It was the first day of holiday break. The day when everyone was on their way home. The castle was busy with students hurrying to gather their belongings to begin their travels home for the holiday break.

"Hermione!" Ron called to her from the other end of the great hall.

"Hermione!" He called again.

Hermione turned around to see the red haired boy running in her direction.

"Well hello Ronald…" She greeted the boy after he finally reached her.

"You know, I'm leaving in a few. You sure you're not going to make it to the burrow for Christmas?" He asked.

Hermione took one quick glance up at the head table where Minerva McGonagall was seated. "Yes, I told you, honestly, don't you listen at all? I'm, spending the holidays with Mum." She said.

"Well alright. You almost ready Harry?" Ron asked.

"Yes. Hermione, do try and have a good holiday. It will all work out." Harry reassured his friend.

"Thanks harry." She said weakly.

Meanwhile, Minerva McGonagall was watching the young girl and her friends. She could hardly make out what the girl had said, but had heard enough to capture the regretful tone.

Almost as if on cue, the girl turned and made eye contact with Minerva. Minerva stood from her seat at the head table and exited the hall through the back door.

She made her way to her own quarters where she knew Jean was working to catch up on her grading before break officially started.

She entered her quarters to find Jean reading through Christmas cards that had arrived. Minerva looked around her quarters. They were almost unrecognizable due to all of Jean's holiday decorations. Minerva stood there for a moment just observing Jean- until she was noticed by Jean.

"Oh, hello love." Jean greeted the woman with a warm smile. Minerva walked over to Jean and put an arm around her. "I think it's time you and I had a talk, hmm?" she said.

"Alright…" Jean said hesitantly.

Minerva took Jeans hand and began to talk.

"About the holidays," Minerva started but before she could complete her sentence Jean jumped up from her chair to interject.

"Oh Minerva, stop worry"- Jean insisted.

"Would you please listen, let me finish a sentence." Minerva said impatiently.

Jean just moved to the kitchen to prepare some tea for the pair of them.

"Jean," Minerva called as she followed the woman into the kitchen.

Jean was half listening Minerva as she prepared the tea.

"Hermione isn't used to seeing us together, at least not openly and I just think maybe we should remedy that."

Jean stopped what she was doing and raised an eyebrow at Minerva, who in turn, realizing with what impact her words could have been taken, rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean Jean." She responded.

"I just, I worry about her. The girl has lost her father and her family all in a few short months. Her world has been turned upside down." With a sigh Minerva added, "I just wish that I could do something to make her feel better."

Jean wrapped her arms around Minerva comfortingly. "Sweets, I know this is all very strange. It is an odd situation for everyone involved. And, yes I know the girl has had changes lately, but dear, we're a family now. She'll come to accept that."

"Why is it that you find a way to convince me of anything?" Minerva said as she took Jean's hands.

"It's a gift." Jean said teasingly.

The next day Minerva was getting ready for her first class of the day. It was only 10 minutes before students were to arrive to listen to her lecture on about transfigurations; a subject that most of the students at Hogwarts cared little for. That was except for Hermione Granger. Minerva felt a bit shaken just at the thought of the girl. Today was the day. She had thought about something she had been wanting to do for some time now and she hoped that Hermione Granger would be up to it.

The Students began to file in one after the other. Then, there were the three "golden trio" as many seemed to call them these days. Minerva could feel her hands begin to tremble just slightly as she watched Hermione take her seat with the rest of the students.

"Good morning class, please take your seats and we'll get started." Minerva greeted the class.

"Now, you all have your sex book- uh"- Minerva caught herself and cleared her throat. "Textbooks." She said hoping no one took notice of her mistake. As she could feel her cheeks flush red, she instinctively made eye contact with Hermione, whose face was just as red as hers felt.

The class was silent, so Minerva continued. "Please, I would like you to begin reading chapter 4. Then we will discuss and try our hand at a few of these spells." Minerva quickly walked around her desk to sit in her chair and buried her embarrassment in her collection of journals that still needed to be graded. However, it was clear that she could not focus on her work just as her students seemed to be just as distracted. Minerva looked up to be greeted by Hermione looking back at her. She looked shy and rather small sitting there among the rest of her classmates. Minerva watched as the rest of the class slowly finished up the assigned reading. Once everyone was finished she rose from her seat and walked towards the students.

"Now, who can tell me about what you just read?" She asked. Hermione's hand shot up quickly.

"um, yes, Miss. Granger." Minerva called on her quietly.

Hermione took a slow breath before she hesitantly started talking. "Well," She began, looking up at Minerva, "transfigurations, this chapter was about transfigurations of humans and the skills needed in order to do so. Also how to avoid turning witches and strippers- uh, I mean wizards " Hermione caught herself, "Wizards into something other than what you intended…" Hermione trailed off while the class tried to hush their snickering for the second time that morning. Hermione's eyes lifted to meet Minerva's.

"Thank you, Miss. Granger…." Minerva said hesitantly and then quickly moved on with her lesson.

After the allotted time had come and gone students were dismissed and began filing out of the professor's classroom.

"Miss. Granger," Minerva called from the front of the class. Hermione looked up in the Professor's direction and stopped packing her belongings into her school bag.

Once most of the rest of the students had exited classroom, Minerva made her way to meet Hermione where she was standing.

"You know, you didn't have to do that." She said to the girl, a bit embarrassed.

"Do what?" Hermione asked knowingly.

Minerva just gave her a look and said, "You know what I mean." Hermione gave a simple smile.

"Well, thank you…" Minerva said. She watched the girl return back to gathering her books into her school bag.

"Hermione, I was wondering…" Minerva began.

"Yes?" Hermione responded, looking up with a questioning look.

"Would you,?" Minerva began again, a bit hesitantly. "Could we maybe spend a day together?"

"I just think that it might make you- well, me as well, a bit more comfortable with the… situation…" Minerva added nervously.

Hermione smiled, "Professor, I would love to."

Minerva, relieved by this quick and positive response, relaxed a bit. "Well, alright then." She stated.

"Well, I suppose I'll be in touch then?" She questioned.

Hermione, now with her packed school back hung across her shoulder, faced Minerva.

"Alright." She simply stated and exited the classroom without anymore of an interaction.

Minerva was pleased with herself for actually persuing this idea of hers. Hopefully it will make things easier, she thought. She returned to her desk work before the start of the next class. Now, she thought, what to do with the girl…..