A/N: My apologies, I've been fighting a migraine all morning. Chapter 99 is a pretty awesome feat, though :) Thank you all for the continued love and support!
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The meeting had gone on and on, but finally, just before dinner time, they'd settled upon a plan.
Moody, Kingsley, Draco, Minerva and herself would sneak into Malfoy Manor, take some reconnaissance, free Mrs Malfoy and retrieve the books on Draconvir. She had taken care to explain just enough to those at the table and explain in greater detail why she needed the books as well as the woman. The date was set for Thursday, two days from now and the meeting broke up softly, in time for Hestia and Dedalus to leave.
"Be careful," Hermione said as they stood outside the house. "The Ministry is no longer in our control, no matter what they say. The minute you feel as if there is something afoot that might put you in danger, you are to leave." Dedalus opened his mouth, but Hermione looked at him. "I mean it. Your job, now, is to make sure that you are safe. I equally do not know if your marks will prevent you from being Imperioused but keep checking with each other."
He nodded and looked a little pleased before Hestia dragged him out of the wards and Apparated almost immediately as soon as they were clear. She turned and saw Albus at the door, waiting for her and she sighed as she met his eyes.
"I do not know what to do with you, Old Man," she muttered as she stared. "You behave in a way that seems as though you do not trust me, or," she scoffed. "At worst, have betrayed me and all we stand for."
"Hermione -"
"No," she shook her head. "I will not hear you give me excuses. I do not understand this, Albus. Why would you do this? Why would you do this; set upon this course of action, knowing how we feel about Harry being involved. You would sacrifice him, like sending a lamb to slaughter?"
"It is not about you, dear girl. It is not. It is about ending this war!"
"AT WHAT COST!" She had not meant to shout and had meant, even less, to roar like that. She looked away and tried to control her anger. "Albus," she whispered once she had control of herself. "If you betray me again, I will not be able to prevent myself from the consequences that are befitting of a traitor. If you harm my family, you are no longer a part of it." She looked back at him and felt hot tears roll down her cheeks. "And that would break my heart. I am begging you, Al. Trust me. Work with me, stop thinking that you are the only one that can do this. Or the only one that must do this, because you are not and I cannot keep fighting you when I should be fighting the enemy."
He bowed his head but did not reply.
"Al -"
Minerva's voice was soft, but stern as she joined Hermione's side.
"Min, I just -"
"Don't," she said. "This is your final warning. She has given you chance after chance but no longer. While it would decimate me, my life, these people are under our care. These people are our family and I will not have you putting them in danger. We have lost family before," Her voice went so cold that Hermione shivered as she continued. "I will not lose any more. If you do this again, you had better hope Hermione finds you first."
He stared at them and for just a moment, he looked a little uncomfortable. The anger rolling off Minerva was almost painful and Hermione took a deep breath.
"Okay," she whispered as she slid her hand into Minerva's and shared the pain with her. She took a moment to cope with it and then turned back to the Headmaster. "Albus, please don't make us do this. We need you, we need your wisdom. We want your heart and your soul, Al but I will not fight you."
"HEY!" Ginny called, interrupting their stand-off. "Dinner is ready. Mum said hurry up. Apparently she is immune to dragons or something."
Minerva snorted indignantly and turned to look at Hermione. Her thoughts of nothing but love helped Hermione finally let go of some of her anger, but Minerva kept hers simmering. Before Minerva strode off without another word, she looked hard at Albus. Something passed between them that even Hermione was not privy too and Albus stared after her for much longer. Hermione smiled sadly.
"You won't get through that, Al. You can't."
"I would never dare to presume I could," he whispered.
His face twitched and he stood up and clasped his hands behind his back.
"I do not have the same belief in your powers that you do," he said honestly. "I do not believe it will be you that ends this war."
"Thank you for telling me that," she muttered. "But I will not accept anything less," Hermione smiled sadly. "I do not need you to believe in me, Al. I need you only to trust me. I am not hard-headed. I am not unintelligent. If I find some reasonable doubt that it will not work this way then I will pivot. You have taught me so well, Al. Trust in your lessons. Trust in me."
"I will endeavour to do so," he nodded. "I was only trying -"
"To get it done before we got back," Hermione said clearly. "Don't lie to me again, Albus. I can read you like a book."
She watched him leave without another word and turned back into the house. Harry was waiting for her and he hugged her tightly.
