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Flashback memories.
When morning finally shone in the house Minerva got up from bed with out ever sleeping a wink. She walked down into the kitchen and tried to eat something, she wasn't having much luck. When Albus got up it was 8, and Minerva had been up for 2 hours already.
"So what are you doing today?" She asked uninterested. She was just trying to make conversation. Part of her blamed Albus for what happened to Hermione. The other part of her knew she was being stupid and Albus hadn't done anything wrong. It just felt better to blame him.
"I'm going to meet with Fudge today. To see if I can speed Hermione's case though." He said softly and she looked up sharply.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yes, did you think I wouldn't do anything?" He sat down and grabbed her hand. "I love Hermione to. She brings so much life to old house, and I don't think I'll ever have a bond with her like you have. But I do still care for her. With my influence I should be able to get Fudge to speed up the process."
"How long do you think?" She asked worrying about the answer.
"I think I can get a trial tomorrow, if every thing goes well on your end today." She wrapped her arms around him.
"At least I have you in my life." She said gratefully. He managed to get her to eat a little bit. At 9:30 she was dressed in her normally green robes, and her hair was back in its severe bun. She took the floo powder and traveled to the ministry. After straightening herself she took off for the Child Services area. She knew she was early but she was hopeful that she could get started early. She reached a door labeled Miranda Hopchick, Child Services. She knocked and it was opened by a tall, blond haired woman with a coffee cup in her hand.
"Hi I'm sorry, I'm early but I'm Minerva McGonagall." She said holding out her hand. The woman shook it.
"So Professor McGonagall, I'm Miss Hopchick, but I guess you knew that. Come in and sit." She said quickly. "I'm glad your early this case has been causing me trouble ever since last night." She said.
"So I guess you heard." Minerva's tone got slightly more bitter.
"Calm down, I assure you I had nothing to do with that." She said holding her hands up and sitting behind her desk. "Gryhop had no authority to do that and I'm sorry Hermione was taken away from you." She paused and pulled out some papers. "You're lucky that I did manage to hush the whole thing up though."
"What do you mean hush it up?" Minerva asked confused.
"Come on now, a professor at Hogwarts wants custody of a muggle-born student and she takes said student out of her house, and only gives her up to the force of Auror's? You're lucky you're not on the front page of the Daily Prophet." She said cuttingly. Minerva paled at this.
"Can you keep it quiet? I didn't plan on any one outside of Dumbledore knowing." She said worried. She had no idea how Hermione would feel to everyone, mostly other students, knowing about her having custody of Hermione, of course she still has to get custody first.
"I will try to keep it a quiet and simple action. You do know that any course of action will result in a trial to determine custody?"
"Yes I'm aware, and the sooner we can get this done and Hermione out of that house the better." She said frowning.
"Well let's get started then." Miranda said and they started going though various forms of paperwork. Minerva answered all types of questions about how much money she made, how much she currently had, housing, and resources. One question they didn't have to cover was on Hermione's schooling as she was with Minerva at Hogwarts all school year. Minerva also took the time to show Miranda her memories from when she first got Hermione and of what Hermione told her. By the end of it Miranda was almost as angry as Minerva had been. Minerva was surprised by this response she thought Miranda would be use to seeing things like this. Miranda explained.
"When I first started at the end of the war against You-Know-Who, we were concerned mainly about finding homes for children whose parents and family were killed. We only saw a few starved children. Other then that the only children that really come though me are muggle-borns who have lost their parents. Since most can't stay with muggle relatives and not many wizards want to take them in, I have to try to get them settled at one of the settlement homes. And I hate putting them there." She said sadly. Minerva nodded in consent.
"I don't want Hermione to go there. She is so smart and has such a bright future, and she needs to be loved to achieve that." Minerva said. Miranda got a very serious look on her face.
"Would you be willing to give Hermione up, if a family came forward to take her in? A family who could provide for her better than you could, and swore to take care of her like she was their own flesh and blood daughter." She peered at Minerva.
Minerva paled slightly. She hadn't even thought of the possibility that another family might come forward to fight for custody of the bright young witch. It was possible to be sure. Hadn't she herself gone to Three Broomsticks chatting with old friends about the young girl who impressed the unimpressionable Minerva McGonagall. Part of her hated the thought of Hermione being cared for by anyone else, but a small part of her thought about how much Hermione would be better cared for if someone like that did come forward. She took a deep breath.
"Yes. Yes, I would give her up." She said solemnly. She didn't mention that she would fight it with all her heart. To her surprised Miranda Hopchick beamed at Minerva.
"Well done you just passed." She said and Minerva gave her a confused look.
"I've had people come in and apply for custody of a child who only wanted the child for their own gains. Normally it is about money or something the child possesses. I have noticed that when I mention any one else getting custody of the child, they start shouting off reasons as to why they need to be granted custody. Only someone who truly loves a child will be willing to give them up if it means they get a better life." She smiled at Minerva. "So I see no reason as to why you wouldn't be granted custody." Minerva let out a breath of air. Hearing that come from the person in charge things like this made her feel much better. A memo zoomed into the room to Miranda, as Minerva leaned back into her chair thinking that at last something was going right.
