A/N: Today, Liverpool takes on Man City at home. We're broken but we aren't beaten and if we win here... honestly things look good. So I want you all to cross your fingers for me. Cos this is important on so many levels.
In the meantime, here's a chapter for you to enjoy.
N.B. We didn't lose, but we didn't win either. We should definitely have had a penalty at the end but we won a moral victory. So we'll take that.
-0-
"You are certain you will be alright on your own?"
Minerva snorted and looked over at Hermione.
"Yes, Lucia, we will be fine. Mostly we will be purchasing robes, visiting Gringotts - our bank - and then we will be glancing down Knockturn Alley just to make sure nobody has what we have lost."
Minerva snorted again as she pulled on her lighter jacket and checked her wand was securely fastened on her wrist. She glanced over at Hermione and let her eyes roam over her body to check the same; the little smirk that Hermione was wearing meant that she hadn't been as covert as she had intended.
"I did not mean to fuss," Lucia huffed. "I apologise."
"You do not need to apologise," Minerva finally said. "But we will be fine and if it seems as though we will not be, we will simply come home. We need to get your gold into a bank but for now it is infinitely safer to do so through me. I promise we will sort it all after this bastard is defeated."
"I am not at all worried about that. You are correct in that, for now, the Castle will provide all we need."
Minerva nodded and sighed as Hermione's hand slipped into her own.
"Come on," she said gently. "Time to go. Madam Malkin will be waiting and I don't want to put her in more danger than is necessary."
"Quite right," Minerva nodded. They each took a deep breath and Minerva looked over at the two Draconvir that had joined them at great expense to themselves and softened. "If we are not back by nightfall, send out the search party."
Lucia tutted but Amalle nodded and drew her lover away. Minerva turned to see Hermione looking at her expectantly.
"What?"
"You're such a softy."
"I am not," she huffed.
"Come on, I wasn't joking, you said ten and it's already that."
"She will be fine," Minerva muttered. "Before we go?"
"Hmm?"
Minerva gave into her wants and kissed her lover softly. She stepped back and checked her robes over. Smoothing the shoulders down and tracing her fingers between the slit up her thigh and finding her knife. She ran her hand down her arms and felt her wand on her right.
"Thank you," Minerva whispered.
"Thank you," Hermione grinned. "I assume yours are similarly present?"
"They are," Minerva chuckled.
Hermione waved her forward first and ran her hand over her arse as she did so. Minerva jumped a little, but not too much, having realised that was the plan all along. The journey to Diagon Alley was always a little rough from the North, but Hermione took her in her arms and simply stepped forward to a little copse of trees outside the city.
"Where are we?"
"Remember at the beginning when I took you for coffee at Oxford Uni? In that little forest bit we walked through."
"Oh," Minerva blinked. "Thank you. Did I ever thank you for that?"
"I am sure you did," Hermione smiled. "I figured we could Apparate from here?"
Minerva kissed her instead of thanking her again.
"Together?"
"Sure."
"Three," Minerva said quietly. She slipped her wand from her wrist and nodded as Hermione did the same. "Two. One."
They appeared outside Madam Malkin's with barely a noise, which would have surprised Minerva had she had enough time to do so. She and Hermione stood together and glanced around before they knocked on the door.
"Come in, dears," the woman said.
"Thank you Geraldine," Minerva said softly as the woman closed the door and locked it. She pulled the blinds and turned to regard the two women closely. "I must check, I hope you forgive me for doing so. How often have we had the Sorting Hat mended?"
"Since my beginnings, only three times and I have done the work myself."
"Thank you. We are similarly ourselves, but I understand if you want to do the same."
"I will be fine," Geraldine said. "I know you, Minerva and your friend, of course."
"Allow me to introduce Hermione Granger."
"A pleasure, dearest, though I know her of course." She said it carefully, looking between the two women for a moment before she seemed to nod to herself and shuffle to the centre of the room. "Now, what can I help with?"
