3. Amber brown and emerald green
It was as if she could fly. Fly and breathe freely. Breathe ... deeply, in and out, in and out. She felt no pain, no grief. She flew over the tops and mountains, saw the heather of the Scottish Highlands. Birds joined her, her calls echoing in the morning. Minerva was happy, so happy. She hadn't been for many years, but this feeling of irrepressible freedom made her dance inside. She didn't care if it was a dream or reality, she wanted to fly like this until the end of her days. To escape from worries, to feel no more burden.
But the moment of flight came and went and while she was flying over the treetops, higher and higher, stone towers approached her, a huge castle that she raced towards. In the depths of her unconsciousness Minerva's eyes widened. She would collide, she would break through the strong walls and fall. She came closer and closer, raced towards the masonry and ...
Strong arms wrapped around her waist and held her tight. She no longer fell, but landed gently on the courtyard of the huge castle. The delightful smell of figs and ambergris clouded her senses. "Hermione," she whispered in her dream world. "What are you doing here?"
Thick, brown curls came into her vision, blue fabric covered her eyes. "Saving you," the lovely voice of the young woman breathed into Minerva's ear. And even before the Scottish woman could answer, she was drawn by a breeze of a gentle scent, was drawn into the depths of infinity.
She heard voices. Quiet and muffled - from a distance - but they were there. Minerva tried to figure out who was speaking there. Words formed indistinctly; she heard a name. Hers. She knew exactly, they were talking about her.
Her limbs twitched. She didn't like it, when someone talked about her behind her back. Was it a student who complained about her severity, who joked about her aging skin or the way she talked?
The muscles around her mouth twisted sullenly, a little puff came through her nose and with a good deal of effort she finally managed to open her eyes.
Sunlight blinded her. Dusty sunlight, as she recognized. Carefully she slowly raised her head and looked around. With a frown she recognized the room in which she was located. She was in the hospital wing and that could only mean that political order has been restored. Voldemort must indeed have been defeated. Minerva felt herself sigh deeply. "Thank Merlin!" She breathed into the silence of the room.
But the silence did not last very long, because suddenly steps could be heard on the old stone floor and they were quickly approaching.
"Professor McGonagall!" She heard a soft voice next to her. Hazel eyes met her emerald green.
"Miss Granger?" She asked in a rasping voice.
A deep, honest smile met Minerva. "By Morgana, Professor. You gave us a real scare" said the young witch next to her.
Minerva took a closer look at her student. She was very emaciated during the months she'd been on the run with Potter and Weasley. Her female figure had given way to a thin figure. Her otherwise curly, auburn hair hung limply to her sides. It was longer than Minerva remembered, but looked less shiny and alive. But her eyes, like amber, sparkled with the stars at the firmament.
The older lady frowned at the realization that she could spot all these differences in her young student. She had been her best pupil at school and - Minerva hardly dared to think – had also been her favorite student. (She was strictly against any preference based on sympathy.) Still, she couldn't remember ever looking so closely at Hermione Granger. It was odd.
But Minerva's frown was misinterpreted, so that the young woman leaned over her teacher in concern. "Are you in pain, Professor McGonagall?"
As if awoken from a trance, she cleared her throat and gently shook her head. "What happened, Miss Granger?"
The young woman smiled understandingly. "Oh, a lot" she began. "After Harry struck Voldemort with the Elder Wand, chaos broke in the Great Hall. I found you leaning against one of the pillars and brought you to Madame Pomfrey. Do you remember, you have been conscious for a moment?"
The older witch wondered feverishly if she could remember the encounter. But all she could think of was a scent. Something fine, lovely. But she couldn't grasp it anymore. "Well," continued Miss Granger, "A shock spell must have hit you full at the chest and burrowed deeper into the flesh ..." She paused briefly and looked at the bandaged cleavage of her teacher before she - caught by her staring - delicately blushed and went on, "Madame Pomfrey can explain that to you in more detail. I ... " she began to stutter slightly, "I'll get her – wait a minute! "
Miss Granger was about to turn around, when Minerva stopped her. As out of reflex she grabbed the young woman's arm. With an irritated expression, she turned back to her teacher.
"What happened after that?" Minerva heard herself whisper breathlessly.
The young witch in front of her took a deep breath and spoke softly: "We've taken care of the sick. They were brought to St. Mungo's last night. The ... ", she swallowed," The dead were transported and the schoolyear was dissolved by the transitional government."
She looked carefully at her professor, who had folded her hands thoughtfully in her lap and was staring into nothing.
"Professor McGonagall?" The young brunette asked softly.
Minerva let her thoughtful gaze wander to her student, who had now sat down on the front edge of the visitor's chair next to her bed.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
The young woman blushed slightly. "Are you going to be headmistress of Hogwarts next school year?"
Amazed by this change of subject, Minerva sat up a little in her bed. "Why do you think that, Miss Granger?"
She blushed even deeper and stuttered: "Well, you took over the position after Dumbledore's death ... until Snape came."
The elderly lady felt a pinch in her stomach. Yes, she had actually taken the post. But not for very long...
"Well," she cleared her throat, "If the schoolboard deems me worthy. Then yes. Then I will accept their offer."
She looked into the amber eyes of the young witch and thought she saw a brief cloudiness in them.
"You don't like that idea?" Minerva asked, surprised and perhaps a little piqued.
But the young woman rose quickly and raised her arms soothingly. "No, for Merlin's sake. Of course I like that idea, Professor. You were my best teacher, but…" She paused and felt silent.
"But?" The older witch helped her.
Miss Granger seemed to muster up all her courage before whispering, "But then... then you wouldn't be her anymore. My teacher, I mean. And..." she blushed a third time. She swallowed audibly and suddenly looked at her teacher with her head held high. "And I would find that very regrettable."
The Transformation teacher felt another slight rumble in her stomach. She, too, now felt a gentle warmth that settled on her cheeks. "I feel very honored, Miss Granger. And I deeply share the regret of not being able to teach you anymore."
She saw how the brunette's gaze opened to her again. Miss Granger's eyes began to twinkle again. The rumble in Minerva's stomach grew stronger. Her mouth twisted tightly.
"Is something wrong?" the young woman asked next to her and unconsciously grabbed her teacher's arm.
"I'm afraid I'm not completely back on track yet, Miss Granger" her eyes found the delicate hand on her arm, "Thank you for your sympathy."
The Gryffindor nodded and, slightly embarrassed, withdrew her hand. "Well then" Miss Granger cleared her throat, "I'll let Madame Pomfrey know that you are awake."
Minerva nodded and managed a small smile. Her student rose and walked to the door that led into the main hospital wing. But before she stepped out the door, she turned around again.
"If we don't meet beforehand, I'll see you next school year..." She smiled sheepishly.
Now a complete smile appeared on Minerva's face and she was surprised to notice how good it felt to finally be able to smile again after all these months of fear and frustration.
"I'm looking forward to it, my dear," she heard herself say.
A twinkle shone in the eyes of the young, extraordinary woman and she slipped out of the room.
With a smile, Minerva summed up for herself that Miss Granger was not only responsible for her survival - no - she was also the first person who had made her smile in a long time.
So, what do you think? Are there many incorrect words oder grammar mistakes? Pls let me know!