Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor the characters.

Chapter 3 Yes, Professor

Enjoying the luxury of a hot bath, Hermione stands in the steamy en-suite, staring at herself in the blurry mirror. Frizzy hair now damp around her shoulder, face red from the bath, dark circles under her eyes, cheekbone more visible due to her weight loss from the run… I look different, she whispers to no one but herself.

Quickly changing into her nightwear, Hermione walks towards her bed and sees a small tea pot on her side table. She picks up the note beside it and recognizes the writing belongs to her professor,

Dear Miss Granger,

I enjoy a cup of hot tea after work, hoping you would enjoy just the same. Your help is very appreciated. Make yourself home and rest well.

Regards,

MM

Hermione sips the hot beverage and relaxes into the ginger and lemon scent. Warmth swallows down her body and tiredness takes over. She slips under the soft duvet and stares at the ceiling.

She recalls her whole day and finds herself really comfortable working with her professor. Now, she is staying in the private quarters of her professor. Knowing her professor is right next to her room, she feels a strong feeling that she has been missing for a long time.

Safety.

She feels so safe around her professor. With that in her mind, she allows sleep to take her away from reality. After a lost count of days, she falls asleep without worries.

That night is the best dreamless night for Hermione.

/ OoOoO /

Next door stays the owner of the quarters. Minerva lays against the headboard with a book in her lap. Sipping the hot tea, she enjoys her light reading before bedtime.

Then, she closes the book with a bookmark and sets it aside at the side table. She recalls the events in the last two days. Apart from the enormous amount of school-related matters, a young witch crosses her mind, who is staying next door in her private quarters.

She can surely tell that the young witch is suffering from something, maybe, a lot of things. She doesn't know why the young witch wants to stay in the castle instead of going after her family or friends. But she cannot bring herself to question her out loud. Everyone has been through more than enough from the war.

She just lets the young witch stay behind and even invites her into her private quarters. Only a handful of them have been here before, even fewer who have stayed for a night. But when she looks at the young witch, she feels a strong urge to put her under her wings, for protection. So, she offers to let her stay in her personal space.

And secretly, without saying out loud, she needs some company after the war. Though very odd to seek company from your student, she cannot say no to this temptation.

Just a short while, Minerva reasons herself.

Laying down on her bed, Minerva dives into her much-needed sleep.

/ OoOoO /

Days and weeks pass in peace yet hussle with all the renovation work in the castle.

The curse-breakers examine the whole castle and volunteers show up in waves after the announcement on the Daily Prophet. They work in teams to clean up, rebuild and renovate. It is a strange yet refreshing experience to work with your former professors and people from all walks of life. People just come to help their 'forever home'. The workload is beyond imagination. But, it feels good to have everyone working towards the same goal.

Hermione always teams up with Minerva as they work on some of the most heavy workload tasks. They have great chemistry. They understand each other as if they have been working shoulder-to-shoulder for years. The elder witch would show the younger some tricks to perform the tasks. The younger witch will sometimes come up with creative ideas or angles in problem-solving.

After a long day of work, they will retreat to their quarters. Instead of staying in their own rooms, they usually stay in the sitting room enjoying the company of each other. They would discuss issues at the Hogwarts projects, debate over new findings in journals or simply read side to side on the sofa.

The Gryffindor Tower has completed renovation and is ready for new terms. But none of them bring up the topic for the young witch to move back to the dormitory.

Until there are two weeks before the new term, Minerva breaks the silence.

"Miss Granger, what is your plan for the coming year?"

Looking up from her book, Hermione looks into her professor. She closed her book, "I am not sure, Professor."

"As you might have heard, we are offering all seventh graders to come back to Hogwarts as the eighth class to finish their studies. Sure, they can graduate without coming back as the Ministry is more than willing to recognise them all as honourable graduates after the war."

Hermione nods to acknowledge her professor that she is aware of the arrangement, so the elder witch continues, "You can also choose to take the NEWTs early without coming back to school. The Ministry will be holding an examination every four months for anyone ready to take the test."

Hermione is torn in how she wants to progress further with her life ahead. She wants to come back to school, enjoy the final year as a student and prepare for her NEWTs. She is Hermione Granger, of course, she is more than thrilled for another big examination. Yet, she is unsure about being just a student after everything she has been through. Part of her wants to stay away from the Magic world and possibly go to Australia for her parents. But the Magic world is still not completely safe and she has no idea where to start.

"I want to come back as an eighth grader. I want to be a student without adventure. But I also want to be away from here." Looking down at her twisted fingers, she confesses, "I am lost. I am sorry I really do not know what I want to go after."

Minerva sits closer to Hermione quietly and places her hand over the young witch's, "It is okay to be lost, dear. You are young and it is natural to be lost. You can figure out things step by step. Maybe you can come back as a student and take the whole year to think about it."

Comforted by the warmth over her hand, Hermione nods, "I think that would do me just fine."

Patting the young witch's hand, Minerva smiles at Hermione, "Then I will welcome you back as my student again, Miss Granger."

Smiling back, Hermione replies with a lighter heart, "Yes, Professor."