A/N: The downside of no plan... is that there is literally no plan. This chapter is as much a surprise to me as it is to you. I don't know what happened, I asked them to do their thing and we've ended up with this. I'm not responsible, I'm only writing the thing. So have fun everyone.

-0-

When Minerva woke again, she knew it was different. Evidently, based on how well-rested she felt, perhaps her body did do the same things Hermione's did during sleep. She stretched out from her neck to her toes and felt something move behind her.

She squeaked when a strong arm curled around her.

"Hey beautiful," Hermione mumbled. "Five more minutes."

Minerva bit her lip to stop from laughing and rolled slightly to look back at her lover. She remembered how maudlin her thoughts had been the last time she was awake, but they did not feel that way anymore. She felt that the lightness had returned and understood, almost in an instant, that it was their bond that helped her feel like that.

She marvelled that sharing their life, as they did, would bring so much comfort and happiness.

"You and me babe," Hermione mumbled into Minerva's shoulder. "Together forever."

Hermione had surely expected the teasing pinch to her backside that made her body jerk into Minerva's.

Trouble," she muttered, making Hermione laugh. "If you end up calling me babe through our long, long lives together. Leannan, I will have some thoughts to impart to you."

Hermione's laugh was quiet but not subdued. Her hands, which were previously resting on Minerva's hip and pressed between them, shifted and Minerva breathed out as a flat hand pressed against her stomach and curled under her neck.

"That's better," Hermione whispered.

They dozed in their comfort for a long while before Minerva felt herself wake properly and get antsy.

"Alright, woman," Hermione groaned. "We can get up."

"You don't have to?" Minerva mumbled as she traced the backs of Hermione's hands on her body. "I'm hungry though."

"Oh," Hermione chuckled. She sounded a little more awake. "So, Lucia dropped by."

"Oh?"

"I did not go out. She helped me do something then I went back to bed."

"Do what?"

"I'll show you. Meet me in the kitchen."

Minerva rolled over just in time to watch Hermione's muscles shift under her skin as she stood. She didn't think she would ever be someone who appreciated that in a person but the way Hermione moved made her very warm in places.

"Huh," Hermione chuckled. "Maybe we stay in bed for a little longer?"

Minerva blushed as she realised she'd been caught. Truth be told in the haze of waking she'd forgotten that Hermione was privy to every thought she had.

"Long may it be so," Hermione said gently as she knelt on the bed. Her small fingers traced Minerva's face so gently, Minerva could have wept. "So that I might, eventually, get to know you at your core."

The tiny stab of hurt in her gut echoed through Minerva and she quickly grabbed Hermione before she could leave.

You think I would keep things from you?

Hermione smiled that smile Minerva felt, somehow, in her soul.

"You, Minerva McGonagall, are naturally mysterious. I don't believe you mean to, no, but you do and that is okay." Minerva frowned. "I don't ever want to be free from learning you," Hermione whispered. "You are my greatest adventure."

Minerva pulled her back into bed and kissed her.

"I do not mean to keep things from you -"

"I know you don't." Hermione smiled so easily. "That you can and do after this experience that I have thrust upon you, unwelcome, is as exciting to be as it is learning you."

The absolute horror in Minerva's stomach made her feel nauseous.

"Hermione -" Minerva looked up at her. "Leannan, I need you to listen to me, please. I thought we had settled that?" Hermione's face didn't change, but she felt the scepticism inside her mind. "I -" Minerva closed her eyes and sought to clear her mind of the memories of the worst part of their - she wasn't even sure what to call it - courtship, she supposed. "I -"

"It's okay," Hermione said easily. "I know you would not have -"

"STOP!"

Hermione blinked at the shout and Minerva knelt up on the bed and took both her hands in her own.

