'd envisioned them.
"I'll need to retrieve my books," Hermione mused as they took in the scale of it."They're in a storage unit down in Oxford. But, I bet you have enough to fill these, don't you?"
"Perhaps you'll have a shelf or two after I'm done," Minerva teased. "I do have a substantial collection, yes."
She squeaked embarrassingly as Hermione pulled her back against her body.
"Perhaps you can find me a shelf or two more?"
Minerva's stomach clenched at the breath on her neck and she arched into Hermione's steady hands as they caressed her.
"You could try to make it worth my while?" Minerva breathed.
The tension between them was delicious and as Hermione's hands pressed against her belly, those butterflies fluttered endlessly. Minerva was utterly helpless as she was eased forward against the shelves. Her imagination, for the first time in a very long time, was showing her all the things they could get up to very very soon and she gasped as Hermione slid her fingers between Minerva's and pressed them against the shelves to steady them. She arched her back and Hermione's hand clenched around hers while the other roamed. For someone so young, her hands were sure as she traced absent patterns on Minerva's skin where she'd slipped under her clothes.
"I -" she gasped. "Love it when you do that." She could feel her face burn at the admission.
"I love the way you move against me when I do it," Hermione breathed.
Hermione gathered her hair and smoothed it aside while she sucked at the juncture of her neck and shoulder. Minerva breathed out a whimper and reached behind her to grip Hermione's head so she would not move.
"I'm going to fill these with you."
She wasn't sure Hermione was trying to be as sensual as she sounded at that moment but Minerva heard the unspoken innuendo and could not prevent the noise from her throat. Minerva had to force herself not to turn and throw Hermione on the sofa right then and there. She stumbled in the maelstrom of her mind and fell against the shelves. Her eyes closed against the embarrassment but Hermione didn't seem to mind. She stopped as well and held tight until Minerva nodded for her to let go.
"I shan't apologise," Hermione muttered.
"No," Minerva shook her head as she swallowed. "Please don't."
"Okay," Hermione said. Minerva looked into her eyes and accepted the soft kiss to her lips. "Come on, new things to see."
They found a relatively stocked kitchen. They'd have enough food to stay at home for most of their impromptu holiday and Hermione found another note in Poppy's handwriting near a new kettle and she laughed as she read it.
If you insist. Perhaps you'll stop complaining now.
"That cheeky sprite," Minerva laughed as they moved on.
The spare bedrooms had no furniture in and Minerva made a mental note to thank him for that, specifically. It would be nice for Hermione to take some ownership and that would be a perfect avenue to begin with. No doubt they'd have visitors before long with all of their new family members.
Their bedroom door loomed large and the butterflies now felt like a herd of stampeding Hippogriffs. Hermione held her hand tightly and she was thankful for it as they stood before it.
"Ready?" Minerva whispered as they both lay their hand on the handle.
"Yeah," Hermione grinned.
They opened the door and Minerva's jaw dropped.
"Oh my god, that's -"
"Have you ever -"
They stared at the luxurious bedroom.
"Fillius did all of this?" Minerva turned to look at her love and realised she was correct. "I mean he could have had ideas, from the others, but isn't he the only one -"
"Yes," Minerva blinked. "Just us three, right now."
"I -"
Minerva could not bite back the amazed laughter as they walked inside. It was truly beautiful. The black headboard stood out in such delicious contrast to the deep green wall, inlaid with the most beautiful flowers that he'd charmed to sway on a breeze that Minerva could almost feel. And there, above the headboard was their painting, sitting beautifully between it all like it was meant to be. The windows were framed with long black curtains to match the bedspread and silver streaks in the fabric shimmered in the sunlight. It was then that they noticed there was a piece of parchment stuck to one of the windows.
"What is that," Minerva asked as Hermione went over.
"There's a switch, he didn't put it in," she laughed at whatever he wrote. "It's Muggle."
"What does it do?"
