A/N: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Here's the next chapter, sorry for the wait. Hopeing the next chapter will be done a little quicker than this, but it will be here soon. Thanks for all the reviews and your continued reading. xxxx

Chapter Eleven: Third Year Summer

Minerva, Albus and Hermione were the last to leave the castle and head for her, McGonagall Manor. They took the floo from Albus' office as Minerva was barely holding herself up. The strengthening of the wards had taken a lot out of all involved but more so for Minerva and Albus as they were those who are guiding all within the walls of the draughty castle. All three were glad when they stepped out into the main living room of the manor.

Hermione flopped down on the sofa while Albus pulled Minerva into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"We don't you go and lay down for the afternoon? I'll stay with Hermione."

Minerva reluctantly nodded and headed for the master bedroom in the west wing. Albus sat next to Hermione and she leaned into his side.

"How are you feeling Kitten?"

"Good. Glad to finally be home and away from the chaos of the castle."

Albus chuckled. "I'm with you on that one."

Hermione giggled at his use of the muggle phrase. "What are we doing for the break this year?"

"We're going to rest for a week to let you Mom gain her strength back and then we'll go from there. Is there anything you would like to do?"

"I'm not sure; I was hoping to spend some time with Severus this year and perhaps we could all go away for a week or something like that."

"Sound like a plan. And I'm sure if you write to Severus, he'll be more than happy to have you stay with him for a few days."

"Really?" Albus nodded. "Cool! I'm going to go and write to him now!" Hermione hugged her Dad before picking up Athena and all but running to her room.

Albus chuckled as he watched his daughter bounce from the room up the stairs. He stood and decided that it was safe enough to leave Hermione under the watchful eye for the house-elves, and for him to go and lay down with his wife until dinner. After changing into something a little more comfortable, he slid between the sheets and Minerva instantly snuggled into his side.

"Didn't take you half as long to join me as what I thought it would."

"Our daughter is writing to Severus."

Minerva nodded. "They've become good friends. They're good for each other."

"That they are my dear; that they are."

The pair kissed passionately before finally slipping into a light sleep.

~0~0~

Severus was comfortably sat on his armchair in front of the fire reading one of his new fiction novels when the notable McGonagall own flew in through his open window. He sighed as he stroked the animal and took the letter from its leg. He watched it glide over to the mantle and sit, waiting for his reply as always. He recognised the wonderful looped writing as his young friend immediately and smiled. He broke he wax seal slowly before letting his eyes glide over the script.

'Severus,

I know that it was just two days ago that we saw each other, but I do so miss you. As my only and dearest friend you hold a special place in my heart. In just three weeks I'm going to be fourteen and I'm getting a little excited for it, but that's not the reason I was writing to you, I know how you hate it when I waffle on about nothing. So, I was wondering and hoping if it would be at all possible if we could spend some time together over the summer.

I have so missed you and hope you'll be agreeable to the suggestion. I hope that you have a good holiday and that you finally get to finish the research you started at Christmas.

Take care,

'Mione xx'

Once Severus had finished reading the wonderfully penned letter, his smile broadened and he quickly god out a quill and a piece of his best parchment so that he could happily write her a reply and send it back with the family bird, which was still sat in his living room.

~0~0~

Hermione, Minerva and Albus were sat together at the dining table eating their puddings when Sparkle dropped a letter onto Hermione's lap.

"Who's that from dear?"

"Severus, I wrote to him earlier to see if we could spend some time together over the holiday. Was that okay Mom?"

"It's fine, your father told me not long after I heard you skip past the wing."

Mother and daughter smiled at each other before carrying on with their fruit and ice-cream. When Hermione excused herself from the table with her letter clasped in her hand. Minerva and Albus looked at each other and smiled.

"I'm glad she's got a friend Al."

"As am I Min."

Minerva moved and sat next to her husband. "I do hope that he won't hurt her."

"He won't Minerva. And she won't hurt him."

"I know Al, but she's so much younger than him."

"In body perhaps, but her mind and maturity isn't far behind that of Severus."

Minerva nodded her understanding. "Doesn't mean I'm not going to worry about her though."

"I know, I worry too Min, but you've got to let her have this friends, adult or not."

Again Minerva nodded. "I really do hope they stay friends for a long time to come. We'll all need someone when this was starts."

"That we will my dear." Albus pulled his wife into his side and pressed a kiss to her hair before leading her to the living room to relax.

