Well, I posted a photoshop thing on the Facebook fangroup for this ship, and I was prompted to turn it into a story. Hope you all like the start. It was going to be a oneshot, alas...

"How are you settling into teaching?" Ginny Potter asked her best friend.

Hermione marveled at how much had changed in the five years since the war had ended, and how much had stayed the same. Many of her friends had married and started families, Ginny and Harry among them, but for her, she was still as dedicated to Hogwarts as she'd been the day she'd set foot in the magical world. She'd taken a year away, to help her parents as they recovered their memories and rebuilt their lives in London, but after that she'd launched into an apprenticeship under Minerva McGonagall, and this year, she was officially taking over the Transfiguration post.

She wasn't the only new Professor this term. Antony Ross was taking over the Potions post, a man who Hermione vaguely recalled as a Slytherin a year above herself. She'd not interacted with him much as a student, and from what little she did know of him, he was sent out of the country as soon as he'd graduated by his parents, though she had no idea who his parents were. She'd have to ask Minerva. The Headmistress would certainly know. Granted, Antony was unlikely to be pleased if he learned she was nosing about. In some ways, the man reminded her of his predecessor, Severus Snape. Also like Snape, Antony had been given Headship of Slytherin House, following the second retirement of Horace Slughorn, much as she had taken that mantle from Minerva.

"Oh, it's fine," she responded with a smile. "Most of the staff are the same as when we were in school, Pomona and Filius are still there, as well as Septima, Hagrid, Aurora, Poppy, Irma, and Sybill. Binns is still teaching History of Magic, of course. I like the new Muggle Studies Professor - Webster Holland - though the Potions Professor…"

"Ross, right?" Ginny asked, having heard Hermione complain about the Slytherin before.

"Yeah," Hermione frowned. "I just… I try to be friendly to Antony but he's keen on isolating himself, not unlike Snape used to do."

"Maybe he's Snape's kid," Ginny suggested with a chuckle. "He's got the dark hair. Actually he's kind of dreamy, so no, definitely not Snape's kid."

The brunette sighed. "We've been through this, Gin…"

"Yeah, yeah, you don't like boys, I know,' the youngest Weasley muttered. "Sorry, Hermione, I'm still trying to get over the notion that you won't end up marrying one of my many brothers. You're my sister in every way that matters. It would have been cool if you'd become my sister officially."

"And you know I see you in much the same way," Hermione replied. "But as you don't have any sisters and you off and married my unofficial brother… not going to happen."

"Fine, fine, but we'll get you married off one way or another," Ginny granted. "Let's see… any eligible women at Hogwarts? Because let's be real, you don't get out much."

"I'm out now!"

"You agreed to meet me in Hogsmeade," the red-head bantered. "That's hardly out."

"I'm Head of Gryffindor and term is in session," Hermione said haughtily. "I can hardly just up and leave."

"And yet," a male voice drawled. "Here you are, out of the castle, on a weeknight."

"Antony," Hermione greeted tightly. "You're hardly one to talk, as you're here as well."

"I'm here because the Headmistress required me to pick up some books at the post," he replied. "I'm working."

"You can call her Minerva," Hermione reminded him of the staff-wide permission. "And I did ask her before leaving the castle."

"And of course," Antony replied, "she lets you do whatever you wish. Honestly, Granger, it's so obvious you're enamored with each other, it's a wonder you haven't shagged yet."

"How dare you!" Hermione snapped, standing from her seat and drawing her wand. "You take that back, Ross!"

"And on that note," Ginny said, standing. "I need to get home. Hermione, do try not to bloody him up too badly."

"Way to be my wingman," the Transfiguration Professor complained.

"Hermione, you're a Professor at Hogwarts now," Ginny replied seriously. "One, you shouldn't need a wingman to get yourself out of trouble, and two, you're supposed to be setting an example for the children, and shouldn't be in trouble to start with. Goodnight. And good evening to you, Professor Ross."

