I Own Nothing! Hermione and Minerva's relationship is the main focus (mother/daughter) but other characters will pop in now and again. :)
Hermione awoke to the sound of shuffling footsteps and hushed whispers.
"But if I could just-" Came the familiar demanding voice of Molly Weasley.
"No Molly, she needs to be here. I know it is hard but she doesn't need you, Potter or Weasley fussing over her. She needs rest, which can be provided here, or in the wards of ST Mungos. I'd rather she be here then locked up there." The severe voice of her professor ground out. Apparently Molly had been there awhile.
"I suppose you're right. It's hard though." Molly sighed.
"I know, but there is nothing we can do but let her help herself." Hermione crept out of her bed and opened the door a crack.
"Hermione!" Instantly she was enveloped in a warm hug from the red haired woman. "You're up! Shouldn't you still be in bed dear, oh you look much too thin, maybe you ne-" A single cough from the headmistress stopped her. Hermione withdrew sheepishly and stepped closer to Minerva. "Sorry dear, I was just so worried." Molly smiled sadly. "We all kept wondering what was wrong…"
"Harry and Ron know?" Hermione almost squeaked, she didn't want it to become common knowledge that she couldn't cope.
"No not yet dear, they're still in the academy and it's hard to find time to talk to them." Minerva frowned and suggested Hermione change whilst they moved to the living room. As Hermione left Minerva rounded on the redhead.
"You aren't helping her by being pushy Molly, I know you can't help it but she doesn't need it." Minerva stated coldly. She didn't want her to hinder Hermione's recovery. "She'll tell us why she's upset when she wants to and no sooner. Leave it be." She lowered her voice to a hiss as Hermione came back into the room and sat down. They three sat in awkward silence. "Did you have a peaceful sleep?" Minerva enquired eventually, seeing that the others were going to remain silent.
"Yes thank you, and what about you?" Hermione politely asked. Minerva nodded stiffly, and Hermione got the impression that she was lying. Instead of pressing the issue she decided to leave it in favour of chatting with Molly. "So how have you and the boys been Mrs Weasley?"
"Wonderfully dear, they are really getting along well- of course they miss you terribly- but I've heard great things from their instructor."
Minerva gave a tight lipped smile. "I always said they'd make good aurors." Hermione looked at her curiously.
"What did you say about me?" She asked.
"I said you could do anything you put your mind to, save for being a professional quidditch player." Hermione laughed.
"How did you know?"
"I once saw the three of you on your brooms; the boys looked to be teaching you to ride properly. You didn't look very happy learning the turns and twists. Needless to say I nearly had a heart attack a few times, and resorted to casting a cushioning charm on the ground below." Minerva smirked. "It was quite disastrous Molly."
"I was not! I wasn't that bad…" Hermione cried, but her smile gave it away. "Harry and Ron were able to catch me anyway." She sheepishly admitted.
"I was just the same when my children started flying; I even locked up the brooms when they were getting too dangerous." Molly laughed. "Thank Merlin for Hogwarts's Quidditch instructor!"
The conversation started to flow easier and the three women were enjoying themselves, when Moly looked at the time and gasped. "Goodness, I need to go home and start the dinner! This was a lovely visit, and I will come again soon Hermione but not this week. Thanks again Minerva." She said as she got up and left via the floo network.
This left Hermione and Minerva alone again, and Hermione was uncomfortably reminded of how much she didn't know about the headmistress. She got up, and started to look around the place, Minerva's eyes following her. There were no photographs, but plenty of books and Hermione traced the spines of them thinking about which one she would read first when she was alone.
"There are more in the library. Would you like to see?" Minerva asked.
"Please." Hermione replied, and she followed her mentor into the largest room filled to the brim with all kinds of informative books and literature.
"Like you, I have quite the appetite for knowledge." She said as Hermione gazed in wonder. "I have more, but they are at my home in the highlands."
"Really?" Hermione asked, impressed with her collection.
"Yes and you are welcome there any time you'd like. Providing you don't drool over the books." Minerva commented dryly. Hermione withdrew blushing.
"Sorry. Sometimes I get a little excited." She muttered.
"I was like that at your age. It's nothing to regret. Knowledge is a wonderful thing, and your appetite is quite admirable." Minerva wisely said.
"Thanks." Hermione looked around the room for something to say. "So, do you have any other hobbies?"
"A few." There was an awkward silence and Minerva decided to elaborate. "I play chess rather well, and music is a talent of mine."
Hermione looked interested "What do you play? I can't say I've ever been good at chess, Ron always beats me."
Minerva's lips quirked. "Then I shall have to teach you sometime. As for the music…I play the piano, violin and the clarinet as well as a few other magical instruments. Music has interested me since I was a child and my father taught me to play. What about yourself?"
Hermione beamed. "I used to dance as a child, ballroom. When I moved to Hogwarts I gave it up, then every summer I would find a new hobby. First year was horse riding, second was judo, and then I took acting classes, which I did for two years because I liked it. Fifth year I spent dancing again and the sixth I used to refine spells and practice duelling." She chuckled at Minerva's raised eyebrow. "I never liked to be too bored, and my parents liked me out of their hair. But I like to think some of it has helped me in later life." Hermione looked hesitant for a moment. "Would you play something for me?" She whispered.
Minerva frowned and debated it in her head. Her music was very personal to her, and not something she normally shared. However Hermione looked quite eager and she didn't wish to push the girl away. Finally deciding that it might help Hermione open up she relented. "I suppose one song…Then I will have to return to work." With a flourish of her wand, she conjured an ornate grand piano. Sitting at the stool she let her fingers glide over the keys before beginning to play. It was beautiful. Minerva was indeed talented, and as Hermione listened to the powerful playing she studied the older woman.
