Much thanks to my editor, Gwen McCormick, and to my dear friend DUJ. All mistakes are mine. Obviously, I am not JKR and am making nothing from this.

The Course of True Love

Chapter 11

October 1998

"I don't know how you're doing it, but you are excelling exceptionally well, Hermione," Minerva McGonagall told her apprentice.

Hermione blushed at the compliment. "Thank you," she said. "I guess I've been sort of cheating."

"Cheating?" Minerva frowned.

"I, uh, bought an investment property," Hermione said quickly, forestalling what she knew to be a virtual landslide of questions to come. "It was a couple of months ago, and I've been practicing my transfiguration work by doing the renovations."

Minerva's mouth dropped open and then, just as quickly, formed a great smile. "So that's how you've been learning so fast!" she exclaimed. "Why, that's a brilliant idea! Where is it?"

"Thank you." Hermione blushed. "Severus and I worked out a deal on his home at Spinner's End, and I've been working on it on weekends. When it sells, I'll pay off the rest owing and keep the profits."

"Well, I certainly hope it pays off financially as well as it's paid off with your transfiguration skills," Minerva replied. "I think I'd like to start your teaching an actual class. Normally, this wouldn't happen until your second year, but you, my dear, are exceptional."

"Which class will I have?"

"I was thinking the third years, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaw," Minerva told her. "They aren't so far behind as the second years."

"Some of them are in my tutoring class," Hermione added excitedly. "And, I've been using a lot of the teaching strategies Severus suggested, and it's working beautifully."

"I'm glad he was able to help. He's a good man." Minerva McGonagall grinned at her apprentice. "And, how did your meeting with Albus go? Did he explain the grading policy to you?"

"Not exactly, no," Hermione answered slowly. "He gave me a speech about the importance of classroom autonomy and sent me to talk to Severus." She raised an eyebrow at her mentor causing the older witch to laugh.

"I thought as much," Minerva said with a knowing nod. "And Albus has a valid concern. It would be a grave mistake for any so-called expert authority figure to step in and begin forcing teachers to all teach and grade the same exact way. So long as teachers have mastery of content and basic requirements for their students, we certainly don't care how the material is presented, within reason," she added, looking out over the tops of her glasses, "or how certain grades are weighted."

"Weighted?"

"Missy Min?" Minerva's house elf, Sosty, squeaked as she popped into the empty classroom. "Master Robbie here."

"Thank you, Sosty," she replied. "Please let him know we'll be there shortly."

Walking quickly along together, Minerva turned to Hermione. "Weighted grades are a simple concept," she said. "For example, I count my hands-on activities as 50% of my grading; written work is broken down as 25% for content and 25% for grammar."

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed. "That makes more sense."

"And," Minerva pointed out, "I change those standards by year depending on how much and what the students should have learned." She lowered her voice. "Now, Pomona weights her grades on an individual basis. She insists that hard work and effort are just as important as actual knowledge." Seeing the disbelief on her apprentice's face she nodded. "I know. I know. I keep telling her she's going to get in trouble with that policy."

"It's a bit wishy-washy if you ask me," Hermione muttered.

Minerva cast a glance at Hermione. "I see you've been talking with Severus." She chuckled. "I'm glad to see you're getting on with him," she stated slowly. "He needs friends, poor boy, especially after what he went through this past year." Minerva hummed to herself. "So, you understand now about weighted grades?"

"I do," Hermione said. "I never knew it was could be so complicated, that certain things are weighted more than others." She frowned, thinking about what she'd just said.

"Exactly," Minerva replied with a smile. "Just as in real life, some things are simply more important than others."

"Some things are simply more important than others," Hermione repeated. She stopped in her tracks just before the Headmaster's door. "Like people, you mean?" she demanded angrily. Her face reddened with anger. "Tell me, Minerva, why didn't you stop the Gryffindors from abusing the Slytherins?"

"What?" Minerva exclaimed as she turned to face the angry younger witch. "Abuse? What abuse? What are you talking-"

"Forgive me, Professor," Hermione interrupted sharply, "but I honestly find it hard to believe that you were unaware the Marauders abused poor Severus!"

Minerva's face grew red, and her words grew heated. "The Marauders? Oh, I knew they trade barbed words with some of the Slytherins, Severus especially," she replied, "but-"

"But words can hurt, Professor," Hermione snapped, "especially in a boy whose parents-" She broke off. "Whose father was a drunk that beat him!"

Minerva McGonagall gasped with shock. "I had no idea of the abuse he suffered at home," she whispered. "Did he report it? Surely, Horace would have done something if he knew."

"Report it?" Hermione cried. "Slughorn knew about it. How could he not know?" Her anger was gone, replaced by an icy composure. "Just like you knew your precious Gryffindors were bullying Severus and the younger students. And you did nothing!"

"Hermione!" Severus exclaimed. He and Albus rushed up at the sound of the women shouting. "Hermione, compose yourself!" He dragged the young woman into the Headmaster's office.

"Minerva!" Dumbledore barked. Rushing forward, he took her by the arm and pull her into the room, but she jerked away.

Pushing forward until she stood toe-to-toe with her apprentice, Minerva McGonagall argued loudly. Her Scottish accent made plain just how angry she was. "For Merlin's sake! Ye're a grown woman, surely ye dinna believe that teachers are omniscient, god-like creatures! Unless we're told of a problem or see it for ourselves, we can't simply glean it from the air by osmosis!"

