A/N: I'm updating quickly today, because I felt like it, and MegaNerdAlert inspired me. Please, please, please review. The more you review, the harder it is for me to hold back my updates... and the next chapter should be a big one! Thanks for reading!

Hermione,

If you have the time, I would like to meet with you again before the weekend is out. It would be best if we could have your schedule sorted out before the coming week, as to start as soon as possible. It is already nearly Halloween, so time is of the essence.

I would welcome a discussion after classes let out tonight, or I could meet with you over the weekend. I will be chaperoning the Hogsmeade trip, so I will be bound to the village, but I'm sure we could meet somewhere during that time if it's more convenient for you.

I await your reply.
Kindly,
Minerva

Hermione smiled excitedly as she read the brief note. She was about to reply when a rain-drenched Hedwig landed on her the table in front of her. "Oh, Hedwig. You're a mess, dear," she said as she dried the poor owl and fed her some toast. "Harry never should have sent you out in this." Hedwig seemed to agree as she nipped affectionately at Hermione's fingers. Hermione opened the letter from Harry, and smiled.

Dear Hermione,

Depending on your response, I will write you a longer letter tomorrow, but for now I'll be brief.

Rumour has it; this weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend! (You were supposed to tell me when those occur!) I was hoping we could meet up for a chat at some point. I miss my best friend, and have loads to tell you.

I also have a late birthday present for you, and I think you'll want it. Write me back with a time and place!

Love,
Harry

Hermione smiled, she could meet with Minerva this evening, and Harry the following day. She missed her best friend dearly, and was glad that he had tracked her down. She quickly sent off her replies to their respective writers, and made her way to class.

That evening she knocked on Minerva's door, as she had been instructed. "Come in, come in!" Minerva shouted, as Hermione climbed through the portrait. "Hermione, welcome," she called from another room, "Thank you for accommodating me again. I assure you in the future I will be the picture of professionalism, and we can meet in my office. Unfortunately a couple of first years got into a tiff and managed to reduce my desk to cinders. While I was able to fix most of it without too much hassle, I did end up looking rather a fright. Covered in ash from head to toe—not my best look, I assure you."

Hermione laughed, "I don't mind, Minerva. We can meet wherever you're comfortable. If I'm in your office I can't gaze ardently at your book collection."

Minerva smiled as she entered the sitting room and could see Hermione's surprise to see the Headmistress in such casual clothing. She was dressed simply in a dark green jumper and a pair of slacks. Minerva wouldn't usually be so casual, but she had been in a rush after her miserable class. "That is true," she said. Pulling out a piece of paper she focused on the task at hand. "Unfortuantely, we should really focus on your schoolwork this evening. I really must make an appearance at dinner this evening—so first of all, we should discuss your schedule. I was thinking that you could use your 2 pm free period on Mondays and Fridays to study independently, meet with me for instruction and discussion on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and you could assist me in my Monday morning class—first year Ravenclaws and Slytherins. I don't want to overwhelm you, but I do think that would be the best schedule, if you aren't otherwise occupied." Minerva glanced up from her notes, to see Hermione looking surprised, but not overly overwhelmed.

"That sounds perfect," Hermione affirmed. "I was actually thinking of a similar schedule, though I didn't anticipate the class. How will you have me assisting?"

"To start, you will primarily observe, and help me with grading and monitoring their in class work. Depending on how you cope, you will probably end up occasionally being allowed to teach a class yourself."

"Really?!" Hermione exclaimed, "I admit, I didn't expect that at all! That sounds wonderful."

"Perfect." Minerva said with a smile, then waved her wand. The schedule was added to Hermione's timetable, which Minerva handed to her. "Next, we need to decide what you will be studying—just tell me if I'm moving too quickly. This will be a three part endeavor. First, teaching, which you understand. Second, some manner of research. To begin with this may be fairly open ended; it may be wise to become better acquainted with the research currently taking place. After that I will expect you to begin conducting your own research, culminating in a larger essay. Your theories do not have to prove correct, Hermione, they just have to prove well thought out and researched. Does that make sense?"

