Chapter Nine

The next week, signs were posted in the common rooms announcing that all fifth year students must have a Careers Advice meeting with their head of house. Hermione poured over countless pamphlets with Harry and Ron, wanting to explore all her options. In the back of her mind, she had an idea of what she would love to do, but refused to narrow her options just yet.

The day before her meeting, she brought her pamphlets to breakfast, lunch and dinner so she could continue to study them. However, her time to read was cut short at dinner, as Harry had plenty of news about his careers advice meeting.

"You should have seen McGonagall! She was going off at Umbridge," Harry told them as they ate.

Hermione raised her eyebrows, stealing a glance at the Head Table. Minerva was in her seat, and although Umbridge had taken over Professor Dumbledore's Head chair, Minerva had her back turned resolutely to the Headmistress and was focusing on her conversation with Madam Hooch. Hermione turned her attention back to Harry. "What happened?"

Harry chuckled, apparently remembering the meeting. "Professor McGonagall asked me what I wanted to do, and I said an Auror. She then told me about the subjects I would need for it. Umbridge tried to say I was hopeless at Defence Against the Dark Arts, but McGonagall basically called her an incompetent teacher! It was great, you should have seen the look on her face," he replied gleefully. "They were still shouting at each other when I left the meeting."

"Man, I would have loved to see that," Ron said somewhat wistfully. Hermione smiled lightly, but didn't reply. She continued eating, occasionally stealing a glance at Minerva when no one was paying attention, and just as she was getting up to leave she caught Minerva's eye. She gave her teacher a reassuring smile, who gave a small, tired smile back.


The following morning, Hermione had Harry's description of his Careers Advice meeting playing through her mind as she reached Minerva's office. She took a slow breath then gathered her Gryffindor courage and knocked. She heard Minerva's voice call out 'Enter' so she twisted the knob and pushed the door open. Straight off, she noticed Umbridge sitting in the corner of the room holding a pink clipboard, and Minerva was seated behind her desk, looking extremely tense.

"Please have a seat, Miss Granger," Minerva said, gesturing to the empty seat in front of her desk. Hermione sat, and Minerva shuffled a few papers together on her desk. "Alright, so as you know you are here for Career Advice, to help you select your subjects for your NEWT years," Minerva said. "Have you put any thought into what you want to do after Hogwarts?" She was quite curious as to Hermione's answer, as they had never discussed this topic during their Animagus training sessions.

"Yes, I actually have a couple of choices that I can't quite narrow down yet," Hermione replied, trying her best to ignore the scratching of Umbridge's quill behind her. "I was actually hoping that I could take the subjects needed for each, so I don't have to constrict my options quite yet?"

"That is actually a very intelligent decision, Miss Granger," Minerva replied. "What are your career choices?"

"Well, I'm very interested in healing, I think it could be a very rewarding career," Hermione replied. "I've also been considering getting involved in a research career, and working with discovering magical advancements."

Minerva nodded, impressed. "They are two excellent choices; I can see you doing either of those very well. Were they your only choices?"

"Um, no, there's one more…" Hermione said, pausing slightly as she fiddled with the only ring she wore. "I've seriously been considering, um, teaching."

Minerva glanced up sharply and stared at her favourite student. She felt slightly touched that Hermione was considering that type of career. However, she noticed that Umbridge had paused in her scribble to stair intently at the pair, so she hastily cleared her throat. "Alright, so Healing, Research and teaching. Well, for the matter of choosing your subjects, that shouldn't be a problem. Healing requires Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts, and for those you need to achieve at least Exceeds Expectations, which I highly doubt you'll have any problems with."

Hermione nodded, and quickly pulled a piece of parchment and a quill from her bag. As Minerva continued, she started to furiously scribble notes.

"Research would also require Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. You need at least an Exceeds Expectations in those subjects as well. As for teaching, if there is a particular subject you are interested in, you would need an Outstanding in that. Have you got a particular strain in mind?" Minerva asked her.

