A/N: Hello all, how are you? Here we are again, a great big Happy Birthday to AnimationNut and A Lake Elohcin. We're not quite at PoA yet, but I hope you enjoy this one just as much. Bit of drama in this one, but not too much! Spin deserves a HUGE "you're awesome" for this. She finished Beta'ing this during her lunchbreak on MSN…yeah…she did that lol
She's the bomb and I so totally don't know what I'd do without her! Thank you lovely! :D Right. Glad I got in before most of you actually tick over into the 5th, or at least I think, close enough either way. I even got in before I ticked over into the 6th! Woo! Much love peoples!
-0-
Minerva had re-done her hair three times so far and she still wasn't happy with it. A part of her frowned when she realised that it was her signature bun that was giving her the most trouble. Suddenly it was wrong. The exact same thing that she had done every day with her hair since her Third Year at Hogwarts, and it was now amiss. She leant against the vanity, studying herself in the mirror. She didn't look that much different. Tired, certainly, but that was to be expected after last night. She watched her coy smile spread in her reflection as she remembered why she was so tired, but that wasn't it. She glanced down at the watch Albus had given her many years ago and muttered under her breath as she realised she didn't really have time for this.
"Oh for Merlin's sake." she said, ready to hex the entire mess of hair from her head.
"Minerva?" Albus called from the door, looking slightly perplexed as to why she was standing with her wand pointed to the top of her head. "Darling, what is wrong?" He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, letting her lean back against his chest and regain her centre.
"I, I am not happy with my hair. I think I need to get rid of it."
Albus blanched.
"What?" he said quickly, grabbing both of her hands. "You can't do that! Why would you do that my dear?" He couldn't help but smile at the pout she gave him, which only served to make her expression a little more pronounced.
"I, I want it to be perfect for them, this whole experience, but I can't understand why I can't get my hair right." She brushed away his arms, waving her own around in frustration. "I'm not a vain woman Albus, but there is something seriously wrong."
He smiled and drew her back to him, holding her close. "Tabby, relax love, I know what it is."
She felt his hands go to her head and remove all the pins, letting it spill down her back. She turned around as he smoothed some of it back from her cheek and tucked it over her shoulder. She gaped at what he had done.
"What? How did you do that?"
He chuckled. "All I did was let your hair down love." he said, leaving a kiss on her forehead. "Something I have been trying to get you to do for years." he quipped, turning her back to the mirror. "It makes you look softer, less severe, and when nobody is here to see you I would guess you wear it like this, do you not? In fact I know you do from the few times I've caught you unannounced." he said running his fingers across her ribs. "I would say that Hermione and her parents have become something that you didn't expect, something close to family, and I would say that you want them to see you as I sometimes do – whether you realise it or not."
She chuckled and kissed him sweetly. "I do not want them to see me as you sometimes do." she said, her face bright with laughter as he realised what she meant.
"Um, no, that is perhaps not a good idea." he said shaking his head, but unable to hide the twinkle in his eyes or the slightly lecherous smile he was wearing.
"Come," she said, "the food will nearly be ready and I will have to go and fetch them. Can I trust you to simply turn the oven off as soon as the buzzer goes?" he hummed his affirmation as he looked around the kitchen. "ALBUS! Just concentrate on the oven please." she said sternly.
"Minerva my love, no doubt you will be there and back before the buzzer even goes. I am simply looking for my wonderful confectionaries that you saw fit to hide before lunch."
She slapped his hands away from a draw and shook her head.
"Honestly, how old are you?" she asked, leaving the kitchen before returning. "Please don't let it burn." she said leaving a lingering kiss on his lips.
"Trust me, my dear." he said against her mouth as he tried to make their kiss last. She rolled her eyes before walking out of the door and disappearing with a CRACK.
-0-
"MUM! Are you ready yet?" Hermione practically screamed up the stairs to her mother, who was just attaching her earrings.
"Darling, you don't have to shout, we can't be late, because Miner-"
She was interrupted by a ringing of the door bell and she smiled at Hermione.
"- because Minerva has only just arrived."
Richard opened the door with a wide smile on his face, greeting his daughter's favourite teacher and something of a second mother, and more recently his wife's friend.
"Minerva, how are you?" he asked, leaving a kiss on her cheek.
"I am well thank you Richard, and yourself?" he nodded barely as he was pushed out of the way and Minerva stumbled backwards, her arms full of a bouncing 14 year old.
"Oof, hello my dear." she said with a grin.
