A/N – So…yeah, it's been a while again. I have no excuses this time except loving life and learning to cook new meals, and settling in to life in a new state. Georgia is incredible. And I foresee myself spending many weekends day and night on the beach! Now, on to the chapter!

-O-O-

Hermione sat beneath the invisibility cloak in the corner of a sterile room at St. Mungo's, Ginny was holding her newborn son and dozing. Harry, the Weasley's, and many of the professors from Hogwarts had been by to congratulate her on the newest addition to her family. Hermione was happy for her red-headed friend, but at that moment her mind was consumed with the images and memories that Ginny had showed her of what Minerva had looked like since they had met in Rio. Her face was gaunt and drawn. The dark circles under her eyes revealed that she hadn't been sleeping well since their meeting. Her robes were fitting much too loose. Hermione felt incredibly guilty for how she had reacted.

Her thoughts turned to Ginny's words after she had seen the memories. "Hermione, I know you are scared of what will happen between the two of you. I know she hurt you and I know you don't trust her, but if you don't give her a chance, if you don't come back and let her prove to you that she was wrong, how will you know it's not right?" And it was that final statement that had Hermione caught. 'How will you know?' rang through her head over and over. Combined with the serious tongue lashing that she had gotten from Isabella when she left Cairo, she had already decided to speak to Minerva about what had happened but now? Now she seriously questioned her resolve on simply leaving the interlude at a conversation.

The brunette was startled from her thoughts as several Weasley's flooded in, including Ron and Harry, followed by Minerva. Ginny smiled as her mother took her son, and moved over to make room for Harry to sit with her. Hermione's eyes were riveted on the Headmistress. She appeared calm and collected, but Hermione knew the difference. Her eyes, those green pools that Hermione had drowned in many times, betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Congratulations Ginny. I am sure that he will grow to make just as much mischief as his parents did in school." Her smile was tight and Hermione's heart tightened in response.

"Thank you Minerva, I'm sure he will make just as much trouble and Fred and George did." There was a silence that followed in which Hermione watched her friend's green eyes shift to her, then back to Minerva. She inhaled deeply and then nestled down against Harry.

Minerva of course, ever the master of subtlety, inhaled quietly and froze. She stepped back from the rest of the group, all of whom were too focused on the youngest sibling and her new baby to realize, and silently stepped over to the corner where Hermione was hidden.

"Are you truly here?" came the pained whisper from the older woman.

In response, Hermione simply raised her hand, making sure to keep herself covered beneath the cloak, and grasped the hand that hung next to her. The answering gasp was all the encouragement the younger woman needed. Standing she whispered, almost silently, "Follow me." Pulling Minerva gently along with her, they slipped into the hallway and then down to and unused office.

As Hermione moved to pull away, Minerva grasped her arm in her free hand. The brunette froze. "Let me see you?" was the older woman's whispered request.

"Yes."

Slowly, carefully as if moving too fast would scare off the concealed woman, Minerva slid her hand over Hermione's shoulder and up to the back of her neck, where she was careful to grab the cloak and not the ample amounts of hair that had been there, she pulled. What was revealed was not what she remembered.

After they had reached Cairo, Hermione had decided she wanted a change. So now, the huge head of curls that had been present in Rio, were now short, straight locks, barely reaching her chin. She looked Minerva in the eye, waiting for her to say something, anything about her appearance. Trembling hands came up and traced the line of the longest piece of her hair, which fell to the right side of her face. Hermione surprised the Headmistress by leaning her face over into her hand.

"I'm sorry." The brunette whispered.

"No. You have no reason to apologize. Everything that has happened between us has been my fault. Your reaction in Brazil was completely natural. But believe me; I truly regret how I treated you on the platform. And I wish that I could go back and change it but I can't. All I can do is apologize and hope that eventually you will come to forgive me. Perhaps one day then, we can be friends." Minerva said quietly. Her hand, the one that wasn't caressing the younger witch's cheek, came up and slid through her short hair. "I like this. It's classy, yet still has a touch of youth to it."

