A/N: WE FINALLY MADE IT! One of our Hogwarts students in Harry's year knows- who do you think is next?

So, this whole story was actually originally just supposed to be this chapter. I wrote it as a little one-shot, but then I decided to go further and here we're at chapter 80, with the original finally making an appearance.

Harry was worrying her. He wouldn't tell her exactly what was going on during Umbridge's detentions, but she knew that it wasn't good. Nothing Umbridge did was ever good. Hermione had borrowed the invisibility cloak from Harry's things and decided that she was going to talk to Professor McGonagall that night. She had no proof that Umbridge was doing something wrong, but Hermione knew that McGonagall would believe her. Her head of house hadn't held back from expressing her distaste for the pink woman, and Hermione had the closest relationship with her out of all the other students.

It was almost midnight, and Hermione figured the best place to check would be her personal rooms. Normally, Hermione hated to knock on teacher's door so late at night, but McGonagall had always made it clear to them that she would be available whenever needed. Hermione knocked on the large oak door a few times to find there was no answer and no sign of movement coming from inside.

She wasn't in her chambers. Hermione sighed and pulled the invisibility cloak around her shoulders, making her way down the hall towards her office. Surely, those were the only two places her head of house could be. As she approached McGonagall's office, Hermione noticed the door was cracked a decent amount and as she reached her hand out to knock, she heard voices coming from inside. Stopping to not interrupt, she crept around so she could look inside, hoping she made no noise as she did so.

Her eyes widened when she saw inside the office stood not only Professor McGonagall, but Professor Snape as well. What's he doing here so late at night? Hermione thought.

McGonagall was standing behind her desk while Snape sat in one of the chairs across from it, his head in his hands. Her head of house was hunched over the desk, her hair hanging out of its usual bun. Strands of black and gray obscured part of her face. Hermione had never seen her professor looking anything but completely put together and pristine. It was slightly unnerving to see her seeming so out of sorts…and in front of Snape.

Suddenly, Snape slammed his fist on the desk and Hermione jumped, her heart racing. She reached for her wand, ready to defend McGonagall if need be. The young girl didn't hate Snape nearly the same way Harry did, but she certainly had a lack of trust in him, even if he had helped Harry during their first year. Her loyalty was to Professor McGonagall first. "For Merlin's sake, Minerva! Stop with the foolish Gryffindor pride or whatever the hell it is you think is going to help the situation. It's not."

Hermione dropped her hand from her side, leaning in to listen. "Pray tell me! What do you suggest I do? Sit around and let her continue to torture these students?" She didn't seem the least bit phased by Snape's outburst. "I have a duty to protect my cubs." The argument sounded as if it had been going on for a while- the tension in the room could be cut with a knife. Hermione felt her body stiffen as she watched the scene unfold before her.

Snape laughed bitterly, standing up and facing away from her, his eyes falling on where Hermione stood. She held her breath, hoping he didn't sense her presence. He must not have for he turned back towards McGonagall. "And how do you intend on protecting them if you're dead?"

"Oh please, Severus, you're being dramatic."

"Dramatic? She has it in for you and you damn well know that."

"I can protect myself!" McGonagall's nostrils were flared, and she was nearly yelling.

"I bloody well know that! Don't you think I know that, Min?" Hermione had never heard so much emotion in the Potion's Masters voice. His voice normally held the same monotone composure, but this was something new. It almost seemed as if it wasn't him. But, the greasy black hair confirmed that it was. "But you're playing with god damn fire." As he stopped yelling, a small hitch was in his voice, as if he were close to tears and Hermione felt her jaw drop openly slightly. Part of her brain told her she shouldn't be watching- this was clearly a very private moment between the two heads of houses, one where they were both extremely out of character from their normal teacher demeanor. She'd always wondered what they were like outside the classroom, almost everyone did. But, this was an exchange she never thought she'd see, especially not between the two biggest rivals on the staff. It almost sounded as if they were…No way, Hermione thought. "Do you think Umbridge would have a second thought about…doing who knows what to you." McGonagall didn't say a word, just stood there watching him. "I can't…" The greasy professor sounded as if he were having trouble coming out with the right words to say. "If she hurts you, I don't know what I would do." Snape leaned against the wall in her office and slammed his fists against it, shaking everything on her walls.

Silence fell over the room. Professor McGonagall's eyes lost the anger that had been in them since Hermione had stumbled upon the situation. Her expression softened, and she made her way towards the man who still had his head against the wall. McGonagall placed a hand on his back. The way she did it, Hermione noted, was too smooth to be foreign to her. Maybe they are…Hermione thought to herself. "I'm sorry."

He lifted his head up and Hermione had to hold back a cough when she saw tears in his eyes. Her eyes widened, and she found there was no way she could stop watching out of pure shock. "Min, please. Cut the Gryffindor shit."

