An: Hey! I am taking this story over for patronusmagic who is an amazing author. Unfortunately they convulsants continue so I adopted it. I apologize If you don't like my continuation. I hope I did this amazing story justice.

After the 'incident' with Malfoy Hermione and Professor McGonagall started having a weekly tea. It happened every Friday evening, they would sit down on a high backed red couch with dark wood trim, sipping on some sort of hot beverage. Hermione recounted her week while Minerva listened quietly to the pleasant recollections.

Nearly a month after these little meetings started, Hermione was starting to get better; no longer being shunned by all of her classmates or crying at night, she took a turn in the opposite direction. She had finished the transfiguration work for the week when a group of Slytherins descended on her. Most of them were older than her, more full of hate for the little Gryffindor who was threatening to take their lead in the race for the House Cup than their younger counterparts. She didn't know their names. Just their faces... and their wands. For nearly an hour they took turns using painful jinxes on the small girl.

When they finally let up she ran, faster than she thought she could, to Minerva's room. Whispering the password before the portrait of Sir Geoffrey Gryffindor could question her tears. It was another hour before dinner started and Minerva went looking for her 'cub'.

"Courage," she whispered. Silently she crept into her rooms looking for the young girl. She had already looked in all of what one might call the usual spots: abandoned corridors, the common room, and the girls dorm. All of those places had held no answers for her concerned mind and had only made it clench tighter.

A low sobbing noise caught Minerva's exceptionally sensitive ears' attention. Quickly she swept toward the sound of crying. As soon as she caught of the young witch Minerva rushed to comfort her.

Hermione was curled around a soft pillow still crying when she felt a hand on her back, gently rubbing in circles between her shoulder blades. Slowly the wails stopped and Hermione released the soft bundle.

"Miss Granger," she intoned softly. "Child, why are you in my chambers rather than at dinner?"

"I was too emotional to go. I didn't want to be seen sobbing in the middle of the Great Hall." Hermione said as her mentor took a seat near her head. A coaxing hand came to her head and gently moved it to her professor's lap.
"Dear, please, what made you so upset?" The only response she got was a vigorous shake of the young girls head. It didn't sit well with Minerva, letting the people who hurt her best student get away with it. "Ok dearie."

After a few minutes in silence spent with Minerva softly stroking Hermione's hair the older witch spoke again, "Have you eaten?" Another shake of the head.

"Millie?"

"Yes mistress McGonagall?"

"A plate from dinner please, Millie?"

"Yes, mistress McGonagall."

A few seconds later a plate of food appeared on the coffee table with silver and a glass of chilled water.

'Funny,' thought Hermione, 'I don't remember telling her tht I don't like pumpkin juice.'