The next thing Hermione knew, she was waking up. Her head pillowed against a warm chest, a heart beating a steady rhythm against her cheek. She glanced up into the bleary eyes of Rolanda and smiled tiredly. Apparently the two of them had fallen asleep after their earlier conversation. She was surprised however that she had not woken up with nightmares or having panic attacks, as had been normal for her since the war had ended.

Rolanda ran a hand through Hermione's hair and glanced at the clock above the, now cool, fireplace. It was nearly time for dinner. "What do you say we go find some food, and then go see about having that conversation with Minerva, hmm?"

"That would probably be best, though I am not in any hurry to get to it." She felt Rolanda chuckle and fingers sift through her hair, nails lightly scratching at her scalp. An involuntary purr escaped her throat.

"You purr? I didn't think that was one of the traits that crossed over from being an animagus. Minerva has certainly never mentioned it."

"I don't think that she talks about what traits crossover and which ones don't. I guess we should hurry and get up to the castle though. I am rather hungry at the moment."

-O-O-

Minerva gasped when she saw Hermione walk in with Hooch, both of them in wrinkled clothings and looking as though they had just woken up. She growled low in her throat at the thought of what her daughter might have gotten up to with the flying instructor. She did notice that Hermione was deliberately avoiding her gaze and had to wonder if the young woman was still that upset with her over the fight she had had with Hooch. The two older women were still not on the best terms, but they were getting better. Minerva was still incredibly angry that Hooch was attempting to start a relationship with her daughter, even if she denied it.

Hermione sat through dinner, picking at her food, refusing to look up and the Transfiguration professor. She and Rolanda discussed what repairs had been made and Hermione was glad to find out that a significant amount had been finished. Most of the teachers quarters and all of the dormitories were completely repaired, along with the majority of the classrooms and the common areas. The Great Hall was still in pieces, though parts of it were showing signs of repair and the rubble had been pushed to the sides. Repaired tables sat where they belonged and Hermione and Rolanda were seated at what had been the Gryffindor table.

They talked at length about the changes they both wished to see happen in the world and what Hermione would be doing with her life after she took her NEWT exams. With the new information about her adoption having come to light, the young witch was unsure whether she wanted to return to school in the fall. Rolanda encouraged her to do whatever she felt was right, but at the same time offered a different opinion on what she thought could happen if she decided to return to school.

"It would, at least, give you the opportunity to get to know Minerva in a different way. Maybe you could build a relationship with her. It might be good for you to get to know the woman who gave birth to you, in a capacity that isn't hindered by you being a student and her being your professor."

"Maybe, though it will depend entirely on how the conversation after dinner goes. Something else I realized is that I am going to have to tell her eventually that I am an animagus. She is going to be furious."

"Oh to be a fly on that wall…" the older witch remarked with a smirk.

"Oh really, how about I just tell her after dinner and then you can be my human shield." Hermione grinned at her friend.

"I don't think so. I've already been on the receiving end of enough of her jinxes thank you very much." Rolanda waved a fork in her direction. "I would be careful how you approach that subject though. If not, you might find yourself on the receiving end of a couple of jinxes."

"True. I think we may be stalling a bit, though. Neither of us are eating anymore and Minerva has already left the Hall. We might as well get this over with." She whispered, mostly to herself.

"I won't let her hurt you, sweet girl."

"Why do you call me that?" Hermione asked suddenly.

"Because you are."

"Oh."

-O-O-

Before Hermione knew what was happening, they were standing in front of Minerva's office. Rolanda placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and squeezed encouragingly, before reaching up and knocking on the door.

"I have never been so nervous to see her." Hermione whispered softly, reaching up and grabbing the hand on her shoulder, taking silent support from the warm, calloused fingers that enveloped her own.

The door opened and Hermione felt herself unceremoniously jerked inside and against the warm body of her mento-her mother. The older woman was sobbing into her hair and the younger reached up and awkwardly put her arms around her. She couldn't, in good conscience, have this conversation while Minerva was so obviously distraught.

Rolanda herded them both towards the sofa and received a thankful smile from her young friend. She closed the door behind them all and lit the cold fire place, before summoning a house elf to request tea. Once she had done everything she could think of to make this conversation a little easier on the two women involved, she sat in a large chair, and turned it so that she could easily view what was happening on the couch.

Hermione sat, holding the elder witch, listening to her sob apologies into her ear and how scared she had been the last three weeks. The only response she could give was to tell her that it was fine, that the fight meant less than nothing to her. She had been angry about it yes, but in light of her recent discovery, she found that she truly didn't care about the fight they had had, other than Minerva jinxing Rolanda. That still made her blood boil everytime she thought about it.

