I Own Nothing, Reviews would be appreciated. I truly do love writing these two as family. Didn't like it? Tell me why. Think I could improve? Tell me how.

Hermione Granger scribbled hastily away at her parchment, decreasing her writing size so that she could fit the last sentence onto the worn sheet. She was in the Gryffindor common room, huddled in the corner where she usually sat with Ron or Harry. But she wouldn't be sitting with them today, or even this year at all.

It was her seventh year at the school, but she was a year older than everyone else. This was because after the defeat of Voldemort the last year, several students who had had their education compromised by the war efforts were offered the opportunity to return for another year, and take their exams again. Hermione was one of the few who accepted. No one from Gryffindor returned, and it was only a few other Ravenclaws who accepted the offer too. Ron and Harry had gone off to the auror academy to train, leaving her to be the only one of her close friends who would return. However they still kept in contact through Harry's mirrors, and every holiday the boys would come to visit her at the school. They were closer than ever, It was wonderful when they visited, but soon after they left Hermione would again feel the ever present pressures closing in on her, and she'd return to her work.

That year Hermione had again acquired a time turner from Professor McGonagall, and she was taking the full NEWT year course, save for divination and Quidditch. It was accurately much harder work for the young girl, but without the life threatening distractions and keeping her boys up to date, she found that she could easily handle it. What she couldn't handle was the constant course of extra credit assignments she was always volunteering for.

From the start of term Hermione had taken on various tasks, completing them in record time and always asking for more. She created potions, mastered charms, and wrote hundreds of essays. Soon into the year she had swept through the standard NEWTs coursework and was weeks ahead in her practical's. Despite this, she never stopped working. The young lioness always made sure she was never without something to do, and slowly but surely she was cracking. Her eyes were now constantly puffy, and her whole body ached from the little sleep she had. Her body was becoming fatigued from the lack of food, and Hermione only ate when someone watched her. Then she would turn around, and start on some more of her work.