"I'm sorry, I -"
"Don't you apologise for his behaviour," she muttered as she held him. "He was in the wrong, not you."
"Min said that too," he grumbled. "I didn't know how to find you," he whispered. "Or I would have." He blushed. "Even though I knew you were busy."
"We will figure that out this week, alright? I don't ever want you to be somewhere where you can't find me."
He nodded and she smiled at him as he pulled away.
"You've grown."
"You seem older," he chuckled. "It's weird."
"I'm still your friend, Harry."
"Nah," he grinned. "We're family now. You're like my weird big sister, I guess."
She chuckled and looked up as Moody and Kingsley joined them.
"We're off," Kingsley nodded. "We will meet you on Thursday."
"I have in mind that Albus mentioned the elections were some time soon. Do not stay beyond time, gentlemen. There is no honour in death."
Both of them looked at her carefully but Moody gradually broke into a half-hearted grin on account of his scarring.
"We'll make a spy of you yet, lassy," he laughed. "Constant vigilance!"
He left in a grumble of inconvenience and Kingsley just shook his head after him.
"He is a great Auror," he chuckled. "I question his sanity sometimes."
"We're all a bit crazy," Hermione grinned. "Be careful, please."
"Ain't no worry 'bout me," he laughed. "I were born careful."
Hermione and Harry waved him out of the house and the wards. When she turned back to him, he snorted and pulled her with him, back into the kitchen where Molly was plating out a huge feast.
"In honour of our guests," she smiled.
Severus and Draco were standing by the door and Hermione stopped them before they left.
"Aren't you joining us?" she asked.
Severus looked incredibly uncomfortable and Draco glanced around.
"We weren't sure we were invited," he muttered.
Minerva was as thick as thieves with Remus, Sirius and the Twins so Hermione met Molly's eyes and stared for a while. The woman walked around the table and took Draco's shoulder.
"You are both welcome at my table, any time you like." She smiled. "Sit yeh down and have some food at least."
Draco got a little smile on his face and immediately went to sit near Harry and Ron and Ginny, but far enough away that interaction wasn't strictly necessary. She met Harry's eyes and gave him a look, to which he simply rolled his eyes at her and started talking to Draco while he nodded for Ron to shift seats so they could all be together. Severus, however, thanked Molly quietly and went back to his seat in the corner.
Molly nodded for Hermione to join her in the hall where she stood, wringing her hands for a good while.
"I insulted you, to no end, at the beginning of this and then I let my own feelings get in the way of you needing the space to cope with that. When everything else that went on, I'm surprised you can even look at me. Will you forgive me, Hermione. I had no idea."
"I know you didn't," Hermione muttered. "I wasn't upset. I was certainly wary, but not upset or angry. Not after we figured out what was going on. It was a lot to cope with anyway and that was just one more thing. By the time you were better, this thing with Min started. I just didn't have any more to give."
"But you were uncomfortable. I know how I am, Hermione." She smiled sadly. "Many people think I'm oblivious but I'm not. I know I'm over the top and I'm overprotective. But please know that I only want to do what's right."
"I never thought otherwise, Molly," Hermione said genuinely. "I was not in a position to tell anyone at the time. But we're family, now. Properly. And I will give my life for you and yours at any moment. That's how this is. And despite what I told Hestia, when Charlie comes home and -" she hesitated. "If Percy returns, I will gladly extend this to them, without question."
Molly wiped a tear from her eye and nodded. The silence stretched a little but Hermione could tell the woman wasn't done.
"What about you and Minerva?"
Hermione faltered as she tried to gauge Molly's interest. She rolled her shoulder and felt the concern but wasn't quite sure what the motive behind it was.
"Hermione and I," Minerva said quietly, startling them both. "Are quite happily in love, Molly." Hermione's heart thumped against her ribs. She tried to recall whether this was the first time Minerva had said that out loud to someone else. "Though it began as part of her," she shrugged. "Inheritance and it was not always easy, we are bound in this thing and," she turned and smiled at Hermione and made all her fears disappear. "Though I recognise it is hardly conventional, I believe I have found my soulmate." She turned back to Molly. "I can truly say that I have never been happier."
Molly looked at them both. She felt Minerva's hand slip into hers and squeeze gently.
"Well that is as plain as the noses on your faces," she gushed. "I wish you every happiness. Now come on, food's getting cold."
