"I'm so sorry Hermione. There wasn't anything more anyone could have done. They found them in car this morning," Albus told the girl. "and they were not able to make it to the hospital in time."
The little body stood too still. Shouldn't she be crying?
Albus continued, "I must go and meet with the rest of the staff, but I shall return soon to talk some more. You are more than welcome to take a few days off from school, all of your professors are more than willing to catch you up when you're ready to come back."
She spoke for the first time since her hello, "No, I must continue working. There is too much to be done." She then politely thanked the headmaster, and turned to leave to her dormitory. Once reaching the fat lady in the portrait she waited a moment for the song to finish before saying the password, "Hippogriff". Crawling into her bed she immediately fell into a much needed sleep.
The next morning she awoke much too early, so decided to take an ice cold shower. She stood still under the droplets until the frigid air chilled her skin numb. Shakily, she wrapped a thin towel around her limbs and put on her uniform. Not feeling anything, there was no need for breakfast. She believed her appetite gone for good. Instead she trailed into the library wearing a heavy backpack draped over her baby arms.
"Good morning Miss Granger, are you not feeling hungry this morning?" Asked Madam Pince.
"Not quite Madam, I am going to get ahead in a few of my readings for next week." She replied.
After about a half an hour, Hermione pulled up her wild curls into a loose bun and headed back down the hall towards her first period class. It was Transfiguration this particular morning with Hufflepuff. She sat down quietly and pulled out her quill to take notes. Her chest felt like it was caving in. Her muscles went tight, trapping her heart and creating slow, steady beats. It felt so tight, she thought it possible to break at any moment. Realizing she had just missed the instructions and all of her peers were already attempting the spell, she walked slowly and quietly up to the professor while the others were intently distracted. "I'm sorry professor, I seemed to have missed the directions. Do you think it possible to show me again?"
Minerva glanced down at the first year in front of her. Of course she had heard the news from Albus the previous morning. How could this little girl be handling herself so well? "Miss Granger, I would be happy to give you a note to stay in your dormitory for the day. It is important to have some time for yourself."
The little eyes teared up at the thought, "Oh, no professor, please! I only wish you to show me the spell and wand movements another time! I'm very sure I could do it!"
"Very well Miss Granger, please watch closely." After showing Hermione the motions for the second time, the girl repeated with the intended results instantaneously. "Are you sure you wouldn't like a pass now that you have the transfiguration down? You would be right on track with the other students for the day."
"That's alright Professor, I will just continue reading some of the later chapters." After the clock struck and the class started lining up to put their transfigured "hats" into the box, Minerva stopped the girl. "Would you please stay after class and talk with me? I need some help putting these away as well, Miss Granger."
"Okay." She responded timidly. A few minutes later and the rest of the students cleared out of the room, leaving the professor and child alone.
"Will you grab that box over there? I'll take this one. Follow me Miss Granger!" Instructed Minerva. They walked into a back room. This must be her chambers, Hermione thought. It was beautiful. There were great big tapestries hanging over some of the walls, and a pretty China tea set on the coffee table that contained her professors initials. There were other initials as well, but Hermione couldn't guess who they belonged to. .. A.D. Hmm. Probably whoever gave her the tea set. There were silky, deep green curtains over a great big window that overlooked the lake. A poofy, brown leather couch faced the window and contained a soft emerald quilt. Along most of the walls, a personal library surrounded the room. The carpet was a plush cream that made her want to curl up on it with a blanket.
"Miss Granger, I noticed you were missing from the breakfast table this morning," Her professor shocked her from the quietness, "Is there a reason for this? Madam Pince said that you had gone to the library instead."
"I wasn't very hungry this morning, and sometimes it can get a little too loud for me at that table. So I went to the library and did a few readings for later." The girl replied.
"Are you hungry now Miss Granger? I could have something made up really quick! I would like to have a little something extra myself." Asked Minerva, thinking that by adding the last statement the girl wouldn't think it too much trouble.
"That's alright professor, I'm still not all that hungry." Minerva looked across at the little body. Her big brown eyes looked just as glossed over as when she first approached her during class. She looked about to ask something, so Minerva waited patiently while drinking some of her tea. "I was wondering what will happen over break. I am going to stay here of course for Christmas, I cannot go home now, but what about during the summer?"
That was a big question, and Minerva thought it wasn't her place to answer. She tried anyways, "We are still trying to figure that out at the moment Hermione," The girl seemed shocked at the use of her first name,"but I promise there will be a happy home for you to go." Minerva continued, "Have you told your friends of your situation yet?"
