Professor McGonagall was interrupted by a tapping on the window. Recognising the owl as Pigwidgeon, Minerva opened the window and dried the tears on her face. She looked broken, as though there would never be another happy thought that would pass through her body.

She opened the parchment and read.

Dear Professor McGonagall,

This is Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. We just wanted to say a few words and we hope that you will take these into consideration. (And Hermione wanted nothing to do with this, so please don't think that.)

For years I have known Hermione. She was my best friend growing up. I met her when I was 11, just after I received my Hogwarts letter. She came over to visit for a week, and left the day before Harry came to stay. She explained to me, in more detail than anyone had ever done before, all about Hogwarts and the Professors and everything.

Looking back, I think it was fairly obvious that she liked you. She spoke of you in such a way that I as jealous. She said you were the most beautiful person, inside and out. And that you cared about everyone and stood up for what you believed. When I first met you, I didn't think you were the same person. Hermione had described you as someone who had long dark hair, deep green eyes and a loving smile. I think I could safely say that she began to love you, even then.

And as we grew older, and closer, Hermione confided in me. That she had begun to fall deeply in love with you, and had no idea what to do. She'd been giving me advice on how to get Harry, but when it came to her she didn't know what to do. I suggested that she try to date other people, and she did. But she always told me that when she kissed them, she imagined you because otherwise the thought of kissing them was too nauseating.

She made a vow, that if she was still in love with you by the end of this year, that she would tell you. It took me ages, but I managed to convince her that you felt the same. The way you looked at her, the glances when you thought no one was watching, the smile that only Hermione could bring out. It was like watching Hermione all over again.

I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, but I wish that you would think about what you're doing. When I found her up here, she was sobbing like there was no tomorrow. I've never seen anyone that miserable before and I never want to see my friend like that. And I know you're miserable, though you are better at covering your emotions. I know that you were crying for your broken heart.

All I'm saying is that why don't you try. You and Professor Dumbledore have always said that love is the most powerful magic in the world, so why don't you try to make yourself happy. If the relationship doesn't work, which is highly unlikely, then at least you know that you've tried.

I hope you really think about what I've written, because Hermione truly is miserable, and I know you are too.

Thanks,

Ginny.

Minerva paused as she finished reading Ginny's letter. Should she really try with Hermione? If both she and Hermione were miserable, what was the point in being miserable after something they both wanted but was being denied? And as Ginny said, if it didn't work, at least they had the knowledge that they had tried. Minerva was confused by her own thoughts, so she began to read the next letter.

Professor McGonagall,

When I first met Hermione, I thought that she was a bossy know-it-all. After all, on the first day at Hogwarts, before we'd even learnt anything she was doing magic, quoting books and showing off. I thought she was a brat, but it turns out I was wrong. We became friends after the incident with the mountain troll, and I thought that she would be a great help. I mean, who needed to study if you had a friend with brains full of books?

She talked almost incessantly about how wonderful Transfiguration was, and how it was so useful, and the fact that you were such a good teacher. I thought she was just strange, I mean who talks about one subject non-stop. I guess, after a while, I started to tune out when she went into one of her rants about Transfiguration.

As the years went on, and we went on different adventures, Hermione began to become better at covering her emotions, but there were times, when she slipped. Like the time when Harry and I were talking and we asked Hermione for her opinion and she said, "Sorry, Professor McGonagall. I didn't mean to tune out, I was just -" by this time Harry and I were both laughing and Hermione realised that we weren't you. She scolded us but we could never laugh about the incident like we did some others.

In fourth year, when we had to learn to dance, Hermione was so scared. She said that although she had done dancing in part previous years, that learning with a teacher was completely different. When she learnt it was you, she was near a state of panic, that I'd never seen, but I put it down to not having a date, regardless of the fact that she had told us she did.

I didn't pay much attention during the ball, but I can say whenever I saw her, she appeared to be looking at you and Professor Dumbledore dancing together. I thought she was trying to learn steps by watching still, but I know the real reason now.

As more years went by, and the glances at you, which I put down, most stupidly, to other things became both full of more emotion and more discrete, I learned not to mention you or Transfiguration to Hermione without one of the two consequences. Being told that I needed to do better in Transfiguration and that my marks were a bad reflection on your teaching abilities rather than my learning or being told that (if and when I complained) I was being stupid and that work was a necessary part of learning and that your teaching style was one of the best.

She's always defended you and helped you in any way she could. When you were attacked by Umbridge, I can honestly say, that I've never seen a person so worried, scared and admiring. For the entire time you were in St. Mungo's she was constantly looking in every news paper to see if there was news, asking teachers if you were okay and trying her hardest to research the possibilities and risks of being attacked.

I just hope that you know what you are doing, rejecting Hermione, because I don't think that she will ever stop loving you or that she will ever love anyone the way she loves you. I know that you might think we're manipulating you into something, but we're just trying to make sure that both you and our friend are happy and that you don't regret any decisions you've made.

