"It was his favorite season," Minerva whispered. They had been sitting in silence for a long time; Minerva on the sofa and Hermione on the floor. The elder woman was glad that Hermione didn't try to make her talk. It seemed Hermione was willing to allow her to set the pace, and Minerva was truly grateful for that.

"Really? I am not surprised. In fact, I can imagine him behaving like a little boy while giving you silly presents."

The memories of all the foolish things he ever got her for Christmas brought a happy smile to her face. "Oh yes, I'll never forget the singing hairpins. I didn't notice and wore them in class until they intoned 'Santa Claus is coming to town'! Needless to say he slept on the couch for over a week."

"Did he regret his choice of present?" Hermione asked, already knowing the answer.

"He said it was worth it." Minerva huffed, making Hermione laugh. "That is one of the things I miss so dearly," she said, a sad smile upon her lips. Looking into young questioning eyes, Minerva sighed. "He was full of nonsense. The whole Wizarding world looked up to him, but to me, he was the man who made me laugh."

Hermione silently rubbed her companion's blanket clad leg. She tried to think of an occasion where she had heard a hearty laugh from Minerva, but she couldn't think of one. Of course she had seen her laugh, but never really from the bottom of her heart. Albus Dumbledore must have truly been blessed to see the stern woman so careless.

"Do you know what is the worst?" She looked at Hermione, but didn't wait for an answer the young woman couldn't give. "The emptiness. Sometimes I don't even think that I feel pain. I just feel nothing. Nothing but emptiness." A silent tear escaped green eyes, rolling down the slightly sunken cheek, then stubbornly lingering upon the defined chin before dripping on the blanket.

Hermione remained silent and, not for the first time, tried to think of words she'd like to hear if she'd be in a similar situation and always came back to the same conclusion: she wouldn't want to hear anything, least of all the surely well meant attempts to comfort. What is it one can say in a situation like that? 'Everything will be alright'? 'He wouldn't want you to grieve so much'? Of course there was a truth in both often used statements, but no comfort.

Slowly Hermione unfolded her legs and stood up. "Hey darling, lift your legs for a moment," she said softly and set her cup on the small table.

"Hermione slowly unfolded her legs and stood. Seeing that Minerva was already moving to sit in order to make room for her on the sofa, Hermione gently stopped the elder witch's motions by taking hold of her still blanketed legs. Sitting down upon the sofa, she then pulled Minerva's legs in her lap so that she could remain lying down.

Minerva shifted uncomfortably, obviously not being used to that level of intimacy with anyone, but Hermione slowly started to massage Minerva's legs with her left hand and reached over to take Minerva's slightly shaking hand with her right. She stroked the long, boney fingers with her thumb without looking at her old professor, giving her the chance to grow accustomed to the feeling of having someone so close. Hermione had closed her eyes and used the temporary, voluntary loss of her most developed sense to train her other senses. It took a little while, but soon Hermione could hear the wind in the trees outside and the a-rhythmic clacking of a window shutter on the first floor. For the first time she noticed the ticking of a clock somewhere in the living room and the cracking of the fire. When she listened very carefully she could even hear Minerva's breathing. She must have a slight cold, Hermione mused. A small smile formed on her lips when she smelled the faint hint of lavender and ginger. Even completely blind it would have been a comforting smell to Hermione accompanied with a feeling of safety.

"What are you smiling at?" Minerva asked and gave Hermione's hand a gentle squeeze.

The young woman opened her eyes, finding her friend looking more composed and a little curious. Sometimes it was quite obvious why Minerva's Animagus form was a cat.

"I just found out that you smell so familiar that I would be able to pick you out of a crowd of people even I were blind." She returned the gentle squeeze and smiled softly at her friend.

"Oh dear, I hope I don't have to worry about my hygiene."

Hermione laughed and shook her head. "On the contrary. The unique Minerva smell is an unobtrusive mixture of ginger and lavender; pleasant and comfortingly familiar."

Minerva raised a questioning eyebrow, and Hermione decided to elaborate. "Do you know moments when a certain smell reminds you, often quite unexpected, of something or someone? Lavender and ginger always remind me of you and the few peaceful nights we spent discussing a theory over a cup of tea."

Now it was Minerva's turn to smile. It was so endearing that Hermione had thought of her every now and then. She still couldn't believe how lucky she was to have her favourite child, well – young woman, by her side now. "I do remember those nights. I wish there would have been more, but sadly the times were busy with little time for pleasure. You've been a joy to teach, Hermione." She brought her other hand to cover the younger one still holding hers.

"I'm quite sure that is not what awful, pink toad thought," Hermione said, an amused smile on her lips.

"I dare say not," Minerva agreed, equally amused, " I still can't believe that you've brought her into the Forbidden Forest. I am glad Albus didn't tell me when I woke up, otherwise I'm sure I'd have gotten a heart attack."

"That's what one gets for hurting the Head of Gryffindor House." Hermione rubbed her eyes as if to get rid of the pictures her mind recalled. "I always thought I wouldn't be able to cast an Unforgivable, but when I saw you lying there, fighting for your life, I knew that I could. If you would have died through her hands, I swear I would have skinned her alive." It had been a most disturbing realization back then, but nevertheless true.

Once again Minerva reached out to take Hermione's hand and held it tightly between her own. "The nightmare in pink has been very lucky that I refused to die from the hands of a third class witch then." She carefully pushed the sleeves of Hermione's purple v-neck jumper up and traced a finger over the fading word that had been carved into the young, innocent skin: Mudblood. "Bellatrix was very lucky Molly was quicker than I was," Minerva said and looked into brown eyes. "Do you still suffer from the nightmares?"

Hermione looked caught. "How do you…"

"I've fought in three wars, my dear. I am familiar with the human way to deal with traumatic experiences," Minerva interrupted, bringing Hermione's hand to her lap and holding it there. "I take that as a yes."

Hermione carefully nodded. She was surprised that Minerva would ask her a question not even her closest friends had voiced. "I don't wake up every night anymore, so that could be seen as progress, I guess."

"I am here and willing to listen if you want to talk about it," Minerva offered and seeing the look on her young friend's face, she added, "I know, darling, but as impossible as it may seem to you now, it helps. You can trust me on this."

"I do trust you. It is just… I don't…"

"All I ask of you is to consider coming to me when you wake up at night and tell me. Do not wait until morning. Just come to my room and wake me up." Minerva used her 'no-nonsense' voice, the one that so many generations of pupils feared. She hoped dearly that Hermione would still be impressed by it.

Hermione smirked. "When has this become about comforting me?"

"I am not very familiar with the concept of friendship, but I think I've read somewhere that friends should look after each other." A cheeky grin, something every Hogwarts pupil was sure the woman wasn't able to, graced the older woman's features. "I'm sure there is a rule somewhere about it."

Hermione's hearty laugh filled the room. "You are correct. I knew you'd get the hang of this very quickly. Rule number two: Always take care of each other." In a more serious tone she added, "Thank you. I'll do my best to follow your advice."

Thank you Bola for all your efforts.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review!