Lonely Chapter 1
„What is wrong, darling?", the handsome looking man asked, handing his wife a glass of red wine.
His question was met with a sigh. „I wish I knew, but I can't seem to put my finger on it. Are the children sleeping?"
„Yes, they are." He pulled his wife into a one sided hug. „What is that?", he asked, nodding to the piece of paper in his wife's hand.
„A letter from my former professor."
"Professor McGonagall?"
Hermione nodded.
"There was a time you beamed with joy when you got her letters. What happened to that?"
"I don't know. She seems to have changed so much. Her letters become increasingly short and impersonal. I wish I knew what is wrong. Maybe it is something I said, but I wouldn't know what."
"You know the answer to solve the mystery. We have talked about countless times."
"Sean, moving to the UK would change everything. Living there is so different from what we have here. What if you don't like it? You've never been there. We have to consider the children. We can't just move back here if you don't like living there."
"I am considering the children. If we move, and I am absolutely certain we have to move, we need to do it now. Before the children start school and as long as the job offer still stands. The hospital won't wait forever for my reply."
Hermione looked from their terrace into the Australian sunset. This house, this country was her refuge. It was such a beautiful piece of land. "Why? What makes you so certain we should move?"
'Because you can't run forever' was the reply he wanted to give, but knew that it would only lead into another fruitless discussion. "I just am. And besides, what about your professor? If she sounds so unhappy in her letters you should go and find out what is bothering her. I understand you owe her a lot."
Hermione smiled, remembering all the lessons she learned from the older woman. The support the normally so stern deputy headmistress had shown her. She had helped Hermione becoming the person she was now, both throughout all the good and bad times. Yes, she owed her Professor an awful lot. Including her life during the last battle. She would never forget the day the older woman threw herself between the death eater's curse and herself. She would never forget the serve injuries her professor had gone through because of her. She would never forget the week of hoping and praying when her professor's life was hanging on a thread.
Seeing his wife's smile falter, he pulled her into his arms. "Let's move, my love. I promise everything will be fine."
"Ok," she whispered into his chest. "Let's do it quickly, or I will change my mind."
Two weeks later the small family sat in a fully booked plane.
"Mummy, when will the plane land?" the little blond girl asked, trying not to sound too whiny.
"In nine hours, sweetie", she whispered, not wanting to wake the small boy sleeping in her lap.
The little girl sighed and cuddled into her Daddy's chest, seemingly deciding that sleeping would be her best option.
"Have you told her you'll be visiting? Have you told anyone at all?" Sean asked, turning his attention from his daughter to his wife.
"No, I haven't. I want it to be a surprise." Now that she said it aloud she wasn't sure that was such a good idea after all.
"It will be fine, love. Everything will be all right." He leaned over, carefully not to disturb any of his children and placed a loving kiss on Hermione's temple.
The next day Hermione was anxiously standing in front of the house she sent so many letters to, suddenly unsure if she should go in. From what Hermione understood, her former teacher had rented a room in this house. The family living there provided hot meals, but there is no personal attachment at all.
The young woman's musings were interrupted by a middle aged woman, who didn't look too kind.
"Can I help you," the woman asked, clearly annoyed at the stranger staring at her house.
"Yes, I think you can. I'd like to visit Professor McGonagall."
The other woman looked strangely surprised and a little suspicious. "Why?" she asked.
Now it was Hermione turn to get annoyed. "I don't think that is any of your business. Where is the Professor's room, please?"
"This way." She pointed upstairs. "It is the only room up there."
Hermione didn't waste any time. She paused in front of the door, but feeling the other woman looking at her, she knocked.
She had to wait a few seconds for the answer. "Come in," she heard the faint voice of her teacher.
Hermione carefully opened the door and entered the small room.
She found her Professor sitting on a sofa, staring at her visitor in disbelieve. "Miss Granger?", she asked, her voice sounding weaker than Hermione remembered it to be.
"Professor McGonagall," Hermione greeted her softly, the lump that had formed in her throat preventing her from saying anything else. Unsure how go to on from here, she walked over to the sofa. She saw the older woman struggle to stand up. "Please stay seated, professor." Before the old witch had a chance to reply, Hermione bent down to engulf her former teacher in an awkward hug, immediately noticing that she felt unnaturally warm.
A hug. Minerva couldn't even remember the last time another person had willingly touched her. It seemed that the older she got, the more isolated she became. If she remembered correctly, it was the young girl, currently standing in her room that gave her the last hug. That was when she said a quick good bye before leaving for Australia. That was seven years ago.
"Miss Granger, please sit. Can I offer you a cup of tea?"
Hermione sat next to the older witch. "A cup of tea would be lovely, thank you." She smiled when her favourite tea appeared in front of her. While her former teacher was busy pouring the tea, Hermione had a little time to observe the older woman and was worried by what she saw. Minerva McGonagall didn't look like the woman Hermione remembered. She looked pale and flushed at the same time, her skin appearing almost transparent. Lose strands of hair fell from all sides of the formally so strict bun and she had obviously lost much weight. She looked downright fragile and as ill as one could look.
"Have you finished?" A voice brought her back from her musings.
"Sorry?" Hermione asked, slightly shaking her head, trying to focus her mind back to the older woman.
"Have you finished observing me?" Minerva sounded slightly amused.
The young witch had the grace to blush. "I am sorry. It is just that I didn't see you for such a long time."
"Yes, you have been away for a very long time." A familiar sadness settled in the old woman's heart.
Seeing her mentors eyes suddenly glaze over, she put a gentle hand on her arm. "I am here now."
"And for how long? A brief visit?" The words left her mouth before she was able to stop them, sharper than she would have wanted.
Hermione was shocked by the sudden outburst and pulled her hand back. Her mentor had never shown any sign that she was unhappy about Hermione's leaving. "Sean got a job offer from St. Mungos. They need a new muggle doctor to treat the muggle diseases. We're moving. Sean and the children are looking at a house we may want to buy at this very moment."
"I apologize, Miss Granger. That was uncalled for."The last words were lost in a rather violent coughing fit."
"Professor, are you all right?" Hermione's voice was laced with concern when she put a soothing hand on the other woman's back, yet again noticing the warmth radiating from her.
The coughing slowly ceased and the older witch waved her hand dismissively. "Yes, yes. Just fine."
Hermione wanted to believe her, but found her hops destroyed when her mentor started coughing again, this time even more violently and making a faint whistling sound when she tried to breathe in. She stood up to grab a glass of water from the table, waiting until the coughing slowly began to cease. She had to wait far too long until her former teacher was able to sip a little bit of water.
"Where is your medicine, Professor?" Hermione was already standing again, to fetch her metros meds.
I know I am mean... lol Let me know what you think!
A special thanks to my wonderful beta!!