"I need a few new pieces and Hermione," Minerva realised she was speaking for her lover and she looked at her apologetically. "I mean -"
"It's alright," Hermione chuckled. "As you know, Madam, I do not have much in the way of Wizarding clothes. It is time for me to have some proper robes and such."
"That was made for -"
"It was," Minerva admitted as she saw Geraldine looking at what Hermione was wearing. "We needed something in a pinch and despite its finery, it was not for me to wear while teaching and as you know," she said conspiratorially. "I do not get out much."
"It is well fitted, though I can see the charms making it so. Perhaps you would allow me to alter it for you?"
"I would love that, thank you."
The woman looked between the two of them and then took a step back.
"Minerva, would you like to speak to me plainly."
"Geraldine, I cannot. You know, as I do, that times are dangerous. There are always things afoot that I cannot explain. I -" She glanced at Hermione and felt the gentle comfort her love's mind gave her.
Tell her, if you think you should.
I do not think I should. For one, you are not yet 18.
Then don't, but I think she's probably guessed.
"I apologise, Geraldine, for now I must remain wary."
"I understand," the woman said softly. "It is good to see you happy, however." Minerva blinked and looked at Hermione who covered her smile with a look away. "Now, perhaps you first, Miss Granger."
The fittings were not long, but deciding the various charms and differences took rather a lot longer. By the time they had finished, Hermione could feel her stomach complaining.
"Did you eat breakfast?" Minerva asked as Geraldine retrieved the last swatches of cloth.
"I don't actually remember."
"Darling."
"I know," Hermione chuckled. "We'll get something when we're done."
"Your mood, when hungry, is not conducive to anything useful. We will break to get something before we return."
Hermione rolled her eyes but reached out to squeeze her hand and Minerva let her, leaving their little fingers tangled for a moment until they heard her coming back.
"Right," she said. "Last one. I usually line in silk as it maintains its charms longest. What colour would you prefer?"
Hermione made a noise of happiness and thumbed through a number of them before settling on a deep purple one, a black and then a deep deep green as well. Minerva hummed happily at her choices and Geraldine turned to her.
"I shall owl, dear."
"Splendid," Minerva smiled. "Thank you Geraldine. Would you like us to wait as you lock up? I do not know if I adequately conveyed in my letter how thankful I was that you would do this for us."
"My dear, the pleasure is mine. And no, please don't trouble yourself. Even Death Eaters need robes and mine are the finest."
"Geraldine," Minerva chuckled. "Please be careful."
"You as well. Please -" She paused and took Minerva's hand. Minerva was gratified to see the worry on the woman's face ease. "Be careful."
"We will. Thank you. Lock the door as we leave."
They stepped outside and half-drew their wands as a number of people walked by. The fact that they'd forgotten to transfigure their faces was rather stupid in hindsight but there was no use worrying about it now. Minerva glanced up and down the Alley and nodded to The Three Broomsticks.
"We will see what Tom has to offer and if there's nothing you fancy, we will head to Muggle London."
"Is that safe?" Hermione muttered as she made eye contact with someone slipping into Knockturn Alley.
"We shall see."
Hermione nodded and followed her into the pub.
"Hello Tom."
"Minerva! Lovely to see you. Sorry about the way it is outside," he muttered. "What can I do fer yah?"
"We would love some stew, if you have some?"
"Some good crusty bread?"
"Delicious," Minerva grinned. Before she could move, Hermione dropped a handful of galleons on the bar and smirked when Minerva looked around at her.
"Thanks Hermione," Tom nodded.
"You're most welcome."
They found a table with their backs to the wall, facing the door from both sides and remained alert as they waited.
"Thoughts?"
"Everyone's on edge for a reason. We've already lost one of us down here, I'd rather us not blow the place up."
Minerva snorted and let her hand rest of Hermione's thigh for just a moment. She squeezed gently and was met by a lovely feeling being projected into her mind. She sighed softly and smiled as she took a sip of her drink.
Relax. We're fine. I can feel it, somehow.
You can? What does that mean?
