CHAPTER TWO

Not used to being confined in his cage, Crookshanks mewed loudly. Clearly angry and being kept in his carrier and not being allowed full roam of the house, Crookshanks finally accepted defeat and laid down to sleep.

"Dreaming of the big escape, I'm sure" Mrs. Grainger eyed the cat with a twinkle of dislike.

"Mum, he REALLY didn't mean to, he was chasing a rat you know. Actually doing us, YOU a service, ridding our home of vermin." Hermione defended.

"Well…..I don't want to discuss it now Hermione. I'm too upset. Do you know how long I've wanted a car like that? You may think it's silly, don't talk to me about it now. We'll discuss it in the morning after I've had time to forget." Mrs. Grainger concluded as she swept into the kitchen.

Hermione had cleaned non stop since she arrived home, after catching and caging Crookshanks, trying to make amends for the scratches inflicted by her cat. The house sparkled. The only thing left was to help with the evening meal preparations and to get ready.

"What needs to be chopped? Washed? Mashed?" Hermione inquired.

"Uhmmmm, let's see…..Oh! I know, I almost forgot! I need you to whip the icing together for the cake." Mrs. Grainger directed.

Hermione began to beat eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla and a few other ingredients into a creamy, delicious concoction. Almost like making potions, almost, Hermione mused.

She really missed being around magic. It was ingrained into her now.

"Time to go upstairs and get ready dear. Company will be here soon."

"So, no hints as to who…"

"No"

"But, I need to know how to dress, formal for colleagues.."

"Anything you wear will be just fine Hermione. Go get ready."

Hermione came downstairs about an hour or so later. She heard voices as she descended the stairway. Who was that?

As Hermione rounded the corner she almost fell over in disbelief. Professor McGonagall was sitting in her living room. Beside her mother. On her couch. Like one of her mother's friends over for bridge, tea or both. Standing in the doorway with her mouth open, Hermione simply stared at the scene playing out before her in utter disbelief.

"Good Evening Miss Grainger. It was so very kind of your mother to invite me over for dinner. Don't you agree? Perhaps you could speak clearer if you closed your mouth and tried to pronounce actually words."

"O-Of, course it is. I was just…it's just that…so….odd….huh?" Hermione's words tumbled from her mouth.

As her mother and Professor McGonagall laughed, Hermione made her way into the living room and sat in her favorite chair and stared, bewilderedly at the two ladies sitting before her. Two different women you could not possibly imagine. How did this happen? Well, she knew HOW but why?

Not to be thwarted once a dilemma presented itself, Hermione asked, "What's going on?"

"No need for alarm dear. Everything is as right as it can be, considering. In light of recent events, it has been determined that all returning Seniors should be given the okay to perform magic outside Hogwarts for the summer." Professor McGonagall stated and then took a sip of her tea before continuing.

"Some will not return to Hogwarts for classes and some will not be allowed to return. It's unfortunate but I'm afraid recent events have made it necessary to aid our students with the means to protect themselves or at least have a way to receive help." Professor McGonagall directed her comments toward Hermione and her mother.

As Hermione digested this information and the fact that one of her professors was in her home, the full impact of what Professor McGonagall had just told her took hold.

Practice magic…outside Hogwarts…okay…encouraged even…as it was becoming real to her, Hermione's face formed a huge smile. "It's like Christmas in Summer" she said aloud without meaning to or realizing she'd actually uttered her thoughts.

"Yes, I suppose it is. I thought I would drop by and see how you were doing after the...recent events and drop by a few books I know you will find useful in your quest to further your abilities. I know some students won't be returning to Hogwarts next year, and although I know your love of knowledge is great, one never knows what lies around the corner Miss Grainger. I've also taken the liberty to bring along a few of my own notes on transmutation, conjuration, potions and the like and of course, supplies." As Professor McGonagall finished speaking to Hermione, she popped a little tea cake into her mouth that was drizzled in honeyed maple icing.

"These are simply delicious! I've never tasted anything like it! It must have been so time consuming!" She effused to Mrs. Grainger.

"OH! Thank you! It's an old family recipe. I love them too! Any excuse to make them is fine with me! And actually, it is one of the simplest recipes I have!" Mrs. Grainger gushed.

As her mother and her professor rambled on about recipes, sifters, and lord knew what else, Hermione gawked at both of the women. It was the oddest exchange, of the oddest combination that Hermione could imagine. Well, other than Lord Voldemort talking to Ron about the best way to use a pumice stone without damaging the tender skin of one's feet. She had never seen Professor McGonagall outside Hogwarts, or in non-robe clothing, or speaking like a real human being for that matter. It was all a bit odd.