"Absolutely. So I can research whatever I want?" she asked disbelievingly, and Minerva found herself relaxing internally. Despite the reserved nature she still seemed to carry around the halls, Hermione seemed to finally be opening up again with her, and Minerva couldn't have been happier with that step.

"I will need to approve it first, mostly to save you time in case you're researching something which has already been done, or doesn't make sense. I doubt either will be a problem for you, so my approval shouldn't be a concern."

"Wonderful!" Hermione said, causing Minerva to smile again. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

Minerva coughed slightly, forcing herself back into business mode, "Finally, you will be required to further your practical knowledge. I expect you to choose an advanced spell, or collection of spell work which you have not previously attempted. You will research this spell work thoroughly, and you will then attempt to successfully administer it yourself. The only restrictions on this is that you may not use spell work on any other students, volunteers or otherwise." Hermione raised an eyebrow at this, undoubtedly remembering her own tirade against the Weasely twins in her fifth year. "I don't expect that to be an issue, but I have to say it—just in case."

"That all makes sense to me, and I'm excited to start."

"Now that we have all of that settled. Do you have any ideas?" Minerva asked, Hermione smirked, "I thought you might. You don't have to share, I was just curious."

"Well—as far as the practical magic goes, there was something that I wanted to try." Minerva tried keeping a straight face; there wasn't a doubt in her mind where this was going. "I would very much like to attempt to become an Animagus."

"I'm not surprised, actually I'm more surprised that you've waited this long," Hermione blushed a deep red. "I considered it—sixth year, when I knew we were going to have to go on the run soon."

Minerva leaned forward quickly, "Did you really?" she asked.

Hermione nodded, "But once I had done even a bare minimum of research, I decided it wasn't worth the risk. Not without supervision. After my incident second year, I had no urge to be stuck in a partial animal form, and some of the side effects are terrible. I couldn't risk injuring myself and not being able to help Harry."

"A wise decision, Hermione," Minerva said, "I never did understand how James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter managed it."

"I thought the same thing, but then I thought about Harry and I knew the answer," Hermione said, "Harry and Ron have tried to do many dangerous things, but I'm always the one who researches and tells them when the risk is worth it, and when it's not. They rely so heavily on me to be the voice of reason, that on their own, they're fearless. From all of the stories I've heard, that is how the marauders were with Remus—Professor Lupin, I mean—except they never told him what they were planning, so he couldn't be the voice of reason. They just jumped in, and their lack of fear actually gave them a bit of luck."

Minerva nodded, impressed by Hermione's ability to use her own experiences in research. "That makes a good deal of sense."

"I've spent a long time being the voice of reason," Hermione shrugged. "Also, Peter Pettigrew did not successfully become an Animagus."

The shock on Hermione's face when Minerva snickered was evident; she would never have expected to see such a thing from the stern professor. "Now that I do know," she admitted. "Many years ago, during the first war I had the misfortune of having a drunk Pettigrew stumble into me on his way to the bathroom."

"Oh?"

"He was stark naked," Minerva said with distaste, causing Hermione cringed violently. "It's true; the man had a tail even when he was not transformed."

Hermione shivered, "I definitely did not need to have that image in my mind."

"I thought you knew?" Minerva asked.

"I knew that his human form, and his rat form, were both missing a toe—something that should have been compensated for throughout the transformation, you don't have whiskers, yet you grow them when you transform. The same could be said of the toe. I also knew that his teeth had elongated significantly, as well as his nose—all of that indicates that he was terrible at transforming back into a human." She explained. "I did not know about him naked…. Ew."

Minerva laughed, "Sorry, dear girl. I never would have forced such an image upon you if I had realized." Looking at the clock, Minerva swore. "As I said before, I really do need to make an appearance at dinner this evening, being that I wasn't there last night. Some headmistress I am."

"I should go as well; I have to finish an essay before tomorrow. I'm meeting with Harry in Hogsmeade, and I don't want to lose out on the revising time."

"Enjoy your visit with Mr. Potter, and I will see you at 8:30 sharp on Monday."

"Thanks again, Minerva. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Hermione."