Chapter 3!
Thank you, thank you really about those wonderful reviews, they helped me a lot to go on. Here's the third chapter. Hope you like it. Next one will come in 2 or 3 days.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Minerva McGonagall was sitting at her desk, in her Transfiguration classroom, checking and signing some documents. The feather was scratching the piece of parchment. Although her moves and posture were giving away some concentration on the writing, Minerva's whole mind was concentrated on only one single thing: Hermione Granger. The muggle-born witch she visited earlier this morning to welcome to Hogwarts; a unique girl. She couldn't stop recalling memories of the girl, and every time she managed a slight shudder crossed her body. Minerva was always protective of her students, always listened to their problems and tried to help; care and safety were priority for her, and all the other teachers.
Minerva wasn't sure what her exact feelings about Hermione were, but she needed to know, to understand what was the matter with the girl, because surely there was a problem. The Professor put her head between her hands and took a deep breath.
"She is an ordinary student Minerva, isn't she?" she hesitated to give and answer to that. Minerva wondered for a second what in her attitude or gestures may have caused the girl to run away, she just wanted to help. Now Minerva knew how she felt: she was worried, she had to be worried and nothing more.
"What have I done?"
#
"What have I done?" Hermione was lying on her bed, thinking and processing all that happened this morning, especially the face on McGonagall's face as she left.
"The woman tried to help me and I acted so rude, God I ran away! She's not coming back, I'm never going to attend this great school." Hermione buried her face in the pillow "I'm never going to see her again." the girl silently cried and recalled the very clear vision of her Professor reaching out for her wounded face and in a blink of the eye, the pain has gone. Hermione placed her hand on her sane eye and cried herself to sleep.
A few hours later the girl was awaken by an unknown hand gently stroking her hair. Hermione's vision was still blurry but the figure, crouched next to her very much reminded her of someone.
"Professor McGonagall?" muttered the child almost inaudibly. The woman seemed to have heard her because she smiled lovingly and fixed her gaze on the girl's eyes. Such an amazing emerald eyes her Professor had; Hermione could feel the warmth and comfort engulfing her, just by looking at her Professor. She just wasn't sure if that was a dream or reality. But it looked so real, in spite of the feeling of pain and fear that was missing now.
The girl slowly stretched out her tiny hand to take hold of her mentor's, squeezing it tightly and resting it on her cheek.
"You're safe Hermione. You're safe with me" the words echoed in her head and she threw a grateful look at Minerva. Hermione continued staring at those beautiful green eyes, not releasing the grip of the woman's hand.
Suddenly the eyes started to get darker and darker. Hermione shook her head and closed her eyes in confusion. The moment she opened them she felt someone gripping her hair tightly. She groaned and her eyes met Mr. Granger's. He pulled the girl close to him and whispered in her ear, allowing her to smell his disgusting drunk breath.
"Hope you slept well kitten. Because this night you won't get any"
Hermione struggled with the urge to run away; it wouldn't help her in any way.
"Daddy" the girl fought back her tears. She had to stay calm in order to reach her father's heart. She tried to break free of her father's grip but failed again. So she looked at him desperately and begged:
"Don't hurt me. I didn't do anything. I love you" tears now were falling down Hermione's cheeks.
"Then you'll get heartbroken" laughed Mr. Granger. "Before that you'll have a little talk with your mother" he smiled evilly and pushed the girl off the bed in Mrs. Granger's feet.
She pulled her daughter up and caught her face with both her hands.
"Now you better listen carefully. We decided you're going to that freaky school, because we don't want you around here anymore. Your professor will come tomorrow to pick you up. You won't receive any money from us, so you and your stupid teacher will have to deal with it alone. Come up with an excuse and if she really cares about her students, will find solution.
"I won't beg or take her money!" yelled Hermione.
SLAP
"Also, while you're there, nobody, I repeat, nobody must find out our little secret. You'll keep your scars covered, understood? The less people you talk to, the better. Though I doubt someone would ever want to stay near you. Do not get too attached, love hurts; touch is pain. If you've forgotten that, now your father will remember you" whispered Mrs. Granger and pushed her daughter into Mr. Granger's strong hands.
"Have fun" said her mother while throwing last glance at her daughter's teary and frightened eyes; her fragile body struggling against Mr. Granger's firm and painful grip.
"What about that teacher?" asked her father.
"I'll take care of her tomorrow honey. Tomorrow" and with that she shut the door and Hermione's cries echoed in the night, never heard.
#
On the first of September, early in the morning, Minerva McGonagall was walking towards the Granger's house; she was decided to figure out what was happening to the girl, no matter what. She knocked at the door and waited. Though it is a heavy and busy day, she'd do everything in her powers to get through the girl.
