Disclaimer: As with previous chapters, and it is still with the greatest of regrets, i do not own any of the characters in this fic they blong to the creative mind that is JK Rowlings, without her we wouldn't have these wonderful characters :D.

however the story is mine :P.

Authors note: ok i'm sorry i haven't updated this in what sems like forever :( but well due to many things that have happened in my life recently i seem to have lost track on all my fics, i will however be updating them slowly and finishing a few off, starting with this one. My writers block seems to have temporarily faded and allowed me to come up with a new chapter for this one, it wasn't what i expected but well hopefully it fits.

As alwasy this is a MMHG fic if you don't like that sorta thing then as always hit the button that will take you back to the previous page. and please do review if you have time, they make me wanna continue writing.

Minervarulez xx

Chapter 10 - Minerva's Nightmare.....

That evening as Minerva sat at the desk in her chambers thinking and working on her class schedule for the coming term, she couldn't help but replay the words of Molly Weasley over and over in her head - "I think our young miss granger has developed a crush on one of her professors?" , "And I think you may have similar feelings for her? Have you not?" - could it be possible that Hermione had developed a 'crush' as Molly had put it? and on her of all people? And did she really think that she 'Minerva McGonagall' could even return these 'feelings'. This set Minerva's mind reeling, sure the girl was attractive 'young woman' she corrected herself in her thoughts - but she was also a student, and a female student at that. She shook her head, scolding herself inwardly for even thinking of her as attractive. Hermione was her student and she needed her help as a friend, she didn't need these thoughts clouding her judgment not now.

She needed to get her concentration back, she had work to do, and she needed to convince Hermione to open upto her friends, they missed her, that much was obvious and the wanted to understand why their best friend was troubled. Maybe she could talk to young miss weasley - she thought to herself, there was no harm in suggesting it to her at least.

Minerva let her mind wander for a while, trying to come up with possible solutions before she had eventually decided to let her tiredness take over, she made her way from her desk to bed and for the first time in what seemed like years she had 'that' dream....

XXXXXXXXXX

Hermione was having trouble sleeping, yes she was tired but like so many nights before she was too frightened to even try sleeping. The events of earlier that day playing heavy on her mind only added to her reluctance to sleep. Her father drunk and loud, how scared she was, how she felt when he'd hit her Professor - not just any professor though it was McGonagall, Minerva.... her favorite teacher a woman she looked upto and admired the most, her trip to the police station. All this kept replaying in her mind, she couldn't help but feel responsible Minerva had gotten hurt because of her well thats how she saw it anyway despite being told by Minerva herself not to blame herself she still did all the same, she still felt guilty.

As Hermione laid her head down on her pillow for what seemed like the hundredth time that night she heard it.... it was a sound she didn't really know how to describe, or maybe she didn't want to but to her it sounded as though someone was crying out in pain, not too loudly though, but she still heard it. Slowly pulling herself out of bed she slipped her dressing gown on and made her was out into the corridor to 'investigate' and her wanderings found led her to where she least expected them too..... she was standing outside Minerva's room. No-one else has gotten up they must think its me? she thought to herself sadly.

She hesitated slightly placing her hand on the door handle, she slowly opened the door and slipped inside. She couldn't really see but she heard her moving around, restless and muffled sobs coming from Minerva's direction. Hermione didn't know what to do, should she try and wake her or just let her be. Deciding on the first she took a deep breath and slowly made her way over to Minerva's side,

"Professor?.." she said quietly "Professor...."

Her quiet calls went unanswered, she started to get a little nervous

"Minerva..." she said this time a little louder, she placed her hand on her professors arm, shaking it a little trying to rouse her "Minerva please wake up"

Hermione jumped back when Minerva sat upright in bed, now very awake she looked at Hermione in shock

"Miss Granger...Hermione........what are you?"

"I.......i .......couldn't sleep, i heard you.....you were crying out"

"It was only a dream" Minerva said trying to compose herself "I do have the occasional um.... bad dream as you would call it"

"I was worried, you seemed so.....so distressed" Hermione said, turning away a little

"I'm fine thank you Hermione, you need not worry yourself with me" she gave her a wary smile "Now its late, you should get off to bed"

Hermione stood and regarded her Professor for a moment, she was visibly upset, shaken even "Goodnight" she said quietly as she slowly left her side and made her way to the door.

XXXXXXXXXX

Minerva waited until she could no longer hear the young womans footsteps in the corridor before she let her tears fall, it had been years since she had that dream, dreams of her capture and subsequent torture at the hands of Grindlwauld and his followers. It was something that had taken years for her to get over. Now it seemed with Hermione's recent ordeal and in trying to help her come to terms with it, it had once again brought back painful memories she'd once tried to forget. What happened earlier that day no doubt helped these memories resurface but maybe she could use them to her advantage, it might help her to get Hermione to realise that there is 'something' after and that she's not a victim?

She laid her head back down and closed her eyes, falling asleep again after what seemed like hours......tomorrow she'd have a talk with Hermione.

Well thats that. hope you liked it, i have outlines for several other chapters, i'm just going with the flow on this one and letting my experiences aid the writing.

And well if you have any ideas or suggestions i'll be only too happy to listen and take into account, just post them on the forum (link on my profile page).

Well thats all from me just now

sorry this took forever

write again soon

Minervarulez xx