A/N: I'm going to have to get one with it! Life has been busy for me and I'm running out of done chapters! I'm kind of enjoying them being together at the moment, so we're not doing much movement. We'll get there though, I'm not sure any of you are going to be super unhappy that they're spending time together ;) I've also already wished her a Happy Birthday with her very own fic but it's Lib McGranger's birthday and it's one with a zero on the end, so don't forget to wish her a Happy Birthday.
-0-
Minerva hadn't moved when Hermione returned and she pulled away when Hermione offered her hand to help her get up.
"I'm fine," she snapped.
Hermione immediately withdrew.
"Okay," she nodded as she tamped down on her own hurt. "There's some breakfast there; eat it, if you can. Let me know if you need me, I'll be in the living room, okay?"
She didn't reply, but then Hermione didn't expect her to. She tried to read; Minerva had bought so many books home to add to their library but she couldn't even do that. She sat, poised on the sofa, and waited.
She heard the chair scrape and she tried to follow the sound with her eyes closed. Minerva's uneasy footsteps started towards the corridor and then, all in a rush to the guest bathroom.
She did not need extensive hearing to know what happened next. The sound of Minerva retching had her on her feet and rushing to the bathroom.
"No," Minerva groaned as she slammed the door in Hermione's face again.
She stomped her foot, petulantly. Damn Minerva for her stubborn nature. She could have opened the door and barged in but she had just promised Min that she would mind her business when she needed to.
So she did.
Minerva's mind was in turmoil between the historical effects of the spell and the vomiting and such. Hermione leaned sadly on the door as Minerva confirmed their worst fears. She could feel the despair through their bond as Minerva gave into the pain and the nausea. Instead of stressing Minerva further, Hermione went back to the kitchen and noticed the two plates of eggs and toast Poppy had made and kept under a status charm. She scoffed hers down and waited for Minerva to right herself again.
Eventually, the bathroom door opened a crack; Hermione heard it from the kitchen and went to check. Minerva hadn't come out so she took a deep breath and went in.
"Min!"
She was collapsed and pale, clinging to the toilet like a lifeline. Hermione rushed to her side and summoned a cloth, which she wet and then wiped her face as carefully as she could.
"Sorry," Minerva muttered as she squirmed. "I'm -"
"It's alright, love, just breathe. Everything is alright." Minerva didn't respond but she did stop trying to speak. Hermione summoned a glass and managed to fill it with water. "Can you take a drink?" Some dribbled down her chin but she didn't seem to care. "Can I cast a featherweight?" Minerva winced and Hermione decided then that she wouldn't. "Alright love, hold onto me at least," she whispered. She got down on one knee and slipped her arms beneath Minerva's knees and around her back. Minerva arched away from it.
"I know," Hermione soothed as she moved it further down towards her hips. "I know. I'm going to be as quick as I can. Hold tight so I don't need to."
Hermione grunted as she stood and took Minerva's full weight. It was comical really; Minerva's legs were so long and Hermione did her best not to touch any part she wasn't already. She had a wobbly moment as they came through the bedroom door but finally she was standing by the bed.
"Bath?"
Minerva shook her head.
"Tell me what you need, then?"
"No clothes," she managed between a sob. "Ahm so cold but no -"
"I have you, my love. I've got you, let me take care of you, Min."
She placed Minerva in the bed as slowly and carefully as she could. Her arms were shaking, despite her new strength.
"No magic?"
Minerva whined and Hermione took that as an affirmative. Instead she sat Minerva up and rolled up her shirt as best she could.
"Deep breath," she muttered as she pulled it over her head and undid her bra. "Easy, love. Easy."
"Just take it off," Minerva cried. "Please." Hermione's eyes filled with tears as she pulled down the pyjama trousers. She tried to work as quickly as she could whilst also trying not to touch her.
"We're done, love. Just relax. Don't lay down yet. Stay there, I'm coming right back. I just need a few things, okay?"
She raced back into the kitchen, boiled the kettle and poured some peppermint tea and grabbed Minerva's breakfast.
"Eat at least half," Hermione said quietly when she returned. "It will make you feel better." Minerva gave her a look. "Please," Hermione whispered affectionately. "Come on, lover. Let's give you the best shot at winning this."
Minerva glared again but did as she was told. It was almost painful how slowly she was moving but once she was done, she took the mug from Hermione and wrapped her hands around it.
"Thank you," she managed.
"Of course," Hermione nodded. "Now, you make sure you finish your tea; there's a portion in it. I'm going to have a quick shower then we'll figure out how to take a nap, okay?"
"I don't need -" A jaw-cracking yawn interrupted her protests and Hermione chuckled as she plaited Minerva's hair loosely and fixed it on her head so it wouldn't dangle against her skin.
