When she awoke two hours later she caught the young witch staring off into the fire and she was overcome by a sudden feeling that something was terribly wrong.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" She looked up into her students sad eyes.
Hermione snapped out of it. "Hmm? Oh, nothing. I'm fine. Did you sleep well?" The young woman tried hard not to let any emotions show and smiled sweetly at her mentor. Minerva noticed immediately that her smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Yes I did. Hermione please talk to me. You're not fine. Tell me what's going on here." And then it hit her. "Where are your parents?"
The young woman shifted uncomfortably. "My…oh they're gone. Shall I get us some tea?"
Minerva sat up to face the girl properly, using her best stern-professor-look.
"Don't change the subject Miss Granger." Seeing the young witch flinch at her tone, she added softly "Hermione please. I'm here for you. Just tell me what happened."
"They're gone." It was becoming more difficult for the young witch to keep a straight face with every second.
"You keep repeating that, but what means 'gone'? When will they be back?" Minerva was extremely concerned now. It was not like Hermione at all to repeat dull phrases.
"They won't come back. I don't know where they are now, but they left this country for ever." The young witch didn't look at her, the brown eyes that once were so livelily seemed dull and hollow now.
"Hermione please, could you start at the beginning." Minerva needed the full story to understand what is going on here.
"It's my fault. I told them. I told them about the war and now they left." It seems that the floodgates had opened finally when the young woman started shaking and sobbing uncontrollably.
Minerva gathered her in her arms, holding her close in a tight embrace. The older woman cradled the shaking figure in her arms, whispering words of comfort until the girl seemed to calm down a little.
"I told them that you-know-who is back and that there will be war in my world. I just thought they should know how dangerous it…" She couldn't finish when her body shook with a new wave of sobs. She felt her mentor's warmth against her again, though she wasn't able to make out the soothing words the older witch whispered.
"I understand dear. Can you tell me what happened then?" Minerva tried very hard not to let her own anger show and concentrated on comforting the shaking girl.
"There was so much shouting and … and dad smashed coffee table and then they stopped talking to me for a week. I thought it will be all right someday, that they need time…but…but then they did talk to me. They informed me that they will move to Canada and that I'm no longer part of the family…that they don't want anymore contact with me, because… because it's my entire fault and they hate me." Hermione was in hysterics now,
"It's not your fault. Hermione look at me. This is not your fault." She emphasised every word, holding her tight again. She needed the girl to understand that she did nothing wrong.
Hermione wasn't convinced at all, still crying madly. "It is. They are a target, because I'm their daughter. I ruined their life."
"No, dear. They should be proud of you. They are so lucky to have you Hermione. You're so brave and smart and you have a heart of gold. God knows I am proud of you. I know you don't want to hear that now, but if they really left you, they are not worth a single tear."
Hearing her mentor say that only made Hermione cry harder.
There was nothing more Minerva could do or say now, so she drew the young woman close to her and held in her arms, cradling her gently. It was not long after that when the exhausted girl fell asleep in her mentors comforting embrace.
Seeing that Hermione had cried herself to sleep, Minerva covered them with a blanket and closed her eyes as well, thinking about everything the young woman just told her.
How could they just leave her? She is not even of age!
Minerva couldn't help thinking that they don't deserve a child like Hermione and the realisation that the girl's parents probably won't ever feel that way, made the older woman so sad she wanted to cry.
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Hermione awoke in her mentor's arms with a slight headache from her earlier crying. Looking up she found Minerva gently smiling at her.
"Hey dear. How are you feeling?" The old witch spoke very softly, her eyes betraying her concern.
"Awful." The word left her mouth before she could stop it. "I'm sorry Minerva, I didn't mean to fall apart on you." Sitting up, the girl turned her head and stared out of the window.
Minerva placed a gentle hand on the doleful child's shoulder. "Nonsense Hermione. You have nothing to be sorry for."
Hermione laid a hand upon her mentors, but didn't face her. "What happens now? I…I don't know what to do" she whispered somewhat lost.
The older witch gave her students shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry child. I sent a patronus to Albus while you slept, informing him of the situation. He'll be with us shortly. "
The young woman could only nod. She was relieved, because Prof. Dumbledore always seems to know what the right thing to do is, but she felt terrible for adding more to her headmaster's already very much filled plate.
A hand under her chin, forcing her to look up, interrupted her thoughts.
Minerva regarded the young woman with such a seriousness Hermione simply had to believe her. "Hermione, I want you to know that whatever will occur in the future I will be there for you. I won't leave you."
Seeing the girls eyes shine with new tears she pulled her back in her arms, placing a soft kiss on her head. "You're not alone my dear. You're not alone" she whispered gently.
I LOVE MY BETA!!!