After she'd seen Minerva and Katherine during their classroom assignation, Hermione had spent all morning considering her options. She wanted to give them something special, that she was sure they didn't get to do very often and still remain a secret. It was her fault that she'd been snooping in Minerva's classroom, she should have been in the Common Room and it was none of her business how they chose to celebrate their wedding anniversary. To be honest, she had laughed about it again that morning, but she was also mature enough to know that she knew nothing of love and left it at that.

To that end, Hermione slipped out of the South gate during her next free period. While she was still technically a student, she was also the oldest student ever to attend. She just hoped that counted if - or more likely, when - she was caught. She took two steps away from the gate and turned on the spot, arriving outside a restaurant she'd loved since she was a little girl.

"Hermione!"

"Hi Matt, how are you? How is Sam? And the girls?"

"Oh, we're all fine, gorgeous. We are enjoying these," he smirked. "Trouble-free times! I haven't seen you in so long! How are you? Are your parents well?"

"Oh, yeah," she smiled, thinking simultaneously of her actual parents and then with a smile, Minerva as well. "They moved away actually. New adventures and all that."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's no problem." She meant it, mostly. "I had to finish at school, you know how it is."

Matt was a local restaurant owner, near her parents' old home. He had married a wizard and while not magical himself, he knew of Hogwarts and was as much a part of the Wizarding World as he could be. Hermione had known him all her life but had only met him properly, as a Sixth-Year, after they'd bumped into each other in Hogsmeade. Sam had been inside Tomes and Scrolls while Matt waited outside and Hermione had thought she was going crazy when she saw him. He'd recognised her immediately from all the times she'd dined with her parents and they'd invited her to The Three Broomsticks for lunch. Matt and Sam had since adopted two little girls, only recently in fact, and Hermione had enjoyed meeting them when she'd been to eat a few times after the war had ended.

"Matt, can I ask you a favour?"

"For you, sugar? Always!"

"Will you hold a table for my friends? A couple. It might have been their anniversary, yesterday, I think," she winced. "I don't really know, I would like to do something nice. I'll pay, once they've visited? Or you can take my card if you'd prefer, I don't need it at school?"

"Any particular night?" he asked, looking at the reservation book.

"I don't know. I'd imagine she won't want to pre-book on account of," she hesitated. "Recent events, and it'll be a surprise, so I don't know if they'll come tonight or really at all," she shrugged, feeling unhelpful. "I think they will come, though."

"Tell you what," he said with a nod. "Let's make you a gift certificate. They can present it whenever and I'll know it's from you. And no matter what night they show up, I'll make sure there's a table. Then, next time you're around, we can make it even."

"Matt!"

"Honey, I mean it. Anything for you."

She smiled and hugged him when he offered.

"You need to keep it a secret though," she said, suddenly wondering at the folly of her plan. "She's really private. I know her really well but I didn't even know she had a wife until yesterday."

"Ooh, family are always welcome, Hermione, you know that."

"Yeah but I mean, don't even tell Sam. Actually," she baulked. "Especially Sam," she muttered. He was as much a gossip merchant as Ginny.

"Who is this woman?"

"You swear?"

He crossed his heart and blinked innocently at her. She shook her head and gave in, knowing he'd find out anyway.

"Minerva McGonagall."

"No," he said, his hand went to his chest. "I -" He thought about it for a moment. "Why if she isn't a dark horse."

Hermione grinned.

"Don't tell Sam."

"Scouts honour," he laughed, and then sobered. "I promise. You don't out other people, not for anything."

She was glad to hear it. She hadn't had that thought and she smiled in thanks.

"I have to go. Thanks, Matt."

"You're welcome, honey. Maybe you can bring your next girl here?"

"I'm not with anyone," she chuckled, not denying his fishing expedition.

"Not yet," Matt smirked.

She shook her head and he let her go out the back door where she turned on the spot once more and slipped inside the gates.

"Good afternoon."

She spun and saw Minerva leaning on the stonework, waiting for her.

"Oh," she sighed. "Hello, Professor."

"Hermione," Minerva rebuked.

"Sorry Min," she winced.

"Walk with me."

Hermione slid the envelope she was carrying into her pocket as surreptitiously as possible and fell into step with the Headmistress. They walked back towards the castle but Minerva turned them towards the Lake at the last moment.

"I know you are 18, dearest. But you cannot just leave without telling us."

"I'm sorry," she muttered.

In truth, she'd considered asking, but if she had been made to give a reason, Mineva would have seen right through it. She maintained that sometimes, especially in times of great need, it was better to ask forgiveness than permission. They walked on in silence for a while longer but it didn't ever feel awkward with Minerva. It was actually quite comfortable; like they both just enjoyed each other's company. She realised, belatedly, that Mineva might have been giving her the time she needed to come clean.

"I wasn't meeting anyone if that's what you think," Hermione muttered. "I'm not like that, surely you -"

"I -" Mineva said, stopping and looking at her. "Just," she frowned and looked out over the lake instead. "Just be careful, okay?"

"Min," she scoffed. "I'm always careful."

"I don't mean that," she muttered. She turned and offered her arm and Hermione linked her's through it. Minerva smiled and patted her hand, walking them around the back of the castle away from prying eyes.

"It is very easy, after a war, to allow things to," she considered. "To feel less important. It is easy to lose sight of what could be and focus only on the now."

"I'm not following," Hermione said honestly.

Minerva stopped and let go of Hermione's arm and turned to face her.

"Don't give up your whole life for a moment of happiness, or excitement, now," she said carefully.

Hermione stared at her and just as she saw the first little frown of frustration on her face, Hermione understood.

"Oh!" She laughed at the thought. "Oh! I see what you're saying." Minerva sighed, apparently relieved she would have to spell it out. "No Min, it's okay. That won't happen. That's not happening."

"Everyone thinks that, darling, and then they're at my door in tears and then Poppy and I -"

"No," she said quickly, her heart in her throat. "Honestly. Firstly that wasn't anything close to what I was doing. Secondly, it's impossible."

"It's not impossible, darling, it's actually -"

"Min, I'm gay."

Minerva's mouth opened comically and she gaped.

"What?"

"I'm into girls," she winced. "Women, females." She blushed darkly; she'd made a meal of that. "I just mean, you can't get pregnant when you sleep with girls." Minerva blinked, once, twice before she stepped back and then shook her head. "Not that I am," Hermione added hastily. "Um, sleeping with," she bit her lip to stop herself from babbling further. "I just -"

"Well," Minerva muttered. "Well," she said again, making a pensive face. "You can, but I -" Minerva blushed, apparently realising what she was saying and then couldn't seem to find the rest of her sentence. Hermione watched her with barely veiled interest. For a woman who had been married to another woman for twenty-three years, she seemed incredibly uncomfortable at the revelation.

"I've made you uncomfortable," Hermione said cautiously, not really understanding why.

"No," Minerva said, almost desperately. Hermione winced at the volume. "No, that's not -" Minerva looked at her and took a deep breath and offered her arm again. They walked in total silence around the back of the castle and to the front doors. "Hermione, if you wish to leave the grounds, come and tell me, alright?"

Hermione frowned.

"Okay?"

Minerva nodded, squeezed her hand and then disappeared into the castle, leaving Hermione on the steps of Hogwarts, wondering what the hell had just happened.