A/N: One more for luck.

The knot of tension in the pit of Hermione's stomach began to dwindle as Minerva quietly nodded to herself, still reading over the short list of abstracts that Hermione had just passed to her.

The grandfather clock in the corner kept a gentle pulse on the time as Hermione waited quietly, feeling a combination of hopeful anticipation and a niggle of anxiety. It was an echo of times gone by and she sniffed softly to herself, reminded of many a time she had waited for the witch's stamp of approval in a similar manner.

"A most intriguing combination of ideas," Minerva husked eventually, sitting back slightly and allowing her elbows to rest upon the chair as she regarded Hermione with a pensive expression. Steepled fingers came up to tap against rose-colored lips and Hermione couldn't help it as her eyes flickered toward the soft mouth.

"However, at the moment I cannot give you a precise answer for your proposal."

Hermione sat back in surprise as Minerva's eyebrow lifted knowingly.

"It is one manner to implement your ideas, Hermione… and from your thorough outline, I daresay that the changes would meet little resistance from the Board of Governors," long lashes fluttered appealingly before Minerva's lips pursed slightly. "However the curricular budget has already been negotiated for this entire fiscal year and there is simply little room to address the entirety of your changes."

A flare of indignance sprang to life and Hermione leaned forward.

"And if I would be willing to supply some of the materials myself?" she challenged, unwilling to let the point go so quickly.

Minerva tilted her head. Emerald eyes flickered slightly before the witch sat forward, a reserved expression falling into place with practiced ease and Hermione somehow knew that she was once again speaking to the Headmistress.

"No, Hermione. While I know your offer would, of course, arise in the spirit of generosity… I cannot allow you to subsidize materials on behalf of the school. It could create an unfortunate precedent for future requests and place Hogwarts in the uncomfortable position of acquiescing to the whim of its professors. Not to mention the conflict of liability should any external funds result in danger or injury to a student."

Despite her frustration and disappointment, Hermione took a breath before managing an understanding smile.

"Not all battles need to be fought and won in a single day…"

Talia's oft-repeated phrase sprung to mind immediately, and she could just picture her Master's amused yet slightly disapproving smile.

"Of course, Minerva," Hermione replied, already feeling somewhat chastised and a little foolish.

Naturally, she had read all about such provisions in the more detailed indices of Hogwarts' governing policies.

And naturally, the Headmistress would follow such provisions to the letter…

You can't always assume you'll be the exception to the rule. She restrained the urge to make a face as she recalled her unfortunate meeting with the Minister of Magic. Just look how that assumption turned out the last time…

"- would be willing. Unless you might find greater success within your Society?"

"S-sorry?" Hermione replied, inhaling sharply and sitting up a bit straighter. Her long day seemed to be catching up with her. A strange expression crossed the other witch's face before Minerva's voice softened.

"I simply suggested that I might send a few inquiries to both the ICW's Educational Offices and the European Wizarding Coalition. Their development grant cycles run differently than ours, and given the ease and straightforwardness of your requests, you might try applying for the added funding through their project-based initiatives."

Gods, of course she would have thought of an alternative…

"Of course… how thoughtless of me," Hermione replied, brushing a hand across her brow self-consciously. Her righteous Gryffindor-ishness seemed to be reasserting itself with a vengeance.

Must be the environment.

Minerva's eyebrow rose slightly even as her lips twisted into an amused smile.

Or the company...

"Not at all," Minerva murmured, the musical lilt of her voice growing more pronounced even as her features softened slightly in the candlelight. "I trust you understand that my first duty is to the protection of Hogwarts' interests as well as its staff…"

Hermione nodded, only somewhat sheepishly. Even with the professional nature of their conversation, the witch across from her still made her stomach flutter as if she were still a new first-year.

"However, that is not to say that I don't find your ideas refreshing and aptly timed. Hogwarts is overdue to receive an educator such as yourself and I find myself most impressed with your most recent submission to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in Cairo."

"You've read my dissertation?" she asked in surprise.

"Skimmed, really," Minerva replied, folding her hands upon the desktop edge. Green eyes twinkled as her lips curled softly.

