Hey everyone!
I'm sorry about all the spelling errors in this piece. My computer sort of broke down...
Anyway, I hope you like it, and please let me know if you do! (or if you don't)
To fen-rei; Yes, I have thought of that:) wink
And to all of you, The answers will come soon enough... patience my darlings:)
And again, thank you all reviewers! I don't know what I'd do without you:)

All my best to you
And LOTS of hugs!
-Jellicos

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Capter five: Taking the first plunge

The past week the hallways had been buzzing with all the latest gossip about the coming ball, girls where giggling and boys looked terrified. Who was going with whom was the biggest topic. Hermione couldn't care less. There had been a time when she would have hoped for her friend Ron to ask her to be his date, but that was long ago now. A lifetime it seemed. Though he dind't waste any time arguing with her about it.
"Neville!" He couldn't believe his ears when she'd told him.
"Oh, honestly Ron!" She sighed and looked at him as if he where five. "What's the big deal? It's just a ball."
"I just... you know.." He squirmed and his face flushed so bad it was hard to distinguish his face from his fiery red hair.
"No, I don't know." She said angrily, starting to get fed up with his childishness. But she did know. "What's wrong with Neville then?" She was not about to budge, but she wanted the focus taken of the path he was leaning towards.
"Nothing! That's not what I.. -Harry!" He turned distraught to his best friend for help.
"Sorry mate, you're on your own." Harry said, pretending to read his divination homework. He'd promised himself not to get in the middle of his friends little spats again, even though he truly felt sorry for Ron this time.
Ron looked at them both, Harry not meeting his eye, and Hermione glaring at him, daring him to say another word. In a fit of rage he gathered his things and stormed up to the dormitory, slamming the door so hard it almost shook the common room.

"You know he still cares for you." Harry had put down his book and looked at Hermione who seemed much less angry now, but still as determined.
"Well, he's too late this time." She replied in her most matter-of-fact voice, still not hiding that she felt bad about it.
"What?" Harry looked at her for a second as if thinking. "No! Neville?" He stared at her in disbelief.
"Oh, don't be stupid Harry!" Why where all of her friends such morons some times?
"But.. then who?"
"I can't tell you yet." But as Harry opened his moth to say something she continued. "And don't tell Ron a thing. It's better if he thinks I'm dating Neville right now. You'll both find out soon enough, I promise." She added and Harry stopped trying to protest.
"Fine" he said, obviously not happy with her answers.
"Harry, it's not that I don't trust you, you know that! It's just..." Suddenly all the strenght was gone from her face and she looked as if she was going to break down in tears any moment. Harry who'd started collecting his things dropped them in pure surprise. He'd never seen his friend that lost before and fell down in a chair beside her.
"I know you trust me." He started, not knowing what to say. "I just wish I could help, you know." At these words the wall broke and she started to cry. Startled, Harry had no idea what to do. Should be say something funny? No, that would be the most stupid thing he could do. He decided placing an arm around her would be a wise choice, but before he could act, Hermione had rushed up to her dormitory, still crying.
Harry was as confused as ever. What had that been all about? What was he supposed to do now? Even if he knew, he couldn't get up to the girls dormitories anyway. He looked at the table where all of Hermiones books still layed open. Now he was worried.

She'd trown herself on her stomach in her four poster bed, burying her head in her pillows. The tears that had been threatining to surface these past few weeks where coming out with such force she couldn't stop them anymore.
What was she thinking anyway? Going to the ball with Neville so that she could swep her transfiguration teacher off her feet? Yeah, that was brilliant!
She didn't know a thing right now. She was in love with her professor -yes, in love- there was no point in denying that anymore, She'd hurt one of her best friends and whatever it was that lingered on in McGonagalls past she was the one who kept pulling it out of her, making her cry. Damn it! She could have slapped herself for that! Just the memory of her professor in tears tore her appart like nothing she'd ever imagined.
As the dormitory started to fill up, Hermione pretended to be asleep, weeping in silence untill she dozed off.