"Please listen to me," she said quietly. "However this started, however I felt when I was suddenly told that you were it for me, is nothing, nothing but a bad dream. Leannan, please listen when I tell you this." Hermione shrugged. "I love you. I have fallen in love with you, you are under my skin and in my very soul and regardless of how this began, this is not unwelcome. I have never known another like you; so complete for me. I do not want you going through life feeling as though you have forced my hand and we've just -" She shrugged. "Ended up here together. I love you, Leannan. Tha gaol agam ort."

"I know I didn't give you a choice -"

"Darling, you didn't have much choice in it either!" Minerva protested. "I want," she shook her head. "No, I need you to drop this. I want you. I want you for the rest of our existence, Hermione and I will not ever let you go."

Hermione brushed away a tear and despite the stiffness in her bones and the hunger in her belly, Minerva pulled Hermione back into bed. She pushed her down and lay her body on top of her, kissing her soundly. She felt, now that she was willing to feel, the slight pain in Hermione that came with thinking about this.

"Let it go," Minerva whispered. "I love you, Leannan. Tha gaol agam ort mar teine. I have never and will never love another like I love you."

She had definitely not planned on making love before she'd eaten, but Hermione mewled quietly as she sucked on the juncture of her neck and shoulder and once more, Minerva was lost to her pleasure. She wanted Hermione to feel what she felt when she looked at her. She wanted Hermione to hear what she was saying in her soul.

"Min -"

"Hush, mo gaol," Minerva whispered against her ear. "Just feel." Hermione gasped as Minerva kissed a path down to her bare breasts. She kissed each nipple gently before she sucked one into her mouth and slid her hands up Hermione's back. She had no idea where all this confidence was coming from but it was imperative that she chased away those feelings in Hermione. "Come here, my love."

She sat back and crossed her legs and beckoned Hermione forward. There was an absence to Hermione's eyes and she cupped her cheek as she settled across her thighs.

"Are you with me, Leannan?"

"I'm -" Hermione breathed as Minerva's hands once again caressed her sides. "Yes."

"I want you to feel what I feel," Minerva whispered. "Can you do that?" She challenged. "Can you concentrate on what I feel when you touch me?" She ran her flat hands up Hermione's flat stomach. "Like before?"

"I don't -" She concentrated for a long moment before she groaned and jerked her hips against Minerva's stomach.

"That's it, mo ghaol," Minerva sighed. "Feel with me."

She took a nipple between her lips again and Hermione wrapped her arms around her head. She did her best to recall every moment of their love together since she had come to understand their bond.

"Min!"

"I'm here, love," Minerva whispered as she traced glyphs and patterns into Hermione's open thighs.

Hermione's hips were already moving and she whined as Minerva's arousal mixed with her own. She was breathless as Minerva cupped her between her legs and held her there.

"Min, I need -"

"I know just what you need, love. Trust me to take you there. Breathe with me."

She felt Hermione's desire and wished she'd had the foresight to try and accommodate her lover prior to the Cruciatus relapse. All Hermione wanted was to be filled and held and she desperately wanted to do that.

"Trans -" Hermione groaned deeply as Minerva imagined what that would look like. "You're a Master," she ground out. "Fix it."

Minerva blinked and then laughed at herself. She banished the water in the glass by her side of the bed and tried to concentrate on the magic she needed. With a muttered spell she Transfigured it into what she needed and held Hermione to her while she summoned it closer.

"Make me yours again," Hermione hissed. "Oh, Min, I need -"

Minerva's hands shook as she held the thing in her hands. A part of her so desperately wanted something more, but she took a deep breath and focussed.

"Leannan, darling? Are you sure? You've never -"

"Min, please -"

Minerva felt the desperation in her lover's soul and sought to soothe in. She shifted her away a little bit, but not so far away that they lost their connection. She manoeuvred the toy into position and waited for Hermione's eyes to come back to focus.

"Tell me you're alright with this, love. Help me make sure."

"Yes, please, I want you."

"This is glass, sweetheart. It's going to -"

"Min, for the love of god, please."

