Minerva McGonagall had been forced into this dinner. Forced to reconnect with her dear old school friend who she hadn't seen in person for over two years. Forced into a dress rather than her more practical, comfortable robes. Forced to take her time to eat a decent hot meal. Forced to sit still and relax for an hour or two. Forced to take a night off.

Ha! Try and tell her brain that.

It wouldn't shut up, even now running through endless information and potential leads, names and sightings, interrogations and new plans of action.

"Minerva?"

She looked up, startled out of her swirling thoughts to see her companion for the evening, standing by her chair, arm outstretched waiting on her taking off her wrap and moving to sit down.

"I apologise Edward. I'm distracted. It's not an excuse however, you are only in the country for tonight and then you'll take off half way around the world again. Forgive me, tell me what you have been up to in the last two years."

"Don't fret about it Minerva." He held out Minerva's chair moving it in as she sat down before sitting down himself. "I know you've had an incredibly busy couple of years. Headmistress of Hogwarts now eh, quite the responsibility? You did pronounce in our first year you would one day run the school."

Minerva blushed slightly, moving her hand to cover her embarrassed face. "Oh Merlin, I did, didn't I?!" She flashed back to a gangly 12 year old with raven pigtails and gangly frame professing to her friends that when she was running the school there would be more than two choices of dessert at dinner and an upgrade to a full size quidditch pitch whilst lecturing them that they were not taking their end of year exams seriously enough and to get memorising potions ingredients.

"Well, it's not all it's cracked up to be, let me tell you the daily correspondence is enough to send anyone to an early grave, now I know how Albus always had enough fuel for his fire, his portrait has confided to me he used to burn at least three-quarters of it."

"You know I'm not surprised, and he would have gotten away with it sheerly though his eccentricities. However I know that's not all you have on your mind right now." Minerva looked at him questioningly. "Poppy wrote and told me what's been going on and how stressed out you've been."

Minerva just glared at him.

"And she also gave me orders to make you talk about anything else other than that subject for at least the length of dinner and to ensure you have a glass of wine or two to let those shoulders relax a little."

"Oh, she did, did she? That meddlesome witch! I swear her mothering will be the death of me."

"Mmhmmm, well I have to follow a mediwitches advice now don't I?" He signalled to one of the waitresses. "It's practically law."

"Hmmmm." She voiced showing her obvious disapproval. "Well while you do, you are going to fill me in what you've been up to in America for the last 2 years, you are the only other transfiguration master I actually respect and you have published nothing recently which means you are working on something good." He smirked at her.

"Maybe I am…"

"I knew it! Come on, do enlighten me."

"Good evening, my name is Anna and I shall be serving you. Would you like some drinks to start?"

Minerva's eyes snapped up quicker than it would have been thought possible. She just stared, mind at a standstill, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. Time seemed as if it had screeched to a halt but apparently not as she became aware of the attention turning to her and her name being called.

"Minerva? Are you alright? She asked if you'd like a drink? Wine? Red? White?" Edward asked reaching forward to grasp her hand. Minerva never took her eyes from the waitress but forced her lips to move and form a single word.

"Hermione?"

She was vaguely aware of Edward gasping softly then subtly casting a silencing charm around the three, protection against the rest of the muggle restaurant they were seated in.

"Excuse me ma'am?"

"Hermione? It's me, Minerva." She frowned at seeing the confused and slightly fearful look on her protege's face.

"Is... is that my name? Hermione?"

AN: Okay so first ever HG/MM story, hell it's my first Harry Potter story so a tad nervous. And on top of all that I usually have a story mostly written before posting but I've had some gentle nudging to get this up. I know this one was short but it's where I really wanted to end it. Promise later chapters will be longer. Would love some reviews. Enjoy! xx