"I don't know Albus, why would I want to go to a conference half way across the globe. I usually never accept invitations to talk at these things. No one ever really listens to what I say." Minerva McGonagall was sitting across from Albus Dumbledore. She was currently winning a chess game.
"That's not true. I seem to remember one young woman that hung on your every word. Yet you didn't seem all that interested in her. Really my dear you should make up your mind. Do you want people to pay attention or not?" Albus moved his bishop and popped one of his candies into his mouth.
"Oh, not tonight. You know that I have been looking for her but every time it seems I am getting close the trail goes cold. She hasn't left my mind since she told me she loves me. Besides, after four years, I doubt the girl's feelings haven't changed." Minerva put her face in her hands. For four years Hermione had been haunting her thoughts and dreams. It was as if the younger woman's confession had opened up a tap on her own emotions that she hadn't known was shut off. All of a sudden she found herself perking up to listen whenever Hermione's name was mentioned, or trailing her fingers over pictures of the girl in the books that had been written about the 'Golden Trio'. She missed her desperately and wished to whatever deity could hear that she would get some clue, soon, as to the woman's whereabouts. Or at least some clue that she was alive.
Severus chose that moment to walk into Albus's office, carrying a sleeping potion for the older man. Most the staff knew that the headmaster was prone to nightmares. No one dared to speak about the potions he took to avoid them, knowing that after what he had been through, he, of all of them, had earned the reprieve.
"Ah, Severus. I take it your time in Brazil was fruitful then?" Albus asked looking up from the game.
"Indeed it was Headmaster. I ran into an old friend while I was there. She always cooks a delicious meal." Albus downed his potion. It would take a while for it to kick in, while not as strong as dreamless sleep it was still effective.
"Ah, anyone I know?" The trickster asked.
"Indeed it is. A former pupil." Minerva's neck almost broke as her head shot up from her hands to stare at Severus, who merely nodded at her.
"You found her?" It was barely a whisper that left the woman's throat. "You found Hermione?"
"It seems my Little Gryffindor has taken up residence in Rio De Janeiro. For now. She has plans to move soon. To where I don't know so if you want to talk to her you need to accept the invitation sitting in front of you. She is moving again after that conference."
"Again?" Minerva was hanging on Severus's words, absorbing all of them as if they were water from the fountain of youth.
"Apparently she has been a nomad, for lack of a better term. She never spends more than 6 months in any one place; she has only been in Brazil for 4. She started in New York City, and then she and Isabella left there and went to California, then Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Mexico, Panama, Argentina, Chile, and finally ended up in Rio. They won't be there for long though so I suggest you hurry." With that he stood and left. Minerva looked at Albus, shock written all over her features.
"All those places in such a short amount of time," she whispered.
"It would appear that your lion cub didn't want you to find her," he answered.
Minerva knocked over her king and forfeited their game. "I have a conference to get ready for my old friend. If what Severus has said is true then I only have a week to figure out how I am going to convince her to come home. He mentioned someone else though. Isabella, I need to find out who she is to her." the older woman left the room a plan of attack formulating in her mind. As she made her way to her quarters she ran into a very pregnant Professor Potter. Ginny had become one of the staff soon after she had graduated. "Professor Potter, how are you doing?"
"I'm well Professor, thank you for asking. I feel as though I am going to pop though." Ginny giggled slightly. As they spoke about Harry and her pregnancy an owl flew through the open window next to them. "Hello Bandit." Ginny greeted the owl as if it was an old friend and Minerva immediately knew whose owl that was. Hermione had gotten that owl shortly after leaving her cat in Australia with her mother. In his old age it was where he preferred to stay.
"So," she said nonchalantly. Ginny dismissed the owl to her rooms. "Albus seems to think I should keep looking for Hermione. I think he is full of it. No one has heard from her in years."
"I wouldn't give up Minerva, I think she is just being stubborn, kinda reminds me of someone I work with." Ginny grinned at her. "Anyway, I need to get back and finish my grading, goodnight." Ginny walked away from the older witch.
So Ginerva had known all along where Hermione was. Had known and hadn't said anything to anyone. Not even her husband knew where his former best friend was. Former because he and Ron had both written Hermione off as dead when the searches hadn't turned up anything. Now Minerva, Albus, and Severus all knew where she was. For now, a voice whispered in her mind, you have one shot at this, or she disappears again and you may never find her. Not a chance of that. She was going to win Hermione over, come hell or high water.