Minerva traced Hermione's lips with her fingers and then ran the tip of the Transfigured toy along the same path. Hermione stilled and held her breath.

"Breathe," Minerva whispered. "Breathe, Leannan."

After a little bit of dithering, she found what she was looking for and carefully pressed it inside.

"Min -" Hermione breathed. She shifted and Minerva froze but Hermione wasn't still for long. Her hips rocked just a little as Minerva sought to press it further in. "Min you're so deep. Please -"

"A bhean ifrinn, tha thu eireachdail," Minerva husked. [Hell woman, you are exquisite.]

She managed to get most of the length in and she let go as she looked up at Hermione's face. She smiled so beautifully that Minerva was powerless to stop what happened next.

"Make it move."

"Leannan -"

"Min, I want you. Make it -"

A whispered spell did as she was told and Hermione wailed as she collapsed against Minerva's shoulder.

"God, why haven't we -" She groaned deeply. "Done this before?"

"Fuck, Leannan, I need -"

"Make love to me."

Minerva did as she was told. Hermione's body rocked endlessly above her and she kissed her way across scarred skin until her lips tingled as much as the rest of her. Hermione's body ebbed and flowed until she gripped Minerva's hair and dragged their lips back together.

"Min!" She breathed. "Min, I'm -"

"Come for me, mo álainn leannan." [my beloved soul]

"Minerva!"

The feelings that coursed through them as Hermione's body clenched around the glass were overwhelming. Minerva was taken all the way back to the moment their true bonding had started and she rolled them over and reached down to help Hermione find that place again.

"Min, Min," Hermione pleaded. "Fuck, I can't -"

Minerva's mind went blank as she fucked Hermione to oblivion. They crested together after Hermione managed to whisper a spell that Minerva had never heard and her whole body came with the mirrored feelings between her legs.

"Leannan!"

Hermione trembled as she arched and Minerva rutted against her like an animal until her teeth clenched and her heart stuttered. Her vision failed and her bones cracked as she came and once the tension released, they collapsed on top of each other. Minerva really only had the wherewithal to withdraw the toy and throw it to the bottom of the bed before collapsing against Hermione's thundering chest.

She was quiet sure she fell asleep and only woke up when Hermione jerked awake as well.

"What the -" She breathed and looked around. They kissed languidly as Minerva sought to find the words to express what had just happened. "Message received," Hermione smiled gently.

Minerva frowned until she realised what Hermione was talking about and she chuckled quietly.

"I didn't mean to -"

"When we finally come back here for a holiday in one or two days, I want you to put aside a day where we can go to London, or wherever you like and we can go shopping for some proper stuff. Because that, Minerva McGonagall, was something else."

"You don't feel like I pushed -"

"Min," Hermione groaned. "No, love. That was utterly perfect."

"Did I hurt you? I wasn't soft -"

"No," Hermione shrugged. "It was hard, but the way you held me prevented it from pressing against my bones. How did you know I needed it long and slow like that?"

"I," Minerva blushed. "Often preferred it that way."

"Oh god, I cannot wait."

Minerva's body shuddered at the thought of being on the receiving end and Hermione soothed her with soft caresses down her back before they heard Minerva's stomach rumble.

"Oh, we were going to eat, weren't we," Hermione laughed. "Do you want a shower? Or are you happy to go and eat covered in my cum?"

"HERMIONE!"

She giggled as she rolled out of bed and Minerva was reminded of how this all started.

"Come on, lover. I'll start the water. You watch my ass as I walk away and meet me in there."

Minerva's mouth dropped open but she couldn't quite help but do what she'd been accused of until she watched Hermione pause at the door and turn around.

"I love you, Minerva. More than I can possibly quantify."

"And I you, Leannan. With all of my heart and soul. For all of time."

That little smile was back and Minerva dropped back to the bed with a sigh as Hermione closed the door behind her. She could still feel the flutters inside her and she laughed at herself for being such a prude at times. Regardless of what they had going on in real life, she found herself looking forward to their week of holiday.