Hermione shrugged. She turned the note over and checked the back but then she simply reached out to flick it. The noise of shock Minerva made was rather revealing and she blushed even as they stared up in awe. The huge windows overlooking the land to the ocean were now obfuscated by, what looked like, smoke.
"Oh," Hermione exclaimed. "I've heard of these. It's a chemical reaction or something. You flick the switch and the windows are frosted" As she explained, she flicked the switch again and Minerva just shook her head as it cleared. "Whoever used to own this place really went to town on the gadgets. The estate agent probably had a list somewhere?"
"I am in awe," she whispered. "And I am unsure about the list but the papers are here somewhere. We can look."
"Do you like it?" Hermione asked softly. "I'm sure he expected that there would be some things we would change."
"That's the thing," Minerva mused as she took in the room. "I love everything about it. All of it. I love that he left us some still to do, I love the colours he picked out for us. The bed is," she blushed as she looked over at it. "Magnificent."
"Want to check it out?" Hermione grinned.
Minerva immediately realised that her own mind had made the question more lecherous than it had been intended and she chuckled at Hermione's eagerness.
"I would like to bathe first, I think. I feel as though I have been chained to my desk for an age. Then perhaps yes," she whispered as Hermione realised what she'd said. "I would love to -" she made a face. "Check it out."
Hermione summoned their bags to the bedroom and Minerva caught hers as it came into the room.
"You are getting so good at that, Leannan." Hermione smiled at the praise.
"Want to go first? Shall I join you?"
"Would you think it terrible of me to say that I would like to go first, and no?"
"No, Min," she whispered. "Of course not. My natural default is to always want to be with you." Minerva traced the pretty blush on her cheeks that didn't appear too often. "So, if I ask and you don't want that, for any reason, it will not hurt my feelings if you say no. And you can and should say it. Don't martyr yourself for me."
Minerva chuckled.
"When have you ever known me to martyr myself, Leannan?"
"Um," Hermione laughed and stood in their room with her arms out wide. "For him to do this alone, based on all the times you stayed at work so they could leave? Yeah, Min -" She really did have the most beautiful smile. "I would say quite a lot."
Minerva could practically feel the happiness in the air as she pulled Hermione into her body and kissed her. The stampeding Hippogriffs were back as Hermione's hands seemed to be everywhere all at once. She so desperately wanted to give in. Hermione's fingers seemed to burn through her clothes. Her palm sat flat on her stomach, then smoothed up and down her spine until she finally smoothed it over her arse.
She had long since realised that, despite her own opinion that her arse wasn't all that spectacular, Hermione's hand seemed to stray to it quite often and though Minerva tended to stop her when she did so, this time, she simply sighed against Hermione's chest and moaned.
"I love you so much, Minerva. Everything you are. You make me so happy."
Minerva could have cried at the words and she kissed Hermione once more instead.
Initially she had been - a little selfishly - worried about having to teach Hermione everything. It wasn't that she didn't want to; that was what she did, but it was a vastly different thing here, in their space as adults. And considering their history, the less recall to earlier times she had, the better. As Hermione's fingers traced patterns over what skin she could find, Minerva was less and less concerned that Hermione was out of her depth.
"Go and bathe," Hermione breathed in her ear. Minerva realised she'd been lost in thought and she rushed to apologise. "Galleon," Hermione grinned. "No apologies. You go change and do your thing. I might make us a cup of tea."
"Ooh, that would be divine."
"Want me to bring you one?"
"Yes please."
Hermione got a wicked look in her eyes and bowed a little. Her voice took on a tone that Minerva had never heard before as she spoke.
"Your wish is my command, Domina."
Minerva's stomach seemed to do a 180 and she looked up in shock.
"Oh," Hermione grinned. "I've read about this. We can try that. Maybe. If this," She motioned to her body. "Will allow it."
