tap…tap...tap

Hermione awoke with start, she'd been a little jumpy since the war. Another tap on the window reminded her why she woke. She walked over to her window, slid it open and a large tawny owl dropped a rather thick envelope, and landed on her nightstand. The owl looked greedily at her, obviously awaiting payment. She bent down, picked up the envelope and tossed a treat at the owl, who thanked her vocally before flying promptly out the window. She knew this envelope came from Hogwarts, and she was almost certain she also knew why. She tore apart the wax seal, and gingerly took out the folded parchment within.

Dear Hermione Granger,

It is with knowledge of our previous exchanges on this subject, that I write to you today, to yet again extend an opportunity to you.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the passive aggressive way of phrasing it, but smiled all the same, knowing what was coming.

In the 6 years that has passed, Hogwarts has been slowly rebuilding a solid staff. I am aware that the first time, as well as the last time, I approached you, I was offering you a position of your choosing, that has now changed.

Her eyes widened at this.

I have immense pride in the staff I have chosen thus far, and though I forsee you possibly filling other positions in the future, at this moment, only one teaching position is available. Muggle Studies. If you are interested in rejoining Hogwarts once more, please floo to my office at 2pm today. I have connected your loft to the floo network for 24 hours.

I do hope to see you soon Miss Granger,

Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Minerva McGonagall

A smile had filled her face as she finished reading. It was true that McGonagall had offered her a slew of positions over the last 6 years, and she has turned down every single one. After the war, she didn't feel she was emotionally ready to be back at Hogwarts, a daily reminder of all the loss. For a couple of years she worked at the Ministry with her two best friend, Harry and Ron. Although she had the skills and the nerve, she didn't find the work satisfied her as it did her counterparts. Harry and Ron were Aurors through and through. They not only could handle danger, but they enjoyed it. Hermione however, did what she needed to do to make it through.

When it became clear to not only her, but those around her, that she didn't enjoy the work, she strayed. The ministry was very….amiable to her, mostly because of her involvement in the golden trio as they called it. It didn't hurt that the Minister of Magic was none other than Kingsley Shacklebolt. He allowed her to go part time at first, which allowed her to focus on her other passions, such as magical creature equality. After another couple of years though, there wasn't much left for her to be an activist for, and if she was being honest, that didn't fulfill her either. Even so, she kept denying the offers coming from Hogwarts, and eventually, resigned from the Ministry.

Hermione had been out of work, for the lack of a better term, for almost a year. She had plenty of money saved, and the rewards and settlements that were given to her by the Ministry for playing her part in the end of Voldemort, helped quite a bit.

"It's time I go home" Hermione muttered to herself, putting the envelope on her dresser. She walked through her tiny hallway and into the kitchen, making herself some coffee. She glanced at the clock, 9:30, plenty of time. She made herself a nice breakfast, and started to read a muggle book she pulled off her bookshelf when she heard a small pop.

"How many times have you read that eh?" Came the familiar voice of Ron Weasley.

"None of your business Ronald" Hermione retorted playfully. Even so, she closed her book, and jumped up eager to hug her friend. They embraced for a couple of seconds, and then Ron pulled out of the hug smiling.

"Someone is in a better mood than normal…" He observed, while waving his hand in her direction. Hermione quickly grabbed the letter she received this morning from the bedroom and handed it to him. "This is great 'Mione! That is, if you will actually accept the job this time" Ron surveyed her carefully, obviously not trying to poke the bear.

"I think I will." She said tersely, which made her friend smile. "I think I've been a little stubborn about this whole thing."

"You STUBBORN? Never!" Ron joked, causing Hermione to roll her eyes. "I'm happy for you, we will miss you of course, but you can visit anytime." He finished sweetly.

"You know I'll be around, if not for you, for Harry's baby!" Hermione said, almost squealing.

Harry and Ginny were expecting their first child in April, they had only just shared the news. Hermione saw how Ron's eyes pained a little bit at the mention of the new addition, him of course, thinking this would happen for him around the same time it happened for Harry. She heard him mutter 'of course' a bit downheartedly.

"Ron I-" But she was cut off by another loud POP. "Harry! We were just talking about you!" Hermione said, rushing to hug him tightly.

"I knew my ears were ringing" Harry joked, only it was very obvious Ron didn't understand it. "It's a muggle expression" Harry explained, and Ron nodded. "So, what did I miss…" Harry asked, obviously already aware of something going on.

