-0-

Minerva felt like a caged lion as she stalked out of Albus' office and back to her own, taking the long way back so she could slam as many doors as possible. She felt like everything she had worked hard to achieve, Hermione had undermined in one fell swoop. Not only that, seeing her in Albus' office made Minerva realise that she actually didn't care what had happened. She wanted to see Hermione again. She needed to. It was imperative that their friendship be repaired.

She slammed her door closed behind her and paced back and forth in her sitting room until the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon. Nothing had come to her in a flash of brilliance and if anything she felt worse now than she did before. She wanted to tear out her hair in frustration.

The stunt in Albus' office was one thing, but it paled in comparison to the torturous, never-ending feelings sitting on her chest.

She was wracked with guilt, over forgetting Hermione's parents, over not actually caring that it had happened. Over letting her anger get the better of her. She remembered what Poppy said about how devastated she'd be and fell deeper still, knowing that under the bravado Hermione was feeling, underneath she'd be hurting keenly.

They'd become so close that all she wanted to do was hold her and tell her it would be okay. If not for her stubborn, stiff upper lip.

She wanted to scream but all she could do was button her sternest teaching robes and gather her things for the day. A double with the 3rd years then a double with Hermione's year had her groaning. This was the one following Severus' class and they were always particularly dour afterwards. She rolled her eyes at the man and then felt bad for that too. She wasn't sure she trusted him completely, as Albus did, but because Albus trusted him, she would always allow him a little leeway. And with the added return of Lord Voldemort, undoubtedly he was under a lot of strain. It did so grate on her, though.

She went down to breakfast, overwhelmed with the weight of everything that was happening.

And beyond it all? She missed Hermione. She missed the silliness that Minerva never allowed herself to indulge in, except with her. She missed the quick wit and the snide comments and the intelligence and Merlin, the young woman's kindness to an old, sour woman that could not keep her temper. She dropped into her seat but did not return Albus' greeting. They would speak later, no doubt, over the mysterious weapons that seemed to have landed in Hermione's care - another reminder of how she could not control her emotions.

She was nibbling on a piece of toast when someone leaned into her side.

"Do you mi-"

"You need to eat something a little more substantial than a corner of toast, Min," Poppy chuckled. "I made it for you myself, much to the elves' distaste. So eat up."

She blinked and looked down at the dish in front of her; a simple bowl of porridge.

She had to bite her lip very hard to stop herself from bursting into tears.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're most welcome," Poppy said out of the side of her mouth. "Eat. It will work out just fine in the end."

She didn't know when she'd become such a charity case but she did as she was told and felt better for it when she put the first spoonful in her mouth. The elves never seemed to get it right, but Poppy has become a master of it, living - and loving - Minerva's brother.

"Remind me to thank him," she quipped as she scraped the bowl daintily.

Poppy reached under the table and squeezed Minerva's thigh.

"He should be home Saturday?"

"Yes," Minerva smiled. "I look forward to it."

"Good. I'll cook."

"Even if I was unavailable, I would cancel for that," Minerva chuckled, sipping a fresh cup of tea.

"It's good to see you smile again," Albus' voice whispered in her ear as he stood. He dismissed the students and held out his hand to her, which she took as she drained her cup. "I shall walk you there," he said jovially. "I do enjoy a bracing trot through the Castle."

"You are a terrible liar, Mr Dumbledore," she rolled her eyes.

"I count that as a blessing, dear heart," he chuckled.

They walked in silence, mostly. His arm was steady in hers and as they walked, she realised that she appreciated his friendship more and more. It seemed that even when she wasn't talking to Hermione, the young woman's gentle nature was undermining a lifetime of keeping people at arm's length. She waited for a group of First Years to pass, still wide-eyed even after a few months.

"They always look so small," Albus chuckled. "I forget we were all small, like that, once."

"I still do not believe you were ever that small, Albus Dumbledore," she chuckled. "Nor so overwhelmed with everything."

"Nonsense. If not for you, I would look like that now."

Minerva smiled, despite herself and leaned on him a little so she could lower her voice.

"I will meet you later? To investigate the things that we confiscated?"

"Yes, that would do," he agreed. "I have a Wizengamot meeting tomorrow. Though I do need to sort out some sort of plan for Harry," he paused. "For the lessons, I have promised. Perhaps you could help me, based on what you've already gone over?"

