The following couple of weeks were rather hectic for Hermione. Minerva was acting more possessive than usual, which she knew had a lot to do with Narcissa being rather clingy of her. Narcissa was having trouble sleeping and a couple times a week would ask Hermione to sit with her until she fell asleep, which once Gabrielle caught wind of that couldn't help glaring at Hermione any time she saw her.
To top it off Hermione was being unknowingly tested for her Mastery by Ministry Officials that Minerva claimed were there to observe so they could go to the Board of Governors for the next school year and potentially adjust the Transfiguration curriculum. They would ask a student to do something way above there level and when they failed the officials would have Hermione demonstrate it.
Unbeknownst to either Professor or Headmistress the Golden Girl had been tested above second level Mastery. They had been busy spending all their free time working out wedding plans, neither wanted something big and in fact would be happy to have something small with friends and family during the summer after the one coming. They had decided to wait and focus on Hermione's training as well as Narcissa.
"Why does Gabrielle dislike you so much all the sudden?" Narcissa walked into the Hermione's quarters. She and Minerva were taking a break from tidying as the brunette was moving in with Minerva in the Headmistress' quarters.
"Because you like me." Hermione mumbled from where she was laying on the sofa with her head in Minerva's lap. Minerva was stroking her hair.
"I don't know if I get it." Narcissa pointed out confused.
"It would seem that Ms Delacour has something of a crush." Minerva supplies idly.
"What?! That's preposterous. She's practically a baby." Narcissa sounded outraged and Hermione chuckled.
"Cissy, she's a year ahead of her grade and coming into all those rampant teenage hormones. Add in the creature blood and i'd say that baby has a pretty serious thing for the pretty single lady." Hermione chimed with her eyes closed.
"Shove off, Mi. There is no way. She is too young to think about stuff like that." Narcissa was adamant at that point.
"So. You don't like the lass then?" Minerva inquired mildly, looking up Hermione could see the mirth swimming in emerald eyes.
"I mean I like her but not like that." Narcissa backtracked a little.
"What about in a few years when she is grown." Hermione points out.
"Just look at what her sister has become." Minerva agreed readily and Hermione had to stifle a smirk.
"So what? You two would ship GabCissa or something?" Narcissa snapped annoyed.
"What does that mean?" Minerva asked suddenly quite confused.
"Better yet, how do you even know what that is?" Hermione frowned at the woman who shrugged.
"I've been housed with Fleur the last few weeks. She's educated me." Narcissa explains.
"How does Fleur know?" Hermione frowned even deeper.
"She said she visited the muggle libraries a lot. She said she sat in on a lot of readings." Narcissa shrugged and Minerva still looked confused.
"What's ship?" Minerva inquired.
"It's a muggle thing. Typically people will write fiction based of different things, TV shows, games, books, movies. Shipping is like to ship a couple, writing a story based around a certain couple. Frequently people come up with 'shipping names' for popular couples." Hermione explains as best she can.
"Oh... well that's interesting. I think Narcielle rolls off the tongue a little better." Minerva appeared to clue in quickly and Hermione chuckled.
"Incorrigible. Are you really implying that I should what... encourage Gabrielle's crush?" Narcissa huffed.
"No Cissa. All we are saying is that she isn't going to be so young for ever. You could talk to her about me though, tell her this is nothing going on with you and me." Hermione said reasonably and Narcissa nods.
"She has been fairly rough on you. Fleur kicked her out for bad mouthing you last night." Narcissa sat up and rubbed the back of her neck.
"She is extremely jealous. It's quite cute. She is a lot calmer in my classes too. Usually because she is too busy glaring at me. I kind of miss the boisterous Ms Delacour though." Hermione pouted slightly.
"I'll talk to her. She has convinced me to help her with her Arithmancy homework this evening." Narcissa flopped back on the chair with a huff.
"Let's just keep it at helping with homework yeah?" Minerva spoke pointedly though her eyes were teasing. She managed to dodge the cushion flying at her head.
"Prat." Narcissa grumbled glaring at the Headmistress.
"Come, you can help us take this stuff across to Min's quarters." Hermione spoke up getting to her feet.
Hermione was sitting in the Great Hall at breakfast time a week and a half after their conversation with Narcissa. Minerva had only just shown up after dawdling in the bath, she had shooed Hermione off when the brunette wouldn't quit teasing her yet refused to give the woman what she wanted. Minerva was talking to Filius and Rolanda and Fleur were discussing brooms when the mail arrived.
Hermione didn't get much mail very often so when she received an owl from the Ministry she was a little surprised. When she broke the wax seal at the back the envelope flipped open on its own and with a small pop multi colored confetti burst out of it. Startled she sat back and watched as the confetti first became butterflies before becoming small birds. The birds grouped up and became life sized owls before the owls merged and became a small dragon. The dragon landed on the table in front of Hermione and impressively breathed fire. The fire set the paper dragon on fire and as it burned down what was left, instead of ash, was a letter.
Dear Professor Granger,
I, Lynnley Silkwood, from the Mastery Test Division for the Ministry of Magic wish to congratulate you on your success in your specified Mastery. Thanks to the tutelage of Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration Mistress of the highest level, along with your keen intellect and dedication to the are of Transfiguration we are proud to issue you with a third level Transfiguration Mastery.
Though typically a Witch or Wizard seeking their Mastery in their chosen field is tested one level at a time we at the Ministry have decided, due to your educational accomplishments and coupled with your heroic feats and deeds throughout the years you've been part of the magical world we kept an open mind in regard to your testing.
We do not mind informing you that we only tested you up to third level though frankly my opinion and the opinion of Walsh Killion, my colleague who was present with myself for your decidedly covert testing think that you would have easily passed fourth level testing. How ever we will leave it with your Mistress to decide when you shall be test for you fourth and fifth levels. We expect to be informed of your desire to take the final two exams in the near future.
Your title stands as thus; Professor Hermione Granger, 3rd Level Transfiguration Mistress.
Congratulations.
Sincerely,
Lynnley Silkwood.
P.S Have some cake.
Moments after she had read the letter she let go of the parchment as a small chocolate cupcake with gold icing and a scarlet 3 on it appeared. Hermione was surprised and ecstatic and very impressed with the display of transfiguration involved in the deliverance of her test result. It was while the cake was sitting in front of her that she realised she had been tricked and turned to glare at her lover.
"Look at this way... It's just another excuse to have sex." Minerva stated before Hermione could chastise her. Filius and Rolanda both choked on their breakfast but her words had the desired effect as Hermione's glare became a grin. Her first heat cycle was starting.
"Minerva McGonagall has corrupted Hermione Granger." Poppy stated in a bewildered tone.
"Not corrupted. Enlightened." Hermione corrected with a grin.
"What was ze letter about?" Fleur inquired curiously when the others were done chuckling.
"Ah, you're looking at a third level Transfiguration Mistress." Hermione informed proudly to a round of congratulations.