Hermione's cheeks tinged slightly, and she was glad that her back was to Umbridge. "Transfiguration," she replied softly, giving her professor a small smile.

Minerva couldn't help but to return the smile. She was inwardly glowing, feeling so proud of Hermione, and somewhat more touched that not only did Hermione want to consider teaching, but she was interested in her subject.

"Well, I'm sure you will not have a single problem with achieving an "O" in Transfiguration," Minerva replied. "Not to mention your other subjects as well."

A slight cough from the back of the room interrupted them. "Are you quite sure about that, Minerva?" came Umbridge's shrill voice.

Minerva's lips thinned, and her nostrils flared slightly. "Obviously I am sure, otherwise I would not have said it," she replied dangerously low. Umbridge raised her eyebrows, offended, and quickly began to scribble once more on her parchment.

"Now, as I was saying, the subjects you will need all up means you will be taking one extra class than the rest of the students, is that a problem for you?" Minerva asked, her attention now back to Hermione.

"No, not at all Professor," Hermione replied. "I was wondering though, after NEWTS, is there any extra study?"

Minerva nodded. "For healing, there is a three year study program at St Mungo's, which can be quite intensive. With research, it is a matter of finding a cooperation that will take you on, and they give you study and training." She watched as Hermione wrote all this down, and looked up. "Now, as for teaching, there are a couple of ways to do this. You can choose to go to a secondary school for three years of study, where you then become a qualified teacher. Or the better option is to find a school willing to take on an apprentice, which means you spend half your three years studying and half the time learning hands on. This is the more beneficial way."

Hermione nodded. "How would I go about finding a school?" she asked.

"You would simply apply to each school with your aim, and hope that there is one that would accept you. However, if teaching is honestly what you are interested in, then I would be most willing to offer you a position here, as my apprentice," Minerva said.

Hermione flushed slightly, a wide smile spreading on her face. However, before she could respond, they were interrupted yet again by Umbridge.

"Now now Minerva, you shouldn't get the poor girl's hopes up quite yet, she still has two years left to go," she said simperingly.

If Minerva looked dangerous before, it was nothing compared to now. She rose slowly out of her chair, keeping her palms flat to the table as if to steady her. "What," she began slowly in a low voice, "do you expect to happen in the next two years that could prevent Miss Granger from achieving her goals? After all, you insist that He Who Must Not Be Named is not back, so there's no chance of a war to interrupt her education. She has also performed at the top of the year since her first year, so there is also little doubt that she will be top in her final year also."

"Well, anything can happen in two years…possibly a change in staff?" countered Umbridge. She wore an evil little smile that made Hermione shudder slightly to herself. "Besides, I hear Miss Granger is quite apt at getting herself into dangerous situations, and-"

"Don't you dare threaten her," Minerva hissed, striding around her desk to stand next to Hermione, who stood as well. "You may threaten my career all you like, but you will not say anything to Miss Granger." Minerva shifted her body slightly, so that she stood slightly in front of Hermione, as if to shield her from the verbal attack.

A look of delight crossed Umbridge's face, and she rose to her feet. "My my, you're very quick to defend her. I get the feeling she's not just a student to you, even just your protégé, as other staff have put it. You weren't this quick to defend Potter yesterday, so I can tell I've hit a nerve," she said somewhat gleefully.

"Don't be utterly ridiculous!" Minerva cried. "Miss Granger is a student, one of the best I might add, but a student none the less. However, if she is being treated unfairly I will most definitely speak up."

Hermione could sense that Minerva was getting worked up, and began to feel very nervous. She didn't want Minerva to accidentally do something she would later regret, but couldn't quite see how she could intervene without making Umbridge more suspicious.

"Watch that tone with me, Minerva," Umbridge said loudly, moving her hands to her hips. "Not only am I the Headmistress, I am also the High Inquisitor and Senior-"

"Oh, stop saying that like it means something," Minerva scoffed, breaking Umbridge off in mid sentence. "You're only here because Fudge wants to keep an eye on the school, and as long as he gives you a little power he knows you'll do whatever he asks."