Meanwhile, Hermione was lay on her stomach on her bed slowly reading the letter she had gotten from Severus.

'Hermione,

It was good to hear from you. I am agreeable to spending time with you over the holiday. I have spoken to your parents and I will be coming over on your birthday.

You too, hold a special place in my heart and I hope that we will continue to be friends for years to come. And you know that I don't mind you waffling 'Mione, I does make for interesting reading.

Regarding the research, that we started at Christmas. I could use you input as I'm a little lost. Perhaps one of your parents will have a book on the ingredients of the ancient potions of Egypt. I'm hoping that they may have used something that has the right properties to heal the nerves after damage.

I'm looking forward to seeing you,

Sev x'

Hermione squealed and almost jumped from her bed and ran to the family library, passing her parents in the process.

"Where are you off to in such a rush?"

"Library Mom, I've got to look up something for Severus."

"In the potions section?"

"Yeah!"

"Go on then, but you know the rules."

"I know and I know the book I'm going to."

"Okay Kitten, but slow down!"

"Yes Mom," Hermione sighed and walked around the corner before running.

Minerva chuckled at her daughter and Albus just shook his head.

"I hope she relaxes."

"She will." Albus gently pulled Minerva to him and kissed her passionately. "She's going to be occupied for hours Min," he whispered when they pulled apart.

Minerva nodded her agreement and Albus held her hand, leading her to their room in the west wing.

While in the library, Hermione had found a book she had read over the last summer and could remember reading something about roses. She quickly but gently pulled down the old tome and sat in the large wing backed chair next to the blazing fire, a piece of parchment and a quill on the arm, so that she could take any notes that would be useful for Severus.

Later that evening, Hermione compiled a letter with all of her notes attached and sent it off to Severus before heading straight to bed, knowing that her parents would be in their room having time to themselves, and she didn't want to disturb them. Minerva and Albus were curled up to each other, their naked bodies providing them with comfort that had been denied them any times throughout the school year.

"I wish we didn't have to hide, Al."

"When the war is over, love."

"You better make it through in one piece."

"I promise you, I will not die." Albus pressed a kiss to her forehead and hoped beyond all hope, that he would be able to keep his promise to his wife.

Minerva looked up at Albus, "I promise as well Albus." She sighed. "We need to keep Hermione out of the fighting."

"I hope that is possible love, I really do."

Over the next few days, Hermione lost herself in the library and her letters to and from Severus. While Albus was trying to convince Minerva to rest more.

"We're not at the castle love, you can stop for a few hours you know."

"I know Albus, but I don't want to."

"You have to Min, you're going to run yourself into the ground."

"I'll be fine Albus."

"You may be, but I don't want to risk you falling ill."

"When have you known me to get ill?"

"Every once in a while."

"Rarely! I'll be fine." Minerva turned back to the marking and lesson plans she had piled up on the coffee table. "At least I'm in here and not the study or library."

"That is a minor point." Albus sat next to Minerva and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You need to relax. The re-setting of the wards two weeks ago took a lot from you and you're not allowing yourself to rest and gain your magic resources back."

"I will be fine."

"Okay, but don't think I'm going to drop the subject."

Minerva nodded and pulled an essay into her lap and started to read and mark it. Albus sighed and started to hatch a plan to make his wife relax at least a couple of hours a day.

~0~0~

The first three weeks of the summer holiday flew by for the McGonagall family and now Hermione's birthday was upon them. Hermione bounced down the winding staircase of the manor just after the sun rose from behind the clouds. She knew that her parents would already be up and drinking hot chocolate in front of the blazing fire. She stuck her head around the door frame, as did Athena, and smiled when she saw her parents on the sofa as she predicted, her eyes fell on a large mug of steaming hot chocolate and then onto the beautifully wrapped presents just to the side of the coffee table. Smiling widely, Hermione and Athena ran into the room and jumped onto the sofa and hugged her parents.

"Happy birthday Kitten!" they both said in unison.

"Thank you!" she sat between her parents with her mug of chocolate. "Is Severus coming today?"

"He'll be here in five minutes."

"Cool!"

"You can start opening your gifts now if you want."

"I think I'll wait for Severus to arrive."

"Okay sweetheart."

Hermione smiled and leaned into Minerva and sipped at her liquid chocolate. And right on time, five minutes later, Severus stepped through the floo into the main living room.

"Good morning Severus," Minerva and Albus greeted at the same time.