"However, I assure you it remains at my bedside table awaiting further perusal. Good reading can be difficult to come by these days."

Hermione's mouth opened and closed before she managed an incredulous chuckle, shifting as she recrossed her legs and attempted to contain a pleased grin.

"Well… thank you, Minerva. I must say you have me at a disadvantage," she replied eventually, striving to maintain her professional persona even as her stomach flip-flopped as the image of the witch's private bedchambers flashed through her mind.

Minerva tilted her head to one side before sobering slightly and Hermione felt the energy between them shift into something far more nebulous.

"Perhaps disadvantage is an appropriate word," Minerva husked quietly, lifting a graceful hand to remove her spectacles carefully. "As I indicated earlier… it has come to my attention that perhaps I have been too hopeful in assuming your return to us has been precipitated by a simple change in heart."

Hermione refused to give in to the swooping sensation in the pit of her stomach.

"You have not been completely truthful about your motivations for returning to Hogwarts."

Hermione hummed lightly as her mind worked, trying to assess the direction of Minerva's thoughts.

Long lashes fluttered and she thought she heard a resigned sigh.

"It wasn't a question."

Emerald eyes connected with her own in a surge of energy and Hermione's lips thinned as she shook her head once in agreement. She thought the other witch might've been disappointed.

"No," she agreed quietly. "I have not."

Without the glasses, green eyes seemed even more piercing as they narrowed. Minerva inhaled, nodding almost as if to herself. Hermione held up a hand, wanting to forestall whatever disparaging narrative the witch may have been concocting in her mind.

"Please. Allow me to explain…" she murmured, allowing both palms to fall open as they rested upon her knees. "I… am still attempting to negotiate my way through this unexpected situation and I do hope you believe me when I say it was never my intention to be duplicitous with my words or actions."

Hermione paused and her lashes fluttered as she was finally forced to looked away from the witch's intense gaze, "I do regret not having been more forthright with you from the beginning, Minerva. Your opinion matters a great deal to me… and, I suppose… I am also embarrassed by this entire ordeal… and I apologize that you didn't receive this information from me, firsthand."

"There is nothing to be embarrassed by, Hermione," came the soft reply a moment later, almost incredulous in its tone.

Looking up, she found a clear green gaze watching her with understanding, a bit of surprise, and just a tinge of hurt. The expression seemed to confirm that Minerva had learned enough from Kingsley to comprehend the essence of her situation, and Hermione couldn't prevent the flush of embarrassment and shame from reasserting itself.

"I only wish to understand your challenges so that I may help you through them…" delicate lips opened and then closed before Minerva blinked and looked toward the windows in an uncharacteristic display of uncertainty.

"That is… should you desire it."

Hermione let out a breath that she hadn't known she had been holding and her lips quirked into a smile of their own volition. Buried within the witch's response was a familiar wariness that had limned the outlines of many of their deeper conversations in the summer following the War.

It had surprised her - Minerva's capacity for consideration and her delicate unwillingness to assume Hermione's opinions or intentinons. It seemed the witch valued honesty and courage in a manner only befitting of the truest of Gryffindor's, and she infused that demand for clarity into everything from debates on Magical theory, to politics, to now - even something as simple as an offer of help.

We have to relearn one another all over again…

The thought of such a journey brought along a quiet warmth and Hermione found herself gazing at the witch across from her with suddenly so much more to say than what lay ahead during what promised to be a winding conversation all on its own.

Everything will unfold in its own time…

"I… thank you, Minerva," Hermione murmured, unable to give voice to the emotions suddenly rolling through her chest. "I imagine I am in need of your guidance more than you know."

Her response brought a noticeable softening to the witch's expression, and Minerva tilted her head to one side, seemingly content to wait for the story that she had been promised.

Feeling more emboldened, Hermione smiled a little more brightly and sat up a little straighter.

"Let me try to start at the beginning."

Minerva looked up at the hearth roared to life, squaring her shoulders with more energy than she felt.

A moment later, the flames flushed with emerald light and a whirling of Ministry robes suddenly revealed a figure whose visage was both unexpected and welcome given the late hour.

