Tomorrow too…

Hermione cast a glance back to the lively lights at the Burrow, she could still hear loud boasts of laughter and strands of conversations. Part of her thought about returning, despite the burning anger that still coursed through her from their heated argument less than a half hour ago. But, she couldn't. She knew she would not enjoy the rest of the evening if she returned. And with a long look back at the Burrow, she thought of a large castle that housed happy memories…and with a pop, she was gone.

For an hour she stood just beyond the iron gates barring entrance to Hogwarts. The lights dancing off its tall parapets, aged stone, the fresh hint of lavender wafting from the north lawn as the lake lapped against the shore and her memories washed over her.

Stiffly, she moved, feeling her muscles protest as she turned away, knowing that she should return to the Burrow as she unwrapped her arms, permitting them to fall to her sides. When she saw a very familiar woman standing less than ten feet away, a curious expression upon her regal features.

"Dare I ask how long you have been standing there?" Minerva inquired walking forward.

"Only if you will tell me how long you've been watching me." Hermione retorted, running a hand up and down her arms.

Minerva immediately noticed the younger woman's troubled countenance as she neared, the moon's soft light upon her face. "I arrived back from the Ministry only minutes ago. Are you alright, Hermione?"

Hermione tried to force a smile upon her face, "Just night before reservations. Needed to clear my head."

Minerva's emerald eyes narrowed as they swept over her face, "Perhaps a cup of tea before you return?"

Hermione felt her mouth quirk into a smile, "As lovely as that sounds, I am fine, Minerva." She paused, glancing back to the impressive castle, "But thank you." As she silently wondered if her and Ron's relationship would be doomed to have the highs and lows that they had throughout their time together at Hogwarts. The highs were wonderful…but the lows…she sighed and turned to Minerva who was now standing by the gates. "On second thought, perhaps a glass of firewhisky?"

Minerva waved her hand over the lock, a creak was heard and she pulled the iron gate forward. "Come," Minerva nodded to the grounds, "I have a bottle that has been neglected for far too long." She stepped forward, "And if you remain out here, I shall have to send you a cloak, or else we will both be spending your wedding day in St. Mungos. You for frostbite and me because Molly tried to murder me for allowing you to almost freeze to death. Hermione chuckled at Minerva's wit while stepping through the gates, the two women easily bantering as they headed towards the Headmistress suite.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Two hours and most of a bottle later…

Hermione noticed the near empty bottle, the time, and how fast time always seemed to pass when she was in Minerva's company. She had returned to Hogwarts the year following Voldemort's death, joining Ginny's class, wanting to take and subsequently finish her seventh year. The year had been far different than her previous, so few of her classmates had returned, and after her experiences the prior year…she found herself…strangely alone. Not that she didn't spend an inordinate amount time with Ginny and the other Gryffindors, but…it was different. And after a few months had passed, Hermione found herself spending more and more time with Minerva in the Headmistress suite…

Initially, they spoke of how friends were coping after the war, the conversations began turning as they spoke about transfiguration…causing several late nights as their banter turned into heated, yet friendly debates. Shortly after the holidays, Hermione had taken to bringing her studying to the quiet sanctity of Minerva's office in the warmth by the fire while Minerva would finish her multitude of correspondence; they would end their evenings with a glass of wine and an easy conversation. Neither were anxious to say goodnight and often waiting until the yawns could no longer be ignored before Minerva would suggest it was time for Hermione to leave.

Following graduation, they continued to exchange correspondence with semi-regularity, most often discussing the latest research in transfiguration, arthimancy, and defensive spells. But, despite best intentions, Hermione had rarely seen the woman opposite of her. Minerva had attended only two of the large gatherings at the Burrow, they had run into each other at the Ministry a handful of times…and once for a late lunch that had run well past tea time before they had said goodbye.

Now, while Minerva emptied the last of the bottle into their glasses Hermione stole a moment to look at the woman opposite of her…

Minerva had loosened her bun, weaving it into a loose braid down her back. Hermione noticed that a few strands of grey had appeared along her temples, but overall…Minerva appeared a great deal more rested and relaxed than she had ever remembered seeing her. She seemed…at peace. And…it seemed that she had put back on a little bit of the weight she had lost during the year with Snape as Headmaster and the Carrows as professors, and Voldemort bearing down upon the wizarding world…including the students attending Hogwarts.

