A/N: Not my best work, but I think it's still Sunday? Who knows. I do not think I'll be posting on Wednesday as we're going away with the whole family but back to normal next Sunday, bar a miracle. Hope you enjoy!
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Hermione woke to soft voices beyond the closed door of Minerva's bedroom.
Their bedroom.
She grinned and threw herself back against the pillows and giggled. She heard the door close and she smiled wider when the bedroom door opened and fingers tickled her ankle.
"Good morning, mo Leannan," Minerva whispered as she climbed onto bed.
"Morning?"
"Mhmm," she chuckled. "Severus and I were just discussing our new mission together and now, you and I are going to get dressed and go down to the kitchens so we can acquire these elves and go home for a while. Once we're there, I have a surprise for you."
"For me?" Hermione grinned as she pushed Minerva's hair off her face. "How did I get so lucky?"
"Oh, you know," Minerva chuckled as she nuzzled Hermione's chin. "You're the love of my life, you see. It's only natural I would be drawn to such a beautiful woman."
Hermione snorted and rolled them over.
"You are full of nonsense this morning," Hermione grinned. "I had best get up then?"
"I think you had better," Minerva teased. "I have been up for an age and all I have been doing is waiting for your beautiful smile to grace my presence."
"You are so fucking romantic."
Minerva laughed and pecked her lips.
"Come on, lover, up you get so we can get on with it."
"Oh you are desperate to go! Alright then, let's go!"
Hermione did as she was asked and got up. After her morning routine, she tumbled out of the bedroom with her hair dropping and in a riotous mess. Minerva chuckled as she intercepted her rush and wrapped her arms around her middle.
"We're not that rushed, love."
Hermione made a noise of protest but Minerva arched an eyebrow until Hermione gave in. She rolled her eyes and spelled her hair dry and twisted it up on her head.
"There," she muttered. "Better?"
"My favourite," Minerva whispered as she kissed the juncture between her neck and shoulder. "Now." Minerva's hand was warm on her stomach and she sighed. "How do you feel?"
"Me? Fine?" Hermione blinked. "Why?"
"Because I do not know how long this will take, and I don't want you to get too uncomfortable."
Hermione stared at her and suddenly realised what she was talking about.
"OH!" She slapped her head with her hand. "No, I'm fine. I didn't -" She blushed as she slid her fingers into Minerva's over her belly. "I wasn't -"
"Be easy, Leannan," Minerva soothed. She turned them and traced the shape of Hermione's face with her fingers and kissed her nose. "I am tasked with taking care of my love. So, I am here, checking that you are okay?"
"Min," Hermione blushed. "I -" She huffed.
"Hermione, love, we haven't spoken about it properly, aside from the jokes you have made about it but we cannot continue dancing around it. I'm in your head, remember? I know what's going on, but I don't want to have to delve into your mind in order to find out. So come here," she said gently. Hermione did so and fell into Minerva's arms. She was held tightly until the tension in her shoulders fell off.
"I love you, you know," Hermione muttered.
"I know, Leannan, so let me love you, alright? Now, how do you feel?"
"Honestly, I'm alright. I -" She blushed again and shrugged as she pulled away. "I think I won't be, later, but for now. I'm okay."
"Are you sure?"
"You're making me feel like a child," she muttered. Hermione moved away but Minerva snagged her hand at the last minute.
"Darling," she said softly. "If you won't tell me then I need to ask. I know what it is like, love. I," she shrugged. "Did not have a good time of it. And I know from the thinly veiled hints that you don't have a great time with it either but I don't know how to help you specifically. So," Minerva sighed and Hermione felt the frustration flit away. "How about you promise to tell me when you need something and I will stop with the pestering, okay?"
"Yeah," Hermione smiled. "That will be better, I think."
"Alright, love." Minerva kissed her hair and slipped their hands together. "Let's go and acquire some elves, shall we?"
The walk down to the kitchen was uneventful and by the time they'd reached their destination, Hermione wished she'd had a bite to eat or something.
Minerva tutted as she realised.
"Darling -"
"In my defence, I didn't know I needed it then," Hermione winced.