"Hermione! I wasn't -"
"Oh yes you were," she chuckled. Minerva felt her gut squelch now and tried to hide the panic that was slowly overtaking her person. "Hey," Hermione said quickly. "Hey, no, it's okay that you were." Her hands captured Minerva's face and their foreheads leaned against each other while she calmed. "Min?" Hermione whispered. "It's okay."
"I -" Her voice caught in her throat and she swallowed before she continued. "I didn't even know I -" she couldn't bring herself to say that she wanted it especially, but Hermione got the gist.
"You know what? There's going to be lots of things we might enjoy together. There will, probably, even be some things that we'll enjoy that we've never even heard of. But," she soothed. "If it's something you want or need or discover, you must talk to me. I want to hear about it, okay? I want to share this mind with you."
Minerva was, once again, struck by just how mature Hermione was. Not in a 'for her age' way, but the way she carried herself. The ways she spoke. She took a deep breath and nodded.
"Ooh, love, I don't like that look in your eye," Hermione said sadly. Minerva began to panic. She didn't want Hermione to think that she wasn't ready. She was. She was sure she was.
"No, I am," she said without thinking. She blinked as Hermione cupped her face again.
"Hey," she whispered. "Hey, breathe."
"I -"
Hermione kissed her and she rallied. They pulled away from each other but didn't stray far. Minerva finally got her wits about her as she took Hermione's hands and put them back on her face. The contact soothed her and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I suddenly felt very out of my depth. I had not expected to feel those things and even less so, for you to notice."
"I want you to know something, Min," Hermione said softly. She tucked a piece of hair behind Minerva's ear and Minerva revelled in how gentle it felt. "No topic of conversation will ever be off limits between us." Hermione soothed. "If you want to do things and I am in agreement then you should expect that we're going to do that. Because I told you; once I get you in my arms, I'm never letting you go. And I will do everything in my power to make you happy. All you have to do is find the courage to ask."
"I don't know that I ever wanted that," Minerva whispered. "Others -" She was burning with embarrassment as she recalled a few instances that had scarred her. "I mean, they attempted and I do not -"
"I would never, ever, force you into something you do not want," Hermione whispered, pulling her close.
She could have cried at how carefully Hermione was speaking to her. Like she knew; as of she could tell -
"Are you -"
"What?"
"Can you feel -"
"A little," Hermione admitted. "The fear, the memory of the fear. But I have you, Minerva. It's okay. We don't have to do any of that, even if you do find it fascinating. Or," she breathed as she kissed her forehead softly. "We can, exclusively, try it the opposite way." Minerva let out a shaky breath. "I will never hurt you. If you need that control, you can have it, love."
"I don't know how to make sense of that," Minerva muttered as she found her voice. "Especially not from you."
"I don't ever want you to be scared of me. But," she shrugged. "I don't think I particularly want that to be part of our first moments together?"
"I agree," Minerva whispered. The thought made her lip curl a little.
"But -" Hermione whispered in that way she did that made Minerva's stomach clench. "When you are ready, I will gladly give myself over to you." Minerva's entire body shuddered and her hands curled in Hermione's shirt. She buried her face in Hermione's neck. "It's okay," she chuckled. "All I know is that you and I are going to have so much fun together."
"I thought you said you were -" She cleared her throat but Hermione kept up the cheeky grin.
"I'm widely read," she chuckled. "Between Molly's saucy bodice rippers and my mother's Mills and Boon collection, I got a fairly rounded education even if I," she grinned. "Skipped a few practical lessons."
Minerva couldn't help but laugh at the thought. She was still chuckling as Hermione kissed her temple and nudged her towards the bathroom.
"Go, let me make you a cuppa and we'll reconvene after, alright?"
Minerva traced her face as she stepped away, feeling as though she never wanted to be apart again as she forced herself to pick up her bag and retreat into the bathroom. She stared at herself in the mirror, thankful it wasn't an enchanted one. She looked wired, and tired to be honest, and though she wanted Hermione in a way she could not express, she wasn't quite sure tonight would be the night.
