It was one hour after Dumbledore's funeral, the many people that had travelled long distances to pay tribute to the man who would forever be the hero of generations. The decision was made, Harry, Ron and Hermione would not be returning to Hogwarts for their seventh year, which may not even be consequential as the school may not even reopen.
Nevertheless, it still felt like good bye, for Hermione Granger at least. She stood in the entrance hall saying goodbye to the Weasley family who would be journeying back to The Burrow by portkey as Mr and Mrs Weasley had come the same way to the school.
"Now, Harry, Hermione, either I or Kingsley will contact you before July 30th to discuss travel arrangements."
The pair nodded.
"See you soon, take care" said Mrs Weasley in a chocked voice, her puffy eyes swam with fresh tears. She pulled both Harry and Hermione into a tight hug before releasing them and quickly leaving through the great oaken doors followed by a flustered Mr Weasley and a morose Fred and George who nodded goodbyes. Ginny gave Harry's hand a light squeeze; her eyes lingered on his face for a moment before she too followed her parents and brothers. Finally it was just the three, Harry, Ron and Hermione left.
"So, I'll see you soon then" said Ron, "We need to plan what we're actually going to do to… you know… after the wedding" he added in an undertone before waving once and leaving the hall.
Hermione sighed, "Do you think we'll ever come back?" she asked.
"Part of me thinks we'll have to, this place was so important to him, to both of us. If it's going to end, it'll be here." Replied Harry heavily.
His hand was in his pocket and Hermione knew it to be clenched around the fake locket.
"I need to grab the last of my things from the dormitories" said Hermione.
"Okay, I think I'll go and see Hagrid before he takes the first years back across the lake"
Hermione nodded.
"I'll meet you on the platform then" she added before turning and heading up the marble staircase.
She reached the Fat Lady who sobbed, "Password?"
"Um…" said Hermione, an idea had been born during the funeral, if they couldn't finish the job, if they died before the task's completion, who would carry on? It was then that she made her decision, to entrust one more person with the information she had, she turned to tell the Fat Lady not to worry but she had moved into the portrait next to hers and was now sobbing into the arm of a very sympathetic looking knight.
She therefore headed to the place where the one person in whom she would entrust her life resided. She knocked lightly three times on the door. When no reply came, she knocked again. This time earning a weak but agitated, "Not now".
This would remain one of the only times she had ever disobeyed a teacher; she proceeded to enter, pushing the heavy door slowly open. She had imagined her mentor sat behind her desk, surrounded with paperwork, instead she found her in an armchair by the fire, a glass of what Hermione knew to be Rosmerta's Finest Oak Matured Mead in her hand, her hair, out of its usual bun and braided instead in a long plait. It seemed Professor McGonagall had not heard her enter, or at least was pretending not to have heard because she didn't even look up. She was gazing into the flames.
Hermione didn't have a choice; the Hogwarts Express would be leaving in half an hour and she had a lot of information to pass on.
She approached the chair and sat in the one opposite.
"Professor?" she began tentatively.
Something in Professor McGonagall seemed to stir and her eyes rose to meet Hermione's.
"Not to be rude Hermione but-"
"I am sorry for intruding professor, I understand that today was… was… difficult but I have to tell you something, it's important" continued Hermione, but Minerva's gaze was already fixed back on the flames, she seemed to be searching for something within them.
When she spoke it was little more than a whisper.
"I am sure, Hermione, that it can wait-"
"I won't get another chance." Hermione said firmly.
Even in her emotional state, Professor McGonagall's hatred of interruption still rang through her and her gaze shot to Hermione's. Emerald green met chocolate brown and they engaged in a silent battle of wills.
Hermione had always known the woman to be formidable but fear was never an emotion she associated with the professor in front of her now.
"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Professor McGonagall, there was a slight tone of worry within her voice.
"I mean to say that, Harry, Ron and I will not be returning for next years school year" said Hermione, she awaited the explosion, but it did not come. Instead Minerva let out a humourless, cold laugh.
"Well, of course not. Why would anyone come here now?" began McGonagall fiercely, but when she spoke again it was whispered, "What is left?"
"You are here" said Hermione, "while you are here, students can feel safe, and they will come back Professor. They will come back because they know, that here there is someone who will die, before she lets harm come to them. The students will come back for you."
McGonagall remained silent; she seemed to absorb Hermione's words.
"What is the purpose of your leaving? I am assuming that you intend to depart alone, and when I say alone, I mean without the assistance of the Weasley's or any other member of the Order of the Phoenix."
