Pensieve

A Granger Memory

Hermione close to ran down the long corridors of the school in which she had lived for nearly seven years now. It was a difficult time in the lives of Hogwarts staff and students, those in the wizarding community were on top alert. With the war swiftly approaching, Hermione knew that next year she wouldn't be returning to this large block of stone sitting nestled between the mountains. The thought nearly killed the girl.

Horcruxes. Dumbledore had said. Find them, distroy them and distroy Voldemort. The game sounded quite simple to the boys, but she knew the true gravity of the situation. Horcruxes once found were nearly impossible to figure out. To destroy... would be hell.

Hermione was quickly becoming dizzy with her pace. When she reached the familiar portrait of Godric Gryffindor he was forced to cry out You Girl! No running in the halls! She almost jumped out of her skin.

"I'm sorry Godric, I'll slow down," he seemed quite pleased with her response as she neared him. "Ginger Newt."

As he swung open she looked both ways, becoming accustomed to making sure she was alone before entering the older womans rooms. They had formed quite the bond over the passed few years. Each new year bringing them a little bit closer. Though Minerva still kept her conscous professional front in check. It wasn't exactly unusual for students to befriend professors and vise virsa, yet the older scott woman did prefer her privacy.

"Professor..," Hermione called into the darkened rooms then heard a small stirring which she wandered toward. "Are you here?"

It was at the moment that Minerva flew into her main room wand at the ready causing Hermione to jump and let out a small scream of surprise. Minerva clutched her chest and steadied her breathing.

"For Merlin's sake Miss. Granger you scared the living daylights out of me!" The older woman exclaimed. Hermione was too frantic to care about the little heart attack she just gave her most adored mentor.

"I need to talk to you," Hermione walked briskly into the rooms which had a rich aroma of tea leaves and ginger. "I can't leave Hogwarts without letting you know..."

Minerva quickly deposited her wand back into her robes and moved with her young pupil to the plush couch which sat before her now empty fireplace.

"Hermione what has brought you to this state," Minerva asked worriedly fearing that this young girl was losing her mind under the intense pressure. It took a mere moment to register that the instant Minerva had sat and inclined toward her student that her hands had been caught within the long tender fingers of the brunette beside her. The hazel eyed woman wasn't removing her contact. "Miss Granger..."

"Minerva I've been dying inside knowing that I'm leaving, at first I thought it was because of my grades all my work wasted, I tried so hard..." She sensed that the older woman was about to say something so she quickly continued, grasping on to her mentors hands when she felt that they were slowly being retracted back to their owner. "But I realized that it wasn't the pain of leaving Hogwarts that's be tearing me apart... I've worked for so long for your attention and you gave it to me, your friendship and trust.. I hadn't realized that all of it was for you."

Minerva sat motionless. Her mouth became dry, her thought's had stopped since Hermione had begun her heartfelt proclaimation. The brunette took the silence as acceptance and continued with sudden ease.

"I love you."

Hermoine's hazel eyes were tender as she looked upon the auborn haired woman. Fear and worry slowly crept back into her psyche when she received no reply. They sat like this, in awkward silence, for what seemed like ages before Minerva stood swiftly and opened the door to her rooms. Hermione felt like a bucket of ice water was thrown in her face, it cascaded down her back leaving her cold and numb. She knew the look in Minerva's eyes, that silent lividness.

"Miss Granger, I must ask you to leave my rooms, I bid you well on your mission and hope you find your way home safely," Hermione stood up and walked quickly over to her professor, imploring with her gaze but was halted when she began to speak by the thick Scottish anger in the elder womans voice. "We all have some feeling towards our girlfriends Hermione.. It does not mean we act upon them."

There it was. The rejection that caught Hermione by surprise. Her spine crackled and her brain blew up like a firework.

The night she left Minerva in her rooms, she was changed. She felt like a shell.

Minerva stood behind the door for what seemed an eternity, tears rushing down her cheeks in two streams.

"For the best..." She whispered to herself... but was it truly?