The next day, even Harry and Ron noticed that something was off in transfiguration class. Usually they wouldn't have minded at all, but this was getting to be a growing habit. When McGonagall didn't lecture them for trying to get their bunnies to race (with no real result) instead of turning them into vases, Harry knew something was afoot. Even Ron reacted with some concern when Hermiones vase started wiggeling its fluffy ears at him, but his concern was as usually completely missdirected as he started asking Hermione if she was feeling ill.
Harry was probably the only one who noticed the tention, the glances -or lack there of- between his star pupil-friend and his usually so strict transfiguration professor. McGonagalls classes where always a perfect example of good student behaviour, but these past lessons had been a growing chaos. But as he looked at Hermione he decided to mind his own business. He now knew what she'd been talking about the previous night. He should have known, should have seen it comming. He hated seeing his friend so heartbroken, but he knew there was nothing he could do. Judging by Professor McGonagalls behaviour Harry could tell she was not unaware of it either.

Hermione didn't notice Harrys glances. Nor did she give a slightest attention to the ears on her vase. She pretended to however. But her gaze was fixed on her professor, her longing sences taking in every line and form of the gorgeous woman as they could master. She did notice McGonagall desperatly trying everything not to look in her direction. Something that Hermione noticed she took both pleasure and pain in. It confirmed that there was something, but it also confirmed that it was something that her professor was not about to let happen.
As the bell rang she had to be nudged by Harry in order to realize that class was over. But the sight stayed with her the rest of the day.

The day had been a torture after that, right until six o'clock when she found herself outside the heavy wooden door that lead to McGonagalls office. Now she was struck by a sudden attack of panic. Was she really going to go through with this?
Well, she wasn't about to change her mind now. She'd been standing in front of her mirror for an hour and backing out was not much of an option as she stood infront of her professors door in a soft blue summer dress instead of her robes and uniform.
The second she'd knocked on the door she felt like running in the opposite direction, but as she walked in the door all her doubts where gone.

Minerva McGonagall didn't know if she'd dreaded this meeting more than longing for it. Her dreams had become more vivid by the night, and her classes with Hermione Granger had become almost unbarable. Her young student showed very little restraint when it came to observing her in the classroom. Minerva couldn't pretend that she was unaffected by it. Actually it took most of her self controll not to give in to all her urges, which obviously affected her teaching. She had to deal with this, once and for all. And when the knock on her door came right on time, she'd made up her mind. But as the door opened her mind turned blank in a second.

