AN: Hello all I was really glad you liked the first chapter and hope I delivered with the ending. Please let me know what you think. Xio

Yesterday Part Two

Minerva sat by the fire in her private rooms and looked around. She was a 75 year old woman and just what did she have to show for it? Nothing. She had spent almost 52 years of her life teaching, watching as students came and went from the ancient castle hoping that she had done her best to prepare them for the world outside these walls. It wasn't a bad way to spend your life but it wasn't exactly what she had though her life would be when she graduated from Hogwarts. No, at 18 she had the same dreams any teenage girl, witch or muggle, had she had wanted to find love and start a family.

But apparently that had never been in the cards for Minerva she was destine instead to be a mother to every student that pass through these halls; worrying about them like a mother, loving them as a mother would without so much as a thank you not that she had ever expect one nor did she really want one. There had only been one student that had returned her love, though that love had transformed itself into something that could hardly be call motherly. Hermione, Minerva breathed a heavy sighed in her life Minerva could not recall a happier moment that the one night she had spent in Hermione's arms.

Minerva had to smile; life had a pretty twisted sense of humor. In the last 52 years she had gotten one night of bliss only to be follow by the most painful morning. She had felt guilty at what she saw as taking advantage of one her students.

No children of her own, she'd never taken the time to love someone enough to marry, nothing to show for it. Just one night with one of her students that changed her life that was all. If it weren't so sad she'd laugh.

It had been two weeks since the engagement party, two weeks of pure torture. She had spent the last two weeks thinking about what Albus had said. Minerva knew Albus would never lie to her especially not about such a sensitive subject. But then again she couldn't really understand why if Hermione still loved her she would agree to marry Ron Weasley.

Two weeks of pure torture, two weeks of replaying the night she had shared with Hermione in her dreams. Two weeks of indecision, she desperately wanted to talk to Hermione but she was horribly afraid of the ramifications of such a talk. Two weeks of playing out every scenario she could think off.

And out of all that torture she had only found one truth every fiber of her being need to tell Hermione that she loved her. No matter whether Hermione loved her or not, at least if she talked to her she would be able to say that she had loved someone and had fought for that love.

After all there was no need to be afraid, she had already figured out the most plausible scenario. Hermione would tell her she was too late, and nothing would change in their relationship because at the moment they basically didn't have one.

So what was stopping her? The world. Hermione rejecting her was not the worst that could happen not by a long shot. No, the worst would be Hermione actually loving her and choosing to end her engagement with Ron. Minerva had a pretty clear picture of how thing would unfold if that happened, Ron would be devastated by the news and might not be able to forgive Hermione thereby ending their friendship of more than a decade. The rest of the Weasley would be shocked and if the reason behind calling off the engagement was known she didn't know how they would react, but she doubted they will be congratulating them. She loved her friends, all of them and wouldn't like to cause them any heartache, but if Hermione loved her then she might just be able to live with the guilt of breaking her and Ron up.

But would Hermione be able to live with it? The last thing she wanted was to make Hermione's life any harder than it had to be.

Minerva just wasn't sure about what to do. She wanted to tell Hermione, wanted a chance at fixing the mistake she had made that morning long ago. What she wasn't sure of was if it she had the right to put Hermione is such a predicament. The talk she had with Albus wasn't helping. In fact it was his words that had been torturing her for the past two weeks.

"She didn't know you were an option. Minerva, I've never thought you to be a coward."

But she had been a coward that morning five years ago. So she had to make a decision before she went insane. Would she live up to her reputation of having the heart of a lion or would she coward in a corner again?

Well being called a coward was one thing but knowing herself a coward was something Minerva McGonagall couldn't live with. After all she was head of Gryffindor for a reason and it was time she showed it.

Minerva was making her way through the busy streets of London. She could never quite understand the need of her former student to live in London not when they could so easily live in the country. They could have the best of both worlds but chose not to. She supposed it was just part of being young, all her former students wanted the noise of London, but with age and marriage they usually moved to much quieter places. Finally she arrived at the right building; she looked for Hermione's name and pressed the button next to it. She could have very well gone up but that would not have been polite and if someone were to do it to her she would be very annoyed.

"Yes?"

"Good evening Miss Ganger. It's Professor McGonagall. May I come up?"

Hermione had to smile; like that voice could belong to anyone other than Minerva McGonagall.

"Sure, Professor."

Hermione buzzed her in, and then went about the apartment picking up a couple of things. She didn't want the place to look a total mess. Minerva never liked messes. Why do you still care what Minerva thinks? You don't really want an answer to that. Her good and evil angle were about to start a small war, when she heard a knock on the door.

Hermione turned the handle and open the door. There was Minerva McGonagall in all her splendor. She was beautiful as usual but it was her attire that made Hermione's head spin. Minerva was in a black fitted suit, with a white tunic with several of the top buttons undone and a green scarf around her neck. She had never seen Minerva so absolutely delectable. The suit hugged her body showing the beautiful shape Hermione knew first hand and which was usually completely drowned by her robes.

