Hello Readers, I hope you enjoy This chapter. My Minerva may be O/C but she's my Minerva not Jo's. I'm trying to keep to character but I don't know how well I'm doing. Maybe y'all can tell me!

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy this chapter! R&R please? Reviews are my crack!

Chapter 2

Once the two witches were cleared from the infirmary they both went to the Headmistress' office. Minerva sat at her desk and pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote to Filius first asking him to come by her office as soon as he was able. In the mean time Hermione was sitting in the sofa close to the fireplace contemplating what was said earlier. She wasn't used to being so tall, the older witch's body was something she would have to get used to for the time being and she wasn't sure how to deal with any of it. She had never meant for this to happen, she had no idea that her and Minerva were destined to be soul bound. She had always admired the professor, and had often thought about what was hidden underneath her robes. As her mind drifted off, she hadn't realized that they weren't alone in the room any longer. It wasn't until there was a slight tap on her shoulder that she did.

"Minerva, you asked me to come up? Is there something I can do for you?" Professor Flitwick was standing there in his blue robes his hair looking a bit wet.

"Filius, I'm up here. I'm sorry for my appearance, however there has been a bit of a mishap with a potion, involving Miss Granger and I. We're going to have to leave the castle for a while and I'm going to need you to step up and run Hogwarts while I'm gone.

The man looked at Minerva with wide golden eyes. He looked back at Hermione who actually looked like Minerva, and then at Minerva who looked like the 17 year old. Clearing his throat and shaking his head slightly he looked to Minerva and nodded. "Of course." He squeaked, "I understand, you take your time and get things sorted. Hermione, good luck with everything. Minerva, the school shall be here when you're ready to return. Now if there isn't anything else I shall return to my office and set up schedules and such. Just owl whenever you need anything." With that he turned on his heel and went back out of the door down the revolving stairs.

Minerva looked at Hermione and couldn't believe that this witch had done something like this. She was always so responsible, it was something that the older witch had admired, then this. "Miss Granger what were you thinking about with this potion? I can't understand how you could be so irresponsible! I..I.." Minerva was speechless and that was very rare for the woman. Hermione looked up and green eyes flashed slightly of hurt and then a bit of anger.

"I had done the research and I knew the risks. How was I supposed to know that this would be the result? I didn't know," She looked into the fire, "I didn't know we were to be soul bound. I didn't know how you would feel. I can see now that this is going to be a long journey. I didn't know you felt so strongly against me." The last was said in a whisper.

Minerva sighed, she knew that her anger was always a defense mechanism. She didn't feel against Hermione, she felt more than she should for a student, a STUDENT! How was she going to prove to this young woman that she wasn't against her but for her?

"I know Hermione, I'm sorry. I guess we're going to have to try and let each other in. To break down our walls, this isn't something that's going to be easy on either one of us. We'll work on it yeah?"

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I am usually forthcoming on most things but when it comes to my heart I am guarded. So you said that we were going to have to go somewhere else?"

"Yes we're going to go to McGonagall Manor, it's been in my family for 5 generations. So I shall warn you that it is old drafty and cold, your bones are going to ache in this cold winter weather. I'm sorry."

"Oh fun! It's ok Minerva, I can call you Minerva can't I? It looks as if we're going to be getting closer. Please call me Hermione, I don't really like this formality around us right now."

Hermione knew she was going to have to woo Minerva, to show her that she was worthy of her love.

Minerva knew that she was going to have to do what she can to convince Hermione that she was worthy of HER love.

Minerva walked over to Hermione and pulled her up. "Come darling, let's go. We can start our courtship then. You can call me Minerva, or anything else you want. I'm going to try and let you in. Yes, I feel deeply for you but it's not something that is going to be easy to admit and act on. Call me old fashioned but I want to get to know each other before we start getting..well getting closer."

"You and I are on the same page, I want to get to know the Minerva behind the legends. I already know what the public knows but I want to know the real you. Being in your body is going to take some getting used to, being taller being you. I know that while we go through all of this I'm going to feel like I'm looking in the mirror. I just don't know how I'm going to handle changing." She chuckles softly at the last words as she feels the heat fill her cheeks.

Minerva blushes as well thinking the same thing. How were they going to be intimate if they were looking at themselves? How was that going to work? Minerva shook her head, she was getting ahead of herself. They're just starting to get to know each other. Who knew what was going to happen?

The two held hands before Minerva threw in some floo powder shouting out, "McGonagall Manor." As the flames turned green the two twirled together stopping at the Manor. As they stepped out the older witch cast a silent evinesco. To say Hermione was shocked would be an understatement. The Manor was more of a castle, she could see the loch outside of the window and the land that she imagined was filled with heather in the spring.

"Min, just how BIG is the Manor?"

"Very large my dear, yes it's more of a castle but we only live in a small part of the manor. Shelly." A house elf appeared and looked over to Hermione, smiled and bowed. "What does my mistress need? How can Shelly helps Mistress McGonagall?" Hermione looked to Minerva with questioning eyes.

"Shelly, I'm over here. There was a bit of a mishap with a potion."

"Ohs I's is sorry Mistress. What cans Shelly do for yous?" Her large ears flattened against her head and her large tennis ball eyes filled with tears.

"You're fine Shelly, you've done nothing wrong it's going to take some time to get used to. Now can you please prepare my room and the room next to mine? I would like dinner then as well."

Minerva looked at Hermione as she walked over to the window looking out across the loch. "Hermione? Are you ok?" The young woman shook her head in the negative. "What's wrong?" The young woman in the older woman's body was shaking softly showing that she was crying. Minerva walked over to the young witch, standing just behind her rubbing her back. Hermione turned and buried her head into her shoulder. It was weird burying you face into yourself. This just made her cry harder. Minerva was stumped, why was this young so upset? Then she heard soft mumbles coming out from her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, so sorry. I didn't mean to force you into this, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Oh Hermione, my darling, I am not terribly upset. Yes, I would have liked to have some time to get used to the idea that I'm attracted to you but this has only just made me more aware of just how much I feel for you. I.." She trailed off not knowing where all of this open communication is coming from. She never just told someone her feelings. Could this be part of the potion's effects, to ensure that they were truthful to each other, a sort of veritaserum? She would have to look at this potion's ingredients to know if the same ingredients are in the potion. But for now she thought that she should give Hermione the tour of where she will be staying.