Minerva walked into the Hospital Wing, surprised to see Harry and Draco talking about Quidditch. Harry was the first to spot her. "Hello Professor." Draco turned to look at her, nodding in greeting.

"Mr. Potter," she nodded. "Mr. Malfoy, it is dinner time. I believe it is time you head to the Great Hall. You may return tomorrow when your parents and the Grangers arrive."

"Yes Professor." The young Slytherin said a quick goodbye to Harry before he turned to his cousin and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Come back Hermione." She heard him mumble softly before he straightened up and left. Minerva moved around the bed, taking the seat that had been vacated.

"I'm surprised Mr. Potter that you and Mr. Malfoy were on speaking terms. I was under the impression that you two didn't get along."

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Most times we don't but a lot of what we do in front of others is just for show. Hermione made us get along during winter hols."

"Of course she did." Before she could say anything else, she felt a slight brush against her mental walls. Quickly she shored them up, and looked inside to see if she could find the source. Expecting a hit, she was surprised when the light pressure she felt continued to gently brush, not push. She prepared her false room behind the wall so that she could safely view the source that piqued her curiosity but still protect her mind with a stronger wall on the other side. Minerva willed her first wall to fall down to allow the intruder to enter the room. She, however, did not expect a stumbling Hermione Granger to enter.

"Sweet Merlin," Minerva quickly rushed to the girl, holding her up as she conjured a couch for them to sit on. Gently, she lowered the young Slytherin down, as she fell to her knees close by. "How…"

"I felt your magic and willed what consciousness I have to it. I am so tired." Hermione buried her head in her professor's shoulder.

"You felt my magic?"

"From when you apparated me to my parents' house. Although I am unable to fully awaken, I am aware enough that I can feel magical signatures close by. I've felt so many I don't know who is who. But I recognized yours and jumped. It took more energy than I thought. I'm sorry for intruding," she paused for second, "I just had to escape my mind and his eyes."

Minerva ran her hand through the girl's hair. "What do you mean by 'his eyes'? Quirrell is gone."

Hermione shrugged her shoulder. "It wasn't Quirrell's eyes. These eyes were red, the face was pale, almost transparent. Although I know he is no longer in my head, my memory keeps conjuring him up and I can't escape. That's why I tried so hard to leave my mind to get to someone I knew."

Minerva felt the girl shudder, her stomach dropping in realization. "That was Voldemort, child. It was he who violated your mind." The older woman thought and conjured up a mug of hot chocolate. "Here, drink some of this. Although it's not real, your mind will treat it like it is and may help." The younger girl sat up and took the mug in her hands. Minerva got up off the floor and sat down on the couch. The two remained silent for awhile as Hermione continued to drink.

It wasn't much longer that Minerva immediately got up, raising her hand as a clear barrier formed in front of them. "What is it?" Hermione asked, shrinking into the couch. Minerva spared a glance at her, frowning as she realized the girl was scared by her sudden movement and didn't want to frighten her more.

"Someone is trying to enter. There are only two people who would try as I doubt anyone that isn't a friend would dare to enter." As she spoke, the door opened and Severus walked in. Hermione jumped up off the couch and ran to him, throwing herself into his arms. Severus looked at Minerva shocked, he was not one for open displays of affection, let alone on his person. And he couldn't believe his eyes at the other occupant. Minerva returned his expression with one of concern. He walked his niece over to the couch as she still held onto his shirt and sat down.

"Potter said you had stopped talking to him all of a sudden an hour ago and you hadn't moved a muscle." He looked at Minerva who took a seat on the other side of the couch. "I wondered if Hermione had somehow got in contact with you." Minerva filled him in on how Hermione had. "Well the fact that you are here Hermione, answers our questions on any brain damage on your mental functions. Right now Madame Pomfrey has your body in a coma to help with the swelling in your brain. Sadly she couldn't have used a dreamless sleep. I have to ask though, what happened?"

"It happened quickly. I had a headache and then I looked up at Quirrell's head and I spotted red eyes peeking through his turban. That's when my first wall collapsed quickly. I strengthened my next walls but he quickly got through the second as I knew it wouldn't last. I had put more energy into wall three so as two crumbled, I retreated. I thought I was going to win as the first hit rebounded, but then it felt like I had been hit by two Legilimens and that wall started to break. So I retreated to my fourth wall. I put everything into it that I didn't have the energy to eject him. It was so hard and then I felt the attempt double again that I couldn't hold it any longer. As it crumbled, I heard him laugh as he entered, red eyes gleaming. I took my secrets into the far back of my mind and pushed forward as many memories that weren't important."

"Did he see anything pertaining to your heritage?" Severus asked. Hermione shook her head no.