"Hi Min," Hermione said excitedly, "how are we going to get to yours? I know we can't fly because everyone would see, and I know that it's really hard to connect a fireplace to the Floo Network and-" Hermione stood back in shock, making Minerva turn around to see if there was something less than pleasant behind her.
"What is it darling?"
"You- You're wearing your hair down!" Hermione said incredulously. She beamed as she hugged Minerva again; correctly guessing that Minerva wouldn't usually do that.
"Hermione, darling, let Minerva breathe." Katherine said, smiling as she leant over her daughter's head and kissed Minerva's cheek. "Hello dear, how are you?"
Minerva was suddenly overcome by such a warm feeling she didn't answer straight away, but stood, basking in it. Clearing her throat she turned back to Hermione's mother, a little embarrassed.
"I am well, thank you Katherine." she said with a nod. Turning back to Hermione she smiled her special smile for the girl, and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Hermione my dear, you are correct, we will not be flying and I did not connect your fireplace to the Floo Network. We will be apparating."
"But I can't apparate yet, I'm not 17." Hermione said with a frown. Minerva rolled her eyes and tweaked Hermione's nose.
"I know that kitten, and your parents wouldn't be able to apparate at all without a wand now would they?" she let Hermione think for a moment before the girl slapped her forehead.
"Side-Along Apparition."
Minerva beamed, making Richard and Katherine smile too. They had no clue what the two witches were talking about, but it seemed as if Hermione had got it right – again – and were proud of her nonetheless.
"Richard, if you would take my arm, Katherine my other." she instructed with a smile. "Please hold on rather tight, and whatever you do, do not let go." She spoke to them seriously, making sure that they understood. "Hermione you can either wait here, I will be less than five minutes, or you can grab onto my robes, only as long as you are sure you won't let go."
Hermione looked as though she was thinking for a moment before smirking and hugging Minerva tightly around her waist.
"Very clever, my love." Minerva whispered kissing Hermione's temple. "Right, everybody ready? I suggest you take a deep breath. The first experience is always the worst." she said before she popped out of the house, reappearing in Scotland not a moment later.
"Oh my god, what was that?" Katherine said as she bent over, her hands on her knees breathing deeply.
"That was apparating." Minerva said gently, rubbing the woman's back. Just keep breathing, it will soon pass.
"Good afternoon." Came the cheery greeting from behind them and they all turned to see who the voice belonged to, even as they gasped at the sight of the most beautiful estate they'd ever seen.
"Wow Min, you live here?" Hermione said looking around. They were standing in picturesque gardens, with a lake not far from them, just appearing from behind the manor. The building itself was amazing, covered in ivy down one side and absolutely immaculate.
"Of course." Minerva said with a smile, happy that the family liked it. "I couldn't very well live somewhere else now could I, this is McGonagall Manor." she said with only a little flourish as Albus stepped forward once again, a tiny bit peeved he had been ignored for the house. "Ah, Katherine, Richard; this is Albus Dumbledore." she said, smiling as Albus' hand slipped into hers.
"As much as I know this house is beautiful, I was charged with watching the oven, and it seems to be making a funny noise." he said with a smirk, and barely a wink at Hermione.
"ALBUS!" Min cried, rushing into the house. Katherine followed shaking her head, leaving her daughter and husband outside.
"I didn't really let it burn," Albus said with a chuckle, "but she does get so tense about these things. Sherbet lemon?" Richard looked sorely tempted, but shook his head.
"They'll rot your teeth." he said sternly, before Hermione could take one.
"Oh these, I believe they are of the 'sugar-free' variety." Albus said proudly.
"Well in that case…" Richard said, popping one in his mouth. Hermione followed suit, screwing up her eyes as the sherbet hit her tongue.
"Albus!" Minerva cried from the window, making all of them turn around guiltily. "Did you take your-" when she realised all three of them were looking at her, the men doing a fine job of pretending nothing was amiss, but her wonderful Hermione still struggling with the sweet, she laughed. "No more before dinner." she said, shaking her head and closing the window.
"Hermione, Richard, shall we go for a wander around the grounds?" The visitors both nodded and Hermione's Headmaster offered his arm to her.
"Um, Sir?" she asked when they were strolling slowly through the rose gardens, "does this mean that you're together, together? Like, officially?" Richard glared sternly at his daughter.
"Hermione, that is none of your business." he started, before being halted by Albus' smile.
