When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 69

To a Man I Once Knew

For the second time in only a few days, Minerva woke to find herself in a strange bed, and wrapped around Harry, her head resting on his chest as she listened to the steady beating of his heart.

This hadn't been her intention when she had taken her leave of The Three Broomsticks. She had envisioned that she and Harry would talk, but as she arrived at his door and he answered it to greet her, she couldn't find the words she wanted to say.

Instead, she had all but thrown herself at him, hoping her actions would convey the message, that he would understand her without the need for talking.

Looking back, perhaps it wasn't the best approach, but in the moment, there was no way Minerva could have stopped herself even if she wanted to.

It wasn't simple, wanton lust that fuelled her need for him. That, of course, was there but it was so much more, feelings she didn't quite understand or know how to vocalise.

Maybe she should have tried harder, but she had crumbled, whatever boldness that had been instilled within her whilst talking to Augusta having escaped in the fleeting moment it had taken to apparate here.

It was as though she had come and left her senses and sensibilities behind.

Minerva sighed gently against his chest.

As irritated with herself as she was, she couldn't not enjoy the simplicity of this, of being entwined with him, and the world beyond these four walls being forgotten for a time.

Why couldn't life always be this way?

Perhaps one day it would, but there was so much standing between then and now that it was hard to imagine it being.

"Is this the part where we go our separate ways and continue like nothing happened?" Harry asked.

Minerva slowly looked up at him, and though he was smiling, there was no humour in his eyes.

In them, she could see a dozen questions, ones he was fighting the urge to ask, and in truth, it hurt to see him this way.

He wouldn't say it, but it was hurting him too; the uncertainty, the not knowing where they stood, and what would become of the friendship they'd shared for so many years now.

It scared Minerva to think of it, to know they couldn't go back to what they once had.

A part of her wanted to more than anything, the same part that the fear she felt had been born from. The other part of her wanted to surrender to whatever it was she felt for him, for there to be more than they'd had before she had so recklessly fallen into him.

No, there was no way back to what they had, and the only choice was to continue on the path they had begun to tread.

As much as it scared Minerva, the thought of walking it with him abated her fear somewhat.

Emboldened once more, she shook her head and kissed him, not in the way she had when she arrived at his room in Hogwarts, nor last night.

This was different, tender, gentle, and with all the vulnerability she felt.

She had never felt so exposed, and yet, when he pulled her closer to him never so safe either.