"Professor, this is a surprise." She said ushering Minerva to the small sitting area of her apartment.

"A good one I hope."

"Absolutely, can I offer you anything to drink?"

"Whiskey please."

Hermione look at her totally surprised, that she could member Minerva wasn't much of a drinker. At most she would have a glass of wine and only on special occasions.

"Two whiskeys coming right up." Hermione made her way to the small bar in the corner and poured the two drinks. She walked back handed one to Minerva then took a seat opposite her.

"So Professor to what do I owe the pleasure of your company."

"I want to have a talk with you."

Minerva took a few sips of her drink, trying to remain as clam as possible. She had made up her mind to talk to Hermione last night but now with Hermione in front of her she was starting to doubt her reasoning. Deep breath Minerva, you got all dolled up and came all the way to London. Now you are going to go through with this.

"Alright." Hermione couldn't hide the uneasiness in her voice, she hadn't had a really chat with Minerva in years.

"Are you happy Hermione?"

Well that totally caught her of guard, "What is this about Minerva?" The tension in the room had shot through the roof, and it wasn't good tension. Not at all, Hermione was becoming defensive and very fast.

"It's just a question Hermione. You made an extremely important decision two weeks ago and I want to know if you're happy."

"Wait this is about my engagement?'

Minerva picked up her glass and drained it. Well she might have the heart of a lion but even lions need help in front of the lion tamer.

"I supposed in a way."

"Is it or not?"

"Yes"

"Why would you want to have a talk about my engagement of all things? We haven't had a real conversation in I don't know how long."

"Five years and three months."

There it was Hermione sat back stun. Minerva had brought their one night into the room, whether on purpose of not Hermione wasn't sure. But it was there now and like having a big elephant in the room this just couldn't be ignored. There was not going back now, they hadn't talked about it since the day it happened but once acknowledged you can't just take it back.

"Right, so why now?"

"Because you're engaged and I need to know that you're happy."

"Are you happy Minerva?"

That took Minerva by surprise she was the one supposed to be asking question, but she guessed turn about was fair play. And she wouldn't lie, not to Hermione.

"No"

Hermione was taken aback by the straight forward answer; she hadn't really expected one at all.

"No one would know it by looking at you."

"It depends on who the person looking is."

Hermione smiled, "I suppose."

"No you know it's true, you saw it at the party otherwise you wouldn't have sent Albus after me. I'll have to thank you for that by the way." The last sentence had been dripping with sarcasm.

"So are you going to answer my question?"

"Yes I am. I mean I'm not euphoric or anything but happy enough." Why did I just say that? It should have been a simple yes.

"Don't you think that on the eve of your engagement you should be completely elate?"

"I don't know Minerva."

"Yes you do."

They looked at each other. Hermione didn't know how to respond, didn't know what Minerva wanted.

"Five years ago I made a mistake."

"I know all about your mistake. So please let's not go into it." Hermione's voice was hard again, defensive.

"Five years ago I made the mistake of not telling you how much I loved you." There she had said it. She was no coward. The rest was now out of her hands.

"Why are you telling me this now?"

Minerva looked up at Hermione, and couldn't stop her eyes from tearing up nor the lump that formed in her throat when she spoke.

"Because love, two weeks ago you agreed to marry Ronald Weasley and if I didn't tell now I would have never told you."

Hermione felt her pulse quicken, and unlike Minerva she couldn't keep her tears at bay and soon they were running down her cheeks.

"And what do you expect me to say?"

Minerva moved to sit on the coffee table right in front of Hermione and leaned in resting her hands on Hermione's knees.

"The truth, I want to know the truth."

Hermione moved a shaky hand to Minerva's face, caressing. Minerva could do nothing else but close her eyes; relishing the feeling she let it work its magic.

"I think you're extremely sexy in that outfit."

Minerva laughed a loud wonderful sound very few people had heard. She rested her forehead against her hands which were still on Hermione's knees.

"I feel the exact same way I felt about you five years ago. The same way I've felt about you since I was fifteen. I'm still very much in love with you Minerva."

Minerva felt her heart jump, looked up at Hermione and kissed her. A sweet kiss full of promise for the future.

"And Mr. Weasley?"

"I'll explain everything to him tomorrow."

Minerva nodded then got up.

"Where are you going Minerva?"

"I have a class to teach in the morning."

Hermione got up took Minerva's hand and raised it to her lips.

"You can leave early in the morning then." Hermione laced her fingers through Minerva's and pulled her towards the bedroom.

Minerva couldn't contain her smile, everything was right it the world again. She was 75 years old and what did she have to show for it? A love so strong it had survived the obstacles of age and time, and mistakes that they had made. Minerva had no doubt that their love could survive anything the universe threw at them. Outside live continued at its normal pace and with its usual amount of noise, yes all really was right in the world.

The End