If only so they could experiment a little more with whatever the hell that was. And perhaps, like Hermione intimated, try it the other way as well.

"Come on then, lover," Hermione called. "Come and fantasise with me, instead of about me."

"You are absolutely insatiable, Trouble," Minerva chuckled.

"I think it might be my hormones," Hermione giggled. "I sometimes feel a little like a cat on a hot tin room about two weeks into it. And I think I'm about that, so," she shrugged and traced a lone finger between her breasts. "Why don't you come and help me with it."

-0-

Though it was definitely Hermione's hormones causing the shift in her needs, Minerva could not bring herself to regret it. After marking Hermione in the shower and then on the bathroom counter as well, she laughed at herself while she dressed.

"You can laugh all you like," Hermione grinned from the bathroom door; she'd needed a second shower after they'd finished. "In a couple of weeks I will need you to hold me so tightly and simultaneously not touch me."

Minerva chuckled and turned from where she was making sure her hair was pinned properly.

"Come here, Trouble," she said softly. She leant against the dresser and welcomed Hermione between her legs and into her arms. "I am already well aware of your needs during that time. Though you'd mostly avoided me so far, I will be here to provide you with all the comfort and hot water bottles and chocolate you might need. But for now?" Hermione looked at her with such love that her stomach flip-flopped happily. "I am in desperate need of food before I faint."

"Absolutely," she grinned. "Come on, I'll show you."

They wandered into the kitchen and Hermione waved her hands towards the table. Minerva looked and then looked back at Hermione before she looked back at the table. It looked the very same as it had before and she frowned.

"It's -"

"The same," Hermione giggled. "Yes. But!" She walked over to it and clasped her hands in front of her. "May I have some bacon and eggs and toast, please?"

The surface shimmered and a plate of steaming food appeared on top of it. Minerva's mouth dropped open.

"What on earth?"

"Lucia said something interesting to me. Actually," she chuckled. "She said a few interesting things to me, but in particular; the magic of our home is in me, not the Castle. The Castle is just a Castle."

Minerva frowned and looked at her.

"I don't think I follow?"

"This is an extension of our House Tables," Hermione said. "This is from Hogwarts' kitchens."

Minerva's mouth dropped open again.

"What?" She blinked and looked down at it. "How?"

"No idea," Hermione laughed. "Lucia also said that the elves have been working in that castle since they were in it and they asked only for protection. They weren't servants or slaves." She turned her nose up. "I much prefer that option to the one we have."

"I know you do, love. So I can ask as I do at Hogwarts?"

"Yes," she grinned. "I don't think I'd want to rely on it, but it's certainly useful in these situations?"

"Undoubtedly."

Minerva ordered some breakfast and groaned as the full plate appeared before her. They ate quietly, but heartily until they rested back against their chairs and sighed.

"It's always nice eating after a day of hard work," Hermione quipped.

Minerva couldn't help the rather undignified snort and she reached over to hold Hermione's hand.

"To Hogwarts?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "I want to see if we can help Narcissa. And then perhaps to Diagon Alley?" Minerva's eyebrow asked the question better than her words could. "You said you would ask Madam Malkin for some robes for me? And I wanted to see if Flourish and Blotts had any books on ancient mythical creatures. And," she chuckled. "I want to gauge the mood. If Whatshisface is laying low, so too should his people."

"We know they're getting bored, usually that means they're out causing trouble."

"Perhaps not, if they see us around."

"They still don't know Us darling."

"Well, we can go and spy then," she chuckled. "And then!" She grinned and Minerva couldn't help but match it. "We can go to the supermarket and come home and you can have me against the front door."

Minerva had just taken a sip of tea and she coughed as it got caught somewhere between her stomach and her mouth as she sucked in a deep breath.

"TROUBLE!"