She looked to her hands, tangling the together while answering, "I don't really have many friends, I thought Harry and Ron to have liked me on the train ride here a few weeks ago, but they seem to only throw insults at me lately." She looked towards her professors worried look, "Oh! It's alright! I am quite content with that, I have so much to do for school anyways. It's always been this way, at home I found myself giving all of my time for school as well."
Minerva felt her heart give a little ways, "Well miss Hermione, I have also noticed you are very far ahead in your readings and lessons. I was hoping you would consider some private lessons with me. That is if you think you will be able to keep up with your other classes." At this, Hermione's face lit up.
"Oh, I would love that professor! I want very much to practice all that I have been reading! I dislike waiting until everyone else catches up." She replied.
"Very well then Miss Granger, how about three nights a week we meet in here to go over some new spells and material. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights after supper should do the trick. My password is lemon drop, and you may use it anytime you need. Lessons or otherwise." Minerva informed. She thought for a moment some company with Hermione would do her just as much good. She did enjoy a nice bright witch once in awhile who loved to learn as much as she.
"Thank you Professor. I have to hurry to potions now, I am already very late. Do you think you could write me a note?" Hermione asked.
"Of course Miss Granger!" She answered, "Here you are. I shall see you later for our lesson."
Hermione walked briskly towards the dungeons for her class. She hoped her professor wouldn't mind her tardiness.
When she reached the room, her professor seemed to not even notice she was missing. Looking towards the board, she retrieved her ingredients and carefully continued. Even though she was the last to begin, she was certainly the first to easily conjure up her potion in the vile. While handing it to Professor Snape, she slid him the note Professor Mcgonagall had given her.
"Thank you Miss Granger. Please clean up and run along." He stated in a small voice.
She did as he said, cleaned and moved along. She had some time before lunch hour, so decided to head back to the dormitory. She quietly decided to shut her eyes for a bit longer, and when the time came to go to lunch, decided instead to stay bundled up in bed for an hour. She wasn't very hungry anyways.
Minerva looked down from the staff table to catch sight of the girl. However, when she looked down next to the boys she didn't see Hermione. Oh dear, she thought. It was time to go check on her. Professor Dumbledore seemed to agree, and insisted on checking the library.
Professor Mcgonagall rushed over, and found it empty- except from Madam Pince of course. She then proceeded to check the Gryffindor common room. That was empty as well, so she trailed the stairs up to the girl's room. It was so still, she almost believed it to be empty as well. However, when she looked towards the bed, she realized Miss Granger to be cuddled up and asleep. This girl had been through alot in these past few days. Minerva thought about waking her up and decided to wait a few hours. Noticing her feet were sticking out with her shoes, Minerva quietly untied the laces and slid off the shoes. She then pulled the blanket down a bit and tucked the little feet inside.
Looking down she couldn't believe such a beautiful little girl, filled with such a big heart, could be having this terrible of a time. Her little curls stuck to her face, so Minerva pulled them back carefully. Hermione is such a bright little girl. A hard worker, yes, but naturally brilliant as well. The way her face lit up when she learns a new trick quickly, or answers a question right seems to portray Minerva's feelings on the girl's accomplishments quite perfectly. The professor would have asked for these extra lessons with Hermione anyways. She truly is very far ahead, and Minerva was excited to see what else she could teach the talented girl. Maybe she could even become animigous in a few short years!
Minerva smiled at the thought, and returned to the great hall. "How is the poor girl?" Dumbledore asked her.
"I found her sleeping, and decided not to wake her. This morning I asked her to do extra lessons with me during the week. Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's after supper. She is a very bright witch, and is already well past her peers in her first few weeks." Minerva replied excitedly.
The headmaster noticed the glint in her eyes while she spoke, and could only feel the excitement as well, "I'm sure she will be brilliant, especially under your care Minerva," She smiled at the use of her first name, "could you be of assistance making sure she is emotionally healing after such terrible matters? I'm afraid it seems she doesn't have many to talk with about how she is feeling. You know Minerva, she reminds me of another fine witch I know." He ended with his smiling eyes.
"Oh stop it Albus. And of course I shall try my best, but I don't know how much help I will be. She seems to keep to herself most of the time. I know she will need someone there when she feels the need to let everything out though." Minerva replied, "I have to go set up for my next class. I'll see you at supper?"
"Indeed. Hermione with be just fine with you. Enjoy your day!" He replied while getting up to tend to his own tasks.
