A/N: Sorry if Dumbledore is out of character, like I said at the beginning of the story, it's my first Harry Potter so I'm not used to writing the characters :(

Chapter 5

Hermione watched as Dumbledore sit behind his and placed his half-moon glasses down.

"Am I in trouble?" she asked standing nervously before the headmaster.

"Not at all Miss Granger" Dumbledore smiled.

"Then why did you ask me into your office?" Hermione questioned puzzled.

"I have noticed that you have become attached to a certain Professor" Dumbledore said leaning forward. Hermione's heart began to pound against her chest.

"I…I…" Hermione choked. "So what are you going to do?" she asked quietly. "Expel me? Give me detention?" she suggested.

"Good heavens child. Why would I punish you for something you cannot control" Dumbledore frowned.

"Huh?" Hermione muttered confused.

"Miss Granger, lease relax. I am not mad for simple affairs of the heart. I just want to know what you are planning to do" Dumbledore said. There was several minutes silence before Hermione spoke.

"I want to be with her" she whispered looking away from the headmaster. "I want to be around her all the time. If I don't see her once a day, I go crazy. I can probably wait until the end of school to tell people about us but you can't stop me from being with her" Hermione explained.

"And I won't Miss Granger" Dumbledore smiled.

"Excuse me?" she frowned suddenly looking at him.

"If you love Minerva and want to be with her. Then nothing I or anyone else say can change your mind

He explained.

"I love her sir" Hermione replied looking at him anxiously.

"And has she declared her love for you?" Dumbledore queried.

"She has" Hermione nodded.

"Hmmm" he sighed leaning back against the chair.

"What is it sir?" Hermione asked.

"Just be careful. If this was to become common knowledge, well let's hope it doesn't come to that" He said remembering back when they kissed in public and the scandals it caused.

"Albus!" Minerva cried bursting through the door. Her chest rose and fell quickly from running. Looking flustered Minerva moved forward and stood behind Hermione. "You can't punish her. Hermione has done nothing wrong" Minerva frowned.

"Minerva…"

"You simply can't expel her!" Minerva cried cutting Dumbledore off.

"Minerva" Hermione growled spinning around. "I'm not in trouble" she smiled.

"You're not!" Minerva frowned confused.

"No, I was just telling Miss Granger that I won't stop you from seeing each other but you need to be more discreet about it" Dumbledore said watching Minerva sigh with relief.

"Why are you raising this if you have no issue with us?" Minerva queried. "Did Severus tell you?" she asked quietly giving Dumbledore no chance to reply.

"Minerva" Dumbledore barked rising to his feet. "Why does it matter who brought this to my attention!" he frowned.

"If this is to be a secret then whoever told you, well we'll have to be extra careful around them so they don't suspect anything else" Minerva mumbled. Dumbledore nodded his head and glanced at the time.

"My my, look at the time" he mumbled "Let us all go down to the Great Hall for dinner" he announced rising to his feet. Hermione and Minerva followed Dumbledore out of his office and down the corridor.

"Professor…" Hermione called noting students nearby. "What Dumbledore said back in his office does make sense" she said looking over at Minerva.

"It does but I'm not sure if I'll be able to abide by those rules" Minerva sighed avoiding looking at Hermione. She grabbed Minerva's wrist and dragged her to the bench nearby.

"Of course you can" she smiled.

"No I can't" Minerva sobbed covering her face.

"Hey" Hermione frowned pulling her hands away from her face. "Why can't you?" she asked quietly taking her hands into her own.

"This…" Minerva paused. "Seeing you nearly every day in class. Watching you talk with your friends at meals and that sweet smile of yours" she paused once again "I don't know if I would have the control to resist you" Minerva continued quietly. Hermione smiled faintly and stroked her cheek.

"If it all becomes to unbearable. I would drop out of school to be with you" she suggested.

"You are a bright student. I will not let you throw away your future just for me" she sobbed hiding her face.

"I love you more than silly studying" Hermione stated lifting her head. Minutes passed when nether of them spoke. "Come on" Hermione paused to get to her feet. "We better go to the Great Hall or Dumbledore would've thought we'd run off" she chuckled.

"Coming Hermione" Minerva questioned seeing her stop at the entrance.

"Later Professor, I want to put my books away first" she smiled faintly and headed for the common room.

Looking up Minerva saw Hermione enter the Great Hall twenty minutes later. She watched as Hermione walk down towards the Gryffindor table. Swinging her legs over the bench, she sat down next to Harry.

