Chapter 7: One Step At A Time

One, two, three. One, two, three.

Hermione thought to herself that it was rather sad that she still had to count her steps. But, in all honesty she had to admit that if she didn't she would end up all over the place and that just wouldn't do.

When she had first asked Minerva to go out to dinner and a bit of dancing she had been nervous. This would be their first real date. And tonight was the night. Hermione had paced in front of her closet, clothes strewn everywhere in the bedroom of her flat. She was nervous but, couldn't help but, feel giddy. When she had showered she was even doing one of those shower time jigs like some love sick girly girl. After a while she had picked out a nice white short sleeved blouse and women's pant suit. Her silky white blouse had been left undone at the top to reveal a, shall we say, teasing amount of cleavage. The sleeves of the suit jacket were rolled up past her elbows in a relaxed like state. Her hair is what she was worried about the most. She hoped Minerva liked what she had done. She had picked out a white rose which she planned on handing to Minerva but, as she stood in front of her mirror holding it doing all sorts of poses and flirtatious gestures with it to her reflection, she couldn't help thinking about how crazy this whole thing was.

And yet here she was. One hand holding Minerva around her waist, while the other had the older witch's hand clasped firmly but gently as she led them around the dance floor at the muggle restaurant they were in. Trying her hardest not blatantly ogle the woman in her arms. Which was proving in itself to be very hard indeed.

Minerva herself was not in a better state. She was also nervous but, that was only at first. For when she saw her young lover walking toward her, seemingly so confident, she felt the urge to drool like a dog as ironic as that may sound. What shocked her most however was Hermione's hair. Hermione had cut off her hair into a very feminine short crop; it was combed and slicked off to the side. While it shocked the older witch, Minerva couldn't help reaching up a hand to smooth it over the short chestnut hair. As her hands had smoothed over the slicked locks, down the side, over the cheek bone, to cup a hand around her cheek before sliding it around her neck as they locked eyes and pulled the young woman into a kiss.

Minerva had come dressed in a black dinner dress that went just past her knees in subtle waves. The torso of the dress came up over her breasts and upper back in two tastefully, separate pieces.

They ate a lovely dinner before Hermione insisted on pulling Minerva out onto the dance floor. Which Minerva laughingly let her do. The wine the two had been consuming slowly lowering her inhibitions, as if she even had them towards the younger woman in the first place.

And so here they were.

Spinning round and round the dance floor.

Whispers tickled against one another's ears.

Hands tightened on waist.

A squeeze on the shoulder.

A kiss on the back of the hand.

The night went on. Until finally the house lights went down and the two were out and strolling on the streets.

Minerva stopped to stare out over the Thames. She leaned against the railing over the bridge as she looked at her reflection before she felt a hands wrap around her waist as Hermione rested her chin on her shoulder and they both looked down.

Minerva relaxed in her hold and sighed, "Hermione, I don't know how to thank you for tonight. This was absolutely wonderful." She turned and wrapped her arms around Hermione's neck, "You are wonderful."

Hermione smiled softly as she looked into those captivating green eyes and whispered huskily, "You're one to talk."

They leaned in and as their lips met.

FLASH!

The two witches whipped around to see a man gawking at them with a press camera in his hands, the flash bulb light fading as it had clearly just gone off. A badge was present on his waist coat; just visible under the strap of his shoulder briefcase. Daily Prophet.

Just as the two started to release one another, the man took off and was out of sight before they even had times to take out their wands.

"Oh shit."

Neither was sure who said it but, the statement rang in both their ears.

TBC…

A/N: I know this has taken me some time but, I hope to try and pick this back up. Enjoy.