A/N: I cannot write an apology at the beginning of every chapter so we'll just assume that I am doing my best to always get you a chapter and I will relax about it being when it is. My readership is suffering for it, but I will finish this thing if it kills me.

Obviously not. But you understand. I will get there, please continue to have patience with me.

-0-

Having the majority of their family living below Hogwarts together was not ideal. In fact, as Minerva was summoned, once again, to the Chamber, she was about ready to throw them all out.

"What?" she snapped as she entered. A cacophony of sound erupted around her and she paused while her body recoiled before she waved her hand and everyone fell silent. "When you are quite finished." Most of them look caught and she left it just a moment longer than they all looked comfortable with before releasing the spell. "Before anyone speaks," she ordered. "I will not be coming down here again. You are all adults, you all know how to get along. I will not have you all behaving as if you are Hogwarts students yourselves." One of the twins snorted a laugh and she rounded on him. It was a little unfair but this was the 3rd time she'd been down here in as many hours. "If either one of you do anything else to disrupt the people who are living here, you will no longer be living here, do you hear me?"

George winced and glanced at Fred.

"Yes McG."

"Sorry, McG," Fred admitted. "It's -"

She waved off the excuse. She'd heard every single one of them before.

"I understand that this is a big change for everyone, but please. Grow up. You all have your own homes, your own needs. Kindly mind them so I can mind mine."

She glanced at Narcissa who smiled demurely and bowed her head in apology. They may not have all discussed who exactly remained in charge down here, but Minerva had really come to appreciate the former Malfoy. She told herself she didn't harbour any ill will towards Molly for her treatment of Hermione at the beginning of the younger woman's journey but she couldn't quite say it out loud.

No need, sexy. I can hear you.

Minerva growled and stalked away from the chamber, doing her best not to swear at her lover, who was currently outside getting some sun.

Come and join me. You're like a bear with a sore paw.

She smirked as she replied.

Am not.

She felt Hermione laugh and decided to throw the lesson planning away and join her love in the sun. She found her down near the lake and sat demurely as Hermione did her best to pull her down to the picnic rug she was on.

"There she is," Hermione muttered as they kissed softly. "What's up, Chuck?"

"Don't get me started," Minerva mumbled as she leaned over and kissed Hermione again, just because she wanted to.

"Hmm," Hermione grinned as she pulled away. "Sure I can't get you started?"

"Hermione!"

She laughed and lay back on the rug, something it looked like she'd been doing for a while and Minerva was arrested by her ease, suddenly.

Anyone that had known Minerva for a while knew that while she was not known for fits of anxiety, for example, she definitely did not live as freely as others did. Even when they were children, she was the one that turned her nose up at frivolous things.

Hermione had changed all that.

"Long may it be so," Hermione muttered as she smiled. Her eyes were closed and she looked so very beautiful, Minerva had to take a deep breath.

"You are -" She couldn't speak. She wasn't even sure what she was trying to say but Hermione cracked open an eyelid and smiled softly. Minerva felt that in her stomach.

"Come 'ere," Hermione whispered as she offered an arm to curl into. "Come and cat nap with me. I know you like those. I've missed you this week but we can make up for it now."

Minerva chuckled and did as she was asked and sighed as she settled into her lover's arms. She nuzzled Hermione's neck and kissed the skin there, where the faint outline of Minerva's teeth seemed to always remain. Hermione hummed, but didn't rise to the bait and Minerva smiled instead. The morning sun, the cool breeze and the sound of her lover's heartbeat under her ear made it easy to drift off, feeling safe and warm, and loved.

-0-

Babe?

Hermione, if you -

Please? Come and have dinner with Sev and Narcissa.

Sev?

I heard Narcissa call him that the other day. Isn't it cute?

Minerva wasn't too sure it was, or whether Severus would appreciate that they called him that even in their heads, but something about the way Hermione asked made her get up from her desk and trudge down to the Chamber.

She greeted a few people by the fire and looked around for her lover.

In their rooms. She's hosting, so maybe make sure your robes are -

I have been to dinner before, yeh nit.

She heard Hermione laugh and then disengage. Slowly, they had been testing their connection and Hermione now had the ability to almost close her mind off completely. Minerva, however, was still working on that skill and she wasn't sure how she felt about the fact that after being an open book to each other, Hermione no longer had to be. She hadn't actually voiced that concern yet, but while she had a little moment in her head to do so, she had been pondering it.

She stood outside Narcissa's door and paused. They had never had dinner with another couple and she could admit that she felt a little nervous about it. She waved her hand over her robes and turned them into something she would feel comfortable showing up to dinner in and knocked crisply.

"Minerva," Severus bowed lower than he'd ever done before. "Please. Come in."