When, at last, Minerva had cried herself out, she pulled away from her daughter and looked down at her.

"Hermione there is something that I need to tell you."

"I know. You don't have to tell me. I know that I am the little girl from that picture."

Minerva froze. Her heart lurched in her chest and then stopped altogether. How could Hermione know? She had been very careful not to give any indications about who she was to the girl, or say anything to make her believe that there may be a more than professional relationship between them. So what could have possibly tipped her off? Then her eye landed on the flying instructor seated only a few feet away from them. Rage welled up inside her, only to be quelled by the young witch's next words.

"I found the folder that my parents kept all of my adoption papers in. It listed you as my birth mother." Hermione was stared at her hands. "I have no expectations. I know that you intended to tell me eventually, now that the war is over, but you also lead a very private life. I know, that once the wizarding war is finished recovering, when the Ministry is rebuilt and people begin moving on with their daily live and the Prophet is back in print, then my life will not be private anymore. I understand if you-"

"Don't you dare." Minerva growled. "Don't you dare finish that statement, Hermione Granger. I have not spent the last 18 years, wishing that I could be your mother, wanting to acknowledge the relationship that we share, just to deny it exists now that it is safe to do so. If that means that I am photographed with you, or that the newspapers write stories about me, then so bloody be it. I will not deny you. I can't, not now that I finally have you in my life again."

Her words had slowly gotten quieter throughout her statement until the last portion was barely a whisper and it was only Hermione's animagus hearing that allowed her to catch them.

"I don't know how to go on from here. I know your reasons behind giving me up. I know why you kept everything a secret. I honestly understand all of that, but I don't know how to proceed. I don't know how to be your daughter. I mean, you are Minerva McGonagall."

Minerva tutted at that statement and raised Hermione's face with two fingers under her chin. "Yes, I am, but I am also human, Hermione. You know that better than anyone, except your father. You are perfect, just the way you are, my dear. I would not change anything about you, even if I could. Do you know why?" Hermione shook her head. "Because you are perfect at being my daughter already. Look at how alike we are. Books, learning, ginger newts, even a dislike for white chocolate. And, even if we were nothing alike, I wouldn't change you. I love you, my darling girl. I have loved you from the very first time I felt you move, and I will always love you."

Minerva pulled her daughter to her and held her close as tears began to make their way down the young woman's cheeks. She kissed the riotous curls on top of her head and whispered gentle words in her ear. "I know about the time you fell, when you were three, and your parents thought that you had broken your arm. I also know about the accidental magic when you were six, when that boy was teasing you about your teeth. I know about all of your birthdays, and while I dont have any pictures of you growing up, your mother wrote to me all the time to tell me about how you were doing."

Hermine pulled away at that. "If my mother wrote to you, then why didn't she send you pictures? Why leave you in the dark all those years?"

"I asked her not to include any." Minerva whispered. "I couldn't stand the thought of seeing you grow up so happy, with someone else. I knew that I would have my time with you when you got to Hogwarts, so I let your parents have their time with you first. I never dreamed that your years here would give me so many grey hairs though." Both women chuckled at that. "I also never imagined that I would have to deal with Ronald Weasley being so blind as to believe he is good enough for you."

Hermione turned pink and looked away from her mother. No one knew what had happened down in the Chamber besides Harry and she had only confided in him that while the kiss had been pleasant, it had also been spur of the moment and she had no real interest in Ron. Though, she hadn't had the opportunity to tell him that.

"Hermione, look at me." She did. "Do you love Ronald?"

The flying instructor gripped the arms of the chair she was seated in and forced herself to stand. She wasn't sure she could listen to this, and started for the door, not wanting to hear the young witch's answer. Of course she had feelings for him. They had grown up together, spent a million hours together and had fought back to back and side by side in the war. Why should she want the older, silver haired, woman when she could have him? Slim fingers wrapped around her arm, stopping her exit and she turned. Hermione was standing only inches from her, staring up at her face.

"No." she said firmly. "I do not have any sort of romantic feelings for Ron Weasley." Hermione hoped that Rolanda understood that while she was answering her mother's question, she was speaking directly to her, hoping to assuage any fears or concerns. "But, I am not ready for a relationship with anyone. I'm still too raw, still," She hesitated for a moment, before smiling at the instructor, "faking it."

Rolanda understood perfectly. She smiled down at her young friend. They may not be ready for anything yet, but she felt better knowing that the young woman was not already romantically interested in someone else.

A/N- HEY! Update number 3 in as many days! Go me! As I have said before, I own nothing from this world, I am just playing with the characters. As always, I love reading your reviews and even PMs. So feel free to contact me if you wish. Thank you my lovely readers, and I will see you next time!