DISCLAIMER: I don't receive any royalties from Harry Potter...

Thanks to my beta: Curse Weaver

'bout had a heart attack...couldn't find the chapter on my computer but me, being my ditzy self, just saved it under something different...Here it is.

Ten

Hermione slipped easily into the crowd as they wondered through the museum of magical artefacts. She held the pamphlet they had been passing out outside in one hand while her other hand rested just inside her robe on the handle of her wand.

Her lunch break would be over in exactly forty-five minutes so she had to get the Horcrux destroyed and get back to the office without getting caught. She had decided against breaking into the place at night as she was sure that there would be one too many wards in place.

A lady not much older than herself standing across from her smiled at her as the tour guide continued to drone on about something which supposedly belonged to Merlin. She managed to smile back and then turned her head away from the woman. She didn't want to encourage conversation.

Her eyes drifted to a statue erected in the middle of the building. Curious, she edged to the corner of the group to get a better look at it. Though she had only visited the museum once in her own time, she was sure that this statue hadn't been there.

When she was near enough to read the inscription, she froze. It displayed Albus Dumbledore defeating Grindwald while surrounded by various magical creatures.

She wondered where it was in her own time. "Nice piece of work, isn't it?" She turned her head and stared at the intruder. It was the woman from before.

"It's magnificent," Hermione replied honestly.

"He's magnificent," the woman countered. "He's so powerful and yet modest. You know, when I was at Hogwarts he was my favourite professor. I want to be just like him one day. I'm actually going to see about the Transfiguration position after this tour. I just had to come here and see this statue one more time before I go for courage."

Hermione stilled and looked closer at the woman, noticing small details that she hadn't noticed earlier. "I'm sorry; I didn't catch your name."

"Oh, excuse me. I do that all the time. I get so caught up in discussion that I completely forget to introduce myself. My name is Minerva McGonagall."

Hermione took her outstretched hand and shook it. "Hermione Granger."

"Holy Merlin! You're dating Tom Riddle."

Hermione smiled slightly. This carefree McGonagall was a nice change from the one she would experience in her own years. Obviously years of dealing with students would harden her. "Actually, we broke up. I'm seeing Ivan Krum now."

"Tom let you break up with him?" she asked stunned. She instantly brought her hand up to her mouth in shock. "I'm so sorry; it's just that in school no one ever got the better of him. He controlled everything. Even older students, like me, were scared of him. Excuse me, I meant to say that they, we, still are frightened of him."

"And probably for all the right reasons," she said softly. She looked back to the statue. "He's not too happy with me at the moment. He's refusing to acknowledge that we broke up."

"And is Ivan alright with this?" Minerva questioned, placing a tentative hand on Hermione's arm.

"I'm not sure," she answered with a shrug. "He's still with me. We've been out three times already and he knows where it stands with Tom."

"Professor Dumbledore doesn't trust Tom," Minerva put in softly. "He never has. He was the only one while Tom was at school that didn't give way to him. We all knew that he didn't believe a word Tom said and we were sort of hoping that he'd catch Tom doing something bad."

"But Tom never gets caught," Hermione muttered, "and he never gives up, but neither do I." She smiled at Minerva. "Now, you should head on to your interview and get that job because you will. Good luck, Minerva."

The woman smiled and took a step away before pausing. "Hermione, would you like to have lunch sometime? It's nice to have someone close to my age to talk to for a change."

Hermione smiled and nodded. "Sure, just owl me sometime and we can do lunch. Good luck and remember, you will get this job. I'm sure of it."

"Thanks," Minerva said as she turned away and headed out of the museum. Hermione watched her retreating figure for a heartbeat before turning and getting back to the task at hand.

The object was out in the open. Obviously the guards were sure in their protection and didn't feel the need for the protection of wards and glass.

Hermione glanced around and edged to the back of the group yet still maintaining a clear shot between her and the goblet. She closed her eyes for a minute while she thought back to the inscription in the book and started muttering the incantation under her breath.

She slipped the very tip of her wand out of her robe and aimed it at the cup as she finished the spell, watching as the silver stream shot straight out of her wand and hit the cup, shattering it into dust particles.

The alarms went off and she wasted no time slipping through the throng of people rushing to see what happened. She looked around for any sign of guards and turned back towards the door, only to come face to face with Albus Dumbledore.

"Did you destroy it?" was all he asked and she knew that it would be pointless to lie to him.

Nodding, she said, "Yes."

Bending down, he whispered, "Go now and keep in the crowd. You won't stand out that way." Straightening, he looked down at her. "Be careful, Hermione."

She nodded and stepped around him and out into the sunlight. She blended easily into the crowd, some rushing to the museum to see what all the fuss was about while others merely strolled along at a leisurely pace.

Once she was a safe distance away, she apparated to the phone booth that would take her into the bowels of the Ministry. She glanced to the left, then to the right and stepped into the red contraption, dialing the number.

Richard was waiting for her with a large smile on his face as she entered the office. "Did you hear what happened? Apparently someone just broke into the Museum of Magical Artifacts and just destroyed the Hufflepuff cup."