"I believe that of anybody, Hermione would perhaps be one of only five people I would truthfully answer that question to." he said with a wink. "I am indeed staying here for the foreseeable future and I believe, as you say, we are now official."
"Yessss!" Hermione whispered, making the men laugh.
"Will you get married?"
"HERMIONE!" Richard rolled his eyes and looked apologetically at the man who seemed to have all the patience in the world for his nosy daughter.
Albus stopped walking for a moment, before leaning down so he could look Hermione in the eye as he answered her question.
"Unfortunately my dear, our world is a dangerous place. This you know." She looked away and nodded sadly, before meeting his eyes again. "I think if we were to be married many people would think, and rightly so, that if they hurt Minerva, they would hurt me. And I could never let that happen, so we will continue this in secret, hmm?" Hermione chewed on her lip as she turned over his answer.
"You could get married in secret?" she suggested hopefully. She'd always wanted to be a bridesmaid. Albus chuckled gently as he placed a kiss on Hermione's forehead.
"Alas, there is always paperwork to be found, witnesses to be asked." he said, shaking his head. "We are together, and in our minds that is enough." he added gently, but kindly. Richard Granger was stunned at the man's absolute patience and honesty. If the roles were reversed, he wasn't sure he could have been quite so understanding.
As if he could read his mind – although how would he really tell? – the Headmaster stood up and beamed as Hermione took his hand.
"You are thinking that perhaps you would not have been that honest with her." he said quietly, when Hermione ran off to study a plant of some description. "In truth, like I said, she is one of only five people I would have been, owing to the fact that she is the one who pushed us to be together." he explained. "She is a rather special girl."
Richard smiled at the praise given by this great man. He didn't need to hear Hermione's stories, or read the things in the books she brought home. He could tell this man was powerful and mysterious, but he was also kind and understanding, and he took a great liking to any man that respected his daughter as this wizard did.
"Sir?" Hermione asked as they wandered back to the house.
"Yes Hermione?"
"Who are the other four people?"
He chuckled as Richard groaned a little, but motioned for them to go inside.
"I believe that should maybe be left for another day." he said kindly, motioning for her to go in to the dining room.
"Hello sweetheart, did you have a nice walk?" Minerva asked as she placed the gravy on the table, nodding to herself as she assessed whether they were ready to eat.
"Do you know who Professor Dumbledore's friends are?" she asked, still a little sore from not being given the answer she had hoped for.
"Whatever do you want to know that for?"
Hermione explained what had happened, hoping that Minerva would tell her.
"Darling, I'm not sure who those five people would be other than yourself." she said honestly.
"Hermione are you ready to sit down?" her mother asked from the doorway. Feeling suddenly hungry, Hermione raced out to wash her hands before coming back to the table and sitting next to Minerva. It was nice to spend some time with her dad and Professor Dumbledore, but they weren't Minerva.
-0-
"Oh Min, that was fabulous." Katherine said, patting her stomach.
Minerva reddened a little. She wasn't used to cooking for a lot of people.
"How did you learn to cook?" Hermione asked, picking a few stray peas from her plate before her mother smacked her fingers. She blushed as the table grinned at her.
"My grandmother taught me." she said with a smile. "My father was non-magical, and his grandmother doted on us for the time when she was alive, and it was my duty to learn how to cook." She shrugged. "I quite enjoy it."
"It is not always fun though." Katherine said. "I have no doubt it would be easier with magic." Minerva fidgeted in her seat a little.
"Well, I do so hate peeling potatoes." She held up her hands. "I don't really like getting my paws wet."
Three of the five people at the table laughed, leaving Katherine and Richard quite puzzled.
"Oh Min, show them! Please?" Minerva rolled her eyes, knowing that there was very little she could do to resist those beautiful eyes. Concentrating for half a moment, a tabby cat appeared on her chair before turning back to Minerva.
Katherine sat stunned, while Richard cleaned his glasses before placing them back on his face.
"Minerva! That was incredible; can many people do that in the magical world?" Minerva waved off the praise.
"Oh, a few can." she said.
"What? No they can't!" Hermione said, beating Albus to the punch. "Min's really clever to do that." she said proudly. "She's the only registered Animagus left in Britain."
"Hermione," she blushed. It wasn't that she wasn't proud of herself, but it just didn't seem like anything when compared with the achievements of someone like Albus.
"She is indeed an amazing witch." Albus said quietly, deepening Minerva's blush.
"Right," she said, standing with her wine glass, "shall we retire outside? There is a terrace overlooking the lake."
