Minerva McGonagall swept into the hospital wing the next day, her robes swishing elegantly behind her as she moved through the wing, searching for Madam Pomfrey. She found the woman in her office, back to the door, mumbling to herself.

"Poppy, I just..."

When the matron turned around, Minerva gasped and staggered backwards a little. She leaned on the doorframe, unwilling to stare yet unable to remove her eyes.

"What on earth are you doing?"

Poppy seemed entirely unfazed by the presence of the Gryffindor head of house as she calmly slotted her arms back through her tunic, and covered her breasts.

"Bra's off to avoid strap marks. I was just seeing if I could give them a little magical lift."

At Minerva's blankly incredulous look, she rolled her eyes and elaborated.

"For the calendar? I want a blemish-free shot. Well, I don't want any added marks or wrinkles, anyway. So I'm keeping tight clothing to a minimum until the photo is taken."

Almost against her will, Minerva's eyes shot to Poppy's thighs. The matron laughed loudly.

"Oh, Minerva. Don't be so prudish. After all, we know what you did last summer...well, those summers, anyway." With a wink. "I'm wearing knickers. After all, I don't expect that much to be showing in the calendar. But I'm 65 years of age. If I'm not gonna get 'em out now, when am I? Now," and with a shrug and a flick of a strand of hair, she was back to the no nonsense Hogwarts nurse. "What can I help you with?"

Minerva blanched.

"Erm...staff meeting. Before dinner." And as dignified as she could manage, she hastily fled.

As she reached her rooms, she was surprised to see Hermione stood at the entrance waiting for her.

"How long have you been here?" she asked as she led the way through to her office.

"Not long," Hermione lied. In truth, she had been waiting to see Minerva for the best part of an hour, but knew that if she left, she wouldn't pluck up the courage to seek her out again.

They both sat on the sofa and a tray of tea and biscuits almost immediately appeared in front of them. Hermione was unsure what exactly to say, so she instead began on neutral ground.

"I saw Professor Trelawney earlier. One of the third years told Ginny that she'd been acting strangely during their lesson this morning."

At Minerva's arched brow, she failed to suppress a grin. "More strangely than usual, then. I thought I better pay her a visit, in case she was worrying about this calendar business."

Hermione began to giggle, and at the confused look on Minerva's face, descended into outright laughter.

"Oh, Minerva!" she managed to gasp out. "She was...floating around the room...I mean, arms outstretched, incense burning, scarves flying...really floating around the room..."

Minerva felt the sides of her mouth twitch.

"Well yes, whilst I know that Sybil can be...eccentric, I doubt that this is news to you, so I fail to see it as hysteria-inducing."

Hermione wiped her cheeks, and took a deep breath, laughter still evidently bubbling in her throat.

"When she saw me, she dived for her little table, screeching 'you saw nothing! Nothing!' So I was really concerned so I went over to see what she was trying to hide. She managed to...to push everything off the desk, and...and trip over a crystal ball, and...and a little bag came flying out of her hand." Hermione dissolved again, leaving Minerva exasperated, but beginning to chuckle lightly at the other woman's obvious mirth.

"And?" she prompted eventually.

"She started crying, sobbing that it was only once, to calm her nerves, she would never take drugs, she didn't need them, bad for her all-seeing eye and all that! But...she was floating around the room thinking she was high on cannabis leaf!"

At this, Minerva's brow furrowed.

"Hermione, whilst her behaviour is funny at the best of times, I can't condone the use of drugs by anyone, not even if they could do with the excuse. It's...dangerous, both for her and pupils."

Inexplicably, Hermione burst out laughing again, and patted Minerva's hand with her own.

"Minerva...the bag...it was 10 grams of oregano. The only thing that'd be dangerous in is a quiche!"

Minerva blinked, then burst out laughing, a genuine, laugh-out-loud laugh.

"If the parents knew half!" She gasped, wiping tears from her eyes.

Hermione sobered as she watched Minerva. She thought the older woman beautiful when she laughed. Beautiful when she smiled. She wondered if Dumbledore had made her laugh, or some other witch; how many times...she shook her head.

"Anyway, Minerva, I thought I better come to check that you weren't having some sort of breakdown at the thought of the calendar, too, since I know that you have more wits about you to be able to recognise drug from herb? "

Minerva took a deep breath, expelling the last vestiges of laughter from her body, though still left with a smile on her face.

"I must admit the thought leaves me...anxious, although it is for a good cause. And as Rolanda so effectively pointed out, it wouldn't be the first time I've been naked in the presence of another."

Hermione blushed faintly at the memory of that meeting.

"Yes, well...good job I'm not your student anymore, goodness knows how I'd have been able to transfigure a newt into a prince without turning scarlet. Although I'd go easy on Ginny for a while, if I were you."

Seeing Minerva blush and groan faintly, Hermione covered her hand with her own.

"It's ok." She said quietly. "I just think it makes you more attractive. Not the newt thing, the un-teacher thing." Hermione's eyes widened at what she had just said, so she moved quickly on. "Are you really ok with it, then, because I've already got a vague idea for your scene? I was thinking something to do with transfiguration, obviously, and books, and Gryffindor...perhaps an office scene, with strategically placed books, and you transfiguring to your animagus self, then back again, with perhaps something else transfigured as a lion...perhaps evoking the thought of a lion tamer?"

Minerva looked thoughtful, and then although her features didn't change, Hermione could have sworn the professor was smirking.

"Perhaps, Hermione, we could be in the scene together. Transfiguring to an animal is not all that difficult, and I think you would be quite the majestic lion, or perhaps even a very formidable lion tamer. Or a cat whisperer." She added lightly. Hermione caught stormy green eyes, that held a twinkle of mischief, but also...something Hermione couldn't quite define but she knew was present in her eyes, too.

"Thank God," Hermione breathed. "Because I was beginning to think this might be boring."

She ran her thumb quickly and lightly along Minerva's cheek, flashed the brightest smile, before leaving Minerva's office. Minerva blinked, shook her head, but then her face erupted with the biggest un-teacher-like grin, making her appear more cat-like than she ever had as an animagus.

Please review...thanks to the people that have so far, glad that you like :)

And yes, I do realise that it's frogs that turn into princes, not newts. but for the purposes of continuity, and my sanity, let's abandon tradition for now!

Next up...rehearsals ;)