Chapter Two:

Minerva looked out after the young woman that had just run off. She had knocked but as soon as Minerva had opened the portrait she had apologised profusely and run, at full speed, toward the Head Dormitory.

Minerva sighed. She would have to ask Hermione what had happened earlier. Their first meeting for Animagus training was this evening, and she hoped that whatever was the matter with the girl, would have been sorted by then. She wished that Hermione would come to her with her problems, and although she had done so in the past, it seemed as though this time, from Hermione's reaction and expression, that Minerva would not be able to help her.

Still pondering the idea, Minerva headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. Seating herself beside the Headmaster, Minerva glanced down at the Gryffindor Table, noting that Hermione was not present and that Harry seemed to be wearing a concerned expression and was looking around for someone.

Spotting Minerva at the Head Table, Harry quickly stood and made his way to Professor McGonagall.

"Professor," he started, when he reached the table, "Have you seen Hermione this morning?"

Minerva nodded, "She left before she could say anything. Is there something wrong?"

Harry shook his head but remained concerned, "She said she needed to speak with you about classes or something but I don't think that's what she wanted to talk about. She seemed too nervous for that, and she broke down last night," he added.

"Why?"

"I don't know. I asked her about something at the feast, and she said that she would tell me after the feast. When I asked her she began to cry and the more I tried to comfort her, the harder she cried. Then I told her we should get to bed and she sobbed really hard and ran to her room. Then, this morning, she looked as though she'd been up for hours and she'd been crying. She said she had to see you then left. Do you have any idea what's wrong, Professor?"

Minerva shook her head, "I shall speak with her after the lesson."

Harry nodded but still looked concerned and left the Great Hall, obviously in pursuit of Hermione. As Harry reached the Head Dormitory, he heard the sound of sobbing. He noted with some concern that Hermione was also hiccupping, which meant that she had been sobbing for quite some time.

"What happened?" he asked, as he opened the door to her bedroom. Hermione threw herself into Harry's arms, and sobbed on his shoulder.

"I couldn't do it, Harry. I couldn't tell her," Hermione sobbed, and Harry walked with her toward the bed and sat.

"Couldn't tell her what?"

"I couldn't tell her that I -" she paused, and released a hiccup, "love her," she whispered.

"What?" Harry asked, shocked.

"I do," she whispered, and hugged him tighter, almost afraid that he would desert her after her confession, "I really love her. I can't help it. I tried so hard to stop, but I just can't, and it's so hard. I've been trying to keep this to myself but I don't know what to do. I was so scared that you'd hate me, and I can't bear that, but if she hates me, I couldn't live, Harry. I really couldn't."

Hermione held Harry close as she said this, still afraid of his rejection. Harry soothed her, and began to speak.

"Hermione, there is nothing to be ashamed of. You're in love with a woman, who just happens to be your teacher," he paused for a couple of minutes, "What are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know," Hermione spoke in a relatively calm voice, though it still trembled, "I was going to tell her this morning, but it didn't turn out right. I was terrified, so I ran," she stopped, and took a breath before she said quietly, "I guess I need to explain to her."

Harry nodded, and said that McGonagall had requested to speak with her after the lesson. Hermione nodded bravely, but there was fear clearly reflected in her eyes.

Changing the subject, Harry said, "Have you had any breakfast?"

Hermione shook her head, and Harry conjured a croissant, which she ate, though still rather nervous. A few minutes later, they headed down to Transfiguration, Hermione still scared.

Throughout the lesson, Hermione continued to glance nervously at Minerva, and Harry held her hand comfortingly. Knowing that at the end of the lesson, she would either have made her confession or avoided the subject successfully, Hermione attempted to transfigure her rat into a stone bird.

Minerva, on the other hand, had no idea what was going on with her young student. What could have made her knock on the door to her office, and then run off before she could say what she wanted to? As Minerva looked closer at Hermione, she noticed that Harry seemed to be holding her hand and comforting her. Ron, as always, looked oblivious, not understanding why they seemed to be so tense.

As the class was close to finishing, Minerva spoke, "I want a twelve-inch essay on the properties, theories and uses of Transfiguring live vertebrate animals into stone replica's of another vertebrate, due Wednesday," she paused as the class wrote down their homework, "Miss Granger, may I see you after the lesson?"

