A/N Sorry about the slight delay, I've been busy! I hope this chapter is too your liking and there will be more soon, I promise. This mostly to try and show how mch the characters occupy each other's thoughts so I hope it does that. As always, reviews are much appreciated! Thanks!
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Minerva's presumption that the day would be long was only too correct. The lessons dragged by, students seemed determined to be as obtuse as possible, so much so that Minerva spent nearly all morning repeating things she had taught them weeks ago. Her voice was hoarse and her head hurt which only made her temper even shorter with her pupils. Sensing her mood, they tried to keep up but to no avail.

Minerva was reminded of her dream every time her eyes fell on the desk at the front of the classroom. Her heart rate quickened and she felt her temperature rise. This did nothing for her mood and by lunchtime she was hot and irritable.

Making her way to the Great Hall, Minerva spotted Hermione in a heated discussion with Weasley. This wasn't unusual, they always seemed to be arguing about something or other. Potter hovered nearby looking uncomfortable. Deciding it was time to intervene (she saw Hermione's fingers twitching toward her pocket), Minerva made her way over to the trio.

"Weasley, is there a particular reason you are badgering Miss Granger or have you run out of homework to butcher?" Minerva snapped at him. She knew she was being a little unfair but she was in a terrible mood and he was upsetting Hermione! Potter seemed to be smirking about something which irked her even more but Hermione gave her a warm smile so he was soon forgotten about. Weasley simply glared.

Deciding that she had successfully diverted the argument, Minerva made her way to the Great Hall, suddenly ravenous.
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The trio followed behind, Ron somewhat subdued. Hermione was practically glowing which amused Harry no end. They sat down at the Gryffindor table, Ron sullenly piling food onto his plate while Hermione surreptitiously glanced up at the Head Table as Minerva sat down.

"What have we got this afternoon?" Harry asked, tucking into his lunch. He had had so much on his mind at the moment with all the homework and NEWT preparation he only remembered when lunchtime was due to loud reminders from his stomach.

"Transfiguration," Hermione asked breathlessly. Harry looked up at her, that was a bit much even for her. It seemed even she thought so because she suddenly became very intent on rooting through her bag for something.

Lunch was an unusually silent affair for the three of them, Ron was still sore about McGonagall telling him off and Hermione was off in her own little world. They left the Hall for Transifiguration, Harry walked between his two friends - a safeguard between storm clouds and cloud nine.

When they entered the classroom something was off. McGonagall wouldn't look Hermione in the eye, instead her eyes kept falling on the desk in front of her and a blush would blossom on her cheeks. Hermione didn't notice, she was too busy staring at the woman with nothing in her eyes but utter adoration.

McGonagall didn't even comment when Neville managed to Transfigure his larvae into a cow, breaking his desk in the process. She simply fixed the desk, turned the cow back into a grub and continued to look around the classroom, her gaze occasionally falling on Hermione when she knew she wasn't looking.
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At the end of the lesson, the class packed away and filed out quietly. Everyone except Hermione. She dawdled by her desk, pretending to have dropped something on the floor. Minerva had positioned herself behind her desk and thought everyone had gone. Looking up she realised Hermione was still there.

"You best hurry along, Hermione, you will be late for your lesson," she said, her tone was stern but there was an underlying pleasantness that Hermione seemed to bring out - making it impossible for her to be strict.

"Yes of course it's just… Professor? I wonder if you could help me," she began tentatively. Minerva froze, her dream practically slamming into her when she heard those words.

"What did you say?" she whispered hoarsely, she couldn't bring herself to look at Hermione.

"I was wondering if you would help me? I have a question and I-" Hermione began before Minerva cut her off. Her Professor's voice was taut when she answered, higher than usual and she looked very tense, almost scared.

"I'm sorry Miss Granger, I have to go now. Another time, perhaps." she said quickly before practically running out of the room. Hermione watched her go in utter shock, she had absolutely no idea what had just happened.

Minerva walked to the staffroom. She had to be back in a moment for her next class but she would give Hermione time to leave. Her heart was hammering in her chest. She had said the exact words from her dream. There was no way she could know… Could she? Minerva bit her lip. No. She was being paranoid. But the urge to kiss the girl had been almost overwhelming. She had done the right thing in leaving. She was a student, for Merlin's sake! And all Minerva could think about was touching those lips with her own…

Oh, snap out of it, woman! She scolded herself. It had been a long time since she had felt this flustered. She managed to regain some semblence of Professor McGonagall before sweeping back into her classroom for the last lesson of the day. When it finished, she skipped dinner went straight to her room and stayed there.

She stayed up for a while, trying to markm then trying to read. Eventually she gave up and went to bed though her mind was far from sleep. She thought about the dream again but this time she couldn't bring herself to be ashamed.

The fact she would hopefully soon be asleep filled her with excitement - perhaps she would dream about Hermione again. Perhaps it would be something more. She would let her guard down for one night. To get it out of her system. She would feel better in the morning. Closing her eyes, she tried to relax.

Minerva's presumption that the day would be long had been only too correct.

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Hermione went to dinner in a somewhat subdued manner. She didn't understand just what she had done to make Minerva cut her off like that. She didn't for a second think it had been the hug they had shared the previous night. They had been fine after that. And Minerva had been kind to her when she was arguing with Ron before lunch. It must be something else, but Hermione was completely nonplussed as to what.

Maybe she had been caught staring in Transfiguration? No, that couldn't be it, she hadn't looked at her all lesson. Whatever it was had been wrong from the moment she walked in the room. Perhaps even before that. So the problem might not be her. Please let it be something else.

She was disappointed to see that Minerva wasn't at dinner. But disappointment was soon replaced with worry. Why wasn't she there? Had something happened? Hermione ate quietly, ignoring Ron and Harry trying to bring her into the discussion. Once finished, she returned to her room and went to bed quite early.

She knew it was probably nothing to worry about but that didn't stop her. She also knew that she should stop thinking about her Professor but the truth of it was Hermione missed her already, even though they had been in the same room only a few hours ago. Mostly she missed the Minerva she had hugged last night. And the beautiful smile that came with her.

She lay awake for a long time, a million possibilities to explain Minerva's absence chasing each other in her brain. She finally managed a fitful sleep and dreamt of doors slamming in her face and people who couldn't talk to her.