Umbridge's face turned bright red, and she glared furiously at Minerva. "Keep in mind; I have the power to fire you, so if you don't be careful I'll send you straight from this school right now!"

At these words, Hermione glanced sharply at Minerva, worry clearly evident in her eyes. Minerva noticed this, and shook her head almost imperceptivity in warning. "You know you can't send me away," Minerva replied in a strong voice. "I go, and the rest of the staff will follow me, you mark my words!"

"So will the students!" Hermione added in, defiantly glaring at Umbridge.

Umbridge was speechless for a moment, trying to think of a retort. Minerva turned away from her, to face Hermione.

"Miss Granger, that will conclude your Careers Advice meeting. Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate, my office is always open," Minerva told her. "You may go back to your common room now." Hermione nodded, and picked her bag up from the floor. As she turned to leave, she heard Minerva address Umbridge.

"As Miss Granger was my final fifth year student for Careers Advice, your presence is no longer required. Good day, Dolores." Minerva's tone was firm and no-nonsense, leaving Umbridge no choice but to leave.

As Umbridge left her office, Minerva collapsed into her chair wearily. She took a few deep breaths, when she suddenly felt her hand tingling. Glancing down, she saw blue ink words forming on her palm in Hermione's curvy handwriting.

'Meet me in your rooms when she's gone,' it said, and Minerva marvelled to herself at the magical skills of her student. She tidied up her desk, and exited the classroom. Umbridge was nowhere to be seen, however rather than take her chances Minerva hurried along the corridors until she reached her rooms.

As she whispered her password and the door swung open, Minerva was greeted with the sight of Hermione already in her rooms. The girl was holding two steaming mugs of tea, and a plate of Ginger Newts sat upon the coffee table. When Hermione noticed Minerva, she smiled and set one mug down next to the biscuits.

"Come sit down, Minerva," she said, motioning Minerva over to the sofa. Minerva obeyed, and took a seat. Hermione handed her the mug, which turned out to be tea. Minerva took a slow sip and sighed gratefully.

"You're amazing Hermione, this is exactly what I need," she said, already feeling some of the tension from earlier begin to leave her body. Hermione gave a small smile and sat down, reaching over to pick up her own cup of tea.

Minerva noticed almost immediately that there was something slightly different about the girl. She seemed the tiniest bit distracted and shy, something Minerva was only noticing due to the amount of time they had been spending together. Then a thought occurred to her.

"Hermione…" Minerva began slowly, turning to face her student. "Before, when I said to Umbridge that you were only my student, nothing more, you know I don't mean that right?"

Hermione glanced at Minerva, uncertainty written in her eyes. Minerva smiled reassuringly and set her mug down so she could lean forward and give her a brief hug. "I only said that to cover up. Of course you mean more to me than just a student, I consider you as one of my friends. I care about you so much, I hope you know that."

Hermione smiled back. "Thanks Minerva," she replied, her spirits lifting.

"But I need you to promise me something," Minerva continued, her tone turning more grim. "Should something happen and I have to leave the school, I want you to stay here. Your education is too important. I mean this Hermione, promise me?"

Hermione could see the seriousness in Minerva's eyes, so she reluctantly nodded. Minerva nodded her head in return. "Alright, well I have to head off now, I have third year Hufflepuffs in ten minutes and I need to prepare, and don't you have Potions?" Minerva asked as she rose to her feet.

"That's right, I completely forgot. I better go get my books from the dorm," Hermione replied. She stood and moved over to the door as Minerva banished the empty mugs. "Will I see you tonight?"

Minerva nodded. "Yes. We will make it your last training session, so from now when you come over you can study for your exams."

They bid each other farewell, and Hermione exited through the secret passage way. Minerva smiled after her, then turned to get organised for her next class.

TBC…

Bit fluffy, hope this chapter is okay. I'm trying to stick to the books, but will be going off-canon at times. More to come soon…