"Minerva, Albus." He smiled when he turned to Hermione who had stood from her seat. "Good morning Hermione," he whispered.

"Good morning Severus," Hermione whispered back and smiled. "How are you today?"

"I'm fine thank you 'Mione. The improved pain potion works a charm."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Minerva and Albus exchanged knowing looks behind Hermione's back. The silence in the room lasted just a few more moments until Hermione hugged Severus and sat on the floor in front of the chair he had chosen to sit in.

"Now that everyone is here, can I open my gifts please?"

"Of course sweetheart."

Smiling, Hermione reached for the gift with the little brooms on the paper. Slowly, she took the paper off and laughed. "Ro really has to stop trying to get me into Quidditch."

"Not going to happen." Minerva laughed when Hermione sighed and put the book to one side so she could continue to open her perfectly wrapped gifts. From Filius she received a charmed ink well which held ink which changed colour as she wrote. Form Pomona a potted rose which was native to Egypt as she had asked for. From Hagrid a cats bed for Athena. And from professor Vector, an advanced book on ancient runes. There were three gifts left; two from her parents and one from Severus. Carefully she opened the one from her father first. Inside the box was an old looking tome.

"What book is it Dad?"

"It's the original diaries of Merlin and his wife. They are passed down through each generation when the oldest child turns fourteen so that they can add their own into the book of the correct gender."

"Have they got a charm on them?"

"Several which protect it and one which makes it endless but weightless."

Hermione's eyes gleamed in appreciation. "Thank you Dad," she whispered.

"You're more than welcome my dear."

Hermione ran a hand over the front of Merlin's book before placing the lid back on the box before turning to the small gift from her mother. Inside the box was a bracelet of white gold, it had a Celtic design etched into it.

"Wow, this is gorgeous! Where did you get it?"

"It was my great grandmothers. She gave it to me when I was fifteen. I think that it is only right that you have it now."

"But I'm not fifteen yet."

"The use of the time-turner added a year onto your age."

Hermione nodded. "Cool."

Albus and Severus chuckled at her happy reaction.

Hermione stood in front of her mother and held out her right wrist and the elegant bracelet. "Could you put it on for me please?"

"Of course." Minerva took the bracelet gently from her daughter and clasped it around her wrist. "There you go."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Hermione smiled and turned to Severus who was holding out a gift to her. She took the box from Severus gently and stroked the emerald green paper, her favourite colour, she smiled up at him before slowly and carefully pealed the shimmering paper from the heavy box. When she opened the box a large leather book with no title was looking up at her. She lifted it out and placed it on her lap.

"What is it?" she asked without looking up at Severus.

"Have a look at the first page."

Hermione turned the thick front cover and smiled as the smell of old parchment reached her. She turned again and her smile widened at the sight of Severus' scratchy writing. Her eyes flew across the page and gasped. "A communication book!"

Severus nodded. "I thought it would save our owls."

The trio chuckled and Hermione nodded. She gently placed the book next to her and stood up. "Thank you," she whispered. "All of you." Smiling, she hugged her father and mother before turning to Severus, who was still sat in the arm chair. She stood for a moment to see if he would stand up, when he didn't, she leaned over and hugged him tight and whispered in his ear before leaving a kiss to his cheek. Severus blushed and rubbed her back. When Hermione finally stopped hugging Severus, she sat herself back on the floor with her book in her lap.

"What do you want to do today?"

"I'm not sure. I'd like to spend some time with Severus during the day and then with you and Dad for the evening and I'll send everyone an owl later tonight."

"If that's what you want?"

Hermione nodded. "You and Dad can spend some time resting while I spend some quality time with Severus."

"Okay Kitten, we'll be in the West Wing if you want us before dinner."

"Okay." Hermione stood and hugged her parents before watching them slowly walk off wrapped in each other. When they were out of view, she flopped down on the sofa and was soon joined by Severus, who held her hand.

"Relax Hermione, it's your birthday, stop watching out for your parents for the day. They can look after themselves."

"That's debatable."

"I know, but just relax. Now, what do you wish to do with me?"

Hermione laughed and finally started to properly relax.

~0~0~

Over in the West Wing, Minerva was relaxing into her husband, who had his arms wrapped around her waist and nibbling her neck. She sighed and closed her eyes as she felt their magic start to stroke against each other. She rested her hands on his, and leaned her head against Albus' chest."

