Minerva apparated into her quarters in a swirl of black silk.
"Hermione? Hermione are you in here?" She asked the still quarters, her voice strained in worry. Then she saw Albus's portrait propped against the arm of her sofa.
"You!." She bit out. It wasn't quite a snarl, but it was a near thing.
"Calm down, Tabby. She's sleeping." He paused significantly and smirked. "In your bed."
Now she did snarl. "If you interfere, Albus, so help me, I will take it out on your canvas." Albus didn't look even remotely worried about her threat.
"She's sleeping in your bed, Minerva." He pouted, which was an utterly improbable expression for him to wear. "I just want you to be happy, Tabby."
"I am quite content, Albus, and she needs time." Her expression softened. "Albus, you cannae meddle in the affairs of my heart when you are not here to pick up the pieces if it falls apart."
Albus's pout turned into another smirk. "Don't be courting trouble by expecting the worst, Minerva." He was smug now, and Minerva itched to hit him with a hex: something annoying and painful.
"Do. Not. Meddle. Albus." Minerva hissed, her eyes flinty. This threat Albus took seriously. It was time to back off.
Hearing voices, and feeling Minerva's worry and then her annoyance, Hermione levered herself out of bed and padded into the living room.
"Minerva, is everything ok?" Hermione stepped into the older witch's arms, heedless of her nearly naked lower half, though when her legs contacted the cool silk of Minerva's robes, she blushed.
"Everything is fine. I was just worried for a moment when I found my office empty of you and Albus's portrait, and the rest of them causing a ruckus." She chuckled. "I cannot believe that old snake charmer got you to take him off the wall. He always had a talent for getting the previously law abiding to throw caution to the wind."
"Stop talking about me as if I weren't in the room, Minerva McGonagall." Albus groused.
"Hermione, could you kindly inform Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore that I am not talking to him. And that he can go suck on a sherbet lemon till his mouth puckers shut?"
Hermione could only giggle, and for a moment, they both lost themselves in the small humor while Albus sputtered indignantly.
After Albus's portrait had been returned to its proper place, and lunch had been devoured, Hermione and Minerva sat on the couch, nibbling on slices of bread laced with cinnamon and raisins that had been included with their meal. Hermione sighed contentedly and Minerva groaned.
"If Tilley keeps feeding us like this, I am going to have to have my robes let out and will sprout a second chin."
Hermione smiled, made a noise of disbelief at the improbability, and continued nibbling.
"Speaking of robes, Hermione, I must pop down to London to attend a fitting at Madame Malkin's. Are you feeling up to a trip to Diagon Alley? Is there anything you need?"
Hermione looked thoughtful a moment, considering.
"I don't have any teaching robes or business robes or anything like that, Minerva. Just my old school robes." She blushed. "But I don't have any money, so I can transfigure my old things to work. It'll be good practice."
Minerva slid closer to the young witch. "I think I was remiss in not discussing the financial implications of your positions as both my apprentice, and as an apprentice at Hogwarts. Room and board are the very least an apprentice is entitled to from their master. As my apprentice you are to receive room and board, recompense for any travel expenses accrued while researching or attending conferences, and 2000 Galleons per annum until an agreed upon level of mastery is reached."
Hermione gasped and opened her mouth to protest. "No Hermione, just listen. This is a system that has been in place for nearly a millennium to free talented young witches and wizards from worry while they continue their studies and gain experience. It has not been until the past few years that I have begun including Hogwarts as place to gain magical mastery and teaching mastery. As a Hogwarts apprentice, you are entitled to 3500 galleons per annum, and after three years of apprenticeship, right of first refusal if the position in your specialty comes available."
Hermione was gaping openly now. "Minerva, that's much too much money." Her voice was shaking slightly. "I don't want to deprive the school, or you of anything."
"Oh, 'Mione. The school has the resources of over a thousand years of investments, patents, and donations. And I am also well situated. You will receive the compensation you are due. And we will get you outfitted for your role as apprentice teacher, okay my dear?"
Hermione nodded, her eyes a little watery. Minerva pulled her into a hug, burying her face in the glossy auburn waves as the young witch tucked her face into Minerva's neck.
Minerva banished their lunch dishes, retrieved her hat and pinned it firmly to her up do. Her underrobe was a diffuse ocher and the overrobe her usual black; both light weight in deference to the summer temperatures. Hermione slipped a linen blazer over her camp shirt and slid on a pair of flats.
Minerva held out her hand to Hermione, who grasped it and stepped to Minerva's side.
"Take a deep breath, my dear." Hermione did, and by the time she was ready to exhale, they were standing in the courtyard behind the Leaky Cauldron.
"Very smooth, Ms. McGonagall." Hermione smiled up at the older woman and slid her arm to the crook of Minerva's elbow.
"Mmmmm, one of the perks of our position. The Heart helps smooth the transition when apparating to or from the school." Minerva was nearly purring, and the use of magic made her eyes glow a luminous green.
Minerva pulled out her wand with her free hand and tapped the bricks to open the passage to Diagon Alley. As they stepped into the street, Hermione was sure that Minerva would remove her hand, but she merely turned them towards the imposing edifice of Gringotts, content to remain in physical contact with Hermione.