Professor McGonagall, her arms wrapped around Hermione's shoulders, gave the password to the gargoyle standing in the alcove that led to the Headmistress' office. It sprang aside, allowing them to ascend the twisting staircase. As Hermione allowed herself to be led into the office, her stomach churned. Professor McGonagall sat Hermione in the chair at her desk before taking her own seat.

The older woman produced a tartan handkerchief, passing it with a pitying look at the hysterical witch before her. "Let it out, dear." Hermione took the handkerchief gratefully, pressing it to her mouth as the sobs began anew.

When it became apparent that Hermione was beyond the scope of crying it out, Professor McGonagall opened a drawer and extracted a deep blue potion. "Drink this, dear. It's a Calming Draught. It'll help."

Hermione unstoppered the potion, swallowing it quickly. She coughed as her sobs sent some of the potion into the wrong pipe. However, she immediately began to feel calmer as the remaining potion went down.

Hermione slowly regained normal breathing, and McGonagall cleared her throat. "Miss Granger, I'm not going to ask if you are alright, as you are clearly not. However, I do have a rather pressing matter to discuss with you."

Hermione dabbed at her eyes with the scrap of tartan, nodding at the Headmistress. McGonagall continued, "It has come to my attention that a professor under my employ is having an illicit affair with a student. I think you know to whom I refer." She gave Hermione a piercing look, the concern from before still evident.

Hermione's stomach turned to lead. Her veins became ice. Her mouth gaped dumbly, unable to form a denial. McGongall didn't even look angry, or disgusted. It was too much. Hermione's face crumpled as tears ran anew, and she nodded, wiping her tears. McGonagall sighed. "How long has this been going on, Miss Granger?"

Hermione sniffled. "Since sh-shortly after I started w-working for him. I'm so sorry, Professor!" she sobbed.

"Miss Granger, you have nothing to apologize for. I thought there might be something amiss after you returned from your hospitalization. Imagine my surprise when I overheard an elf telling Severus in the staff room today that 'the pretty Miss' who works with him had sent a love note to him."

Hermione sat, shocked at having been found out by accident. She had fully expected that the wrong person had found them out and reported them. Her sniffs cut through the air. McGonagall stood, going to the fireplace. She gazed into it for a moment, before saying, "I've known Severus for a very long time. I was his teacher before I was his colleague. I know him well, and would consider him a friend. And I have never known him to be so happy."

Hermione's head snapped up, focusing on the headmistress' back.

McGonagall turned to meet Hermione's tear-streaked face. "That is why this decision breaks my heart. I cannot, at present, condone your relationship, nor can I ignore the rules that have been broken. As the student in the affair, none of the blame will be upon you. I will be sending a letter to the school governors in the morning, and they will decide what will happen with Severus."

Hermione shook her head, standing. "No, Headmistress, please. I'm of age! I'm graduating in a few months, and then it won't be a problem. Please don't report Severus. He's a good man. This will ruin his life, but it could also ruin mine. I'm begging you, Professor, don't do this. I'll talk to him about retiring, I'll drop his class, anything you want - just please don't report him."

McGonagall sighed again, putting a hand to her head. "Miss Granger, Severus is in a position of authority, whether you're of age or not. The impropriety alone is enough to sack him, but he's broken the law! He should never have put you in this position in the first place."

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, trying to get McGonagall to understand. "Headmistress, I love him. He loves me. He didn't put me in this position, I did. I put him in this position. I pursued him."

McGonagall rolled her eyes, striding to her desk. "Please, Miss Granger, this is already very hard. He had a responsibility to control himself, and a responsibility to you as his student to not give in."

Hermione felt a rush of emotions. She was angry, terrified, frustrated, and still very panicked from her encounter with Draco. Before she realized what was happening, electricity was coursing down her arms. "No!" Hermione screamed, slamming her hands onto the chair. Electricity crackled from her fingertips as the room lit up. McGonagall shielded her eyes from the flash, then looked at the scorched chair which Hermione still gripped. Hermione was breathing very hard.

"What in Godric's name?" McGonagall queried quietly. All thoughts of Severus had been briefly forgotten. Hermione released the back of the seat, a look of horror colouring her features. McGonagall caught her eye. "Miss Granger?"

Hermione cleared her throat. "That sometimes happens…when I am…worked up," she stated awkwardly. "It started after I…found Severus in the Shack. I needed to shock his heart. So…now that happens."

McGonagall took a breath. "Well, I would certainly like to know why that happens, and if it will ever stop." Hermione nodded her agreement. McGonagall sat, giving herself a little shake. "Hermione, I don't want to tell the governors anything. I bloody hate them, if truth be told," she said, an air of humor in her voice. "Who else knows?"

Hermione sucked in a breath. That list just keeps getting longer, doesn't it? Hermione sat down in the ruined chair, then told McGonagall about everyone who had found out, leaving Malfoy for last. At the mention of his name, McGonagall gave her a questioning look.

"Why would young Mr. Malfoy keep this secret?"

Hermione looked at her shoes. "As blackmail, Professor." She told McGonagall everything, explaining that he was, in fact, her attacker. She explained that she couldn't tell the older woman before because of her relationship with Severus, and everything that could happen if it were revealed. After finishing her explanation, Hermione felt incredibly light, and very tired.