After quite a long time the door opened. There stood Mrs. Granger. It was quite obvious that she wasn't a morning bird: uncombed hair, eyes barely opened, still in her nightgown.
"Good morning Mrs. Granger. I'm deeply sorry to wake you up. I'm here to pick Hermione. It's just a busy day and the faster we finish, the sooner I can continue with my schedule" said Minerva, very well covering the urge to chuckle.
"Sure" was the only answer she got. As Mrs. Granger was halfway through her way, she turned round and asked:
"Before I go, may I talk to you about something" Minerva hesitated, she definitely had not time for chatting. "About Hermione"
"Of course" they sat on the bench in the garden and Minerva swallowed hardly the lump formed in her throat. Then she tensely asked:
"What about her? Is she alright?"
"Yes. No. I mean … I am about to share with you something and I'm begging you not to mention our conversation to her. It's for own good"
Minerva raised an eyebrow but promised.
"You saw Hermione's puffed eye the other day" McGonagall nodded. "She didn't get it while playing outside" her heart started to beat way faster than normal.
"Hermione hurts herself" Minerva shook her head, trying to assimilate the sentence. "I'm afraid I don't understand. It's normal for a child to fall down and…"
"It's not that. She does it intentionally"
"I completely refuse to believe that! Miss Granger seems so calm and innocent…"
"I know, my husband and I know best. It was so hard when we learned. We couldn't do anything. We took her to every doctor possible, there were no effective results. My heart was breaking into pieces every single day" Mrs. Granger pulled out the fake tears and cried loudly. Minerva however was at a loss of words; her chest was tight again, no adequate words could escape her mouth, if she now let her tears fall, they'd be sincere, painfully sincere.
"At Hogwarts we have some good medics, I'll arrange a meeting, maybe they'll be able to help her"
"No please. I told you we tried everything. Don't talk about that to her, she may hurt herself worse. I told you that just to be aware of the situation; Hermione may be dangerous for other kids. We tried to put her into an appropriate medical center, but our financial position isn't very well"
"Are her injuries very bad?" asked Minerva, not completely sure if she wanted a sincere answer.
Mrs. Granger nodded silently, faking another set of tears. Minerva bit her lip. She didn't expect such a situation.
"She…. She won't let me heal her injuries, she connects someone's touch with pain. She thinks we want to hurt her. That's why she ran away yesterday. She doesn't feel comfortable being close to anybody. And I can't do anything. I feel so miserable. I'd really appreciate this staying here between us, do not mention it even to Hermione, please. Just let it be"
"Let it be! Is she kidding? This child needs help more than ever. Maybe this is the explanation to her behavior." Sadly thought Minerva and let out a single tear fall.
"Oh, I am so sorry. I can't help myself. It's just too much" sobbed the woman. "You know, today is a busy day for us too. I'll go and pull myself together and prepare for the day and you go and take Hermione. She's upstairs, her luggage ready"
"Aren't you going to say goodbye?" Minerva asked amused and a little frustrated.
"Oh, we did that last night" said Mrs. Granger and got into the house, a smile hardly leaving her face.
Minerva was extremely frustrated. It seemed that the Granger's wanted her daughter out of here as soon as possible.
"No matter of the problem or the disease, I'd never leave my child" she thought while going upstairs. She wiped her tears and knocked at Hermione's door.
"Poppy will help you recover Miss Granger, so do I. I will. I swear in Merlin's beard"
Minerva opened the door, as she got no answer.
The room was dark, the window was closed, the curtains lowered. With a flick of the wand Minerva opened the window and the whole room lightened up. One special ray of sunlight fell on the little girl's bed. Hermione was tucked in up to her neck. Her face however could be clearly seen: scratches all over her face, blue marks could be seen on parts of her neck.
Pang after pang were shooting at her heart like the sharpest arrows, even worse than the Cruciatus curse. The woman was ready to suffer instead of the girl; only she could take her pain away.
Hermione started murmuring something in her dream, tossing and groaning in pain. Minerva ran to the girl's side and gently stroke her hair.
"Miss Granger, wake up. It's just a dream, please" it didn't help. Suddenly the girl reached out her hand in her dream, clearly searching for something… or someone. Minerva by instinct took hold of Hermione's hand and caressed it softly.
"Miss Granger, open your eyes, you have a bad dream. I'm here. You're safe" Professor McGonagall didn't even understood when she held the little hand even tighter, not wanting to let it go. Surprisingly the girl was doing the same. It seems to have calmed, because Hermione was now only breathing heavily. In a few moments she opened her eyes to see her beloved teacher smiling at her.
Hermione quickly withdrew and stared at those emerald eyes, waiting for them to convert into her father's ones. Nothing happened and the girl let the pain of her wounds take in and ran into the bathroom, passing by her startled professor.