"You will have to excuse Minerva." Albus said as Katherine and Richard stared after the woman as she practically ran out of the room. "She is not used to praise, more often than not letting other people get recognition before herself."
"We knew she was talented," Katherine said, "Hermione had explained how the Mastery levels work and that Minerva had the top most qualifications, but she really is an amazing woman."
"Even more so when you realise that she fought in a war, doing a job that nobody else could when she was only a few years older than Hermione here." he said with a shrug. "She is perhaps the most underestimated witch in our world. People know she is powerful, but if you had ever seen her duel..." He looked at Hermione. "It's like she's dancing, the movements of her wand, and the way her body flows with the magic." He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "It is a powerful thing to see."
"I have no doubt." Katherine said with a knowing smile on her face as she watched Albus' eyes darken.
"I think we should join her before she comes back and turns us into frogs." Richard said, earning a chuckle from everyone.
Hermione was the first to reach Minerva and she beamed as Minerva opened her arms so she could accept the girl on the lounge chair with her.
"How are your holidays going, beautiful?" she asked, sighing as Hermione snuggled into her side.
"They're great." Hermione replied. "I've already finished all of my homework. I just have to research some of the subjects that are going to be offered next year so that I have some idea of what I want to do before we get asked about it in term time." Hermione frowned and scratched her nose. "I couldn't bear it if I didn't have some idea when we were asked."
"I'm sure you will be fine." Minerva said knowingly, leaning back contentedly on her chair as the adults joined them, bringing with them a new bottle of wine.
The adults talked quietly for a time, both learning more about the nuances of each other's worlds until Hermione got bored of listening, her eyes being drawn to the water.
"I'm going down to the lake." Hermione whispered as the adults were talking. Minerva smiled and leaned closer, whispering back.
"It's called a loch, young lady." she winked as Hermione got up.
"Hermione, be very careful." Minerva called, receiving a noncommittal wave for her trouble.
Hermione wandered down to the lake, trying to work out who Dumbledore's trusted five were, beside herself. She was so engrossed as she wandered along the edge of a small embankment, she failed to see the bow rope, catching her foot, and squeaking as she toppled over into the freezing loch, impacting with the small row boat as she went in.
Minerva's experienced Animagus hearing alerted her to the odd squeak and splash of water that came from the direction of the loch and she looked up, searching for Hermione, her blood running cold as she failed to see the young girl. Without thinking she was racing down to the edge looking around frantically.
"Hermione?" she cried, looking around frantically, "Hermione, where are you?"
She searched along the bank, hoping the girl had merely slipped down the bank, and when she found no trace she began to panic.
"ALBUS!" she screamed, her wand already moving through the air as she performed a complex set of spells, clearing the water off all debris so she could find the girl quickly and efficiently. Spying her, she summoned all her strength and magic and performed the spell she wanted.
"Accio Hermione."
She had forgotten just how extensive a summoning spell of a human being was. Which is why it was never mentioned anywhere except the text books for the top most Mastery levels. An unconscious Hermione exploded out of the water and headed straight for Minerva, who was still pointing her wand at the girl, making sure she didn't fall short of the land.
Katherine Granger watched on in horror as her baby fell back to earth, marvelling at the two magical people before her perform spells she could clearly see were powerful. Minerva's was making her hair blow wildly in the still air as Albus waved his hand, stopping Hermione's landing just short of Minerva, who wrapped her arms around the girl before Albus waved his hand once more, letting Min lower her to the ground.
"Hermione, sweetheart, wake up." Minerva whispered desperately as Richard knelt down on the other side of her body, checking for a pulse the muggle way.
"She's not breathing." he said, making all four of their hearts nearly stop in their chests.
Leaning down, Minerva and Albus watched as he pushed air into her mouth, willing her to start breathing, coughing, anything at this point. It was a tense couple of minutes, Katherine knelt down next to Hermione, one hand taking Minerva's tightly in her own, the other gripping Hermione's, willing her to wake up.
Just as they were about to give up hope there was a splutter, followed by a cough as Hermione tried to expel the water from her lungs. Richard rolled her over, stroking her hair and talking to her gently as she coughed up all of the water she could, groaning when she was done.
"Mum?" she whispered hoarsely, looking up at her mother, who by now had tears rolling down her eyes.
Richard and Katherine both hugged their daughter like the precious gem that she was and Minerva sobbed into her hands. How close they had come to losing her today, how stupid it was of her to not go with Hermione. She looked at the family before her and her heart ached for that sort of love, unconditional, eternal sort of love. She moved to stand as Katherine pulled back a little from Hermione and grabbed the older woman's robes.
