Hello wonderful readers, I know you've been wanting this update for a while now and I'm sorry that it took me so long. My computer has crashed so now I have to use a public computer and can not write in my free time like I usually do. So I'm afraid any updates are going to be far and few in between. So that being said, I hope you like this chapter it's both steamy and fluffy but I like writing fluff. Next chapter we'll be seeing what's going on with Ron.

' telepathy '

" Dialog"

Delilah

Chapter 7

Minerva leaned in for another kiss,her inner animagus purring. She let her hands have a mind of their own as they traced patterns of Celtic design onto her mates skin, knowing that her magic was flowing through her fingers. Hermione moaned softly feeling as the green magic worked in and over her body. Minerva took this as a good sign and started kissing down a swan neck nipping and licking as she went further down till she was over a beautifully rounded breast. There she bit down gently not breaking the skin as Hermione arched her back wanting more. The older witch smiled against the younger's skin and pulled in the taught pink nipple suckling on it as a babe would. Her fingers moved down the woman's legs tracing intricate designs on the inner part of her legs. Minerva knew that this was how her clan had claimed their mates and she would be no different. She pulled the neglected nipple into her mouth suckling and nipping once more. There she saw the glowing designs made by her fingers making the witch smile inwardly as she continued her assault.

"Leannan you're positively glowing, so beautiful. You are so beautiful. I can't believe we're finally here. It has been too long of a wait."

"Min please.." The young woman begged needing more needing her lover. "I need you please.."

Minerva took pity of her cries and began nipping and kissing her way down to the young woman's core. What she found there astounded her, a clean shaven mound and glistening wet folds. She had never seen a sight so beautiful in her life and couldn't wait to taste the sweet honeyed essence. Not deliberating on it she leaned in and took a long slow lap from bottom to top moaning at the sweet taste. It was like the sweet ambrosia of the gods above, and she quickly became addicted to it. Needing more she lapped like a puppy taking in as much as she could. She moaned loudly with a slight growl pulling in Hermione's swollen nub deep into her mouth sucking on it hard. The young woman bucked her hips and moaned so loudly, the Scottish witch nipped said nub then gets up and entered her mate with her newly transfigured body. The designs begin to glow an emerald green as Minerva begins sliding in and out of Hermione slowly and deliberately.

"Yes, YES, YES!" Hermione screamed out feeling like she was losing her mind. Minerva picked up pace feeling her release coming fast and knowing her mate was nearing her peak. She leans down nipping her at her pulse point pushing through the slick heat faster and harder. As they reach their peak Minerva bites down on Hermione's shoulder marking her as her mate neither seeing the blue and green cores meld into one and a blue-green glow settle onto each stomach.

They lay there together still connected neither wanting to move away from each other.

'That was incredible!'

'Yes it truly was!'

They look at each other knowing that neither one of them spoke.

'Min?'

'Hermione?'

"Oh Merlin is this really happening?" Hermione asked gasping.

Minerva pulled out of Hermione and fixed her anatomy and lay down next to the young woman and nods.

"It seems that it would be a side effect of the mating bond. I've never heard of it happening unless they were bound by their souls, but that happens every.." Minerva thinks back trying to remember how long it had been for her kin. When she remembers she takes in a deep breath.

"Minerva, what is it? What's wrong? Please you're scaring me!"

"It's been a thousand years. It only happens rarely, once every thousand years or more it seems my dear we are one of the rare couples. My family had been researching for years about soul bonds but after the fire of my home all of the research notes were gone. I haven't thought about it since I was lass, but now it makes sense." Minerva looked over to her lover and smiles widely reaching out stroking the young woman's cheek. "You're not upset are you?"

"No my love, never. I can't talk anymore, I'm so tired."

"Sleep then darling, I shall be here when we wake."

-HGMM-

As Minerva starts to stir she feels a strong arm around her waist pull her in closer.

'I don't want to get up, stay with me?'

'I must Leannan, I'm not as young as I once I was.'

'You're not that old luv, now stay with me for another 15 minutes?'

Minerva groans softly but gives in to her love and lay back on her back pulling Hermione closer so that she lay upon her breast. As they lay there Minerva thinks back to the research her family had done, there was still some that survived she just didn't want to tell Hermione for fear of her inquisitive nature, finding out what else a soul bounding consists of. How would she tell her mate that they would feel each other's emotions let alone the pain of being away from the other for too long? One would think it would not be a big deal but for Minerva, who was very private about her feelings even with her dear Hermione, it was. Her fears, her sorrow all were so overwhelming on days. Just as she thought about such things she felt a large amount of fear come from her mate. She watched as Hermione started making these faces as if she were in pain, Minerva winced as her forearm burned. Ah yes, the other part of the bond, if one of them were hurt the other would feel it, but this had to be something from the past not now. What was going on? Hermione started to thrash and cry mumbling "I didn't take it..I didn't take it." This made Minerva upset. What didn't she take and why was she feeling her arm burn so intensely? The young girl started to scream waking herself up. Tears streaming down her face she looked up at Minerva and apologized.

