Minerva had had a great night's sleep in what seemed like forever in her insomniac anxiety ridden life. She worried too much about everything, for sure, her students, withholding her privacy while living among school members, her research, and keeping Albus out of trouble.

She was having tea and scones for breakfast and studying Fantastic beasts and where to find them, extended studies by Newt Scamander, especially the part about magical creatures and their abilities at transfiguration, when she heard a knock at her doorstep.

She opened a crack in the door cause she was still in her sleeping attire with a very lazy bun and she lowered her eyes to the intruder. It was Hermione, her protégée, come to find her at 7 am on a Monday. Well she must have known she would have been awake of course. Classes would only start at nine, and Minerva's class at eleven, but she was an early riser.

"Hermione, what are you… I mean, how are you…? Would you mind giving me a minute ?" Minerva said while she closed the door on her ever-smiling pupil.

"Oh of course." Hermione said to the closed door.

Minerva hurriedly transformed her clothes into her normal work ones, slicked her hair up in a high ponytail, and re-opened the big wooden door for Hermione.

"Here you are, come in. Want tea?" Minerva surprised herself at how uneasy she felt, it must have been the first time she felt timid around a student, and additionally one she knew so well. What was going on with her?

"Humm, yes of course" answered the young hazel-eyed girl, with a nod. Hermione bit her lip so as not to at Minerva's hint of a cleavage on top of her robes.

They sat on each side of the imposing, book-covered, oak desk. And Minerva magically served Hermione tea and cookies, which she knew were her favourite, for she had been in her office studying before: coconut raspberry flavoured shortbreads.

"What can I help you with?" asked Minerva, she deeply cared about this particular student and was concerned as to why she had come to see her at such an early hour.

Hermione swallowed before she spoke, she was very nervous about this.

"Oh, well. I know Professor Dumbledore and yourself said it was not a good idea… but I really want to take alchemy classes and its at the same time as ancient studies, I was wondering if…"

Minerva suddenly caught up with what Hermione wanted to ask and looked alarmed.

"NO, Hermione, I'm not giving you a time turner again. I'm sorry. The Ministry has restricted the use and you know its out of the question…"

"What? Why? Professor, I wouldn't use it for anything else!" Hermione was insulted at how quick her teacher had understood and denied her request.

"I know, I trust you wouldn't. But you have some… other influences in the form of Potter and… Weasley… You know exactly what I mean." Minerva pointed out while looking on top of her glasses.

"What ?" Hermione had suddenly tears in her eyes, she couldn't believe her favourite teacher would think she had bad influence from her friends…

"Alright Professor" She managed to say, fighting the tears. "Sorry to have bothered you for this… Have a good day." She stood up and turned around.

"Hermione…" Minerva did not manage to keep her, she was already gone.

Later, Minerva was thinking about Hermione all day and how she had disappointed her against her own will. It was not voluntarily that she had hurt her feelings, but she had no choice but to respect her own morals.

She was pondering how she could make it up to her.

If only she had such a great genius idea to make Hermione smile again. She had not even raised her hand once in transfiguration class and had not saluted her at the beginning nor the end of the period.

Well, Minerva thought, when in need of ideas, she would go to her best friend Albus, and so she did.

She came in his office without knocking, he was used to it and she was the only one who knew the password.

When she came in, he was looking over his pensieve with glossy eyes. She noticed him wearing his favourite light purple outfit, his mismatched rainbow coloured socks and his half-moon spectacles.

He said "Hello Minerva, I'm glad to see you."

"Are you alright Albus, are you still looking at that one memory again?"

"Yes, I am, my dear, you caught me. You know me too well." Albus chuckled.

"Gellert." Minerva simply said.

Albus nodded and then shrugged.

"I can see you're not feeling well today either Minny."

"No indeed"

"Tell me about it."

Minerva explained the situation to her friend

When she came out of the office she had a big smile, for she knew what she was going to do…

The next day, she called Hermione to her office, Hermione went grudgingly.

Minerva made her come in and sat her down.

"I have something for you." said Minerva, looking really pleased with herself.

"What is it?" said Hermione, not staring at her yet.

"Open this edition of The quibbler if you please, its inside."

Hermione opened the newspaper slowly. She gasped when she saw the book Minerva was giving her.

"Merlin, is this what I think it is?" said Hermione.

"Yes." Said Minerva, with a huge smile.

Minerva had given her a very rare book, it was not even available in the restricted section of Hogwarts' library.

The secrets of becoming an animagus, the nine steps.

"This is to show you I trust you, and that you can have a special project this year." Said Minerva.

Hermione resisted the urge to go and hug her mentor. She stood up and held the book close to her chest, keeping herself from doing the victory dance.

"Thank you so much!"

"Of course Hermione, this comes with some conditions. You will only come in my office to practice, nobody can know or see you doing this. And as for the book, I will use a concealing charm so you can keep it with you."

"Yes, Professor." Hermione approved, looking straight into her teacher's eyes and noticing again how beautiful her green eyes were.

"We will start at the end of the week. See you on Thursday, seven pm sharp."

Minerva threw a spell at the book before Hermione ran to the dormitories to start reading.