"No you don't." she said quietly, pulling Minerva into the hug. Minerva cried with her as they held Hermione close, Richard moving to shake Albus' hand and running his fingers through his hair in relief.
"Thank you." Katherine said quietly, kissing Minerva's cheek. "You saved our girl." she said, stroking Hermione's hair and letting Minerva cry for a little while longer.
"I'm okay, Min." Hermione said roughly. "Thank you."
"It's my fault." Minerva whispered, running her hands over Hermione's back, squeezing her a little tighter as though she would disappear.
"No, I tripped." Hermione said tiredly, leaning against the woman's shoulder.
"It was an accident, Minerva." Katherine said, nodding to Richard. "Let's take her back up to the house and get her on the sofa shall we?" she asked Minerva, who nodded, letting go quickly and stumbling back into Albus' safe arms.
"It's alright, my love." he whispered as they followed the Granger family back to the house.
"She could have died Albus." she breathed vehemently, the tears threatening to fall once more.
"But she didn't, love." he said gently, wiping away the odd one that managed to escape. He smoothed her hair down and kissed her forehead. "You saved her life."
Minerva silently agreed to disagree, and moved forward to see if she could help make up for the fact that she had undoubtedly nearly killed the thing she loved most in the world.
"Do you have a blanket Minerva?" Katherine asked, knowing that shock was a big factor in the recovery of a patient.
"I can do one better." she said, waving her wand to transfigure a cushion into a thick tartan blanket before muttering a drying spell over Hermione.
"Thanks." Hermione whispered, grabbing Minerva's hand and pulling her close.
"Hermione, no, you need to be with your family." Minerva said, pulling back. Katherine smiled and placed a soft hand on the older woman's back, making her sit next to Hermione.
"She is with her family." Katherine said happily, smiling as Hermione beamed at her and snuggled into Minerva's side once more.
"I think after all this excitement that a round of hot chocolates are in order, what do we think?" Albus said with a twinkle in his eye. Hermione nodded excitedly, before remembering that she had hit her head on the way down.
"Ow." she said holding the side of her head. Minerva moved forward, moving Hermione's substantial hair from the side of her head and inspecting the area.
"Hold on baby." she muttered, summoning a few potions and pastes from her stores. "Take this one, then this one." she said pointing to two tiny bottles, "and I'll rub some numbing paste on it before I close the wound."
Hermione went to nod, only remembering when her head throbbed that it would not be a good idea.
"Don't worry Mum." Hermione said, "this is basically like a plaster, and an icepack." She said, placating her mother as she watched her only daughter swallow a rather vile looking gloopy sort of solution.
"Oh of course, the best potion-maker I know made these and there is absolutely no harm in Hermione taking them. They are simply remedies for her pain, and the headache she will no doubt get." Katherine nodded dubiously as she watched Hermione wince as Minerva carefully applied a greenish cream to Hermione's skull.
Muttering under her breath Minerva waved her wand over the wound, pinching the skin together as she did until there was only a tiny scar left, surrounded by a bruise.
"I am afraid I do not have any bruise healing paste, but I will Floo Poppy and ask her for some." she said getting up.
"No, Min, don't leave." Hermione said, pulling her back to her side and tightening her grip on her mother's hand also. "Don't go. I don't mind about the bruise, really."
Minerva looked dubious, but was placated somewhat by Katherine patting her knee.
"You are a talented witch Minerva McGonagall." she said genuinely. "I may never be able to repay you for helping my daughter." Minerva looked down at Hermione, who smiled sweetly back before meeting Katherine's eyes.
"Seeing as you are determined not to blame me for this situation I will simply say this." she said, smoothing Hermione's hair from her forehead and leaving a kiss on the skin she found. "You do what you have to for the family you love."
Katherine smiled and when Minerva widened the sofa, sat on the other side of Hermione, happier to be nearer her child.
"Yes, you do." she said quietly watching Minerva stroke Hermione's hand without realising. "In that case." she extended her hand and bit back a smile as Minerva's eyebrow rose in question. Nodding towards the hand Minerva extended her own, taking the other woman's without knowing really why.
"Welcome to the family Minerva."
Hermione wasn't sure, but she was quite certain that Minerva's smile made the sun a little brighter as it shone into the room.
"Thank you." Minerva said quietly. "Really, thank you."