AUTHORS NOTE: Well, I've been busy with work and my novel and WICKED fanfiction, but here is a little something for all you loyal HGMM fans out there! tHIS could be the ending, or maybe not, I don't know yet. But thank you for everyone and anyone who has ever read, reviewed, and encouraged me to continue this story--even when i didn't update very much.

I hope you like it!

Minerva breathed in deeply as she stepped out into the chilly night air, with her newly found ‘date’ hanging off her arm. It was invigorating and enlightening to be so close to Hermione, to be able to smell her sweet perfume and feel her soft skin. She couldn’t help but stare at her as they walked down the path. The moonlight hit her, and caused her skin and hair to have a soft, gentle shine that made her even more beautiful—if that was even possible.

“Professor,” Hermione said suddenly.

Minerva was only slightly startled by the welcomed interruption of Hermione’s sweet voice, and she cleared her throat discreetly, composing herself. “Yes?”

“How have you liked the night so far?” Hermione leaned closer into her, and she could swear she heard her student’s heart skip—no, that couldn’t be. It must have been her mind playing tricks on her.

“I have had a very pleasant time—much more enjoyable than I thought it would be.” And she scolded herself briefly for not simply saying, it’s been nice. “Have you, Miss Granger?”

“I’ve had fun, but, there is one thing missing.” Hermione said softly.

“What is that, dear?” Minerva paused and looked down at Hermione intently. What had the girl missed?

“Well, it is a student custom to kiss someone before the graduation ball is up, isn’t it?” Hermione sighed. “It’s almost midnight now, I didn’t have the chance.”

Minerva scoffed, “That’s a foolish old custom that I hardly think is appropriate. You shouldn’t simply kiss someone for something like that, you should kiss someone you lov—like, very much.” She had to correct herself, and remind herself that teenagers didn’t know much or really anything about love, that love was an alien concept to them that simply lived on the boyfriend or girlfriend of the month.

“I want to kiss that person now, though.” Hermione said, and Minerva felt her heart sink but she smiled and put a hand on Hermione’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I know it might sound hard to believe but you’ll find that special person you’re meant to be with, even if it’s not at the end of year ball.” Minerva’s throat tightened as she said this and she felt tears burn the back of her eyes, but she did not let a single one fall. No, she would look like the amused and caring professor she ought to be, and not some lovesick old crone she truly was.

“I already found that person though.” Hermione said softly and suddenly looked quite bashful. Minerva felt her heart sink low and her throat clenched so tightly the world around her started to spin slightly from lack of air, and she couldn’t manage anything but a mildly interested, “oh?”

She took only a moment to compose herself enough to force a smile and look down at her student, who she now knew had found her school-sweetheart. And although it was painful, she would rather have this little revelation happen now then months or weeks—even days prior. “Who’s the lucky boy, Miss Granger?”

“Not a boy,” Hermione blushed and Minerva’s heart sank even lower.

Damn, it was that Luna Lovegood wasn’t it? She had hoped that horrible little escapade she and Sybill had the unfortunate experience to witness had simply been a teenage experiment. This little revelation of love between the two made it three times as hard to go through this talk with a caring and amused expression. Oh, she could wring that little blonde’s neck!

“Oh.” She said and decided that they needed to sit down on one of the stone benches. “I see.”

“Do you think badly of me?” Hermione looked up at her with wide, frightened eyes. Eyes terrified of disappointing her dear mentor and teacher, fearful of rejection.

But rejection of what, Minerva briefly wondered. Surely she can’t think I would turn her away over something like this.

“Of course not, Hermione, you’re not the first student I have had who preferred the company of people of the same sex.” Minerva looked her over, to gauge if she should really tell her this next part. But she gathered that the poor girl had probably never told anyone else before, that she should offer some… closure that she wasn’t alone. “I myself prefer the company of other women.”

“You’re really gay?” Hermione’s mouth hung open and Minerva felt herself smile.

“Yes, to put it simply, I’m gay.” Minerva chuckled at the expression on her students face, but then she realized something Hermione had said. “You suspected me?”

“Well—kind of—a little.” Hermione blushed again and looked at her hands. Minerva was worried just how obvious she was, but decided that since Hermione didn’t seem to be totally disgusted in her, that she was safe on the most important and deepest secret she had ever had—for now. But enough of that—she had to change the subject, and the only logical question for her to ask at this point was the one question that she despised the answer she was sure she already knew.

“Well…who’s the lucky girl?” Minerva gulped discreetly. She could hear the crowds begin to count down the final seconds to the ending of the ball, to when they would all toast to officially being Hogwarts Graduates, to when they would all be free, to when they would all leave.

To toast when Hermione would be free, and leave, and never come back to Hogwarts…or her.

But she didn’t get the answer she had been so sure she would receive.

“You…”

And before Minerva could come down from the rush of joy and fear and elation and terror from hearing those simple words, she felt Hermione’s arms around her neck, and her soft, full lips pressed against her own, just as the crowds inside screamed in joy, and began to sing the anthem for the school.