As this story is going to run alongside canon I have some questions to answer:

The romance between Ron and Hermione will be foregone

The ages gap is not really an issue for me with this story as it will be rectified by the time I'm done :D and it's an important part of their relationship also can we remember that Minerva and Hermione have been a lot longer that canon tells us.

Also, How lucky are you another update! I'm just having so much fun! MM

Chapter 5

When Albus' phoenix patronus appeared before her ion the Entrance Hall, Minerva knew something was wrong. Not only had Hermione Mr Potter and Mr Weasley come to her that very day and told her that they had somehow discovered that the Philosopher's stone had been placed at Hogwarts but Albus had received an urgent message from the ministry.

The patronus opened its mouth and spoke.

They went after the stone. She is in the Hospital Wing.

Then the bird disappeared leaving Minerva standing alone and terrified in the Entrance Hall. She knew what it had meant without a second thought. Hermione and the two boys had gone underneath the Trap Door and attempted to take on the teacher's enchantments. She thought of the Devil Snare, designed to crush the life out of you, the potions, some containing the Draft of Living Death: she saw Hermione on her knees, forced to relive her darkest hours and finally, she thought of her Deadly Chessboard, designed with the intellect of Minerva herself, if Hermione was tortured at the hands of her magic.

Then her feet were moving, carrying her through corridors and round corners, as if they knew where she needed to be. Before she knew it, she was at the doors of the Hospital Wing. She took a deep breath to steel herself fir the horrors she was sure to witness within and pushed the door open.

Poppy was bending over the person in the bed closest to the door but was blocking the person lying in the bed, Minerva's heart hammered against her ribs as she edges around the matron and couldn't help but give a sigh of relief upon seeing Ron Weasley in the bed.

"How are they Poppy?" Minerva asked, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

Poppy answered without turning.

"This one's fine, just running some finial tests but Miss Granger responded rather peculiarly to a rejuvenating potion".

Minerva's heart stopped abruptly and she tried to maintain the cavalier tone as she replied.

"Peculiarly?"

"Mmmm" said Poppy while still running her wand across the boy's chest, "Had some sort of… attack" finished the matron distractedly.

Attack? Attack? What did that mean?

"Is Herm- the girl awake?"

"I had to give her a Dreamless Sleep draft, she was screaming things" Poppy finally turned around, putting her wand within her robe.

All attempts at a relaxed tone were forgotten as Minerva asked,

"What sort of things, Poppy?"

The matron seemed to stiffen and her eyes flickered over to a bed at the far end of the Wing with a curtain drawn all the way around it.

"I… uh… think you should talk to Dumbledore" she tried to turn towards her office but Minerva stepped in front of her.

A part of Minerva's brain screamed What are you doing? While another shouted I don't care anymore!

Poppy noticeably flinched and Minerva felt a flicker of guilt before it was quashed by her worry for Hermione.

"Poppy. What. Sort. Of. Things?"

"Minerva, I don't think it's my place to say-"

"Now Poppy!"

"She was just… saying unrelated… random things. They didn't make sense Minerva… she was delirious… shock no doubt"

"Well then just tell me."

Poppy opened and closed her mouth several times before replying.

"Well, I mean I could be mistaken but, she was shouting your name-"

"Professor McGonagall?"

"We both know what I mean, what's happening Minerva, this sort of thing could be very damaging to your reputation, not to mention what it would do to the school"

Minerva almost laughed.

"Oh, Poppy do not be so silly, what else did she say?"

"She, well she was shouting for you to… for you to…" Poppy whispered the last two words "save her".

Minerva felt the tears coming and turned away before they fell. She turned her eyes to the bed at the far end of the Wing with the curtain round it. She murmured the words, "thank you Poppy" as she walked towards the bed.

She reached the bed and lifted a trembling hand to the curtain, upon moving it, she found Hermione lying, seemingly peacefully asleep in the bed. Her eyes filled again as she gazed upon the small cut on a lower lip and the gash across a smooth left cheek. She approached the bed and sat in the vacant seat next to it.

She grasped a small, bandaged hand in her own and cried.

X x X x X

Minerva didn't know how much time had passed when a voice stirred her but she recognised the voice of Albus.

"Minerva. You need to leave."

Instantly alert at the panic in his voice, Minerva sat bolt upright.

Albus was standing at the foot of the bed and his eyes were fixed upon the hands that were clasped tight around Hermione's.

"I.. I need to-"

"To leave, yes. Now."

"I… I don't want to."

"Harry Potter is in the bed opposite after just having encountered the wizard who murdered his parents."