The room had been altered to a dining room, quite where they'd managed to shrink and move the bed to, she did not ask. It has been a long time since she'd felt pride in Narcissa Black but she started just a moment to do so as their host looked up from placing a steaming plate on the table.

"It has been an age since I have seen that look directed at me, Minerva." She said it almost shyly and Minerva chuckled as she leaned in to kiss Severus' cheek in greeting and then Narcissa's as well as she came around the table.

"I admit I fear you are learning Legilimency from Severus as I had just had that thought myself."

"She does not need the tutelage," Severus said smoothly. "She is as good or better than myself."

"Blimey," Hermione teased. "I'd better watch my thoughts."

"No need as we would never be so crass as to try."

Hermione laughed. She looked and felt relaxed but Minerva felt an air of something simmering beneath the surface. She couldn't place it but she glanced at her lover to knock it off. Hermione, however, did not.

"And there's equally no point as Minerva and I cannot be subjected to it. It was a joke, Severus, lighten up."

Minerva's eyebrows crept up on her face.

Give over. He's being obnoxious.

And there are certain customs to a Wizarding dinner, darling.

And how am I supposed to know that? We're having dinner or we aren't. She suggested this, after I asked if we could speak privately. Nobody mentioned customs to me.

Minerva rolled her eyes skywards and turned back to her guests, who watched with interest.

"I apologise both for my tardiness and my love's -" Her lip twitched. "Lack of Wizarding customs."

"Don't apologise for me!" Hermione argued. "I'm a muggle-born, from a muggle family, dinner at someone else's house is a relaxed affair. If you all want something different, tell me now and we can rearrange."

"No," Narcissa said gently as she put her hand on Severus' arm as he went to speak. "No, Hermione, Minerva. I am sorry. I admit I failed to take into account Hermione's background and a formal dinner is not something I ever enjoyed anyway. I much prefer the idea of a relaxed affair, as Hermione said, than the pomp and circumstance of a formal Wizarding dinner. Please," she offered Minerva the remaining seat. "At your leisure."

Minerva sat and despite the moment, she felt Hermione reach for her hand. Both of them sagged a little at the connection but neither drew attention to it. It had been a long and trying few days. Both of them had seemed to take turns in coming to bed late. Hermione sometimes fell asleep right after dinner and Minerva had enjoyed putting her to bed, but she rarely woke up in her lover's arms. Hermione either hadn't slept long after coming to bed or she had gone with the rising sun.

"Thank you," Hermione said and Minerva knew it was genuine. "For the invite. I know it seems like we're keeping you down here unnecessarily but -"

"On the contrary -" Narcissa interrupted. "I will never begrudge this. I have my own space, I have the man I love and my son all in the same place and they are safe in that place. A place I have always found solace in, more than any other. I should be thanking you every day."

"There is certainly no need for that," Minerva chuckled. "I am glad you are at ease. I wish the rest of them could take a leaf out of your book."

Narcissa smiled.

"I believe Molly is smarting, which is throwing everything else into disarray. She is a natural mother but not many of them want or need one. The ones she can mother have taken to avoiding her for that same reason."

"Ah," Minerva sighed. "I did wonder if that would happen. I will -"

"I'll talk to her," Hermione muttered. "I can make her understand."

Minerva's eyebrow twitched but stayed in place. Hermione did not hold Molly any animosity but she did not often volunteer to go above and beyond for her. It was just another example of Minerva's changed emotions; she spent so long railing against their mental connection and now it was gone, she did not like it one bit.

"Now," Narcissa smiled as she stood. "Let us dine and once we are suitably full, perhaps Hermione can reveal why her eyes have followed me around the room every time I move."

Minerva turned to get love and laughed at the look she had on her face.

"Subtlety is not often your strong suit, love," Minerva laughed.

"Ha," Hermione chuckled. "Caught, I suppose. Yes, alright. Let's enjoy ourselves, then we'll get back to business."

The food, as always, was sublime. Eventually they all sat back with fully bellies and Hermione could avoid it no longer.

"Alright," Hermione sighed. "Are we remaining at the table or would you prefer something a little less formal?"

"Please allow me?" Minerva asked quietly.

Narcissa smiled and nodded for her to proceed. Minerva waved her wand and the table disappeared and turned into a setting not unlike the one in Minerva's living room and Hermione sighed as she settled in the corner. She waited a beat for the silence to lengthen and Minerva realised that she was waiting because she wasn't sure about how to broach the topic. She immediately understood. To explain the reasons she needed to ask the questions they did meant broaching the topic of Horcruxes and to do that would put Harry and them all in more danger. She winced as she turned to Hermione and looked. She was struggling and she reached out to take her hand.

"Maybe -"

I just tell them? What will Albus say?

Al is busy, and you are the one in charge, love. It is your call.