"We will try not to drag this out then," Minerva whispered as they stood at the formal entrance to the kitchens.
Hermione glanced around, having never been in this way. It was open to anyone who could find it, though she suspected there were spells set up to avoid that very thing, lest every student in Highways suddenly realise where it was.
Minerva chuckled and nodded.
"You are quite right," she winked. "As ever."
They were granted every by a quiet little elf who bowed low and respectfully as it left. Hermione tried to hold in her frustration as owning them but Minerva's hand on her back soothed her. An old and wrinkled creature shuffled out from the back and Minerva's thoughts confirmed her suspicions.
Yes, that is Ùisdean. I do not know how this will go, I've never owned an elf before.
All the more reason that you are the perfect woman for me.
Minerva couldn't quite bite off the snort but she bowed her head as Ùisdean joined them.
"Good morning."
"And to you and your mate. Please. Take your leisure and I will summon your charges."
He waved his hand and two very stately chairs appeared in the midst of the chaotic kitchen. Hermione wondered how busy it got during term time, then decided she actually didn't want to know. Minerva hummed in their minds and waited for Hermione to sit down before she sat down herself.
"I had made an error," the old elf said as he came up to them. "I had assumed the power was yours." Minerva's eyebrow arched as he turned to Hermione. "I see now. It is you that is trueborn."
"I am," Hermione shrugged. "The First."
"Indeed," he nodded. "Our tales mention such a figure. I never thought I would see the day."
"Well, I am glad to meet you. Minerva told me your name and if you are agreed, I would love to use it."
"You are welcome to," he nodded but then paused and looked back up at her again. "We knows you. You tried to free us."
Hermione winced as Minerva looked over at her.
"To be fair, I did not know what I know now. I did not understand. I do not like it," she said gently. "I would prefer all magical creatures to be free, but I understand it better now. I was young."
"As will your charges be," he nodded. "They will do things wrong, they will not know."
"And they will have little to no consequences from us," Minerva said gently. "Neither of us are looking on this as an education for us to provide. I imagine that is better coming from kin."
"Yes," he nodded sagely. "It is."
"Then we will simply facilitate and not interfere. If we need something, then we will be able to ask for it, no matter where we are, is that correct?"
"It is."
"That is all we might need," Minerva nodded. "So whatever we need to do, we shall do."
He carried a pointed walking stick and he banged it on the floor three times. With a small series of pops, four shapes popped into view and Hermione realised it was three very small elves and a normal sized one. All of them bowed low.
"Good morning," Minerva said gently. "Please do not be afraid of us. We will never bring you to harm."
Ùisdean did not let them speak further and stepped between them. He spoke in a language that Hermione had never heard and then turned to them and bowed before he did the same. Hermione shrugged and he tutted to himself before he repeated it in English.
"Do you take these elves for your own, to be one of your house until you see fit to sell or release it. These elves swear that they are yours and will reveal nothing of your house to anyone. No matter the distance they go."
"We do," Hermione bowed her head.
"Hands."
Minerva glanced at her and offered her hand, which Hermione quickly matched. Her knees went weak with the power coming from the little elf and she stumbled into Minerva as she joined their hands.
I feel it too, easy.
After a few more moments of chanting, Hermione stood and her wings flared out to the side.
"Whoa."
Her hands were shaking and she glanced at Minerva in horror.
"I didn't -"
"It's okay," she whispered as she got to her feet. "It was just the magic, Leannan."
"Be at ease," Ùisdean nodded. "It is done, now."
"I'm not -" She felt the room spin and Minerva's sure hands held her hips.
"Stay with me for just a few more minutes, Leannan. Just breathe, it's okay."
"Mistress should sit," Ùisdean muttered. "We will fix it."
Minerva managed to manoeuvre her to a chair and there was a scurrying around them as the elves that had been observing sprung into action. In no time at all, there was a plate of eggs and toast being given to her. She tried to grab it, but she shook her head when she realised that she was more than likely going to drop it.
"I will do it," Minerva said gently. "Thank you. Leannan?" Hermione rocked back and forth and tried not to throw up. "Leannan, eat this, please."