"Relax Minerva" Albus said next to her. She tried to take several deep breaths but it didn't help. Minerva's heart pounded against her chest. She summoned all the control she had to sit in her chair rather than racing the aisle to be with her love. Gripping onto her cutlery Minerva shut her eyes tight and tried to think of something to distract her. Of course it didn't work; all Minerva could think of was Hermione. Opening her eyes Minerva saw Hermione staring at her concerned. Her heart felt like it would jump right out of her at how fast it was racing.

"I'm sorry Albus, but I can't do this" she said pushing back her chair, she quickly left the Great Hall and headed for her chambers.

"Minerva?" a voice called behind her. Stopping, Minerva turned around to meet brown eyes belonging to Hermione.

"You should go back and finish your dinner" she said avoiding looking at her.

"No, not until you tell me what is going on" Hermione said placing a hand on her arm sending tingles all over Minerva's body.

"Please don't" Minerva growled.

"Are you unwell?" Hermione asked reaching up to feel her forehead. Hermione frowned further feeling her skin heated as if she had a fever. Minerva shooed her hand away. "Minerva" Hermione growled frowning. "Please tell me what is wrong" she begged. When Minerva finally got her heart to normal, she took a breath and moved over to the wall for support.

"I can't…" she squeaked. Clearing her throat she tried again. "I can't pretend to feel nothing when my heart, body and soul yearns for you" Minerva shipered. Hermione stared at Minerva's green eyes for a monet then grabbed her hand and dragged her down the corridor.

"No one is going to know if we are tucked away in your chambers" Hermione said seeing Minerva's bedroom door just ahead.

"No. We can't! What if someone caught you leaving my quarters?" she questioned.

"Fine" Hermione grumbled. "We'll just have to find somewhere else" she shrugged still holding onto Minerva's hand and led her outside into the night. Walking down the front steps, they crossed the grounds. Hermione was grinning from ear to ear knowing of the perfect place. Minerva snatched her hand back after passing Hagrid's hut and stopped. "What now?" Hermione sighed spinning around.

"You heard what Albus said, we can't" she frowned.

"Yes I heard him, I was there" she snapped. "But who would really know if it wasn't in the castle!" Hermione said raising an eyebrow.

"What?" Minerva frowned even more confused.

"The Shrieking Shack" she answered softly.

"No way! You can't be there, it's off school grounds" Minerva cried crossly.

"Fine" Hermione shrugged turning around and headed back to the castle.

"Wh-where are you going?" Minerva hissed chasing after her.

"Well you so bluntly refused so I'm going back to study" she explained pausing in her step. Up ahead Minerva saw a figure at the castle doors holding up a lantern into the darkness. 'Filch!' she gasped. Suddenly taking Hermione by the hand she dragged her down to the Whomping Willow.

x-x-x

Minerva and Hermione stood at a safe distance from the Whomping Willow which was violently swinging its large branches. Looking over at Hermione she was not impressed with the sight before her. Her face went ghostly white as one of the branches crashed to the ground causing the earth to shake where they stood.

"What now? How are we supposed to pass the flying branches of death!" she shrieked.

"Honestly" Hermione sighed shaking her head. Finding a decent size branch, she pressed the knot and the tree froze. "I thought all the teachers know?" she frowned taking the first step.

"How did you know to do that?" Minerva asked Hermione down into the tunnel.

"Ah…" she stumbled wondering if she should tell Minerva about last year. Discovering the truth about Sirius Black and helping to set him free. 'She is the love of my life but still Head of Gryffindor and Harry would never forgive me if I did tell her' she argued deciding to keep that a secret and lie. "I read it in a book" she said hoping Minerva wouldn't notice her pause. Minerva simply nodded and said nothing more on the subject. Hermione stopped walking and turned around to stare at Minerva.

"Yes?" she said noticing Hermione gaze.

"I only have three more years. After that, we are free to be with together without anyone judging us" Hermione muttered staring at Minerva's weary face.

"I can't wait three years" she groaned.

"my offer still stands" Hermione smiled faintly. Minerva rushed forward and slammed Hermione into the rocky wall.

"That is the last time I ever want to hear you say that" she demanded. "Ok?" Minerva growled staring intensively at her.

"Ok, ok!" Hermione promised pushing Minerva away.

