A/N: Okay so in my great wisdom I was compelled to write more when my Human Resource textbooks was just so bloody boring.

"Holly isn't it?" Hermione nodded. "Okay, I'm Minerva, pleased to meet you." She held her hand out, Hermione took it and shook it firmly.

"Pleased to meet you too, Prof... Minerva." Hermione realizing the odd look on Minerva's face thought she better cover her slip. "Sorry it's just that we had a professor at my last school called Minerva." Minerva nodded and appeared to be happy to accept the excuse.

"As long it doesn't become a habit." Minerva chuckled.

Hermione couldn't believe it Minerva McGonagall actually chuckled. What on earth had happened to this girl to turn her into the strict professor she was in her time? Well apart from 40 yeas of teaching misbehaving children. That couldn't be all there was too it, she just had to find out. This was going to be interesting Hermione thought to herself at least she would have a project to work on.

"So this is the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. We call him the grumpy monk." Minerva pointed towards as she spoke. "The password at the moment is snitch, we won the quiditch cup last year so we're still on a quiditch high." She chuckled again and smiled proudly. "Do you play quiditch? We lost two of our chasers, graduated last year. I'm captain of the team, keeper, three years running now."

"No I don't play, sorry. Love to watch though. Don't feel to safe on a broom." Hermione admitted with a shy smile.

"Well we'll have to change that won't we?" Minerva was grinning at her now. Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. "You have the perfect build for a chaser." She continued and gently run her hand over Hermione's arm. "I could take you up on my broom get you used to it. Maybe get you used to the feeling then see how you fair on you own?"

"Oh I wouldn't want you to go out of your way." Hermione returned amazed that Minerva appeared to have taken an immediate liking to her.

"Don't be silly if I'm right, and I usually am, you will make a fantastic chaser." Minerva's eyes were twinkling as she spoke. "Anyway enough of quiditch for now. Through the portrait hole we go." She held her hand out to help Hermione through.

Once inside she felt at home. It appeared that they hadn't changed a thing. She looked around a smile growing on her face. "This place is wonderful." She breathed.

"Yes it is. Now, this is the common room." Minerva appeared to have pushed her chest out slightly, her very ample chest, in much the same manner as Percy Weasly always did when he spoke as Head Boy. "We tend to spend most of our time in here." She continued to point out all the things that Hermione had become accustomed to in the room.

"So where is my dorm Minerva?" Hermione asked as it appeared Minerva had finished without telling her.

"Well, about that." Minerva was looking rather nervous at answering. "Because you're letter was received late there are no free rooms. So I hope you don't mind but the only place we could put you was in the Head Girl dorm with me." Minerva looked for any sign that there would be any issue.

Hermione smiled to herself. This couldn't have been any better. Getting to know the real McGonagall and being the only two in the room. "No. I don't have a problem with that. I had to share with four other girls before and that got annoying trying to get work done if I wanted to be on my own. I suppose it is actually better than being in with the other fifth years."

"Good. Now just up this way." Minerva lead Hermione passed the few students sitting reading in the common room, up the stairs to the top of the girls dorms. "Here we are, after you."

Minerva stood aside and waited for Hermione to enter. Pushing the door open she walked into a room that was, she knew, the same size as the dorms below the. It had however only two beds placed across from each other and a fireplace with two very comfortable looking chairs.

"This will be your bed," Minerva pointed to the one on the left. "and through here," she pushed open another door just to the right of them, "is my, sorry, our private bathroom."

Hermione was in heaven she was in the head girls dorm and in only her fifth year. Okay so it wasn't hers but she could dream couldn't she.

She walked over to the fire side and looked at the book sitting on the table between the two chairs. "You read Shakespeare?" She was shocked that a 17 year old pure blood witch would know of Shakespeare let alone own a copy.

"Yes. My parents were both educated at oxford in the muggle world after finishing at Hogwarts. Always pushed me to read as much muggle literature as possible. Mind you didn't need much pushing after I started to read this. So I assume that you enjoy muggle books too?"

"Muggle born. Always loved to read." Hermione shrugged.

......

Minerva couldn't believe her ears and eyes for that matter. Standing in front of her was the most beautiful witch she had ever seen. She read Shakespeare and could be the solution to her quiditch teams problem. If Minerva had believe in love at first sight she would have recognised it here. But of course she had only known the girl for the last 20 minutes. It couldn't be love could it?

Minerva had known for a while now that she was gay. It hadn't really occurred to her to think about it until one day she was lying in her bed, during third year, staring at the poster of the all female quiditch team on her wall when it suddenly hit her. She was attracted to women. She liked guys but only as friends and that is all it had ever been. In that instant she had come to understand what the niggling in the back of her mind that she could never quite pin point was. The days following her realization she had been rather withdrawn and self conscious that if she had admitted it to herself that automatically everyone else would know and she would be the butt end of jokes for the rest of her life.

After a week of acting rather strangely Dumbledore had called her into his office at the end of class. Reluctantly she followed.

"Miss McGonagall take a seat I wish to have a word." He waited on Minerva sitting down. "Now I have noticed that you appear to be troubled of late and I would like to know if you wish to talk about it?"

Minerva looked at him. Albus Dumbledore, her trusted professor and head of house. This man could be trusted, couldn't he?

"If you do not wish to tell me, I do understand however I believe that I have had enough problems in my life that I can relate to what you are going through." He smiled kindly at her.

"I doubt you've ever went through what is going on with me lately. Trust me." Minerva replied looking dejected.

"Why don't you try me, you never know you may be surprised." He sat back in his chair and waited for his baited hook to be taken.

Minerva sat there. She had the sneaking suspicion that he knew exactly what was going on and if offered an ultimatum like that then he himself must be gay. Before this theory had time to be overridden by her self consciousness she blurted out very loudly and very fast. "I'M GAY"

Dumbledore smiled. "It wasn't that bad to say out loud now was it. I know I felt ten times better after the first time I told someone." Winking at her he continued. "I will give you a little advice if you would allow it." She nodded. "Minerva, it is imperative to be yourself and don't look upon what other people think. Secondly even of they do tease you it only shows there maturity level, well rather lack of. and if you do not wish anyone else to know I will keep this to myself and assure you that if you ever need to speak to me about anything, I am here."

"Thank you professor. I can't tell you how much it means to me to be able to speak about it. Thank you so much."

"Now that you have a smile on your face and a weight off your shoulders on you go to dinner. I bet a week of not eating through worry has made you famished?"

Minerva got up and headed towards the door, turning back she said, "Thank you so much professor. Have a good evening." And left.

......

"Okay Holly I think it's time for bed," Hermione nodded her agreement. They had spent the past hour and a half talking about Shakespeare and Hermione had just yawned for the second time in a minute. "You're going to have to be well rested for tomorrow."

"Why would that be?" Hermione asked perplexed.

"Because it's Saturday and you're going to have a private flying lesson." Minerva gave her a wicked smile. And headed in the direction of the bathroom.

Hermione sat there is a daze. That smile was amazing she thought. How come in 55 years time she never smiles. The question was still on her mind as they both slipped into sleep. Tomorrow was going to be interesting. For both of them.