Her eyes were narrowed and her every movement concentrated, but as Hermione watched she relaxed and so did the music. 'Her emotional outlet is her music…' Hermione realised as she listened to the turbulent chords and angry keys. She sat in quiet awe as she played, and stood up to watch her hands move swiftly over the keys. As the song ended Hermione closed her eyes, trying to embed the memory into her mind. "That was beautiful professor." She sighed.
"Thank you Miss Granger. Now if you don't mind I need to be going." Minerva had already spent far too long with Hermione, and her workload was beginning to pile up. She would have to ask Filius for help at some point.
"Oh no, don't worry." Hermione responded. She wandered off further into the room, and picked up a book to read. Happy with her choice she sat down on a chair and settled in.
~~~/~~~
Minerva sighed as she finished her last piece of paperwork for the day. 'It never ends.' Then remembering her guest she wandered back to her library to find Hermione engrossed in a book. "I see you've been able to amuse yourself." The younger girl jumped.
"Sorry professor I didn't see you come in. You really have a wonderful collection." Hermione complimented her. Minerva smiled.
"I took years to amass." She smiled. "Are you ready to eat? I was about to cook dinner."
"That depends. Are you any good?" Hermione quipped, before realising who she was talking to. "Uh... I'm sure you are, so yes please, do you need any help?"
Minerva smiled loosely. "You can help if you like. And I shall have you know I have been told repeatedly that I'm a fantastic cook by my guests, Albus regularl-" She stopped talking as her eyes found the floor. The moment passed and she looked up again. "It doesn't matter now; I haven't cooked for a guest in quite a while." Hermione looked at her in concern before making up her mind.
"Well then I'll help and you can tell me what to do." Hermione stated, walking to the room she had recognised as the kitchen. Washing her hands, she briskly walked back to her professor. "What shall I do first?" Minerva blinked, and instructed her to cut vegetables. Hermione went about her job, but was stopped halfway through.
"Try doing it like this instead, it tastes better." Minerva said as she chopped it up more finely. Hermione tried to copy her, but failed miserably.
"Uh…" Minerva found herself laughing.
"Perhaps it would be better if you chopped the chicken." She instructed. They set to work again, with Minerva checking how Hermione applied the techniques she gave. Chatter flowed between them like running water. "We are going to be making a rice dish; I learnt it whilst in the Caribbean researching an older form of magic." Minerva informed her student.
"Old magic?" Hermione asked at once, and Minerva was soon lecturing her about all she'd learned. As they finished to food, and sat down to eat Minerva moved on to her other travels. "India's culture is fascinating."
"Once I went there with my parents. I loved learning about the history." Hermione explained. Soon they were also talking of Hermione's past and the places she'd visited. "When Ron went to Egypt I was so excited, but Mum and Dad had already been that year, so I couldn't go."
Then the train of conversation had flowed from their past holidays into their adventures as Hermione happily, and sometimes guiltily explained all that she and her boys had done at school.
"There was a dragon!" Minerva exclaimed at one point. Hermione nodded, but didn't tell her whose it was.
"There's no point now. Besides, can you guess what caused me to turn into a cat in our second year?" Minerva smirked.
"Albus told me, he was very impressed, and he insisted that your mishap was punishment enough." Hermione looked shocked.
"He knew that?" Minerva nodded.
"Albus knew everything that went on in this school. Not that he told me much of it. He was afraid that I'd 'overreact'. Ridiculous."
"Yes. Very." Hermione agreed rather woodenly. Minerva narrowed her eyes and Hermione smiled back at her.
"I think you need to eat a bit more before you go to bed." Hermione scowled, eyeing her half full plate.
"What are you, my mother?" Minerva raised an eyebrow.
"Worse, I'm your head of house." Her dry comment caused Hermione's lips to twitch involuntary. "You had a smaller portion to begin with, I expect you to eat at least half of what's left." Hermione groaned, sounding very much like a child. But Minerva remained firm and watched her eat the last bite, even as Hermione continued to moan. Then she instructed her to get ready for bed.
"I'm not tired."
"But your body needs the rest; I'll take care of the nightmares…My job is to look after you, so stop scowling." Minerva snapped.
"I don't need you to tell me when to sleep. I can fall asleep on my own thanks!" Hermione retorted. She marched to her room in a huff, whilst Minerva marched to hers. 'Why is she behaving so completely unreasonably?' The elder woman huffed. But Minerva instantly regretted the change in the atmosphere as she entered Hermione's room again. The glare she was sent almost made her shiver.
"Poppy instructed me that you need to have at least eight hours sleep every day. It's for your health." She stated awkwardly. As the room continued to feel frosty, and Hermione refused to look at her she snapped. "Stop behaving so childishly! The sooner you follow my instructions, the sooner you can get out of here!" With that she retreated back to her own room, the anger cooling off and leaving her feeling worse than she had in a while. With a sense of unease she drifted back off to sleep.
~~~/~~~
Hermione awoke gasping from her nightmare. This one had featured Minerva screaming her name as she was tortured in front of her. Hermione had sobbed as she was unable to do anything, and begged Bellatrix to stop desperately.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, she glanced around for her mentor, remembering the night's event too late. Guilt enveloped her as she remembered her moody actions. Sniffling quietly she tried to get back to sleep, only to have it repeatedly evade her. Finally, in desperation she crept out of her bed and towards Minerva's door. Creeping in she looked tiredly at the sleeping Minerva. "Sorry professor, I didn't mean to offend you." She whispered. Knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep on her own she quietly conjured her own bed beside the other woman's. Summoning sheets, she curled up under them and listened to the older woman's soft snoring as she drifted to sleep again.