McGonagall had met her eye as she'd walked in and the sight before her almost threw Hermione of her feet. Her professor sat as usuall at her desk, but her usually piercing green eyes had turned darker and Hermione was once again met with the deeply passionate gaze that sent tiny fireworks to explode in her chest.
This time it didn't fade, but McGonagall averted her eyes as she stood up.
"That's quite a fetching dress ms Granger." Her voice was slightly darker than usual and Hermione could tell there was a lot of effort put into uttering these words.
"Why thank you Professor." Hermione replied, not trying the slightest to hide the flirtatious tone in her voice. McGonagall was slightly thrown by this boldeness but she walked towards Hermione using all her might to remain casual and professional, knowing full well that her intelligent pupil had seen through her a long time ago.
"Special occation?" She hoped to god her voice sounded as steady as usual.
"In a matter of speaking..." As McGonagall come closer Hermione found it hard to breath, let alone utter full sentances.
"Ms Granger I really think we should-"
"Don't.." Hermiones voice was just above a whisper, but it stopped McGonagalls train of thought completely. "I can't stand this any longer..." The deep hunger in the young womans shaking voice was too much for McGonagall. Her walls had been torn down by a few words and a blue summer dress. Hermione walked the final steps towards McGonagall who made no effort to stop her as she pushed the older witch up against the wall and leaned in to meet her lips. The sensation was mindnumbing. The earth could have shattered around them and they wouldn't have noticed. As Hermione felt the soft lips against her own there was no other concern in this world. Her kiss was met with such hunger and she could not hold back a soft moan as McGonagall parted her lips and Hermione slid her tongue in. She still held her professor pinned to the wall as their tongues eagerly caressed every inch of the others. As she softly slid her hands down her professors arms and down her sides McGonagall lost what little selfrestraint she had left. She drew her attention away from those addictive plumb lips to kiss the young womans neck and collarbone.
"Oh, Minerva.." Her husky voice was barely audiable though the deep moan, but the sound of her name from Hermiones lips sent shivers down her spine. She'd never loved her own name as much as right now. As the hands of her beloved professor slid down her dress, she skillfully opened the clasps on McGonagalls robes. The sight of the white silky undergarnmets through the open robes triggered something in her and she slid a hand to the soft breasts, still covered in fabric.Minerva gasped at the touch and Hermiones moans grew loader.
"Oh god, Hermione we shouldn't.." But Minervas protest was cut short with a deep moan as Hermiones hands found their way through the fabric and started caressing her stiff nipples.
"Why?" Hermione whispered in her ear, before nibbling on it.
"I'm... You are my student and I... I have certain... duties... to... I can not take.. advantage.. Oh, god.." Her half hearted reasoning was muffled with gasps of pleasure.
"In case.. you missed it.. Minerva.." Hermione was panting and her soft whisper was deep with lust. "I'm the one seducing you..."
The last thoughts of reason had vanished from Minervas thought as Hermione touched her body in ways she never knew possible.
It took the Hermione some time to get all the pinns out from Minervas strict neck-bun, but she got her reward as the silky auburn hair finally loosend and fell in soft waves around her face and down her shoulders.
"You really are a Goddess." Hermione gasped at the sight and Minerva leaned in to kiss her again, her hungry lips still wanting more. The younger witch broke the kiss, concentrating on kissing her way down Minervas neck with the destination her hands where still exploring under the satin fabric.
Minerva moaned loadly at the treatment. She wasn't completely inexperienced, she'd been married once after all. But at the soft hands of the young brunette she might as well have been. She hadn't felt anything remotely like this since... Oh, God no!
Minerva pulled away with such force, Hermione almost slammed into the wall.
As she reached out her hands as not to collide with the massive wooden wall Hermione found herself more confused than ever. She turned to look at her professor who was standing at her desk with her back to Hermione, tightening her robes.
"Minerva, wha-?" But there is was again. The sight that had kept her up so many nights and torn her chest apart. Minerva McGonagall was leaning on her desk, not able to hide her sobs. Hermiones first instinct as she got over the shock was to hold her and comfort her. But Minerva beat her to it.
"I'm sorry Hermione. I shouldn't have.." Her voice was so fragile, but Hermione noticed Minervas strong efforts to stabilize it. Before she could protest, Minerva continued. "I think it's best we end our tutorial sessions."
"I'm sorry, I didn't-" Hermiones voice was high from panic. Was she just going to leave it like this?
"You didn't do anything wrong ms Granger." Minervas voice had resumed some of its cool authority again.
'Ms Granger?' Hermione thought distraught. No. No, she didn't just...
"The fault lies with me, and me alone." Minerva McGonagall continued, still having her back turned made it easier for her to say what she needed to say without seeing the pain she knew was evident in the young womans face. "Therefore it is also my responsibility to make sure that nothing like this will ever happen again." She knew her words must have hit Hermione like a shot through the heart. But the hurt they had caused herself was even greater. Minerva felt she would literally burst from the pain at any moment, but she had to do this, there was no other way."As of now our sessions are finished and I would think it best if you returned to your dormitory at once."
Hermione just stood there for a second, not able to move, but as the pain that had risen in her chest prevented her from being able to utter a single word, she made her way to the door. With one last glance upon the figure in front of the desk, still with her back turned, but with her trademark posture intact, Hermione walked out of the office.
Minerva McGonagall made sure her student was at a safe distance from her office before she broke down and fell to the floor, sobbing.