AN: Ok everyone this is the end. I'm not entirely happy with it but I think I tied up the loose ends so its not total crap. I wish it could have been better, like when I began it, but its be too long and its time to move on. Anyway thanks for sticking to it. Let me know what you think. Enjoy-Xio

Special Bond: An agreement

A few days later Hermione found herself in her room, well Minerva’s room, with no company but her book. Minerva hadn’t been around Grimmauld Palace since Bellatrix trial for more than a couple of hours at a time. Most of that time was rightful spent sleeping. The rest of the time Minerva was busy with trying to get Hogwarts up and running for the new school year.

The Minister for Magic had visited the house the day after the trial. Hermione had been in the library with Minerva when he arrived. She wasn’t allowed to stay to hear to conversations, of course, but Minerva told her the good news as soon as the Minister had gone. With the Death Eaters safely locked-up in Azkaban, the Minister saw no reason why Hogwarts could not be reopened immediately.

The news had sent Minerva into overdrive. Hermione could tell she was extremely happy with the decision, but she was also determined that Hogwarts open the first of September as per usual. Hermione thought, Minerva would have no problem in accomplishing this since it was still June and she would, therefore, have the two months to sort everything out. Hermione had told her so, but Minerva didn’t want to leave anything to chance and had begun the preparations no more than ten minutes after the Minister had left.

Since then she hadn’t seen much of the older woman. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to and she didn’t think Minerva was avoiding her. Minerva was just extremely busy.

Yeah, that was it. Nothing else was going on between them, nothing at all. Except, of course, that since the evening Minerva rejected her advances Hermione had been keeping an emotional distance from the other woman. It wasn’t that she was angry, not exactly, and truthfully she wasn’t avoiding Minerva. There was no need to avoid her since she was never there anyway. Add to that the fact that Minerva hadn’t asked for Hermione’s help in getting Hogwarts up and running, and well anyone who was looking could decipher Hermione’s current mood.

There had been several people whom noticed, Harry, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley to be exact. Not Minerva, though, Minerva didn’t seem to notice anything around her at all especially not Hermione.

Hermione slammed the book shut. She hated feeling hurt. It was the worst possibly feeling on the planet. It was too self indulgent and childish a feeling as far as she was concern, yet she couldn’t stop herself from feeling it.

She tried not to, but it was very difficult considering that she had tried to apologize to Minerva about the scene with Ginny and had tried to reassure her that she was the only person she had a romantic interest in, and what had she gotten for her troubles…rejection. No, actually, she had gotten a Miss Granger and a rejection. She had barely gotten herself though dinner without bursting into tears, and Minerva’s warm presence beside her was the only reason she had been able to sleep at all that night.

She had felt somewhat better the next morning at finding herself safely in Minerva’s arms. She didn’t know how they had ended up that close but she didn’t care, the feel of Minerva pressed into her back was enough to drive her hurt feelings from the forefront of her mind. The peaceful moment had not lasted; of course, Minerva had woken and decided to find something to do. So they had spent most of the morning in the library trying to organized things a bit. Hermione hadn’t been able resist the urge to be near Minerva despite her hurt feelings. The desire to be near Minerva seemed to override everything else. But then the Minister had showed up and things had gone down hill for her.

Hermione threw the book she was holding before she knew what she was doing. It slammed into the wall a little left of the door then fell to the floor. She felt instantly better.

The door opened then and Minerva walked in. She looked at Hermione taking in the small smile on her lips and the arms folded across her chest. Puzzled she walked into the room and almost stumbled on the book. She retrieved it and looked at it for long pause before looking up at Hermione again. “Isn’t this the book I gave you?” She asked her tone neutral and her eyes sad.

Hermione’s momentary happiness vanished. She didn’t have to answer, Hermione was sure Minerva already knew that she was right.

Minerva ran her hand slowly over the book’s dark leather cover, then walked over to the bed and handed the book over to Hermione.

When their eyes locked again Hermione could still see sadness in Minerva’s. She sighed as she watched Minerva moved to the bathroom. She hadn’t meant to hurt Minerva. That was the furthest thing from her mind. She had just been venting her frustration over the last few days. Hermione put the book on the nightstand and moved under the comforter, when Minerva exited the bathroom in her nightgown.

“I’m sorry,” she said as soon as Minerva slipped under the comforter herself.

“It’s just a book.”

Hermione moved closer Minerva. “No it’s not. It’s the book you gave me,” she whispered into the older woman’s ear. She saw Minerva shiver, whether because of her voice or the cold she wasn’t sure, and moved close enough so that their bodies touch then wrapped her arms around Minerva’s waist. Hermione felt all her frustration over the last few days vanish completely. “I love you.” She heard Minerva chuckle. “I do.”

“Hermione,” Minerva exhaled the girls name as she wrapped her own hands over Hermione’s.

“I know we’ve been through a lot in a few weeks, and I know you’re worried about my emotional state, but Minerva there is only one thing I need right now.”

“What’s that?” Minerva asked after turning around to face the younger woman.

“You. I need you. I need to be right here.” Hermione said as she wrapped her arms around Minerva once more.

Minerva smiled, “I just want to make sure that you’re all right.”

“I know and I understand why you’re worried. I tried to tell you last time, I know I haven’t behaved as I should have through all this but I’m ready now. I ready to put it behind me. I’m ready to move on. But above everything else I’m ready to be with you, I need to be with you, I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you, too.” Minerva said then closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to Hermione’s, they had only kissed a handful of times and yet Hermione’s lips felt so familiar to Minerva. They felt so right. Everything about being in Hermione’s arms felt just about perfect.

“Is that a yes?” Hermione’s asked after they pull apart.

Minerva cocked her eyebrow, “I didn’t realize you’d asked a question.”

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?” Hermione asked while she wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

Minerva had to fight very hard to stop herself from laughing. “Well it’s been a while since I was a girl, but I am your friend.”

Hermione’s lips went pouty, “Minerva.”

Minerva wasn’t able to help herself and laughed softly at the young woman’s expression before she pulled those pouty lips between her own.

“Are you asking me to be in a serious relationship with you?”

Hermione nodded then added, “A serious romantic relationship,” just to make sure there wasn’t any more confusion. She didn’t want to leave Minerva any loopholes.

“A serious romantic relationship, with you?”

Hermione smiled, “Yes, with me.”

“Is there anything else I should know about before I agree to this?” Minerva asked playfully.

Hermione shook her head, “I, however, do need to hear something else.” At Minerva’s raised eyebrow she elaborated. “I need to hear that you love me just as much as I love you.”

“I can’t say that.”

Hermione playful look became worried. “Why not?”

“Because I love much, much more.”

Hermione laughed. “I doubt that.”

“Doubt it all you want, it’s a fact.”

“Fine,” Hermione said smiling, “Do we have an agreement?”

“Yes, I believe we do.” Minerva answered before running her fingers through Hermione’s dark wavy hair. “I love you,” she said before capturing Hermione’s lips once more.

FIN.