She no longer looked gaunt…rather, healthy…and Hermione could see a light tan on her face and could just see tan lines on her chest where Minerva had opened the top three buttons of her inner robes. Noticing where her eyes were resting, Hermione forced herself to look up lest she be caught staring at Minerva's long neck and exposed skin...

As if on cue, Minerva set the bottle down, handing Hermione's glass back to her with a mischievous grin, looking so different from the stern and venerable Headmistress of Hogwarts, and once Professor of Transfiguration. Her emerald eyes sparkled from within...and Hermione had a hard time remembering that she was a witch well over the age of forty.

"Why didn't you ever marry anyone?" Hermione asked quietly.

Minerva felt her world shift at Hermione's innocent question and felt the sudden need for copious amounts of alcohol…far more than she had already consumed.

Hermione continued on, "I mean…I'm sure you've loved someone. Why not marry?" She thought back to her own, very real, very recent issues with Ron. "Or did you never find the right person to marry? Or…perhaps…" The heart of Hermione's finally finding voice. "What if love isn't enough for marriage?"

Minerva's gaze dropped to the scant amount of alcohol residing in her glass, still wondering how she could discreetly finish off her glass and at least one of the bottles beneath the cabinet to their left. Sighing, and knowing that it was not an option, her eyes remained fixed upon the last two ice cubes…dissolving away…into two very distinct and different faces. "I…" Minerva cleared her throat, "Have loved two people." She stated honestly.

Hermione's eyes immediately latched upon Minerva's face, searching for more…waiting.

Minutes ticked by as Minerva formed the words, trying to remain focused upon the startling reality that the woman before her was engaged…and to be married tomorrow to Ronald Weasley. She still did not understand what she saw in the young wizard, but…it was not for her to judge. She only hoped…that the woman opposite of her would be happy. "And I have no idea what you are searching for Hermione," She slowly raised her startling clear emerald eyes, "Nor the reason for your hesitancy regarding Ronald." Piercing the brown ones before her, robbing the very breath from Hermione's lungs with the potency of her gaze. "I can only tell you that if you love someone, never waste a moment of your time with them. Love is far too precious." Her voice became soft, her Gaelic brogue thick, "Frank died in the war with Grindlewald. And Amelia…" She finished off the last of her drink, "Fell to Voldemort and I would give anything to spend another moment with either." She set her glass down, eyes falling away from Hermione's. "You love Ron." She fixed a warm smile upon her face, "It is too precious not to fight for. Marriage is just a word, let tomorrow be about what matters."

Hermione stared at the other woman for a long moment, before a gentle smile graced her face. Leave it to Minerva to find the perfect thing to say…she thought before uttering. "Thank you, Minerva." She stated softly, "For…"

Minerva nodded, "My pleasure."

Hermione stood, suddenly feeling as though…perhaps tomorrow wasn't such a bad notion. But her fingers were quickly grabbing the side of the sofa for support. "I should be going."

Minerva easily stood, hand out to steady Hermione. "Please…" She motioned to the fireplace on the other side of the room. "Use the floo. I don't believe you'll make it to the Burrow, unsplinched."

Hermione cracked a smile, "Probably…not." She frowned though at Minerva, "How is it, that you aren't…" Her eyes still sweeping over the elder witch. "Even the slightest bit tipsy?"

"I'm a Scot." Minerva stated.

Hermione scoffed, "What kind of answer is that?"

Minerva chuckled, "The truth." Minerva replied hand continuing to steady the other woman.

Hermione stopped beside Minerva's desk, turning to face the emerald clad witch. Wisps of hair brushed the sides of her cheeks, a smile playing at the corners of her lips, eyes twinkling, "You will come tomorrow?"

A rare, genuine smile broke across her face, "A herd of hippogriffs won't keep me away." Minerva replied, "It's sure to be a gorgeous wedding."

Hermione groaned, "Perhaps I can sleep through it…there are going to be so many people…"

"Just focus on Ron…" Minerva stated. "I have no doubt, everyone else will fade away."

"It's going to just be that simple…" She murmured as she lifted her head.

"It always is with love…" Minerva's cadence becoming tender.

"Love, huh?" Hermione asked, brown eyes searching green ones…

"Yes." Minerva softly replied…as the fire crackled in the background…the light flickering across both their faces…

Both women felt themselves slowly moving forward…

Eyes partially closing…

Soft breathes escaping onto the other's skin…

As tentative lips touched.

Tender…soft…just barely touching…

And with aching slowness…they leaned closer, increasing the pressure…Minerva's hand falling down Hermione's side…as Hermione's came up Minerva's back.