"You DIDNT!" Hermione yelled, half mad, half thankful.

"I might have told a certain someone, running a certain school, that Hermione Granger was jobless. Oh the HORROR" Harry finished with a laugh.

"Thank you Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, hugging him yet again.

"Er, I better be off. Let me know how it goes 'Mione." Ron said, and then a second later, he was gone.

"Uh oh, why is he being weird now?" Harry asked, obviously annoyed.

"Well I mentioned Ginny's pregnancy" Hermione said in hushed tones, which caused Harry to moan and roll his eyes.

"He is going to have to get over this"

"And he will…he just needs time, we only just found out." Hermione defended, a small smile spread across Harry's face.

"He doesn't give you enough credit you know…" Harry surprised her, she cocked her head to side and widen her eyes, much like a confused dog does. "You break up with him -"

"Amicably!" Hermione interjected.

"Mhm." He rolled his eyes, and took a seat on the couch, she followed. "You break up…." He paused eyeing her. "You continue to work side by side with him for almost two years, with no drama I might add." He gestured dramatically with his hand, and waits for her to nod. When she does, he continues. "Watch him date other people, whilst you are not. Still write his reports for him, up until you go part time. AND continue to defend him to not just me, but everyone, including sometimes his own mother." He finished, folding his arms dramatically.

"He's my friend Harry, I would do the same for you." Hermione says, trying to reason with him.

"Of course you would, but I didn't break your heart." Harry answered curtly.

"Excuse you, Mr Potter, but Ronald did not break my h-"

"Oh yes he did 'Mione, come on now." Harry interjected, giving her a knowing look. "Listen 'Mione, you might have done the breaking up, but you only did so because he allowed the relationship to end way before that."

"Harry pl-"

"No." Harry interrupted her again, and this time more firmly. "Now we've never talked about this and this far, I've respected your privacy no?" Hermione nodded. "Well that's over." Hermione gulped nervously, but tried to hide it by looking angrily at him. "Ron was a terrible boyfriend. A real git at times even. Yes, he's my best friend, but he was supposed to be yours as well."

"He was mine" Hermione countered.

"Well he didn't treat you as such." Harry sounded almost bitter. "He used you as a sounding board, something to make him feeling stronger. He was so used to you putting his pieces together after he lost…we lost…Fred." Harry struggled getting the words out, a tear came to Hermione's eye. "Which he needed , of course." He added hastily. "That being said, he let you go to your parents to give them their memories back ALONE." Harry was almost shouting.

"I'll have you know, Ronald didn't and doesn't and will never allow me to do anything!" Hermione responded stubbornly.

"That's not what I meant and you know it." Harry shot back. "He did not support you, he did not console you, he didn't even know you did it!" Harry took a deep breath, trying to get back on track. "All I'm saying…" His voice was gentle, reassuring. "…is that I knew, after that, that things started to crumble for you. You never asked for much, if anything at all, and he wasn't there." Hermione was fighting back tears, and Harry put his arm around her shoulders. "He deserved it 'Mione, and he deserved it way before you pulled the trigger." She nodded into his shoulder blade, trying her hardest not to cry. "He doesn't give you the credit you deserve, in truth, he never has." Harry stopped there, knowing she was already too upset to hear more.

"Thank you." She got out, and pulled away from him, wiping a few tears off her face. "In other news…" She handed him the letter, watching him read it over with joy in his eyes.

"You are going to kill it…." Harry said, eyes full with admiration for his best friend. "Professor Granger." The two hugged again, and then after some mindless chit chat, Harry left with a loud POP.

She glanced at the clock again 11:30, still plenty of time. She took out her muggle phone, and phoned her parents. They were very excited for her, her mom seemed to think this was always her path in the magical word. Her dad however, was a little disappointed she was obviously never going to join the family business now. Hermione chuckled softly at that, and about a half hour later, said her goodbyes and hung up with them. She spent the next couple of hours writing a few letters. One to Ginny, though she was sure she knew even before Hermione did. One to Mr & Mrs Weasley, who she still until this day, thought of as an her wizard parents, though she never said this outloud out of fear it would hurt her own parents feelings. Finally, one to Kingsley, who she developed a strong bond with following the war. She ate lunch, got dressed, glanced at the clock once again 1:45, and stepped into her fireplace. She gathered enough floo powder and said "Headmistresses Office, Hogwarts" before being engulfed in green flames.

