She was accustom to being excluded from social events. Even being alone but Hogwarts was her only safe haven. When she was young the familiar walls supported her back as she read a book alone in the corner her first year, it refused to hurt her knuckles when she punched it repeatedly in anger in her 3rd year when she was being bullied, it shielded her from judgment in her 5th year when she kissed her first lover, it wiped away her tears and comforted her when her lover left her at the end of the 6th year, and it told her to come back when she graduated the end of her 7th year. Hogwarts was her life and she never thought the walls would hurt her.

But today the walls were hiding something from her. The people she worked with and cared for had forgot to include her in their little social event; they were drinking and talking in the teachers lounge without her. In the long run is want a huge deal but even her best friend Poppy Pomfrey and her mentee Hermione Granger were there. Now she stood there looking at the scene and had no idea what to do. They group of people were so enthralled in their conversations they didn't notice the Headmistress standing in the doorway until the door behind Minerva shut. The small crash of the door closing brought all eyes on her.

"I didn't know the prude was invited," sneered Severus

"Severus, may I remind you that I am your superior and I would appreciate if you wouldn't speak to me in such manner." Minerva shot back. She knew how to fight these petty battles, she has been fighting them her life.

"I do believe she scared her lovers away Severus. No one want to commit to the shitty life that she has especially anyone with any sense of adventure. Her past lover actually..."

"Rolanda I beg you to stop now. Her life is no ones business, especially not Severus'. You drunken fool, you should stop now before you say something you regret!" yelled Poppy who has been quiet in the back until now.

Rolanda, realizing she was quite intoxicated, stood up and left the room as quick as her body would let her. The room stayed quiet as Minerva nodded her head at Poppy as thanks and proceeded to walk out of the room. She had successfully ruined their social event. The name-calling was typical but the rest was bordering on painful for her. She wasn't prude but that was her dirty little secret. No one but the walls knew that her lovers come and go day to day, that she only ever loved one person, and the walls knew never to speak of that lover. Rolanda almost made that mistake tonight.

Minerva called for her house elf Sweeny to bring her tea and tarts as she changed into her nightwear. She glided into her bedchambers and quickly removed her robes and undergarments. Minerva stood in front of her standing mirror and stared at her body. It was getting old and it was changing in ways that bothered Minerva. Her ample chest was starting to love gravity, her stomach wasn't as flat and tight anymore, and her bottom was loosing its roundness. Time was the strongest evil she knew. Her blue nightshirt was hanging on the side of the mirror. That shirt held a lot of sentimental value for her but it was bitter and sickening if she thought about it for too long. She put the clothing on and went back to the fireplace, curled up on her loveseat and began to read her book. It was a quiet night and she wanted to enjoy it. Sweeny popped in and poured the tea for her mistress and placed the tray with the tarts next to her. The small elf also poured a bit of liquid from a flask into the tea before handing it to Minerva. The Headmistress smiled and thanked the elf for her service as well as the spot of fire whiskey in her tea. The night was cool so Sweeny conjured a blanket for her mistress and left her in the silence. The silence was perfect.

Hermione Granger was known to keep her cool and to think before reacting but the drunken pass from Severus made her sick. Never in her life, at least since Ron, had someone tried to pick her up for a one-night stand and she wasn't going to let that happen. So she slapped him; she hit him so hard that the poor fool passed out in the hall. There was no way she could just let him stay their for the students to see in the morning so she had to carry him back to his chambers and call for his elf.

"Your drunken master needs help and I am done doing favors for this horrid arse! He is your problem now!" Hermione pushed his body a bit with her foot and had half a mind to spat on him. But the elf was loyal to his master and gave a glared that made Hermione feel like ice. She turned away and left. Her footsteps were loud and fast as she decided to tell the Headmistress of what had happened. Minerva McGonagall was a friend and confidant; she was sure to listen to Hermione rant about her night. She just hope Minerva wasn't too upset about the fact that she went to the party despite the fact that her mentor was not invited.

Hermione was walking swiftly while mumbling to herself. Any onlooker may have thought her mad but it wasn't unusual for Miss Granger to be talking to herself. She was so lost in thought that she forgot to knock or announce herself as she waltzed into the chambers of the Headmistress.