She managed to have a few bites before she shook her head. She heard and felt Minerva's frustration and began to cry. She was so confused, she didn't know what this was or why it felt like that and it just felt like too much.
"Easy," Minerva soothed. Her strong arms wrapped around her tightly and she rocked them gently. "Breathe, love."
"I don't know why -"
"I know," Minerva nodded. "I think it is the magic. It's new and it's a lot and you are not in tip top form this morning. So it's okay, mo álainn ghaol. It's all okay."
"Mistress will feel better by this afternoon. Elf magic is strong, not all can cope with it."
"It's so," she swallowed against the bile. "Deep, somehow."
"Yes," Minerva nodded. "I agree."
"Can we go home?" Hermione whispered. "I need to go -"
"Yes," Minerva soothed. "Ùisdean, I apologise, but I must get her home. I assume that my charges know where they are going?"
"They do."
"Can they please convey the empty portrait frame in my office to the house for us. There are limited people that are allowed to visit and I do not know of another way of doing it."
"In the future you can merely address them."
"When I know their names," Minerva smiled. "I will. Thank you for your help and your hospitality. We will keep in touch?"
"I would like that," the elf said quietly. "You are both welcome here. Always."
Minerva hauled her to her feet and they walked out of the Castle arm in arm.
"Don't you need to -"
"I'm taking you home, right now," Minerva muttered. "You are pale and tired and I'm extremely worried about you."
"It's probably just all too much."
"It definitely is, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."
"Fair enough," Hermione winced as the light shone in her eye.
"Come," Minerva instructed. "Hold onto me."
"Wha -"
Her world spun as someone tipped her upside down and she snuggled into Minerva's shoulder when she realised. The Apparition back was horrible and she really did throw up in the field behind their house.
"Bloody hell, woman," Minerva hissed as she picked her up again and almost jogged over the field to the back door.
It opened for them and one of the tiny elves greeted them, but Minerva didn't stop to reply. She took her straight into their room and waved her hand towards the bathroom.
"Easy, love. Look at me?"
She did so and Hermione sighed at the love she felt when she did.
"I'm okay," Hermione muttered. "It's not a big deal, I just -"
"You nearly fainted on me twice."
"I know, but I mean -"
"Hermione."
"My stomach is beginning to hurt, but it was mostly the magic. I just needed to be away from it all."
"You're sure?"
"I promise," Hermione whispered. She pulled Minerva in and held her tightly. "I need a bath and I need to brush my teeth and I need -"
"You need to relax and let me handle it, alright?"
"Min -"
"Look around, love."
Hermione blinked and looked around and her jaw dropped. There were hundreds of candles on the surfaces of their room. Their flames danced like someone was conducting them and as she continued looking, she realised that the bed was piled high with soft, fluffy blankets.
"And there's a bath waiting for you. There's a few potions in it to help you feel better."
"Minerva!"
Hermione bust into tears, and then into laughter at how ridiculous she felt, and then back into tears again. Minerva chuckled and rocked them gently while she sorted out her emotions, but Hermione couldn't seem to pick one of the other.
"This is stupid," she sobbed, between a laugh and a hiccup.
"Not stupid," Minerva muttered into her hair. "A little amusing, but not stupid."
Hermione slapped her thigh.
"Will you help me into the bath and then," she looked up at her lover. "Will you go and find out their names and who they are and just -"
"I will do that once you are sequestered in bed."
"But -"
"No," Minerva whispered. "Let me take care of you."
Hermione was powerless to argue and only made a small noise when Minerva lifted her from the bed.
"If you do this every month, how am I supposed to ever be okay on my own again?" Hermione asked tiredly.
"It's all part of my dastardly plan," Minerva muttered as she carried Hermione into the bathroom. "To make sure you will always need me and you will never be alone."
"Min," Hermione sighed. "I would die if anything happened to you. I know that for sure. I don't ever want to be away from you." Her face hardened and Minerva smiled as their eyes met. "I won't ever be away from you."
"Then call it a happy accident, shall we?"
Hermione nuzzled her cheek and let her do what she wanted. There was nothing that could change the way Hermione loved her.