Hermione nodded.
"I am also presuming that, this… departure is not simply for the purpose of staying alive" continued McGonagall.
"Well, in the long-term yes, we hope to work towards Voldemort's demise" said Hermione.
Minerva laughed that cold laugh again.
"No one can stop him now" she said, her voice seemed devoid of emotion.
"We can" replied Hermione, "we have a way… and I need… I need you to know about it before we leave because… there's quite a big chance that we… that we won't…"
"Come back?" whispered McGonagall, suddenly leaning forward and looking into Hermione's eyes which swam with tears before she slowly nodded.
"We don't even know where to start, everything seems so unlikely, the scraps of evidence that we're basing our entire plan on are just…" Hermione's voice was suddenly high pitched and frantic.
"Does this have anything to do with what Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter were doing away from the castle on the night of his death?"
"Yes" whispered Hermione, "It has everything to do with that".
"Stop, Hermione, you must tell me no more" started McGonagall, suddenly rising from the chair, "Dumbledore didn't want me to know" there was a bitterness woven into her voice.
Hermione approached McGonagall and took her hand in her own.
"Dumbledore didn't" said Hermione staring deep into Minerva's eyes, "I do".
And with that, Hermione plunged into the tale of what lay ahead for the trio, the existence of the horcruxes and where they could be.
When she had finished McGonagall was shaking.
"Hermione… you can't… it is madness" spluttered Professor McGonagall.
"I know that!" Hermione almost shouted, "But it's all we've got" her voice was rising again and her eyes pooled with fresh tears as she voiced the truths that had revealed themselves over the last few months, "We have everything riding on nothing and I have to pretend that I know what I'm doing because if I show for a… a second that I… I don't understand something or I make a mistake, then everything will fall apart."
Minerva stood rooted to the spot.
"There must be another way" whispered McGonagall, staring imploringly into Hermione's eyes.
The younger shook her head slowly, "I wish there was".
They stood for a moment, their gazes stuck to the others.
Hermione slowly heard the sound of a train approaching and realised that the Express had arrived to take the last of the students away. She lowered her hand and her gaze.
"I have to go now" she said to the floor, she hesitated for a moment, opening her mouth to say something but stopped herself. She slowly turned and walked to the door. Her hand was on the handle as she felt a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder; she slowly turned to meet the fearful, watery emerald eyes of her professor.
"Hermione I…" began McGonagall but before she could finish Hermione and wrapped her arms around her waist and pressed her head to her chest.
Then the cries came, the cries Hermione had held inside. The fear that she felt for what lay ahead. The fear of plunging herself into oblivion and not knowing. The fear that she may never feel the safety of the castles walls again, a place that had been so much more than a school.
"I just… needed… you… to… know" Hermione sobbed.
McGonagall ran a comforting hand through the young girl's hair.
"I know dear, it's alright, it'll be alright" she felt the lie leave her lips but couldn't bring herself to contradict it. She, as much as Hermione, wanted to believe that it was true and when she felt the girl relax in her arms she felt comforted that she had at least, helped Hermione one last time before she departed.
Finally Hermione drew herself away to gaze into the deep emerald orbs, the emotion she found in them caused her breath to falter.
McGonagall lifted her hand to Hermione's face and gently traced away the tears that had fallen.
"Be safe" whispered McGonagall, she stepped closer to Hermione and pressed her lips to her forehead, Hermione sighed into the touch and closed her eyes, enjoying what would surely be, one of the last moments of clarity she would experience for a long time.
"If I don't return-"
"Don't" McGonagall said forcefully.
"I just… want you to know-"
"Hermione" said McGonagall with a soft smile, "I can't think about you not coming back, I have to stay here and run a school that will no longer be untouched by dark forces but be full of them and… the idea of… of"
Hermione sighed, "I know" she said simply.
They stood a moment longer before Hagrid's call could be heard and she could put it off no longer.
"Goodbye Professor" whispered Hermione, and she turned back towards the door but upon opening it stopped when she heard,
"When I see you again Hermione, you will no longer be a student, therefore I think it only fitting that you call me Minerva"
Hermione's eyes filled with fresh tears again, she couldn't turn back, she could only go forward and so with a deep breath she walked onward and out of the office. When reaching the Oak doors she turned back and stared longingly at the great castle before her and something in her very being told her that no matter what happened, she would see this place again, and the woman who now stood within it.
"Goodbye Minerva".
Pleaseeee review! MG