She undressed, still watching herself. As more and more skin was revealed, she wondered what Hermione was going to think of her unrobed. She was aware it wouldn't be the first time Hermione would see her bare but it would be the first time with the intent of exploring without end. And that was still rather confronting. She gave herself a look in the mirror and turned to start the bath. She cast an experienced eye over the rather disappointing muggle bath and rolled her eyes at herself. With barely a flick of her wand and a muttered spell, she deepened it and lengthened it as well. It wasn't close to the new bathroom at Hogwarts, but it would do.
"When this damnable war is over, we shall do something permanent about this," she muttered.
"Are you alright in there?"
"Um," Minerva dithered. "Yes, thank you. I am fine."
"Min," Hermione said gently. "Are you alright?"
"I am," Minerva sighed as she leant her head against the door.
"I'm not rushing you," Hermione called, clearly not realising Minerva was tracing the woodgrain of the door, no doubt less than half a foot away. "Take your time. I'll leave your tea out here when it's ready."
Minerva didn't reply and instead went and got into her bath with a soft groan.
She had not yet told Hermione quite how sore she was, both from the battle of the Astronomy Tower but then everything that happened afterwards as well. She had some wicked bruises on her back from a rogue chunk of rock that the enemy had managed to dislodge but sitting at her desk doing paperwork for a week straight hadn't helped either. And though she was tired and sore, she was still fine.
She'd certainly had worse.
She gathered her hair and knotted it on her head so it didn't get wet. She could not say that she felt even half of her years right now; Hermione's comment in the Second Floor Bathroom before they released Draco had definitely made her more aware of her body. And she had to admit, even with the discomfort, it was feeling more energetic by the day.
It was only a shame that her thoughts remained lethargic at times.
A knock on the door heralded Hermione's arrival and she quickly multiplied the bubbles before agreeing to her entry.
"I'm not staying until unless you just want me to," Hermione said gently. "Just wondered if you wanted your tea in here? I found something for dinner, so I've got that on the stove. I'm not a great cook," she admitted with a blush. "But I can cook a decent Bolognese."
"I shall hurry out then," Minerva smiled. "Thank you."
"You really shouldn't. I'm fine, the sauce is better, the longer it cooks, so genuinely," she smiled. "Don't rush."
Minerva leaned forward to get her tea and felt the temperature drop several degrees. She looked up and found Hermione's eyes fixed on her back. She kicked herself for her stupidity.
"Who hurt you," she whispered. The tone was so dark, Minerva shivered.
"Nobody," Minerva said carefully. "It was just something I picked up in the battle. It's also healing. It's okay."
"You didn't tell me," Hermione breathed. "I didn't see it when we -"
"Darling," Minerva said, rather firmly, also now thinking back to the bath they'd shared. "I did not know myself until two days after the battle. You did not see it because it was on the other side, and the lighting was poor." She gave Hermione a look. "You were asleep when I realised. It did not hurt at the time; I was so full of adrenaline."
"But -"
"Hermione," Minerva snapped, her arms around her knees as she curled in on herself. She was suddenly embarrassed that she had not thought to tell her. "Enough, I am fine." Hermione dropped to her knees and stared at Minerva with the most heartbroken look in her eyes that Minerva's heart squeezed in her chest. "Come here," she sighed.
Hermione shook her head and pulled at her hair instead. Minerva groaned at the melodrama and reached over. Her wet hands stopped Hermione's from tugging and she held them carefully between her own.
"Mo gaol," she whispered. "I am fine. I promise you, I am fine."
"I didn't know," Hermione whispered. "I was so busy. You were, I mean, I never even asked."
Minerva considered her options and tried one last time.
"You said you trusted me," she chastised gently. "Don't you think that if I was hurt properly, I would tell you?"
Hermione looked at her suspiciously and Minerva couldn't help but laugh.