"Is that what you want? To be friends I mean?" Hermione asked looking up at her companion.

"In an ideal situation, no. I don't want to be friends, but I am also not foolish enough to think that I should try and win your affections after I have hurt you so badly."

Hermione smiled softly. "What if I told you that you didn't have to try and win me? That you still own my heart and you always have?"

Minerva froze, and then pulled away, "Isabella," was her only statement.

"Is my friend. Nothing more. My best friend yes, but still only my friend." She paused, as if she was unsure how to word the next part. "What you saw at the conference was merely a ruse that she and I used many times to ward off unwanted attention, and at the time, I still believed that any attention from you would be unwanted." Another pause and a deep breath. "I have had over a month to sit and drink, I spent more time this last month drunk than I did sober. It gave me a lot of time stuck in my own head to think about what I want and what you mean to me." Hermione reached up and touched the older witch's cheek. "If I have a chance at all, of being with you then I want to take it and see where this leads."

Minerva was staring at the younger woman, absorbing the words as she spoke them. Hermione wanted her. Isabella wasn't her lover. Hermione wanted her. The younger woman was offering her the chance that she had longed for. For almost five years she had wished every night for this, had rehearsed almost every day the words she would say if her wish was granted, but they were all frozen in her throat as her brain tried to comprehend the thoughts that were rushing through it.

Hermione was losing her nerve, watching Minerva stare blankly at her. She started to pull away, uttering quiet apologies and reaching for the cloak. 'I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry.' Her silent mantra ended when hands grabbed either side of her face, and soft thin lips met hers in a searing kiss. The brunette squeaked in surprise before relaxing against her ebony haired love.

The kiss was soft and sweet. A slow meeting of lips and tentative touches of tongues. Hermione whimpered softy when Minerva gently caught the younger woman's lower lip between her teeth. Hearing this sound, long tapered fingers slid into soft brown hair and pulled. A hand slid down to the small of Hermione's back, pressing gently, bringing their bodies closer together. Minutes, maybe hours, passed and neither witch cared.

Breaking the endless chain of kissing, Minerva wrapped both arms around the suddenly sniffling young Gryffindor, and held her as silent sobs wracked her body. Minerva released a few of her own tears as she sent up silent thanks to whatever deity had answered her prayers. She knew that she and Hermione would have to talk about a lot of things. Isabella, drinking, partying, but she knew that they could figure it out. The biggest issue that Minerva could come up with was Hermione's travels. But then, she supposed that wasn't such an issue. She had talked for that last several months with Filius about finally retiring. It would be nice to simply travel. She felt Hermione start to pull away and looked down at her.

Hermione offered Minerva a watery smile before a knock sounded at the door. They both froze before a familiar voice sounded through the wood. "Oi! If you are quite done, can I come in now?"

Hermione laughed and flicked her wrist. The door unlocked and in strode her best friend. Isabella walked over to Minerva and stuck out her hand. "Isabella, best friend extraordinaire and the one that is going to break your face if you hurt her again."

Minerva cocked an eyebrow and shook the offered hand. "Minerva, and I have no plans on hurting her, ever."

"Good then we can all get along." Izz looked at Hermione and opened her arms. She hugged her friend tight. "I suppose moving to London permanently wouldn't be so bad, there are some rather cute guys here." Hermione laughed. "And the Quidditch teams are amazing!" she listened to her best friend ramble about the Chudley Canon's and the Hollyhead Harpies and looked up and her green eyed lover. Everything was going to be fine now. She was sure of it.

-O-O-

A/N – Well guys, that's it. There may or may not be a possible epilogue coming in the future, maybe. As always read and review. And be sure to give massively huge thanks to Luthearl, for kicking my butt and making me finish this. It would never have gotten done without her. Seriously, you guys, it would have died without her. If you haven't already, go ready her stories, they are amazing. THANKS GUYS!