Hermione began to wonder if perhaps her mother had clobbered her on the head when they had arrived home to find Crookshanks defacing her mother's mid-life crisis of an auto and she was actually knocked out and dreaming. No, better still, he'd finally done it! Crookshanks has tripped her going down the stairwell and she suffered a massive head trauma and is now in a coma, hallucinating this whole event.

As Hermione drifted into her musing of head traumas, Professor McGonagall and her mother had grown silent while waiting for Hermione's response to her mother's request for her to thank the professor for her gifts.

"Hermione, you really should thank Minerva" she said again. Not realizing that the use of Professor McGonagall's given name would snap Hermione right out of her day dream trance.

"Who? OH! Sorry. Yes, I mean, absolutely, of course! I was, am very grateful for EVERYTHNG! I meant to, ordinarily, I would say, I mean, I just, it's all a bit odd isn't it?" Hermione finally finished her rambling thank you.

"While you two talk a bit, I'm going to put the final touches on dinner and then we can sit down, eat and talk. It's rather nice to have an all female dinner, isn't Hermione? Mr. Grainger went to Edinburgh on business." Mrs. Grainger told her guest and daughter as left the room and entered the kitchen.

"Yes, yes, of course it is Hermione. I knew you would appreciate the things I've brought you, or I wouldn't have bothered to come in person. I would have sent a letter sent through the Owl Network to you, as we did almost everyone else." Professor McGonagall cryptically divulged.

"Th-thank you Professor. Are you going to see Ron and Harry too? Have you been already? How are they? I haven't heard from either yet." Hermione was so excited to hear about her friends, she had to take a deep breathe when she finished asking her questions.

"No, I haven't gone to see either…yet. But I do believe that Hagrid is paying a visit to one or both as we speak!" Professor McGonagall confided.

"Dinner's ready ladies!" Mrs. Grainger sang as she opened the door to the dining room for Hermione and Professor McGonagall to enter through.

The dinner discussion was occupied with magic and more magic. Professor McGonagall told Hermione about the different ways to use Bella Donna, mandrake root, wolf bane, and lavender that she hadn't learned at Hogwarts. It was the best and most informative lesson she had ever been given. It was so easy to remember every little thing. She didn't even need to take notes as she normally did.

"It was a simply glorious meal, thank you so much for your generosity. I don't know when I've had a more succulent Cornish game hen and the rosemary mashed potatoes were divine. I never would have thought…and this Italian Crème Cake is excellent! I must have the recipe, or just a slice to take home….I can, get the recipe from it and save you the trouble of writing it out!" Professor McGonagall said as she finished the last of her cake and coffee.

"What a handy thing! I truly wish I had magical abilities…just fascinating and, well, magical!" Mrs. Grainger laughed and she asked Hermione to retrieve the goody basket she had prepared for Minerva.

Minerva. Hermione didn't know if she would ever get use to associating Professor McGonagall with her first name or not. It was just weird. Hermione pondered the fact that, yes, her professors, parents and other extraneous adults were ACTUAL people. It just felt so odd. As Hermione entered the kitchen she started to yell out to her mum where the goody basket was, when she looked at the counter and saw the hugest basket she'd ever seen. It looked as if a fabric store had thrown up all over it. The willow basket was shrouded in iridescent purple organza and tied with millions of silver ribbons. It was quite pretty. Hermione rolled her eyes and snickered.

Her mother had taken to wrapping ALL gifts as if they were treasures waiting to be presented to the Queen ever since she'd taken a gift wrapping seminar four Christmas's ago. With pride, Hermione carried the royal treat into the living room and presented it to Professor McGonagall.

"What a BEAUTIFUL package!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed. "Thank you so much for the hospitality, conversation and gift. I hate to eat and run but I really must dash. It's best to travel as early as possible these days."

"Do be careful and know you are welcome anytime Minerva." Mrs. Grainger said as she walked to the door with the professor.

"I will, I will. Now, Hermione, if you need anything, just contact me with the...well, I'll let it be a surprise. I know you'll figure it out. Be safe." Professor McGonagall said as she transfigured into the most austere cat any muggle had ever seen.

"She really does make a beautiful feline. Did you see those markings? Why couldn't you of found a kitty like that?" Mrs. Grainger said as she closed and locked the front door. She was obviously still very displeased with Crookshanks and her new paint job.

"Yes. Well, I'd really rather not think about that. It gives me the creeps. After Ron's ordeal with Scabbers, I'd shudder to think of what sort of person Crookshanks might actually be if he were an animagus." Hermione said as she and her mother went up the stairs and readied themselves for bed.