When Hermione entered the room again, she found Minerva asleep, getting more agitated by the second. It was hard to tell what she was dreaming, but her life must have been full of events bad enough to give her a lifetime of nightmares.

Quickly, Hermione was by her side and shook her awake. "Minerva, wake up, you're dreaming." She brushed the grey hair from the sweaty forehead. "Come on, you have to wake up now."

Slowly, Minerva came to her senses and looked into concerned chocolate eyes.

"Shh, you're ok. You were dreaming." Hermione sat on the bed and carefully pulled the duvet back up. "You are plagued by so many nightmares you don't get enough rest. Is it always this bad?"

Minerva shook her head, still shocked by the long forgotten war images her mind suddenly recalled. "No, there is the odd bad dream, but not like this."

"I guess you react to this physically and emotionally very stressful situation. You were sleeping better when you rested your head on my lap. You only allowed that when you were still running a pretty high fever, but if you want we can try that again."

Minerva looked very uneasy with the suggestion.

"It's just an offer. You don't have to," she assured and patted her hand before standing up, stretching her muscles.

Fully awake now, Minerva decided to change the subject. "Hermione, this is an old house and hard to heat. You can't wear shorts and a top here in the middle of the winter."

Hermione had hoped against hope that the elder witch wouldn't notice or comment on that. "I'm fine."

"You are cold, and the last thing we need is that you get ill, too." This was odd. Back at Hogwarts, she remembered Hermione being cold all the time.

"I won't get ill." At least that's what she hoped.

The elder woman was running out of patience and took a calming breath. "Hermione, please put something decent on. It is too cold for summer clothing. If anything needs washing, give it to Holly."

"I said I'm…"

That was enough. "Hermione! Go and change!"

Hermione abruptly turned around and quickly ran into her room.

Minerva took a calming breath. Sometimes, it was still a mystery to her why teenagers behaved the way they do. She listened carefully and waited for the girl's return, but heard nothing. Maybe she needed a little time to calm down, Minerva thought and waited patiently, or as patiently as a Minerva McGonagall could wait. It was common knowledge that she wasn't a very patient person, and soon enough, after about half an hour, she'd had enough. She called Hermione a few times, but nothing happened. That wasn't very surprising, as the walls and doors were pretty soundproof.

Sighing deeply, she braced herself for the pain and slowly got up.

Hermione was sitting on the bed, still crying. How could she tell her professor, that she couldn't change because she had nothing to change into? What she had were a few items of thin summer clothing she had worn in Australia, but that was all. When she sent her parents to Australia, she had known she would be tight for money. It wasn't right to take money from her parents without them knowing, and anyway, they had needed all the money they had had to start a new life in Down Under. As a pupil, there hadn't been any income for Hermione, so she'd transfigured her belongings so often already that most of her clothes hadn't survived and needed to be thrown away, and the last few clothes she owned wouldn't survive being transfigured again.

"Hermione," the strained voice of her mentor caught her attention. The weak woman had made it until through the door, with one hand still holding on the door frame, but it was obvious the little strength she had was drained now and she was in trouble.

Hermione spurted to her aid and caught her just in time. "Minerva! Hang on, I've got you." She slowly led the pained woman to the bed. "Come on, you're almost there. A few steps," she tried to encourage her, knowing full well that the elder witch was about to collapse any second. Hermione took most of her weight already, feeling her whole body shake from pain and exhaustion.

It was just in time when they reached the bed. Minerva couldn't have taken one more step. She collapsed on the bed, and Hermione did her best to cover her with the duvet and make her comfortable.

"Rest now. Can I get you anything?"

Minerva shook her head. Her throbbing body reminded her just how unwell she still was. "No. Please open the wardrobe for me."

Sighing, Hermione walked over to the old wardrobe at the other end of the room and opened the door, showing not much indeed.

"Fine. Now show me the rest."

Hermione turned around and looked her right in the eyes. "I can't! This is what I have got, and I've transfigured it so often it will rip the next time."

Minerva was confused now. "What do you mean? Where are the rest of your clothes?"

Putting a little distance between them, Hermione walked over to the window, glancing at the snow covering the landscape. "As you know, I spent the last few months in Australia, and the few clothes I travelled back with, are meant for Australian summer."

"I see. Why didn't you say so?" Something about all that didn't feel right.

Hermione sighed. "We had more pressing problems than my clothes."

One could say that, yes. "Take something out of my wardrobe, and when I'm well again, we'll go shopping."

"That is very kind, but we don't need to go shopping. I'm fine with what I've got."

She couldn't be serious. "It's December, and the winter has only just begun. Of course you need proper winter clothing." Minerva felt like talking to a toddler.

"I really don't need anything," the young woman tried to convince her mentor.

"You are an intelligent young lady, so you can't possibly believe what you say. What is your problem with going shopping? Don't you want to be seen with me and rather want to do that with one of your friends?" The thought unexpectedly hurt more than Minerva was willing to admit.

Hermione was shocked to hear that. How could she possibly think that? "Of course not! Why wouldn't I want to be seen with you?"

"I don't know, Hermione. Can you see how ridiculous this conversation is? And this time, it's not me who doesn't think straight. Explain to me what the problem is, because after all these years of experience with pupils, I'm at the end of my wits."

