Update! (Thank you sweetie!) And yeah, I'm evil. Things will not be easy for a while... but you know I'm a romantic at heart ;)And a Huuuuuuge thank-you to my amazing, fantastic, incredible readers and reviewers who feed my ego and keep me breathing and writing.
Much love to you all:)

-Jellicos

Chapter fifteen:Where are the answers?

Would you be so kind as to inform your Head of House that I'm not going to tolerate any more interruptions in my class, especially from her old boyfriend…. Her old boyfriend… Her old boyfriend…
The words still echoed in her head as Hermione walked into her dorm. It was only 10.30 am the morning and she had many lessons left, but for the first time since she'd stepped foot inside Hogwarts walls, she had no desire what so ever to study.

As she sat down on her four poster bed she was hollow. At least that is how she felt. As if Snape's words had plucked out her insides and left her a mere shell.

Looking down she realised that she was still carrying her books and simply dropped them to the floor. Priapus had been Minerva's boyfriend. Was that the reason why she'd said all those things?

That's when it hit. Without realising it, Hermione had started to shake uncontrollably. Then the sobs came. Within seconds she was crying out her pain, her screams so filled with hurt that even old Crookshanks hid under an old blanket on the floor.

Had anyone been in the common room they would have heard her heart breaking with every cry, every uncontrolled sob. But her house mates where all in class so the thick, cold stone walls of Hogwarts where there to keep her pain.

-----------------------

She wasn't sure what to do. As her class of seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins had settled down and she had begun her lesson, Hermione was still nowhere to be seen. Looking over at Potter and Weasly gave her little reassurance. They looked as confused as she felt.

The boys had saved a seat for their friend and where looking over their shoulders every two seconds, then exchanging worried glances.

McGonagall had put them to work trying human transfiguration in front of a mirror. Usually that brought out a lot of laughter from them all, but the class was strangely quiet this day. Not even Priapus little jokes cracked a smile on many of her students faces as he helped Seamus Finnigan to grow a green goatee.

Walking amongst her students, correcting wand movements and pronunciation, she decided it appropriate to ask about Hermione's whereabouts. After all, she was a student, and Minerva would have asked the same question if it had been any other of her students.

"The circle movement is counter-clockwise Mr Potter." She corrected the black-haired young man who had managed to turn his left ear slightly green.

"Oh, right. Thanks professor." He said absentmindedly but didn't try again. Instead his gaze was fixed upon her and Ronald Weasly soon followed his example.

"Do you boys know where Ms Granger is? It's not like her to miss class." Minerva tried to sound as casual as always, but judging by the concerned looks her two students gave her, they knew she was worried.

"We where just wondering the same thing professor." Harry said softly. There was no doubt that he knew what was going on between his friend and his professor, and Minerva was grateful to him for his support and discretion.

"We left her to turn in her work with Snape and we haven't seen her since." Ron continued and Harry nodded his agreement.

Minerva looked at the two Gryffindors for a moment before nodding her head.

"Alright, back to work." She said, but her statement was half-hearted at most.

------------------

They watched her walk away before Ron leaned over to his friend.

"What's up with her lately?" Ron asked and Harry looked at him as if he had just asked how to spell the word 'cat'.

"Sometimes I don't know whether to slap you or send you to madam Pomfrey to have your head examined." Harry said, shaking his head at his friend.

"What!" Ron asked, obviously as offended by Harry's statement as he was oblivious to the world around him.

"Hermione isn't dating Neville, Ron." Harry sounded as if he was trying to explain the subject to a five-year-old.

"She isn't? Then who?" Ron looked at him wide-eyed as if the thought never occurred to him.

"Ron, think for a second!" He was getting impatient and in fear that when Ron finally figured out he would blow the whole secret, he led his friend harshly by the arm to a secluded part of the classroom. "There are two people who have been acting really strange these past few weeks…"

"Tell me about it! I still can't get the vision of Snape kissing Neville out of my head. It's just plain weird, you know-"

"How thick can you get!" Harry cut him off, hissing trying very hard not to physically shake some sense into his oblivious friend. "Yes, Neville is dating Snape and as much as I hate to say it, it's his choice. But I'm talking about Hermione. Haven't you noticed how she's been behaving lately?" Ron looked as if he was thinking for a moment before he replied.

"Yeah, she's been all gloomy and odd, like she'd had her heart broken or something. And she's been real funny in class too, especially in transfiguration. It's like…." Suddenly his eyes looked as if they where to pop out of his head. "Noooooo…" He whispered in disbelief.

"Yes." Harry took a firm grip around Ron's arm and pulled him closer as not to be heard by anyone else.

"You mean…" Ron looked at Harry in surprise, and then his gaze trailed towards McGonagall who was talking to the man from the ministry.

"Yes. And don't you say a word to anyone." Harry said in him utmost serious voice.

"But how… I mean, why… What?" Ron looked back at Harry and he still seemed confused.

"Look, all I know is that they are in love, they've been dating. But something seems to have gone wrong and as I can't very well go and ask McGonagall I need you to talk to your sister."

