A/N: HI I know in my last chapter I said like I would update like a month ago. But I obviously lied, sorry. If it makes you feel any better this the longest chapter yet...I know it doesn't help much but feel free to flame in your reviews :)

Her Breaking Point

Chapter 7

"Albus, I believe that the time as come to visit Hermione's parents. It has been weeks and I can't sit any longer while that man walks free."

"Yes, my dear I believe that you are quite right. Tell me is Poppy coming with us?" I stared at him for a moment before I actually realized what he was saying.

"Well I thin- wait your actually letting me go? I'm not being restricted to the castle?" I was thoroughly surprised that he was agreeing to this.

"Yes I believe you are right. I'll be accompanying you too."

"You are coming," my eyebrows shot up he was acting very strange, "You Albus Dumbledore are coming to help me get revenge?"

"Yes, I'm not lying to you Minerva. It seems like it will be fun to watch. I had rather hoped to Have them sign the custody papers before you maimed them," I could see is logic. He wanted to ensure that we got them to sign the papers so whoever got Hermione wouldn't have any trouble. Something in my mind though sensed danger, the old coot had another reason for going with me."

"You're coming to stop me from killing them! Aren't you?"

"No I'm not."

"You liar, They deserve death for what they did to that little girl!"

"You can do anything but kill them Minerva. They deserve so much worse than death and Merlin help me if you get landed in Azkaban for the murder of scum!" I nodded in resignation and headed for the door but stopped when a voice called my name, "Min, are we playing chess tonight, we haven't played in a while. I know that you have Hermione but you could bring her it would be good for her. She needs to learn to trust people other than you."

"I don't know Albus. I'll talk to her, she is still a wreck despite her improvement, she still refuses to see Harry and Ron."

"Just ask her."

I walked back to my rooms thinking about what Albus had told me. He was right Hernione needed to learn to trust others again. She hadn't gone anywhere other than the hospital wing and my rooms in weeks. I walked through the doorway expecting to see Hermione sitting in the chair that she normally sat in. Immediately I began to panic, I had against Poppy's orders left her alone for the short time I had had to go speak to Albus in his office she had seemed happy and I had only planned to be gone for ten minutes but it had turned into almost an hour that I had been gone. I called out to her thinking maybe she was in her room and hadn't heard me come in, "Hermione dear?"

Thankfully she bounded out of her room happier than I had seen her since the end of the last school year, "Yes."

"Oh I was just wondering where you where. You seem very happy, whats going on. Are you okay?"

"Oh yes I'm fine I was thinking earlier and I decided that I need to move on I can't keep dwelling on it. I need to move past my r- my accident and stop drowning myself in self pity," I noticed that she still seemed to have trouble saying the word rape and it bothered me she seemed to view what happened as an accident not an attack but I let it slide for the time being.

"That's wonderful. I actually wanted to talk to you. Albus, I mean the Headmaster has invited us to his rooms to play chess tonight. I told him I would ask you if you wanted to go."

"Yes that sounds like fun. Is he any good," Minerva's mind began to race, what could she mean was he any good did she know how she felt about him did she know that her heart beat faster when he was near, that she did all that he asked in the hopes that it would eventually be enough. Her confusion must have shown on her face because a second later she said again, "Is he any good at chess Professor?"

"What? Yes he is but I'm better," Och Minerva get your mind out of the gutter she was asking an innocent question, "He hasn't beat me in at least thirty years. But on another note, have you talked to Harry or Ronald yet."

"They came again today," Her mood had changed drastically and I sum what regretted ruining her happiness by bringing up unpleasant matters.

"What happened?"

"I answered the door and they where there. I thought I could handle it but I couldn't do it as soon as Ron spoke I lost it and made them leave, they where disappointed but they understood," I was disappointed that it hadn't gone well but it was progress. She had tried and that was all that mattered. I looked at her studying, she was looking down at her hands that where sitting in her lap as I sat not sure what to do I saw a solitary tear run down her nose and drip into her hands. I knelt in front of her, despite the pain in my knees, taking her hands in mine.

"Hermione, I am so proud of you. You tried and that's what matters most. We can try again another day, I know that if they haven't given up by now they never will. They will probably come back tomorrow and the day after that and as many days after that as it takes. Do you understand?"

"Yes I think so."

"Good," I got up with less difficulty than expected and sat on the couch. We sat in a comfortable silence for a couple of minutes before Hermione spoke again.

"When are we going to play chess tonight?"

"Later tonight I think around six. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes that's fine I was just wondering."

-Albus-

"Ahh Minerva, Hermione. Nice to see you this fine evening. Would you like a Sherbert Lemon and hot chocolate?' Minerva gave me the dirtiest look she could muster but Hermione seemed to be trying not to laugh, "What Minerva don't you like sherbert lemons. I was under the impression that they where your favorite treat."

"You know perfectly well that I detest those awful things just as much as you hate ginger newts," Hermione couldn't hold it any longer and burst out in a fit of giggles. I turned and looked at Minerva only to see her lunging towards the ground taking Hermione with her in a fit of giggles and tickles.

"Stop, stop I give up!" she shrieked in between gasps for breath.

"Gryffindors never surrender Miss Granger you should know that!" nevertheless she let the girl up, "Are we going to play chess or not?"

"Yes, yes of course. Bunsten?" he called out to the air. A second later a small house elf dressed in a black tea towel embossed with the Hogwarts crest appeared in front of them, " What can Bunsten dos for yous Master?"

"Can I have some sherbert lemon hot chocolate, tea and ginger newts, and-" he paused and looked over to Hermione, "what would you like Hermione?"

"I'll have the same I don't really fancy lemon," I marveled at how alike the two witches where. A minute later our order was sitting on the table and we began playing.

Half an hour later Minerva had defeated me twice and was well on her way to a third victory, " I resign you win Minerva. Would you like to play Hermione?"

"Me? No I shouldn't I am horrible at chess Professor."

"Nonsense, my dear girl I'll go easy on you," She nodded and sat in the seat Minerva had just vacated. The battled it out for over an hour before Albus finally succumbed to defeat and the winner was declared to be Hermione, "Very well down my dear your the first person to beat me besides Minerva in at least thirty years."

"That's the first time I have ever won in my whole life. I play with Ron but he always wins. You should play him Professor Mcgonagall."

"I have no doubt that Mr. Weasley would be a worthy opponent but we have a busy day tomorrow. I think it is about time for bed."

"Ahh Why?" cried both Hermione and Albus.

"Because, Albus we have to go and run errands tomorrow. And you Hermione have to go and help Professor Sprout in the greenhouses."

"Where are you going tomorrow, professor?" said Hermione quizzically.

"We Have to go and deal with some paperwork. Now off to bed with you Missy," replied Minerva with a small smile.

A/N I know I said I wasn't updating till next week but I decided to give what I have to you and type the rest in my little free time this weekend. When combined this chapter is the longest yet a monster to type and I have kept you waiting long enough... feel free to yell and rage all you want in your reviews