Disclaimer: I own N.O.T.H.I.N.G. Is that clear? Good...

Hermione's Chat

Chapter 4

Hermione had never been so nervous in her life. Here she was standing outside her head of houses office with a kitten clutched in her hands. Having completely forgotten the story that Fred and George told her to tell she decided that she would just ask her professor what was wrong. Hermione Granger was after all, Professor McGonagall's most trusted student, so she must be able to tell her something. So Hermione just put the small, fluffy kitten in her pocket and knocked gently on the door.

Minerva had never felt so miserable in her life. Sitting by the window in her small office with a box of extra soft tissues on her lap, her green eyes welling up with tears, wishing she were only a teenager again having a snowball fight and ice skating on the lake. Minerva remembered the time when Alastor Moody, who was in his seventh year at the time, chased Poppy right over the other side of the lake because she refused to give him a kiss under the mistletoe. Her and Poppy must have only been in their third year, because they were only just starting to get over the fact that boys were just as important as working your socks off for the best grades. A smile graced Minerva's features as she was plunged into more thought about that day as the ice had broken when Poppy and Alastor tried to skate back over to the other side and they remained over there for most of the day.

A small knock tore Minerva away from her memory and she rushed over to the mirror on the other side of the room to dab her eyes. Once satisfied, she made her way over to the door and opened it.

"Miss Granger, what can I do for you?" she inquired softly to the young Gryffindor.

"Hello Professor, can I talk to you?" Hermione replied timidly. Minerva smiled kindly.

"Of course you can, you can talk to me anytime you like." she replied, trying to pull herself together. Hermione followed her professor in to the small office, which was over-crowded with paperwork and surrounded by pictures of muggle artists on the walls. Trying carefully to shut the door without knocking the slanting pile of books behind the door, she took the chance to look a bit more closely at the drawing beside the mirror on the wall opposite.

"You like my paintings?" asked the older witch as she watched Hermione gaze around the room.

"Yes, I didn't expect you to like muggle art." she replied sheepishly.

"Sometimes muggle art is more expressive, sometimes I feel I can relate to it. I have a collage in my privet quarters of all the artist who inspire me to paint." she explained while she cleared a pile of homework off another chair behind her desk. "Albus has one as well. But he isn't a very arty person."

"Who drew the picture of you by the mirror?" Hermione asked gaining confidence as she searched for someway to ask Minerva what was troubling her.

"That was Severus Snape when he was in his seventh year. I confiscated that one when he was supposed to be taking notes. He said that I could keep it when I tried to give it back to him." Minerva smiled and glanced at the expression of awe on her young students' face."Yes, I know he is as brilliant with his art as he is with his potions." she added.

Hermione stared at the very life like picture of her Professor standing gracefully in the picture as she demonstrated advanced Transfiguration to the class. She was very pretty in her youth, she thought absentmindedly.

"So, what did you want to talk about then?" said Minerva. "I…um, well, you have been very out of sorts today and I just wondered whether you were alright…" Hermione trailed off.

Such a thoughtful young lady, reminds me of when I was young… Minerva thought and she smiled at her.

"Well, first off, thank you for asking. But why are you concerned about me?"

"It's just not like you to be so harsh to everyone. Especially at Christmas," Hermione replied, wringing her hands nervously. Minerva sighed.

"I have been a bit too harsh haven't I?" she whispered as the tears shone in her eyes. Wiping them away with a small tissue, she sniffed and looked back at the young Gryffindor.

"What's wrong Professor?"

"No one has remembered my birthday is today. Worst of all, I…" she stopped and remembered that Hermione did not know about her and Albus being married and mentally berated herself for letting herself slip up. "Nevermind," she waved it off distractedly

"I haven't even had cards or letters from my family!" Hermione walked around the desk and comforted her professor by sticking her arm around her and gingerly patting her on the back. Out of the corner of one eye, she noticed a plastic ear squeezed between the stack of books next to the door.

On the other side of the door, Fred and George had the other end of the extended earpiece, and were both listening intently to what the women were saying. George looked up at his twin with a thoughtful look on his face. "What do you think Fred?" he whispered.

"I think that everyone knows it's her birthday, I wonder why…"

"Surprise birthday bash?" suggested George and gave the ear a yank.

"Proberly. Who do you think is best to ask?"

"Which teacher do we get on with the most?"

"Madam Hooch since were her favourite beaters," replied Fred with a grin. "I say we should take a little trip to the Quidditch pitch, what do you think?"

"You took the words right out of my mouth, lets go now" The twins stood up and started to walk along the main corridor when Filch spotted them.

"Quick George, in here!" said Fred quickly as he shoved Fred into a secret passage.

"OI! GET BACK HERE!" shouted Filch as he hobbled down the corridor after them only to turn the dead-end corner to find they had disappeared yet again.

Please review!