*TRIGGER WARNING*: Small incident of physical violence towards a seventeen-year-old? I'm not really sure how to word it. There is a verbal altercation that results in a single, immediately regretted physical reaction against the other party. I have placed the incident in italics so if you wish to scoot past it you can.

A/N: I wasn't sure I was going to make this update schedule today, but here we are. I think I've made it. In the meantime, think happy thoughts about my car which has decided that now is the time to be all weird and start dying on me now and then. That's always fun.

Anyway. We start to move forward a little bit again from here and some more questions shall be answered, if not today, beginning tomorrow and the Saturday (because no update on Friday!)

As always, I am eternally indebted to Spin for all the perseverance and hard work and perseverance [it requires twice as much perseverance as hard work] to keep me in line.

For disclaimer, please see Ch2.

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Minerva had a spring in her step for the next three days and Hermione had to be very careful about not making a big deal out of it. It was nice to see her so happy. In the end, Hermione was thankful she'd asked Dobby to put a dampening spell on her room. Not that she'd heard anything, but the implication was enough to make her blush.

She was happy for the first time in a long while as she walked away from her final class of the day, Arithmancy. She rounded a corner, heading back to Minerva's rooms when she heard two people arguing quietly.

"I have to do this!"

"It does not mean you do not need help."

"I can do it."

Hermione's eyes widened as she realised it was Snape and Malfoy and she checked the corridor before sliding in behind a statue. If she was caught by Minerva or Professor Dumbledore, she'd be in more trouble than if Snape caught her, but it was a risk she was willing to take.

"What is your plan?"

"None of your business," Draco snapped. "Leave me alone!"

Apparently all was not well in the land of the bad guys. She chewed on her lip thoughtfully, remembering the last time one of them had tried to eavesdrop on Draco onboard the Hogwarts Express. Harry had ended up with a broken nose, not that you could tell. Tonks had offered to fix it when she found him under the invisibility cloak, but then Snape had come along and stuck his own ugly nose in. Hermione had ended up being the one to fix it properly, despite the whinging he had done at the time. No. Draco was definitely up to something. And it was important enough for Snape to get involved; Snape who they were sure was a Death Eater, though she knew that Dumbledore had trusted him in the direst of situations.

Apparently, more so than even Minerva.

There were so many layers to this, it was making her head hurt trying to untangle them.

"Miss Granger."

Her heart dropped and she closed her eyes against the shame. Why, of all the times she'd walked this corridor without disruption, was Professor Dumbledore here now.

"Professor," she said, as airily as she could.

"I believe I told you," he said sternly. "Only a number of weeks ago, that should you step one foot out of line, I would not be so lenient."

"Yes, Professor," she said, swallowing her nervousness. "I do remember you saying that."

He looked at her, but she realised suddenly that she had him perfectly. He wouldn't stop her from being with Minerva because she was his greatest weakness. And from the look on his face, he knew that she knew.

"You are due in your room. Class is over. Kindly return there."

"I know that and I'm going, but Professor, while I have you -"

"Miss Granger," he said dangerously.

"You told Harry he could tell me! You told him that you knew he would and so he did. Well, now I have questions and a few thoughts. I think the Horc -"

He waved his hand, a sliver of anger colouring his face. That was unusual. Harry had told her about all the times he'd shouted at Albus and had nothing but solemn understanding in return, apologetic understanding in most cases. It almost felt good to have him be angry at her. She realised absently that he'd put up a silencing spell.

"Do not make the mistake of talking about things you have no understanding of, in a place where everyone can hear you."

She rolled her eyes at herself. That was as stupid as Malfoy and Snape.

"Well yes," she winced. "For that, I apologise, but I never see you! You won't talk to me. I'm pretty sure you're even avoiding your wife so you don't have to talk to me!"

"Miss Granger!"

"My name," she hissed, getting angrier the more she thought about it. "Is Hermione!"

"Miss Granger," he spoke over her. "I will not argue with you. This is not something that involves you."

"Great," she said, as he turned to leave. "Brilliant. Why are you so stubborn? Do you hate Harry? Is that why he can know everything? And he can discuss everything with you? Are you trying to kill him? Because excuse me, Headmaster, you bloody well will if you are planning on leaving him on his own without me."

"You have no idea what you are talking about."

She had him. She could see how upset he was and she pushed. She needed him to hear her.

"You, you are a selfish, self-absorbed BASTARD! The minute you put that stupid thing on your finger, you left her. You left her all alone, like you left Harry. You left everyone. You are an idiot -"

The crack of his hand against her cheek was enough to make her step back. She stared at him, and was pleased to see he looked utterly horrified at what he'd done.

