A/N: Here we are with my #85 fic for our self-imposed 100 Title Challenge, 'The Wizard's Pleasure'. I will say that there was not going to be a whole chapter of Minerva but I am getting back into writing mode and so thought I'd start with something easy. More to come soon as this is in my head until it's done.

Chapter 1

Hermione nodded politely to the gargoyle that had just granted her entrance to the Headmistress's office and walked slowly up the stone steps which coiled harshly within the circular walls of its shaft. She held her head high in the chilly air as she ascended the stairs and arrived at the office door.

She took a deep breath and knocked twice.

It was a well-known rumour that Minerva McGonagall had a supposedly-secret weakness for bodice-ripper novels and as Hermione had found her seventh year a complete doddle in terms of studying, she had taken to writing erotic fiction whilst her peers studied vigorously to achieve a level of knowledge that would see them through their NEWT exams. Hermione already had this knowledge and then some having spent her previous year reading every book that her undetectably extended bag was capable of carrying; there was a lot of downtime in between all the action when one is hiding from the whole world and hunting for pieces of a Dark Lord's soul.

"Come in, Miss Granger."

Hermione turned the handle slowly and gave the heavy door an unladylike shove. It seemed odd to Hermione that a castle practically made of magic should have doors that stick but she let it go as the more pressing matter tucked under her other arm circled at the forefront of her mind.

"Hello, Professor. How are you?" Hermione asked cheerfully, trying to mask her nerves.

The older witch's eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion at Hermione's cover up but knew her brave little cub would reveal the reason for requesting a private chat sooner or later. She rather suspected it had something to do with the large stack of parchment under Hermione's arm but planned to keep her curiosity in check. For now.

"I am well, all things considered. Have a seat Hermione. Would you like some tea?"

"That would be lovely, Professor. Thank you. You sound tired. Are you really okay?" Hermione replied, noticing the weariness in the thick Scottish brogue of her former Head of House.

"This really mustn't go any further, Hermione… I can trust you, I hope." Minerva confided quietly as she handed Hermione a cup of tea.

"Of course. What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid that being Headmistress is not all I thought it would be. Albus always made it appear so very easy. He took it all in his stride. I never fully recovered from being well and truly stunned last year and the stress of running the school is making me more than ready for retirement."

Hermione stared at the woman whom had always seemed so very stoic and formidable, in a matronly, severe aunt type of way with her eyes wide and moistening in empathy, and a comically dropped jaw.

"Do close your mouth, dear. You're not a fish."

Hermione's jaw snapped shut and she lunged at the older woman, wrapping her arms around the slightly hunched shoulders wrapped in emerald green velvet.

"I'm so sorry Minerva. I should have realised. Is there anything I can do?"

"Well, if you release me, now you come to mention it, I do have something of an idea… but it can wait until we discuss what you wanted to talk to me about."

"Oh…" Hermione replied softly, her manuscript having been forgotten. "Sorry Professor, I almost forgot. You got me so worried there for a moment."

"That's quite alright, Hermione. I appreciate your concern." Minerva replied with a warm smile as Hermione returned to her seat. "Now, what do you have there?"

Hermione place the manuscript in her lap and looked at the title, 'The Wizard's Pleasure', before shyly looking up at her Headmistress and hoping with all of her heart that the rumours were true.

"I… erm… I wrote something; it's erm… a book… well, it's not really a book yet. Just a story. I'm sure you can guess how much free time I had last year and studying took my mind off the cold and having an empty stomach and Ron's constant griping and so when I got back here in September, I found I was already 80% prepared for my NEWTs. As I didn't want it to seem to everyone that I wasn't studying; people already call me a know-it-all, I decided to try my hand at writing fiction and well… erm… this is what I came up with…"

Hermione finished quickly, handing the thick ream of parchment to Minerva.

The Headmistress's smile beamed at the ingenuity of her favourite student and she reached out to take the manuscript.

"Oh Hermione, this is…" Minerva's praise halted as she glanced at the title; her eyes going a little wide and her mouth forming a tight little 'o'. "I see you have been listening to rumours, Miss Granger. I thought you would know better than to listen to the idle gossip of your fellow students."

There was not an ounce of true disappointment in the Headmistress's words but Hermione hung her head in embarrassment all the same. Partially at believing rumours and partially because she had revealed rather a lot in this story and was suddenly wanting to snatch it back and run to hide under her covers.

"I'm so sorry, Professor." Hermione began without raising her head. "It's just there's no-one else I can really share this with. You're the only person I can really trust and if it's good enough, I'd really like to get it published. Please… please… will you just have a look and let me know what you think."

Minerva pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed - a mannerism she'd picked up from Severus over the last twenty years; whilst she generally had a tighter hold on the exasperation she had regarding students, every now and then, a situation would call for the physical display. The truth was, she did have a slight penchant for romantic literature but it usually led more to works such as Lady Chatterley's Lover.

After a moment of contemplation and consideration, Hermione broke the silence…

"Please, Minerva. There's no-one else I can ask about this."

"Very well, Hermione but you owe me for this. You will cover my midnight patrols for the week as you have so much free time, it shouldn't be a burden."

"You've been spending too much time with Professor Snape… that's the kind of payback he would issue." Hermione said with mock outrage, even though there was a laugh trying to fight its way to the surface.

"That is simply not true. My payback is much more pleasant that Severus's would be; he would have made it a month. Besides, it's hardly payback considering you are Head Girl and I am asking a personal favour as I am feeling unwell; just as you are asking this favour of me."

Hermione let out her own sigh of exasperation, knowing she had well and truly been played before something suddenly occurred to her… if Minerva really was playing her for a week off of patrols then she actually did want to read the manuscript and the rumours were absolutely true. Hermione's smirk was suddenly so obvious that Salazar Slytherin himself couldn't have done better.

"Happy reading, Minerva." Hermione said with a wave and left the office for the gargoyle.

Minerva stayed very still until she heard the distant tell-tale grinding of stone-on-stone that meant the gargoyle had released Miss Granger.

"You can come out now Severus."

"Well, well, well, Minerva; it seems your favourite little cub has a naughty side." Severus said as he stepped out of the shadows smirking.

"Apparently so, if this title is anything to go by…"

Severus Snape leaned over Minerva's shoulder.

"'The Wizard's Pleasure'," he read aloud, "I assume you will allow me the privilege after you have partaken?"

"Of course, Severus. You like these trashy stories more than I do, and that's saying something."

A/N: Hold on to your conical hats, it's going to be a steamy ride.

Love and Blessings

Moon Out x