A/N: Will you look at that, another chapter!

Disclamier: Miss Rowling owns Harry Potter. I own an obsession with Minerva.

---

"Come on Lassie, just one more dance!"

It was all Hermione could do to keep breathing through her laughter. She had been dancing three dances straight, and her warm body was aching to sit down and have a cold drink. Trying to calm her breathing, she managed to politely turn Milo down. As she found an empty seat she looked over the crowd to find Minerva.

As they had been heading home from their picnic by the loch, the bar owner, Michael and his brother Milo had announced that there would be a classical pub party that evening, and that "the lovely ladies from Hogwarts" were the honoured guests. To her utter amazement, Hermione had watched Minerva lighten up and declare that it had been too long since she had attended such an event. When the two brothers had replied that they had finished last summer with an occasion just like it, before she had returned to Hogwarts, Minerva had laughed and swept Hermione to the fireplace and home to the cottage.

There, Minerva had somehow managed to produce a beautiful simple tartan dress in red and gold for Hermione along with a classic dress for herself consisting of a white blouse and a green tartan skirt with a matching scarf tied around her neck. She had let her hair down and put a bonnet on her head. After laughing at the bonnet, Hermione had realized the woman in front of her was absolutely gorgeous and had for an instant felt a bit shy. She was still getting accustomed to seeing Minerva in a non-professional manner.

Finally, Hermione spotted Minerva in the noisy crowd. She was dancing with an elderly man with a large white beard and a blue tartan kilt. Knowing Minerva had been on her feet for quite some time, Hermione spotted the rosy cheeks her beloved had gotten.

Seeing Minerva clearly having the time of her life gave Hermione a light tug in her heart. Minerva could never have this much fun on Hogwarts, since she in a manner, always was on duty. Here she could, literally, let her hair down and comfortably enjoy being among her friends.

This must really be a safe haven for her.

But seeing Minerva this happy also filled Hermione with joy; this was a part of her former professor that she had always longed to discover, and most of all, explore.

Watching the crowd, Hermione also realized that even if there were a few people there in her age, the majority of laughing and drinking Scotsmen consisted of men and women in Minerva's age.

"How can I possibly fit in here?"

"Did you say something?"

Milo was back, holding two large mugs in his hands. Shaking her head, Hermione accepted one of them and suspiciously sniffed it. She wasn't sure how much alcohol she could manage, but another butterbeer couldn't hurt, could it?

After taking a large gulp, Milo curiously looked at Hermione.

"You know, this is the first occasion, that our McGonagall has brought anyone from Hogwarts to the pub other than Albus Dumbledore, and that was quite some time ago since last he visited."

Hermione nearly panicked.

"Oh!" she gasped.

When Milo didn't say anything more, Hermione couldn't control her curiosity.

"She must spend a lot of time here during the summers."

Milo nodded at her comment.

"That she does. But dear Lassie, this you must know, I've never seen her glow quite the way she does when she looks at you."

Again, all Hermione could manage was "Oh."

Keeping a close eye on Minerva, Hermione silently drank her butterbear, it was a little while before she realized it was refilling itself. Just as she did, the music ended and a large applause broke out in the hall.

Spotting Hermione talking to Milo, Minerva made her way to her beloved. Seeing the breathtakingly gorgeous woman approach her, made Hermione almost dizzy from all emotions stirring inside her.

Smiling warmly at Milo, Minerva turned to Hermione.

"I hope my dear Milo here has been treating you accordingly."

"He's a true gentleman" Hermione answered with a smile.

"Of course" Milo interjected. "All Scotsmen are true gentlemen."

"That you are" Minerva confirmed. "Now, would you mind if I stole Hermione from you and asked her to accompany me for a bit of fresh air?"

Milo answered by bowing slightly at the two women. Taking Hermione by the arm, Minerva escorted her out towards the door and outside. As soon as they stepped outside the door, Hermione threw her arms around Minerva's neck and gave her a deep kiss.

"You look beautiful when you dance" she whispered in the older woman's ear.

"How much alcohol have you been drinking?" Minerva laughed.

"Not a lot" Hermione lied.

"Aha…" Minerva observed. "Nevertheless I must suggest that we end this evening."

