Minerva walked determinedly toward the court yard. There were decorations, and banners, people screaming with joy and laughing with mirth. As Minerva searched the court yard, looking for Hermione, she noticed that Harry, Ron and Ginny were crowded around and seemed to be whispering. She headed in their direction.

"Hello, Professor," Ginny said, as she noticed Minerva headed towards her.

"Good Afternoon, Miss Weasley," Minerva said, looking at the group for any sign of where Hermione was.

"Are you looking for Hermione?" Harry asked, with an innocent expression that Minerva suddenly found very amusing.

Minerva nodded, "Do you know where she is?"

All three nodded but did not elaborate.

"Where is she?"

"With all due respect, Professor, we don't know if we should tell you. She really doesn't need another discussion about how it is inappropriate. She really is heart-broken."

"I'm well aware of that Miss Weasley, which is why I need to find her."

"Does that mean our letters worked?" Ron asked, partially excited.

Minerva nodded, "I needed a prod in the right direction."

Ginny looked at her and smiled, "She's over by the fountain, Professor. But you might want to say who you are because she nearly fell in last time."

Minerva nodded and headed in that direction. The sight she sore tugged at her heart fiercely. Hermione sat on the edge of the fountain looking deeply into the water. She was throwing Galleons in, almost like it was a wishing well, and speaking under her breath. Minerva's heart stopped as she heard what Hermione was saying.

"I guess I know why, I mean, I'm not beautiful or honourable. I'm smart, but that's not much. She deserves better than me. Maybe's she's right, she deserves someone who can love her more, and give her everything that she deserves. I can live with that can't I? It's not as though I'll never see her again. I'll just learn to deal with that fact that it hurts, won't I? I wish I knew what to do. It's not like there is a cure for a broken heart. Maybe, if I" she paused, obviously thinking, "No, I can't do that to her. I'll just have to learn to live without her. It can't be that hard, can it?" she sniffled deeply, "Oh, yes it can. It's horrible," Minerva stared at the girl and wondered how she could have caused this wonderful woman so much pain. A tear rolled down her cheek and she listened more to what Hermione was muttering, "I wish they hadn't written that letter. I don't want her to feel pressured. I don't even know anymore, maybe it's better to just give up? No, Minerva would never do that. She's always stood by what she believes in, and I will too. But what if she only comes because of the letter and she thinks that I manipulated them into writing it for me? I don't want that. If the letter makes no difference, I guess that means that she really doesn't love me. If she comes, I'll say 'no', I don't want there to be guilt, and if she doesn't come, well at least I know she really doesn't love me."

More tears streamed down Hermione's face and she sniffled more.

"I should probably go and join in, they would want me to be happy, not miserable. I can pretend that she said 'yes' and then when we leave, I'll at least be falsely happy. Okay," Hermione whispered, wiping the tears from her face, "I am happy."

With those words, Hermione turned around and saw Professor McGonagall staring at her, with tears rolling down her face.

"Good Afternoon, Professor," Hermione said coldly.

"Good Afternoon, Hermione," Minerva said gently, trying not to show how much Hermione's cold tone hurt her.

"What do you want?" Hermione asked. She couldn't help but be rude; seeing Minerva so shortly after she'd broken her heart was torture.

"Hermione, we need to talk," Minerva said softly, not realising her choice in words until she saw Hermione's expression harden.

"Would you like to plunge the dagger in a little deeper, to make sure I got the message? I understand, okay, you don't love me and you never will. You don't need to tell me again, I understood the first time."

"No. Hermione, you don't understand. We do need to talk, but I'm not going to say what you think. Please, just listen."

Hermione, noting the pained expression on Minerva's face, nodded.

"Can we talk somewhere else? It's a little exposed here."

"No. We talk here or we don't talk at all. I'm not trying to make this hard, but at least this way, I have friends close by."

Minerva nodded, then cleared her throat nervously.

"I came here to tell you that I made a mistake. I should have realised that it doesn't matter what other people think, only what we think. I didn't realise how much I hurt you, until I realised how much I was hurting myself. I know I should have understood that you were heart-broken, but I was scared. I've known people to become ruined because their relationship can't stand the stigma that society brings upon them when they don't conform to their ideals. I didn't want that to happen, so I thought that if I told you that I didn't love you, then you would be free to love someone your own age. I didn't really think about it until I was forced to. I'm sorry, Hermione, and I know that doesn't cover or make up for much, but I really am."

"What made you give it thought? The fact that you were sad, the fact that you heard I was miserable or the fact that Ginny, Harry and Ron sent you a letter telling you that you're being stupid."

"All of them. After you left, with tears streaming down your face, I don't think I've ever been so disgusted with myself; not even when I realised that I was in love with you. You can ask Godric, if you don't believe me, but I burst into tears and sobbed. I've never felt so sad, and I knew if you were feeling what I was, we were both destined to be miserable for the remainder of our lives."

She paused, giving Hermione time to accept what she just said before continuing.

"When Mr. Potter, Miss. Weasley and Mr. Weasley sent me that letter, they made it very clear that you had nothing to do with it, and you were very against the idea. Mr. Weasley wrote that you'd rather be miserable your whole life, than think that you manipulated or forced me to do anything. I think that, among other things, really showed me how much you love me."

"I'm not saying that I don't forgive you, I do. But you think you can just say you're sorry and all will be forgotten after you've just broken my heart. It can't work that way. I don't want to be in a relationship with someone whose been manipulated to get there."

"Hermione, listen to me. I'm not being manipulated. I'm here because I honestly want to be here, and I'm here because I'm in love with you. What the letter that Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter and Miss. Weasley wrote stated, was nothing that I didn't already know. It just reminded me of some things that I had forgotten," Minerva paused, then spoke, knowing this was the final thing she would say, "I'm not going to beg you, however, I can honestly say that I will love you till I die, and I am here of my own accord, asking you to accept me."

Without waiting for a response Minerva strode away, trying to maintain the tears that were beginning to fall when she didn't hear the young woman come after her.

(I know I said that this chapter would be the last, but I didn't realise how difficult it would be to get what I wanted to say out. So I think I can say, that the next chapter will be the last.)