I DO NOT own any of the following characters or settings it all belongs to the fabulous JK Rowling.
Chapter 1
Hermione sat quietly in her favorite arm chair staring out the rain soaked window. She loved the fresh smell of rain and how the small droplets seemed to transform the world outside. The dark grey of the clouds comforted Hermione and fit her current mood. It had been twenty six days since she had received the owl informing her of her future. She was given twenty eight days to pick a suitable spouse or the ministry would pick one for her. This wasn't the first insane law to be passed. After the war the ministry became desperate, viscously clinging to any scrap of control over the wizarding community. She continued to sit listening to the creaking and deafening silence of Grimmauld place. Harry had been recruited to the Irish Quidditch team and had left the house in her care while he went of on adventures without her. Ron had left her too. It turned out that the kiss was just a kiss and he had quickly run off to train dragons. After being surrounded by people night and day for the past seven years, being alone wasn't something she was accustomed to. Her three months there were quickly drawing to a close and she couldn't be more relieved.
Classes were starting back up at the end of the week and she had decided to return to hogwarts and finish her final year. She only required two more credits to graduate and had decided to spend the rest of the time aiding Professor Flitwick with his classes. Her teachers had grown very fond of her over the summer after she had helped to rebuild the castle. She still felt out of place among the experienced professors, nevertheless had been offered a teach position following her graduation. Hermione would Take over for Minerva as soon as she was able so that minerva could focus solely on the position of Headmistress.
Despite her current job security she was still left with the spouse issue on her plate. She hadn't planned on marrying this young let alone having children while she was still at hogwarts. For the past twenty six days her life had been plagued with letters of proposals from suitors and their families. She had numerous proposals from men and women from every background including death eaters, current Hogwarts students, and even Mr. Ollivander. So far his was the most promising despite him being almost eighty years her senior. She wanted to teach at Hogwarts and many of her suitors wouldn't allow that. Gracefully swinging her legs back to the floor she walked haltingly to the dining room table. These types of decisions should never be made on an empty stomach. She decided to make some of her favorite tee and some cheese on toast to eat while she thought. As she watched the cheese bubble atop her toast she was roused from her thoughts but a thunderous knock on the door, Hermione startled by the noise clutched the spatula tighter to her person as if it would aid her from the intruder in some way.
"Come in," She called down the dark hallway. Hermione wasn't surprised by the visitor because of the lateness of the hour or the pouring rain. She was surprised because besides Professors Snape and Flitwick she didn't often get visitors. Tucked safely behind the kitchen door, Hermione waited for the sound of footsteps. The war and changed her and not for the better. Suffering from regular nightmares and panic attacks, she had become anxious and paranoid, constantly checking for exits and observing her surrounding. Always prepared to fight.
Minerva Stepped lightly through the dim doorway. Water rain off her dripping robes as she carefully took in her surroundings. She was being watched. Taking a leap of faith and praying it was only miss Granger she continued through the gloomy hallway. The smell of fresh tea accompanied by something burning wafted to her from the kitchen as she casted a quick drying spell. "Hermione… it's Minerva." Listening for any form of reply, Minerva continued to the kitchen. She gently pushed the door open and was met with a yelp as it swung into the motionless Hermione on the other side. "Hermione, I think your toast is burning."
"Shit!" Hermione finally forced into motion ran to the stove to try and save the remnants of her meal. "I am sorry Professor McGonagall… I wasn't expecting you. Not that your presence is unwelcome." She mumbled quietly to herself.
"It's Minerva, You've earned the right to use my first name. How have you been doing?" She gracefully lowered herself into a chair as she watched hermione battle the beginnings of a lovely little fire.
"Better, Actually. My Nightmares have almost gone and I have been working on socializing." keeping her eyes firmly on the frying pan.
"Hermione, you really shouldn't lie to me you know. I have known you long enough to be able to see right through it. Besides Severus says he is concerned. You looked very terrifying with that spatula though what was your plan might I ask?" She wasn't trying to be cruel, her nerves had kicked in and seeing her favorite student in this state wasn't helping. "You shouldn't be alone here. Why don't you come with me back to the castle for dinner? And before you object burnt cheese on toast isn't dinner. Goddess help me." The toast had erupted into a fire and Hermione jumped back unsure what to do. Minerva lifted herself from the table and carefully dropped a lid onto the pan effectively extinguishing the fire.
"Why are you here?" Hermione snapped, relieved that the fire was out but annoyed that her favorite teacher had seen her in such a state. Hermione watched as Minerve lifted the stack of proposals from the table and flicked through them with deft fingers.
"I am here to talk to you about marriage."