She shuffled back into the kitchen and left them alone. Hermione breathed out a sigh of relief that made Minerva laugh through her nose.
"For someone so in control of everything, Leannan, and considering how you felt about her at the beginning of the year, you certainly hung a lot of weight on her opinion of us."
"Despite what happened, she was one of the first people to care about me in this world," Hermione mused. "And she is the mother of my best friends and she adores Harry like her own. I do not always understand her, but I value her."
"Molly is as protective as anyone I've ever seen. And people fall readily into the trap of thinking she is 'just' a housewife." Minerva traced Hermione's face and kissed her softly, seeing as they were behind closed doors. "Tha mi duilich leis an fhear a bheir buaidh air a làmh." [I pity the man that forces her hand.]
Hermione breathed out slowly.
"Do we have to stay for dinner or can I take you home and peel you out of these beautiful robes," she whispered as she sucked on Minerva's neck.
"Do not," Minerva chuckled as she moved away half-heartedly. "Give me another love bite."
"They look so sexy on you, though," Ginny teased from the doorway.
Minerva blushed five shades of red as they both turned to look.
"Dinner is going cold and we're waiting on you two. Hurry up!"
"Ginevra, I'm going to -"
"No you're not," Hermione laughed. She kissed Minerva to take the sting out of it. "Just keep in mind that after dinner is over and I get you home?" Minerva stared at her with wide eyes. Hermione glanced towards the kitchen and kissed Minerva's cheek, lingering there as she sent the last thought silently. I'm going to lay you down in our bed and then peel those robes off you. Minerva's breath caught as she saw a vision of Hermione's idea. Then I'm going to fuck you until we both pass out.
Minerva froze and Hermione watched a series of rather interesting images flash across Minerva's mind that all involved Minerva ripping Hermione's new robes off before she pulled herself together and kissed her hard. As she pulled away, Minerva whacked Hermione's arse smartly.
"Get in there, Trouble."
Hermione laughed as they sat down, beside each other in the chairs they'd been left for them. Nobody commented as both Remus and Sirius doted on Tonks but she lapped it up anyway. The only sadness came from Draco and at the end of the table from Severus and she leaned over to whisper in Minerva's ear.
"You think Draco would stay here and be normal for a bit? It's only a day or so but it might help?"
"You could ask him and Molly, I suppose," Minerva shrugged. "Severus is hardly better company. How will Harry take it?"
"Honestly, if they just talked civilly to each other, they'd probably realise they're quite similar."
"I did tell them," Minerva tutted.
"I think they're figuring it out though," she smiled as Draco muttered something that made Ron laugh, despite his best attempt not to.
"Before we eat," Arthur said as he stood. "I just want to propose a toast. To Hermione and Minerva. May all the happiness in the world lay at your feet. To Remus and Tonks -" He hesitated and Hermione felt Sirius panic. "And Sirius. I hope you, too, find the happiness you seek." He turned to his wife. "And to you, my love. By my side through thick and thin." He turned back and lifted his glass to them all. "We will need each other to get through the upcoming darkness. Know that you are all welcome at our table," he smiled at them all. "Whenever you wish it. To peace, and the future."
There was a chorus of "here here" and Minerva tangled their fingers together as the food started to be passed around. Sirius was blushing as Tonks teased him quietly and the Twins were talking quietly with Severus, which surprised Hermione. Indeed, Severus almost cracked a smile as George leaned over and said something in his ear. She opened her mouth to ask when Minerva pre-empted her question.
The twins have realised that with Severus free of his spy duties, he's doing rather a lot of brewing. I believe there is some sort of business arrangement being brokered as they discover that he is not as dour as he seems.
Hermione smiled at her and kissed her knuckles as they parted and filled up their plates.
Dinner, as it always was in the Weasley household, was a jovial affair. There seemed to be an air of understanding between them all and when the food was finally cleared and everyone sat back with a groan, Hermione relaxed.
"Alright you lot," Molly said after a while. "Into the living room with you. Bill? Help your father with whatever he needs. I'll be in with dessert soon."
Minerva was rather sleepy after such a good feed and some good company. Hermione hadn't realised that was what she needed but it stood to reason that Minerva had friends to go to dinner with, even if Hermione hadn't seen it before. She made a mental note to do better moving forwards so that Minerva didn't get bored of her.
Soft hands traced her sides as she stood and a very familiar chin hooked itself on her shoulder as Minerva pulled her into her body and nuzzled her cheek.