"Well I have some good news for you." Miranda told Minerva who looked up eagerly. "It seems as if the minister is on your side. He's assembled some members of the Wizengomet to have a trial for Hermione's custody tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock." She beamed glad to have delivered that good news. Minerva put her head in her hands so Miss Hopchick wouldn't see her tears. Oh Albus she thought, thank you so much. She forced herself to look back up and smiled happily. I'm coming Hermione, I promised two days and it's going to be two days she thought.
Hermione stared out the window of her bedroom. No she corrected herself, this was her old bedroom. Her bedroom was back Minerva and Albus's house. She winced and went to sit on the bed. She rubbed her stomach where her father had hit her yesterday as soon as the child care people had left.
Mrs. Granger ran to Hermione as soon as Miss Gryhop brought the girl into the house, and hugged her daughter as if she was truly worried. Hermione saw right through the act. It was the act her parents always did at public functions. They played the role of concerned parents well, so well that they had always fooled everyone.
"Thank you so much for returning her to us." Mr. Granger said with what seemed to be earnest. Miss Gryhop smiled.
"Glad to help such nice people." She said. "Now I should warn you that you will probably get a notice in a few days stating that there will be a trial for Hermione's custody."
"What?" Mrs. Granger said fake hurt in her eyes. "Why would they want to take our precious daughter away from us?" She tightened her hug on Hermione making it seem like she was concerned.
"I'm sorry about this, however the woman who had her stated that she would try to get custody. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. The council normally always votes for the parents to keep their children." She smiled again. Hermione had never wanted to punch someone more in her life.
"Well thank you for all of your help, we really appreciate it." Mrs. Granger said and Mr. Granger showed her out. As soon as the lock ticked shut, Mrs. Granger pushed her daughter away from her and on to the floor. Mr. Granger walked over.
"You little shit!" He shouted. "How dare you, go and leave with that teacher of yours." He raised his hand to slap her. This is it she thought and then she remembered something as she backed away. Minerva had told her to be smart, and that in two day's this would all be resolved. She got an idea.
"You can't hit me." She shouted although she voice came out a little strangled. Her father cracked his knuckles.
"Oh and why not." He asked with a sneer. Her mother just stared at them with indifference.
"Because they'll see the bruise if you hit me. They will notice that I have an injury right away and you'll be thrown in jail." She said her voice shaking. He glared at her and lowered his arm realizing that she was right. They would notice a bruise on her face. Her mother got up to stand next to her husband. Hermione swallowed; before she got her Hogwarts letter her parents had ignored her. After she got that letter was when her father started hitting her. Her mother never laid a hand on her, but it was her that she feared the most. Mrs. Granger was smarter then her husband and Hermione would bet anything that it was her mother who went to the child care services to get her back. She plucked up her courage.
"So why did you even want me back? I thought you'd be happy I was gone." She asked.
"Of course we'd be happy if you were gone." Her father said glaring.
"Then why didn't you let me stay." She yelled.
"Because you stupid girl do you realize what it would look like if we started appearing at places with out you." Her mother stated. "You may be at school most of the year but the neighbors know about you, if they don't see you during the summer and holidays then they start asking questions. Questions lead to answers, answers that we don't want given." She hissed. Hermione was right her mother had arranged this whole thing.
"You could say I'm at a friends." Hermione said. She had no idea where this was coming from. Normally around her parents she hung her head and did what they said. She was tired of that, she just kept thinking about Christmas with Albus and Minerva. She was going back there, she decided at that moment. Minerva would come though for her.
"That would only work for a short time. The people around here know you; they know you couldn't possibly be that popular." Her mother hissed her point made. "You know dear." She said putting a hand on her husbands shoulder. "They can't see under her shirt at the trial." She said and she walked up the stairs. Hermione wimpered as her father approached her.
Hermione rubbed her stomach again and looked at it in the mirror. It was purple and blue alright. It hurt horribly but her father had only punched her twice. She had been though worse. She supposed some of her words took heed, and he went easy on her. Ever since then she had been locked in her room, which was fine with her. As long as she didn't have to see those people the better. She was bored but she didn't wish for her magic books. That made her think of Minerva and that made her cry. She wanted to be with Minerva, that was the only place she felt truly safe was when she was with Minerva. She remembered when Minerva came in to calm her down after the nightmare; she had never been comforted like that. It had felt so good to have Minerva there watching her, keeping her safe. That's what a mom should do she thought angrily. Her stomach growled and she moaned. She hadn't had anything to eat since dinner yesterday with Minerva and Albus. She saw that it was getting dark out, it was still early but as she had nothing better to do she crawled under the covers and went to bed.
When she woke up the next morning it was to a face, Mrs. Granger's face. Hermione jumped and got scared right away. Mrs. Granger pulled her out of bed and pushed her into the bathroom.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked worried that she had done something wrong.
"We got a letter last night the custody trial is this morning at 11, those people are picking us up at 10. Its 9 now. You take a bath, dry your hair and put your best dress on." After that Mrs. Granger left leaving Hermione to her thoughts. As soon as she was out of the room, Hermione grinned and beamed but didn't make a sound. Minerva did it she did it Hermione thought elatedly. Two day's that's all it took. She would see Minerva today, and hopefully get to go home.
There I cranked it out as fast as I could. Next chapter will be the trail. I'm sorry I didn't put who reviewed if you know who you are good for you I'll include you next time. Ok nothing else except please review and tell me what you think.