Because every time she stopped, every time she thought for just one second, the memories would resurface. Memories of the death of her friends, of the battles she had fought and the wounds she'd inflicted. Also resurfacing were the memories of the wounds that had been inflicted upon her and her loved ones. When she went to sleep her dreams were plagued by the unknown faces, and by one woman. Bellatrix Lestrange. In her dreams she would hold a captive Hermione whilst she watched Ron being tortured over and over, then Harry would be brought in dead, followed by all of the others she cared about: Molly, Arthur, Luna, Ginny, her Professor…The list was endless. And her only reprieve was when she was working so hard she could concentrate on nothing else. So Hermione kept her head down, and her work quality though the roof, hoping that no one would see through the glamours to the tired and weary soul left behind.

~~~/~~~

Minerva McGonagall sighed as she taught her seventh year class the finer points of object to animal transfiguration. Many this year were a slight disappointment, having relaxed largely due to the absence of death eaters. As she swept along the desks she corrected the hot-headed Miss Weasley in her wand movements and sharply told Miss Lovegood to concentrate on her work. It was a rarely known fact that she truly did love her students, mostly because they really made her life hard sometimes.

However as she felt slightly guilty at her unforgiving attitude, the headmistress thanked Merlin again for the safe return of her students and moved onto the next desk. Hermione was well ahead with her work already, and Minerva had been keeping a close eye on her all year. Minerva had yet to find a suitable replacement for herself and was still the transfiguration mistress and Gryffindor head of house, so she had given Hermione the time turner herself.

The elder witch was uncertain about the arrangement, unsure whether Hermione would again push herself too hard with the course load, but the young lioness's results were phenomenal. She was left with no doubt about Hermione's skills, but at noting her continued absence at mealtimes and social events had resolved to speak to the girl about not over working herself. At that moment her older cub blinked furiously, looking like she was about to fall asleep. "Miss Granger, please stay after class for a quick chat with me." She spoke sternly, and at seeing the girl's hurt and confused expression added a piece of reassurance and small piece of praise for her work.

The lesson dragged on, and somehow one of the Ravenclaws managed to turn another student into a small chicken, which meant the Professor had to spend minutes trying to find and return him to his original state. After a severe lecture, and no small amount of swearing, Minerva headed back to her office where she could relax. She turned around, and dropped her façade but came face to face with Hermione Granger. Instantly it came back up.

"What are you doing here Miss Granger?" She demanded.

"…You asked to see me Professor." The elder woman's eyes widened in realisation and she moved into her office.

"Ah yes. Do come in Miss Granger, have a seat. Would you like a cup of tea?" The look she gave her student clearly stated that she should accept.

"Er…Yes thank you Professor."

"Lemon and Ginger I presume?" The elder woman asked, knowing fully the answer.

"How did you know my favourite Professor?" The younger woman asked, shocked.

"I do take the time to look after my students, and I check in on them now and again. You don't become a student's head of house for seven years without learning a thing or two about them Miss Granger." The elder woman replied coolly.

In truth Hermione had always considered her Professor too busy with important work to spend time with them, though it appeared that she was wrong. Feeling a bit lighter at her Professor's interest in her students, Hermione sipped her tea complacently and waited for her Professor to begin. She recited the spells she knew in her head to occupy herself whilst she waited.

Minerva took the opportunity to discretely examine the younger witch. Physically she looked fine, but the girl was quite closed off emotionally, reminding Minerva of herself after the first war she was dragged into. The results of that had been quite upsetting and needless to say, Minerva did not want the young child before her to suffer the same fate. As Hermione rubbed her eyes absentmindedly Minerva leaned closer. Eyeing her suspiciously she deduced that the girl looked too healthy for someone who had just been at the forefront of a war. As she rubbed her eyes again Minerva noticed the absence of bags, and inferred that Hermione was using a glamour charm. She wondered why, as the girl had never seemed the vain type. As she began to wonder events started to piece together in her mind.

"How are you Miss Granger?" She asked out of the blue. Minerva expected anything but the truth.

"I'm coping." The girl answered cryptically.

"Are you coping well?" She pressed. The younger girl's arms folded across her chest in a defensive gesture.

"Yes." It was clear she was beginning to wonder why she was here.

"I'm not so sure. You continually miss meals, rarely eating a plate full when you do attend. I am constantly chasing you up to your dormitory at three in the morning, because you have been studying. You do almost nothing else but work Miss Granger, when I know you are weeks ahead. Professor Sinistra told me last week that you almost fell asleep in her lesson, and you have not raised your hand once this year. To top it all off you are wearing a glamour charm for reasons beyond me! It is quite unlike your usual self." The elder woman's volume and pace had risen steadily as she'd pieced together what she knew. "Convince me you are fine." She looked sternly at the girl, tapping her foot.

Hermione opened her mouth, then closed it a couple of times. "I…I am fine." The cracks were staring to show. Minerva didn't like it, but experience with Albus had taught her that she had to push.

"Really? Because I think that now you are just trying to fool yourself." Her Scottish brogue was very prominent now.

"I-I am fine!" Hermione started to furiously shake her head.

"This is regrettable Hermione, but you need to see yourself. Finite incantatem."

The glamour came down in a shower of sparkles, revealing the true Hermione Granger that had not been seen for weeks. Her clothes hung off of her more than they had before, and her face was drawn. Dark circles enclosed her eyes, and her hair was now limply hanging down her back in tangles. All in all, she looked the wreck Minerva had expected her to be.

Minerva could not contain the gasp she emitted, and Hermione leapt up, tears in her eyes threatening to come down as she ran from the office. Blinking, the headmistress quickly transformed and chased after her, she followed her down to the lake where Hermione unexpectedly stopped and fell. Coming closer, Minerva checked her pulse and quickly realised that she'd collapsed from exhaustion. 'Her body probably couldn't take any more work.' She surmised, before sending her patronus to Poppy.

Hours later, Minerva was still in the hospital wing with Hermione whilst Poppy cast various diagnostic charms. "Minerva, I am afraid that just now the poor thing collapsed due to exhaustion. It was bound to happen sooner or later but we need to make sure she eats, and sleeps. I've given her a vial that means she should sleep for a few more hours." Poppy then ushered the older woman into her office and sat her down. "Minerva, the girl need much more attention than I can give her here. We have two options; we move her to ST Mungos, or she stays with one of the staff." Minerva deliberated for a moment.

"Then she shall stay with me for a short while. She's already months ahead with all of her work, so she won't need to attend classes, and I can make sure she eats daily and gets enough sleep."

Minerva wasn't particularly happy with being a baby sitter, but she wouldn't allow the girl to go to ST Mungos from where she'd face the humiliation of the press, and she couldn't give her to another staff member. It would be unfair to her co-workers. She briefly thought that the company may even be pleasant, but brushed that off considering how the girl had reacted earlier. It would most likely be a case of staying out of each other's way.

"Well then, that's settled Minerva. You take care of her…and perhaps you can find out why she's acting this way." Poppy proclaimed. Minerva nodded, wondering the same thing.

She then returned to her office settled down to do some work whilst Hermione slept in the guest room.

~~~/~~~

Hermione woke up heaving and gasping, trying to rid her memory of the awful scenes. Looking around she realised that she had no idea where she was. She got up cautiously, searching her memory for a clue. The last thing she remembered was running towards the lake and away from… 'Oh. But why aren't I in the hospital wing?' she thought.

She ventured out from the guest room into what looked like a living room. The décor was tasteful but plain and slightly impersonal. There were no pictures about, and the room looked barren without them. A large Gryffindor shield hung on the wall. Moving through too an office Hermione spied her favourite teacher composing a letter. She waited until the woman was obviously finished and then stepped through announcing herself. "Professor?" The elder woman looked up and finished her work.

"Miss Granger, have a seat."