Chapter 4
The lesson went slowly and it felt like forever until Hermione could gather her things and leave the classroom. She hadn't dared to look at her teacher during the whole time but merely stared at her desk wishing she could just apparate back into the comfort of her bed. Minerva had a strange feeling inside of her that only seemed to increase when she tried to get eyecontact with Hermione but failing each time. The girl kept focusing on her desk and Minerva felt sorry for her, she was undoubtly embarrassed by the situation and her earlier state in the presense of her teacher.
Harry and Ron walked up to their friend in the corridor and Hermione felt Harry place a hand on her right shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"What's up 'Mione? You've been looking down lately" he said his voice full of concern. Hermione gave him something that was supposed to be a reassuring smile but it ended up as a grimace instead.
"I'm just tired. I couldn't sleep"
"Yeah we sort of noticed" Ron said and smiled at her friendly.
"Is something bothering you? Because you can talk to us" Harry continued. Hermione sighed. They just wouldn't let it go would they? She looked at the pair that were now standing in front of her, both of them entirely focused on her. She felt bad she couldn't be honest with them, but there was no way on earth she would tell them the reason to why she was acting like this.
"There is something that's bothering me. I wish I could allow myself to tell you… but this one I have to fight on my own. Thanks though guys"
Hermione squeezed Harry's arm friendly and patted Ron's shoulder. Then she walked away leaving the two boys staring after her.
"D'you reckon it's a boy?" Ron asked worriedly, his hands digging deep into his pockets as they walked towards the entrance. Next class was Herbology and even though Professor Sprout was probably the kindest of all teachers she could be close to scary when a student was late for class.
"Dunno" Harry answered but he had a slight feeling it was something of the sorts. Anyway he respected Hermione and wouldn't push her to tell anything if she didn't want to. It didn't keep him from wondering though.
"Maybe it's that guy.. McLaggen?" Ron kept naming several boys from both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw while Harry's thoughts drifted from his friend to more pressing matters, such as his meeting with Dumbledore tonight.
The pub was more crowded than usual and Hermione had to squeeze herself through a bunch of fifth years to get to an available table, the contents of her glass almost tipping over. She had agreed on going to Hogsmeade with her favorite boys but silently regretted it as soon as she had stepped into the pub. Placing her butterbeer on the table with a clunk she pulled out a chair to sit down. Ron took a seat next to her, a bit too close for her comfort. He had gotten more clingy the last couple of days, always sticking near her and not letting her out of sight. It was very annoying and she knew she had to have to talk to him about it. When he placed his hand on her leg she took it and gently pushed it away. Ron gave her an indignant look but didn't say anything. She took a swig of the butterbeer and felt the sweet liquid hit her tongue, the warmt from it spreading throughout her body. It was quite nice but she secretly wished she could have a glass of firewhisky instead. Or a bottle.
"Proffesor Slughorn has invited me to dinner tonight" Harry confessed and a faint blush spread on his face. He knew his redheaded friend wasn't gonna take that well.
"Wonderful. I hope he doesn't try anything with you" Ron answered, a smile playing on his lips, amused by his own answer. Harry laughed, an absurd image forming in his mind.
"He probably just wants to know everything about my private life, which I'm not going to share" He continued while adjusting his glasses.
"What have you been up to these days? You always try to avoid us" Ron's question was directed to Hermione and sounded harscher than usual which Hermione guessed was because of her refusing his touch earlier. Prat.
"I told you I don't want to talk about it Ron" Hermione took another sip of her beer and continued. "Besides shouldn't you know you've been stalking me this whole week"
Ron's face turned redder than a tomato when he realised she had noticed. He thought he had been discrete. Clearing his throat he changed the subject and him and Harry began discussing the latest Quidditch game where a Chaser had been hit so badly he wouldn't be able to walk for a month.
Hermione took the time to survey the pub, noticing the Parvati twins and Lavender sitting at the table next to them, the latter ogling Ron like she was starving and he was a piece of meat. Scrunching her nose in disgust her gaze shifted so that her eyes landed on a familar figure on the other side of the room. Long, slender fingers were wrapped around a glass of, undoubtly firewhisky as Hermione recognized the deep auburn color. She kept staring at Minerva not noticing when Harry asked her a question.