"I'm sorry, I just.." she didn't finish the sentence because she couldn't. She didn't want her lover to know what happened in Malfoy Manor.

"Your arm, what is wrong with it, I feel the pain the agony that came with the dream."

"You feel that? H..h..how?"

"The bond dear, it has many side effects. We'll have to figure out what they are as we go along. There is one thing, one I'm not entirely comfortable with being the private person I am."

"Min? You know you can tell me anything right? I won't divulge any secrets that you may have. We're partners now, we are equals there's nothing you can't tell me that will surprise me." Hermione felt worry and sorrow but also pride emanating from the older witch. "Is this what you mean? The feelings I get from you? Oh darling I'm so sorry, is there a way we can block each other out or anything? What else are we going to have to endure?"

Minerva looked at the young witch and sighed softly. She wasn't sure how she was going to cope with not only having her feelings known, but to have another's along with it wasn't going to be easy. She could tell now that Hermione's were erratic at times and when she was angry everyone needs to watch out. Look at what happened in St. Mungo's. But to have those angry moments multiplied by two the world would have to look out. A Scottish temper is legendary and Minerva had quite the temper when angered. She was thinking about how to tell her young lover, no mate, that they would have to be together wherever they needed to go until the relationship progressed. She could only think it, she couldn't say it out loud. She didn't want to embarrass herself.

'We're going to have to stay together wherever we need to go, otherwise we'll both be in a considerably amount pain, worse that your arm. Don't think I've forgotten.'

Hermione looked and felt fear knowing she was going to have to explain what happened, not that she wanted to mind you, but with this bond it seemed that she couldn't hide anything just as Minerva couldn't hide anything from her anymore. She didn't mind having to go where Minerva went because she didn't want to be from her side anyhow. That just seemed like a perk to her, but what if they both wanted time alone? Would they ever be alone again? I was things like this that made Hermione think then wanting to research everything she could. She knew she should get back to the task at hand.

"It happened in Malfoy Manor after Harry, Ron and I were caught by the snatchers. Bellatrix found out that we had the sword of Gryffindor and got upset. She sent the boys to the dungeons and said that she was going to have a 'girl to girl talk'. She started by using the crucio spell trying to get me to tell her how we got into her vault. I kept telling her I didn't know, but she didn't believe me so she sent the spell my way a second time only for much longer. I thought I was going to lose it, but just as I thought it she stopped and asked me again this time straddling me and getting close to my face. I told her that I didn't know how it was taken out of her vault. She took out her dagger and sliced this into my arm." She took off the disillusionment charm and allowed Minerva to see the word "Mudblood" etched into the young woman's arm. It looked as if were carved there just yesterday, it looked red and raw. Minerva gasped softly and took the arm into her hands and leaned down and kissed word over and over sending love and compassion to the young woman. Hermione started to cry once more having relived something she didn't want to again. It was not something she told the ministry so of course it was never recorded, so no one knew unless Hermione wanted them too. She went to put the charm back over her arm when a hand stopped her.

"Never hide yourself, you don't have to hide behind a disallusionment charm here. Not in Hogwarts, and not with me. It is a symbol of how brave you are, how much you've gone through and still became the wonderful woman you are. Never hide from being the person you are. I feel the fear you have with doing that but there is nothing wrong with this. You are a very powerful and gifted witch Hermione, don't lose sight of that just because you were branded. Today, the word doesn't mean anything, the wizarding world has changed because of you three. Those that believed such things are now either locked in Azkaban or through the veil. True there are still some out there that think about blood purity and all that nonsence, but they are very few anymore. Those that were famous for it, like the Malfoys, have come to see that blood doesn't matter anymore, that purebloods are dying out. That if they continued on the way they were there would be more squibs that wizards. So they've started branching out. Did you know that Draco has married a half blood? His mother was proud of him. So please my darling don't hide this from me, or anyone else. You're a heroine and a Gryffindor show your bravery dear and be proud of who you are." After the long speech she could feel the love the young woman had for her and it was almost overwhelming. She pulled Hermione to her and hugged her closely. 'I won't not ever again, I promise' Hermione projected. Tears were falling down again but only this time it were tears of love and joy. "Now come on we need to get up and dressed so that we can go see Madamme Pomfrey. You need to take your potions." Hermione smiled and gave the older woman a quick slap against her butt and jogged into the en-suite.