"You'd probably tell me eventually," Hermione sniffed.
"Then hear me now when I say that I am fine. I honestly do not recall exactly when it happened. Clearly it did, but the pain does not linger. It's done with, except for some wicked colouring and a bit of overall soreness that is as much from the rest of it as it was from the battle." She beckoned Hermione forward and rewarded her with a kiss. "I am as right as rain."
Hermione gripped the side of the bath until Minerva pulled away and soothed her white knuckles.
"Breathe, Leannan."
"May I?"
"May you what?" Minerva blinked.
"May I touch you," Hermione muttered. She offered her hands to Minerva like they held all the answers.
"Oh," Minerva blinked as she recalled Hermione healing her hand. "If you like."
Hermione reached forward and placed her hand on Minerva's back. For a moment, nothing happened until she felt something tingling.
"Oh," Minerva whispered. "That's -"
Hermione's hand got red-hot and though it probably should have burned, Minerva merely arched her back a little at the warmth.
"There," Hermione muttered as she pulled away. "All better."
"That is -" Minerva chewed her lip as she stretched this way and that without giving Hermione a show as well. "Helpful, thank you."
Hermione nodded and after a few moments of silence, seemed to realise she hadn't moved.
"Oh, sorry," she mumbled. "Tea is here, enjoy. I'll just -" she nodded almost comically towards the door and left in a hurry.
Minerva sighed against her knees and straightened out with a quiet moan. Her back did feel better and she acknowledged that, even in her own head. The first sip of tea made her sigh contently but her thoughts remained chaotic. While she had made leaps and bounds as far as sharing her thoughts with Hermione she still had a ways to go. She tried to explore the feeling she'd have if Hermione was hurt and simply hadn't told her. She wondered whether it was possible for Hermione to be hurt in the first place. Not that that was an excuse.
Unbidden, the memory of Hermione appearing in front of her to take the spell she'd not seen flashed through her senses. She could smell the acrid taste of the magic. She had seen the flash of the spell too late and had not even had the time to process her next move when there, filling all her senses at once, was Hermione. She remembered the younger woman arching against the pain and falling at her feet.
She could definitely be hurt.
Minerva McGonagall had never frozen in battle. Not even when she'd recognised her baby brother fighting in the distance. That moment was at the forefront of her mind as well, after Albus' outbursts about his sister. She recalled, now, how she found a burst of energy that did not wane as she'd fought tooth and nail to make it to him, only to have him die in her arms. But she had frozen in the moment that Hermione had appeared before her. It had only given Hermione the opportunity to protect her further. She shivered and spelled the water hotter. The feeling of watching Hermione die before her eyes, and all the memories it had dredged up as well, had given her nightmares that she was yet to be rid of.
In truth, though she was excited about their next chapter, she was more than a little afraid of those nightmares resurfacing while they were sleeping together. She did not usually get nightmares when Hermione was wrapped around her but she had been so exhausted lately that she wasn't certain of anything anymore.
She shook her head at herself and summoned a washcloth. Almost robotically, she washed and got out, drying her body easily and wrapping herself in a towel.
She looked at her bag and sighed.
She could put her day clothes back on, or, she could put on her rather frumpy nightgown. In fact, now she had time to consider it, she regretted bringing it at all. She could Transfigure something, but silk did not love being Transfigured and she sighed into the quiet bathroom. She took one more look in her bag as if it could make all the difference and froze. Underneath her teaching robe that she'd simply rolled up and stuffed away without thinking, was something that did not belong. She pulled it out and immediately her eyes filled with tears. Hermione had put her outfit in Minerva's bag without her knowing. A brand new pair of leggings and the bottle green jumper she had worn before.
She pulled it on and snuggled into it, letting the scent of Hermione surround her as she smoothed her cheek over it. She slipped out of the door and dropped her bag near the wardrobe before she shuffled into the kitchen. She was barefoot and it was then that she understood the under-floor heating. Her feet curled happily in the warmth, despite the stone floors, and she tiptoed into the kitchen with a view to surprising her love.