"Voldemort? Here?" Minerva whispered.

"Yes." His voice still had a stern edge, "Miss Granger will be awake in a short amount of time and it would not be wise for you to remain in such a compromising position."

"Poppy, I… she…"

"I have spoken with her, she knows."

Minerva instantly stiffened.

"She was ready to go to the governors."

There was a finality that Minerva knew meant that arguing would do no good.

"I'll not ask you again"

"I-"

A shuddering breath turned her head. Hermione was awake.

Recovering quickly, Minerva painted her Professor McGonagall face on.

"Ah, Miss Granger" said Albus, seemingly bright.

Minerva could do nothing but gaze beneath her mask.

"Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall" Hermione's eyes lingered upon Minerva who quickly averted her gaze. Hermione was wearing that confused look as though unable to find an answer.

"You had quite an ordeal, but rest assured, all is well for the time being" Albus said with a smile. However, Hermione's eyes remained fixed upon Minerva who was now gazing at the ground.

"Miss Granger?" Asked Albus, obviously concerned at the way in which the girl looked at Minerva.

"Forgive me professors; I just… had the most… strange dream"

Minerva's head shot up, her eyes meeting the chocolate brown ones she knew so well. She couldn't help it, she opened her mouth.

"Hermione, I… need to-"

"Ah, well that'll be the after-effects of the first potion administered to you by Madame Pomfrey, I'm afraid the Dreamless Draft was unable to reverse the ill effects of it." Dumbledore quickly said, "Now, I'm afraid you'll have to excuse Professor McGonagall and myself as, your midnight exploits have had quite an effect on the school gossip." Adding a smile, Minerva allowed herself to be ushered out of the room.

In the bed opposite, Harry Potter lay, unconscious.

Once outside , Dumbledore turned to face Minerva and the fire that Minerva had only seen once before, burned within his eyes.

"I'll not tell you again. You know the damage you could do. Tell her too soon and she will not be the woman that you know and love. She will be something damaged and dark. You know this and still you cannot control yourself." Minerva's eyes burned with the effort of holding back tears.

"Albus, I can't-"

"Well you must. This isn't about you Minerva. You have taken all control away from her. That comes with responsibility. A responsibility you have flouted. You are endangering her life and yours with each slip."

The anger faded from his face to be replaced with extreme pain.

"She has a part to play in this form Minerva, I feel it."

Then he turned and was gone.

Minerva's heart burned with longing. She had come so close, so close to uttering the words of truth. She changed into her animagus and fled to her quarters.

It was almost drunkenly that she stumbled to her pensieve to hurriedly access a memory and place it into the pool which swirled and formed images.

It was a library in which the pair sat, neither older than thirty but with the mannerisms of people of greater age, greater wisdom.

Each held a book but neither was reading, both were merely staring at the pages while all of their attention was directed at the person sitting next to them. Hands clasped in between them, occasionally their eyes would meet.

Of course Minerva only knew this because she had been there, had lived this memory when it was not a memory, but a reality. Now it seemed like only a distant idea, never to see fruition again.

Both had given up the pretence of reading and Minerva had lifted her hand to Hermione's cheek, Hermione in turn had closed her eyes and leaned into the well-known touch.

Minerva's finger tips left the ghost of a touch across Hermione's parted lips.

"Even when you're right next to me you occupy each and every part of my brain", Hermione smiled, "All I can think about is the taste of your skin beneath my lips, the way your tongue moves against mine" Hermione's breath was ragged, Minerva had moved her face close to Hermione's so she could feel the warm gushes against her skin. She closed her own eyes as she said the words, "and the way that your breath feels against my face, as you moan my name".

Hermione let out a very audible moan, torn from the bottom of her heart. She surged forward in blind search of lips she knew so well and sighed as she felt them meet her own. It was a heated, frenzied kiss, open and wet. Minerva sighed as Hermione pulled away.

"No matter how many times I kiss you, it never stops being wonderful. Will there ever be a time when I don't know the sensation of your lips against my own?" Hermione asked with a beautiful smile on her face.

Watching the memory Minerva said the words with her past counterpart.

"No my love" Minerva's eyes ravished Hermione's features, "There will never come a time when I am not yours and you are not mine." Together they said them and they were and are true, "we are one."

Minerva lifted her head and instead of pain, she felt strong. Strength taken from the love that was shared between her and Hermione.

A/N: Once again thank you so much for the reviews that keep me going! The journeys through canon will be stop off points but they WILL be necessary! Stick with me people!