"Hermione?"
He moved his head to see what she was staring at and didn't see anything in particular. Just a few of the teachers sitting in the corner, and a bunch of Slytherins on the other side. Professor McGonnagall was seated in the far corner and she was looking at him. No wait. His eyes moved to Hermione and then back to McGonnagall, and then back to Hermione again.
"Er, Ron did you wanna go to Zonko's?" He finished his butterbeer in two gulps and hoped his friend would take the bait. He felt utterly uncomfortable all of a sudden.
"Yeah sure mate"
Hermione saw them both standing up and raised her eyebrows questioningly. She wasn't used to them leaving her, it was usually the other way around.
"You guys leaving?" She asked, secretly happy to be left alone but put on her best "disappointed" look.
"Yeah we're off to Zonko's. Join us when you're finished?" Harry said and nodded towards her still half full glass that she was holding firmly as if she was afraid she would spill it at any moment.
"Sure" She gave them a smile and looked out the window. The sky was a dull grey and rain was to be expected this afternoon. The gold and red leaves left an imprint on her mind and she felt herself become as gloomy as the weather. Resting her chin in her palm she started a staring contest with a stray cat that was perched on a rock just outside. It was grey and held some resemblance to another feline she was familiar with. She just couldn't get away from her it seemed.
"May I sit down?"
Minerva's voice had a powerful effect and Hermione almost jumped in surprise.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you" Minerva apologized.
Hermione looked up to see her eyes twinkling and a small smile playing on her lips.
"Professor. No worries. Please" Hermione gesticulated for the older witch to take the seat in front of her but to her surprise Minerva sat down next to her. She didn't mind, not in the least. A cozy feeling spread in her and she had to fight the urge to lean in to the other woman, to inhale the wonderful scent of her. Damn I'm in deep she scolded herself but felt less of the agony that had been steadily growing this year. She wished it could just stay like this, no worries.
"Awful weather" Minerva commented and also participated in the staring contest with the cat that hadn't moved. It was licking its paws but its eyes were focused on the pair on the other side of the window.
"Indeed" Hermione felt silly, not finding anything intellectual to say. However she felt it wasn't expected of her and felt content with just sitting there, close to the one she was steadily falling in love with.
After twenty minutes of chit-chatting about this and that Minerva jumped up, apologizing.
"Oh dear I was supposed to meet with Albus at 3 o clock, excuse me Miss Granger. I hope to see you in class on Monday" She excused herself and left quickly, her robes billowing behind her. Hermione frowned, why wouldn't she show up in class? Shrugging to herself she got up too and left the noisy pub. God she hated crowds.
The air was chilly and she wrapped her scarf tighter around herself. She could see her Professor walking in the distance and kicked a pile of leaves, the maple leaves sticking to her boots. She had completely forgotten about meeting her friends at Zonko's and walked back to the castle, only realising it after she had stepped into the entrance hall. They will get tired of you. They will abandon you Hermione, getting sick of your behaviour and you always avoiding them. No, they won't. They would never abandon me. Hermione's voices kept her head full and she realised how awkward it would be would anyone read her thoughts.
Monday morning she was prepared for class, this time setting an alarm at six o' clock. During the whole class she found it hard to stop looking at Minerva. She must think I'm schizo.
Minerva felt some of the anxiety drip away as she noticed Hermione being more relaxed. Her heart seemed lighter for some reason. Perhaps she had been mistaken, perhaps Hermione's troubles was not what she had anticipated. Strangely enough that thought saddened her. It was always nice to be fancied, even if it was by someone decades younger, and of the same sex. A student, even. All of a sudden it hit her. It was like a meteor hitting her square in the chest and she winced and stopped talking in the middle of a sentence, her young pupils eyeing her curiously wondering what could have possibly caused this interruption.
Big hazel brown eyes were staring at her and she felt her body go numb. Blimey.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And yes Minerva just realised she has feelings for her young cub:) But will she do anything about it?
Please review as it spurs me to keep writing.
