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She yanked the covers off Minerva and tensed her jaw. Again, she rubbed her fingers against each other before she reached forward and pulled on the shoulders of the standard-issue Hospital Gown to remove it completely. It left Minerva McGonagall in nothing but her underwear and Hermione immediately looked away to keep her privacy.
A tear really did squeeze out, then, because she knew it was futile. There would be no barriers between them from this moment on and when she looked back, knowing there was no way around it, she lost her breath. Minerva McGonagall was just as beautiful as Hermione knew she would be and she suddenly wished desperately that she did not have to be the one to do this. She didn't want this to be their first moment of intimacy but it was futile to wish anything except Minerva's good health now.
She glanced at the table of potions, found the right one and upended it into Minerva's mouth. She gently rubbed her fingers down her throat, despairing at the heat, and watched as the woman swallowed reflexively. They could not perform magic on Minerva, but there was no end to things Hermione could do to herself to help them achieve what they needed.
She opened her own bottle and let out a shaky breath as the strength potion she took worked its magic. Before she could second guess herself, and before she could do something stupid, like kiss the bare skin on Minerva's chest or belly, she reached forward and lifted the woman into her arms.
The strength potion was good, there was no denying it. She did not even flinch at the woman's weight, even as slight as she was. She adjusted her grip to ensure Minerva remained safe in her arms but gave into herself and placed a kiss on the sweaty forehead that came to rest under her chin. The gangly arms and legs were something she hadn't banked on, though, and she laughed when the woman's arm knocked over the lamp.
"Always trouble," Hermione muttered affectionately. "Never simple, are you Min." It helped, somehow, even though Minerva didn't reply and Hermione decided that if it was possible that coma patients sometimes heard their visitors then perhaps Minerva might as well. "Alright. I'm going to dunk you in this ice water to try and beat this temperature. Listen, if you wake up and hex me, woman, there'll be hell to pay."
She giggled at the thought and stood beside the tub with her arms outstretched over the water. Poppy had told her already that the first time needed to be a little slower, so that the body didn't freak out too much and stop the heart.
She lowered Minerva in as slowly as she could. She had to brace her back as it pulled against the angle but she held fast and eased the woman's feet into the water. Minerva squirmed, reflexively, and before Hermione could adjust, Minerva slipped from her arms and into the water. The splash covered them both but Hermione paid it no mind. The ice water was just what she needed to help control her own temperature.
She just about managed to keep Minerva's head above water as the woman sucked in a desperate breath. Her glassy eyes opened and she stared as Hermione cupped her face.
"I've got you Min. I'm right here."
Minerva didn't speak but she showed just a little bit of acknowledgement as Hermione talked her through it.
"You have Dragon Fever, Min," she said clearly. "We're not sure how or why you've got it again, but we're figuring it out and we're going to fix it. Please don't worry." Minerva's hand curled around her neck and Hermione leaned closer as their foreheads touched. "I'm right here."
"You -" Minerva shook her head and reached up a shaky hand to cover her face.
"I took my mask off," Hermione whispered. "I'm with you, Min. I'm not leaving before you are."
Minerva groaned and passed out again and Hermione realised the ice had melted.
"Winky!"
"Be calm Mistress Hermiones. Winky will help."
Hermione picked Minerva out of the water and Winky changed it before she waited for Hermione to lower her back in.
"She burns, Mistress."
"She does," Hermione muttered as she copied the water and sluiced it over Minerva's head like a baby. "Are you sure you won't get sick, Winky? Please don't put yourself in danger for us."
"Mistress Hermione should not worry. Winky will be helping. Mistress and hers will be taken care of. This elf be disgraced, but has chosen Mistress like Mistress chosen her. Winky knows who she is responsible to."
"Winky -"
"Winky does not do anything that Mistress would not do for Winky. It will be alright. Winky is here and will help."
"You are telling me that you can get sick, aren't you? That's why the others aren't helping." Winky reached out and patted Hermione's knee with her little claws. "Oh Winky."
"Winky knows your heart," she said softly. "Wish Mistress saw too. But Winky knows, Mistress Hermione. Winky knows and wants Mistress to be happy; she will gets better so you can be Mistress of Hoggywarts too."
Hermione reached out and squeezed her hand.
"Thank you Winky," she whispered. "Even if that's a bit of a stretch."
"Her'ione -"
"Min!" Hermione rushed forward to cup her face. It helped her eyes find Hermione's. "Min, I'm here."
"Oh god," Minerva groaned. "You said -"
"Dragon Fever. But I have you. I'm right here."
"Children -"
"Poppy is trying to track down everyone you may have seen."
"Diary," she hissed. "Desk drawer. Spell -"
"I'll tell her. Filius can help her. Rest though because I have you. I'm not leaving you."
"Safe?"
"No," she chuckled sardonically, unable to stop the tears. "No, not at all, but it's okay, you're worth it, Min."
Minerva whined as she seemed to realise. Winky interrupted and stepped forward.
"Mistress? Winky and your Hermiones be here. Mistress not worry."
Minerva gasped again and looked horrified at them both.
"We're here now," Hermione whispered. "And we're not leaving. I need you to concentrate on getting better and we'll concentrate on keeping you alive."
Minerva groaned again and lost consciousness.
"She is strong," Winky nodded as her claws trailed over Minerva's forehead. "Mistress will be okay in time. Wes just has to believes it."
"I really hope so, Winky. I really hope so."