Hermione was pulled out of her trance with a gasp and a thud. The thud came from a book falling on the floor and the gasp from a scantily dressed Minerva who had pulled the blanket up to her chin.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry for barg in in…I wasn't, I mean…I didn't mean to…damn it!" stumbled the young witch. She moved slowly back to the door as if to leave, "You seem unprepared for company so I should leave."

"You only scared me, please don't worry because there was no harm done. You are always welcome her and you know that." Minerva let the blanket drop down as she went to stand, "Let me change into something a bit more presentable and I will be right with you. Help yourself to tea, tarts, or fire whiskey. One moment if you will excuse me."

Minerva rose to her feet and Hermione's eyes dropped to observe the body of the older witch. The mature woman was only wearing a light blue button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and the top few buttons left undone to expose some cleavage. The shirt itself only came to the very top of the witch's thigh, right where the curvature of her bottom starts. It was a woman's style shirt but it was ten sizes too big for her and it was quite worn. As a matter of fact, it was so worn that it left little to the imagination. Hermione could see the dark nipples of her mentor and the dark triangle at her pelvis. The young witch was mesmerized, so much that she didn't realize she was staring. Thankfully Minerva didn't notice the eyes glued to her body and leaned over to get her book. She did hear a little squeak behind her but she chose not to investigate. If she would have, she would have seen a stunned Hermione who gasped at the sight of her mentors slightly dimpled bottom whish she saw sully when Minerva leaned over to retrieve her book.

Hermione sat back and tried to keep herself from thinking of her mentors body. She had known Minerva for a long time but never seen her in such a way. Hermione's body has responded in an inappropriate manner when she saw Minerva's almost naked body and she was angered. Not only was the heat that ran through her body inappropriate but also confusing. When she left Ron she hadn't had any sexual encounters so her body must be searching for something stimulating but Hermione was heterosexual so a woman's body shouldn't turn her on, right?

"Gosh…what is wrong with me?" Hermione audibly asked herself.

"Nothing at all, I might say," replied a fully dressed Minerva. She had a plaid nightgown in shades of emerald and that was much less revealing. "Although your face is a bit flushed at the moment but that may be from the drinking you were doing a little while ago."

Minerva went for the stab and Hermione knew she deserved it. "Please don't be sore Minerva, they asked me and I didn't know that you were excluded. And for Merlin's sake, I had a horrid time."

"Oh darling you are mistaken, I don't spend my time being sour on such unimportant matters. The lack of an invite gave me time to my own; I truly hate social events anyhow." She moved back to her loveseat and motioned Hermione to join her. "And I am sorry to hear you had a bad time with they others, although that crowd of people can be quite mean when they drink. You may have noticed that when I was victim to a few harsh words earlier today."

Hermione's eyes flicked to those of the older witch, "Yes, it was uncalled for and I'm sorry they said such things. I don't think you are a prude, so to speak. You are single and happy…well I mean I guess I am assuming things. I don't know much of your personal life. Rolanda's comment actually shocked me because I didn't know you had, uh, been with someone…I'm going to stop talking now." Hermione's face was pink and her head was fuzzy. She must have drunk to much and now she was prying into Minerva's life.

Minerva chuckled a bit at Hermione's rambling but also felt a sting. She never talks about her past true love or any of the lovers in between…they had become to many to count. "My dear, I have been in love before but I don't talk much about it because although I may be a grumpy old hag, I did once have life and love. Rolanda knows of that and spoke too much while intoxicated."

"Again, I don't mean to pry but may I ask about him? Merlin's Beard, I guess I do mean to pry. My question seems to be asking you about your personal life."

"Yes, your question is." Minerva rose from her chair and poured only fire whiskey into teacup. "And I may be able to give an answer but first you need to know one thing…you may not ask about him because there was no man in my life. But you may ask about her… her name was Kiera. mo ghrá amháin fíor."

Hermione's lung shut off and her cup fell from her hands and shattered.

Minerva McGonagall, her mentor and friend, was a lesbian.

MinervaGirl8~ let me know what you think! It was a sweet little idea, let me know if you want to read more! Hugs 3