The weeks continued to pass as winter fell upon the school with it's deathly chill. They only had one more week before the semester was over and the winter holiday begun. "Alright you two." Severus looked at his niece and nephew. "Because of the progress you have made protecting your minds, after the holidays I will begin adding Legilimens practices in."

"But Uncle, isn't that far advance than even 7th year magic?" Draco asked, eyes wide.

"You two are already excelling in defending your minds. I believe it is important to also learn how to protect yourself even further by knowing how to slip into others' minds. It is the best way to know if who you are talking with is friend or foe." He picked up two copies of what looked to be an older text. "I want you to have this read before the end of your Christmas holidays." Draco groaned as he finished. "Now is the time to learn Draco. Your mind is like a sponge. It will come easier to you than if you tried to learn at a later age. That is why there are so few talented Legilimens out there."

"You and Dumbledore are the only ones here at Hogwarts who can, correct?" Hermione spoke up, looking hopeful at her uncle.

Severus shook his head. "McGonagall and Quirrell are both Legilimens. Although, they are not as proficient at it as Dumbledore or myself. McGonagall only scans minds when she is doing things outside of Hogwarts. Quirrell is the DADA teacher so he naturally needs to know at least the basics." He watched as Hermione's shoulders relaxed. Severus immediately turned to Draco "Legilimens!" After 30 seconds he was shoved out of Draco's mind. "Acceptable boy. Though you should always have your walls up. I may not have seen much but I saw enough that if you had been a target I could have learned something useful. You may go." Draco stood up and squeezed Hermione's shoulder as he left.

"I'll see you in the common room Draco." As she turned back around she felt Severus enter her mind and hit her first wall. He broke through easily only to be met by another, stronger wall. Hermione felt the pressure in her head increase as he broke through her second wall before he hit her third wall. She saw the sweat start to drip down his temple as her wall continued to hold firm. After one last strong push she felt her wall buckle before a small crack appeared, bits of memory starting to leak through. Immediately, Hermione ejected him from her mind, panting slightly.

Severus took a deep breath before summoning each a cup of tea. He hummed after his first sip. "You've almost have that third wall finished." Hermione scowled. "You should be proud Hermione. Most Occlumens have taken years to accomplish what you have in a matter of months. Even Draco is just now beginning on his second wall."

The younger girl sighed. "You are right. It's just, now that I know Minerva is a Legilimens, I want to ensure she never finds out. I'm sure if you had slipped into my mind without me noticing, I may not have known to put up my barriers."

Severus shook his head, "Minerva would never enter your mind unless a situation warranted it. And I don't see that happening anytime soon." Hermione nodded, believing him.

"What are your plans for the holiday?"

"The same as every year. Stay here and then head to the Malfoys' for Christmas dinner." He drained the rest of his tea before he ushered Hermione back to the common room.

Hermione wrapped her scarf around herself tighter as the chill of wind peaked beneath it. Harry and Ron were ahead of her as they walked together towards the Hogwarts express. Harry and Hermione had been held back the previous day in Transfiguration to be notified that Minerva and Severus would meet them polyjuiced as Hermione's parents at the train station. The reasoning behind this was to ensure there were no problems getting Hermione and Harry to the Granger's residence. Ever since Hermione's true lineage was discovered, the Granger home was under protection wards from Albus, Minerva, Severus, and Lucius. Although there was currently no threat, all knew it was better to be safe than sorry. The Malfoy family is well known in the pureblood circles and had multiple enemies that would do anything to take the family down a peg or two. Hermione felt a spell wrap around her as she felt heat infuse her skin. "I'm surprised, Miss Granger, that you have yet to master a warming charm." Minerva's thick brogue washed over her with the same warmth as the woman's charm.

Hermione laughed lightly. "Normally I use a jar holding bluebell flames but my hands are a bit full, Professor."

Minerva hummed at that. "You better catch up to Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley. Wouldn't want to be left behind. You three are the last to arrive."

Hermione scowled at this before raising her nose in disgust. "Only because Weasley had to continue to stuff his face and Harry wouldn't leave without him. Not like his mother won't have mounds of food waiting for him at home." Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Minerva grow tense. "Professor?"

Minerva was silent for a moment. "When you first told everyone you had chosen Slytherin over the other houses, I thought you had made a mistake. Obviously, I was the one mistaken. I will see you at the train station. Good day Ms Granger." Minerva said stiffly before turning on her heel.

Hermione groaned in frustration as she sped up to the boys. She couldn't help that she only tolerated Weasley because he was Harry's friend. She looked back at what she said and what she knew about the Professor that would cause the older woman to be upset. Internally she winced, she had acted like a snob and insulted her cub. Even if what Hermione had said was truth, Minerva was not the one she should have said what she said too. All she could hope for was that the older woman would eventually forget.

AN: Hello everyone. I am back. For how long I can not say. I've been working on this story as it currently the only one my muse seems to think of. Originally I was not going to post until I had the whole story finished, but I realized that it is better to put something up instead of risk all my work going to waste. I hope you enjoy, and also these characters are not mine to own but I do plan on playing with them. ;) I will try my hardest to update before 5 years pass again.