"Finish your tea." She kissed Minerva's hair. "I'll be back in 5 minutes."
She was as well. She found Minerva clinging to her mug, crying again.
"Pain?"
She refused to look up and Hermione realised she was embarrassed.
"Min?" Hermione said gently. "Min, look at me?"
She held off for a long moment before she sighed and met Hermione's eyes. Hermione desperately wanted to reach out and touch her but she resisted. Instead, she knelt by the bed and hooked her pinky finger in Minerva's right one. Despite her turmoil, Minerva smiled.
"When I get my period?" Hermione said quietly, uncomfortable about talking about it but using those same feelings as the point she was making. "I sometimes cry over nothing, for a week. I know it's silly when it happens, I know that there's nothing really that's worth crying over, but I do. Harry thinks I'm a crackpot and we spend a lot of time laughing about it when the time comes." She kissed Minerva's finger and settled their joined hands back in the bed. "Then when it finally gets here, I'm in pain for the first 48 hours. All I want is peace, quiet and a hot water bottle. I want to stay in bed and I don't want to talk to anyone and I spend every hour wishing I could be anywhere else." She sighed as Minerva looked at her. "It's not even remotely similar, but I don't mean it like that. I just mean that there are things we're going to learn about each other that are going to seem and feel awkward at first. But it's okay. You don't have to feel embarrassed with me. I'm the one who's," she shrugged. "I dunno, going to be the one who checks out the weird spot on your bottom." Minerva snorted and laughed, though she winced at the same time. "I'm right here, Min. I've had your whole body in my mouth." She really did laugh now and she reached out to cup Hermione's cheek.
"Tha gaol agam ort, mo leannan." She shook her head. "So much."
"I know," Hermione smiled. "And I know you hurt and it is killing me that there's nothing I can really do, even exceptionally so, to take that away." Minerva shook her head.
"My hands are better than they were after you helped but I think it is here to stay for a while. It is not gone from them, and the rest of me is following."
"I wonder if that is because nerve pain radiates," Hermione mused. "Anyway, we will do as we can. I'm going to get in and then we'll fix the sheets so we're covered but not on us and then you can see when you can maybe lay on top of me or when we just stay like this?"
"It is helping," Minerva admitted. "Even such a small connection."
"Good," Hermione smiled. "Let's try and get you some sleep. Hopefully, now you're like me, your body will heal faster while you're out."
Hermione got in and charmed the sheets to float above them and made a sort of tent to keep the heat in.
"Are you still cold?" She asked as she lay back.
"Yes," she muttered. "Always, when this happens."
"Okay," Hermione nodded. "Does it happen often?"
"Not for a long time," she muttered. She seemed a lot clearer and at that thought, Minerva nodded. "My panic has waned," she said quietly. "And yes, I am clearer headed after food."
"I knew I should have insisted," Hermione chuckled sadly. "I'm sorry "
"Don't you apologise -" She winced and arched. Hermione held on as Minerva gripped her hand.
"Breathe," she whispered. She felt so helpless that she wasn't sure whether her words were helping.
"You being here," Minerva managed as she settled with a sniff against the sheets. "Is helpful. I cannot -" A pause. "I cannot tell you -" Another pause.
"Is it getting worse?" Hermione squeaked.
"No, yes? Comes in waves."
"Is there anything I need to know, while you can tell me," Hermione asked quickly.
"Dreams," she muttered. "Horrible dreams."
"Do you think you can come here or shall I keep back until you tell me."
"This," Minerva muttered as she altered the grip on their hands. She intertwined their fingers, even though her eyes pulled when she did so. "Is fine."
"Okay," Hermione whispered. "I love you Min. I'm going to be right here until you're through this."
"Narcissa -"
"I'll send Harry a message, it's okay. Don't worry about any of that. Concentrate on feeling better and if that's not possible, concentrate on me. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."
Minerva nodded but as the silence fell between them, Hermione realised she would be left with nothing but her thoughts of pain.
"You don't have to speak, I'm just airing my thoughts," she warned, with a glance over at her lover. "We need to think of some way of passing messages. We need that portrait master to get Michael in here so he can help but I wonder if there's some way of getting more information immediately, like a muggle phone."
Minerva hummed but didn't reply. Hermione kept up the mused thoughts until she saw the tension fall for her lover's face and she sighed. This was not at all how things were supposed to go. Just as they were about to return to the castle, they would have to wait for a few days. Which was perfectly fine, she was looking forward to the rest, frankly.
But without their supervision, Merlin knows what everyone, but especially Albus, would be up to.
