Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Characters belong to J.K. Rowling. No Copyright infringement intended.
A/N: IMHO, there is not enough McGonagall Fiction out there so here is another one. This one has lots of Hermione too. Hope you enjoy please don't forget to review. Flamers are welcome, it just means I can pop more popcorn. This is being reposted because it has been corrected thanks to my beta the wonderful Vangoghadmirer!!!!!!!! Thanks for doing all this work!
Title: Nowhere to Turn
Rated: PG
Hermione Granger entered the Great Hall and sat down next to Harry at the Gryffindor table. "Good Morning, Harry."
"Morning Hermione."
"Where's Ron?"
"Right behind you, Hermione." Ron answered and sat down next to her. "Mail's here."
Harry checked for Hedwig but there was no sign of her. Pig dropped a letter from Ron's brother, Charlie along with a copy of the Daily Prophet. Hermione was eating her toast when a snowy owl dropped a letter in her lap. She noticed the unfamiliar handwriting on the envelope as she looked at it.
"Who's it from Hermione?" Harry asked while eating his eggs.
"I don't know." She replied and then opened the letter reading it. As she read tears began to well up in her eyes. She quickly got up from the table and ran out of the Great Hall. She ran around the corner and then her legs finally gave out along with her emotions. She slid down the wall and with head in her hands began to cry.
Her abrupt departure did not go unnoticed Harry and Ron got up and ran after her. Professor McGonagall said something to Professor Dumbledore and then excused herself to go in search of her student. Harry and Ron immediately ran to Gryffindor tower when they got to the porthole they noticed that the fat lady had just swung open and Professor McGonagall stepped out.
"She must have taken her animagus form and beat us here." Ron said as he and Harry walked up to the professor.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, have you seen Ms. Granger?"
"No Professor, we were just coming to look for her."
"As am I Mr. Potter. Do either of know of any other place she would go if she were upset?"
Harry looked to Ron, and Ron looked back at Harry. "Well, I don't know if she would go there when she is upset but the first thing that comes to mind is the library."
"For me too, but she's not there." McGonagall replied. "You two should get to class now." The boys started to protest, but Professor McGonagall put up a hand to silence them. "I know you are concerned about Ms. Granger, but you are to go to class. I will continue to look for her and inform you of anything as soon as I know. If you find her on the way to class notify me immediately."
Ron began to say something, but Harry stopped him. "Yes, thank you, Professor." Harry replied and then walked with Ron to class.
"I can't believe her!" Ron started. "Hermione might be in danger and she won't let us help."
"Ron, Professor McGonagall is not being unreasonable. She has never left us out of anything before. If she finds her, she'll let us know."
Ron thought for a moment and then conceded, "I guess you're right. We can't do anything until we find her and find out what's wrong. If she wanted us to know she wouldn't have run away." Ron concluded as they entered Professor Vector's classroom and took their seats.
Minerva looked everywhere she could think of there was no sign of Hermione. As she turned the corner to go to speak to Albus she saw a figure curled up in a dark corner. Minerva walked over and bent down next to her. "Ms. Granger," She began softly, as she sat down on the floor next to the young girl.
"Professor, please leave me alone."
Minerva's concern for the young girl grew. This wasn't the Hermione that the teachers had grown to know and adore. "I can't and I won't. I want to help you." Minerva said softly but firmly.
"You can't help." Hermione said as tears and emotions continued to creep into her already shaky voice. She tried to get up and run but Minerva was too fast for her. She put a hand out to stop her. Hermione gave in. Minerva stood up and helped her to her feet. "Hermione, how can I help?"
"You can't!" She screamed weakly and then was reduced to hysteric sobs. Minerva gathered her up in her arms to calm the girl. As she did, an envelope and pictures dropped from Hermione's pocket. The pictures she decided, were that of her parents and they had obviously been tortured. Minerva also noted the letter next to the pictures, with her catlike eyesight she read: Watch your back, Mudblood or you'll join your parents.
Minerva couldn't begin to understand Hermione's pain. Her parents had obviously been killed and she had nowhere to turn. Minerva felt anger build up inside her. Why would anyone want to hurt this sweet girl?
Minerva was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Hermione speak. "They killed my parents, Professor. What do I do now? They died because I'm a witch."
Minerva was at a loss for words. All she could do was hold her as she wept; silently hoping that she would be able to help Hermione to heal and that the person or persons responsible would be found and punished.