"Gotcha," Hermione laughed as Minerva was grabbed around the middle.
She squealed as she was spun around and they laughed against each other as Hermione put her back down.
"I wondered if you'd find it," she smiled. Minerva was charmed.
"Thank you," she grinned. "I appreciate the comfort your clothes bring me."
"You are most welcome." Hermione kissed her softly. "Now. Food will be ready in about ten minutes. I'll grab a shower afterwards and we can decide what we want to do after that, alright?"
Minerva looked at her carefully.
"You aren't -"
"I am tired and I can see you are as well. I know you've been injured, sort of, so," she shrugged. "Perhaps tonight we will simply curl up together in our new home and tomorrow we can start figuring out where we want to go from here."
"I didn't meant to derail -"
"It's okay," Hermione smiled. It was a wide one, so Minerva took it at face value. "I am also tired. I think we can rejuvenate for a while before we decide to do anything. We also need to consider the fact that whatever this is between us?" Minerva nodded. "Might very well be," she winced. "Completed? I think Amalle said. So, we should be ready for that eventuality as well. The both of us."
"I feel very old, suddenly." Minerva said as she rubbed her forehead.
"Stop that," Hermione chuckled. "You are not old, stop saying that. You and I just fought a battle against endless dark wizards and witches and then we did what we did with Severus and Draco. We are entitled to sleep for a while."
"Alright," Minerva sighed.
"Look, woman, if you want me to throw you down right now, I can do that -"
Minerva roared with laughter at Hermione's hopeful face but she shook her head and wrapped her arms around her love.
"I think I am just feeling discombobulated. I -" She swallowed. "You are right, I am tired. I," she winced. "Have also not been sleeping well."
"Then tonight will just be us, in our new house, recharging. Tomorrow we can make tomorrow's decisions."
Minerva nodded as the oven timer started beeping. Hermione went to rescue it and Minerva opened the cupboards to find the place settings. Once found, she set the table with a wave of her wand. She spied a few candles too and just because she felt like it, Summoned them to the table to be lit. By the time it was finished, there was a beautiful golden hue to everything as Hermione plated them up.
"My love, that's beautiful, thank you," Hermione said as she put down the plates. "Let's eat."
Minerva sat and smiled at Hermione as she did the same. They toasted quietly and Minerva took a deep breath to soak in all the flavours.
"Ith do shàth!" She smiled.
"Hmm," Hermione grinned. "Bon Appétit?"
"Give or take," Minerva laughed.
It was the first of many moments of laughter together over their new dining table. They ate dinner together, staring into each other's eyes as they caught each other up on what they'd been doing over the last week. Minerva felt something settle in her chest as she watched Hermione's hands flit about as she was talking about Draco and his knowledge of what she was. What they were, Minerva supposed. Had someone told her, more than a year ago, that this woman would be the one to capture her heart, she'd have checked them and then herself into St Mungo's. As it was, now that she was here, sitting across from her and feeling all the love that Hermione put forth in her eyes, and in her words, and in that soft foot trailing up and down her calf, Minerva knew that Amalle and Lucia were correct. Minerva would never have to wonder; Hermione's love was as plain as the nose on her face and she basked in it. When the food was done, they moved onto the sofa and curled up together with the moonlight streaming down through the windows. The conversation naturally petered out as their energy finally ran out.
Minerva dropped first. She got comfy and laid her head on the arm of the sofa. She smiled as Hermione clambered over her and pulled her into her arms.
"You can't just lay here without me," she teased quietly. Minerva smiled sleepily and reached over her shoulder to cup Hermione's cheek. "I love you so much, Minerva." Hermione whispered as she tightened her arms around her.
"Tha gaol agam ort," Minerva whispered as she dropped off. "Tha gaol cho mòr agam ort."