She rolled slightly and summoned their DA coin. She changed the word to Hedwig and dropped it back on the side table. With any luck in a few hours after her nap, Hedwig would be able to run her a few letters to everyone and they'd start from there. She hated the idea of utilising birds but while she was worried about Minerva and everything else, it was all she could come up with.
-0-
A blood-curdling scream woke her and Hermione sat bolt upright to see Minerva writhing beside her.
"Minerva!"
She shook her awake and tried not to manhandle her too much but Minerva clung to her like a liferaft.
"I'm here," she whispered. Minerva was soaked in sweat and trembling. A tear fell from Hermione's eyes and she kissed Minerva's hair as softly as she could. "I'm right here."
"Fucking hell," Minerva hissed. She pushed Hermione away. "Who -" She blinked and looked around. "Where -"
"It's alright, just relax. It's Hermione. You can trust me, we're okay, remember?"
"No, you -" Minerva blinked. "I was -" She swallowed hard. "Right back there."
"You're not," Hermione said quietly. "You are here, in our home. It's just me and you, my love. Just me and you."
Minerva nodded and groaned. She pressed her face against Hermione's bicep.
"I'm here."
"You are here, at home," Hermione soothed. "With me."
Minerva nodded and settled back down with a groan. Hermione just watched on as she forced her eyes closed. She was about to say something when Minerva yawned wide enough for her jaw to crack again and Hermione felt her drifting back to sleep.
"I'm so sorry, Leannan," she muttered.
Hermione wondered why she would think to apologise as she was going back to sleep but in no time at all, she realised why. She was woken again by screams and she shot up. Minerva woke herself up, but still looked awful and full of pain and horror.
"Sit up," Hermione ordered. She helped her do so with their joined hand. "Is your front worse or your back?
"Back."
"Come here then, like before." Hermione sat against the headboard and motioned her forward. Minerva frowned, in the state she was in, until she realised what Hermione was offering. Hermione played her imaginary piano and her wings unfurled slowly. She stretched them out having not had them out for a while and then settled again. "Better without clothes?" Minerva winced but nodded. Hermione Divested herself of her pyjamas and beckoned Minerva forward. "Come 'ere."
Minerva sniffled as she realised what Hermione was offering and looked up at her.
"You don't have to -"
"Honey?" Hermione tried. Minerva turned up her nose. "Lover?" Minerva shrugged and Hermione figured that was as good as it was going to get. "Anything's better than babe, huh?" Minerva rolled her eyes affectionately and Hermione smiled. "Alright, come here and let me help you."
Minerva got to her knees with a grimace but Hermione didn't let her stay there too long. She reached forward and took her hips gently and helped her move. They settled together, with Minerva wrapped around her, leaning against Hermione's front. The pain wasn't too bad as far as Hermione could tell and she wrapped her wings around them and breathed out gently. With her wings creating a little tent over them, the heat from her breath warmed them both.
"Oh," Minerva moaned as she pressed her face against Hermione's chest. "Better," she mumbled. "Love you."
"I love you," Hermione whispered. "I'm not going to hold you, but I'm right here. Sleep. Hopefully this will keep the dreams away for now."
Minerva dropped off but Hermione did not. She was unable to really do anything with Minerva in such a state so she let her thoughts free. She made a mental list of the things she needed to do that seemed to all compete for importance. She supposed the first order of business would be to check on Hogwarts. With Albus licking his wounds and Severus looking after Narcissa, she supposed it might be fairly copacetic, but knowing Albus and Severus as they did, that should probably be their first port of call. Filius would not yet be back but she needed to procure some form of communication between the house and her other people. A coin that allowed a single word or time would not do. They would either need a go-between that could come and go in all places or a message system that they could all carry with them. With her family scattered in the winds she was more and more on edge about making sure she could get to them all.
Minerva stirred but Hermione kissed her head softly and whispered her love both aloud and in their heads. The dream that she felt coming dissipated and Minerva snuggled closer. Hermione was interrupted by her hands itching and she placed them as carefully as she could on Minerva's back. They glowed and she closed her eyes against the light. A kind of trance came over her and she let her body guide her as it sought to sooth all of Minerva's pain. By the time it spluttered out, she was breathing hard and any hope of her staying awake had waned. Minerva, however, had lost the pinched look in her eyes and Hermione placed her hand in the middle of Minerva's back. There was no flinch, even in sleep and she figured that for now, her skin, at least, did not seem to be bothering her.
She put her wings away and slid down onto the bed, carefully rearranging Minerva's legs so she didn't hurt her. They settled down under the blankets and Hermione sighed happily as Minerva pulled herself closer in her sleep. She slid her hand into Minerva's hair and closed her eyes.
They'd figure it out tomorrow.