Of course Hermione saw how ridiculous the whole conversation was. She was cold and desperately needed winter clothes. But how could she tell her former professor that she didn't have any money?

Minerva patted the bed invitingly. "Please come here and sit down." Sighing, Hermione did what she was asked.

"Now, out with it. What is the problem?" she ordered in her best professor voice.

Hermione was busy observing her hand now. She couldn't look at her mentor. "I can't go shopping, because I don't have money to spend."

Minerva remained silent, giving Hermione the chance to explain in her own time. "My parents needed all the money to start a new life, and as a pupil, I never earned any money. The house hasn't sold yet, so I don't have any resources."

A hand under her chin gently forced the young witch to look up. "I am so sorry I never gave that a thought. Of course you don't have any money, and that is no reason to be ashamed in any way. I'll have a word with Kingsley. You three deserve a little compensation for what you've done, but as for your clothes, I'll be happy to buy them for you."

"Oh no, that is very kind of you, but I really don't…"

Minerva interrupted her, knowing what she was going to say anyway. "Hermione, please. The least I can do is buy you a few clothes."

"You can't spend your money on me. I'll really be fine." Hermione wanted to get up, but Minerva grabbed her hands and pulled her a little closer.

"Hermione, I spent decades of my life at Hogwarts with the Deputy's salary and no chance to spend much money. I can assure you that I am not a poor witch and I would enjoy buying clothes for you."

The young woman shook her head. "It doesn't feel right. I don't want you to feel like you have to do that just because I'm here now. I don't want to be a charity case."

"You'll never be a charity case. What you don't understand is that I would enjoy it. Money is nothing I need to think of, and it will be something new for me. I never had the chance to shop for someone else but myself." She didn't have any children and not the kind of friends you'd go shopping with. She had seen the mothers and daughters having a fun day but had never had a chance to be part of it.

A sad look appeared on her mentor's face, and understanding was beginning to form in Hermione. Minerva McGonagall had probably never had a normal shopping day with someone. What a sad thought really.

The young girl smiled shyly. "Shall we have a proper shopping day then like everybody else? As much as I dislike that you'll have to pay for everything, I most certainly will enjoy a shopping day with you."

The old witch lifted the duvet, and Hermione wordlessly got under it and settled next to her. Surprising both of them, Minerva lifted her arm and Hermione cuddled closer. It was a new feeling for both of them, and it took a few moments before Hermione could feel her mentor slowly relax. Encouraged, the young witch carefully put her head on Minerva's chest and shyly reached her arm across her stomach.

For once, Minerva let her instinct guide her and wrapped her arms securely around Hermine. It was the first time Minerva held a child, or in this case, a teenager, in such an intimate way, but it filled her with unexpected warmth.

A wave of emotion hit Hermione like a brick wall. She couldn't even remember the last time she had felt so secure. It was probably in her third year during the holidays in her mother's arms. Unbidden tears started to slowly soak Minerva's cotton shirt.

It took a little while until the elder witch noticed that Hermione was silently crying. She started stroking the soft wavy hair and pressed a small kiss on the girl's head. "Shh, I've got you, darling."

The situation was so surreal that Hermione almost laughed. It just wasn't possible that she was in a bed with the stern Head of Gryffindor, crying into her chest. Any yet, here she was, and it felt good. The soothing strokes and regular heartbeat slowly lulled her into a deep restful slumber.

Grateful that Hermione finally got some sleep, Minerva let her fingers trace the girl's delicate features, becoming more and more confident. Hermione obviously enjoyed their closeness, and despite every fear, Minerva enjoyed it, too. Somehow, the young witch managed to break through every single well-kept wall she had built around her heart. Hermione had seen her at her worst and despite her own problems, the young woman had cared for her so lovingly and patiently that their dynamic had changed forever. Hermione had become so dear to her and brought out a side of Minerva she hadn't thought she possessed.

Feeling her eyes grow heavy, the old woman tightened her arms firmly around Hermione before drifting off into a deep sleep. For once, both women slept without the terrors of the usual nightmares until Minerva started aching.

Waking up, she registered that Hermione already seemed to be awake, although she hadn't moved.

Feeling her pillow move, Hermione sat up. "I'm sorry, Minerva. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

The old women gingerly sat up a bit. Her little walk had left her with considerable discomfort, and she'd have to take a potion soon. "Don't be sorry. I think we both needed that, and it was a nice change to nap without a nightmare."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, I slept well, too. You look like you need a pain potion, though."

Smiling slightly, the elder witch was amazed how well Hermione was able to read her every move. "That is true. Would you mind?"

"Of course not. I'll be right back." Hermione hopped off the bed and returned shortly after with the potion and a glass of water.

"Thank you, darling." She watched Hermione standing beside the bed, somewhat unsure. "You better come back under the duvet, wearing that." Lifting the duvet for the young woman, Minerva waited until she climbed back into bed and reached out to feel her thin cotton top. She had been right, that it wouldn't survive being transfigured again. "As it will take a little while until I can manage a trip to Diagon Alley, please feel free to take from my wardrobe what you like. I suggest you have a look behind the right door. Are you short for underwear, too?"

Hermione looked very uneasy. "No, I'm not. That didn't need to be transfigured, but I really don't…" she stated, but Minerva quickly interrupted. "No, Hermione. We're not having this discussion again. We'll have a look for you when we go back to my bedroom."