I don't know, I can almost feel those around me. It's new, I think. Although we've been at home for so long I haven't really noticed it otherwise. It's like I can always feel all of you.
My darling, you are rather amazing, do you know that?
Hermione smiled as Tom bought over the food and they tucked in heartily. Minerva was so engrossed in eating and watching the door, she nearly missed the rather subtle motion that Hermione did with her head and just caught the tail end of a projected thought instead.
Wands.
Minerva slipped hers free and into her hand as the door from Diagon Alley crashed open and two caped men bundled into the bar.
"Ale. Now."
Tom gallantly stood as tall as he could as he told them he would need money to serve them.
"Do you know who we are?" One of the said incredulously. "Our Master will be most upset you chose to argue with us."
Minerva couldn't help herself.
"Gentlemen," she said coldly. "Regardless of his morals, even your leader knows that the exchange of goods and services costs more than nothing."
Min.
Minerva couldn't regret it as both of them turned to face her. They were not wearing masks and she recognised one of them from many years ago.
"Surely we taught you at least that," Minerva quipped. "Though it appeared we failed in every other area."
Now you're spoiling for a fight.
And if it takes the spotlight off Tom for a while, then I am doing my job.
Yes dear.
Minerva snorted and grinned as the man sauntered over to their table. They had wands drawn, but Hermione's hand pressed on hers under the table as she went to draw hers in kind.
Easy.
Hermione's voice helped calm her just a little but she did as Hermione asked and simply regarded the two men instead.
"Are you talking to us, McGonagall?"
"I am," she reiterated. "Ale costs Galleons, gentlemen. Regardless of our associations."
"Are you crazy?"
"I have been called so, but I have not been called so to my face in a very long time. Are you attempting to be the most recent, Mr Huggins?" The man on the left shifted as he heard his name and now that they'd been talking for a while, she recognised the one of the right as well. "It shocks me that they allowed you in their ranks, Mr Clark. I rather thought they took a dim view of muggle-born wizards."
That bothered him and he pointed his wand at her face.
"Take that back."
"I will not," she said calmly. She remembered his casting and knew she had all the time in the world, if he chose to retaliate. "I was the one who visited your home and explained magic to your parents. The same parents You-Know-Who would not hesitate to murder, had he met them."
Despite the mask, she heard the gasp and she felt Hermione relax a little. The silence lengthened until the Death Eaters looked more and more awkward until Mr Huggins grabbed his friend and they left with their tails between their legs.
Tom refilled their drinks for free until they were finished.
"Thank you, again, Minerva."
"Nonsense, Tom. I was just in the right place at the right time."
"As you always are," he rebutted. He patted her hand and Hermione drew her back into the Alley with a cautious sweep around them.
"That was rather unwise, love."
"No," she said gently. "It was calculated."
"And if it had gone wrong, it would have been unwise," Hermione chuckled. "I see now, what you meant the day we lost Dedalus."
"That was very different," Minerva said sternly. "You were not listening. I was."
Hermione chose to withdraw and grinned sideways at her as they strode off to Gringotts.
"How are we doing this?"
"I am simply making a deposit."
"Want me to wait outside?"
"Absolutely not," Minerva snorted. "You're entitled to my finances?"
"I didn't know whether the Goblins would allow that?"
"You are allowed to invite whoever you wish, despite it being wise or not. I do not doubt that Goblins would probably realise our association, given Filius' understanding?"
"Good point," Hermione nodded. They stopped at the steps and glanced around. "So, are you ready?"
"I doubt they'll be worried about the morality of it."
"That's twice you've mentioned that."
"It is easy to forget when it is just you and me, my love." She motioned to the empty Alley and shrugged. "Less easy to forget when we are back in the real world."
You know I'd kiss you if I thought it would be okay.
I am glad you are of clearer head than last time we were here.
"To business, mo gaol?"
"To business," Minerva smiled as she turned to walk up to the doors. "Mo leannan."
How do you say in Gaelic 'I want to take you home and fuck you until you pass out'?
Minerva tripped up the step.