"Are you okay, love?"

Minerva nodded. "It's nice to be like this."

"That is it love," he whispered before going back to kissing her long elegant neck.

Minerva moaned at the sensation and leaned back even more. When his hands started to wander down her sides, brushing lightly against the side of her breasts, she turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to meet her lips. The kiss started heated and only became more so, and quickly. Soon, both husband and wife were moving their hands. Minerva slipped her hands through the gap in his robes and had rested her hand on his chest, her fingers moving slightly. Albus had slipped his hands under Minerva's shirt and was brushing his fingers over her breasts, through her lace bra. Minerva gasped and broke the kiss as Albus slipped his hands under her bra and started to massage them. She moved her hands and her right brushed against the growing bulge between his legs. Albus quickly retracted his hands and grabbed Minerva's hands, stilling her.

"You tease."

"You started it love."

Albus smirked and the smiled when Minerva squealed at the brief breeze ran over her now half naked body. After the shock had left her, she performed the same spell, just as Albus had (wordlessly and wandlessly), and giggled when he nearly screamed as the cold blast hit him. It didn't take long for his to recover and when he did, he scooped Minerva up and dropped her on the queen sized bed and looked down on her, his eyes twinkling and his cock was visibly twitching. Minerva felt her panties become wet and pressed her thighs together to try and put some pressure on her core. After a few moment of silence and shuffling, Minerva (having gotten fed up with waiting) pulled Albus down on top of her by the waist band of his boxers.

"Bit desperate Min?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

Albus did as ordered and started placing kisses down her neck to her chest. Minerva arched into Albus as he started sucking her already taunt nipples through her purple lace bra, which soon got thrown on the floor as Minerva begged for more.

Albus gradually made his way down her body, licking, kissing and caressing her milky white skin. Minerva was well on her way to heaven; her body was going into sensory overload. So much so, that she didn't realise that Albus had taken off her matching purple panties until she felt his thumb press on her clit as his tongue slowly entered her. She screamed at the pleasure and her moan increased as she felt the coil inside her tighten dangerously, Albus moaned at the taste of her juices and Minerva exploded, screaming Albus' name as she came. Albus moved back up Minerva's body and kissed her lips lightly as she recovered. Minerva smiled weakly at Albus through the haziness of her brain. It took just a few minutes for her to come back to earth, and she did it with a smirk on her lips.

Minerva flipped them over so that she was on the top and Albus was happily on the bottom, having a great view in his opinion, of his wife. He was brought out of his musing by Minerva grinding her core against his still imprisoned manhood. He moaned and she chuckled, having gotten the result she wanted. Slowly, she slid down Albus' body, leaving small nips and licks here and there, loving the way which he squirmed underneath her. She slid his trousers off and her eyes gained an extra sparkle as his cock sprang out of its confinement. After throwing his underwear to the floor, she took his large manhood in her hands, lightly playing with it, causing Albus to moan out his wives name. The pleasure that shot through him when he felt her hot, wet mouth on him, caused him to shout. She chuckled, sending vibrations right through to his skeleton. He gently pulled her off him and smiled.

"I want to be inside you, love," he panted, causing her to break into a wide grin.

She squealed when he flipped them once again, having been looking forward to being on top. She was about to voice her opinion when she felt Albus position himself at her entrance. She finally conceded, knowing that she would get her chance to ride him. Minerva hooked her legs around his waist and pushed in a little, trying to get him to enter her. She opened her mouth to tell him to do just that, when he thrust into her quickly, causing her to moan and shout at the same time. He started at a slow pace, and Minerva was completely happy with that…for a while…

"Harder Albus!" She could feel the coil within her getting tighter, but it wasn't enough.

Albus did as requested, as he too felt the need to explode. He continued to pound into her and obey her requests. Before too long, Minerva was screaming her husbands' name in completion and Albus was shouting his wives.

After their extremely heated, but needed, session of love making, the pair curled up to each other, and gave into the fatigue that had suddenly come over them. Neither were as young as they used to be.

~0~0~

Meanwhile, Hermione and Severus were in the library talking to each other and generally enjoying each other's company. Eventually thought, it became time for Severus to leave.

"Please stay for dinner Sev. I'm sure the house-elves have made enough to go around."

"I'm afraid that I have to go my dear."

Hermione nodded. "Be careful Sev," she whispered in his ear while hugging him.

"I promise 'Mione," he whispered back while rubbing her back up and down.