"I heard. Everyone was talking about it," she said with a wave of her hand. She realized that many had seen her at the museum and that she shouldn't deny that she had been there. "Actually, I was there looking at the statue of Dumbledore when it happened. It was a madhouse so I left."

"You left?! Hermione, you could have gotten the story! That could have been the answer to everything. They couldn't deny you a promotion if you had turned in a top rate report on the whole fiasco. The Daily Prophet may have even paid you for the story."

"But I don't want a promotion," she argued, "and I certainly don't want to work for the Daily Prophet or any other gossip rag. I have every faith in the system," she lied, "and they will discover who did this."

"Sure they will," he said, rolling his eyes. He perched himself on her desk and patted her head. "Is something wrong with my little Hermione?"

"No," she answered instantly, a little too fast.

"Oh, I think there is." He hopped off the desk and went around until he was hunched down beside her. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her towards him. "So, what is it today? Did Tom come over and see you this morning?"

"For your information, I haven't seen him since that first night." She gave a bitter laugh. "It's funny, really. We always used to be bumping into each other at odd times and now it's like we live on two different sides of the world."

Richard frowned. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

She gave a soft sigh as she laid her head down his shoulder. "I don't know what I want anymore. Everything is just so confusing."

"Well, I got something that isn't confusing and that will cheer you up," Richard declared confidently, hugging her shoulders. "Ivan dropped by while you were away at the scene of the crime and left tickets for the game. He left three. Say you'll take me."

Hermione smiled teasingly as she looked up into his pleading eyes. "I don't know, I have such an army of friends and…" He moved his hand down to her side in a silent threat. "Oh alright, just don't tickle me."

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you." He kissed her temple. "So who else are you going to invite?"

Hermione paused. "I not sure." She grinned. "Hey, I know. Just let me owl her and ask whether she wants to come or not."

"Who?"

"Minerva McGonagall. I met her today while I was in the museum."

"Hey, I know her. She was four years ahead of me in school." He looked at her. "She seemed a little stuck up when she was in school, always more concerned with work than with people. She hero-worshipped Dumbledore, though."

"She seems more mellow now," she said in an off hand sort of way as she jotted down a quick note. "Anyway, there's nothing wrong in caring about grades. I was that way when I was in school."

"Were you now? Well, you certainly don't seem like the worrying kind now." He hopped back on the desk. "So we have a date for Saturday then? Thanks for taking me, Hermione."

She stared pointedly at him and then at her desk. "Don't you have somewhere else to perch? Maybe in your own chair perhaps?"

"But then I couldn't be near you," he cajoled even as he hopped off the desk and walked over to his own desk. "But if you insist, I'll leave you alone…for now."

She chuckled as she finished the note and set it aside to send later. She hoped the other woman would give in to a little fun and go along. It would be nice to get to know her a bit better in this time and maybe she could find a confidante in her.

o!o

She swept her hair up into a ponytail as she walked up the path leading to Hogwarts. She twisted the tie around it and smiled as the sun hit her face. The receding days of August still maintained the warmth of summer.

She looked to the side and saw Hagrid working outside his little hut. She had met him twice during the two weeks she had stayed at the school and found him to be the same as she remembered him from the future. He waved to her and she returned it along with a smile. He had another one of his creatures in his hands.

Minerva came bustling out just as she reached the front doors. Hermione took in her severe black robes and tight bun and laughed. Minerva frowned and asked, "What?"

"This is a Quidditch game, Minerva, not a conference. Let your hair down a little and loosen up. I promise, Dumbledore won't think any less of you."

"But I just got this job and I don't want him to regret hiring me and…"

"Oh he won't," Hermione insisted, going around pulling the pins out of the other woman's hair. "And now you need to take off that dreary overcoat and put this on." She took off her own jacket that was a hazel colour and switched it with Minerva's robe.

"Are you sure?" she asked doubtfully. "I don't think I look very good in this…"

"You look beautiful," Hermione interrupted. "Now to disperse with these," she said as she pointed her wand at them.

"Hey, hey, those are my robes for school," Minerva said hastily as she went to snatch them from Hermione. "I still need those. I only bought four."

"You're young, Minerva, and you shouldn't be covering yourself in black. You can still maintain an air of severity while wearing colour and looking fashionable. You should try emerald green or maybe even forest green."

"Green?" She frowned. "Do you really think I could pull green off?"

"I know you can." She looped her arm through Minerva's and threw the black cloak down on the ground. "Now, let's go to the game and have some fun."

They walked down to the main gates and then apparated to the Quidditch pitch. Richard was waiting for them just inside the main gates with three large bottles of butter beer in his arms and a bag full of various treats.

"Hungry?" Hermione asked as she led Minerva over to him. "There's enough there to feed a small army."

He grinned. "I'll bet you that there won't be any left to eat within an hour."

"Wouldn't doubt it with your appetite," Hermione chortled. "Richard, this is Minerva. Minerva, this impossible git is Richard."

