AN: Greetings, fellow shippers! Please enjoy this new fic, and buckle up for a long haul here. This is going to be a longer work with a slow-developing plot. Without giving too much away, this is going to be a story involving a resurfacing of the Hallows with Hermione and Minerva at the helm.

Reviews and Feedback are always welcome and highly encouraged.

Chapter 1: A Long Day

It had been a crisp, cool Thursday at Hogwarts when Hermione paid her visit. She breathed in the full scents of autumn, damp leaves, perfumed pines, the brine from the lake preparing for the first frost of the season…Eyes closed, memories all too clear rushed through her, stimulating the pages of imagery locked in deep recesses. There was little time in the schedule today to be bombarded with sentiments, even if involuntarily. There was much to do, and Hermione was sure that the Head of Hogwarts was as equally engrossed in paperwork as she was at the Ministry.

As her ministry robes swept the threshold of the castle wards, a gentle thrum of magic washed over the arms of Headmistress Minerva McGonagall. She glanced at the clock situated on the wall of her office, its hands moving do don seven o'clock. 'Punctual, as always,' she smiled to herself, despite all of the work she knew would not be done 'til the morrow.

Minerva left her office, slipping on her emerald cloak to fend off the chill of the early morning. Flush cheeks and a tired, yet genuine smile greeted the Headmistress as she opened the gate with a wave. "Hermione," she smiled. She had never quite mustered the fortitude to call her 'Mrs. Weasley,' like 'Potter' had stuck for Harry as it rolled off in her brogue. 'Ms. Granger' hardly seemed appropriate, given that she had married into the Weasley clan. So the Headmistress had settled on a more simple pleasantry of using her first name, in hopes that it wasn't too much of a step out of her otherwise strategically austere behavior.

This was all the better for Hermione, who, despite the afflictive nature of her visit, would have liked nothing more than to skip the formalities for the day. 'Granger' had been the last part of Hermione's identity that tethered her to her parents. She would never call it to attention, but rather joked faintly that 'Mrs. Weasley' was a title to which no one besides Molly could ever hope to hold a candle.

"Headmistress," Hermione greeted with an extended hand, chilled from the nip of the early air.

Minerva beckoned Hermione through the wards, quickly having realized from their handshake that her former pupil must have neglected her gloves before departing. "Let's head up for a cup of tea, shall we?" They quickened their step. "And please," she placed a hand atop Hermione's shoulder. "Minerva will do just fine, unless of course you've come as an emissary of distress this morning," she arched an eyebrow, leaving an air of question hanging on the end of her aphorism.

Hermione smiled awkwardly, wishing she had better news to deliver this morning. Her only hope was that she could somehow mitigate the dissentient response from the Headmistress.

Inside her office, a fire was crackling happily in the hearth. A pot of tea piped gently on an immaculately ordered desk. Hermione's spirits rose at the sight. She had seriously considered a professorship before moving on to the Ministry, and Hermione was quite convinced that her office would have looked similar.

Books lined almost the entire expanse of the walls, and the decorum was minimal, yet meaningful. As she shed her outer robe and began to warm, she could smell the pages of the books, the faintest scent of ginger from an open tin of biscuits, and the roasting wood in the grate. It had been almost twenty years since Hermione had last set foot onto these grounds, and likewise since she had sat in this office. She had known that today would challenge her, but she hadn't been prepared for the effects that the 'small things' would have on her.

Shaking off the notion that today could be a day to catch up on older times, Hermione sighed as Minerva poured two cups of tea and ushered Hermione to sit across from her. Anxious as she was as to what this meeting was about, the Headmistress was convinced that it couldn't be anything spectacular. Hermione's owl had come stamped officially from the Ministry, carrying the Minister's seal. It had divulged no more than there was to be a meeting on October the 14th, at precisely seven o'clock, and that her accommodation was greatly appreciated. It had been signed through Hermione Weasley, requested by the board of governors.

"Seeing as how we've had little correspondence outside of your daughter's first year here at school, I presume you are here on business, Hermione," she sipped her tea. "Although the memorandum from the board was a sharp clue as well."

Hermione cringed inwardly at the thought of Minerva receiving such an owl with no notice. She had so desired to send one personally, but the restrictions on such a forewarning were clear. Clutching her cup with both hands, Hermione began. "Yes, as much as it pains me to say, I'm afraid the board has intentions to perform an audit on the school."

