It had been months, close to a year since the battle of Hogwarts and no one had seen or heard of Hermione. The last anyone had saw of her was walking numbly out of the Great Hall, her eyes unfocused on the bodies and destruction.

Minerva had watched her walk away, happy to give the girl some space but she also worried. She herself had been a young girl in a war before, and while she was never at the forefront as much as Hermione, she knew all to well the toll it took.

Minerva and the remaining staff had taken it upon themselves to repair Hogwarts after the battle, students came in droves to help, but Hermione didn't. The now Headmistress was concerned, but came to the conclusion she would see Hermione at at least one of the many funerals that were to commence the following week but that was not the case.

Minerva attended all of the funerals, always composed and strong though on the inside she felt the opposite. This new title had been placed upon her, along with the hope of the entire magical population of England. The pressure was immense and the emerald eyed witch had not stopped since long before the battle.

"Filius, please do not try to stop me." Minerva spoke, her voice portraying how passionate she felt about her endeavor.

"I will not, but I must ask what you expect to achieve that no one else has?" The short charms professor replied, watching a multitude of emotions pass over his friend's tired face.

"Honestly, I do not know. Though I know I cannae remain here for much longer." She raised her hand to stop an interruption. "I know of my obligations to this school and it's students, but I am afraid that I will be unable to run this school with the whereabouts of one of my students unknown." Filius nodded, looking as though he was thinking something over.

"Minerva... Why do you care so much?" Minerva pursed her lips and then sighed.

"Because, my friend, I do believe her to be my soul mate." She ignored the surprised gasp and guessed the following question. "Yes, I am quite sure. The emotional, and physical, pain I felt when she was 'on the run'... At the time I attributed to stress. Though it all became clear when she returned to the school. The pain left, all I desired was to hold her close to me." She blinked slowly, willing the tears not to fall. "I cannot, and will not, run a school when I am dying. I am not Albus." The charms professor nodded his acceptance.

"Well then I must urge you to find her quickly, Minerva, because neither of you will last much longer apart."

Minerva pulled her muggle coat tighter around her thin frame and waited. She raised her hand to knock again when she heard footsteps and then the door unlock. It opened and warmth hit her, as did disappointment. She could tell by the look on Mrs Granger's face that she hadn't found her daughter. The muggle's eyes widened in surprise and recognition as she stepped aside to let Minerva into her house.

"I assume you're here about 'Mione?" Mrs Granger spoke, gesturing for Minerva to sit across from her on a dining chair in the kitchen. Minerva nodded, sipping from the mug placed on the table in front of her. "No one has heard a peep from her, not even us, for almost a year." There was a long silence.

"Is there anywhere you think she may have ran to?" Minerva asked and Mrs Granger shook her head.

"Not anywhere that I haven't already told Harry, or Ron, or his family... I find that I am losing hope." Mrs Granger's voice cracked as tears fell.

"Put your hope in me." Minerva spoke with conviction.

"And what makes you different?!" Mrs Granger replied, frustrated. "Why would you be able to find her over her best friends?"

"She is my soul mate." Despite Minerva's fast, feline reflexes, she was not quick enough to stop the slap stinging across her face. "Mrs Granger-"

"Don't you dare!" The muggle screeched.

"Please let me explain." There was a long silence.

"I'm listening..." Minerva sighed.

"The common notion of soul mates is based in an ancient magic. Muggles, like yourself, may feel very 'diluted' symptoms of finding your soul mate. However, magical beings experience both physical and emotional distress when separated from their soul mate." Minerva took a deep breath. "I first experienced those... Feelings... When your daughter was a fugitive, I assumed that it was extreme stress, however it became clear to me when Hermione returned that she was my soul mate. The negative feelings disappeared to be replaced with a happiness and light I had not felt in a long time." Minerva stopped, finding herself once again willing the tears not to fall. "We cannae choose who our soul bonds with, if I could I would not have chose Hermione." A single tear dropped off of ebony lashes and was wiped away by elegant fingers before it reached her cheek. "Hermione may be unaware of this, though she will be feeling similar to myself... She is fiercely intelligent and I imagine she will have educated herself." There was a very long silence as Mrs Granger took in the information. "And if she has, she will be aware that, wherever she is, she cannot remain there for much longer." Mrs Granger frowned in confusion. "The pain is debilitating and I fear I am becoming weak. As will she." Minerva stood to leave.

"Please find my baby girl." Mrs Granger begged brokenly as she sobbed. Minerva didn't reply verbally and left the house with a small pop signalling her apparation.

It had been days and Minerva was exhausted. There had been no sign of Hermione, but Minerva felt as though she was getting close. Or was she? It was hard for her to think clearly through the agony she was in. She was in the Forest of Dean, she knew little about the significance of the area, only that this is where the trio of Gryffindor's had been in their time away. She stopped as her feet had carried her to a lake, and to her utmost surprise, one Hermione Granger.

"Hermione..." Minerva's voice was barely a whisper but Hermione had heard it loud and clear, for the first time since she was on the run the terrible pain constricting her chest had disappeared.

"I knew it was just a matter of time until you found me." Hermione spoke, her voice gravelly from months of disuse. "I won't come with you." Minerva frowned.

"I will not ask you to." Hermione chuckled humourlessly.

"But I have to. We have to go together but I won't go back there." Hermione didn't need to specify where 'there' was. Minerva knew she meant Hogwarts.

"Hermione I am not asking you to, it is perhaps the furthest thing from my mind right now." Neither of the two witches had moved physically, the entire forest seemed to be still around them, as though time had stopped. "Please... Can I..." Minerva started, though she couldn't seem to push the words past her lips. She didn't need to as Hermione immediately rushed towards her, wrapping surprisingly lean arms around the tall Scottish witch. The two stood there for what seemed like eternity, holding tightly on to the other, neither willing to let go again.

"I know we can't be apart," Hermione started, "But I meant it when I said I won't go back, I can't, not yet." Minerva nodded slowly.

"We can go anywhere, for now it is of little importance." Hermione smiled gratefully. "But we do have to tell your parents and your friends that you are alive." Hermione looked down, only looking back up when a cool hand tilted her chin upwards. "I know you are scared, I know you think that by seeing them it will bring all of the unwanted memories back... And it may at first, but so will all of the positive memories you shared." Hermione nodded slowly.

"I feel... Bad." Hermione spoke and Minerva smiled slightly at the simple words.

"They will not hate you, Hermione. They will just be happy to know that you are okay."