"Hermione -"

"Wait! Don't touch me," she said evenly, holding up her hand. Her insides were burning. There was a heavy silence for a long time, when all she could hear was her heartbeat. He went to speak, but she waved him off. "I'm fine, but we obviously cannot tell Minerva about this."

He frowned, looking at her.

"Miss Granger, I will immediately -"

"For the -" Hermione rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. Her whole body felt like it was on fire."Will you just take a moment to think about the actual present and not seven hundred moves ahead? If she finds out about this, there'll be no forgiving you. Not knowing what we know about her father and her past. And I pushed you. I did exactly what Lavender did, and I'm sorry," she paused, letting out a long breath. "I am sorry, Professor. But if she finds out, she'll never forgive you and I won't take that from her. Not now."

They stared at each other for a long moment. Hermione's insides were still squirming and she felt like she may very well vomit.

"I must beg your forgiveness."

"You have it," she shrugged, trying to calm down. "It's fine. It was my fault, my bad form." She fixed him with a stare. "I won't tell, if you don't."

"Miss Gran -" he looked at her, and she could see the moment he knew she was being serious. "I will endeavour to hold my tongue."

"Professor," she shook her head. "Look, I know you're not dying, or at least, you don't have to die this year. There is no reason why you couldn't get a few years at least out of re-doing the stasis charm on that," she motioned to his arm which he automatically tucked behind his back. "I've read enough about them now - but something has you fixed on dying this year."

"That, Hermione," he said, suddenly looking tired. "Really is none of your business."

"Fine," Hermione said, looking at him pointedly. "But staying with your wife isn't? Forgoing punishment for grievous bodily harm so your wife will have someone that loves her at the end of it all? When you chose to leave her? That's none of my business?" He stared at her. "You do know that's what you're doing, don't you? Choosing to die." She stared back, sadly, realising she was going to get nothing from him. "Why do you hate me so much? Why won't you even listen to me? I'm trying to help."

"Oh, my dear girl," he said, sounding like himself for the first time since the incident. "I have never hated you. I actually greatly admire you, but I also know you, almost as well as I know my wife. If I tell you, if I involve you in this fully, you will not drop it and there will be things you will not be able to avoid," he stared at her, as if into her very soul. "I cannot leave Minerva alone. Even at the expense of your respect and affection."

"How dare you!" Hermione hissed. "As if I'd leave her alone. She's my -" she swallowed. She wasn't going to utter those words. "She means the world to me."

"And if Harry were to leave? Spend next year searching for the things that are lost? What then? How would you be in two places at once?"

"Of all the people in this world, Professor Dumbeldore," Hermione spat dangerously. "I would find a way."

They were at an impasse and she knew it. She stepped back, picking up the books she had dropped with a wave of her hand. His eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"I'm not going to let this go," Hermione hissed. "I'm not going to let any of it go. Because I love Harry like a brother and I'm not leaving him to do this on his own. And I love Minerva," she ploughed ahead, casting aside her earlier reticence. "Like a mother and for all your omnipotence Headmaster, you know nothing if you think I would just leave her," she glared. "Just like you are doing. And I bloody well know that there is so much more to this that I can't even comprehend but if you'd just focus on one thing at a time instead of moving us all about like ruddy chess pieces then you'd see it too."

"Miss -"

But she left. She pushed through his silencing spell with only a little tingling and headed towards Minerva's quarters, grumbling under her breath.

"You," Minerva said imperiously, over her parchment. "Are late."

"My bad," Hermione mumbled, going straight to her room and throwing her books on her bed. She stared at them, breathing heavily. She needed to throw something at someone. Preferably at the Headmaster's head. She spied a glass she'd filled with water the night before and flung it without thinking, feeling exhilarated as it smashed into a thousand tiny pieces.

"Hermione, what -"

Minerva's eyes went wide and she was across the room in a second. Hermione tried to turn away quickly but Minerva's grip was strong as she held onto her chin. Hermione could feel her shaking and all the anger that had been bubbling up, fell away.

"Who," Minerva's nostrils flared. "Who did this to you? Was it that little -"

"No," Hermione said quickly. That was the last thing she needed, Minerva getting mad at Lavender for no reason. "Nobody did this," Hermione said, looking up at her. Pleading with her to let it go. "It was my fault, I," she sighed. "I fell. I -"

"Don't you dare lie to me."

"Fine. I behaved poorly."

"Hermione -"

She'd never heard that tone before and she took a step back at the force of it. She saw, for just a moment, why Minerva was supposedly one of the best Aurors the Ministry had ever seen. But she was visibly trembling and Hermione knew she had to placate the woman before she lost her cool and did something foolish.

"I promise you," Hermione said, reaching forward carefully and taking her shaking hands. She could feel the magic in the woman's fingers. "That it wasn't the same thing and it certainly wasn't without cause. It doesn't even hurt."