Professor McGonagall looked appalled. "Well, as I see it we have two choices: we tell the Ministry now about Mr. Malfoy's crime, and the truth about you and Severus comes out with it; or, we wait and tell them after graduation, at which time the truth will still come out and Severus may well still face the same consequences for having an improper relationship with a student. And if we wait, there is every chance that Mr. Malfoy will hurt you again, or someone else." Hermione closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Professor, may I go speak with Severus?" McGonagall clicked her tongue, leaning back.

"Yes, I suppose it's only fair to let him know what will be happening. We will go to the Ministry tomorrow."

—

Hermione arrived at the Potions classroom breathlessly, finding it empty. She crossed to the bookcase and released the hidden latch, squeezing past before it had opened fully, and rushed down the hallway. She slowed as the sitting room came into view. "Sev? I need to talk to you."

She stepped into the sitting room as Severus opened his bedroom door. He stepped out and pulled Hermione close. Hermione could smell the soap on his bare skin. "Hermione? What's going on? I expected you hours ago." Hermione simply wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into the crook of his neck. "Come," Severus instructed, guiding her to his bedroom.

Once he had gotten Hermione settled on the bench by the bed, he put on a dressing gown and called for Lottie. He spoke quietly with her, and Lottie popped out of the room. Severus sat beside Hermione, rubbing her back. "Love, what's happened?"

Hermione wiped the angry tears from her cheeks. "McGonagall knows about us," she said directly. Severus' look of shock barely registered as she continued, "She overheard Lottie give you my note earlier." Just then, the elf appeared in front of them, holding two steaming mugs of hot cider.

"Miss, why is you sad? Or is you mad?" Lottie looked at Hermione with her big, hazel eyes, and Hermione gave her a watery smile.

"Oh Lottie, you kept my secret very well. But I'm afraid someone found out, so now we're going to be in trouble." Lottie patted Hermione's hand.

"Lottie is so sorry. Lottie will sew her mouth shut as punishment." Hermione was aghast.

"Absolutely not, Lottie! I am not your master; you do not need to punish yourself! You did nothing wrong. It was an accident." Hermione grabbed Lottie's hand. "Promise me you won't punish yourself."

Lottie blinked, tears brimming in her gigantic eyes. "Lottie promises, Miss." A few tears slid down Lottie's long nose as she patted Hermione's hand, then turned to Severus. "Is you needing anything else from Lottie tonight?" Severus shook his head silently, and Lottie gave a quick curtsy before vanishing again.

Severus sighed. "I was foolish to let this happen. As the authority figure, I should never have put us in this position." His words echoed McGonagall's, and Hermione huffed out of frustration. Severus continued, "Well, it's true. You might have pursued me, you might have talked me into it, but it was my responsibility as your teacher to establish a boundary!"

Hermione stiffened. "'Talked you into it?'" She pulled away from Severus' touch, bristling. "Weren't you the one who was all, 'I want you, but I shouldn't'?"

Severus looked affronted. "Yes, I was. I tried to restrain myself; you are the one who said to 'hang the rules'! I would say that's definitely talking me into it!" Hermione had stood, and at his words crossed her arms.

"I didn't have to talk you into anything! You were practically begging for permission! All I had to do was say 'yes!' You didn't need to be talked into it, you just needed to justify it!" Hermione slammed her cider down and stormed out of the room. She was halfway up the corridor when Severus caught her hand.

"Hermione, wait." Hermione stopped, pulling her hand free. She turned, sighing, to face him. "Hermione, I'm sorry. You've every right to be upset with me. None of this is your fault, and being with you isn't something I had to be talked into. I wanted to be with you, more than anything I've ever wanted before." Severus took a step closer, reaching a hand up to cradle her face. "I love you."

Hermione closed her eyes at his touch, her arms crossed in front of her. She swallowed. "I love you, too. Sev," she said, putting her hand over his. "I had to tell McGonagall everything. I managed to convince her not to go to the school governors, but now that she knows about Malfoy…"

Severus nodded, understanding. "She wants you to go to the Ministry."

Hermione looked down. "Tomorrow."

Severus sighed. "Damn, I thought we'd have more time."

They walked back to Severus' sitting room, a shadow over them. Severus sank into the armchair, pulling Hermione on top of him. They sat for a few minutes in silence.

Suddenly, Hermione grabbed Severus' shoulder. "Sev…what if they don't convict Draco?" She looked at Severus, concern on her face. "Kingsley isn't Chief Warlock anymore, they're rotating people. What if the Wizengamot votes not to convict?" Panic played at the edge of her words, her eyes betraying her fear.

Sev grabbed her fingers, gently weaving his own into hers. "Pet, unless the Wizengamot is made up entirely of simpletons, they will have no choice but to convict." He pressed a kiss to her collarbone. "And if, by some idiotic luck, he manages to be cleared, then the system will have failed and I know several people who would be happy to mete out the correct justice."

Hermione's shocked face made him chuckle, but he continued, "I'm completely serious, Hermione. Draco committed a heinous crime against a witch who has many people on her side. If the Ministry won't lock him away, they'll want blood."

Hermione shook her head. "That won't do. That would just make us no better than him, taking someone else's life into our hands. I've seen enough blood shed to last the rest of my life." She sighed. "We'll just have to hope they do the right thing."