The tunnel seemed to go on forever when they began climbing stairs. With every step they took the staircase creaked and groaned. Reach the top Minerva pushed back the door to find everything layered in dust. Sneezing several times, she moved across the room to open a window. As Hermione entered the room, she found Minerva leaning against the window sill looking out at the landscape. Crossing the room, Hermione wrapped her arms around Minerva and rested her head on her back. Straightening, Minerva wriggled around in her graps. Minerva cupped Hermione's cheek in her hand. Hermione shut her eyes and pressed her head against Minerva's hand.

"Hermione" she called softly with a hint of worry in her voice. Hermione snapped her eyes open and stared at the older witch. "We're not alone" she hissed staring at her shoulder. Hermione turned her head to see Professor Snape standing in the doorway with light shining from his wand. Hermione untangled herself from Minerva and spun around.

"Well well" he snickered staring at them. Hermione frowned placing her hand over her wand tucked away in her pocket.

"What are you doing here Severus?" Minerva snapped narrowing her eyes.

"I could ask you the same" he said raising an eyebrow.

"We were just talking" Hermione replied with a smile.

"Why not 'talk' back at the castle instead of a musty old deserted house?" he retorted. "Wait till Dumbledore hears about this" Snape growled turning around and left with his cloak flowing behind him. 'Everyone knows Slytherin hates Gryffindor but this is stooping to low' Minerva frowned quickly chasing after Snape.

"Minerva!" Hermione cried, her heart racing seeing blue flashes coming from the tunnel. "MINERVA!" Hermione screamed finding she was running towards the pair of them duelling.

"Don't worry I haven't touched your precious Professor" Snape hissed watching Hermione rush to Minerva's side. She drew out her wand and glanced across to see Minerva was also pointing her wand at Snape.

"Snitching to Dumbledore?" Hermione paused lowering her wand a little. "So childish" she uttered placing a hand on her hip. Turning red in the face, Snape spun around and eft.

"We should probably go as well" Minerva said quietly taking Hermione by the hand. Reaching the exit of the tunnel, they saw Snape had already pressed the secret knot. Slowly walking back towards the castle, they saw Snape's light disappear as he slid between the doors.

"Do you reckon he'll tell Dumbledore?" Hermione asked looking across at Minerva. She smiled faintly, 'Even in moonlight she is beautiful!' she thought.

"Only one way to find out" Minerva replied holding the castle door open for Hermione. Down the hall sure enough was Snape standing next to Dumbledore.

"If you two would like to follow me" he said with Snape hot on his heels as they headed for his office.

"Busted" Hermione mumbled.

"But we didn't do anything" Minerva replied causing Hermione to laugh as they climbed the stairs.

"Snape informs me you two were off school grounds" Dumbledore said as Hermione and Minerva entered the room. They all walked up to his desk as Dumbledore sat down in his chair. Snape stood to the left with Minerva in the middle and Hermione next to her. Hermione glanced over at Snape who looked as if all his Christmas wishes had come true.

"It is true Headmaster, I caught them embracing in the Shrieking Shack" Snape beamed. Dumbledore muttered to himself and looked up at the accused. Minerva had gone very pale in the face and Hermione seemed to be treating it a joke.

"Twice in one day Miss Granger. Your good student reputation has been damaged" he chuckled lightening the mood.

"Yes sir" Hermione smiled.

"Headmaster!" Snape cried taking a step forward. "Aren't you going to punish them? Points from Gryffindor and make Minerva redundant" Snape suggested.

"Absolutely not!" Dumbledore frowned.

"What?" he shouted "They are breaking the rules!" he added.

"And what rules are they Severus?" he asked catching Snape out. Sighing, Dumbledore rose to his feet. His impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance gave little away Minerva thought studying his face.

"Headmaster?" Snape queried frowning.

"I am left with no choice" he muttered.

"And what is that?" Minerva said her heart in her throat.

"It is for the best Hermione if you stop seeing Professor McGonagall" Dumbledore muttered.

"What?" they both shouted at the same time.

"If your relationship has been brought to my attention, well it is bound that someone will find out" Dumbledore said.

"You said yourself that we need to be careful. Why do you think we went to the Shrieking Shack?" Hermione yelled.

"Miss Granger, my word is final!" Dumbledore ordered. Stumbling back, anger built inside her as she raced out of his office and didn't stop running until she reached the common room.

"Hermione?" Ron asked looking over the back of the couch. "Where did you go during dinner?" he asked seeing her slowly walk forward.

"Hermione?" Harry frowned no getting a reply from Ron.

"I…" she choked and raced up the stairs.

"Hermione!" he called quickly rushing after his friend. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly just as Hermione reached for the door handle.

"I… I can't talk about it" she muttered disappearing inside her dormitory.