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Chapter Two
Tea With Minerva
Her quarters were nice, very much like home, with her favourite pictures and beloved books. In front of the fireplace she saw two deep red armchairs. Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered the night with Severus that had started in a chair like that. Hermione was getting angry with herself. She really thought that she was over him, but had to admit he still had that effect on her.
Come on, Hermione! It's only in your head. You really are over him!
The thought comforted her and made her feel a lot better. She turned to the Head Mistress. "Thank you, Minerva. This is lovely!" She smiled and motioned her to sit. "If you'd like to join me for tea so we can talk?" Minerva looked pleasantly surprised. "Yes, thank you, Hermione."
They sat down in front of the fireplace and Hermione conjured a tray with two cups, a teapot, slices of lemon and a small bowl of honey. She made tea that was of Minerva's liking and passed her the cup. "Here you go. I hope it's ok?" Hermione looked at her as she took a sip. "Oh, yes, very nice." Their eyes met. "So, they're starting school this year?" Hermione nodded. "Yes, all of them. And I still can't believe that no one knew Ginny got knocked up her last year!" The two women laughed and Minerva dried her tears. "Oh, yes! But you and I both know that Dumbledore probably knew!" More laughter. "He alwayswas a sneaky one and he always knew more than what was good for him, so yes, he most certainly did!" At this point Minerva laughed even harder and Hermione wondered why they'd never seen her like this when they all were students in her House. "It's so good to see you laugh, Minerva. I don't think I've ever seen you this way. I mean, so happy?" she paused. "Is there any particular reason why you feel this way today?" Hermione hoped she wasn't trespassing on Minerva's emotions, but she felt she just had to ask. The Head Mistress shrugged. "It could be because you finally took the position offered to you here at Hogwarts." She took another sip of her tea. "And it could be because you're Gryffindor's new Head of House. I wanted no one else but you to take over my role in the Gryffindor House."
Hermione choked on her tea. "I beg your pardon?" Her eyes fixed on the elderly woman sitting opposite her. "Gryffindor's new what?" She couldn't believe it. She was the new Head of House! "B-b-but…" she stuttered, "I can never live up to your reputation or your expectations,Minerva!" McGonagall chuckled. "I am certain that you can, Hermione. I can't think of anyone that could do the job better than you." She barely finished the sentence before Hermione got out of her chair and hugged her.
"Thank you! Oh, thank you so much!" Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she'd be Head of House when she accepted the position at Hogwarts. What had she done to gain McGonagall's trust? Hermione thought that she'd never find out, as she was too afraid to ask. The only thing she could do, she figured, was to make an effort to prove Minerva right in her judgement. "Thank you, Minerva. You will not regret it, I assure you!" McGonagall took Hermione's hands in her own. "I am positive you will do an amazing job, Hermione. And the reason I chose you, dear," she paused, "is because you were as loyal to Albus as I was. And you are brilliant with people. You really can't go wrong."
I'm brilliant with people? Hermione raised an eyebrow. Oh, yes! I certainly was exceptionally brilliant with Severus!
Minerva interrupted her thoughts. "I have got to tell you something, Hermione. And I trust you not to do anything particularly stupid?" Their eyes locked and Hermione nodded. "Please, do sit, Ms Granger." Hermione felt the colour leave her face at the formal tone her former professor was using. "Is there anything wrong, professor?" she said, following the same formal path as McGonagall as she sat down. "Not exactly." She said as she shook her head slowly. "But I might cross your line, dear." Hermione felt her heart skip a beat or two. "What line?" she gave McGonagall a suspicious look, making the usually collected professor look away. "It's about Severus." Minerva said, nervously. "He's a bloody mess!"
Hermione glared at her former Transfigurations professor. "I beg your pardon?" She felt the anger building up inside her.
Minerva sighed. "I am sorry to bother you with this, Hermione, but he has been a right git since you left eleven years ago."
The statement made Hermione give a hard and unnatural laugh.
"Since I left?" Her voice trembled. "He always was a git, Minerva! You make it sound like it was my fault!" she said, fisting her hands.
"No, no! I did not mean it like that, dear." Minerva looked at her with eyes full of sorrow. "What I meant was that he is nothing without you. He hasn't been able to concentrate on his subject since he got back and he always compares his students with his brilliant Miss Granger." Minerva paused and drew a breath. Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she waited for McGonagall to continue.
"You see, dear… There have been several students asking me who this great Miss Granger was, or is, and they tell me that he uses you to set an example. But who can ever live up to your brilliance?"
That could have been a rhetorical question, but Hermione chose to answer it anyway, eyeing an opportunity to speak.
"There is probably many of them that have the same ability as me, but he chooses not to see it. And the only reason I can think of is that he is, and always was, a right git! And frankly, Minerva, I can't see how this has got anything to do with me!"
She didn't mean to sound this harsh, but she couldn't help it. She felt awful when she saw the look on McGonagall's face.
"I'm sorry, Minerva! I didn't mean…"
"It is quite all right, Hermione," Minerva cut her off, leaned closer and grabbed her hands. "I know why this makes you so frustrated, but I felt like I had no choice but to try and talk to you about it. I know Dumbledore would have done the same, yet maybe I am not as subtle as he was."
This last statement made Hermione chuckle in spite of her anger and frustration.
"Oh, Minerva. You know how I feel about Severus and I believe I will always feel this way about him, but you also know why we can never…"
Hermione cut herself off this time and wiped away a tear that so traitorously had escaped her eye.
"I had to give up on us eleven years ago. I had no other choice."
Ta-daaa! Finally a new chapter! I'm sorry it took so long, my loyal reviewers! Hope it was worth the wait...