AN: It took longer than I anticipated, but here is Chapter 2. For all those who read, favorited, followed and took the time to review, thank you!


The pumpkin juice clung to the walls of the golden goblet as the liquid sloshed around inside the drinkware. Hermione remembered her father saying that the way the wine clings to the sides of a glass is indicative of something, but she couldn't remember of what. She hoped he and her mother were enjoying the Australian wines. She also hoped William would stop talking.

"And it was really hard for all of us. After the first three months I thought I was going crazy, but it was just two months after that that my father managed to take us to France."

Hermione sloshed some juice onto the tablecloth at hearing that.

"I cannot imagine what it would be like to spend five months in your family's country estate waiting for the war to end", she retorted, but William just went on.

"Yeah, that's why I'm saying that you can come to me if you need someone to talk to."

She couldn't believe he'd had the audacity to say that, and this time he noticed it.

"I mean, I know it was nothing like what you went through with Potter and Weasley, but since they're not here…" – he slid a few inches closer to her, his voice lower and a little pitying – "I think we could become good friends."

The young witch didn't know what to make of that comment as William Anderson just sat there smiling and waiting for her to accept his offer. She opened her mouth to say that no, not in this life, thank you, but the boy disappeared from his spot at the table. Hermione just stood there, open mouthed, with goosebumps all over her body as a gust of magic swirled around her. It was frantic, eager and demanding but in the millisecond before it vanished Hermione felt as if a balm had washed over her, soothing and familiar.

Those sensations lasted only a moment, just enough time for William to land with a loud crash on a nearby table, but it was sufficient for Hermione to identify their source. She searched for it and found Professor McGonagall standing in front of her high back chair, about to pass out. Hermione could not understand why her professor would do something like that, but when their eyes met, it was clear that neither could the Headmistress.

Around both witches, the moods were getting agitated. A bunch of irritated Slytherins shoved William off from over their food, the teachers were concerned and the Ravenclaws got all ruffled up on the other side of the Great Hall. Hermione knew for a fact that Professor McGonagall would never intentionally harm a student, so when Professor Flitwick started to search for the responsible she could not let the Headmistress get into trouble before knowing what was going on.

"I'm so sorry, William! I don't know how that happened. Are you alright?"

The boy in question looked at a very worried Hermione, who was putting on a show of helping wipe porridge off his robes. Guilty clouded her eyes and the hand wringing added a nice touch to her performance.

"You did it?!", William asked confused and angry as he dabbed a stain of jelly from his tie.

"I must have been fumbling with my wand, it's behaving strangely since the war, it wasn't my intention to harm you…", she said loud enough for anyone in a mile radius to listen.

"I'm…" – Hermione was dusting crumbs from his black hair now – "I'm fine, Hermione." The young man took a couple steps back from the Gryffindor. He was calmer when he resumed talking. "It was nothing serious. I think you might be out of sorts after the war, maybe you need some time to adjust."

William took notice that all eyes in the Great Hall were pointed at the both of them. "I better be going", and with a small smile that looked more like a grimace he walked back to his house table.

When he was gone, Hermione shot apologetic glances to her colleagues and professors and resumed eating in the hopes that people would let the incident slide. She swallowed the rest of her breakfast as fast as she could and bolted for the double doors. Not once did she look at Professor McGonagall on her way out for fear of having overstepped the line and upset the witch.

As was always the case in Hogwarts, the news of her little magical stumble were already making the rounds in the castle when the brunette set foot out of the Great Hall. The young witch could notice the stares and hear people whispering as she strode through the corridors to her first class of the day. She was so intent on haughtily ignoring her peers that it took her a few seconds to notice the tickling sensation on the back of her right hand.

When she finally looked down at it, she saw a tiny green butterfly resting there. The little creature was beautiful; its wings sparkled as if made of gemstone and Hermione watched in delight as the bug leisurely walked over her skin. When the butterfly reached the palm of her hand, it fluttered and transformed into an equally small piece of parchment.

Surprised at first, the Gryffindor smiled as she unfolded it to see a deep shade of green ink form an invitation in impressive cursive.