Hermione chuckled and got up. She waved her hand over the table and despite her choking, Minerva was so very proud of her magical prowess as it grew.

"What about my other skills," Hermione muttered as she straddled her lap.

"You are utterly insatiable," Minerva smiled as she cleared her throat a final time. "Utterly."

"Are you upset by that fact?" Hermione whispered as she rolled long and slow over Minerva's thighs.

"Not at all, as you well know." She held Hermione's hips still and looked into her eyes. "Later. We have work to do."

"You are so sensible in moments, mo gaol."

"One of us has to be, Leannan," she chuckled. "Come on. Quicker we leave, quicker we're back."

"How the hell would you say that in Gaelic?"

Minerva thought for a moment.

"Mar as luaithe a dh' fhàgas sinn, 's ann as luaithe as urrainn dhuinn tilleadh," she translated it and then nodded. "Thereabouts."

"So fucking sexy."

Minerva laughed and kissed Hermione chastely. "To the school and then, to Diagon Alley and then to the supermarket for some food. Then, my darling love, we will come here and if you are still randy after all that, I will peel you out of your clothes and let you have it. Alright?"

"Merlin," Hermione shuddered. "Good deal."

"Good. Off you get then. Let's go."

She watched Hermione stand up and take a deep breath before she turned and looked Minerva dead in the eye.

"I love you," she breathed. "You know that, don't you?"

"I do," she whispered. Those words brought to mind another conversation she wished to have but she didn't dwell on it, lest Hermione pre-empt her. She forced herself to think about anything else as Hermione turned and looked at her.

"You're getting better at that," she grinned. "I almost missed it."

"Get out of the door, Trouble."

"You wanna marry me, Min?"

Minerva froze at the teasing tone and looked at her young lover. A vision of Hermione walking towards her in a sparkling white dress and a big, beautiful smile on her face overwhelmed her and her heart shuddered in her chest.

"Oh," Hermione said, suddenly serious. "Min, I didn't -"

"I'm sorry, I -"

"Wait," Hermione squeaked. Minerva' hand was grabbed and she was wrapped up in Hermione's arms, tightly. She held on just as tightly as they breathed. "I hadn't realised," she whispered. "I'm so sorry for making light of it."

"I didn't know I wanted that," Minerva muttered. She resigned herself to having this conversation in the hallway, of all places and stood to look at Hermione properly. "Poppy mentioned something while you were asleep. She asked for permission to treat you and I realised she was treating me like your -" Her voice faltered, but Hermione cupped her cheek.

"Wife."

Minerva curled her hands in Hermione's shirt.

"I hadn't even had that thought," Minerva whispered. "And I should have. I'm sorry that I didn't, Hermione. I'm sorry that -"

"Wait," Hermione said softly. Her small hand on Minerva's cheek was cool and Minerva leaned into it.

"I don't need that," she said gently. Minerva's gut squelched, but Hermione shook her head before she could speak. "I don't need it. But I will marry you, Minerva McGonagall. I will marry you in a heartbeat."

Minerva kissed her deeply and pulled her close. She picked her up and spun her around, laughing as they came to a stop.

"Will you marry me, my Leannan?"

"I will," Hermione smiled. "After the war?"

"Whenever," Minerva shrugged with a rather hysterical laugh. "It doesn't even matter, but I would like to."

"Then I will," Hermione smiled.

Minerva took a big deep breath and held Hermione against her again. They rocked gently together until her thoughts were too loud for Hermione to ignore.

"Come on," she grinned. "Let's get the day over and we can come home and celebrate our engagement."

"Merlin," Minerva winced. "I don't have a ring, I don't -"

"I don't need all that," Hermione shrugged. "Unless you just want to. I have this."

She pressed against Minerva's chest and grinned.

"I have your heart and soul. I don't need anything else."

Minerva kissed her once more and stepped back. They needed to go and they should not put it off any longer.

"Tha gaol agam ort, mar teine."

"Agus thusa, mo gaol."