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Chapter 10

"Professor?", Hermione asked, her voice clearly audible in the big office, even though she was nearly whispering. 

The whole room was silent, the candles not burning, the office seemingly abandoned. The young witch took out her wand, cast a Lumos and went further into the room. She spotted the headmistress sitting on her windowsill, her hair a complete mess and a firewhiskey bottle in her hand. The tumbler she had been using earlier was abandoned on her desk. Hermione slowly approached the elderly woman who was intently staring out the window. 

"Professor McGonagall?" 

The young woman tried again to catch the older one's attention but either the professor had zoned out or was just ignoring her student. But Hermione, being the Gryffindor she was, walked on and slowly approached the headmistress, sitting down next to the woman she had always admired.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Her voice was merely more than a whisper. 

She was speaking of the grounds. They looked so peaceful in the morning hours. The black lake was tinted in soft oranges and purples and only an occasional bird's cry disturbed the silence that surrounded Hogwarts Castle. 

"It is, Professor." 

The older witch sniffed and stood up with the bottle in hand and went to the small settee in one corner of her office. Hermione did the same, taking a seat next to her professor.

"How can I help you, Miss Granger?" 

The headmistress' voice sounded so broken and frail. It had nothing of the strength and ferocity it had once. Hermione still remembered the Professor McGonagall who fought so hard, she remembered the Professor McGonagall that was respected by all and even feared by some. The woman sitting next to her now was nothing like that. Hermione looked over at an old and incredibly broken witch who was strong for far too long. 

"What's up, Professor? Severus and I — we are concerned. You never lose control like that. You've always been there when someone needed a listening ear and now — now it's time that you have someone to talk to. You're not alone, never." 

Hermione reached for her teacher's hand and smiled reassuringly. Minerva McGonagall's eyes were bright and shiny with tears threatening to fall.

"Miss Granger, as kind as this gesture is — I don't think that you should concern yourself with my problems,", said the elderly woman. 

"Professor, I know that you've always been exceptionally brave and tough and strong, but even the strongest are in need of help at some point or the other. I've always admired you for your strength. You've never been weak before and the fact that you are now; makes you even stronger and braver in my eyes."

"Thank you for that, but I still don't think that this is something you of all people need to hear. I really appreciate your concern though. You are my student. I guess you better go back to Severus and see what the little monsters have done now. I'll stay here and listen to Albus going on about why he refuses to eat those painted lemon drops." She smiled and patted her student's hand. 

The brown-eyed woman just smiled sadly and stood up. "As you wish, headmistress." 

Hermione turned and returned to her dorms.

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"Wow, that was fast. Don't women usually talk for hours upon hours?" He chuckled darkly as he balanced his godson on his arm. 

Harry seemed to have escaped his crib and was now crawling in the direction of Severus' leg. 

Just before he could attach himself there Hermione bent down and picked him up as the boy cried out in frustration.