"Good evening, Arthur," she managed tiredly, running a self-conscious hand over her hair as she rose out of habit. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The other wizard siphoned soot from his robes absently before responding with a tight smile as he strode across the room and ascended the few steps toward her desk.

"My apologies for disturbing you so late, Minerva… however I had some news that I thought would, ah… best be delivered in person."

It took Minerva a few moments to place the unfamiliar expression hovering around Arthur's features, but a moment later she gestured toward the seat across from her while stifling a weary sigh.

"Might it have to do with our illustrious Minister of Magic?"

Arthur's brief open-mouthed expression was answer enough and she waved off his reply as they both took their seats. Sitting forward, she tried to shake off the residual discomfort that the memory elicited.

"Unfortunately, your well-meaning notice came a bit late. Kingsley stopped by this afternoon to deliver his news personally," Minerva explained, watching the play of emotions flutter across her friend's familiar features. The wizard's face fell and he rested his elbows upon his knees with an expression of regret.

"Ah… well… I wish I could have gotten here sooner," Arthur began, gesturing slightly as one hand smoothed out his robes. "I was out of the office for the majority of the day otherwise I would have seen Percy's note. It seems the Minister requisitioned your file from the Registry Department this morning. Percy seemed to feel that it was… out of character."

Minerva bristled at that, tamping down a flare of indignance at the thought of Kingsley perusing her private files.

Likely he rationalized it in the name of Ravenclaw research!

"Send Percy my gratitude," Minerva replied in clipped tones, shuffling a few files on her desktop as she struggled to arrange her thoughts.

Her mind was still fresh from Mis- Hermione's meeting and the winding tale she had told that had been captivating and more than a little disarming. At learning the young woman's troubles with the Ministry, Minerva's Scottish temper had flared to life with even more ferocity than she had spared for her own situation.

They both needed help, and while their individual stories were vastly different… Minerva knew that they were both running out of available options.

Hence the answer you gave today…

"The Minister concluded our meeting by proposing marriage to me," Minerva found herself saying softly, still disbelieving that the words that seemed to fall from her lips were actually true.

Arthur's poleaxed expression alleviated any lingering doubts regarding the Minister's plan, and Minerva sniffed lightly, offering a small half-smile as the wizard sat forward and fumbled through a surprised response.

"I… er, wow. Minerva… I, uh… didn't realize… er, that is to say, I… suppose congratulations are in ord-" Arthur began, running an anxious hand through unruly hair.

"I requested a six-month forbearance to consider the proposal," Minerva continued, cutting through her friend's stammering with clipped tones.

She lifted a brow.

"After all, a witch is entitled to a proper period of courtship beneath the old laws. I reserve the right to see what my potential suitors may have to offer me."

At that, Arthur began to laugh… eyes flying wide for a moment as he caught the ghost of her wry smile. Overhead the portraits shuffled indiscriminately and she heard Phineas Nigellus snort derisively before sweeping out of his frame in a flourish of black silk, undoubtedly intent upon sharing the gossip. Albus' eyes were twinkling, but she ignored him.

Bloody useless, the lot of them…

It seemed that neither Phineus, Severus, Albus, nor Adelpha had seen fit to warn her of the Minister's machinations prior to his visit. Intuitively, Minerva knew that their excuses were thin… and even though the wizard had technically been stopping by on matters of personal business rather than those of the school, the portraits were still bound to her whether they liked it or not.

Abruptly, her focus returned to Arthur who was wiping his eyes with the corner of one sleeve.

"- saw it coming," he was saying, still chuckling lightly to himself. "I would've loved to have been an imp on the wall when you delivered that repartee."

Minerva allowed a wry smile for a moment before sighing and giving way to the weight that seemed to have settled itself upon her shoulders.

"Yes, well… while I am absolved of an immediate answer, Kingsley has since made it rather clear that my options are about to run dry," she replied softly, thinking of the letter than had since been delivered to her personal quarters. The implicit dig had been elegantly worded, but had still hurt nonetheless. "Doubtless, the press shall receive wind of this development by the end of the week. I imagine his assessment to be sound."

At that, Arthur abruptly sobered.