"Mrs. Potter," Antony respectfully said to Ginny, still having not drawn his own wand. "As to you, Granger, I have no wish to duel you, mostly because I don't want a lecture from the Headmistress. I apologize, my comment was out of line and unbecoming of a Professor of Hogwarts. I shall see you at the staff meeting in the morning."

Hermione lowered her wand, and watched both him and Ginny take off in different directions, and after paying her tab, began the walk back up to the castle. Antony's comment was still ringing in her ears. Yes, she was a lesbian, and only an idiot wouldn't notice that Minerva was an attractive women, but Minerva didn't lean that way so far as she knew. Hermione knew about the affair she'd had with a muggle man when she was young, and she knew about the brief marriage to Elphinstone Urquart. Minerva was decidedly private when it came to her personal life, but Hermione knew her better than most, and she'd never seen hint of any relationships with women. While she didn't suppose it was a far stretch for someone to see evidence - circumstantial anyway - of herself having interest in Minerva, there was no reason to suggest Minerva had any interest, beyond friendship, with her.

By the time she made it back to the castle, she had still not rid herself of the thought, and so she opted to go see Minerva. Perhaps she'd have some insight on Antony Ross, like perhaps a reason he'd want to get a rise out of Hermione, which was the only cause Hermione could come up with that might explain his comment to her. She let herself into the Head's office, unsurprised to find Minerva still up and working at her desk.

"Hermione, come on in," Minerva greeted. "I was just about to take a break and have some tea. Care to join me?"

"That sounds lovely," she agreed easily, mentally calling to a House Elf, and upon the small creature's arrival, she ordered a tea tray with ginger newts on the side, well acquainted with Minerva's preferences by now. "What are you working on tonight?"

"It appears the repairs to Greenhouses Four and Six, after the battle, are decaying in short order. Pomona needs two new greenhouses, which means I need to get the Board to approve it in the budget. She thinks they'll last the term, but I've been down there and I'm not as confident. I'd really rather not end up dealing with a lawsuit because a roof caved in on a class full of unsuspecting third years or some sort."

"That would be a nightmare," Hermione agreed. "And Pomona would never forgive herself if one of the students was seriously hurt."

"There's also that, which is why I'm moving forward with getting her request filled sooner rather than later," Minerva said, stabbing her quill to the parchment, and with a flourish signing her name to complete the correspondence. "There. One task down, only twenty to go."

"Tea first," the younger woman nudged, as the House Elf popped briefly back into the room to deliver their snack.

Minerva nodded, and joined her on the sofa. "How did your evening out with Ginevra go?"

"Oh, well enough," Hermione replied. "At least, until Antony showed up. Is it a job requirement, for the Potions post, to be a snarky bastard?"

"Oh dear Lord, what did that boy say?" Minerva groaned, rubbing her temples. "I will concede, he has a tendency to speak first, think later, and be damned any feelings hurt along the way."

"He was remarking on your giving me permission to leave the grounds on a weeknight," Hermione replied, trying to think of a diplomatic way to bring the issue up. "And his remark was a bit… tasteless."

Minerva blinked. "Tasteless?"

Hermione groaned. "He suggested that our rapport was indicative of unresolved sexual tension."

"Oh, did he?" Minerva guffawed, looking one part amused and one part murderous. "When I get my hands on him…"

"In his defense, he did apologize after."

"After what? You hexed him?" the older woman laughed.

"After I drew my wand on him and Ginny lectured us on how our behavior was poor form for two Professors," Hermione elaborated.

Minerva scoffed. "Killjoy. Professors are human, too."

"But she wasn't wrong," Hermione grudgingly admitted. "An older student could have been nearby and witnessed the encounter, and I hardly think the Hogwarts rumor mill needs to include the notion that you and I are having some sort of affair."