Hermione blinked as her mouth popped open forming a little 'O.' Turning to Severus, she cocked her head, silently asking him the truth of the other witch's words. When he nodded, all the blood drained from her face as she slowly realized the truth of Minerva's words. "Oh, Minerva! Professor McGonagall, I am so sorry. I must apologize," she said formally, taking a small step backwards. "I had thought-" She paused and shrugged. "I don't know what I thought."

"And, I'm sorry I yelled at you," she replied with a great sigh. "I'm far too old to be allowing my temper to get the best of me, and you've brought up a valid point, which I am going to make sure will be addressed in the future."

"Students," Minerva declared as she turned to face Albus and punched him in the chest with a bony finger, "all students must have some adult on campus that they feel safe going to with their problems. That means-" She poked him again, only harder.

"Now, Minerva, it's not very comfortable to be prodded in the chest like that," Dumbledore remarked, stepping away and rubbing the spot.

"That means," she insisted, "that from now on we need to balance our staff with equal numbers from all Houses as well as male and female staff members." Turning, she gave him another sharp jab. "That way our students won't feel so afraid to ask for help if they need it."

Dumbledore stopped her from another attack by taking her hand in his own. "That is, indeed, an excellent idea, my dear, but I'm afraid it's impossible to achieve." Noting her frown, he grasped her other hand, holding them both together, and raised his voice just a tad. "Because there are seventeen members of staff if you include everyone from Headmaster to Caretaker to Librarian."

I cannot believe Hermione fought so fiercely for me! Severus thought, cutting his eyes at her. She had absolutely no right to share my personal information with- He broke off. But she cares, truly cares! Mentally, he shook himself and cleared his throat. "Might I make a suggestion?" he asked softly.

"What?" Dumbledore asked. "Oh, yes, yes, of course,

"If there is to be an over-abundance of Houses, we should have more Hufflepuffs," Severus suggested. "Do not look at me that way, Minerva. Hufflepuffs are known to be kind and caring. Students with problems would be far more likely to confide in a Hufflepuff."

"Albus, are you going to sell the cottage or not?" Robert McGonagall, lawyer, called out. "I've completed the paperwork, and I do have another appointment."

"Yes, Mr. McGonagall," Albus replied cheerfully. Taking Minerva by the arm, he ushered her to a chair next to her brother before seating himself behind his desk. "Let's just get down to business, shall we? Hermione, my dear, would you act as a second witness?"

Hermione shot Severus an apologetic look. "I'm sorry I told," she whispered. "My temper got the best of me, and-"

"Never." His voice was low. "Never," he hissed again, "dare complain again about my temper." He smirked at her and waited until she sighed, realizing that he was teasing her.

Inhaling deeply, she proceeded him, sitting next to Minerva. "I am so sorry," she whispered.

Minerva reached for the younger woman's hand and squeezed it gently. "Och, not at all," she answered back with a reassuring smile.

"Severus, are you sure you want to purchase my cottage. Except for a few weeks during summers, Rose Cottage has not been lived in, well, ever, really. There's no telling what problems you might be dealing with."

"I do," Snape declared. "I know the place will have certain problems, and I'm sure you'll make allowances for those by dropping your asking price." He gave the older wizard a shark-like grin.

Albus chuckled. "I'd already thought of that, my boy," he answered. He nodded and slid a single folded sheet of parchment across the table.

Carefully, Snape took the sheet, unfolded it, and read slowly. He frowned, closed the paper, and set it on the table before him. A long moment of silence passed before he spoke. "Why?"

The old man simply told him, "You're the closest thing to a son that I have."

"No," Severus declared firmly. He shook his head to emphasize his words and pushed the parchment back towards Albus.

Without hesitation, Minerva reached over and took the slip. Opening it, she shared the information with Hermione.

"Fifteen hundred galleons?" Hermione whispered. "That's all he's asking for his cottage?"

"I'm only asking you to pay closing costs, Severus," Dumbledore said quietly.

"I don't need your charity, old man," Snape barked.

"It's not charity, Severus," Dumbledore countered. "You'll be doing me a favor in buying it. I won't have to deal with the upkeep, taxes, and so forth."

"Take it, Severus," Minerva insisted.

Seeing Snape's stubborn face, Dumbledore continued. "I know you thought your money would go towards a home in a senior retirement village, and I must admit, that was my first thought."

"But we talked it over," Minerva said briskly, "and when he retires next year, Albus will be moving into my cottage."

Hermione's eyes widened in shock.

"Well, well, Min," Robert said slowly, "holding out on your brother?"

Minerva held her silence, but her eyes twinkled merrily at Albus' distress.

Dumbledore's face burned red. The old wizard coughed. "Well, there was no need our both trying to maintain separate places year-round when we can share expenses as roommates."

Snape smirked. "Well, in that case, I'll take it."

"Wonderful," Robert declared. "If you'll sign here." He handed a roll of parchment to Albus. "And here." He slid the paper over to Severus. "And you sign next to his signatures."

The attorney smiled and gathered the paperwork. He tapped the stack and murmured a quick spell under his breath, creating three more sets of paper. He pushed two sets towards the other wizards. "Here's a copy of the paperwork for each of you," Robert told them. "I'll keep a set for my records; the other is for filing at Hogsmeade's city hall." When he stood, the rest of those at the table did as well.

Severus held out his hand. "Thank you for handling the matter, Robert," he said as they shook hands.

"I appreciate your business," Robert replied with a grin. "Gringotts usually handles the transfer of funds within three business days." He turned to shake Dumbledore's hand before leaning over to buss his sister on the cheek. Then he turned his attention to Hermione. "And you, Miss," he told her with a cheeky grin, "were an absolute delight. Not many would dare take my sister to task."

Hermione blushed, and Robert laughed.