"I -"

They had come to the door of her classroom and there were more students arriving every moment so she shook her head.

"It'll keep. Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, for the escort."

"The pleasure, as ever, is all mine, Professor McGonagall," he grinned. "Happy learning, students."

She shook her head as he walked away, playing the fool and couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face. Their relationship was different to that between her and Poppy and even her and Hermione, but she cherished every second of it just as much.

She blinked, realising that everyone was waiting for her. She rolled her eyes.

"Go in then!"

-0-

For the first time ever, Hermione Granger sat at the back of the Transfiguration classroom, on her own, and did not raise her hand a single time. She'd returned to class, at least; Minerva was thankful for that. And she didn't wonder that the other teachers would ask after the young woman later, but for now, during this, their first double together, they were at an impasse. Hermione did not engage, participate or even really look up from her book. Minerva caught her, at one stage, putting her hand up while she was reading and not paying attention, but when Hermione realised what she had done, she pulled it down again and pushed both hands under her thighs. If it wasn't so sad, it would have been comical.

"Right," she said, breaking her own thoughts as she noticed the time. "Today we're going to start on nonverbal spells."

A whisper went around the classroom and she was immediately struck by a problem. The only one who was even remotely close to being able to do nonverbal spells was Hermione and they had never discussed how to disguise the power in one's casting she was utterly sure Hermione would have to learn. She paused, running through the options before she decided that she would just play it as it came.

"Alright," she ordered. "Books away, eyes on me."

She did her usual lecture on nonverbal casting. About the difficulties and the problems they would face, before asking for a volunteer.

"Yes, Mr Weasley," she smirked. "You will do."

"I will Stupify Mr Weasley nonverbally," she announced, ignoring the laughs. "Mr Potter," she nodded him up. "Make sure he lands where I intend, will you?"

"Sure Professor," Harry grinned.

She glanced around the room, glancing at Hermione last and noting that the jumper she had on again that hid most of her beneath it. She'd worn it often enough through the week that Minerva, by rights, should have told her it was not part of their uniform and to therefore take it off, but she could not bring herself to do so. If Hermione wanted to hide for a bit, Minerva would not begrudge her that. She turned back to the boys at the front of the class and bit back a smile.

"Right, Mr Weasley. Remain calm, stand still. Alright?"

"Sure," he grinned.

These Weasleys really were a good sort, which reminded her to write to Arthur and check on Molly. As far as she was aware none of them had heard anything, at least before she stopped speaking to Hermione, that is.

"Alright, ready?"

He nodded and she glanced behind him to Harry who smiled and nodded as well. She stood to her full height and made her movements over-exaggerated as she stunned Mr Weasley who crashed to the cushions with a little help from Harry.

"Now," she said, waking him without any effort. "Observations?"

At this point, normally, Hermione would list the characteristics but she remained mute. To that end, Minerva sighed and picked someone instead. It was slower and more difficult but until Hermione was willing to bend a little Minerva would continue to accommodate her.

Even as she prompted them, the lesson moved slower than Minerva would have liked. She had in mind she'd split them into pairs but trying to drag them into understanding was taking longer and with so much to cover over the two years and with all the extracurricular activities they were expected to take on this year alone, she knew she would need to bend.

"Her -" She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Miss Granger," she said gently. "Would you, please?"

Hermione stared at her for a little while before she sighed and pulled the sleeves of her jumper over her hands. She listed off the necessary information and then fell quiet again.

"Thank you," Minerva said genuinely. "Now, questions?"

There was a smattering of them but most looked prepared to try, so she allowed it. The rest of the lesson was barely controlled chaos and to be honest, despite her reputation for being one of the more strict teachers, she did enjoy this part. She watched over them critically, stopping them every now and then and going over the movements and then allowing them to carry on. She had, of course, noticed that Hermione had remained in her seat watching and she allowed that too. It was only after a few of them gave up and looked at her that she realised she might have to make this lesson longer than she had intended.

"Can," Miss Patil hesitated and Minerva knew what she was going to say when she turned around and glanced at Hermione. "Can you not, maybe -"

"Miss Granger?" Minerva asked softly. "Permit me?"

"Only if I can stun you," Hermione huffed.

There was a sharp intake of breath as the room froze and by the look of it, Hermione hadn't meant to speak it out loud and she blushed deeply.

"Miss Granger?" Minerva smirked as Hermione looked up at her name. "Just this once? I will allow you to try."