"Must we?" Hermione whined, sounding almost like a spoiled child. This only made Minerva or determined to put Hermione to bed as quickly as possible.

They made their way back inside and bid the two brothers good night and thanked them for a lovely evening. Only after promising to be back soon, were they allowed to leave.

---

Hermione Granger was standing in the dark of the entrance hall to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Feeling very cold and alone she looked around in the dark and suddenly her friend Harry Potter emerged from the shadows.

"Do you really believe she loves you?" he smiled arrogantly.

A sniggering laugh made Hermione look behind her. This time she spotted Ronald Weasly, looking at her with utterly disgust.

"That's pathetic! No one can ever love you!"

Turning back to Harry, Hermione found herself facing Ginny Weasly.

"She's just lying to make you feel better!" the young girl laughed wickedly.

Feeling her throat tighten, Hermione watched as the Weasly twins took form in front of her.

"You will forever be alone" they said in unison.

Suddenly the huge entrance door opened and Professor Minerva McGonagall strode in. The look of outright repulsion on her face made Hermione terrified.

"You know they are right. I really hate you. How could you think it was possible for me to even like you?! You are disgusting!"

This time, Hermione screamed.

And that's what woke her up.

Sitting in her bed, panting, Hermione tried to catch her breath. Looking around, she slowly became aware of her surroundings. She was in the guest bedroom in Minerva's cottage, the moon hinting behind the curtains.

A soft knock on the door drew her attention away from the shadows.

"Come in" she rasped.

The door opened, and Minerva quickly entered.

"Are you all right? I heard you scream."

As the feelings of fear mixed with the feelings of love for this wonderful woman, Hermione surrendered to her fears by lifting her arms towards Minerva. And a second later, Minerva was sitting beside her on the bed, her strong arms holding her in a tight embrace.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Minerva slowly rocked Hermione as the last shivers of fear left her body.

Finally Hermione looked at Minerva.

"I had the most horrible nightmare" she almost whispered.

Minerva affectionately smiled at her.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked as her hand gently stroked Hermione's cheek.

Hermione instantly shook her head.

"No. Please, just hold me" she requested.

And Minerva did.

"Of course" she gently vowed. For eternity, she added in her mind.

No, she would never let go of this beautiful woman. She had lost her love once before, and she was determined it would never ever happen again.

Oh, there was still so much she wanted to tell Hermione. How she wanted to keep her safe, for instance, and on her second night at the cottage, Hermione had had a nightmare! Cursing herself for not watching over her love, Minerva gently caressed Hermione's head and stroked her fingers though her bushy hair.

Looking at her young love, Minerva remembered the first evening at the cottage. After dinner they had sat by the fire and talked for over two hours. At first, Hermione had found it hard to form words to grasp the new situation, so she had just sat there, watching Minerva talk about how she, at the graduation day, had hid in the forest to watch Hermione board the train back to London for the last time. And slowly Hermione had started to tell Minerva of what she had experienced over the last two years and how lonely she had felt.

Feeling Hermione shift in her arms, Minerva returned to the moment.

"Feeling better, my love?" she asked.

Hermione nodded. Slowly rising her hand, she let her finger follow Minerva's cheekbone.

---

A moment later they were lying beside each other on the bed. Hermione was watching the moon through the curtains and Minerva was lying behind her, both women were lost in their own thoughts.

"I saw my friends in the dream" Hermione heard herself utter. She instantly felt Minerva's arm around her body tighten. "They all said that you didn't love me and that I would forever be alone. They laughed at me for believing you. And then… then you walked in and said that you really hated me."

Needing to see Minerva's face, Hermione shifted in the bed.

"You said I was disgusting" Hermione paused and bit her lower lip. "That's what made me scream."

Sighing Minerva caught Hermione's hand and gently squeezed it.

And Hermione realized she didn't need any affirmation from Minerva. Instead she just nuzzled close to Minerva's neck.

"I love you, Minerva McGonagall" she whispered.

Minerva gently put her arms around the younger woman.

"And I love you, my sweet Hermione Granger."

That night, Hermione, for the first time in her life, experienced what it felt like to be held by her beloved for an entire night.

---

A/N: No they did not have sex. And yes, comments are always welcome.