"I dare say, if it did, I'd hope at least it would be a steamy affair they were talking about," Minerva teased. "I admit, I do get a bit of a thrill off of the look on a student's face when it occurs to them that their Professors are people, and have relationships. I remember, oh, a couple years after you and Harry arrived at Hogwarts, a student caught me and my lover at the time sharing a chaste kiss outside my quarters. The poor boy looked mortified. In fact, if memory serves that student was a friend of Antony's, so that may be where his supposition this evening came from."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Hermione," Minerva said gently. "It's fairly common knowledge that you prefer the fairer sex in an intimate relationship, and my lover at that time was a woman. If Antony knew about that, and saw how close a friendship you and I share, it's not a stretch for him to suspect there was something more. Incorrect, obviously, but not that unreasonable."

"Oh," Hermione said, gobsmacked. So much for her theory that Antony was just off his rocker. "How not unreasonable, exactly?"

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking me if I have romantic notions pertaining to you?" she asked incredulously.

Hermione bristled, feeling like Minerva was not taking this conversation seriously. "Well, yes, I suppose I am! We've always been honest with one another, and I see no reason to stop now."

The older woman leaned back, looking thoughtful. "Honestly, I've never given it much thought. I mean, I knew you leaned that way, and I'm certainly not opposed to a relationship with another woman, but given the age gap between us and an existing friendship which I'm very comfortable with, I hadn't considered anything deeper. Why are you being so defensive? Did Antony's comment hit too close to home? Have you got romantic feelings for me?"

The Transfiguration Professor rushed to her own defense and clarified. "No! Like you just said, I'd never considered it. I enjoy our friendship, and yes, there's an age gap between us…" she paused. "Honestly though, Minerva, age wouldn't matter to me. If we're suited well enough for a friendship then equality exists, regardless of physical age. It would be a question of chemistry rather than biology. Just because we make good friends doesn't mean we'd make good lovers."

"Well, I'd agree on that point," she said, voice lowering. "Though I've only been intimate with someone considerably younger once in my life, and that was… I can't bring myself to regret it but the circumstances were wrong on so many levels."

"That sounds like a story," Hermione commented softly, sensing it was a subject Minerva didn't often speak of.

"Not a story for tonight," she replied curtly. "Though regarding Antony, I suggest you put his comments out of your mind. We're friends, something we both cherish, and just because we both have a history with same sex relationships does not in any way mean we're obligated to get involved with each other."

"Agreed," Hermione said, effectively closing the subject. However, while the conversation shifted to other topics for the evening, she just couldn't manage to do as Minerva had suggested and put Antony's comment out of her mind. She'd been forthright with Minerva in that she'd never previously considered her as anything more than a friend, though in light of the revelation that Minerva wouldn't be opposed to a relationship with another woman, she was certainly considering it now. Worse, despite herself she found that her body hummed at the notion of running her lips over every inch of her friend's body.

The first Slytherin versus Gryffindor match of the year took place the following afternoon. Hermione, of course, was in attendance per her duty as Head of Gryffindor, but she was surprised when Minerva took a seat next to her. What was more surprising was the manner in which Minerva was dressed. Gone were the witch's robes, and her hair - her hair! - was down. Wearing muggle jeans and a sweater, she plopped down on the bench next to Hermione, quickly casting a notice-me-not charm around the two of them.

Hermione just stared at her stupidly. "Huh?"

The older woman crackled. "Try not to faint. I do, sometimes, like to simply be a part of the crowd and out of the public eye. Besides, I've decided to give you a bit more insight on our conversation last evening, and I figured we could talk while we watch."

"Minerva, what on earth are you going on about?" she asked, completely perplexed by her friend's behavior. "Are you talking about the having been involved with someone younger?"

The Scottish witch nodded, and pointed to the lineup of Slytherin players. "You see the young man, the tallest of the Chasers for Slytherin?"

Hermione nodded. "August Ross, fourth year. Exceptionally good at Transfiguration. What about him? And what does he have to do with our conversation last evening?"

"August is Antony's younger brother," Minerva explained. "Which you probably already knew."

"Yes…" Hermione confirmed, drawing out the word with her question still lingering in the air.