A few short hours later, Hermione sat with Ron and Harry at the dinner table. Everyone else was chitter-chattering abundantly, and seemed to not pay that much attention to the girl. Not that she minded, she liked having the time to relax and keep her mind off of the usual thoughts. Still not hungry, she pushed the food around her plate while only managing a bite or two. Minerva caught sight of this silliness, and made up her mind that the girl would need to eat something at her chambers when they met.
Hermione left a little early, and walked towards the older witch's space. "Lemon drop." She announced, and walked into the room. Her professor wasn't in the area yet, so she decided to peek at some of the books on the shelves. They were of every subject, including some fiction from the muggle world. She stopped to look at a book lying on the coffee table next to the tea set. It was a transfiguration book for household items. It was bound in chocolate brown leather, and was practically asking her to pick it up and snuggle in the fluffy couch with the beautiful emerald blanket. Her professor seemed to have a similar taste.
Minerva had walked into the room a few moments earlier, and began to watch the curious girl look onto the shelves. She smiled at the contentedness that crossed the little face as she looked onto her favorite reading space. For a moment the professor couldn't help but picture the two of them snuggled up together, reading for hours in front of the grand window view and drinking some pumpkin spice tea.
"Hermione, dear, I noticed you hadn't eaten anything on your plate at dinner tonight. I simply cannot allow that," She said to her cub, "I am going to order up some food. You can pick anything you like."
"Oh, but I am truly not hungry. If I must though, I will just take a peanut butter sandwich and milk."
That isn't very much, Minerva thought to herself. It would have to do. For now. "Pinkly, could you come here," she addressed. A particularly small house elf appeared in front of the two.
"What would professor like? And who is little miss?" Pinkly returned, pointedly towards Hermione.
"This is Miss Granger. She is a student of mine, who will be visiting often throughout the year. I would like for you to abide by her, and look out for her while I cannot. Also, could we please have a peanut butter sandwich and a fresh glass of milk?" Minerva asked.
"Pinkly be right back, professor and little miss!" the house elf replied, vanished, and soon returned with the requested gift.
Hermione ate slowly, still picking at her food. This hadn't gone unnoticed to Minerva, but she decided to keep quiet. At least the poor girl was eating something today. Once the girl seemed finished, although it was only half of the sandwich, the dishes vanished. "Hermione, would you like to come and sit on the couch with me? My old bones aren't up to par as they use to be."
They both fell into the fluff, and Hermione thought to herself she wouldn't be able to pull herself up from it at the end of the night. The professor began, "Hermione, we will be going through our first year lessons first. I think you will finish quickly though, perhaps by the end of next month. We will then move onto future years, hopefully getting through year four by the end of our lessons this spring. We may continue onto more challenging tasks in the following years. Now I am asking for a promise, that if our lessons are taking up too much time in the future and it is interfering with other classes, we must put them on hold until you are ready."
"Yes mam'. I will be sure to let you know if they become too much." Hermione stated, having serious doubt as to ever actually making herself comply.
Minerva continued, "Also, I would be most pleased if you refered to me as Minerva during our time here. I am quite tired of formalities by suppertime."
"Yes prof-Minerva. I shall do my best!" replied Hermione.
By the end of the second hour, Hermione had perfectly accomplished all the professor had prepared and then some. The last hour, Minerva suggested Hermione take a break with her and pick something from her shelves to read. Hermione happily obliged, and grabbed one of the muggle books. She read enough about the other topics in her classes. She sprawled out, carefully avoiding putting her limbs anywhere that seemed unwelcome, and delved into the literature. By the time the hour had gone out, Minerva looked over from her own readings and found the girl was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. "Would you like to stay here for the night Hermione? I have an extra room all made out. You wouldn't have to make the trek back to your dormitory, and I could have Pinkly bring some of your things to use for tonight and the morning. It wouldn't be any trouble. I think you need some time and space from the others anyways." Minerva suggested.
"Oh, I don't want to be a burden professor- to you or Pinkly." Minerva had noticed the slip of her formal name, "I really do not mind heading back." Hermione shyly replied.
"Hermione, my dear, it wouldn't be a burden at all. I would love the company, and Pinkly enjoys helping us out. Here, you continue reading and I'll make us some hot coco. Pinkly shall snap back within a few minutes with you stuff!" The professor decided. Hermione went a little pink in the face, but carried on with her read while Minerva tended the hot coco. The professor was correct in the quick arrival of the house elf, and charmed Hermione into her warm pajamas while snuggling her favorite blanket up to the girl. As she went on to join her cub on the couch, the coco trailed behind ready to be indulged in.