Their lips now making full contact…sliding along the other...

Creating a hunger…

A need…

Hermione wanting to feel more…

Minerva yearning to taste more…

But Minerva pulled back, her lips leaving the warm…decadently supple haven that had swept over them moments before…as her eyes blinked open, to see a soft sigh eschew forth from Hermione's lips. And for a singular heartbeat, she wanted nothing more than to recapture the soft, wet lips that were less than two inches from her own…

"Hermione…" She breathed, stilling her own momentary want…her desire to take the beautiful woman to her bed…and make love to her with abandon as her pulse pounded in her ears. It had, after all, been years since she had felt…unbridled passion coursing through her veins...

Minerva's raspy voice slowly brought Hermione back to the moment at hand, and she opened her eyes to see emerald ones…smoldering…with desire. And Hermione felt her already burning skin…ignite further… "Minerva…" She leaned forward, wanting nothing more than to feel the other woman's velvety lips upon her own…

And Minerva was spellbound…as Hermione leaned the hairs breath forward to recapture her lips with her own soft, warm ones…

Minerva gently responding for a moment…

But in that moment…lips danced across the other before parting…both women wanting to taste the other…

Tongues briefly touching…Hermione's moan bringing Minerva back to reality…and she pulled away, again.

"Please…" She stepped away, instantly feeling the cool air where a warm body had been pressed against mere seconds before. "Hermione." She licked her lips and opened her eyes as did Hermione. "You are a beautiful woman, who is going to be married tomorrow."

Hermione blinked…

And Minerva swallowed…hard. She had imagined that the younger woman's eyes would burn…darker with passion, but instead they smoldered lighter…the color of her eyes becoming bronze…and her own pulse jumped, again.

"I…" Hermione's eyes fell to Minerva's lips, "But what I want…is here."

Were either of them anyone else…Minerva would have never questioned…never said another word…and she would have satiated the growing need coursing through her veins…but she wasn't…nor was Hermione, and despite everything else, she was the Headmistress of Hogwarts…and she could not enter into a casual affair…especially with Hermione, who was to be married, tomorrow…to Ronald; Harry Potter's friends, part of the golden trio…the headlines of their past two years flashing before her eyes, giving her the strength to do what needed to be done. "What you want is at the Burrow, already in your bed, dear."

Hermione opened her mouth, but Minerva continued on.

"Go home to Ron." Minerva quietly breathed, eyes memorizing the other woman's beautiful features.

Hermione starred at the other woman…wanting to remain…wanting to find release with Minerva as she writhed beneath her…wanting to hear how thick her accent truly became in the heat of passion…wanting to know how her breasts felt as they slid along her own…wanting to know if Minerva was as talented of a lover as she was in Transfiguration…but, she was right. It was not meant to be.

The entire wizarding world would be in attendance tomorrow.

And she did love Ron, even if she was no longer certain she had ever been in love with him. But…it didn't matter anymore…they were to be married in less than twenty hours, and she had made a commitment to him. To them…and she would see it through, with everything she had.

"I…" She licked her lips, wanting to step forward…but stopped herself. "Thank you, Minerva."

"Good night, my dear." She stated drawing up…just out of reach from Hermione as the other woman's hand sunk into the floo powder.

"You will…still come tomorrow…?" Hermione asked, praying that they had not ruined their friendship.

Minerva gazed longingly into brown eyes, no longer trying to hide her barely contained passion for the younger woman as they stood barely three feet apart…but it felt like a gorge separating them. "I will be there." Her Scottish lilt punctuating her quiet words as their eyes continued consuming the other…

Hermione nodded and swallowed…knowing that if she didn't leave soon…she wouldn't leave tonight. "I would have stayed tonight…" Hermione whispered, her bronze eyes still indicating how much that were case. With every last ounce of willpower, she turned…and flung the powder into the fire. "The Burrow." And without looking back stepped into the green flames as Minerva finally responded.

"And I wanted nothing more, than to have let you." She whispered into the now quiet room. "But, I would have wanted tomorrow too."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

A/N: Don't rightly know if I want to continue this…worked out the plot w/ 'Catalyst', seems like it would be fun…but still debating. Let me know if you want this to be continued. FYI, even if this is continued; the updates will not be made w/ the same regularity as Bonding. Nor is this going to be anywhere near as long. Special thanks to my beta…who makes wonderfully great suggestions.