By the way, Hermione strictly refused to have anything to do with this. She said that if you didn't love her, she would have to deal with it, (and be miserable the rest of her life), than pressure you into anything.

Thanks,

Ron.

Minerva looked at the note from Ron Weasley. She had never noticed that he had grown up into an intelligent and caring man. When she thought about some of the things that he said, she noticed they were true. The glances at the Yule Ball, it had almost been like Hermione was watching her the entire time. And she had heard from the staff, particularly Madame Pomfrey about Hermione's questions and research. The lack of scaring on her body was due to the research that Hermione had done, but as she had requested no-one tell Minerva it was her, Minerva had never known the anonymous person who had donated over 50 pages of research into Stunning Spells.

Maybe she was being silly, rejecting Hermione, but how could a 60 year age difference between people be acceptable? Hermione might be miserable now, but she would get over it, wouldn't she? Suddenly Minerva was uncertain, Albus had always said, that when the love of your life came along, you wouldn't think about your own happiness and only theirs. He had also said, that if something didn't work, it felt as though your heart was breaking and would never heal. Hermione had looked so hopeless and sad the last time she had seen her, that Minerva felt her heart shatter all over again. Just maybe there was a chance? She'd read Harry's letter and then decide.

Professor McGonagall,

When I first saw Hermione, she was a bossy know-it-all. I didn't mind, up until then I'd never had anyone that would want to be my friend. She seemed to have a memory for facts, people and everything else under the sun. Ron never knew, but a few weeks after classes began, and Hermione, Ron and I were friends, Hermione told me all about the different teachers.

She spoke as though everyone was a God, a person who stood above all others. But she described you as the most intelligent, kind and caring woman she had ever met. I must say that surprised me, the previous day, you'd given us detention for something, and I wasn't in a good mood where you were concerned. Hermione, however, said that it was a great idea, and that you were doing your job and it proved that you cared about your students. (I thought you were being a bitch. Sorry Professor.)

Hermione used to be able to spit out fact after fact concerning almost everything. She did research quickly and always seemed to have an endless supply of knowledge. I met this boy in Third Year, his name was Adam McGonagall, I asked Hermione if he was your grand-son. She looked completely shocked at the idea, and quickly rattled off fact after fact about your life, and it seemed as though she knew you inside and out.

I asked how she knew all this, and she said that she attended 'tea' with you, where you discussed everything and nothing. I don't know why it didn't hit me then, but I guess you can say I was worked up in my own problems.

In fifth year, I guess you could say she started to be more like you. Standing up for what she believed in, starting the DA, becoming almost like a miniature McGonagall. Then after you were Stunned and sent to St. Mungo's it was like someone had lit a fire underneath her. She became more powerful, stronger, determined and she did so much extra work. She looked up spells for the DA, she researched everything she could about risks of Stunning Spells, she harassed teachers about your welfare, she helped us with our work, and she was like this God – we finally saw how she saw you.

Someone who knew everything, could do everything, and was determined to do more. When you were finally released, Hermione was so happy, I think it's safe to say, I've never seen her so happy before. I think that's why I find it hard to believe that she's so miserable now. You brought her to the peak of happiness and now she's in the trough of despair.

She's utterly miserable, and forlorn. It's like someone has taken the fire out of her, and replaced it with water. I think she'll defend and love you till her dying day, but I don't want her to be miserable for the rest of her life. I know you're miserable at the moment, and I know that you think you're doing what's right. But if you do something that everyone else thinks is right and you've come to believe that it is right also, and it makes two of the best people that I know miserable, then think about what you're doing.

Just because everyone else says it's right, doesn't mean it is? Love is the most powerful magic, and it's found within the heart. So think, do you really believe that what you are doing is right? Is it worth sacrificing your happiness as well as Hermione's to do something that you'll both regret? Is it worth being miserable just so people think you're morally upstanding?

I'm not trying to pressure you, Hermione wouldn't want that, but all I'm saying is think about what you're doing and talk to her. I hope everything turns out alright.

Thanks,

Harry.

Minerva reflected deeply on Harry's last words. He was right. Was it really worth sacrificing Hermione's and her own happiness just so that everyone would think she was morally upstanding? If they had a relationship, it wouldn't affect Hermione's Healer Training nor her Teaching career, so why shouldn't they? And finally the reason became clear to Minerva; she was scared. In all her Gryffindor courage and bravery, she was scared to begin a relationship with Hermione because if it failed, it had the potential to destroy her. She had never felt this strongly about anyone and she didn't know if she ever would. Minerva came to a decision, and with her head held high, she tidied up her clothing, held the roll of parchment and walked out the portrait hole.

(Another chapter will come soon. The next one should be the last.)