Would you meet me for tea this evening?

"Yes, I will, Headmistress", she murmured to the stone corridor.


It felt like five years had passed before the evening arrived. It had been a day of answering questions about her wellbeing and reassuring her professors and friends that she would seek their help if something like the morning incident ever happened again. Neville even apologized for not noticing she was at a difficult time. He was the sweetest boy and Hermione felt bad for lying to him.

Shortly after dinner, the Gryffindor made her way to the Gargoyle Corridor. The old stone statue granted her entrance immediately and so she climbed the stairs to the wooden doors. At entering the office, the young woman found the Headmistress leant over a stack of papers, quill in hand, an air of tiredness about her. The war, the reconstruction of the school and the double role as Headmistress and Transfiguration professor had certainly taken its toll.

The witch lifted her head a second later and smiled at her guest. She wrote a quick note and vanished it somewhere, placed her quill next to the inkwell and got up from the desk to greet her student.

"Good evening, Miss Granger. I'm glad you could join me."

"Good evening, Headmistress."

Professor McGonagall motioned Hermione to a side of the circular room where a very comfortable looking pair of armchairs faced a coffee table. In her way there the young woman noticed how much more elegant and refined the office looked. Dumbledore's museum of knick-knacks had been replaced by hardwood and soft leather. Bookshelves covered every available surface on the walls and dashes of red and gold brought warmth to the room. The decor was tasteful, with the exception of a Montrose Magpies flag that clashed with everything else.

They took their seats and a moment later, a tea set appeared on the coffee table accompanied by a tray of biscuits. Minerva handed the young witch a steaming cup of tea and went straight to the point.

"Miss Granger, I'm sure you must have many questions, but before anything else I owe you an apology and a thank you."

Hermione tried to say there was no need for that, but Minerva halted her words with a raised hand.

"Thank you for saving me from a major embarrassment; and forgive me for allowing you to do so. It was inappropriate to let you take the blame for my actions but I was so astonished at the time I could not react properly. I cannot deny it saved me from a problematic situation with Mr. Anderson, his parents and the Board, though."

Hermione did not like the contrite expression on her professor's face as she talked, not in the least. It did not suit a witch so formidable.

"Professor McGonagall, I know you would never do something like that on purpose. What happened was out of your control, I can tell that" – the remembrance of the raw magic sliding over her skin made Hermione shiver – "I did what I thought was right. It would not be fair to let you be penalized by such a ludicrous accident. Not when you've been doing so much for the wizarding community."

Minerva smiled gratefully at that, her star student had always been so fiercely protective of others.

"I appreciate it, Miss Granger. I assure you I'm taking the necessary measures to prevent any more trouble." The Headmistress reached for her teacup then and lifted it to her lips, but stopped mid-movement and stared intently into Hermione's eyes. "But in the case something else does happen… please refrain from getting yourself into a tight spot again."

"With all due respect, Professor, I can't promise that", the Gryffindor answered with a smile and before Minerva could protest the young woman posed one of the many questions she did have.

"Do you have any idea of what may have caused that burst of magic this morning?"

"No, I don't, Miss Granger."

Minerva's lips thinned and she gripped her cup tighter as she continued.

"But it won't be long before I have an answer."


As soon as she stepped into the Gryffindor common room, Hermione was dragged to a corner by Ginny, who looked mock indignant.

"How could you send William flying without me there to watch it?"

"Ginny, that was an accident; I didn't intend to harm him."

"You really want me to believe that you couldn't control your wand? I bet you could wield the Elder Wand if you wanted to!"

"Gin, I can't quite explain what happened, but that really was not intentional."

The redhead wasn't much convinced, but decided to drop the matter. "It serves him right, anyway. How can he be so arrogant?"

"Forget about him and tell me about your practice."

Sometime later, just before falling asleep, Hermione wished her professor would be able to fix whatever was affecting her. For a couple days, it seemed the Headmistress had done just that, for everything went off without a hitch.

Then, a tabby cat decided it had other plans.