"Ginny?" Ron asked. "Why?" Harry sighed.

"You want to ask Hermione what's going on between her and McGonagall?" Harry asked.

"Point taken." Ron finally seemed to have gotten it. "I'll talk to Ginny right after class."

"Good." Harry patted his friends shoulder as they returned to their mirrors.

"I swear… This school is turning into a loony bin." Ron muttered and shook his head.

Harry couldn't argue.

------------------------------

Ginny Weasly had gotten the message from her brother and her boyfriend half an hour ago. She had been sure that Ron would have had a thing or two to say about Hermione and McGonagall when he found out. But for once, her older brother had proved her wrong. In fact, he had seemed very concerned. Not just for Hermione, but for McGonagall as well.

Well, live and learn, she thought as she climbed down the stairs to the dungeons. She had been looking for Hermione since she'd gotten the message. And after combing the dormitories, the common room, the library, the great hall and the owlery, she had decided to check the dungeons before going outside. It was late autumn and cold, so she couldn't imagine that Hermione would be so dumb as to go outside. Then again, she doubted that her friend would ever hide out in the dungeons either.

And true enough, every classroom she checked was empty, except for the occasional spider webs and odd curiosa.

This was ridiculous. Hermione had to be here somewhere, but how the hell was she supposed to find her if she was hiding in this massive castle?

Ginny heard her tummy rumble and realised that skipping lunch to try and find her friend had its consequences. But she was determined to find her, so she opened one empty room after another.

She was about to give up as she heard muffled noises coming from a tiny door in the dark hallway ahead.

Relieved to finally have found her friend, Ginny hurried over to open the door, only to gasp and close it the second after. In horror she ran through the hallways and up the stairs, not stopping until she reached the entrance hall. There she could not help but to burst into laughter.

"Did you find her yet?" Came a voice from behind her. Ginny turned around, her face red from the efforts and a huge grin on her face.

"No Harry, not yet." She said, trying to compose herself, but the laughter wouldn't stop.

"What's so funny?" He asked, looking at her as if hoping to hear a very funny story. But as Ginny composed herself enough to stop laughing and had wiped the tears from her eyes, her gaze darted towards the stair to the dungeons. Harry turned and was met by two flushed and rugged looking men, both of which had their eyes fixed on Ginny.

He turned to his girlfriend just in time to see her gesture to her lips as if she was closing an imaginary sipper on them and as he realised what Ginny must have walked into he couldn't help but feel his stomach turn.

"I'd better find Hermione." Ginny said, seeing the look on Harry's face. "You go join Neville for lunch." This wasn't a suggestion Harry realised and looked slightly uncomfortable.

"He's your friend Harry; don't deny him the opportunity to be happy." She looked at him. "Ron didn't…" She'd hit the spot. Remembering how Ron had given him permission to date Ginny suddenly made Harry feel a pinch of guilt.

"Go find Hermione." He said softly, kissing his girlfriend on the cheek before turning around.

"Hey Nev! Want to grab some lunch mate?" Ginny stood for a while, watching Harry walk up to Neville. Seeing Neville's eyes light up at Harry's words, she smiled. As the two friends walked into the great hall, Ginny went out into the blistering cold.

-------------------------------

It felt like she'd been sitting there for hours, starring into empty space. She had no more tears left, her body was tired and her brain numb.

It was strange though, how clear-minded she felt, now drained from her pain.

'…we just need to be very careful…' That's what she'd said. Minerva hadn't actually broken it off with her, just said that they had to be careful. And in all fairness, Snape wasn't the most reliable source of information.

Yet, Hermione couldn't shake the nasty feeling in her stomach at the thought of Peter Priapus.

She needed to know. If he really was Minerva's former boyfriend, what could that mean? Did he want her back? Would she want him back?

He was sort of handsome, in a very annoying way. And he did have everything that Hermione lacked in the area of age, experience, history... She was getting depressed again.

But then… Hadn't Minerva confessed her love for Hermione just yesterday?

Lost in thoughts, Hermione curled up in her hiding place. It seemed like it was years ago that she'd been sitting in this exact same place listening to Minerva and Dumbledore.

That was the night she'd found out about Lily Evans. That was the night she'd decided to fight for her love.

Was she ready to do that again?

But she knew there was only one answer to that question.

------------------

For the first time in history, Minerva McGonagall had dismissed a class early.

Though the fourth year students had been thrilled, Minerva had hardly noticed.

It had been her last class this day and she was getting worried. Not only had Hermione missed her class, but she hadn't shown up for lunch, during which Professor Sprout had come up to ask Minerva if she knew why her always present Gryffindor student hadn't been to her Herbology class. During her seven years at Hogwarts, Hermione had never missed a class unless she'd been refrained to the hospital wing.

During her third year she had even used a time-turner to make all her classes. A device that Minerva herself had lent to her to help her in her studies.

Pacing the hallways, Minerva suddenly realised that she had no idea where to start looking for her young lover.

"Are you lost my dear?" At the familiar voice, Minerva turned.

"Peter." She greeted him with a smile. "Just the person I wanted to see."