When she arrived, a flood of emotions filled her as she saw the remnants of Albus Dumbledores office. Of course, it was quite different now, being occupied by McGonagall now, but the memories were there all the same. Hermione walked slowly, though the room, touching things lightly while she passed. Although she didn't spend as much time in here as Harry did, it was still surreal all the same.

"Hello Miss Granger, quite odd to be back I presume." She heard McGonagall's voice and a smile broke out on her face.

"Professor, why it does feel like a dream." Hermione answered, turning to face her.

"Please Miss Granger, call me Minerva." Hermione's eye widened, she shifted awkwardly. "I know it will be an adjustment dear, but please feel free to make the change, it's only appropriate. You are, by various means, an adult now." McGonagall smiled at her knowingly.

"I can promise you I'll try….Minerva." Hermione finished awkwardly, but McGonagall smiled.

"See to it that you do." She said, almost sternly. "I am surprised, that it took this much convincing Miss Granger"

"Hermione"

"Hermione." McGonagall corrected herself, smiling at the challenge. "You've still got it Hermione, that brightest with of her age charisma, it's followed you, even through the horrors you've seen and experienced." If Hermione didn't know any better, she'd think McGonagall sounded…proud. "Now tell me, Hermione, why didn't you want to be a Hogwarts teacher?"

"Well…." Hermione started, calculating the proper phrasing. "It wasn't that I didn't want it, more like I didn't think I could…handle it." She finished sheepishly.

"You?" McGonagall answered quite quickly, her voice full of surprise. "Miss - Hermione." Hermione nodded, accepting her slip up. "Surely the war taught you that you could handle much more than most." Hermione was honored.

"It wasn't the being a teacher part I couldn't handle." Hermione paused, and McGonagall nodded, eagerly trying to have her go on. "It was the…emotion. The loss I experienced here in this school, it's almost unbearable." Hermione voice faltered.

"I understand completely. I would hope…." Her eyes pierced Hermoine's when she said this. "…that Hogwarts also retains fond memories of yours."

"Of course it does Pro-Minerva." Hermione smiled at herself, as she too slipped up on the name change.

"Very good indeed. So that being said, are you interested in taking the Muggle Studies position?" Hermione nodded proudly. "Well I know this position is a little below yo-"

"Respectfully…." Hermione interjected, but then waited for McGonagall's acceptance of it before continuing. "I know you mean it to be a compliment, when you say this position is below my standards. I know my name in itself turns heads nowadays…." Hermione paused, looking for the right words. "But for all intents and purposes, I am stilled the Muggle Born Hermione Granger that first stepped foot in this school all these years ago. To have a chance to be part of these children's magical education, is well…a dream come true, no matter the subject." Hermione finished with a tone of pride, and saw that McGonagall felt it as well.

"Very well Hermione. I must say…" McGonagall smiled, a real smile. "You were always my favorite student, no matter how much you wound up in trouble with those boys." McGonagall laughed freely, causing Hermione to laugh as well. "Before we get started with arrangements…" Hermione stopped laughing at once. "…there is one more thing. I would like you to be head of Gryffindor house." Hermione's face went slightly pink.

"Pro-Minerva, I would…but surely you have someone…even yourself.." Hermione trailed off, the excitement of the idea, rendering her unable to complete sentences.

"On the contrary," McGonagall answered, a playful expression on her face. "The only other teacher on staff that could fill the position, all but denied."

"Neville…" Hermione whispered to herself.

"Correct. Seemed he didn't feel he fit the position." Mcgonagall retorted, almost laughing at the predictability. "And I could not possibly be headmistress and head of a house, so that leaves me with you, Hermione." McGonagall had now gotten up, grabbing a box Hermione had never seen before.

"I would be honored to Minerva." Hermione answered confidently, finally being able to call her old professor by her first name seamlessly.

"Perfect." Mcgonagall said gleefully, thrusting the box, which seemed to be heavy, on her desk. "This box has all the information you'll need for the school year. Any question please feel free to ask, but now, your quarters. No need to worry, you don't have to move in until next week, the instructions for that are in…"

"That box?" Hermione said playfully, and McGonagall nodded.

McGonagall showed her her quarters, and she instantly recognized it as McGonagall's old office, which in retrospect, made complete sense. After she was fully prepped, she grabbed the box, bid McGonagall goodbye, and floo-ed home. She was so excited, that she packed up 90% of her belongings before she ate dinner that night.

Hermione was sure that his job, this decision, would be the one that started her next chapter of life.