"I take offence to that," Richard said as he grinned. "Ignore Hermione, she's just mad because I didn't fall for her charms. However, here comes one man who just couldn't resist her."

"You would be right in that," Ivan said as he wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist. "I just have a minute but I just wanted to come over and say hello." He gave her lips a quick kiss. "The others are waiting for me in the locker room."

"Had to get a good luck kiss, eh?" Richard asked slyly with a roguish wink.

"Shut it, you," Hermione said, slapping his arm. She turned in Ivan's arms and kissed him quickly. "Good luck and be sure to win. I placed a bet on you."

"Then I wouldn't dream of disappointing you," he replied. He turned to Richard and Minerva. "If you guys have time afterwards then we should all go out and get a bite to eat."

"Sure," they both agreed.

"Alright, hate to run but I fear that I must."

Hermione gave him one last kiss before he turned and walked off. Her smile faltered slightly as she saw the number of females practically throwing themselves at him. He signed a few autographs on the way but she was happy to see that he practically ignored most of them.

"Come on, let's find our seats," Richard said, wrapping an arm around each of their shoulders. He manoeuvred them through the crowd and up into the stands. They weren't completely at the top, but they were close to the main box where the announcer would sit with any prestige members of wizarding society.

"Look at the view!" Richard cried as he gripped the railing before them and peered over. "This is amazing!" He turned to look at Hermione. "You better not break up with him."

"Nice to know that you only care about the tickets my boyfriend can provide," she countered with a teasing smile. "You can always date him."

"Thanks but I think I'll pass on that one." He wedged himself between Hermione and Minerva. "Ah, just what I like. Two beautiful women on either side of me and a Quidditch game. I can die a happy man now."

Hermione slapped his arm away while Minerva blushed a pretty pink. Hermione was surprised at her future professor's reaction. She had always seemed like such a stickler for the rules and not feeling any sort of romantic emotions and seeing her blushing was surprising.

"Hermione, just curious, how many games do you think you can get us tickets for?"

She looked at Richard and smiled. "Don't push your luck. I might decide to invite someone else next time. You're too annoying."

"I'm wounded," he said as he grasped his chest.

"No, you're not. Now hush, they're getting ready to do something."

The game went spectacularly well and Ivan managed to catch the snitch, ensuring a win for his team. He swooped down near her as he was completing a victory lap and tried to get her to go for a ride with him. She laughed merrily but wouldn't allow herself to be dragged onto the broom.

Richard continued to flirt unabashedly with Minerva throughout the course of the game. Hermione hoped that he wouldn't continue to lead her on.

They waited for Ivan outside of the team's locker room. He wrapped his arms around her once outside and kissed her soundly, the photographer's flash ignored. "I won," he whispered in her ear, "just for you."

She smiled up at him. "Good game, Mr. Krum. You played amazingly well."

"I must admit, I was showing off a little."

"A little?"

"Alright, a lot. I wanted to show off for you." He lowered his lips to hers once again. "Did I impress you?" he questioned softly against her lips.

"A little," she teased, pulling away from him slightly.

"Alright you two," Richard said, clapping them on their shoulders, "you're attracting attention. May I suggest a quiet restaurant where we can something good to eat? I'm famished and I do believe Minerva is as well."

"Just a little," she agreed, stepping up beside of Richard.

"Food it is," Ivan declared as he moved his arm up to wrap around her shoulders. He turned her around and led them away from the crowd to the apparation point where they could apparate to the restaurant he had mentioned earlier.

They were shown immediately to their table by a stunning waitress whose gaze lingered on Ivan a second too long for Hermione's liking. She placed a possessive hand on his arm, making sure that the woman clearly understood that he was spoken for.

She didn't even understand her possessive nature towards him, though. Sure, she cared for him and was even starting to like him a lot, but it was still Tom's face that lingered in her mind as she closed her eyes at night. Why couldn't she for once love the safe man?

"Hermione?"

Ivan's voice drew her out of her thoughts and she realized that she must have drifted off into space there for a minute or two. "Yes?"

"I was just asking what you thought of the pasta." He stared at her intently. "Where has your mind wandered to this time?" He smiled at her as one would to a child they were indulging as he patted her hand. "That's my Hermione, always drifting off."

She pulled her hand away from him sharply as her eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. "Please don't patronize me, Ivan. I am not a two-year old."

His eyes roamed over her figure freely and she felt insulted at the open look of appreciation for her figure in his eyes. "I can see that darling. Believe me, when I look at that little body of yours, my mind is far from children."

"What's gotten into you?" she hissed. She caught sight of two of his team mates nearby, jostling each other and having a good laugh at her expense. She realized that Ivan was just showing them that he wasn't all mushy gushy when it came to her.

She rose sharply and instantly had his hand around her arm. "Don't," he warned.

"I suggest you let her go, Krum," a new voice added to the fray, causing them all to freeze.

Ah me, my love for Tom just wouldn't allow this Hermione-Ivan relationship for too long... All My Love,

MiZZ AmAyA