"What are you going to do?"

Blue eyes were full of sympathy and Minerva turned away to look out the darkened windows. The sliver of a new moon was just visible over the distant treetops.

"My duty to the school," she replied calmly, gesturing with a vague hand. "Whatever that should entail."

The wizard across from her gave a thoughtful nod before they both lapsed into silence.

Appreciating her friend's quiet solidarity, Minerva replayed moments from the two challenging conversations she had held that day… content to sit for a moment and sift through all the information that had fallen into her cauldron.

Such breadth of challenge… she mused, thinking of her old friend and her much younger… Friend? Former student? Colleague?

Minerva felt herself frown absently.

Categorizing the young woman who had sat with her for nearly two hours seemed beyond her present abilities… and that bore consideration at a later time.

For now it seems our world is shifting faster than we can all respond in kind…

"It seems you and Hermione are destined to brew in the same cauldron," Arthur murmured softly, rubbing his brow with a heavy hand. The comment startled her from her own thoughts and Minerva felt a surreal swooping sensation as she wondered if she had accidently spoken her internal narrative aloud.

It took a moment for her to realize that the other wizard was simply redirecting their conversation toward something less personal.

"You knew about her situation?" Minerva asked sharply, turning to look her friend in the eye.

Arthur blinked and then shrugged one shoulder uncomfortably, seeming to realize that he stumbled upon some sort of delicate topic.

"You know that she's kept regular correspondence with Ron and Harry," he replied, lips twisting with a somewhat guilty smile. "Ginny informed us of Hermione's situation as soon as she had returned from Jerusalem. Not to mention that her second meeting with the Minister was talk of the entire Registry department. Percy reckons that the Wizengamot's newest debates are a direct result of her… ah, shall we call it a unique response?"

Minerva deflated slightly and rubbed her chin with a tired hand. Not for the first time that evening, she mused that life would have been much simpler in some respects had she kept abreast of Hermione's whereabouts on her own.

It seems you are destined to continue learning of her story secondhand…

Arthur seemed to interpret her silence as continued disgruntlement and he leaned forward appeasingly.

"Minerva, whatever transpired between you and Hermione in the summer following the War, I'm sure it's water under the bridge now. Ginny tells me that she has several new prospects to introduce to her, and I imagine you'll both find a peaceable solution in the near future."

Minerva's brow furrowed in confusion as she looked up.

"How do you mean?"

Arthur blinked and strange look crossed his features before he shook his head and chuckled tiredly.

"Nevermind… I am sure you will sort out the matter in due course," he replied swiftly, rapping both armrests with his knuckles. A moment later he rose, shooting her a fond smile.

"I best be going, anyhow… Molly'll have my head if I push the time. I imagine she's already watching the clock like a hawk."

Minerva nodded absently, frowning lightly as she mulled over the errant assumption of some sort of falling out between herself and Hermione.

To memory, the younger woman had given no indication that they had held unfinished business… aside from her brief emotional outburst upon the night of the Welcoming Feast. The mention of not wanting to disappoint her had struck Minerva as rather poignant, though that could have simply been a part of the witch's tangled response to re-enrolling. She could only imagine how returning to Hogwarts might prove overwhelming.

Hermione had left Great Britain in search of a new beginning… and indeed, she had flourished in her life abroad. Why she should have kept up correspondence with a former professor seemed of little consequence.

Minerva rose as she saw Arthur back to the fireplace, nodding at the appropriate moments as the wizard saw himself to the Floo with the customary amount of smalltalk.

Just before departing, Arthur embraced her fervently and Minerva felt a rush of affection for her dear friend.

"See you Sunday, then?"

She blinked and smiled her affirmative, gesturing toward the emerald flames impatiently as Arthur stuck one foot in the grate. He grinned and gave a cheerful rap upon the stone mantle.

"Very good. Molly will be thrilled to hear it. You and 'Mione should come together!"

Minerva felt a flash of unidentifiable emotion as she opened her mouth to respond, but a moment later Arthur was ducking under the mantle and there was a familiar swirling of bright green light.

The logs snapped and fizzled, and a moment later, she was left alone.