Min! Molly is right there!
"Let her look," Minerva smiled. "You think I would get bored of you?" Minerva snorted. "You do not need to do better," she whispered. "You have done so much for me. I do enjoy things like this, but you should not feel the need to provide them. You are already enough, Leannan."
Hermione breathed out long and slow and tangled their fingers over her belly and leaned into her.
"I do not want this to get in the way of what life you had before me."
"My darling," Minerva chuckled. "I had no life before you. I merely existed. You gave me my life back. And for that, I shall be forever grateful."
Hermione smiled and kissed her over her shoulder before she recalled they were in the midst of Molly's kitchen. She blushed as she realised everyone else had already gone and it was just Molly pottering while she made the teas and dusted out bowls of pie with custard.
"Don't worry about me, dears," she smiled. "It's good to see real love, whatever the circumstances might be. You never need fear anything from me."
They both blushed and Minerva squeezed her hand and escaped the kitchen without another word. Hermione stayed and watched Molly for a while before she found the courage to ask.
"Can I help?"
"Not at all," she smiled. She waved her wand and all but two bowls flew slowly into the living room. "You can keep me company?"
Hermione sat down closer and despite Molly refusing her help, she did pass Hermione the tea bags and nodded towards the cups. They worked in silence until Molly poured the water and stood leaning against her kitchen table.
"Out with it then, sweetheart. What's going on?"
"I wondered how you'd feel about taking Draco for the next day or two. If he wants to."
"He is more than welcome," Molly said immediately. "In fact, it would probably do him some good."
"I thought that too. Might take his mind off things. Are you sure you're okay with it?"
"I know how it feels when your family is fractured, Hermione. He is more than welcome to stay."
She smiled and offered her hand. Molly looked at her with a frown and Hermione chuckled.
"Take my hand, I promise, it'll help."
She did so, and years fell off her face as she breathed a deep sigh.
"That is rather impressive?"
"A weird side effect of this new thing," she chuckled. "Very useful, however. Available whenever you need it."
Molly chuckled but didn't push further. She got the milk out, but before she started pouring, she stopped and kissed Hermione's hair.
"I'm glad you're happy, sweetheart. We always knew you were destined for bigger things."
Hermione blushed and this time, she stood and allowed Molly to wrap her up in a hug. It wasn't even close to the comfort she received in Minerva's arms but it caused a few tears to gather in her eyes as she remembered her own mum.
"Thanks," she whispered.
She left the kitchen before she broke down and found her way into the quiet conservatory, darkened like the night sky above it. She breathed out a small cry and tried to calm down.
"What the hell did she do?" Minerva snapped.
"Nothing," Hermione waved her away. "Genuinely, nothing." She wiped away her tears and held out her hands. "Please Min, I -"
"Leannan, please, what is it? What happened? You are so sad, I cannot bear it."
"I've forgotten what my mum smells like," she sobbed. "And I will never get that back. And yet I cannot be upset that she is safe."
"Oh mo gaol," Minerva said softly. "I know."
"Do you?" Hermione asked. "Because there was a time when -"
"I do," Minerva interrupted. "I'm in here now." She traced Hermione's temple. "Remember?"
Hermione snorted and then sniffed while they held each other.
"Molly hugged me and it was different from this. And then, I remembered, but in doing so, realised I'd forgotten."
"I understand," Minerva whispered. "Better than you think, actually. It was Poppy's mother for me and though you already know that my relationship with my mother was fraught, it stung so much."
"We're quite pathetic," Hermione mumbled.
"Undoubtedly," Minerva smiled. "Cup of tea, then home, yes?"
"Please," Hermione sighed. "Molly is fine if Draco wants to stay. I'll ask him."
"Severus has already left. Apparently he had enough socialisation for one evening." Hermione chuckled. "I think Remus et al will not be far behind."
Hermione soaked up as much love as she could while Minerva held her tightly. It helped the sadness dissipate.
"Did you feel that?"
"I did," Minerva smiled. "Let our bond handle the sadness? You should follow your own advice, Leannan."
"You enjoy turning my words back on me, don't you," Hermione teased. "Come on then," Hermione chuckled as she wiped away the rest of her tears and came to terms with her choices. "If we hurry, maybe we'll get extra custard."
Minerva's laughter preceded them as they went back to join their people.