Hermione nodded, but did not make any other comment or movement. Harry, still sensing her nervousness, spoke quietly in her ear, "It will be alright. Just tell her what you feel comfortable with, and leave the rest for later."

Hermione nodded once more, and whispered back, "Can you tell Ron?"

"About McGonagall?"

"Yes, I don't really want to see his reaction. I don't know if he'll -" Hermione broke off.

"Don't worry, 'Mione. It won't matter to Ron, just like it didn't matter to me."

Hermione nodded, and as the class proceeded to leave, slowly made her way to the front of the classroom where Minerva was waiting.

When Minerva didn't make any movement to begin, Hermione spoke, and her voice shook with nervousness, "I'm very sorry about this morning, Professor," she began, "I had no right to run off without giving you an explanation."

"It's alright, my dear," Minerva spoke with gentle affection in her voice, "What's the matter?"

"I, I," she stuttered, "I d-don't know i-if I -"

"You don't know if you can tell me?" Hermione nodded, "It seems Mr. Potter is helping you."

Hermione nodded once more, "I told him after he found me during breakfast. He was very supportive. I asked him to tell Ron, but I'm not sure what his reaction will be."

Minerva looked closely at the young woman before her. She seemed to be on a very thin line between being stable and breaking-down. Unsure, for one of the first times, Minerva said gently, "I'm sure everything will be fine, Hermione. However, if you ever need to talk to someone, you are most welcome to come to me."

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said gently.

"What happened to 'Minerva'?" she asked. Although, she would never admit it, Minerva quite liked Hermione using her name, rather than her title.

"I didn't think I deserved to call you that after this morning, Professor," Hermione maintained the title.

"Hermione, please do call me Minerva. You will always have that right."

When Hermione spoke next, her words were so quiet, that Minerva, even with her sharp hearing could barely hear what she said, "You don't know that."

"Hermione," Minerva began sternly, "Nothing you do shall ever revoke the respect that I have for you. Therefore, you will always have that right."

Hermione looked a little taken aback, but nodded, "Thank you," she paused briefly, "Minerva."

Minerva nodded, and said to the young woman, "I think you might be a little late to Charms. Give this to Professor Flitwick," she handed Hermione a scroll.

"Thank you," Hermione said once more, and then she left, leaving behind a confused and thoughtful Minerva.

Meanwhile, Harry was trying to inform Ron of the situation between Professor McGonagall and Hermione, but was so far unsuccessful.

"Haven't you noticed Hermione's strange behaviour over the Holidays?" Harry asked, as they walked up a moving flight of stairs.

Ron shook his head, "She was just happy to come back. You know, Hermione, the more you learn the better."

"You never noticed how strange she behaved when she got the Hogwarts letter?"

"You mean other than the fact that she was absolutely delighted that she made Head Girl and you were Head Boy?"

"No," Harry groaned in frustration, "I'm talking about the fact that she see-sawed between being ecstatic and miserable."

"When was she miserable?" Ron asked, bewildered.

"Dammit, you really are clueless," Harry mumbled, slightly angry, "Didn't you notice what happened in Transfiguration?"

"You mean, that Hermione didn't transfigure her rat and McGonagall didn't notice?"

"Yes, but what else did you notice?"

"Um" Ron paused, looking confused. He sighed and then asked huffily, "Can't you just tell me?"

Harry rolled his eyes, and said quietly, "Hermione's in love with McGonagall, and I think McGonagall feels the same."

"WHAT?" Ron exclaimed loudly, "How can she -"

"Shhh!" People were looking at them strangely now, but Harry pushed on, "I didn't know either until the Feast, but Hermione's loved her for years, and I'm pretty sure from two days of watching, that McGonagall feels the same."

"But, but she never told us."

"She didn't think we'd be supportive. You can't blame her, there is a lot of stigma and shame attached to that, but we're her friends, so I don't think she needed to worry."

"No. Yes, I, err," Ron grumbled. He still appeared to be shocked, "She's got nothing to worry about."

"Good," Harry grinned, "So how are we going to help her?"

"Help her?" Ron asked, "Help her with what?"

"Help her get the girl."

"Huh?"