Minerva heaved a great sigh as she threw herself into the chair behind her desk. Although she spent at least an hour daily responding to letters, there was always more waiting for her. As hard as she tried to streamline and delegate, there was quite a bit of post that required her attention as opposed to her deputy's or one of the other professors. Now that she had refreshed the heating charm on the counter-top burners, and made sure one of the great ovens was heating evenly, she could no longer avoid the pile of mail in the tray on her desk, although every fibre of her being wanted to return to her chambers and nap with Hermione. She summoned the pot of tea she had asked Tilley to prepare when she left the kitchens, accio'd her letter opener, and reached for the letter on the top of the pile.
An hour later, she heard the grinding of the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance to her office. Filius Flitwick entered, a bemused look on his face, awkwardly trying to keep the furry orange thing in his small arms from tumbling on to the floor.
"Minerva, I found a fox sleeping in front of your gargoyle. I poked it with my wand but it didn't run off or bite me, it just yawned in my face and went back to sleep." He proffered the limp creature to Minerva. "Why do we have forest animals traipsing about the castle? Are we going to have to have another talk with Hagrid?"
Minerva stepped around her desk and stooped to take Hermione from the charms master, cradling the fox to her chest. The fox pressed its nose into the crook of her neck and sighed in its sleep. Minerva could feel a blush spreading across her cheeks and ignored it, carrying on as if this were a completely normal occurrence.
"I apologize Filius. Hermione was napping in my quarters and must have come looking for me when she woke up. She was probably too tired to change back safely, and does not yet know the password for my office."
It took a moment for Filius to realize he was gaping. He closed his jaw, feeling self conscious. He didn't know what amazed him more - that his brilliant former student had achieved three levels of mastery in two years, or that his stoic, notoriously closed off headmistress was blushing and cradling said student as if she was the most precious thing in the world.
Filius had known Minerva long enough to realize that discretion was often the better part of valor when dealing with the bluster that arose when he or any of her friends attempted to discuss her personal life. "Her skill does you credit, Minerva." She raised an eyebrow at him, as if daring him to say more. He shifted nervously. Definitely discretion. "Such a talented witch. I'm glad you brought her back to us, Minerva."
The eyebrow descended. "Was there something that needed my attention, Filius? Other than rampaging woodland creatures infiltrating the castle and napping dangerously in doorways?"
"No, Minerva. Expect my report on the condition of the Hogwarts Express and the boats for the first years before lunch tomorrow. I don't expect any issues, but I'll let you know if there are." He turned to leave, and nearly fell over in shock when out of the corner of his eye he caught Minerva pressing her lips to the top of the sleeping fox's head.
Minerva had transfigured her chair into a chaise lounge to give Hermione a place to nap while she continued reading letters. Most she sent to the fire with a wave of her hand, but there were a few that would require a response. Those she set next to her on the floor. Hermione had stretched out on her side, pressed against Minerva's leg while she read. Occasionally the fox's paws would twitch or she would yip in her sleep. It didn't take more than a touch for the fox's dreams to subside and her breathing to even out once more. Minerva wondered what Hermione was dreaming about.
Before she reached the end of the pile, Minerva felt her eyes drooping. The allure of a nap was much harder to resist with a warm creature sleeping against her body. She yawned and tossed the letter she had been reading to the floor, turning onto her side to curl around the fox.
She had just dozed off when the gargoyle ground again and Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout entered the office, arguing animatedly but good naturedly. Minerva exhaled violently through her nose. The fox whimpered and rolled over to press its nose into the older witch's robes, folding its legs awkwardly.
"Minerva?" Poppy said.
"Filius said she was working in here, Poppy. And the gargoyle let us in." Minerva supposed the desk hid the low chaise lounge better than she had thought.
"Is there something I can do for you, ladies?" Minerva kept her voice low, hoping Hermione would keep napping.
Pomona and Poppy peered over the desk. "Whatever are you doing down there, Minerva? And since when have you kept a pet fox?" Pomona asked, curious as to why the other woman was reclining in her office, even if she appeared to have been working. Minerva reclining seemed antithetical to the natural order of things, somehow. Sometimes Pomona wondered if the Headmistress slept sitting bolt upright, posture perfect, shoulders square.
"I was doing what I always do in my office, Pomona, working." She put a hand on Hermione's shoulder, hoping to soothe the dreaming creature. "And she's not a pet."
"Oh! That's Miss Granger!" The medi-witch exclaimed. Pomona looked at Poppy incredulously. "I would recognize that aura anywhere, Pomona. I treated her more than enough times."
Minerva sighed. The whole staff would know about Hermione's success as an animagus within the hour, not to mention the fact that the Headmistress was disporting herself on a lounge with a former student.
"Ladies, I would appreciate some discretion, if you please. We've not yet made it to the Ministry to register Hermione, and I would rather not have every petty bureaucrat in England traipsing through the school trying to cause trouble for my apprentice." She sat up fully and picked Hermione up. The fox's cold nose found her pulse point again. "She's had a rather stressful time of it lately, and Ministry and media attention is the very last thing she needs." Pomona narrowed her eyes at Minerva appraisingly, but Poppy stepped in for a closer look at the animagus. Minerva suppressed the urge to growl.
"She does appear a bit thin, Minerva," the mediwitch said quietly. "She is very nearly drained magically, and her aura is..." She gasped. "Minerva, is she..." Poppy trailed off, remembering Pomona's penchant for gossip.
Pomona looked from Minerva back to Poppy, who seemed to urgently want to speak to the Headmistress.
"I'll just talk to you tomorrow, Minerva. Have a pleasant evening." With one backwards glance, Pomona trundled off to find Filius.
Poppy sat down next to Minerva on the chaise and said - trying to keep her voice neutral - "Now, please tell me what's going on."