I couldn't do this without you, do you realise that? I love you.

As I love you, Leannan.

"Alright," Hermione nodded as they turned back to their hosts. "I am going to reveal something that ordinarily I would prefer not to. Severus, I know, is adept at keeping secrets but I apologise in advance for having to put this on you but I cannot think of another way to do so."

"We will hold whatever we need to, to end the war," Narcissa said gently. "At the very least, please let me be part of the solution."

Minerva smiled at her and nodded to Hermione, who sat forward and leaned on her knees.

"Tom," she started. She looked at them both to ensure both of them knew who she meant. "The reason he didn't die when Harry killed him in the beginning was -" Minerva frowned at the pause but Hermione suddenly locked eyes with Severus and paused. "Severus," she whispered. "I apologise, twofold, for what I'm about to tell you. I realise -"

"There are no secrets between Narcissa and myself," he muttered. "You may speak freely."

She bowed her head and glanced at Narcissa, who nodded just barely and allowed Hermione to proceed.

"So, when He disappeared the first time, before Harry's first birthday, he did not die. We all know this now and are well aware that there is more at play than simple malfeasance."

Minerva sighed as she sat back and got comfortable. No matter how many times she heard the story or thought about the consequences, she was always taken back to the moment both James and Lily had arrived at Hogwarts. The potential she'd seen in the two of them, the way their youthful teasing had turned into something more and the many times she'd had to separate them from taking out their frustration on each other.

If anything, Hermione reminded her so much of Lily but with just a little less humility and she smiled apologetically when Hermione glanced at her in question. She did her best to practice disengaging their bond as she tuned back in.

"I am not, obviously going to detail about what or where or how," Hermione continued with only a brief pause to meet her eyes again. "But, we have stumbled upon something that might help us track them down."

"I take it he did not use something nondescript like a pebble in a quarry?" Severus mused.

"No," Hermione chuckled. "Thank god for his ego."

Severus snorted and waved for her to continue.

"They mean something to him, each one. We have tracked down a few of them, through Albus mostly, but Harry and I have realised that his ego is going to be the downfall of his plan to hide them as well."

"How so?" Narcissa asked carefully.

"He told people about them. He told Lucius." She gasped at this and Minerva stuck out a hand to touch Severus' knee before he could erupt in argument. He met her eyes when Hermione stopped again and she shook her head. He looked as if he would like to argue but Hermione continued before he could protest verbally. "He told him something because during her Second Year, Ginny accidentally came into possession of one." Narcissa's eyes were wide. "He told Regulus." Severus sat up at that. If she remembered correctly, despite his tumultuous relationship with Sirius, Severus had not had the same troubles with the younger brother.

"He told -"

"We believe it was how he died; he had a change of heart. Once he discovered what we have, he turned and stole one of the items. Creature was the one who helped him. That is what Albus was suffering from when he returned just a few months ago. Had I not been there, he would, no doubt, have suffered the same fate."

Minerva shuddered at the thought and Hermione shifted to settle beside her and give her comfort even as she sought it. Albus' near death experience had changed everything and remembering it not so long ago was awful.

"I understand that you have taken a risk in telling us this," Narcissa said quietly as she met Minerva's eyes first and then started at Hermione. "But why have you told us. Neither of us were afforded that information - we have no every known something like that. We weren't entrusted with an item."

"I know," Hermione soothed. "Or, at least, I assumed it to be so."

"Then why -"

"I -" Hermione sighed and leaned a little heavier on Minerva's side.

"We believe Bella was told, Narcissa."

There was a very loaded silence as Narcissa froze. Not even Severus moved as Narcissa fought to control her reaction.

"It's okay to do whatever you need to do," Hermione whispered. "You are in a safe place and among friends. Please don't feel like you cannot do whatever it is that you need to."

The woman didn't react for a long time until she managed a very shaky breath.

"Throwing the entirety of my dresser onto the floor would not be a good look even amongst friends."

Hermione chuckled as the tension eased.

"Min's done it often enough I may not even have noticed."

It served to do as she had intended and even Severus bit back a chuckle as Minerva jabbed her in the ribs and made her squeal.

"Thank you," Narcissa said simply as she stood and walked over to the pretend windows. She started absently for a while before she rubbed her face. "What is it you need to know?"

"It is a tall ask," Hermione said gently. "If it happened when you were not around, then you may never had known."

"For a long time, Hermione, my sister and I were as twins. We would tell each other everything. It is only in the last few years since she has come out of the prison." She spat the word and Minerva winced at knowing she was one of the people who put her there. "That she has lost the edge of sanity. And since then, she is more prone to truthful outbursts in public. I do not believe that he would have given her something of vital importance post Azkaban."

"Then perhaps," Minerva soothed the sadness. "Then there is more than a little hope of ending this war."