"He exited my mind not long after he entered. He was so close I almost thought he would see my secrets." She shuddered and Severus pulled her closer. "It was horrible. Everything over there is desolate. I've not bothered to try to fix any walls. It just hurts and his after image continues to haunt it. I just want to relax and sleep." She yawned as if her mind wanted to prove the fact.

Severus sighed, knowing he had to deliver news the younger Slytherin wouldn't like. "Madame Pomfrey will not be able to administer a dreamless sleep to help keep him out of your dreams. It would increase the chances of a brain bleed and swelling, which is why we can't wake you at this time."

Hermione stood up, panicked. "I can't go back! Not to where he is! Not while I can't defend or run away. I barely had the energy to jump my consciousness here, I doubt I could jump to another willing host." She turned wild eyes to Minerva, "Please! Let me stay! Don't send me back! Please!" She continued hysterically, shaking wildly, "Oh god! I can't go back! Don't make me!" Minerva jumped off the couch and pulled the frantic girl into her arms, trying to shush her and rub circles in her back slowly.

"No, child, no. You don't have to go anywhere. It will be alright. You can stay," she cooed. "No one will force you to do anything. You can stay here." She looked at Severus, who looked crestfallen. "Severus, arrange with Poppy what you need to. I will remain here so she stays safe. Please make sure no other Legilimens are able to reach us as I shan't have the strength to hold them off for long the later it gets." Severus nodded and stood up. He kissed the top of Hermione's head and wished her a good night as he left. Minerva thought and conjured up a bed and a set of pajamas. "Now Hermione, how about you change into these pajamas and get some sleep?"

Hermione nodded and pulled back. Minerva turned away as she heard Hermione change. She only turned back around when she heard Hermione climb onto the bed. "Anything else?" Hermione hesitated. "What is it child?"

"I understand if you say no, but could you hold me? I just…" Minerva cut her off by walking around the bed and climbed on, offering her arms to the girl again. Hermione moved into her arms, head laying on Minerva's breast. She was surprised to hear Minerva's heartbeat and that Minerva had no smell. It was probably because they were in the woman's mind so she naturally would have a heartbeat but was not conscious to her own smell. Hermione felt herself calm to the sound and drifted off into a light sleep.

Minerva remained awake, keeping a constant vigilance on the sleeping girl. Two hours later she noticed two minds enter, recognizing Severus as one and assumed Albus was more than likely the other. She thought of the bubble head charm around Hermione's head and thought of a silencing charm around it, grimacing at the strain of holding all these charms and conjures while so many minds were in hers. Sure enough the two men entered and stopped at the sight greeting them. Minerva glared at them. "I thought I told you to not allow any more Legilimens close by Severus." Said man shrugged his shoulders. "Well make it quick gentlemen. As you can see I have a lot of spells conjured along with hosting a conscious mind. You two are only giving me a headache."

Albus held a hand up. "I promise to make it quick. I came to assure myself that you and Miss Granger were alright." His eyes twinkled but dimmed at her words.

"I am fine Albus, but this child is not. She is exhausted and needs sleep. She can only get a light rest here. She's traumatized and if I thought there may be a chance to help her become an animagus, that is quickly retreating. Merlin knows how long it will take her to get her confidence back." Minerva looked down at the sleeping girl. "She is just a little girl who can seem older at times."

"You don't give her the credit she deserves." Albus spoke lightly. At Minerva's raised eyebrow he continued. "She's here, in your mind. She was able to find the strength and will to project her consciousness into yours and continues to be here."

"She was scared. Of course she found the will."

"Yes, but we both know how skilled one has to be to project one's mind, let alone the whole of the consciousness. That's something only skilled Legilimens are able to do, usually the more powerful ones like ourselves. She had the strength and ability to sense out your magical signature and use it to make a blind jump. And I am willing to bet she did not just crash into your walls."

"No, she didn't." Minerva looked down at her again. "Still, Albus, she has a long way to go and this set her back."

Severus spoke up, "She will rebound. We just have to help her build back up her confidence. I believe in her Minerva. You should too. She will regain sight of her goal. Of that I have no doubt."

"Her goal? And what's that?"

"In due time my dear Minerva." Albus's twinkling was back. "She looks relaxed now. Your presence seems to be acting like a balm to her consciousness."

"Anyone would be considering the state she is in."

"Maybe." Albus looked at Severus, "Let us go. I believe Minerva has everything covered." Both men left and Minerva relaxed as she felt them exit. She removed the silencing and bubble head charms. Looking down at the resting girl, she wondered what the hell Albus was going on about. It seemed both men knew what the young Slytherin's end game was where she was in the dark. Why could they not tell her what it was?

AN: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, delivered before the new year as promised. And thank you for your reviews. Truly inspires me to continue writing.