AN: You would never believe how excited I was to see how many people had viewed this story. Special thanks to those who reviewed the first chapter, it was very kind of you.

Disclaimer: Things would've been very different if I owned anything.

It was Saturday afternoon, and Hermione finally decided that even though she didn't feel up to it she had to see Minerva. Usually by this time she'd be quickly getting ready to leave for her weekly meeting with the women, but this would be the first meeting they'd have since Dumbledore's death; which had only been a few days ago. She wasn't sure if her professor would even want to see her; Minerva had not been attending meals and had only been seen outside her rooms during Dumbledore's funeral. The women was worrying Hermione, she had never seen her professor act like this, that's why she knew she just had to go to the meeting. She slipped her shoes on and started to head to Minerva's rooms on the first floor of the DADA Tower, taking her time as she walked the halls of Hogwarts.

She would always consider the castle her home, but after everything that had happened here the castle felt different. She remembered in her first year as they went across the Black Lake the awe and wonder she'd felt when she first saw the school, never had she seen a more magnificent place. Though the ancient school now felt dour, dark, and dreary. There were still parts of the castle that felt warm and magical, the corridor she now walked down was one of those places, and at the end of it was the door to Minerva's rooms. As she approached the door she prepared herself knowing this could be their last meeting ever, the students would be leaving the following Friday for summer, she lightly knocked. Hearing no answer she whispered the password, "Ginger-newts" and quietly entered.

Minerva's office was a small room, with a desk, a fireplace, and bookshelves that were filled with books. Her professor did most of her work in her classroom, that's also were she held most of her meetings with students. Their meetings had originally started in Minerva's classroom as private lessons in the middle of her first year, in her fourth year they became academic discussions in her office. Last year they finally became long conversations over tea in Minerva's private rooms, were they talked about anything and everything. They had gotten close and had formed a strong friendship, where they could be themselves and not have to act like student and teacher; they even called each other by their first names in private. The only one bad thing that came with their friendship was that now that they were close Hermione had an even harder time keeping her feelings secret, she'd almost let it slip a few times, and she didn't even want to think about what the woman would have done if she had.

Hermione called out to her professor, "Minerva, are you in here?" She walked over to a bookcase and said the password to Minerva's private rooms located beyond the office. "Tabby" the bookcase moved and behind it was a set of stairs leading up to a door, when she reached the top of the stairs she knocked. Hearing nothing she opened the door, she looked around, Minerva's private rooms had several rooms; a living room, a small kitchenette, a study, a master bed and bath room, and a guest bathroom. The living room had a huge fireplace with two large brown armchairs in front of it, there was a bookcase beside it, and near the chairs a small table. The room had hints of gold and red in it, and the only light came from the candles that were lit up throughout the room.

As she looked around she noticed Minerva sitting in one of the armchairs, looking down at her hands, tears slowly dripping down her face. "Minerva" she softly called, trying not to startle the women. Minerva quickly turned around, "Hermione, what are you doing here? Has something happened?" She walked over and kneeled down in front of Minerva, taking her hands into her own. "Nothing's wrong, I came over for tea, it's Saturday." She sat on the arm of the chair and pulled Minerva into an embrace, holding the woman close and stroking her back. "Oh, I'd forgotten the day, I'm sorry you have to see me like this." She said as she started to wipe the tears, Hermione stopped her, "Its fine, it's good not to hold it all in, you have to let it out. I know how close you were with Dumbledore, and how hard this must all be for you. If you need to talk I'll always be here to listen." She felt more tears start running down the women's face, and could tell another bout of tears were on their way. "H-he was my mentor and my friend, he taught m-me everything, and I don't know how we'll manage w-without him, Hermione." She said starting to sob harder, "H-how am I-I supposed to f-fill in hi-is p-place? W-what wi-ill we d-do without h-him? " Her arms wrapped around Hermione, pulling her down into the chair with her. Hermione just held her, whispering soothing words, and petting her, until Minerva drifted off to sleep.

Nothing like this had ever happened between them before, it surprised Hermione seeing her like this, but she felt honored that Minerva trusted her enough to break down in front of her. And now here she was sleeping in her arms, something she had believed would never happen. Hermione looked her over, her hair was down from its usual bun and she was wearing a gown. The gown had a V-neck that showed off some cleavage, it also showed off the scars Minerva had from getting hit by four stunners. That was the day she realized just how much her feelings had grown for the woman.

Hermione had been taking her O.W.L exam in Astronomy when she noticed Harry staring down over the grounds, as she looked down towards Hagrid's hut she saw Umbridge with several Aurors. Umbridge was talking to the half-giant, while the Aurors had their wands pointed up at him. Hermione felt her rage build as she realized they were going to force Hagrid to leave the school, and it was only because he was a half-giant. She saw Professor McGonagall come running up to the Aurors, reaching for her wand, "Its McGonagall!" she yelled, and by this point everyone was looking to see what was going on. Suddenly Umbridge pointed at Minerva and four stunners were fired at her chest. As they hit her Hermione started to scream, Minerva lay motionless on the ground as Hagrid tried to attack the Aurors. She felt her world falling apart as her professor lay on the ground, seemingly dead, she started crying. Poppy rushed out and levitated Minerva into Hogwarts, she returned to here exam knowing she'd have to wait.

As soon as she could she rushed to the Hospital Wing, as she entered she saw Madame Pomfrey working on Minerva casting spells and giving her potions. She went over and quietly sat on the bed next to the one her professor was in, she saw the woman's chest slowly rise and fall, and felt relief. At that moment she realized how much the women meant to her, how much she'd grown to care for her, and how close she'd been to losing her. Then another thought slapped her in the face, she loved the woman, loved her with all her heart. When Poppy finished she turned to Hermione, "Will she be ok?" She asked afraid of the answer. "It's a wonder she's alive after four hits, I've never known anyone to survive two. I'll be having her moved to St. Mungos, so I'm not sure yet if she'll be ok." Poppy told her, the nurse quickly left the rooms. Hermione's eyes filled with tears, she got up and went over to look at the injured women. "You have to get through this, you just have to. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Hermione looked down at the woman currently in her arms; she pecked the top of her head, cast mobilicorpus and took her to her bedroom where she laid her down on her bed. 'Will you ever know just how much I care for you?' she wondered. She kissed the sleeping woman's forehead and whispered, "I love you." She then headed back for her common room, she once again thought that might have been the last time they would be alone with each other.

There's the second chapter, it's a bit longer than the first. Remember I love getting reviews from all of you, thanks! -Fae