That was a flat-out lie. She could definitely feel it stinging now.

"Somebody raised a hand to my child," Minerva whispered, the venom in her voice frightening Hermione. "They -"

"Stop," Hermione said, feeling a little warmth in her belly at being labelled as such. "Please stop. I really am fine."

Minerva met her eyes and Hermione looked away just in case Minerva could see her thoughts like Albus could.

"There has never been any excuse to strike a child," Minerva hissed.

"Look," Hermione said gently. "I had an argument with someone and I did exactly what Lavender did. Well," she clarified. "That's not true, but I pushed and pushed until they snapped. And," she shrugged. "It was fair game," she glanced up, finally meeting her eyes. "I was fair game. It was entirely my fault."

"You did not have a wand with which to defend yourself," Minerva muttered, her eyes roaming Hermione's face. "Someone hurt you; someone physically attacked you."

"I didn't need a wand. The person that I was arguing with would never hurt me."

"Hermione!" Hermione squeaked as Minerva dragged her over to the dresser and stood her before the mirror, turning her face to the side. "They hurt you."

Hermione's eyes widened as she looked at the cut on her cheek. She realised then that Albus would've had to have used his left hand, the one he wore his ring on. She just hoped Minerva wouldn't make that connection.

"It's fine," Hermione said, touching it with only a tiny wince. "Scars add character, right?"

"This is not a laughing matter," Minerva said, still sounding dangerous, though with a bit more wobble. "This is not -"

"Minerva?" Hermione said, catching her attention. "I swear to you, this was purely my fault. I don't hold anyone else responsible. Please. I truly am never going to tell you who did this. I want you to let it go. I'm not hurt, I'm not even upset. I'm just sorry that you found out because it really isn't a big deal."

Hermione watched as a flurry of emotions went across her face. It couldn't get out, and she only hoped that Professor Dumbledore was as good a liar as she was.

"Come with me," Minerva said quietly, not giving Hermione the choice when she grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the room and down the hall. She pushed Hermione into the chair in front of her dresser and disappeared into the bathroom. Hermione watched in the mirror as Minerva looked through the cabinets, slamming doors with a storm brewing on her face.

"If I ever find out who did this -" Minerva growled, throwing a jar down on the dresser.

Hermione glanced at her and reached forward, picking it up herself.

"Put it down."

After never taking that tone with her before, she'd now done it twice and it threw Hermione for a loop. She did as she was told, turning to see Minerva pulling uselessly at the high collar of her cape. Her hands were shaking so much she couldn't undo the clasp. Hermione felt awful watching her and cautiously got up to help.

"Relax," Hermione whispered, stilling Minerva's hands and taking over. "I'm okay." Minerva made to say something, but Hermione's head shake was enough to stop her. "Breathe." Hermione undid the top buttons for her and smiled, stepping around to take down Minerva's hair. "I promise I'm okay. It wasn't anything like," she looked into Minerva's eyes. "Anything you experienced. It wasn't like that."

Minerva huffed and tore off her outer robes, throwing them on the bed angrily.

"Sit," she ordered and Hermione did so, letting Minerva move her face until it was in the right position.

Despite the anger radiating from her person, Minerva's touch was gentle as she poked and prodded the cut, pausing when Hermione winced and pulled away.

"Hold still," she said, gentler this time.

Hermione closed her eyes and sighed as she felt Minerva step forward. She smiled as the bruise paste was applied and leant against Minerva's stomach. She felt the woman still, before she eventually finished up and her clean hand went into Hermione's hair, holding her close.

"It wasn't the same," Hermione said again, into Minerva's stomach. "Not even remotely similar. Let it go."

Minerva sighed, a great, big, deep sigh that seemed to move through her whole body.

"I'm supposed to take care of you."

"You are," Hermione smiled, looking up at the woman. "You do."

"I'm -"

"You're not responsible for my stupidity. That's all on me. I was being an idiot."

"I would heal this for you, but at present, I'm not sure I could do so without my hands shaking. If it is still bothering you tomorrow, we shall see Poppy," she said finally, her tone signalling to Hermione that it was over. "Merlin, what a mess."

She hated lying to Minerva, but it really was the only way. Hermione realised absently that maybe she was more like Dumbledore than she'd first thought.

"That's fine," Hermione smiled. "Is there any tea?" she asked, looking up at Minerva again. "It's been a bit of a long day."

"Yes," Minerva nodded. "Come. Tea, then, you will rest."

"I'm not -"

"You will rest."

"With you?" Hermione asked tentatively. "You're the boss, but I think we could both use a nap?"

"Fine," Minerva rolled her eyes and pressed a kiss to Hermione's hair. "Come."