Minerva looked on as the sorting process took its course nobody had took an interest to the elder witch since Miss Granger as this thought entered her mind she let her gaze slip to the Gryffindor table, noticing a set of brown eyes connecting with hers. Nodding she let the younger witch know she was looking at her. Hermione smiled back and gave her a wave, a smile formed on the headmistresses face as she focused again at the sorting. Once the food had appeared Minerva's gaze kept coming across towards the young female sitting next to Ron she saw him kiss her cheek, making Minerva's appetite disappear. Moving her stare to the couple across the table she noticed the newly engaged Ginny and Harry the last time she had seen all four of them was at the engagement party, Molly insisted that Minerva came and even with all the excuses she ended up attending. It hadn't been the most fulfilling of nights and she spent most of it catching up with the Weasley's . The evening only improved when Miss Granger had appeared and conversations became more satisfying for the elder witch as she has someone who could challenge her on an intellectual level. This is perhaps why she enjoyed the conversations with her she was able to have a demanding conversation without having the need to dumb down her thoughts and feelings. Bringing her back to current day she started picking at her food.

Hermione looked up at the staff table, noticing her favourite professor did not look herself.

"Ginny, do you think Professor McGonagall is alright?" Harry and Ginny both looked up towards the table, noticing that the witch was picking at her food and looked deep in thought with quite a sad look upon her face.

"Well she doesn't look too well in all honesty." Ginny said whilst looking up at the table a concerned line forming across her face.

"I'm sure she's fine she probably just needs some sleep you know how she is Mione she never stops working."

"Yer, yer I suppose your right."

Ron who was too bust stuffing his face to notice then looked up from his food,

"What!"

"Oh never mind Ronald" Ron then shrugged and got back to his meal. Hermione sighed as she felt a hand graze up her leg. Wide eyed she looked towards Ron she felt a pang of guilt. Yes she had slept with Ron over the summer but that was because she needed to be close to someone. She had been missing something and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Ron was there when she felt vulnerable. To stop his hand from going any further up she grabbed it and squeezed it. She didn't want to explain to Ron that she only had slept with him because she didn't want to be alone. Yes she shouldn't of lead him on but did he really think that there was an actual future with her. There was nothing in common. The heated kiss from the previous year stood in thought but that didn't make her smile as much as when she had gave her transfiguration teacher a hug and she has received one back. Obviously it was just an innocent hug but this could mean that they could finally admit more than a student/teacher relationship it was that of friendship. With that in my mind everyone finally made their way to the dormitories.

Minerva slumped back her chair, she couldn't remember a more taxing feast and she couldn't get the scene from the great hall from her mind Ron placing those lips on her Hermione's face. No not hers. God why was this so hard she didn't have this much trouble pushing these feelings from her mind when she spent countless times together in the office. She didn't want to think about it she was just tired she hadn't slept since the war. Thinking a good book might help get her mind on track she began reading. She heard a shuffle of paper in the background and a cough.

"Albus, if you insist on eating those dam lemon drops will you eat them quietly."

"Sorry, how did the feast go?"

"How it normally goes, nothing out of the ordinary." Albus knew instantly that Minerva was in fact lying he could read her the best out of anyone well except Hermione who could read her just as well.

"And how was Miss Granger?"

"She seemed to be doing well I didn't really pay that much attention."

"Of course you did, you always do. After all she is your prised pupil. I hope Mr Weasley is treating her to the best if his ability." Albus knew this would spark a reaction. He saw the rolling of her eyes.

"Well I suggest not if it's too the best of his ability."

"Oh my dear do I sense a tone of jealousy."

"Don't be silly Albus." Giving up on the book Minerva retired to her private quarters and lay on the bed thinking of Miss Granger; burying her head in the pillow she hated feeling like she was helpless. Great she would have to see her in the first class of the day on Tuesday. With this in my mind she turned over and tried to get some sleep.