Flashbacks to Delores Umbridge's tyrannical reign at Hogwarts rushed through her, and Minerva took off her spectacles and pinched the bridge of her nose to stifle the headache she knew would be coming. A moment of silence passed before Hermione offered her reassurances. "I know this sounds disastrous, but it's honestly not as awful as it sounds," she reached for a folder in her bag and handed it to her former professor. It felt odd, after so long, for their roles to be a bit reversed.

Minerva opened the folder after adorning her spectacles once more and began to read as Hermione explained what was going to happen over the course of the next…three months? Surely she had read that incorrectly. "There was an anonymous complaint filed that passed through my Department. It seemed a bit off to me initially, and I couldn't identify the credibility of the source, so I recommended that we file the complaint and follow-up if any additional ones were to have passed through."

The Headmistress felt a big 'however' coming her way after Hermione's explanation and was not disappointed when she continued. "However, the board directed a full investigation, to be vetted by my department, headed by myself." She paused to see if there was anything that would hint as to what was racing through her former professor's mind, but her gaze was steely as it had ever been. "I'm not sure what their intentions are, Headmistress, but I can assure you that this is not routine."

Having read enough, Minerva closed the folder and sipped her tea again. It was going to be a long day. "From my experience with the board of governors, the only routine I've seen is one that includes fulfilling their own whimsy," she retorted, her brogue becoming more evident relative to her irritation.

"Please don't misunderstand me, Minerva," Hermione internally gawked at how strange it felt to hear that name come from her lips for the first time. "While I agree that the board has always been a bit staunch and unreasonable in their demands, this is something else entirely." She searched the stoic façade once more, hoping to find some crack to slip into to assure the Headmistress that she would do everything within her power to protect the integrity of the school. Seeing little, she tried a different approach. "Minerva, there's something I want you to know-"

Minerva held up a hand, signaling Hermione to pause. "Hermione, if you are going to give me a speech about how you wish to dedicate your loyalties to me and this school, I'll have none of it," she crossed her arms and leaned forward on her desk slightly. "You are a Ministry Department Head, and I trust your professionalism in its entirety. My concerns surrounding the complaint will be treated with serious regard, and I promise you will have our full cooperation in any way you will need."

Hermione couldn't have been more relieved at her initial reaction, but she knew that Minerva's patience would be tried for the amount of time the Ministry was requesting she spearhead the investigation. "I expected no less, Minerva, and I am truly apologetic at the idea that the Ministry will be present for such a long period."

"Never you worry, Hermione. I am fully confident that the welfare of this school is in good health, and as such, the Ministry can observe for as long as they wish," Minerva replied. "Just as long as they do not interfere with the education of this body of students." She refilled Hermione's cup as well as her own as they moved on to the next course of business with ease.

Hermione responded her thanks. "You have my word," she promised. "We will be specifically looking at two areas whilst here," she glanced over her own notes. "The current employment practices regarding the house-elves, and the centaurs and their sanctuary on these grounds."

The fire cackled softly as the flames began to dwindle. A muffled 'pop' echoed in the Headmistress' office as Minerva's house-elf, Aila, appeared to stoke and replace the logs. "Good morning, mistress," she greeted, tending to the fire, aloof to the guest that Minerva was currently entertaining.

"And also to you," Minerva returned. "I'm glad you are here, Aila, there's someone I would like to introduce you to."

The house-elf looked up with wide eyes, clearing her hands on her traditional tea towel. "My apologies mistress, I did not know you were having guests this morning." Shoulders hunched shyly, she quickly made her way to where the Hermione and the Headmistress were seated.

Hermione quickly stood to shake the elf's small hand, dwarfed by even her own petite grip. Minerva didn't miss a beat as the two greeted each other. "Aila, this is Hermione Weasley, Head of the Department of-"

Aila needed no further introductions to Hermione Weasley; she was, after all, nationally recognized among the masses of house-evles across the UK. "Mistress, Aila knows who Hermione Weasley is. There isn't one of us here who doesn't know of all she does," she smiled.

Hermione returned the smile and released the elf's hand. "It's very nice to meet you, Aila, and I'm sure the pleasure will be all mine in the near future." Aila looked perturbed by Hermione's statement and peered with her large eyes to her mistress.

"Hermione will be here on behalf of the Ministry to ensure that your well-being is being properly attended to, Aila." The house-elf looked up at Hermione wearily and then back to her mistress, understanding that 'the near future' could prove very taxing on her and her fellow elves.

Hermione glanced up at Minerva, following Aila's stare, and the Headmistress contracted to sigh. This was going to be a long day, indeed.