She smiled softly, moving a piece of hair from his face. "Now, you of all people know I can't do that."

Snape shook his head and placed a hand on her arm. "You're going to get yourself hurt and you know if something happens I can't…"

"I know." She cut him off. "I never asked you to come rushing to my side. I know the situation we're in."

"And you think it doesn't kill me?"

"I never said it didn't." Her tone wasn't harsh, but her voice had the signature McGonagall frankness that the students loved to hate.

As much as the situation was completely out of character from how Hermione had ever seen her professors, the presence of their iconic banter was still there. That was about the only thing keeping Hermione from being able to really believe what she was seeing. "I'm a skilled actor. But, this is one situation where I just don't know if I can."

"Ah, but you must."

He moved from her hold on him. Snape was quiet for a moment, shaking his head, his anger seeming to come back when he sarcastically asked, "Wasn't your outburst with Trelawney enough today?"

"Outburst?"

"Yes, Min. Outburst. You hate that woman and you went out of your way to put a target on your back."

"What Umbridge was doing was-,"

"Wrong, immoral, give me the bloody list again! I don't want to hear it. Albus handled it."

"Oh yes for the first time in months, Albus graced us with his presence. And if he hadn't showed up as he hasn't all this time? It's my duty to be the Headmaster in his place."

"She's not your problem!"
"It's all my problem!"

"And this is the issue! You take on everyone's problems as your own that you never stop and think about just protecting yourself!" Snape was yelling and McGonagall was standing her ground.

Suddenly, McGonagall smiled sadly, shaking her head. "Severus, we're having the same argument we've been having all these years. Do you truly think things are going to change?"

"I had rather hoped considering how circumstances have become more dire you might have wised up." He walked towards her, putting his hands on her hips and resting his head on hers. Hermione almost gasped aloud but controlled herself before she gave her presence away. "Promise me you'llbe safe?"

McGonagall kissed him. Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing. "I promise."

He smiled- a sight Hermione had never seen. While she was half grossed out by seeing her teachers so intimate, she also found the sight oddly endearing. McGonagall had a good heart, and it had always made Hermione slightly sad that she was alone. Snape…well, it was truly nice to see him as something other than a miserable man. The two truly seemed happy. It was an odd couple, but they seemed so happy and so familiar with each other. Snape wrapped his arms around her, and McGonagall smiled as she hugged him back. His hands were running up and down her back. "I can't lose you too."

"I know," she replied. "I know why it scares you."

Hermione couldn't help but smile at the scene before her. They're really sweet together, she thought to herself, a slight smile overtaking her face. At least some people are still able to find happiness amongst all this. She prided herself on being a smart, practical witch with no time for trivial matters. Yet, the ever so slightly romantic side of her couldn't help but be excited by the two professors. They had pulled away from the embrace, McGonagall sitting behind her desk. Snape was immediately behind her, rubbing her shoulders. As she picked up a quill, Snape spoke. "Min, you've done enough for tonight."

Her professor had never looked so relaxed as she did with Snape. The Potion's professor had begun to pull pins out of her hair, letting it fall across her shoulders. She looks pretty with it down, Hermione thought. "I told the fifth years I'd have their papers graded tomorrow."

Snape kissed her neck and Hermione felt herself blush. "I think they can wait."

McGonagall smiled and kissed him on the lips, pulling herself to stand. The kiss began sweetly, but as it deepened, and their hands began to move lower, Hermione finally pulled herself away from the doorway. There were some things that she didn't need to see. The student already felt a slight tinge of guilt for having watched them for so long. As much as she wanted to talk to McGonagall about Harry, it could wait until the morning.

While Hermione walked back to her dormitory, she processed everything she had just seen. The last thing she would have ever expected was that any members of the staff were together, let alone Snape with anyone, let alone Snape and McGonagall. Yet, there was something oddly endearing about the two together. From what she had seen, they were happy together. She couldn't speak for Snape, but McGonagall deserved someone to love her…even if that was Snape. He was looking out for her. Everyone needed someone to with Umbridge around. Hermione had a million questions about the couple, but she knew they would never be answered.

The decision not to tell anyone, even Harry and Ron, about it was clear in her mind. The two seemed happy and Hermione imagined if it got out it might hurt them, especially with Umbridge. There were probably some rules against teachers being together, or if there weren't, she'd certainly make some. From what she'd seen the past few months and hearing Snape's' worry, Hermione didn't want to give Umbridge any other reason to target McGonagall. Of all the teachers, McGonagall was the most outspoken against Umbridge.

As she climbed back into her bed that night, Hermione smiled to herself about what she had seen. It was her secret, and she intended on keeping it that way.