A/N: So I have decided to finally start rewriting this. I will delete most of the chapters already up and replace them or re-upload them later. The epilogue is also going to change.

September 19th 1996

"Did you get the note from them?" Harry nodded. They had been to see their relatives a couple of times but that night Minerva had organised Hermione a little birthday party albeit her and her husband, the golden trio and she hadn't told Hermione but Mrs Weasley and Hermione's muggle parents.

"What did your parents send you?" Harry noticed a few were giving them suspicious glances.

"My present hasn't arrived yet, which is odd. Thank you for the Bracelet- it's beautiful." It was Ginny who had picked it out for him but he didn't tell Hermione- the way she glanced at Ginny when she said it meant that she had probably figured it out. Ron had given her some sweets- he was always useless with presents. Neville had given her a special sort of lily and Luna had given her a quibbler subscription. Ginny had gone shopping and bought her a top or something. Harry couldn't quite remember.

"I'm sure it got held up in the post." Ron was still stuffing sausages into his mouth. He and Ginny were the only two who knew of Harry and Hermione's relationship with the deputy and headmaster. Harry didn't want any more trouble. He had been met with some trouble from a few of the boys. Much to his relief it seemed to be calming down.

"I suppose. Oh well we'd better get to potions." Both boys groaned making Hermione laugh slightly. "It's not that bad."

"It's not for Harry." Ron nudged him. "Liquid luck… sorry Hermione I shouldn't have reminded you about that on your birthday." She sighed, trying to rein in her self-control.

"No Ronald but then again knowing you shouldn't probably say something has never stopped you before has it." He was left rather dumbfounded but then Lavender Brown came up to him, whisking him off.

Harry muttered a quick bye before making sure no one was around. "Don't worry about it Hermione- maybe Gran has it?"

"Maybe. Remember dinner tonight and then straight to their sitting room."

"Got it."

Dinner went quickly although Hermione noticed a few of her favourites when the food appeared- she looked up to the head table, her father giving her a quick wink. She was rather upset when Harry, Ron and Ginny seemed to run off without her. She followed after them feigning a small huff. Sometimes she liked to be by herself if only for a moment- she would have been learning to drive a muggle car this year if she hadn't come to Hogwarts. She still sometimes wondered what would have happened to her if she hadn't come here. As a little girl she had always said she would do law because she didn't particularly like blood or teeth. She came to the painting and didn't even think twice about the password. However Godric wouldn't let her in straight away.

"Wait here Hermione dear." A moment later Harry came out with a blindfold.

"Harry what on earth are you doing with that?" HE shushed her and tied it around her eyes firmly before taking her hand and leading her down the tunnel into the sitting room. They stopped and as he gently pulled it off there was a cheer of "Happy Birthday Hermione!"

A big banner hung across one of the walls and there was a cake, drinks and food set up against another. The biggest surprise was not the pile of presents on the coffee table but the people at the party. Most of the Weasleys were there and so was Remus and Tonks. The biggest surprise was her muggle parents though. Hermione ran towards them.

"I thought you had forgotten."

"Hermione why on earth would you think that?" Jean Grainger studied her for a moment. "Was it because you got no post today?"

"Well yes." She blushed furiously.

"Well how about you open your presents now?" Mr Grainger smiled at her kindly. Hermione began to move towards the pile. "The presents in the red paper are from your mother and I and the others are from everyone else."

Within half an hour Hermione had shelled most of her gifts. She just had the blue pile left to go. She checked the label and smiled. Harry recognised the wrapping paper. It was the same paper that he had had wrapped around his birthday presents. His grandparents had probably bought him more but he wouldn't tell Hermione that. She began to open the gifts and smiled as a tattered old book fell out of the first package. Minerva saw her delight and quickly explained. "It was mine when I was your age- I thought you'd find it interesting."

"Oh I love it." She embraced Minerva whispering "thank you".

By the time she had finished she had received a long cardigan (and some sweets) that matched her hazel eyes perfectly, muggle money from her adoptive parents as well as; new clothes, a television and VHS player for home ( which Hermione deemed entirely unnecessary) and some muggle videos.
Albus and Minerva had given her the book, a new necklace, a beautiful cloak and some wizarding money. Remus and Tonks had given her a voucher for Flourish and Blotts.

Once all the presents were opened the wizarding wireless was put on and everyone drank, ate and all sang quite merrily as Hermione blew out the candles on her cake. She had spent most of the night speaking to her muggle parents. Remus and Tonks were escorting them back to London that night and they left well after curfew. The Weasleys followed soon after- George and Fred promising that she could have anything she wanted from the shop- Ron and Ginny then went back to their respective quarters. Minerva had written them a quick note saying they had her permission as they had just been to see her on urgent family business. So it left her, Albus and Hermione and Harry watching the embers of the fire die. She was quite content to stay like that Hermione snuggled into her side and Harry into Albus's. They were no longer children but she could still see the eager 11 year olds she had longed to hold just like this. It was Hermione who broke her train of thought though.

"Thank you for the presents." She didn't look up; Minerva was gently stroking her crown.

"It was nothing. I just can't believe you're seventeen already."

Hermione suddenly shifted looking up at her. "No it was something. You see you got me stuff that I want more now than what my parents did. I don't want a television or money although I hate sounding so ungrateful."

"You're just practical my dear." Albus looked knowingly over his spectacles at her. "You said thank you and I think your parents were just happy to see you."

"They were funny tonight though."

"How do you mean funny?" Minerva looked at her inquisitively.

"They almost seemed jealous of my life here." She sighed. "It was just when you gave me that book, they exchanged this strange look."

"They were probably just confused about what transfiguration is my dear, nothing else." Minerva patted her on the back, "I'm glad you enjoyed the party though."

They sat in silence for a little while longer until Albus nudged Minerva. "They've fallen asleep on us." He pointed to the two teenagers. Hermione had her arms around Minerva's waist and Harry was lying on Albus's lap.

"I think we should get them back to bed, don't you?"

"Yes Professor McGonagall I think that is an excellent idea. Shall we wake them?"

"They look so peaceful, I don't want to. How about we levitate them up to their dorms? We could take the short cut through my office?"

"You sure you'll manage?"

"Quite sure, now you take Harry." They managed to get both of them back into their respective rooms and with a quick transfiguration of their robes; they were safely tucked up in the bed. Luckily no one woke up in either dorm and both professors were in the deputy headmistresses' bed within 10 minutes.