"What set of parents do you suppose might have produced a Potions and a Transfiguration prodigy?" Minerva asked. "And honestly, Hermione, I'm surprised you haven't already put this together because you know my maiden name."

"Your maiden name is…" Hermione paled. "Ross."

"Aye."

"They're your sons?" she asked, eyes wide.

"Aye."

"With… younger… Potions… SEVERUS?" She finally put it all together, and didn't doubt her conclusion one bit. The younger person with whom Minerva was involved was Severus bloody Snape.

Minerva sighed. "Aye. But it wasn't a romantic affair, Hermione. It was complicated, to say the least."

"Well simplify it in a nutshell, please!" Hermione insisted, completely floored at the revelation.

"During the first rise of Voldemort, I was captured by Death Eaters. Severus, who was a new Death Eater at the time, was there. As a student, Severus was often bullied, and as a result clung tightly to academics and was often seeking extra classwork, not unlike yourself. While Potions was his passion, he was no slump at Transfiguration, and in the process of private lessons with me, we developed a connection. This connection would ultimately save my life, as he could not bring himself to let Death Eaters en mass violate and beat me, so he went to Voldemort and claimed that he harbored feelings for me, and he wanted me for himself, not to be touched by the others. Voldemort agreed, per the Ross line being decidedly old and notedly powerful, to the union, on condition that I remain confined with Severus until a pregnancy was confirmed. Given that the alternate was being raped and beaten by Merlin knew how many others, I agreed. This was Antony's conception. Mind you, this was his seventh year, so going back to class with him was decidedly awkward."

"Oh my god…" Hermione whispered, aghast.

"After the pregnancy was confirmed, I was released, and Severus and I were gifted a property where we could meet at our leisure. We did meet, and often, though only regarding the care of our son. Voldemort was given the impression that Severus was working on turning me, and for a while, that was true. Then came the part of the story that you already know - the death of Lily Potter."

"And his love for her turned him away from Voldemort," Hermione added unnecessarily.

"Correct, at least in part," Minerva agreed. "While he'd been working to turn me, I'd been doing much the same, using Antony as a motivation. I told Severus that so long as he was an agent of Voldemort, he was putting his son at risk. He agreed on that point, but it wasn't enough. Lily's death was the final straw. After Voldemort's fall, Severus and I continued to meet at that house regarding Antony's upbringing, both agreeing that we could not allow anyone to find out Antony's parentage, because the risk of Voldemort coming back was too great. In those years, a deeper affection developed between us, to the point of the summer when Antony turned eight, we had begun asking ourselves if there could be a more romantic element to our relationship. This conversation happened when we were both rather drunk, and we ended up sleeping together again, just that one more time, though when we woke the next morning we were both in agreement that it wasn't something either of us wanted. I found out six weeks later that I was pregnant with August, but that didn't change our feelings, or rather, our lack of feelings. We made good friends, but there wasn't sexual chemistry. We continued raising our sons together until his death at the end of the war. The boys know the truth, obviously, but you are the first person outside of that I've told. Period."

"Albus didn't know?" Hermione inquired.

"Probably the one secret that Severus and I ever managed to keep from him," Minerva replied. "I was Severus' handler during the war - his contact when he was undercover - and Albus never did ask how we managed to not get caught. We didn't need to hide, because Voldemort already knew we were involved. He just didn't know Severus was passing information to me, rather than the other way around."

"Brilliant."

"We thought so."

"No wonder Antony hates me," Hermione mused.

Minerva raised an eyebrow.

"He thinks I want to shag his mum," she clarified. "I'd hate me, too. Now I just have to convince him it's not true."

"Good luck with that," Minerva sighed. "He's as stubborn as his father. Though I did tell the boys I'd decided to tell you the truth, so feel free to be utterly frank with Antony if you decide to confront him."

The problem with this idea, in Hermione's mind, was that she wasn't sure who'd be the victor in that conversation. Would she convince Antony that she had nothing but feelings of friendship for his mother, or would Antony be the one convincing her that she did?

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