Four hours had passed since Voldemort's defeat, it was mid-morning and sun shone across all of Hogwarts. Kingsley Shackelbolt who had been appointed acting Minister for Magic had sent an own informing staff and students that Minerva McGonagall was to be reinstated as head of the school, permanently

The castle had been evacuated and the remaining students sent home to their families. The Great Hall had been emptied of bodies and the many fires stretching across the vast grounds had been put out. Rebuilding would begin in a week.

Minerva McGonagall decided to take the opportunity to return to her rooms and rest. She walked through the Great Oak doors and up the marble staircase, it was only when she reached the cracked frame of The Fat Lady's portrait that she stopped. She ran her fingers lightly against the jagged edges of the frame.

"So much destruction" she whispered to herself.

She pulled open the frame and stepped inside the Gryffindor Common Room. The walls were still the fierce red they had always been but there were thick splatters of blood thrown across the surface and Minerva wondered whose it was. Whose life was cut short? Was it a child? A child she should have protected?

"Tergeo" she muttered while tracing her wand through the air in a great arc to leave the walls glimmering and the blood removed.

"If only we could be rid of all so easily"

Minerva spun on the spot, wand raised. Her emotions were still so close to the surface after the night's dreadful events, she had her defence curse ready, but forgot it at once as she looked into the face of her greatest student, one who excelled above all others, who delved into the deepest realms of transfiguration as she had once done.

Hermione Granger stared up at her through tired, red eyes. The morning sun bounced from her tear-stained cheeks. She stared around the wrecked room and her eyes swam with fresh tears. Cautious at first, Minerva hesitated before approaching her. Then she lifted her hand to Hermione's face and attempted to wipe away the tears as best she could, sympathy had never been a strong point of Minerva's. Hermione stared up into her mentor's face; she seemed shocked but relieved by the gesture.

"I'm sorry… it's just… seeing the room like this… I-

But Minerva understood

"I know, this place means a great deal to many people, myself included"

In a graceful, sweeping motion, she removed a gleaming white handkerchief from within her robes. Muttering thanks for the handkerchief, Hermione began to pace about the room.

"I'd like to ask you something" she said while pretending to rearrange rubble.

Minerva had already gone back to rebuilding the common room; the ceiling was almost entirely intact before she said,

"Yes?"

"Well, I don't have any arrangements for the future, what with my parents currently being in Australia, I wondered if I could remain here and aid you with the reconstruction of the castle?"

Minerva continued to wave her wand in various patterns and whisper incantations under her breath while Hermione stood staring, waiting for her answer.

"I do not mean to speak out of place" began Minerva, "but surely you will want some time with Mr Weasley. I, as are many others, am under the illusion that the two of you are something of an item"

Minerva felt Hermione's blush and regretted her words as the younger witch turned her back to her professor.

"I thought, there might have been something between us, but after last night, I've found that there are other parts of myself that I have yet to discover. I have lost enough over the past decade without losing who I am, or who I am meant to become."

"Meant to?" Minerva questioned.

She found the girl's behaviour quite extraordinary, but then Hermione had always been extraordinary to Minerva.

"I just mean" answered Hermione, rather hotly, "that there's more to me than Harry Potter's friend"

Her anger amused Minerva, Hermione had always been so controlled it was almost incredible to see her overcome with irritation. She could not suppress the small smirk that pulled at her lips. She turned, at last, to face Hermione full in the face, her emerald eyes found Hermione's hazel and she saw, what Hermione meant. It was not about having no where to go, there was only one place she could go and it was Hogwarts. The place where so many lost souls had taken shelter, found reassurance, Minerva included had sought refuge within the castle's walls and she was not about to turn away someone who was in as much need as she had once been.

"You should know, Miss Granger that Hogwarts will always welcome you and I would be most grateful for your participation in the rebuilding of the castle. You may stay."

A small smile shaped the younger witch's lips and she nodded her thanks before turning away and exiting through the portrait hole.