"I'll hold you to that."

"Good."

They broke apart, smiling at each other, having enjoyed the time they had together.

"I'll write to you later."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Smiling, Hermione placed a kiss to his cheek, her lips lingering for a moment before she took a step back.

"I'll see you soon Hermione," he whispered and kissed her cheek before heading through the floo to his own home. Hermione sank into the sofa they had both occupied for the day and sighed. It had been a brilliant birthday so far and she knew that the evening would be just as good.

And it was. The house-elves had out done themselves once more and both of her parents seemed much more relaxed and even a little closer to the other when they had joined Hermione for the evening of food and music, both of which the trio enjoyed immensely.

Later that night Minerva and Albus were curled up in their master bedroom within the main part of the manor, and completely relaxed together, occasionally talking, but most of the time reading from the same book.

Meanwhile, as promised, Hermione was writing to Severus, and was delighted to get a message back. For two hours the two were silently conversing though their communication book.

~0~0~

The next few weeks passed without so much as a hitch. That was, until Minerva fell ill. It was the beginning of August and for the past few weeks, Minerva had been sleeping a lot more than usual and both Albus and Hermione had noticed this more and more as the days went by. Originally, all of them thought that Minerva just needed to catch up on her sleep, but a week later and she was still sleeping most of the day away and was starting to eat very little, if at all, and her husband and daughter were becoming concerned. So much so, that Albus arrange for Hermione to go and spend the rest of the holiday with Rolanda Hooch.

So, a week later, Hermione bid goodbye to both her parents and told them to keep in touch as she now wouldn't see either of them until the start of term three weeks later and she also knew that she wouldn't see Severus within that time neither, as he loathed the way that Rolanda and her girlfriend Anna, were constantly clinging to each other. Hermione didn't mind as she had learned to block it out when she was around the both of them, but she generally stayed in the guest room, buried in some sort of book, this time though, she knew that she would be constantly talking to Severus through the communication book as she had been doing since she received the gift from him.

Once Hermione had gone, Albus brought Minerva into his arms and silently led her to the West Wing where they would be staying for the remainder of their time at the manor.

~0~0~

Three weeks later and it was time for Hermione and the other students of Hogwarts to catch the Hogwarts express and head back to the old castle. Minerva was putting up a fight with Albus and Hermione (who had floo called) about travelling with Hermione on the train as she had done since her first year as a student.

"I won't have it Minerva. You're still not up to shape."

"I don't care! I want to go with my daughter as I have done the past three years!"

"No!"

"Mom! Dad! Just calm down the both of you!" Once the pair had quietened down, Hermione carried on. "Severus said he is more than willing to go with me on the train if need be, but also asked me to remind you that I am not a child."

"But you are."

"I'm not a normal fifteen year old mom, and you know that. Now, travelling with me on the train is just going to make you stressed and I know that that is the last thing that you need right before the start of the school year, and especially one which we are hosting the Triwizard Tournament."

"I completely agree with her Minerva."

"Shut up. I think I can make my own decisions."

"Well, we're making this one for you. I'm going to go on train with Severus and you can travel straight to the castle with dad and relax as much as you can."

"But…"

"No buts my dear. Hermione's right. You need to get as much rest as you can and you're not going to get it on the Hogwarts Express."

Reluctantly, Minerva nodded, knowing that she wasn't going to win against her daughter and husband. "Fine. But make sure Severus goes."

"I will be going Minerva," Severus called from somewhere behind Hermione.

"Okay. I'll see you this evening then."

"Yup. What's the password for our rooms this year?"

"Fiduciam*."

Hermione smiled. "Okay. I'll come straight up after the feast?"

"We'll be there."

Hermione nodded and waved. "See you tonight."

"Bye Kitten," they both called at the same time.

Once the flames had turned orange once more, Minerva leaned back into Albus who was stood behind her and closed her eyes.

"I've missed her Albus."

"I know, I have too, love."

"She seems to have changed."

"I think she's just coming out of her shell is all."

Minerva chuckled. "I hope so."

That night, Hermione sat at her usual place at the Gryffindor and smiled at her parents, she had enjoyed her journey on the train with Severus and Severus too, had enjoyed the once laborious journey. Albus and Minerva were sat a little closer than they had the year previous, but both had small smiles on their faces as they watched out over the students as they continued to fill the hall.

*Trust in Latin

To Be Continued...